The officials could not truly defy them to the death. After a period of commotion, Chong Yan had already begun to preside over court affairs, and they had no choice but to slowly settle down.
Although the drought in the previous year was severe, with the coordination of various parties, not many people died. The originally barren marshes in the south were excavated and cleared during this year and more. By the late spring of the second year, many of the southern marshes had been transformed into paddy fields.
The court promulgated laws and decrees, stipulating that these lands would be reclaimed by the local populace. During the reclamation period, the state provided grain and money, and for five years after reclamation, no taxes were required.
In addition, the court issued a series of policies regarding land, especially laws restricting land transactions. The most common issue in feudal times was that when grain was severely insufficient, ordinary farmers would sell their land to obtain food, becoming tenant farmers and further exploited by landlords.
To prevent this situation, the court promulgated a law concerning land pawning. If farmers wished to sell their land, they could pawn it to the local government. During the pawning period, they retained the right to use the land but had to pay rent to the government. They could then redeem the land later by paying a sum of money, and the land would remain theirs (somewhat akin to leveraged leasing in financial management).
The promulgation of this law effectively curbed land annexation. Although in this era, no amount of laws could prevent excessive wealth disparity, as long as this dynasty existed, the lives of ordinary people would not be too difficult.
The canals in the north and south were continuously dug for seven or eight years. Initially, they were for flood and drought prevention, then for land reclamation, and later for water transportation.
In the first few years after Zhu Que arrived, especially during the years of severe natural disasters, a system of severe crackdowns on merchants was implemented. Later, as the climate improved, the southern paddy fields yielded increased harvests year after year. In the north, due to stable irrigation, grain also gradually increased. Concurrently, other handicrafts developed, and the court gradually relaxed restrictions on merchants.
Commerce, in times of prosperity, represented the strength of a nation and stimulated the development of handicrafts. However, during periods of national decline, rampant merchants would lead to the exploitation of the populace.
Grain was inherently limited. If everyone shared it, they could barely get by. If merchants were allowed to buy and sell freely, it would result in some people continuing to live well while others starved to death.
This strategy was met with opposition from many at first. But as mentioned, for Zhu Que and Chong Yan, what they needed was merit points. The millions of people in Zhu Que and Xuan Wu were far more important than those few hundred officials, so she never cared about their opinions.
Together, they built a prosperous era.
However, until Zhu Que was nearly thirty-five years old, they had no children.
Although the civil and military officials had long given up hope, they still clung to a sliver of it and brought up the matter in court every few days. At first, they merely urged the couple to have children, suggesting that if Chong Yan did not serve well, more women could be added to the harem.
Gradually, however, some people began to set their sights on Chong Yan.
Especially a large group of officials promoted by Chong Yan. To them, Chong Yan and Zhu Que were almost equal in status. In this world, there were two male-dominated countries. If the Empress did not want children, it was acceptable for the Emperor to have them.
When someone proposed this idea in court, Zhu Que, who had not killed anyone in a long time, became angry for once and had the person dragged out and beheaded.
Her decisive execution of the person shocked a large group of people who harbored similar thoughts, and they were instantly stunned into silence. No one dared to bring up the matter again.
After this incident, Zhu Que suddenly proposed to name the Regent's daughter as the Crown Princess, which once again threw the entire court into an uproar.
Even Nangong Cai was too astonished to speak.
Her daughter, Nangong Yu, was almost fifteen years old and nearing the age for marriage. She had repeatedly considered petitioning for her daughter's enfeoffment, but Zhu Que had never given a direct response, resulting in Nangong Yu still being merely a Gong Zi, not a Shinu.
She had thought that the Empress disliked her daughter, or perhaps feared them, which was why she had always avoided the issue. She never expected that the Empress had such a plan.
Nangong Yu behaved more calmly than her parents. She calmly accepted the imperial decree and gave thanks, then sent off the envoy who delivered it. Turning to look at the dumbfounded couple, she quietly asked, "Mother, Father, are you alright?"
Nangong Cai grasped her hand, "You, you knew about this long ago?"
Nangong Yu replied, "When I entered the palace at the age of six, His Majesty asked for my wishes."
Nangong Cai stared at her, disbelief etched on her face, "You said you wanted to be the Crown Princess?"
A cold sweat broke out on her back. When Nangong Yu was six, Zhu Que and Chong Yan had just gained complete control of the country, and the entire nation was in their hands. The officials in court were subservient, and the people of the Vermillion Bird Kingdom revered them as deities.
Moreover, at that time, the couple was still very young. Asking such a question was clearly a test. If they had used it as an excuse to harm her, it would have been incredibly easy.
She dared not think further.
Nangong Yu shook her head, "At that time, I said I only wanted to be the child of my mother and father, and not the child of His Majesty. His Majesty said I didn't need to be their child."
She was young then. When she heard His Majesty ask if she was willing to be the Crown Princess, her first reaction was that she would be adopted by His Majesty and the Emperor, and become their child, which she was unwilling to do.
The Empress did not show any signs of anger, merely smiling and saying, "You are not A'Yan's and my child, but you can be the Crown Princess. Never mind, you are too young to understand."
Later, she never truly understood.
Especially as she grew older and witnessed some people rise and fall in the struggle for power, repeatedly almost drowning, yet never willing to give up. Compared to those minor officials and petty gains, what His Majesty and the Emperor possessed was the entire world.
Could it be given away?
Then she was sent to Chaoyang Academy.
It was also founded by His Majesty, and the students there were all His Majesty's pupils. There were both males and females. Some studied hydraulic engineering, some agriculture, and some how to be officials... It was there that she gradually came to understand the meaning of a nation and what responsibility was.
She entered Chaoyang Academy at the age of eight and studied there for five years. At thirteen, she traveled the world. What she saw with her own eyes was always more shocking than what others described to her.
She had always believed that His Majesty and the Emperor were extremely wise. In the capital, people slept with their doors unlocked, practically achieving the legendary Great Harmony under Heaven. She assumed the entire world was like this.
But when she went to other places, there were still many people clad in rags and starving, many officials exploiting the local populace and oppressing the people. Some engaged in human trafficking, some privately minted copper coins... Those people, for their own selfish interests, showed no regard for the lives of others.
Even in some parts of Zhu Que, the situation was like this. When she went to the Azure Dragon and White Tiger Kingdoms, these phenomena were even more serious. It was in those places that she learned that not all places were like Zhu Que, with monogamy and harmonious coexistence.
In the Azure Dragon and White Tiger Kingdoms, the decadent and extravagant were the noble men, while women and ordinary men were of low status, seemingly born as slaves.
Especially in the Azure Dragon Kingdom, slavery had been restored a few years prior. Countless people fled to other regions. Fearing that all their country's people would run away, the court promulgated even stricter laws. Those who dared to escape would not only die themselves but their entire families would also be executed.
No wonder that Prime Minister had come to the Zhu Que Kingdom.
She traveled for two years and only returned to Zhu Que recently. The first thing she did upon her return was to enter the palace and meet His Majesty.
When she was asked again if she was willing to become the Crown Princess, Nangong Yu nodded without much hesitation.
"His Majesty said that this world should not belong to anyone, but to the people. She and the Emperor wish to create a truly Great Harmony under Heaven. I wish for it too, so, Mother, I want to be the Crown Princess."