Evolution - Chapter 40
Chapter 40
After Ji Changqing proposed opening a trading post, Lin Huang had been preparing for it. With Yu Zhiyao coordinating everything, she wasn't worried it would fail.
They had that kind of inexplicable confidence.
Ji Changqing was responsible for clearing the path with her fists, while Yu Zhiyao handled coordination, execution, and cleanup. Among the other three, Zhong Lan mostly followed Yu Zhiyao's arrangements, gathering intelligence and acting as a switchboard operator. The First was engrossed in primitive handicrafts, and Lin Huang was in charge of building merchant caravans to travel the lands, gathering local news and developments along the way. From time to time, she would bring back crops that didn't yet exist in the Great Zhou.
And all this information would ultimately be compiled and sent to Yu Zhiyao.
After more than half a year of bickering and wrangling in the imperial court, the matter of opening the trading post was finally settled.
Ji Changqing was put in overall command, and the court would send a group of officials to assist her.
This made Ji Changqing even busier.
With the opening of trade routes and the establishment of the trading post, Jingbei grew more prosperous by the day. The annually increasing tax revenue made everyone's eyes burn with envy.
Furthermore, Ji Changqing conducted border patrols and military exercises every year, beating the surrounding small nations and tribes into submission until they were all perfectly behaved.
Yu Zhiyao had tactfully hinted to Ji Changqing about the drawbacks of winning every battle and repeatedly requesting merits, suggesting she could be a bit more flexible.
Whether it was creating excessively high expectations or overshadowing the ruler with her achievements, neither was a good thing.
Ji Changqing said she understood. But it was truly too difficult. She couldn't bring herself to do something like “nurturing bandits to increase one's own importance,” nor could she bear to erase the military merits of her subordinates.
She began to implement a plan to strengthen her army. Many of the soldiers were just farmers fresh from the fields; sending them onto the battlefield was like sending them to their deaths.
In an era of cold weapons, the casualties in a single battle were immense. All merits were earned with their lives, and she couldn't bear to erase their contributions. She could only find another way. After every battle, she would report the old, weak, sick, and disabled—or those who had no ambition for glory and only wished to return to their fields—as injured, sending them home with a generous resettlement allowance.
As a result, the reduction in the Jingbei army's numbers was very noticeable.
But since Ji Changqing didn't request reinforcements, the court assumed she didn't need any and allocated provisions and pay according to the newly reported numbers.
In the third year after the trading post was established, Yu Zhiyao made a special trip to Jingbei.
By this time, five years had passed since Ji Changqing and the others had entered the game.
After entering Jingbei City, Yu Zhiyao didn't openly enter the royal residence as she would have in the Imperial Capital. Instead, she purchased a three-courtyard house for herself to stay in.
Although Ji Changqing had never mentioned it, Yu Zhiyao had many intelligence channels and knew that her life in the royal residence was not particularly comfortable.
No matter how much power she held, she couldn't fend off three generations of women in her family—old, middle-aged, and young—all fussing over her marriage.
The old princess consort, Ji Changqing's mother, and the former heir's consort.
One was her grandmother, one her mother, and one who could be considered a sister-in-law acting as a mother. Three women made a drama, and their combined power was simply immense.
Add to that their own little schemes, and it became even more dramatic.
A few days after Yu Zhiyao arrived in Jingbei, Ji Changqing finally found the time to visit, bringing Lin Huang and The First with her.
She needed someone for moral support.
“We've determined that we're currently in a Little Ice Age, and its peak will be within the next decade or so.” Yu Zhiyao's opening words stunned everyone.
They had previously believed the so-called chaotic era was a man-made disaster, and all their efforts were directed at preventing it.
Now they were being told they were wrong—it was a natural disaster that would trigger a man-made one.
In that case, their previous preparations were far from sufficient. They needed to adjust their strategy immediately.
The top priority was unexpectedly crop growth and protection from the cold. Only after that came the need for them to grasp enough power to implement solutions nationwide.
Yu Zhiyao glanced at The First with approval. “The previous improvements to farm tools, waterwheels, and looms have all been very effective. See if you can figure out how to spin wool into yarn and make things like sweaters in advance.”
The First's eyes lit up, and she nodded vigorously.
“We should also consider how to insulate buildings,” Ji Changqing added. “I think we can try things like greenhouse cultivation, seedling transplantation, and hothouses.”
Among them, only she was a country girl. It was already impressive that the others could tell their grains apart; they knew nothing about these things.
At most, they had only heard these terms mentioned on TV, the radio, or in newspapers. All they needed to do was work hard to earn money and buy whatever they wanted.
“We can handle the improvements and modifications ourselves, but there are some things we can't do yet.” Yu Zhiyao took out a stack of documents. “Take a look. The noble families currently control nearly fifty percent of the land, including forests and farmland. If you add the hidden households and fields, it's probably closer to seventy percent.”
Everyone was left speechless.
Some things, you know they exist, but only when the data is laid out plainly before you do you realize just how serious the situation is.
In the ancient history they were familiar with, every Little Ice Age had brought about an appallingly chaotic era where nine out of ten homes were empty. Only during the last two dynastic changes did half the population survive, thanks to the introduction of high-yield, drought-resistant food crops.
“Actually, it's not that dire,” Yu Zhiyao said, gesturing with her finger. “The main issue is that when harvests fail, unrest begins. Once war breaks out, men are conscripted, and the fields are left untended. Untended fields lead to greater food shortages, which draws more people into the war, ultimately resulting in nine empty homes out of ten.”
“So, not only do we have to solve the problem of hidden households and fields, but we also have to tackle the issue of land annexation by the noble families?” Ji Changqing felt a headache coming on. The implications were too vast. It would be one thing if it were just Jingbei, but for the entire Great Zhou, the connections were deeply entangled. Never mind that she was just a commandery princess with authority over one region; even if she were the emperor, she couldn't solve it overnight.
The slightest misstep, and these noble families could secretly replace the emperor and continue their lives of revelry.
Just as she was thinking this, Yu Zhiyao turned to look at her, her expression full of teasing. “My dear Your Majesty, how about you ascend the throne?”
The First and Lin Huang burst out laughing with a “pfft.”
Yu Zhiyao seized the opportunity to press down on Ji Changqing's hand and didn't let go, all while maintaining a serious expression. “I'm serious.”
The First and Lin Huang's gazes shifted. We're supposed to be talking business, so why are you flirting with Her Majesty at the drop of a hat?
This was just too unfair.
Ji Changqing, however, remained composed. She glanced calmly at their overlapping hands and thought to herself, It's just a game anyway, who cares!
“I'm not suited for it.” She wearily wiped her face with her other hand. “I've done my best. I just want to focus on development and defending the border, but the court suspects me of building my own power base. They wanted to transfer generals from my army to other posts, so I transferred them. But then they turned around and suspected me of deliberately placing my confidants in other armies.”
She really had it tough.
“We will help you.” Yu Zhiyao was well aware of the situation; it was precisely why she had come.
Ji Changqing heaved a long sigh. Why was it so hard to just do something serious and proper? The people at court were clearly too idle. They were practically sick, suffering from persecution paranoia.
Lin Huang clearly understood her well. “It's better for you to do it than her,” she said with great loyalty. “Since there's going to be a change anyway.”
Ji Changqing was just too weak when it came to scheming and manipulating people's hearts. The army might be a better fit for her; the imperial court was a bit too much to ask.
Besides, even if they forced her onto the throne because of her surname, wouldn't Yu Zhiyao end up handling most of the affairs anyway?
Then Yu Zhiyao would be acting without proper authority, which could create all sorts of trouble out of thin air. Why bother?
And what's more, if Ji Changqing took the throne, would gaining a reputation as a puppet sound good?
It would be better to get it right in one step. That way, both of them would have an easier time.
Yu Zhiyao just looked at Ji Changqing.
Seeing her look of immense relief, she couldn't help but find it a little amusing.
“You really don't want to ascend the throne and become my empress?”
Ji Changqing didn't have time to worry about being teased. She said hurriedly, “You do it, you do it.”
“Then what is it you want to do most?”
Lin Huang and The First, who had been treated as background props for this flirtation, really wanted to stand up and say: Wake up, we're still here!
Ji Changqing thought seriously for a moment. “I want to do what I'm good at: training the army, defending the borders, and keeping the people safe. As for court struggles and political machinations, I probably just don't have the talent for it.”
“Even so, even if your personal safety can't be guaranteed, even if you might die a martyr for your cause in the process, you'll still stick to your idea?”
Ji Changqing found Yu Zhiyao's question strange, but she didn't ask about it, simply answering honestly, “Yes.”
It's just a game, after all, she thought. Of course I can live as I please while completing the mission. I'll bear the responsibilities I'm willing and able to carry, and leave the rest to someone more suitable.
Yu Zhiyao nodded in approval and didn't press the issue further. She slowly released the hand she had been holding and, as if organizing her thoughts, said deliberately and meaningfully, “In that case, I'll adjust the plan. You need to be mentally prepared. You will be the one among us in the most danger.”
Ji Changqing, wanting only to end the conversation quickly, agreed haphazardly.
Another three years passed. Under the direction of Prime Minister Yu, a nationwide census of hidden households was conducted, uncovering sixty thousand of them. The hidden fields that had been reported as wasteland were also reclaimed by the government and granted to the newly registered households.
New farm tools, waterwheels, water-powered looms, looms that could spin wool into yarn, seedling transplantation, greenhouse cultivation, and simple home insulation were all systematically rolled out under the arrangement of a large number of pragmatic low- and mid-level officials.
Yu Zhiyao knew that this was the limit of what the noble families could tolerate.
To go any further, to pry the annexed lands from their hands, would be tantamount to rebuilding the entire structure of the empire.
But for now, these matters were held in check, waiting for a sufficiently shocking trigger.
From this point on, calls in the imperial court for Ji Changqing to return to the capital became incessant.
The young emperor, who had been somewhat endearing back then, had slowly grown up. But under the high pressure from numerous old foxes and the empress dowager's daily anxieties, he had successfully become twisted.
Ambitious but untalented, his mind was filled with the notion of “those who obey me shall prosper, those who defy me shall perish.” The frustration of being constrained made him desperately eager to rule in his own right and consolidate his power.
During that year, the weak-willed young emperor, instigated by who-knows-who, decided to start with the Zhenbei Royal Residence, intending to seize control of the Jingbei army.
For nine consecutive years, the Jingbei army had been victorious in every battle, and the border had long been peaceful. Most people had forgotten that before Ji Changqing, there were wins and losses in the annual battles, but each time the army suffered heavy casualties and was severely weakened.
When Ji Changqing first received the edict, she suspected that spies from other nations were stirring up trouble. In recent years, life had not been easy for the other countries, unlike the Great Zhou. Small-scale wars frequently broke out, though large-scale ones were rare.
She first stalled by claiming “the other nations seem to be making unusual moves” and dispatched more people to investigate the situation in those countries.
The emperor was relentless, repeatedly summoning Ji Changqing to the capital. At first, it was once every three months. In the end, likely out of shame and anger, he began issuing public edicts reprimanding her, accusing her of showing no respect for her sovereign and father.
Ji Changqing was endlessly annoyed.
After a thorough investigation revealed no unusual movements from the other nations—they were probably aware of the internal strife in the Great Zhou and were quietly waiting to watch the show—she was out of excuses.
She had no more reasons to refuse, and she couldn't exactly raise the banner of rebellion on the spot to show him what a real revolt looked like.
Thus, after receiving yet another summons, Ji Changqing—who had been constantly accused of “heeding the call but not the command”—finally made her arrangements, selected two thousand troops, and returned to the capital as ordered.
After arriving in the Imperial Capital, she entered the palace for an audience with the emperor.
She saw that the little emperor of yesteryear was now fifteen. He should have been a bright and spirited young man, but he had turned into a sullen, violent, and troubled youth.
The emperor made a show of exchanging a few pleasantries before he couldn't stop himself from complaining about his difficulties. He then got straight to the point: “Elder Sister, can you return to the capital to lend me a hand? As for Jingbei, I will make my own arrangements.”
Ji Changqing's expression didn't change. “Who does Your Majesty plan to send to Jingbei?”
First, find out who's instigating this from behind the scenes. Then I'll get rid of them!
Does this mean she's willing to follow my arrangements?
The emperor grew pleased. The dissatisfaction that had built up from Ji Changqing's repeated refusals to return to court dissipated somewhat. He felt the empress dowager had been right after all: if his elder sister wanted to continue holding power, she had no choice but to stand with them.
But his wits were still about him. He refused to say who he had in mind, only stating vaguely, “There are a few trustworthy families.”
Ji Changqing nodded slightly. After offering a few words of gentle comfort, she proceeded with her official report, stating that the other nations were currently unstable and that small-scale battles near Jingbei had become more frequent in the last two years. It was a critical time, and the Great Zhou should prepare for a rainy day.
After she took her leave, the emperor's face darkened. He overturned a table and flew into a rage. “Despicable! Despicable!”
As expected, they all looked down on him! What was all that about battles in Jingbei becoming more frequent and the matter being of great importance? If Your Majesty has a candidate, it must be discussed in court.
Discuss it?! Who didn't know that Prime Minister Yu would definitely support her in keeping command of the army? What was there to discuss?
Weren't they just looking down on him, unwilling to return political power to him?!
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