Gu Yuzhi had a headache; he had absolutely no idea why the two of them were arguing again.
He pouted. These were all his support systems, after all. Couldn't they just talk things out? Why did they have to argue?
The next second, Wen Xiuzhu slammed his folding fan shut and said angrily, "Nonsense! We are both from the same system, so how can you say that I don't want His Highness to become better?"
"Then what do you want me to do?" Shu Xiaohan was about to continue talking about the pinyin when she saw that the young prince was almost at the council hall. She suppressed her thoughts and instructed him, "After Your Highness goes in, just remember the characteristics of Xinliang that I told you. When the time comes, you must overcome all objections and firmly set the location of the fiefdom in Xinliang. As long as Your Highness's fiefdom is in Xinliang, I am confident that I can make Xinliang the city with the most land in the northern desert!"
Gu Yuzhi nodded repeatedly, relieved that the argument was finally coming to an end, and obediently said, "I know, Teacher Shu."
However, he felt it would be difficult to convince Xie Changshi and the others using the characteristics that Teacher Shu mentioned, since he had never even heard of that soil pH level before.
He also suspected that it might be because he was young and inexperienced, but after what happened with wheat last time, Gu Yuzhi dared not casually say what Teacher Shu had said.
Inside the council hall, Chen Dianyi and others surrounded Xie Changshi, chattering and asking him what the emperor's plans were.
They all knew that His Highness had rushed back to the main courtyard in despair yesterday. Then, they learned from Chen Dianyi that the Emperor had only replied to His Highness with a letter containing just a few lines. Everyone was immediately stunned.
The young prince is in such a difficult situation, yet the emperor remains so indifferent; it's truly heartbreaking to hear and brings tears to the eyes of anyone who hears it…
Chief Secretary Xie felt as if he were surrounded by three hundred ducks, each one quacking loudly, but he couldn't get angry. He could only smile and say, "Don't worry, everyone, we are all..."
"Your Highness."
Before Chief Secretary Xie could finish his words of comfort, the prince had already arrived. He gave a signal, and the officials quickly dispersed and lined up. After the prince was seated, they respectfully greeted him, "Your Highness."
Gu Yuzhi was clearly in a good mood, and slightly raised his hand to indicate, "Please, everyone, have a seat."
He tilted his head and looked at Chief Secretary Xie: "Chief Secretary Xie, what are your thoughts on this trip to Xinliang?"
He had already planned it out when he entered the room. If Chief Secretary Xie disagreed, he would say that he thought Xinliang was a large place, just like Manager Wen said, and that he could win by sheer quantity.
He blinked, secretly praising himself for his cleverness, but unexpectedly Xie Changshi stood up and said respectfully, "I believe that Xinliang is the best choice for Your Highness to build your residence."
Gu Yuzhi, huh?
What's going on? Chief Secretary Xie actually agreed?
Gu Yuzhi doubted that he had misheard.
Seeing that Gu Yuzhi did not speak, Xie Changshi said again: "Your Highness, I believe that Xinliang is the best place for Your Highness to build your residence."
Gu Yuzhi was very happy, but he couldn't show it. He looked at Xie Changshi with a pleading expression and said, "But I remember when we were in Xinliang, Xie Changshi was always frowning. I thought Xie Changshi thought Xinliang was no good."
After he finished speaking, he couldn't help but cover his mouth and chuckle. Now that's good, he doesn't have to worry about what to do if Chief Secretary Xie and the others disagree with the idea of winning by sheer numbers.
"Actually, I already had this idea when I was looking at the map." He looked at Gu Yuzhi with a slight smile on his face, "It was Your Highness who gave me the inspiration."
Gu Yuzhi was even more confused now, pointing at himself and asking, "Me?"
"Yes. When His Highness looked at the map, he said that the official road from Xinliang to Quanzhou is closer." Xie Changshi said, his smile completely gone. "Your Highness is unaware that Quanzhou is the first line of defense for our Sang Kingdom against the Northern Di. After Emperor Taizu ascended the throne, he severely damaged the Northern Di, so the border of Quanzhou has been safe for so many years. However, after so many years of recuperation, if the Northern Di invade again, the food supply of Quanzhou will be insufficient."
Gu Yuzhi tried hard to digest what Xie Changshi said, and combined it with what Teacher Shu had said before, "If you want to get rich, build roads first," he realized how important this official road, which ran through Xinliang, was to Quanzhou and Changzhou.
Seeing Gu Yuzhi's serious expression, Chief Secretary Xie continued, "What I have described is the current situation in the Northern Desert. Now, Your Highness, you are now a prince in the Northern Desert. You should know that a prince is not just a royal prince to the people of your fiefdom; he is also their support. It is understandable if Your Highness places your fiefdom south of Changzhou, but how will Your Highness deal with the crisis in the Northern Desert?"
He had an obligation to let His Highness know that although His Highness was young, as a member of the royal family and enjoying royal treatment, he also had to make contributions to the people.
After all, this was the real reason he came to the northern desert with His Highness.
Gu Yuzhi had never thought about these things. He always thought that he only needed to stay in his fiefdom until he came of age and bring his mother over. Who would have thought that he would have to consider these things?
Gu Yuzhi's little face scrunched up like a bun again...
He could sense that Xie Changshi's words had a deeper meaning, but being young, he couldn't think of the deeper implications, so he could only nod his little head repeatedly.
However, seeing Xie Changshi frowning and trying to persuade him, Gu Yuzhi found it somewhat amusing. "Xie Changshi, you really don't need to say such complicated things. Just tell me you think Xin Liang is suitable, and I'll agree!"
Gu Yuzhi gave a big laugh: "Previously, Chief Secretary Xie said that my fiefdom was tax-free, so I thought Xinliang was a good fit, since he's the most powerful one."
He scratched his head: "Anyway, everyone knows I'm poor. I can only be rich if I have more land. Now that Chief Secretary Xie has said how important Xinliang is, I think it's even more appropriate."
No one else in the council chamber spoke, but they all nodded vigorously. Yes, Your Highness, you are indeed very poor, so poor that you will soon be unable to support all the staff in your household.
They reasonably suspected that if they hadn't all been personally appointed by the Emperor, His Highness's first thought would have been to send them all away...
However, Your Highness, aren't you missing the point? It doesn't matter how much land you have; your main concern is that you don't have the money to build a mansion or to reclaim wasteland...
This is a vicious cycle...
Chief Secretary Xie laughed twice. Very good, their thoughts coincided with His Highness's. He had been thinking about how to explain it in a simple and easy-to-understand way so that His Highness would agree: "In that case, I will arrange for people to go down and find a way to push forward and clear the area little by little from the entrance of Xinliang. After the snow melts next year, His Highness can determine the specific location for building the mansion."
Gu Yuzhi nodded subconsciously, then shook his head repeatedly: "No, Chief Secretary Xie, there's too little treasury silver available right now. Let's wait a little longer before clearing it out."
Why hasn't my brother's reward arrived yet? If it doesn't come soon, he'll really be starving!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
