Tang Dynasty: A Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls for Li Er at the Start

Chapter 390 Wen He's other students, none of them were simple
The palace examination continued.

With Li Shimin's question answered, the scholars in the hall lowered their heads and pondered their next move.

A scholar from Guanzhong stepped forward first and bowed in response.

"Your Majesty, the key to settling the refugees is to appease them. First, reduce or exempt the taxes in the Shuofang region for three years, allowing the refugees to recuperate. Second, implement the equal-field system, distributing land according to population. Third, set up soup kitchens and build public granaries to guarantee the basic livelihood of the refugees. With such measures, the refugees will surely be able to return with peace of mind, and the Tang Dynasty will be able to stabilize Shuofang."

He finished speaking and smiled confidently.

But the ministers in the hall shook their heads, unconvinced.

These words sound logical and clear, but in reality they are all empty and vague statements.

Reducing taxes for three years would significantly cut national treasury revenue, and Shuofang had been plagued by war for a long time, with much of the land lying fallow, making it impossible to implement the equal-field system.

Setting up soup kitchens is merely a temporary solution; it only addresses the immediate crisis and cannot truly provide a safe haven for displaced people.

As Li Shimin listened, his brows gradually furrowed, and he lost all interest in responding, simply waving his hand to dismiss him.

Several other candidates then stepped forward, suggesting that "officials should be dispatched to strictly control the displaced people and prevent them from causing trouble."

Some advocated "incorporating refugees into the military register and using them as border troops."

The countermeasures are either too harsh and exacerbate the conflict, or they are detached from reality and difficult to implement.

Meng Zhou stood upright in the queue, about to step forward to express his views, but Zhao Lei, who was beside him, took the lead, quickly walked into the hall, and bowed to offer his advice.

"Your Majesty, I have a plan that can completely resolve the problem of displaced people in Shuofang!"

Li Shimin looked up at him, his tone carrying a lingering expectation: "Oh? Tell me in detail."

"The land of Shuofang was divided by the false Liang for more than ten years. The local people were long misled by Liang Shidu and thought more about the false Liang than about the Tang Dynasty."

Zhao Lei's voice was loud and clear, but his tone was somewhat arbitrary. "I believe that all the former people of the pseudo-Liang regime in Shuofang and Xiazhou should be relocated to various prefectures in the Central Plains and resettled in a dispersed manner. This will allow them to integrate into the people of the Tang Dynasty and gradually eliminate any dissent. At the same time, loyal people should be relocated from the Central Plains within the pass to fill the vacancies in Shuofang. This way, we can both eliminate the hidden dangers of rebellion and stabilize the border, achieving two goals at once!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Wen He's brows furrowed.

Zhao Lei was too anxious.

He still didn't understand the essence of the problem.

Fang Xuanling couldn't help but shake his head and step forward to retort: ​​"Young Master Zhao's plan is inappropriate."

His tone was gentle, but his stance was firm.

"The population of Shuofang and Xiazhou is no less than 100,000. Relocating them would require a massive amount of grain, fodder, and carts, with expenses along the way exceeding one million strings of cash. Moreover, the journey is long, taking at least two or three months, and sometimes up to half a year. The people would be displaced and it would easily incite public resentment. Furthermore, the people of the Central Plains live in peace and prosperity. Who would want to leave their homes and go to the bitter and cold Shuofang? Forcibly relocating them would only cause new turmoil and would be a losing proposition."

Zhao Lei was speechless after being rebuked by Fang Xuanling's words. His cheeks turned red, and he stood there, not knowing how to respond.

Looking at Zhao Lei's embarrassed appearance, Li Shimin shook his head slightly, a hint of disappointment flashing in his eyes.

It seems that not all of Wen He's students have the practical experience of Wu Sheng. Although Zhao Lei has ideas, they are perhaps too idealistic.

Just then, Meng Zhou stepped out of the queue and bowed.

"Your Majesty, I have a plan that may be able to both settle the refugees and secure the northern frontier, without incurring huge expenses."

Li Shimin's eyes lit up, and he quickly said, "Speak! I want to hear your thoughts."

"In the Battle of Shuofang, our Tang soldiers made outstanding contributions. Many of them were brave men from humble backgrounds who still do not have a family or start a family."

Meng Zhou composed himself and spoke slowly.

"I believe that the soldiers who have made meritorious contributions in this battle should be allowed to choose their own destination. If they wish to stay in Shuofang or Xiazhou, the court can allocate thirty acres of fertile land and a courtyard to them, and then distribute cattle or pastures according to their military merits. Those who do not wish to stay will be rewarded with gold, silver and cloth as usual and sent back to their hometowns to reunite with their families."

"In this way, the soldiers can not only benefit, but also become the 'guardians' of Shuofang, which is more reliable than relocating people from the Central Plains."

He paused and added.

"As for the old inhabitants of Shuofang, there is no need to forcibly relocate them. We can follow Brother Wu's suggestion and allocate oxen and land to each village, allowing them to farm in peace. The soldiers can be scattered around the villages, which will allow them to supervise the old inhabitants secretly and live in harmony with them. In time, the old inhabitants will naturally submit to the Tang Dynasty."

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest of the dragon throne, lost in thought.

Meng Zhou's method is indeed much more feasible than Zhao Lei's "relocation strategy." It not only utilizes the enthusiasm of meritorious soldiers, but also avoids the trouble of relocating civilians, and can also consolidate the defense of Shuofang. It can be said to achieve three goals at once.

Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, and others also began to discuss in hushed tones, and then they all shook their heads.

This seems to imply that all of these have been denied.

After a moment, Li Jing stepped forward and spoke solemnly.

“Your Majesty, although Lord Meng’s plan is brilliant, it has a hidden danger. Most of the soldiers in the army are from within the pass. They have parents, wives and children at home. The north is remote and bitterly cold, and it is thousands of miles away from the Central Plains. Once they stay, it will be difficult for them to see their families again. I’m afraid there will be very few who are willing to stay.”

Li Jing's words hit the nail on the head. Soldiers fight to achieve merit and return home in glory. If they are asked to stay in a foreign land, few would be willing to do so.

The family owns land and a house, and also has parents and a wife.

Why should I be left in that wretched place?

If you dare to do that, the brothers will rebel!

Silence fell in the hall again, and Meng Zhou frowned, clearly having not considered this aspect.

Li Shimin looked at the people in the hall and was about to say something when he saw Wen He step out from the ranks of officials and bow.

"Your Majesty, what Minister Li said is true, but it is not unsolvable."

"Oh? You have a way?"

Li Shimin looked at him and reached out to stroke his beard.

He chuckled to himself.

This brat is probably trying to get revenge for his two students.

"Actually, this is not difficult."

Wen He spoke slowly and casually.

"Many soldiers in the army are young and strong men around twenty years old who have never married. The court can issue an edict to allow unmarried women in Shuofang and Xiazhou to marry soldiers who are willing to stay. Those who marry locally will be exempt from taxes for one year, in addition to the land and houses originally agreed upon. If they have children in the future, they will be exempt from taxes for another year. In this way, the soldiers will have families and attachments in Shuofang, and will naturally be willing to stay."

He paused, then added, "Besides the soldiers, the common people can also follow this decree. Your Majesty can issue an edict to summon widowers, unmarried elderly people, and landless and jobless refugees from Guanzhong and the Central Plains to settle in Shuofang and provide them with a settlement allowance. In addition, the number of these people must be limited to a maximum of five thousand households, no more than that."

Five thousand households? And there's a quota limit?

Upon hearing this, Fang Xuanling couldn't help but frown.

"Gaoyang County will probably not even have a thousand households by then, yet you're setting a limit of five thousand?"

Not only was Fang Xuanling puzzled, but the officials and candidates also nodded in agreement.

The combination of travel expenses, land, and oxen is quite generous, but it may not attract many people. Why then limit the number of participants?

Wen He, however, looked confident and explained with a smile, "Master Fang, with such generous conditions, if there were no restrictions, everyone would flock to the north."

He looked at Li Shimin, his tone resolute.

"Your Majesty, think about it. Although the travel expenses provided by the court are not much, they are enough for the people to reach Shuofang safely. In addition, there are free land, oxen, and tax reduction policies. For the refugees in the Central Plains, this is a rare opportunity. You should know that the refugees do not even have a place to stand. The conditions in Shuofang are no less than 'sending charcoal in snowy weather' for them."

"If there is no limit on the number of people, I'm afraid that refugees from within the pass and the Central Plains will flock there. In that case, the wasteland in the Central Plains will remain uncultivated, which will affect the grain production of the Tang Dynasty."

Wen He continued.

"Just like in previous years when there was a severe drought in Guanzhong, the court recruited people to go to Luoyang for food. If the number of people hadn't been limited, some prefectures and counties in Guanzhong would have been almost empty. Although Shuofang needs people, it cannot allow the foundation of the Central Plains to be damaged. Five thousand households can supplement the labor force in Shuofang without affecting the livelihood of the people in the Central Plains. It is just right."

It should be noted that, in order to demonstrate their loyalty, the Cui and Wang families had previously released nearly 10,000 hidden households.

These people were originally tenant farmers hidden by powerful families. Although they regained their freedom, they lived in even more dire straits than before because they had no land to cultivate and no job to rely on.

Although the imperial court was willing to make resettlement, it was delayed because the land allocation plan was not yet finalized.

If this continues, these reclusive households will likely have to rely on established families again to make a living and return to the ranks of reclusive households.

This, in turn, fueled the power of aristocratic families, which was detrimental to the government.

What Wen He said provided a way out for resettling the hidden households.

Among the landless poor peasants in the Central Plains, many were newly released unregistered households. Allowing them to settle in Shuofang would not only solve their livelihood problems but also replenish the population of the frontier, achieving two goals at once.

Although this method did not explicitly state "settling hidden households," it was in line with practical needs in every aspect, and even Fang Xuanling couldn't help but nod in approval, secretly admiring the young man's meticulousness.

In fact, Wen He knew in his heart that this plan was not entirely his original idea.

Historically, Emperor Taizong of Tang (Li Shimin) always attached great importance to the refugees. He once issued an edict stipulating that "any refugee who is willing to return to their place of origin will be provided with seeds and farming tools by the government, and will be given priority in the allocation of unclaimed wasteland. Within three years of their return, their rent, labor service and tax will be reduced by half, and those who lost their land due to war will be exempt from taxes until the land is restored to cultivation."

He simply added the element of soldiers staying on the border to this basis.

His reason for thinking this way was not only to meet the current needs, but also because he thought of the Anxi Army.

Those soldiers stationed in the Western Regions became the most solid bulwark of the Tang Dynasty precisely because they settled down and established families there and took root in the frontier.

They were also the last backbone of the Tang Dynasty.

It's a pity that the whole city is filled with white-haired people, and loyal bones are buried in foreign lands.

Those people ultimately did not see reinforcements arrive.

And they too became expendable pawns.

Xiazhou and Shuofang are not only lush pastures, but also strategic locations for defending against the Turks in the north and controlling the grasslands in the east. If a strong, well-established army could be stationed here, Chang'an would have a buffer zone that allows it to both attack and defend.

Even if the Turks cause trouble again in the future, we will be able to deal with it calmly.

Li Shimin and his officials were not unaware of this strategic significance; however, in their view, once the Jieli tribe was eliminated and the Turks were pacified, there would be no more threats from the north, and the strategic value of Shuofang would be greatly reduced, so there would be no need to invest too much effort in its development.

But Wen He knew in his heart that Chang'an in history had fallen six times, and each time it was related to the weakness of the border defense.

Although he could not change the general trend of the rise and fall of dynasties, he wanted to do his best to build a solid northern barrier for the Tang Dynasty.

As for limiting the quota to 5,000 households, besides the concern about excessive population loss in the Central Plains, there is also a layer of scarcity marketing motive.

The more limited the number of places, the more people will feel that this is a rare opportunity, and they will be more eager to sign up.

If recruitment is opened up, it may cause some people to hesitate and wait, or even feign relocation and turn back halfway, which will only increase the cost to the court.

Li Shimin pondered for a moment, his fingers gently stroking the armrest of the dragon throne, his gaze sweeping back and forth between Meng Zhou and Zhao Lei.

Although Zhao Lei's relocation plan was somewhat naive, it also showed that he had a sense of taking precautions.

Meng Zhou was able to combine theory with practice and propose feasible methods for soldiers to stay on the border. Both men had their strengths and weaknesses, and if given more experience, they might become useful talents.

"Since you two are both Wen He's disciples, I will give you a chance."

Li Shimin suddenly spoke, his voice steady and powerful.

"I hereby grant you two the authority to choose either Xia Prefecture or Shuofang County to govern as 'acting county magistrates,' with full authority over the resettlement of immigrants. I will give you two years. If you govern well and the displaced people settle down after two years, you will be relieved of the title of 'acting' and formally appointed. If you do not perform well, you can stay in Chang'an in peace."

The implication is that if things don't go well, neither of you will have a future.

Just teach honestly in Chang'an.

Upon hearing this, Meng Zhou and Zhao Lei's eyes widened instantly, their faces filled with disbelief.

They thought that after the palace examination, they would at most get a minor official position of the ninth rank, but they did not expect that His Majesty would directly grant them the position of "acting county magistrate"!
It should be noted that although Xia Prefecture and Shuofang were designated as lower prefectures due to their recent submission and small population, and the counties under their jurisdiction were also lower counties, the rank of the county magistrate of a lower county was only the seventh rank.

Even with the addition of the word "行" (xing), it is still a rank of the upper eighth grade.

The term "行" refers to a temporary or acting position.

It is the same as the Quanzhi of the later Song Dynasty.

The officials in the court also showed surprise, and whispers began to circulate again.

His Majesty is far too praising Wen He's disciple!
Even for scions of prominent families, it takes three to five years of experience to obtain a minor civil service position of the seventh rank. Meng Zhou and Zhao Lei, who were just candidates from humble backgrounds who had just passed the palace examination, were able to rise to such heights in one step, which was truly unexpected.

"Your Majesty, this is not appropriate."

Wen He quickly stepped forward, her tone tinged with worry. "Although Meng Zhou and Zhao Lei have their ideas, they have never had any experience in governing a local area. The resettlement of immigrants is a matter of great importance. If they handle it improperly, it will not only delay the livelihood of the people in Shuofang, but may also cause unrest..."

He wasn't lying.

The resettlement of immigrants involves many matters such as land allocation, tax collection, and dispute mediation. If not handled carefully, it may arouse public anger or even trigger a rebellion.

Meng Zhou and Zhao Lei are just two greenhorns in their early twenties. If they mess up the affairs of a county, they could lose their positions at best, and their heads at worst. Even if I plead for them, it will be difficult to save their careers.

"What's inappropriate about it?"

Li Shimin interrupted him, his tone carrying a hint of displeasure, yet also a touch of determination.

"Back then, Emperor Wu of Han dared to send the seventeen-year-old Huo Qubing to fight against the Xiongnu, achieving the feat of sealing the wolf's lair. Today, am I not even able to use two young men to govern a county?"

Wen He was speechless.

How can you compare them?

Huo Qubing was a born military genius. He followed Wei Qing in battle from a young age and gained practical combat experience.

As for Meng Zhou and Zhao Lei, if they hadn't transmigrated here, they would probably only be ordinary scholars in their lives, at most minor officials, and would be incomparable to Huo Qubing!
"Your Majesty, I am willing to go!"

Just then, Meng Zhou suddenly stepped forward, bowed, and spoke with unwavering resolve, without the slightest hesitation.

"Although I have no experience in governance, I am willing to do my utmost to live up to Your Majesty's trust and your teachings!"

Zhao Lei also realized what was happening and quickly followed up, his tone equally firm: "Your Majesty, although I am of low rank and my words carry little weight, I know that one who receives the emperor's salary must be loyal to him. My teacher often taught us to be pragmatic and serve the people. I am willing to go to Shuofang with Brother Meng. Even if we suffer hardships, we will definitely get the immigration matter done well!"

Seeing the determination in their eyes, Li Shimin nodded slightly, a satisfied smile appearing on his face.

"Hmm, not bad, he has a pioneering spirit. I know that Wen Jiaying's disciples all have this pure heart, which is why I am willing to let him be the Crown Prince's tutor."

"boom!"

These words were like a thunderclap, exploding throughout the hall.

The officials fell silent instantly, their faces filled with shock.

They've completely forgotten about this!

The rest of Wen He's students were all quite capable.

He was not only the teacher of Wu Sheng, Meng Zhou, and Zhao Lei, but also the mentor of the Crown Prince, Prince Li Ke of Han, Prince Li Tai of Wei, and Prince Li You of Chu!

His Majesty's decision to send Meng Zhou and Zhao Lei to Shuofang for training is clearly an attempt to recruit talent and build a team for the Crown Prince!

Changsun Wuji was startled, took a deep breath, and exclaimed inwardly, "I actually forgot about this crucial point!"

He had been wondering why His Majesty valued Wen He's disciple so highly, but now he suddenly understood.

His Majesty is paving the way for the Crown Prince!

When the future crown prince ascends the throne, Wen He's disciple will be the crown prince's most trusted minister, who can not only assist in governing the country but also consolidate imperial power. This move is truly far-sighted.

Those officials who originally wanted to stand up and oppose it all changed their minds.

Who would dare to offend His Majesty at this time?

Didn't you see that even Wei Zheng, who was the most outspoken, stood calmly to the side, closing his eyes to rest, as if he hadn't heard anything?

Clearly, Wei Zheng understood His Majesty's intentions and was unwilling to say more.

Li Shimin looked at the reactions of his officials and a hint of satisfaction flashed in his eyes.

He then dismissed Meng Zhou, Zhao Lei, and the others.

It would seem somewhat deliberate to bestow official titles upon Wen He's three students if others were not granted such titles.

Then Li Shimin encountered some more problems.

The remaining candidates were asked to compose an essay or poem on the spot.

They were subsequently given official positions, but the positions were not high; most were chief clerks or registrars.

One of them wrote a frontier poem and was appointed as a collator at the Hongwen Academy, a position of the ninth rank.

Thus, today's rather hasty palace examination has officially come to an end.

There were also some students who didn't have a chance to perform.

The main issue was that quite a bit of time had passed, so Li Shimin announced the end of the court session.

"Today I am very pleased to see the future pillars of my Great Tang Dynasty here. As for the other candidates, the Ministry of Personnel may decide on their official appointments based on their talents and performance in the palace examination, ensuring that everyone can make the best use of their abilities. If there is nothing else, let us adjourn the court today."

Why weren't the top three chosen? Wen He thought Li Shimin would give Wu Sheng the top scholar title, and Meng Zhou and Zhao Lei the third or second place.

Surprisingly, no rankings were determined.

Could it be that because I didn't mention it, Li Shimin didn't think of this either?
Oh, I remembered it.

It seems that only the imperial examination for the highest degree (进士) has the title of "状元" (Zhuangyuan).

The title of Tan Hua (third-place scholar) only came into being during the reign of Empress Wu Zetian, and it wasn't until the Song Dynasty that the second-place scholar was called Bang Yan (second-place scholar).

No wonder no rankings were given in today's palace examination.

"Your Majesty, we obey your decree! We respectfully see you off!"

The officials bowed in unison, and only after the beaded curtain behind the dragon throne fell did they slowly straighten up.

As they walked out of the palace gates, most of the officials' gazes fell, intentionally or unintentionally, on Wen He, Meng Zhou, Zhao Lei, and Wu Sheng.

In today's imperial examination, Wen He's faction has truly stole the show, with three disciples either receiving imperial praise or being granted important positions. Such honors have made many people secretly envious.

The other candidates who participated in the palace examination looked at Meng Zhou and his companions with particularly complicated expressions.

There was envy, and there was jealousy.

She felt a pang of regret for not having gone abroad to study like them.

If they had gone to Zheng County at that time...

This honor belongs to them today.

Low sighs occasionally drifted from the crowd, reaching Wen He's ears almost imperceptibly.

Meng Zhou, Zhao Lei, and Wu Sheng paid no attention to these stares, their faces filled with worry.

Although Wu Sheng was appointed as the county magistrate, he was to go to Yongzhou to promote the method of distributing oxen for farming.

Meng Zhou and Zhao Lei were directly entrusted with the important task of acting as county magistrates, and were to go to Shuofang to govern a county and deal with the resettlement of immigrants. All three were new to officialdom, and facing such a heavy responsibility, they were under great pressure.

"Jiaying, you have a long way to go and a heavy responsibility to bear."

A gentle voice came from behind her. Wen He turned around and saw that it was Yan Lide.

"Brother Lide, please don't laugh at me."

Yan Lide quickly stepped forward, patted his arm, and whispered.

"Your two disciples are talented, but they are too young. The Shuofang region has just been restored, and people's hearts are complicated. You should give them more guidance in the future."

Upon hearing this, Wen He smiled helplessly: "Don't worry, Brother Lide, I will. It's just that their first step will probably be full of stumbles."

No sooner had he finished speaking than another calm voice interrupted.

"It's not just about stumbling and falling; immigration is easier said than done. You have to be extremely careful, especially to prevent anyone from using this as an excuse to cause trouble."

Wen He turned his head and saw Li Jing walking to his side with a serious expression and a solemn look in his eyes.

He has always been farsighted and cautious in his actions, so his special visit to remind me must mean he has seen the potential danger.

Wen He pondered for a moment, then lowered her voice and asked, "Could it be those people?"

Although Li Jing did not say it explicitly, Wen He guessed that if there was any resistance in the Shuofang matter, it would mostly come from those powerful figures who wanted to seize the benefits.

Li Jing nodded, his tone becoming more serious: "It's not just them. Don't forget, Xia Prefecture and Shuofang are lush with water and grass, making them rare and excellent pastures. Currently, the Tang Dynasty is short of warhorses and cattle and sheep. If we could occupy those pastures, how many more cattle and horses could we raise each year? The benefits alone are enough to make many people green with envy. How could they be willing to just give them up to those commoners and soldiers?"

Wen He felt a chill run down her spine.

He had only thought about resettling the hidden households and stabilizing the border, and had forgotten about this aspect.

No wonder during the palace examination, several officials from noble families hesitated to speak. They probably wanted to object, but Li Shimin had brought up the topic, so they dared not speak.

Just because they don't openly oppose it doesn't mean they'll give up easily; they might resort to some underhanded tactics.

"Thank you for the reminder, Duke Dai. I will certainly pay more attention."

Wen He quickly bowed and thanked him, secretly making a mental note of it.

"But you don't have to worry too much."

Seeing this, Yan Lide smiled and tried to smooth things over.

"This matter falls under the jurisdiction of Dou Jing, the Minister of Civil Affairs. He is the person in charge appointed by His Majesty. You just need to keep an eye on your two students and make sure they don't cause any trouble."

Upon hearing this, Wen He couldn't help but laugh.

This is true.

Although he proposed the immigration method, Li Shimin did not involve him in its implementation, but only assigned specific tasks to Meng Zhou and Zhao Lei.

To put it bluntly, the main responsibility for this matter lies with Dou Jing, not Wen He.

"Even if something goes wrong, Dou Yuanxiu will be the one to suffer the consequences, so don't worry about it."

Yan Lide laughed even more easily, his tone tinged with a hint of teasing.

But as soon as he finished speaking, a soft cough came from behind him: "Ahem."

"Minister Yan is kind-hearted. Even if I am unlucky, I don't need you to worry about me like this."

Wen He and the others turned around and saw Dou Jing walking up from behind with a dark face.

He had come to see Wen He with some business, but as soon as he got close, he heard Yan Lide's teasing, and his expression naturally turned sour.

Yan Lide's smile froze instantly, and he quickly waved his hand: "Hehe, it was a slip of the tongue, purely a slip of the tongue! Minister Dou, please don't take it to heart. I have other matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave now!"

After saying that, he turned around and walked away quickly without waiting for Dou Jing's response, as if afraid of being entangled.

Seeing this, Li Jing nodded slightly to Wen He and cupped his hands, saying, "I also have military affairs to attend to, so I will take my leave first."

After saying that, he turned and left.

Outside the hall, only Wen He, Meng Zhou, Zhao Lei, Wu Sheng, and Dou Jing, whose expression was still not very good, remained.

Wen He quickly led the three of them to bow and greet them, saying, "Greetings, Minister Dou."

Dou Jing snorted, her gaze sweeping over Meng Zhou and the others before her expression softened somewhat.

"The three of you performed well in the court today, especially Meng Zhou and Wu Sheng. The countermeasures you proposed were practical and feasible. His Majesty did not misjudge you."

Meng Zhou and his companions quickly expressed their gratitude: "Thank you for your praise, Minister."

Dou Jing nodded, then turned to Wen He, her tone becoming serious: "I've come to see you today about the autumn harvest. Did you send someone to keep an eye on those high-yield rice plants you planted in Gejiazhuang using the 'fertilizer composting method' you mentioned? The harvest is in a couple of days. Should the Ministry of Civil Affairs send someone to inspect the site?"

The autumn harvest is here!
He's been very busy lately.

If Dou Jing hadn't mentioned it, Wen He would have almost forgotten about it.

The compost, combined with the high-yield rice from the surrounding kingdoms.

I imagine his people from his estate will come to deliver the news in the next couple of days.

(End of this chapter)