The Red Chamber begins with a bastard

Chapter 716: Changing Customs
Amidst the crackling of firecrackers, the old year departs, and the warm spring breeze brings new life to the New Year's wine. In the blink of an eye, it is New Year's Eve of the eleventh year of the Qiansheng era. Hami City is decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, and every household has pasted up Spring Festival couplets. Even the trees are adorned with lanterns and colorful flags. The market is bustling with merchants from all over the country, selling a wide variety of goods, mostly seasonal foods and daily necessities. At first glance, one might mistake it for a city within the Great Jin Dynasty.

This was actually one of Jia Huan's plans to "change customs and habits." In the past few months, Jia Huan not only ordered the opening of five new schools, but also rebuilt two Buddhist temples that had been destroyed by Baiwa.

Buddhism was originally the dominant religion in the Hami region. However, six years ago, Baiwa seized power in a coup and launched a campaign to suppress Buddhism. As a result, the people of Hami were forced to convert to Islam. Buddhists who refused to change their faith were either killed or fled to the interior of China to seek refuge with the Jin Dynasty.

Now that Jia Huan has rebuilt the Buddhist temple, he has sent people to the interior to invite the monks who fled into the interior years ago to return and preside over the temple. These monks are naturally very happy to be able to return to their old temple. In addition, Jia Huan also provides generous treatment. So these monks immediately packed up and happily returned to Hami. With the return of the monks, a large number of believers were also brought, enriching the local population of Hami.

In addition, Jia Huan also ordered the construction of Taoist temples. In this way, Buddhism and Taoism will coexist, and it is believed that in ten or eight years, the Hami region will be a completely different place.

With the Spring Festival approaching, Jia Huan has taken money from the public treasury to decorate the whole city, hoping to subtly influence local customs. Of course, the locals will resist at first, but as time goes on, the effects will gradually emerge.

In addition, Jia Huan has done a major thing in the past few months: he counted the population and measured the land, compiled fish-scale maps and household registers, and redivided pastures and arable land. Each tribe was divided according to its population size, and the amount of tax to be paid each year was also stipulated, which was somewhat similar to the "equalization of land tax and poll tax".

In the past, if Jia Huan had dared to do this, these local tribes would definitely have rebelled. But now, Jia Huan has swiftly and decisively subdued Turpan, and the area outside Hami City is littered with corpses. Intimidated by such power, these locals dare not resist and can only submit obediently. They even voluntarily send school children of school age in their tribes to receive education in order to obtain tax reductions.

That's how the world works; might makes right, especially for nomadic peoples who respect the law of the jungle and only fear the strong. Jia Huan destroyed Baiwa and defeated Turpan; he was the undisputed leader, so all his reforms were successfully implemented.

It is worth mentioning that the local garrison troops of the Great Jin Dynasty each had 5600 soldiers. Therefore, during this period, Jia Huan was expanding the number of soldiers, mostly recruited from within the pass. If locals were interested in joining, he was also willing to accept them and allocate them with fields and pastures according to the standards.

Although Hami is far from the interior of China, it offers generous benefits, and with Turpan now under its control, the safety factor has greatly improved. Therefore, many people are willing to settle in Hami, and in just a few months, Hami's population has increased by several thousand.

Of course, Jia Huan's construction of the post station also contributed to this success. Throughout history, the construction industry has always been one of the most effective ways to boost employment and the economy. Jia Huan's investment of over a million taels of silver had an immediate and significant impact. The route from Jiayuguan to Hami, which was originally a sparsely populated Gobi desert, is now bustling with merchants and travelers even in the cold winter, recreating the grandeur of the Tang Dynasty.

Getting back to the main point, it was New Year's Eve. After finishing his official business, Jia Huan went to the Hami Royal Palace to have a reunion dinner and stay up all night with Daiyu and Baochai.

The Hami Royal Palace had been newly decorated, with Chinese-style couplets and lanterns everywhere.

When Jia Huan arrived at the residence of Baochai and Daiyu, the ladies were gathered together cutting paper snowflakes. On the table, there was a vase with a sprig of winter plum and a sprig of red plum, the two colors complementing each other beautifully. Without a doubt, this was Lin Daiyu's masterpiece; no one else could create such an artistic arrangement.

"What beautiful plum blossoms! Where did they come from? I don't remember plum blossoms being grown here." Jia Huan approached the vase, sniffing the blossoms and praising them repeatedly.

Ying'er said with a smile, "Although plum blossoms are not grown here, they are in the market. As long as you are willing to spend money, even the delicate crabapple and peach blossoms can be brought to you from the interior of the country by those merchants."

Jia Huan laughed and said, "Indeed, money can make the devil turn the millstone."

Lin Daiyu and Xue Baochai were both dressed in their finest attire today. The two women, who were already stunningly beautiful, were now even more breathtaking, their beauty surpassing even the most beautiful flowers.

"Lord Jia, are you mistaken? It should be 'money makes the world go round'!" Ayina corrected. After several months of recuperation, Ayina's arrow wound had healed by about 70-80%. During this time, Daiyu and Chai had often visited her. Today was New Year's Eve, and Chai and Dai felt sorry for Ayina, who was all alone, so they took the initiative to invite her to spend the New Year with them.

People are often most vulnerable when they are injured or sick, and most depressed when they are at their lowest point. For fourteen-year-old Ayina, these past few months have undoubtedly been the darkest period of her life. During this time, Daiyu and Baochai often visited her, cared for her, and comforted her. She was naturally very grateful, and their relationship grew closer. So when Daiyu and Baochai invited her to spend the New Year together, she agreed without hesitation.

At this moment, Jia Huan, facing Ayina's questioning, simply smiled and remained silent. Ayina blushed slightly and asked, "Sister Daiyu, Sister Baochai, did I say something wrong? Isn't it true that money can make the devil turn the millstone?"

Lin Daiyu smiled and said, "You're not wrong, and neither is he."

Ayina was a little confused: "Could it be that both statements are correct?"

Xue Baochai smiled and said, "It's true that money can make the devil turn the millstone, but if you think about it carefully, Huan Di's change is more interesting. Money can not only move ghosts and gods, but also move inanimate objects like millstones. Isn't the idea a bit more profound? It sounds more interesting too."

After careful consideration, Ayina realized it was indeed true, and couldn't help but admire, "Lord Jia is truly learned!"

Jia Huan chuckled and said, "You flatter me. It was just a casual remark, but you've taken it as a serious academic subject."

Lin Daiyu glanced at him and teased, "Six-Yuan Scholar, you can compose poems on the spot. Naturally, even a casual remark from you can keep us young ladies pondering for a long time."

"Sister Lin is teasing me again. Looks like she's asking for a beating." Jia Huan blew on his hand and tickled her armpit.

Lin Daiyu's most sensitive spot was tickled twice, and she almost laughed until tears streamed down her face. She hid behind Baochai, only peeking out her head and said coquettishly, "Good Huan-di, stop teasing me, or I'll really get angry."

Her disheveled hairpins and tangled ornaments gave her an indescribable charm, which aroused Jia Huan's interest. He laughed and said, "You still dare to threaten me? It seems you're not convinced. Let's see what I can do."

Lin Daiyu cried out in alarm, "Sister Bao, save me!"

Xue Baochai held Lin Daiyu in her arms and said with a smile, "Poor Lin girl, Huan-di, please forgive her this time."

As everyone was joking around, someone outside announced that an imperial edict had arrived. The women were both surprised and delighted, and hurriedly helped Jia Huan put on his outer robe and cloak, urging him to go and receive the edict.

Jia Huan hurriedly left the palace and rushed back to the governor's office with his personal guards.

(End of this chapter)