"Aunt, why not let him construct a section too? If he fails, you can laugh at him."
Duke Song coughed forcefully.
"Father, is your throat uncomfortable?"
Duke Song was more than just uncomfortable! Who would pay for Lin Qingyuan's canal construction if not the Anguo Duke Mansion? And he actually wanted to build another section! There wasn't even enough silver for two sections.
Song Chuyu felt her father was being unreasonable: "Father, your ancestral land is in the capital! Why worry about Sanhe's affairs!" Who would build their ancestral shrine outside their own prefecture? It would make them a laughingstock.
The Duke of Anguo didn't care – he insisted on building it, and even wanted to cast a golden statue for his deity. In such matters, it was better to believe than not to believe.
Besides, what if after death Gong Xicheng actually received people's incense offerings while he didn't? How embarrassing would that be for a ghost?
Not to mention if Gong Xicheng actually got appointed as an official by the King of Hell due to abundant incense offerings – he wouldn't even have the face to go out as a ghost. Therefore, he must build a section! If he couldn't build it, nobody else should either!
Song Chuyu knew her father's stubbornness well: "Fine, we'll build a section in Magistrate Lin's hometown!"
Lin Qingyuan immediately looked at the Anguo County Princess.
"Why should I go to his hometown! I won't go!" It would just give this young man fame in his hometown for nothing.
"If he doesn't supervise you, you won't understand the local language! When others make wishes, you won't recognize a single word. The villagers might think you're ineffective and tear down your statue!"
The Duke of Anguo thought this made sense, suddenly feeling that his afterlife depended on his son-in-law. He quickly stepped forward to help his son-in-law up: "Xiao Lin, you're too polite. We're all family here, no need to kneel so often. The Empress Dowager doesn't mind these formalities."
The Empress Dowager thought this brother was utterly foolish. If he weren't somewhat capable on the battlefield, what use would he be? "Enough, enough, stop hovering before me. Seeing you all annoys me. Dismissed."
"Your Majesty, that's not true. Your niece always feels close to you when she sees you, misses you, and is never angry."
"Leave quickly. Sweet words won't get him a promotion either."
…
On the main road leaving the palace, Lin Qingyuan looked at the Princess for the tenth time. She…
The Duke of Anguo pulled him over again: "Do you really think building in Sujiang Prefecture isn't difficult?"
"Not difficult."
"How much silver would it take?"
"Fifty thousand taels? Or less."
That wasn't much.
Lin Qingyuan looked at the Princess for the eleventh time. Was she advocating for him? Did she come because she heard he was summoned to the palace by the Empress Dowager? Was she worried about him?
The Duke of Anguo pulled his future son-in-law to his side again: "How many people are in your residence? Probably fewer than other residences?"
"Your Grace could implement some recuperation policies. The population would double in less than fifteen years."
"Exactly." In a place like Sujiang Prefecture, he could do whatever he wanted. Besides, since they were spending real silver to build canals for them, why couldn't they intervene in local administration!
Lin Qingyuan looked at the Princess. Her attire was exquisite too, purple brocade with gold thread matching…
Song Chengyi turned his head back: "What policy should we implement next?" Doubling the population in fifteen years was extremely difficult. Although he was a military man, that didn't mean he didn't understand political achievements.
Lin Qingyuan wasn't annoyed either: "Master Song, currently—"
"Call me Uncle."
Song Chuyu inwardly scoffed at her father.
"Uncle, what's the cheapest thing in Sujiang Prefecture right now?"
Song Chengyi looked blank: "What?"
"Land. Years of natural disasters have made the land in Sujiang Prefecture as cheap as it can get. Yet even so, most of the inexpensive land remains in the hands of wealthy landowners and gentry. Uncle could seize this opportunity to purchase it, then distribute it to individual farming households under the condition that it cannot be resold. With no floods and the people having livelihoods, no one would abandon their homeland. This would secure the return of all commoners, and it’s only natural for them to thrive on productive land. If Uncle feels this is too slow, he could acquire more land and summon displaced people from surrounding prefectures to Sujiang. By then, the amount of land in Uncle’s hands would directly determine how many refugees settle here. Sujiang Prefecture would inevitably prosper."
"Brilliant!" How had he not thought of this? "But why should I give away so much land for free?"
"Uncle no longer seeks incense offerings. Without that need, he doesn’t require as much."
"No, no—the population of the prefecture where his temple stands must exceed others. So how much land should he acquire?" Duke Song fell into deep thought.
Lin Qingyuan glanced discreetly at the Princess.
Song Chuyu was also looking at him. Were these measures something he mentioned casually, or had he pondered them countless times?
If her father implemented this, surrounding prefectures would follow suit to attract population. Large tracts of land concentrated in the hands of wealthy gentry would gradually disperse. Without the need for reform or anyone’s approval, the system would naturally redistribute the local magnates’ holdings to individuals.
He truly understood the psychology of all noble families—posthumous deification!
What an immense temptation.
She had aged before, and for those in power, this path was no less compelling than the pursuit of immortality. Throughout history, emperors had gone mad for such ideals, let alone ordinary people.
He—was destined to be extraordinary from birth.
Song Chuyu smiled gently under his gaze. She had been narrow-minded. Time was never the obstacle to the maturity of his policies; the lack of a proper platform was.
Lin Qingyuan abruptly turned away, flustered. "Uncle, where were we? Is there anything else you’d like to ask?" He was ready for anything.