Chapter 190: New Ambitions

Chapter 190 New Annals

Qiu Huanian returned home and told the servants to store the city fruits in the ice cellar.

After calculating the ice usage from last summer, Qiu Huanian had an ice cellar built at home.

The ice cellar was located in the southeast corner of the outer courtyard, next to the kitchen. It was about half the size of a classroom and contained ice stored from last winter. The internal temperature was below zero, making it a perfect natural fridge.

Jiu Jiu came out to greet him and reported the day's events at home.

"The price of pork in the capital has risen again, now at forty-eight wen per pound, and white rice has also gone up to twelve wen per pound. I had Quan Yu check it out, and he said that over a dozen large rice shops have jointly raised their prices, and other small shops have followed suit."

Jiu Jiu knew that Qiu Huanian was responsible for stabilizing the lives of the capital's residents, so despite having ample reserves at home, she always kept an eye on the city's prices.

Qiu Huanian nodded. In these extraordinary times, with only one city gate left open, it was difficult to transport supplies into the city. Moreover, many wealthy people were panic-buying and hoarding rice, so the price hike was no surprise.

The current fluctuation was still within the normal range, following market laws. However, if someone continued to drive up prices and disturb the public's morale, the new emperor would need someone to make an example of.

When Jiu Jiu finished discussing serious matters, she turned to talk about Gu Gu and Yang Yang.

Babies grow up fast, and these two six-month-old infants changed almost daily.

"Uncle Mumian said the babies are ready to start crawling. Brother Hua cleared out the bed in the east wing to let Gu Gu and Yang Yang crawl on it."

"This afternoon, when I went to see them, Gu Gu kept crawling after the red silk bell, but Yang Yang suddenly stopped and started crying when he saw me. He smiled when I picked him up, but cried again when I put him back."

Jiu Jiu was both amused and frustrated. Qiu Huanian imagined the scene and also burst out laughing.

It is said that infants over six months old can master the skill of pretending to cry and laugh to achieve their goals. Yang Yang clearly excelled at this.

He was lazy when it came to practicing crawling and sitting, but in terms of using his brain to slack off, he was way ahead.

When Du Yunse got back from the palace that evening, Qiu Huanian went with him to play with their son who had mastered this new skill.

Du Yunse's current office was located in the Wenlou building in front of Chengtian Hall, where he assisted the new emperor in handling government affairs and memorials from various regions.

Since the new emperor had not yet officially ascended the throne, the rewards for loyal officials hadn’t been handed out yet. However, everyone knew a new emperor meant new ministers, and Du Yunse would undoubtedly rise rapidly in the new dynasty, becoming one of the most powerful figures in the Yu Dynasty.

The perks of backing the new emperor were enviable. But for Du Yunse, this was just the beginning of his true ambitions.

Yang Yang’s playful dad took him out of his cradle and placed him on the bed, on his back, clueless about what was coming as both fathers watched him.

Qiu Huanian playfully dangled a red silk bell in front of Yang Yang. Yang Yang reached out to knock the bell away, but Qiu Huanian foiled his plan.

The little chubster pouted, looking as if he was about to cry.

Du Yunse, feeling bad for his son, scooped him up to soothe him. In that instant, Yang Yang's expression of crying vanished, replaced by a sweet smile.

Qiu Huanian burst out laughing and gently pinched Yang Yang's little ear.

"Yun Se, look at him, he’s really good at faking tears. Who does he take after?"

Du Yunse remained silent, answering with his eyes.

Qiu Huanian cleared his throat and cuddled Gu Gu.

"I’m so honest and dependable, always upbeat. Clearly, Gu Gu takes after me, while Yang Yang inherited your cunning."

Gu Gu babbled as if agreeing with his father, and Qiu Huanian and Du Yunse cracked up and couldn’t keep a straight face.

Qiu Huanian played peek-a-boo with the two babies, using Du Yunse as a prop. Du Yunse cooperated, letting Qiu Huanian peek out from various parts of his body.

After playing for a while and getting tired, Du Yunse poured Qiu Huanian a cup of plum tea, which Qiu Huanian drank in one gulp.

"The retired emperor willingly stepped down, reducing a lot of trouble. The situation both within and outside the court has nearly stabilized. Now, we’re just waiting for the Imperial Astronomer to pick an auspicious date for the new emperor's formal enthronement."

Qiu Huanian stretched, "After the enthronement, it’ll be time to reward the deserving officials. Your qualifications aren’t quite enough to enter the cabinet directly. The emperor can’t keep you in a temporary role forever. Yunse, do you know how the new emperor plans to arrange things for us?"

The Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet usually also serve as Ministers of the Six Ministries, a high-ranking position of the second grade. Du Yunse has been in officialdom for just over a year. Promoting him straight to Minister and Grand Secretary, even with the merit of supporting the new emperor, would likely be hard to justify publicly.

Du Yunse poured Qiu Huanian another cup of tea, "With the new emperor’s enthronement, according to old customs, a special imperial exam will be held. His Majesty has decided to add an extra provincial exam this fall, followed by the Palace Exam next spring."

"The special exam will pick a new group of Hanlin Bachelors and officials for the Hanlin Academy. Therefore, His Majesty will send out our batch of scholars from the Hanlin Academy in advance."

"You’re being sent out?" Qiu Huanian was somewhat surprised, but upon careful thought, it made sense.

"Yes, I’m not well-established in the court. It’s better to use this chance to focus on local development and establish achievements that no one can criticize."

"Where will you go?"

Du Yunse chuckled, "The place isn’t decided yet, but it was Brother Hua’s idea."

"You mean..." Qiu Huanian’s eyes lit up, "Haijin Town?!"

"The retired emperor had already sent people to inspect Haijin Town in advance. It is near the capital, has good transportation, and a natural harbor, making it ideal for opening a port."

"His Majesty took the strategy from my Palace Exam paper, intending to merge Hejian and Yongping prefectures to establish a directly administered prefecture, open maritime trade, and experiment with reforms."

"The new directly administered prefecture will be called Tianjin, meaning the place personally established by the Son of Heaven."

Hearing the name of the directly administered prefecture, Qiu Huanian let out a soft sigh, feeling like the other shoe had finally dropped.

After the new emperor’s enthronement, the groundwork laid over nearly two years to lift the maritime ban will finally be carried out on a large scale.

Most people thought the new port would be established along the southern coast, where opportunists and saboteurs are most active. When the new emperor announces the news of the Tianjin directly administered prefecture, it will surely shock many.

Wang Yinzhi has already established a firm foothold in Hejian Prefecture's Jinke. Du Yunse can take office and quickly get up to speed.

"Great Yu has never had a directly administered prefecture. What rank will the governor of Tianjin be?"

In the Yu Dynasty’s official hierarchy, the rank of a county magistrate is not entirely fixed. The magistrates of counties with larger populations and broader territories can be one or two ranks higher. Qiu Huanian estimated that the governor of the directly administered prefecture would also be higher than that of an ordinary prefect.

After all, Tianjin directly administered prefecture is a large prefecture formed by merging two prefectures, carries the name of the Son of Heaven, and is entrusted with the new emperor’s high hopes for experimental reforms. The governor’s position must be different.

Du Yunse gently patted Yang Yang’s back and replied, "His Majesty and I both think the third rank is most appropriate."

An ordinary prefect is of the fourth rank, while a provincial governor is of the second rank. The governor of the directly administered prefecture, ranking above an ordinary prefect but below a provincial governor, is just right.

Tianjin Prefecture is the testing ground for the new emperor’s reforms and is located near the capital, making it the throat of Great Yu. The first governor must be the new emperor’s top confidant.

The governor of the directly administered prefecture is also an excellent springboard. Staying in this position for three to five years and making sufficient achievements will naturally lead to promotion to Minister of the Six Ministries and entry into the cabinet as a Grand Secretary.

Tianjin is so close to the capital that there is no need to worry about being far from the political center after being sent out.

Du Yunse is twenty-three this year. When he enters the cabinet, he will most likely be under thirty.

A Grand Secretary and key minister under thirty, he’ll set another legendary record.

Qiu Huanian suddenly laughed, and Du Yunse looked at him with confusion.

"I was thinking, when you become a Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, should we call you 'Elder Cabinet Member' or follow your actual age and call you 'Junior Cabinet Member'?"

A trace of helplessness flashed across Du Yunse's face. "Brother Hua can call me whatever he prefers."

Most people would either be awestruck or feel privileged upon hearing the title 'Elder Cabinet Member,' but Brother Hua's focus was always so peculiar.

The six-month-old baby weighed more than ten pounds. Qiu Huanian held Gu Gu for a while but soon couldn’t hold him any longer, so he bent down and placed him in the cradle.

Gu Gu reached out to grab Qiu Huanian’s clothes, and Qiu Huanian removed the jade pendant from his belt and handed it to the baby to play with.

Du Yunse also placed Yang Yang next to Gu Gu. Gu Gu handed the jade pendant to his younger brother, but Yang Yang just stared motionlessly at the ceiling, ignoring him completely.

Qiu Huanian walked to the door of the nursery and looked through the half-open door at the courtyard.

The magnolia blossoms in the courtyard had already faded, leaving behind lush green leaves. Patches of unidentified wildflowers grew beneath the magnolia tree, and Qiu Huanian had not ordered them to be removed.

The final rays of the setting sun shone on the courtyard, and the lamps inside the house were already lit.

"We’ve lived in this house for over a year, and we’re moving again."

Du Yunse was going to assume his position in Tianjin Prefecture, and the whole family would naturally follow him.

Qiu Huanian looked at every plant and tree in the courtyard, feeling a pang of reluctance. However, the thought of being able to fully realize his potential in Tianjin Prefecture made him eager and excited.

"Speaking of which, the land I was awarded after becoming a county magistrate is within the boundaries of Tianjin Prefecture. When we move there, I’ll develop a solid plan to make use of that land."

The Yu Dynasty was poised to expand maritime trade, and besides importing goods, it would naturally also export goods.

The centralized manufacturing model in the large workshops outside the city was already well-established. Qiu Huanian planned to expand this model and relocate it to Tianjin, capitalizing on the momentum of maritime trade to create a light manufacturing hub.

In addition to making profitable business ventures, Qiu Huanian also intended to explore ways to develop high-yield crop varieties, encourage technological research, and foster scientific and technological exchange between China and foreign countries...

Qiu Huanian knew that productivity was the foundation for all development and reform. Perhaps even by the end of his life, the Yu Dynasty might not yet be ready for such transformation, but at least he had done his utmost to plant the seeds.

The future would be left to those who came after.

Qiu Huanian had been lost in thought for quite some time when Du Yunse walked up to him, gazing deeply at his face, which was obscured in the dim light.

"Huanian."

"Hmm?"

Du Yunse looked at the last glimmer of light in the sky. "I think you must have come from a place without hunger, cold, or injustice—a place where everyone treats each other as equals."

"I’m glad you came into my life, but I also feel sorry because you left that paradise and descended into this world of wind and snow."

"Yun Se..."

"I want to work hard to make the Yu Dynasty a place like your homeland." Du Yunse turned to look at Qiu Huanian, his eyes reflecting the light from the sky. "Will you help me?"

Qiu Huanian’s throat tightened. "Such a place would be very disruptive to your common sense."

People’s values are shaped and influenced by their environment. Even the most open-minded ancient people might not fully accept modern ideas, which is why Qiu Huanian had never fully revealed his thoughts to Du Yunse.

For example, this world should not have hierarchies, emperors, or nobles. There should be no disdainful chains of scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, nor should it be that all pursuits are inferior except for studying.

Clearly, Du Yunse had long been aware of this.

He did not demand that Qiu Huanian share everything with him. He simply said he wanted to make the Yu Dynasty such a beautiful place.

Saying a thousand things is not as good as actually doing something.

"The existence of Brother Hua proves that such a world can truly exist. Since it can exist, why can't I accept it?"

"Du Binzhi aims to create an ideal world for everyone."

Qiu Huanian paused for a moment, then gave a soft smile, "That’s not something one person can achieve, nor in a single lifetime. Even in the place I once was, perfection was never truly achieved."

"But we can already be confident that staying on the right path will lead us to success."

He took Du Yunse’s large, bony hands in his own and gave them a firm squeeze, "Let’s be the ones to start it."

Author's Note:

Yun Se is a true ancient, but he’s a remarkable figure with the potential to transcend the constraints of his time. Huanian has shown him the possibility, and he will strive to realize that possibility.