Determined to see his kingdom with his own eyes, Li Wei slipped out of the palace under the cover of night. Dressed in plain robes, he moved through the streets, easily blending into the crowd of commoners going about their day as usual. It was a short walk from the palace, yet the difference that lay between the lavish halls he now inhabited and the world outside was incredibly different.
He wandered down muddy streets, taking in the sight of makeshift shacks clinging to the sides of the road, things that would fall with a strong breeze. Farmers with bent backs, hollow faces; mothers holding sickly children; merchants with barely enough goods to sell, poverty rampant, hunger clear in their eyes. This was his kingdom forgotten and suffering, as the palace within it bathed in luxury.
His heart was heavy, but anger brewed in the depths of grief. He had read about corruption in old kingdoms, yet it was quite another thing to see it face to face. He walked towards an old farmer who sat by the road, resting a picture of frayed clothes and worn hands. Li Wei initiated the conversation, all the while cautious not to raise his brows.
The farmer explained that year after year, the taxes grew, heavier and heavier, squeezing off what little they had. Many neighbors left their fields, as Li Wei listened intently to an urge within him to help. He shared with this farmer a few simple ideas remembered from his studies of agriculture: the rotation of crops, compost, and techniques that might make the land richer and their yield more.
The farmer probably looked skeptical but nodded and murmured thanks as he trudged along his way. Li Wei left with a sense of determination: the people needed hope, real change, which, being their emperor, he could bring about, not just another puppet in the hands of corrupt officials. And where better to start than by winning the hearts of his people, one small step at a time.