The Second Master of the Red Chamber

Inside the Bathing Hall on the west side of the sleeping quarters.

As Jia Lian soaked in the brand-new bathtub, his mind was still preoccupied with matters of state.

Over the years, he had fantasized about many ways to govern the country and even secretly evaluated Emperor Ningkang's policies.

However, many of his ideas are not suitable to be put forward at the moment.

Moreover, as the rightful crown prince appointed by Emperor Ningkang, upholding the policies of Emperor Ningkang's reign was both a matter of maintaining stability and a necessity for prolonging his political life.

Therefore, he stated that he would continue to implement the policies of Emperor Ningkang's reign.

Even though he felt that Emperor Ningkang was rushing things along too fast, combining the reform of the bureaucracy, the disbandment of the Green Standard Army, and the land reclamation, he did not directly call a halt, but instead adopted a compromise.

Of course, these are all temporary, and ultimately he will definitely follow his own ideas to make the country strong and prosperous.

Today, during the political discussion at the Southern Study Room, he was already quite conservative, only offering one of his own ideas: tax cuts.

As for opening up the sea, that was all part of carrying out what Emperor Ningkang had not finished.

Tax cuts, even if they seem like a lot, may seem like a reduction from 1/10 to 1/15.

But that was just a tax on farming, commonly known as land tax.

In fact, although the Great Wei was still a feudal agricultural empire, it no longer relied solely on taxing farmers.

Commercial taxes, though not widespread, did exist.

For example, the border city.

Other examples include monopoly taxes, such as those on salt, iron, and tea.

There are also mining taxes, deed taxes, and import duties, etc.

Take the salt tax as an example. The regular salt tax alone amounted to nearly 20 million taels of silver annually, almost a quarter of the annual revenue.

Other entities, such as the textile bureau and the canal transport system, could bring huge amounts of revenue to the imperial court (the emperor).

In short, although land tax was still the bulk of the revenue, it actually accounted for only about half of the national treasury's annual income.

Moreover, Jia Lian also linked tax cuts to land surveys and implemented them gradually, so the overall impact on the national treasury was not significant.

Not to mention, he never thought that he would lack financial resources after taking office.

After all, they control such a large empire and have so many resources at their disposal!
Therefore, the first thing to do is to open up the seas, improve the empire's competitiveness at sea as soon as possible, and get a larger share of the overseas market to strengthen the country and enrich the people.

To achieve this, one or more powerful naval fleets are required.

To build a fleet, a sufficient production of steel is required.

So, a nationwide steelmaking campaign?
Well, since we're going to open up the seas, we must establish a customs office to further generate revenue for the imperial court...

As Jia Lian was pondering these thoughts, a fragrant breeze suddenly wafted over.

Looking up, I saw Hu Yuanyao, who had changed into a cool and refreshing outfit, walking gracefully in from the doorway.

Behind her followed two rows of equally scantily clad beauties.

They all kept their heads down, their thin skirts unable to conceal their beautiful figures, their jade-like legs appearing and disappearing as they walked, sometimes in rows and sometimes in groves.

Not only Jia Lian, but even the maidservant behind him who was wiping his shoulders and back couldn't help but take a look at this scene.

"Master~"

Hu Yuanyao stepped forward and called out gracefully.

Seeing Jia Lian looking behind him, she glanced back as well, then smiled and said, "Master, you've worked so hard today, so I called over a few of my sisters to help you relax."

Jia Lian smiled upon hearing this. This Hu Yuanyao truly lived up to her birth in the princess's mansion and had inherited Princess Zhaoyang's true teachings.

This isn't just a few, it's more than twenty!
It's too late for them to continue playing music and dancing.

However, it would be inappropriate to sleep together under the same quilt.

He has only just assumed the presidency, and most of the people in his household are the Empress's people.

So Jia Lian's initial plan was simply to choose two concubines.

With Hu Yuanyao's arrangement, the effort of even choosing a nameplate was saved.

Looking at them, some of the beauties were familiar, while others were unfamiliar.

Suddenly, Jia Lian's gaze fell on a slightly older woman who was just as beautiful.

He paused for a moment, then beckoned, "Come here."

The beautiful woman quickly stepped forward.

"What's your name...?"

The beauty glanced at Jia Lian and replied in a tone with a grassland accent, "Da Yu'er..."

Hu Yuanyao laughed and said, "How could you forget her, Master? It was you who gave her that name."

She was one of the four Jianzhou women that the master brought back from Jianzhou.

Before Aqi and Aqin went on vacation outside the city with their master, fearing they might cause trouble if they stayed in the mansion, he sent them here to learn skills from the Korean women.

Jia Lian smiled; he had actually already remembered.

Moreover, Hu Yuanyao was wrong; not all four were Jianzhou women. Da Yu'er was a Mongolian woman.

She was once the "Crowning Consort" of the Wanyan tribe.

Jia Lian even recalled that the reason he brought her back was not only because she was beautiful, but also because she had a beautiful and lovely daughter.

That is, the granddaughter of that old scoundrel Luo Jue Anchang.

His gaze swept over the remaining beauties, but he did not find his target.

It seems that the girl was too young and hadn't caught Hu Yuanyao's eye.

But it doesn't matter.

Luo Jue Anchang has two beautiful granddaughters, and another one happened to be there too.

With a casual gesture, Jia Lian ordered, "The two of them stay; the rest of you may leave."

When Hu Yuanyao saw that Jia Lian had chosen this "old man and young woman" instead of so many beauties, a look of suspicion flashed across her eyes.

However, she soon realized something and felt a little regretful.

She had lived in the same courtyard as these Jurchen women, so she naturally understood their relationships.

I should have brought that little girl along too.

Although this niece and aunt are good, they can't compare to a blood relative.

I wonder if Grandpa would be happier if I try to fix it now?

……

Jia Lian thought he was conservative, but little did he know that the two policies he simply put forward would cause an uproar throughout the court, the public, and even the literati.

Whether it's tax cuts or opening up the sea, these are events that are enough to shake the world and become top news.

Since it wasn't considered a bad thing, the court didn't deliberately hide it, and for a time, almost the entire capital was discussing the new crown prince's regency.

Jia Lian naturally didn't care much about this; his reputation had already spread far and wide, and this was just icing on the cake.

Perhaps it really is addictive to wield power.

For several days in a row, apart from visiting Emperor Ningkang and the Empress at Taiyuan, Jia Lian spent almost all his time in the South Study, even forgetting about all the many female confidantes in his home.

On this day, as usual, he was handling state affairs in the Southern Study when Hu Yuanyao came in to announce: "Your Highness, the Crown Princess requests an audience."

Jia Lian was slightly taken aback, but then let him in.

Just then, Sister Feng entered with Ping'er, and Jia Lian stood up to greet them: "Why have you come?"

Sister Feng smiled and said, "I went to pay my respects to the Empress Dowager and stopped by to see you on the way."

After saying that, Sister Feng took the food box from Ping'er's hand.

She glanced at the piles of memorials and records on Jia Lian's desk, and without thinking, she turned around and placed the food box on the heavier but very spacious and clean table next to it, and began to fiddle with it.

Seeing this, Cao Zhong wanted to stop him, but hesitated for a moment and remained silent.

Jia Lian smiled. He knew that this was Feng Jie's first time entering the Southern Study, and she didn't recognize it as Emperor Ningkang's personal desk.

There was no intention to remind her, since there was no one else in the hall at the moment.

"My husband, you shouldn't neglect your sleep and meals like this, no matter how important the affairs of state are."

Think about it, you haven't been home for days, and your sisters all miss you.

As she spoke, Sister Feng brought over a bowl of soup and said with a smile, "I see you've gotten so thin. Try this. It's a nourishing soup that Ping'er and I spent several hours making especially for you."

Seeing Cao Zhong move his feet, Jia Lian knew what he was about to say, and waved to Ping'er first.

When Ping'er came closer, he scooped up a spoonful, blew on it, and held it to Ping'er's lips.

Ping'er instinctively tried to hide, but seeing Jia Lian's unquestionable expression, she turned around and ate with some embarrassment.

Then Jia Lian said, "Is this alright? Okay, you can leave now."

Cao Zhong was slightly taken aback, then bowed and replied, "Yes, this old servant takes his leave."

She thought to herself that her master seemed to treat women quite differently.

It seems I'll have to be more polite to these women in the future.

Hmm, we might be able to use this to find a few more beauties for our master.

If this pleases the master, one's position will be secure.

Cao Zhong knew that he hadn't grown up with Jia Lian and didn't have a deep master-servant relationship with him. Therefore, he had a strong sense of crisis and was afraid that one day he would displease Jia Lian and be replaced by him.

Feng Jie was initially a little jealous because Jia Lian fed Ping'er the first bite instead of her.

Hearing Jia Lian's words and seeing Cao Zhong's reaction, he finally realized what was going on.

She felt both ashamed and heartbroken, recalling how Jia Cong's mother, Lady Yang, had tried to poison Jia Lian years ago.

In the past, it was all for a title.

Now that this heartless prince is in power, there must be even more people who want to harm him than before.

It seems I need to place a few more trustworthy people around this heartless person before I can feel at ease.

While Jia Lian was drinking soup, Feng Jie glanced around the South Study.

This is where the emperor stayed, a place symbolizing supreme imperial power?
Indeed, it's quite different!

Just standing here makes my heart surge with emotion.

So, after serving Jia Lian his soup and meal, Feng Jie was not in a hurry to leave.

Seeing that Jia Lian was only attended to by eunuchs and Hu Yuanyao, she hesitated for a moment and said, "I know my husband is busy with state affairs, but he must also take good care of his health."

Or should I have my sister Baochai come to the palace to take care of you?

Jia Lian, who was flipping through a memorial to the throne by a local official, looked up upon hearing this and asked with a smile, "Oh, why don't you come yourself, but instead recommend her?"

When did you become so virtuous?

Upon hearing this, Sister Feng glared angrily at Jia Lian.

However, since the couple were used to teasing and mocking each other, she didn't really take it to heart, and then said quietly:

"I would like to come and serve you, but Xiao Bao is still so young, and I can't rest easy about him."

Lin Daiyu is frail and delicate; if she were to come, it's hard to say who would take care of whom.

After considering everything, she's the only one suitable.

Jia Lian raised his hand and touched Feng Jie's beautiful hair.

It's rare to see this woman now calling him "husband," and it actually sounds quite nice.

"Take care of me? I'm not a child, I don't need anyone to take care of me."

Besides, it's not that I don't want to go home; it's just that I've only recently become familiar with court affairs, and it takes me a little longer, which is why I've been delayed."

"When are you going back?"

Sister Feng pressed for an answer, and seeing Jia Lian looking at her with a puzzled expression, she said somewhat embarrassedly:

“You spend all your time in the palace. Those who know you say you are diligent in state affairs. But those who don’t might think that neither of us sisters pleases you, making you not want to go home!”

Jia Lian smiled and asked, "How about we go back today?"

"You said it yourself, I didn't force you, so you can't go back on your word."

Sister Feng's anger turned into joy.

Just then, Cao Zhong reported that the Minister of Works had arrived, and Feng Jie knew that Jia Lian had important business to attend to.

So he took Ping'er, packed up the food box, and left the South Study.

……

"Your Highness, our dynasty's iron ore production is enormous."

As far as I know, there are thirteen state-run ironworks across the country.

Including other private mines, they can produce at least 80 million catties of pig iron annually.

Inside the Southern Study, the Minister of Works spoke excitedly to Jia Lian.

However, Jia Lian was not very satisfied with what he heard.

Eighty million catties sounds like a lot, but when you calculate it, it's only a few tens of thousands of tons.

This amount of pig iron is enough to forge farm tools and weapons.

However, it is still far from being suitable for building powerful ships and cannons!
Of course, based on the productivity of that era, the Great Wei's iron production was probably either the first or second in the world.

Noticing Jia Lian's unusual expression, the Minister of Works added, "If we mine at full capacity, we might be able to reach 120 million catties per year!"

"not enough."

Jia Lian looked at the old man before him and said, word by word, "Next year, I want to see at least 200 million catties of pig iron produced!"

The Minister of Works frowned: "If that's the case, I'm afraid we'll have to hand over many state-owned mines, and even those that haven't been mined yet, to private merchants to mine on their own. This..."

"Don't be afraid to give them to them."

As long as they don't smuggle or sell the pig iron they produce to the Tatars, then give it to them without hesitation!

Not only should we provide them with resources, but we should also encourage them to mine and refine more steel, and even provide them with policy benefits.

In short, I need more steel, the more the better!

The Minister of Works said, "If that's the case, may I go and consult with my colleagues in charge of the mines to come up with a plan to increase pig iron production and then present it to Your Highness for review?"

Jia Lian nodded: "Very good. You must treat this as the most important task for the Ministry of Works."

If you do a good job, I'll remember you as a great contributor. If you don't, you'll be moved to another position, and someone more capable will take that role.

"Yes……"

The Minister of Works wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and finally couldn't help but ask, "Um, may this old minister ask, Your Highness, is the demand for such a large output of pig iron intended for shipbuilding and voyages?"

Everyone's not stupid. Before, Jia Lian had made such a big show of having the people from the Six Ministries discuss the pros and cons of opening the sea.

Now the Ministry of Industry is required to produce a large quantity of steel.

He couldn't think of any other way to use it than to build ships for sailing.

Jia Lian raised an eyebrow: "You'll find out when the time comes."

Seeing that the Minister of Works remained unmoved, Jia Lian pressed him for an answer: "Is there anything else?"

"Uh, no... This old minister takes his leave."

The Minister of Works actually wanted to advise Jia Lian that he had already consumed too much of the court's manpower, material resources, and financial resources in building the port and ships in Tianjin, and there was really no need to continue filling this bottomless pit.

It should be understood that engaging in militarism and reckless expansion is a recipe for national ruin!

But he knew he probably couldn't persuade Jia Lian, and forcibly offering advice might only anger him.

Well, let's wait until later and then join forces with others to offer our advice. Perhaps His Highness will be more receptive then. (End of Chapter)