sovbooks Chapter 22 Athena's Recognition of Her Family, Guan Zhong's Reforms
Chapter 22 Athena's Recognition of Her Family, Guan Zhong's Reforms
Under the corridor, King Ji and Shen Qingjue looked at the beautiful scene before them and couldn't help but smile like aunts. Behind them, two men in black hidden under cloaks exchanged a glance and were surprised.
"Nana, Xiao'er," Shen Qingjue said.
"Mother." Athena was the first to release the swing and rushed into Shen Qingjue's arms like a flying arrow.
Liu Xiao: ...Wait a minute, everyone, did we get the wrong script?
"Father, Mother," Liu Xiao called out, his eyebrows drooping.
Inside the living room, the six people sat down as host and guests, and the faint aroma of tea filled the air, creating a peaceful atmosphere.
"System, detect the two men in black," Liu Xiao ordered.
[Ding! Leto, Command 62, Martial Prowess Rank 3, Politics 86, Intelligence 89, Charisma 105.]
[Ding! Hestia, Command 69, Martial Prowess Rank 2, Politics 90, Intelligence 92, Charisma 106.]
"Gold is out! Buy one get one free!" Liu Xiao was overjoyed.
Hestia is the Greek goddess of the hearth and home, the eldest daughter of Cronus and Rhea, and the goddess of the hearth, home, and sacred fire. Originally one of the twelve Olympian gods, at a gathering on Mount Olympus, Hestia gave her golden chair to Dionysus and sat beside the hearth to guard the sacred fire. Later, to avoid conflict, she voluntarily relinquished her position as chief goddess to Dionysus, the god of wine.
To escape the pursuit of Poseidon and Apollo, he pleaded with Zeus to remain chaste and was granted the right to manage household affairs. He is known as one of the three virgin goddesses of Olympus, along with Athena and Artemis.
"Son, um, would you like to have an older sister?" King Ji asked tentatively.
"Father, needless to say, no matter what happens in the future, I will protect my younger sister and so on. Sister?" Liu Xiao was giving a self-indulgent speech when he suddenly felt that something was wrong.
"No, why should I? No way. I can only accept my sister at most," Liu Xiao said firmly.
"So, is it possible that we're just informing you..." King Ji looked at Liu Xiao, who was throwing a tantrum, speechless.
"You two get along really well, don't you? Mommy really likes Nana." Shen Qingjue gently patted Liu Xiao's head. No one would have thought that this Daoist disciple, who ranked third on the Hundred Flowers List ten years ago and was known as the Fairy of Yaotai, with an icy temperament, would show such a gentle expression after getting married and having children.
"Little brother, I'll protect you." Athena, whose golden hair was loose, had her hair braided into two ram's horn-like knots by Shen Qingjue, and said with a grin.
"Fine, I agree." Liu Xiao looked at the little girl in front of him and unconsciously thought of the line from the Book of Songs, "The banquet of childhood friends, laughing and talking happily." Having an older sister is not bad. He hoped she would be a sister who spoils her brother. Looking at Athena's smiling eyes, Liu Xiao thought to himself.
"Let me introduce you. These two are Hestia and Leto from the West. Remember not to mention their identities in public." The two had already removed their cloaks and were awkwardly drinking tea. Liu Yuping considered for a moment before introducing them to Liu Xiao.
"Greetings, Your Highness." Hestia and Leto exchanged a glance, then hurriedly rose and bowed.
"Sit down, sit down. How can a junior like him accept such courtesy from you two?" Liu Yuping hurriedly said.
"It is my duty to pay my respects to the two seniors. If Father hadn't said anything, I would have thought they were older sisters who are a few years older than me. Please forgive me if I have been impolite," Liu Xiao said, rising to bow.
The tall, slender, and aloof Leto exchanged a glance with Hestia, who was holy, dignified, and gentle. This little one was indeed quite eloquent.
After chatting for a while, Liu Xiao used his knowledge of modern language to make Hestia giggle, and even the aloof Leto and Shen Qingjue smiled. Seeing that it was almost time, Shen Qingjue led the three women towards the inner courtyard.
"Dad, what are their identities? Those two seem to have high-level cultivation. Could it be your past romantic entanglements from when you were young...?" Liu Xiao asked, pretending to be a gossip.
"You unfilial son, stop talking nonsense! If it were really my affair, would I still be alive to see you?" Liu Yuping glanced outside reflexively, then coughed lightly, adopting the dignity of a father.
"The people of the Western Holy Church, seeking refuge here because they knew you, Uncle Guyun, were old acquaintances," Liu Yuping said slowly, taking a sip of tea.
"What about Athena?"
"Your mother and I really love Nana. She's beautiful and smart, like a lively little sun. Xiao'er, every time we spar, I deliberately hit you harder, just to see you cry, but you've never cried once. If it weren't for my friends taking turns checking you and saying you're fine, your mother and I would have thought you had depression in the womb," Liu Yuping said.
Liu Xiao: ...I'm sorry, I didn't let Father and Mother have a good time.
"Your Highness, Mr. Kou, Mr. Guan, and others request an audience," said Eunuch Yinzhu, Liu Yuping's personal eunuch.
"Quickly, invite them in," Liu Yuping ordered. Soon, the servants served tea, and Guan Zhong and Kou Chaifei walked into the room chatting and laughing, and sat down as host and guest.
There weren't many people who came this time. They were led by Kou Chaifei, the five capable men from Jizhou, and the five people who spearheaded this reform: Guan Zhong, Gao Jiong, Wu Qi, Wang Pu, and Zhang Cong.
"System, check the four dimensions of Jizhou Wuneng for me," Liu Xiao ordered.
[Ding! Kou Chaifei, Command 69, Martial Prowess 80, Politics 100, Intelligence 91.]
That year, two geniuses emerged from the Heavenly Sect and the Human Sect of the Daoist School. Just as the leaders of the two sects were feeling smug, they suddenly discovered that their precious disciples had been kidnapped by the devilish king of the Earthly Sect...
Kou Chaifei could have had a better future. He should have gone to Da Cang, which was constantly fighting, or Da Hao, which was recuperating. But he was young and impetuous and was tricked into coming to the Ji King's mansion, where he became the political pillar of the Ji King.
Zhong Jian: Command 66, Martial Prowess 70, Politics 98, Intelligence 89.
Originally a promising talent cultivated by the Zhong family of Yingchuan, he came to Jizhou despite his family's objections because of the life-saving grace he received.
Ping Yuyue, Command 79, Martial Prowess Rank 5, Politics 97, Intelligence 87.
Ren Niaofei, Command 82, Martial Prowess Rank 5, Politics 97, Intelligence 86.
The appearance of these two men completely filled the gap in the lack of political talent in the martial arts world. The two were originally wandering knights-errant, but the King of Ji recognized their talent, beat them up, tied them up, and brought them back.
[Liu Youzhi, Command 61, Martial Prowess 63, Politics 95, Intelligence 98.]
The biggest slacker in Jizhou, a member of the imperial clan, and the number one slacker on a daily basis.
"Your Highness, this is a reform plan that I discussed with several gentlemen. It consists of ten policies: {reducing the power of aristocratic families, resettling displaced people, controlling the salt and iron industries, rectifying official corruption, enforcing strict laws, strengthening the army, building water conservancy projects, closing off forests, emphasizing education, and recruiting talented individuals}. Please take a look." Guan Zhong respectfully presented a tightly bound book. This was a book that the group had seriously discussed on their way back to the Prince of Ji's residence. They had revised it until midnight the previous night with Wu Qi and others. After only a short nap of an hour, they woke up refreshed and excited.
Liu Yuping, the Prince of Ji, opened the manual, and rows of neat, three-inch-long characters in regular script appeared on it. The group passed it around for a while before finally handing it to Liu Xiao.
Although he already knew the contents of the reform thoroughly and had even made suggestions himself, Liu Xiao still carefully and solemnly read through the book in his hand again.
"My young friends are truly talented; I admire them greatly," Kou Chaifei exclaimed with a sigh of relief. He possessed the talent to maintain the status quo, but ultimately lacked the drive to make progress.
"This plan may indeed make Jizhou strong, but registering all households, taking back land, and suppressing aristocratic families will undoubtedly force them to oppose us," Zhong Jian said. He was an upright man, and his concern for protecting the interests of aristocratic families was not simply because he himself came from one. On the contrary, it was because of his own background that he knew how much aristocratic families valued population and land.
"The ills of powerful families have been a long-standing problem. They monopolize local affairs, form cliques for personal gain, seize vast tracts of fertile land, exploit the people, and some even secretly harbor soldiers to accumulate wealth. We should take advantage of the fact that they are not yet terminally ill and there is still a chance to save them. Even if it means tearing flesh and breaking bones, we should eliminate them as soon as possible." Ping Yuyue and Ren Niaofei exchanged a glance and spoke first.
After debating for half a day, the main theme of the reform was finally set.
{First, the aristocratic families were eliminated.}
Clear the land and verify the population. But the heads of local clans should be treated with respect. Those who cooperate should be given honorary titles. The ownership of the cultivated land that has been occupied should be acknowledged, but all barren mountains, mines and the like should be taken over as public property. The soldiers should be incorporated into the border defense army and the agricultural settlement army.
Second, resettle displaced people.
Special resettlement agencies were established to assign work based on age, physical strength, and health condition. Young and able-bodied people were sent to farm or join the army, while skilled craftsmen were incorporated into government-run workshops. Ordinary men and women could receive rations and money through work-for-relief programs. Scholars were employed as low-level officials, while the elderly, weak, women, and children served as various laborers and menial workers.
Third, salt and iron ore.
……………}
Kou Chaifei looked at the final plan that had been discussed and came together, and his expression suddenly became dazed. He and Zhong Jian exchanged a glance, and a flame of hope suddenly ignited in their eyes.
Yes, they are only in their thirties or forties, in the prime of their lives, but they have lost their motivation to strive for advancement because the King of Ji has no ambition for hegemony. Now, the Crown Prince has lofty aspirations and has brought in a large number of fresh talents. It is time to regain the spirit of the past.