Chapter 1028: This Crown Prince Is No Simple Figure

In the royal city of Jinling, at the former office of the Revenue Accounting Bureau.

After Li Yu ascended the throne, in order to show deference to the imperial court and submit to the Central Plains, so as to avoid disaster, he had ordered a reduction in ceremonial standards. Besides lowering the rank of the court's ceremonial guard, institutions such as the Secretariat-Chancellery, the Department of State Affairs, the Secretariat-Chancellery, and the Hanlin Academy were also renamed and downgraded. The Revenue Accounting Bureau was originally the Department of State Affairs — a department with real power.

The office halls were filled with large quantities of maps, registers, and archival documents, arranged by category. It could be said that all official records of the prefectures and armies under the governance of the Two Rivers region were contained within. Although, given the development of the Jiangnan region in recent years, the actual situation would differ considerably from the official records, these maps and registers still held significant value — through them, the imperial court could gain a basic understanding of the population, land, and economic conditions of the Two Rivers region.

Therefore, before entering Jinling city, Li Yu and his ministers, following the requirements of the Han army, had sealed up all the registers. After entering the city, they even assigned special personnel to protect them. Liu Yang and Liu Xu, the two brothers, went directly to this Revenue Accounting Bureau to personally inspect and understand the situation.

They stayed there for three days, and during this period, Liu Yang lodged on the premises. Originally, some attendants had suggested he stay in the Jinling palace, but after consideration, and with a reminder from Li Fang, he declined. The Jinling palace had naturally become the Emperor's traveling residence; as Crown Prince, he could stay there, but there was really no need, and it would easily invite discussion from others. Moreover, they needed to give Li Yu's family time to move out...

Liu Yang found these registers quite fascinating to read. While at court, Liu Chengyou had once given him a task — to find time in his daily schedule to review the records of households, land, taxation, and corvée labor of the various circuits and prefectures of the Great Han. It was dry material, and he still hadn't gone through it all, but the national conditions of the Great Han were all reflected within, deepening Liu Yang's understanding of the country's basic information.

During these three days, after a rough examination and simple tabulation by the clerical officials, the reports reaching Liu Yang had already made him unable to resist exclaiming: "The abundance of Jiangnan's wealth and the richness of its population are truly astonishing!"

Under the Two Rivers administration, there were nineteen prefectures and three armies, with nearly six hundred thousand registered households and a population of over three million seven hundred thousand. Even setting aside other economic benefits, the population dividend alone was enough to rejoice over. In terms of population density, there was probably no place in the world that could compare with the Jiangnan region.

"His Majesty has said that in taking Jiangnan, what he values most is the population and the land. With this supplement, the Great Han's registered population will directly break through twenty million!" Liu Yang said to Li Fang, unable to suppress his smile.

Even to this day, the assessment of officials' performance in the Great Han still took population growth as the primary indicator. After years of nurturing, even with the support of court policies, by the fifteenth year of Qianyou, the registered population within the court's controlled territory was only approaching eighteen million, including the population gained from recovering Yanyun. And the Jiangnan and Jiangxi regions alone could provide this many able-bodied persons.

The philosophy of putting the people first had always had its market, and the size of the population was the foundation of national strength. Therefore, Liu Yang could already imagine how delighted Emperor Liu and the ministers in the Eastern Capital would be upon learning the specific situation.

As for Jiangnan's wealth, taking Jinling's official reserves as an example — the registers recorded that grain alone amounted to one million two hundred thousand dan. Even counting all the common people, this could supply the entire military and civilian population of Jinling for five months of consumption, not counting what officials and civilians had stored themselves. If used frugally, it could obviously last even longer.

As for other materials like silk and cloth, while they didn't fill the storehouses to bursting, they still represented an enormous fortune. Therefore, in terms of defensive capability, from a material foundation standpoint, Jinling was very well supplied. Of course, in the end, it all became spoils of the Han army.

Li Fang was in a good mood as well, and said with some emotion: "Had Jinling been able to unite high and low in common hatred, with military and civilians of one mind, then even with the imperial army's strong soldiers and fine weapons, taking the city would have been extremely difficult!"

Of course, as victors, they were qualified to make such an assessment. Liu Yang's tone carried a slight note of pride as he said: "Unfortunately, they were unable to do so, and with the might of the imperial army, it was absolutely not something they could withstand!"

"Master Li, how much of what is recorded in these registers do you think is true?" Liu Yang suddenly asked Li Fang.

Hearing this question, Li Fang couldn't help but glance at the Crown Prince. Clearly, this was doubting the authenticity of these figures — probably influenced by Emperor Liu. After a moment's consideration, Li Fang said: "Households and land are generally investigated and measured by local prefectures and counties, then reported up level by level, calculated, and finally recorded in the archives. Some discrepancies and gaps in this process are only normal!"

Hearing this, Liu Yang nodded and said: "The question is, how much discrepancy is there, and how large is the gap! At court, I have repeatedly heard that the powerful and landowners of Jiangnan hold vast lands, with field paths crisscrossing and many owning ten thousand mu of connected fields. I was thinking — the Two Rivers region is not vast in territory, yet has a numerous population. With such inequality, how are the common people to make a living, and how can there be lasting peace and stability?"

Suddenly hearing the Crown Prince speak such words, not only Li Fang but also the several subordinate clerks attending in the hall couldn't help but show expressions of surprise. The Crown Prince's face was youthful and tender, yet it was filled with earnest thought. Li Fang sighed inwardly, feeling for the first time that this Crown Prince was not simple.

Even with the influence of being constantly at the Emperor's side, to be able to make such judgments and engage in such thinking was no easy feat. What Liu Yang raised also pointed directly at the core issue of governance and chaos — land. Even if the commodity economy had achieved great development, what served as the foundational support was still land, still its output. Therefore, the root of governance remained land.

And the distribution of land and wealth in the Jiangnan region was clearly very unequal — even more so than Chengdu back in the day. Although he wasn't clear on exactly what had happened with the Shu rebellion back then, after the chaos was settled, the development of the Jiannan Circuit was there for all to see. Social contradictions had been greatly alleviated, extravagant tendencies had been curbed, and public security and the economy had both shown notable progress — a feeling of breaking down and then rebuilding.

Having served as an official for so many years, with considerable experience in governance and a well-developed political sensibility, Li Fang could also discern several aspects of Jiangnan's problems. After pacification, the court would absolutely carry out rectification. And the Crown Prince suddenly speaking such words — did it mean something?

While Li Fang was frowning in thought, Liu Yang smiled again and said lightly: "Just my momentary idle thoughts! I've heard that in these past two years, the lives of Jiangnan's common people have not been particularly peaceful and secure, so I felt something about it!"

Hearing this, Li Fang hurriedly replied: "Your Highness, although Jiangnan is fertile land with abundant products, if there are urgent levies and heavy taxes, exorbitant and miscellaneous charges, the people's livelihoods will still be difficult. Only through good governance can there be a path to lasting peace and stability!"

Liu Yang said directly: "How does one govern well?"

Li Fang said: "I believe His Majesty and the various lords of the court are already planning this matter!"

"Before I came, His Majesty assigned me an assignment — to write a policy essay on the situation in Jiangnan. Now, I've found my direction!" Liu Yang said: "If it's about pacifying and governing Jiangnan, that's not something I can speak recklessly about. But to discuss one point of it, with Master Li's assistance, I think there should be no problem!"

"Your Highness's natural talent is truly admirable!" Li Fang gave a simple compliment.

Hearing this, Liu Yang couldn't help but laugh: "Master Li, His Majesty has said that you are not permitted to praise and flatter me in my presence!"

Sensing that Liu Yang was joking, Li Fang also clasped his hands and replied with a smile: "I was momentarily carried away. When I return to court, I shall beg His Majesty's forgiveness!"

The two couldn't help but laugh heartily for a while. Not long after Liu Yang became Crown Prince, Li Fang had been transferred back to the Eastern Capital to serve at his side. Over the years, the relationship between the two had grown quite close.

After a moment of deliberation, Liu Yang gave instructions: "We should send people to re-verify the reserves stored in Jinling's official granaries and treasuries, arrive at an accurate figure, and create new registers. Whatever can be sorted out, sort it out first!"

"Yes!" Li Fang felt there was nothing wrong with Liu Yang's thinking and immediately acknowledged the order.

"By the way, where's my elder brother?" Liu Yang asked about Liu Xu.

Li Fang glanced at the Crown Prince, and seeing no unusual expression on his face, reported: "The eldest prince has spent these two days traveling around Jinling in plain clothes, observing the lives of Jiangnan's common people!"