34 Maze (1/2)

Bei Yan is around a hundred miles from the capital, under the Yan Mountain. There are many mineral stones there, and the ground are quite even, the royal family marked out a piece of land, to let people raise some deer, rabbit and all. During autumn, the emperor will bring along some ministers to hunt there. Taking the lesson from the previous dynasty that placed martial skills aside, this dynasty takes martial skills seriously all the man from royal families takes pride in being good in both literature and martial arts. Every year this time, it would be the opportunity for the royal family males to show off their skills in front of the emperor.

Ye Zhen Zhen before getting married, her brothers will also bring back some souvenirs home, she always wanted to experience it a little, but never had the chance, the people at home was always afraid she would get hurt.

Looking at Ye Zhen Zhen's face full of anticipation, Ji Wu Jiu said ”I want to test you first, if you answered them right, I will bring you along”

”What type of test?”

”Now the season for farming is over, the court wants to ask the farmers to fix the Yellow River. I plan to ask the workers to build a dam, and to make a water reservoir, that can help stop flood and to have water for drought. What do you think?”

Ye Zhen Zhen agreed ”this is a good idea, you are very wise”

”En, ” Ji Wu Jiu nodded, ”but this is a very big construction, and there is no one in charge yet, who do you think should this person be?”

”…” The answer cannot be simply replied, especially when Ye Zhen Zhen's second brother works in that department. After thinking, she replied, ”this… I am not sure of the people there, how can I give my opinion, your majesty you are clever, you would definitely find someone suitable”

”Couldn't answer?” Ji Wu Jiu asked.

”No.. your majesty, why not you change a question?”

”Fine, this construction will require a lot of money, but there are other places that will require food rations as well, empress, what do you think we should do in order to make sure the money and rations will not thin down along the line?”

To handle corruption matters, this matter cannot be cleared of properly, from last time countless capable ministers are also troubled with this matter. Ye Zhen Zhen think a little longer and said ” Why don't we take a more drastic measure?”

”O? how so?”

”Don't need to support the funds from here, hold the money at our finance department first. The construction can be done by the people nearby there, and let the state people there take care of it themselves. Those who participate in the building of the water reservoir, the whole family will be free from tax for 2 years according to the numbers in the family, it can be reduced or increased. Wait until the next year, when they collect tax, the local tax government just have to minus out the tax money from their accounts and the finance department will only need to note down and do the accounting. The farmers after autumn harvest until the next year spring, will have some free time in the middle, since nothing to do they will also just be loitering around, there should be many people that takes the initiative to take this job. With many people joining, the work progress will speed up, perhaps by next year summer the work would be completed already”

Ji Wu Jiu was tapping the table lightly, without a clear expression.

”O, right, if nearby there are army camps, and if they have nothing to do, they can go work too, just to take is as an exercise for health”

Ji Wu Jiu suddenly nodded, smilling at Ye Zhen Zhen ”this is good”

Ye Zhen Zhen got surpised, according to her experience Ji Wu Jiu is not a person who likes to smile, once he smiles nothing good will happen. She does not feel too good, ”I just said it simply, your majesty does not need to take it too serious as well”

”No, you answered very well” he stood up ”Let's go, accompany me to visit the empress dowager at Ci NIng Palace”

I just saw her this morning… Ye Zhen Zhen thought unwillingly.

At Ci Ning Palace, the empress dowager are seldom able to see the emperor and the empress coming together, and JI Wu Jiu even seems to be in a good mood. She doesn't feel good about this, but on her face you wouldn't be able to tell, and when facing Ji Wu Jiu, she smiled liked a blossoming flower.