The Medical Saint, Mu Xueqin, found it inconvenient to accompany them, but for the sake of her grandchildren, she remained in the capital to look after Liang Xiao's children, fearing they might perish.
Hua Xiong and his wife, along with a group of Tianshan physicians, traveled with Liang Xiao on his diplomatic mission to Daliang, providing care for Zhuo Zifang and the others.
"The Marquis of Anguo has been free from illness for the past two years. To be frank, I feel a sense of unease and suspicion..."
Taking advantage of a stop in a town, Hua Xiong finally confided his true feelings to Liang Xiao. He was already aware that Liang Xiao was the Heavenly General in person, and he was astonished. However, Liang Xiao had not shown the slightest sign of illness in two years, not even minor symptoms like a cough or runny nose. As a physician, Hua Xiong found this somewhat abnormal. While being healthy was a good thing, he mused that many people who never fell ill suddenly succumbed to severe sickness when it finally struck.
Liang Xiao smiled and replied, "There's no need to worry." He was now certain of his perfect health but had to avoid appearing like a monster to the outside world, someone who never tired and possessed exceptionally sharp senses.
Jian Qinwan, standing beside him, remained silent, simply holding Liang Xiao's arm, her face filled with apology. She had learned about the "elixir of immortality." Ancient history could be unreliable, but that peculiar elixir indeed defied the Medical Saint's understanding of medicine. Fortunately, Liang Xiao's current changes were all beneficial, which slightly eased the guilt of father and daughter.
Yue Qingtian, standing nearby, said jovially, "His Lordship's health is excellent! He can even beat me in a test of strength, and I promise I wasn't holding back! After all, His Lordship... uh." Everyone present knew of Liang Xiao's connection to the Heavenly General, including Yue Qingtian. However, fearing eavesdroppers and potential complications, he fell silent.
Hua Xiong remained uneasy, conducting routine examinations of Liang Xiao daily, using the methods of observation, listening, questioning, and palpation. His wives, observing Liang Xiao and Yue Qingtian, wore strange expressions. Could such a towering man, built like a fortress, truly lose a strength contest to Liang Xiao?
Just then, the Captain of the Shadow Guard, He Zizhang, reported, "Your Highness's son-in-law, people in the towns along the route have been burning incense and praying for you and your ladies. According to the officials, they have repeatedly emphasized that His Majesty and Your Highness do not encourage such practices, yet the common folk still spontaneously..." He Zizhang and his men had returned to the Shadow Guard's service. The period they spent in simulated retirement, following Liang Xiao, had been the most glorious of their lives. Now, with Liang Xiao as their master's husband and the father of two young princes, serving him in their capacity as Shadow Guards did not violate the strict laws of their order.
Liang Xiao could only offer a helpless smile, while his wives were filled with pride. The Daqian Daily had already informed the public not to welcome Liang Xiao along the route and to keep things simple. Consequently, people in various regions had shown restraint, refraining from lining the streets in welcome, lest they delay Liang Xiao.
In the Imperial Study of the Daliang Kingdom, Mu Cheng's trembling hand caressed a portrait, his gaze fixed on the depiction of a white-robed figure in a small boat. He murmured, "They have arrived..." Mu Cheng immediately dispatched Qin Feng to lead a delegation to greet Liang Xiao in the Jiangnan region.
Meanwhile, Gongsun Ye, his daughter, and granddaughter were at the Jinling Prefectural Office, awaiting the arrival of Liang Xiao and his wives. Hong Jie, the current Prefect of Qiantang, and Lin Xiu, the current Prefect of Jinling, sat beside them, their hearts stirred. It was Liang Xiao who had provided them with the ladder to realize their lifelong ambitions. With the policy of officials avoiding their native regions, their performance during their tenures had been undeniably excellent, and Xiao Qing was already considering transferring them to central government positions. Zuo Wushang and Hong Qu, as guides in the great desert, had rendered meritorious service in Liang Xiao's great victory against the barbarians and had voluntarily placed their families under protective custody, thus earning the trust of civil and military officials.
Upon Liang Xiao's arrival in Jinling, the relatively prosperous citizens could not resist lining the streets in welcome, cheering for Liang Xiao's title and official positions. While the prevention of smallpox was a merit for all time, for many regions untouched by the epidemic, the public's appreciation was not as profound. However, the abolition of the head tax and its integration into the land tax significantly lightened the burden on the common people, an act sufficient to etch Liang Xiao and Xiao Qing's names in history, earning them the people's deep gratitude.
Furthermore, there was the matter of屯田 (Tuntian - military farming colonies). Liang Xiao was well aware of the potential pitfalls of Tuntian. During the Wei and Jin dynasties, the government levied excessive rents, and there was the possibility of conscripting Tuntian farmers. In the most severe instances, the distribution between officials and peasants reached an absurd ratio of eight parts for officials and two for the people. If not managed properly, the Tuntian system was essentially no different from serfdom. Therefore, this year, the imperial court established nationwide policies: Tuntian farmers using their own oxen would receive seventy percent of the harvest, while those using official oxen would receive sixty percent. The people of the realm rejoiced. Xiao Qing's "little treasury" was an unexpected windfall, and this approach of slow and steady accumulation provided long-term returns.
The land allocated to the Xichuan populace was prohibited from being resold. If the populace were truly driven by hardship, they could mortgage the allocated land to the government. As for Tuntian farmers in other regions, Liang Xiao's policy was to temporarily emulate the Equal-Field System (均田制 - Juntianzhi). The Equal-Field System was a method of allocating land based on population. A portion of the cultivated land, after a certain number of years of cultivation, would become the property of the farmer. Upon their death, it would revert to the government. The Sui and Tang dynasties used this system to support the Fubing system (府兵制 - military conscription system). However, it eventually had to be abandoned due to severe land annexation, making land redistribution impossible.
The Tuntian system adopted similar measures but did not transfer ownership of the land. Instead, these Tuntian farmers could choose to be responsible for their plots long-term, enjoying priority cultivation rights each year. However, in the foreseeable future, the population of Daqian would surely surge due to the implementation of the "reduction of taxes and division of the population" policy, and such policies would need to be gradually revised, with the government mobilizing efforts to reclaim more wasteland. Without the pressure of the head tax, coupled with the high infant mortality rate in ancient times, people across the land fully embraced the belief that more children brought greater blessings and were actively striving to have more offspring.
At the Zhuo residence in Jinling, the affairs were currently being managed by Zhuo Ping, a cousin of Zhuo Zifang. Zhuo Han, who had once been like a sister to Su Wanqing, was still studying the zither in Tianshan. In the afternoon, Liang Xiao, Zhuo Zifang, Gongsun Ye, Hong Jie, and others gathered at the Zhuo residence.
"Hong Jie, whom you recommended, is indeed a rare talent. His skill in governing Qiantang is likely superior to that of the former Prefect Liu," praised Gongsun Ye. Liu Qingping had long since resigned as Prefect of Qiantang and had taken up a central government post.
"He is a talent fit to be a chancellor; being a prefect is beneath his capabilities," Liang Xiao chuckled. Hong Jie shook his head. "Being a prefect is also good. Recently, the West Lake has been flooding, creating more refugees. I am requesting approval from the court to implement a work-relief program to see if we can build a dike to solve the problem once and for all."
"A dike?" Liang Xiao paused, then suddenly recalled something and immediately inquired about Hong Jie's plan. Hong Jie explained in detail. "To build a long dike across the north and south of the West Lake using silt, which would not only facilitate the public's travel but also save them the trouble of transportation. Since the silt is too soft, building a dike requires mixing it with hard soil. We can have the workers excavate hard soil from Chishan to construct the lake dike..." Liang Xiao, delighted, further refined the details, to which everyone present sighed in admiration: "Feasible!"
In the palaces of Daliang, most of the civil and military officials present had a less than vibrant complexion. Zuo Wuji, the "Marquis of Zhenbei who overshadowed Daliang," had also returned to the capital to attend court. Today, he served as the General of Zhenbei and concurrently as the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of War, enjoying great favor. However, today Mu Cheng intended to announce something they least wished to hear.
"All my esteemed officials, diligently manage the affairs of your households and be prepared at any moment to accompany me out of the city to welcome the Marquis of Anguo of Daqian."
Damn it! Thinking of Liang Xiao abducting his elder brother and his own daughter, Zuo Wuji felt a surge of unprovoked anger but dared not openly express it.