Qin Renhuang just became an immortal, and you told me this is the prehistoric time

"Your Majesty! Thanks to Your Majesty's good fortune, all the officials in the various departments of the Imperial Household Department have been fully staffed and are operating smoothly."

The official farms under the jurisdiction of the Imperial Household Department are now spread throughout the counties and prefectures of the empire. The craftsmen recruited from Song are highly skilled and produce new paper of excellent quality with abundant output, which is sufficient to supply the daily needs of government offices at all levels and government-run schools.

However, with the establishment of village schools in various regions imminent, the required number of teaching materials is enormous. How should the printing arrangements be handled? We humbly request Your Majesty's guidance.

He paused briefly, and seeing Ying Xuan nod slightly to indicate that he should continue, he continued speaking.

"The batch of high-quality railway tracks that His Majesty brought earlier has been laid on all the main roads around the capital, with remarkable results and a significant increase in transportation efficiency. The blacksmiths under the jurisdiction of the railway officials in various regions are working hard to cast new railway tracks according to the specifications, and the Ministry of Works is also cooperating in surveying and planning the routes."

Your subject estimates that at least 100 li of new railway can be built by the end of this year. In addition, most of the slaves captured by the various military corps this time, apart from some being allocated to the Ministry of Works for the repair of the straight road, have been put into the railway construction.

As for the captured young female slaves, they have been sent in batches to the farms of the various prefectures and counties, registered in the household register, and responsible for sericulture and weaving, in order to alleviate the shortage of cloth.

He gave a detailed and specific report on the recent major affairs of the Imperial Household Department in one go, which was in stark contrast to Fan Zeng's somewhat vague report just now. It was as if he was highlighting the practical achievements of the Imperial Household Department and overshadowing the empty talk of the Censorate.

Ying Xuan listened attentively, pondered for a moment, and then spoke.

"The matter of textbooks for rural schools shall be led by the Cabinet, which shall work with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Rites to determine the content and printing standards, and then print and distribute them to various regions. The necessary expenses shall be covered by the Ministry of Finance. The construction of railways is a major national undertaking and cannot be neglected. Quality must be guaranteed and progress must be accelerated."

Slavery management must be proper and not harsh, ensuring they can work and produce with peace of mind. Besides the required amount of cloth to be handed over, female slaves on the farm are allowed to sell some of their produce themselves to incentivize production.

"Your Majesty, I obey! Your Majesty is wise!"

Liu Bang responded loudly, a smile spreading across his face, indicating great satisfaction.

He glanced at Fan Zeng furtively, a hint of smugness in his eyes.

Fan Zeng remained expressionless, as if he hadn't seen anything.

The candlelight flickered in the hall, casting long shadows of everyone on the walls, sometimes bright and sometimes dim.

A minor disturbance may have subsided, but beneath the surface, the intertwining of responsibilities and the undercurrents of competition between different government departments have only just begun.

Ying Xuan saw everything but said nothing more, only gazing intently at the deep night outside the palace.

Ying Xuan's gaze returned to Liu Bang, with a scrutinizing look.

"Just now you reported that a large number of captured young female slaves were being distributed to various government farms. Besides alleviating the shortage of textile workers, are there any other considerations behind this move?"

Liu Bang seemed to have anticipated this question, and immediately bowed to answer, his tone more solemn than before.

"Your Majesty is discerning. My actions are indeed based on deeper considerations. Among the people who migrated from the Great Song Dynasty, there is an extremely large number of able-bodied men who, due to the decline of their families or the displacement caused by war, are mostly alone and have no means to marry and start a family."

These able-bodied men, unburdened by families or with stable property, roam the countryside and towns all day, sometimes gathering to drink, sometimes stirring up trouble. While they may not cause major chaos in the short term, in the long run, they will inevitably become a threat to public security and greatly detrimental to local stability.

He paused briefly, organized his thoughts, and continued.

"I have placed those young female slaves on farms. Firstly, this will allow them to engage in sericulture and textile production to create value. Secondly, it will provide them with a relatively stable environment to learn the language and customs of our Great Qin and gradually adapt to life here."

At the same time, the Shaofu (Ministerial Office) has begun to recruit large numbers of strong men from Song who have no wives or property to work in various workshops, mines, and road construction teams under its jurisdiction, providing them with enough wages to make a living and a place to stay.

After a year or two, when these female slaves have adapted to the place and the strong men have accumulated some savings through their labor, the local government or the imperial household administration can take the lead in arranging for them to form families.

In this way, not only can the hearts of millions of men be appeased, but millions more households can be added to serve as taxpayers and laborers for our Great Qin, transforming potential unrest into a foundation of stability. With population growth, national strength will naturally increase.

These words were well-organized and insightful, taking into account not only immediate production issues but also social stability and long-term population strategies.

Upon hearing this, several senior officials in the hall nodded slightly. Even Fan Zeng, who had never gotten along well with Liu Bang, subconsciously stroked his beard and glanced at Liu Bang again.

Seeing that Ying Xuan remained calm and showed no sign of denial, Liu Bang was even more invigorated and went on to report another achievement.

"Your Majesty, there is one more matter. The Chu Prefecture Farm has adopted the earthen bed hatching technique taught by the experts Your Majesty brought, and is hatching chicken and duck chicks on a large scale. In recent months, it has rented out more than 13 million chicken and duck chicks to farmers in various counties and prefectures in Jiangnan."

Farmers only need to carefully raise the chickens and ducks until they grow up and start laying eggs. For each chicken or duck rented, they only need to pay five eggs to the Shaofu (a government office) as repayment to fully own these poultry.

According to the farm manager's estimate, once all these poultry start laying eggs, this alone will provide the farmers with over 100 million jin (500,000 kg) of additional meat annually, not to mention countless eggs.

"In addition, the Imperial Household Department has also leased out hundreds of thousands of castrated piglets that are easy to fatten. Next year, I plan to expand the scale of piglet leasing to more than one million. In this way, it is expected that another 100 million catties of meat can be added to the country next year."

Since traditional farming in Qin is nearing saturation in terms of livestock, I intend to prioritize leasing or selling any surplus poultry and livestock bred and raised to the newly subjugated former territories of Han and Wei, in order to help them restore their livelihoods.

At the same time, it has been agreed that some merchants who have moved from Song territory, are quite wealthy and familiar with trade routes, can purchase a large number of young poultry and livestock seedlings from the Imperial Household Department and resell them to places with high demand such as Jiangnan and Shu.

The Imperial Household Department only collects the principal, keeping all the profits. This allows them to leverage the power of merchants to more quickly promote livestock farming and enrich food sources across various regions.

This series of figures and plans paints a vibrant picture, moving beyond cold government orders to concrete measures that genuinely affect the meals of hundreds of millions of people.

The promotion of aquaculture utilizes new technologies, lowers the barriers to entry for farmers through flexible leasing methods, and accelerates its spread through commercial networks, proceeding step by step with careful consideration.

After listening, Ying Xuan finally showed an approving smile.

"Good. The ability to see the truth in the details and to plan for the long term in practical matters is the right way to manage the country's finances. Liu Bang, since you took charge of the Imperial Household Department, you have handled everything well and achieved remarkable results, which makes me very pleased."

He paused for a moment, then spoke loudly.

"I hereby bestow upon Liu Bang, the Minister of the Imperial Household Department, ten thousand catties of silver as a reward. In addition, I grant three members of his family the opportunity to study at the Military Academy. I hereby order the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs to select virtuous and unmarried women from among the imperial clansmen, and I will personally bestow marriages upon them."

These three rewards are of great importance.

Ten thousand catties of silver is an enormous fortune, a spot in the military academy represents future connections in the military and a path to promotion, and the Emperor's personal bestowal of a princess of the imperial family for marriage is an immense honor and a elevation of status, signifying that his family has officially entered the highest echelons of the empire's noble circle.

Upon hearing this, Liu Bang was first taken aback, then overjoyed, and suddenly knelt down, his voice trembling with excitement.

"Your subject... Your subject Liu Bang thanks Your Majesty for your great favor! Long live Your Majesty! Your subject will certainly do his utmost to serve Your Majesty and the Great Qin!"

Wang Wan, Li Si, and others standing nearby were also deeply moved.

They knew that this Junior Steward was exceptionally capable, especially in managing finances and accumulating wealth, but they never expected that his achievements would so quickly earn such a generous affirmation and reward from His Majesty.

Wang Wan stroked his beard and sighed.

"Lord Liu is truly a capable and competent official. He has managed to make such a great contribution to the mundane affairs of finance and grain. I admire him greatly."

Li Si nodded slightly.

"The Shaofu has indeed achieved remarkable results in increasing revenue and reducing expenditure, enriching the people and strengthening the country."

The atmosphere in the hall became more lively because of this generous reward.

After Liu Bang thanked him and stood up, Ying Xuan turned his gaze to the Minister of Justice, who had been silent and reserved, with a more composed and reserved demeanor. "Minister Zhang."

Minister of Justice Zhang Tang immediately stepped forward and bowed in greeting.

"The minister is here."

"How is the revision of the new law progressing?"

Ying Xuan asked.

Revising the laws, unifying the previously disparate legal provisions of various countries, and abolishing cruel corporal punishment were national policies he had set out long ago.

Zhang Tang calmly responded.

"Your Majesty, I have been ordered to work with Minister Li of the Court of Justice. We have organized dozens of scholars and censors who are well-versed in the law. Over the course of several months, we have compared and verified the original laws of the Great Qin Dynasty with the laws and customs currently in use in the six states of Shandong, especially the Song and Ming states."

Eliminate its harshness and cruelty, retain its essence, extract its commonalities, and fill its gaps. Furthermore, strictly following His Majesty's decree, abolish all forms of corporal punishment, such as facial tattooing, nose amputation, foot amputation, and castration, replacing them with forced labor, imprisonment, and fines.

He paused and continued.

"The newly revised draft law is divided into four categories: laws, orders, regulations, and penalties. The provisions are clear, the penalties are appropriate, and the aim is to punish crime and educate the people, rather than to establish authority through brutality."

All articles have now been compiled, proofread, and clearly written. They await His Majesty's review and seal before being promulgated throughout the land for universal compliance.

Ying Xuan nodded. He had always trusted Zhang Tang's efficiency and meticulousness.

"The draft text will be sent to my study tonight. I will review it overnight. If there are no questions or flaws, it can be released to the world after the morning court tomorrow to announce the beginning of the new policy."

"Your Majesty, I obey! The draft will be submitted to you immediately."

Zhang Tang calmly replied and returned to the train.

As night deepened, the candlelight in the hall burned even brighter, illuminating the faces of every official clearly.

The most crucial secrets of the empire—civil affairs, military affairs, supervision, finance, and the judiciary—are presented, discussed, and decided upon here.

Ying Xuan sat upright, listening calmly, making decisions, and guiding this giant ship, which had just finished its conquests, was integrating the old and the new, and was sailing towards the unknown deep sea, steadily breaking through the waves and moving forward.

As the last minister's figure disappeared outside the palace gate and the sound of footsteps faded into the distance, Ying Xuan let out a soft breath, a barely perceptible weariness showing between his brows.

As soon as he stood up, he saw more than ten elegant and beautiful women slowly walk out from the side hall and bow to him in unison.

"Your Majesty, we, your humble servants, respectfully welcome you."

The sound was soft and pleasant, like a gentle breeze caressing the strings of a musical instrument.

Looking at these concubines who were nominally his own, Ying Xuan felt a slight stirring in his heart.

Most of them were recommended into the harem by members of the imperial family or ministers in accordance with etiquette before or after his ascension to the throne. Among them were many women who were both talented and beautiful and came from prominent families.

However, since ascending the throne, he has been busy with conquest and consolidation, or handling mountains of government affairs, or in seclusion for cultivation. The time he can truly spend with them is very limited.

These women often spent the best years of their lives alone within the deep walls of the palace.

A faint sense of apology swept through his heart, brief yet genuine.

His gaze swept over the women, and his tone was much gentler than when he was discussing matters with the ministers.

"Rise, all of you. No need for formalities."

A woman with an elegant demeanor and a touch of heroism in her eyes spoke first; she was Lü Zhi.

"We heard that Your Majesty will be moving to the new palace tomorrow, so we have come to wait and see if there is anything we can do to help."

Her words were polite, but her gaze subtly lingered on Ying Xuan's face, filled with concern.

Upon hearing this, Ying Xuan remembered the matter.

He had seen the blueprints for the new palace, but he had never personally inspected its actual appearance or the details of its interior layout. Now that the topic had been brought up, his interest was piqued.

"Just right."

Ying Xuan smiled slightly.

"I haven't had a chance to see the new palace properly yet. Since you're all here, come with me to take a look and have a stroll."

Upon hearing this, all the concubines showed expressions of surprise and delight.

It was already a rare privilege to have the emperor accompany them, let alone to inspect their new home where they would live for a long time.

The group did not display any royal regalia. Ying Xuan only brought his personal guards and left the mansion with his concubines, strolling towards the new palace on Longshou Plain.

Night had fallen, but the streets of Qindu were even more bustling than during the day because the curfew had been lifted.

The place was brightly lit, teeming with people, and filled with the sounds of vendors hawking their wares and laughing and talking.

Ying Xuan's aura circulated slightly, and an invisible illusionary force field naturally spread out.

The pedestrians around them continued to go their own way, but they all subconsciously and naturally made way for them.

When their gaze swept over them, they assumed they were just members of a wealthy family taking a night out, completely unaware that the person walking in the middle was actually the current emperor and his concubines.

Feeling the vibrant, everyday atmosphere of the city, Qu Ruo, a younger and more lively concubine, couldn't help but exclaim softly in amazement.

"In just a few months, Qin capital has become so prosperous and bustling that it is almost as prosperous as Bianliang in its heyday."

Another concubine echoed this sentiment.

"Yes, there are shops everywhere, and there seem to be many more goods. There are also more smiles on the faces of passersby."

Listening to their discussion and looking at the brightly lit shops on both sides, Ying Xuan suddenly had an idea and spoke up.

"This city is bustling and vibrant. You have been living in the deep palace for so long, it is inevitable that you will feel bored. If you want to go out of the palace in the future, or even open a shop and do some business like this, that is not a problem."

Upon hearing this, all the concubines were taken aback, then exchanged bewildered glances, their faces showing disbelief. Empress Lü hesitated.

"Your Majesty... this is against etiquette, isn't it? Throughout history, there has never been a precedent for imperial concubines to engage in business in public. Moreover, the court officials are probably..." (End of Chapter)