Isolated town in northern border region

Half a month later, the side hall of Chengtian Hall was converted into the council hall of the Great Chu National Assembly.

The once empty hall was now furnished with a huge round table, with thirteen chairs arranged in a circle, without distinction of rank or status.

When Xiao Lie entered the council hall, he did not stop and went straight to the chair marked "Youzhou" and sat down.

The thirteen seats have been decided.

Xiao Lie, a member of the Youzhou Assembly, was the first chairman of the National Assembly.

Zhou Xun, Cangzhou councilor;

Qian Wanli, Yunzhou Assemblyman;

Luo Daniu, a councilor from Shuozhou;

Shen Chongyuan, Acting State Assemblyman;

Hsiao Hsiung, Qingzhou Assemblyman;

Wang Shoucheng, Yongzhou assemblyman;

Chen Hu, a state legislator.

The remaining five state legislators were appointed by heads of local prominent families.

Xie Anlan, head of the Xie family of Xuzhou;

Zheng Boyong, head of the Zheng family of Yanzhou;

Xu Mingyuan, head of the Xu family of Yuzhou;

Cui Chengye, head of the Cui family of Liangzhou;

Lu Tingzhi, head of the Lu family in Jingzhou.

The five people sat on the other side of the round table, each with a different expression. Some were smiling, some were expressionless, some were looking around, and some were looking down at their fingers.

Xiao Lie sat in the main seat, his gaze sweeping over the round table.

Including himself, the Northern Frontier faction occupies eight seats.

Zhou Xun, Qian Wanli, Luo Daniu, and Shen Chongyuan were people he personally trained.

Xiao Xiong, a brother who fought his way out of the grasslands;

Wang Shouchang, the representative of the Yongzhou aristocratic families, has already been defeated and subdued by Xiao Lie;

Chen Hu is a veteran who has followed Cangwu City all the way to the present.

Eight against five, an absolute advantage.

"The first thing to do today."

Xiao Lie spoke, his voice not loud, but it silenced the entire council hall.

"Order to clear out the Xiao family's private property"

"Signed by Congress, effective immediately."

He glanced at Zhou Xun.

Zhou Xun stood up, took out a document he had prepared in advance from his sleeve, and read it aloud line by line.

No one raised any objections.

Wang Shoucheng was the first to raise his hand.

"I second that opinion."

Xie Anlan glanced at Zheng Boyong and raised his hand as well.

I second that.

Thirteen hands were raised in succession, and the vote was unanimously passed.

Xiao Lie nodded, and Zhou Xun put away the documents and returned to his seat.

Xiao Lie didn't give everyone much time to catch their breath. He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and gestured to Zhou Xun beside him.

"Zhou Xun, didn't you have a proposal? Tell me about it."

Zhou Xun stood up and cleared his throat.

"Gentlemen, after the Xiao family's private property is investigated, it is expected that a large amount of farmland, silver and manor will be available."

"I suggest that a portion of this be used to establish national schools across the country, so that children from poor families can also receive an education."

He paused for a moment.

"There's no need to go for too many. Just set up one in each prefecture and take in the eligible children from the nearby villages. Provide them with food, books, and writing materials."

"The necessary funds and provisions will be allocated from the proceeds of the investigation."

As soon as he finished speaking, the five councilors opposite him sat up straight, their faces grave.

Xu Zhou Xie Anlan was the first to speak, his tone polite but his meaning firm.

"Mr. Zhou, this matter is of great importance, and the expenses will likely be substantial."

"The national treasury has just been reorganized, and it is precisely the time when funds are needed. If all the money is invested in education, what will we do if we encounter disasters or wars?"

Zheng Boyong nodded in agreement.

"What Brother Xie says is absolutely right."

"Establishing schools is certainly a good thing, but it should not be rushed."

Xu Mingyuan's voice was gentle but clear.

"In my opinion, we should first stabilize the national treasury before discussing education and moral education."

Cui Chengye nodded.

I second that.

Lu Tingzhi nodded without saying anything.

Luo Daniu suddenly stood up, the chair dragging on the ground with a screeching sound.

"Damn it! You scholars always spout about 'benevolence and morality,' but when it comes to sending poor children to school, you suddenly become stingy with money?"

Xiao Xiong stood up immediately and slammed his fist on the table, making the teacup jump.

"I've traveled from the grasslands all the way to Beijing, and I've seen more suffering children than you've read any books!"

"Isn't it just because you're afraid that if poor kids get an education, your good-for-nothing family members won't have enough to eat?"

Zhou Xun raised his hand, gesturing for the two to sit down, his tone calm and unhurried.

"You all say the expenses are high, let me do the math."

"After investigating the Xiao family's properties, the annual rent from the royal estate alone was enough to cover the expenses of three national schools."

"If you add the fiefdoms, shops, and salt permits, it will be enough to spread throughout the entire Chu Kingdom."

His gaze swept across the five faces opposite him one by one.

"If you are willing, you can personally send people to supervise the flow of every expenditure."

"With the accounts made public, no one can tamper with them."

Wang Shouchang stroked his beard and replied with a smile.

"I think Mr. Zhou is right."

"It's better to spend money on education than on garden renovations."

Qian Wanli smiled and agreed.

"I, Lao Qian, am a businessman by trade. The worst thing in business is to just sit around with a pile of money and do nothing."

"Only when money is spent can it generate more money."

His tone was as relaxed as if he were discussing a good deal, but the meaning behind his words made the faces of the people opposite him stiffen.

Shen Chongyuan remained silent, leaning back in his chair as his gaze slowly swept over the faces of the five opponents.

His voice was gentle when he spoke, not at all like that of a military general.

"There's no need for you to worry."

He paused for a moment.

"This school only teaches literacy, arithmetic, and agriculture; it doesn't cover classics or history. Do you all still object?"

The five people opposite exchanged glances, remained silent for a moment, and no one spoke.

Historically, imperial examinations have primarily focused on the classics, history, philosophy, and literature, as have the traditions of aristocratic families. However, if it doesn't involve the inheritance of aristocratic families, it's not entirely unnecessarily open to discussion...

Xiao Lie remained seated in the main seat without speaking.

He watched the argument go from shouting to confrontation to silence, without ever interrupting.

He finally put down his teacup, his voice calm.

"Since you all feel that the matter of the school needs to be discussed further, let's put it aside for now."

The five people on the other side visibly breathed a sigh of relief.

Xiao Lie acted as if he hadn't seen it and continued speaking.

"However, I have decided that the five states of the Northern Frontier will send exchange delegations to the various states of the Great Chu to impart the existing technologies of the Northern Frontier."

"We started with animal husbandry, iron smelting, and textiles, teaching people how to increase production and income."

He then looked at the five people.

"Surely none of you will object to this?"

Xie Anlan was the first to nod.

"The technology developed in northern Xinjiang benefits the country and its people; I am the first to agree."

Zheng Boyong, Xu Mingyuan, Cui Chengye, and Lu Tingzhi all seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.

Xiao Lie nodded, as if he had already anticipated this move.

"There's a third thing."

"With the establishment of the Great Chu Kingdom, I propose... a one-year exemption from land tax throughout the country."

Upon hearing this, even the five people opposite him showed genuine smiles.

Everyone knows that tax exemption is most beneficial to the stability of a new regime. Even after a new emperor ascends the throne, he will reduce taxes for three years and grant a general amnesty.

Zheng Boyong raised his hand voluntarily.

"Agreed."

The other four echoed his sentiment.

Thirteen hands were raised again, and the vote was unanimously passed.

After the meeting, Xiao Lie did not return to the post station, but went directly to the Imperial Study.

The concubines, maids, and eunuchs in the palace have been dismissed in the past two weeks. Some have taken money and returned to their hometowns, while others have sought other ways to make a living. Now, only a few halls remain in the palace for use as offices of the parliament.

The furnishings of the Imperial Study remained largely unchanged, except that the dragon throne had been moved and replaced with an ordinary long table and a few chairs.

Zhou Xun was the first to come in, followed by Luo Daniu, Qian Wanli, Shen Chongyuan, Xiao Xiong, Wang Shoucheng, and Chen Hu.

The seven people sat down around the long table, unlike the large round table that separated them in the council hall earlier, as if a layer of shell had been removed.

"Tell me about it..."

Xiao Lie leaned back in his chair.

"What do you think of those five?"

Zhou Xun spoke first.

"Xie Anlan appears amiable on the surface, but he's incredibly stubborn at heart."

"He values ​​the status of aristocratic families most and will never allow their monopoly on knowledge to be broken."

He paused.

"Zheng Boyong wasn't that determined; he was just observing the winds."

"Xu Mingyuan is a weather vane; he bends to whichever side the wind blows."

"Cui Chengye is a man of few words, but every time he speaks, he hits the nail on the head. He's a cunning old fox and not easy to deal with."

"Lu Tingzhi was the most silent, but he kept staring at Old Master Wang, probably because he wanted to serve the Prince like Old Master Wang."

Wang Shoucheng gave a bitter smile.

"This old man is not like them anymore."

"If Your Highness permits, I am willing to act as your advocate."

Xiao Lie waved his hand.

"There's no rush regarding the school."

"Now that the parliament has just been established, we are not in a hurry to break ties with the various powerful families of Great Chu."

"National schools are the foundation for dismantling powerful families. Those people aren't fools. Even if we force it through today, there will be endless trouble in the future."

"We need to make them come begging to us!"

He looked at Zhou Xun.

"Send the exchange team as usual. Just give them the blueprints and the machine, demonstrate how to use it, and that's it. We won't teach them anything else!"

A knowing glint flashed in Zhou Xun's eyes.

"They only provide blueprints, not explanations of the principles; they only teach operation, not maintenance!"

"Your Highness! You're such a cunning fellow!"

"They broke it, so they have to come back to us."

Xiao Lie nodded.

"Technological monopoly!"

"Things in northern Xinjiang can't be learned just by looking at them; they require skilled workers and maintenance."

"The patriarchs of wealthy families won't learn it themselves; they'll just hire others."

"And where will the hired people come from? From us!"

He stood up and walked to the window.

"At that time, I will reintroduce the 'National Industrial Training Program'—ostensibly to teach technology, but in reality, once the people have learned the technology of the Northern Frontier, they will naturally be able to establish their own businesses."

"By the time those powerful families realize what's happening, they'll be begging the workers for their money!"

Zhou Xun nodded.

"Proceed step by step. Once we break through this barrier, the powerful families won't be able to stop us!"

Three months later, the technical exchange team from the northern frontier had traveled all over the thirteen prefectures of the Great Chu Kingdom.

New looms, improved farm implements, cement firing, simple water-powered forging hammers...

The blueprints and the actual machine arrived at the same time, and local craftsmen and farmers gathered around the stall to observe them. Some reached out to touch the parts on the machine, while others took notes on the operating steps.

The nationwide tax exemption order brought much more laughter to the fields than in previous years.

For the first time, the farmers who had paid their rent discovered that they had so much grain left in their granaries.

Goods from the northern frontier flowed into every village and town of the Great Chu like tributaries. Qian Wanli's Northern Frontier Chamber of Commerce opened branches in various places, setting uniform prices and selling cloth, iron pots, farm tools, and medicinal herbs at fair prices.

People lined up in front of the shops, clutching their coins and waiting for them to open.

Someone said something.

"This price is half the price of what we have locally."

The person next to him chimed in.

"The prince said that the shops of the Northern Frontier Chamber of Commerce do not make money from the poor."

Wang Shoucheng's luxury goods business is also thriving.

Glassware, soaps, fine leather goods, carved ironware...

While those powerful families cursed Xiao Lie for being heartless, they secretly sent people to the Wang family to order the latest glass ornaments.

Money flowed into Yongzhou like water, and then along the trade routes of the northern frontier into Xiao Lie's account.

Wang Shoucheng was so rich he couldn't handle the money, so he only wrote one sentence in a letter to Xiao Lie.

"Your Highness, if this continues, the treasury of Yongzhou will be overflowing."

Xiao Lie's reply was very brief.

"Then build an even bigger one, and use it as a national treasury!"

But behind the glamour, shadows are quietly growing.

That evening, after Xiao Lie finished dealing with official documents, he changed into casual clothes and took Bi Su out of the palace for some fresh air.

The streets of the capital were as bustling as ever, lined with shops and teeming with pedestrians, but he noticed something different.

At the corner of the street, under the low wall, several vendors have appeared pushing wheelbarrows, piled with coarse cloth, straw sandals, and bamboo baskets, at prices so low that it's hard to look at them for long.

An old man squatted behind a stall, with several bolts of coarse cloth he had woven himself in front of him, and a wooden sign next to him that read "Five coins per foot".

Xiao Lie recognized the cloth; it was made on an old-fashioned hand loom, with uneven warp and weft, rough and prickly to the touch, but every inch of it was woven by hand, inch by inch.

He walked over and squatted down.

"Grandpa, how's business?"

The old man looked up at him, his cloudy eyes filled with exhaustion.

"Oh no... If it weren't for the prince exempting us from land taxes, we probably wouldn't survive this year."

"The cloth from northern Xinjiang is cheap and of good quality, but my daughter-in-law can't sell it."

"I used to be lucky enough to sell two horses, but now I can't even sell one in two days..."

He shook his head.

"My family has been weaving cloth all our lives, but now it seems to be coming to an end."

Xiao Lie didn't speak. He stood up and continued walking along the street. He saw another woman selling bamboo crafts. Her baskets were piled high with exquisite bamboo baskets, hampers, and mats. The craftsmanship was superb, but no one was buying them.

An old blacksmith sat at the entrance of his blacksmith shop, the furnace fire extinguished, the hammer lying to one side, and a finished sickle at his feet, its blade gleaming. But passersby only glanced at it before walking away.

Standing on the street corner, Xiao Lie looked at the scattered stalls and the backs of those packing up, and alarm bells immediately rang in his mind!

Bisu whispered behind him.

"Your Highness, what's wrong?"

Xiao Lie did not answer.

He turned around and walked back, his pace quickening slightly as he had come.

He knew that the looms in the northern border region had woven cheaper clothes for the people, but they had also blocked the last way out for those who struggled to make a living by hand, stitch by stitch.

The transformation of handicrafts into industrialization, and the spring brought by technology, is causing some people to enter winter prematurely.

As he pushed open the door to the imperial study, dusk was streaming in obliquely through the window, casting a long shadow on the table.

He didn't light a lamp and sat in the dark for a long time.

A gust of wind blew in through the crack in the door, causing the "Northern Xinjiang Technology Promotion Progress Report" spread out on the table to flip slightly before closing again...

We have to think of a way!

"Otherwise, if things continue like this, there will be huge chaos!"