Chapter 1087: Imperial Farming Ceremony

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Translator: Atlas Studios  Editor: Atlas Studios

However, it was also because of the things in the box that the Ning Residence went from prosperity to destruction.

Now, because of the things in the box, she had also gained some dignity from the emperor, giving the Ning family hope for recovery.

The rise and fall of life really did not depend on people at all.

The Madam of the Rong Nation held the box and slowly knelt on the ground. She raised the box high and shouted, “Long live our emperor.”

Princess Qiuli was shocked and quickly knelt on the ground.

Eunuch Zhu couldn’t help but heave a sigh of relief. He solemnly took the box and handed it to the servant at the side. He quickly took a step forward and was about to help her up.

“The Madam of the Rong Nation, please get up. I’ll definitely report your intentions to the emperor.”

The emperor had long known that the Madam of the Rong Nation was holding this edict. Although it was not an important thing and the emperor did not care much, such an imperial edict which they did not know the content or details of was in the hands of someone who had schemed too much. There were too many things that could be used. It was not appropriate, so he had always tolerated the Madam of the Rong Nation.

Everyone in this world was smart. When they didn’t know the limit, they couldn’t help but push their luck. They probed step by step and jumped repeatedly.

Once they knew the bottom line, they would know when to advance and when to retreat.

They would know what to choose.

After Eunuch Zhu finished his job, he quickly brought the edict back to the Hall of Diligent Governance to report.

Without even looking at it, Yin Huaixi ordered Eunuch Zhu to burn the edict to ashes on the spot.

On the first day of February, news of Yu Shuangbai’s “death” came from the clan. Yu Shuangbai was a young lady who had yet to get married and her identity was sensitive, so this matter was not made public.

Two days later, her Grandmother mentioned in her letter that Yu Shuangbai had already boarded a merchant ship and gone out to sea with it.

The huge burden in her heart was finally relieved. Yu Youyao held the handwritten letter from Yu Shuangbai, which she had handed to her grandmother to pass to Yu Youyao. She was both happy and sad.

She did not know when they would meet again after this farewell.

On 2nd February in the second year of the Great Zhao Dynasty, Emperor Zhao Yong officially issued an edict to the entire country. He said, “Farming is the foundation of the world. On 20th February, the Imperial Farming Ceremony will be held. I will personally lead the plowing and bow to persuade the commoners. Under the rule of the Great Zhao, anyone with meritorious achievements will farm 10 acres of land for 15 days. During the plowing, they will live with the commoners and feed on coarse food. The Imperial Court has personally sent people to patrol the fields. Anyone who is negligent will be treated as deceiving the emperor…”

The Imperial Farming Ceremony originated from Fuxi. Fuxi emphasized on agriculture and plowing the fields. Every year, on 2nd February, he would personally farm. Thus, 2nd February was also known as the day of the “Dragon Raising Its Head.” When King Wu of Zhou took over, he would hold a grand ceremony every year on 2nd February and call for all the civil and military officials to farm personally.

Later generations of emperors fought to follow suit.

However, it was still the Han Dynasty that caused the Imperial Farming Ceremony to leave a strong impression in history.

After Emperor Wen of Han took over, from the king to the officials under him, they would participate in the Imperial Farming Ceremony every year. Not only did the emperor personally farm, but he would also go to the farming platform to watch and patrol.

If the emperor valued it, the officials below would not be negligent.

This was the first “Imperial Farming Ceremony” after the new emperor ascended the throne. He had to pay enough attention to it to be able to rule the world. Anyone who was smarter would not lie about it.

In the past, the emperors who established a dynasty had always fought on the battlefield to rise to power. No one was soft-hearted. These emperors even had a reputation for bloodthirst and ruthlessness.

The Imperial Court began to prepare for the Imperial Farming Ceremony.

On the day of the Imperial Farming Ceremony, Emperor Zhaoyong, who was wearing auspicious clothes, brought Empress Zhaoyi along. Under the guidance of the legal driver, he accompanied the civil and military officials to the farming altar to pay respects to the God of Agriculture. Then, he changed into his farming clothes and went to the farming field in the suburbs of the capital to perform the “bowing and plowing ceremony.” The officials of the capital followed him.

There was a sea of people around the field, and the commoners came to admire the emperor.

Lord Qi tilted his head to look at Elder Yu, who was beside him. “I heard that when the emperor was in the North, in order to alleviate the lack of supplies, he promoted the tuntian system in the North, where soldiers were sent to farm in the wastelands. During the busy season, the border army will be guarding the city 30% of the time and planting 70% of the time. Each soldier will be given a portion of the wasteland. The Yue Fei’s Residence will provide oxen, farming tools, and seeds, and collect food accordingly. It’s said that the army in the North has about 50,000 to 60,000 acres of farmland.”

The wasteland was barren and the land was not fertile, so the harvest was not good.

Even if one spent 120% of their effort, they could only collect 20% of the food. The difficulty was unimaginable.

However, it was also a way out.

“In addition to a large number of farming troops, after Eldest Princess Shaoyi went to Liaodong, she also implemented the commercial system in the North. She encouraged merchants to recruit people to settle in the border areas. These people would reclaim wasteland and pay in food to replenish military rations. Based on how much food the merchants paid, she also gave them a reduction and exemption from taxes. It was also this method that led to the agricultural development of the entire North.”

The tuntian system was divided into the military, commercial, and civilian systems. It originated from Cao Wei. Due to Cao Cao’s control of the emperor to command the nobles, Cao Wei was known as a treacherous court official who was shameless. Thus, few people admired the tuntian system.

The evaluation of the tuntian system in the history books was also derogatory. It was Cao Yi’s selfish method of making Cao Wei rule with a high degree of centralization in order to monopolize military power.

It was not bad to have a derogatory tone, but it was the truth.

However, there were indeed many advantages to the tuntian system. At the most difficult time for the You army, it became their only hope.

Elder Yu nodded. “Not only did our emperor implement the military farming system, but he also farmed the land with the soldiers every year. He’s good at plowing.”

Therefore, as soon as the edict for the Imperial Farming Ceremony was issued, all the officials and students in the country who needed to participate in the ceremony panicked. They quickly ran to the fields to learn farming before the Imperial Farming Ceremony began.

The action of the Imperial Farming Ceremony was too big. Not only did the emperor personally lead a hundred officials, but all the officials and students in the country also had to farm on the specified day. It was very difficult for Lord Qi not to think too much.

“Do you think the emperor is going to implement…” Was he going to implement the military farming system?

After Thief Liang and the King of Dongning were imprisoned, the soldiers under them had all surrendered to the Imperial Court. The military expenses of a million soldiers were not a small expenditure. The focus of the tuntian system was on the army. The emperor raised the army with agriculture and made the army self-sufficient. The government opened convenient doors in the army. Fields, seeds, farm tools, farming oxen, and so on were all provided by the Imperial Court. They were no longer restricted by the Imperial Court.

This was regardless of whether it was in terms of court politics or military power.

These ministers had become true “working ministers” for the emperor. The power in their hands was all given to them by the emperor. Once the emperor was unhappy, it could be easily taken back.

Elder Yu was silent for a moment. “Most likely.”

The Empress had established a Chamber of Commerce in Hebei. How similar was the way the Chamber of Commerce operated to the current situation of the Imperial Court?

With the emperor’s military and political power in hand, all the work was done by the ministers.

If they did a good job, it was only right.

If they didn’t do a good job, it would be malfeasance.

The two of them looked at each other and silently turned away.

The old farmer arranged by the Ministry of Rites quickly pulled a strong yellow ox into the ground and set up a wooden plow.

Supporting the plow required strength. The ox walked forward and dragged the wooden plow. Yin Huaixi needed to push the wooden plow and roll over the solid soil. It was a very difficult job.