Daming: I can’t kill such a greedy prince-in-law?

After the court session ended, Ouyang Lun had just walked out of the Fengtian Hall when Zhu Biao called him, "Brother-in-law, please stay."

Zhu Biao took Ouyang Lun to the side hall, and after confirming that there was no one around, he suddenly laughed: "Brother-in-law played the trick of 'luring the snake out of its hole' beautifully. Not only did he resolve the crisis, but he also turned the tables on the Huaixi Party."

Ouyang Lun said modestly: "Your Majesty, I am just following the trend."

Zhu Biao patted his shoulder and said, "You have already thought of a way to use the 200 million taels, right?"

Ouyang Lun nodded: "Merchants value profit, and if there is no restraint, chaos will occur. This money is both a restraint on them and a guarantee for the court. As for the military pay in the northwest and disaster relief in Henan, it was indeed a temporary idea."

Zhu Biao laughed: "What a spur-of-the-moment idea! Father is right, you are more cunning than we thought."

Ouyang Lun said solemnly: "Your Majesty, after this incident, the reform of attracting merchants is unstoppable. But the Huaixi Party will not give up, and there will be bigger moves in the future."

Zhu Biao's eyes flashed with a sharpness: "It doesn't matter. With me here, they can't make trouble." He paused, "By the way, that Li Jin..."

"There is indeed such a person, and he is indeed committing fraud under the banner of Duke of Korea." Ouyang Lun smiled slightly, "But it is hard to say whether he has any connection with the Duke's Mansion."

Zhu Biao smiled knowingly: "I understand. You handled this matter very well."

That night, Ouyang Lun returned to the Prince Consort's Mansion, and his wife Princess Anqing was already waiting for him in the study.

"I heard that the court was very lively today?" An Qing handed over a cup of hot tea, his eyes full of concern.

Ouyang Lun took the tea and sipped it. "They are just some clowns. There is nothing to worry about."

An Qing sighed: "My husband, you played too big this time. Two hundred million taels of silver, even my father was alarmed."

Ouyang Lun held his wife's hand and said, "Don't worry, everything is under control. These two hundred million taels not only solve the urgent needs of the court, but also expose the true colors of those who oppose reform."

An Qing stared at her husband and suddenly asked, "Are you really doing this just for the court?"

Ouyang Lun was silent for a moment, looking at the bright moon outside the window: "At first, maybe it was just to prove myself. But now..." He turned to look at his wife, with a firm light in his eyes, "I really want to do something for the Ming Dynasty. This country needs change."

Princess Anqing smiled and leaned into her husband's arms: "No matter what you do, I support you. Just... don't take too many risks."

Ouyang Lun kissed the top of his wife's head: "With your and His Majesty's support, I have nothing to fear."

"Actually, I don't want to do this, but the emperor and his majesty want to push me forward. Oh, now it's not just the emperor and his majesty, there's also the group of people standing behind me. Even if I want to lie down, they won't let me."

Princess Anqing gently stroked Ouyang Lun's cheek, her eyes full of heartache: "My husband, if we had insisted on staying in Beiping, it would have been better if we had not come to the capital. Although it is not as prosperous as Yingtian, at least there are not so many intrigues, and you don't have to walk on thin ice every day."

Ouyang Lun held his wife's hand and said with a wry smile: "Silly girl, there is no such thing as 'what if' in this world? Even if we stay in Peking, what is coming will eventually come. The emperor is determined to implement the new policy. As the son-in-law of the emperor, how can I stay out of it?"

The moonlight outside the window was like water, stretching the figures of the two people very long. Princess Anqing leaned on Ouyang Lun's shoulder and whispered: "I always remember the days in Peking, when you took me to the suburbs to ride horses and watch the sunset on the grassland. We also said that we would build a small courtyard there."

"I remember, of course I remember." Ouyang Lun's eyes flashed with nostalgia, "At that time, my mind was full of wild ideas. You were a princess, but you were willing to accompany me to be crazy and play with me."

Princess Anqing suddenly sat up straight, her eyes gleaming with anticipation: "My husband, when the court affairs are settled, we will leave the capital, okay? Let's find a quiet place and live the life we ​​want, taking Miaoyun, Miaomiao and the children with us!"

Ouyang Lun was slightly startled, then smiled gently: "Okay, where do you want to go?"

"Let's go to the grassland!" Princess Anqing said without hesitation, "Just like we said in Peking, build a small courtyard and raise a few horses. In spring, we can watch the wild flowers all over the field. In summer, we can lie on the grass and count the stars. In autumn, we can watch the golden grass swaying in the wind. In winter, we can sit around the fire and listen to your stories about overseas."

"What's more important is that Asuna is also there, so our whole family is reunited!"

Ouyang Lun's eyes flashed with yearning, but also with a bit of worry: "Although the grassland is good, it is still within the territory of the Ming Dynasty. With my identity, I am afraid..."

Princess Anqing immediately understood her husband's concerns. As a consort and an important official in the court, it was not easy for him to completely retire. She thought for a moment, and suddenly her eyes lit up: "Then let's go to sea! Don't you always say that there are countless islands overseas? Let's find a beautiful place, build a house, plant some flowers and fruits, and raise some chickens and ducks. You teach me to read and write, and I will make tea and cook for you."

Ouyang Lun was amused by his wife's description: "A princess of the Ming Dynasty is going to be a peasant woman?"

Princess Anqing said seriously, "As long as I can be with you, I am willing to do anything. Besides," she winked slyly, "the tea I make is much better than the one in the palace, isn't it?"

Ouyang Lun laughed and hugged his wife: "That's true. But..." He suddenly said seriously, "Although the overseas islands are good, they are far away from home. Are you willing to leave your father and brother behind?"

Princess Anqing was silent for a moment, then said softly, "Father is taken care of by Mother and many concubines, and my brother is already the emperor, surrounded by countless talented people. And I" she looked up at her husband, "only have you as my husband."

Ouyang Lun's heart warmed up and he hugged his wife tighter: "Silly girl"

The two hugged each other for a moment, and Ouyang Lun suddenly remembered something: "Speaking of overseas, I do know a good place. To the east of Ryukyu, there is a string of pearl-like islands, which the locals call 'Penglai'. The climate there is mild, and it is spring-like all year round. The residents of the island make a living by fishing, and the folk customs are simple and honest."

Princess Anqing listened attentively: "Is there really such a place?"

"It's absolutely true." Ouyang Lun's eyes flashed with memories. "I stayed there for half a month. I was awakened by the sound of waves every morning. I could see the blue sea when I opened the window. The fishermen worked from sunrise to sunset. Their lives were simple but fulfilling."

"Then let's go there!" Princess Anqing said excitedly, "We can bring some seeds and plant some flowers, plants and vegetables from the Central Plains. Oh, and bring a few boxes of books so we can read poetry and appreciate flowers in our spare time."

Ouyang Lun smiled and added: "You can also build a small boat, and I will teach you how to sail it. When the weather is good, we can go to explore the nearby islands, and maybe we can find treasures left by our ancestors." Princess Anqing was amused by her husband's description and giggled: "Then I will plant a banyan tree in the yard, and when it grows up, I will put a rocking chair under the tree. On summer afternoons, we can take a nap under the shade of the tree and listen to the cicadas and birds singing."

The two of them became more and more excited as they talked, as if they had already seen the beautiful future. Ouyang Lun suddenly stood up, took a sea chart from the bookshelf, and spread it out on the table: "Look, starting from here, take a boat south, pass Ryukyu, and then turn northeast. It will take about half a month to reach the archipelago."

Princess Anqing took a closer look and ran her finger across the sea chart: "It's so far away."

Ouyang Lun consoled him, "It's a little far, but that's why few people bother us. We can bring a few loyal servants, build a solid house, and cultivate a few acres of good farmland. We can be completely self-sufficient."

"What about the language? What do the people on the island speak?"

“The locals have their own language, but many of them can speak simple Chinese. With your intelligence, you will be able to communicate with them fluently in less than three months,” Ouyang Lun said with a smile.

Princess Anqing suddenly thought of something and frowned: "But. Will the court allow us to leave? Especially you, who now has several positions, I'm afraid my brother will be reluctant to let you go."

Ouyang Lun pondered and said, "This is indeed a problem. However." A sly look flashed in his eyes, "When the new policy is successfully implemented and the court is full of talented people, I will find an opportunity to resign. It should not be difficult. Besides, the emperor is old, and when Your Majesty takes full power, he may be more open-minded."

Princess Anqing nodded and raised a new concern: "What about our children? If they grow up on the island, will they..."

Ouyang Lun held his wife's hand and said, "It doesn't matter where the child grows up. What matters is that he has the love of his parents and a good education. I can teach him astronomy, geography, and navigation, and you can teach him poetry, literature, etiquette, and music. Besides, when the child is older, we can send him back to the Central Plains to study."

"Haha! That's a good idea!"

As the night deepened, the candlelight flickered, casting their shadows on the wall, blending into one. Princess Anqing leaned in her husband's arms and asked softly, "My husband, do you think we can really realize this dream?"

Ouyang Lun stared at the bright moon outside the window and said firmly: "I will. But before that, I have a few things to do."

"What's up?"

"First, we need to ensure the smooth implementation of the new policy. Second, we need to train a group of capable people for the Ming Dynasty. Third, we need to make full preparations for our overseas trip." He paused. "This may take five years or even ten years."

Princess Anqing said without hesitation: "I can wait. If ten years is not enough, then twenty years will do. As long as I can be with you, it is worth waiting any longer."

Ouyang Lun was moved and hugged his wife tightly: "Your words have given me more motivation. But don't worry, I won't let you wait that long. Within five years, I will definitely take you away from this place of trouble."

The two chatted for a long time until late at night. Princess Anqing was already drowsy in her husband's arms. Suddenly she remembered something and asked with all her strength, "My husband, does that island have a name?"

Ouyang Lun whispered: "The locals call it 'An Ning Island'."

“An Ning,” Princess Anqing murmured, “What a nice name. An Ning Island, our home.”

Ouyang Lun sat in the seat of the cabinet's chief minister, tapping his fingers lightly on the table. The spring light outside the window was bright, but it could not hide the solemnity between his brows. The Minister of Revenue Guo Zi was holding a thick stack of books and bowing to report to the university scholars present.

"My Lords," Guo Zi flipped open the book, his voice steady but with a hint of worry, "Since the implementation of the new policy in the 21st year of Hongwu, the economy of our Ming Dynasty has taken off, people's livelihood has improved, and the population has also skyrocketed."

He pointed to a set of figures: "In the 21st year of Hongwu, the registered population of the country was over 63 million; by the 22nd year, it had increased to over 74 million, an increase of 11 million in one year!"

Yang Rong, the cabinet's deputy minister, took a deep breath and said, "Tens of millions of dollars a year? Has this number been verified?"

"It's absolutely true." Guo Zi smiled bitterly, "The household registrations reported from all places have been reviewed by the three departments. Now that every family has a child, the government will give them a reward, so the people are naturally eager to report."

Ouyang Lun put down his teacup, his eyes deep: "Population growth is a good thing, it means that the people live and work in peace and contentment. But too much is as bad as too little, Minister Guo, tell me the specific problem."

Guo Zi bowed and opened another booklet: "Your Excellency, Prime Minister, please understand. The rapid population growth has brought three major problems: First, the food supply is tight. Although new agricultural tools and farming methods have been promoted in recent years, the increase in farmland is far less than the population growth rate. In the land of fish and rice in the south of the Yangtze River, the price of rice has risen from two cents per stone to three cents and a half."

"It has increased by more than 70%?" Minister of War Jin Zhong exclaimed, "How can this be possible!"

"Second, land annexation has intensified," Guo Zi continued. "The new population needs farmland, and the wealthy and powerful take the opportunity to buy up the land of the common people at low prices. In Henan Province alone, more than 30,000 self-cultivating farmers became tenants last year."

Ouyang Lun frowned, his fingers unconsciously drawing circles on the table. He suddenly asked, "Have you counted the number of refugees?"

Guo Zi looked embarrassed: "According to preliminary estimates, there are about one million people across the country. These people left their hometowns, some went to the city to work, and some became bandits."

There was a moment of silence in the hall. Outside the window, a robin landed on a branch, and its clear chirping was particularly piercing.

"Third," Guo Zi lowered his voice, "the number of soldiers in the garrisons in various places is seriously insufficient. According to the system, each household should provide one man, but now the population is growing too fast, and the military household system is difficult to maintain. There are reports that the garrisons in the border areas are already 30% short of their garrisons."

The Minister of Industry Song Li couldn't help but interrupt: "This is just the beginning. In another ten years, if the population continues to grow like this, I'm afraid even the streets of the capital will be crowded with people."

Ouyang Lun suddenly stood up, walked to the hanging "Ming Territory Map", and stared at it for a long time: "Everyone, this matter is of great importance. The population explosion may seem like a good thing, but it actually hides a crisis. Insufficient food will lead to civil unrest, land annexation will lead to public resentment, and insufficient manpower will endanger national defense."

He turned to face the ministers, his eyes were sharp: "I propose three countermeasures: First, immediately order all provincial governments to investigate wasteland, recruit refugees to cultivate land, and exempt new land from tax for three years; second, revise the Ming Dynasty Law to strictly prohibit the powerful from annexing the land of the people in any form, and those who violate the law will be severely punished; third"

Ouyang Lun paused and pointed to the southeast coast of the map: "Lift the ban on sea trade and encourage people to go out to sea to make a living. Ryukyu and Luzon are vast and sparsely populated, and can accommodate a large number of immigrants." (End of this chapter)