Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 801: Spring Plowing (Extra)

The Empress returned to the palace, radiant.

Chancellor Chen, who had been tirelessly working for several days, never mentioned his own busyness: "It’s rare for Your Majesty to take a short break from the palace; why not stay a few more days at the Imperial Manor instead of returning so early?"

Jiang Shaohua smiled and said, "It’s been seven or eight days already, and that’s enough. The court’s about to get busy with spring farming matters, and I have to return."

Spring farming is a top priority. Back in Nanyang County, spring farming was always the busiest time for the Prince Mansion each year.

Last year during spring farming, Jiang Shaohua was busy stabilizing the court and consolidating people’s hearts. This year, there is finally time and energy to focus on spring farming.

Chancellor Chen, knowing the Empress’s decisive temperament, immediately took out the regulations he had worked on for several days: "The old minister discussed it with several Chiefs of Staff and Secretary Wang Zhongshu Ling. This is the final regulation on the allocation of high-yield wheat seeds. Please review it, Your Majesty."

Jiang Shaohua took the regulation, examined it carefully, and then said, "Pingzhou has not yet recovered its vitality, allocate 20% more grain seeds. Yu State is reviving from ruin, it also needs extra care. Double the high-yield grain seeds again."

People’s minds are biased. The Empress is no exception. She openly sought some benefits for her close aides and subordinates.

Chancellor Chen readily agreed with a smile.

After thinking for a while, Jiang Shaohua added, "The Capital City is under my feet; I must also give some tangible benefits to the people of the Capital. Distribute one acre of grain seeds to each household in the Capital City."

That is indeed a generous move.

The Da Liang Capital has a population of about six hundred thousand, with seventy percent being households with farmland. Distributing one acre of grain seeds per household would require allocating seventy to eighty thousand acres of grain seeds.

Yet, the Empress considered it correctly. The Imperial Palace is right in the Capital, and it is most important to maintain stability and win the people’s hearts so close to the Emperor.

Chancellor Chen nodded in agreement.

As soon as the Empress voiced her decision, the courtiers began to bustle about. The Capital Prefecture was the busiest; they first posted notices, then assigned personnel to distribute grain seeds door-to-door in every neighborhood.

No need to spend silver, a free acre of high-yield grain seeds bred by Elder Changning. With such tangible benefits, the citizens were overjoyed.

A new trend emerged among the Capital’s citizens, and whenever neighbors, relatives, and friends gathered, they always praised the Empress. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

"Our Emperor is kind-hearted, always thinking of us."

"With such an Emperor, we common people are truly blessed."

"Have you heard? To repair the river dam, the Emperor nearly emptied the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ funds. It’s said the Grand Empress Dowager fell ill from being distressed over the silver."

"Ha! If she wants to be ill, let her. May heaven bless our Emperor with good health."

Having completed her confinement and returned to duty, Chen Sheren laughed while recounting these folk stories to the Emperor. The Emperor couldn’t help but smile: "After all the talk, distributing the grain seeds turned out to be the right move."

Chen Sheren immediately responded with a laugh: "It also shows how simple the people are. With just one acre of high-yield grain seeds, their hearts are entirely inclined towards the Emperor."

Jiang Shaohua smiled: "Indeed! The people are easily satisfied. Less miscellaneous taxes, fewer conscriptions, having land to farm and enough to eat are considered good days."

Such simple demands were also challenging for Da Liang’s citizens.

The North had suffered years of natural disasters and war, and the South frequently experienced floods. Internal conflicts were settled, but external enemies still loomed. Achieving peace and prosperity for the people would be a long-term challenge.

Suddenly, Jiang Shaohua said softly, "I want to inspect the Da Liang."

Chen Sheren was taken aback: "Your Majesty, this is no trivial matter."

In the past in Nanyang County, the Commandery Princess could spend half a year in the Prince Mansion and the other half inspecting outside.

Now, as the Emperor, just thinking about the disturbances and unrest caused by the Emperor leaving the Capital is concerning. With Da Liang’s vast territory, how long would a full inspection take?

A year or two?

Or even longer!

Unlike in Nanyang County, where Chen and Feng, the two Chief Historians, could manage, the Emperor abandoning the Dragon Throne and state affairs to travel and inspect everywhere seemed unimaginable to Chen Sheren.

"Your Majesty must be joking," Chen Sheren said, hoping it was a jest.

Jiang Shaohua replied solemnly: "I have never joked about such serious matters."

Chen Jinyu immediately put on a bitter face, clasped hands like praying to a Bodhisattva, and said, "Your Majesty, this can’t be done. I beg you to give up this idea early. Sitting on the Dragon Throne, you can’t just leave like in your youth. The Da Liang Court cannot do without the Emperor, nor can the palace."

Jiang Shaohua was amused by Chen Sheren’s sour face: "I’m not afraid of the country’s instability, but you worry first."

"Don’t worry! I definitely won’t leave for a few years. With internal conflicts just resolved and Rouran as a lurking major threat, I must first eliminate Rouran."

"This national war alone requires several years for military preparation and training."

"I must wait until Bao’er grows up and formally establishes the Crown Prince. With a Crown Prince to maintain order in the court, the Prime Minister managing state affairs, and the Six Ministries operating smoothly, I as the Emperor will leave the Capital and spend years inspecting the various states and counties of Da Liang."

With this calculation, it would at least be ten or eight years later.

Chen Sheren slightly relaxed.

This scheme had some feasibility.

Jiang Shaohua smiled at Chen Sheren: "Are you really planning to go out and serve next year? Kang is still young, are you willing to leave your child?"

Chen Sheren laughed: "I was raised by my grandfather. Kang has a nurse, a governess mother, a group of maids, and also my grandfather to take care of him; there’s nothing to worry about."

Jiang Shaohua thought for a moment and said: "The Prime Minister is busy with national affairs every day, spending most of his time in the palace. So, when you go out to serve and leave the capital, I will bring Kang into the palace. Then he can accompany Bao’er."

Chen Sheren immediately brightened up with a smile: "With Your Majesty favoring Kang, I thank Your Majesty for your grace on behalf of my son."

This had precedent in the palace. Such as Zheng Chen in the past... Pah pah pah, speaking of rebels is unlucky. Li Boyuan the ill-fated shouldn’t be mentioned. Jiang Yi even less so.

In comparison, Secretary Wang Zhongshu Ling was the most reliable. When Kang grows up, if he achieves even half of Wang Zhongshu Ling’s success, she would thank heaven.

Jiang Shaohua was amused by Chen Sheren: "Don’t underestimate your own son. Perhaps, one day he will surpass you greatly."

Chen Sheren laughed too: "Thanks to Your Majesty’s blessing, I will wait for the day he achieves success."

Lu Zhen watched on enviously, though everyone believed she was the luckiest woman in Da Liang, rising heavenward with great fortune.

In truth, she was far behind Chen Sheren!

The ambitious Lu Zhen silently vowed in her heart. In the future, she must catch up with Chen Sheren, and strive to surpass her.

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