IDWBE -Chapter 315 Punishment

“People’s hearts?”

Lin Yi sneered. “You’re not including the commoners and peasants who have no land, are you?”

The three treasures of a feudal lord: land, people, and governance.

Yet, in the eyes of rulers, “people” often didn’t mean the common folk—it meant nobles and wealthy landowners! Rulers went to great lengths to curry favor with them, foolishly hoping to rely on these elites to maintain their rule.

Lin Yi didn’t wait for them to speak and continued, “The houses of the wealthy stretch for hundreds of rooms, their lands rich and fertile, slaves numbering in the thousands, followers in the tens of thousands. Open your eyes and look—how many guards, servants, and maids are in my mansion? Compare that to them. What do you mean by balance and the principles of governance? Do you think they’re not comfortable enough, so I should give them even more perks? I really don’t understand your thinking. Pity me—compared to them, I’m just a pauper.”

“Not daring!”

Both of them dropped to the ground, kneeling again.

They had to admit the Prince was right. Those southern elites lived far better than he did.

But to call the Prince a pauper? That was extreme! Yet they didn’t dare speak up.

“Since you dare not, why come to advise me?”

Lin Yi took a sip from his teacup and continued, “My mind is made up. No more advice is needed. Just thinking that they live better than me makes me furious.”

“Your Highness,” Xing Keshou hesitated a moment before daring to speak, “Though these local elites are unjust, the lands are accumulated over generations. If you forcibly seize them, it may be difficult to appease public opinion.”

“Mr. Xing,” Lin Yi sighed. “You’re mistaken again. I’m not taking all their land; I’m just re-registering it. Any family owning more than five hundred acres can only sell, not buy. Not one acre more. A family of twenty could have ten thousand acres. If they cultivate it, fine. If not, it’s wasted and must be reclaimed to give to those without land. Some orphans and widows have no means to farm. Enough of your chatter. What I’ve decided, I will not revoke. Instead of wasting time arguing with me, go explain my intentions to the landowners. I’ve already compromised repeatedly. If they still don’t understand, let them test whether their necks or my blade is harder.”

Land consolidation had always been one of the trickiest issues in history.

But Lin Yi had no intention of taking extreme measures.

The realm was already in chaos—lawlessness, impoverished people, ruined infrastructure, halted trade.

Even if the landlords died, the common people wouldn’t necessarily prosper. Most importantly, if the landlords died, the economic cycle would collapse.

A flawed economic system was better than everyone living in constant fear—a stagnant pool of despair. Similar to the situation in Sanhe, these “vampires” couldn’t just be wiped out.

At the same time, with successive natural and human disasters and a sparse population, not seizing the landlords’ land left enough for the rest.

What he needed to do was organize the commoners to reclaim wasteland.

Reclaiming land isn’t easy. Cultivation isn’t easy either, mainly because seeds, oxen, iron tools, and other production materials were monopolized by landlords. Lin Yi planned to lease them following Sanhe’s method: three households share one ox, a village having five or six oxen—better than none.

He wouldn’t let these people leave their land uncultivated to work as tenants for the landlords.

He also encouraged planting sweet potatoes and corn, which were low-maintenance, high-yield crops—ensuring the people wouldn’t starve.

As long as they didn’t starve, they had hope and wouldn’t rebel.

“Since Your Highness insists, I will obey!”

Xing Keshou said helplessly.

Lin Yi continued, “Draft an edict. Send it to Nanzhou, Yong’an, Yuezhou, and other regions—apply the same rules.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Xing Keshou and Peng Guishou exchanged glances and then withdrew.

Once outside the Wang residence and aboard their carriages, Peng Guishou hesitated, then said, “Lord Xing, our Prince is still young and impetuous. As loyal ministers, we must advise against rash actions.”

“His Highness must have deeper intentions. We should follow orders,” Xing Keshou said sternly, “I’ve told the Prince before: what you understand, execute; what you don’t understand, also execute. Only through practice can true knowledge emerge. If anyone disobeys, I will not spare them.”

“Understood. Thank you for your guidance,”

Peng Guishou remained silent.

As night fell, Lin Yi looked at Mingyue and Zixia, who were lighting lamps, and said, “We don’t need so many lamps. One or two to see the road is enough.”

“Your Highness,” Mingyue smiled, “Reading with so little light will strain your eyes.”

“Tonight we drink, not read,” Lin Yi said.

At that moment, Xiao Xizi brought over the wine cup and jug. After pouring for himself, Lin Yi drank a cup and laughed, “These candles are different today. Why do they smell fragrant?”

Mingyue said, “Tian Shiyou arranged for them to be delivered. Made with whale oil, he said.”

“Did that scoundrel Tian Shiyou come to Jinling City?”

Lin Yi asked.

Xiao Xizi replied, “Yes. A few days ago he even fought someone at a tavern. Now he’s probably off enjoying himself somewhere.”

“Did Tian Shiyou offend you?”

Lin Yi asked directly.

“Your Highness, I beg forgiveness,” Xiao Xizi knelt, whispering, “He repeatedly showed disrespect in front of Your Highness. I just wanted to teach him a lesson.”

“You little fool. If you want to teach someone a lesson, be smart about it,” Lin Yi laughed, “Do you think vague words can fool me? Am I an idiot?”

If Tian Shiyou had truly been dealt with according to the law for fighting, he would face forced labor from one month to six months. But being free and carefree now, something was definitely wrong.

“Forgive me, Your Highness!”

Xiao Xizi’s head banged on the stone pavement, blood already appearing.

“Enough,” Lin Yi said, wincing at the sight. “Stop posturing—just speak the truth.”

Trembling, Xiao Xizi said, “I dare not deceive Your Highness. I’m angry at Tao Yingyi. That man plays one way in front of you and another behind your back. He insulted me repeatedly, calling me a eunuch. I resented him. I captured Tian Shiyou and let him go—according to law, that’s abuse of authority and should be punished.”

“You’re becoming more petty by the day. You’re close to me—handling him isn’t hard. Yet you dare manipulate me to punish someone? Who gave you the courage?”

Angrily, Lin Yi kicked him and said coldly, “Go receive twenty lashes.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

Xiao Xizi trembled as he stood, leaving the room with frequent glances back.

Lin Yi watched him go and said to Mingyue, “Let him serve the Consort for a while.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” Mingyue was slightly surprised. She hadn’t seen the Prince show such decisiveness in a long time.