“He who exercises government by means of his virtue may be compared to the north polar star, which keeps its place and all the stars turn towards it.”

* Confucius

“There truly is too much grain stored here,” a voice rang like a silver bell, yet sounds desolate.

“Indeed, what the amount stored here, it could be able to last us six months, nine if we ration it out.” the same bell-like sound rang out, yet it contains much more warmth within it.

Naturally, the two are Li Ming and Xu Xiaomeng, currently overlooking the entire stockpile of grain stored within the city. After they had entered, the masses could not do anything with raw food, and thus leaving most of the grain untouched, in the end, Li Ming had led her own mob to gather the food stored around the city, private or public, into a single location.

That is after she had executed the main instigators, those who had worsened the effects of the famine, through over taxation, the peasants that could have barely fed themselves had to give the vast portion of their labour away.

Currently, it is the 217th year since the founding of the Great Sui Dynasty, much of it’s had remained prosperous, yet in its’ newly conquered Northern territories, it is undergoing a disastrous famine due to the recent locust swarm, which combined with the recent drought, had disastrous effects.

Nowhere is it more evident than Bingjiang city and its surrounding counties.

Bingjiang city itself sits on the longest river in the world, the HeJiang, named after its’ fertile black soil, yet only small streams of the mighty river remains, with all it’s surrounding tributaries all but dried. The farmer's wells are but a shadow of its former self, with less than a quarter of the original water remaining. Add to that the locust plague, which had ravaged the already barren fields, it seems as if millions will die in this drought if it continues.

“We have enough to feed the entire county, don’t we, why worry about food?” Xu Xiaomeng asked, with a hint of curiosity in her voice.

“Lady, it is not that simple, grain takes seven months till it could be harvested, our grain storage could only last that long if we ration it, we cannot wait until the rain begins to fall if we wish to take actions.”

“Sir, then would it not be wise to purchase grain from nearby counties?” Xu Xiaomeng inquired

“I’m afraid that is wishful thinking my lady, it is impossible to establish any relationship except hostile towards our neighbouring provinces, we have revolted against the empire in overthrowing the city, to say the odds are greatly stacked against us is a great understatement, BingJiang has only a population of three hundred thousand, even if we include it’s surrounding counties, against the Empire’s four hundred million, we are like a mantis trying to stop a carriage,” Li Ming said with a hint of self-mocking.

“Yet for now, we should at least improve the lives of the common folk, we should have ample amount of time before the Empire would divert its attention towards us, it is too corrupted and incompetent to send immediately troops to quell us,” Li Ming continued.

“Thus leaving us ample time to consolidate a power base to expand from.”.

“Then sir, how will you manage to advert the crisis caused by the locusts and drought?” Xu Xiaomeng questioned.

“Lady, do remember, I have come from a more technologically advanced world, despite my lack of knowledge regarding advanced weaponry as well as industry, I do possess some concepts that conserve the use of water,” Li Ming cheerfully proposed, her eyes forming what seems like crescent moons.

“What may that be sir?” Xu Xiaomeng inquired once again.

“Naturally you would have never heard of the term, it allows for far more water to be conserved, allowing the plant to grow even in the worst of droughts,” Li Ming answered, still maintaining the cheerful voice.

Eventually, he explained the process of drip irrigation to Xu Xiaomeng.

“That idea is indeed ingenious, yet sir, how will you teach the peasants how to use these techniques?” Xu Xiaomeng once again asked.

Shaking her finger in the air, as if towards Xu Xiaomeng, Li Ming answered,” Lady, have you forgotten I was the head of state of a nation, naturally I have a solution,” Li Ming said, before continuing.

“In the enclosure movement, the British farmers’ land became centralised in the hands of a few landlords, while those that had formerly owned those plots became workers that had to work in their former lands.”

Xu Xiaomeng, who was now relatively knowledgeable about Europe after Li Ming’s lesson on the French Revolution, naturally understood Britain, and there did not ask any questions.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“Through this, the British had created a system which produces far more than any single peasant, through this, crops could be planted, maintained and harvested far more efficiently, all the while using much less labour.”

“Yet this created a situation where the peasants were forced out their former land, leaving for the city, while creating a situation where wealth is centralised into the hands of a few individuals,” Li Ming explained.

“Yet sir wants to avoid the concentration of wealth into a few people,” Xu Xiaomeng spoke, finishing the sentence for Li Ming.

“Indeed, lady, it is as you say,” Li Ming stated, before continuing,” much later on, the concept of a collective was developed, where instead of the land being owned by a single individual, and others work on it, a collective creates a situation of all the people working on the land collectively own the land and equipment, through this, not only do we benefit in the same manner as the enclosure movement, we also eradicate the inequality of wealth between the peasants.”

“Sir, yet how will we ensure the those with the right skills have their talents used to their full potential?” Xu Xiaomeng once again asked.

“Lady, that is naturally through elections, in a collective, people would elect individuals on the local level, with whom they are far more familiar with, and thus are able to distinguish between the good and bad, not only does it ensure wealth does not pass on, it also allows the process to be much more democratic than landlords controlling the land.

“Furthermore, we will conduct regular census and surveys to ensure no group feels mistreated, through this, the people will be far better represented and governed than under the current system, where capable officials would lose their duties if they offend the wrong person, and the common masses would have no say if an incompetent official controls the products of their labour.”

“That is indeed reasonable sir, however, without the officials, there would be no one to take control of governing the province as a whole.”

“Lady, that is indeed the case currently, for now, I shall temporarily take control of matters before proper administration is put into place.”

“However,” Li Ming sighed before continuing,” before all else, we must focus on the famine on hand, I shall address the refugees within the city and have them return to their fields after teaching them the concept of collective farming and drip irrigation.”

After two days, around half of the peasants that had fled to BingJiang were gathered around Li Ming during her display of drip irrigation, after seeing its effects, they were certainly shocked, this method could undoubtedly save them much time and water, leaving the city with a promised monthly delivery of grain until harvest and a renewed spirit, they seem nothing like the starving corpse around the city just days ago.

As the peasants returned to their fields, Li Ming who is currently residing in the governor’s study had much on her hands, as much of the bureaucrats had either left the city or died after she took power. Fortunately, she was well versed in the art of governance, and soon public order was restored through her use of the city garrison as police, leading them around the city to stop petty crime, while she had set up large soup kitchens, distributing food for free.

However, currently sitting in the governor’s study, Li Mings’ elegant brows current has a frown, rarely seen on the always smiling character, appearing deep in thought.

“Sir, despite our agricultural reforms, we must still deal with the possibility of the Empire responding to our traitorous actions, they may send an army towards us.”

“Lady, you need not worry, from what I have seen within the barracks, we possess the technology to produce flintlock weapons, albeit only a few are in our hands. However as long as we increase its production to the thousands, we will be able to overcome the superior numbers of the Great Sui Dynasty through its use, along with the implementation of guerrilla warfare.” Li Ming reassured, originally, she had planned to purchase weapons from foreign traders, or perhaps not use it at all, yet it seems as if there is no need, as blueprints of flintlock weapons already exist.

Furthermore, the imperial army had yet to adopt the usage of hot weapons, giving her a great advantage. As the effects of collectivisation begin to show, more food would be produced. Then she would need far fewer peasants working in the field, allowing more men to conscripted into the army or into the workforce, while the produced food would be sent to supply the army.

Overtime, Li Ming could raise an army to a more effective degree than the average province controlled by the empire is able to, all the while maintaining an effective logistic system.

However, flintlock weapons would need to be produced on a massive scale if she plans to equip every soldier with superior weaponry.

Naturally, that would mean the city’s artisan has to individually craft the weapons. Fortunately for Li Ming, she has the knowledge to create a production line, which allows for goods to be produced on a much larger scale. Determining her course of actions, Li Ming gathering the craftsman within the city in a similar manner as she had done with the peasants, then she had instructed them to begin producing individual parts while some of the peasants that had remained within the city watched, soon, they would be able to copy the techniques in producing these goods as well.

Like this, a small production factory consisting of peasants and all the artisans who had known how to craft flintlock rifles within the city was soon set up, as the peasantries nearby carefully observed their actions, some began to craft their own rifle parts, soon, individual parts of the rifles were being produced on a mass scale before they are assembled.

For now, Li Ming was to personally manage the factory, yet in a month, a system similar to the collective farms, where the workers would elect an overseer that managed the factory would be put in place.

“Sir, perhaps the peasants can watch and imitate, however, they cannot accomplish much more than that,” Xu Xiaomeng expressed with a hint of doubt.

“Lady, it is indeed as you say, therefore, it is necessary to create a literacy program to educate the masses and that is why I had barely touched any scholars within the city, it is so they can be sent to teach the peasants how to read and write.” Li Ming stated

Gathering all the scholars within the city, as she had done with the peasants and craftsmen, she had brief them to teach all around the city, men and women alike, yet unlike the peasants and craftsmen, the older scholars soon rejected.

“What rights do you, an individual of the weaker sex, have any rights to force me to do your bidding, furthermore, for me to teach the uncouth masses, that is impossible,” an elderly criticised, pointing his already withering finger at Li Ming.

Yet her benevolent smile remained, unfazed by the scholar,” sir, to spread the ideas of the classics to the common man is what one well versed as you are should do.”

“Rubbish,” he harshly replied,” the peasants will never learn, they will remain as peasants no matter how much you teach them.”

This statement seemed to garner many negative feelings among some of the scholars coming from poor families.

A much younger scholar stepped up against the older man,” elder, many of us came from the same origins as the so-called ignorant peasants, are you possibly implying that we cannot ever surpass the scholars coming from the privileged families?”

As the argument developed, it was evident that there were far more scholars coming far humble backgrounds than the other side, many began to hurl insults at the elderly man, it eventually developed into a fight, with the more conservative side ultimately leaving the scene as a protest.

However, this greatly increased the motivation of the remaining scholars, and soon they spread all around the capital, engaging in public lectures, with some scholars even volunteering to journey to the countryside and teach there.

As there was not enough paper, the people had instead begun to write on the ground using sticks.

As the city became revitalised with boundless energy, Li Ming looking outside the window began to recall the capital of a certain nation, before shaking her head, after all, now, her duty is not yet done. Now that she had reform much of the governmental structure, she can finally focus all her efforts on the military.

The current soldiers she holds in her hands consist of the garrison station at the city, numbering four thousand, and the group of refugee she had led to the city, number twelve thousand.

This is certainly far from the professional and numerous Imperial Army.