After my inner voice was eavesdropped, I became the favorite of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 45

Afterwards, Qianlong issued a meaningful imperial edict, conferring the title of Queen of Great Yan on the green-faced woman, and bestowing upon her a golden seal, imperial edict, crown, nine chapters, jade scepter, jade pendant, and other items. This conferring process was exactly the same as the conferring of the kings of vassal states by the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties. The status of the kings of vassal states was only equivalent to that of the princes of the Ming and Qing dynasties, not even princes. Qianlong's move not only regarded the Great Yan Dynasty as a vassal state of the Qing Dynasty, but also infinitely degraded the status of Li Qingge, the founding monarch. His heart was filled with pride and satisfaction, as if he had seen the Great Yan Dynasty surrendering to him.

However, when the imperial edict and the gifts were delivered to Jinling, the civil and military officials of the court were furious. They demanded the execution of the Qing envoys to show their loyalty and determination to the Great Yan Dynasty. However, Li Qingge just smiled lightly, and her smile was full of confidence and calmness. In front of the Qing envoys, she had the imperial edict and dress torn into pieces and given to the poor as toilet paper. This move was intended to tell Qianlong: Your imperial edict is nothing but a fart, only fit to wipe the ass of my people! Her behavior made the Qing envoys look livid, but speechless. They knew that in front of Li Qingge, they were just a group of jumping clowns and could not compete with her at all.

When the envoy went back and told Qianlong about the incident, Qianlong was so angry that he almost vomited blood. He cursed the Great Yan Dynasty for being ungrateful and shameless. His heart was filled with anger and dissatisfaction, as if a huge rock was pressing on his chest, making it difficult for him to breathe. However, he could do nothing but watch the Great Yan Dynasty, led by Li Qingge, become increasingly powerful, which became a huge rock in his heart that he could not remove.

In the Jinling Palace, Li Qingge, who has become the queen, is sitting on the dragon throne, thinking about how to make the country prosperous. Her eyes are full of determination and resolution, as if she has seen the prosperous future of the Great Yan Dynasty. She has a grand plan and great ambition in her heart. She wants to use her wisdom and courage to build an empire that truly belongs to her, so that the name of the Great Yan Dynasty will be forever engraved on the monument of history.

[Ding Dong! Congratulations to the host for taking the royal power. The strongest queen system has been fully activated! ] The system's voice was crisp and pleasant, as if it echoed in Li Qingge's mind with endless joy and expectation.

[In order to celebrate the host's accession to the throne, this system has specially prepared a gift package for the new king. Do you want to accept it? ] The system's words were full of temptation, as if a carefully prepared surprise was waiting for Li Qingge to open it.

Li Qingge sat in the magnificent palace, surrounded by intricate and exquisite carved beams and painted buildings. She was wearing a gorgeous dragon robe and a dazzling phoenix crown. A smile appeared on the corner of her mouth, and her eyes were shining with anticipation. "Of course!" Her voice was crisp and pleasant, revealing her joy that was difficult to conceal.

[Ding Dong! The gift package has been successfully received!] The system's voice sounded again, with a hint of pride and satisfaction.

[The host has gained a talent identification skill!] The system's words were full of mystery and expectation, as if it had opened a door to an unknown world for Li Qingge.

[Congratulations to the host for receiving the powerful help of 100,000 muskets and 10,000 musketeers! ] The system's voice revealed endless joy, as if it had presented Li Qingge with an incomparable gift.

Hearing the series of reward prompts from the system, Li Qingge's eyes widened in surprise, with an incredible light flashing in her eyes. She didn't expect that the system would send such a generous gift to celebrate her ascension to the throne. In the past two years, she has been fighting against the Qing army. The White Horse Army, the Artillery Regiment and the Rebel Army have joined forces and are almost invincible. However, the shortcomings of lightweight weapons still exist. Although the artillery is powerful, it is too heavy and not flexible enough to use. Now that I have obtained these 100,000 muskets, I can make up for this shortcoming.

Li Qingge found a quiet place and thought silently. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and felt the peace and joy in her heart. In a blink of an eye, when she opened her eyes again, she saw that the muskets and musketeers had lined up in a neat column and stood in front of her. They were wearing modified Ming army uniforms, with burly figures and imposing aura, as if they were an invincible army, waiting for her inspection.

"Greetings, Her Majesty the Queen. The troops have been assembled. Please give instructions, Your Majesty!" A tall man at the front of the team reported with his head held high. His voice was loud and powerful, revealing endless loyalty and determination.

Li Qingge looked at the 10,000 musketeers, and an indescribable sense of pride surged in her heart. She asked the leader, "What's your name?"

"Your Majesty, my name is Li Ping'an!" The leader's voice was firm and powerful, just like his name, bringing endless peace and hope to people.

"Well, Ping An An, what a good name!" Li Qingge nodded, with a smile on her face. She ordered Li Ping An to conduct a drill, and the musketeers quickly adjusted their formation, raised their muskets, and aimed at the target in front of them.

As soon as the gunshot was heard, all ten layers of steel plates were easily penetrated. Li Qingge was surprised and delighted. Although she often saw shooting scenes on TV before she traveled through time, the power of muskets in this era of cold weapons was still far beyond her expectations. She seemed to see how this invincible army would sweep through thousands of troops on the battlefield in the future and bring endless glory and victory to her country.

In fact, muskets had already appeared as early as the Song Dynasty and have been used to this day. However, although those muskets were powerful, they used black gunpowder to fire, which was easy to explode and hurt oneself. The muskets that Li Qingge got were all made with precision and used smokeless brass bullets, so there was no need to worry about the problem of exploding. Using such muskets to deal with the Qing army was simply a dimensionality reduction attack, and the same was true for artillery.

For the common people, as long as they have food in their hands, they will not be worried. For a ruler like her, a strong military force can bring a real sense of security. With these muskets, plus the previous artillery, things will be much easier in the future. Li Qingge felt an indescribable confidence and determination in her heart. She knew that with this invincible army, her country would not be afraid of any challenges and threats.

Just as she was immersed in joy and thinking, the cute little puppy voice of the system sounded again, breaking her meditation. [Ding Dong! The host is already the king of a country. You must seek benefits for the people. Now the system tasks are released! ] The system's voice was full of playfulness and expectation, as if pointing out the future direction for Li Qingge.

[Task 1, complete land reform and receive super hybrid rice as reward.]

[Task 2, abolish the system of monogamy and polygamy, advocate equality between men and women, and reward a mysterious gift package.]

When Li Qingge heard this, her eyes lit up immediately, as if she saw the future prosperity of the country. Super hybrid rice, that's a treasure! It can solve the problem of food and clothing for the people and make the country more prosperous. And the mysterious gift package, although I don't know what it is, it must be a surprise. She smiled and said, "Children make choices, adults of course want everything! I'll take both tasks, okay?"

[Answer host, of course you can! After completing the task, the reward will be issued! ] The system's voice revealed endless joy and expectation, as if cheering for Li Qingge.

Hearing the system's answer, Li Qingge became more motivated. She knew that these two tasks were what she had always wanted to do. Land reform would allow the people to own their own land and live a stable and happy life; while advocating gender equality would break the feudal shackles and allow women to have the same status and rights as men. Even if the system did not reward her, she wanted to complete these two major tasks as soon as possible.

The new country was established, and the new emperor ascended the throne. Everyone was very happy. The Tao family in the east of Jinling was even more happy, because today the Tao family had double happiness. The new emperor made Jinling the capital, and the whole Tao family moved here. It also happened that the eldest grandson's wife's eldest grandson's eldest grandson was one month old. There were so many happy events, and people couldn't help but sigh at the good luck and blessings of the Tao family.

The Tao family started out by trading with the borders. From the Ming Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty, they never declined for hundreds of years, and their business grew bigger and bigger. Just look at the guests coming and going, and the banquets one after another, and you will know how wide the Tao family's network is and how wealthy the family is. The patriarch of the Tao family is a daring man. He not only sells private salt and smuggles ironware, but also secretly supports down-and-out literati to join Li Qingge and help her achieve great things after seeing that Li Qingge's uprising army is unstoppable.

Now that Li Qingge has ascended the throne, those who fought with her to conquer the world have also been honored and rewarded. On the second day of her ascension, these people were appointed and canonized. They wore gorgeous official uniforms and dazzling medals, like a group of new nobles, ready to contribute their strength to the prosperity of the country.

Although Li Qingge established her capital in Nanjing and inherited the orthodox status of the Ming Dynasty, she did not want to completely copy the Western constitutional monarchy. Because she knew that the national conditions of each country were different, she had to make flexible adjustments, otherwise it would appear too rigid. So, she combined the three-province and six-department system of the Tang Dynasty with the separation of powers in the West and created a new system. Three provinces were set up under the monarch to divide power. The Secretariat was responsible for administrative work; the Ministry of Personnel was responsible for legislative work; and the Ministry of Shangshu was responsible for judicial work. The three provinces each held different powers, balancing and restricting each other without interfering with each other. The Secretariat was the head of the three provinces, and there were six departments under it, including the Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Punishment, and the Ministry of Works. Each department had four bureaus, a total of 24 bureaus.

Such a system can not only guarantee the authority and status of the monarch, but also allow various departments to restrict each other and develop in a balanced manner. Li Qingge knew that the ancients' thoughts were too severely bound by feudalism; and modern thoughts were too advanced and difficult to accept. So she used the three provinces and six ministries as a representation, and integrated the modern spirit of the rule of law into it, so that the subjects of the world could accept it to the greatest extent. Just like the boiled cabbage, it looks simple and light; but in fact it is extremely delicious and memorable!

The three scholars that Old Master Tao invested heavily in have now become important officials in the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Households. They are dressed in gorgeous official uniforms and wearing dazzling medals, like a group of new nobles. They are grateful for Old Master Tao's recognition and even more grateful for Li Qingge's appreciation and reuse. They know that everything they have now is given by Li Qingge. Therefore, they are determined to contribute their strength and wisdom to Li Qingge's country.

After the great-grandson's full moon banquet, the octogenarian Grandpa Tao gathered his business partners and landlords for a banquet to celebrate. The banquet hall of Tao's mansion was magnificent and brightly lit, like a dream world. The table was filled with all kinds of delicious food and rare fruits, making people salivate. The guests were dressed in gorgeous clothes and wearing dazzling jewelry, as if a group of nobles were enjoying a grand banquet.

Old Master Tao raised his glass and said with a smile: "Thank you all for coming to celebrate! I am so happy! It is not easy for us to support each other to get to where we are today! Let's have a good time tonight! I will toast to you all! I will not leave until we are drunk!" After that, he drank the wine in the glass. His voice was loud and powerful, revealing endless joy and pride.

"Well said! Don't go home until you are drunk!" Everyone raised their glasses and drank the wine in their glasses. Their faces were filled with smiles, as if they were happy for the happy event of Old Master Tao and looking forward to their own future. They knew that under Li Qingge's rule, their business would be more prosperous and their family would be richer. Therefore, they were determined to support Li Qingge's country and contribute their own strength to her prosperity.

Old Master Tao laughed loudly: "Come on! Eat some food! How about trying the cooking of the retired imperial chef from the Qing Dynasty whom I hired at a high price?" His voice revealed endless pride and satisfaction. It was as if he had presented the guests with an incomparable gift.

When everyone heard that the dish was made by a retired imperial chef who had served the emperor and his concubines, and that they could now taste it, they were even happier and quickly picked up their chopsticks to try it. After tasting it, they kept nodding and praising: "Good food! Good food! You are worthy of being an imperial chef!" Their voices revealed endless admiration and satisfaction, as if they were cheering for this grand banquet and blessing Li Qingge's rule.

Several people sat around a carved wooden table, which was filled with a variety of exquisite dishes and fine wines. The clinking of porcelain and the laughter intertwined to form a warm and lively picture. The flickering candlelight reflected on everyone's face, which looked particularly warm and vivid. The host, Old Master Tao, was dressed in a luxurious brocade robe, with a kind face and a look of majesty in his eyes; the guests were either dressed in elegant Confucian robes or in gorgeous fur coats, showing their status. They ate and chatted, and the atmosphere was warm and extraordinary, as if all the troubles in the world were melted by this joyful atmosphere.

As they chatted, the topic naturally turned to the newly enthroned monarch, Li Qingge. One of the old men, dressed in a green shirt, had a slightly weathered face, but his eyes were full of admiration and regret. He said with emotion: "Our emperor is really wise and powerful, and his way of governing the country is admirable. It's a pity that she is a woman. If she were a man, with her great talent and strategy in expanding the territory, she would be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Qin Emperor and Han Emperor, and become a wise ruler of a prosperous era. What a pity!"

Hearing this, Old Master Tao took a sip of wine. His face was slightly red from the alcohol, but his eyes were extremely clear, as if he could see through everything in the world. He smiled slightly, his eyes flashing with a bright light, as if he was recalling something. Others also nodded in agreement, but they all looked around unconsciously, fearing that these rebellious words would be overheard by someone with ulterior motives and cause unnecessary trouble.

Seeing this, the old man thought to himself and suggested, "I've drunk too much and feel a little dizzy. Would you like to accompany me to the study and have a bowl of hangover tea together?" His voice was gentle but powerful, with an authority that could not be refused.

"Okay, okay!" Everyone understood what he meant, stood up, and followed the old man through the winding corridor to the study. The study was very elegantly decorated, with precious books on the bookshelves, several famous paintings and calligraphy hanging on the walls, and the air was filled with a faint scent of ink. The maids served tea and snacks and then closed the door and left, leaving only a few of them in the room.

Only then did everyone completely relax and speak freely.

"You're right, brother. Our emperor is good in every way, except that she's a woman." A middle-aged man in a purple robe sighed, his face full of regret.

"But then again, this woman is much stronger than a man." Another old man said, his eyes sparkling with admiration, "She fought on the battlefield, brave and invincible, with one slap, the enemies fell. I wonder how she practiced martial arts? It's really amazing!"

"I was lucky enough to see the emperor in action. His bravery was unparalleled." A gorgeously dressed woman whispered, her eyes gleaming with memories. "Even if the Overlord was reborn, he might not be able to withstand her moves. What a pity, she is only a woman after all..."

As everyone chatted, they couldn't help but sigh again about Li Qingge's misfortune of being a woman. However, at this moment, someone suddenly said, "The emperor is a woman, which may not be a bad thing for us."

As soon as he said this, everyone looked at him. He was as thin as a bamboo and looked like a hanged man on the stage, but his eyes revealed an indescribable cunning.

The old man smiled and asked, "Brother Chen, what do you mean by this?" His voice was gentle, but his eyes revealed a scrutiny.

Chen Shuzhu did not answer but asked: "Your Majesty is the second female emperor in history. Do you know why Wu Zetian, who came before her, failed to continue the Wu Zhou Dynasty?" His voice was low and powerful, as if it could penetrate people's hearts.

The old man replied: "That's because she passed the throne to her son, and her son was a member of the Li Tang family. As soon as Emperor Zhongzong of Tang, Li Xian, ascended the throne, the Wu Zhou Dynasty naturally perished and returned to the hands of the Li Tang family." His tone revealed a sense of historical vicissitudes.

Hearing this, an old man laughed and said, "Wu Zetian is also a confused person. If she had passed the throne to her nephew, how could she have ended up like this?"

The old man shook his head and said, "No. Wu Zetian was very clear-headed. Although her last name was Wu, she became Li Tang's daughter-in-law after entering the palace, and was no longer a daughter of the Wu family. The so-called Wu family only shared the same last name as her, and they were not a family. She could only pass the throne to her son to ensure that she would enjoy endless sacrifices after her death. If she passed it to her nephew, the nephew would not build a temple for his aunt. After she and her husband Li Zhi died, they would become lonely hungry ghosts with no one to sacrifice to them, burn incense to them, or offer them food."

He paused and continued, "Why not pass the throne to her daughter Princess Taiping? Princess Taiping is filial to her mother, treats her mother very well, and is capable, so why not pass the throne to her? In fact, in the era of patriarchal autocracy, a woman becomes a daughter-in-law of another family once she gets married, and she can only return to her parents' home as a guest. If the throne is passed to Princess Taiping, once she gets married, the imperial lineage will belong to her husband's family; if it is passed to another man, the imperial lineage will also belong to another family. The Li family and the Wu family are both her relatives. Wu Zetian must be entangled between the two families. How could she let a third family with an outside surname get involved in the imperial power? Therefore, although Wu Zetian loved her daughter Princess Taiping, she never thought of passing the throne to her. In the final analysis, it was all because of gender inequality and the fact that children can only take their father's surname but not their mother's surname. Dynasties throughout history have been passed down from generation to generation with one family and one surname. If children could take their mother's surname, the Wu Zhou Dynasty would not have perished in one generation."

As soon as the old man finished speaking, Chen Shuzhu sighed, "That's the truth. No matter how strong a woman is, she still has to get married and become someone else's daughter-in-law. Her children also take their father's surname. Even someone as powerful as Wu Zetian had to reluctantly pass the throne to Li Xian and give up the Wu Zhou Dynasty that she had fought for her whole life." Hearing this, everyone's eyes lit up. They thought of the current emperor, who was also a woman, and sounded no more than twenty years old, which was the prime age of youth. If someone could marry her home, then after the queen gave birth to an heir, wouldn't the vast country fall into the hands of that person's family?

Marrying a woman will give you the kingdom! Is there any more cost-effective and profitable business in the world? With this strategy, you can seize the Great Yan Dynasty without spending a single soldier!
At the thought of this, everyone's ambitions were aroused, and their eyes were burning as if they had already seen the future glory and wealth.

The old man gave Chen Shuzhu a thumbs up and said with a smile: "Brother Chen, you have a very insightful view. The queen is in her youth, and it is natural for men and women to get married. I wonder which lucky person will be able to marry Her Majesty the Queen?" His voice revealed an unconcealable greed and expectation.

Although he said so, he was secretly planning to find the most handsome and manly man in his family and use his connections to send him to work for Li Qingge. If the queen really took a fancy to him, the Tao family would be prosperous!
The others had the same idea as the old man, they all wanted to use the beauty trap to integrate their bloodline into it, hoping that their future descendants could become the rulers of the Great Yan Dynasty. They each thought about the candidates in their minds, but their faces remained calm, as if everything was under their control.

Then the old man frowned and said, "When the queen rebelled, she made an agreement with the people: after the great cause is established, she must reform the land system, vigorously develop the economy, and let the people under her rule have their own houses to live in and their own fields to till the land. Now that she has successfully ascended the throne, I wonder if she will fulfill her original promise?" His tone revealed a sense of worry and expectation.

"No!" Chen Shuzhu said with a sneer on his face, "The queen said that just to trick those untouchables into following her. How can you take it seriously? Back then, Li Zicheng, the King of Rebellion, also shouted the slogan of 'equal distribution of land and exemption of grain' in order to get the peasants to support him. But after he entered the imperial capital, forced Chongzhen to death, and destroyed the Ming Dynasty, he completely forgot what he said and only pursued pleasure. He also turned against Wu Sangui for the beauty Chen Yuanyuan, which led to Wu Sangui's anger for her and led the Qing army into the pass." His voice revealed a kind of sarcasm and disdain for history.

Others also nodded in agreement with Chen Shuzhu's opinion.

"Brother Chen is absolutely right!" said an old man, "Her Majesty the Queen is also a vested interest. In the future, she will grant more farmland and real estate so that her descendants can enjoy wealth and glory."

"To be more specific, the royal family is the biggest landlord in the world." Another middle-aged man said, "Who would want to kill themselves and their descendants?"

"That's right! Even if the queen really wants to reform, we are not pushovers." A gorgeously dressed woman sneered, "We can support her to ascend the throne, but we can also pull her down from the throne."

Everyone thought they had seen through everything and determined that Li Qingge did not dare to start the reform. The original promise was just to paint a big pie for the people. They were full of expectations and ambitions for the future, as if they had seen the future of their family - a piece of glory and honor that belonged to them.

However, they did not know that Li Qingge was sitting in the imperial study at the moment, reviewing a mountain of memorials. Her eyes were firm and calm, as if she could see through everything in the world. She had long known the ambitions and conspiracies of those nobles. But she was not afraid, because she had her own plans and intentions. She wanted to use her wisdom and courage to break the shackles and restraints of the millennium, and let the Great Yan Dynasty shine with unprecedented brilliance in her hands.

Alas, I never expected that a huge storm would sweep across this ancient land, sweeping away all the old and unfair things. The sky seemed to sense the coming wind of change, with low clouds and faint thunder, as if nature was warming up for the coming change.

Except for the few members of the Tao family who understood the righteousness of the cause, the minds of the landlords and gentlemen in the south were like being entangled in thick cocoon silk, and it was difficult to see their true feelings. In their eyes, the emperor and the princes were just people who enjoyed themselves in high places. If they did not occupy more land and severely exploit the common people, how could they maintain their extravagant lives? Reform? Humph, it was just some empty slogans to deceive the naive people. Only they themselves held the key to the truth tightly and refused to let go easily.

……

At this time, Jinling was like a flowing painting, bustling with activity. Celebrities, wealthy businessmen, and patriarchs of large families from the south gathered here, like stars surrounding the moon, surrounding this city that was about to become the heart of the empire. They were busy purchasing land and building mansions, eager to get a taste of the legendary dragon spirit at the foot of the emperor, in order to make their family prosperous and glorious for generations. In order to get closer to Her Majesty Queen Li Qingge, they spent a fortune, causing the land prices in the city to soar like a wild horse. The prices of labor costs, bricks, tiles, wood and other building materials also rose, causing the entire Jinling city to fall into a boiling state.

The cold wind at the end of October has quietly taken away the gentleness of autumn, but the workers are still busy, as if they want to pour all their enthusiasm into every brick and tile. Li Qingge, the legendary queen, took off the mask that symbolizes power and mystery, put on simple home clothes, and strolled in this vibrant city with her confidant Liu Yong. Her eyes swept across the scenes of breaking ground, and ripples appeared in her heart.

"Haha, we can really have a good year this year!" A worker laughed loudly, his face filled with satisfaction and joy.

"That's right. His Majesty has designated Nanjing as the imperial capital. All the dilapidated old houses, except for those that His Majesty specifically ordered to be kept, have been demolished and rebuilt. The wealthy landlords are vying to live in the new houses, so the wages have increased several times." Another worker echoed, his eyes shining with longing for the future.

"Fortunately, Emperor Yongle of the Ming Dynasty moved the capital to Beijing at that time, and Nanjing declined. Over the past few hundred years, the houses have aged, otherwise how would we have had a chance to make this money?" sighed an elderly worker, his words expressing both relief and helplessness.

"It's easy to make money, but it's just this wave. Once the houses are built, this good thing will no longer exist." A young worker said worriedly, with a hint of worry between his brows.

"Oh, never mind. As long as we make a profit, we'll have a good year this year and worry about next year." An optimistic worker patted him on the shoulder and said with a smile.

Li Qingge listened to their conversation with mixed feelings. She looked at the people struggling to make a living, and an indescribable sadness welled up in her heart. Seeing this, Liu Yong's heart tightened, and he silently stayed by her side.

Li Qingge walked forward, a warm smile on his face, and asked, "Uncle, is the salary really this high this time?"

An uncle nodded naively and said, "Yes, we are all honest people, how could we lie? There are workers everywhere nearby, and the wages are four or five times higher than usual. If you don't believe me, you can ask everyone."

"Yes, yes. Everyone earns a lot of money. After each trip, we can at least earn a few hundred more coins." A worker said excitedly, with a happy smile on his face.

"When I get my wages, I will buy new clothes for my daughter." A middle-aged man said expectantly, with fatherly love flashing in his eyes.

"I want to buy a silver hairpin for my mother. She has worked hard all her life and has almost nothing decent. This time I can buy it for her." A young worker said excitedly, as if he had already seen the joy of his mother when she put on the silver hairpin.

Several men gathered together, talking and laughing, with simple smiles on their dark faces. The people of this era make a living by farming, and their lives are very tight. But for them, happiness is actually very simple. Harvesting a few more kilograms of grain every year, and earning a little more money by working outside, can make their hearts full of sweetness and satisfaction.

Liu Yong also stepped forward and said with a smile: "Go home for the New Year after you get your wages. Next spring, when the flowers bloom, you can continue to farm. When the higher authorities issue a decree to reduce taxes, your lives will get better and better."

His words were full of hope and vision for a better life for the people. However, after hearing these words, the smiles of those people gradually disappeared, replaced by a touch of bitterness and helplessness.

"Farming in spring? The rainstorm two years ago forced our family into a desperate situation. In order to survive, we had to sell our two acres of thin land. Where can we find land to farm now?" sighed a middle-aged man, his eyes revealing endless sadness.

"At that time, my grandfather's family had more than ten acres of land. Over the past two or three decades, natural disasters and man-made calamities have continued, and all the land has been sold out. I have no land under my name anymore." Another worker smiled bitterly, his voice full of helplessness and bitterness.

"Times are tough in this world, and life is getting worse and worse. When faced with natural disasters, we either have to sell fields or our wives and children. I don't know when it will end?" sighed an old man, his face full of vicissitudes and helplessness.

"Look at those landlords and gentlemen who own tens of thousands of acres of land. The land in several villages near us all belongs to the same landlord. They have all the best food to eat, but we can barely get enough food and clothing." A young worker said indignantly, with anger flashing in his eyes.

"The exorbitant taxes and levies are more ferocious than a tiger. If a landlord has a scholar in his family and he passes the imperial examination, all land taxes will be exempted. We are not like this, where we collect taxes per person. We don't have much land, but we have to pay several taxes. In bad years, the grain we grow is not even enough to pay the taxes," added another worker, his voice full of dissatisfaction and indignation.

"Alas..." Everyone sighed in unison, as if they wanted to pour out all the bitterness in their hearts.

Listening to their complaints, Liu Yong felt a burning pain on his face. He had just said that when spring comes, the land will be reduced, but now the land is gone, what is the use of the tax reduction policy? He was filled with guilt and helplessness, but he didn't know how to comfort these suffering people.

Li Qingge's snow-white face was now covered with dark clouds, as if water was about to drip. She took a deep breath and tried to calm her anger and grief. She looked at these ragged and haggard people, and a strong sense of responsibility and mission surged in her heart. She knew that she could no longer remain silent and she had to do something for them.

So she straightened her back and said to everyone, "Wait a little longer, things will get better soon. I guarantee it with my life!" Her voice was firm and powerful, as if it could penetrate the clouds and reach the sky.

After saying this, she called Liu Yong and left in a hurry. The people looked at Li Qingge's figure walking away with a fool's eyes. They were full of doubts and confusion: How can a little girl like you decide whether life is good or not?

However, they had no idea that this seemingly boastful woman was the Queen whom they worshipped as a deity. She had extraordinary wisdom and courage, and a pure heart that sought the welfare of the people.

Li Qingge did not go back directly, but went to a teahouse with Liu Yong to sit down. The teahouse was bustling with people, but compared with the hustle and bustle outside, it was more peaceful and elegant. Li Qingge chose a seat by the window and sat down, staring through the window lattice at the busy and chaotic world outside.

Liu Yong saw that her face was extremely gloomy and she was obviously extremely angry. His heart tightened, knowing that Her Majesty must be in a very heavy mood at the moment. So he asked carefully: "Your Majesty, do you want to get rid of those termites?"

Natural disasters continued, and the people were impoverished and had a hard life. Those landlords and gentry did not think about helping the people, but instead wantonly occupied the people's land. It was really hateful. If we don't punish them this time, how can we be worthy of the people? Liu Yong was filled with anger and injustice, and he longed to seek justice for the people.

Li Qingge's eyes were cold, and she gritted her teeth as she said, "Not only will I get rid of those parasites, I will also make them suffer physical pain and uproot their enemies, so that they will never dare to occupy the people's land again." Her voice was low and powerful, as if it was a cry from the bottom of her heart.

Hearing this, Liu Yong was stunned. He asked in a trembling voice, "Your Majesty, what does this mean?" He was full of doubts and confusion, wondering how Her Majesty the Queen was going to deal with those landlords and gentry.

Li Qingge's eyes were like needles, and she spoke word by word: "Reform!" Her voice was firm and powerful, as if it could penetrate all obstacles and constraints.

Reform! Although these two words are light, they are as heavy as a thousand pounds. Reforming land policy is easier said than done. Every reform in the past dynasties has triggered a huge storm and bloodshed. Let’s not talk about the distant past. Just more than 30 years ago, the late Emperor Yongzheng implemented the policy of allocating taxes to each acre, returning the fire consumption to the public, and requiring officials and gentry to serve and pay taxes together. This policy brought great benefits to the people, but it touched the interests of the literati, nobles, and landlords, and was criticized as a result. Among the twelve emperors of the Qing Dynasty, the fourth emperor Yongzheng had the worst reputation and was the most criticized by literati.

However, Li Qingge was not afraid. She knew that although reform was difficult, only in this way could the fate of the people be completely changed and the land be revitalized with new vitality. She was willing to take all risks and responsibilities just to give the people a better future.

Liu Yong looked at Li Qingge's determined eyes, and a feeling of admiration and respect surged in his heart. He knew that Her Majesty the Queen had extraordinary courage and determination, and a pure heart for the welfare of the people. He was willing to follow her footsteps and work together for the future of this land.

So, the two began to plot a reform plan. They knew that this reform would be a huge storm that shook the world, but they also believed that as long as they had faith and courage in their hearts, they would be able to overcome all difficulties and obstacles and let this land glow with new vitality.

(End of this chapter)