My Three Kingdoms is not right

The imperial court has been in Xuchang for several months now, and it is no longer like it was in Luoyang where people were struggling to make ends meet.

However, this young emperor was still slender.

In her brother's military camp, without ministers, eunuchs, or guards around her, she finally shed the dignified mask of "Emperor," her voice revealing a strong accent:

"Every day I'm scheduled for various sacrifices, ceremonies, and meetings... It seems busy, but they're all just formalities that don't really serve any purpose."

"Military matters are decided by Cao Cao with a single word; matters of the court are decided by Xun Yu and her. I am merely a nodding puppet."

"Annoying!" She kicked a pebble at her feet and watched it roll away. "I came to see you to clear my head."

Liu Xun was speechless.

Upon closer reflection, it seems quite reasonable.

The young emperor before me is only fifteen years old this year. In my previous life, she would probably still be a middle school student worrying about exams, living a life of studying on the surface while secretly watching anime, listening to music, and gossiping with her best friend.

But now?

She was the Emperor of the Han Dynasty, the ruler of the country.

Every day, he was burdened with the heavy responsibility of governing the country, and was forced to do this and that by a group of old ministers. He was trapped in that small palace and it was difficult for him to even go out.

Ordinary people can at least go out shopping and have a barbecue, but for her, it's practically no different from being in prison.

What's even more pitiful is that she can't find meaning in life.

The world's only requirement for her is to sit obediently on high and be a beautiful decoration.

All efforts were unnecessary and yielded no results.

……

Thinking of this, Liu Xun felt a surge of pity.

"Then you can come often, Your Majesty," he said, deliberately adopting a relaxed tone. "Although the military camp is simple, it's at least more comfortable than the palace. If there's a chance, we can even go on outings and hunting together."

Liu Xie's eyes lit up for a moment, then dimmed again.

"Sigh, how could that be?" She shook her head, her tone full of helplessness. "So many eyes are watching me, both inside and outside the palace. Every word and action I take will be subject to gossip... We'll talk about it later."

"Oh, right!" she said, forcing herself to perk up. "I heard that the army is short of supplies, so I've saved some from the palace's own funds. I'll have a eunuch bring it to you later."

"And these... Look, these are what I hid for Ah Xun."

A brocade pouch was stuffed into Liu Xun's hand. He opened it and was both amused and exasperated.

Seven or eight pearls, two gemstone hairpins, a broken gold chain...

"Where did all of these come from, Your Majesty?"

Liu Xie said with some pride, "The pearl was pried off from the crown and ceremonial robes, and the gilded hairpin was stolen..."

"Royal elder sister!"

Liu Xun noticed her cracked fingernails from pulling out the pearls, and his voice became somewhat hoarse.

"Don't look at me like that." Liu Xie felt a little uncomfortable under his gaze and turned his face away. "Anyway, they're all for sacrifices and ceremonies. If they're missing, someone will naturally make up for it."

Not wanting to disappoint her, Liu Xun carefully put the brocade pouch into his bosom.

"Thank you, Your Majesty. But you don't need to do that anymore. I'll soon have enough money and provisions."

"real?"

Liu Xun smiled and nodded: "The land reclamation in Zhileyuan Garden is progressing very smoothly."

"How come Ah Xun can do everything?" Liu Bian looked at his younger brother, shaking his head with a complicated expression. "Alright, then consider everything I brought today a loan to you. When Ah Xun becomes rich, you'll have to pay it back double!"

-----------------

Cao Cao sat behind a desk in the Sikong Mansion, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the documents on the desk.

food.

It's food again.

The two provinces of Yan and Yu were the center of the world, but they were also the areas most severely damaged by war.

Last year, Yuzhou suffered a locust plague, and Yanzhou was also plagued by refugee uprisings. Grain prices once soared to 500,000 coins per bushel, and there were even tragic cases of cannibalism.

Although she has now achieved her plan to use the emperor to command the disobedient, she has also taken on the heavy burden of the imperial court, causing the shortage of food supplies to grow larger and larger.

If an open-source solution cannot be found, even the largest enterprise will collapse.

"Is our lord still worried about the grain supply?" Guo Jia's cheeks were flushed, clearly indicating that he had secretly drunk too much again at noon.

Cao Cao had no time for her and pushed the report on the food shortage in front of her.

Guo Jia glanced at it, raising an eyebrow slightly: "Her Highness the Princess's implementation of the military-agricultural colony program has been very effective. Why doesn't My Lordship follow suit?"

"Ahem!" Cao Cao cleared his throat. "It's only had a slight effect; we'll have to observe it further..."

"It's more than just effective." Guo Jia sat down opposite him, casually picked up a teacup from the table and took a sip. "I heard from Zao Zhi that the three hundred hectares of gardens in the east of the city have been fully cultivated."

"So fast?" Cao Cao glanced at his tea.

When she inquired two days ago, only 70% of the land had been cultivated.

Guo Jia put down his teacup. "Moreover, instead of fleeing, those refugees spontaneously organized themselves to protect the fields and irrigation ditches. The field ridges are neat, the ditches are unobstructed, and the seedlings are growing extremely well."

"If we can extend this to all counties in Yan and Yu, the problem of military food supplies will be solved."

Cao Cao pursed his lips and remained silent for a while before saying helplessly, "When he demanded the Yueyuan Garden, I thought it was just a way to interfere with the finances and supplies, and to make the Imperial Guards more independent."

"Therefore, he was also forced to promise that if the military farms failed, the court would no longer allocate funds and provisions to the Imperial Guards."

"Who would have thought that a boy born into the inner palace would actually understand things like agriculture and civil administration?"

Guo Jia suppressed a smile: "So, my lord is worried that Her Highness the Princess is dissatisfied?"

"If it were Fengxiao, would he be completely without resentment?" Cao Cao retorted irritably.

Guo Jia smiled and said, "That's true."

"That's precisely why," Cao Cao sighed, "If I forcefully demand a solution from him now, he won't outwardly refuse, but what if he conceals crucial details or deliberately misleads us—and a slight error could lead to a huge mistake, ruining the grand plan of land reclamation?"

Guo Jia blinked: "How about we send someone from the School Affairs Office to Wannian Garden?"

"Scholarship officers" were newly established by Cao Cao as special agents, dedicated to investigating and spying on the affairs of officials and civilians.

Monitoring Liu Xun and obtaining intelligence details about the military settlements would be perfect.

But as soon as Guo Jia spoke, Cao Cao's delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly.

Send someone to monitor Liu Xun?

This thought swirled in Cao Cao's mind, and inexplicably made her feel somewhat uncomfortable.

"He is a member of the royal family." Cao Cao's voice sounded somewhat unnatural. "It would be inconvenient to send people to monitor him."

A knowing glint flashed in Guo Jia's eyes, but he simply smiled and asked, "Then what does my lord intend to do?"

Cao Cao stood up and walked to the window.

"I'll go find him directly!" She had made up her mind as she turned around. "I'll ask him face to face."

"The land reclamation is of great importance. As long as his conditions are not excessive, I will agree to them."

Guo Jia suddenly found it interesting.

His ruthless and decisive lord always seems to have many concerns when facing His Highness!

"When does the lord intend to go?"

"Now," Cao Cao said, picking up the remaining tea from the table and drinking it all in one gulp. "Prepare the horses!"