From cute to empress

"Stop the new policies!" Before the Minister of Industry could even finish his words, the old ministers excitedly took over, "Your Majesty, suspend the new policies! If this continues, the country will be ruined!"

I slammed my hand on the table and roared, "Enough! My decision is made. The New Deal will not be suspended! We can't avoid natural disasters, but we can do everything we can to minimize the losses!"

"But...but the national treasury is empty. How can we provide disaster relief?" said an old minister with a sad face.

"Yes, Your Majesty, you must always think about the people!"

I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself. "Of course I will consider the people! Pass the order down. All people affected by the disaster will be exempted from taxes this year! In addition, the court will allocate special funds for disaster relief to ensure that the victims have clothes to wear and food to eat!"

"Your Majesty, this..." The Minister of Revenue looked embarrassed, "The national treasury..."

I interrupted him coldly, "Minister of Revenue, I'm asking you again, is it true that the national treasury is running out of money?"

The Minister of Revenue was so frightened that he trembled all over. "Your Majesty...your Majesty..."

"Your Majesty," the Prime Minister, who had been silent until then, suddenly stood up. "I believe that the most urgent task is to find a way to increase grain production. Only in this way can we fundamentally solve the problem."

I nodded. "Your Excellency, what you said makes sense. What are your thoughts?"

The Prime Minister stroked his beard and said slowly, "I suggest that Your Majesty enact an agricultural subsidy policy to encourage farmers to adopt new planting techniques and promote high-quality crop varieties. This will surely increase grain production over time."

My eyes lit up. The Prime Minister's proposal was exactly what I wanted! "Alright! Let's do as the Prime Minister says! Pass the order down. The court will provide subsidies to any farmer willing to try growing new crop varieties! In addition, the Ministry of Industry must speed up the development of new agricultural tools to improve agricultural production efficiency!"

As soon as I finished speaking, there was a burst of discussion in the court. Although the old ministers were dissatisfied, they did not dare to openly oppose my decision.

After the court was dismissed, I immediately summoned the Minister of Revenue and the Minister of Works and asked them in detail about the agricultural subsidy policy and the research and development of new agricultural tools.

"Your Majesty," the Minister of Revenue expressed unease, "I'm afraid this agricultural subsidy policy will cost a considerable amount of money..."

"I know," I said in a deep voice, "but for the sake of the people, these silver taels are worth spending! After you go down, draw up a detailed plan as soon as possible and make sure every penny is put to good use!"

"I obey your order!" The Minister of Revenue took the order and left.

"Your Majesty," the Minister of Works also stood up, "Regarding the research and development of new agricultural tools, I have already ordered people to speed up the production, but..."

"Just what?"

"But developing new agricultural tools requires a lot of refined iron..."

I frowned. "Fine iron? I remember there should be some in the treasury, right?"

"Your Majesty, those fine irons were originally intended to be used to forge weapons..."

I waved my hand, interrupting him. "Let's talk about forging weapons later! The most urgent task is to solve the problem of feeding the people! Go and count the inventory immediately to see how much refined iron we have, and then allocate it all to the Ministry of Industry to develop new agricultural tools!"

"I obey your order!" The Minister of Works took the order and left.

After seeing off the two ministers, I rubbed my swollen temples, my heart filled with anxiety and uneasiness. This natural disaster is a huge test for the Wei Dynasty, but I believe that as long as we unite as one, we will be able to overcome this difficulty!

"Report——"

A guard rushed in and said, "Your Majesty, there's an old man outside the palace who calls himself 'Sun Laonong' and wants to see you. He says... he says..."

"Say what?"

"It is said that... he found a way to increase grain production..." The guard's voice became smaller and smaller, and it was obvious that he himself did not quite believe it.

I was struck by a thought: could there be a way out? "Quick! Summon him in!" "I, Old Farmer Sun, pay my respects to Your Majesty!" A hunched but energetic old man walked into the imperial study, followed by a sturdy man holding a strange-looking object.

I quickly stood up and helped Mr. Sun up myself. "Please stand up quickly, old man. Is the method you mentioned to increase grain production true?" My tone was filled with unconcealable expectation and anxiety.

"Your Majesty, I dare not speak rashly. My ancestors have been farmers for generations, and I have been exposed to it since I was young, so I know a thing or two. I cannot guarantee that it will be effective, but it is always okay to give it a try." Although Old Farmer Sun spoke modestly, there was a sense of confidence in his tone.

I motioned for him to continue, and Mr. Sun began to recount his years of farming experience, detailing everything from seed selection and seedling cultivation to fertilization and field management. Only then did I realize how complex and complex farming practices can be.

The man behind him was named Zhao Gongjian, a well-known skilled craftsman. Based on the experience and description of Sun Laonong, he created a new type of agricultural tool - the "iron tooth seeder".

I ordered the seeder to be moved to the Imperial Garden, where I witnessed its magic firsthand. I watched as Craftsman Zhao pushed the seeder, and as the iron teeth turned, the seeds were evenly spread across the fields. The speed and efficiency were breathtaking.

"Good! Good! Good!" I was so excited that I said three good words in a row. "Sun Lao Nong, Zhao Gongjian, you two have made great contributions to the Great Wei. I will reward you handsomely!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace. I dare not take credit for it. I just hope that this new method and new farm tools can help the people affected by the disaster and ensure that the granaries of the Wei Dynasty will always be full." There was a sincere light flashing in the turbid eyes of Old Farmer Sun.

I was deeply moved and immediately ordered that Sun Laonong's farming experience be compiled into a book, named "New Chapter of Agriculture", and promoted nationwide. I also ordered the Ministry of Industry to speed up the production of "iron tooth seeders" and distribute them to various places.

However, a few months later, news trickled in from various regions that the new policy was not going smoothly. While the "iron-tooth seeder" had indeed improved efficiency, some local officials had been perfunctory about agricultural reform, lip service to the policy, and indirect defiance, leading to inadequate policy implementation and widespread public discontent.

"Your Majesty, I am guilty..." The Minister of Revenue knelt in the imperial study and said in a trembling voice.

"What's going on? The implementation of the new policy has been hindered. Why didn't you report it earlier?" I asked, suppressing my anger.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, I have already sent people to various places to supervise, but..." The Minister of Revenue hesitated and did not dare to continue.

"But what? Say it!" I slammed the table and shouted angrily.

"But...but some local officials, they...they..." The Minister of Revenue was so scared that cold sweats broke out.

"What happened to them?" My heart sank and a bad premonition came to my mind.

"They say, they say..." The Minister of Revenue's voice gradually faded, "They say that Your Majesty... you are a royal child, unconcerned with worldly affairs, and you don't understand the suffering of the people at all..."

"Outrage!" I seethed, yet I felt helpless. For years, I'd diligently governed, wholeheartedly serving the people, yet in the end, I received such criticism. Was I truly wrong? Did I truly not understand the suffering of the people?

No, I'm going to prove it to them! I stood up suddenly, a glint of determination flashed in my eyes, "Come on, prepare the horses! I want to go on a secret visit!" "Come on, prepare the horses! I want to go on a secret visit!" I almost shouted this sentence.

"Your Majesty! Absolutely not!" The Minister of Revenue turned pale with fear. "You are worth a fortune, how can you easily take such a risk?"

"I have made up my mind, no need to say more!" I ignored him and walked straight out of the imperial study.

I changed into a coarse linen shirt, took only my personal bodyguard, Ah Fu, and rode out of the palace. This time, I didn't disturb anyone. I wanted to see with my own eyes what was happening on the land of Wei!

We traveled tirelessly, incognito, to several severely affected areas. I saw the desolate fields, the numbness on the faces of the people, and how those officials, who were in office for nothing, were deceiving their superiors and exploiting the people. My heart felt as if it were being gripped by an invisible hand, the pain so severe that I could barely breathe.

I remember clearly seeing Old Farmer Sun in a place called Qinghe County. He was bent over, working diligently in the fields. The crops in his fields were growing well, forming a sharp contrast with the desolate surroundings.

"Old man, your crops are growing so well. How do you grow them?" I walked up to him and asked with concern.

Old Farmer Sun raised his head, a hint of surprise flashing in his cloudy eyes, but he quickly regained his composure. "Young lady, I don't have any special secrets. I just follow the new methods and new farm tools promoted by Your Majesty and cultivate the land diligently."

"Farm with all your heart?" I repeated, feeling a mixture of emotions. Yes, farming with all your heart should be the simplest and most important thing, but how many people can actually do it?

When I left Qinghe County, I took with me the rice that Old Farmer Sun had sown with his own hands, and also the heavy weight of responsibility. Upon returning to the palace, I immediately ordered the dismissal and prosecution of officials found guilty of corruption and dereliction of duty. I also personally drafted new agricultural laws to ensure the smooth implementation of agricultural reforms at the policy level.

I toiled day and night, not daring to slack off for even a moment. Finally, thanks to everyone's concerted efforts, agricultural reforms achieved initial success. Grain production in all regions increased significantly, and people's lives gradually began to improve.

I stood in the pavilion of the Imperial Garden, gazing at the golden rice fields in the distance, my heart filled with joy. However, at this moment, Ah Fu hurried over, a rare trace of panic on his face, "Your Majesty, something bad has happened..."

"Your Majesty, this is bad..." Ah Fu came running over breathlessly, his face pale. "There's been a locust plague in the Jiangnan area... The crops... all the crops have been eaten!"

With a loud bang, a bolt from the blue! My vision went dark and I nearly fainted. This golden autumn season, supposed to be a harvest season, why...

"How could this happen?" I grabbed Ah Fu's hand and asked anxiously, "What's the situation? Have they sent anyone to deal with it?"

Ah Fu panted heavily and spoke intermittently, "Your Majesty, the locust plague is coming with all its might. In just a few days, it has spread to several counties and prefectures. The people... have no harvest!"

My heart felt like it was being yanked hard, the pain stifling my breath. We had finally waited for a good harvest, and the people's lives were about to improve, but how could such a sudden disaster strike?

No! I have to cheer up! I am the empress, the backbone of the people, I can't fall! I took a deep breath, tried to calm myself down, and asked, "Have you sent anyone to provide disaster relief?"

"Your Majesty, the Ministry of Revenue has allocated funds and sent officials to the disaster area, but..." Ah Fu hesitated to speak.

"Just what?" My heart began to lift again. "But what else is difficult?"

Ah Fu gritted his teeth and said, "It's just that the disaster is serious. I'm afraid... I'm afraid it's just a drop in the bucket! Besides, the locust plague is still spreading. If it's not brought under control in time, I'm afraid..."

I stood up suddenly, my eyes determined, "Pass on my order, immediately summon all ministers to the Hall of Supreme Harmony for a meeting!"

"Also," I paused, the weather-beaten face of Old Farmer Sun emerging in my mind, "Announce Old Farmer Sun and Craftsman Zhao from the Ministry of Works to meet with the emperor!"

Now, I need to hear the most authentic voice and find the most effective solution. This time, I must protect my people and safeguard this hard-earned hope!

"Yes!" Ah Fu took the order and left. I looked at his receding back and prayed silently in my heart: God, you must bless the Wei Dynasty and my people!

I paced back and forth in the imperial study alone, anxiously waiting. As time passed, my heart grew heavier.

"Your Majesty, Old Farmer Sun and Craftsman Zhao have arrived." Ah Fu's voice sounded outside the door.

I took a deep breath and said in a deep voice, "Xuan!"

With a creaking sound, the door of the imperial study was pushed open, and two figures slowly walked in...