You have truly caused me great suffering!

If there were people like Chen Shao, Han Shizhong, or Jin Ling on the battlefield at that time, then it would certainly be possible to negotiate if Zhenla wanted to surrender.

Negotiations can reduce casualties, stabilize the situation as quickly as possible, and also break down the other side's resistance.

But the soldiers on the front lines were bloodthirsty and there were huge benefits to continuing the fight.

Fighting in the South China Sea now is like trying to make money by sweeping up fallen leaves with a broom.

The Zhenla envoy was shot and killed as soon as he arrived at the outer perimeter of the military camp.

Moreover, in recent years, Zhenla, like Jiaozhi, has been beating and kicking its neighboring countries.

The Champa people wanted nothing more than to kill them.

The Dali army, attacking from the north, was also tasting this kind of success for the first time and had no intention of stopping.

Thus, the battle in the Southern Wilderness descended into a violent phase.

The war situation expanded infinitely; the more troops were sent, the larger the battlefield became, as if every piece of land was resisting.

Despite the intense attacks, no one surrendered.

Chen Shaodu once doubted that he had underestimated the small countries here.

Isn't it said that nationalism only emerged after World War I? Isn't it said that this place is all loose alliances? How come they're all tough nuts to crack?

If you're going to be this tough, how did the French manage to conquer this place in the first place?
Am I not as good as the French?
From Chen Shao's perspective, the best solution would be to follow Wu Jie's example in Jiaozhi and support a puppet ruler as a temporary measure.

Then it was naturally incorporated into the organization.

At the current rate of warfare, this land will be turned into wasteland, and the casualties will be enormous.

While in the long run it might be more beneficial for this land to be fully integrated into the Central Plains, it would consume too much of the nation's resources in the short term.

Even the landlord's family had no surplus grain.

Chen Shaogang had just begun to reduce his personal wealth by giving back to the people and completely opening up trade in the Northwest, which made his personal coffers a little empty, and he could no longer be as extravagant as before.

Fortunately, good news came from the north.

On the 20th day of the twelfth lunar month, on the eve of the New Year, news came that Khabul had fled to the north.

The Mongol tribe was completely annihilated, and there was no longer a royal court, Khan, or leader in southern Mongolia.

Chen Shao ordered a reward for the soldiers of the Northern Expedition, and the army rested for half a year in preparation for a summer campaign against the northern desert.

Furthermore, they restored pastures and built winter camps on the lands of the Mongol tribes.

They recruited all the small tribes in southern Gobi Desert and registered their populations.

It has been exactly three years since the city was built in Baidao.

The pacification of southern Mongolia within three years was another glorious achievement in history, adding a touch of joy to the upcoming fifth year of Jianwu.

In fact, once the desert was pacified, even if not as thoroughly as it is today, it could have achieved great prosperity.

First of all, in every dynasty, defending against northern barbarian tribes was a huge expense.

Now we've saved money.

Secondly, the products and goods of the grasslands and the Central Plains are actually highly complementary.

When the Central Plains were powerful, there were tribes on the grasslands that were willing to submit to them.

But the rulers of the Central Plains often exploited them even more, even more ruthlessly than their own leaders.

They forcefully turned the originally loyal alien race, who just wanted to live a peaceful life, into rebellion once again.

The most obvious example of this is during the reign of Empress Wu Zetian. From the emperor herself to the scoundrels she promoted, they all acted in the same way, levying exorbitant taxes on the tribes that submitted to her rule.

The Old Book of Tang records that Zhao Wenhui, the governor of Yingzhou, was "stubborn and self-willed, and treated the chieftains like servants" towards the Khitans.
Instead of providing relief during famines, they "aggressed against their tribes and made insatiable demands."

"When the Khitans were starving, Zhao Wenhui did not provide them with relief and even insulted them, so the Khitans rebelled."

In order to suppress internal rebellions such as those led by Xu Jingye and to wage wars against foreign powers, the government forcibly conscripted surrendered Turkic, Khitan, and Goryeo people into the army; once they were conscripted, they were not given food, and they were used as cannon fodder in the war without being fed.

For example, in 696, a campaign was launched to subdue the Khitan by conscripting "prisoners, commoners, slaves, and brave men from all over the land."

The Zizhi Tongjian records her as: "She was a cruel official who believed in slander and evil, and her border generals were greedy and tyrannical, which led to resentment and rebellion among the barbarians."

Although the Great Jing is ruthless in its conquests, employing various extermination tactics to ensure your survival.

But once you submit, you'll instantly feel the difference. They'll build winter camps and open up trade markets. You won't have to hide in snow caves to escape the blizzards in winter, and you can buy coal and food.

After a year of grazing, cattle, sheep, and horses can all fetch a good price.

You need to live, and you also need others to live, in order to prosper and gain their trust.

Of course, the prerequisite is that the local chieftains must be replaced by centrally appointed officials, and there must be no more 'chiefs' or 'leaders' of any kind.

Inside the Funing Palace, Chen Shao, who had been somewhat annoyed by the tough guys from the Southern Wilderness, finally smiled.

Like Yelü Dashi and Wanyan Balisu, Khabul's escape meant he never returned.

From now on, the journey will be long and arduous, and Chen Shao can only wish them a safe trip, as they are no longer on the same level.

Whether you're in the north or the west, develop well.

Perhaps if the Great Jing opens up the western battlefield, there will be a day when we meet again.

At this moment, Chen Chong walked in and said, "Your Majesty, Minister Li and others are outside requesting an audience."

"Xuan."

A short while later, Li Tangchen entered the palace with the ministers of the six ministries, as well as the Grand Master of Ceremonies and the Junior Grand Chancellor.

Everyone wore joyful expressions; defeating the northern barbarians was always a great event for the Central Plains court, no matter the circumstances.

"The thirty-eight tribes, large and small, south of the Yin Mountains, stretching from the Huang River in the east to Juyan in the west, have all bowed their heads and submitted. Congratulations to Your Majesty on this great achievement! From now on, there will be no more war in the Gobi Desert, and the garrison in Yunzhong will be relieved—the southern Gobi Desert is now pacified!"

The others also bowed their heads, seemingly having rehearsed beforehand. Their voices were perfectly synchronized as they said in unison, "Your Majesty is divinely mighty, your might shakes the eight wastelands! Wherever your heavenly spear points, the dust of the barbarians is swept away!"

"You all have made great contributions, congratulations!" Chen Shao chuckled, feeling delighted.

Since defeating the Jurchens, he has had no rivals in the world, and sometimes he feels that these are all rewards for the victors.

Li Tangchen suddenly stopped smiling and became serious, saying, "In the past, Emperor Wu of Han drove out the Xiongnu, exhausting the whole country; Emperor Taizong of Tang defeated the Turks, but still maintained a policy of appeasement. Now Your Majesty has pacified the southern desert, expanded the territory and brought peace to the people—this is not due to human effort, but to the accumulated virtue of our ancestors and the blessing of Heaven! We dare to request: to offer sacrifices at the Imperial Ancestral Temple, to announce to Heaven and Earth, and to carve a stone tablet to record today's achievements."

Chen Shao thought about it and was somewhat tempted, but there were still remnants of the enemy in the northern desert.

He said, “Although the southern part of the Gobi Desert has been pacified, there are still Tartars in the northern part that do not submit to the king’s rule. It is not too late to carve this stone after the southern and northern parts of the Gobi Desert have been completely pacified.”

"The most urgent task at present is to lift the harsh border guards and open up trade routes. This will allow the people of the northern border and the newly annexed barbarians to live in peace and prosperity and not easily rebel again."

Zhang Run exclaimed loudly, "Your Majesty's ambition surpasses even that of the Han and Tang dynasties! This is truly the hope of the world and the fortune of all people!"

Everyone looked at him again. This kid wasn't following the rehearsal and was always trying to steal the spotlight.

After the implementation of progressive taxation, the money of nobles, officials, and gentry across the land could no longer be used to purchase land.

The desire for expansion grew stronger, as they needed to expand their territory and markets in order to reap greater profits.

Human nature, to a greater or lesser degree, is selfish.

If these social classes had all their money invested in land, they would naturally prefer stability and not war.

Because war requires increased grain taxes, and their tenant farmers are conscripted into labor service. If the war goes badly, soldiers will be recruited, all of which threaten their interests.

Now, as they invest their money in trade, they need endless markets, raw materials, and dumping grounds. Chen Shao's respect for Cai Jing is not without reason.

Although he politely declined the offer to erect a monument to commemorate his achievements, Chen Shao could not hide his joy and ordered that his officials be invited to a banquet.

By the twelfth lunar month, the temperature in Jinling was very low, a stark contrast to the climate of the southern wilderness.

Many of the returning military officers found it difficult to adapt.

When the banquet was about to begin, a light snowfall suddenly occurred.

White snowflakes drifted in the breeze, melting quickly as they landed on the brick floor.

The ground in the palace was damp, as if a light rain had just fallen.

This did not dampen the ministers' enthusiasm in the slightest.

Everyone gathered together to discuss the influential figures who pacified the desert over the past thousands of years.

It seems that nothing has been as satisfying as today, with the royal court of Mo Nan completely wiped out.

Of course, during the vacuum period that followed the Khitan and Jurchen, no powerful northern tribes were born.

Since the rise of the Song Dynasty, the Central Plains, although its record in foreign wars was average, has been relatively stable, not giving foreign tribes the opportunity to continue their southward expansion.

If they don't go south, they won't be able to obtain resources and craftsmen from the Central Plains, making it difficult for them to rise to prominence.

This situation continued until the establishment of the Great Jing Dynasty. In fact, the enemy that the Great Jing Dynasty faced in this Northern Expedition was not strong.

Future generations may analyze this objectively, but people today will not; they will only say that this is the greatest achievement since the beginning of time.

Chen Shao sat at the head of the table, holding a wine cup, and looked at his ministers below with a smile.

The taste of victory, even if you savor it a thousand times, will never become tiresome.

He hopes he can keep winning, and that wish doesn't seem too difficult to achieve.

Given the current national strength of the Great Jing Dynasty, in the original historical context, what powerful enemies would it have?

As Han Shizhong spoke with great enthusiasm, he suddenly stood up, raised his cup, and said, "Let us all toast His Majesty!"

Chen Shao, giving him face, smiled and said, "Come, drink this cup to the brim."

The banquet continued into the afternoon, and Chen Shao felt a little dizzy, so he got up and went back to the inner palace to rest.

Thinking that Li Shishi would prepare hangover soup for me every time this happened, I might as well come here instead, so that she wouldn't have to walk so far.

The palace maids opened the door to Rouyi Palace, and after Chen Shao went in, they immediately closed the door.

It was rather cold outside, but the hall was warm from the burning charcoal.

After Chen Shao entered, he took off his robe. Li Shishi heard the noise and came out to see Chen Shao. Her eyes showed a hint of surprise, and she moved very quickly.

Walking to Chen Shao's side, Shishi personally bent down and took off his boots.

Chen Shao wore a lambskin coat over his dragon robe, which fell off with a slight shrug and was caught by a palace maid.

This action made Li Shishi cover her mouth and chuckle. Sometimes she felt that her young master often acted like a child, but it made her feel very comfortable.

Being with him is neither tiring nor scary.

Madam Dong came out from inside, smiled, bowed to Chen Shao, and then withdrew.

"Why is Big Tiger Mother here?" Chen Shao pinched Li Shishi's waist and asked.

"Da Hu's wife is pregnant, and Aunt Dong has come especially to thank me."

Chen Shao chuckled, surprised that Da Hu was so quick; indeed, one is influenced by one's company.

She considers herself a good marksman, and with many children comes many blessings; a few days ago, Zhe Ningxiang became pregnant again.

Holding Shishi's voluptuous waist, Chen Shao spoke animatedly about the reason for today's banquet, his face beaming with excitement as he took advantage of his drunkenness.

The palace maids of Rouyi Palace also came to join in the celebration.

These young beauties were even better at providing emotional value than the officials, making Chen Shao very happy.

The joy of victory is easily doubled.

Li Shishi watched Chen Shao boast with a maternal smile, one hand supporting her chin, the other gently stirring the spoon, the aroma of the hangover soup mingling with the warm fragrance of the hall.
-
The New Year is here.

The era name remains unchanged.

The reign title Jianwu remains relevant even today, as the imperial court has consistently used it.

The four barbarian tribes paid homage, and Chen Shao led the officials in offering sacrifices, followed by large and small court assemblies, just like last year.

After it was finally completed, the New Year officially began, and all government offices, large and small, were given a ten-day holiday.

The emperor once again visited the Hot Spring Palace.

Although he hasn't had the opportunity to tour the country yet, he has been traveling back and forth these past few years, otherwise staying cooped up in a palace would be too boring.

Even though the imperial palace of the Great Jing Dynasty was larger than that of the Song Dynasty's imperial city, Chen Shao still felt like he was in a cage.

In fact, many emperors had the idea of ​​traveling around, but due to various state affairs, they were ultimately unable to make the trip.

For example, Zhu Di set up many temporary palaces in Jiangnan, but never actually went there.

After the pacification of southern Mongolia, some people suggested performing the Fengshan ceremony at Mount Tai, but the response was lukewarm.

Because everyone inevitably thinks of Emperor Zhenzong of the previous dynasty, it would feel somewhat beneath them to actually go.

Emperor Taizong of Tang and Emperor Zhenzong of Song demystified the Fengshan ceremony at Mount Tai.

Emperor Taizong of Tang did not perform the Fengshan ceremony, which led later generations to believe that emperors who did not perform the Fengshan ceremony could still have great achievements.

Emperor Zhenzong of Song performed the Fengshan ceremony, which made later generations realize that emperors who performed the Fengshan ceremony could be quite ordinary.
In fact, Chen Shao was already qualified to go when he took back the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun.

Not long after returning to the Hot Spring Palace, the Imperial Censor Xiang Ziyin submitted a memorial to the emperor:
"The ancestral temple sacrifices depend on the imperial heir. Your Majesty is in the prime of life and should seek out virtuous women."

Chen Shao was somewhat surprised, as he was indeed in his prime and the royal family was indeed very small.

But everyone has seen how quickly he's been getting pregnant, so why is he being asked to take a concubine?

Out of curiosity, Chen Shao asked Wang Yin to investigate the matter and see if the officials had any ulterior motives.

After Wang Yin returned, he told Chen Shao: "The Imperial Censor Xiang Ziyin has a beautiful daughter with a dignified appearance. Young men from noble families flock to her, but all of them are turned down by Lord Xiang."

Chen Shao was speechless for a moment, thinking that his subordinates had conspired again. It turned out that it was Xiang Ziyin who felt that his daughter was too outstanding and was never satisfied when choosing a son-in-law.

In the end, it all came down to me.

Wang Yin, standing to the side, suddenly said, "Selecting talented individuals to serve the ancestral temple is not wrong, as it is said by Xiang Gong."

But Chen Shao was thinking about something else entirely.

The small size of the royal family has always been a major problem, which is why Chen Shaocai dared not easily go on tours.

If the royal family is large and prosperous, then ambitious people will not take risks.

But the crown prince is only five or six years old now. No matter how powerful Chen Shao is, or how strong the Great Jing Dynasty is, if something happens to Chen Shao himself, the future of the Great Jing Dynasty will be bleak.

At this moment, his desire to go on an inspection tour faded somewhat. (End of Chapter)