Red Mansion: Picking up a Lin Daiyu

Chapter 236: Changing rice to mulberry is a national policy?

Everything went well and it was New Year's Eve in a blink of an eye.

The door gods, couplets, and plaques in front of the government office were replaced, and the peach charms were newly painted with oil, making it look brand new.

From the main hall gate, ceremonial gate to the back house, vermilion lanterns are hung high along the corridor, adding to the festive atmosphere.

The city of Cangzhou also became lively, with thousands of households cleaning their houses and preparing to welcome the new year.

The first year of Longyou was a year of great ups and downs for the people of Cangzhou.

At first, officials and businessmen colluded with each other, making Cangzhou City shrouded in dark clouds. No one knew where the new emperor's enthronement and his great grace would come from.

It was not until the arrival of Anjing Hou Yue Ling that the situation was turned around. In this cold winter, the vast number of disaster victims and poor people finally had shelter from the wind and cold, and even each family was given some firewood and rice.

This is only the first year. If Yue Ling serves for four years, what will Cangzhou City look like?
There was a rumor among officials and gentry that Marquis Anjing had said not long ago that he wanted to make Cangzhou as prosperous as Suzhou and Hangzhou, and now the people believe it without a doubt.

The customs of the Spring Festival vary slightly from place to place, but visiting temple fairs and worshiping ancestral temples remain unchanged.

In Cangzhou, as it was still in the process of recovery, there were no grand temple fairs. Instead, the common people came to the government office spontaneously, skipping the process of burning incense and either asking scholars to write for them or directly seeking help from government officials. They wrote their prayers on a small wooden plaque and hung it on the willow tree outside the government office.

Such a scene also stunned the officials in the yamen.

In the old days, everyone knew that the government office was a place of gossip and trouble. No one even dared to linger in front of the gate. How could the scene today be possible?

Inside the government office, Yue Ling was in the inner house, knowing everything that was happening outside, and he felt a little relieved.

"If the people are willing to do it, then go ahead and check the notes above to see if there is any current hardship and find some people to help."

"It's getting night, and I've given out rewards to everyone in the government office. This year's hard work is over. Since I came here, the work has become more and more difficult, and I can't treat them unfairly."

"Yes."

Before Jia Yun left the courtyard, he introduced himself to Yue Ling: "Master, the New Year's goods sent from the capital are piled up in the yard outside. There is also a letter from the mansion."

Yue Ling nodded and took it. He looked carefully and found that it was written by Qin Keqing.

The content was exactly the same as what Yue Ling had thought, expressing nothing but longing. As for the affairs in the mansion, everything was safe and sound, and Yue Ling was slightly relieved.

But for some reason, a few more houses were added to the courtyard, especially the back house, which was more than doubled in size. In addition to the Buddhist temple and the ancestral hall set up by Lin Daiyu for her deceased mother, there were three more rooms, and I don’t know what they were used for.

"Okay, I remember."

After receiving the letter, Yue Ling returned to his room.

On New Year's Eve, the family must reunite. It was the first time to celebrate the festival outside the capital, so Yue Ling found it new and the girls were even more excited.

On New Year’s Eve, you can eat, drink and have fun in your room until late at night, which is not available on ordinary days.

Moreover, you can also receive reward money, which is essential.

Although the maids have no place to spend the money now, money is something that no one will ever think is too much.

Xue Baochai brought Ying'er, and Xiangling also arrived as promised, and Yue Ling also gave Ying'er and Xiangling their share of the reward money.

Like Zijuan and Xueyan's, it is a pair of gold and silver ingots engraved with the auspicious words "May everything go well for you".

The maids were naturally very happy when they received it.

Lin Daiyu sat with Xue Baochai. She had just learned from a casual chat with Xiangling that Xue Baochai had always lived with Aunt Xue and stayed at the post house. However, she had never seen Aunt Xue show up. It was the end of the year, so she couldn't help asking, "Sister Bao, did your mother spend the holidays at the post house by herself?"

Xue Baochai glanced at Yue Ling who had walked in, and clapped her hands with Lin Daiyu in response, "I have already sent her back to her hometown in Nanjing. My brother's matter will soon be settled. He was in prison for a year, but was forgiven by the Feng family. Mother was very worried about my brother, so she went to Nanjing to visit him. I guess we have to wait until my brother is released from prison before we can come north again."

Lin Daiyu nodded slightly, and also understood the difficulties Xue Baochai faced.

At first, Xue Baochai wanted to go to the imperial city to select a concubine, but her brother was in prison and had a bad family background, so she had no chance.

However, Xue Baochai is in good spirits now, and after meeting Yue Ling, her eyes are full of affection. So it would be better to let her go to the capital to participate in the election.

Lin Daiyu couldn't help but resent Xue Pan, whom she had never met, because he really brought her more troubles.

Yue Ling heard the conversation between the girls and came over to sit down.

"Let's not talk about these unlucky things during the holidays. When Xue Pan is released from prison, I will write a letter to the Beijing camp and have someone take him to the military camp for training for a few years. He will be able to change his dandy nature."

"The Xue family's businesses are now thriving. If we wait for him to go to the capital and squander the family fortune, it will not only harm your Xue family, but also my plans."

Xue Baochai nodded repeatedly, "Yes, I will follow the arrangements of the Marquis for now."

As he was speaking, a servant girl came in and reported that a eunuch from the palace was coming into the inner chamber.

The person came from the palace before the New Year, and it could not be for any other reason except to bring a message from Emperor Longyou, so Yue Ling went to welcome him in personally.

At first sight, he turned out to be a thin young eunuch with a handsome appearance. He was not like the unnatural feeling that Yue Ling usually had after men had undergone castration.

"Meet Marquis An Jing."

When the eunuch saw Yue Ling coming to greet him, he stepped forward to salute. Yue Ling raised his hand to support him, "Please stand up, eunuch."

The eunuch watched Yue Ling stand up, and thought to himself, "He is such a talented person, worthy of being trusted by His Majesty."

In person, the eunuch introduced himself: "It is the Spring Festival, and His Majesty sent someone to deliver the annual salary of the Marquis, and this reward is for all the nobles."

As he spoke, he handed Yue Ling a yellow silk bag containing some silver bills.

Yue Ling took it with a smile, "I have received the emperor's grace many times, and even in Cangzhou, I am still cared for by your majesty. I should know the importance of this favor. Eunuch, you have come at the right time. I have something to tell you, and I will report it to your majesty through your mouth."

"Come on, this way please."

The eunuch also walked in with Yue Ling, smiling.

After entering the room, Zijuan served them tea. In the hall, the girls all went to the inner room to avoid Yue Ling and the people in the palace discussing official business.

Yue Ling poured the tea himself and asked, "I haven't asked for your name yet."

The eunuch nodded, "The surname is Chen, and the given name is Ju."

"Eunuch Chen left the capital for the New Year holidays, and he was really exhausted. I wonder how Your Majesty is doing now?"

Chen Ju replied, "I don't deserve the word 'hard work'. If I were to be considered hard work, the Marquis would have done more to provide disaster relief in Cangzhou, and now all that has been done has spread to the capital. I am just a servant of the royal family, how can I be considered hard work?"

"As for your Majesty's health, the Imperial Hospital has taken good care of him, and he is doing well now. But your Majesty is busy with paperwork for eight or nine hours every day, and doesn't go to bed until late at night, which makes us servants feel distressed."

"If there were more loyal ministers like Marquis Anjing in the court, there would be no need for Your Majesty to worry so much."

Yue Ling sipped his tea and shook his head, saying, "You are too kind, eunuch. It is a good thing that your majesty is in good health. After years of disasters, it is inevitable that there will be difficult and complicated diseases in various places. After three to five years, there should be a turnaround."

"Just like Cangzhou, in three to five years, the people will surely be prosperous and the goods will be plentiful."

Chen Ju was not as optimistic as Yue Ling. "The national treasury is very empty now. The rewards for the marquis and the nobles are also paid from the internal treasury."

"The treasury is the money and grain accumulated by the previous emperor. There is a certain amount of money, but not much income. Your Majesty is short of money now, and you are at a loss as to what to do."

Yue Ling's eyes turned. This Chen Ju also knew the situation in the Ministry of Internal Affairs. It seemed that his status among the eunuchs was not low.

Yue Ling asked again, "I wonder what advice the ministers in the court have given to Your Majesty?"

Chen Ju responded, "Some want to donate silver, some want to ask Japan for silver, and some want to change rice to mulberry in the south."

"Change rice to mulberry?"

Chen Ju nodded, "My Lord has also mentioned opening up the sea. Changing rice to mulberry is to replenish silk and produce more silk. Now, according to the looms in Suzhou and Hangzhou, at most 150,000 pieces can be woven a year."

"If we open the sea, this number is far from enough. We need at least another 300,000 horses to meet the demand. This will truly fill the national treasury."

Seeing Yue Ling frowning, Chen Ju couldn't help but ask, "Do you think this is not a good idea, Lord?"

"The court said that if rice is replaced by mulberry, the output of one acre of land can be increased dozens of times. This will benefit the country and the people, and should be implemented as a national policy."

Yue Ling shook his head. "It's hard to say whether the national policy is good or bad. But when it is implemented, it will most likely deviate from your majesty's original intention. Your majesty must also know the risks that I can consider. Abandoning farmers and wealthy merchants will inevitably lead to the annexation of their land by some large silk weaving households. Perhaps a slow implementation can improve the situation. If we can increase the production by 300,000 pieces a year, it will not be easy."

Chen Ju asked, "What do you think, Lord?"

Yue Ling pondered for a while and still said nothing.

Chen Ju added: "Don't worry, Lord Hou. I am here to run errands for my godfather. If he were not old, he would have to come to Cangzhou again."

"Manager Xia?"

Chen Ju nodded repeatedly.

Yue Ling continued, "According to what the eunuch said just now, those who vigorously promote the conversion of rice to mulberry are first for their own political achievements, and secondly to gain some benefits in the local area. As for how much it can enrich the country, it remains to be examined."

"The land of Jiangsu and Zhejiang must have a trustworthy eunuch or minister in charge. Otherwise, chaos will surely break out."

Chen Ju silently took note, "Okay, Lord, tell me more about the changes in Cangzhou's new policies, and I will report to His Majesty."

……

In the next room, Lin Daiyu and Xue Baochai sat opposite each other, both suppressing their thoughts and keeping silent.

Although both of them were interested in what was being said in the hall, they could not eavesdrop.

At the right moment, Xue Baochai opened the conversation and said, "Sister Lin has grown another year older this year, so she is ten years old now. It is not far from the age for marriage."

Xue Baochai smiled and looked at Lin Daiyu.

Lin Daiyu's cheeks flushed as she said angrily, "I'm sorry to have troubled Sister Bao. I'm not in a hurry. Sister Bao is only one year away from coming of age next year, so it's no wonder she's in a hurry."

　There are always a few days of fatigue every month, and I feel exhausted. I will update the second chapter later QAQ
　　
　
(End of this chapter)