My subjects are too rebellious!

When the seafood dishes were presented on the table one by one, Long San, Long Si and Zhang Rang all seemed a little restrained and stood behind Qin Chuan.

However, Qin Chuan seemed to see through their thoughts. He smiled and gestured for everyone to sit down.

"Today we are outside the palace, so we don't have to stick to the red tape in the palace. Everyone should relax and eat like ordinary people."

Although Qin Chuan's words were so kind and easy-going, Long San, Long Si and Zhang Rang's hearts were still in turmoil.

The emperor's tolerance and compassion are commendable, but this does not mean that they can really forget each other's identities.

Under Qin Chuan's gaze, the three of them sat down cautiously, but secretly reminded themselves to always remain humble and respectful.

The three of them sat down slowly, looking at Qin Chuan from time to time.

They tried their best to behave properly, but the restraint that came from their bones was difficult to completely conceal.

Seeing this, Qin Chuan raised a gentle smile, and then he spoke again: "Everyone, don't be so reserved. We are here to relax today. Be casual and have a good meal. That's the most important thing."

They looked at each other and slowly adjusted their sitting posture to make their bodies more relaxed.

As they took the first bite of food, they were surprised to find that the seafood tasted so delicious, and they were even more surprised at Qin Chuan's cooking skills.

As Qin Chuan's personal guards, they naturally knew Qin Chuan's cooking skills.

But they didn’t know that Qin Chuan could actually cook seafood.

Did you learn these from books?

While they were having their meal, Qin Chuan asked Zhang Rang about what he had seen and heard in Huai'an Prefecture today, whether he had discovered any government oppression of the people, or whether the local people had suffered any grievances.

Zhang Rang put down his chopsticks after hearing this, and thought carefully about what he had seen and heard today. He slowly said, "Your Majesty, in recent years, Huai'an Prefecture has been able to improve its canned seafood and dried fish production skills, which have been sold to various places, making the lives of local people increasingly prosperous. In addition, the local government is also quite effective in governance, and no acts of oppressing the people or levying heavy taxes have been found. The people generally have a good opinion of the government and believe that they are fair and honest."

After hearing this, Qin Chuan nodded with satisfaction and a gratified smile appeared on his face.

"Good, good." Qin Chuan praised repeatedly, "It seems that Huai'an Prefecture is not bad."

Long San and Long Si also nodded in agreement.

.........

Qin Chuan stayed in Huai'an Prefecture for a few days and found that the local people lived a good life with no worries about food and clothing, and there were more smiles on the faces of people on the streets.

He strolled through the bustling streets, and wherever he looked, he saw the busy and contented figures of the people.

Qin Chuan stopped in front of a small teahouse by the sea.

Inside the teahouse, the aroma of tea wafted through the air. Several old men were sitting around a table, sipping tea and discussing philosophy, with warm smiles on their faces.

He walked in, found a seat by the window, ordered a pot of Biluochun, a local specialty, and savored it carefully.

Outside the window, there is a blue sea and sky, and a few fishing boats pass by, leaving ripples behind.

The fishermen on the boat hummed a tune, their faces filled with the joy of a good harvest.

What a peaceful and prosperous scene.

A white-haired old man, holding a teacup, took a sip and broke the silence: "Sir, you look very impressive and you are accompanied by several strong men. Are you a big businessman who has come from afar to buy goods?"

Hearing this, Qin Chuan curled up a faint smile. He gently put down the teacup in his hand and glanced gently at every old man present.

"You are wrong, old man. I am not a businessman. I am just a traveler who happened to pass by here and was attracted by the aroma of tea, so I came in to ask for a cup of tea."

The old man heard this and a trace of surprise flashed in his eyes. Then he laughed and said, "So that's how it is. I am shortsighted."

"However, although you are not a businessman, your calmness and generosity are beyond the reach of ordinary people. I wonder if you would like to chat with us old bones about major events in the world, or share some interesting things from your journey?"

An old man with a long beard spoke slowly: "Although the world is peaceful nowadays, there are also undercurrents. I believe that the strength of a country depends not only on the strength of its army, but also on the support of its people. If the monarch can sympathize with the people and open up channels for their opinions, the people will naturally be eager to return home, and the country will prosper."

Qin Chuan heard this and agreed with it deeply. He nodded slightly and said, "What you said is very true. I...oh, no, I also feel the same way."

"The key to governing a country is to win the hearts of the people. Only when the people live and work in peace and contentment can the country be peaceful and prosperous."

Another old man heard this and took over the conversation: "My lord, what you said is very true. The people's hearts are like water. They can carry a boat, but they can also overturn it. If you want to win the hearts of the people, the first thing is to be fair and impartial. Whether it is the selection of officials or the collection of taxes, it must be fair and just to win the trust of the people. In addition, we must focus on education and improve the quality of the people, so that they can distinguish right from wrong and understand the ways of loyalty, filial piety, benevolence and righteousness."

After hearing this, Qin Chuan secretly approved in his heart.

Then he felt a little interested in the identities of the old men in front of him.

He continued, "What you said is very true. Education is the foundation of a country. However, education is not something that can be achieved overnight."

The elders nodded in agreement.

At this time, the old man who had been sitting aside and had been silent all of a sudden said: "It is amazing to say that since the young emperor took power last year, the country has been peaceful and prosperous every year."

"Yes, Your Majesty is wise and powerful. Not only did he quell the war on the border, he also implemented a series of policies that benefited the country and the people, allowing us ordinary people to live a good life." Another old man took over the conversation, his voice full of excitement.

Qin Chuan felt mixed emotions as he listened to the old men's praises.

He smiled and interrupted with a humble attitude: "What you said is very true. Your Majesty is indeed a rare wise ruler. However, this peaceful and prosperous era is not the achievement of the emperor alone, but the result of the joint efforts of the whole country."

Upon hearing this, the elders nodded in agreement.

"Your Majesty, what you said makes sense. Although we common people do not understand great principles, we know how to be grateful. Your Majesty has given us a stable life, so we must work harder to live up to this kindness."

Qin Chuan was curious about the identities of the three men, so he asked, "You are so knowledgeable and elegant in your conversation. I wonder what positions you three hold in Huai'an Prefecture?"

The three old men smiled at each other, and one of them, with a long beard, answered on behalf of the crowd: "Sir, you are too kind. We are just some old people in Huai'an Prefecture. Thanks to the kindness of the villagers, we have taken on the responsibility of teaching the students to read and write."

"Although I don't hold a prestigious official position, being able to enlighten the children of my hometown is also a great pleasure for me in my later years."

When Qin Chuan heard this, he couldn't help but feel a sense of respect in his heart.

"I see. Fathers-in-law are truly admirable."