Chapter 328 - - 326 He who wins the hearts of the people wins the world_1

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Overnight, the sky above had changed, and the hearts of the people in the three county towns were filled with panic.

After all.

Talking about it is one thing, but when it happens to you, it’s entirely another.

No matter how good the Fourth Princess’s propaganda was, she had seized Chongming Country’s territory.

And seizing Chongming Country’s territory meant there would be war.

War meant merit for the generals above, and territory for the monarch.

But for ordinary people, it meant death, a life of displacement, and endless taxes…

No one liked war.

But soon, the people of the three county towns realized that the Fourth Princess was truly different from the others.

After the Fourth Princess’s army took control of the county towns, the first thing they did was not loot, but distribute a pamphlet requiring everyone to follow the Principle of gender equality. They also established a women’s assistance office next to the County government to deal specifically with cases of abuse, coercion, and restriction of educational freedom for women. This office held the same authority as the County government;

At the same time, they required all academies and private schools to enroll female students equally and allowed women to receive education. Those private schools and academies that did not agree to this term would be severely punished, charged with the crime of discriminating against women;

Families that voluntarily sent their daughters to school would receive a plaque from the County government honoring them as a model family, upon verification of authenticity.

Those with the model family plaque would receive a one-time material reward from the County government and be exempt from taxes for the girls until they reached adulthood;

In a nutshell.

In the jurisdiction of the Fourth Princess, women’s status had been elevated to an unprecedented level, even surpassing the previously advertised gender equality.

So much so that many men began to worry that, at this rate, the status of men and women might end up being reversed one day.

But soon.

They stopped worrying.

Because a rumor from a wise person suddenly spread among the people.

After all.

This was Chongming Country’s territory. Compared to the vast Chongming Country, Luo Shuang’s few thousand men were at best considered bandits. Who knows when they might be driven off or annihilated…

While she ruled, they would just play along. Whenever Chongming Country recaptured the lost land, everything would revert back to the way it was.

At worst, they would send the girls to the school for a few days. After all, they had nothing to lose;

On the other hand, those who did not send their girls to school.

Might face the Fourth Princess’s wrath, and the heavy axe of taxation could come crashing down on their heads…

A model family was just an excuse for the Fourth Princess to raise funds and provisions.

Word of mouth spread quickly.

All the stubborn people seemed to awaken in an instant, vying with each other to send their girls to school, and then to the County government for the model family plaques.

The policy of gender equality seemed to align with the people’s will and was implemented very smoothly.

Not only that.

For the same reasons, under the same pretext.

Business associations and artisan guilds advocating equality for everyone were also established very smoothly, with hardly any resistance…

In just two to three days, the three counties captured by Huangfu Yue had undergone transformation, switching to an entirely different mode of operation.

It seemed as if everyone became a pioneer of change, with not a single old-fashioned family stepping out to block the pace of change.

In the past, this would have been impossible.

Huangfu Yue had heard her father talk about the difficulties of civilizing the tribes beyond the borders after winning wars; educating them was always the most difficult task, often taking decades to accomplish.

But He Xu had made a few plaques and spread a series of rumors, easily transforming several county towns into the model he wanted.

That sleazy fellow was too terrifying.

Why did such a talented person choose to fight in such a disgusting manner?

These past few days.

Huangfu Yue had many things to do, but whenever she had a moment to herself, the battle scene from that night would involuntarily flash through her mind.

A chill would rise on her skin, her body would itch as if those water snakes were still coiled around her.

Duge’s voice and smile seemed to have taken root in her mind, impossible to shake off no matter what.

It had been two nights now, and she dreamed of the wild dance of the water snakes in her sleep.

Waking up to a sense of loss.

By now, Huangfu Yue was somewhat unclear whether her feelings towards Duge were still those of hatred.

…

Duge was naturally aware of the people’s reaction.

What he wanted was this simple-to-implement change, no matter the method!

Custom becomes nature.

As people became accustomed to the current lifestyle, once he had established a stable footing against the attacks of Chongming Country, it wouldn’t be so easy to overturn these policies.

Every person hates trouble.

With these three counties as pilot areas, it would be even easier to persuade others once they conquered additional counties in the future.

For those who disagreed, they would do as the rumors said—swing the tax collector’s heavy blade down upon their heads…

What’s true and what’s false, what’s real and what’s illusionary.

Isn’t that what “The Art of War” teaches?

…

The issue of military provisions would also be easily resolved.

Duge expressly issued a notice: those who voluntarily donated military provisions, money, or fabric would receive a donation certificate from the Fourth Princess. After the restoration of the country, they could use this certificate to obtain triple compensation, or convert it into military achievements, with the highest being awarded the status of nobility;

Because of the prior rumors, most people still anticipated Chongming Country recapturing the lost land, and were not enthusiastic about trading grain for nobility.

The slogan of gender equality was false, but the grain in their hands was real. Once donated, it truly would be gone. The certificate issued by the Fourth Princess would be worth nothing if she died…

But Duge had his own methods.

After the notice went out, Duge had Huangfu Yue hire a bunch of stooges to create the false impression of an eager grain donation campaign.

Cart after cart of grain was sent to Yutang Pass.

The large landowners and wealthy merchants who obtained the grain donation certificates became Yutang Pass’s honored guests, returning to the county seat every day beaming with joy. However, when others tried to inquire what benefits they had received, they could learn nothing.

But after a day, even more carts loaded with grain entered Yutang Pass, an endless stream.

The common folk also confirmed through the servants of these wealthy households that what was being loaded onto the carts was indeed grain, not a deception…

The wealthy and prestigious represented the trend of the time; the common people believed their vision could not be wrong. Moreover, by the looks of it, they did not seem to be coerced.

So.

Those with surplus money and grain at home also started tentatively shouldering and carrying their excess grain to Yutang Pass. They exchanged it for a gilded donation certificate from the Fourth Princess, placed within a luxurious-looking wooden box wrapped in red silk;

Moreover, they were publicly thanked in a grand manner by the Fourth Princess at Yutang Pass, adorned with red banners and hung decorations, addressing the neatly arrayed soldiers from the platform. They received treatment like distinguished guests to the extent that when they returned home, they were still in a daze.

The entire person would be in a state of floating bliss, feeling as if they had not lost anything with the grain they donated…

After all.

In this world, commoners rarely had the opportunity to be so highly regarded and the center of everyone’s attention – shining and cherished like the stars and the moon.

With the first household contributing, a second followed; more and more grain carts headed to Yutang Pass, perfectly resolving the food crisis of the soldiers guarding the pass.

…

“Master, is what we’re doing really ok?” Luo Shuang looked at the batches of grain coming in and felt uneasy, “Are we really going to give back all these grains to those wealthy households?”

“Give it back, of course we’ll return it. Haven’t I already said, a person who doesn’t keep their word will not stand firm. If you do not fulfill what you’ve promised them, getting their support in the future will become impossible,” Duge spoke, “Princess, whomever wins the hearts of the people conquers the world. If you lose the hearts of the people, our chances of restoring the country will vanish forever.”

What do you mean by ‘I’ will lose the hearts of the people!

If anyone’s going to lose them, it’s you!

If the common folk knew what you did, I would be torn apart first…

Luo Shuang voiced her complaint with a hint of grievance: “The gentry’s money will be returned in full, while the common folk’s contributions will be divided with thirty percent going to us. Are we being too unfair to the commoners?”

On the side.

Huangfu Xing looked straight ahead, inwardly chaotic to this moment.

He had never imagined Duge would obtain grain through such means, returning the gentry’s contributions in full, while taking a thirty percent share from the commoner’s. This fellow’s heart had become thoroughly cold!

At this point, Huangfu Xing even suspected that He Xu had already conspired with the Fourth Prince. With Duge’s methods, no matter how stable Chongming Country was, it wouldn’t be long before it was thrown into turmoil.

He might not even need to do anything else; just taking the money and grain and running would be enough.

“Too much?” Duge chuckled, “Haven’t the people received what they wanted? We told them from the start the purpose of the donation certificate, we haven’t deceived them. The grain is also something they brought voluntarily…”

“That’s true, but…” Luo Shuang frowned.

“Princess, do you lack confidence in yourself?” Duge asked, looking at Luo Shuang while casually pulling out a rattan cane, “Has a mere Yutang Pass made you forget your purpose?”

“Master, I haven’t,” Luo Shuang stuttered nervously as she saw the rattan cane.

“That’s good, as long as you fulfill their promises after you reclaim the throne, there won’t be any problems,” Duge stated seriously, “Princess, I have never thought of deceiving the common folk. All of the donation certificates were signed in your name, and it was your credibility that moved those merchants.

If you want to preserve your reputation and not disappoint the common people who have placed their hopes in you, you’ll need to exert all your energy on the matters of restoration.

This is the pressure you bear, but also your motivation. Otherwise, if you fail to reclaim the throne, you will become the most infamous princess in history, the kind whose infamy lasts for thousands of years…”

But you’re the one who did all these things!

Tears swirled in Luo Shuang’s eyes, but she ultimately refrained from voicing her complaints against Duge.

She knew that everything Duge did was to help her exact revenge; she herself should bear the consequences of it all.

Otherwise.

With the master’s talent, why would he stoop to such dirty deeds!

Luo Shuang took a deep breath: “I understand, Master.”

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