Guiyi Fei Tang

Chapter 545 My Heart Resides in the Deep Mountains
"Screw rustle..."

Why are there so many government troops here?

"Shh! Don't look there!"

"We haven't seen the army enter the city for a long time; something big must have happened..."

In mid-February of the twelfth year of the Hongwu reign, in the north, this should have been a time when spring plowing had just ended and farmers were enjoying a moment of leisure.

The bustling scene on the official road was nowhere to be seen, replaced by rows of silent and menacing Ming soldiers.

They escorted countless carriages laden with boxes and documents, carrying solemn-looking officials, as they departed from Luoyang, the eastern capital, like a torrent bursting its banks, heading to the administrative centers of the five circuits of Longyou, Guannei, Hedong, Hebei, and Dongji.

This massive inspection team, consisting of over six thousand capable officials and escorted by thirty thousand elite troops from the Northern Army, was acting on the orders of the Crown Prince and carrying the imperial decree of the Emperor.

Unlike the previous censors and inspectors who were weak and isolated, they were a large force, seemingly poised to shake the entire north.

In less than half a month, the streets and markets of 120 prefectures and 564 counties in the north were filled with the hurried footsteps of officials from the capital and the six armies of the Northern Army.

The sons of officials who used to bully and dominate the market, the scholars who used to talk big, and even the county officials who used to run rampant in the countryside, were now like chickens and ducks with their necks choked, silent as cicadas in winter.

In teahouses and taverns, people whispered amongst themselves, their voices barely audible, their eyes filled with a mixture of fear, curiosity, and a hint of unspoken pleasure.

"Did you hear that? Magistrate Wang has sent the armored troops off!"

"Who in the county doesn't know this? I've heard that Wang Mingfu's house is filled with chests and boxes being hauled into the yamen by the cartload; they must be piled high with copper coins!"

“In a certain village, there was a family who reclaimed three acres of private land. They were illiterate, and six years ago, a local tyrant forged a contract for them and sold the land for a pittance of five thousand coins.”

“A few months ago, one dark night, the Liu family steward came to his house with several servants, and then he disappeared without a trace. I wonder if he was mistreated…”

“It’s not an insult! Such things happen in other villages as well.”

"I heard that the imperial court has sent people to investigate the case. Those nobles who are usually in power are all re-signing their contracts and paying extra money, for fear that they will expose the truth!"

"You thieving bastard! Money and power are everything..."

"I've heard that someone from the Liu family holds a high-ranking official position in the court, even higher than yours. I wonder if the court intends to deal with him?"

"Such a high-ranking official... I'm afraid we can't touch him..."

Under the storm of the Northern Inspection, the officialdom of all regions was shaken. Almost every two or three days, former officials who were once in the limelight were dragged out of their government offices or residences by the fierce Northern Army soldiers, stuffed into carriages, and their whereabouts were unknown.

The officials' property was quickly confiscated, and all their money, grain, and valuables were registered and put into the county treasury before being transported to the prefecture.

The county officials who usually spent their days drinking tea and reading newspapers, deceiving their superiors and concealing the truth, were now all cautious and timid. Under the command of the group of cold-faced and concise "officials" from Luoyang, they carried thick registers and went from house to house to re-register the population and measure the fields.

Before those unfamiliar officials from the capital, these county clerks held their rulers taut and their abacuses clicked loudly, not daring to slack off in the slightest.

Those once arrogant and domineering scions of powerful families were now all keeping their gates tightly shut, their carriages and horses nowhere to be seen.

Many people who had been oppressed and forced to sell their land would, in the dead of night, encounter their former arrogant stewards or managers, carrying gifts, smiling obsequiously, and even pleading with them to take back their land deeds or accept compensation.

Many illiterate rural farmers, holding their recovered land deeds and heavy sums of money, felt as if they were in a dream, completely bewildered.

This foggy situation gradually became clearer as the new year's National Gazette continued to be published.

"No wonder... the imperial court is really serious this time!"

"What brilliant methods the sage employs! He's determined to deal with those damned parasites!"

"Ha ha ha ha……"

After learning about the court's methods, many bewildered villagers finally understood, with the help of a literate boy from their village, why the situation had changed so quickly.

They didn't know why the court was only taking action now; they only knew that if the powerful figures who had bullied them were punished, they would be genuinely happy.

With the combined effect of the "National Gazette" and the "Beijing Inspection" system, the hearts of the people throughout the north gradually turned towards the imperial court. All of this was thanks to Liu Jilong's establishment of official schools throughout the country in the third year of Hongwu's reign, as well as his order for the court to start a newspaper.

The imperial inspection in the north is still ongoing, and the court has begun to take action, but the counterattacks of those powerful families have not yet been revealed.

Meanwhile, Liu Jilong, who was far away in the Zhenguan Hall in Luoyang, finally received a memorial from the Lingnan Circuit in late February.

"Good! Good! Good..."

Inside the hall, after Liu Jilong couldn't help but shout "Good!" three times, the atmosphere inside visibly became more lively.

Ximen Junsui, who had just handed the memorial to Liu Jilong, stood behind and peeked at it. He saw that the memorial contained information about the return of the first batch of ships from the Eastern Ocean fleet, consisting of two warships and 172 sailors, along with a variety of crops requested by the imperial court.

The reason they were delayed for nearly four years was mainly due to several months of acclimatization problems and illness. When they finally found the crops according to the sea charts provided by the imperial court, they fought a war with the local barbarians for several months because of the language barrier.

If it weren't for the arrival of four ships and over three hundred marines in the second fleet, they wouldn't have been able to defeat the barbarians and obtain the crops from them.

After witnessing the Han Dynasty's methods, the barbarian tribes stopped fighting them and instead began a barter trade.

Although they couldn't communicate verbally, writing and drawing allowed them to understand what the Han Dynasty needed, and thus they obtained the many crops they desired in just over half a year.

After the incident, the first fleet of three ships and more than 300 marines attempted to return to the Great Han, but due to the long journey along the southern equator, the first return voyage failed as the seeds sprouted and withered, and they had to retreat to the Americas.

Later, the navy learned its lesson and prepared to bypass Cape Horn in South America and head to Africa, but encountered a storm en route. Two warships and more than 200 marines were lost at sea, and only one ship was able to return to camp.

Left with no other option, the navy had to continue using the North Equatorial Trade Winds route and store various crop seeds in earthenware jars, layered with dry sand and moss.

Meanwhile, some crops are planted in specially made large pots on the deck, where they are carefully cared for.

In this situation, the navy dispatched three warships and more than 200 marines on their return journey. During the journey, they encountered three storms and stopped at several islands with fresh water. They carefully tended to the crops for a period of time before returning with new seeds.

After a six-month voyage, the fleet returned to the Han Dynasty with two warships and 172 marines, while the remaining ship and marines perished at sea.

Even Ximen Junsui couldn't help but marvel at the difficulty of such an experience, let alone Liu Jilong, who had been looking forward to it day and night.

"Corn, sweet potatoes, potatoes, peppers, peanuts, tomatoes, sunflowers, pumpkins, rubber..."

Liu Jilong silently recited the more than ten crops he had brought back, and with each new crop he saw, the corners of his mouth would involuntarily turn up even higher.

Besides the three major crops, peanuts and rubber are what Liu Jilong cares about most.

Although Dahan also has similar Eucommia ulmoides gum, American rubber is still needed to solve the sealing problem.

As for peanuts, as a major oil producer, they have a higher yield per acre and a higher oil extraction rate than soybeans, which are currently mainly used for oil production in China.

From the perspective of pure oil extraction, the oil yield of one acre of peanuts is equivalent to that of four or five acres of soybeans. Even if it is used as a staple food, peanuts are superior.

However, soybeans have a wide variety of uses, and some of these uses cannot be replaced by peanuts.

Thinking of this, Liu Jilong ordered, "All the soldiers who brought back the crops shall be granted the title of Senior Founding County Baron, a rank of Fifth Grade!"

"The remaining soldiers who set sail were all granted the rank of Yunqiwei, a seventh-grade official, and were also rewarded with 100 strings of cash!"

Liu Jilong's rewards to the many sailors in the navy were quite generous. Although the rewards were not hereditary, they were enough to make these people rich for three generations.

Moreover, he also sensed some concealment and insincerity in the reports submitted by these soldiers.

In their memorial, they only mentioned that the barbarian tribes fought against them because they could not understand each other's language, and also mentioned the barter trade between the two sides.

Such vague words might fool others, but they could not possibly fool Liu Jilong.

Putting aside other things, the Aztecs, Mayans, and Incas of Central and South America all loved gold, but the memorial to the throne made no mention of gold whatsoever.

These people regarded gold and silver as symbols of power and began panning for gold very early on for use in building decorations and ornaments.

More than 600 years later, the Spanish obtained more than six tons of gold and twelve tons of silver by kidnapping the Inca emperor.

Even if the Native Americans of today don't have that much gold and silver, Liu Jilong doesn't believe the Han army arriving in the Americas would remain indifferent if they flaunted their wealth.

However, Liu Jilong did not intend to hide these things. Instead, he planned to make them public at the right time, preferably so that the whole world would know about them.

If groups of people really did travel to the Americas and establish camps there, then the Han Dynasty could reap the benefits later.

Before that, Liu Jilong still needs to solve the population problems in the northeast and southwest.

Thinking of this, Liu Jilong put down the memorial and, without turning his head, instructed Ximen Junsui: "Tell the Guangdong Provincial Administration Commission to send people by fast horse to plant seeds of various crops locally. The planting methods are in the 'New Book of Agricultural Administration' on the third shelf of the side hall..."

Crops such as sweet potatoes, corn, and potatoes all need to be detoxified before planting. Although his memory is hazy, Liu Jilong still remembers how he followed his elders to plant these crops when he was a child in his previous life.

We can't let the crops we worked so hard to get be ruined by people who don't know how to grow them.

"New Book on Agricultural Administration" is a book that Liu Jilong wrote many years ago. It includes methods for planting these new crops in the Americas, as well as various methods for selecting and breeding good varieties in the local area and making them into food.

With the strong promotion of the imperial court, these crops will be able to be cultivated into improved varieties that can be adapted to local planting within a few years. After that, it will only be necessary to promote these crops to the mountainous areas of Yunnan, Guizhou and Northeast China.

The Northeast Plain at that time was still a swamp, and it was too difficult to cultivate. However, the mountains and hills in Liaodong and the northern part of the Korean Peninsula were very suitable for growing these crops.

As for promoting these crops to other places, they should naturally be promoted appropriately, but they shouldn't be treated as a top priority.

Rice and wheat were ultimately the main food sources for the Han people. The yields of sweet potatoes, potatoes, and corn varied. Except for sweet potatoes, the yields of the other two crops per mu were similar to those of millet and wheat.

Otherwise, the planting area of ​​the three major crops in the late Qing Dynasty would not have been so small.

"Everything is ready, only the east wind is lacking..."

With most of Yunnan recovered and overseas crops brought back to the homeland, the Beijing-Chahar border crossing is in full swing.

In an instant, Liu Jilong felt that the burden on his shoulders had become much lighter.

It is now the twelfth year of the Hongwu reign, and I am fifty-two years old. Although I still look no more than thirty-five or thirty-six, I can truly feel the power of time in my body.

The Han Dynasty now seems to be able to navigate the twists and turns of history over the past hundreds of years simply by following the established path.

"I am a little tired. I will deal with the memorials after my lunch break."

"Yes……"

When Liu Jilong said he was a little tired, Ximen Jun immediately followed him down the Jintai Terrace and escorted him to a side hall to rest. At the same time, he ordered someone to copy the "New Book on Agricultural Administration" and send it to Lingnan.

As time went by, Liu Jilong grew increasingly exhausted, while the Beijing Inspection incident escalated further...

The Great Fire of the Beijing-Chahar Inspection, which was lit by Liu Jilong and torched by Liu Lie, has reached its most intense stage.

The areas where the fire is currently raging most fiercely and is most difficult to control are Longyou and Dongji.

Didao City in Linzhou, a thousand miles away from Luoyang, the city where the Han Dynasty rose to power, has now completely lost its former bustling and noble atmosphere.

The spring breeze in March didn't stir up sand and dust, but rather a chilling atmosphere pervaded the city.

Along the long street, armored cavalry from the Northern Army would occasionally escort carriages past, their wheels rumbling over the bluestone pavement.

The common people walked quickly with their heads down, while the nobles inside the walls on the left and right sides hid in the second floor and pavilions of the taverns, gritting their teeth as they watched the Northern Army cavalry escort the carriages out of the city.

"Whose residence is this?"

"It's Uncle Bo from Huayang County! I heard he's hiding hundreds of acres of land and refusing to register his property, and he's even letting his wicked servants kill three households..."

"Hiss... How many houses is this this month?"

"It happens so frequently, how can we possibly keep track of everything..."

"Hmph! Ever since His Highness took charge of Didao in February, how many groups of prominent officials in the city have been sent away!"

"You pig-like bastards! Are you really trying to cut off our way of survival?!"

"Where is the imperial court? Has no one submitted a memorial to the emperor?"

"Of course there are, but this matter was already condoned by the sage, so how could the ministers and dukes possibly stop it..."

More than ten young men dressed in brocade robes gathered in a private room in the pavilion. Their voices were filled with fear and hatred for Liu Lie's ruthless pursuit of them.

In their view, who in this world is not greedy?
Their fathers followed His Majesty in conquering the world, and now that the world is at peace, they only used their power to gain some benefits. How could they be punished so severely?

They were afraid, but behind their fear lay resentment, which manifested in letters of pleading, which were sent to the former royal palace and now the imperial residence.

"Your Highness!"

Inside the palace, Zhang Chengye hurried into the hall, while Liu Lie, who was sitting inside, had a somber expression.

He was listening to his subordinates report one by one on the amount of money seized and the people arrested that day, but the vermilion pen in his hand remained suspended for a long time. Only when Zhang Chengye walked into the hall did he look up at Zhang Chengye and ask, "What is it?"

"Three more letters have arrived from Luoyang, from the Prince of Anchang, the Prince of Zhangye, and..."

"Leave it alone."

Before Zhang Chengye could finish speaking, Liu Lie interrupted him, his tone calm and revealing no emotion.

Zhang Chengye sighed and casually placed the letter on top of the dozen or so unopened letters already piled up.

"continue."

Liu Lie looked at the subordinate who was reporting ahead, and the subordinate hurriedly began to report.

Liu Lie listened attentively while flipping through the case files in his hands. As for the letters... he didn't ignore them, but rather he didn't need to.

Having experienced the Gyeonggi Province inspection, he was already well aware of its contents, which were nothing more than pleading, begging for mercy, or threatening him with his past merits.

He neither needed to nor could he read these letters, because if he did, his previously calm mind would be thrown into turmoil.

He knew that with each day he stayed in Longyou and each house he searched and confiscated in Didao City, the letters on his desk would grow thicker.

He would never look at anyone, no matter how many people pleaded for his life, simply because it was for the sake of his position.

He still vividly remembers the hardships he endured in Puning County. If he compromises today, will he have to keep compromising with these nobles after he becomes emperor?
He already had enough support from Zhang Huaishen, Zhang Chang, Cao Mao, and others. If he had too many powerful nobles behind him, it would be a repeat of the chaos caused by the powerful clans of the Eastern Han Dynasty.

This power can only belong to him, to the Liu family.

Anyone who tries to use their achievements to coerce the Liu family into sharing power with them deserves to die!

With a grim face, Liu Lie wrote the character "斩" (beheading) on ​​the case file on the table. Zhang Chengye, who was in front of him, looked at the case file and broke out in a cold sweat.

Although it was just a suggestion, the officials of the three departments in the capital inspection could basically be regarded as Liu Lie's subordinates. Since Liu Lie had written the word "execution", the officials of the three departments would definitely make a judgment according to this suggestion.

Zhang Chengye took a deep breath, thinking to himself that his prince would probably become a ruthless emperor in the future...

"Your crime is compounded!"

"Guo Chongtao, what kind of scum are you to judge my father? My father is a descendant of nobles and the son of a meritorious official!!"

While Liu Lie was conducting a ruthless inspection of the capital, Guo Chongtao, who was in Luoyang and ordered to inspect the eastern capital region, was no less ruthless.

Holding the "Great Han Law" and the "Performance Evaluation Law" in his hands, he acted without any room for maneuver, disregarding all nobles and veteran officials of any rank.

Facing the brocade-robed man shouting in front of him, Guo Chongtao sneered, "The Great Han Law clearly states: Anyone who encroaches on more than fifty acres of land shall be exiled, and anyone who injures or kills another shall be beheaded!"

"You have seized three hundred acres of land and caused the deaths of two people. The poor Earl of Liyang County followed His Majesty in his conquests and finally obtained a title, but now he is being dragged down by you beasts..."

"You have wronged the Earl of Liyang so much, what guilt do I have in killing you?"

Guo Chongtao snorted coldly and looked at the official beside him: "Sun Jing, son of the Earl of Liyang County, is guilty and should be executed! The Earl of Liyang County shall be stripped of his title but retain his post!"

The officials, sweating profusely, noted down Guo Chongtao's judgment. Even if it was just a suggestion to the Three Judicial Offices, it was enough to make the Earl of Liyang resign his title but retain his post.

Even though they were used to their superior's sternness, the subordinates still couldn't help but feel guilty whenever they saw him deal with these nobles.

During this period, countless nobles and high-ranking officials pleaded with Guo Chongtao for leniency, but he not only rejected all the pleas, but also ordered a thorough investigation, uncovering many old cases that had been tried to be covered up and the collusion between officials.

For a time, everyone in the Dongji officialdom felt insecure, and Guo Chongtao's nickname "Guo the King of Hell" spread like wildfire.

His reputation spread far and wide, but behind that reputation lay the steps that led to the downfall of countless meritorious officials and high-ranking ministers.

Faced with this immense pressure, the meritorious officials finally could not bear it any longer and completely erupted in the imperial court.

"Your Highness! Your Highness and Guo Sheren have been implementing the Capital Inspection in the Eastern Capital and Longyou regions, which is intended to clean up official corruption. We wholeheartedly support this."

"However, their methods were ruthless, fabricating charges and implicating many people." "Wherever the officials from the capital inspected the area, government offices were paralyzed, people were filled with fear, and public resentment nearly boiled over!"

"Even worse, some people kill without warning, treating the descendants of meritorious officials as enemies, chilling the hearts of all those who have contributed to the country!"

"If this continues, the country will cease to exist!"

"Your Majesty, I humbly request that you immediately issue an edict to postpone the capital inspection, recall His Highness, and select another benevolent minister to preside over this matter!"

On the second day of the fourth month, during the regular court session at Qianyuan Hall, Prime Minister Cui Shu, bracing himself to speak, delivered a message that resonated with many voices of agreement.

"I second that opinion! How can the capital inspection be conducted so hastily?"

"Guo Sheren is clearly using this opportunity to vent his personal grievances and attack his opponents!"

"Yan Sheren is cunning and ruthless; he plotted against them and is an accomplice!"

The officials' impeachments were clearly aimed at the Crown Prince's faction, with all sorts of false accusations coming out one after another, leaving everyone dizzy and confused.

Faced with the fervent clamor of his ministers, Liu Jilong remained expressionless on the Golden Terrace, listening quietly, making it impossible for them to discern his inner thoughts.

Seeing Cui Shu's attack, Zheng Tian and Xiao Gou chose to remain silent, while Cao Mao in the Five Armies Commandery vehemently retorted: "Absurd!"

"The evidence uncovered by the Beijing inspection team is shocking, revealing huge amounts of embezzlement and arousing great public outrage!"

“I am also a member of the nobility, but if we can be exempted from the law simply because it involves members of the nobility, then what is the use of the law?”

"Your Highness is acting rashly now, but when so many officials are embezzling, why don't you feel the same way?!"

Seeing Cao Mao speak up, many officials who supported Liu Lie also began to express their opinions.

In an instant, the court was in an uproar as the officials engaged in an unprecedentedly fierce debate over the ongoing capital inspection.

As they argued, Liu Jilong glanced at Zhang Chang, Ma Cheng, Husiguang, An Pohu, and others out of the corner of his eye.

Most of them remained silent, and Liu Jilong knew the reason for their silence.

They had some personality issues, and were somewhat reluctant to admit their mistakes when faced with pleas from their former subordinates.

They're already being kind by not kicking Liu Lie when he's down, so naturally they can't speak up for him.

Faced with their actions, Liu Jilong felt a deep sense of exhaustion.

This exhaustion did not stem from physical fatigue, but rather from the balancing act of an emperor.

Impeachment is just a facade; the real battle is over people's hearts and interests.

Thinking of this, Liu Jilong slowly stood up, which drew all eyes to him, and the argument suddenly stopped.

Facing the gazes of his ministers, Liu Jilong calmly and wearily swept his gaze across them, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable authority:
"I am aware of the matter of the capital inspection; I also understand the intentions of you all."

"However, the law of the country is as solid as a mountain, and corruption is a parasite on the nation. How can it be relaxed just because someone is involved?"

"The Crown Prince and his ministers were acting on imperial orders."

"All investigations and actions taken must be based on the 'Great Han Law' and on empirical evidence."

"If you think the Crown Prince is being harsh in his punishment, then produce evidence to refute him, instead of just spouting empty words."

As soon as Liu Jilong finished speaking, he stepped down from the Golden Terrace. Upon seeing this, the officials of the Court of State Ceremonies immediately announced, "Step back!"

"Long live the emperor! Long live the emperor! Long live the emperor!"

Cui Shu and the others were very unwilling, while Cao Mao snorted and walked away.

Ma Cheng, Zhang Chang, Husi Guang, An Pohu, and others left quietly, while the remaining ministers, in a confrontational manner, dispersed.

After the officials dispersed, it was clear that there were three factions: the neutral faction led by Zhang Chang and Ma Cheng, the faction led by Cui Shu who moved to the right, and the faction led by Cao Mao, Li Gunshi, and Han Zhengke who moved to the left.

The three parties departed separately, and after the evening drum sounded, they mainly headed to the residences of Cao Mao and Cui Shu.

At Cui Shu's residence, Liu Yingyan, Wang Sifeng, Dou Jingchong, Dou Bin, Zhang Ying, and others gathered, including twelve high-ranking officials of the fourth rank or above.

Cui Shu looked at everyone sitting in the hall, tapping his hand rhythmically on the armrest a few times. After the steward and his servants had served tea to everyone and left, he finally spoke:

"His Majesty is determined to conduct a thorough investigation in the capital. Right now, we can register the hidden fields as wasteland that has been cultivated in the past three years. Secondly, we need to find a scapegoat and appease those of you in your households who have cases."

"As long as we don't implicate them, we'll still have time to scheme against Your Highness in the future."

“Just let it go like that?!”

Wang Sifeng couldn't help but speak up, and Liu Yingyan looked at Cui Shu.

Both men had children and were convicted and executed. Others could still retreat, but if they retreated, they would be watching their children be killed.

"What else can we do but forget about it?"

Cui Shu frowned. Even though he knew long ago that there were no capable people left in the old guard of Longyou, he still couldn't help but feel contempt for Liu Yingyan and Wang Sifeng's stupidity.

No matter what, Liu Lie is the Crown Prince and His Majesty's eldest son. Do they really want the Crown Prince to change the edict or even pay with his life?
After their outburst, Wang Sifeng and Liu Yingyan realized something was wrong, but they were still somewhat unwilling: "At least release them; if that's not possible, exile is acceptable..."

“I can’t make that decision.” Cui Shu was somewhat displeased. What right did he have to make Liu Lie change the order?

It should be noted that after Liu Lie went to Longyou, many of his clansmen were arrested, so he pleaded for them many times, while also being furious about it.

He wasn't angry that Liu Lie had arrested them, but rather that he had already warned them, yet they still acted recklessly and ended up running into Liu Lie's line of fire.

Now that Liu Lie is going to punish and execute these people, he can't even stop him, let alone help Liu Yingyan and Wang Sifeng save people.

"Then what's the point of this meeting?!"

Wang Sifeng couldn't help but stand up, and everyone in the hall looked at him. In the end, it was Liu Yingyan who tugged at him, and he reluctantly sat down.

"His Majesty is determined to investigate the capital; do you all intend to commit a crime against His Majesty?"

Cui Shu snorted coldly, and these words caused Liu Yingyan and Wang Sifeng's expressions to change drastically.

The martial spirit that emerged after the An Lushan Rebellion still exists, and there have been many instances of mass rebellions in recent years, but they have all been suppressed in the end.

Although they were proud of their achievements, they also knew that without His Majesty's support, they would never have reached this point.

Not to mention His Majesty's brilliant military strategy, Cao Mao, Husi Guang, and Zhang Yanhui alone would be more than enough to easily defeat them, not to mention Gao Pian, Li Yangchun, An Pohu, and others.

"Protecting yourself is the most important thing. Your son is so lawless that even if you save him, he will still cause trouble in the future."

"It would be better to lie low and carefully cultivate a virtuous son who can inherit the family business."

Cui Shu valued education highly, so his sons were all very low-key. He himself was only allowed to show his face when necessary, otherwise he was very well-behaved because he could sense Liu Jilong's distance from him.

"Clean up your own mess first. Don't think about saving others; save yourselves first."

Cui Shu gave instructions to everyone, and seeing their unwilling expressions, he did not try to stop them, but instead got up and left the main hall.

Now that Ma Cheng is no longer in charge, Chen Jingchong is old and frail, and Zhang Chang, An Pohu, and Husi Guang have no intention of forming their own factions, and Cao Mao is someone they cannot contend with, they can only choose to rely on him.

If they don't listen to me and want to continue pressuring that person in the palace, then I hope that when that person gets impatient, these people won't come begging to me anymore.

Thinking of that person in the palace, Cui Shu's face darkened, and he looked at the steward behind him.

"Tell the young men to do their jobs well and not cause any trouble."

"Yes……"

The master and servant continued into the deep mansion, while Liu Yingyan and others in the main hall left Cui Shu's residence one after another with somber expressions.

At the same time, many people gathered at Cao Mao's residence, including Han Zhengke, Li Gunshi, Chen Ying, and Yang Xin, as well as Lu Guimeng, Du Xunhe, Nie Yizhong, and Li Shanfu, who were pillars of the Six Ministries.

"What about Luo Zhaojian and Jing Zizhen?"

Cao Mao frowned and looked at everyone, while Li Gunshi said in a deep voice, "Minister Luo said he is unwell, so Scholar Jing is on duty today."

Upon hearing Li Gunshi's explanation, Cao Mao felt somewhat dissatisfied with Luo Yin. After all, Luo Yin was not good-looking, and if it weren't for His Majesty's special imperial examination back then, he wouldn't have his current official career.

Now that His Majesty is going to inspect the entire country, he is unwilling to help, which greatly disappoints him.

"You should all be aware of the matter of the capital inspection, especially those of you who graduated from Linzhou, you should know it even better than I do."

"How long has it been since the world was at peace and the people were settled? Have you forgotten the days when we ate the best meat and suffered humiliation?"

Cao Mao was personally raised by Liu Jilong. Although his abilities were not as good as Li Yangchun, An Pohu and others, few people could match his loyalty.

His words revealed his dissatisfaction with Luo Yin to everyone, but they did not agree with him, since they did not have Cao Mao's status.

Seeing that no one responded, Cao Mao did not pursue the matter, but simply said to them:

“When I was young, I was a slave to a Tibetan servant. I often saw the Tibetan servant bullying a Han Chinese, treating the Han Chinese like pigs and dogs, and killing them at will.”

"How are the actions of so many sons of meritorious officials today any different from those of the Tibetan Jie'er of yesteryear?"

“You shall each restrain your subordinates. If any of them break the law, even if the capital inspection did not apprehend them, Heaven will send someone else to do so.”

"If any corrupt officials in the capital extort money or bribes, or if any lawless individuals commit murder or flee, all such individuals shall be apprehended without disturbing the Imperial Censorate."

Cao Mao sternly rebuked them, and everyone nodded in agreement. Then they told Cao Mao about Liu Yingyan and Wang Sifeng's defection to Cui Shu.

"He failed to properly educate his son, and now that he has caused trouble, he blames His Majesty. He is nothing but an ungrateful wretch!"

Cao Mao spoke sternly, but sighed inwardly, after all, he had once had a good relationship with Wang Sifeng and Liu Yingyan.

However, he despised the behavior of the two men's offspring in indulging their servants and harming the people.

"If there's nothing else, you should all go back to your residences and get some rest. I still need to go to the palace."

"Yes……"

After explaining the matter, Cao Mao signaled everyone to leave and personally saw them off at the mansion. He then personally took a carriage to Ziwei City.

Half an hour later, as he appeared outside the Zhenguan Hall, Liu Jilong put down his brush and stepped down from the golden platform. He then instructed Ximen Junsui, who had just gotten up, "Arrange a carriage and go to Jiuzhou Pond to take a look."

"This servant obeys..."

"Your Majesty." Cao Mao entered the hall, and Liu Jilong walked towards him, helping him as he was about to bow, his gaze sweeping over him.

Cao Mao, at forty-eight years old, no longer looked young. Looking at his mature appearance, Liu Jilong couldn't help but think of the scene earlier that day when he spoke up for Liu Lie in the temple.

"Let's go for a walk at Kyushu Pond."

His use of a certain self-designation relaxed Cao Mao somewhat, and he smiled and said, "Yes!"

Ximen Jun quickly arranged a carriage. Liu Jilong invited Cao Mao to ride with him. Cao Mao wanted to decline, but Liu Jilong forcibly dragged him into the carriage.

The carriage moved slowly along the bluestone road inside the palace, the wheels making a regular rumbling sound.

The carriage arranged by Ximen Jun was quite spacious, with soft cushions made of brocade and cotton inside, making it very comfortable to sit in. However, Cao Mao still sat upright, his hands restlessly folded on his knees.

"Your Majesty, this is against propriety..."

Cao Mao tried to get up, but Liu Jilong glanced at him and said, "If you dare to get up, I will kick you down."

"Forehead……"

Cao Mao was speechless. He was about to suggest that His Majesty take action when Liu Jilong said, "Back in Hexi, why didn't you talk about these empty formalities?"

Upon hearing this, Cao Mao could only laugh helplessly. Then, thinking of his own entry into the palace, he lowered his voice and said:
"After the court session ended today, everyone who was supposed to come has arrived. Apart from Scholar Jing, who was on duty, only Luo Yin is absent. He feigned illness and did not come, which truly disappoints His Majesty..."

"I understand." Liu Jilong interrupted him, lowering his eyes and saying, "Everyone has their own ambitions, there's no need to force it."

Cao Mao was somewhat surprised by his calmness, but dared not ask any questions. He could only sit upright and wait for the carriage to stop.

Just then, Liu Jilong turned his head and examined his face: "I heard you caught a cold a few days ago, are you feeling better now?"

"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. Everything is fine now."

Cao Mao felt a warmth in his heart and was about to say something more when the carriage slowly came to a stop.

Ximen Jun then lifted the curtain, and the shimmering light of Jiuzhou Pond rushed into the carriage.

Although it was early summer afternoon, the thousand acres of clear water in Jiuzhou Pond rippled, with nine small islands scattered like stars, and a long dike winding through them, connecting the pavilions and towers.

Egrets skimmed across the water, leaving ripples in their wake. Liu Jilong took a deep breath of the moist air, his gaze sweeping across the lake, becoming distant and wistful.

"Speaking of which, it has been quite a few years since I left Hexi. If it weren't for this inspection in the capital, I wouldn't have known that the situation in Hexi was so complicated."

Seeing a hint of guilt on Liu Jilong's face, Cao Mao immediately bowed and comforted him:

"Your Majesty, rest assured, the people of Longyou and Hexi are now living in peace and prosperity. The wheat harvest has been excellent in recent years, and grain prices are stable."

"Although there are indeed nobles who break the law and harm the people, and powerful families who seize land, His Highness the Crown Prince is currently conducting an inspection in Longyou. I believe that things will become more peaceful after the inspection."

After he finished speaking, Cao Mao waited for Liu Jilong to ask questions, but seeing that Liu Jilong did not speak, he continued, "Fortunately, His Majesty is wise and established the public land system in his early years."

"No matter how rampant those powerful families are, they dare not touch a single bit of public land. Although the lives of ordinary people are not as prosperous as before, they can still live comfortably thanks to the public land."

Faced with Cao Mao's optimistic idea, Liu Jilong shook his head: "It's not that they dare not touch the public fields, but that they are afraid of me."

"If I were gone, do you think they would dare to seize public land?"

"No system or law can ultimately withstand the greed of the human heart."

Upon hearing Liu Jilong's words, Cao Mao hurriedly said, "Your Highness the Crown Prince is wise and mighty, much like His Majesty in his prime. If anyone dares to lay a hand on the public fields in the future, Your Highness will surely..."

Before he could finish speaking, Liu Jilong waved his hand to interrupt him, his gaze fixed on the distance: "Do you remember back in Shandan?"

"At that time, I led my brothers and the people of Shandan to reclaim wasteland and build canals. On weekdays, we had to guard against the Uyghurs and also plan how to recover Liangzhou."

"Although life was tough, we always worked together with one heart and one mind, so we achieved twice the result with half the effort."

When the past was mentioned, Cao Mao smiled and said, "I remember, back then you had to wait a year to eat castrated pork."

"With His Majesty leading us, those days didn't feel bitter when we looked back; on the contrary, we felt full of energy."

At this point, Cao Mao suddenly said solemnly, "As far as I am concerned, it doesn't matter where I am as long as I can follow Your Majesty."

Liu Jilong subconsciously looked at Cao Mao, but seeing his serious expression, he didn't know what to say.

After a long pause, he breathed a sigh of relief: "If everyone thought like you, there wouldn't be so many corrupt officials in the world."

"They have lost their conscience and forgotten the suffering they endured as slaves under Tibetan rule."

"I have already learned about Liu Yingyan and Wang Sifeng's affair from Zhao Ying."

"I remember that when they were in Hexi, they were also humiliated as Tibetan herdsmen. Now they have turned their lives around, but their descendants are humiliating the people of Hexi just like the Tibetans were back then."

"I originally intended to give them a chance, but their actions have truly disappointed me..."

Cao Mao felt a chill run down his spine. From the moment Liu Jilong changed his self-designation, he had guessed that Liu Yingyan and Wang Sifeng would be in trouble.

Even though he looked down on their current behavior, he still felt a mix of emotions when he thought of the memories of fighting together in the past.

A deathly silence fell inside the carriage. After a long while, Cao Maocai spoke up: "Hesitation leads to trouble; this is what you taught me."

Liu Jilong pondered for a moment without responding immediately. Only when birds took flight in the distance did he slowly speak, his expression a mixture of relief and anticipation.

"When the world is truly at peace, you will accompany me back to Shandan for a visit."

"Yes……"

(End of this chapter)