CHAPTER 1555: CHAPTER 1555: INTELLIGENCE

When Zhou Shuren left the palace, he was in high spirits. The Zhezi, detailing the resources he wanted to exchange, consisted entirely of valuable items—items prohibited from maritime trade. No country would willingly part with essential resources unless absolutely necessary.

At the Ministry of Rites, Zhou Shuren signaled for Jin Yan to go inside and find Chang Yi. Busy as he was, Chang Yi came out quickly, hopped onto the carriage, and asked, "Father, is there anything you need me to do?"

Zhou Shuren gestured for his son to lean in, speaking quietly, "The Emperor has drafted the Zhezi for grain exchange. Keep it in mind and take the opportunity to chat and probe the foreign ambassadors in the coming days."

Chang Yi thought to himself that he was experienced at gathering information—time to make political achievements, "Rest assured, Father, I will handle it well."

"Alright, you go ahead; I’m heading back."

Indeed, Chang Yi was busy, still entertaining ambassadors, "Okay."

As he got off the carriage, he instructed the coachman to go slower and be cautious on the cold, slippery roads.

At the Zhou residence, when Zhulan returned, Lady Li hurried up to greet her, "Mother, the annual gifts from our southern relatives have arrived early."

Zhulan detected the hesitation in Lady Li’s tone, "Is there something wrong?"

Lady Li replied, "Mr. Dong has passed away, and the Dong family has divided. The gifts from various branches of the Dong family are excessively lavish, as if in competition, far exceeding the standard gift list we set for our household."

Zhulan was at a loss for words; Mr. Dong had not even been gone for a year, "Pick out the extras and send them back."

"What about Third Sister-in-law’s pride?"

"Giving face to the Dong family this time will only make them take advantage in the future. It’s better to send it back directly to avoid future troubles. Your third brother is tied up in Qiizhou and can’t attend to matters at home, so you help make decisions."

Lady Li’s shoulders felt heavy; her mother-in-law had entrusted her with all the household matters, "I will handle it properly."

"Yes, I trust you."

Seeing her mother-in-law was tired, Lady Li didn’t say more, helping her inside. Once she changed and rested, Lady Li left the main courtyard.

Lady Li looked up at the sky, thinking of the unfinished accounts, noting how the sky didn’t seem so blue anymore, "Let’s go; there’s still the annual purchase ledger to check."

The matron diligently advised, "Watch your step."

The servants in this mansion were adept at observing and adapting to circumstances. Though the various branches of the Zhou family got along well, in the servants’ eyes, the main branch was the future master. Lady Li had asserted her authority, resulting in inevitable flattery from the servants. Fortunately, the Zhou family was fair and just, preventing any major issues.

In the evening, Zhao Shuren returned to discuss the exchange of resources. Zhulan whispered, "Actually, I’ve always had an idea."

Zhou Shuren, "Oh?"

"The northeastern border is accumulating people from two countries, and the number is still increasing. Even if these countries aren’t planning anything, the people themselves will be an issue sooner or later."

"The Emperor will not allow people from two countries to enter the border."

Zhulan used her finger to draw in the tea on the table, "What do you think about digging a canal at the border, or building a city wall?"

"Building a city wall is difficult."

"Then let’s dig a canal, which will serve as a defensive line in the future."

This would utilize labor resources while exhausting them, leaving the foreign populace at the border without the strength to cause trouble. The Imperial court only needed to provide sustenance-level mixed cakes.

Zhulan added, "Desperate people will do anything."

"This proposal can’t come from me, nor can Rongchuan bring it up."

"Then who do you intend to suggest it?"

Zhou Shuren also used his finger to write the character for ’Liang’ on the table with water, "Since he’s been stationed in the northeast, he’s the most suitable."

Zhulan gave a thumbs up, "A good choice."

Zhou Shuren needed to plan carefully; Prince Liang, holed up in his mansion, wasn’t someone he’d easily meet, so he couldn’t bypass Rongchuan. With his eyes squinting, he pondered further.

In Qiizhou a few days later, Chang Lian listened to reports and scanned the top three villages on the list, signaling the Government Official to step aside, "What do you think, sir?"

The Magistrate, "Send someone to investigate secretly; I don’t want any falsified occurrences."

Chang Lian doubted there was falsification, but he felt deeply impressed. The disaster relief method advocated by the Imperial court had shown a significant disparity between villages. Villages organized by Clans had the highest efficiency and could even assist other villages—this was the advantage of Clans.

However, villages with mixed surnames, even if united, couldn’t compete, failing to even make the list.

Chang Lian had visited the rural areas, pondering on the suggestion, "How about we rank the Clan-based villages separately from those with mixed surnames?"

The Magistrate realized the merit and was also impressed. The top-ranked would receive reward relief supplies, needed more in some villages than others, while not all Clan villages were as urgent, "Good, make two separate lists."

Chang Lian smiled, "You, sir, are a good magistrate of the people as praised by everyone."

The Magistrate had a smiling face, "I only wish for peace and prosperity in future Qiizhou. My reputation is not important."

Chang Lian thought, a smile without lifting the corners of the mouth would be more believable.

When Chang Lian exited the Government Office and strolled to the gate, he caught the scent of medicinal soup before even dismounting the carriage. There were many people holding bowls and queuing. Walking to his wife, he said, "You’ve worked hard these past few days."

Lady Dong, "It’s no trouble."

Chang Lian asked, "How much medicine is left?"

"Not much left, we’ve been brewing immunity-boosting soups daily, and the home stock is almost gone."

Chang Lian, "It’s fine when it’s gone."

Lady Dong followed her husband into the house, "The Magistrate’s home has run out of supplies; they’re now boiling ginger soup."

"The Magistrate has it tough too."

Lady Dong was a bit irate, "Our family didn’t donate much medicine to avoid overshadowing the Magistrate. The Magistrate’s wife, wanting a good reputation, set up a medicine booth, forcing our household to follow suit. Whether she has the ability or not, it’s unknown, but they tried to squeeze out more from us. How aggravating! What, they want us to send more medicine over?"

Chang Lian patted his wife’s shoulder, "Alright, no need to stoop to her level."

"If not for the Magistrate being a good man, I wouldn’t bother with her."

Chang Lian, "Once we run out of medicine, we’ll close the booth, and you won’t have to hear any snide remarks anymore."

"Okay."

In the capital, Zhou Shuren, along with several high-ranking officials, accompanied the Emperor to meet with foreign ambassadors. Zhou Shuren thought Chang Yi was quite suited for intelligence work, having dug up a lot of inside information. The ambassadors were unaware of the betrayal among them. After viewing the resource exchange Zhezi, they all showed outrage, and yes, some acted convincingly.

The Emperor ignored the ambassadors’ anger, pointing at the Zhezi, "These are the items our country wishes to exchange. The selection is limited; the first to agree will receive grain first."

The ambassadors, "!!"

This limited? From precious metals to prohibited resources, it was all listed so specifically that they doubted whether their inventories were known.

Zhou Shuren, catching the Emperor’s look, continued, "Our country is populous, vast but sparsely cultivated, and our population has been growing rapidly in recent years. We are indeed very short on food. As the Minister of Revenue, I painfully gathered some grain to offer. Truly, our grain supply is not abundant."