As the saying goes, "The year's plan starts in spring, and the best time of the year depends on spring plowing."
The importance of spring plowing is self-evident. For both the people and the country, spring plowing directly affects the harvest of the year. Whether people can have enough to eat and whether the country can increase its income all depend on spring plowing.
Soon, the news that the emperor had set an example by leading his officials to work in the fields spread far and wide among the students, imperial students, and other scholars.
Officials at all levels and ordinary people were also greatly encouraged.
The people also put down their work and came to the fields to begin their spring plowing life, working from dawn till dusk.
At the same time, after discussion with his officials, Liu Hong issued another edict, ordering local prefects to recommend officials who performed well during the spring plowing season. After verification and investigation, the top twenty officials would be selected to go to Luoyang to pay homage to the emperor and would be rewarded with money and promotions.
Therefore, local officials tirelessly traveled to the fields every day to inspect the spring plowing situation. If any household lacked anything, they would immediately make arrangements to ensure that spring plowing could not be delayed under any circumstances.
For a time, all parts of the Han Dynasty were in a state of busyness, harmony, and peace.
But some people are not so good.
For example, the Royal Trading Company and those merchants and powerful families who owned numerous workshops.
Because it was the spring planting season, the people responded to the emperor's call and went to work in the fields, leaving no one to work in the factories and workshops...!
And most importantly, once the seeds are sown, a large amount of previously idle labor will return to the land to work.
From early spring to early winter, their output will drop significantly due to labor shortages.
Seeing the once bustling workshops now empty, the merchants, powerful figures, and some lower-middle-class landlords who had tasted success were deeply worried.
Not only powerful figures and merchants, but also factories and workshops under the Royal Trading Company were affected to some extent.
Inside Deyang Palace, looking at the latest information brought up by Xi Zhicai, Zhao Zhong, and others, Liu Hong smiled confidently.
When Huang Zhong and his men returned in triumph, they brought back a large number of prisoners and presented them to Liu Hong. However, Liu Hong did not order their execution.
Instead, the prisoners were left with the Union Army for training purposes for soldiers and medical personnel, and now they can be put to real use.
Finally, Liu Hong turned to look at Zhang Rang beside him.
"Zhang Rang!"
Zhang Rang, who was standing nearby, quickly bowed and came to Liu Hong's side.
"This servant is here!!"
"Go and take men to send those imprisoned slaves from Liaoxi, as well as the prisoners brought from Youzhou and Liangzhou, to work in the factory."
And all the prisoners in the jail, take them all out too. We can't just let them eat idly in prison, can we?
Zhang Rang was stunned for a moment, then looked at the emperor with a worried expression.
Zhang Rang then asked softly, "Your Majesty, will they take this opportunity to cause trouble?"
"Rebellion? Are my Northern Army, Imperial Guards, and Tiger Guards just for show?"
Liu Hong glanced at Zhang Rang indifferently, then chuckled. He had been training with the soldiers for so long that he had probably beaten them senseless long ago.
"Your Majesty is right, this servant will go and do it immediately!"
Considering the formidable military strength of the Northern Army and the Imperial Guard, Zhang Rang realized that he had indeed been worrying unnecessarily.
Liu Hong continued, "Oh, and also, tell the people below that those slaves, prisoners, and criminals are the best labor force."
You don't have to pay them, but they must be fed. And they can't be killed indiscriminately, or I won't let them off the hook!
At the same time, tell them to select some slaves and prisoners who are loyal to the Han Dynasty, and to be responsible for managing them. Those who perform well may be allowed to join the Han nationality and regain their freedom!
"promise!!"
Watching Zhang Rang leave, Liu Hong smiled.
If you want to develop, you can't do without exploiting and squeezing others, but if you can't squeeze your own people, then you can only cut into the hands of outsiders.
Furthermore, those slaves and prisoners were already starving on their own side; they had to risk their lives to get a full meal.
Now they don't have to die. As long as they work, they can eat their fill. This is a blessing they'll never find in eight lifetimes. They should be grateful to themselves, right?
Soon, Zhang Rang arrived at the Northern Army's garrison with Liu Hong's orders.
At this moment, Ma Teng was leading his brothers from the Blazing Fire Battalion in mounted archery practice on the huge training ground.
Opposite the soldiers of the Fiery Camp stood two thousand slaves and prisoners, each holding a wooden shield, forming a defensive formation.
"charge!!"
Ma Teng, the leader, roared and spurred his warhorse toward the defensive formation 800 meters away, followed closely by the two thousand Fire Battalion soldiers.
Although the uniforms of the Blazing Fire Battalion are not yet standardized, their warhorses are already in place.
From afar, the more than two thousand red warhorses galloping about looked like a giant tongue of fire, carrying the Han soldiers and preparing to burn the enemy opposite them to ashes.
"Tsk tsk tsk~, Your Majesty's idea is indeed incredibly ingenious. The same color, combined into the same power, is truly terrifying."
Seeing the Fire Camp come to life, Zhang Rang couldn't help but marvel.
"They...they are our horses..."
The Imperial Guardsmen riding variegated warhorses beside Zhang Rang couldn't help but recall the scene when their own mounts were conscripted, as they looked at the blood-red warhorses galloping across the field.
"Don't worry about the details..."
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