Can't a princess ascend the throne?

Chapter 418 A Busy Winter

The conversation inside the carriage didn't leave much of an impression on Jiu Que. She immediately turned her attention to checking on the families of ordinary people in the capital and the surrounding 200 li (approximately 100 kilometers) area. Fortunately, the students of Zhaoyan Academy were truly dedicated. Even though they were sent down to the countryside, they didn't complain at all. Instead, they were hardworking and remarkably conscientious.

Although Emperor Jingtai wholeheartedly wanted to build the Jingtai Dynasty into a peaceful and prosperous empire, a superior nation, the dynasty had only been established for nearly fourteen years and still needed time to recuperate. Moreover, a significant portion of the officials in various regions over the years were remnants of the previous dynasty. Emperor Jingtai had tried his best to replace them. However, the powerful clans had persisted for centuries, and the resources they had accumulated could not be easily overcome. Even if the original officials were replaced, there would be others with vested interests to take their place. Ultimately, Emperor Jingtai couldn't find anyone truly willing to serve the country and possess genuine talent.
After all, governing the country requires at least literacy. However, in the previous dynasty, the right to read and write was strictly confined to the upper class. The common people, let alone read and write, were mostly unable to even write their own names.

Therefore, it was difficult to find capable people to help. In fact, the Great Jing Dynasty already had a civil service examination system for selecting officials, but the vast majority of those selected through this system came from aristocratic families. The main reason was that writing implements were too expensive. Therefore, while researching agricultural tools, the students of the academy also joined forces with Huang Liangmu and the Ministry of Works to research cheaper and more mass-producible paper.

Of course, as Jiu Que had previously stated, simply having a large quantity of blank paper wasn't enough; they also needed sufficiently inexpensive educational books. Therefore, the previous woodblock printing method was no longer viable; they had to use the more flexible and convenient movable type printing. Jiu Que simply gave them a general direction. With this direction, they could save a great deal of time. In just half a month, they had already developed a highly flexible and useful movable type printing technique and put it into practice.

The first book printed using movable type was the Analects.

Jiu Que found a time to present it to Emperor Jingtai, who carefully stroked the deep blue cover. Jiu Que had previously explained to him the convenience and benefits of movable type printing. Therefore, Emperor Jingtai treated the book with almost reverence. In his childhood, his family was poor; owning a book was out of the question, and even glancing at the words on it was a luxury. Although his military campaigns, rebellions, and his more than ten years as emperor had provided him with the highest level of education, he still felt a pang of regret for the child he once was, who could only look towards the school with envy.

He would be willing to pay the price if it could enable more children like him to read and write, directly changing their social class and allowing them to live better lives.

"Jiu Que, I want to thank you for giving me hope. I also thank you on behalf of all the impoverished students in the world. It is you who gave them the possibility to continue their studies."

The existence of these two items served more than just these purposes; they also helped the emperor truly select the nation's talents. Did these so-called great talents only exist in aristocratic families, princes, and officials? Of course not. Such talents also existed among ordinary people. It's just a pity that the vast majority of them never had the opportunity to read, write, and understand the principles of life.

Now, he can select the truly talented people in the world!
Jiu Que was quite satisfied with the academy's research results and speed, and naturally wanted to commend them. Emperor Jingtai was also quite generous, simply granting them proper official positions, thus silencing the gossip in the court. Recalling the open or veiled mockery of those stubborn ministers yesterday, Emperor Jingtai couldn't help but laugh.

These people are incredibly foolish. The tide of the times is rising, yet they cling to their old glory. People like them will eventually be swept away and left to languish on the riverbank.

Looking at Jiuque in the blink of an eye, this is truly a place of exceptional talent and beauty.

"Just go for it, I'll cover for you, don't worry about what others say!"

"Thank you, Father Emperor." With Emperor Jingtai's support, Jiuque naturally embarked on even more sweeping reforms. The New Year passed in the blink of an eye, and this winter, very few people in Dajing died of cold or hunger. Officials from the imperial court were dispatched to every prefecture and county; these officials included men, women, and children. Their purpose was to investigate whether the people in each village had received the coal briquettes and stoves developed and sent by the imperial court.

Furthermore, every household in the county towns, villages, and townships where elderly people over 60 years old lived was provided with a heated kang (a traditional Chinese bed-stove). The people who built these kangs had received prior training from the government. These people were ordinary farmers or craftsmen who had expected to have to tighten their belts to survive the long winter. They never expected that the government could find them work and earn some money in the dead of winter, even if it meant enduring the cold.

Outside, snow was falling heavily, and the landscape was covered in white. The river was frozen solid, thick enough for carriages and horses to pass through.

In Wang Dashi's home in Xujia Village.

In previous years at this time, the family would huddle in their blankets, shivering, constantly worried that the roof beams would collapse under the weight of the snow, that family members would freeze to death, and that they wouldn't have enough firewood. But this year, the stove in the heated brick bed was burning brightly with coal briquettes distributed by the government. Their family was frugal enough that they hadn't used up the government-issued coal, which was now burning continuously to provide warmth to their simple house.

Wang Dashi's wife and children were busy with embroidery and playing around inside the house, creating a harmonious scene completely different from the icy and snowy world outside.

Su Xiu straightened the needle and thread in the bamboo basket. This year was warm enough that even with constant embroidery, her hands wouldn't get itchy and swollen from the cold. She watched her children play with a smile, glancing occasionally at the path outside. After some time, she suddenly stood up, put on her thick coat, and went to open the door. Her two children were waiting obediently inside. Soon after, the parents helped each other in.

"With such heavy snow today, don't go out to work after you get back. There's so much snow on the roads, it's slippery, what if you fall?"

"How could I be so unlucky? The men in our village all went to work together, looking out for each other along the way. Let me show you my wages for the past two weeks."

As Master Wang spoke, he took out a brand-new purse and poured the jingling copper coins inside onto the table, instantly creating a sizable bulge.

"Why so many?!"

Su Xiu hurriedly stepped forward to look through the documents. The wages for this half-month were equivalent to half a year's wages from before! Could her husband really earn so much just from working as a kang (heated brick bed) installer? And the government hadn't even delayed paying his wages? This was truly remarkable!
"This is all thanks to His Majesty and His Highness the Prince's kindness. If it weren't for them, I would have spent most of my life doing masonry work and never seen such a wonderful thing as a heated kang bed. Look how warm this room is!"