CHAPTER 375: CHAPTER 372: REWARDS AND HONORS

Prefect Yin sighed, his teacher was an old minister who held the title of Scholar at the Civilization Hall and Vice Minister of the Secretariat, and when he passed away last year, he held his hand without speaking.

Prefect Yin knew what his teacher wanted to say, that the current court was unsatisfactory, and many people wanted to do something but were suppressed by the suspicions of the consort families and the Emperor.

Those like Prince Lu and Prince Qi, who were far from the Capital City, appeared respectful on the surface, but it was unknown what schemes they were plotting in secret.

The Emperor of Daqi had no heirs, but the instability of the political situation was not only because of this.

After the decline of the previous Gao Dynasty, the war had persisted for so long that some people knew how to wage war or had become accustomed to waging war, but after it stopped, they did not know how to govern the country.

Previously, they all thought that the current Emperor, who was both literary and martial, would achieve great things after inheriting the throne, but no one knew when it started to change, when the Emperor seemed to have walked onto a wrong path from which there was no return, and no amount of persuasion was of any use.

Prefect Yin often recalled the appearance of his teacher before he died. He did not want to end up like that when he grew old and did not want his students to follow in their footsteps either.

Prefect Yin said, "What is there to be reluctant about? The few people I mentioned are all wanting to achieve something, and going to the Eight States might give them the opportunity to stretch their arms and legs."

In fact, today after leaving the government office, everyone knew that the Chen Family Village had produced wax paper and firmer wool felt, one student took out the wool felt and spread it on the teacher’s desk, then placed a paper on it and let the teacher try it on the spot.

After trying it, they found it indeed excellent.

Someone borrowed the wax paper for a look, and everyone eagerly discussed from wool felt, wax paper to the large spinning wheel used by the Chen Family Village, and then to Paper Medicine, thread tassels, and finished medicine.

And from these things, they mentioned Song Xian’s methods and ways of governing Zhenzhou and Zhaozhou.

Starting from one item to political opinions, it was seeing the big from the small. Everyone had not talked so excitedly for a long time, and the discussion was very heated. Someone said: "If the Eight States are governed in this way, it would not take five years, within three years, it could restore the prosperity of nineteen years ago, and although it might not match the Capital City, it could be on par with Jiangnan State and County."

"Unfortunately, the Eight States lack manpower now."

"We could go, even if it’s to take a small position, we could still contribute our meager strength."

Originally it was word chasing word, but when the words fell, everyone looked at each other, then all looked towards Prefect Yin.

After much consideration, Prefect Yin decided that he should make this trip for his students, so he left without even having his meal, directly taking a sedan to find Li You.

Prefect Yin knew that once he had the idea of seeking out Li You, his decision was made.

"The Emperor will have the Six Ministries and the Secretariat select people," Li You said, "your students have not attached themselves to anyone, and they have no reputation as partisans outside, if you recommend them, it’s very likely they can go. But when you enter the palace to see the Emperor this time, do not praise the Chen Family Village too much, so as not to attract unnecessary suspicion."

Prefect Yin nodded: "Understood."

After finishing the serious matters, Prefect Yin’s eyes glanced at Li You’s desk: "Since Miss Xie came from the Capital City, did she bring you anything?"

Li You pretended not to understand: "She did, quite a bit of medicinal herbs, Huang Jing and sun-dried frogs. Do you want some? I could bring you a portion."

Prefect Yin stood up, pretending to leave, but quickly circumvented to Li You’s desk while he wasn’t looking, checking for the wool felt but did not find the wax paper.

Li You was both angry and amused.

Prefect Yin said, "We are colleagues, often quite close. How could you be so secretive? Besides wax paper, is there anything else? I heard there was flower paper too, but the ladies at the poetry gathering didn’t see it. How is that flower paper made?"

Li You wanted to refuse, but Prefect Yin grabbed his robe.

Two men with beards, who had families living in the backyard, and Prefect Yin even had a grandson, yet here they were, tugging at each other over paper.

To save Prefect Yin’s face, Li You had to agree to let someone fetch the wax paper for Prefect Yin to see, and finally gave half of the pink wax paper to Prefect Yin.

"There really is no flower paper?"

"No."

Li You answered repeatedly before having someone carry Prefect Yin and his sedan chair away.

Back in the study, Li You, while feeling distressed for his wax paper, was also delighted, as using those wax papers to gain several useful talents was a worthwhile exchange for Song Xian, so he would hold Song Xian accountable, and tomorrow he would go find Song Xian for more wax paper.

Having thought this, Li You carefully opened a wooden box, took out some flower paper, he was unwilling to give the flower paper to anyone, and at a glance, he knew the orchid printed on the lower left corner of the flower paper was from the hands of his teacher.

If he really took out Mr. Dongli’s orchid paper, Prefect Yin might sit on the floor and be unreasonable.

Who knows whether it was Miss Xie or the little junior brother who coaxed the teacher to draw this orchid.

...

Within just two days, the Emperor found that when mentioning Xie Liangchen and the Chen Family Village again, the atmosphere on the court was different from before. Previously it was a detached discussion, as most people did not know much about the descendants of Prince Guangyang.

Now it seemed a lot of officials knew Xie Liangchen.

Some people in the court began to submit petitions.

"Since Princess Guangyang has already passed away, Xie Liangchen should be conferred as a Commandery Princess."

"Princess Jiahui’s father was merely a collateral branch and had been punished by Prince Guangyang, yet the Emperor bestowed upon him the title of General Zhuangwu, considering this, Prince Guangyang’s son-in-law should also be honored."

"At least he should be granted the title of a General Zhongwu or Doctor Zhengfeng."

Others said, "The Chen Family Village concealed the Commandery Princess’s identity and didn’t let anyone know. Since the Commandery Princess did not report to the court, does it mean there is no intention for titles? We should listen to the opinions of the Xie Family father and daughter of the Chen Family Village."

"Even if they weren’t given titles at that time, the village supplying military equipment to the Eight States should be rewarded, as maintaining the defense of Dai State also involved contributions from the villagers of Zhenzhou Village."

"Speaking of this, I have to impeach Xu Yuanyu again. Though he knew of the war in the North, he withheld military equipment. Knowing that Song Xian had already engaged with Gao Yu’s troops, this action has delayed war opportunities. I urge the Emperor to handle this severely; else if there are future conflicts, others might emulate this, putting our army officers and soldiers at risk."

"Enough." The Emperor spoke, and everyone immediately fell silent.

"Xie Shao Yuan and Xie Liangchen should indeed be honored," the Emperor said, "the Secretariat has long drafted a memorial, appointing Xie Shao Yuan as General Zhongwu, and Xie Liangchen as Princess Jia’an."

No one expected that after coming to the Capital from the Chen Family Village, Xie Liangchen not only avoided suspicion but also made everyone think of Prince Guangyang, advocating for her rightfully in the court.

The longer this situation dragged on, the more troublesome it became.

The Emperor paused for a moment and continued, "Princess Jia’an is granted to marry Military Governor Song Xian."

The mansion in the Capital would naturally be rewarded to the Commandery Princess, but Princess Jia’an would eventually marry and wouldn’t stay in the Capital for long. How the arrangements would be made afterward was the matter of Xie Shao Yuan and his daughter.

"Let General Zhongwu and Princess Jia’an enter the palace to express their gratitude tomorrow."