When Lin Qingwan was taking Lin You and Lin Yuheng down to the fields, the Emperor in the capital city was also leading his ministers and princes in plowing the land.

  The emperor attaches great importance to agriculture and sericulture. In addition to the opening of the plow day sacrifice to heaven and earth and down-to-earth support, when it comes to the actual sowing day, he will also go down to the fields to cultivate.

  The princes and nobles showed their respect, and naturally they also rolled up their sleeves and got down to work.

  At this time, the emperor was wearing a short jacket, with his trousers rolled up, driving an ox to plow the field. The fourth prince was leading the ox for him, while the younger fifth and sixth princes were responsible for picking up stones in the field or crushing some large clods of earth that were hard to break.

  The ministers also got a piece of land, no matter how bright and beautiful they were in their daily lives. At this time, each person had mud on their body and was working in the field with the same familiarity as a real farmer.

  There is no way, there was an emperor who loved farming and sericulture. In order to be able to pick up where the other left off during leisure time, regardless of whether they were originally passionate or skilled, after reaching the third rank, they would all love and be skilled in farming and sericulture.

  The emperor plowed a good field and then brought out the rice seeds, scattering them in the field with his three sons, little by little, and then smoothing it over with their hands.

  This hard work will take up almost half a day. At noon, everyone directly takes a piece of flatbread and squats in the field to eat.

  The fifth and sixth princes, both only eight years old, were here for the first time. They were full of wonder, squatting on either side of their father, munching on pastries while curiously looking around.

  The fourth prince looked at his two younger brothers who were full of curiosity and excitement, and shook his head secretly, thinking that they still had a lot to endure.

  They were all brothers who had been following their father since they were eight years old. If the second brother hadn't been sent to the battlefield this year, everyone would have come today.

  The emperor finished eating his pancake, turned around and saw the excitement on his two sons' faces, so he patted their heads with a big hand and said: "Alright, after you've eaten your fill, go back to work in the fields. Once you've flattened out the seeds, you can come back."

  The fifth prince curiously asked, "Father Emperor, why must the seeds be flattened?"

  The emperor smiled and said, "Look at your hand, with just a swipe, didn't the seeds get pressed into the ground?"

  Ignorance and Sixth Prince nodded, they had just tried it earlier. With a wave of their hand, the rice seeds that were originally still covered in mud instantly disappeared.

  The emperor smiled and said: "That's right, this kind of seed needs to come into contact with water and soil in order to sprout and grow faster."

  The fourth prince smiled and said to his two younger brothers, "When the seeds sprout and grow tall, we will have to pull them out and replant them. At that time, Fourth Brother will bring you here."

  The fifth prince and sixth prince stared with wide eyes in surprise, "Why pull it out, aren't you afraid of death?"

  "Why can't they just stay like this? Is it really necessary to pull them out and replant?"

  The emperor did not think their questions were childish and ridiculous, and he answered them one by one.

  He was like them back then, brought by Lin to plant the land with a head full of questions, and at one point thought that rice seeds were actually rice, couldn't understand why they had to plant this rough yellow skin wheat, wondering how people could eat it.

  It wasn't until now that I realize how ignorant I was back then.

  After instructing his two sons on agricultural knowledge, the Emperor stood up and said to the officials surrounding him: "Agricultural affairs must not be neglected. Issue an order to let officials of various prefectures and counties encourage agriculture, do their best to resettle refugees, and reduce wasteland."

  The emperor sighed: "This grain is a great matter in the world."

  As long as the granary is full, why worry that the world will not be at peace?

  The common people's lifelong pursuit is nothing but a warm and full life.

  Take good care of this three-point land, the emperor led the ministers and princes to leave, a group of farmers rode high-headed horses, fortunately, it was in the imperial city, ordinary people couldn't see it, otherwise, they would be curious.

  The emperor called several ministers to his side, and they all rode slowly on horseback while discussing government affairs.

  The biggest thing happening today apart from spring is the war in Southern Han.

  "General Su and the Marquis of Ruying are like a hot knife through butter, having already taken half of Southern Han. With Great Chu joining in, Southern Han won't be able to hold on for much longer. Your Majesty should start considering arrangements for Southern Han."

  "The Great Chu is not a good ally, I'm afraid that after defeating Southern Han, there will still be a fight with the Great Chu."

  The Minister of War also reminded: "Now the Western Route is led by Princess Aslan like a British county lord with an army."

  Zhong Ruying and Da Chu have a blood feud, if she really encounters Da Chu's army, it may be another big battle.

  The Emperor seemed to be thinking, but didn't make a decision on the spot. Instead, he said: "Send someone to contact Great Chu, put aside our grudges for now, and focus on taking down Southern Han first. Whoever takes down a city will own it. Remind them that while we have Liao to the north, they also have Later Shu to the west. The Meng family of Jiangling isn't to be underestimated either. Let's not make a big mistake because of a small one and get caught off guard."

  "I'm afraid those thieves from Chu won't listen to advice."

  "No," said the Minister of the Board of War in a deep voice: "The Emperor of Chu knows what is best for himself."

  The emperor also nodded, Huang Zichu could be compared to him and was even more eager for profit, not stupid, the truth that even he knew, he wouldn't be unaware of.

  Things are only real when they reach your mouth, after defeating Nan Han, I want to open up with Da Liang, unless the other party has enough manpower and material support, otherwise it will end up like Nan Han.

  The lesson of the past is right before his eyes, and with Chu Emperor's cunning, he wouldn't be unaware.

  "Lord Choi, can the grain in the national treasury still support the southern expeditionary army?" asked Minister Chen of the Ministry of Rites anxiously from the side.

  The Minister of the Ministry of Revenue shook his head and said, "Instructions have already been given to prepare grain and fodder in various places. Jiangnan is not far from South Han, and some can be temporarily borrowed from the warehouses on that side, but there are not many either. If it drags on, I'm afraid military taxes will have to be increased."

  The emperor frowned slightly, as an emperor, what he feared most was imposing additional taxes on the people, but this was indeed unavoidable.

  Mr. Chen's face was filled with worry as soon as he heard this, "It's exactly when the old is not yet gone and the new has not yet arrived, at this time to increase taxation..."

  "Director Chen, this is also an unavoidable thing. Can't let the soldiers fight on an empty stomach at the front line?" The Minister of War looked down on him with a sideways glance and scolded: "Not even having the strength to hold a knife, how can you go to the front line?"

  "Governor Chen glanced at him faintly and said, 'Governor Min has thought too much. I'm not saying that we won't provide grain to the front line, but rather I'm worried about this year's food supply.'"

  He turned around and said, "Your Majesty, after conquering Southern Han, we should focus on settling the people. This war has affected the entire territory of Southern Han, and many civilians have been drawn into the chaos. The amount of grain needed at that time will not be small either. Should we still increase taxes then?"

  Chen Shangshu worriedly said: "Using the taxes of the people of Daliang to support the people of Southern Han, I'm afraid the people will not be convinced in their hearts."

  "What should be done according to your will?"

  Chen Shangshu had not yet spoken, when Cui Shangshu said: "What's the difference between the people of Daliang and the people of Nanhan? Once Nanhan surrenders, no matter which side they were on before, they will all be subjects of Daliang. Does Chen still want to divide them up?"

  "I didn't mean it that way, it's just that there are many foolish people among the common folk. We consider them to be good citizens of Da Liang, but I'm afraid the people of Da Liang won't recognize them, and when the time comes, I'm afraid there will be some conflicts."

  The Minister of Works on the side snorted in disdain, but Secretary Chen ignored him and scanned around, saying: "This is the truth, don't you gentlemen agree? Two villages can still fight over water, let alone people from two countries who are fighting for food."

  Others nodded slightly in their hearts and also became worried, after all, it was still because of the insufficient food.

  Chen Shangshu also said, "In the final analysis, it is still due to insufficient food."

  The emperor smiled and said: "My dear ministers, what good advice do you have?"

  "Your Majesty, why not take advantage of the beginning of farming to order officials at all levels to supervise and reduce the cultivation of other crops, increase the planting of rice and wheat. If there is any abandonment, punish severely." Chen Shangshu said: "In addition, except for planting grain, no other crops are allowed to be planted on middle-grade or above good land."

  He sighed: "I have heard that some wealthy families still use good fields for pasturing and building workshops, which is a waste of heaven's resources."

  The other ministers looked at each other and none of them frowned.

  They all thought that Chen Shangshu's intention was not in the wine, and this measure would be impossible to implement as soon as it was heard. If such a severe regulation were really implemented, it would indeed lead to family breakdown and human extinction.

  Excessive caution is not enough; those who govern should be even more cautious. A small measure can destroy what has been built up by countless families.

  All ministers looked at the emperor in the center.

  The emperor was also somewhat displeased: "This plan is not good. The people of the world are numerous, and their circumstances are all different; how can they be treated as if they were all the same?"

  The Minister of Revenue smiled and said: "It's okay to make some changes, encouraging everyone to plant more food crops. At that time, the Ministry of Revenue will purchase grain at a fair price."

  The emperor nodded slightly, "This plan is not bad."

  Chen Shangshu said: "I'm afraid some people will prioritize profits over everything else and occupy good land to graze livestock or build workshops."

  The emperor said with a stern face: "Occupying good fields for grazing and building workshops is indeed an illegal act, is Chen the Secretary of State the one who reported this?"

  He also saw that the Minister of Rites was not interested in wine, and using good fields for grazing and building workshops was originally an illegal act. Directly reporting to the authorities would be enough, where did he need to come up with such a plan?

  Chen Shangshu sat on his horse, slightly bowing and said: "Your Majesty, I heard that the Lin Junzhu used the good land you bestowed upon her to make an orchard and a pasture, and even built workshops on top of it. When I heard this, my heart ached. That's 30 mu of good land! If it were all used for growing grain, how much would be harvested?"

  The Minister of Works, who had been left far behind, heard this and became displeased. He spurred his horse forward two steps and said: "Minister Chen, you must not casually slander people. Did you personally see Miss Lin turn good fields into pastures and orchards?"

  The Minister of Works turned to the Emperor and said, "Your Majesty, how is the sales volume of water fruit? Also, look at the current selling price and sales volume of grain. How many livestock can be raised on one mu of land? The Princess of Lin is not a fool, why would she use good farmland for orchards and pastures?"

  "What about the workshop? Is the income of the workshop also lower than planting grains?" Chen Shangshu coldly hummed: "Your Majesty, I heard that inside and outside Suzhou, all the Lin family's sons are selling paper, and all the paper is produced from the paper workshop. Isn't the paper workshop built on good land?"

  "Chen Shangshu has not seen it with his own eyes, how can he know that it was built on good land?" The Minister of Works said displeased: "Barren land can be used for building houses and workshops, this is stipulated in the law."