novelaction Chapter 1502 Feng's Leave of Absence
Chapter 1502 Feng's Leave of Absence
As Wan Lianxing was being helped to take off his dragon robe, he said wearily, "It's all because of the refugees from Dalang. Our border defenses are about to be breached by the people of Dalang. A hard approach will only hurt them, and soft tactics won't work."
"Aren't we going to let them in?"
"I have the intention to pacify the exiled people and stabilize their livelihood, but the preliminary preparations must be done well. These people have now been exploited to the point of being red-eyed. Each one of them has been forced into a desperate situation and swears to join our Fengqi. Our Fengqi is indeed vast and sparsely populated, but our Fengqi advantage is that we have a stable government and harmonious people, and the people are safe and sound. In recent years, we have absorbed many people from outside the area to settle down, so the number of people in our Fengqi has increased dramatically in recent years. At the same time, the population has dropped sharply due to the war. Therefore, I have long planned to accept exiled people to strengthen our Fengqi, but the time has not come yet, and I have no good measures to stabilize my reputation. Fortunately, Song Tingzhi appeared in time to share my worries and solve the problems, but the border issues are very difficult, and this time I promoted a capable person to govern the people at the border."
"Another talented person has been promoted? Who is it?"
"Xu Shixun, the magistrate of Qiaochun County."
"Oh, him, that guy is clever and decisive. He's been to Fengying several times and personally taught the technique of growing colored pearls."
"My uncle is drawn to his decisiveness. He's also incredibly courageous. Back then, I was exiled to Fengying as a prefect. At that time, Fengying comprised twenty counties, with all their magistrates, county secretaries, and other officials, both high and low, gathered together. He was the first person to dare issue a military order to me, and he over-fulfilled the task. He's the man I want. He'll serve and benefit the people! Look at Qiaochun County now, governed by him. People don't pick up things on the streets, and they leave their doors unlocked at night. It's become Fengqi's premier pearl-producing county. This year alone, the government has purchased over 100,000 bushels of pearls from Qiaochun County."
At the beginning, people could trade pearls begged for freely. At that time, people were poor and had trouble eating. Who would wear pearls? So Wan Lianxing sent people to foreign countries to find a way out. The person sent at that time was Cheng Feng, so Cheng Feng had a deep understanding of pearls.
The people benefited greatly from this, and the surrounding counties also followed suit and started cultivating pearls. As the production of pearls increased, the people had to rely on the power of the government to find more sales channels. Later, in order to facilitate the people, the government bought the pearls from the people and sold them to other countries.
"Uncle, our pearl production this year is not low. They are colorful. If you like them, I will send someone to bring some to you tomorrow."
"Okay, stop trying to get close to me. Why are you coming to my uncle's place instead of going up the mountain to reclaim the wasteland? Are you trying to be lazy so blatantly?"
"Uncle, am I a lazy person?"
"Then tell me what you came to see your uncle for?"
“…I’m asking for leave!”
"Haha, you want to ask for leave?"
"Uncle, the Chen brothers are here."
"Have you heard anything about the palace housekeeper's in-laws?"
"Yes, they are Yuhua's in-laws. They used to be from Li Village, and they were my front and back yards. They helped me a lot back then. Dalang was under a corrupt government, allowing the Yadao people to murder Baixin. The Chen family was not spared either. They were destroyed and lost all their wealth before they fled to Fengqi. They came to me and Shangxi for help. Uncle Chen and Aunt Chen treated me well back then. Even Youning was raised by Yuhua herself. I received a lot of favors from the Chen family back then. Now that they have come to me for help, I will definitely take good care of them."
Wan Lianxing nodded slightly in agreement. "People should be grateful and repay kindness. Feng'er is kind and righteous, so I will naturally not stop him. Uncle, remember that the Chen family are all bricklayers. It was the eldest of the Chen family who I recommended to Emperor Dalang to build the hot spring."
"It's Chen Qingliao, the eldest son of the Chen family. The second son is also a bricklayer, and the third is a carpenter. The eldest and second son are capable, but the third son is not so good. However, he has been an apprentice in carpentry for many years and can even take apprentices now. The bed I got married on was made for me by the third son of the Chen family. His craftsmanship is not bad."
"Feng'er, the Wan family was careless and unkind to you, leaving you stranded from home since childhood. Your adoptive parents passed away when you were young, and your brothers and sisters-in-law were unsatisfactory. As a result, you went hunting in the mountains at the age of nine, through the cold and heat, and suffered immensely. This is all the Wan family's fault."
"Oh, it happened so many years ago, it's all so old, why are you still bringing it up, uncle? Life was like that back then, every household couldn't afford to eat, but people like me who can hunt still lived well and didn't starve. If you feel sorry for me, uncle, just take back the ten acres of land. I don't have time to cultivate it recently."
"You wish. The Crown Prince is unruly. I want Song Tingzhi to temper his character. Why are you always messing around? I told you two, young couple, not to interfere in Youning's affairs."
"I just feel sorry for Youning!"
"I don't feel bad for him. He's my grandson, the one who will inherit the throne. I'm willing to let him suffer. But as the crown prince, how can he act recklessly like an ordinary child? From the moment he ascends the throne, he must establish a heart for heaven and earth, and a life for the people. How can he understand the suffering of the people if he doesn't pick up a hoe? If he doesn't understand the suffering of the people, how can he seek their welfare? As the crown prince I beg for mercy, every word and action must conform to the rules of propriety. He must treat others with kindness, but must not form cliques for personal gain. If he wants his reputation to be passed down to future generations, he must establish his words, establish his virtues, establish his achievements, and value righteousness, courtesy, humility, and trustworthiness."
Wan Lianxing's words made Cheng Feng's Adam's apple roll, and he felt ashamed. "According to what my uncle said, am I meddling? Shouldn't I help my son with the work?"
"Uncle, I still say the same thing. Don't interfere in the prince's affairs. The prince should do as the master teaches. There is no mistake."
"Uncle, the prince's land reclamation has had a huge impact. Word has spread that the situation has changed, and everyone has started buying or renting land."
"That's not good. Once the wasteland we begged for turns into fertile farmland, we won't have to worry about having food to eat."
"Isn't this also a plan of my uncle?"
"My uncle has so many political affairs to deal with every day that he doesn't have time to think about so many things. This is just a trick. Okay, I agree to your request for leave, but I will only allow you and Shang Xi half a day off each day."
"Half a day's leave isn't enough? The Chen family is still waiting for my help in settling them in..."
"Feng'er, you are the prince of Prince Pang's mansion and my nephew. You should learn to share my worries. The Chen brothers need resettlement, but don't the people outside the city need resettlement? I know that the Chen family has done you a favor. I regard all uncles who have done you a favor as having done me a favor and the Wan family a favor. I regard them all as benefactors. As long as I have the opportunity, I will treat them well. But the people outside the city are living in the open air, you know."