Sister Han is good at farming

Chapter 301 No Way Back

Capital City, Imperial Study Room.

"The grandfather of the two young generals Ruan has passed away. Their vacation should be over soon, right?" The old emperor put down the imperial red brush in his hand, looked up and asked his two sons sitting below him.

"Well, they are all on their way back to the base. And the border has been calm during this period, and nothing has gone wrong." Zhou Che immediately reported the news that his father wanted to know.

The old emperor nodded silently, picked up another memorial to review, and frowned again.

"City Lord Ruan should have gone back to attend the funeral, right?"

"He should have gone, but he was very low-key and no news was passed on." Zhou Zheng replied casually.

"Do you think she came back this time just to attend the funeral?" The old emperor asked in a low voice, his eyes fixed on a place on the desk.

"Father, what do you mean?" Zhou Che frowned slightly.

"The strength of the three cities of Bale is too strong, whether it is the huge information network covering the nine countries or the fighting power that intimidates the world. Such a powerful force like a tiger will probably not be willing to stay in a corner." The old emperor sighed.

"Father, are you worried that they will expand towards our Yunqing?" Zhou Che immediately understood what he meant.

"Father, as long as the mayor of the three cities of Bale is Miss Ruan Qingqing, such a thing will not happen!" Zhou Zheng said firmly.

The old emperor looked at him steadily, "Old Third, how old are you this year?"

"Your Majesty, I, your son..." Zhou Zheng blushed.

"You are not a child anymore, why are you still so childish in thinking about things? Why do you think Ruan Qingqing will not lead her men to expand to Yunqing?" The old emperor asked with disappointment on his face.

"Father, I know her. She is not someone who covets power and wealth. I can vouch for that. If the previous emperor had not been so cold-blooded and ruthless, disregarding her father's safety and forcing her into a desperate situation, she would not have fled to Bale and occupied three cities and lingered there until now."

Zhou Zheng stood up and bowed to the old emperor.

"Oh! Not clinging to power and wealth..." The old emperor sneered.

"When the drought first hit Qingshui County, she led a group to visit the entire county, and then asked someone to give me a detailed map of the water conservancy project in Qingshui County. When she presented me with the drawings of the water mill and the water pestle, what she asked for in return was not gold or silver, nor was it her family's personal reputation. Instead, she asked me to repair the water conservancy project in Qingshui County as soon as possible and to persuade the people to start the autumn ploughing as soon as possible.

When I hesitated, she knelt before me and asked me if I was willing to be the judge of the people of Qingshui County. Before the locust plague hit Qingshui County, she rushed to the county government to tell me how to prevent the plague and minimize the losses of the people. When everyone was about to run out of water, she tried her best to think of various solutions. Even when the plague came, she did not stay out of it..."

Zhou Zheng raised his head and looked at the old emperor, "Father, how could such a person be someone who is greedy for power and wealth?"

The old emperor put down the memorial in his hand and said earnestly: "Third brother, this person will change. Before being tainted by power, everyone may be able to keep their original intentions. After tasting the taste of power, how many people can keep their original intentions in the end?"

Zhou Zheng looked straight at the old emperor, "Father, perhaps most people in the world come and go for profit. But there is always a small number of people who live because of the purity in their hearts. That purity may be affection, kindness, or simply a clear conscience..."

"Then how do you explain the recent appearance of a large number of Mohists in Jialing Pass and Xiyu Pass? Third brother, don't throw away your basic common sense just because of those so-called friendships!" The old emperor rapped the documents on the table with his fingers, annoyed.

"Father, Ruan Qingqing is not the kind of person who pursues war. If she really wants to expand, since she can freely enter and exit the court of the King of Moliang with only 60 people, and can make the King of Moliang, who is notoriously stingy, pay a huge compensation, and even make the arrogant Prince of Moliang travel thousands of miles to personally kowtow and apologize in front of the grave of the young soldier in Bale City, then what reason is there for not directly annexing Moliang?

Since she wanted to expand, why didn't she occupy several cities near Yunqing and Bale, but went to Jialing Pass and Xiyu Pass instead? You know, both the barbarians and Qingrong have real hatred for her. It's impossible that she would collude with the barbarians and Qingrong to attack the border guarded by her brothers, right? "

Zhou Zheng's direct question stumped the old emperor.

“Third brother, in our position, we have to be more cautious about some issues.” Zhou Che hurriedly came to the rescue.

"But once some doubts arise, there is no turning back."

Zhou Che pursed his lips and said, "Third brother, what are you afraid of?"

"I'm worried that we will follow the old path of the previous emperor. The problem can be solved by being honest with each other, but we choose to destroy ourselves! Whenever the Emperor Liang has a little trick, he is suppressed by her. Father, brother, can't we get along with Ruan Qingqing and the others in a friendly way?" Zhou Zheng asked.

"It's because Ruan Qingqing is too strong that we have to be on guard." The old emperor took a sip of tea.

"We can take precautions, but we can't attack her easily. Besides, she has also contributed to our Zhou family's ability to rule the world." Zhou Zheng argued.

"Third brother, why do you protect Ruan Qingqing so much?" the old emperor asked in a low voice.

"She is a pure person who truly speaks up for the people. I don't want such a rare person to be hurt or even disappear. The lives of ordinary people are too hard and too dark. They need such a person with light and sharpness!"

Zhou Zheng chuckled.

"People like her are destined to be enemies of those of us in power!" Zhou Che said coldly, "After all, the benefits she fought for the people are ours."

"No! With people like this, the world will be more kind. Whether they are royal family or noble family, we can't just live as slaves to interests. I think the only way we can truly make the dynasty last is if we live in harmony with them." Zhou Zheng disagreed.

"After giving too many benefits to the common people, what capital do we have to place ourselves far above all other living beings? Wouldn't it then become a situation where anyone who is dissatisfied can rebel? Is this a good thing?" Zhou Che immediately retorted.

"If I had never been an official in Qingshui County, I might have agreed with my elder brother. But after I became an official in Qingshui County, every time I went back to Qingshui County for inspection, I was welcomed by the local people. At that time, I understood that controlling people's hearts depends not only on interests, but also on friendship and faith. Looking at the dynasties throughout the ages, which dynasty did not rise and fall due to the uneven distribution of interests, and so on and so forth.

Why don't we find a new way? Just like the three cities under Ruan Qingqing's rule, the people live and work in peace and contentment, and everyone is as close as a family. Who would think of rebelling or betraying every day? "