Chapter 620: Wishes
When Qi Xiuyuan received Qi Haoran’s letter, he was shocked. Did he accidentally send some official documents to him as a letter?
After reading the letter, Qi Xiuyuan fell into deep thought.
He had indeed promoted Liu Qing to the magistrate of Ju Prefecture to make it easier for Qi Haoran to do things. However, he did not think that he could fix things with the minorities with just a few years of tenure. Emperor Shizong only managed to make some progress after working hard for nearly 20 years. In the end, his descendants had wasted his previous 20 years of hard work in just a moment of extravagance. Therefore, what Qi Xiuyuan wanted to do more was to set up a system and stabilize some policies through laws and holy decrees. This way, even if his descendants were incompetent, the government would not be too muddle-headed, and the Qi Empire would be able to last longer.
Of course, this was just Qi Xiuyuan’s vague idea. It was still too early to talk about this. All he could do was try his best to smooth things over and stabilize things for his people.
Regarding Qi Haoran’s suggestion, Qi Xiuyuan could only reply with three words: “Take your time.”
Every Emperor wanted to be a wise ruler and leave their name in history. Whether they succeeded or not, it all depended on their ability, morals, and self-control.
Didn’t Emperor Jingyan have the ambition of being the best in history?
He did, but he was inadequate in capabilities, morals, and self-control. That was why he had suffered such a crushing defeat.
For Qi Xiuyuan to be able to subdue the hearts of the army and obtain the support of so many people, it could be seen how charming and capable he was. He also loved and respected the people. In addition, as a general who often was in life-and-death situations, self-control was the most basic quality, so he had no lack of that. Thus, his chances of success depended on whether the heavens would give him this opportunity to give his country and his subjects a chance to recuperate.
As long as he obtained this opportunity and did not die young, he had a high chance of becoming a wise ruler whose name would be recorded in history.
At this moment, Qi Haoran was still unaware of his Big Brother’s thoughts and the responsibility that was about to be given to him. He was glaring at Mu Yangling with a puffed-up face, refusing to let her put on the clothes sent by the Miao stockade.
It would be the Miao Year soon. At that time, there would be a gathering in the larger Miao stockade in Qiannan. This year, it happened to be Ji’an’s Miao stockade’s turn to hold it. As the Miao Year was the most grand festival for the Miao clansmen, Ji’an had sent the Miao costume in advance.
Sending Miao costumes to esteemed guests was their highest treatment. As Qi Haoran also had the intention to build a good relationship with the Miao people, he wanted to wear the Miao costume they had sent over.
However, while Qi Haoran’s was fine, Mu Yangling’s costume had medium-long sleeves, revealing a small part of her arms. Before Mu Yangling realized that something was wrong, Qi Haoran was already frowning. Only he could look at those fair and tender arms of hers. He didn’t mind it if she just wore such a costume at home, but he didn’t like the idea of her baring her arms in front of other men.
Hence, Qi Haoran changed his mind at the last minute. Instead of wearing the Miao costume, he was going to wear his own court uniform. Mu Yangling was also to wear the Lady of the Imperial Command costume.
“Are you sure you want me to walk in the Lady of the Imperial Command costume for a day? Besides, don’t you find it hot to wear the court uniform on such a warm day?”
Although it was already autumn, the temperature in Qiannan was still quite high. Coupled with the stuffy and hot climate, Qi Haoran could feel sweat dripping down his face even though he was only wearing two pieces of clothing.
At this moment, his forehead was covered in sweat. As he wiped his sweat, he complained in a low voice, “Didn’t Jiangnan start to get cold when you came? People over there are already wearing jackets at this time. Why is it still so hot here?”
It was the ninth month of the lunar calendar and winter was approaching. Mu Yangling had never been to Qiannan in her previous life, so she really did not know what the weather in Qiannan should be like at this time.
Mu Yangling changed out of the Miao costume and folded it. She said, “Why don’t we get someone to lengthen the sleeves? I heard that all the Miao tribes consisting of more than 1,000 people in Qiannan will come to gather. At the very least, we can make them feel at ease by wearing the Miao costume.”
Mu Yangling didn’t want to be impolite by altering it on her own, so she returned the Miao costume to Ji’an and told him her request.
Ji’an called his eldest son and son-in-law over. Frowning, Ji’an Yong said, “If we alter it, it won’t conform to the etiquette.”
Among the women of their race, half-sleeved clothes were the most noble. However, Ji’an’s son-in-law, Chen Jiacai, said with a smile, “The Han people value chastity, so it’s understandable. Brother-in-law, you shouldn’t think that it doesn’t conform to our etiquette. It’s only the best if it conforms to the etiquette for both sides. Therefore, we can get someone to lengthen the sleeves of the costume and embroider our clan’s flowers on them as a sign of solemnity.”
Ji’an nodded repeatedly. “That’s good. Let’s do that. Jiacai, I’ll leave this matter to you. When it’s done, send it to Her Highness personally. Your sister-in-law angered her previously. I hope she doesn’t take the matter to heart.”
Chen Jiacai nodded with a smile. He paused for a moment and said, “Why don’t you let Brother-in-law go with me so that we can sound out the Imperial Court’s intentions? Although we can also be exempted from taxes for three years, this year is just the first year and three years will pass quickly. I wonder how high our taxes will be after that.”
Speaking of this, Ji’an was worried and said regretfully, “It’s a pity that the West Xia army rushed over too quickly back then. Otherwise, we might have been able to leave the Imperial Court and become one with Dali.”
Chen Jiacai frowned slightly and said in a low voice, “Father-in-law, it’s better for us to forget about this matter. Actually, integrating into Dali might not be a good thing. Previously, we had no choice but to have such thoughts. After all, the taxes of the Great Zhou were getting heavier and heavier to the point where we really couldn’t take it anymore. However, now that the new dynasty is established, the country needs to recuperate. Considering the decent strength of Great Qi, staying in Great Qi is definitely better than integrating into Dali.”
“That’s right, Father. I also feel that Dali’s envoys had ill intentions. They had just agreed to form an alliance with us but they immediately fled when they encountered West Xia’s troops. If not for Prince Qi leading an army to attack West Xia’s troops, we might have all died.” As he spoke, he was filled with admiration for Qi Haoran.
Ji’an looked at his son speechlessly, then turned to his son-in-law and said earnestly, “Jiacai, you have to help my eldest boy. This child is too naive.”
Chen Jiacai couldn’t help but smile and hurriedly said, “Father-in-law, you’re thinking too much. I think it’s good that Brother-in-law is like this. Who among the younger generation in the stockade doesn’t submit to Brother-in-law?”
Ji’an Yong nodded and said angrily, “Dad, you only know how to criticize me. What’s wrong with me worshiping heroes?”
“Nothing wrong with that, but we Miao people have been bullied by the Han people for generations. We should keep as much a distance away from them as possible, lest they have a chance to scheme against us.”
When Chen Jiacai saw his father-in-law frowning in worry, he could not help but sigh in his heart. Not all Han people bullied the Miao people, but the Imperial Court’s policies were indeed biased. Seeing that the bailiffs were not polite to the Miao people, some Han people followed suit and treated the Miao people more harshly.
For example, when the Han people and the Miao people argued, the officials would be more biased towards the Han people. Regardless of right or wrong, the Miao people were punished more severely for the same crime than their Han counterparts. Also, the Miao people were rewarded less handsomely for the same meritorious service. Due to such differential treatment, the conflict between the two races escalated as time passed.
Only the Imperial Court was capable of resolving this matter by being not biased or less biased. This way, the Miao people would have more time to recuperate and this would in turn de-escalate the conflict between the Miao and Han people.
Born a Han Chinese, Chen Jiacai had studied since he was young and had long understood the essence after 20 years of studies.
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