After carefully inspecting the newly built papermaking workshop, Chu Fan decided to stroll among the three Acropolis and observe how the three princes managed these Acropolis.
He strolled along the streets, observing the people coming and going. He noticed that the shops on both sides of the street were doing a brisk business, the vendors' cries echoing one after another, a scene of prosperity. Chu Fan was secretly satisfied. It seemed that the prince of Yaocheng was governing well, and Yaocheng's people's livelihood and economy were developing well.
He continued forward because he was accompanied by ministers from the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Works. Even though some of the people in the city recognized Chu Fan, even though he was the Emperor of Wei, they did not take the initiative to step forward. Instead, they walked silently beside him, making way for Chu Fan to pass.
Those common people who had never seen Chu Fan also took the initiative to avoid Mu Yunfeng and Tang Hongwen when they saw their official uniforms. After all, in this era, it was best for common people not to provoke officials.
Chu Fan did not blame these people. After all, if everyone bowed to him when they saw him, he would have to live in the palace for a long time.
The current situation was perfect: no one would disturb him, and no one would prevent him from observing the people's sentiments. He could stroll the streets more freely, observe every detail more carefully, and gain a deeper understanding of the people's living conditions.
This kind of freedom made him very satisfied because he could feel the lives of the people more realistically and understand their needs and desires more realistically.
However, when Chu Fan was thinking this in his heart, a group of women suddenly appeared in front of him and blocked his way.
Just as the city guards were about to take action to expel them, Chu Fan said, "Let them come over. Let us hear what they want."
When this group of women walked in front of Chu Fan, they all knelt on the ground.
Prince Zhong of Yaocheng, Chu Xiujie, and other Yaocheng officials, who had rushed over from afar, were filled with shock and panic upon seeing this scene, as if the sky was about to fall. They couldn't help but wonder what they had done to infuriate the gods and the people, necessitating these people to file a complaint before His Majesty, putting the entire Yaocheng in such an awkward and passive position.
The common people walking on the street also stopped and cast their eyes in this direction. After all, just a month ago, His Majesty ordered the execution of the mayor of Yaocheng and other officials. Could it be that there was another unjust case that required His Majesty to personally enforce justice?
Chu Xiujie hurriedly stepped forward to help a woman up, and said gently, "Sister, I am Chu Xiujie, the mayor of Yaocheng. If you have any requests, please tell me, and I will definitely seek justice for you." However, the woman ignored Chu Xiujie and continued to kneel on the ground, staring at Chu Fan with a firm gaze.
Seeing that even the city lord was unable to persuade them to stand up, other officials from Yaocheng also stepped forward, speaking kindly to the women and making various promises. As long as they agreed not to complain to His Majesty, they would even be willing to acknowledge them as their mothers.
After all, if His Majesty is really angry, it is not a problem that can be solved simply by being a son.
Chu Fan looked at the scene before him, his expression gradually becoming gloomy. It had only been over a month, could it be that someone had been so audacious as to commit some illegal or criminal act again?
Chu Fan turned to the city guards around him and ordered, "Pull these Yaocheng officials aside. I want to personally ask what exactly is going on."
With Chu Fan's order, even Prince Zhong Chu Xiujie did not dare to continue to harass the woman kneeling on the ground, and could only stand aside helplessly and watch what happened.
Chu Fan stepped forward and asked, "What do you need me to do for you? If anyone has violated the law, as long as it is true, even if they are members of the royal family, I will execute them without mercy."
Chu Fan didn't ask the women to stand up first, because she knew it would be futile to ask them to stand up before addressing their needs. It would be better to ask them directly and solve their problems so that they would stand up naturally.
After all, his identity in this aristocratic family is that of an emperor. If he really stepped forward to help, he might be used by people with ulterior motives and cause unnecessary misunderstandings.
Chu Fan's way of handling the matter not only demonstrated the emperor's majesty, but also reflected his concern for the suffering of the people.
Prince Zhong, Chu Xiujie, and the current officials of Yaocheng stood nearby, carefully considering their actions over the past month to see if any of them might have caused public resentment or violated the law. They all knew that although Emperor Chu Fan was young and quite lazy, His Majesty was very rigorous in handling government affairs and would not tolerate any illegal behavior.
However, everyone was shocked when the leading woman spoke her first words. This woman, Goudan's mother, said, "Your Majesty, I am Goudan's mother. Goudan died at the hands of assassins from the Gan Kingdom. I request to join the army to avenge my son."
Chu Fan also answered directly: "I agree, you can get up now."
The group of kneeling women did not expect that Chu Fan would agree to their request so easily, which made them feel very surprised.
Goudan's mother continued, "Your Majesty, you are not trying to deceive us, a group of uneducated women, are you?"
Chu Fan replied, "As the Emperor of Wei, I naturally keep my word. If I say yes, it means yes, but you must obey my instructions."
Mu Yundian and other generals from the Ministry of War immediately knelt down and said to Chu Fan, "Your Majesty, please reconsider. There has never been a precedent for women serving in the military."
Among the people nearby, a man also knelt down and said loudly to Chu Fan: "Your Majesty, our Wei Kingdom has not yet reached the point where it needs women to protect it. If soldiers are needed on the battlefield, I am willing to go and fight."
Prince Zhong and the Yaocheng officials heard the women's demands and roared inwardly, "You'd better report us to His Majesty, and stop saying such horrible things." If His Majesty were to follow up on this matter, then they wouldn't just be committing a crime. If His Majesty were to believe that all the men in Yaocheng were weaklings, they would be truly finished.
The kneeling woman retorted, "We women are no worse than you men. We can also take up arms and defend our homes."
Then Goudan's mother said to Chu Fan, "Your Majesty, you must believe us. We will never become a burden on the battlefield."
Chu Fan replied, "I believe you. When I return today, I will tell the prince of the Royal Government Affairs Office my opinion, and they will make the arrangements."
Chu Fan then said to Mu Yundian of the Ministry of War, "From now on, the army formed by these women will not be incorporated into the Ministry of War. I will set up a new unit and let the Royal Government Affairs Office directly lead it."
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