QWTBWASIFOC Chapter 52

Chapter 52: Upright Military General x Eccentric Prince 23

Jingming Year 10.

The current Liang Kingdom is now extremely prosperous, fully deserving of the title “The Flourishing Liang Dynasty.”

The national politics are enlightened, and the people live in peace and prosperity.

The officials in the court are mostly selected through the imperial examinations, but now the examinations not only target scholars and martial artists, but also include medical practitioners, various artisans, and other specialized talents.

Some of these are sons of wealthy and influential families, but many more are from common backgrounds.

The establishment of academies in various regions has allowed ordinary children who previously could not afford education to enter schools and learn skills according to their strengths.

After completing their studies, they can either return to their hometowns to find a job to support their families or participate in the imperial examinations to enter national departments.

The court has gradually seen many new faces.

They are all people who have benefited from the emperor’s policies and are therefore one hundred percent loyal to him.

Some of the older officials in the court have gradually retired to their homes, and the officials who have taken their place are still full of energy, obediently following the emperor’s commands.

Those who fail the imperial examinations or return to their hometowns after completing their studies diligently manage their small families with the knowledge and skills they have learned, staying in their work positions as the social cornerstone of the Liang Kingdom.

The Inspectorate, responsible for supervising officials, also officially began its work eight years ago, serving as the emperor’s eyes in the dark and the sword hanging over the heads of the officials.

The Inspectorate has been granted special powers by the emperor, possessing the authority to directly arrest people after obtaining evidence. However, after confirming the guilt of the offenders, they must still be handed over to the Ministry of Justice for a second trial to avoid the unjust cases that occurred during the reign of the previous emperor.

Two trials ensure that no mistakes are made.

Any official with a normal brain will work conscientiously, after all, the current emperor is definitely not stingy with meritorious officials, and is even very generous.

But there are always people who are muddleheaded, even to the point of thinking that the heavens are high and the emperor is far away, lording it over their local areas. Such people cannot escape the Inspectorate’s supervision and judgment, and their final outcomes are tragic.

In the emperor’s words, he values meritorious officials, but he will not foster parasites that harm the country.

Anyone who wants to die can just try!

It is because the emperor cannot tolerate even a grain of sand in his eyes that those corrupt officials can be swept clean.

The saying “Clear water has no fish, and a discerning person has no followers” does not work in front of him.

In addition, the Liang Kingdom’s military strength has been increasing year by year.

Compared to the previous emperor’s neglect of military officials, the current emperor, who is determined to reform and has ambitions for the world, particularly values the strength of military generals and the army.

First, the crossbows were improved, and then firearms were developed.

That energetic emperor insisted on increasing the Ministry of Works’ weapon orders every year, because their emperor has zero tolerance for provocations from neighboring countries.

The court’s military generals still remember what the emperor said six years ago when the northern nomadic tribes united with four small countries to form a coalition army to invade the northern border of the Liang Kingdom.

[Those who offend our Liang Kingdom, no matter how far away, shall be punished!]

[All subjects of our Liang Kingdom, no matter how far away, shall be rescued!]

At that time, the emperor appointed General Sang Yuan, the General of the North, and Lu Yunqi, the Commander of the Imperial Guards, to lead the army on the expedition. The Liang army defeated the five-nation coalition, captured the enemy leaders, and forced the five small countries to submit obediently.

After this battle, the Liang Kingdom was no longer a weak and easily bullied lamb in the eyes of neighboring countries, but a giant dragon that had awakened from its slumber.

That battle established the Liang Kingdom’s formidable reputation!

However, the emperor was not satisfied with their peaceful behavior. Their emperor is a person with great ambitions, and at that time, the country was thriving and had a solid foundation. It was no longer the declining state of poverty and weakness that it was during the previous emperor’s reign.

Since the surrounding countries were unwilling to take the initiative to attack, then the Liang Kingdom would put in a little effort.

Diplomats, shouldering the task of provoking a war, began to travel to the surrounding countries, providing excuses for the Liang Kingdom with various unexpected reasons.

For example, a certain Lord Zhou directly harassed the queen of a country and beat up the crown prince, and was eventually hunted down by the king. After escaping back to the Liang Kingdom, he began to seek revenge.

He called it disrespect from the king of that country towards the Liang envoy.

With these crazy and mischievous diplomats, Changli’s plan to expand the territory went extremely smoothly, and the generals who had been idle for a long time were also fighting happily.

The Liang Kingdom’s territory continued to expand outwards.

In Changli’s simple and easy-to-understand words, this place is mine, that place is also mine, all are mine!

In a more elegant way of saying it, all places illuminated by the sun and moon are Liang territory!

Therefore, the Liang Kingdom’s map +1+1+1+1+1

Lu Yunqi, who had been fighting on all sides, was also granted the title of Duke of Ying for his many years of meritorious service, becoming the first man in history to hold military power as a male consort and be granted the title of a first-rank Duke.

Changli set another precedent for Lu Yunqi.

However, the officials in the court at this time no longer disagreed with this marriage as much as they did when the emperor first ascended the throne. After all, the miracles of the past were still fresh in their minds, and Lu Yunqi was indeed loyal to the emperor.

Another reason is that their emperor has the ability to suppress the male consort and Duke of Ying, who has achieved great military exploits. They do not need to worry about things that are not their concern.

Anyway, the war continued for several years, and the Liang Kingdom successfully upgraded to the world’s leading power.

Not only the strongest in national power, but also the largest in territory.

Except for overseas lands, all countries bordering the Liang Kingdom that could be discovered have become the territory of the Liang Kingdom, perfectly interpreting Changli’s words.

‘Mine, mine, all are mine!’

The literary masterpiece compiled by the great Confucian Kong Hong and Prince Heng Liang Qin and others was also successfully completed this year, causing the entire literary world to tremble.

Changli named it “The Jingming Canon”!

This canon became the most magnificent and extensive literary masterpiece in the entire Liang Kingdom and even the previous dynasty.

Countless students flocked to Jinghuai City to read this book.

Changli directly ordered people to transcribe multiple copies of this canon and distribute them to major cities within the Liang Kingdom, allowing students all over the world to read this grand work.

The academies established by the imperial court in various regions also added more courses with the advent of this canon. For a time, everyone was discussing “The Jingming Canon,” and the atmosphere of learning among the people was once again surging.

At the same time, Changli also attached great importance to the rule of law. Since his accession to the throne, he has repeatedly ordered the Ministry of Justice to revise the laws according to the development of the times and the needs of the people.

Therefore, the laws of the Liang Kingdom have been improved and perfected, truly meeting the requirements of the national conditions, the actual situation, and the development of the times.

These clearly stipulated laws effectively maintain social harmony and stability and national unity.

On economic issues, Changli not only does not discriminate against commercial development but also provides convenience for commercial prosperity, allowing the commercial economy to develop rapidly, including commercial cities, including Jinghuai City, have sprung up.

He values agriculture and reduces farmers’ taxes and labor.

High-yield grain crops, convenient farming tools and irrigation tools, and the widespread cultivation of cotton have allowed people in various regions to live a life free from food and clothing worries, and the impoverished life of hunger and cold has become history.

The world is at peace, and all nations submit.

The emperor is wise and virtuous, the officials are honest and upright, the military generals defend the country, and the people live and work in peace and contentment. The golden age belonging to the Liang Kingdom has finally become a reality.

The country is prosperous and the people are at peace, the mountains and rivers are safe, and all is well in the world!