Chapter 303: Using Video to Warn Others

Miss Miao owns a farm with hundreds of acres of fertile land, which was the dowry her mother left her.

When she was sixteen, she suddenly posted a notice, renting out the farm under her name to nearby people who could not make a living at a 10% rent.

Miss Miao also stipulated that only truly poor people could rent the land, and it could not be transferred. A family could own a maximum of 20 acres, and the land would be rotated every three years.

This move excited and envied many poor people who were struggling under the pressure of high land rent. Some people even directly said that Miss Miao was the "reincarnation of Guanyin Bodhisattva."

By renting Miss Miao's land, they got a chance to breathe and recover, have enough food to eat, pay off some old debts, and save some surplus food.

Even if he has no chance to continue renting Miss Miao's farm after three years and needs to rent other people's fields outside, he can still live a relatively easy life for a few years because of the food he has accumulated and saved before.

Because of this, Miss Miao's reputation became better and better, and she gradually became a great benefactor and philanthropist in the eyes of the people, and the people gradually began to respect her.

Years ago, Fu Chenan wanted to visit the dean of Hongwen Academy. After all, he was about to retire, so he could come to Yingchun Academy to be the dean.

Seamless connection!
Just half a month before this, news came out that President Miao of Hongwen Academy had fallen ill.

Dean Miao, who is bedridden, refuses to see anyone, and the prince cannot force a visit on him.

The new year has passed, and Fu Chenan is still considering when to visit Dean Miao again. Today, Miao Wangyue took the initiative to say hello and seemed to have set his sights on Xiao Yingchun?

Whatever the purpose, he would seize this opportunity.

At this point, Fu Chenan seemed to be afraid that Xiao Yingchun would doubt him, so he took the initiative to clarify: "Yingying, believe me, I don't have any thoughts about this Miss Miao. You are the only one in my heart."

Xiao Yingchun suppressed her smile and nodded: "I believe you."

Since this is the case, Xiao Yingchun is naturally willing to cooperate.

The matter was settled. As the candles went out, the lanterns began to gradually return to darkness. The two were escorted back to the East Palace and went to Wolong Villa.

One bed, two people, each wrapped in a quilt. Under the quilt, Fu Chenan insisted on holding Xiao Yingchun's hand to fall asleep.

When Xiao Yingchun woke up early the next day, she would always crawl into Fu Chenan's quilt, nestle safely in his arms, and hang on him with her arms and legs like a doll.

At first, Xiao Yingchun felt embarrassed, but after doing it many times, she became open about it.

You already have a child, so what's wrong with hugging him?
It's just a pity for Fu Chenan, who has to endure the torment every day and provide a warm embrace for his young lady, and he can't even do the slightest bit of movement...tsk tsk tsk!

With a sweet burden, Fu Chenan closed his eyes.

On the sixteenth day of the lunar year, the imperial court held its first grand court meeting after the New Year. All officials attended court and all shops opened for business!
After a half-month break during the New Year, the capital city has regained its bustling status.

As soon as the court started, the Minister of Revenue Cui Chaoyong was the first to report.

Last year, the imperial court seized a number of gold, silver, jewelry, houses and fertile lands through the "tiger-hunting" campaign. In addition to supporting the military expenditures of various armies and the daily expenses of the imperial court, it also built nearly a hundred water conservancy projects such as large and small reservoirs for the people...

Millions of people benefited from working on the reservoir and canal construction, and most of them were able to survive the winter safely thanks to the rice, grain and cotton cloth they received.

Compared with the tens of thousands of people who died of starvation and freezing across the country last year, data reported from various regions this year showed that only over a hundred people died of starvation and freezing.

The shops jointly opened by the Ministry of Revenue, the prefectures and Miss Xiao benefited greatly. The data reported by various places and the silver collected were combined to show that the net profit of the shops belonging to the court last year was more than 5 million taels...

The provincial governments used the money to renovate the Salesian Bureau, strengthen the city walls, renovate the granaries, recruit and train soldiers...

Because of this money, even if the people's taxes were reduced so much, the local provincial governments would be able to spend their money with ease.

When the Ministry of Revenue reported the data to the emperor, all the officials in the court were excited.

The most difficult year for the court is finally over!
Officials from various ministries began to think: Since the court has money, can they ask for more money?
Before they could speak, the Minister of Justice stepped out, holding a strange rectangular silver-gray board in his hand: "Your Majesty, this is the current situation of the criminals who were exiled last year..."

Emperor Tianwu pointed at Lü Daban and said, "Lü Shangfu, show it to everyone."

Lu Daban walked forward, took the tablet computer skillfully, and clicked on a video on the desktop.

A loud shout suddenly came from inside: "Everyone line up! Be neat!"

All the officials were so frightened that they subconsciously straightened their backs and assumed the most serious posture.

But then they discovered that the sound came from the tablet. Lu Daban said gently, "Don't be afraid, my lords. This is the current situation of the exiled families. The imperial guards took pictures of them back from the place of exile."

"This man is not yelling at you gentlemen, he is yelling at these exiled criminals..."

"My Lords, please look!"

Suddenly, a group of people with dusty faces and ragged clothes appeared in the crowd.

The one in the middle of the leader had vaguely familiar facial features, and the people standing beside and behind him were of different heights, men and women, young and old.

Who is this?
Some people are still curious, the one in the center of the tablet spoke.

"My former colleagues, the criminal Lin Hongchang has arrived at the place of exile and is currently building a house with his family..."

"It's Prime Minister Lin!" someone exclaimed in surprise.

"God..."

"How did he become like this?"

No one answered this question, and everyone knew why he became like this.

Exiled to a desolate place, reclaiming wasteland and cultivating the land, what else could it be but this?

The camera first gave him a close-up, which made the wrinkles and fatigue on his face more clear.

Cracked lips, frostbite on the face, deep wrinkles...all make people's heart skip a beat.

After Prime Minister Lin spoke for a while, the camera turned and passed by these people, and the thatched house being built behind them appeared in front of all the officials.

Also in sight was the remaining ice and snow next to the thatched house...

In such cold weather, living in a thatched hut without even a door... How cold must it be!
Someone shuddered on the spot and took a breath of cold air.

After Lin Xiang talked about his situation, the camera pulled back and it was still Lin Xiang who was speaking.

"I, the criminal, will not hide this from you. I am telling you all this from a distance of thousands of miles just to get a black steamed bun for each person..."

As he spoke, Lin Xiang raised his hand, and in his dark, rough, and cracked hand, he was holding a black steamed bun.

He took a big bite without hesitation and chewed it with great flavor.

When the people beside and behind him saw him start eating, they also picked up the black flour buns and started eating them with big mouthfuls.

The veins showing on his face and the scene of him eating voraciously made all the officials in the Golden Palace swallow their saliva involuntarily.

This kind of black steamed bun is only eaten by the lowest servants in their family.

Even servants who are a little respectable would not eat this thing.

Prime Minister Lin, who was once a powerful official in the court and admired by everyone, has fallen to such a state in just one Chinese New Year!
This is too miserable...

After eating a whole black-faced steamed bun, Lin Xiang chewed a mouthful of snow before speaking again.

"I hope my former colleagues will be loyal to the country and not make the same mistake as me..."

The video ends here, but there is complete silence in the Golden Palace, so quiet that you can hear a pin drop.

Some people were wiping their sweat, some were trembling slightly, and some were quietly clenching their fists.

They were all obviously lost in thought and fear.

Fu Chenan and Fu Zhonghai looked at each other, the corners of their mouths slightly raised, revealing a knowing smile.

This method of "killing the chicken to scare the monkey" that Miss Xiao mentioned seems to have a very good deterrent effect!

(End of this chapter)