Another year had passed in the blink of an eye, and Kaihuang 20 (600 AD) was drawing to a close.
The past year had once again been one of flourishing prosperity. The Turkic Khaganate had been governed well; quite a few tribal chiefs, khagans, and the like had been eliminated, further strengthening the Sui Dynasty's control over the grasslands.
Various domestic infrastructure projects had also increased to varying degrees, while the canal construction continued.
Although not every region had enjoyed a bumper harvest—there had been droughts, floods, and winter snowstorms—the Sui Dynasty was indeed wealthy at present. Because of Wang Yan, the previous war had not dragged on for years. Instead, they had gained considerable Turkic resources. After settling the accounts, they had actually made money from that war.
Wang Yan was the only commander who made money through war. Looking back at the battle that first made him famous on the grasslands, then his command of the navy, and later the destruction of the Turkic Khaganate, he had never lost money. The officers and common soldiers who fought under him might not have become fabulously wealthy, but all of them had gained quite a bit.
In truth, people had realized this long ago. It was simply that the feeling became much stronger whenever they went over the books.
With the treasury full, disaster relief had real force behind it, and the people in the afflicted regions at least managed to survive. Yet everything they had owned had been taken by the disasters. Government relief could keep them from dying, but there were always other expenses. Add to that the loans they had previously taken from local wealthy families, and their land naturally ended up being taken away. They had to sell their sons and daughters, and even sell themselves