Chapter 64 Good News and Bad News

"If there are any matters to report, step forward; if not, the court is dismissed!" Feng Jin announced in a loud voice.

Xu Changqing immediately stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, I have matters to report."

The ministers' hearts immediately hung in their throats.

Could it be that Xu Changqing had uncovered another problem?

The faces of Yang Yongqi, Minister of Rites, Wen Fengli, Vice Minister of Rites, and Wei Zhengli, Minister of Works, looked somewhat unnatural.

Last time, Xu Changqing had investigated the Ministry of War.

This directly led to the arrest of Han Kanglin, the Minister of War, and the sweeping away of all the officials in the Ministry of War, which had not yet been filled.

They were afraid of being named by Xu Changqing.

Then, Xu Changqing said with joy, "Your Majesty, it is now nearly September, and the south has already begun the autumn harvest."

"According to the information already received, this year the Great Wei Dynasty will have a bumper harvest! The grain that can be collected will be twice or even three times that of last year!"

This news made the ministers of the court gasp.

So much more?

It should be known that last year was also a year of good weather.

The only difference this year was that the land had been returned to the people, and the gentry and wealthy people also had to pay taxes.

In other words, in previous years, the gentry and wealthy people had taken half or even two-thirds of the grain that should have been turned over to the court!

After the surprise, the ministers felt a little pained.

They usually didn't feel it, and only felt that they had enough to live on for a few days.

Now they knew that they had controlled such a large sum of money!

If they had known this, they would have done everything possible to prevent His Majesty from taking back the land and distributing it.

Of course, these thoughts were only imagined in everyone's minds.

Not to mention that these things had already become a reality, just Jiang Chen's methods during that time made them shudder.

Those were methods that could cost them their lives!

Whether they were willing or not, the ministers knelt on the ground and shouted, "Your Majesty is wise!"

Jiang Chen rarely laughed out loud in the early court, "Good! Very good!"

With this news as the foundation, although the early court had not been held for two months, the atmosphere was still harmonious.

The enthusiastic atmosphere cooled down when Yang Yongqi, Minister of Personnel, stepped forward.

"Your Majesty, I believe that Bao Qimeng is not suitable to serve as the chief of the Xiongnu autonomous region!"

As soon as these words came out, the ministers who were just discussing immediately shut up.

The entire court was instantly silent.

The ministers secretly looked at Jiang Chen.

When they saw the smile on Jiang Chen's face fade, the ministers' hearts were all in their throats, and they even blamed Yang Yongqi in their hearts.

Today, the atmosphere is so good, why do you have to bring up this matter!

If Yang Yongqi knew what the ministers were thinking, he would shout out his grievances.

How could he not know that the atmosphere was good today?

It was precisely because the atmosphere was so good that he wanted to talk about this matter.

If he had encountered Jiang Chen being unhappy, he would not have dared to say it!

"Why?" Jiang Chen asked faintly.

Yang Yongqi quickly explained, "Your Majesty's autonomous region strategy is naturally excellent, and it even brings our Great Wei's great enemy, the Xiongnu, into our territory."

"However, this move is similar to the Zhou Dynasty's enfeoffment system. If Bao Qimeng's line is allowed to inherit the position in perpetuity, it is very likely that a place beyond the control of our Great Wei will emerge."

"At that time, the current Xiongnu autonomous region will become the second Xiongnu, and we must guard against it!"

After Yang Yongqi finished speaking, the ministers nodded secretly in their hearts.

Regardless of what kind of person Yang Yongqi was, this concern was still very reasonable.

After listening, Jiang Chen smiled faintly, "I know Yang Qing's concerns."

Yang Yongqi had originally prepared himself to be reprimanded by Jiang Chen or even find fault, but he did not expect Jiang Chen to say the words "Yang Qing," and even felt a sense of being favored.

"Then does Your Majesty already have a countermeasure?" Yang Yongqi asked.

Jiang Chen looked at Yao Shouxin and said, "Yao Qing, you can speak."

"Yes!"

Yao Shouxin stood up and said, "Lord Yang, His Majesty already had a countermeasure when this idea first appeared."

The ministers all pricked up their ears, wanting to hear what the method was.

"That is to regularly replace the chief," Yao Shouxin said.

As soon as this method was said, the ministers all suddenly understood!

That's right!

Why didn't they think of this?

Yang Yongqi was also stunned. After thinking about it, he found that it was indeed a good method.

"Your Majesty is wise!" Yang Yongqi shouted.

The ministers also shouted, "Your Majesty is wise!"

"All rise."

Jiang Chen smiled and raised his hand, then said, "Are there any other ministers who have matters to report?"

Wen Fengli, who had been standing there calmly, stepped forward at this time.

"I have matters to report."

"Speak."

Wen Fengli said with a smile, "Your Majesty, I believe that since the Xiongnu have already submitted to our Great Wei, they should learn the rituals and teachings of our Great Wei, just like the people of our Great Wei."

"In this way, they can truly submit to our Great Wei."

These words made the ministers nod in agreement.

That's right, as a Great Wei person, one must learn the rituals and teachings of our Great Wei.

Jiang Chen frowned.

"According to Qing's opinion, how should we teach them?" Jiang Chen asked.

Perhaps because he was old and his eyes were dim, Wen Fengli did not notice Jiang Chen's frown. He said loudly, "Naturally, we should send ministers to gather them together every day and teach them how to speak and act."

After speaking, he was very confident, waiting for Jiang Chen's praise.

Originally, he was not prepared to say this matter.

But after seeing Yang Yongqi being praised after reporting, he was moved.

In his opinion, Jiang Chen was in a good mood today, and even if he said something wrong, it would not be a big deal.

Moreover, what he said was not wrong.

Just as he was happy, he suddenly heard Jiang Chen sneer.

"Wen Fengli, if we do as you say, I'm afraid the Xiongnu will rebel again in less than ten days!"

Wen Fengli's face turned pale in an instant.

Just by listening to Jiang Chen's address to him, one could see how dissatisfied Jiang Chen was!

It was just that Wen Fengli did not understand what was wrong with his proposal.

Seeing Wen Fengli's blank expression, and many ministers were also puzzled, Jiang Chen said, "All of you, imagine for a moment, if someone asked you to live according to the habits he stipulated, how would you feel?"

"The best way to influence a person is to subtly influence them, not to take coercive measures!"

"Coercive measures are only suitable in very special times! The Xiongnu people who have now submitted are all people who want to live a stable life. As long as they discover the benefits of the rituals and teachings of our Great Wei, they will naturally take the initiative to learn."

Jiang Chen looked at Wen Fengli again, "Wen Fengli, although your opinion is a bit extreme, your intention is good, and I don't blame you."

"After you go back, start building a few schools in the Xiongnu autonomous region, but remember, do not force the Xiongnu children to enroll."

"When the Xiongnu people discover that the children who go to school live better than the children who do not go to school, they will take the initiative to ask to go to school."