Chapter 620: Wishes
Editor: Atlas Studios
When Qi Xiuyuan received Qi Haoran’s letter, he was shocked. Did he accidentally send so official docunts to him as a letter?
After reading the letter, Qi Xiuyuan fell into deep thought.
He had indeed promoted Liu Qing to the magistrate of Ju Prefecture to make it easier for Qi Haoran to do things. However, he did not think that he could fix things with the minorities with just a few years of tenure. Emperor Shizong only managed to make so progress after working hard for nearly 20 years. In the end, his descendants had wasted his previous 20 years of hard work in just a mont of extravagance. Therefore, what Qi Xiuyuan wanted to do more was to set up a system and stabilize so policies through laws and holy decrees. This way, even if his descendants were incompetent, the governnt would not be too muddle-headed, and the Qi Empire would be able to last longer.
Of course, this was just Qi Xiuyuan’s vague idea. It was still too early to talk about this. All he could do was try his best to smooth things over and stabilize things for his people.
Regarding Qi Haoran’s suggestion, Qi Xiuyuan could only reply with three words: “Take your ti.”
Every Emperor wanted to be a wise ruler and leave their na in history. Whether they succeeded or not, it all depended on their ability, morals, and self-control.
Didn’t Emperor Jingyan have the ambition of being the best in history?
He did, but he was inadequate in capabilities, morals, and self-control. That was why he had suffered such a crushing defeat.
For Qi Xiuyuan to be able to subdue the hearts of the army and obtain the support of so many people, it could be seen how charming and capable he was. He also loved and respected the people. In addition, as a general who often was in life-and-death situations, self-control was the most basic quality, so he had no lack of that. Thus, his chances of success depended on whether the heavens would give him this opportunity to give his country and his subjects a chance to recuperate.
As long as he obtained this opportunity and did not die young, he had a high chance of becoming a wise ruler whose na would be recorded in history.
At this mont, Qi Haoran was still unaware of his Big Brother’s thoughts and the responsibility that was about to be given to him. He was glaring at Mu Yangling with a puffed-up face, refusing to let her put on the clothes sent by the Miao stockade.
It would be the Miao Year soon. At that ti, there would be a gathering in the larger Miao stockade in Qiannan. This year, it happened to be Ji’an’s Miao stockade’s turn to hold it. As the Miao Year was the most grand festival for the Miao clansn, Ji’an had sent the Miao costu in advance.
Sending Miao costus to esteed guests was their highest treatnt. As Qi Haoran also had the intention to build a good relationship with the Miao people, he wanted to wear the Miao costu they had sent over.
However, while Qi Haoran’s was fine, Mu Yangling’s costu had dium-long sleeves, revealing a small part of her arms. Before Mu Yangling realized that sothing was wrong, Qi Haoran was already frowning. Only he could look at those fair and tender arms of hers. He didn’t mind it if she just wore such a costu at ho, but he didn’t like the idea of her baring her arms in front of other n.
Hence, Qi Haoran changed his mind at the last minute. Instead of wearing the Miao costu, he was going to wear his own court uniform. Mu Yangling was also to wear the Lady of the Imperial Command costu.
“Are you sure you want to walk in the Lady of the Imperial Command costu for a day? Besides, don’t you find it hot to wear the court uniform on such a warm day?”
Although it was already autumn, the temperature in Qiannan was still quite high. Coupled with the stuffy and hot climate, Qi Haoran could feel sweat dripping down his face even though he was only wearing two pieces of clothing.
At this mont, his forehead was covered in sweat. As he wiped his sweat, he complained in a low voice, “Didn’t Jiangnan start to get cold when you ca? People over there are already wearing jackets at this ti. Why is it still so hot here?”
It was the ninth month of the lunar calendar and winter was approaching. Mu Yangling had never been to Qiannan in her previous life, so she really did not know what the weather in Qiannan should be like at this ti.
Mu Yangling changed out of the Miao costu and folded it. She said, “Why don’t we get soone to lengthen the sleeves? I heard that all the Miao tribes consisting of more than 1,000 people in Qiannan will co to gather. At the very least, we can make them feel at ease by wearing the Miao costu.”
Mu Yangling didn’t want to be impolite by altering it on her own, so she returned the Miao costu to Ji’an and told him her request.
Ji’an called his eldest son and son-in-law over. Frowning, Ji’an Yong said, “If we alter it, it won’t conform to the etiquette.”
Among the won of their race, half-sleeved clothes were the most noble. However, Ji’an’s son-in-law, Chen Jiacai, said with a smile, “The Han people value chastity, so it’s understandable. Brother-in-law, you shouldn’t think that it doesn’t conform to our etiquette. It’s only the best if it conforms to the etiquette for both sides. Therefore, we can get soone to lengthen the sleeves of the costu and embroider our clan’s flowers on them as a sign of solemnity.”
Ji’an nodded repeatedly. “That’s good. Let’s do that. Jiacai, I’ll leave this matter to you. When it’s done, send it to Her Highness personally. Your sister-in-law angered her previously. I hope she doesn’t take the matter to heart.”
Chen Jiacai nodded with a smile. He paused for a mont and said, “Why don’t you let Brother-in-law go with so that we can sound out the Imperial Court’s intentions? Although we can also be exempted from taxes for three years, this year is just the first year and three years will pass quickly. I wonder how high our taxes will be after that.”
Speaking of this, Ji’an was worried and said regretfully, “It’s a pity that the West Xia army rushed over too quickly back then. Otherwise, we might have been able to leave the Imperial Court and beco one with Dali.”
Chen Jiacai frowned slightly and said in a low voice, “Father-in-law, it’s better for us to forget about this matter. Actually, integrating into Dali might not be a good thing. Previously, we had no choice but to have such thoughts. After all, the taxes of the Great Zhou were getting heavier and heavier to the point where we really couldn’t take it anymore. However, now that the new dynasty is established, the country needs to recuperate. Considering the decent strength of Great Qi, staying in Great Qi is definitely better than integrating into Dali.”
“That’s right, Father. I also feel that Dali’s envoys had ill intentions. They had just agreed to form an alliance with us but they imdiately fled when they encountered West Xia’s troops. If not for Prince Qi leading an army to attack West Xia’s troops, we might have all died.” As he spoke, he was filled with admiration for Qi Haoran.
Ji’an looked at his son speechlessly, then turned to his son-in-law and said earnestly, “Jiacai, you have to help my eldest boy. This child is too naive.”
Chen Jiacai couldn’t help but smile and hurriedly said, “Father-in-law, you’re thinking too much. I think it’s good that Brother-in-law is like this. Who among the younger generation in the stockade doesn’t submit to Brother-in-law?”
Ji’an Yong nodded and said angrily, “Dad, you only know how to criticize . What’s wrong with worshiping heroes?”
“Nothing wrong with that, but we Miao people have been bullied by the Han people for generations. We should keep as much a distance away from them as possible, lest they have a chance to sche against us.”
When Chen Jiacai saw his father-in-law frowning in worry, he could not help but sigh in his heart. Not all Han people bullied the Miao people, but the Imperial Court’s policies were indeed biased. Seeing that the bailiffs were not polite to the Miao people, so Han people followed suit and treated the Miao people more harshly.
For example, when the Han people and the Miao people argued, the officials would be more biased towards the Han people. Regardless of right or wrong, the Miao people were punished more severely for the sa cri than their Han counterparts. Also, the Miao people were rewarded less handsoly for the sa ritorious service. Due to such differential treatnt, the conflict between the two races escalated as ti passed.
Only the Imperial Court was capable of resolving this matter by being not biased or less biased. This way, the Miao people would have more ti to recuperate and this would in turn de-escalate the conflict between the Miao and Han people.
Born a Han Chinese, Chen Jiacai had studied since he was young and had long understood the essence after 20 years of studies.
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