Reclaiming Wasteland: Carefree Mountain Farmer

Chapter 193 Neutrality

Beijiwu escorted the child home, but when he returned to the palace, the matter was still unresolved.

But it's not something to rush into.

The next day, Chai Boshi came to report on the situation.

Beijiwu sat in the ancient palace hall in the autumn. This room was not far from the Guanyin Hall. The seat in the hall was only four or five meters away from the door.

Chai Boshi knelt down three meters away from Beijiwu and began to report on his work.

Sometimes Arctic warriors would make kneeling people stand up and sit down to talk, and sometimes they wouldn't.

Kneeling signifies a lower status, while sitting signifies being on equal footing.

For Arctic warriors who frequently commit murder, equality is detrimental to the current stability of the country.

If everyone is equal, why should we listen to those in power?
It is impossible for people to be equal, but Arctic Martial Arts has already achieved equality for the majority of people.

For example, public households were relatively equal to most bureaucrats, and public households were relatively equal to most unemployed mountain farmers and Han people.

In a world where everyone is equal, some people do nothing all day but still have more than enough to eat and spend, and enjoy privileges everywhere.

At least in the unequal world of Shan Nong Kingdom, everyone has an obligation to die for the stability of the country.

Arctic martial arts have never spoken of morality or equality; they have always relied on forcing others to kneel and surrender to get to where they are today.

In the Mountain Farming Kingdom, the Arctic Warriors enjoy privileges that supersede the law.

Compared to traditional Han emperors, Beiji Wu was far more unrestrained and did not care about any ancestral rules or feudal etiquette.

The traditional fraternal clans and meritorious nobles of other ethnic groups have no influence over Arctic martial arts.

“Private printing of newspapers is a capital offense, a crime that will kill the whole family, and all those involved and aware of it should die.”

As always, Arctic Martial Arts University acted directly, delivering the clearest and most forceful punishment.

“Keep those who have the technology,” Beijiwu said calmly. “Keep the craftsmen who can print 10,000 newspapers in an hour, as well as the papermakers who invent new equipment.”

"These people photocopy newspapers to make money, but newspapers are not just about money; sometimes they can be used like imperial edicts."

“If someone takes a newspaper to try and persuade the border troops to defect, it will cause a lot of trouble.”

“I don’t care about businessmen selling newspapers privately for profit, nor do I care how much money they make. First, I need to find out the printing location and papermaking technology along this line, understand the equipment and technology, control the relevant personnel, and recruit useful technical personnel into Team 154.”

"The rest of the sales and organization staff were killed, their property confiscated, the women sold into brothels, and the children... well, let's just kill them all, regardless of gender."

Arctic Martial waved his hand, too lazy to spare the lives of these people.

Since we're doing a business that could cost us our lives, then we should die.

Chai Boshi replied, “Recently, many children have been born in the city, and many places are short of wet nurses and servants. Moreover, some soldiers who have followed the Emperor through thick and thin have no children due to health reasons. If those children are too young to understand, could they be raised by families without children?”

Arctic Martial looked at his subordinate in charge of criminal cases.

Chai Boshi kept his head down, knowing that saying even one more word would put him under a hundred times more pressure.

After a few seconds of silence, Beiji Wu casually said, "The ringleader and accomplices must die; the rest will be dealt with according to the circumstances."

Chai Boshi breathed a sigh of relief and kowtowed, saying, "Your Majesty is wise and mighty! Long live the Emperor!"

Arctic Martial Arts University did not pay much attention to this inevitable event.

Nowadays, people can eat and dress well, but it's quite normal for them to take risks to earn more money.

Human beings inherently possess such ambitions.

After Chai Boshi finished reporting the situation, Ma Rudao, the governor of Huanghuai Province who was kneeling on the ground, also reported on his official business.

"Your Majesty, the wild animals in Huanghuai Province have been largely driven out, with more than 100,000 wild dogs and foxes killed, and countless birds of prey such as eagles and falcons. This has successfully ensured that carrier pigeons are not harmed by birds of prey during their flights."

Beijiwu nodded and said, "Continue to eliminate the beast plagues and tigers in various places. Now that the court no longer imposes heavy taxes and has helped the people solve their problems of food, clothing, housing and transportation, we should also let the people organize themselves to fight against the beast plagues in various places."

"Lords in various regions are permitted to hunt wild beasts, and the spoils shall be purchased by local merchants."

"Only by eliminating the wild beasts can we begin to cultivate the wasteland."

"Eradicate all evil!"

The Arctic warriors don't care about humans, so why would they care about the lives of wild animals? Anyone that competes with humans for arable land and resources is killed.

Tigers and wolves must be exterminated, as must rabbits and mice. Except for bees, swallows, and other creatures that are helpful to humans, all others cannot coexist.

After handling a few matters briefly, Beiji Wu went back to rest. He didn't spend much time on government affairs each day, but his efficiency far surpassed that of previous emperors.

Dictatorship means not needing to consult with others, saving a lot of time on debate.

In many places, the administrative efficiency of the Mountain Farm Kingdom is very high. Most things don't require much trouble as long as Arctic Wuken nods in.

Beijiwu is the kind of person who often changes his mind, but he keeps his word, and his subordinates know how to do things properly.

The downsides are also obvious: when civil officials try to defend criminals by citing rules and right and wrong, they are easily killed along with them.

Prisons generally don't keep people in winter, so most prisoners are executed in the fall.

Chai Boshi killed many people, watching as the dead were burned to ashes.

After returning home that evening, Chai Boshi went back to his residence in Luoyang.

"Sir, wash your hands, it's time to eat."

Chai Boshi's wife came up to greet him.

Standing beside him was Chai Boshi's daughter, Chai Yuzi, who had come with him.

Chai Yuzi is sixteen years old and just came to Luoyang with her mother this year. She can clearly sense that her father is in a bad mood.

Chai Boshi sighed, "I don't want to eat anymore. We killed a lot of people today."

The wife, who had been promoted from concubine to wife, did not speak, but went to the side to pour water and handed it to Chai Boshi.

Influenced by her parents, Chai Yu-Tzu is not usually a talkative woman.

However, he then offered a counter-argument: "If Father doesn't want to continue his official career, can't he resign and go home?"

Chai Boshi shook his head. "Resigning is easy, but where will I get so much salary after I go back? I'll be powerless and have no influence back then. I don't care about anything else now. I'll just serve for the full ten years first."

“The last prime minister resigned and went home, ignoring everything and refusing to acknowledge the position of prime minister.”

"Even if the rest die in office or fall ill, they will still receive their full salary at half the normal rate."

"I'm still in good health, and the government's treatment of me is quite good, so I'll work for a few more years."

The woman then handed him tea. Chai Boshi took a sip and felt a little better.

Chai Yuzi asked curiously, "I've heard about what happened today. Those merchants and spies who transported the newspapers certainly deserved to die, but why were a group of people left behind to print newspapers for the thieves? I heard they were even recruited into the production team."

Chai Boshi sat in a chair, one hand on the dining table, the other gently stroking his beard.

"That's what makes the Mountain Farmers so remarkable. His Majesty doesn't care about those rebels and villains; he cares more about recruiting the most skilled craftsmen into the Mountain Farmers' ranks."

Chai Yuzi smiled and said, "I understand. My father and the high-ranking officials in the court are all like that."

Hearing this, Chai Boshi smiled happily and then instructed, "We will do whatever His Majesty asks. You are a girl, but the mountain farmers in His Majesty's tribe do not like women who are too smart."

"Just do your own thing from now on, don't meddle or talk too much."

Seeing her father's serious expression, Chai Yuzi nodded earnestly, "Yes, daughter understands."

The Chai family valued self-preservation and obeyed orders regardless of whether the court was civil or military, no matter how generous the treatment.

If you can avoid doing things outside your job description, then don't.

Chai Boshi became the governor, while Li Tangqing remained the prefect of Yangzhou.

Yangzhou is now a good place for trade between the north and south. The people in charge of taxation and inspection are all farmers from the mountains. Li Tangqing is only responsible for trivial matters such as farming and building houses.

They are never idle, no matter the season.

Springtime for planting, summer and autumn for harvesting, winter for fishing and building houses—the seasons change, and there's always something to do.

Seven years of the Wu Dynasty passed in this way, and people did not know when they had entered a golden age.

(End of this chapter)