IDWBE -Chapter 588 Suppressing the Rebels

Daliang had endured years of war, leaving countless orphans and abandoned infants. This elderly lady, by her own effort, had adopted over thirty fatherless and motherless children, many of whom were born with disabilities. For twenty years, she had supported them by washing clothes for others, never abandoning a single child.

Two of her adopted children were particularly successful. Liu Ping’an earned first-class merit in the Northern Frontier campaign. After retiring two years ago, he started as a constable in Jizhou Port and quickly rose to Chief Constable, moving freely among the elite and even befriending Jizhou’s richest man, Jin Buhuan.

Another adopted son, Liu Pinghua, had been selling pancakes on the street. Taking advantage of the government’s “economic reform,” he started a military supply business. Within a few years, he became a well-known merchant in the port city and, following Daliang’s modern education policies, opened Jizhou’s first private modern school.

He personally received recognition and encouragement from Minister of Education Wang Qingbang. In spring, newly appointed Jizhou Provincial Administrator Shen Junru inscribed a plaque for him reading “A Family of Scholars and Virtue.” After learning of his adoptive mother Liu Zhilan’s deeds, Shen recommended her as a “Hero of Daliang.”

Lin Yi reviewed her resume and found no one more suitable.

A woman, and her work was charitable!

It perfectly aligned with current Daliang policies.

Lin Yi nominated her as the female representative of Daliang’s heroes.

Her only drawback was a lack of formal education, so she couldn’t hold office. However, she was later appointed as Jizhou Civil Affairs Advisor, tasked with supervising welfare funds for children’s homes, orphanages, and villages, ensuring proper use.

Liu Zhilan wasn’t an official, but she wielded significant influence.

Not a local gentry, yet her impact reached every welfare department in Jizhou.

It was as if she held a ceremonial sword given by the Prince. Since taking office, she had already removed three orphanage directors, and the authorities continued investigating other illegal activities.

Her actions caused a stir across Jizhou.

After arriving in Ankang City, Lin Yi personally welcomed her, praising her selfless spirit. But the elderly lady spoke bluntly: the civil affairs advisor position was unpaid, and at her age, she had plenty of free time—so public funds were better spent traveling around Jizhou.

Lin Yi was left both amused and exasperated.

Guided by a female constable, Liu Zhilan took her place in the center of the elevated platform.

It was her first time speaking from such a height, looking down on so many people, and delivering a speech herself. Nervously, she pulled a sheet of paper from her pocket—her prepared remarks.

“Prioritize children’s welfare, ensure sufficient funding, continuously increase national investment, support central, western, border, ethnic, and impoverished regions, actively encourage social participation, enhance social assistance, and ensure every orphan, disabled, or left-behind child receives careful care and grows up healthy and happy.”

The speech had been dictated by her, written by a few of her adopted sons, later revised by the Jizhou Provincial Secretary. Upon arriving in Ankang City, the Ministry of Rites, the Hanlin Academy, the Education Ministry, and the Civil Affairs Ministry reviewed it, and finally, the three legal authorities of Daliang finalized it.

When the draft returned to her, she realized it had been completely rewritten—not a single sentence remained hers.

However, officials told her the speech closely reflected the “guiding ideology of the Prince” and would be published in the Daliang Daily, assembled from regional reports. Everyone in the empire would know her name: Liu Zhilan.

She was overjoyed.

So she didn’t overthink it. Living in the Rites Ministry’s Protocol and Records Department, she memorized the speech repeatedly for half a month under staff guidance, gaining weight and filling out her cheeks. Even though she could recite it backward almost perfectly, she was still required to read it aloud.

She couldn’t read a single character—what was the point of holding the script?

The Ministry of Rites explained it was part of the “sense of ceremony” endorsed by the Prince. Rules were rules.

“Children without guardians, commonly called de facto orphans, according to the latest Liang laws, include those whose parents both suffer severe disabilities or illnesses, are imprisoned, subjected to restrictions on personal freedom, or missing; or children with one deceased or missing parent while the other meets one of the eight conditions above. De facto orphans often face multiple survival challenges; although they have parents, they are effectively alone, with a weak social support system—long a weak point in child welfare.”

Once she overcame her nervousness, she spoke more fluently, her tone growing stronger. She remembered that the Ministry of Rites advised her to ensure everyone could hear her clearly.

After her speech, a soldier recommended by the Ministry of War came forward—a man with one arm missing and a fierce expression.

From Yuzhou, a fifth-rank expert, he killed fifteen enemies in the Battle of Liangshui River, losing an arm and bleeding profusely, yet fought to the death.

As the Regent Prince presented his award, military music played.

Besides receiving the Daliang Hero Medal, the soldier, Yuan Dalin, was promoted to Deputy Director of Yuzhou Huaicheng’s Civil-Military Department.

Everyone in the audience understood—this man could move freely in Yuzhou. Further promotion was unlikely, however, due to his disability.

Ensuring veterans with merit and disabilities were respected, while not placing them in critical positions, was part of Daliang’s dignity.

After the lively ceremony, Lin Yi didn’t rush back. He went to the National Academy lecture hall, removed his ornate ceremonial robes, washed up, had some tea, and finally relaxed.

“Prince.”

He Jixiang handed over a memorial in time.

Lin Yi waved it off. “Speak directly if it’s important.”

Squinting lazily, he didn’t even look at it.

“Prince, news from the Northern Frontier!”

He Jixiang was too excited to speak coherently.

“Expected,” Lin Yi replied calmly, though slightly surprised.

Yuan Ang and Mei Jingzhi had been away for a long time; reports had been sparse, lacking any major victory news.

“Prince, brilliant!”

He Jixiang shouted.

“General Mei Jingzhi led troops to Liangshui River. Ali resisted fiercely. Commander Hong displayed his prowess, striking Ali squarely in the face, unhorsing him. Soldiers captured him, and the rebels, upon hearing of the imperial forces, surrendered en masse—over thirty thousand prisoners! The situation is fully under control!”

The Northern Frontier had always been Daliang’s inherent territory; the campaign was to suppress the rebellion.

“Good, good, good!”

Lin Yi repeated three times in succession.