These aristocrats are mostly the children of officials who were either demoted or dismissed during the previous power transition, as well as some members of the imperial family.
Chen Mo has already used them more than once to establish authority and doesn't mind doing it again.
Thus, Chen Mo proposed that lands left uncultivated for more than five years should be reclaimed by the Imperial Court and auctioned off to the public.
The proceeds from the auctions should be used to buy plowing oxen, invest in water conservancy, and strongly encourage farming in Bianliang.
As the governor, Xiao Yunxi readily agreed to Chen Mo's proposal with a bold stroke of her pen.
When this policy was announced, it caused an uproar in Bianliang, causing many officials to become restless. Even Wu Lu sent someone to persuade him, warning that this could lead to major trouble since there are also many aristocratic youths in the Imperial Guard, and touching their interests could trigger unrest.
