Over the next few days, the Ninth Princess, accompanied by Qing Mu Lan and Jin Feng, toured Xihewan several times.
She even visited the dusty cement kilns and lime kilns more than once.
“Sister Mu Lan, you always used to say how wonderful Xihewan was, and I never quite believed you. I thought, how good could a little mountain village really be? Only now do I realise it is even better than you described. It is simply a paradise on earth!”
The Ninth Princess stepped out of the lime kiln and removed the thick cotton mask. “If every corner of Dakang could be like this, how could the kingdom fail to prosper?”
The longer she stayed in Xihewan, the more she grew to love the place.
First, there was the food.
Run Niang had learnt many cooking methods from Jin Feng’s previous life and, over the past few days, had been preparing different delicious dishes for the Ninth Princess.
Though the ingredients were very simple and could not compare with the mountain delicacies and maritime rarities of the palace, they were all things the princess had never tasted before.
Moreover, here there was no scheming or back-stabbing. Everyone worked diligently at their own tasks, and the whole village brimmed with a thriving, prosperous atmosphere.
This was what fascinated the Ninth Princess most of all.
“If you like it, just stay a while longer.”
Qing Mu Lan actually wanted to say “stay for good”, but she knew that was impossible.
The Ninth Princess’s marriage was not simply her own affair; it concerned the entire kingdom of Dakang.
“I cannot stay,” the Ninth Princess gently shook her head. “The wedding date approaches. I must leave.”
Qing Mu Lan, who had been cheerful moments before, instantly dimmed.
Jin Feng also fell silent.
To be born into the imperial family was both a blessing and a misfortune.
The struggle among princes was like raising venomous insects in a jar: of ten or even dozens of princes, only one could emerge victorious.
The fate of the losers was often tragic. Even if they survived the contest, they would spend the rest of their lives under house arrest and might even be humiliated by the eunuchs set to watch them.
Princesses fared somewhat better. Although they had no say in their marriages, that was true for all women in feudal times; most had never met their future husbands before the wedding.
Once married, a princess’s new family would generally not dare bully her out of respect for the imperial house.
But the Ninth Princess was different.
She was being sent for a political marriage.
And since Dakang was the weaker party, her status in Tubo would certainly not be high.
Jin Feng had no solution to this either. He sighed and asked, “When do you leave?”
“Tomorrow.”
The Ninth Princess turned to Jin Feng. “Sir, tomorrow I depart. Can we speak openly and frankly today?”
These past few days, with rain coming and going, Jin Feng had not been idle.
Besides working in the laboratory, he had constantly sought out escort guards returning with cargoes to learn about rainfall in different regions.
The escorts from the capital, in particular, were summoned the moment they arrived.
Upon learning that the central plains had not suffered prolonged overcast weather and had only a few autumn rains before clearing, Jin Feng immediately wrote to Luo Lan, instructing her to mobilise people from the chamber of commerce to buy grain throughout the central plains.
In addition, Jin Feng had Tang Xiaobei and Zheng Fang dispatch another large group down the river to Jiangnan.
Jiangnan enjoyed a warm, humid climate ideal for growing grain and had always been prosperous.
The men he sent were not only to establish branches of the chamber of commerce there; their main task was to purchase grain and ship it back to Jinchuan by water.
The Ninth Princess had observed all of this.
She knew Jin Feng was not doing it for profit; he was genuinely worried about famine.
In truth, the Ninth Princess shared that worry and had long wanted to speak openly with him.
Yet each time Jin Feng had avoided the subject.
Tomorrow she would leave. Today, even if she had to cling shamelessly, she would not let him escape.
Jin Feng sensed her determination and asked, “What does Your Highness wish to discuss?”
“Just Dakang,” the Ninth Princess said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Sir, do you believe Dakang can still be saved?”
At those words, Jin Feng’s pupils involuntarily contracted.
The topic was far too sensitive.
The princess had asked far too directly.
“You truly wish to discuss this?” Jin Feng countered.
“Please enlighten me!” The Ninth Princess clasped her hands together and gave Jin Feng a solemn bow.
“Very well,” Jin Feng thought for a moment, then said, “Actually, the taxes and levies imposed by the Dakang court are ones the common people could bear. But officials at every level pile on extra charges, so by the time they reach the people, the burden is crushing.
Of all the taxes the people pay, at least half is swallowed by officials at various levels. The court earns the hatred, yet the state treasury grows ever emptier.
I still say the same thing: if corrupt officials, greedy clerks, and the local gentry can be dealt with, and if the army is then thoroughly reformed with real determination, Dakang can naturally be saved.
I know this is extremely difficult, but the present Dakang is like a patient whose body is covered in festering sores while vicious dogs circle nearby. If we do not steel ourselves to cut away the pus now, once the poison seeps into the marrow and the patient cannot even move, he will either die of the sickness or be torn apart and devoured by the dogs!”
The Ninth Princess sighed but did not refute him. Instead she continued, “And after corrupt officials and the gentry have been dealt with, what then?”
“The old gentleman once told me: agriculture founds the state, industry strengthens the state, education revitalises the state, commerce enriches the state!”
Jin Feng said, “When agriculture flourishes, the people will have enough to eat. When industry flourishes, powerful weapons can be made and the people will no longer be bullied by foreign tribes. When commerce flourishes, the people will live in plenty. When education flourishes, the people will supply the nation with an unending stream of talent!
When they have enough to eat, are free from foreign oppression, have money to spend, and their children have bright futures, how could the common people ever rebel?”
“Agriculture founds the state, industry strengthens the state, education revitalises the state, commerce enriches the state!”
The Ninth Princess repeated Jin Feng’s words over and over, her eyes growing brighter and brighter.
Ever since she had first understood the concept of nation and family, she had pondered how to make Dakang prosper.
For this, she had read countless classics and thought through countless nights.
She had searched bitterly yet found no path.
But Jin Feng’s few sentences struck her like a revelation.
It was as though she had been faced with a hopelessly tangled ball of hemp rope for years, unable to find the end.
Jin Feng had pointed out the crucial thread. With one gentle tug, the whole knot came undone.
The problem that had tormented her for so many years suddenly became clear.
“These words are truly a wondrous prescription for governing a nation!”
The Ninth Princess bowed deeply to Jin Feng and exclaimed, “Had the gentleman been born a hundred years earlier, Dakang would never have fallen to this state!”
“Your Highness flatters me!”
Jin Feng reached out to help her rise, but before he could speak, a man wearing a mask came running towards them.
As he ran he shouted, “Sir, we did it! Sir, we did it!”
Qin’er and A Mei, standing nearby, instantly grew wary and stepped sideways to shield the princess and the others.
Da Liu was more direct; he kicked out at the man. “What are you yelling for? Can’t you see the gentleman is speaking with an honoured guest? Where are your manners!”
The man took the kick without anger and cried excitedly, “Sir, the glass you spoke of, we’ve made it!”
On hearing this, Jin Feng forgot all about the Ninth Princess and took off running.
