Ming Dynasty: Pick up attributes from the battlefield to create the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 271 A Princess to be betrothed to Zhu Ying? The court officials were astonished! A foreign official marrying a princess?

The court meeting is in progress.

For many military officials, listening to these tedious political affairs was almost enough to make them drowsy.

Although Zhu Ying was not quite asleep, he was still distracted.

Time passes gradually.

He went from the Ministry of War to the Ministry of Revenue, and then from the Ministry of Revenue to the Ministry of Personnel.

It can be said that there are many government affairs.

These decisions all required Zhu Yuanzhang's personal approval.

The Ministry of War was naturally responsible for guarding the northern frontier, while the Ministry of Revenue was responsible for redividing the various prefectures and regions of the northern frontier. Now that so much territory had been seized from the Yuan court, it was natural to redivide the prefectures and regions.

The division of prefectures and territories is naturally extremely rigorous.

A large portion of the territory originally belonging to Beiping Prefecture was reduced and incorporated into Zhen Ding and Daning.

of course.

Zhu Di's territory also expanded, but the population decreased significantly, since the northern territories were sparsely populated.

"All right."

"The matter discussed by the various departments has been settled today."

"Implement this as soon as possible," Zhu Yuanzhang said authoritatively.

This time!

Zhu Biao glanced around and saw Zhu Ying, who was lost in thought.

"Champion Marquis."

"Today is your first time attending court. What are your thoughts on the recent discussions by the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Revenue, and the Ministry of Personnel?" Zhu Biao smiled and asked Zhu Ying.

As soon as he finished speaking...

All the officials in the court looked toward Zhu Ying.

Zhu Ying also came to his senses.

He looked at Zhu Biao with some helplessness: "Your Highness, I am a military general, not a civil official. You should ask the civil officials about these matters. I am only good at military affairs and not good at political affairs."

"nothing."

"I would like to hear your opinion." Zhu Biao smiled, his gaze fixed on him.

All the officials and civil and military officials were looking at Zhu Ying.

“The three ministers have already raised everything that needed to be raised.”

"If I were to offer a suggestion, it would be to reduce taxes for the people in the war-torn northern frontier. Also, the northern frontier is vast and sparsely populated, so refugees and displaced people from the Central Plains could be relocated there. They could be given land and pastures and treated with kindness. This would not only restore the prosperity of the northern frontier, but also alleviate the plight of displaced people and refugees throughout the Ming Dynasty," Zhu Ying said after thinking for a moment.

Hear this.

The officials in the court couldn't help but look somewhat surprised.

It seems they didn't expect Zhu Ying to express such an opinion.

"Your Majesty, Your Highness the Crown Prince."

"Champion Marquis is right."

"I have been negligent and have not considered that there are still countless people in various parts of our Great Ming who have fled due to the war. Now, the land in our Great Ming is almost impossible to distribute. However, in this northern frontier, in the newly reorganized prefectures such as Beiping Prefecture, Daning Prefecture, and Liaodong Prefecture, there is still a lot of land that can be cultivated, as well as a lot of land left by the Yuan court nobles."

“These can all be used to relocate people who have no land to cultivate in the south, not just refugees.”

Zhao Mian stepped forward and solemnly began his report.

Zhu Biao smiled.
"Zhu Qing."

"Although you are a military general, your insights are quite good."

"This method can solve the problem of the people in our Great Ming Dynasty who have no land to cultivate, and can also properly resettle many displaced people."

"If you hadn't mentioned it, I would have completely forgotten about it," Zhu Biao said with a smile, praising Zhu Ying.

"As expected of U.A. High School."

"Well-rounded in both literary and martial arts."

"This kid is still trying to hide his true abilities."

Lan Yu, Chang Mao, Mu Ying, and other ministers who knew Zhu Ying's identity all smiled in unison.

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled as he sat atop the dragon throne.

"These are just my humble opinions."

"Perhaps it's because I grew up among the common people, so I have a deep understanding of their situation," Zhu Ying replied, clasping his hands in a fist salute.

Today's Ming Dynasty.

In reality, it was no longer the Ming Dynasty that Zhu Yuanzhang had established before the tenth year of the Hongwu reign.

Land consolidation is already a serious problem.

However, these issues haven't really escalated yet.

Zhu Ying naturally knew all this, and the implications were extremely deep; even if Zhu Ying spoke up, it wouldn't solve the problem at all.

There's no need to speak out about the real suffering of ordinary people.

Again.

To eradicate this practice, severe measures are necessary.

"Minister Zhao."

"You heard what the Champion Marquis just said."

"We think that makes a lot of sense."

“We can recruit people from all prefectures and regions of our Great Ming Dynasty. Those who are willing to migrate to the northern frontier can be granted land to cultivate. The silver required for the migration will be paid by the imperial court.”

“However, once the relocation is agreed upon, it cannot be changed; otherwise, it will be considered a crime of deceiving the emperor,” Zhu Yuanzhang said to Zhao Mian immediately.

"I understand."

"I will immediately make arrangements to announce to all prefectures and regions throughout the land that local governments should issue travel permits to people who wish to migrate to the northern frontier," Zhao Mian replied respectfully.

"All right."

"Let's move on to the next thing."

"Now that the New Year has passed, spring is about to begin."

"Have the imperial examinations for children already begun in various places?"

Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly spoke, his gaze falling on Lü Ben, the Minister of Rites who had remained silent until now.

He felt Zhu Yuanzhang's gaze.

Lu Ben felt extremely uneasy.

Even though he hadn't spoken until now, he had no choice but to step forward, and he was even worried that a few Imperial Guards might suddenly appear and capture him.

"Let's start playing, Your Majesty."

"Before the New Year, the Ministry of Rites had already issued an edict to all prefectures and regions throughout the country, stating that the day of the opening of the court would be the day the children's examination would begin."

"Today is the day of the first examination," Lü Ben said respectfully, with a sense of trepidation in his heart.

"nice."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and then said, "The Ministry of Rites will be monitoring the entire process. Any news about the imperial examinations should be reported to us immediately."

Lü Ben immediately replied, "Your subject obeys the decree."

Done.

Lü Ben was preparing to return the train.

But Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly opened up.

"Minister Lü."

"Have you forgotten something?" Zhu Yuanzhang frowned, looking at Lü Ben with some displeasure.

The sudden change in expression startled Lü Ben, whose face also paled. He then hurriedly knelt down and said, "Your subject is guilty!"

Seeing Lü Ben suddenly kneel down and plead guilty, many ministers in the court looked at him with curiosity, while some of Lü Ben's disciples were astonished.

"It seems the Lü family is really in trouble."

A few ministers who knew about the coup in the Eastern Palace secretly thought about it, but they all had a spectator mentality.

Seeing Lü Ben's terrified expression.

Zhu Yuanzhang appeared indifferent, but inwardly he was sneering.

He then asked, "What crime has Minister Lü committed?"

"Your Majesty, I have forgotten the matter you entrusted to me."

"Please speak plainly, Your Majesty."

"Chen...chen..."

Upon hearing this, Lü Ben was filled with immense fear.

He was unsure whether the coup in the Eastern Palace involved him, and even less aware of what Zhu Yuanzhang was thinking at that moment. He was like a frightened bird.

"Have you forgotten that the Joseon Kingdom sent an envoy to welcome the Joseon princess to our Great Ming?" Zhu Yuanzhang said slowly.

Hear this.

Lu Ben felt a jolt in his heart, but also breathed a sigh of relief.

"This...this subject has been preoccupied with the imperial examinations lately and has indeed forgotten about this matter."

"I beg Your Majesty to punish me."

Lu Ben knelt on the ground, speaking in fear.

"There's no need for punishment."

"Is the Ministry of Rites ready for the mission to Korea?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked slowly.

"Return to the Emperor."

"Already prepared."

"After all, this is on behalf of the Emperor to confer the title of a monarch of a country. Therefore, I have specially appointed Zheng Yi, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, as an envoy to carry the investiture letter of our Great Ming Dynasty to the Joseon Kingdom to confer the title of Yi Seong-gye."

"However, the selection of the general to be sent as an envoy is still subject to Your Majesty's approval," Lü Ben respectfully reported.

"Sending the Vice Minister of Rites would be a way of bestowing some favor upon this foreign land."

"Alright, let's settle on that."

"As for the selection of the general to be sent as envoy..."

Zhu Yuanzhang looked thoughtful, and then his gaze fell on Zhu Ying.

"Minister Zhu, do you have someone in mind?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked with a smile.

"Your Majesty, the envoy must be chosen to demonstrate the might of our Great Ming's strong generals and army."

“General Zhang Wu, who is stationed in Daning Prefecture under my command, is more than capable of handling this task,” Zhu Ying replied without much thought.

After all, they already knew about the mission and had already made their plans.

"Since it is Zhu Qing who recommended you, let's make a decision on this."

"By imperial decree, Zheng Yi, the Vice Minister of Rites, shall depart for Joseon tomorrow to confer the title upon Yi Seong-gye on my behalf."

"Let Zhang Wu, a general of the Da Ning border army, lead 5,000 cavalry to wait in Liaodong and escort the envoy in." Zhu Yuanzhang immediately made the decision.

"I accept the decree."

Zheng Yi, the Vice Minister of Rites, stepped forward and respectfully accepted the imperial decree.

"All right."

"Let's continue the discussion."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and said no more about the matter.

After all, a small foreign country was not worth Zhu Yuanzhang's too much attention.

"Father."

"I need to explain the matter of the Korean princess's marriage so that you gentlemen are not unaware of it."

At this moment, Zhu Biao stepped forward and spoke with a smile.

Listen to this.

Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly realized, "Right, right, I almost forgot about that."

"We and the Crown Prince have already made a decision."

“This foreign princess will be given to Marquis Zhu Ying as a concubine.”

"Once we bring them back, we'll go straight through the door."

Hear this.

The entire court was astonished.

Almost all the ministers looked at Zhu Yuanzhang on the dragon throne with shocked expressions, and then looked at Zhu Ying, completely puzzled.

"Even if she were a princess from a small, foreign country, wouldn't she marry a prince of the royal family? Why would she choose the Marquis of Champion?"

"Does this have some kind of symbolic meaning?"

"How could the Emperor and the Crown Prince allow this foreign princess to marry a foreign official?"

"This seems a bit strange?"

……

Many ministers looked surprised and couldn't understand it.

after all.

A small country presented a princess to the emperor.

She would either be taken into the imperial harem as a concubine, or she would marry one of the emperor's sons or grandsons.

This is the first time I've seen something granted directly to a foreign official.

"Zhu Ying?"

Lu Ben also looked at Zhu Ying with great surprise, clearly not understanding it either.

About it.

No one can understand it.

but.

Since Zhu Yuanzhang had already spoken, and it was after discussing it with Zhu Biao, naturally no one could question him.

"The Emperor's Holy Might."

"A mere foreign princess is not worthy of the Marquis of Champion of my Great Ming Dynasty. She is far above her station." Lan Yu immediately stood up and said loudly, his tone filled with arrogance and contempt for the small foreign country.

"I second the proposal."

“This foreign princess may be beautiful and charming, but the Marquis of Champion has rendered meritorious service to our Great Ming for generations to come, and he deserves this reward.” Chang Mao immediately echoed.

"I second the proposal."

Xu Huizu and Mu Ying immediately stood up to echo his sentiments.

As these important officials stepped forward to echo this sentiment.

Suddenly.

Inside the Fengtian Hall, a chorus of agreement arose.

For them.

Naturally, they dared not disobey the emperor's will.

"Zhu Qing."

"What do you think?" Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and asked Zhu Ying in a very gentle manner.

"What Your Majesty has bestowed upon me, I will accept it myself."

"Thank you for your great kindness, Your Majesty and Crown Prince."

Zhu Ying naturally thanked him immediately, since the matter had been settled before the end of the year.

It's just a formality now.

Anyway, I'm a grown man, so I won't suffer any loss.

"Alright, it's settled then."

"A good man should have a harem of wives and concubines."

"Now that you only have one wife, how can you have children?"

"I'm granting you a marriage now, and I'll grant you more in the future," Zhu Yuanzhang said with a smile.

This can be seen as giving Zhu Ying a heads-up.

Xu Huizu and Mu Ying, who were inside the main hall, exchanged knowing smiles.

future.

Their two families will then become true relatives of the royal family, and their ties with the imperial clan will become even closer.

"Thank you, Your Majesty," Zhu Ying said, and returned to his place in the ranks.

This time!

"emperor."

"Before the New Year, by imperial decree, Liu Jing, the chief secretary of the Prince of Gu's residence, was transferred to Yingtian to report on his duties."

"Now, Liu Jing is already waiting outside the main hall."

"Please give your instructions, Your Majesty."

Minister of Personnel Chen Jing stepped forward again and respectfully reported.

Hear this.

Zhu Ying's eyes lit up, and his face lit up with joy.

The opportunity for his wife to completely sever ties with the Shen family had arrived.

future.

The Shen family will be completely irrelevant to him, and there will be no more obstacles for him to deal with them.

"Xuan."

Zhu Yuanzhang glanced at Zhu Ying, then spoke loudly.

"The Emperor has a decree."

"Summon Liu Jing to an audience!" Yun Qi shouted.

echoed.

outside the hall.

A middle-aged man in an official robe walked slowly into the main hall.

See this person.

Many ministers turned their heads in surprise.

Liu Jing.

His name may not be well-known, but his father's name is known throughout the world.

Liu Bowen.

Mr. Qingtian is known for his profound wisdom and foresight.

"The Emperor has summoned Liu Jing to Yingtian. Does this mean he intends to reinstate him?" Many ministers wondered to themselves as they looked at Liu Jing before them.

However, it comes to the fact that the current imperial court is no longer the same as it was when Hu Weiyong was still in power.

This doesn't seem surprising.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects and wish Your Majesty a long life." Liu Jing entered the hall, knelt in the center of the hall, and bowed deeply.

"kindness."

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled slightly and nodded: "No need for formalities, please rise."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Liu Jing slowly stood up and respectfully expressed his gratitude.

"Do you know why we summoned you to the capital this time?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked with a smile.

"I do not know," Liu Jing replied respectfully.

Liu Jing was somewhat nervous and apprehensive during his first time attending court.

"I've heard that your Liu family has a legitimate daughter who has been living among the common people?" Zhu Yuanzhang said slowly.

Hear this.

Liu Jing's expression changed, and he hurriedly said, "I dare not deceive Your Majesty. In the past... because of what happened in the past, my elder brother's entire family suffered. Only one daughter was secretly sent to the common people by my elder brother, but I do not know exactly where she was sent. When she comes of age, someone will contact my Liu family."

"But no one has contacted us since."

Speaking of which.

Liu Jing clearly did not deceive anyone.

"No need for anyone to contact us anymore."

"We've already found it for you," Zhu Yuanzhang said with a smile.

……

(End of this chapter)