Chapter 352: Chapter 342 Chips
Fengyu didn’t know what Lin Helin might think. She quietly finished her dinner, leaving a bit of hot soup, which Xie Xun drank without complaint, swallowing it hastily.
Lin Helin had traveled across the land and experienced days of poverty, eating food colder and harder than simple mantou. It didn’t bother him; as long as it filled his stomach, it was enough.
Fengyu thought Lin Helin had quite a good temper; even in tough situations, he never cursed Xie Xun. As she was lost in distracting thoughts, Lin Helin asked, "Third Miss, do you think the farmland of West Continent, Huangzhou, and Jinzhou can sustain the population of twelve provinces and Ningzhou Iron Cavalry?"
This was the first thing Lin Helin said to her. After exchanging glances with Xie Xun, Fengyu replied, "It can. Give it two or three years, and it can sustain them. Add fifty thousand more, and it still can manage."
"Really?" Lin Helin chuckled.
Fengyu explained, "The desolation of West Continent and Huangzhou is caused by bandits and mineral exploitation, coupled with population loss. If not for the rampant banditry and continuous conscription, farmland in the twelve provinces could originally support all the people. Now that there’s land and workers to cultivate it, even in a year of poor harvest, it can still sustain many lives. If Mr. Lin is interested, you might as well go see West Continent and Huangzhou for yourself."
But just words from her might not be enough to gain his trust.
"The current land policy and tax measures in Ningzhou and West Continent can curb land consolidation. However, they’re unsuitable for the Capital City and Jiangnan because those places are wealthy, and clans would certainly resist. If this land policy were implemented across Yanyang, and the government managed to suppress the clans, in no more than five years, the people of Yanyang could achieve security, mutual dependence, and prosperity. Then why would Yanyang not grow strong?"
"Zhixu, if you aspire to contend for the world and ascend the throne, can you guarantee implementing the new land policy across all Yanyang?" Lin Helin asked, his demeanor utterly composed.
"I can!"
Lin Helin chuckled again, "And if the clans resist, what then? Will you, like Yuwen Jing, slaughter all the clans?"
"When the boat reaches the bridge, it will straighten itself. Solutions are always more numerous than problems. You’re deliberately trying to make things difficult for me because you know you can’t do it yourself. You, as the head of a clan, know that shaking the interests of the clans is shaking the very foundation of the Lin Family. As long as the Yanyang Court is controlled by the clans, you’ll never be able to implement this new land policy. But I’m different," Xie Xun said. "One day, twelve provinces will adopt the new policy, and one day, the entire realm will adopt it. Whether I can achieve it, only time will tell. But I know Yuwen Jing can’t, and neither can you."
This is a matter of positions and interests!
Lin Helin fell silent. If West Continent and Huangzhou could sustain twelve provinces and Ningzhou Iron Cavalry, then, in no more than three years, Xie Xun would raise an army and march into Zhongzhou. Three years—the court, would it be prepared by then?
"Plans always fail to keep up with changes," Lin Helin said calmly. "Things rarely go as people desire."
"Why does my cousin insist on guarding the Yuwen Family’s reign? Just because the Yuwen Family is the rightful heir?" Xie Xun asked. "Yet a hundred years ago, the Yanyang Royal Family didn’t bear the surname Yuwen. Heroes contested for supremacy, and the victor became king. Yuwen seized the throne from the Li Family, so why can’t I seize it myself? Over the past twenty years, the people have struggled to survive. West Continent is practically deserted, bandits run rampant, and the clans abuse their power and monopolize the government. The people are burdened by unbearable taxes. During Ningzhou’s fiercest campaigns against Beiman, natural disasters struck, harvests failed, and our troops on the battlefield were so famished they had to eat tree bark and wild vegetables, their faces sallow and emaciated. The Ministry of War and Yuwen Jing issued orders regarding military provisions, yet no grain could be requisitioned. My grandfather begged the clans everywhere, but they remained unmoved, feigning poverty. I really thought the clans had no surplus grain. But when I led troops to search, their granaries were full, as vermin ran amok, fattened by the grain. They would rather let the food rot in granaries and feed the rats than allow the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry to eat their fill. The border was in turmoil, bones strewn everywhere, yet they would prefer the death of our troops. Yanyang is already terminally ill. My father attempted reform, and what happened? We were reduced to a broken family. Is this what you’re protecting, cousin? After all your years of reading the classics, which one taught you to turn a blind eye to the suffering of the people?"
"Zhixu, is your rebellion for revenge, or is it for the people?" Lin Helin countered with another question rather than answering. "We all act with personal motives, regardless of rank or status."
"Yes, I seek revenge and act out of self-interest. But I also genuinely wish to bring blessings to all the people, to see them live in peace and prosperity."
"You repeatedly say I’m incapable. But if I could implement the new land and tax policy across Yanyang, would you and Ting Feng be willing to withdraw to Ningzhou and cease your uprising?" Lin Helin asked sharply.
"It’s too far gone; this is no longer a mere transaction. Cousin, this is a fight to the death, an unending war. No one, and nothing, can stop it now," Xie Xun said resolutely. "You don’t have the leverage to bargain with me."