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Chapter 801: Spring Farming

Her Majesty returned to the palace radiantly.

Prime Minister Chen, who had been busy for several days, never mentioned his busyness: "It's rare for the emperor to leave the palace to relax, why didn't he stay in the imperial manor for a few more days? Why did he come back so early?"

Jiang Shaohua smiled and said, "Seven or eight days is enough. The court will be busy with spring ploughing next, so I have to come back."

Spring ploughing is a top priority. When I was in Nanyang County, spring ploughing was the busiest time of the year in the palace.

During the spring ploughing last year, Jiang Shaohua was busy stabilizing the court and winning over the people. This year, he finally had the time and energy to focus on the spring ploughing.

Prime Minister Chen knew the Empress's swift and decisive temper, and immediately took out the rules he had been working on for the past few days: "This old minister, several ministers, and Minister Wang have discussed this, and this is the final plan for the distribution of high-yield wheat seeds. Please review it, Your Majesty."

Jiang Shaohua took the proposal, read it carefully, and then said, "Pingzhou has not yet recovered, so we need to allocate 20% more grain. Yuzhou has a lot of work to do, so we need to take extra care of it. We need to double the amount of high-yield grain."

People are biased. Her Majesty is no exception. She openly seeks benefits for her trusted subordinates.

Prime Minister Chen agreed with a smile.

Jiang Shaohua thought for a moment and said, "The capital is under my feet, so I have to give some tangible benefits to the people of the capital. Every household in the capital will be given one acre of grain seeds."

This is indeed a big deal.

The capital of Daliang has a population of more than 600,000 people, of which 70% have farmland. If each household has one mu of land to plant grain, then 70,000 to 80,000 mu of land will have to be planted.

However, Her Majesty was right. The imperial palace was in the capital, and the people of the capital were closest to the emperor, so stability and people's hearts were the most important.

Prime Minister Chen nodded.

When the Empress opened her mouth, the court officials would rush about. Jingzhao Prefecture was the busiest, first posting notices, then assigning people to each market, distributing grain and seeds door to door.

Without spending any money, they got an acre of grain for free, and it was a high-yield grain cultivated by the Earl of Changning. The people were delighted to receive such a tangible benefit.

There was also a new trend among the people of the capital city. Whenever neighbors, relatives, and friends gathered together to chat, they would sing praises to Her Majesty the Empress.

"Our emperor is kindhearted and always thinks of us."

"We the common people are blessed to have such an emperor."

"Have you heard that the Emperor almost emptied the money in the Ministry of Internal Affairs to repair the river embankment? I heard that the Empress Dowager was so upset about the money that she became sick."

"Well! She can be sick if she wants to. God bless our emperor to be healthy."

Chen Sheren, who returned to the palace to work after her confinement, smiled and told the emperor these folk gossips. The emperor couldn't help but smile: "No matter what, it's still right to distribute grain and seeds."

Chen Sheren smiled and continued, "It also shows that the people are simple and honest. With one acre of high-yield grain, the hearts of the people are completely devoted to the emperor."

Jiang Shaohua smiled: "Yes! The common people are the easiest to satisfy. Fewer taxes, less forced labor, having land to cultivate, and being able to eat a full meal, that's a good life."

Even such a simple request is difficult for the people of Daliang.

The north has experienced several years of natural disasters and wars, and the south has suffered repeated floods. Even if the civil strife is quelled, there are still foreign enemies eyeing us covetously. It is a long and arduous task to ensure that the people can live and work in peace and contentment.

Jiang Shaohua suddenly whispered, "I want to inspect Daliang." Chen Sheren was stunned: "Your Majesty, this is not a trivial matter."

In the past in Nanyang County, the princess could spend half a year in the palace and half a year on tour outside.

Now that the princess has become the emperor, not to mention how much unrest the emperor's departure from the capital would cause, how long would it take to tour the vast territory of Daliang?

One or two years?
Maybe even longer!

This was different from when he was in Nanyang County, where the Nanyang Palace had only Chen and Feng as its two chief officials. The emperor abandoned his throne and all the government affairs and ran out of the capital to inspect. Just thinking about that made Chen Sheren's scalp explode.

"The emperor must be joking." Chen Sheren looked expectant.

Jiang Shaohua replied sternly: "When have I ever joked about such a big thing?"

Chen Jinyu immediately had a bitter face, and clasped his hands together, as if praying to a Buddha: "Your Majesty, this won't do. I beg you to give up this idea as soon as possible. Once you sit on the throne, you can't just ride away like you did when you were young. The Daliang court cannot do without the emperor, and the palace cannot do without the emperor either."

Jiang Shaohua was amused by Chen Sheren's bitter face: "I am not afraid of the instability of the country, but you are afraid of it first."

"Don't worry! I will definitely not leave in the next few years. The civil strife has just been quelled, and there is still the Rouran, a great threat that is eyeing us covetously. I must destroy the Rouran first."

"For this national war, we will have to work for several years just to train and prepare for it."

"I have to wait until Baoer grows up and officially appoints him as the crown prince. Daliang has a crown prince sitting in the court, a prime minister to manage government affairs, and the six ministries are in good order. Only then will I, the emperor, leave the capital and spend a few years to tour the states and counties of Daliang."

If you calculate this way, it will take at least ten or eight years.

Chen Sheren breathed a sigh of relief.

This plan is somewhat feasible.

Jiang Shaohua looked over with a smile: "Are you really planning to be sent out next year? Kang Ge'er is still young, are you willing to give up the child?"

Chen Sheren smiled and said, "My grandfather raised me since I was a child. Kang Ge'er has a wet nurse, a mother who disciplines him, and a bunch of maids watching over him. With my grandfather looking after him, there's nothing to worry about."

Jiang Shaohua thought for a moment and said, "Prime Minister Chen is busy with state affairs every day and spends most of his time in the palace. So, when you are sent out of the capital, I will bring Kang Ge'er into the palace. He will be able to keep Bao'er company."

Chen Sheren immediately smiled and said, "Your Majesty is so kind to Kang Ge'er. I would like to thank Your Majesty on behalf of my son for his great grace."

There are precedents in the palace. For example, Zheng Chen back then... Bah, bah, bah, it's unlucky to mention traitors. Li Boyuan, that short-lived ghost, can't be mentioned either. Not to mention Jiang Yi.

Compared to this, Wang Zhongshu Ling is still the most reliable. When Kang Ge'er grows up and becomes half as successful as Wang Zhongshu Ling, she will be thankful.

Jiang Shaohua was amused by Chen Sheren and couldn't stop laughing: "Don't underestimate your own son. Maybe he will be much better than you in the future."

Chen Sheren also laughed: "Thanks to the emperor's good words, I am waiting for the day when he will achieve success and fame."

Lu Zhen, who was watching from the side, was secretly envious. In everyone's eyes, she was already the luckiest woman in Daliang. She rose to prominence overnight.

In fact, she is far worse than Chen Sheren!
The competitive Lu Zhen silently made a great wish in her heart. In the future, she must catch up with Chen Sheren, and even strive to surpass Chen Sheren.

……