On the wedding day, my wife was abnormal

Jinling, Purple Palace.

The morning light of late winter shines through the towering glazed window lattices and falls on the mirror-like golden brick floor, reflecting the solemn and majestic golden dragon pillars and the solemn civil and military officials in the hall.

The air was filled with a faint scent of ambergris and an invisible sense of oppression. The hall was completely silent, with only the occasional crackling of the charcoal brazier.

On the Nine Dragon Golden Stairs, Empress Murong Yan sat on the throne.

She was wearing an elaborate black phoenix robe with gold edges. The robe was embroidered with a phoenix totem with wings spread out, ready to fly, in gold thread, and it shone with a dazzling golden luster in the morning light.

The wide sleeves of the robe hung down, and the cuffs were decorated with auspicious cloud patterns outlined with fine gold thread on a dark black background.

The most eye-catching thing is the two-meter-long tail, which is like a flowing golden river, spreading on the imperial steps. It is gorgeous and majestic, making people dare not look directly at it.

The towering phoenix crown and the drooping pearl curtains obscured her exquisitely beautiful yet icy face. Her phoenix eyes shone with a brilliant light, carrying the majesty of an emperor who looked down upon the world.

Lin Zhen was wearing the dark-colored official uniform of the Prince of Panlong, with a thin cloak of the same color on the outside, and was sitting in the first seat on the left under the imperial steps.

His posture was as straight as a pine tree, and his deep eyes were calm and peaceful, like a deep pool and ancient well. He glanced at His Highness and his ministers with a calm and powerful aura.

The two men, one above and one below, one gold and one black, shine like the sun and the moon together, jointly dominating this hall that symbolizes the highest power of the empire.

"If you have something to say, please report it. If not, please dismiss the court." The shrill voice of the eunuch chief pierced the silence in the hall.

"I have a report to make." The skinny figure of Zhao Wu, the Minister of War, was the first to step out. His scarred face was filled with a murderous aura that had not yet dissipated. His voice was hoarse like a broken gong.

"Your Majesty, Marshal, Southern Chu has been annihilated, but its territory has just been settled. Lingnan, Minyue, is a land of high mountains and dense forests, and the people are fierce and ruthless. Moreover, the remnants of the Chu Tyrant have fled to Southeast Asia, and I am afraid they may secretly incite. I believe that a heavy military force should be stationed there to enforce military control and impose strict laws and punishments to serve as a warning to others. Anyone who acts in an unauthorized manner should be executed without mercy. This will deter the evildoers and ensure peace in the new land."

As Zhao Wu finished speaking, the atmosphere in the hall suddenly tensed. Many of the generals nodded slightly, clearly endorsing this iron-blooded approach.

"Minister Zhao, this is wrong," the newly appointed Minister of Personnel, Lu Wenyuan, immediately stepped forward to refute him, his voice clear and steady. "Although Southern Chu has been destroyed, its people are not enemies, but our new citizens of Daqian. The people of Minyue in Lingnan have long suffered from war and their livelihoods are in decline. If we continue to impose military control and high pressure, it may backfire and provoke civil unrest, which is not good."

He turned to the throne, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, I, the Marshal, believe that we should prioritize appeasement, reduce taxes and levies, select talented and capable officials, promote education, establish the imperial examination system to attract scholars, open trade routes to stimulate the economy, and ensure that the people live and work in peace and contentment. Only then will the people's hearts be attached and the foundation of our country be strengthened."

"Minister Lu's words are rather scholarly." Zhang Heng, the Minister of Revenue, stepped forward, a look of worry on his face. "While pacification and education are certainly important, they are also extremely costly. The newly annexed Southern Chu has much to rebuild. While the treasury is well-stocked, the defense of the northern border, the construction of a new capital, and the preparations for the Nanyang Navy all require enormous sums. Further tax reductions and exemptions may not cover expenses. I believe that taxes should be levied at 50% according to the old system to meet national expenditures."

"Fifty percent?" Minister of Works Li Chong frowned. "Minister Zhang, the people of Southern Chu have suffered from wars for so long that their vitality has been severely damaged. A fifty percent tax is tantamount to killing the goose that lays the golden eggs. I'm afraid the people will suffer. I think we should reduce it to thirty percent to allow them to recuperate."

"30%?" Zhang Heng's voice rose. "Minister Li, even the best cook cannot cook without rice. How can a 30% tax support the country?"

"I second the motion," said Wang Yun, the newly appointed Pacifier of Minyue, stepping out of the group. His voice was steady. "Your Majesty, Marshal, I personally experienced the pacification of Minyue and understand the people's sentiments well. The old officials of Southern Chu have exploited the people severely, and the people are suffering unspeakably. If the new dynasty continues to impose heavy taxes, it will lose the people's support. I boldly request that taxes be reduced to 30% and corvée be exempted for one year. At the same time, corruption should be severely punished, and old officials should survey the land and curb the powerful. Only in this way can the new dynasty demonstrate its benevolent rule."

"Your Excellency Wang's words are not without reason." The newly appointed Lingnan Pacifier (formerly the Deputy General of Jinling) stepped forward. "However, Lingnan is a land of malaria, with poor transportation, numerous powerful people, and numerous tribes. Without a strong military presence, it would be difficult to enforce government policies. I believe that we should station troops and pacify them simultaneously: station troops to protect the territory and the people, and pacify them to benefit the people."

The ministers each held their own opinion and argued endlessly.

The pro-war faction advocated high pressure and deterrence, the civil service faction advocated appeasement, the Ministry of Revenue worried about finances, and local officials emphasized public sentiment. The atmosphere in the hall was solemn, like a taut bowstring.

Murong Yan raised her phoenix eyes slightly, the bead curtain swayed slightly, and her eyes swept over the arguing ministers, finally landing on Lin Zhen beside her: "What do you think, my husband?"

Lin Zhen slowly stood up, his dark figure casting a long shadow across the hall. His deep gaze swept calmly over the crowd, his voice low and clear, piercing the noise in the hall:

"Southern Chu has just annexed the country. Its governance should be based on a combination of firmness and flexibility, and kindness and authority."

He turned his gaze to Zhao Wu. "What Minister Zhao said about heavy military presence is necessary. However, it does not mean military control or high pressure. Lingnan, Minyue and other places will each station 50,000 elite troops to guard key points, eliminate remaining bandits, maintain order, and deter scoundrels. However, soldiers are not allowed to disturb the people. Violators will be subject to military law."

"Yes." Although Zhao Wu was reluctant, he still bowed and accepted the order.

Lin Zhen turned his gaze towards Lu Wenyuan, Wang Yun and the others: "What Minister Lu and Lord Wang said is that comforting and benefiting the people is the fundamental principle. Issue an order..."

"First, taxes in the newly annexed territories of Lingnan and Minyue will be reduced to 30%, and corvée labor will be exempted for one year."

"Secondly, the Ministry of Personnel should immediately select capable and honest officials to take up their posts and thoroughly investigate corruption among old officials, survey land and suppress the powerful. Anyone who exploits the people will be severely punished."

"Third, the Ministry of Rites, in conjunction with the Imperial College, will select learned scholars to take up their posts, establish official schools, promote education, and establish the imperial examination system, thereby selecting local talents."

"Fourth, the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works, together with the local authorities, will immediately survey and plan the repair of roads and bridges, dredge rivers, open trade routes, and promote circulation."

"Fifth," Lin Zhen's voice deepened, "The Fenlei Division Institute of Gewu should select a good port along the coast of Lingnan, Minyue, and accelerate the construction of a new shipyard to build ocean-going warships. We cannot afford to slack off in our pursuit of Chu Batian in the South Sea."

"We obey your order," the ministers and pacification envoys who were named responded in unison.

"Minister Zhang," Lin Zhen said, looking at the Minister of Revenue, "although taxes have been reduced, we are still increasing revenue and reducing expenditure. The Nanyang maritime trade is lucrative, and the newly opened trade routes have great potential. Industrial and mining development can also increase revenue. The Ministry of Revenue should carefully budget to ensure national funds."

"I will do my best," Zhang Heng bowed, feeling the pressure in his heart doubled, but he also saw hope.

Lin Zhen's eyes flashed as he scanned the officials. "Anyone who pretends to obey but actually disobeys, obstructs the new policies, incites civil unrest, or colludes with foreign enemies, regardless of their official rank or background, will be executed without mercy and their entire clan will be exterminated upon verification."

Those cold words, tinged with murderous intent, instantly caused the temperature in the palace to plummet. All the officials fell silent, no one daring to speak.

Murong Yan slowly stood up.

The trail of her dark black phoenix robe inlaid with gold slid slowly across the golden brick floor as she moved, making a subtle but clear "rustling" sound, like a golden snake swimming, which was particularly clear in the silent hall.

The two-meter-long tail, like a flowing golden river, spread out on the imperial steps, demonstrating supreme majesty.

Her phoenix eyes swept across the ministers standing solemnly before His Highness. Her voice was clear and majestic, with an unquestionable determination:

"Your Excellency's proposal is excellent. It combines firmness and flexibility, and applies both kindness and authority. This is the way to govern a country and ensure its security. I order all departments to implement it without error."

"Lingnan, Minyue, and Yue are the territories of the new dynasty, and their people are my subjects. I hope that you will all work together to heal the wounds of war and restore the prosperity of Jiangnan, Lingnan, Minyue, and Yue, so that all people can live and work in peace and contentment."

"This is a national policy that will be announced to the world and implemented as a whole."

"Your Majesty, the wise Marshal and our intelligent ministers obey your orders." The ministers shouted in unison, their voices shaking the palace.

Murong Yan nodded slightly, and the tail of her dark black phoenix robe inlaid with gold drew a gorgeous and solemn arc on the golden brick floor as she turned around, making a long "rustling" sound.

She walked slowly towards the back hall, with Lin Zhen's dark figure following closely behind her.

The figures of the emperor and empress disappeared behind the imperial steps, leaving behind only the lingering majesty, the faint scent of ambergris in the air, and the clear outline of the blueprint for governing the newly annexed land in the minds of the ministers.