A son who doesn't resemble his father? Love you, old man, see you at Xuanwu Gate!

Chapter 82 Righteous Way
The prefectural governor's residence was very small.

It was just a side courtyard with three courtyards and four bays in Linjin County.

As the yamen and residence of an official of the Han Dynasty with a salary of 2,000 shi, it has to be said that it was rather shabby.

"Zhuang Xiongpi, Prefect of Linjin, pays his respects to the Crown Prince." Zhuang Xiongpi bowed solemnly.

Looking at his slightly uneasy expression, Liu Ju felt that this man was truly reliable and smiled, "Rise."

The prefectural governor's office had been taken over by the crown prince's personal guards. Liu Ju and Zhuang Xiongbi entered the office one after the other. Liu Ju seemed more like the master of the place, while Zhuang Xiongbi seemed more like a servant.

Serving tea and pouring water were all done by Zhuang Xiongpi alone. Liu Ju seemed to sense something and asked, "In such a large prefectural governor's mansion, do you, the prefect, have to do everything yourself?"

"Your Majesty, all the officials, including the assistant commander, the commandant and his subordinates, as well as the county's clerks, are in place and performing their duties..."

Seeing that Zhuang Xiongpi was about to list the officials such as the Prefectural Chief Clerk and the Inspector, Liu Ju smiled and asked, "What I mean is, who will take care of your food and daily life?"

"Your Majesty, I am still capable of standing on my own and have no need for others to serve me for the time being," Zhuang Xiongpi replied earnestly, regaining his composure.

Liu Ju also became serious, recalling the report from the Prefect of Linjin County in the details of the counties and prefectures across the land delivered by the Prime Minister's office.

One of the comments was, "He's a cold person."

Zhuang Xiongpi was overwhelmed by his busy official duties, which consumed everything in his life, including his actions and personal life. It was all about official duties.

He would see anyone off as soon as he finished his official business. His speed in handling official duties made all his subordinates complain endlessly. Even if he had two full desks of documents that he carried into his study at night, they would be distributed to the various officials by 5 a.m. the next day without any delay.

When officials and clerks report matters, no one can exceed half an incense stick's time. Zhuang Xiongpi has a rule: if a matter cannot be explained clearly after twenty drops of water from the copper pot, then one should immediately go down to sort out the clues and come back.

Focused on official business, single-minded.

Capable, daring, and focused on getting things done.

Liu Ju didn't understand this kind of political machine very well, but he was certain of one thing: in the hearts of the people, Zhuang Xiongbi was a good official.

"Where is your salary? What has it gone about?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, it has been used to cover the insufficient tax revenue of the people in the prefecture."

Often, natural disasters and man-made calamities occur simultaneously.

Emperor Xiaowen reigned for 23 years, and Emperor Xiaojing reigned for 16 years. During the 39 years of the reigns of Emperors Wen and Jing, there were five droughts recorded in historical books, averaging one every eight years.

In the twenty years since Your Majesty ascended the throne, there have been five droughts, averaging one every four years.

No one can explain exactly why, but the massive drought was something that the self-sufficient farmers who made up the foundation of the empire were simply unable to cope with.

In the ideal model of the empire, a family of five, cultivating 100 mu of land, could harvest about 150 shi of grain a year, pay 15 shi in taxes, consume 90 shi of household expenses, and still have 45 shi left over.

This family can keep 15 shi of grain as an emergency measure, and take out the remaining 30 shi to exchange for money. The money they get will be used up during the village's spring and autumn community sacrifices, and when the family of five gets new clothes. They may even have to use some of the emergency grain.

This is to ensure that the people are always busy but never gain anything.

Therefore, a large country must exhaust its people.

The imperial model is relatively simple and does not take into account many things. For example, it does not include other income such as sericulture, weaving, and livestock breeding. Similarly, this model does not take into account family members getting sick or other expenses such as taxes. Overall, under the imperial model, the lives of self-sufficient farmers at the bottom are generally difficult.

In reality, it is even more difficult.

The idea of ​​a five-person family cultivating 100 mu of land in the imperial model is practically nonexistent. They typically cultivate at least seven or eight mu, and at most twenty or thirty mu, with 100 mu being extremely rare.

The land tax in the Han Dynasty was low, but it was burdened by numerous exorbitant taxes and levies, making it difficult for ordinary people in counties to make a living, let alone those in poor counties. Zhuang Xiongpi's salary of two thousand shi was nothing compared to the taxes levied on Linjin County by the imperial court, but Zhuang Xiongpi still filled the gap without hesitation.

"rare."

Liu Ju paused for a moment, then nodded and said, "In your memorial, you mentioned opening channels to draw water from the Luo River to irrigate the fields and transform tens of thousands of hectares of saline-alkali land into fertile land, is that right?"

"Yes, Your Majesty." Zhuang Xiongpi's interest was immediately piqued when the topic turned to official business.

What kind of help do you need from the imperial court?

"Craftsmen, mediocre workers, and wages."

Zhuang Xiongbi, completely oblivious to politeness, stated succinctly, "The court will need to send artisans capable of opening irrigation canals in Shangyan Mountain, along with a large number of laborers to repair and dig canals, and the funds used for all expenses will be at least... at least three... four... five hundred million coins."

"How many hundred million do you want?" Liu asked with a smile.

"Five hundred million coins," Zhuang Xiongbi answered truthfully.

The straight-line distance between Zheng County and Chongquan County is a hundred miles. Moreover, to divert water southward from Luoyang, it is necessary to pass through Shangyan Mountain, which means that a water diversion tunnel several miles, or even ten miles, is required. This is an imperial-level project, and it also comes with an imperial-level price.

Five hundred million coins!
Zhuang Xiongbi was confident that the canal could be completed in a few years.

Liu Ju was speechless for a moment. It wasn't too much, it was too little. Five hundred million coins was equivalent to fifty thousand gold.

The imperial project that could irrigate tens of thousands of hectares of fertile land only cost 50,000 gold coins, while the emperor had to spend 3 million gold coins to build the four Xiaoyao Palaces: Jianzhang Palace, Beigong Palace, Guigong Palace, and Mingguang Palace.

This was not the first time Zhuang Xiongbi had submitted a memorial; he had also submitted one during his father's reign, but it was "suppressed."

I'd rather spend three million to build a palace than spend fifty thousand to benefit the people.

"My lord, are there many?" Zhuang Xiong asked nervously.

Liu Ju shook his head. "How many laborers do you need?"

"Ten thousand people will suffice."

"Linjin is such a large prefecture, it can't even muster ten thousand laborers. We have to find them from elsewhere?"

"Your Majesty, in Linjin, most people are elderly. They can still farm, but they are ill-suited to building irrigation canals."

"Where have all the able-bodied men gone?"

"..."

Zhuang Xiongpi remained silent for a moment, then said, "Reporting to Your Majesty, they have all gone to serve in the army."

Liu Ju was taken aback.

During the wars between the Qin and Han dynasties, the people of Guanzhong, who were closest to Xianyang and Chang'an, suffered the heaviest casualties. Under the rule of Emperor Xiaowen, the region had recovered much of its vitality, but the Rebellion of the Seven States under Emperor Xiaojing wiped it out again. In the early years of his father's reign, there were no wars, which gave the region a breather. Then came the more than ten years of war between the Han and the Xiongnu.

Linjin County was never a wealthy place to begin with. During the protracted war, the people's strength was exhausted, and almost every household was empty.

The absence of able-bodied men is the real reason why the fields are mostly populated by elderly farmers.

War not only crippled the empire's economy but also extinguished its workforce.

Liu Ju felt heavy-hearted. "Craftsmen are not a problem. The Imperial Household Department and the Mohist School will send people to design a practical canal to divert water from Luoyang to the south."

Mediocre workers are not a problem either. When the wages are satisfactory, there will always be people willing to leave their hometowns and come to Linjin. If you can keep people in Linjin, Linjin will eventually have the opportunity to become a major prefecture.

Soon, the Crown Prince's palace will send 100,000 taels of gold. The sooner we dig, the sooner we build, the sooner it will be completed, and the sooner we can relieve the people from their dire straits.

Zhuang Xiongpi prostrated himself on the ground and kowtowed three times, saying, "Your subject Zhuang Xiongpi, on behalf of the 800,000 elders of Linjin, thanks Your Majesty for your grace!"

One hundred thousand gold coins could provide Linjin with an additional irrigation canal capable of irrigating 40,000 hectares of fertile land, and would allow Linjin to retain tens of thousands of laborers, greatly supplementing its manpower and financial resources.

"As for food..."

Han law does not alleviate poverty, and government grain cannot be used to support construction. Behind every seemingly unreasonable law lies an untold story. Liu Ju would not arbitrarily change things he did not understand. "The foundation of Han law is to value agriculture and war. Agriculture supports war, and war protects agriculture. Agriculture and war are inherently one. Water management and land conservation rely on the strength of the people for both war and agriculture. War comes first, agriculture second. War takes precedence over agriculture and is therefore the foundation of the army. All the people working on canal construction are incorporated into the military system, and they are fed military rations during canal construction."

Military rations for flood control!

Zhuang Xiongbi didn't say anything more and bowed repeatedly.

"Now that the grand plan is finalized, Zhuang Xiongpi..."

"The minister is here."

"Linjin County must verify the number of manpower, decide on matters such as the location of granaries, the mobilization of vehicles, the number of craftsmen of various kinds, and the repair of tools, and then submit a report to the Crown Prince's Palace. Construction can begin after the beginning of spring."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Everything was finalized.

As Liu Ju walked out of the prefectural governor's mansion, a heavy snow began to fall, turning the vast world into a chaotic scene.

All the potholes on the road were smoothed out under the cover of snow. Zhao Chongguo advised that the snow should stop before leaving, and Zhuang Xiongpi also tried to persuade him to stay. Just as Liu Ju was pondering, there were more visitors at the Linjin Prefectural Government Office.

"Your Majesty!"

"uncle?"

Liu Ju was surprised to find that it was Wei Qing who had come looking for him.

The Crown Prince's entourage and the Grand Marshal's cavalry both entered the Prefect's residence, making the already small place even more crowded.

In Zhuang Xiongpi's study, Liu Ju looked at Wei Qing and asked, "Uncle, is there an emergency in Chang'an?"

"It's nothing urgent, it's just that the heavy snow is covering the roads, and I'm worried about Ju'er's safety..."

Wei Qing was not good at lying, so Liu Ju shook his head and laughed, "Uncle is fast on horseback, but he can't arrive in an instant. When Uncle came, the snow hadn't even started falling yet."

Wei Qing remained silent.

Liu Ju did not urge him. He added some charcoal to the stove, and when the water boiled, he poured two bowls of tea. He placed one bowl in front of Wei Qing and the other in front of himself.

The rich aroma of ghee mingled with a subtle tea fragrance. Liu Ju was not used to this oily, salty, and astringent ghee tea, but habit is a powerful thing.

"The ministers, marquises, and members of the imperial family of both the central and foreign courts intend to elect an empress to rule as regent," Wei Qing said in a deep voice.

After Qin Shi Huang unified China, imperial edicts were called "zhi" and proclamations were called "gao".

If empresses or concubines held power and ruled as regents, their orders would naturally be elevated to the level of the emperor, hence the term "ruling by imperial authority."

For example, "When Emperor Hui died, the crown prince was made emperor. He was too young, so Empress Dowager Lü ruled as regent."

Liu Ju gazed at the swirling, sparkling snowflakes outside the door, and said indifferently, "The Empress that Uncle spoke of, is she my mother?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"So that's what Uncle wanted to say after hesitating for so long."

Liu Ju turned his head and smiled, "What are you worried about, Uncle?"

Wei Qing was taken aback.

He wanted to explain the meaning of the empress ruling as regent, but then he thought of his nephew's intelligence—how could he not know? His lips parted slightly, but no sound came out.

“In my father’s eyes, I am probably a scheming crown prince.”

Liu Ju was both frank and helpless, and laughed, "In the hearts of the officials, marquises, members of the imperial family, and some common people of both the central and foreign dynasties, I am probably a brave and fierce crown prince."

It seems that everything started because of me.

I refuse to agree to my father's arrangements. It's like we're constantly at odds, like father and son are being forced to clash.

When I was incompetent, my father scolded me, my ministers looked down on me, and everyone was worried about whether such a crown prince could take over this glorious empire.

Now that I've become capable, my father hates me, my ministers fear me, and everyone is worried that such a crown prince might ruin this glorious empire.

However, none of the emperor, nobles, marquises, or members of the imperial family noticed that this glorious empire was riddled with holes and on the verge of collapse.

The ones plotting and scheming have never been me, the Crown Prince, but my father, the Emperor. And the ones who are brave and fierce have never been me, the Crown Prince, but the ambitious nobles, marquises, and members of the imperial family in Chang'an.

What are those high-ranking officials, nobles, and members of the royal family who want my mother to rule as regent thinking?
It wasn't about improving the empire, nor was it about reconciling the imperial family; rather, it was about finding a middle ground, unsure of who would win between the emperor and the crown prince, to protect oneself from being purged by the eventual victor.

Wei Qing was shocked on the spot.

"Intrigue and scheming, and a penchant for violence, will not lead to great achievements."

Liu Ju drank the gradually warming tea, and his body warmed up. "Everything I have done from beginning to end has been very simple: to put the people of the world first. And it is also very simple for my father to win: to put the people of the world first as well."

Power is a public instrument, not the property of any one family or individual. Whether it is me or my father, whoever first demonstrates to the world their sincerity in resolving this issue will win.

This is the true way of heaven and earth.

If a country does not follow the right path, it will have no support; if it does not bestow favors upon its people, it will have no one to love and respect it.

Regardless of whether my mother ruled as regent or not, and regardless of how much scheming my father, the dukes, marquises, and members of the imperial family did, they could not win.

They cannot, and should not, value all living beings more than themselves!

My father is ambitious, and his ministers are also ambitious. Logically speaking, our dynasty should have done better than the reigns of Emperor Jing and Emperor Wen. But in reality, my father is far inferior to Emperors Wen and Jing.

The reason for this is that the current emperor and his ministers want too much. From governing to personal desires, they are doing everything in the world to satisfy their own desires.

"uncle."

"Ok?"

"If Mother were to rule as regent, and both my edict and Mother's edict were placed before you, whose would you obey?"

"..."

Wei Qing could not answer. One was his sister, and the other was his nephew. He could not easily choose between the two imperial edicts.

"If both my mother's and my imperial edicts were placed before you, elder brother, whose would you listen to?" Liu Ju asked again.

Wei Qing did not answer, but he knew that Huo Qubing would carry out Liu Ju's imperial edict without hesitation.

"In the Northern Army, if my uncle and elder brother issue orders simultaneously, whose orders will the twelve generals and eighty thousand soldiers obey?"

"In the outer court, will the Prime Minister's residence listen to me, or to Father or Mother?"

"..."

Wei Qing was unable to answer.

"The fact that the mother ruled as regent has no impact whatsoever."

"Uncle, no one can change this world except me!"

(End of this chapter)