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Shen Dongsu arranged for officials from Liangzhou to study in Youzhou, and asked them to first improve infrastructure after returning. It was very important to build roads and bridges.

If the road is repaired and the trade route is opened, people will be attracted to go there. Another thing is to add the local specialties of Liangzhou to the purchase list of sea merchants.

Economic development cannot be rushed. We must lay a solid foundation, otherwise it will be a mirage and a mere facade that will soon collapse.

What Liangzhou officials most wanted to learn was the coal industry, because the winters in Liangzhou were also very cold. It was only with the batch of coal sent by the Queen this year that everyone realized that there was such a convenient heating material.

They visited the coal mines and learned what kind of terrain would yield coal. They quickly sent a message back to Liangzhou, asking them to start digging and take the coal-pulling machines and coal-stove makers back with them.

Liangzhou is also working hard to get rich. There were no role models before, and everyone’s mentality was that it was normal for the border areas to be poor. Which border area is not poor?

But with the example of Youzhou, we know that any place can become a Feng Shui treasure land as long as it is managed properly.

Especially those who have been to Youzhou, after returning to Liangzhou, praised Youzhou as a paradise on earth with gold flowing everywhere.

As soon as he received the letter from Youzhou, General Xie sent troops to dig coal. No matter how cold it was, the earlier they dug it, the more supplies they would have to keep warm during this long winter.

As a result, they dug and dug, using many tools and methods, but they didn't find any coal. Instead, they dug out another black, greasy substance.

An old man said that this is what the Hu people call black kerosene, and people must not touch it, or they will die. Dip a stick in it, light it and use it as a lamp, which is quite good.

After General Xie pondered for a while, he sent two barrels to Youzhou and asked the Queen to take a look at what they were.

When Shen Dongsu received the two barrels of oil, it felt like Ling Moxiao looking at the world map for the first time.

She even wondered with a little pride, could it be that she really had some kind of destiny? How could she be so lucky?

The Industrial Revolution had just begun, and someone discovered oil for her!

With oil, there are many things we can do.

She immediately sent disciples of the Mohist School and officials from the Ministry of Works to set up a special team specifically for oil, and they went to Liangzhou to dig for oil.

Oil is not as simple as coal. It has to go through many tests before it can become kerosene, and further, become gas.

At that time, everyone used gas lamps, so even without electricity, there were bright lights at night.

Not to mention its use in industry and military, Shen Dongsu had thousands of ideas in an instant, and hurriedly reminded himself not to be impatient and to take it slow.

A small move can affect the entire body. Now you are no longer a peasant girl, nor are you Princess Ling, but the Empress who rules the country. You need to be more calm!

She wanted to tell Ling Moxiao the good news as soon as possible, but when she picked up the pen to write, she realized that the uses of oil sounded like something magical to people of this era.

Moreover, it is impossible to realize all of it with the current technology, and it would be useless to make Ling Moxiao happy. Forget it, I will tell Ling Moxiao after there is progress in the Mo Men research!

Starting from the beginning of October, provincial governments all over the country began to send New Year gifts to Youzhou. When Shen Dongsu first took over as regent, he issued an edict that in the past two years, all places that had suffered natural disasters would be exempted from New Year gifts.

To celebrate the new emperor's accession to the throne, the areas hit by natural disasters were exempted from taxes for one year, especially the area around Macheng, which was exempted from taxes for three years.

It was also this action that made people all over the world praise the emperor and empress. They had long heard that the empress was born a peasant girl and was particularly compassionate to the people. Now it seems to be true.

The Queen also wrote "The hardest work in the world is agriculture, rural areas and farmers. We need enough water for the plow and hope for a good harvest" and presented it to the Agricultural College, which was engraved on a stone tablet.

Like the Hengqu Four Sentences in Wanshu Pavilion, this sentence is regarded as a classic by the Agricultural College. Only by knowing the hard work of farmers, in cultivating grain seeds, improving agricultural tools, observing weather, improving soil, and formulating farming plans according to local conditions, etc.

When doing these farming-related tasks, you will be more serious and focused.

The Queen did not shy away from her origins and said in public many times:

"I was born into a peasant family. I have followed my parents in the spring ploughing and autumn harvesting since I was young. I know the hard work of farmers."

He also said to the Ministry of Revenue:

"My ambition in this life is to realize 'no tax on farmers'. The current situation of Daxia is far from being able to achieve this. I only hope that you can work together with me."

"Let Daxia never again have the situation of 'there is no idle land in the world, but farmers still starve to death'."

There is no tax for farmers!

This is the dream of every heroic emperor, but unfortunately no one has achieved it so far.

The officials did not mock the queen for her wild ideas. Instead, they sincerely felt that the queen really cared about the farmers and really wanted to make the country rich and the people strong.

The officials who had previously opposed the queen’s regent suddenly felt that it was a good thing to have such a queen.

Especially the powerful and the gentry, who had suffered at the hands of Empress Chen and knew how crazy she was at heart. Comparing the two, they all said privately that it was not a bad thing for a peasant girl to become the queen.

The queen knew how to use people and was sincere in her attitude. She never gave orders in areas she was not good at, and always sincerely asked for instructions from important ministers during secret meetings in the study.

He did not act condescendingly at all. Instead, he prepared tea and snacks, and consulted with the important officials like a student consulting his teacher.

She said sincerely, "I am a peasant girl, young, and have never experienced anything major. I am truly humbled and terrified to be entrusted by Your Majesty with the responsibility of supervising the country."

"But I am one with your Majesty, and naturally I cannot ignore state affairs while your Majesty is away on an expedition."

"The affairs of state still rely on all of you important ministers. For the prosperity of Great Xia, I hope you will work hard and unite and cooperate. When Your Majesty returns to the court, I will report this to you and reward you."

The older officials gave him enough face, and the younger officials praised him and made big promises for him.

Those who work silently and are not good at speaking are often praised in commendation meetings to let them know that the queen is always paying attention to them.

For technical talents, praise them for their unique talents. For those who are talented but too ambitious, find opportunities for them to go to the grassroots level for training.

The old scholar loves preaching officials, so he encourages him to go to Wanshu Pavilion for classes, and then he will be annoyed by those young students and lose his temper...

As for the areas in which she is good at, she is never modest and often expresses some unique insights that convince some officials.

Thinking back to the difficult situation in Youzhou City back then, I was able to subdue arrogant and talented scholars like Chen Xingyao and Chen Li.

Not to mention that I am now the queen, am I afraid that I can’t control you old stubborn people?

These words excited the old officials. The Queen was not pretending to be noble at all. Some officials who originally had different political views were able to cooperate after Shen Dongsu's mediation.

She gave enough face to important ministers in public and rewarded them behind their backs. After a few months of regency, even the old censor, who had initially opposed the queen's monopoly of power and almost died by hitting his head against the throne, said nothing more.

Of course, the Queen Mother was not always humble, especially to the powerful people in Chang'an who dared to challenge her authority, take advantage of her seniority, or take the opportunity to cause trouble.

She was ruthless, just like she was with Chen Fang. But she didn't punish randomly. No matter what the crime was, she would find the corresponding law in Youzhou Law and punish according to the law.

What’s funny is that she acted so well in front of the officials that when the powerful and aristocratic families said that the queen was bullying others by abusing her power, none of the officials believed her.

The Queen is so kind. She punishes you like this only because you did something wrong and angered her.

Otherwise, why didn't she punish others?

Whenever Shen Dongsu heard the female officials talking about the gossip in the city, he couldn't help but laugh at his desk.

Emotional intelligence is a science, and so far, I have learned it well.

Next, let’s talk about the sending of New Year gifts. The New Year gifts from Chang’an were delivered first, and the generosity of the gifts shocked the officials of the Ministry of Revenue who were registering them.

Because part of this year's gift is given to the emperor and must be deposited into the national treasury.

Some of them were sent solely to the Queen, the Crown Prince, and the Princess, and were placed in the Queen's private vault.

Shen Dongsu looked at the list that was as tall as Dabao's and asked in surprise, "What are the powerful people in Chang'an trying to do? Is this a gift or a move?"

Chen Luoxue forced a smile when she heard this: "Maybe she regrets not moving the capital with Your Majesty, and wants to ask Your Majesty for special approval to move to Youzhou."

Shen Dongsu shook his head: "His Majesty has issued an order that the dignitaries who chose to stay in Chang'an will be responsible for guarding the old capital. It is impossible for them to move here, but they can let their children and grandchildren go to Youzhou to study and work."

"It seems like it's time to call Chen Xingyao back. There's still a lot of work waiting for him in the Northern Frontier. There's no need for him to stay in Chang'an anymore."

Chen Luoxue nodded slowly: "But General Jia Si still has to stay."

Shen Dongsu said coldly: "Of course, the Grand Empress Dowager is still in Chang'an. If we don't leave troops to deter them, those people will instigate the deposed Empress and support her son to rebel, which will cause trouble for no reason."

"It's enough for Chang'an to be in chaos once. If it happens again, the thousand-year-old capital will be ruined by these idiots."

Chen Luoxue didn't say anything else after hearing this. Shen Dongsu looked at her and didn't ask her what trouble she had encountered.

This girl suddenly came to the palace the day before yesterday and said that she had finished the tasks at hand and wanted to stay by the Empress' side and serve her for a while.

Shen Dongsu naturally agreed. During this period, she asked Chen Luoxue to organize the population census data sent from various places.

She led dozens of female officials to create files for the national population.

In her spare time, Shen Dongsu invited her, Xiaoman, and the twins to have afternoon tea together.

Listening to Chen Luoxue talking about her studies when she was young, she said that children from aristocratic families would start learning at the age of two and would hire famous teachers to teach them.

The prince and princess are almost three years old, especially the prince, so he needs to choose his third master as soon as possible.

Shen Dongsu looked at Dabao who was chewing the egg tart, and then at Erbao who was squinting his eyes to taste the milk pudding. They were not even old enough to go to kindergarten, but they had to start studying from morning to night.

That’s right, the princes in the palace had the same class time as they went to court, which was three in the morning for morning reading, and finished school at one in the afternoon, and then went to learn riding and archery.

This class schedule is totally out of line with human schedules! Besides, there are only two children in the harem now, so why bother inviting a few teachers to teach the two little ones?

She felt sorry for the children because they were tired of studying. It was time to build a royal kindergarten.

The issue of the prince's teaching is a big deal, so I'll discuss it with Ling Moxiao when he comes back. If I suggest that the prince take classes with children of the same age, there will definitely be a bunch of old censors and pedants who will object.

On the third day after Chen Luoxue entered the palace, the Chen family sent someone to see Chen Luoxue, but she refused.

Then she told Shen Dongsu about her troubles. Seeing that she had become the head of the female officials, the Chen family began to have close contacts with her.

In fact, since Chen Li came to Youzhou, the relationship between Chen Luoxue and her family has eased. However, when she returned home for the first time, she was ridiculed by her clansmen and her parents did not protect her, which made her feel disappointed.

Although the relationship has eased now, she still rarely goes home, but only sends letters and gifts home during festivals.

Sometimes her family encountered difficulties and needed her help, and she would not refuse.

Perhaps it was her refusal to refuse that emboldened her family, and the request they made this time was too unreasonable.

Before she could say anything, Shen Dongsu guessed, "Is he going to arrange a marriage for you?"

Chen Luoxue instantly blushed with shame, and at the same time she was furious: "Did they tell the queen?"

Shen Dongsu shook her head: "This is my guess. In their eyes, your daughter is the head of the female officials, which just raises the conditions for marriage."

"Of course I want to marry into a high-ranking family while you are still young, hold a high position, and have my trust."

Chen Luoxue's eyes instantly turned red. Shen Dongsu sighed and asked directly, "What do you think?"

Chen Luoxue shook her head firmly: "I will not marry the person they choose! They sent me to Youzhou in the first place, and my marriage has nothing to do with them!"

Shen Dongsu smiled. She said she would not marry the person they chose, instead of "not marrying anyone". It seems that Chen Luoxue has her elder brother in her heart.

"Are you planning to stay in the palace forever to escape from the Chen family?"

Chen Luoxue shook her head: "I would like to ask the Queen to send me to the Northern Frontier."

Shen Dongsu held her hand with pity: "If you keep on being so tolerant, I can't solve the problem even if I send you to the end of the world."

"Silly girl, even your stupid brother knows that when you encounter trouble, you should ask others for help."

"You should tell me about this as soon as possible. Don't forget that I have the right to marry you. The Chen family has no right to arrange your marriage!"

Chen Luoxue burst into tears instantly. She choked and said, "I just thought that we were still a family, and they still had affection for me..."

Shen Dongsu helped her sit down, put her head on her shoulder, and let her cry until her shoulder was wet.

Shen Dongsu couldn't help but think of the original owner. Jiang was so bad to her, but she still clung to that insignificant maternal love.

It's like Jiang had only one cake, which he broke into two halves and gave to his eldest brother and younger brother, leaving only the crumbs that fell from the middle, and handed them to the original owner, saying:

"Eat it. Mommy can't bear to eat it. I'll give it to you."

The original owner would be deeply moved, and would even automatically find excuses for her mother, sympathize with her, pity her, and regard her harsh treatment of herself as maternal love.

In a sense, the current Chen Luoxue is in the same situation as the original owner!

She longed for family affection and hoped to be loved by her family. She thought that if she worked hard to become a female official and achieved success, her parents would turn their attention to her.

Little did she know that she was the abandoned child a long time ago. Even if she was successful now, her marriage would be used to gain benefits for the family.

"Are you willing to establish yourself as a householder? If so, I will help you." Shen Dongsu said in a deep voice.

This is also the question she has been thinking about. The situation of female officials, the living space of orphans, and women who want to pursue their careers, these people have no way to survive in Chang'an.

Apart from combing her hair by herself, she could also become a nun in a temple. Chang'an was a big city, but it couldn't accommodate an orphan girl.

But Youzhou is different. She has promised a future for female officials and female medical staff. It is time to make a formal proposal.

Being a female household means paying taxes and performing corvée labor like men, but she believes that many women will choose this path.

Use your own hands to build a sky for yourself.

Instead of being given away as a gift by the family as before.