IDWBE -Chapter 589 The Grand Finale

Ten days later, the Northern Frontier was fully reclaimed. The Khan was dead, and his son Kuoluo led the remnants northward.

Less than twenty days later, news came from Chuanzhou that the foreign invaders had withdrawn from the Southern Valley.

In the Golden Throne Hall, Lin Yi publicly declared that the Southern Valley had always been Daliang’s inherent territory.

Yuan Qing led the Chuanzhou army into the entire Southern Valley, while the head of Vajra Platform represented Daliang in visiting the valley’s sacred temple, Tugu Si.

Lin Yi was overjoyed beyond measure.

He was stronger than any emperor in Daliang’s history, expanding the nation to its largest territory ever.

Those who might envy him were likely only his few brothers and his father.

Rumor had it that his father had broken many teacups again.

Upon hearing this, Lin Yi immediately ordered them all replaced with iron.

The next day, he announced that the Sanhe army would advance to the border between Sanhe and Ayu Kingdom.

Unexpectedly, the Ayu emperor, Li Fo, who had long fled to the sea, personally brought the remnants of his court to Ankang City.

Though he had lost his homeland, Lin Yi treated him with proper respect. The Ayu delegation entered the city amid drums and gongs, creating a festive atmosphere.

Thus, the treaty between the two nations proceeded smoothly.

Under the Liang–Ayu Treaty, Ayu became a vassal of Daliang once again.

Ayu would pay an annual tribute of seven million dan of grain—half of Daliang’s national production.

This effectively solved Daliang’s food supply problem.

In return, Daliang would assist Ayu in poverty relief, giving one million taels of silver annually, station troops there after expelling the foreign invaders, and help subdue local rebellious tribes and kingdoms.

“Thank you, Regent Prince!”

Li Fo, in his forties but already with graying temples, kowtowed three times to the much younger Lin Yi, tears streaming down his face in gratitude.

The Sanhe army marched into Ayu.

By summer, the foreign invaders were defeated.

Li Fo regained his throne.

To fulfill the treaty obligations, taxes on the people were increased again.

At the village level, levies escalated layer by layer.

The common people were suffering terribly.

Wei Yishan, newly promoted to Southern Campaign General, couldn’t bear it, especially when seeing infants crying for milk.

But he recalled Lin Yi’s words: “If others must suffer, let it not be Daliang’s citizens.”

Comparatively, the people of Daliang were no worse off than those in Ayu.

Everything prioritized Daliang’s national interest.

The only choice was to endure hardship for the greater good.

Fighting in the south and north, Daliang’s finances were on the brink of collapse.

Every time Lin Yi inspected the countryside, tears welled in his eyes.

The people of Daliang were suffering too much.

He had originally planned to push the army into the western wastelands, but the economy no longer allowed it.

He couldn’t further burden his people.

If starvation spread, how would he differ from tyrants in history?

The only solution was to establish a Northwest Military District to prevent further eastern incursions.

In September, with his active coordination, Daliang reintroduced the Compulsory Education Law: all children over seven must attend school, private education was encouraged, and all education investments were tax-exempt.

Special “Talented Classes,” “Gifted Classes,” and “Excellence Camps” were opened in every provincial city—a covert way to train genius youths.

Since natural intelligence varies, the old method of slow, step-by-step selection was too slow.

Lin Yi hoped that gathering the nation’s most talented youths together would spark innovation and drive Daliang’s scientific progress.

Some results began to show.

A seventeen-year-old completed the entire elementary and middle school physics and chemistry curriculum in just one year, mastering concepts like buoyancy, gravity, and chemical formulas.

Entering the Daliang Academy of Sciences, he single-handedly revolutionized iron smelting techniques.

Daliang’s steel industry entered a period of rapid development.

Lin Yi personally awarded him the Daliang Outstanding Contribution Prize—one hundred taels of gold.

A poor boy from Liangzhou became a distinguished guest at the Prince’s mansion, treated with utmost respect.

Whether city garrison officers, court officials, or military generals, all treated him politely.

The power of a role model was immense.

A culture of respecting knowledge and talent gradually took hold in Daliang.

By the seventh year of Lin Yi’s residence in Ankang City, the Daliang Academy of Sciences could manufacture chemical apparatus and cultivate bacteria.

Most excitingly, the first steam engine appeared in Daliang.

From the Golden Throne Hall, Lin Yi loudly proclaimed:

“Daliang enters the Industrial Age! Everything for industry, everything for the sake of industry!”

The social system, inconsistent with this progress, needed reform.

The imperial system was abolished. “Anyone daring to act as emperor shall be opposed by all under heaven.”

Shocking the world.

He left the palace with his weeping mother and a group of consorts—of course, including his father, Emperor Delong.

That night, Emperor Delong vomited a large bowl of blood, shouting, “Rebel son! Ungrateful! Not human!”

Lin Yi paid him no mind and announced the next day that the palace would become a 5A-level tourist attraction.

For a price, anyone could even sleep on the emperor’s bed.

That month alone, seventy thousand taels were earned from palace entrance tickets.

The Daliang court moved to a newly built administrative center covering 800 acres with eleven eight-story buildings.

The times had changed.

Lin Yi could no longer be emperor.

The most disappointed was Du Yinniang.

She sailed away with Du Zhong, never returning to Ankang City.

“Look at what you’ve done!”

Consort Yuan was equally disappointed in her son and returned with her entourage to her ancestral home.

Under Daliang law, everyone had the freedom to relocate. After testing, Prince Xin and Prince Dai also left Ankang City, but stayed nearby, living leisurely on estates with multiple wives and concubines.

“I have a clear conscience.”

Lin Yi said to Hong Ying beside him.

“Prince, you are wise.”

Hong Ying felt a bitter, indescribable emotion.

He never imagined that their indulgent Prince would willingly create a self-imposed cage.

“Prince,” Mingyue cautiously said, “The Princess and the Crown Prince have returned to Yuezhou.”

“That reduces my burden—no need to care for a son and daughter anymore.”

Lin Yi remained indifferent.

At least Mingyue and her son still stayed by his side.

“Prince.”

Mingyue wept quietly.

“What’s there to cry for?”

Lin Yi waved impatiently. “My greatest dream was for all Daliang citizens to have education and enough food. I’ve achieved it. That’s cause for joy.”

By the third year of the palace tourism site, Lin Yi fully delegated authority.

Known as the Carefree One, he spent his days fishing, walking his dog, and raising birds.

Life had never been more comfortable.

He was completely satisfied.

A disabled man could ask for nothing more.