You have truly caused me great suffering!

Inside the Funing Palace, Chen Shao was half-drunk and half-awake.

It was as if he could still hear the commotion of his generals.

They spoke of the resounding drums and gongs, the thousands of troops and horses, and the million-strong army.

For a moment, he even felt as if he were still in Yuanbaozhai, in Hengshan during the torrential rain, soaking in the water and making empty promises to everyone.

"Hold on for one more day! If we hold on for one more day, Commander Xuan will arrive. I am Commander Xuan's favorite general, how could he stand idly by?"

"Han Wu, I am so grateful for your rescue this time. I will surely share wealth and honor with you."

"Commander Chen, Commander Chen, the Western bandits are attacking! Wake up!"

"He's awake! He's awake!" Chen Shao opened his eyes, groaned, and looked around at the pitch-black surroundings. He felt a headache coming on.

He dreamt that he reached out and pulled out a knife, but when he woke up, his palm felt soft and smooth, and the touch that came back from his hand was cool and jade-like.

By the moonlight, he could see Chun Tao looking at him with a resentful expression, while he was holding her forearm.

Chen Shao was a little dazed. He pulled her into his arms and Chun Tao let out a soft groan of dissatisfaction. Her voice was sweet and soft, like that of someone who was asleep.

She curled up, turned over, and went back to sleep.

Because he had drunk too much, Chen Shao got up in the middle of the night and lay back down on the soft couch.

In the dead of night, he suddenly woke up and became alert.

This feeling of insomnia is very painful. At this time when he should be sleeping and there is nothing else to do, Chen Shao subconsciously felt a sense of insecurity and dissatisfaction deep in his heart.

This feeling was like clear water seeping from a spring, constantly spreading in his heart.

How much can I do? Will things collapse? Have I left any hidden dangers due to being too aggressive?

With 100,000 iron cavalry conquering the country, is he properly handling their affairs?

Whether this current prosperity can last, or whether it will end with the passing of its founders and the demise of its regime, depends on the solidity of its foundation.

Chen Shao finally understood that the greater your power, the more people you have to be responsible for.

This year, the north is said to be bitterly cold, but my palace is warm and cozy, and I have palace maids to serve me when I get up at night.

Have any people in the north frozen to death?
Lying in my office, I hear the rustling of bamboo and suspect it is the sound of the people's suffering.

There were too many things to do, and the tasks were too urgent. Chen Shao wished he could get everything done in one go, but this was indeed a gradual process that couldn't be rushed.

So many things are urgent; the world turns, time presses on. Ten thousand years is too long, seize the day.

At this moment, Chun Tao asked groggily, "Brother Chen, are you still awake?"

This familiar yet unfamiliar form of address brought Chen Shao back to reality, and he smiled and hummed in response.

She leaned forward and hugged Chen Shao's arm; her soft, firm skin made Chen Shao feel the elasticity of youth.

Chun Tao made a coquettish sound through her nose, "You'd better go to sleep quickly, or she'll come and beat you up again tomorrow if she sees you looking listless."

Chen Shao couldn't help but chuckle. Being disturbed by this beloved girl reminded him that he was a human, not a god, and that he also had family and friends, and was made of flesh and blood.

In any case, just do your best; let future generations judge right and wrong, success and failure.
-
The next morning, Chen Shao finished processing the memorials and went to the Institute of Engineering.

He glanced again at the charcoal stove designed according to his requirements; it was indeed constructed of mud, making it affordable for ordinary people.

During the Song Dynasty, honeycomb briquettes already existed. They were made by mixing coal powder, clay, and water to create a rudimentary honeycomb briquette called "tanji".
This type of charcoal is relatively inexpensive, and it is easy to ignite, produces little smoke, burns for a long time, and is easy to store.
The Institute of Technology has designed a mold that ordinary people can use to make honeycomb briquettes, further reducing costs.

People are still too poor these days; many families don't have much money.

Although the Great Jing Dynasty had abolished the various exorbitant taxes and levies of the Song Dynasty, the accumulation of wealth among the people still required a process.

Under the fortified village system in the Northwest and Liaodong, people got rich relatively quickly. After all, with more people, there was more power, and once they reached a certain scale, they had more ways to make money.

He also figured it out last night: improving people's livelihoods is a long-term and important matter that needs to be addressed step by step.

Otherwise, like Wang Mang, if people were to make decisions on a whim and directly distribute money and land to the people, causing social unrest, the people would suffer the most.

Upon returning to the palace, Chen Shao summoned Li Tangchen and instructed him to establish the 'Coal Bureau' to oversee exploration, mining, transportation, pricing, and distribution.

Coal bureaus were established in each prefecture and coal fields were established in each county.

This will definitely make some locals rich overnight, just like the salt permits, but there's no other way.

Let's promote it first.

In this way, the coal mining model was basically set, which was government-supervised and privately operated.

Li Tangchen was overwhelmed with work, as he was also busy with the imperial court's land survey.

Now another coal bureau has arrived.

He gritted his teeth and accepted the order, frowning as he walked out of the Chuigong Hall, pondering how to carry out this matter.

At this time, he also discovered that a new policy was being implemented, and the fortified village system in Liaodong, Northwest China, was progressing very smoothly.

However, in traditional prefectures and counties with low levels of organization, things are exceptionally difficult and cumbersome, requiring constant orders and inspections.

"Lord Li!"

Just as Li Tangchen came out of the palace, he heard someone calling him. He turned around and saw Guo Zhongxiao, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue.

Although Guo Zhongxiao was born in Luoyang, his family roots were in Hedong, and he often referred to himself as "Guo of Hedong".

When Chen Shao replaced the Song dynasty, he was promoted and went directly from the position of Director of the Changping and Yongxingjun Circuit, where he was in charge of official documents, to the Six Ministries of the court, becoming the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works.

"Lizhi, what are you doing here?"

Guo Zhongxiao gave a wink, indicating that he wanted to get into the carriage first.

Li Tangchen was already overwhelmed with worries and was feeling particularly irritable, especially since this person was his junior.

Li Tangchen and Guo Zhongxiao's father, Guo Kui, were close friends.

"There's nothing that can't be said to others. Here outside the imperial city, under the very nose of the wise and enlightened emperor, what can't be said!"

Guo Zhongxiao sighed and whispered something in his ear.

Li Tangchen's eyes widened suddenly, and he asked, "Is this true?"

"How dare I deceive you, sir?"

Li Tangchen hesitated for a moment, then said, "Come with me."

Guo Zhongxiao followed him to a secluded spot and poured out all the grievances he had suffered over the past few days.

It turns out he worked in the Ministry of Works, where they were responsible for the land survey in the court.

However, when coordinating the overall plan, Guo Zhongxiao noticed something was wrong.

Some of the registered accounts did not match the records sent by the previous land survey team.

Shortly after Guo Zhongxiao discovered this, the official who was originally in charge of recording the events suddenly died yesterday.

Li Tangchen's face was ashen. The land survey and investigation of hidden farmland was the first major event since the founding of the Great Jing Dynasty.

They actually dared to sabotage things.

This is incredibly lucrative and involves a wide range of people, because Chen Shao came to power through a peaceful abdication.

Many officials in the Song Dynasty retained their positions, thus preserving their hidden networks of personal connections and interests.

Many people also wanted to protect their own land and property.

Guo Zhongxiao looked at Li Tangchen and said, "Lord Li, there are not many people who can accomplish this. Although I am not a high-ranking official, there are very few who can tamper with the records of the Ministry of Revenue without my knowledge."

"I was just about to report this matter to His Majesty when I happened to run into Minister Li."

Li Tangchen glanced at him and said irritably, "Whether you ran into me by chance or knew my whereabouts and were waiting here, it doesn't matter. This matter is of utmost importance, in my opinion."

"Come, I'll go with you to present this memorial to His Majesty!"

The two arrived at the palace together. Chen Shao was about to leave when he saw them come in and laughed, "You've returned so quickly, and you even brought Guo Aiqing back with you. Do you want him to set up this Coal Bureau?"

"What Coal Bureau?" Guo Zhongxiao asked.

Li Tangchen glared at him. What time is it for someone to still care about this? He didn't hide anything; after all, this kind of academic scholar hadn't been immersed in officialdom.

He is straightforward and doesn't follow the intricate rules of officialdom.

"Your Majesty, someone has tampered with the land registers during the land survey."

Chen Shao's smile froze instantly; this was truly snatching food from a tiger's mouth.

Before the land survey, he made an example of someone by exiling 50,000 criminals to the frontier.

It seems that without killing anyone, it's ultimately impossible to control them.

"Who is so audacious!" Chen Shao said to Li Tangchen, "I am aware of this matter and will send people to investigate. Do not make a fuss about it."

The two bowed and accepted the order, then left together.

As soon as he stepped out of the main hall, Guo Zhongxiao couldn't help but ask, "Lord Li, what is the mission of the Coal Bureau that His Majesty mentioned?"

Li Tangchen glanced at him and could naturally see his eagerness; Shitan was no longer the same person.

This is something His Majesty has been vigorously promoting, and it will inevitably become a hard currency like salt and iron in the future, especially in the north.

In the future, coal might also have a kind of "salt-seal" seal, which would be a very desirable job!
Moreover, the Hidden Field case is clearly a battle of titans, and being in the vortex, one is bound to be affected.

If I could be sent out on a mission, it would be a good opportunity to seek refuge.

Li Tangchen sighed and said, "Hedong has many mines. You once served as the Supervisor of Ever-Normal Granaries in Hedong Circuit, so it's not impossible for you to handle this task. However, I must remind you that this is a matter of great concern to His Majesty. Do not be negligent, and do not solicit bribes or embezzle funds. This case of hidden land may shake up the officialdom."

Guo Zhongxiao smiled and said, "Don't worry, Minister Li."

After Li and Guo left, Chen Shao was not very angry.

Upon closer reflection, this seems to be something that every dynasty has been unable to avoid.

The founding heroes, relying on their merits, acted lawlessly and engaged in rampant corruption.

If the emperor is too lenient, he will not be able to control his close subordinates who have made great contributions; if he is too harsh, he will inevitably leave a reputation for being cold-hearted and ungrateful.

He soon began to review the memorials again, until Wang Yin arrived by imperial decree.

"His Majesty."

Chen Shao said, "Yang Yu, the secretary of the Records Office of the Ministry of Revenue, died suddenly a few days ago. This matter is somewhat suspicious, and it involves the land survey register. Send someone to investigate privately. I suspect that someone is trying to tamper with the land survey register."

Wang Yin suppressed his excitement and nodded; this was a major case.

What surprised him was that His Majesty was so calm. He truly deserved to be called the Son of Heaven, possessing the magnanimity to fill mountains and seas.
-
In the days that followed, Chen Shao was busy with the establishment of the Coal Bureau, which was secretly investigated by Wang Yin's Guangyuantang.

Many officials have been arrested, creating a climate of fear and unease.

As noon approached, the number of customers at the restaurants by Xuanwu Lake in Jinling gradually increased. Among them were many young scholars and disillusioned poets. After a few drinks, as always, they began to discuss current affairs and criticize politics with great enthusiasm.

“Recently, the Guangyuan Hall patrols have been going out everywhere, and many officials, both inside and outside the capital, have been arrested and questioned. It seems that our Great Jing Emperor is going to create a lot of unjust imprisonments!” A man sighed, stroking the table.

"Shh—, be quiet, are you out of your mind?" his companion hurriedly reminded him.

"What's there to be afraid of? If you ask me, we should establish our capital in Bianliang! Listening to slander and coming to Jinling, where is the former glory of Bianjing? If we don't make good use of the scholars and officials nurtured by our Great Song, how can we take over the beautiful land of our Great Song?" The man didn't take it seriously.

During the Song Dynasty, scholars held a high status and it was common for them to discuss current affairs. However, during the Jing Dynasty, the control over this aspect was not strict.

"Alas, seeing one trusted minister after another arrested today and interrogated tomorrow, tens of thousands of gentry from the banks of the Yi and Luo Rivers exiled to the frontier, shaking the foundations of the Central Plains, causing His Majesty to lose the hearts of his civil officials and still appoint treacherous ministers like Cai Jing, why doesn't anyone stand up and speak a word of justice!"

At this moment, someone else sneered, "Where are the virtuous and capable ministers in the court? Those people from Hedong are all rising through the ranks, and they're too busy flattering others to even think about it. As for the Western barbarians, they're nothing but a bunch of warriors. The noble scholar-officials, despite their vast knowledge and eloquent writings, can only be banished to the frontier!"

"Not long ago, that barbarian King Jin built a private academy and asked Wu Min to erect a monument for him. The words he wrote were full of praise and his manners were so humble that it was unbearable to look at..."

"What about Li Boji? And Wu Min? Are they both so despicable? Aren't they both leaders of the 'pure stream' faction?"

"So what if he's from a respectable family? Li Gang, in order to get an official position, wandered around Dingnan in Hedong, flattering and currying favor, and sure enough, he got one. What a pity, he was cunning and calculating. Do you know where he was assigned?"

The middle-aged man spoke in a mischievous tone, winking and making faces, saying, "He's gone to the northern desert to become a regional governor! Hahaha, Baidao City, do you know where Baidao City is?"

"It's still thousands of miles to the desolate, uninhabited Yunzhong!"

The group burst into laughter.

"Although Li Gang was demoted to the northern desert, at least he managed to obtain an official position. Wu Min, on the other hand, is so lowly that he doesn't even have a task to perform, and is now teaching at the Jin residence."

"Alas, what a pity for our great nation! It's unbearable to see it like this!"

"Although we have been dismissed from our posts and are no longer in the imperial court, we remain pure and upright, upholding benevolence and filial piety, and adhering to the sages' principles of propriety, righteousness, loyalty, and trustworthiness. Compared to those who covet positions and wealth, we are far superior!"

Everyone nodded in agreement, saying in unison, "Absolutely! Such a person who disregards reputation is a disgrace to the scholarly community. We are fortunate not to have associated with him, otherwise we would be too ashamed to face anyone!"

"Whether we become officials or not makes no difference to us, but preserving our integrity is better than anything else!"
-
In a private room next to the main hall, two diners sat facing each other in silence, drinking quietly, until the mocking and insulting words from outside became incessant and escalated. Suddenly, one of them slammed his hand on the table and stood up.

"This is outrageous! I'll kill them!"

"Sit down!" The older man opposite him said in a deep voice, "Don't cause trouble."

This older man was Zhe Keqiu, the head of the Zhe family and a border general who repeatedly defeated the Western Xia.

The young man was his nephew, Zhe Yanye, who followed the Dingnan Army and made great achievements in Yunzhong. Now, at a young age, he has entered the Three Military Commands and served as the Commander of the Imperial Guard Cavalry.

Zhe Yanye went to the front line during the Xuanhe era and fought until the founding of the Great Jing Dynasty before following the Jin general back from the north.

Although he was a member of the Zhe family, he considered himself a member of the Dingnan Army at heart. He was furious when he heard these people slandering the emperor and despising the Dingnan Army warriors.

Zhe Keqiu rushed over from Fugu and first met with the most meritorious and highest-ranking member of his clan's younger generation.

He discovered that this clan member had become Da Jing's most loyal supporter, and he couldn't help but feel glad he had made that choice.

If the feudal lords are really weakened, this nephew might even lead troops to dismantle the government and grain reserves.

Zhe Keqiu looked at his huffing nephew and said, "When His Majesty was stationed at Nuanquan Peak, I often had secret talks with him. He knew everything that happened within a hundred miles of the camp."

“He had such spies back then, and now that he holds the reins of power and sits on the throne, how could he not have secret agents?”

"He probably already knew about this, and there must be a reason why he didn't take action. Why bother?"

Upon hearing this, Zhe Yanye calmed down.

In fact, he also had grievances against the head of the family. Back then, when they fought a fierce battle with Wanyan Xiyin at Wuhui Ridge, Zhe Keqiu led the Zhe family army into the Central Plains.

At that time, the commander-in-chief appointed by the imperial court was Liu Guangshi, also known as Xiao Liu Xiangong, and Zhe Keqiu was his reserve force.

However, Liu Guangshi was defeated and his defeated army fled into the Taihang Mountains. He actually captured Liu Guangshi and took the opportunity to recruit the Fuyan army on a large scale.

Their ambition to establish their own independent regime is now crystal clear.

At that time, the world was in chaos. The Dingnan Army and the Jurchens were locked in a fierce battle. Wanyan Zongwang took the opportunity to march south and invade the capital, seemingly about to repeat the chaos of the Five Dynasties period.

Fortunately, they later broke through the Five Ridges and invaded Hebei, which stabilized the situation and thwarted the patriarch's ambitions.

Now that the Zhe clan has taken the initiative to come to the capital to reduce their own status, Zhe Yanye believes it is a wise decision, for how can there be a country within a country?

The Zhe family is a family of loyal martyrs for centuries, and has always been a bulwark of the Central Plains and Northwest. They absolutely cannot lose their integrity in their later years and lead the family into the abyss.

Zhe Keqiu held his wine cup, listening to the wild ravings in the restaurant, a hint of seriousness flashing in his eyes.

The Song Dynasty abdicated its throne to the Jing Dynasty in a peaceful transition, which meant that a large number of Song officials were not suppressed.

Even those who had been dismissed from their posts showed little reverence, constantly referring to the Song Dynasty.

It seems that the court is not as stable as I imagined. I must see His Majesty as soon as possible and settle the Zhe family down. It would be best if Consort Zhe could exert her influence so that we can settle in the capital, Jinling.

Once His Majesty purges the officials in the court, a large number of official positions will become vacant. The Zhe family members are all outstanding talents, and they can fill these positions perfectly.

Although the Zhe family lost Fugu, it might not necessarily be a bad thing, as it could nurture an even more powerful family in Dajing.

This is not because he thinks too highly of himself. The Zhe family has always produced beauties and talented people. They have been based in the Northwest for more than 200 years, and every generation has been full of talented people.

The arrogance of these people outside is a recipe for disaster, and the beginnings of a purge are already visible.

His Majesty is not a soft-hearted person; he has plenty of methods at his disposal. Zhe Keqiu sneered, hoping they would go even further and become even more arrogant.

A new emperor brings a new court; the officials of the Song Dynasty had spoiled scholars rotten. (End of Chapter)