For example, Tan Yaocang, the granddaughter of Imperial Teacher Old Tan, or his own granddaughter Lu Fenglang, and also Dong Tingzhen, the daughter of Dong Qingping – it could be said that these women’s insights into court politics surpass many men by more than just a few degrees.

In this imperial examination, the women who distinguished themselves were all from noble families, which was also within Grand Marshal Lu’s expectations.

After all, among common people’s families, who would spend the effort to teach women to read? Most consider it a complete success to prepare a dowry and marry off their daughters when they come of age. Only women from noble families have the same learning opportunities as men.

However, after another ten years… or even just a few years later, when the system for women to serve as court officials becomes appropriately mature, there will be more talented women capable of handling court affairs for His Majesty entering government service. Thus, not only will there be more talent in Great Zhou’s court, but because Great Zhou’s talent pool will be larger with greater competition, the quality will be even higher.

The future Great Zhou court will surely become better and better!

“Hearing Grand Marshal Lu speak thus, I am reassured…” Bai Qingyan’s smile deepened.

“However, this humble minister has one doubt.” Minister Shen set down Murong Li’s letter, respectfully pushed it toward Bai Qingyan, and said while looking at her, “Whether in terms of national strength or military power, our Great Zhou currently surpasses the Yan Kingdom by some margin. If we truly compete based on national policies, wouldn’t this mean… our Great Zhou starts from a higher position than the Yan Kingdom? Would Yan Kingdom not know this? Would they willingly agree with our Great Zhou to compete based on national policies?”

Before Minister Shen could finish speaking, Minister Dong Qingping anxiously defended his niece.

“Otherwise, what can the Yan Kingdom do?” Although Dong Qingping was not a military general, he could still figure out some things. “Right now, our Great Zhou’s strength already exceeds Yan Kingdom’s, not to mention that Yan Kingdom’s main forces are in Western Liang, while our Great Zhou army has already deployed at Yan Kingdom’s borders, ready to strike the Yan capital at any time! Add to this that Yan Kingdom’s Empress Dowager happened to betray our Great Zhou this time, so even our military deployment is completely reasonable! If Yan Kingdom doesn’t use this method to seek survival, should they wait for us to trap their main Yan forces and then destroy Yan?”

In Dong Qingping’s view, if they fought, as long as they trapped the main Yan forces led by Xie Xun, capturing the Yan capital and taking the young Yan Emperor alive would be easy work, especially since Great Zhou now had abundant troops and generals.

“This humble minister worries that when it truly comes time to decide victory through national policies, Yan Kingdom will renege.” Shen Jingzhong acknowledged Dong Qingping’s words, then looked at Bai Qingyan and continued, “Yan Kingdom currently lacks grain and cannot afford to fight, so they painted us Great Zhou, a rosy picture, while our Great Zhou gave Yan Kingdom three years. After three years of rest and recuperation, Yan Kingdom will surely have recovered by then. If they renege, when our Great Zhou fights the Yan Kingdom again, it won’t be as easy as it is now.”

The problem Shen Jingzhong worried about was also of great concern to Grand Marshal Lu. They knew the character of their Great Zhou Emperor Bai Qingyan – if she truly made this alliance, she would honor it. But as for Yan Kingdom… they dared not say.

Especially that Ninth Prince of Yan Kingdom, who had always used any means necessary to achieve his goals, and his methods were ruthless. Whether he would keep faith was hard to say.

Moreover, in the view of Great Zhou’s court officials, Yan Kingdom’s Ninth Prince currently served as regent, while the Empress Dowager held only a nominal regency title. In reality, Yan Kingdom’s court was still ruled by Regent Prince Murong Yan’s word alone.

“Your Majesty, if this is the case…” Dong Qingping considered his tone carefully before speaking, “We still must guard against this!”

“This method of merging the two kingdoms by competing through national policies was originally proposed by me. There’s no question of Yan Kingdom painting rosy pictures for our Great Zhou, and this was before the attack on Western Liang…” Bai Qingyan gestured for the three ministers to drink tea, while she held her teacup in her palms. Initially, Yan Kingdom’s Ninth Prince also disagreed, but later, after he returned to discuss with Yan Emperor Murong Li, Murong Li agreed. So the three ministers need not suspect this is Yan Kingdom’s delaying tactic.”

“Your Majesty proposed this?” Grand Marshal Lu was deeply surprised.

Bai Qingyan nodded: “If we use war to stop war, using soldiers’ lives in bloody battles, fighting to the death to destroy a nation – this method of unifying the realm would not only cause soldiers to shed blood and sacrifice their lives, but the people… would also suffer unbearably. However, if we compare the two kingdoms’ national policies, this proves that the winning nation’s policies are truly beneficial to the people. When the two kingdoms merge into one and implement that nation’s policies, it will surely make the people’s lives better!”

Hearing these words, Grand Marshal Lu’s pupils trembled, unable to suppress their moved expression.

“This way, we can avoid to the greatest extent possible the people becoming displaced refugees, avoid soldiers fighting bloody battles on the battlefield… and prevent ending up with nine empty houses out of ten!” Bai Qingyan’s voice carried some light sighs. “If we fight, even if we achieve unification in the end, what remains will be devastation everywhere, only making the people suffer unbearably! To rebuild such a vast nation from ruins would take who knows how many years, and the people would suffer for who knows how many more years.”

In the past, whether Grand Marshal Lu, Minister Shen, or Minister Dong, they had all heard rulers speak of the people, but how many truly wise and virtuous sovereigns could put the people’s welfare completely first?

How many rulers, before sitting on that throne, might have been for the people… whether through uprising or rebellion. But after ascending to that throne, how many rulers, to consolidate their power, had done things that were shameful, or even things they could not openly reveal to the world?

Grand Marshal Lu had always thought this was natural. After all, having finally reached the pinnacle of power, who would willingly give it up for the people? Ha… if they were truly for the people, how could there have been so many instances of people being oppressed to the point of rebellion? Otherwise, why would they emphasize imperial bloodlines and insist on passing the throne to their descendants, even when their offspring were not virtuous?

Even emperors who truly cared about the people would inevitably place the people after their power and throne. Emperors who could place the people after power and throne were already considered good emperors.

Even though Grand Marshal Lu respected the Bai family’s character and admired Bai Qingyan’s aspirations, he had never imagined… that their Emperor would, for the sake of the people, establish this policy of competing through national governance… this strategy of merging two kingdoms, truly placing the people before the throne and power.

Grand Marshal Lu’s emotions surged, unable to contain himself. He dabbed his eyes with his sleeve, unable to help but lose his composure.

He solemnly bowed to Bai Qingyan – not to flatter, but speaking from his heart: “Your Majesty’s breadth of mind and love for the people, we ministers… are far inferior and cannot help but admire!”

Since Bai Qingyan overthrew the Jin Dynasty and became Emperor, she had brought Grand Marshal Lu too many surprises, too much emotion, and so very much… irrepressible excitement.