You have truly caused me great suffering!

When Li Tangchen arrived at the palace, Li Shi, a eunuch from the Inner Palace Service, was waiting at the entrance.

"Master Li, please follow me."

Li Tangchen asked with a smile, "Manager Li, for whom has His Majesty hosted this banquet today?"

"Wang Er," Li Shi said, somewhat puzzled, "I heard he's from Hedong."

He was the supervisor in charge of receiving officials outside the palace. He had never seen miners enter the palace and was only temporarily ordered to receive officials here.

"A man from Hedong? Wang Er?"

Li Tangchen, who was in charge of the Taiyuan Academy, had a thorough understanding of the officials in Hedong, especially in recent years.

This name doesn't sound like that of a scholar-official.

Li Tangchen recalled that Chen Shao always used people in an unconventional way, and wondered if it was one of the craftsmen from the engineering institute who had made the contribution.

Regardless, it was the people from Hedong who shone, and Li Tangchen was in a good mood.

Upon entering the hall and seeing these pieces of charcoal, he paused for a moment in shock.

Chen Shao then introduced, "This is a professor from the Taiyuan Prefectural School."

The group of miners were quite startled and stood up to bow. This era still placed too much importance on the "scholar" class.

Their status is above that of others.

Li Tangchen was also a professor at the prefectural school, which gave him an even greater aura in the eyes of the poor people of Hedong.

After taking his seat, Chen Shao couldn't help but start talking about the copper mining in the Southern Wilderness.

Only then did everyone realize that there were so many mineral deposits overseas, with even greater potential than the Censhui mine in Shaozhou, the most productive mine in the Song Dynasty.

The copper mines in the Central Plains today are mainly concentrated in Guangnan Road, which is the later Liangguang region.

I didn't expect there to be even more further south.

He clicked his tongue; now that he held the position of prime minister, how could he not know the importance of copper?

In fact, the imperial court's finances were improving day by day.

If things continue like this, we'll really have so much money we don't know what to do with it.

This is not an exaggeration at all, but rather the current state of the Great Jing: the people are prosperous, the country is wealthy, and the army is well-trained and its generals are fierce.
A few years ago, Chen Shao was worried about the money to repair the river, but now he can afford to repair several more.

Most importantly, this situation will continue to improve, and Da Jing will become increasingly wealthy.

The financial problems that had plagued successive dynasties were all resolved after the opening of the Silk Road and maritime trade routes.

In places like the Central Plains, as long as transportation is convenient, you'll always have a trade surplus, no matter who you trade with.

Wealth will flow into the Central Plains like rivers flowing into the sea.

Moreover, there are such enlightened policies.

Chen Shao took a bite of meat, put down his chopsticks, and said to Li Tangchen, "I plan to send a transport commissioner to the Southern Wilderness to oversee mining matters. To protect the mines, we need 10,000 naval personnel and 30,000 to 50,000 miners to accompany him."

Li Tangchen pondered for a moment and said, "The overseas lands are far from the Tongting. If we delegate power in this way, I'm afraid a foreign country might emerge, which would be difficult to control."

Chen Shao chuckled and said, "There's no need to worry about that. In the future, our navy's voyages will only go further and further. Even if it's thousands of miles away, the imperial court can still send troops to attack. If all else fails, we can separate the government and the military, and rotate the garrison every year, which will also prevent the soldiers from getting homesick."

Although Li Tangchen was still worried, he nodded and said, thinking of the mines in the southern wilderness, "I will conduct a selection process in the coming days and submit a list of suitable officials for Your Majesty's consideration."

Chen Shao nodded slightly. Such a large overseas industry cannot function without a person in charge.

He didn't know who would be suitable to send, but he had plenty of room for trial and error.

This grand overseas strategy has only just begun.

Ma Kuo walked up to Old Zhu and toasted him. The two had briefly spent time together at the front lines in Yunzhong Prefecture.

Looking at the people at the table, Ma Kuo couldn't help but laugh and said, "Your Majesty is truly unconventional in his selection of people. Look at this hall, there are scholar leaders, academy professors, military generals, and ordinary people."

Old Zhu nodded; he was quite satisfied with his current situation.

Although he asked many people to help him read Han Chinese books and understand Han Chinese principles, he still couldn't understand many of Chen Shao's actions.

However, after so many years of entrepreneurship, he has come to understand one thing: following His Majesty will never be a mistake.

Even after achieving fame and success, Lao Zhu still closely followed in Chen Shao's footsteps, doing whatever Chen Shao wanted to do.

Upon learning of the impending relocation of the capital, Zhu Yuanzhang immediately sold all his assets in Yinzhou and moved all his clan members to Jinling.

He acquired a residence in Jinling, built a private school, and hired renowned scholars as teachers. His children, grandchildren, and the offspring of his subordinates could all come to study there.

Knowing that Chen Shao valued engineering and agriculture, he had the private school publish four books compiled by the Ministry of Works: "Agricultural Administration," "Industrial Construction," "Water Conservancy," and "Military Equipment," and invited specialized personnel to teach them. Even though he was quite old, he often went to listen in, but after finding that he really couldn't understand them, he stopped going.

Moreover, he invested most of the money he earned from fighting throughout his life into the merchant guild, buying many ships and establishing merchant fleets in both Korea and Ryukyu.

He would rush to the palace to offer advice to Chen Shao on any matter, big or small, that he heard about in the court. He would also listen in on matters he truly didn't understand.

During the banquet today, Chen Shao saw Han Shizhong drinking alone, so he waved to him.

Han Shizhong happened to be looking over, so he quickly got up, smiling, and stepped forward with his wine glass.

"Your Majesty, I humbly offer you a toast!"

Chen Shao recalled what Wang Yin had reported to him a few days ago: after being enfeoffed as a king, Han Wu seemed to have suddenly lost all interest in fighting and his subordinates.

Every day, a group of scholars would gather to compose poems and drink, and they would keep more than fifty singing girls and dancing girls.

Chen Shao felt uneasy, thinking that he was trying to discredit himself in order to dispel his suspicions.

He patted Han Shizhong on the shoulder and said, "Han Wu, how many years have we known each other?"

"It's been almost ten years." Han Shizhong paused for a moment, then said emotionally, "Thanks to Your Majesty, otherwise I would still be wallowing in the mud, gambling in casinos and brothels."

Chen Shao said, "I met you when we were both in humble circumstances, and we made a promise to share wealth and honor. You commanded the troops in the front, and I coordinated the operations in the rear. In the past ten years, I have never doubted you."

Han Shizhong laughed and said, "I am able to follow Your Majesty because of the blessing of Heaven and the merits of my ancestors."

"Then who are you trying to impress by keeping dozens of courtesans and drinking and composing poetry all this time?"

Han Shizhong was stunned for a moment, then cried out that he was wronged: "Your Majesty, how could I suspect Your Majesty! This must be that scoundrel Wang Yin's wild guess, I will not let him off!"

Seeing that he was puffing out his beard and glaring, and didn't seem to be acting, Chen Shao asked, "What exactly happened?"

Han Shizhong hesitated for a moment, then said, “Your Majesty, I joined the army at the age of eighteen and have been fighting on the battlefield for twenty years. In those twenty years, I dare say that I have always been at the forefront of every battle. I have charged into battle, broken through enemy lines, and captured flags countless times. But I have also been wounded countless times. When I was young, I didn’t care about it and thought that these minor injuries were not worth mentioning.”

"Although I am in my prime, I have been suffering from some hidden ailments in recent years. Old injuries often torment me, making it difficult for me to sleep."

"Life is fleeting, barely a hundred years. I was born into a peasant family, poor and penniless in my youth. Now, thanks to Your Majesty's great fortune, I have gained wealth and honor, and I truly wish to live a few comfortable days." This time, it was Chen Shao's turn to be confused. He thought the man was just trying to smear himself, but it turns out this bastard is actually enjoying himself. After fighting all his life, he wants to relax and enjoy life.

"Han Wu, we agreed to share wealth and honor. I am still working hard, how can you remain aloof?"

"Moreover, your poems are utter nonsense, your calligraphy is even worse than mine, and even your drinking capacity is several levels below mine. You are not cut out for this. In a few days, you will be appointed as the Privy Councilor to help me prepare and coordinate the destruction of the Jin dynasty."

Han Shizhong secretly groaned. He was the complete opposite of Zhu De, who wanted to meddle in everything. Han Shizhong genuinely didn't want to get involved because his military achievements had already reached their peak.

There's no need to keep struggling.

But since His Majesty has said so, there is certainly no way to refuse.

Chen Shao looked at his lazy appearance and sneered, "You scoundrel Han Wu, you still want to enjoy a life of leisure?"

You know you're in your prime, don't you?

At your age, you go to listen to music and watch dances, compose poems and write couplets, and live a life of revelry day and night. How can you be so shameless?

Han Shizhong was a little depressed. Just then, Chen Shao said that he couldn't hold his liquor, so Han Shizhong immediately challenged Chen Shao to a drinking contest.

Thus, the imperial banquet quickly turned into Li Tangchen and Zhang Xiaochun discussing court affairs, Chen Shao and Han Wu drinking contests, Zhu Yuanzhang and Ma Kuo discussing the northern war, and Wang Er and the others eating heartily.

When Chen Shao was helped back to the inner palace, he found that Li Shishi was also in the Funing Palace, and she had brought a hangover soup.

Seeing Chen Shao walking with an unsteady gait, Li Shishi smiled gently.

Chen Shao was drunk and felt a little guilty when he saw Li Shishi, especially since he had drunk a lot today.

As the alcohol seeped into his head, the more guilty he felt, the more he tried to feign indifference. "Why is Shishi here?"

"I heard that His Majesty was going to host a banquet, so I specially prepared a hangover soup and sent it over."

After saying that, she bent down and gave it to Chen Shaosheng. Looking at her ample figure, Chen Shaosheng slapped her.

"Han Wu, even Han Wu wants to live a life of debauchery and revelry every night. Why should he? Can't I enjoy myself too?"

“Yes, you should enjoy it the most.” Li Shishi turned her head, smiled, blew on it, and then held it to his lips.

Unable to find fault, Chen Shao frowned and said, "It tastes really bad. Let's have a dance to liven things up, otherwise I can't drink it."

Li Shishi smiled, grabbed her sleeve, and with a zero-frame start, began to twist her waist and dance.

With a graceful figure and unparalleled charm, she turned around and stood in front of Chen Shao, looking at him with a radiant smile.

Although Chen Shao was drunk, she remained gentle and tender. Only then did Chen Shao remember that his Shishi would only bring him hangover soup when he was drunk.

When has she ever blamed or restrained herself?

He had a change of heart, put his arm around Shishi's waist, and rubbed the spot where Shishi had patted him. "Does it hurt?"
-
In late autumn, the land of Japan is already quite cold.

The mob repelled the nobles' troops and stormed into Nara Castle.

Although it is called a city, it is actually quite different from the Central Plains. There are no cities here, but only a series of temples, government offices, manors and pavilions connected together.

The leader elected by the mob was a former resident of a temple and did not have his own name.

Because of his strong physique and the iron rod he wielded, he was also known as Iron Rod Misan.

The monks were unwilling to lead the mob, so they had no choice but to elect Tiebang Misan as their leader.

After entering Nara, they were initially at a loss, but then someone told them that their previous work was to support the wealthy families in the city.

The charcoal that the wealthy burned in their homes and the food they ate were all the result of their hard work.

But they themselves would starve and freeze to death.

Therefore, Mizo ordered a massacre.

The mob immediately transformed from victims into killing monsters, engaging in arson, murder, rape, and looting for ten days.

When the nobles' troops arrived at the city, their families in Nara were stripped naked and hung on various trees.

Near the southeast corner of the city wall, there is a towering tree that, from a distance, looks like a tree bearing huge fruits.

When Fujiwara no Tadashiro, the de facto ruler of Kofuku-ji Temple, rode up to the tree, he discovered that it was covered with human heads.

His heart leaped into his throat, and an indescribable fear filled his heart.

These lowly people, who are like pigs and dogs, actually did such a thing. I must kill them all with the cruelest methods.

His eyes scanned the area, spotting one familiar head after another.
One of the smaller ones was his youngest child, whom he cherished like a precious treasure.

Fujiwara Tadashi let out a heart-wrenching roar, his eyes red as he looked at the mob in the distance who had built a makeshift defense.

"Kill them all!"

At his command, 1,500 monk soldiers charged toward the mob.

After a fierce battle, Teppou Mizo was left with only a few dozen men, who rode the stolen horses and galloped away for their lives.

He was indeed quite brave, killing three pursuing monk soldiers. He dismounted by a river and began filling his water bag with water.

On horseback were the stolen treasures and some dry rations.

"Chief, what should we do next?"

Looking at his men, Teppou Mizo knew they had all tasted the bitterness of slaughter. It was clearly impossible to send them back to being subservient "hosts" who could be bullied and slaughtered at will.

He was chosen as the leader, which shows he has some courage. Even at this moment, he wiped the blood splattered on his face and said with a smile, "Master Huiming said that there are many suffering people in this world, and they are all our fellow travelers!"

"Only when we kill enough, and use the blood of these nobles to cleanse the earth, can the White Lotus descend into the world, and Maitreya be reborn!"

"Let's keep killing and keep recruiting!"

A group of people rode horses northwards. After a while, someone raised a knife and shouted, "The White Lotus has descended!"

Whether it was to bolster his courage or because he genuinely believed it, the group of people rode their horses noticeably faster.

At this moment, in Guo Hao's camp, someone was holding a gray-black stone.

Guo Hao lowered his head, clicked his tongue, and said, "Is this silver ore?"

The craftsman excitedly said, "General, don't worry! My family has been mining silver for three generations. This is not just silver ore, but a rich mine!"

Guo Hao said, "Now that we've found the mineral vein, let's act quickly. His Majesty has personally inquired about it, so the sooner the better."

As expected, a silver mine was discovered in Iwami, as per His Majesty's instructions.

This delighted Guo Hao. (End of Chapter)