Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 548: News

Jiang Shaohua sighed silently, exchanging a glance with Song Yuan without saying a word.

After a while, Jiang Shaohua gathered her spirits and said, "The court has already dispatched reinforcements to Si State. Once they arrive, the situation will greatly improve."

Song Yuan murmured, "It’s a pity the reinforcements won’t set out until after the new year. Let’s hope they can reach Si State soon."

General Song, leading the reinforcements, is none other than Song Yuan’s uncle. Despite their disputes and discord, at this critical moment, Song Yuan harbors no other thoughts, wholeheartedly wishing for General Song to lead the troops to Si State quickly.

This is the true loyal minister and valiant general.

Jiang Shaohua said, "Keep a close watch on the Capital City, and report immediately if there’s any news."

Song Yuan bowed in agreement.

In the following days, news intermittently came from the Capital City.

Princess Bao Hua remained bedridden, recovering in her bedchamber without leaving.

Empress Dowager Li uttered some mild criticism in public, which led to a reprimand from Grand Empress Dowager Zheng. The tension between the two palaces was profound and far-reaching. Besides the Prime Minister Faction and the Grand Empress Dowager’s Faction at court, a new entity reared its head - the Li Family. Although the Li Family’s current power is the weakest, being the outer family of the Emperor, with Minister of Rites Li as the Emperor’s maternal grandfather, once Prime Minister Wang falls, Minister Li also holds the capability and qualification to compete for the position of Prime Minister.

Emperor Taihe worried about the border conflict and the complex interpersonal relations in the court and inner palace. His health, which had improved for a short period, was again showing signs of strain, almost causing him to faint during a minor court meeting. He had no choice but to rest in Zhaohai Palace.

No one could suppress Prime Minister Wang and Duke An. The two had almost torn at each other’s throats in court, targeting each other at every turn. The fierce battles between the two factions of officials made what was once smoothly running governance become protracted, tedious, and inefficient.

Under such circumstances, Grand Empress Dowager Zheng’s choice of an Empress and four concubines for the Emperor paled in comparison.

The future Empress was the legitimate daughter of the Zheng Family, a legitimate cousin of Zheng Chen. The four concubines also all hailed from noble families, with prestigious ladies from the Li and Ji Families, and two others from military families, one from the Zuo Family and another from the Bao Family.

This selection considered both civil and military officials, balancing several noble families. Only the Wang Family was excluded.

The date for the Emperor’s grand marriage was set for June. A month after the Empress enters the palace, the four concubines will successively enter as well. The Ministry of Rites will be extremely busy managing the Emperor’s marriage and the entrance of the four concubines.

...

By now, it was late February, the time for spring planting.

Jiang Shaohua had stayed in the Personal Guard Camp for over a month and finally set off to inspect the various counties. This had been a routine practiced for years, needing no elaborate recount.

Notably, the influx of refugees into Nanyang County had been properly settled. The strong military presence in Nanyang County granted the people a high sense of security. There were no heavy taxes or corrupt officials, governance was smooth, and the society was harmonious. The refugees migrating from the North, like drops merging into a river, quickly integrated into their new life.

Jiang Shaohua, feeling a mess of emotions, felt much better after inspecting Li County: "How many people are there in Li County now?"

County Magistrate Cai mentally calculated with an abacus before replying, "Returning to the Commandery Princess, over a thousand more refugees arrived after the new year. Currently, there are 6,235 households in total, amounting to 28,067 people in Li County."

The population was more than three times what it once was. Besides the continuous arrival of refugees, local residents, living well-fed and happily, had doubled the number of new births in recent years.

Jiang Shaohua chuckled, "You remember it quite clearly."

County Magistrate Cai smiled, "I personally record and manage the registration of refugee households and recount them once a month. This is the latest figure, and it might increase again next month."

After recruiting refugees in the Northern States, the Personal Guard Camp would first send them back to Nanyang County. Ultimately, it was up to Chief Historian Chen and Chief Historian Feng to discuss and decide which county they would be settled in.

Li County, with its many mountains and forests and plenty of untapped wasteland, had County Magistrate Cai acting like a tireless old ox. Chief Historians Chen and Feng couldn’t help but be a little biased, with most refugees first being sent to Li County.

Population and land are the greatest wealth. With people, wastelands can be cultivated to grow crops. With land, one can establish a livelihood, and the refugees’ hearts can quickly find peace. Originally impoverished, Li County had, in recent years, blossomed with vibrant energy due to the continuous influx of refugees.

County Magistrate Cai led Jiang Shaohua to see the newly cultivated wasteland, where seeds had just been planted, sprouting a hint of green shoots. They also visited the pepper fields that had been cultivated for two years.

"This pepper is truly a wonderful thing," County Magistrate Cai said with a low chuckle. "Although it’s troublesome to grow and hard to harvest, it fetches high prices. Selling it to the South can earn a great deal of silver. Nowadays, the people of Li County aren’t poor at all, and even the county government has become quite affluent."

Spending time with County Magistrate Cai is indeed a pleasurable matter. Jiang Shaohua hadn’t stopped smiling all day: "Since the county government has money, it should also take the opportunity to repair and tidy up a bit."

The county government of Li County was both worn and old. Although County Magistrate Cai now had silver, he had no plans to repair the county government, responding with a smile, "Currently, there’s a war over in Si State, although it’s far from our Nanyang County. Still, I’m planning to build the city walls a bit higher."

To the populace, strong and sturdy city walls are the most reliable. Living within the surrounded county city provides an extra sense of security.

Among the Fourteen Counties of Nanyang, the wealthiest is Ye County, and both Bo Wang County and Biyang County are much more affluent than Li County. However, outsiders with some property prefer settling in Li County because its city gate is the biggest and its city walls are the highest.

This is also where County Magistrate Cai’s wisdom lies. In the years since his office, he has been continuously repairing city walls, building them little by little to their current state.

Jiang Shaohua approvingly looked at County Magistrate Cai: "You’ve done exceptionally well, far better than I expected."

County Magistrate Cai’s withered face spread into a smile: "Back when I was given special promotion and appointment by the Commandery Princess to become the County Magistrate of Li County, I thought I’d definitely have to govern Li County well, to never disappoint the Commandery Princess’s great expectations. Now, one could say that I’ve managed to be a passable County Magistrate."

Jiang Shaohua was amused by this: "You are the top County Magistrate of Nanyang County. Looking throughout Da Liang, there isn’t any County Magistrate who can compare to you. Saying you’re Da Liang’s top County Magistrate is not an exaggeration. Speaking this way is indeed modest and humble."

County Magistrate Cai’s old face turned red from the praise, repeatedly bowing his hands, saying he did not dare to accept such laudation.

Beside him, Chen Jinyu laughed and said, "Every time the Commandery Princess comes to Li County, her mood is exceptionally good. It shows County Magistrate Cai’s assiduous work fits the Princess’s desires. The Princess’s praise is well-deserved by County Magistrate Cai. Here, there are no outsiders, even if there were, witnessing Li County’s current state, one would have to admit from the heart that County Magistrate Cai is quite capable."

It is because County Magistrate Cai is so diligent that Jiang Shaohua prefers visiting Li County during her county inspections.

In the midst of their talk, a swift horse suddenly galloped over. A trusted aide dismounted from the fine horse, and Qin Hu presented a bamboo tube.

Jiang Shaohua looked at the letter inside the bamboo tube, and her previously relaxed brow furrowed once more.