Frost for a Thousand Years

Chapter 18, "The Land Reclamation Strategy," is the best.

The Prince of Jin visibly tensed up.

He could sense that this was a test.

Moreover, he felt that all the questions his father asked him were tests.

After all, with Father Emperor's wisdom and might, what is there that he needs to ask me?

Since there are exam questions, there must be answers.

The correct answer.

The Emperor observed the Prince of Jin's struggle. His intention was not to frighten him, so he stopped staring at him and, looking at the examination papers on his desk, casually remarked, "Tell me your insights on these three essays."

Upon hearing this, the Prince of Jin's tense heart immediately relaxed a little.

He wasn't completely ignorant; on the contrary, he could understand all of these articles.

Apart from being somewhat surprised by how good "Exhortation to Learning" was, my answers were generally in line with the examiners' opinions.

Those are the three articles; they are really good.

In addition, he had been supervising the examinations and grading papers, and had overheard the discussions among the instructors at the Imperial Academy, which boosted his confidence.

After a brief moment of deliberation, the Prince of Jin said, "These three articles are all outstanding policy essays. They each propose three different approaches to solving the problem of grain storage."

"The 'Tiered Tax Law' increases taxes based on the amount of land owned. Previously, large landowners and ordinary people paid the same taxes, but now heavy taxes have been levied on large landowners and merchants. This should solve the grain storage crisis in the short term. As for its future, we'll see how well it's implemented; perhaps it can be carried out effectively."

At this point, he shared his understanding: "This measure does not change the fundamental principle that officials do not pay taxes. It merely increases the tax on land owned by officials outside their registered land. I believe it is a gentle measure that even powerful families can accept."

Slowly, the emperor nodded.

Seeing that he had been recognized, the smile returned to the Prince of Jin's face.

He spoke with more composure: "On the contrary, the 'Ode to the Great River' is not for the short term. Managing the river and reclaiming new land is a long-term project, but once successful, it could solve the livelihood problems of millions. The money will come from those powerful families. With the Qi bandits pressing in from the north and the country in turmoil... this is precisely the time to test their loyalty."

"The more you donate, the more loyal you are."

The emperor casually made a comment.

Seeing that his father could still joke around, the Prince of Jin felt all his burdens lifted.

Finally, the "Tuntian Strategy".

The Prince of Jin continued earnestly, "It advocates concentrating local troops and militias, except in strategically important border areas, and then gathering displaced people for collective living. Because of the concentration of military and human resources, the efficiency of land reclamation, canal construction, and river management will be greatly improved. The per capita acreage will be at least twice that of scattered households. Although the tax ratio will be the same at 3:7, the tax revenue will be greatly increased."

The emperor listened attentively from beginning to end, without interrupting once.

"But there's a problem with doing this."

His tone suddenly turned serious as Prince Jin analyzed, "The powerful families sheltered the population by having tenant farmers cultivate the land for them, earning just enough to make ends meet. While the land under the military colonies still doesn't belong to the displaced people, it's divided 30/70, resulting in a surplus of far more grain than being a tenant farmer for the powerful families. In fact, it's equivalent to regaining land. The military colonies are essentially competing with the powerful families for population."

Upon hearing these words, the emperor looked at the Prince of Jin seriously for the first time.

These are things that the Grand Secretaries would not say.

Therefore, this is a principle that the King of Jin figured out himself.

These are his own words.

"So, of the three, which one does the Prince of Jin prefer?" the emperor asked, gazing intently at him.

I understand, Father Emperor favors the "Tuntian Strategy"!
"Your Majesty, I believe the 'Tuntian Strategy' is the best."

Quite decisively, the Prince of Jin expressed his opinion.

Furthermore, he made eye contact with the emperor.

A minister looking directly at the emperor is considered an act of disloyalty.

But there is no problem with the son and father doing this.

The emperor remained silent in response to his answer.

Then, he took a memorial from the imperial desk and handed it to Eunuch Chen.

Eunuch Chen presented the memorial to the Prince of Jin, slowly walked to him, and bowed to offer it.

With some doubts, the Prince of Jin opened the memorial.

The moment he saw it, his eyes widened.

Five Strategies for Establishing Military Farms for Disaster Relief

Date: March 15th.

Three months ago, a similar memorial to the "Tuntian Strategy" had already been submitted by the Grand Councilors! Looking up in surprise, the Prince of Jin asked, puzzled, "Could this policy essay be suspected of plagiarism?"

Upon hearing this, the emperor's face fell.

He looked at the Prince of Jin with a gloomy expression, a hint of 'speechlessness' in his eyes.

"It shouldn't be plagiarism."

The Prince of Jin quickly changed his tune.

How could such a secret memorial addressed directly to the emperor possibly be leaked?

Moreover, the good strategies for governing the country that even students studying science can come up with are something that high-ranking officials and wealthy ministers of the Grand Council cannot think of.

Why did the court not discuss the land reclamation program at all, even though this memorial had been submitted for three months?

Does this mean the emperor doesn't approve?

"Although the 'Tuntian Strategy' can address both the symptoms and the root cause... its approach is too radical and still needs to be discussed."

Otherwise, why would this memorial have been suppressed for months without any discussion?

"Which one does the Prince of Jin think it should be?" the Emperor asked.

After pondering, the Prince of Jin, based on the Emperor's reaction, said, "It seems feasible to choose the 'Ode to the Great River.' Moreover... it can address the root cause."

"Didn't you just like the 'Tuntian Strategy'?"

One question left the Prince of Jin completely bewildered.

Is "Ode to the Great River" also incorrect?
Indeed, the "Tuntian Strategy" was the best, but the river management strategy would fail.

But why didn't the Emperor use the best "Tuntian Strategy"?

why?
why?
The Prince of Jin's mind raced, growing increasingly heated, and his heart began to race with panic.

"Your subject believes that the 'Tuntian Strategy' is still the best choice..."

"Then the 'Strategy of Land Reclamation' is the best answer."

"This matter is entirely up to His Majesty to decide..."

The King of Jin grew increasingly timid until he uttered these words.

As the current eldest son, the emperor's expression this time was complex and somewhat sorrowful.

He raised his hand and pointed at the Prince of Jin: "If you were the emperor, how would you do something you want to do?"

"Your subject would never dare to harbor such a rebellious and treacherous thought!"

Upon hearing this, the Prince of Jin immediately knelt on the ground, prostrating himself, trembling with fear.

The emperor rose and walked to the Prince of Jin.

They grabbed his arm and forcibly 'helped' him up.

Then, little by little, he was dragged to the imperial desk, and despite the Prince of Jin's trembling resistance, he was directly pressed into the seat.

"Father... Father..."

Prince Jin looked up in terror at the emperor; his face was deathly pale.

At this moment, Eunuch Chen quietly withdrew from the inner room.

"Tell me, if you were the emperor, how would you do one thing you want to do?"

Sitting on a round stool, the emperor spoke each word clearly and forcefully.

He swallowed hard.

Nervously, the Prince of Jin slowly began, "I will..."

"Call me Emperor!"

The two words struck like thunder, nearly causing the Prince of Jin to collapse to the ground.

Trembling all over, he almost cried as he said, "If I want to do something, I will first discuss it with my key ministers, then implement it in certain counties, and if it proves feasible, then promote it nationwide..."

"I'll tell you!"

The emperor stood up angrily, interrupting the Prince of Jin, raised his finger, pointed, and said sternly, "If you want to do something, you must let the world see that someone wants to do it!"

(End of this chapter)