Chapter 49 Jasmine Blossoms
Qin Xiao's gaze swept quickly over Chu Jiubian, but he couldn't see any injuries. However, the faint smell of blood went straight into his nostrils.
"It's nothing," Chu Jiu argued. "My legs were just chafed from riding the horse."
Qin Xiao felt relieved, but subconsciously looked down at his legs.
Although the sky was overcast today, it hadn't rained yet, so Chu Jiubian's clothes were dry and nothing was visible.
Chu Jiubian followed his gaze to his own legs, then looked up at him.
"Would you like me to lift up my outer robe and show you?"
The young man spoke with a smile, his voice rising almost imperceptibly at the end.
Qin Xiao laughed and said, "I don't mind."
Chu Jiubian raised his eyebrows, and then actually lifted his outer robe, revealing pure white trousers.
Bloodstains were visible on the trouser legs, extending from the crotch down to the calves. The thin silk fabric was stuck to the inner thighs by the bloodstains, outlining the smooth curves.
Qin Xiao looked down, paused for a moment, then stepped forward and pulled the hem of the garment from his hand and put it down.
"Have you seen it all?" Chu Jiubian asked with a smile.
Qin Xiao remained silent and said, "Do you think it's elegant to do this in public?"
Chu Jiubian looked around and said, "Where are you in public? Aren't you the only one here?"
The hidden guards, who had already avoided being seen, made their presence even smaller upon hearing this.
"Besides," Chu Jiubian leaned slightly closer to him, lowering his voice, "it's just outer pants, it's not like I'm taking them off..."
Qin Xiao covered his mouth, his hand covering most of his face, leaving only his slightly surprised eyes showing.
"Don't talk nonsense at such a young age," Qin Xiao said.
Chu Jiubian was taken aback.
He is indeed four years younger than Qin Xiao, but when has he ever mentioned his age?
Qin Xiao lowered his hand, took half a step back, and said, "Go and take care of it. I'll wait for you in the main room."
After saying that, he turned around and went back to the inner courtyard.
Chu Jiubian stood there for a while, then touched his face before heading to the bedroom.
Qin Xiao entered the main room and walked to the table.
There were two teacups and a teapot on the table. He poured himself a cup of tea, tilted his head back, and drank it.
Chu Jiubian returned to his bedroom, and while taking off his pants, he asked the system, "Is Wang Qichen still asleep?"
He came home early today, around 8 a.m.
Although people usually get up early at this time, Wang Qichen is different. He usually goes to bed late and gets up late as well.
As expected, the system replied: [Host, we have detected that believer Si Tu Zhaoling has woken up and is dancing in the rain. Believers Wang Qichen and Jiang Shuoye are still asleep.]
Chu Jiubian: "Dancing?"
Yes. It's been raining in southern Xinjiang for the past few days, and the rivers and lakes have filled up again. The believer, Si Tu Zhaoling, is full of energy and has nowhere to release it, so she's learning a priestess dance.
Being young is great.
Chu Jiubian sighed for a moment, then asked, "Why is Jiang Shuoye up so late today too?"
Yesterday, a Tatar scout came to gather intelligence but was captured alive by Jiang Shuoye, a follower of the Tatar army, and interrogated for most of the night.
The Tatars dare to come again?
Last time, Jiang Shuoye chopped off the hand of the Tatar deputy general named Mirhan, and the cavalry of the Northern Desert Army also gave them a warning. I didn’t expect that the Tatars would come again after only a few days.
But what are these scouts here to gather information about?
Chu Jiubian frowned and said, "Let the two of them enter the Divine Realm."
As he spoke, he leaned back and sat on the bed.
After taking off his outer pants, the injuries on his legs were quite shocking to behold.
He wiped the bloodstains with a damp towel, applied iodine, closed his eyes, and entered the realm of the gods.
This is a good opportunity to let the wound air dry; it can be bandaged as soon as it comes out.
Within the divine realm, Chu Jiubian opened his eyes directly on the divine throne and saw that Wang Qichen and Jiang Shuoye had already arrived below.
One of them wore silver-white armor for daytime, while the other wore a dark green light robe. They stood on either side of the long table, appearing to be completely different people in every way.
But now, they have one thing in common.
With a thought, Chu Jiubian transformed one chair in front of the long table into six.
After Wang Qichen and Jiang Shuoye arrived, they bowed to the divine phantom left by Chu Jiubian in the divine realm, and then stood there dumbfounded, not knowing what to do next.
Seeing that the number of chairs had suddenly increased to six, they immediately guessed that the high priest must have six believers who could enter the divine realm.
"Please sit down," Chu Jiu said.
The two of them sat down with a chair between them.
Chu Jiubian raised an eyebrow and asked the system, "Did those two just have a fight?"
【No. 】
That means we simply can't connect.
Chu Jiubian didn't force them to sit together. The seat between them was perfect for Si Tu Zhaoling, and it would also liven up the atmosphere.
"Tell me about your recent situation," Chu Jiubian said.
He has been a deity from the very beginning. Although he puts on airs, he can talk and laugh, and he is full of life.
Therefore, no one thought it was wrong for him to say such things.
Wang Qichen spoke first: "High Priest, I have been planning to quit drinking recently, but it's proving difficult. Do you have any good ideas?"
Chu Jiubian almost laughed at him.
“If you have a strong will, you can quit. Why bother the high priest?” Jiang Shuoye disagreed.
Wang Qichen glanced at him: "Can't I just make a joke?"
Jiang Shuo frowned slightly, but ignored him and instead said to Chu Jiu, "Reporting to the High Priest, my steelmaking workshop has already started operating and has achieved some results. I expect that in a few days we will be able to forge even stronger ironware."
"Furthermore, yesterday the Tatars sent scouts to gather intelligence on the Northern Desert Army. My subordinates discovered that their warhorses were also equipped with stirrups and saddles, exactly the same as those used by our soldiers. I interrogated them overnight, but they don't know who leaked the information to them."
Chu Jiubian frowned slightly.
The Northern Desert Army had fought against the Tatar Army before, but at that time the Northern Desert Army covered their equipment with cloth, so the Tatar Army must not have seen it clearly.
But only a short time has passed, and the Tatar army's scouts are already equipped with them. Someone must have given them intelligence!
In other words, there are people in the northern deserts or in the capital who are colluding with the enemy!
Chu Jiubian suddenly remembered something from before.
When Su Sheng impeached Zhao Qianhe, he said that Zhao had "harmed loyal and good people," and everyone looked at Qin Xiao at that time.
Qin Xiao's parents died on the battlefield in the northern desert.
What's the real story behind this?
Could it be related to that traitorous spy?
Wang Qichen wasn't really clear about the High Priest's identity; he only knew that the High Priest had the idea of "enlightening the people" and protecting the people of Daning.
But he didn't know what he could talk to the high priest about. Now, after listening to Jiang Shuoye's report on the affairs of the northern desert, he had figured out some things.
The high priest seems to be paying close attention to all the factions in Da Ning.
If that's the case...
"Understood," Chu Jiubian replied.
"High Priest, I also have something to report," Wang Qichen said immediately. "I have already ordered the construction of a paper mill, and the workers have been almost found. Production will begin soon. Also, the recent floods in Hexi County were caused by the corruption of the Prince of Jiannan and the Xiao family. I had some articles written to satirize and ridicule them. I wonder if there is anything wrong with that?"
“Well done, there’s nothing wrong with it,” Chu Jiu argued.
Wang Qichen smiled, his peach blossom eyes sparkling with affection; he was truly a beauty.
Chu Jiubian, seeing that he was in a good mood, asked, "What is your relationship with Liu Junqi, the Assistant Minister of Works?"
Knowing that Chu Jiubian was concerned about the situation in the capital, Wang Qichen was not surprised to hear him ask such a question.
However, everyone in the capital knew that Liu Junqi was a protégé of Wang Zhiyuan, the Minister of Rites. As an elder of the Wang family, Wang Zhiyuan was outwardly closer to the family head, Wang Huanzhi, and quite distant from Wang Qichen, the young master.
Therefore, no one would associate Liu Junqi with Wang Qichen.
But now the high priest has come to him with questions, which means the other party can see through secrets that others cannot.
They truly are deities.
Wang Qichen's respect for Liu Junqi deepened, and he said, "To be honest, High Priest, Liu Junqi and I are very close friends."
Liu Junqi was a few years older than him, but the two got along well. Moreover, Wang Qichen was the one who helped him become Wang Zhiyuan's protégé and climb up to the position of Assistant Minister of Works.
There's no need to elaborate on their relationship.
Chu Jiubian understood: Liu Junqi was indeed useful and could be reused.
[Host, someone is knocking on your door.]
Chu Jiubian knew without a doubt that it was Qin Xiao.
He did indeed linger in the Divine Realm for quite a while.
However, he suddenly remembered something: if he left now, would the believers in the divine realm still be able to stay here?
【Yes, host. Even when you are not in the Divine Realm, you can still summon your followers to enter. The system can also save your screen recordings, and if needed, it can relay their conversations to you in real time.】
That means that even if Chu Jiubian is busy and unable to enter the Divine Realm in the future, he can still have his followers communicate in the Divine Realm, and he will be able to know the content of their conversations.
That's a good feature.
[Host, you only need fifteen points to unlock these features.]
Chu Jiubian: "...Open it."
He didn't haggle, and the system seemed pleased, immediately saying: [The relevant function has been activated for the host. Your bedroom door has been opened.]
Chu Jiubian was startled and quickly said, "See me out."
He opened his eyes from the bed and immediately turned to look at the screen.
The bedroom was quite large, with a screen separating the bed from the other side, and outside the screen were low couches and similar items.
Now, even through the screen, Chu Jiubian could see a tall and imposing figure walking briskly toward them.
"Wait!" he said, and the figure paused and stopped.
"Are you alright?" Qin Xiao's voice came from behind the screen.
Chu Jiubian glanced at his leg, which was badly chafed, and said, "It's nothing."
Qin Xiao did not move.
He had been waiting for a while but no one came, so he came to look for them. He knocked on the bedroom door but no one answered, so he just walked in.
"It's really nothing." Chu Jiubian glanced at the figure behind the screen. "Go wait for me in the main room."
Qin Xiao could vaguely see the figure sitting on the bed through the screen.
The figure moved, raising one leg.
Qin Xiao's eyelashes fluttered, and he turned and quickly left the bedroom.
Walking along the corridor to the front of the main room, Qin Xiao stood under the corridor and enjoyed the breeze for a while.
After a while, he finally entered the main room.
He glanced at the tea set on the table, then went over and poured himself another cup of tea, which he then drank in one gulp.
A soft couch was placed by the window at the back of the main room, with a chess table on it.
Qin Xiao carried two tea sets and a teapot to the edge of the couch and sat down on one side of the chess table.
The window beside me was open, and I could see a large patch of jasmine planted behind the house, its fragrance wafting through the swaying leaves.
A damp, cool breeze swept by outside, stirring the wind chimes on the eaves, and a light rain began to fall.
He sat there, watching the misty drizzle outside the window.
After a while, he drank another cup of tea.
After putting down his teacup, he remained indifferent for a moment before picking up the chess box beside him.
He took out the chess pieces and slowly set up a chessboard.
The door to the main room was open, and after a short while, someone finally came in.
Qin Xiao paused in his grip on the chess piece, but did not turn to look at the person who had entered.
Chu Jiubian walked to the couch opposite Qin Xiao and sat down. Seeing a teacup beside him, he poured one for himself. Seeing that Qin Xiao's cup was empty, he poured one for him as well, before lowering his eyes to look at the chessboard.
Qin Xiao slightly raised his eyes, his gaze sweeping over his now-black trousers, and said, "Want a plate?"
Chu Jiubian had studied a little bit of everything, but he was really bad at Go.
"Let me teach you a new way to play," he said.
"What kind of gameplay?"
"Gomoku." Chu Jiubian pushed the set-up board aside, leaving only five white pieces, and said, "Whoever connects these five pieces in a line first wins."
Qin Xiao understood.
The rules sound so simple and clear that even a child could understand them.
Chu Jiubian then arranged the five chess pieces horizontally, vertically, and diagonally, before looking up at him and asking, "Do you understand?"
Qin Xiao met his calm eyes and for some reason felt like laughing.
He lowered his eyes to hide his smile: "I understand now."
“Then you go first,” Chu Jiu argued.
Qin Xiao picked up a black piece and placed it in the center of the chessboard. Chu Jiubian immediately placed a piece right next to him.
Qin Xiao then placed another piece, this time on the other side of the white piece.
Two black stones blocked the white stones in the middle, one on the left and one on the right. Chu Jiubian glanced at the man and then continued playing.
Chu Jiubian was already extremely skilled at Gomoku (Five in a Row), to the point that he didn't even need to think; he only needed to consider for a maximum of two seconds before placing a piece.
Qin Xiao initially struggled to adapt to the pace, but gradually caught up and started going faster and faster.
In a game of Gomoku, where two players chased and blocked each other, they almost filled the entire board.
Finally, Chu Jiubian was one step ahead and connected with the network.
Qin Xiao laughed and said, "I lost."
"That's pretty good." Chu Jiubian said, half-jokingly, as he put away the chess pieces. "Back in the Immortal Realm, there weren't many people around me who could beat me."
Qin Xiao slowly put away the chess pieces and asked, "Do you recognize those legendary immortals?"
"The titles of gods are different in the celestial realm and in the mortal realm, so I can't match them up," Chu Jiubian said, making up a story as soon as he opened his mouth.
Once a person tells a lie, they have to use countless lies to cover it up.
Therefore, we must plug those loopholes from the very beginning.
Sure enough, after hearing what he said, Qin Xiao stopped investigating and instead asked, "Do you have any other deities you're on good terms with?"
"Yes." Chu Jiubian replied without hesitation.
His best friend is the "High Priest".
Qin Xiao paused, then looked up at him: "Who?"
Chu Jiubian naturally couldn't tell the truth. The "High Priest" couldn't appear in public yet. The events in Mobei had already been quite conspicuous, so it was better to keep a low profile for now.
Moreover, Qin Xiao seemed to be testing him today.
Chu Jiubian felt that Qin Xiao probably believed in his identity as a "god," but was still somewhat hesitant, which was why he was asking so many questions.
Therefore, it is even more important not to talk about the high priest.
"Is it inconvenient for you to tell me?" Qin Xiao picked up the last black piece and leaned back against the handrail by the collapsed side.
Chu Jiubian looked at his seemingly teasing expression and leaned back on the armrest: "I can't tell you now."
Qin Xiao toyed with the chess piece between his fingers, stared at it for a long time, and then threw it back into the box before turning his head to look out the window.
Chu Jiubian also looked out.
The drizzle was fine and the outside seemed shrouded in a hazy mist, making the jasmine flowers blooming in the courtyard appear exceptionally pure and gentle.
He suddenly remembered that day in the capital.
It was also a rainy day when he talked to Qin Xiao about the imperial examination. At that time, the other person was standing under the corridor, with his back to the rain and the blooming jasmine, his figure as slender as a pine or bamboo.
The mahogany corridor, the pure white jasmine, and the people standing within it create a stunningly beautiful scene.
A faint jasmine scent wafted from their noses, seemingly emanating from both of them.
Chu Jiubian slightly shifted his gaze to look at the person opposite him, but unexpectedly his gaze met the man's eyes directly, and he was taken aback.
The crisp sound of the wind chimes, accompanied by the gentle patter of rain, seemed to stir one's emotions.
The atmosphere was somewhat awkward, but neither of them moved or looked away, letting everything unfold freely.
Just then, a subordinate's report came from outside: "Reporting to you two, Lord Jian has sent word that the dam has been completely blocked."
"Understood," Qin Xiao replied.
Chu Jiubian lowered his eyes, picked up the tea that had gone cold from the table, and took two sips.
Yesterday, Qin Xiao personally supervised Jian Hongzhuo's construction of the ship-cutting project, which blocked most of the water flow. After filling in some shovels, the blockage will be completely stopped.
Jian Hongzhuo then pressed on with his efforts, ordering his men to work through the night, and now they have finally managed to block it all.
Now that there's no more overflowing floodwater, we need to figure out how to drain the water.
The water that flooded the villages and farmland needed to be drained by clearing the ditches.
However, Jian Hongzhuo and Liu Junqi from Puxian are more skilled at these things, and they can finish arranging everything in another ten days or half a month.
These are things Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian don't need to worry about; what they should be thinking about right now is how to restore people's livelihoods.
"Do you still need that agricultural officer under your command?" Qin Xiao asked.
He was asking about Han Yuandao.
Chu Jiubian nodded: "The task of helping the people restore production can be entrusted to him."
Once the floodwaters recede, these people who are unwilling to leave their ancestral lands will surely return to their original villages, rebuild their houses, and resume farming and living their lives.
However, it takes a lot of effort to replant on land that has been flooded, as the loss of nutrients is already a major problem.
Although Qin Xiao was a high-ranking official in the capital, he had lived with his family in the northern desert region when he was young, and had a lot of knowledge about farming.
He had clearly also considered the difficulty of reclaiming land after the flood, and said in a deep voice, "It will take a long time for those lands to regain their fertility. The land is barren, and even if crops are planted, it will be difficult to have a good harvest."
"Then let's plant some crops that can withstand poor soil," Chu Jiu argued.
Qin Xiao: "Do you have a solution?"
“I know a crop called ‘sweet potato’,” Chu Jiu argued. “It’s drought-resistant, can withstand poor soil, and has a higher yield.”
"This is a good stuff," Qin Xiao asked. "How much does it yield?"
Chu Jiubian said calmly, "The yield is several dozen shi per mu."
In fact, sweet potatoes can generally yield around 2,000 to 4,000 catties per mu, so Chu Jiubian's claim of several dozen shi is somewhat vague.
Even so, Qin Xiao has already taken his place.
Nowadays, millet and wheat are grown in northern Daning, with a yield of only about one shi per mu, but sweet potatoes can reach dozens of shi!
If the people could all grow this, they would no longer have to suffer from hunger.
"Where should we look for this?" Qin Xiao stared intently at Chu Jiubian.
Chu Jiubian laughed and said, "No need to search, I will give the seedlings to Han Yuandao."
After saying that, he immediately added, "You don't need to thank me on behalf of the people. Since I have received their offerings, I should naturally help them."
Qin Xiao had heard about the extra grain and cloth in the granary yesterday. The disaster victims all knew that it was the reincarnation of the god Chu Jiubian who had appeared to them. Not only did they worship in the shrines, but many people also went to the county magistrate's mansion to kowtow and express their gratitude.
They truly believed that Chu Jiubian was a "god," and genuinely revered and loved him.
Chu Jiubian couldn't figure out what Qin Xiao was thinking and asked, "Don't you believe I'm a god?"
He's just curious right now.
I'm curious how Qin Xiao can be so rational? He doesn't believe in ghosts or gods, so surely he does believe in science?
Even in the era when Chu Jiubian lived, people were somewhat wary of him, and there were very few atheists as steadfast as Qin Xiao.
Qin Xiao was naturally not an atheist. He had previously thought that Chu Jiubian and "god" were not the same species, but now he understood that gods also have diversity.
But he still refused to believe that Chu Jiubian was a "god".
The gods are too far away from him.
Worlds apart.
Qin Xiao did not answer Chu Jiubian's question, but said, "After the disaster, we need to re-verify household registrations and measure land. Do you have any recommended candidates?"
“That Lord Song Feng from the Ministry of Revenue is quite good,” Chu Jiubian said.
Qin Xiao nodded: "Then it's him."
Although this person is a minor official and doesn't seem to have much ambition, he is conscientious in his work, and he only has his own small family to rely on, so he has no connection with other forces.
“Liu Junqi can also be used,” Chu Jiu argued.
This official from the Ministry of Works was unexpected. Although he was a protégé of Wang Zhiyuan, the Minister of Rites, he was on good terms with Wang Qichen. Moreover, Chu Jiubian had also realized in the past few days that this man was capable of great things.
That's because of Wang Qichen's connection; Chu Jiubian should give him a promotion.
Although Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao are now allies and generally will not separate, it is still safer to keep some of their own people in the court just in case.
Chu Jiubian concealed his selfish motives very well, and Qin Xiao probably didn't notice. After thinking for a moment, he nodded and said, "Then let Liu Junqi take the lead, with Han Yuandao accompanying him."
Once everything here is done, these two will have made a great contribution, and a promotion is inevitable.
Han Yuandao had it easy; the position of magistrate of Huai County was given to him directly.
If he had done even better, there would have been no problem in putting him in charge of Hexi Prefecture.
But Liu Junqi is a senior official in the Ministry of Works.
What positions are available for him above that?
A dark glint flashed in Qin Xiao's eyes.
Chu Jiubian asked, "Do you have any ideas?"
Although his question was vague, Qin Xiao understood it and said, "The Prince of Jiannan conspired with Xiao Wendao, the Vice Minister of Works, to embezzle funds allocated for the maintenance of the dikes in Hexi County, causing the dikes to be damaged and flooding farmland and villages. They also used their in-laws, such as Zhou Boshan, to harm the people. Their crimes are heinous."
They all knew that the flood was not the Xiao family's fault. Even though they had done many similar things before, this time they were truly innocent victims.
However, Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian currently lack concrete evidence to prove that the Prince of Anhuai was responsible, so the Xiao family has to take the blame.
Furthermore, Chu Jiubian always felt that there was more to the story. If the Prince of Anhuai could be extracted by the system, then he must not be a villain who only cares about profit and doesn't care about the lives of the people.
Therefore, the real mastermind behind this must be someone else, and even the Prince of Anhuai is part of their plan.
Qin Xiao didn't understand the Prince of Anhuai, but he chose not to take action against him. Besides lacking evidence, there was another crucial reason.
That is the most advantageous opportunity to suppress the Xiao family right now.
Of the various factions in the capital, the Xiao family is the most powerful, so suppressing them first is the best outcome.
Everyone knew this was a golden opportunity, so even if Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian did nothing, the other forces would still crush the Xiao family to death.
The Wang family should have already ordered those great Confucian scholars to criticize the Xiao family for "harming the people." After such an incitement, the Xiao family's reputation among the people will surely plummet.
Not only that, they can't even hold onto Hexi County now.
The officials in Hexi Prefecture before were either killed or demoted. Those who have been promoted now were all carefully selected by Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian. They are officials who are completely loyal to them and the court.
Moreover, these people are all wary of Chu Jiubian's "divine" status, and they are unlikely to dare to betray them.
Therefore, Hexi Commandery is now truly the Hexi Commandery of the imperial court.
The Xiao family's losses didn't stop there. Their most valuable asset, the Jiannan Prince who remained in the capital and was eyeing them covetously, had become a sharp blade aimed at them, a source of pride for the family.
The public support gained from the dam issue will now backfire many times over.
Xiao Wendao, the Vice Minister of Works who is particularly active in the court, will also be implicated this time. The Xiao family will definitely protect him at all costs, but demotion and salary reduction are inevitable.
With such a grand display, given Xiao Yao's methods, he will surely keep the entire Xiao family silent for a long time to come.
As time goes by and the people's memory of this incident fades, they can then find ways to do good deeds that benefit the people, and their reputation will be restored.
As for Xiao Wendao, with the Minister of Personnel, Xiao Huaiguan, around, there are naturally plenty of ways to promote him again.
However, Chu Jiubian, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, would not give him this opportunity so easily.
But that's all in the future. In any case, the Xiao family will definitely be weakened by this flood.
"Now that Xiao Wendao's position as Vice Minister of Works is vacant, let's give it to someone capable," Qin Xiao said.
That's exactly what Chu Jiu Bian meant.
With Liu Junqi promoted to Vice Minister of Works, and together with Jian Hongzhuo, Minister of Works, the entire Ministry of Works was practically in the hands of the imperial court.
The Xiao family used to control the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Works, but now that they've lost the Ministry of Works, they only have the Ministry of Personnel left.
Unfortunately, Chu Jiubian also hindered the Ministry of Personnel, which greatly diminished the Xiao family's influence in the court.
However, at the same time, because Liu Junqi has taken power, the Wang family may become slightly more powerful. But Liu Junqi is not the kind of person who would abuse his power for personal gain, so even if the Wang family becomes powerful, it won't be that powerful.
Qin Xiao suddenly said, "After we go back, let's spread the news about the upcoming imperial examinations."
From the dissemination of information to rounds of selection and finally to hiring, it is a long process that will take at least several months, so it is best to get it done as soon as possible.
“Okay,” Chu Jiu replied.
He knew that Qin Xiao wanted to take advantage of the current momentum of suppressing the Xiao family to propose the imperial examination, so as to make the court's attitude more assertive and put more pressure on all the aristocratic families.
Now, everything in Hexi County has been arranged.
Even after returning to the capital, they had a plan for what to do.
Then they had no reason to stay here any longer, so Qin Xiao ordered someone to call Han Yuandao over and also ordered people to pack their belongings. Today, he and Chu Jiubian could set off back to the capital.
The two got off the bed and went outside.
Standing under the covered walkway, listening to the sound of rain, Han Yuandao soon arrived.
Qin Xiao then explained everything that needed to be done to him.
Han Yuandao never imagined he would have such great power. Although nervous, he was not afraid. He knelt down and kowtowed properly, saying, "This humble official will register all the households of the disaster victims and remeasure the land clearly. What belongs to the people can only belong to the people."
These words were quite meaningful, and both Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian were very pleased with each other's intelligence.
After he left, Chu Jiubian looked at Qin Xiao and said, "You want to touch the land."
Qin Xiao laughed: "I do enjoy talking to 'a certain' intelligent person now."
Chu Jiubian smiled and then sighed softly.
"This matter really needs careful planning."
Qin Xiao wanted to change the land system, and Chu Jiubian wanted to as well.
The greatest assets that enabled powerful and influential families to grow stronger and stronger were twofold: people and land.
They have a large population and many talented and capable people, but once the imperial examination system and the Imperial Academy are established, their advantage will be replaced by the imperial court.
Is it one family that has more people, or the entire population of Daning?
Isn't it obvious?
Then came the land.
Powerful families used the power of local officials to open back doors for themselves, annexing land, concealing farmland, and shifting taxes, which benefited neither the common people nor the imperial court, but only themselves.
They were able to do this because there were problems with the land and tax system in Da Ning.
Therefore, if we want to continue to suppress powerful families at their root, we should start with land and taxation systems.
Qin Xiao had long harbored ideas for reform, but because the Qin family was powerful and Emperor Yingzong was wary of them, he could not make any sweeping changes, nor could he even serve as an official in the court.
Now that he has power, these things can be done little by little.
The subordinates packed their belongings and came and went. Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao stood under the corridor, their two figures as upright as pine trees, or like unsheathed sharp blades, pointing towards the capital.
July 23rd, the first year of Jingrui.
In the evening, Prince Ning, Qin Xiao, and Grand Tutor Chu Jiubian returned to the capital after their disaster relief mission.
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