Cultivation Simulator: Starting From The Empress' Palace

These aristocrats are mostly the children of officials who were either demoted or dismissed during the previous power transition, as well as some members of the imperial family.

Chen Mo has already used them more than once to establish authority and doesn’t mind doing it again.

Thus, Chen Mo proposed that lands left uncultivated for more than five years should be reclaimed by the Imperial Court and auctioned off to the public.

The proceeds from the auctions should be used to buy plowing oxen, invest in water conservancy, and strongly encourage farming in Bianliang.

As the governor, Xiao Yunxi readily agreed to Chen Mo’s proposal with a bold stroke of her pen.

When this policy was announced, it caused an uproar in Bianliang, causing many officials to become restless. Even Wu Lu sent someone to persuade him, warning that this could lead to major trouble since there are also many aristocratic youths in the Imperial Guard, and touching their interests could trigger unrest.

Those whose lands were lying fallow were eager to skin Chen Mo alive.

However, when taking this step, Chen Mo had already anticipated that many people would try to dissuade him.

But such is the nature of reform; it inevitably touches some people’s interests, but if persevered, its effects can be astonishing.

The Great Song is already decaying, deeply rooted to the core, and it can’t be solved with mere medication or minor surgeries; it requires major overhaul across all aspects.

Seeing Chen Mo harden his resolve, Wu Lu did not persuade further. Since both were related by marriage, Wu Lu also had to show some support. He first donated the Wu Family’s lands in Bianliang, followed by the Xiao Family, Huangfu Family, and Chu Family...

Seeing that four out of the seven great aristocratic families agreed, other privileged families and military families clenched their teeth and, to prevent their lands from being reclaimed, hastily dispatched people to cultivate their fields.

The common folk of Bianliang were overjoyed, praising Prince Zhen Nan and the Empress Dowager.

...

Outside Bianliang City, the steward of the Mu Prince’s Mansion brought a group of household guards to confront a number of Imperial Guards.

Mu Prince was an imperial relative, the Late Emperor’s uncle. However, during the last incident when Gao Zheng led troops to capture an assassin, he angrily suffered a fatal stroke, and his eldest son Zhao Qi inherited the position of Mu Prince, making the Emperor call Zhao Qi his uncle according to seniority.

Though Chen Mo proposed reclaiming lands left uncultivated for over five years for auction by the court,

as per tradition, the lands of such super aristocrats like imperial relatives were generally turned a blind eye. But the people of the Mu Prince’s Mansion didn’t expect this group to be so unruly.

The steward of the Mu Prince’s Mansion was on the verge of erupting: ”Gao Zheng, you are bold! This area is the property of our Mu Prince’s Mansion, and you dare reclaim it? Aren’t you afraid our prince will petition against you?”

There were quite a few commoners gathered around, and hearing this, they couldn’t help but gasp.

This area was indeed the prince’s land.

The prince, who was related by blood to the Emperor, can this really be successfully reclaimed?

The commoners were not optimistic.

Gao Zheng, however, was unfazed by the Mu Prince. He had the support of Prince Zhen Nan and immediately snorted coldly, his nostrils flared: ”Report to whomever you wish, we are acting on the Imperial command. The Empress Dowager has decreed that lands left uncultivated for more than five years be reclaimed by the court.

Attempting to secretly reclaim them now is trying to deceive your superiors. Look for yourself, this fertile land is enough to build another Palace for the Emperor.”

The Mu Prince’s steward immediately jumped with urgency. Before coming, the Mu Prince had instructed to stall, intending to enter the palace to make the Emperor retract the command. The steward said:

”Gao Zheng, you’re insolent, daring to be disrespectful to the Mu Prince. The incident that enraged and killed the Late Mu Prince – Mu Prince hasn’t held you accountable yet, and if you continue to twist words, do you believe Mu Prince will have the Emperor execute your entire clan?”

”To hell with you, old rascal, scum’s whelp, stop flinging accusations at me. When did I disrespect the Mu Prince? Last time was business as usual, and it’s the same today.” Gao Zheng said with a cold face.

”You...you dare curse me.” The Mu Prince’s steward’s body trembled with anger.

”Curse you?” Gao Zheng snorted a couple of times, then sneered: ”Step aside or a beating will be the least of your worries.”

With a wave of Gao Zheng’s hand, the Imperial Guards behind him revealed their weapons.

Seeing their weapons drawn, the Mu Prince’s steward cringed involuntarily, feeling somewhat fearful. He dared to retort a few words but didn’t dare to oppose them outright.

Last time, Gao Zheng enraged the Late Mu Prince to death, and nothing happened to him afterwards.

Seeing him cower, Gao Zheng rolled up his sleeves and shouted loudly: ”Those who know better will step aside. Otherwise, test whether my fists or your heads are harder.”

The Mu Prince’s steward’s face alternated between green and red, thought it over and still reluctantly retreated, yet making sure to leave a harsh word for Gao Zheng to ”just wait.”

”Good.” The surrounding commoners, seeing that Gao Zheng and his people were unafraid even of the Mu Prince’s Mansion, immediately cheered loudly.

Seeing so many people gathered, Gao Zheng didn’t forget to credit this to Prince Zhen Nan’s efforts:

”My prince has said that lands left uncultivated for more than five years must be reclaimed by the court, regardless of the landowner, all treated equally, without favoritism.”

...

On the other side.

In a vast open space at the Prince Zhen Nan’s rear courtyard stood six iron pillars forged from refined iron.

Chen Mo stood in the middle of the six iron pillars, holding a spear in both hands, his mind recalling the movements of the Profound Celestial Dragon Control First Technique.

He slowly closed his eyes, adjusting his body’s acupoints, muscles, breathing, and posture to an optimal state.

Finally, he combined the Heart Method Realm of Harmonize with the Light and Dust here, and in an instant, veins bulged on the back of his hands, then his left arm, then his entire body, even his forehead, with faint mist rising.

Suddenly, he snapped open his eyes.

Buzz buzz buzz!

The spear in his hands emitted a trembling dragon roar, as if a fierce dragon was about to emerge from the sea, he thrust his spear out.

Swoosh!

A glint of cold light first appeared, then the spear emerged like a dragon.

With a booming explosion, a solid iron pillar in front of Chen Mo suddenly burst open.

”Coo...”

Qiu, who was watching Chen Mo practice from atop a roof, stood up immediately, eyes full of shock.

Chen Mo withdrew his spear and stood, looking at the exploding iron pillar, admiration in his eyes.

The first technique, ”Spear Emerges Like a Dragon,” he had finally mastered it.

He had used an ordinary spear just now. If he replaced it with the Nine Thunder Profound Celestial Spear and executed the Spear Emerges Like a Dragon, what would its power be?

”Having temporarily mastered Profound Celestial Dragon, it’s time to begin cultivating the True Explanation of the Minor Profound Technique...”

Just as the thought crossed Chen Mo’s mind, he suddenly sensed something and looked up, smiling: ”Jiang Ning, you’re here?”

Zhao Jiangning smiled and nodded, gracefully walking over, saying: ”I heard that you, my lord, sent Gao Zheng to reclaim Mu Prince’s lands?”

”Mu Prince came to you to plead?” Chen Mo was taken aback.

Zhao Jiangning nodded: ”Mu Prince sent someone with a message for me, asking me to whisper on your pillow, saying we are all family, so you should turn a blind eye.”

”That won’t do, that is a classic example that I’ve painstakingly chosen.”