You have truly caused me great suffering!

Most of the time, talented people in this world follow the trend of wealth.

Especially among ordinary people.

Today, with the development of trade along the coast, what was once a desolate and remote seaside has become bustling with activity.

Inside a shipyard near Guangzhou Port, it was lunchtime, and most of the shipwrights had gone to eat, but one man was staring blankly at the newspaper.

This time, Chen Shao personally wrote the article:
I have heard that in this vast land, there are still unexplored territories awaiting our people to open them up. Now, according to reports from merchants from Champa and the naval forces of the Star Chariot Division, beyond the southern wilderness, spanning tens of thousands of miles of deep sea, lies a colossal continent, vast and boundless, twice the size of the Jiangnan region.

The land is characterized by its majestic mountains and rivers, dense forests that block out the sun, rich deposits of gold and jade hidden in the mountains, and the essence of copper and iron revealed in the streams. It is teeming with birds and beasts, and its fertile plains stretch for thousands of miles. It is truly a treasure land bestowed by heaven!
However, the area was sparsely populated, and the indigenous people were ignorant, making clothes from grass, making fire by drilling wood, and were unaware of etiquette and music, and did not know the ways of the king.

This is precisely the opportunity for the people of our Great Jing to achieve great things and leave their mark on history!
A special imperial edict was issued:

All citizens of Jingzhou—whether soldiers, merchants, fishermen, or criminals—whoever leads a boat south, personally visits the land, maps and marks it, and collects samples to present to the emperor, shall be rewarded.
I will personally bestow upon him a title and land, enfeoffing him as a marquis, whose title will be hereditary and perpetual!

The mines, fields, and ports he discovers will all be his descendants' property forever!

The words "conferring a title of nobility" carry a heavy weight and are very eye-catching.

His Majesty can bestow titles upon people at will, and everyone trusts him completely.

This edict, published in the Da Jing Gazette, meant that millions of people could see it.

Unlike previous articles, this one was written by His Majesty the Emperor.
This issue of the Da Jing Bao newspaper has become almost a collector's item, with countless people choosing to keep it as a collectible.

Many wealthy families along the coast cut it out and pasted it on their walls as a reminder of their future opportunity to be granted a title.

Many wealthy merchants and powerful clans from both the north and south mobilized all their resources to form fleets to sail south.

After careful consideration, Chen Shao decided to first throw out Australia to test the capabilities of the people of Dajing.

If they do find it, then going to America won't be far off.

Chen Shao was confident that he could get Da Jing's ships close to the American continent within ten years.

However, what he needed was not an expedition team, but a system with frequent ship traffic similar to that of Japan, which the imperial court could control.

Otherwise, it would be somewhat ironic if a powerful nation were to emerge independently in the Americas.
-
Chen Shao, whose letter had stirred up the hearts of the people, was leisurely strolling around the Summer Palace.

The summer palace has been renovated to be more and more beautiful. Green waters meander, willows sway in the wind, rocks stand by the water, and covered corridors meander like ribbons, combining the mountains and waters with the palace into a beautiful picture.

Clouds, trees, and reeds; white walls and black tiles—truly, every glance reveals a beautiful scene.

Sometimes Chen Shao even wondered if he was living inside a painting.

Only the birdsong, the gentle breeze, and the fragrance of flowers constantly reminded him that this was reality, not a painting or a dream.

When he visited the Summer Palace again this summer, there were noticeably fewer officials coming to inquire about state affairs, and Chen Shao often took the initiative to summon them for gatherings.

This shows that the official system was gradually improving, and officials were gradually changing from the leisurely and carefree life of the Song Dynasty to actually having to do their jobs.

The government doesn't support idlers. If you want to enjoy yourself, you can resign and go home to enjoy your retirement.

The imperial court's assessments, conducted three times a year, are no joke; those who fail are not protected.

In fact, as long as they really calm down and do their jobs, being an official is not tiring. Many official positions are like this. Of course, some are very tiring, but those officials have high salaries and are promoted quickly.

You think it's too tiring? You might not even get a chance.

Chen Shao discovered that he also had some flaws; when he was overwhelmed with official duties, he wished he could take a few days off.

When I finally have some free time, I feel uneasy and restless all day long.

There may be withdrawal symptoms in governance, and it may take some time to adapt.

For the princes and princesses, this period was particularly happy, as their father had free time every day and took them to play in the valley.

They either play games or have people from the engineering department fiddling with the machines.

They could also work with the people of the Si Nong Temple to improve varieties and cultivate crops.

Sometimes, Chen Shao would go to watch Chen Xing'er study and learn to read.

The Han imperial family always held the teachers of their princes in high esteem.

Emperor Ming of Han, Liu Zhuang, treated Huan Rong with the respect due to a teacher. When he was the crown prince, he studied under the scholar Huan Rong, and after he ascended the throne, he continued to treat him with the respect due to a teacher.

Even after becoming emperor, he would still frequently go to the Imperial Academy to listen to lectures, set up tables and chairs, and invite all the officials to sit with him.

When Huan Rong fell seriously ill, Emperor Ming got out of his carriage and walked into the alley. He held Huan Rong's hand and wept, and bestowed upon him a bed, curtains, and medicine.
When Huan Rong died, he was buried in plain clothes, and his tomb was built on the sunny side of Shou Mountain (next to the royal mausoleum area).

The Book of the Later Han Dynasty states: "The emperor personally presided over the ceremony. When the imperial carriage arrived at the Taichang Palace, he ordered Rong to sit facing east, set out a table and a cane, and summoned hundreds of officials and Rong's students."

Emperor Taizong of Tang (Li Shimin) further strictly ordered his sons to respect their teachers. He issued an edict: "What I teach you now is so that you may respect your teachers as you would your father!"

In the Song Dynasty, it goes without saying that the system stipulated that princes had to perform the apprenticeship ceremony when they met their teachers.

Emperor Renzong of Song addressed his teacher Yan Shu as "Sir," without using his given name or addressing him as a subject.

Emperor Shenzong of Song said to Wang Anshi: "You are my teacher, how can you kneel down?"

When the emperor arrived in Dajing, this tradition continued. Chen Shao chose Hu Anguo, a scholar of the Imperial Academy, as the tutor for the crown prince.

During the reign of Emperor Zhezong, the young Hu Anguo participated in the imperial examination and was ranked first by the examiner in charge of the palace examination, but at that time the factional struggle had already become fierce.

Prime Minister Zhang Dun forcibly lowered his ranking because his exam paper did not contain any words that denigrated the politics of the Yuanyou Party. Emperor Zhezong of Song, who truly cherished his talent, promoted him to third place.

The tutor hired for the princesses was his third sister-in-law, Jinzhu'er, the daughter of Prince Xun.

Although the lady was young, she was like a little adult, very elegant and composed.

Sometimes Chen Shao really thought Old Zhu was amazing. Although he was rarely home, he raised his children very well. He wondered what his secret was.

After surveying his territory, Chen Shao found that there was indeed nothing to do.

Fortunately, this place is exquisite in every aspect; every plant, every pavilion, every stone, and every stream is meticulously crafted.

Even just sitting quietly in one place can be refreshing and pleasant.

Chen Shao strolled over to Xiao Ting's place, thinking that since he had nothing else to do, he might as well engage in dual cultivation.

You know what, she spent a lot of money and sent out a lot of people to gather these methods and approaches, and they're really quite sophisticated.

After each encounter, Chen Shao felt refreshed and clear-headed.

My mind was exceptionally clear, my hearing and vision were sharp, and even the world seemed clearer to me.

After that, Chen Shao would occasionally come to accompany her in dual cultivation and meditation, and Xiao Ting actually entered the path completely.

Upon entering her room, one sees Xiao Ting dressed in a pale white fitted dress, tied with a dark blue sash adorned with plum blossoms. Her slender waist is delicate, and she gazes at her reflection in the water. Her hair is jet black, and her graceful figure sways with captivating charm. She is reading a Buddhist scripture.

Upon seeing Chen Shao enter, she smiled faintly and rose to greet him.

Chen Shao stepped forward with a smile, but before he could put his arm around her waist, Xiao Ting said, "Your Majesty, today is the Beginning of Summer."

"Oh, what's wrong?"

“Every time the solar terms change, the Qi of heaven and earth fluctuates, and the Qi and blood of the human body are not stable, it is not advisable to disturb the kidney essence.”

Chen Shao frowned slightly, gave her a disgruntled look, and said, "Who said I was going to use my kidney essence? I just want to meditate with you, okay?" "That would be great." Xiao Ting smiled and didn't expose him; he had already started to loosen his belt.

She turned and instructed Xiaoling to fetch the agarwood she had treasured. This stuff was made from agarwood trees that had been struck by lightning, infested by insects, or infected by fungi, and it took decades or even centuries for it to produce resin.

It is "the head of all fragrances, the king of all fragrances".

In Buddhism, it is called "the essence of sandalwood".

Xiao Ting could be considered the richest woman in the world; there was nothing she couldn't get her hands on, but she was usually reluctant to use these things, only using them when Chen Shao came.

The initial flame is cool and refreshing like a spring, then sweet and soothing like honey, and finally returns to emptiness without a trace, subtly corresponding to the three stages of "refining essence into qi, refining qi into spirit, and refining spirit into emptiness".

The Compendium of Materia Medica states that it is "pungent and slightly warm, non-toxic, and treats edema caused by wind and water poisoning, removes foul odors, relieves abdominal pain, and stops shortness of breath." It can also calm the nerves and promote deep relaxation.

The two of them, in this wooden cabin in the valley during the summer, practiced breathing exercises together, guiding their qi back to its origin.

Half a day passed quickly; it was almost as soon as I opened my eyes that the sun had set.
-
Mid-July.

The Ministry of Revenue sent all the household registration records of Dali to the Summer Palace.

Chen Shao ordered his men to record the information and then gave a generous reward to the Duan and Gao families.

The thirty-six tribes of Wuman, who have always benefited from the Great Jing, did not receive any additional rewards this time.

The atmosphere suddenly became a little strange.

Duan relinquished the title of the state and petitioned to become a monk at Dayun Temple in Liangzhou. Emperor Dajing refused, instead bestowing upon Duan Heyu the title of Prince of Yunnan, granting him a residence in the capital, and ordering them to enjoy high salaries until their old age.

The Duan family then left Dali and headed to Jinling.

Their clan requires members to become monks or nuns at a certain age, so most of them are monks.

Gao Shunzhen was enfeoffed as the Prince of Nanping and was additionally granted the titles of Grand Commandant and Pillar of State.

This person does have some ability, and Chen Shao decided to let him continue to shine after he arrived.

The imperial court officially took over the entire territory of Dali and announced that the land originally belonging to Nanzhao, which had been seized by the Tubo Kingdom, would also be acquired by the Dajing Kingdom.

The name of the Dali Kingdom was abolished, and Yunnan Circuit was established, which governed Dali, Shanshan, Weichu, Tongshi, Huichuan, Jianchang, Tengchong, Yongchang, and Moutong, totaling 1 prefecture and 7 sub-prefectures, with 35 counties under its jurisdiction.

The area surrounding Yangjumei City was Dali Prefecture, the capital of Yunnan Circuit.

Zhang Shuye was appointed as the Pacification Commissioner of Yunnan and Guizhou, and Huo Anguo was appointed as the Transport Commissioner of Yunnan and Guizhou. Prince Wu Jie of Fu was sent to take over all the troops in Yunnan.
-
At the Prince of Fu's residence, Wu Jie was looking for a new tutor. He had heard that His Majesty went to listen to the princes and princesses read every day.

Following the example set by his superiors, he greatly admired Chen Shao and began to pay attention to the education of the children in his clan.

Just as he was selecting the list, Academician Wei Daqi came to announce the imperial decree.

Wu Jie was startled and quickly went to the hall to receive the imperial decree.

After hearing Wei Daqi's reading, Wu Jie was slightly stunned, which startled Wei Daqi, who had only recently arrived in Bianliang.

He quickly gave a signal, and the prince's household guards, who were also Wu Jie's former personal guards, coughed lightly.

Wu Jie then came to his senses, quickly accepted the imperial decree, and exchanged pleasantries with the messenger.

After everyone left, he looked worried and distressed.

Upon hearing that an imperial edict had arrived, Madam Qin rushed over to receive it with him.

When she arrived, she found that the person had already left, and her husband was sitting in a chair looking gloomy and miserable.

Originally overjoyed, Qin was suddenly terrified, wondering what the imperial edict had said that would make her husband so distressed.

"What did His Majesty say?"

Wu Jie clicked his tongue. "Send me to Yunnan to gather the local troops."

The so-called gathering of troops was actually just a means to stabilize the situation; if there were any who were unwilling to submit, they would be eliminated as well.

"Does this husband not want to leave the capital?"

Wu Jie remained silent. The woman was shallow in her understanding. Her own brother was in Annam Road, and if she went to Yunnan Road, their territories would be combined, and both of them would hold military power.

An ordinary emperor would never arrange personnel in this way.

Although Wu Jie knew that he and his second brother would never do anything stupid, public opinion was a powerful force to be reckoned with.

The combined territory of the two brothers was much larger than that of the Western Xia at its peak.

After much deliberation, Wu Jie submitted a memorial, hoping that His Majesty would rescind his decree.

He said he was in poor health and didn't want to go to Yunnan Road, which was rife with malaria.

This claim was refuted by Chen Shao, who stated that Yunnan Road enjoys a spring-like climate year-round, and in terms of natural scenery and livability, it is no less beautiful than the Jiangnan region.

Chen Shao invited him to the palace for a meeting.

After Wu Jie entered the summer palace, Chen Shao seemed to see through his concerns and said directly, "I trust you two brothers. Now, the Dali Kingdom is to be completely incorporated into our Dajing. There are thirty-six tribes of Wuman in the area, each governing themselves."

“This method is absolutely unacceptable to me; we must reform them and allow them to be appointed directly by the central government.”

"I sent you to prevent anyone from taking advantage of the chaos to cause trouble."

Chen Shao said with a smile.

He didn't actually care that the areas controlled by the two powerful generals, Wu Lin and Wu Jie, were adjacent.

By this time, the Great Jing Dynasty was already quite stable. If the Wu brothers were to rebel against Chen Shao, their troops would likely not agree.

Soldiers and warriors do indeed enjoy supporting an emperor's ascension to the throne, thus reaffirming their merit in following the emperor's rise to power.

But Chen Shao's men this year are not like that; for them to rebel at this time would be a sign of their folly.

Not to mention that both families' relatives were all in Jinling, and their troops were all Chen Shao's trusted confidants and direct subordinates.

Seeing that His Majesty had made up his mind and truly trusted him, Wu Jie had no choice but to leave the Summer Palace and prepare to head to Yunnan.

With his mental burden lifted, Wu Jie began to seriously consider His Majesty's words.

He needed to find the right balance: how should the old troops of Dali be dealt with—disbanded or developed into local militia?
How should the thirty-six tribes of Wuman be reformed and their status changed to that of officials under the central government? Should they be dealt with all at once, or separately?

These matters suddenly weighed on Wu Jie, but he was not afraid; he was simply patient and calm.

He also believed that if he went to Yunnan Road, he could help His Majesty to reorganize Yunnan Road.

Although Chen Shao's men had already made great contributions and could not be given any further titles, they were actually all in their prime.

Moreover, everyone involved is exceptionally capable.

When Chen Shaogang established the country, the five founding kings, except for Li Xiaozhong who never left the battlefield, stayed in the capital. They were told not to go anywhere.

But now Jinling, Wu Jie, and Li Xiaozhong have all been sent out.

This is actually a form of self-confidence. (End of Chapter)