Chapter 393: Is the Empress the Mastermind Behind Everything?
At this moment, inside the Imperial Palace, the Empress couldn’t help but burst into laughter. She had thrown tantrums in the court, leaked the information, and allowed Lin Beifan to secretly exploit various nations, funneling the money back to her.
In the end, without doing anything, she had caused significant losses to various countries in terms of gold, silver, and jewels, while she profited immensely. It was a perfect scheme!
Furthermore, it’s worth mentioning that she had secretly incited the turmoil in those countries using her hidden power. Initially, she had cultivated this power only to protect the foundation of Great Wu.
However, she hadn’t anticipated that the tables would turn. Great Wu grew stronger while other countries weakened. Naturally, she wouldn’t miss this opportunity to use that power for revenge.
Using their money to strengthen her own power, and then turning it back against them—just thinking about it made her ecstatic. “Sister Bai, what do you think the rulers of those countries would do if they knew everything that was happening behind the scenes?” the Empress asked with a grin.
Bai Guanyin couldn’t help but chuckle, “Without a doubt, they would be furious.”
The Empress laughed, “But Sister Bai, there’s a problem.”
“What problem is that, Your Majesty?”
“When should I confess to him?”
Though she didn’t specify, both women knew whom she was referring to. The Empress looked contemplative, “It’s not the right time now.”
Bai Guanyin was puzzled, “Why not?”
The Empress sighed, “Because I’ve been deceiving him and using him all along. While I posted those imperial edicts for the sake of Great Wu and the world, the means I employed weren’t honorable. I can’t bear to face him. What if he finds out and gets angry or leaves?”
“But you can’t keep it a secret from him forever.”
“Of course not!” The Empress promptly rejected that idea, “Sooner or later, I’ll confess to him.”
“When do you plan to do that?”
“When he can’t leave me, I’ll naturally come clean.”
“Why don’t you act quickly?” Bai Guanyin quipped sarcastically, “Just issue an imperial decree to bring him into the palace and share your bed. If he refuses, I’ll personally bring him here. You can then set the stage however you like.”
The Empress blushed. “Sister Bai, you’re so straightforward, getting straight to the point every time. Although I’m the Empress, I’m still a girl!”
“Bah, stop stalling!” Bai Guanyin retorted, “He’s a very shrewd person and has already begun to suspect. You can’t hide it forever. Conceal it for a while, but you can’t hide it for a lifetime. There will come a time when it’s revealed.”
The Empress reluctantly agreed, “Alright, Sister Bai, I’ve got to get back to official business!” She leaned over her desk, pretending to work diligently.
“Your Majesty, please do it soon! He’s quite sharp, and he’s already begun to suspect. You can’t hide it forever, and the longer you do, the more difficult it’ll be when it’s revealed,” Bai Guanyin sighed.
“Mm-hmm…” the Empress replied vaguely. Although Great Wu hadn’t sent its armies to attack other countries, those nations remained in turmoil, while Great Wu became the only haven of peace. As a result, people from various nations, eager for a peaceful life, began flocking to Great Wu in hopes of finding a livelihood. This situation was unprecedented!
Before, everyone was busy fleeing from Great Wu, causing a massive outflow of population. Now, remarkably, there was an influx of people back into the country. This indicated that Great Wu’s development was thriving, while other nations were failing.
Currently, refugees from various nations were amassing at the border, and it was becoming overcrowded.
This situation quickly reached the Imperial Court and ended up in Lin Beifan’s hands, inquiring whether they should accept these refugees.
Lin Beifan fell into deep thought. It was well-known that in this ancient society, population equated to resources. An adult could farm, work, or serve in the military—there were countless things they could do. The more people a nation could support, the stronger it would become. Furthermore, Great Wu was currently in a phase of rapid production, requiring a variety of skilled labor.
So, Lin Beifan issued an edict. At the gates of Hulao Pass, a royal decree was posted, and the citizens gathered around.
“A call for talented and virtuous citizens?”
“It seems to say that they want to accept skilled and hardworking people?”
“I can’t read. Can someone read it for me?”
A government official nearby spoke loudly, “The court has decreed that they will accept refugees from various countries! However, they must possess a particular skill and be hardworking individuals. We will only accept those who meet these criteria. Others will not be considered!”
“They can accept refugees? That’s wonderful!”
“The Great Wu court is benevolent!”
The refugees who had gathered here became excited.
At this moment, a refugee from Great Xia gathered the courage to ask, “Sir, the royal decree mentions that only those with a particular skill will be accepted by Great Wu. Could you please clarify what is considered a particular skill?”
Everyone perked up their ears to listen. The government official loudly explained, “A particular skill encompasses a wide range! Farming, livestock raising, carpentry, construction, cooking, medical knowledge, and herbal medicine preparation, among other livelihoods that can generate income—all of these qualify!”
“Great, I’m a farmer!”
“I’m skilled in carpentry!”
“I’m a cook, a chef!”
The refugees became excited once again.
“Don’t get too excited! Don’t make a loud commotion! Come forward one by one!”
The government official said loudly, “As long as you can prove your skills, you’ll receive guidance and passage all the way to various provinces of Great Wu, where you can make a living! If you excel in your skills, you may even receive recognition and assistance from our court to address your livelihood issues!”
Everyone, filled with hope for their new lives, queued up in an orderly manner.
At this moment, an elderly man with white hair and a young man of about 20 approached.
The elderly man appeared to be in his sixties or seventies but was still in robust health. His eyes sparkled with wisdom and vitality. He looked very spirited. He gazed at the long line of people and sighed, “Twenty years ago, I already saw the corruption in the Great Wu court, the regional lords’ separatism, and the imminent downfall of our country! Disheartened and frustrated, I resigned from my official position and traveled the world!”
“The rise and fall over these past twenty years have unfolded just as I expected! However, something changed starting from two years ago! Great Wu put an end to the regional lords’ separatism, and the civil and military officials dared not act recklessly. The court implemented various policies for the benefit of the people…”
“Great Wu prospered day by day, and people’s lives improved. This was particularly evident during the recent ice disaster. Other countries, on the other hand, are gradually declining. All of this is due to a wise minister in the Great Wu court.”
The young man beside him asked in confusion, “Teacher, who is this wise minister you’re talking about?”
The elderly man chuckled and said, “Naturally, it’s the current Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the military, The God of War, Lin Beifan!”
The young man cursed, “Teacher, isn’t he a corrupt official? Why do you call him a wise minister?”
Shaking his head, the elderly man smiled, “Ignorant child, you shouldn’t judge people based on appearances or believe in rumors. Instead, observe what they do and what results they achieve.”
“Since he took office, he has introduced many inventions like hot air balloons, airships, and cement, greatly enhancing the country’s power. He personally led the army to end the regional lords’ separatism and also made an impact on neighboring countries.”
“During his tenure, the politics became cleaner, commerce flourished, public safety improved, and food production increased, leading to a better life for Great Wu’s citizens. During this recent ice disaster, thanks to his early preparations, Great Wu smoothly weathered the crisis, saving over a million lives. It can be said that under his leadership, Great Wu completely turned the tide.”
“If such a person doesn’t qualify as a wise minister, then who does? Looking back over several decades, how many people can achieve what he has?”
The young man nodded thoughtfully.
“As for your remark that he is indeed corrupt, primarily greedy for wealth, it’s true. However, even though he’s greedy, the wealth he takes comes from corrupt officials’ pockets. He doesn’t oppress the common people, which is already commendable. He’s not a saint, so we shouldn’t demand too much from him!”
“What the teacher says is absolutely true!” The young man nodded. “The most exciting thing for me is that he is still very young! As long as he’s alive, Great Wu will continue to prosper and get better!”
The elderly man pointed to the crowd in line and exclaimed, “Look at these people, my disciple! It’s clear evidence! Only when the country prospers and the people are safe will it attract virtuous people from other nations to come here!”
“You’re absolutely right, and we’ve seen similar situations in Great Yan and Great Xia before. But now, they are struggling while Great Wu shines alone. Teacher, let’s head back home!”
A faint smile appeared on the old man’s face. “You’re right, it’s time to return. I’ve been away from home for 20 years, and I can finally return. Back then, I left in anger, and now I return with a lifetime of knowledge, hoping to pass it on and contribute to Great Wu.”
Saying this, he walked proudly toward Hulao Pass. Despite his white hair and lean figure, his love for this land remained fervent. The fire of patriotism in his heart had never extinguished. Having spent half his life wandering, he returned as a youth at heart.
Meanwhile, Lin Beifan was reviewing the information coming in from various border posts. Nearly 100,000 people with valuable skills had entered Great Wu to make a living.
This was like importing talent in ancient times!
Although there might not be immediate changes, in a few years, these people would become part of Great Wu’s foundation, strengthening the nation. Just then, Lin Beifan received an invitation for a dinner from Yao Zheng, the Director of the Imperial Academy.
Lin Beifan mumbled to himself, “This old fellow rarely invites me to dine at a restaurant. He won’t be eyeing my fine wine again, will he? Well, since I have some free time, I might as well go and see what’s up!”
