Chapter 39: The Most Prosperous City

Compared to the two million taels of gold that were lost, several million taels of silver might seem slightly less significant. Yet, once fully deposited into the national treasury, it would still represent a substantial sum.

With this in mind, Yang Chuan sat up abruptly and took the Empress’s hand. "Your Majesty, are the court affairs heavy lately? If they can be managed by others, perhaps you could disguise yourself and accompany me to tour various cities within Great Qi. We could take the opportunity to observe the local officials and the living conditions of the common people."

After all, he was laying the groundwork for fiscal reform. Since it concerned the treasury, it was inseparable from the toil of the common people. In ancient times, the most stable source of national revenue was the annual tax paid by the populace. If the people of Great Qi were living in misery, there would be no hope for a prosperous fiscal outcome.

Knowing that Yang Chuan was full of ingenious ideas, Tian Yueying did not hesitate. She nodded, agreeing to accompany him to the regional cities. In truth, since returning to the country, she had never toured anywhere outside the capital, save for the two cities involved in the recent war with the Kang Kingdom. Since this was for the sake of Great Qi, she was actually quite eager to clear her mind and step away from the infighting and noise of the court.

After entrusting the court affairs to the Grand Secretaries of the Hanlin Academy, the two set off early the next morning on a single fast horse toward the city closest to the capital.

Xiao City was the most prosperous city in Great Qi, surpassed only by the capital itself. Yang Chuan had indeed lived in Great Qi over a decade ago. However, in order to protect Yan Wugou, he had remained within the walls of Cheng’en Temple for ten years, living truly like an ascetic hermit. Now, seeing Xiao City for the first time, he was struck by the sight before him. It was hard to imagine that in an era where industry and economy struggled to develop, Xiao City’s walls and the grandeur of its major buildings could rival the Luoyang of the Tang Dynasty in later ages. Such prosperity and aesthetic mastery in ancient architecture were enough to make one linger and forget the way home. He realized that even if he returned to the Kang Kingdom, it would be difficult to find a city in its vast territory to rival Xiao City.

Of course, it was not just Yang Chuan who was awestruck; even Tian Yueying, as the Empress, felt that this city’s presence was no less than that of the capital. "How beautiful... Just looking at the scenery near the North Gate of Xiao City, it possesses a majesty no less than the capital. I wonder if the people living within also lead such prosperous lives?"

Upon entering the city, the first alleyway they encountered was filled with a dazzling array of garments. There were all kinds of styles, ranging from fine silk to coarse cloth, clearly catering to different classes of customers. The wealthy nobility tended to purchase silk; it was smooth, delicate, and far more aesthetically pleasing than rough cloth—truly the best way to adorn oneself. Conversely, the shops selling coarse cloth were frequented by gaunt, sallow-skinned individuals, or those with dark, weathered skin and sturdy builds—people who were either confined to labor or were farmers exposed to the harsh sun.

"I never expected that the common folk in the surrounding areas could also come to the city to select suitable clothing. Their purses must be reasonably full."

After finishing that street, they moved to the next, which was an alley filled with restaurants. Unlike the previous street, the moment they stepped inside, they noticed many pot-bellied men moving in and out of various eateries and taverns.

"Tsk, tsk. Truly, birds of a feather flock together. These 'foodies' really do cherish their palates."

"My husband, what does 'foodie' mean?" Hearing a fresh term, Tian Yueying blinked her eyes and looked at Yang Chuan curiously.

"Er..." Even after living in this era for over a decade, Yang Chuan would still occasionally slip in a few phrases from the future. After all, the classical language of this time could be quite cumbersome, whereas the vernacular of the future was much simpler. "A 'foodie' is simply a person who loves delicious food. Look at this street—you can barely see anyone thin. Almost everyone coming out of these restaurants is quite portly."

"Alas, these people have satisfied their cravings, but they have also added a great burden to their internal organs."

At that moment, Tian Yueying called Yang Chuan "husband" with every other sentence, as if taking this opportunity to indulge in something she could never do within the palace. She listened to Yang Chuan’s theories with earnest attention, showing none of the arrogance of an absolute monarch. Yang Chuan found this quite pleasant. After all, since the Empress was traveling in disguise, her ability to mask her imperial aura so seamlessly made her a natural talent in the art of performance.

They strolled through several more streets, finding each one bustling with activity, as if this were the true economic heart of Great Qi. Just as they were approaching the office of the Prefect of Xiao City, they happened upon a quiet, sparsely populated alley where an old farmer was crouching on the ground, weeping over the carcass of a donkey.

"Husband, look over there. That old man’s donkey seems to have died unexpectedly. Let’s go over and see; if he is truly impoverished, we should offer him some silver."

Yang Chuan nodded. A single glance at the old farmer told him that charity was in order. After speaking with him, they learned that the old man had brought grain to the city to sell. He had finished his business and was preparing to lead his donkey back to his village when the animal suddenly collapsed and died in the alley.

"Woe is me! Kind sir, kind lady, my family has relied on farming for generations. This donkey was purchased with a calf we saved for five years to afford. I was counting on it to haul grain for over a decade once it reached maturity. Who would have thought that after only three years of service, it would drop dead like this!"

"Old sir, please, do not grieve. We have some silver on us. Let us share some with you today so that you may go and purchase a better animal when you have the chance."

Seeing the pitiful state of the old man, Tian Yueying could not help but take ten taels of silver from her pocket and hand them to him. The old man had thought the loss of his donkey was a devastating catastrophe, but he never expected to encounter two such great benefactors in the bustling city of Xiao City. Trembling, he took the silver and immediately knelt on the ground, kowtowing repeatedly while showering them with endless words of gratitude.