We have fought to the Arctic Circle, and you want me to inherit the throne?

Chapter 1054 Li Che's Southern Tour (Part 1)

It was early summer and the weather was fine.

Along the official road leading south from the capital, banners obscured the sun, and carriages and horses moved about busily.

Even though Li Che had repeatedly ordered that everything be kept simple, it was still the emperor's southern tour, and the scale of the procession was still so large that it was awe-inspiring.

The procession stretched for miles, led by elite cavalry, their helmets gleaming and armor shining, their spears and halberds like a forest.

The imperial carriage was surrounded by the central army, with the left and right guards and the Imperial Guards in layers.

Behind him was a large entourage: carriages and horses of officials from the Cabinet and the Six Ministries, palace attendants and servants responsible for his daily life, supply wagons loaded with provisions, tools and all kinds of supplies, and special carriages from the Imperial Hospital, the Directorate of Works and other government offices.

Further out, there were also soldiers and horses ordered to accompany them, marching in a long line, raising clouds of dust.

At the center of the procession, the imperial dragon carriage, pulled by eight magnificent black horses, was the most eye-catching. The carriage was made of solid wood, decorated with black and gold lacquer, and adorned with carved dragons and painted phoenixes, exuding a grand and imposing presence.

Fine bamboo blinds hung from the car windows, providing both shade and ventilation while allowing those inside to observe the outside world, while those outside could not see inside.

At this moment, the group was traveling on a gentle hillside, where the trees on both sides of the official road were gradually becoming denser.

Suddenly, a crisp, rapid sound of horses' hooves came from the woods to the side. The guards instantly became alert and put their hands on the hilts of their swords.

But soon, their tense expressions relaxed, and a gentle smile flashed across their eyes.

Two riders emerged from the forest path like a whirlwind, heading straight for the imperial carriage.

The first rider was a woman dressed in a crimson-colored narrow-sleeved riding outfit, covered by a silver soft armor, with her hair tied up in a high bun and secured with a gold ring.

Her features are striking and elegant, especially her eyes, which shine like morning stars and are full of spirit.

She carried a large bow on her back, with a quiver and several game hanging beside her saddle, and a pure white falcon perched on her shoulder. She was none other than the Imperial Concubine Yelü Xian.

She was breathtakingly beautiful, but the soldiers dared not look at her for long and avoided their gaze.

The woman following closely behind was a female general dressed in indigo armor. She was taller than Yelü Xian and had a resolute look between her brows.

This female general was none other than Luo Yueniang.

Unlike Yelü Xian, her bow and sword were securely stored beside the saddle, and she held the reins with both hands, maintaining a guarding posture.

The two riders reined in their horses at the same time when they were about a hundred paces in front of the imperial carriage. The horses reared up, neighed, and then came to a steady stop.

Yelü Xian, her face still flushed, untied the two plump wild rabbits and a colorful pheasant tied to the side of the saddle, held them in her hands, and walked briskly toward the imperial carriage.

The white falcon on its shoulder took flight and landed gracefully on the dragon head decoration on the imperial carriage, beginning to preen its feathers.

Luo Yueniang handed the reins to the approaching guards, then lagged half a step behind. She glanced at the guards surrounding the imperial carriage and, after confirming that everything was in order, followed.

During his southern tour, Li Che planned to first visit Jingzhou and other places in Hubei Province to inspect the Yangtze River water conservancy and farmland conditions.

They then traveled westward along the Yangtze River, venturing deep into Sichuan to conduct on-site investigations of this strategically important region known as the "Land of Abundance."

Finally, it turned south, passing through Guangxi and entering Guangdong to inspect the coastal ports.

He brought Luo Yueniang with him specifically because he was going to Sichuan.

This female general, born in Sichuan, had a level of understanding of her hometown that no one else could match.

With her by his side, he could not only act as a guide and advisor, but also use her status to build closer ties with local forces in Sichuan.

Of course, it would also allow her to accompany Yelü Xian, since it would be more convenient for her to be a woman herself.

Yelü Xian was originally a pearl of the grasslands, and was used to being wild.

Since entering the palace as a concubine, even though Li Che treated her kindly, Chang Ningxue and other women got along with her in a relatively harmonious manner.

But the palace was high and the rules were strict. She stayed there for three years, which was no different from being in a prison.

Recently, Li Che noticed on several occasions that she sometimes looked melancholy and often stared blankly out the window.

I knew it; her yearning for freedom was being suppressed, and if this continued, she might become depressed.

Taking advantage of this southern tour, I might as well bring him out for a change of scenery.

Since setting off, Yelü Xian has been noticeably happier.

He often rode alongside Luo Yueniang, and occasionally, when permitted, he would leave the group to gallop and hunt in the nearby mountains and forests, finally getting some exercise.

The Imperial Guards protecting the imperial carriage naturally recognized the two women, nodded slightly in greeting, and did not stop them.

They knew how much this imperial concubine meant to His Majesty; otherwise, why would they have brought her along on his travels?

Yelü Xian, carrying his prey, excitedly arrived outside the imperial carriage. Just as he was about to lift the thin gauze curtain, he heard the emperor's stern voice coming from inside, clearly giving a lecture.

She stopped immediately, stuck out her tongue, and stood obediently outside the curtain, even softening her breathing.

Luo Yueniang also stopped and stood quietly to the side.

The interior of the imperial carriage was spacious, with soft cushions and small tables.

Li Che, with his hair bound in a jade crown, sat upright in the main seat.

Before him stood three middle-aged men dressed in civil official robes, their heads bowed, fine beads of sweat visible on their foreheads.

Holding a memorial in his hand, Li Che sternly rebuked, "The reform of the provinces is a national policy already established by the court, and it cannot be changed!"

"I have reviewed the recent reports from various regions. Most provinces have implemented the order accordingly, and any adjustments are reasonable. Only your Jiangsu Province has gone too far!"

He paused, then frowned and looked at the three men: "A province divided into three parts: Northern Jiangsu, Central Jiangsu, and Southern Jiangsu? I'm curious, how does Jiangsu Province's territory compare to Longxi and Liaodong? And how does it compare to the newly established Qiongzhou?"

One of the older officials, bracing himself, replied in a trembling voice, "Your Majesty, although Jiangsu Province is not as vast as the border regions, it has a dense network of rivers, and there are indeed differences in customs between the north and south."

"In our humble opinion, a divide-and-rule approach would better suit local conditions and allow for more precise governance..."

Li Che snorted coldly: "I see you are drawing a circle around yourselves, binding your own hands and feet!"

"My Daqing has a vast territory. Even including newly attached overseas territories, there are only twenty-six provinces under the current system."

"If you are so meticulous, finding out the differences between the north and south, and the differences between the east and west in every province, will you divide each province in two or three? Wouldn't the imperial court then have to deal with fifty or sixty provinces?"

Another, slightly overweight official broke out in a cold sweat and hurriedly said, "We had absolutely no such intention, but considering the local situation, we were afraid it would cause discomfort among the people..."

"Then adapt!" Li Che's tone turned cold. "Besides, as long as the people can eat their fill, why would they be uncomfortable about this? I think it's because you local officials have too many connections behind you, and that changing your positions has affected the interests of certain people, hasn't it?"

Unable to withstand the emperor's overwhelming pressure any longer, the three men repeatedly made mistakes, their voices trembling: "We are foolish! We know our guilt!"

Li Che, however, was not satisfied and continued, "In the future, the court's evaluation will focus on the overall development of the provinces. The better a province performs, the more resources the court will allocate, thus creating healthy competition."

"Officials in other provinces are all thinking about how to strengthen their own provinces, but you are the only ones who are not making progress and instead want to split yourselves apart? How foolish!"

The three of them were already incoherent and dared not argue any further.