The Great Seminary

Chapter 287 Billions
In fact, the hundreds of millions of common people in the northern frontier of the Ming and Song dynasties can now be described in just two words: abandoned people!

"It is said that the 300,000 strong troops that the Yuanshan Empire sent to reinforce Yanjing were temporarily transferred from the front lines of Xiaqing and Benfu Tubo."

It's like playing a trick on "Horse with Braids" and "Buddha of the High Mountain".

So it seems that Changsheng Tiemu has not yet swallowed the 'appetite' of Ming and Song.

After all, it takes taming and managing hundreds of millions of 'people' to make them willing to be servants for life.

Without a million elite troops to suppress them, there's only one solution: 'kill'.

Remove the people, take the land, let them recuperate and rebuild, and await the future.

Therefore, for the people of Yuanshan, it would undoubtedly be easier to let the people of the northern frontier during the Ming and Song dynasties die from natural disasters, man-made calamities, and their own deaths first.

Hearing Chu Tuantuan's words, Zhang Gui remained silent for a long time.

Thinking back to a dynastic change in his previous life, a once prosperous province known as "Land of Abundance" was reduced to less than 10,000 people out of tens of millions.

A chill ran through him. "How could things come to this between people of the same kind?"

“Brother Gui, you say you come from humble origins, but actually you were well-fed and warmly dressed from a young age and studied and learned to read in a private school.”

So sometimes I can still act a bit naive.

And that's probably why you're so likable.

Chu Tuantuan suddenly reached out and wiped away the look of shock from Zhang Gui's eyes.
"Let alone others, there are those ancient families in the northern border regions of the Ming and Song dynasties who have been living off the land for thousands or tens of thousands of years."

Our sects have all retreated to their respective 'secret realms,' escaping worldly affairs by 'sealing off the mountains and closing the doors.'

The rest fled far away to Dalangdu, and some crossed the river to Jinlingdu.

Do you know why those who continued to guard their hometown and protect its people did not continue to do so?

"I recently bought a method to create secret realms, and I found that the growth of secret realms is closely related to 'favorable timing, favorable location, and harmonious relationships'."

It feels like if the momentum of 'people' has already been exhausted, then having too much burden would be harmful.

It would be better to sever all ties completely and wait for the right time.

Upon hearing this, Chu Tuantuan couldn't help but praise, "Brother Gui, you are indeed a powerful figure of your generation."

After the initial naiveté, one can see through the tricks of these "kindred spirits."

“Tuantuan, we’re brothers. It’s okay to curse without using foul language, but you can’t be this vicious.”

Zhang Gui said with a straight face.

Chu Tuantuan laughed heartily, "Then let's not mention those ancient families that usually flaunt their power but turn into cowards when it comes to crucial reclamation events."

Now let's talk about our masters, those of us in the inner court.

Emperor Hezheng is about to die.

Emperor Hezheng was extremely stubborn, arrogant, and incompetent.

In just a few short years, a mere million bolts of fine cotton cloth brought this once great nation to the brink of collapse.

But he was, after all, one of the few emperors in the Eastern Continent, and his life and death were matters of great importance to the world.

Therefore, this single piece of news made Zhang Gui's trip to Longmenbo worth the price.

"What do you mean? Explain it to me in detail."

"I only learned of this news a few days ago when I was escorting the treasures transported from Xihe to Jinlingdu."

It is said that during the hottest days of summer this year, Emperor Hezheng took a fancy to a woman surnamed Xu, who came from a butcher family, when choosing a concubine…

"At a time like this, does Emperor Hezheng still have the mood to choose concubines?"

To prevent the empress's family from becoming too powerful, the Ming and Song imperial families only selected women from humble families or those who came from foreign lands for marriage alliances as concubines and empresses.

So Zhang Gui wasn't surprised that Emperor Hezheng had taken a concubine from a butcher's family; what was strange was why this old man still had such feelings.

But Chu Tuantuan was quite indifferent to this, saying, "As the sage said, food and sex are human nature."

Even those of us who have been castrated sometimes experience unbearable heat.

Moreover, to serve one person with an entire nation—alas, although your True Dragon Kingdom is small, it can now be described as 'serving one person with an entire nation,' a figure who reigns supreme.

How come he's so old and doesn't get close to women, or even men?

"Could it be some kind of illness? Don't be afraid to seek medical help." "Come on, that kind of hormone-fueled game is not as good as thoroughly exploring the Divine Forest."

The feeling is as refreshing as taking a hot bath or grinding metal.

Zhang Gui waved his hand and said:

"Emperor Zhenghe is a few years older than his age, almost a centenarian, yet he still stirs up such a disturbance after bringing disaster to the country and its people."

He is truly a disgrace to humanity; I don't know how he will face his ancestors, the Ming and Song imperial families, in the future.

"What does the selection of imperial concubines have to do with the major policies of the state?"

Throughout history, there have been many instances of enemies besieging their cities, leaving them trapped and on the verge of death.

And yet, they still indulged in the decadent pleasures of a tyrannical ruler.

In short, Emperor Zhenghe was very fond of Consort Xu after taking her as his new concubine, and he favored her every night.

Not satisfied with the 'red pills' prepared by the imperial physicians, they somehow managed to find some extremely potent drugs.

As a result, he suffered a stroke, and although he was saved, he still developed a taste for it.

He has become increasingly emaciated and is nearly insane.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Gui opened his mouth, then stopped mocking Emperor Zhenghe and sighed, saying:
"It turns out he wasn't utterly incompetent, but rather he didn't want to be the ruler of a fallen kingdom."

This led him to consider leaving, and he began to court his own death.

Chu Tuantuan nodded slightly.

"When people are in a hurry, they will do everything they can to survive."

But once things settle down, sometimes I feel like I'd rather be dead.

“That’s right.

By the way, if Emperor Hezheng passes away, then Prince Kui will ascend the throne.

All I've heard is that he's a capable and kind person.

But among the people I know, besides you and me...

Capable people are often not very kind, and kind people are often not very capable.

Who exactly is that King Kui?

"You mustn't be like 'Little Zhang praising his own melons'."

Let me start by saying that, apart from you, I'm really not a very kind person.

But now it seems that the King of Kui truly has a sense of filial piety towards his elders and seniors;

Have a loving heart towards your brothers and sisters;

He treats his children and nephews with the demeanor of an elder, and can be called a gentleman.

By the way, when his young grandfather was still alive, before he was granted the title of king, he could freely leave the capital and travel to various countries at sea.

He places great importance on economic principles…

“Making money alone won’t save the Ming and Song dynasties now,” Zhang Gui interrupted Chu Tuantuan, pursing his lips.

They discussed the current situation at length, and after finishing their business, they left the underground chamber together.

He slipped out of the back door of the Longmen Port Authority and went to the small taverns at the port city's docks to drink and have fun.

At this moment, the power of the magic array in the Buddhist hall finally dissipated, and the mosquito with flower-like legs flickered in the air.

It took flight again, buzzing...

After this trip to Longmenbo, Zhang Gui no longer had any fear of relocating people from the northern border of the Ming and Song dynasties to fill the population of Zhenlong.

As the seasons change from summer to winter, it will be late December.

Thanks to his efforts, the population of Zhenlong Kingdom actually exceeded the threshold of 'hundreds of millions'.

The scale of the city-building project "Tian Gang. Wushuang" (天罡无双), a marvel of craftsmanship, has finally reached its limit.

Eight thousand six hundred and forty towns, two hundred and sixty-four counties, twenty-four prefectures, and two capitals were initially established.

(End of this chapter)