She adopted a posture that rejected further conversation, and those young men found it difficult to press a woman to discuss poetry. Even with reluctance, they could only let her go.
Leaving the young men, Lu Qing Wan said with considerable delight, "You all scared me for a moment. I must say, this new capital, apart from anything else, has truly spectacular scenery! With such unique landscapes, the new capital will have no shortage of scholars coming here in the future!"
Lian Yu chuckled, "I wouldn't have thought that the Princess, who fears nothing, would be afraid of a few pretentious scholars? If that's the case, why do you hope for scholars to come to the new capital?"
Lu Qing Wan waved her hands repeatedly, "Military Advisor, please stop making fun of me. It's not the scholars I fear, but the 'yes' and 'no' in their words that I don't understand! Despite my fear, the new dynasty truly cannot do without scholars!"
Lu Qing Wan looked around, sighing, "Guihua City is grand, Shang Jing City is magnificent, and the new capital is beautiful. Though each has its own characteristics, if there's one place that can attract poets and scholars, it's truly this new capital. When scholars and literati are drawn here, they will naturally point out where the new dynasty is better than before, and where its construction has problems..."
Si Feng Wu watched her earnest demeanor and said with a laugh, "And now, Princess, have you noticed any problems with the construction of the new capital?"
Si Feng Wu was clearly teasing her, but Lu Qing Wan took it seriously. "I noticed it as soon as we entered the city. The new capital is surrounded by mountains on three sides, but there's a certain distance between the mountains and the city, making it a typical 'easy to defend, hard to attack' location. However, the left and right flanks are too spread out. Once a battle starts, it will be difficult for the left and right positions to support each other. I plan to set up artillery batteries on the flanks."
As the imperial capital of the new dynasty, the court officials had put considerable thought into its construction. At least from the perspective of ordinary people, the achievements in such a short period of six months were quite impressive. However, for those who had spent years on the battlefield like Lu Qing Wan and Si Feng Wu, the defensive loopholes were glaringly obvious.
Lian Yu couldn't help but laugh, "Princess, this is already the vision of a pure strategist. In this regard, I and the generals in the court will make improvements. Apart from defensive shortcomings, from the Princess's perspective, are there any other deficiencies in the new capital?"
"As a newcomer, I can't find many flaws at first glance," Lu Qing Wan gazed into the distance, "It's just that the commercial structure is too monotonous. Walking along the way, there's a tea house every three steps and an ear-cleaning parlor every five steps. Restaurants, tailor shops, and cosmetic stores are few and far between. However, such matters can't be rushed. Once the court is stable, those businessmen will naturally flock here. Too much human intervention would be counterproductive."
Lu Qing Wan suddenly remembered something, "Right, is the post-war reconstruction work in various regions the responsibility of the court, or is it being shared with the merchants in those areas?"
The war of founding the nation had engulfed more than eighty to ninety percent of the territories of the three southeastern kingdoms. It was manageable within the Great Gan territory. However, more than half of the cities in Xiliang, Yunqiang, and Beiwei were almost completely destroyed. The task of post-war reconstruction was exceptionally arduous. In the six months since the establishment of the new dynasty, those regions had likely not even completed their basic infrastructure.
Si Feng Wu subtly shielded Lu Qing Wan from the passing crowds, naturally taking over the conversation. "There is basically no need for post-war reconstruction within the Great Gan territory. The post-war reconstruction work in Yunqiang, Xiliang, and Beiwei is being handled by local officials. Currently, the progress appears to be quite smooth, with no major issues. Why did you suddenly think of asking this?" He knew that Lu Qing Wan's clever mind often came up with novel ideas, but in the current situation, he couldn't imagine what could have sparked his little Princess's inspiration.
Lu Qing Wan, however, surprised him by pointing at the ground, "As the imperial city of the new dynasty, don't you think the roads we've traveled so far are too narrow and too uneven?"
"Indeed," Lian Yu lamented, "The soldiers in the army had already reported that the roads around the new capital are too narrow. Two carriages can't pass each other. Once a battle breaks out, transporting troops and supplies will definitely become a problem. However, there are too many urgent matters that need to be resolved by the court, so the issue of widening the official roads has been put on hold."
Lu Qing Wan volunteered, "Leave this matter to me, including the post-war reconstruction of all regions. I will take full responsibility. I will come up with a feasible solution in the shortest possible time, so as not to occupy the minds of the officials with such matters. What do you two think?"
"I think it's a good idea," Lian Yu said with considerable pleasure, "The issue of the roads needs to be resolved sooner or later, and the matter of post-war reconstruction cannot be delayed. However, such a task with significant room for profit, if handled by the court, would lead to endless debates and delays, wasting valuable time. It would be best if the Princess is willing to take it on!" From the court's perspective, Lian Yu naturally agreed wholeheartedly.
Si Feng Wu, however, was more cautious, "Such a task, at first glance, seems lucrative and a desirable assignment. But the process is lengthy and the construction period is complex. If there are any problems later, it's easy to end up doing thankless work. Are you sure you want to take on this arduous task?"
Lu Qing Wan nodded without hesitation, "There are no battles to fight now, and you have to handle state affairs. I also need to find something to do for myself! I can't really just sit in the imperial harem and be a mistress who never touches worldly affairs, can I?" Not only was such a life not to her liking, but more importantly, she couldn't just sit idly by! This reason easily convinced Si Feng Wu.
He nodded indulgently, "Very well, since you are willing, this matter will be entrusted to you. I will inform the ministers at the small court tomorrow, and the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works will cooperate with you. As for the rest, it's all up to you."
Lu Qing Wan smiled happily, "Your Highness can just wait and see. I won't disgrace you."
...
As they spoke, the group arrived outside the palace gates. Since it was an expanded former palace, there were no peculiar smells or traces of recent construction. The magnificent Chinese architecture resembled an elegant giant, nestled among the three mountains and one body of water in Jin Cheng. The red walls and golden tiles that met the eye emitted a dazzling glow under Jin Cheng's unique gentle sunlight. The rows of imperial guards at the entrance were not only the sacred protectors of the new dynasty but also messengers welcoming Si Feng Wu and Lu Qing Wan, the new rulers, into the imperial palace.
"Welcome back to the palace, Your Highness, Your Highness Consort!" Si Feng Wu had not yet ascended the throne, so everyone still addressed him and Lu Qing Wan as Prince and Princess Consort. However, the grandeur of the reception was no less than the thrice-repeated cheers of "Long live the Emperor." To fit the occasion, Si Feng Wu and Lu Qing Wan ceased their playful banter, adopting the demeanor of the soon-to-be Emperor and Empress. The two entered the palace hand in hand, heading directly for the main hall. While it was a former palace, the person who built this imperial palace originally harbored the intention of relocating the capital, so this imperial palace was, in fact, second to none compared to the imperial palace in Shang Jing.