"On the way here, I saw you distributing relief grain to the Northern Wei populace. I had the grain and fodder confiscated from Nie Wuming brought over to help the Northern Wei people get through this winter.
However, I don't intend to give this relief grain to them for free."
Si Fengwu raised an eyebrow, "Tell me, what exactly do you plan to do?"
Lu Qingwan said excitedly, "I'll lend them the supplies and charge them interest at one-third of the court's tax rate.
After the war ends, during the spring plowing, I can send people to teach them how to cultivate grains suitable for Northern Wei.
They will be tax-exempt for three years, and after three years, they will start paying taxes and also repay the interest. What do you think?"
Before Si Fengwu could speak, he sighed.
Lu Qingwan blinked, "What, do you think there's a problem?"
"Lending grain, charging thirty percent interest, and teaching them to grow grains are all fine, but the tax exemption is not acceptable."
"Why?"
Lu Qingwan was confused, "Isn't the most important thing right now to make the people of Northern Wei, Yunqiang, and Xiliang accept us?
Doesn't it seem good that the court is solving their fundamental problems?"
Lu Qingwan's thinking was simple: the purpose of a court was to help its people solve problems they couldn't solve on their own.
Once problems were solved, the people would rely on the court, and its authority would naturally be established.
Si Fengwu, however, said seriously, "It is good, but it's too good.
It's so good that they might forget why we attacked them, and even think we owe them something.
Not only will they not be grateful to us, but it will also foster a lot of idle good-for-nothings.
Furthermore, if you are so kind to the surrendered populace, have you considered what the original citizens of Daqian would think?"
Regardless of what Lu Qingwan and Si Fengwu personally thought, the official narrative was necessarily to resist the frequent raids from Northern Wei and Yunqiang.
This way, Daqian could legitimately annex Northern Wei, Yunqiang, and Xiliang without being criticized.
Lu Qingwan's idea could indeed win the hearts of the people of Northern Wei, Yunqiang, and parts of Xiliang quickly, but it would also make people forget the original intention of attacking these regions.
Moreover, how could the original residents of Daqian, who paid various taxes during the war, be satisfied when their former enemies received such preferential treatment without enjoying any benefits themselves?
Hearing Si Fengwu's words, Lu Qingwan blinked belatedly and slapped her forehead.
"Indeed, you can't be too good to people, and you can't feed a dog too much!
I'm clearly only suited for fighting and doing business. Governing the world is still your domain."
Lu Qingwan dejectedly curled up on the warm seat, sulking. "Just pretend I didn't say all that nonsense. The grain has been brought over. You decide how to use it."
With that, she pulled her cloak tighter and sat there in self-imposed isolation.
She couldn't believe that such a foolish suggestion came from her.
She grumbled to defend herself, "It must be the cold weather in Northern Wei that shrunk my brain.
If not for this terrible weather, I would never have said such a stupid thing!"
In reality, Lu Qingwan knew very well that the reason she proposed such a foolish suggestion was simply because they had taken over parts of the southeastern three kingdoms too quickly.
It was faster than she could have ever imagined.
And she herself was not prepared to govern such a vast territory alongside Si Fengwu.
She was somewhat afraid that her past proud abilities were no longer keeping up with Si Fengwu's pace.
Si Fengwu chuckled and walked over, ruffling Lu Qingwan's head covered by her cloak. "Alright, it's all Northern Wei's terrible weather's fault. My consort is always the smartest."
Lu Qingwan annoyed, lifted her hood and glared at him with accusing eyes, "You're placating me~"
"No placation. No one can always offer the most sensible suggestions."
Si Fengwu knelt in front of Lu Qingwan and placed her hand against his face.
"To be honest, before you offered these suggestions, I had never thought of lending grain to the people of various regions to help them learn to cultivate for themselves.
But as you know, simply sending them supplies will not solve the problem completely.
In that case, was my brain also frozen?"
Despite the warm atmosphere, Lu Qingwan just wanted to pinch Si Fengwu's cheeks with her fingers.
"Let's forget it. It's enough for me to be foolish occasionally. It's too dangerous for us to all be foolish together."
She lowered her head and nuzzled Si Fengwu again. "Let them in. Let them eat something and rest. We can also hear your plan to attack Guihua City."
Si Fengwu got up, pulled a chair over, and squeezed it next to Lu Qingwan. Then he called out, "Come in, all of you."
Li Jin and the others pushed the door open upon hearing the call. They all tacitly pretended that they hadn't been waiting outside for a long time.
They excitedly exclaimed, "Consort, you are too kind!
My brothers are so sick of eating beef, lamb, and noodles every day. We just wanted some vegetables, a normal meal, and you brought us fresh ingredients and rice.
You are truly our savior!"
"Exactly!
These days, the subordinates are tired of eating beef and lamb. We are so worried every mealtime, but finally, we can have a normal meal!"
...
Each of them looked at the fresh ingredients on the ground, flexing their muscles and eager to start cooking.
Si Fengwu was also quite surprised to see the fresh ingredients, "With so many fresh ingredients, how did you bring them here?"
The others were fine, but the leafy vegetables would freeze outdoors in Northern Wei within fifteen minutes. The change from cold to hot would turn them into mush.
Yet, the vegetables Lu Qingwan brought were still as fresh as if they had just been picked from the ground.
Si Fengwu knew that Lu Qingwan had a spatial laboratory, but carrying so many things would be too conspicuous. It was impossible to transport them using the spatial laboratory.
He was extremely curious for a moment.
Lu Qingwan deliberately kept him in suspense, "Why don't you take a closer look at the boxes containing the vegetables?"
"What's so strange about the boxes?"
Si Fengwu said and truly went to look.
He opened the lid and saw a shimmering, sparkling interior. "Is this... silver-plated?"
Then he tapped the side of the box. "Is it hollow in the middle?"
"You figured it out already?!"
Lu Qingwan eagerly leaned in, "Surprised?
This thing not only keeps food fresh, but it also insulates. Ice placed inside won't melt for a whole day even if taken to the south. Hot water placed inside will stay hot for at least twelve hours.
I've already had Buyezhou mass-produce them. When you return to the capital, these insulated boxes will be a must-have item for all the noble families!"
Si Fengwu looked at Lu Qingwan dotingly, his affection overflowing, making Lu Qingwan feel a little embarrassed.
"It's just lunchtime. Li Su, Li Yang, come help cook."
After ordering them around, he added as an afterthought, "Have the dishes for the other soldiers been stored properly?
We went to such lengths to bring them, don't let them go bad, okay?"