National Division

Chapter 61 The Queen: So Short and Concise?
"Shen Xian, where is this person now?"

After a long silence, the Empress closed the memorial in her hand, her eyes burning with fervor.

Murong Yue was curious about what was written in the memorial that could excite the usually dignified and solemn Empress Dowager.

"Your Majesty, we are currently at the Chunfeng Inn in Delifang, about two miles from the palace gate," Xue Zhihua reported.

The Empress Dowager instructed, "Yanfu, have the eunuchs invite this Mr. Shen. No, you go and invite him yourself."

The reason for such a grand occasion was that the Empress Dowager deeply realized that this person was most likely a sage capable of governing the country and ensuring its stability!
Moreover, regardless of his talent, the fact that he seduced evil spirits while still a young boy shows his sincere heart.

Gao Yanfu replied, "This servant obeys the decree."

With that, he hurriedly left the main hall, accompanied by an eunuch.

Xue Zhihua said softly, "This humble servant has a newspaper in my hand, which was produced by Shen Xian in Guhe County. It contains his serialized poems and articles."

"Bring it here, let me see it." The Empress Dowager's eyes were filled with eagerness.

At this moment, he was still holding the "Public Security Policy" in his hand tightly.

Xue Zhihua said, "Originally, it was a serialized version of The Legend of the Condor Heroes in the newspaper to promote the way of chivalry."

At this point, mentioning the Eagle Shooting incident further demonstrates the skill of the court official, echoing the strategy in the "Policy on Governance".

As the saying goes, "Therefore, the most difficult things in the world must be done by starting with the easiest, and the greatest things in the world must be done by starting with the smallest." Thus, the sage never strives for greatness, and thus he is able to achieve greatness.

There are many people who only talk the talk but don't walk the walk, but very few who can actually put their ideas into practice.

Gu Nanzhu took the newspaper from Xue Zhihua and respectfully handed it to the Empress.

The Empress took the newspaper and began to read it, saying, "Is this a storybook?"

Xue Zhihua said, "According to Shen Xian, it combines education with entertainment, and all people can read it."

The diva nodded and began to focus her attention on it. Before long, she had finished reading it.

"What's next?" The diva clearly wasn't finished.

"Nothing."

The Empress frowned slightly and said, "Why is the text of this chapter so short and concise?"

Xue Zhihua: "..."

After thinking for a moment, he explained, "Newspaper space is limited, and besides, when it's being serialized, the writer's energy is limited."

“Then let’s wait for the collection to be compiled before publishing it.” The Empress said, also realizing something, “Publishing it as a collection would dissipate the energy, which would not be good.”

Because the emotions that arise at that time may change later.

A good article is born of nature, and a skillful hand may occasionally bring it to fruition.

Xue Zhihua said softly, "Your Majesty is wise."

The Empress Dowager looked anxious and said, "I will ask Shen Xian when he arrives."

Meanwhile, in the rear hall of the Qian Yuan Hall of the Tai Chu Palace, the emperor and his ministers anxiously awaited Shen Xian.

After parting ways with Xue Zhihua, Shen Xian wrote "The Wealth of Nations" at the Spring Breeze Inn.

Of course, this is not Adam Smith's book, but merely borrows his name.

Because at this time, the world was still in a feudal small-scale peasant economy, and was still far from the era of industrialized large-scale production.

His version of The Wealth of Nations was more of a packaging for the "Two-Tax System," while also encouraging some enlightened noble families to stop engaging in land annexation and instead pursue the path of commerce.

Shen Xian's mind was clear at this moment. Without adding any strokes, he wrote in a flurry of strokes, and finished writing in half an hour, waiting for the writing to dry.

At this moment, a slight thought stirred within him, and he quickly focused his mind on his spiritual platform to check his data panel.

The merit points section has changed again.

Originally, there were 800 merits, but after deducing immortal and martial arts techniques, a lot of them were consumed, leaving only 180. But now they have suddenly increased to 4,350.

"What... what did I do?" Shen Xian thought for a moment, and figured it was probably that Xue Zhihua had met the Heavenly Empress?

In fact, Shen Xian's guess was wrong. After the Empress saw the image of the stone, it directly led to the complete removal of Magistrate Lu and the promotion of his father, Shen Bin, to Magistrate of Guhe County.

The Yin-Yang Millstone determined that this action was beneficial to humanity. After all, the political atmosphere of the county was improved. Because this matter also involved Shen Bin's personal efforts and Xue Zhihua's promotion, Shen Xian only received a portion of the benefits.

At this moment, Lingbao delivered the message, which also answered Shen Xian's doubts.

Shen Xian thought to himself, if all those corrupt officials like the Lu family of Fanyang were executed and honest and upright officials were selected, how much merit would that be?
Or perhaps his vigorous anti-corruption campaign and killing of corrupt officials would have earned him a huge amount of merit?

But... there will likely be a backlash, or political turmoil.

When Shen Xian transmitted this thought to the millstone, sure enough, the Yin-Yang Millstone determined that human merit was not as simple as killing corrupt officials; it also considered the bigger picture.

"As expected, there are no loopholes for such opportunistic exploitation. However, accumulating merit this way is not slow either," Shen Xian thought to himself.

With 4,350 merit points, he had already solved his needs for the first realm of immortality and martial arts.

Of course, this is just an estimate; who knows what the price will be when immortal magic is integrated later?

Meanwhile, outside the inn called "Spring Breeze," the waiter was greeting the passing merchants.

Just then, the sound of rapid hoofbeats came from the end of the bluestone road. Gao Yanfu, the eunuch of the Inner Palace, rode along with another eunuch, followed by five or six exquisitely dressed guards with Thousand Oxen Swords at their waists.

Although Gao Yanfu, a martial arts master, had no need for guards at all, he was still accompanied by the emperor for the sake of imperial authority and strict discipline.

"Sigh~"

Gao Yanfu and his men reined in their horses and stopped. The man casually tossed the reins to the accompanying Imperial Guards. He was tall and imposing, wearing a dark red robe with embroidered patterns and a wingless crown. He looked more like a military general than a eunuch.

Or rather, the eunuchs of the Great Jing Dynasty included those in charge of the imperial guards.

The innkeeper's assistant was terrified when he saw this and hurriedly called for the manager from the inner room.

The shopkeeper, trembling with fear, rushed forward. Seeing the commotion, his teeth chattered, "Gentlemen,"

It's fair to say that he went through all the mistakes he'd made in his life.

Gao Yanfu took a handkerchief to wipe his hands, forcing a smile on his pale face: "Don't panic, we've come to invite Mr. Shen Xian, isn't he at the inn?"

The innkeeper, being cautious, said, "A guest just checked in today. His surname is Shen, and he lives on the second floor."

Gao Yanfu said, "Take me to have a look."

Since the Empress Dowager said she was inviting him, Gao Yanfu dared not be negligent in the slightest. If she had brought him along, that would have been a completely different matter.

This powerful eunuch was naturally quick-witted and insightful.

At this moment, Shen Xian, who was inside the room, naturally heard the commotion outside. As a martial artist, he had keen senses and went to the window. Sure enough, he saw several Thousand Bull Guards leading horses and waiting below.

Then came a series of steady footsteps.

"The newcomer's martial arts skills are quite impressive," Shen Xian thought to himself.

No wonder Xue Zhihua said that the Empress Dowager had no shortage of brave and fierce people around her, but she lacked talents who could govern the country and bring peace to the people.

"Gao Yanfu, the eunuch of the Imperial Household Department of the Great Jing Dynasty, has been ordered by the Empress Dowager to invite Mr. Shen Xian to the palace for a discussion." Gao Yanfu's voice rang out from outside the door.

Shen Xian turned around, picked up the memorial on the desk, closed it, put it in his sleeve, opened the door, and saw a middle-aged eunuch with a white face and no beard, wearing a black hat with the character "山" on it and no wings.

Without a beard, he is indeed a eunuch...

"This humble subject greets this eunuch," Shen Xian said, bowing slightly.

When Gao Yanfu saw the young man, he was surprised by his youth and said with a smile, "Mr. Shen, the Empress Dowager has already read your memorial and has specially ordered me to invite you to the palace as a guest."

Shen Xian said, "Please lead the way, sir."

Gao Yanfu nodded, and without saying anything more, he went down the stairs with Shen Xian to the outer room.

"Does Mr. Shen know how to ride a horse?" Gao Yanfu looked at the reins being held by the Qianniu Guard and thought to himself, "The young man in front of me looks very spirited. He must have some martial arts skills, right?"

Shen Xian said, "I know a little bit about it."

With that, he mounted his horse with agile and swift movements.

Gao Yanfu smiled and, without saying anything more, beckoned the other guards, "Let's go."

With the clatter of hooves, the knight headed towards the palace.

(End of this chapter)