Teasing the First Dragon at the Start

"Ah... Achoo."

Bai Su led his soldiers slowly toward the city, when he suddenly couldn't help but sneeze.

Liu Ji couldn't help but ask, "Young Master, what's wrong? Are you sick?"

Bai Su rubbed her nose and murmured, "I don't know why, but I felt a chill down my spine. I felt like I was being watched by something dangerous."

Chapter 370 The Key Piece Has Expired

Xianyang Palace.

A banquet was set up in the main hall, brightly lit.

At this banquet, bells rang and chimes were struck, the music was melodious, and the atmosphere was lively and extraordinary.

The meritorious officials who had helped quell the rebellion sat in their seats below, drinking wine with their arms around each other's shoulders.

Hu Yu, dressed in a magnificent black palace dress, sat regally in the main seat, her heterochromatic eyes looking down with a smile.

To be precise, it was looking down at Bai Su.

She slowly put down her wine cup, and said with a smile, "Bai Su, you must have experienced many dramatic and eventful things in the past few months since you quelled the rebellion. Would you be willing to tell me about them in detail?"

Bai Su couldn't help but find it amusing to see Hu Yi looking so smug and showing off his husband's achievements, but naturally he wouldn't refuse his wife's request.

He then recounted in detail how he had assessed the rebellions in various places during this period.

Many officials' expressions changed upon hearing that the remnants of the six states had formed a secret alliance with the Xiongnu of the grasslands.

Although everyone knew the situation was dangerous, no one expected it to be this perilous.

The Xiongnu and Donghu rebelled in the northern deserts, and a terrible plague broke out, threatening to spread to the entire Central Plains at any time, turning the prosperous Guanzhong region into a wasteland.

Chen Sheng and Wu Guang, from the Central Plains, launched an uprising in Dazexiang and established their own independent regimes, which were subsequently overthrown by the allied forces of six states.

In particular, Xiang Yu, who was the most powerful, would need to concentrate the strength of most of the people in the country to target her in order to have a chance of winning.

In such a chaotic situation, it was truly remarkable that Bai Su was able to act swiftly and decisively, seizing that fleeting opportunity to turn the tide.

Hu Yu, in particular, tensed up when Bai Su described the perilous situation. Her furrowed brows only relaxed after she heard that Bai Su had overcome the danger.

After a long while, she let out a long sigh: "I thought the battle report was dangerous enough, but I didn't expect the actual situation to be even more dangerous than I imagined."

"When Mother swept across the six kingdoms, the Chu Kingdom was a formidable enemy of our Great Xia."

"I never expected that it would rise again after only ten short years. My dear ministers, do you have any ideas on how to completely pacify the Chu region once and for all?"

The officials present looked at each other and whispered among themselves.

Much later.

Chen Ping stepped forward first, cupped her hands and said, “Your Highness, the Chu region is too far from Xianyang, and it is controlled by powerful families in Chu. When the world changes, it is easy for someone to take advantage of the situation and establish a separatist regime.”

"If we want long-term stability, the only way is to follow His Majesty's strategy of conquering the Baiyue in the south and calling on hundreds of thousands of troops to march south."

Before she could finish speaking, Xiao He stepped forward and retorted, "This strategy is flawed. Sending hundreds of thousands of troops south and supporting such a large army for an extended period would place an enormous financial burden on Xianyang. It is not a wise plan."

Chen Ping frowned slightly: "But if we don't send a large army south, how can we ensure that Xianyang maintains long-term control over the distant Chu region?"

The officials present also frowned and whispered among themselves, unable to come up with any ideas for the time being.

Both of them have a point.

After all, the State of Chu was sparsely populated and too far from Xianyang.

Without sending a large army to be stationed here for a long time, it would be impossible to establish effective control over Xianyang. However, sending a large army for an extended period would put too much financial pressure on the imperial court.

It's a real headache, neither accepting nor rejecting it is an option.

After pondering for a long time, Hu Su looked at Bai Su and couldn't help but ask, "Bai Su, do you have any solutions?"

Bai Su took a sip of her drink and said with a smile, "Yes."

Hu Yi's heterochromatic eyes suddenly lit up, and he asked with delight, "What brilliant plan is it?"

Bai Su pondered for a moment, then said with a serious expression, "If you want to get rich, first build roads, have more children, and plant more trees..."

As soon as he finished speaking, the entire hall fell silent.

Not to mention Hu Yi, even the officials present stared blankly at Bai Su.

Suspecting he might have had too much to drink is hardly a good strategy.

Seeing the doubts on everyone's faces, Bai Su smiled and said, "Don't laugh, this is the best strategy for governing the world."

Hu Yi's expression froze for a moment, and he couldn't help but ask, "You mean..."

Bai Su explained, "To govern a remote place, it's useless to rely solely on military suppression. First, we must ensure that the roads are unobstructed. If the roads are different, we should dig canals and open up waterways to facilitate the deployment of troops and reduce the cost of transporting supplies."

"The convenient transportation of goods between these two places will boost trade; this is the principle behind the saying 'If you want to get rich, build roads first'..."

"Secondly, the State of Chu is vast and sparsely populated. The imperial court's counties are often limited to some key areas. For those more remote or sparsely populated areas, they can only be managed by the local gentry and powerful families."

"This could easily lead to a situation where people in the countryside only know the local gentry and not the imperial court, making it difficult for government orders to reach the countryside..."

"The only way to resolve this situation is to encourage the people of the north to migrate south and develop the land there. The court should provide seeds, farming tools, oxen, and land to encourage the people to cultivate fertile fields, have more children, and plant more trees."

"As the population gradually increases, the counties in the south can be further subdivided in the future, just like in the north, and more county magistrates and grassroots officials can be dispatched to manage them."

"In this way, the Chu region can enjoy lasting peace and stability, without any worries about separatism, division, or being ruled separately along the river..."

After hearing Bai Su's plan, everyone's eyes lit up.

That was truly a brilliant move.

Some astute officials realized that Bai Su's construction of the canal and opening up of waterways was only the first step; his real goal was to develop the south.

After all, most of the south is now swampy land covered with dense forests.

Nearly 70% of the population in the Central Plains is confined to the northern region, while large areas of the south have almost no population.

If Xianyang were to open up the Grand Canal and establish effective control over the south, and develop this vast unclaimed land, it would be enough to multiply the population, grain production, and tax revenue of the Central Plains many times over.

Hu was initially delighted, but then seemed to realize something.

Her beautiful brows furrowed slightly, and she couldn't help but say, "But to dig the Grand Canal, we need a large labor force and a respected person to help us stabilize the people's hearts. Otherwise... forcibly conscripting laborers might cause trouble."

Bai Su smiled and said, "Your Highness need not worry, I already have someone in mind."

Hu Yi was taken aback and couldn't help but ask, "Who is it?"

Bai Su said with a smile, "Don't we have a suitable Chu chess piece in our hands?"

Hu Yu frowned slightly: "You're talking about Xiang Yu, but Xiang Yu was stubborn and refused to surrender to us even at the cost of his life. How could he possibly help us govern the Chu region?"

Bai Su said with a half-smile, "The reason she is unwilling is simply because the time is not right. I believe that after seeing some scenery, she will gradually come to her senses."

Although Hu Su didn't know what Bai Su was up to, she trusted her husband.

She nodded: "Very well then, the task of persuading Xiang Yu will be entrusted to you."

Chapter 371 That Despicable Thing

After the court assembly adjourned.

Led by a palace maid, Bai Su arrived at a sleeping quarters.

The palace maids all withdrew and closed the gate.

Only Bai Su and Hu Yi remained in the main hall.

She sat alone at the table, gently combing her hair, her back to Bai Su. Her graceful figure outlined a slender curve, exuding a charming aura.

Hearing the noise behind her, she didn't turn around and said softly, "Husband, will you blame me for entrusting this troublesome matter to you?"

After all, she and Bai Su had known each other for quite some time.

She also knew that her husband was a free spirit who always liked to slack off.

I would absolutely not work overtime unless it was absolutely necessary.

Looking at the girl's slightly worried expression as she bit her lip in the bronze mirror, Bai Su couldn't help but smile and say, "No, not at all. Actually, I was planning to do this anyway. Besides, as your husband, how could I bear to see you looking troubled, as long as it's what you want..."

Hu Yu put down the comb in his hand and slowly turned around.

She changed into a simple white dress, her long, black hair was piled up high, and a green hairpin was inserted in her hair. Her fair and round face had a slight chubby look, and her rosy lips were slightly upturned as she said with a smile.

“I knew my husband was the best. Here, this is your reward…”

As she spoke, she took out a delicate box from the table beside her and handed it over; it was full of various homemade milk candies.

I don't know who made it, the technique was very clumsy, and the shape was crooked and looked very strange.

Bai Su couldn't help but say, "Which girl made this? It's such a waste!"

Hu Yu's fair cheeks flushed slightly as she whispered, "Perhaps that little maid has already tried her best. Don't let her ordinary looks fool you, she tastes quite good."

Bai Su gave her a half-smile: "The little maid you're talking about, you wouldn't happen to be yourself, would you?"

Hu Yi looked flustered and hurriedly said, "No...no, I didn't."

Seeing this, Bai Su didn't ask any further questions. She picked up one and popped it into her mouth. Sure enough, it was sweet and soft, and tasted quite good.

Hu Yu couldn't help but ask, "How does it taste?"

Bai Su nodded and said, "It's good, very delicious."

Upon hearing Bai Su's words, a sweet smile immediately appeared on Hu Su's fair and pretty face.

She picked up a piece of milk candy and put it in her mouth. Sitting side by side with Bai Su, in a daze, the two of them returned to the city of Handan, to the time when they had just met.

At that time, she was still a willful princess, while Bai Su was a poor scholar who set up a stall on the street.

Now she oversees the court and wields great power, while Bai Su has become her husband.

Looking back on her journey, she couldn't help but feel a sweet warmth in her heart.

Bai Su couldn't help but glance at Hu Yi beside her: "Why have you suddenly become so virtuous today?"

When Hu Su realized that Bai Su had seen through him, his face flushed slightly. He gently patted Bai Su's back and said shyly, "I have always lost to my sister since I was a child. I have never won."

"Whether it's the ministers in the court or the people in Xianyang, they only ever have eyes for my sister and never pay any attention to me."

"This is the first time I've ever experienced being the center of attention, so... I wanted to do something to help my husband."