Poverty Alleviation in Qin: A Sky-High Review of "I Am the Female Prime Minister of All Time&qu

The carriages and horses were lined up neatly in front of the gate, ready to set off with the sound of gongs, when suddenly a dense crowd of people surged into front of Pei County.

When the people learned that Magistrate Song was about to travel to Xianyang, they put down their livelihoods and farm work, and families, young and old, flocked to the county government gate like a tide, just to see their Lord Song off on his final journey.

The elderly, leaning on canes, walked slowly and crowded at the front, followed closely by women and children. Countless people held tightly in their hands the food they had prepared overnight.

Coarse wheat cakes, multigrain cakes, dried fruit preserves, and wrapped dry rations.

They handed the bags and packages, stacked up, to the front of the car.

"Lord Song, the journey is long, you must take these provisions with you! Don't go hungry on the road!"

"We will never forget the years you served us in Pei County, sir, in quelling banditry and bringing peace to our villages!"

"Xianyang is too big, and there are too many important people there. You are too kind-hearted; please don't let yourself be wronged!"

"Adults must take care of their health and not try to shoulder everything themselves!"

"Don't forget Pei County! Don't forget us, the ordinary people!"

"Whenever you want to come back, Peixian will always be waiting for you!"

Each simple and unadorned word of advice carried on the wind was a testament to the purest concern of ordinary people.

Some people choked up as they spoke, their voices trembling slightly, and they could no longer hold back the tears welling up in their eyes. In the end, everyone on the long street had tears in their eyes.

Several elderly people stared intently at Song Ye's figure, their eyes filled with tears. The turbid tears rolled down their deeply lined cheeks, and they wiped them away as they fell again.

During these three years, Song also quelled the chaos, relieved the poor, and improved people's livelihoods, freeing them from displacement and harassment, and allowing them to live in peace.

Now that my benefactor is leaving, and the road ahead is long, I feel an overwhelming sense of reluctance to part with him.

The entire long street was silent and weeping, with thousands of ordinary people standing silently, their eyes burning with longing.

The faint sobs echoed in the wind, deeply moving.

Meng Yi, who had been standing silently watching from the side, was stunned.

They were accustomed to the sycophancy between rulers and subjects, the flattery in officialdom, and the interactions and exchanges of interests among the powerful and wealthy.

When officials of the Qin Dynasty were appointed, promoted, or transferred, it was always the case that officials would send off officials and clerks would follow clerks. There had never been a case where the departure of an official would cause the entire city's people to see him off with tears in their eyes.

In the Qin Dynasty, the common people have always feared officials and dreaded power.

At this moment, the people of Pei County felt no alienation or fear, only sincere gratitude and reluctance to part.

This truly proves the saying: He who wins the hearts of the people wins the world...

Hearing the sound, everyone looked up, their eyes filled with tears as they gazed at her.

"Sir, we can't bear to see you go!" A woman couldn't help but sob softly.

"Yes, sir, we will miss you!"

Amidst the crowd, Song Ye looked at the people who were seeing him off with tears in their eyes and said with a smile, "Fellow villagers, go home. I am only going to Xianyang to take up an official post, not to die."

"You mustn't say such things, sir!" an old woman cried out anxiously, her voice trembling with emotion. "There are so many noble people in Xianyang; you mustn't be bullied if you go!"

"Don't worry, I'm more likely to bully others."

Upon hearing this, the crowd burst into laughter, but their eyes welled up with tears afterward.

A middle-aged man squeezed to the front, carrying a bag of dry rations, and placed it directly on the cart shaft: "Sir, these are flatbreads my wife steamed overnight. Eat them on the road! Make sure you eat well when you get to Xianyang, don't forget about them when you get busy!"

Song wanted to decline, but then another pair of hands reached out from the side, and then another pair of hands. Several packages were already stacked on the edge of the car, filling it to the brim.

"Sir, I remember when you first came here, my family's fields had no harvest for three years. It was you who personally led people to repair the irrigation canal..." An old man stood in front of the crowd, leaning on his cane, and turbid tears slowly streamed down his wrinkles. "Now that you're gone, I'm afraid I'll never meet a good official like you again."

Song paused for a moment, then said, "I will meet him, I definitely will."

She spoke calmly, as if stating a given fact.

Until Song also got into the carriage, the convoy of horses slowly drove out of the city gate of Pei County.

As the outline of the city gate receded little by little, the people who had been trying to hold back their reluctance finally couldn't bear it any longer.

It is unclear who first knelt down, but then the entire city's population bowed down in unison, a dark mass of people kneeling and kowtowing.

The people had no way to repay their kindness, so they knelt and kowtowed, sending their benefactor off in the simplest and most sincere way.

The heavy, hoarse sounds of kneeling and worship echoing across the blue brick floor sent shivers down one's spine.

"Take care, Lord Song! Remember to think of us!"

"Thank you for your kindness, sir!"

"The kindness of our esteemed sir will be forever remembered in Pei County!"

"You must remember us, sir... It doesn't matter if you don't, we'll always remember you!"

"Lord Song, please stay well..."

Cries pierced the wind, chasing the direction the carriage sped off in.

The carriage bumped and jolted, gradually disappearing into the distance.

Inside the enclosed carriage, Song slowly closed his eyes.

The sounds of kneeling, sobbing, and farewells outside the window reached my ears without missing a single one.

Scalding hot, heavy, pressing down on my heart.

On the city tower.

He stood with his hands at his sides, looking at the kneeling crowd before him, and remained silent for a long time.

He wondered: What kind of person could be so deeply loved and respected by the people?

Song also,

I wish you success in making a name for yourself in Xianyang.

Xianyang, Court of Justice.

As dusk fell, the hall was brightly lit, yet the atmosphere was so tense it was suffocating.

A group of guests stood around the hall, their expressions solemn.

Everyone knows that Song is about to enter Xianfeng, which is a variable for the overall situation and for the Legalist school of thought.

An older retainer spoke first, his tone urgent: "My lord! Song Ye enjoys the emperor's favor and the support of the people. This time, upon entering Xianyang, he will surely assume an important position. If we allow him to steadily rise in power, our influence will inevitably be squeezed out in the future! We absolutely cannot sit idly by and wait for our doom!"

Another retainer immediately chimed in, "That's right, my lord! We should take preventative measures and cut off her foothold!"

A group of people offered suggestions one after another, sparking much discussion.

The hall was filled with a cacophony of voices, each sticking to their own opinion, all brimming with anxiety about the unknown.

Throughout the entire process, Li Si, seated in the main seat, clasped his hands together, remaining silent and letting his advisors argue endlessly.

After a long pause, seeing that their lord remained silent, the retainers all stopped talking, bowed respectfully, and said, "We have exhausted our plans. What are your thoughts, my lord? How should we deal with this situation?"

Li Si slowly raised his eyes, his gaze deep and unfathomable: "Hold your troops still."

Everyone was stunned, their faces full of confusion.

"Given the current situation, we cannot afford to touch Song."

Putting aside how closely His Majesty is watching, if they were to strike first and make any underhanded moves, they would only end up getting burned.

Since they are powerless to resist, they can only take the initiative to show goodwill.

Honestly, did Li Si have the ability to overthrow Song Ye in one fell swoop?

He did not.

Therefore, we should hold back for now.

Furthermore...

Li Si smiled faintly, "Why should you all worry? We are not the ones who are most anxious right now."