In Yun Kingdom, any local officials who engaged in corruption, handled cases unjustly, or extorted money from the people, if their wrongdoings were discovered, proof would be gathered and directly submitted to Zhao Jiaqi.
Once the evidence was conclusive, she showed no leniency. Those deserving of the death penalty were executed, and those deserving of exile were banished.
She never made exceptions for these individuals, nor did she care about any familial alliances.
As a result, the general sentiment throughout Yun Kingdom changed. No one dared to be ostentatious, and officials became much more honest, as they never knew who was secretly gathering evidence of their crimes.
Instead, the common people reaped benefits. Every household had a small safety net, no longer having to starve. They could eat and dress warmly, and even had some savings.
After more than half a year of internal conflict, Fan Zehao successfully quelled the civil war. Unfortunately, Huangfu Qiuping and Jiang Zan died on the battlefield, and the whereabouts of Jiang Youyou and Jiang Ke remained unknown. This was the only regret.
The Emperor returned triumphantly, and the people lined the streets to welcome him back. However, there were no officials from the capital city to greet him.
At this moment, they were still in court, listening to the Empress discuss the establishment of academies.
"Children are the future hope of our Yun Kingdom. If this hope does not receive a good education, it is our loss. I suggest that all children of Yun Kingdom, starting from the age of five, receive free private tutoring!"
"As for those who become scholars, they will take an exam once. If they fail, they will no longer receive free resources. If they wish to continue their studies, they will pay for it themselves."
These policies had been implemented in their fiefdoms with good results, but a large-scale promotion might prove difficult.
Song Fei stepped forward, took a step back from his original position, clasped his hands, and asked, "Your Majesty, this humble subject does not quite understand. Are these private schools to be established in every village, or is there one free private school in each town? Where will the tutors for these private schools be recruited from? And what about their stipends?"
These series of questions could not be ignored!
"Private schools will be established in every village. The village chiefs will find ways to recruit tutors. Those who pass the Tong Sheng exam can attend classes at the academies in town, and so on."
"As for the stipends for the tutors teaching in the villages, the villages will provide half, and the remaining half will be solicited from local wealthy families. The nameplates of the academies can bear the names of the donors. As long as they have contributed to the country and put in the effort, these are not problems."
She had opened up this aspect completely. As long as it provided children with the opportunity to learn to read and write, it didn't matter whose name the academy bore.
They only had the right to use, not the right to decide. They were also so-called honorary deans.
The ministers heard that the Empress was implementing such a plan, and the gentry and wealthy families would be scrambling to donate.
What if a scholar or a top scholar emerged from a private school they donated to? If it was said which academy they belonged to, wouldn't they gain face?
Fan Zehao stood behind the hall, listening to his wife issue this order, and sincerely applauded her decisiveness.
To come up with this method without using the national treasury to accomplish this task must have taken a lot of his wife's thought. He would have to make it up to her tonight.
After the court session, seeing her husband standing there intact, smiling at her, Zhao Jiaqi's tears, which she had held back for half a year, burst forth.
"You keep this damned emperor business, you're never free. Every day you have to rack your brains fighting with them. I can't even eat properly, boo hoo..."
Zhao Jiaqi had endured things for more than half a year. Every day she woke up earlier than the rooster and slept later than the dog. Where did all those memorials come from?
It was either someone was causing trouble, crying and begging her to pass judgment, or it was some trivial squabble.
She leaned into Fan Zehao's embrace, crying miserably, soaking his robe. He patted her back with a heartache, letting her vent her grievances.
"I'm back. I won't let you be so troubled and tired anymore. Don't worry, I'm here!"
Fan Zehao's hoarse voice constantly comforted the person in his arms, his heart aching. He had already figured out how to deal with those ministers.
If they dared to make his wife worried, he didn't mind making the ministers worry!
The next day at court, Fan Zehao directly threw out several major issues for the ministers to handle.
"First, all businesses in Yun Kingdom that operate gambling houses or brothels must pay a ten percent tax based on their monthly revenue. Those who do not comply will have their businesses immediately closed and confiscated without any reason."
"Second, increase agricultural diversification and effective output. Everyone must submit a memorial tomorrow. Good suggestions will be rewarded, and mediocre or even careless suggestions will be severely punished."
"Third, all iron ore within the borders of Yun Kingdom belongs to the state. No one is allowed to mine it privately. Any discovery of violation will result in the extermination of three generations of their family!"
"For the next month, all my beloved ministers will be responsible for these matters. Do not think that because these do not concern you directly, you can stand by idly. If they do not handle their affairs well, you will be punished along with them. Not a single person will be spared."
Upon hearing these commands, in the cool autumn air of October, sweat beaded on their foreheads.
"Your Majesty, the sudden taxation on gambling houses and brothels, without reason, may be difficult to convince the public!"
"Yes, Your Majesty. Now that the common people are planting high-yield rice, their harvests have nearly doubled compared to before. This sudden... I fear the common people will rebel!"
Fan Zehao glanced coldly at the crowd below. He said indifferently, "If you ask me what to do about everything, then what do I need you for?"
"You are ministers, and naturally, you should share my worries. Now is the time for you to show your worth. If you have the will but not the strength, you can submit a resignation and I will grant you retirement. If you can still do the work, then stop with the nonsense. If anyone dares to cause trouble, do not blame me for suppressing them by force!"
He looked down at them from his lofty position. Seeing their rosy faces turn as dark as coal, he sneered inwardly.
If they dared to bully his wife, now he would show them some attitude and let them know how friendly it was for his wife to attend court.
With this policy in place, the court ministers were also smart. They directly targeted the Prince Xian and Prince Xiaoyao.
Both of these princes had iron and gold mines in their possession. If they could turn them over, the ministers would figure out how to solve the rest of the matters.
Before they could even have lunch, Prince Xian and Prince Xiaoyao, with mournful faces, entered the palace one after another.
They hadn't looked like this even when their father died!
Seeing that lunch was already laid out, the two of them had no appetite for the delicious and aromatic food. They now felt a pang of pain.
Huangfu Xian twisted his sparse eyebrows and began to cry poverty, "Big Brother, what did iron mines ever do to you that you dislike them so much!"
"Yes, I still have four iron mines. The annual profit is over several million. You want to take them all away at once. Aren't you cutting off our financial resources! This is not right!" Prince Xiaoyao chimed in.
If one iron mine was taken back, it would be one thing, but to take back four at once! Thinking of losing this income every year, he didn't just feel pain in his heart, but in his liver, lungs, and kidneys.