The Prodigal Son

The State of Yan, Changping Commandery.

Now that Yan Li has arrived in Zhu County, he must go and take a look at Changping County.

Zhu County and Changping County are not far apart, with a straight-line distance of less than 100 li.

Therefore, Yan Li did not rush to Changping County, but instead traveled and observed along the way.

Along the way, he also made a special trip to a nearby town.

He visited this town last year as well.

He came to see this place specifically to learn about the hardships of the common people when he went to celebrate the birthday of Empress Dowager Daning.

At that time, most of the people in the town were starving and emaciated.

Although it hasn't reached the point where there are corpses everywhere from the dead, it's not far from that scene.

Now, with the resumption of trade with Daning, grain from Daning is flowing in continuously, and people's lives are gradually improving.

The townspeople looked much better.

It's not a very big town, but it has several grain shops.

Yan Li came to the roadside and called out to an old man carrying a woven rattan basket on his back, who was on his way to buy grain at the grain store. "Old man, how old are you this year?"

The old man answered tremblingly, "Your Highness, I am fifty-two years old."

Only fifty-two?

Yan Li's heart skipped a beat.

He thought this person was over sixty-five years old!

Ugh!

The people of Great Yan are still living too hard!

Yanli sighed inwardly and asked again, "Are you all full now?"

The old man glanced at the junior official standing beside Yan Li and nodded repeatedly, "Yes, yes!"

Yan Li naturally noticed the old man's actions, and his face immediately fell. "Tell the truth!"

"this……"

The old man stammered, not daring to speak.

Upon seeing this, the minor official immediately shouted, "His Highness tells you to tell the truth, so tell the truth!"

The old man's heart skipped a beat, and he said cautiously, "I'm not full. I've never been full in my entire life..."

The phrase "I've never been full in my life" made Yanli's heart ache.

Yes!

How many people have never had a full meal in their entire lives!

Streamlining administration and reducing personnel is imperative!

Even with a steady stream of grain from Da Ning, the people of Yan will not have a good life if they maintain such a large standing army.

If the army could be reduced by half, the lives of ordinary people would be much better.

At this moment, he desperately hoped that Da Ning and Bei Qi would fight to the death.

Ideally, both sides should be rendered incapable of launching a major war for ten or even twenty years!

Give him ten years, and he will surely enable the people to live a good life!

The minor official standing nearby secretly glared at the old man, then said with a fawning smile, "Your Highness, it's still a bit difficult for the common people to eat their fill, but our lives this year are much better than last year..."

"I didn't ask you, so it's not your place to speak!"

Yan Li gave the minor official a cold look. "Dare to say another word, and you'll be slapped!"

"Yes, yes!"

The minor official was terrified and immediately shut his mouth.

Afterwards, Yan Li randomly asked several other people.

After asking around, Yan Li had learned almost everything.

It's still too difficult for ordinary people to have enough to eat!

But, things are getting better, which is a good thing!

The trade with Daning should be maintained!

Yan Li made up her mind and then left the town.

Watching Yan Li leave, the minor official who had been reprimanded by Yan Li finally breathed a long sigh of relief. "Luckily, these people didn't spread rumors. If His Highness had found out that the people had rented land to those cotton merchants, we would have been in big trouble."

What Yan Li didn't know was that the people hadn't become rich.

These people simply sublet or sold their land, which was essential for their survival, to cotton merchants or large households at low prices.

And they also planted Edelweiss cotton for the people who bought the land!

They then used the money from renting and selling land to buy grain.

"Look at you, you coward! What's there to be afraid of?"

His companion gave him a disdainful look. "Do you think these lowly people would dare to tell anyone about their land rentals and sales?"

The State of Yan had clear and strict regulations regarding agricultural affairs.

There are clear regulations regarding which land is for growing grain and which is for growing cotton, hemp, and the like.

Those ordinary people who handed over their land to cotton merchants and large households to grow Edelweiss were severely punished if they were caught.

Cotton merchants and large-scale producers will be punished, and so will the cotton merchants and large-scale producers.

Now, grain is being grown around their town.

But in areas a little further from the town, almost all of them are planted with Edelweiss.

In another two weeks, the early-planted Edelweiss will be ready for harvest.

The price of snow cotton has increased several times over, making it much more profitable to grow snow cotton than to grow grain!

It's not just them who do it this way; many places do it this way, and the people are happy to do it!

Moreover, their actions were only minor.

Those with powerful connections can afford to grow tracts of land on Edelweiss.

"You're not afraid now, but you were acting like a grandson just now!"

The clerk pursed his lips, then said expectantly, "We're taking such a huge risk to do this. Once this year's snow cotton is harvested, I'm definitely going to go to the city and find a few prostitutes to have some fun with!"

Don't underestimate them just because they are lowly officials. In this small area, they are practically local emperors.

They also used their power to rent hundreds of acres of land at low prices through coercion and enticement.

The entire area was planted with Edelweiss.

After harvesting, that'll be a fortune! A fortune indeed!

They almost risked their lives for that money.

Once you've made money, shouldn't you enjoy yourself?

"Of course!"

His companion burst into laughter, a knowing look on his face that only men would understand.

Meanwhile, Yan Li, who had left the town, was escorted by a large group of people to Changping County.

On the way, Yan Li would occasionally lift the curtain of the carriage to look out.

The land on both sides of the pipeline is mostly planted with grains, and with the autumn harvest just around the corner, the golden grains are particularly appealing.

There are also various beans that are rotated on the land, some for human consumption and some for livestock feeding.

Among them were small black beans that they had obtained from Daning years ago, which were specifically used to feed horses.

Yan Li lowered the curtain and murmured, "Although the people's lives are a little better, they are still very difficult! When we get back, we still have to suggest to Father Emperor that the people's taxes be reduced by about 30%."

"Your Highness, you mustn't!"

Feng Shu immediately tried to dissuade him.

"Why not?"

Yan Li frowned deeply.

"Taxation is a matter of national importance; it's easy to lower it, but difficult to raise it!"

Feng Shu said solemnly, "It's good that Your Highness has a benevolent heart, but you must also be mindful of the timing! This is something Your Highness should do after ascending the throne, not something you should do now! There are certain things Your Highness must understand regarding the proper relationships between ruler and subject, father and son!"

Feng Shu put it very tactfully.

But Yan Li understood his meaning almost instantly.

The ruler and his ministers distrust each other!

Even though he is the crown prince, he is still a subject in front of his father, the emperor!

He is now strongly advocating for lowering taxes for the people, which his father may see as an attempt to win over the people.

Moreover, he had only recently assumed the position of Crown Prince, and his position was not particularly secure.

If I start doing this now, it will affect the interests of many ministers and thus shake my position as crown prince.

"Thank you for reminding me, sir. I understand now!"

Yan Li sighed helplessly...