Chapter 510 Song Mingen reveals his identity
Xiao Yanli said solemnly, "Lord Lu, lowering the standards? Wouldn't that discourage the poor people? We only give out so little each year, and it's winter now. How are they supposed to survive?"
Lord Lu said, "There are 80,000 households of the elderly, the weak, the sick and the disabled. I remember that ten years ago, there were 50,000 households. In the past ten years, there has been an increase of 30,000. The court has implemented good policies in the past ten years, and the people have not starved to death. There have also been no major natural disasters or man-made disasters. I think this number needs to be examined. Also, these welfare subsidies are distributed to each county, and the counties arrange officials to deliver them to the people. I can't help but wonder if the truly poor people have received them?"
The Minister of Rites stepped forward and said, "What Lord Lu said is very likely to happen. I suggest sending an imperial envoy to conduct an on-site investigation."
Xiao Yanli nodded. "That makes sense, but the welfare subsidy distribution day is approaching, and it's too late to go on a field trip now. We need to gather these two hundred thousand taels as soon as possible."
Lord Lu said, "In order to prevent unscrupulous people from coveting this grain, what I mean by lowering the standard is to replace all the grain with old grain. The quantity remains the same and it won't cost too much money."
He has donated a lot of money this year. He is almost starving and doesn't want to donate anymore.
"...This standard applies only to this year. The grain production increase method will become widespread next year, and with more grain, the market price will naturally drop. Furthermore, the sweet potatoes mentioned in the grain production increase method have already been planted. Next year, not only will the people have a bumper harvest, but they'll also have an additional income from the sweet potatoes."
Xiao Yanli looked at Song Mingen with a smile: "Mr. Mask, what do you think?"
Mr. Mask?
The court officials all looked at Song Mingen.
Song Mingen stepped out and respectfully addressed Xiao Yanli, "Your Excellency's suggestion is excellent. It's possible that many disabled and impoverished people won't receive welfare subsidies. It's even possible that some people who needed assistance are no longer alive, yet others are claiming their quotas. For those with land, we can give them priority in planting sweet potatoes next year, and reduce certain taxes. Once they're able to live a self-sufficient life and meet the standard of ordinary rich peasants, we can consider removing them from the welfare assistance list."
The court officials were all shocked. Crossing out families from the welfare subsidy list meant that the families who needed assistance had died out and would not receive any assistance.
This masked man actually wants to turn them into rich peasants.
The ideal is good, but how easy is it?
The Minister of Personnel asked, "Mr. Masked, how can we improve the lives of villagers without farmland, or the disabled and poor families in the town or county?"
Song Mingen glanced at him. "If a family has a child who wants to study and pursue a career in government to change the family's fortunes, but lacks the money, the court can issue a policy to allow them to study for free at government-run colleges. If a family has a deaf-mute, and local merchants can hire them for work and pay them, the court can reward them and appropriately reduce some unnecessary taxes. Oh, as far as I know, the Wen family's printing workshop in Yancheng has more than a dozen blind people working there. They've been trained in advance and can identify the font by feeling the ridges and grooves of the mold. The books they print are flawless."
Xiao Yanli was shocked. "Is it true that blind printing is flawless?"
"When the Wen family recruits workers, they are trained in advance to learn how to read and write. They are fed three free meals a day and receive their wages at the end of the month. The wages are high, so they are eager to learn and are afraid of not getting the job. Not only that, the Wen family also trains blind people to perform massage. As for the mute, there are many jobs they can do, and they need merchants to hire them. Therefore, the court should encourage merchants to hire deaf-mute people."
"Very good, very good." Xiao Yanli praised him endlessly. "My fellow ministers, what do you think of Mr. Mask's idea?"
The Minister of Rites said, "Mr. Mask's suggestion is indeed a good one. The welfare subsidies the court distributes every year are large quantities of supplies. They look abundant, but when distributed to each household, there is not much left. They only temporarily improve the lives of the people, but they cannot help them escape poverty. Once these policies are implemented, many families will inevitably be removed from the welfare assistance list within three years."
Xiao Yanli was in a good mood. "Just prepare a document as soon as possible according to Mr. Mask's instructions."
Xiao Yanli looked at Zhang Mingyuan and said, "Calculate as soon as possible how much silver it will cost to exchange for the old grain. If there is still a shortfall, we can raise funds."
"yes."
"Keep playing!"
In the next hour, Xiao Yanli would always ask Song Mingen for his opinion on any matter reported by the court officials.
The suggestions given by Song Mingen shocked all the court officials, and they couldn't help but look at him with admiration.
The ministers also understood what was going on. Today the emperor wanted to promote this masked man.
Are they going to make an exception and appoint him as an official?
He has the qualifications!
Xiao Yanxu looked at Song Mingen as he talked nonstop, as if he had found a treasure.
He wanted to tell the court officials loudly that this was his own eldest son.
The little prince sat with his back straight, his eyes shining as he looked at Song Mingen.
The fake cousin's brain seems mediocre.
Why do these court officials have so much to say? He is also eager to see the true face of his eldest cousin.
Eh, I want to cry.
It’s really painful to sit here. I really want to lie down.
The father and son were in perfect sync. When Xiao Hongyu had an idea, Xiao Yanli gently pushed him down on the large dragon chair.
"Dad." Du Zhiyi whispered, "Isn't Song Mingen a scholar? Why does he look like he has been in officialdom for a long time?"
Du Henian said, "He is no ordinary person if he can fake his own death to secretly investigate the murderer."
Mu Jingbei finally lost his patience and asked, "Your Majesty, didn't you say there was something important to announce today? What is it?"
The minister who was about to step forward to speak hastily retreated.
Xiao Yanli smiled and said, "I'm sure everyone wants to know who this masked man is. The method to increase grain production originated from him."
"What? He's the young man that Mr. Jiang values when he goes to Jiangnan."
Jiang Youya turned around and faced the courtiers, "Ha... yes, it's him. He is also my eldest son-in-law, Song Mingen."
King Cheng and King Rui were whispering to each other. Upon hearing this, they suddenly raised their eyes and looked at Song Mingen.
No wonder he thought he looked like Song Mingen!
It’s true!
From today on, Wanwan is no longer a commoner but an official's wife.
"What?" The court officials were dumbfounded. "Is this true? Didn't your eldest son-in-law suddenly fall seriously ill?"
"No, it was just a big show for the murderer who poisoned Ming En."
Ministers: How much does Old Jiang love his eldest daughter? The entire Jiang family followed Song Mingen in putting on a show and deceived them all.
Prince Rui: "How could someone murder Brother Song?"
Jiang Youya: "Of course, my Ming En's face cannot be exposed in front of everyone."
Prince Rui was curious, "Why can't you show your face? Could it be that Brother Song's face looks like someone we've all met?"
"That's right." Jiang Youya looked at Song Mingen, "You can show your face now."
Xiao Yanxu hurriedly pulled Song Mingen up to the first step of the imperial stairs and stood facing the court officials. He raised his hand to take off Song Mingen's mask.
"Wait a moment." Xiao Hongyu sat up from the dragon throne, "My father and I need to take a look first."
Song Mingen turned around and took off his mask.
The little prince opened his eyes wide.
My cousin is so handsome!
Then he got off the throne, came to Song Mingen, raised his hands to him, and said, "Hug me, my royal brother!"
Royal brother?
The court officials thought they had heard wrongly. How could the little prince call him Royal Brother?
Song Mingen picked up the little prince, and the little prince put his little hands around Song Mingen's neck, "Royal brother, father said that you inherited the best qualities of your uncle and aunt. Father really didn't lie to me. You are very handsome, more than a hundred times more handsome than the fake king Xiao Hongyi!"
What fake king Xiao Hongyi?
Why can’t they understand what the little prince is saying?
The young prince glanced at the confused and confused expressions of the courtiers and said, "Royal brother, turn around quickly and let them take a closer look at your true appearance."
Song Mingen held the little prince in one hand, turned around and looked at the court officials with a smile.
Xiao Yanxu quickly put his face forward and asked, "How is it? Does my biological son look like me?"
The court officials came forward and looked carefully with wide eyes.
Not only does Song Mingen look like the old Prince Rongqin, but the little prince also looks a bit like him.
King Cheng felt speechless when he looked at Song Mingen's face. He was actually of royal blood!
Wanwan is destined to be the royal daughter-in-law!
"Haha..." Prince Rui stepped forward and patted Song Mingen on the shoulder. "No wonder I felt so close to you the first time I saw you at the Du Mansion's family recognition banquet. I wanted to pull you aside to talk more. You really are my brother."
Song Mingen: "I had the same feeling that day. I never thought we were cousins with a blood relationship."
Prince Rui: "If you hadn't worn the mask that day, we would have recognized each other long ago, and you wouldn't have faked your death."
King Cheng: "The first person to recognize Ming En must be Xiao Hongyi. He has seen the faces of his uncle and aunt for eighteen years, while you and I rarely see them."
Prince Cheng looked at Xiao Yanxu and asked, "Are you sure Xiao Hongyi is the fake prince? He looks just like the Empress Dowager."
"He is not my son. Except for his ears and nose, which are similar to your royal aunt, the rest of his face is nothing like ours."
"Whose son is he, then?"
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