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The Empress Governs the Country VI (2)
T/N: Translated by Jen on Broken Jinsei! Please do not repost my translations! All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
Truthfully speaking, these problems, Jing Wan wasn’t able to thoroughly resolve, because the conditions didn’t allow for it. That’s why, she can only give them better arrangements as much as possible.
However, because that set of arrangements Jing Wan made back in the northwest was actually still in effect even after the war ended, and moreover, continuously expanded, in the war with Southern Qi, it was perfectly put to use, and the results were also prominent. Qi Yuan’s casualties reduced by at least thirty percent, and this number was following an upward trend.
Correspondingly, Qi Yuan’s military strength will also become even stronger.
This can be considered great news.
Having sat onto this position, she must fulfill her duty, and because of being deeply aware how heavy of a responsibility it was, Jing Wan right now was also increasingly swift and decisive in handling matters.
After careful consideration, another government decree was roughly drafted. Disabled soldiers, after returning home, aside from the relief payment, they will also be given land. The land will be under the disabled solider’s name for life, and during this time, it cannot be sold or transferred by any means. The local officials will also give their greetings from time to time. As for the deceased soldiers, the amount given to them will differ based on their family circumstance, but even so, the lowest amount is still much more than in the past.
In the imperial study, the booklet was passed around among the high ministers. On their face, it was a rarely seen grave expression, especially for the Head Minister of Revenue, because calculating the numbers, the state treasury……..
“Speaking of casualties, there’s naturally also the matter of soldiers getting discharged from service after reaching a certain age. This empress figured that it’s also necessary to give a certain amount of financial support.”
The Head Minister of Revenue’s complexion grew even darker and heavier. Speaking of which, every Head Minister of Revenue, once they take post, seemingly will just spontaneously gain the ‘stingy’ trait.
Speaking of which, these government decrees naturally all benefited the country and the people, but in the end, it’s all still about the money, the money, the money!
“Your Highness, what you’ve said, it’s naturally a great deed, just his Majesty is currently fighting with Southern Qi, still don’t know how long the war will last. The state treasury right now although still ample, but if large amounts of funds were to be used, and something unexpected comes up, it won’t be good.”
“Taking from the people, thus using for the people, what is spent will eventually come back. Moreover, you all should also believe in his Majesty. Not long from now, perhaps we won’t even need to provide all the military supplies for his Majesty anymore. Southern Qi is rich and abundant, some crops able to be harvested serval times in a year. Normally when there’s a natural disaster, never seen Southern Qi’s people go hungry. As such, supporting our Qi Yuan a little also won’t be a problem.” Jing Wan calmly said.
——-Why don’t you just directly say ‘using the war to support the war’, no need to be this tactful.
“Moreover, things need to be taken step by step, and not settling in one go. This year’s taxes after autumn can also be very quickly taken into the state treasury. Moreover, the source of this money doesn’t necessarily need to be that rigid, can completely expand the range. The ones that are truly wealthy are those merchants. This empress believes that you all should be far more clear than this empress in regards to the twist and turns in this. Of course, the local officials perhaps will be even more clear. Rather than letting you all shoulder a bad reputation of being corrupted, it’s better to just have the matter displayed on the surface, and look for an appropriate excuse. They will ultimately be happily willing and voluntarily have the money offered up.” The corner of Jing Wan’s mouth carried a bit of nonchalant as she smiled.
——-Black, her Highness’s heart really is extraordinary black.
“This matter will just be decided like this. Everyone can go back to nicely mull over, and come up with a specific set of regulations. A new government decree having some small slip-ups is unavoidable, but if there’s a big problem………As you all know, his Majesty’s temper isn’t good. Once he returns from war, afraid there will be even more dark air around him. All in all, his temper afraid will just be that way for life.” Even she may not necessarily be able to hold down, so might as well use the tiger’s hide to make a banner, no big deal.
Facing Yuan Qi Emperor, the officials of the capital already have the resolve to be a ‘quivering quail’. And once the government decree is passed down from the capital to the local regions, then that was just having already passed through the imperial court. That’s why, even if the local officials didn’t directly participate in it, they are still nothing more than the ‘little quails’ under the ‘big quails’.
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
Just, the matters in front have just began unfolding, yet now there was another matter. In addition to their emperor still being ‘glued’ to Southern Qi, with these matters one after another all getting crammed together, in the entire capital, probably only the people that purely worked as guards weren’t busy to death.
Because of being too busy, the old ministers that were all relatively elderly in age all felt somewhat unable to manage. However, fortunately, Jing Wan respected the elderly and was also sufficiently considerate. During the daytime, she would always send people to serve them at all times, and there also wasn’t overtime. However, even so, Luo Pei Shan still couldn’t help but complain to his wife. This granddaughter really was increasingly ‘black-hearted’, her ideas also very big, coming up with one every second. For her, she just needed to move her mouth, but the people below needed to break their legs running around. Say, how did our perfectly fine granddaughter end up getting raised by you into this?
Luo Old Madam glanced at him from the side. If he’d put away that proud look on his face, then perhaps he would sound more believable. Having such a granddaughter, don’t how smug he is in front of the other court officials.
“What kind of temperament Wan Wan has, I’m very clear. She’s indifferent towards fame and fortune, not having any ambitions, and doesn’t seek riches and honor. Just, through a series of events, she stood onto that high position. However, she is fortunate, getting pampered and adored by his Majesty. As such, being like this for life isn’t necessarily undoable. Just, never thought that the reality would be greatly different from the expectations, and further didn’t expect that Wan Wan would have this kind of ability. Thus, to not put to use would indeed be unfortunate, and it would also be a great loss for the people of the world. Just, I’m worried that she would tire herself out.”
“One is not a fish, so how is one to know the joy of a fish?” Luo Pei Shan stroked his beard. “Third girl, in the past, was indeed indifferent, but that’s because she’s able to see clearly and transparently. However, once she takes that step, also having the conditions and ability, then to not do a bit of something, it would be a shame.”
“Indeed, everything Wan Wan is doing right now is just the right time, the right place, the right conditions all converging. And most importantly, his Majesty unconditionally supports her.”
“That’s why, even if tiring, she is also happy inside.”
Indeed, being able to do something, Wan Wan was indeed happy inside, and also further because she’s able to stand shoulder to shoulder with the person she loves in various ways.
And when in a good mood, the enthusiasm was even more ample. Aside from the necessary resting time, the time for her son, and the time for handling important governmental affairs, the remaining time, Jing Wan all used on writing out her plans, from the outline, to in-depth details, step by step, little by little. There were short term plans, and also long term plans. All in all, there were many things that needed to be done. She knew that many things, she won’t be able to accomplish in her lifetime, and some things, perhaps she can only put up the frameworks. Once she and her husband are gone, the later generation perhaps can have the frameworks torn down. But, it didn’t matter. In the future, there will eventually be others that can accomplish it. The things she leaves behind perhaps can even enlighten the later generations.
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I think it’s very significant that the land given to injured soldiers is directly under their name because if it was just money, some families would most likely just use it for their selves and then still discard their handicapped family member. I also can’t wait for Li Hong Yuan to come back to see all the changes she’s made and how effective they are in improving the country and the people.
Thanks for the chapter! 😀