Chapter Twenty-Nine: You Call This a Little Trick?

"It cannot be persuaded," Qin Hao said bluntly.

"Then why are you even talking!" Li Qingyao snapped, clearly annoyed.

Qin Hao added with a smile, "Don't be impatient. You certainly can't persuade them with words alone, but a few small tricks will be more than enough."

"Can you stop speaking in such fragmented bursts!" Li Qingyao had arrived at court today already full of frustration, and Qin Hao's manner of speaking only made her more irritable.

"Your Highness, listen to what Qin Hao has to say first," Emperor Xuande interrupted his daughter’s outburst. After all, Li Qingyao was only eighteen; when her temper flared, someone had to rein her in.

Li Qingyao nodded and fell silent.

Qin Hao continued, "The migration of the Southerners to the North cannot be forced. First and foremost, you must make the disaster victims willing to migrate north themselves. Remember, this is the most important point. The noble clans and powerful families are influential and can handle many things, but... when faced with the will of the people, they dare not swim against the tide."

Qin Hao paused briefly. Li Qingyao silently digested his words and then nodded.

Worried that she might not remember, Qin Hao started writing while he spoke. "As for how to make the victims volunteer to move north, you must lure them with incentives. First, you must determine how many of the disaster-stricken households, as well as the unaffected ones, have family members currently serving as soldiers guarding the northern frontiers."

Li Qingyao was confused. "What does this have to do with guarding the frontiers?"

Qin Hao laughed. "It has everything to do with it. Think about it: these soldiers guarding the border are someone's sons, husbands, or fathers. No one wants to be away from home. Conversely, without a man to support them, the families back home are struggling, and they naturally yearn for their loved ones serving far away. When the time comes, tell these families that if they are willing to put down roots in the North, you will arrange for those soldiers to return home for visitation every month. This will soothe the soldiers who are poorly treated, comfort the families missing their kin, and simultaneously make the people willing to move north."

Li Qingyao’s pupils dilated slightly. *This...* How did Qin Hao think of this? He was playing the emotional card.

But he wasn't finished. Qin Hao continued, "And if those who were not affected by the disaster also wish to move north, then once they migrate, the houses and buildings they leave behind can be arranged for the disaster victims who are unwilling to leave. This will alleviate the pressure in the South while providing disaster relief simultaneously. Do you understand now?"

Li Qingyao stared at Qin Hao with wide eyes, as if looking at a monster. Even in the depths of Emperor Xuande's eyes, there was a hint of shock. Was this the "small trick" Qin Hao spoke of? It completely bypassed the opinions of the noble clans and went directly to the people. The will of the people was something even the noble families dared not defy.

As an emperor, Xuande had a long-term vision. According to Qin Hao's plan, if the migration process was fast enough, even post-disaster reconstruction would become unnecessary. There would be no need to worry about the dilemma of lacking materials for reconstruction. At this moment, the importance of Qin Hao in Xuande's heart had increased by more than ten levels. The migration of the Southerners had always been a weight on his heart, and now Qin Hao had lifted it. Although the Emperor knew there were still many difficulties ahead, the first step—getting the people to move—had always been impossible. The method Qin Hao provided was absolutely feasible. Once the first step was taken, future difficulties could be overcome. Once the plan succeeded, given ten years, he could forge the Great Jing Dynasty into an unbreakable iron wall, and perhaps even eliminate the formidable enemies beyond its borders in his lifetime! Only then could he safely deal with the noble clans.

Qin Hao waved a hand in front of Li Qingyao’s face. "Why are you zoning out? The core point I want you to understand is self-interest. Whether it is the noble clans or the common people, they are essentially self-interested. You must provide them with benefits, and only then will they act voluntarily. Remember, if the migration is successful, the people will need to reclaim land, build cities, and develop the North. Those who previously had no land will be the greatest beneficiaries. As long as you give them land and real, tangible benefits, they will be willing to go all out to build the North. Thus, the landless Southerners can also serve as the main force for the migration."

Li Qingyao nodded solemnly. Indeed, everything Qin Hao said made sense. Those with family in the military and those without land would certainly be the most willing to develop the North.

Qin Hao continued, "Actually, these are just the first steps. Your main goal is to improve the treatment of the military generals, and when the time comes, you only need to..." Qin Hao spent another half an hour explaining how to improve soldier treatment after the migration.

Li Qingyao was moved. However, she was also worried about Qin Hao’s safety. If it were exposed that he was the mastermind behind this, the civil officials and the noble clans would surely hate him to death.

"That's all for the first step. Let me think tonight about what excuses the courtiers might use to oppose you. If the first step can be completed, I will tell you the rest later. Besides, even if the first step fails, it will still serve to trap the noble clans." Saying this, Qin Hao rubbed his temples. Recalling memories from his previous life was mentally taxing. Feeling a bit of a headache, he said, "This is enough for now, we'll talk about the rest later."

He bowed respectfully to Emperor Xuande. "Teacher, this student is exhausted. Can we continue tomorrow?" After all, he had been talking for nearly an hour.

Emperor Xuande nodded slightly. "Rest well. I will come again tomorrow."

"Understood." Qin Hao swayed as he walked away, his steps light and unsteady. Anyone who has engaged in intense mental labor knows that focusing for too long causes real dizziness.

After Qin Hao left, Li Qingyao hurriedly closed the door, trembling with excitement. "F-father, I... I..." She was so excited her lips quivered; she couldn't even form a complete sentence. Qin Hao's performance was hard to process. First, "Work for Relief," and now the migration of the Southerners. What kind of mind could conceive so many feasible strategies!

Emperor Xuande smiled and comforted his daughter. "No need to say it, I understand."

Li Qingyao nodded repeatedly. Then, Emperor Xuande stood up, an imperial aura radiating from him. "Qingyao, listen to my decree."

"Your daughter is listening." Li Qingyao knelt down.

"From now on, you only have one task: protect Qin Hao. Nothing must happen to him. Furthermore, send men to investigate the Count of Kaiyang and the daughter of Duke Yang, Yang Suxin. If the Count of Kaiyang or Yang Suxin pose a threat to Qin Hao’s life, I grant you the authority to execute them first and report later."

"Your daughter accepts the decree!" Li Qingyao replied excitedly before standing up.

Emperor Xuande exhaled deeply. "Qingyao, find an opportunity to let Qin Hao meet your eldest brother. But remember, do not reveal his identity."

Li Qingyao's face lit up with joy. "Your daughter thanks you on behalf of my brother."

Soon, Emperor Xuande left. In truth, he was internally agitated as well. Everything Qin Hao said today viewed complex problems from the simplest perspective. For instance, the idea of appealing to the people's self-interest was novel. In the past, who had ever considered the benefits to the people? But Qin Hao had. Because he considered it, he could break the deadlock. It would make Great Jing more prosperous and benefit the people. In the Emperor's eyes, Qin Hao possessed his own unique "Dragon-Assisting Art." In his heart, there were only four words to describe Qin Hao: "A Minister of a Golden Age."

Inside the Princess’s study, even after the Emperor had left, Li Qingyao could not hide her excitement. According to Qin Hao's plan, just wait—at tomorrow’s court session, she would stun everyone.

...

Elsewhere, at the Qin residence, Duke Yang had visited. The Count of Kaiyang was playing chess and chatting with his father-in-law in the backyard.

"Father, your strategy is truly brilliant. Faced with the reality of 'a clever woman cannot cook without rice,' no matter how the Princess tries to refute it, it will be to no avail. Unless she can find a better way to provide relief, one that can jump over the reality of the barren disaster area."

Duke Yang stroked his beard, satisfied with his son-in-law’s flattery. "Have you found the person who is advising the Princess?"

The Count of Kaiyang sighed slightly. "Not yet. The Princess has hidden the person too well."

Duke Yang was not surprised. "If you can't find them, why not change your thinking? First, go find that 'Scholar Shen' at the Fengyue Pavilion."

The Count of Kaiyang didn't understand at first, but then his mind opened up. "Right, I can win over Scholar Shen first. Then, have him publicly challenge the Princess's advisors. Any scholar worth his salt wouldn't refuse such a challenge. A simple provocation. After all, there is no 'first place' in literature."

Scholars were so easy to manipulate. The two men shared a knowing smile and continued drinking tea. They chatted about Scholar Shen’s poetry, which was indeed stunning. They hadn't seen such talent in a long time. If that Scholar Shen also possessed the strategic mind of the Princess’s advisor, that would be even better.

Not long after, the Count of Kaiyang sent his son, Qin Kaizhi, to Fengyue Pavilion to see if he could "accidentally" encounter Scholar Shen. Young people were easier to communicate with; making friends first wouldn't seem so abrupt.

In the evening, Qin Hao left the Qin residence. He had an appointment with Ma Yingze. Li Qingyao had arranged for the hidden guards left by the Emperor to follow Qin Hao secretly to protect his safety. They were not to reveal themselves unless Qin Hao’s life was in danger. If he were in mortal peril, they were to judge for themselves whether to kill the attackers, regardless of who they were.

At the entrance of Fengyue Pavilion, Qin Hao bumped into Ma Yingze.

"Scholar Shen, here to indulge in some refinement?" Ma Yingze, accompanied by a friend, shouted from afar. His shout attracted quite a bit of attention. Everyone looked at Qin Hao, whispering excitedly. *Is this the 'Scholar Shen'? He even has the look of a scholar.*

Facing the praise, Qin Hao didn't respond directly but shouted back, "Absolutely, let's go, let's be refined!"

The three of them laughed and entered the pavilion. As soon as Qin Hao arrived, the owner greeted him warmly. Mei'er and Xue'er, hearing of his arrival, hurriedly rushed to his private room. They hadn't seen him for over a day, and their longing was overflowing.

Shortly after they sat down, Qin Kaizhi arrived at the pavilion. He had long wanted to come but never had the chance or the money. Now, his father had sent him to the brothel and even provided the funds. He was determined to have a good time. Of course, he hadn't forgotten his mission: to befriend the "Scholar Shen." It was a pity he couldn't find a chance to beat Qin Hao up; that would have made the day perfect.