The grass in the factory should be plucked

Chapter 573 5 years (Part )

The newly established Yingzhou Prefecture was to be assigned to which province, and the court officials began a heated debate.

Which of the ministers in the court wasn't shrewd and calculating? Anyone with eyes could see that Yingzhou Prefecture was a piece of fat meat, how could they not know that?

Yingzhou Prefecture is surrounded by the sea on all sides and consists of four major islands and thousands of smaller islands. These islands are connected end to end and stretch for thousands of miles, forming a unique arc-shaped defensive line that is easy to defend and difficult to attack.

Furthermore, there are many deep-water ports, which are excellent transit and distribution centers for the increasingly prosperous maritime trade of the Great Chu.

Because it faces the provinces of Jiangsu and Zhejiang across the sea, everyone wants to take this money tree for themselves!

You should know that the profits from ocean shipping are astronomical!

Whichever province gets this golden goose will immediately become incredibly wealthy, and will have no worries about tax revenue that year!

Officials supporting Fujian argued that since the Fujian Navy was stationed here, it should be placed under the jurisdiction of the Fujian Provincial Administration Commission.

Officials supporting the Jiang-Zhe faction argued vehemently: "Local military and political affairs are not one and the same. The Fujian Navy is the Fujian Navy, not under the jurisdiction of the Fujian Provincial Administration Commission. How can they be confused?"

"Moreover, Fujian already has Taiwan Prefecture, and the two major ports of Quanzhou and Fuzhou. Yingzhou Prefecture is merely icing on the cake! If Yingzhou Prefecture were to be placed under the jurisdiction of Zhejiang Provincial Administration Commission, it would greatly benefit the development of maritime transport along the Jiangsu and Zhejiang coast!"

"The Jiangnan region is a land of fish and rice, already overflowing with wealth. And you want Yingzhou Prefecture too? You can't have all the good things, can you?"

The two sides engaged in a heated exchange, neither willing to back down.

Nangong Qinghe looked at Cui Jue.

Cui Jue stepped forward and said, "It would be more advantageous for Yingzhou Prefecture to be placed under the jurisdiction of Fujian Provincial Administration Commission."

As the Minister of Revenue, the top financial official, he naturally knew the tax revenue situation in each province.

The Jiangnan region is a land of fish and rice, and the granary of the Great Chu. As the saying goes, "Food is the first necessity of the people," so we should focus on developing agriculture and not put the cart before the horse.

If even the "granaries" focus on maritime trade and neglect farming, everyone will starve.

“Minister Cui is right.”

Nangong Qinghe agreed wholeheartedly, and so he made the final decision: Yingzhou Prefecture was placed under the jurisdiction of Fujian Provincial Administration Commission.

As for the candidate for the prefect of Yingzhou Prefecture, he still needs to consider it carefully.

The Fujian Provincial Administration Commissioner was overjoyed when a golden egg fell from the sky. Upon receiving the imperial decree, he hurriedly boarded a ship and set sail to take over the administration of Yingzhou Prefecture.

After the imperial edict was delivered to Yingzhou Prefecture, the newly appointed Prince of Dongying knelt down and respectfully received the edict from Jiang Li, exclaiming "Long live the Emperor!" with mixed feelings in his heart.

The ancestral legacy was given away just like that, and the country changed hands. It's impossible not to feel sad.

At least he survived, and there were still two young children left in the harem, so he was not destined to die out.

The people of Chu have a saying: "Where there's life, there's hope." They only hope that their descendants will be able to make something of themselves and one day restore the country and wipe away today's shame!

Jiang Li seemed to see through his thoughts, but smiled without saying a word.

You've already eaten the meat, why would you want it back? Don't be so optimistic.

Before long, the people here will forget that they were once citizens of Japan, and like the people of Dali Prefecture and Xichang Prefecture, they will be proud to be citizens of the Great Chu.

The common people's wishes are very simple: whoever can enable the people to live and work in peace and contentment, and have no worries about food and clothing, will win the support of the people!

After handing over the reins to the Fujian Provincial Administration Commissioner, Jiang Li and Xie Chang'an handed over the military and political affairs of Yingzhou Prefecture to him and Yuan Shouhe, and the two returned to the Dragon Palace.

Jiang Li and Mingzhu discussed, "We will divide the sea creatures into several teams to cooperate with Xiao Ou and the others to patrol the sea area every day. If there is anything unusual, please report it as soon as possible."

The Soul-Sucking Insect has merged with the fragments of the Reincarnation Mirror. Although she saw him self-destruct, who knows if he is truly dead?

Since the Mirror Spirit was still giving no clear answer, Jiang Li felt that she still couldn't let her guard down.

After explaining everything, Jiang Li then had the dragon egg manipulate the dragon palace back to the capital.

She petitioned Nangong Qinghe to grant the title of Mermaid King Mingzhu as the greatest contributor to the victory, followed by the Dragon King of the East Sea Aoming, and requested the Emperor to issue an edict to bestow rewards upon him.

Nangong Qinghe readily agreed.

The Mermaid King Mingzhu was granted the titles of Prince of the South Sea and General of the South Sea, while the Dragon King of the East Sea Aoming was granted the titles of God of the East Sea and General of the East Sea. Temples were built for them to be worshipped and to receive incense offerings from the people.

As for Jiang Li and Xie Chang'an, who made the greatest contributions, they were granted the titles of Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince and Grand Preceptor to the Crown Prince, respectively.

The two returned to their residence and were warmly welcomed by their four children.

Xie Buli and Xie Buqi rushed into their parents' arms, wanting kisses, hugs, and to be lifted up high. Even Xie Wuyou and Xie Wuchou, who could only babble, seemed to know that their parents had returned in triumph, and showered the two of them with countless spittles.

Jiang Li and Xie Chang'an held their four children, feeling extremely content.

Now that the Great Chu Kingdom is peaceful and prosperous, and the world is at peace, they no longer need to run around and can stay at home to raise their four children properly.

Five years later.

The Prince's Palace of An and the Prince's Palace of Jing'an were bustling with activity, filled with a joyous atmosphere.

It was the Mid-Autumn Festival, and also the birthday of Prince Anguo, so the mansion naturally had to celebrate in a grand manner.

Uncle Zhou and Aunt Lian started working early in the morning, keeping the people from the two princely residences running around in a frenzy.

"Is the glass chandelier in the front yard hung up properly? Our prince loves this 'Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix' chandelier the most, so be careful not to break it!"

"Are the fruits and pastries ready? Put out the crystal snow skin mooncakes from Longmen Pastry."

"The screen, the wrong screen has been taken! Take the sandalwood screen with the Hundred Longevity Characters design!"

The kitchens of both princely residences were bustling with activity.

Chef Liu stamped his foot while holding the gilded porcelain bowl: "If even a speck of gold powder is rubbed off the vine pattern on the bottom of this bowl, you'll be in for a world of trouble!"

The young cook next to him hurriedly wiped the tableware with a soft cloth, his voice trembling: "Don't worry, Master, we've already replaced the cotton pads three times. We'll make sure these imperial tableware pieces are in perfect condition."

Steam rose from the stove, where Chef Wang, the cook, held up a long-handled ladle and glared at his apprentice: "Are the fresh abalone from Donghai ready? Don't let them get too soft and lose their chewiness like last time!"

The apprentice hurriedly lifted the celadon jar beside him, revealing abalone meat soaking in clear water, each piece plump and glistening: "Master, look, just as you said, it has been soaked in spring water for three hours, with the water changed every half hour, there's absolutely no mistake!"

Just then, Old Zhou, the purchasing agent, came in carrying two heavy food boxes: "Master Wang, everything you ordered is here! Fresh lotus roots from Jiangnan and lychees from Lingnan are all chilled with crushed ice from the ice cellar!"

Master Wang stepped forward and began rummaging through the fresh lotus roots. Suddenly, he frowned and said, "Why is there a dent in one of these lotus roots? The 'Abundant Harvest Year After Year' platter at the birthday banquet is all about keeping the lotus root slices intact. Go and get two more pieces quickly!"

Old Zhou quickly agreed, wiped his sweat, and turned to run outside.

The workers chopping vegetables nearby didn't dare to delay. Holding silver knives, they cut the soaked wood ear mushrooms and shiitake mushrooms into thin strips, arranging the vegetables on a white porcelain plate, even more neatly than if measured with a ruler.

Meanwhile, Xie Chang'an, the protagonist of the birthday banquet, was currently nestled in his bedchamber, combing his beloved wife's hair.