Yin Shuangshuang’s tenure in Qingyang Prefecture passed quickly, with three years flying by swiftly. Nowadays, Qingyang Prefecture has completely transformed, and the numerous breeding farms have ensured that common people across the land no longer lack farm cattle.

While some still can’t afford farm cattle, the abundance has driven prices down. Coupled with the Emperor’s efforts to suppress the power of the aristocratic families, many common people’s lives have improved significantly, and they can now afford farm cattle.

In recent years, with the support of Yin Shuangshuang, the common people of Qingyang Prefecture, along with Hong Yang Prefecture, have engaged in breeding. Incidentally, the Magistrate of Hong Yang Prefecture is Yin Shuangshuang’s old acquaintance, Bai Hengru.

Bai Hengru was reassigned, not because his term was up, but because the Emperor intentionally placed trusted individuals around the border, thus transferring Bai Hengru there.

Previously, Bai Hengru’s tenure as Magistrate was not smooth. Although he had Yin Shuangshuang’s strategies, being among the officials from aristocratic families was quite limiting in every endeavor.

Bai Hengru, having tasted the benefits under Yin Shuangshuang, stayed close to her and continued to follow her lead. Whatever Yin Shuangshuang did, he sought advice and learned from her.

Yin Shuangshuang straightforwardly took Bai Hengru into breeding and planting, and even used her newly developed fertilizers.

After years of effort, the agricultural yield finally improved under Yin Shuangshuang’s initiatives. Although not much, it was indeed a significant progress, and at least it resulted in storing more grains annually.

Now, poultry and livestock such as pigs, cattle, sheep, chickens, ducks, and geese are bred on a large scale. The common people, under personnel dispatched by Yin Shuangshuang, even learned to castrate pigs, eliminating the rank odor of pork.

In ancient times, people disliked pork mainly because intact male pigs had a strong odor, making their meat unpleasant.

However, post-castration was different; pigs grew meatier, without a strong odor, and Yin Shuangshuang spread various diverse pork recipes.

Nowadays, pork is no longer the undesirable meat. Many wealthy families have started to develop a liking for pork.

Originally, according to the Emperor’s plan, after her term was finished in Qingyang Prefecture, Yin Shuangshuang was to return to the court. After all, her political achievements were exceptionally brilliant. Even if she were promoted suddenly, no one would have much to say.

However, the Emperor’s thoughts were put on hold due to a sudden internal conflict among the barbarians. Previously, the Emperor had considered attacking the barbarians, but due to internal disputes within the aristocratic families, he couldn’t resolve to make a move.

Who knew the barbarians would suddenly fall into chaos, presenting such a good opportunity? The Emperor finally decided not to wait.

When it comes to war with the barbarians, the most essential thing is, of course, grain supplies, and Qingyang Prefecture, managed excellently by Yin Shuangshuang and bordering the line, became one of the crucial granaries.

At this time, Yin Shuangshuang, being the Emperor’s confidante, naturally couldn’t be absent. She was responsible for preparing and transporting military provisions to General Feng, who was readying for war with the barbarians.

Upon receiving the Holy Decree from the Emperor to prepare military provisions, Yin Shuangshuang opened the granaries to prepare military grain—all of Qingyang Prefecture’s granaries were filled to the brim.

Over the years, Yin Shuangshuang had been storing grain, knowing that the Emperor never gave up on wanting to battle with the barbarians, even before she took office in Qinglin County.

Previously, when Yin Shuangshuang was busy governing Qinglin County, the Emperor planned to wage war against the barbarians, with even General An heading south in preparation for the battle with them.

However, internal troubles arose from the aristocratic families, forcing the Emperor to pause. At that time, the barbarians were relatively quiet, so the Emperor had to postpone.

Until recently, when the barbarians encountered upheaval, the great khan of the largest Great Tribe of the barbarians passed away; his sons fought fiercely like cocks in a cockfight, all vying for the khan’s position, with several small tribes taking advantage to loot.

Due to the intense internal strife, the barbarians hadn’t harassed the border for quite some time. General Feng considered this an excellent opportunity.

Taking advantage of the barbarians’ internal chaos and scattered state, they seized the chance to strike, cleaning up the barbarians as much as possible. Otherwise, when the barbarians settled their disputes and consolidated, it would be much more troublesome to fight them.

The Emperor thought the same, and with Mr. Nameless and Yin Shuangshuang’s grandfather, Wang Zhongxuan, having trained quite a few talents over these years, the Emperor significantly increased his supporters.

This time, nearly all personnel for the war against the barbarians were the Emperor’s own, to avoid any unforeseen problems.

Of course, the aristocratic families consistently opposed the Emperor’s decision to wage war against the barbarians. But the Emperor insisted on fighting, leaving the aristocratic families left with no choice but to employ their usual tactics.

The aristocratic families’ traditional move was that if the Emperor didn’t agree to their demands, many officials would suddenly fall ill and unable to handle governmental affairs.

This move by the aristocrats had always worked well for them. With the majority of officials from aristocratic families, once they struck, the Emperor, having just a few people on his side, couldn’t manage the court alone and eventually had to compromise.

However, this time it didn’t work. When the aristocratic families attempted this move again, the Emperor promptly ordered the sick officials into honorable retirement, with their deputies taking over their positions swiftly.

This decisive action by the Emperor left the aristocratic families dumbfounded. By the time they realized, everything was already set.

The aristocratic families, in a frenzy, discovered that the strategies they once used to control the Emperor had now backfired, providing the Emperor a pretext to insert his loyal supporters. Wanting to backtrack proved impossible now.

............

Qingyang Prefecture, Luo Linlang hurriedly carried a tray, briskly crossing the long corridor and entering the study, where Yin Shuangshuang was managing the accounts for military grain allocation.

Luo Linlang put down the tray containing all the detailed ledgers of the granaries from various counties. Yin Shuangshuang first had to review the ledgers, then the granaries, before deciding where to draw supplies from and where not to.

Luo Linlang was now very efficient, assisting Yin Shuangshuang by categorizing everything needed systematically and conveniently.

The study remained very quiet, with only the sound of turning pages echoing until dusk when Yin Shuangshuang finally rubbed her forehead and put down the ledger in her hand.

"Madam, have a cup of tea." Luo Linlang poured a cup of herbal tea for Yin Shuangshuang, who drank it down quickly; she always sought speed in drinking these to avoid the bitterness.

Massaging her forehead, Yin Shuangshuang pondered whether there was anything she hadn’t considered. Now that the Emperor had laid his cards on the table, revealing his intentions, the aristocratic families’ counterattack was imminent.

Her Qingyang Prefecture was the Emperor’s territory, meticulously managed into prosperity, certainly attracting many envious eyes. It was likely the aristocratic families might resort to some tactics.

After reviewing everything she could think of, making sure there were no loopholes, Yin Shuangshuang once again focused her mind on the military provisions.

While preparing the provisions, Yin Shuangshuang slaughtered many sheep bought from the farms and made a vast amount of hotpot base, wrapping them tightly in oiled paper.

This hotpot base, using mutton fat, remained stable in the summer heat, not worrying about melting, and had an excellent taste. A small piece in a pot, with added salt to season, made a delicious broth.

Importantly, with the hotpot base, cooking during the march would be much faster. Add water, ingredients, and seasonings, then simply use fire to cook.