Fan Li's Governance  

"Court adjourned, court adjourned!"

Xiang Chong was extremely awkward and finally couldn't bear it anymore, prematurely ending the first court session after his enthronement.

"Your Majesty, return to the palace," Eunuch Chen announced.

"Escorting Your Majesty."

The civil and military officials' voices were sparse and weak, even less spirited than when they had shouted "Long live" during the court session.

Xiang Chong didn't care about these trivial matters either. He only wanted to escape from the scene.

"Farewell, ministerial colleagues," Fan Li cupped his fist towards the group of officials.

"Escorting Duke Jin!!!"

This time, it was an unified shout like the roar of the sea, the momentum billowing to the clouds!

Laughing, Fan Li strode with large steps out of the Golden Scales Hall.

***

Fan Manor, Rivers and Mountains Pavilion.

Returning home, Fan Li was still busy with work.

As Duke of Jin of Great Chu and Prime Minister who held control of all government affairs, Fan Li of course handled ten thousand matters daily.

The Golden Scales Hall in the imperial palace was no longer the real place where national affairs were handled. Only Fan Manor's Rivers and Mountains Pavilion was.

Next to the desk, the tall "little mountain" pile of official documents were what Fan Li had to process today.

Fan Li was already used to this. He calmly took a seat and randomly took out a document to start working.

Time slowly slipped away. By the time the sun set behind the western mountains, Fan Manor servants began lighting candle stands and hanging night pearls.

The lamps within Rivers and Mountains Pavilion shone brightly, even brighter than those of the imperial palace!

"Hey?"

"Hey, hey?"

"Uhm... Fan Li, are you busy?"

Fan Li had just set aside an official document when he heard the familiar voice. It was Xiang Ning?

Lowering his head for a look, the voice was indeed coming from the Dust Destiny Necklace.

"Your Majesty, is there something? Your subject is currently handling government affairs."

"Oh..."

Hearing that he was busy with proper matters, Xiang Ning responded before seeming somewhat disappointed.

Thinking that was the end of it, Fan Li continued working. But after just a short while, Xiang Ning's voice transmitted again.

"Are you done working yet?"

Fan Li didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He looked at the desk. There was still one third of the official documents left untouched. But Fan Li still answered, "Mm, just about done."

"Then chat with me for a bit... ah no, chat about state administration!" At where Fan Li couldn't see, a trace of shy red flushed Xiang Ning's face.

"Yes." For this kind of request, Fan Li also felt it reasonable and immediately began his report.

"This year we had a great grain harvest which should be a good thing. But in recent years of favorable winds and timely rains, Great Chu does not lack grain. This has led to the commoner households having difficulty selling their grain since supply exceeds demand and prices are low.

When grain is cheap, it harms the farmers. Once the commoners feel they cannot fulfill their living needs through farming, they will abandon their fields to switch to other industries, such as crafts, business, soldiery or even banditry.

Agriculture is the cornerstone of the state. We must maintain an adequate farming population staying on their fields, persisting in cultivation and grain production. Otherwise the state will fall to turmoil."

"What should we do then!?" Xiang Ning had originally used discussing state administration as an excuse. But after hearing Fan Li's long lecture, she realized that even a mere problem of grain prices and sales channels carried such tremendous hidden troubles that she immediately grew worried!

"Your Majesty, do not fret. Your subject has already devised a solution," Fan Li said.

"I have heard that Han suffered droughts this year and lacks grain. Our Great Chu's surplus of grain can thus be exported to Han. Your subject has just determined a pricing scheme for the grain exports. After accounting for the profit margins of farmer households and export tariffs, transportation costs and other factors, the price is set higher than normal domestic grain prices."

Xiang Ning was left dizzy after hearing this. It took her quite some time to grasp Fan Li's meaning. She exclaimed in surprise, "Our grain is expensive? Can the commoners of Han accept it?"

Fan Li smiled. "Your Majesty, please be at ease. Your subject has coping strategies."

"This... isn't that deceiving people?" Xiang Ning mumbled to herself after taking quite some time to regain her wits.

"Where is there any deception?" Fan Li laughed. "The rice Your Majesty eats daily is personally grown by the Chu commoner households. Chu's rice is indeed imperial grain tribute."

"Oh, but relying solely on advertising, can that make the Han commoners accept more expensive grain?" Xiang Ning worriedly said.

"Naturally it is not so simple. Your subject still has follow up tactics," Fan Li beamed.

Hearing him describe the preferential version, premium version and limited edition, Xiang Ning was left in a daze.

What did he mean?

"Comparable to gold prices? How can that sell!" Xiang Ning exclaimed in shock.

"It is not difficult. I will propagandize that the limited edition grain was not grown by ordinary farmers, but instead personally planted by a group of aura-endowed cultivators."

I believe grain grown by cultivators can arouse the interest of Han's wealthy class. Then they will cast thousands of gold to snap up the purchases. Perhaps your subject did not even prepare enough limited edition grain to sell off."

Xiang Ning was shocked speechless. Unfortunately Fan Li could not see. After quite a while, she said, "...Isn't this still deceiving people?"

Cultivators farming?

It was simply unheard of.

And as the Chu Emperor, she felt Fan Li's false advertising harmed Chu's face and dignity.

But Fan Li said, "Your Majesty, please be at ease. Your subject has never deceived anyone. Every word is the complete truth."

"Our Chu truly has cultivators who farm!?" Xiang Ning was baffled.

That couldn't be right?

That would be such a waste of talent!

Even the lowest stage of body refinement cultivators were excellent soldiers. Why make them till fields?

Fan Li explained, "Your Majesty, with no wars among the Three Kingdoms for many years, our Great Chu's military has long adopted garrison agriculture. Combined with the recent favorable winds and timely rains leading to surplus military grain production every year, I have the Fan clan merchant consortium help sell off the excess. The profits are used as military funding."

Xiang Ning understood now. The Chu troops more or less all had some cultivation. Naturally the grain they grew could be called cultivator grown grain. It was just that Fan Li's packaging was too amazing!

"Lying itself isn't a real skill. Packaging the truth into myths, that is Fan Li's skill," Xiang Ning said to herself.