The Prince of Jin visibly tensed up.
He could feel that this was an examination question.
Not only that, he felt that all of Father Emperor's questions to him were tests.
After all, given Father Emperor's brilliant wisdom and divine martial prowess, what would he need to ask me about?
And since there was an examination question, there must be an answer.
The correct answer.
The Emperor watched the Prince of Jin's struggle. Since his intention wasn't to frighten him, he didn't continue staring. Looking at the examination papers on the imperial desk, he spoke in a casual tone: "Just talk about your opinions on these three essays."
Hearing this, the Prince of Jin's tense heart relaxed somewhat.
He wasn't completely ignorant. On the contrary, he understood all these essays quite well.
Aside from being somewhat surprised that "An Exhortation to Learning" was actually so good, his views on the others were basically in line with the examiners' thinking.
Which was that these three essays were truly excellent.
Moreover, having been supervising the grading of the imperial examinations and hearing the discussions among the Imperial Academy masters, his confidence surged all at once.
After a brief pause to compose himself, the Prince of Jin said: "These three essays are all exceptionally outstanding policy essays. They respectively propose three different approaches to solving the difficulty of grain storage."
"The 'Graduated Tax Law' increases taxation based on how much farmland one owns. Originally, large landowners and common people paid the same taxes, but now heavy taxes are imposed on large landowners and merchants. In the short term, this should be able to resolve the grain storage crisis. As for the longer term, that depends on how forcefully it's implemented—it might be sustainable."
Speaking to this point, he also shared his own understanding: "This measure doesn't change the fundamental principle that officials don't pay taxes. It only increases the tax burden on farmland not under the names of serving officials. Your son believes this is a gentle approach that the great clans can accept."
Slowly, the Emperor nodded.
Seeing himself acknowledged, the smile returned to the Prince of Jin's face.
His speech became more composed: "In contrast, 'Ode to the Great River' isn't for the short term. Managing waterways and cultivating new land—this undertaking has a long cycle, but once successful, it could solve the livelihood of a million people. As for the money, it would also come from those great clans. With the Qi bandits pressing at the northern border and the national situation unstable... this is precisely the time to test their loyalty."
"The more they donate, the more loyal they are."
The Emperor casually chimed in.
Seeing that Father Emperor could even joke, all the burden on the Prince of Jin vanished.
"Finally, 'Strategy for Military Farming.'"
The Prince of Jin continued seriously: "It advocates concentrating local armies and militia—except those in critical border regions—and then gathering displaced people to live collectively. Because military forces and manpower are concentrated, the efficiency of cultivation, canal construction, and river management greatly increases. The average farmland each person can cultivate is at least double that of individual farmers. Although the tax ratio remains three-seven, the grain tax collected would greatly increase."
From beginning to end, the Emperor listened attentively, never interrupting once.
"However, this approach also has one problem."
His tone suddenly becoming serious, the Prince of Jin analyzed: "The great clans shelter populations by having tenant farmers without land cultivate for them, earning barely enough grain to survive. But with military farming, though the farmland still doesn't belong to the displaced people, the three-seven split means their surplus grain far exceeds what they'd get working as tenants for the great clans. One could even say they effectively regain ownership of land. Military farming is, in essence, competing with the great clans for population."
Hearing these words, the Emperor looked at the Prince of Jin seriously for the first time.
The Grand Secretaries wouldn't say such things.
So this was reasoning the Prince of Jin had pondered himself.
These were his own words.
"So among these three, which does the Prince of Jin prefer?" the Emperor asked, gazing at him intently.
I understand—Father Emperor favors "Strategy for Military Farming"!
"In response to Father Emperor, your son believes 'Strategy for Military Farming' is best."
Quite decisively, the Prince of Jin stated his opinion.
And he met the Emperor's gaze.
For ministers to look directly at the Emperor was disrespectful and disloyal.
But for a son to do so with his father was no problem.
The Emperor didn't speak in response to his answer.
Instead, he extracted a memorial from the imperial desk and handed it to Eunuch Chen.
Eunuch Chen held the memorial and slowly walked before the Prince of Jin, bowing as he presented it.
With some puzzlement, the Prince of Jin opened the memorial.
The moment he saw it, his eyes widened.
Five Strategies for Military Farming to Relieve Disaster
Date: March 15th.
Three months ago, a memorial similar to "Strategy for Military Farming" had already been submitted by the Grand Council ministers!
Raising his head somewhat bewildered, the Prince of Jin asked in confusion: "Could this policy essay be suspected of plagiarism?"
The moment these words left his mouth, the Emperor's entire face fell.
Looking at the Prince of Jin with a dark expression, he revealed a trace of 'speechlessness.'
"It shouldn't, shouldn't be plagiarism."
The Prince of Jin hastily corrected himself.
How could such direct secret memorials to the Emperor possibly be leaked?
Moreover, if examination candidates could think of such excellent governance strategies, wouldn't the well-compensated Grand Council ministers think of them?
Then why had this memorial been submitted for three months, yet the court hadn't discussed military farming at all...
Could it be that the Emperor didn't approve?
"Though 'Strategy for Military Farming' can address both symptoms and root causes... the approach is too radical and still requires deliberation."
Otherwise, why could this memorial be suppressed for several months without any discussion?
"Then which does the Prince of Jin think it should be?" the Emperor asked.
After considering, the Prince of Jin replied based on the Emperor's reaction: "In terms of feasibility, it's still 'Ode to the Great River.' And moreover... it addresses the root cause."
"Didn't you just say you preferred 'Strategy for Military Farming'?"
One question left the Prince of Jin's mind blank.
Is "Ode to the Great River" also wrong?
Indeed, "Strategy for Military Farming" is the best; river management will fail.
But then, why is "Strategy for Military Farming" the best, yet Father Emperor won't use it?
Why?
Why?
The Prince of Jin's mind raced faster and faster, growing hotter, his heart panicking.
"Your son believes it's still 'Strategy for Military Farming'..."
"Then let 'Strategy for Military Farming' be the Jieyuan."
"This matter is entirely for Your Majesty to decide..."
The Prince of Jin grew increasingly timid, until he spoke these words.
As the current eldest legitimate son, the Emperor's expression this time was complex to the point of sadness.
Raising his hand, he pointed at the Prince of Jin: "If you were the Emperor, how would you accomplish something you wanted to do?"
"Your son would never dare harbor such treasonous thoughts!"
Hearing this, the Prince of Jin dropped to his knees with a thud, prostrating himself, trembling with fear.
The Emperor stood up and walked before the Prince of Jin.
Grabbing his arm, he forcibly 'helped' him up.
Then, bit by bit, he dragged him to the imperial desk, and despite the Prince of Jin's trembling resistance, actually pressed him into the seat.
"Father Emperor... Father Emperor..."
Looking up at the Emperor in terror, the Prince of Jin's face had turned pale.
At this moment, Eunuch Chen quietly withdrew from the inner chamber.
"Speak. If you were the Emperor, how would you accomplish something you wanted to do?"
Sitting on a round stool, the Emperor spoke each word with resounding force.
Swallowing hard.
Nervously, the Prince of Jin slowly began: "I would..."
"Say 'Zhen'!"
The two words thundered like lightning, nearly making the Prince of Jin's legs give out and collapse to the ground.
Trembling all over, he spoke almost with a sob in his voice: "Zhen... if Zhen wanted to accomplish something, I would first discuss it with key ministers, then implement it in certain commanderies and counties. If it proves feasible, then promote it nationwide..."
"Zhen will tell you!"
Angrily standing up, interrupting the Prince of Jin's speech, the Emperor raised his finger, pointing and jabbing as he declared sternly: "If you want to accomplish something, you must let all under heaven see that there are people who want to accomplish this thing!"