Chapter 821 – Building the Capital, Reinforcing the Capital
Building a city requires on-site investigation, measuring the land, and understanding the situation before embarking on design and blueprints.
Wei Ci realized he was let down by Zhang Ping, this clumsy ally; forget about any leisure time in the future.
Before heading to the capital, Wei Ci secretly sought out Jiang Pengji, and the two engaged in a private conversation that only they understood.
“My lord, I must ask a rather disrespectful question—where do your ambitions lie?” Wei Ci, a fairly rational person, had recovered from the nightmare of the previous night over the past two days. Now, facing official matters, he spoke without any personal emotions.
Jiang Pengji and Wei Ci chose a secluded spot for their discussion, and with the surroundings empty, they were not worried about eavesdroppers.
Even if there were ears on the other side of the wall, Jiang Pengji would be the first to know, for no one could hide anything from her mental probing.
“What do my ambitions lie in?” she mused, smiling, “Naturally, I aim for the world and for the common people. Zixiao and I share the same thoughts and aspirations. Just speak your mind directly; there’s no need for testing. Whatever you say, I will listen earnestly.”
Hearing this, Wei Ci felt his cheeks heat up, and his ears burned with embarrassment.
Jiang Pengji often said things that could be misunderstood, and even though Wei Ci had faced countless battles, he still couldn’t withstand it.
He pulled himself together, reverted to his usual self, and said seriously, “My lord, I desire not just for the world and the common people; I also hope for a lasting and prosperous nation, where the land is peaceful and the seas calm. In today’s chaotic times, countless common people are suffering calamities, forced to leave their homes, losing their lands, and numerous individuals are selling their children for mere survival. It’s said that after a long period of unity, there must be division; after a long period of division, there must be unity. The prosperity of a nation rises and falls. When a nation thrives, it’s due to the wisdom of its ruler and the virtue of its officials, resulting in a scenario where there’s harmony and the people live peacefully. But why does a nation decline? Is it merely because of an incompetent ruler and mediocre officials?”
The reasons for a nation’s prosperity are generally few, but what about its downfall?
Is it really only because of poor rulers, inept officials, or bad timing?
Wei Ci had pondered this question since his youth in his past life and continued to reflect on it until now.
He admired Jiang Pengji not just for her actions, which aligned with his ideals, but for another reason.
She was the beacon guiding him through his confusion, helping him uncover many perplexing issues.
These issues, even mentioning just one, could probably stir up a huge uproar and attract condemnation from scholars everywhere.
Wei Ci recognized the danger but felt neither lonely nor helpless, for he knew others shared his path.
“As I studied history, I found that a nation’s decline is not just a top-down phenomenon but also a bottom-up one. If we compare a nation to a towering tree, with the ruler as its crown and the officials as branches, then the common people are like the roots extending deep into the ground. If the crown falls, the tree may still survive. If the branches are damaged, the trunk can still grow. But if the roots are extensively harmed, then the tree is in danger.”
Jiang Pengji was listening intently.
She could sense his understanding and insights were genuine, not rote recitations or empty words.
Wei Ci continued, “The soil nurtures the roots of the tree. If this soil is seized, the roots cannot thrive.”
Jiang Pengji’s expression grew serious as she understood what Wei Ci was implying.
“Are you saying land consolidation?”
Wei Ci’s face tightened, and after a deep breath, he said solemnly, “Exactly!”
What is land consolidation?
In today’s world, land can be bought and sold, with aristocrats, gentry, and officials using their power and wealth to acquire more land from farmers, even rendering them landless. If they resort to worse tactics, they might resort to cunning theft. This phenomenon becomes particularly evident during disaster years; once the people lose their land, they lose their means of survival, forcing them to sell their homes and turn into cheap laborers for large landowners. In this era, such issues are a chronic problem that’s tough to eradicate and only worsens.
Once land consolidation reaches a certain level, the nation will also head toward decline, and not even the most rejuvenating rulers can save the dynasty.
As land consolidation escalates, irreconcilable conflicts will arise between the farmers and the wealthy landowners, and the state will clash with these wealthy figures. Throughout history, many benevolent monarchs have implemented measures to curb land consolidation to alleviate the problem. If it cannot be alleviated, then a major issue will arise—farmers may pick up their hoes and rebel!
Jiang Pengji, coming from the future, belonged to a universe where humanity explored endless realms.
Due to interstellar wars and human thought, the reproduction rate of the population simply couldn’t keep pace with the pace of expansion.
For intelligent beings, the entire universe is boundless, offering broader spaces and endless unknown territories to explore.
But the ancient era was vastly different; human technology was backward, and productivity was low. They were bound by the invisible shackles of land, making it hard to break free.
To them, land was like a cake—the more others took, the less they received, leading to conflicts of interest.
The root of human wars stems from the struggle for interests; delving deeper into ancient times, it was fundamentally a land dispute!
Not to mention in this dimension, the audience in the live stream also faced land consolidation issues.
Throughout Chinese history, countless reforms and regulations addressing land consolidation emerged across various dynasties, with land reforms advancing step by step.
Equal land distribution, the single whip system, and the tax conversion into land were all part of this.
Finding kneeling uncomfortable, Jiang Pengji decided to change her posture, leaning against the table. “You speak; I’m listening.”
Wei Ci felt his heart racing like a drum, and he could still hear the heavy thrum from his left chest. He knew he was nervous.
“My lord… In my opinion, why not cut off the root of land consolidation?”
Upon saying this, Wei Ci felt all his strength leave his body, waiting for Jiang Pengji’s response.
Jiang Pengji asked, “Cut off the source?”
Wei Ci didn’t elaborate, only stating eight words—
“Under heaven, all lands belong to the king!”
Jiang Pengji was taken aback; she met Wei Ci’s gaze and saw unwavering determination in his eyes.
After a moment, she smiled with delight.
“Okay, I understand now.”
Under heaven, all lands belong to the king!
She liked this phrase.
Not just liked the phrase, it seemed she also liked the person who said it even more.
“Zixiao, come here.”
She waved to Wei Ci, whose complexion shifted from pale to flushed. Upon hearing her call, a hint of hesitation flashed in his eyes.
But—before Jiang Pengji, Wei Ci never knew what “no” meant.
He obediently approached, the distance between them shrinking to less than ten inches.
Suddenly, Jiang Pengji grasped his hand, startling Wei Ci to the brink of jumping up.
“Don’t be scared; I won’t eat you.”
Wei Ci secretly showed a bittersweet smile. She indeed wouldn’t eat him, but for him, that might be even more daunting than being consumed.
“Zixiao’s heart is in alignment with mine.”
Wei Ci stared wide-eyed in astonishment, his eyes containing the brilliance of countless stars, dazzling enough to be blinding.
The audience in the live stream: “…”
Burp—
They had eaten too much dog food.
