Chapter 288

Jing Sheng Di's body leaned slightly to the side, facing Jia Jing, one hand resting on his knee, the other placed on the edge of the palanquin, his fingers tapping lightly, tap‑tap.

Jia Jing sat to his right, his back straight as a spear, hands properly placed on his knees, his gaze falling on the curtain ahead.

"Zi Jie, how does the youngster look?" Jing Sheng Di asked with a gentle expression.

"Your Highness is refined and elegant, extraordinarily heroic!" Jia Jing replied with a smile!

What else could it be?

He's the future crown prince, so praising him is naturally appropriate!

Jing Sheng Di nodded; though he was in his prime, he had no intention of rushing to pave the way for his successor.

"You fought the northwestern campaign beautifully!"

"Although I had high hopes for you, I never expected you to overthrow the Northern Yuan, pacify the steppes, and even cause the False Qing and the Hun Xie to sue for peace in such a short time!"

"Originally I meant for you to stay longer in the northwest, to thoroughly reorganize the armies of the three borders and four garrisons of the northwest."

"It wouldn't have been impossible to directly pacify Liaodong and then return, but there are many voices of opposition at court."

"Moreover, the court is in a troubled autumn, with Henan and several other provinces suffering drought, while the Chuan Shan region is unsettled."

"The implementation of the court's New Policies is not going smoothly either; the treasury is empty, and there are countless matters to attend to."

"I need you to return to garrison Shenjing city and discuss major state affairs with me!"

Jing Sheng Di's voice was not loud, carrying a rare relaxation after laying aside the court's dignity.

He did not hide his court's objections, being quite frank and open, clearly not treating Jia Jing as an outsider.

Hearing this, Jia Jing's expression tightened, and he asked:

"Is the Chuan Shan region not peaceful?"

Most of what Jing Sheng Di said he already knew, such as the empty treasury and the drought in Henan.

However, he truly did not know much about the situation in Chuan Shan.

Although the Embroidered Uniform Guard has basically spread throughout the two capitals and thirteen provinces of the Da Han Empire, it only began deployment last year, so the time is still short,

and for intelligence gathering in some regions it is temporarily still inferior to that of the Great Han Court.

Jing Sheng Di's fingers paused on the edge of the palanquin for a moment, then resumed tapping, tap‑tap, unhurried.

He fell silent for a moment, lowered his voice a little, and replied:

"In Chuan Shan there appeared a post station courier named Li Xianzhong who gathered starving civilians into a rebellion, causing quite a stir."

"I have already ordered the governor of Chuan Shan to lead troops to suppress the rebellion, but we have not yet heard the outcome!"

"Moreover, in Shandong and Jiangnan, the White Lotus Sect is also restless, deceiving people's hearts, and small‑scale rebellions continue without cease."

"State affairs are fraught with difficulty; to truly revive the nation's fortunes is still a long and arduous road!"

After saying that, Jing Sheng Di let out a long sigh, his face showing a hint of worry!

Hearing this, Jia Jing could not help but his expression darkened.

Although he had long known that the Da Han Empire faced many problems, he never imagined the situation had deteriorated to this extent!

There are natural disasters and human calamities, severe land consolidation, the court lacks money, and officials and gentry still engage in corrupt practices—it is practically a picture of a dynasty's end!

Even with his several victories in the northwest and Liaodong, it is hard for him to have much positive impact on the internal situation of the Da Han Empire!

The worries of the Da Han dynasty lie within, not without!

Without thorough reform and a sweeping overhaul, it will likely be difficult to check the decline!

Jia Jing remained silent for a moment, then asked:

"Your Majesty, what do you intend to do? And what do you need me to do?"

Jing Sheng Di turned his head and looked into Jia Jing's eyes.

His gaze was deep, as deep as a pool of water whose bottom cannot be seen.

Jing Sheng Di did not directly answer Jia Jing's question, but instead posed a counter‑question:

"Zi Jie, what do you think of the New Policies?"

Jia Jing composed himself, knowing this was Jing Sheng Di's probing remark, thought for a moment, and replied seriously:

"The New Policies are naturally good governance! Especially the items of Labor Tax Allocation, Fire Consumption Public Return, Unified Gentry Service and Grain Contribution, and Reform Land to Flow Officials."

"Labor Tax Allocation merges the former head tax ('ding silver') into the land tax, unifying taxation based on land area."

"This abolishes the head tax that had been in place for years, greatly lightening the burden on landless or small‑holder peasants, allowing them to pay less tax and perform less corvée labor."

"By making large landowners and gentry pay more tax, it eases the people's suffering and to some extent curbs officials and powerful clans from seizing land, thus checking land consolidation."

"The Fire Consumption Public Return, together with the integrity salary system, can reduce officials' corrupt tendencies."

"Reform Land to Flow Officials, in the southwest, abolishes the hereditary native chieftain system and replaces it with court‑appointed itinerant officials."

"This weakens regional separatism, promotes commercial development, and strengthens the court's rule."

"As for Unified Gentry Service and Grain Contribution, needless to say, it abolishes the tax and service exemptions enjoyed by scholar‑officials and gentry, requiring those with official degrees or landholdings to pay taxes and bear corvée labor."

"This new law not only increases the court's tax revenue, but also shifts the burden that once weighed on ordinary commoners onto the gentry, making it an absolutely beneficial policy for the state and the people!"

"However, although the New Policies are good, they touch the interests of scholars and officials across the realm, who are likely to be unhappy!"

Jia Jing's remarks were sound and well‑grounded; it was clear he truly understood the New Policies, and Jing Sheng Di listened with great delight.

Jing Sheng Di's bright gaze fell upon Jia Jing's face; he suppressed the surging excitement in his heart and asked in a low voice:

"Are Zi Jie's words spoken from the heart?"

Facing Jing Sheng Di's gaze, Jia Jing replied resolutely:

"In Your Majesty's presence, I never speak falsehoods!"

This is indeed Jia Jing's sincere opinion; the intent behind the New Policies is certainly good.

But how far it can actually be carried out depends on the supervision and strength the court exerts in implementation.

Upon hearing this, Jing Sheng Di's mouth curled slightly; he patted Jia Jing's hand on the back and said:

Great! With Zi Jie saying this, I can rest easy!

As Zi Jie said, the New Policies are good, but they benefit the state and the people, yet they are not so advantageous for the scholars and officials of the world.

According to information gathered by the Imperial City Office, there are not a few instances of officials and gentry secretly slandering the New Policies and outwardly complying while inwardly opposing them.

To speak frankly, if it were not for the Da Han Empire's situation having reached a point where change is unavoidable, I would not have been able to make this decision to undertake this matter.

But the state of the nation is deteriorating day by day, time waits for no one, the court from top to bottom has rotted in large parts, rotted to the root; without implementing the New Policies, without reforming to strengthen the nation, it is absolutely impossible!

I intend to spend the next ten years thoroughly overhauling officials and institutions at all levels of the court, in order to enrich the country, strengthen the military, secure the people's livelihood, revive discipline, and consolidate the state!

I won't hide it from you; in this effort to eradicate entrenched abuses and pursue reform to strengthen the state, I am prepared to take on some risk!

This road is not easy to walk, and it will inevitably invite some blame.

However, as long as Zi Jie shares my resolve, with ruler and minister working together, what affair under heaven could we not accomplish?

Zi Jie, are you willing to join me in accomplishing this great undertaking?

Jing Sheng Di's words contain both concern for the Da Han Empire's situation and a resolute, iron-blooded tone.

It is clear that he has already made up his mind to use military victory to enact political reform, wielding the blade inward, severely punishing corruption, and sweeping away maladministration!

And the reason he says these words to Jia Jing is...

Undoubtedly it is to unify thinking with his most trusted confidant minister, and to consolidate consensus for the forthcoming actions!