You have truly caused me great suffering!

When people are drunk, they are mostly still conscious, just not so clear-headed.

Self-control may also have decreased.

Chen Shao sat in the carriage, feeling his face and neck burning, so he casually lifted a curtain beside him.

Suddenly, a light drizzle landed on my face, the cool sensation like freezing cold. I realized that rain could be this cold at this hour.

Upon arriving at Baozhen Temple, several young eunuchs, holding umbrellas, escorted him into the inner courtyard.

"The red leaves and green moss are unbearable, and it's another day of cool breeze and evening rain."

The evening rain, accompanied by a cool breeze, pattered on the green moss and red leaves, making it both visually and tactilely damp and cold.

Several maids helped him to a chair, and Madam Song quickly went to prepare a hangover remedy.

His outer garments were stained by the food and wine. Two young Korean girls stepped forward to help him remove them. They were quick and efficient, their skills demonstrating the training they had received from a young age.

"How did you get so drunk?" Li Yi'an muttered softly.

Maode watched them busy with a smile, picked up a pumpkin seed, and deftly spat out the skin with the tip of his tongue. "Have a drink if you want. Enjoy life while you can."

"People don't just die when they get old. Life is unpredictable, so we should enjoy it while we can."

Li Yi'an rolled her eyes, thinking to herself that she could say such things about others, but to say them was utterly rebellious.

If someone overheard this, they could be beheaded.

When Chen Shao woke up, his head felt a little heavy. He sat on the bed and stared blankly for a while.

Then he remembered that he was there for a farewell party.

Some veteran generals of the Western Army also went to the Southern Wilderness to make contributions.

After the rise of the Dingnan Army, the Western Army was in an awkward position. Originally, Zhong Shidao intended to play the role of containing the Dingnan Army.

They became pawns in the Song Dynasty's strategy to counterbalance the Dingnan Army, and this practice continued.

However, Chen Shaobing's departure from Nuanquan Peak and his direct entry into the main battlefield of the Liao and Jin dynasties took everyone by surprise.

From that time on, the Western Army was in an extremely awkward position.

Later, Liu Guangshi wanted to make one last stand by leading the main force of the Western Army to defend the emperor, hoping to gain some recognition and secure benefits for the Western Army. However, he ended up exposing his true colors.

It almost led to the complete annihilation of the Fuyan army.

Fortunately, the Western Army soldiers were all seasoned veterans; they couldn't win, but they were incredibly fast runners.

From then on, the Western Army completely disappeared from the stage and became a mere supporting character.

Yao Gu wanted to establish a separatist regime in Longyou, but he was killed by his own men.

Chen Shao looked around. The warm tent was filled with a sweet fragrance. Although it was a chilly autumn night, the three plump and soft bodies emitted a warm and fragrant aroma.

He couldn't fall asleep, so after getting up once in the middle of the night, he simply stopped sleeping.

Lying in the warm tent, Chen Shao looked at the apricot-yellow curtains and thought about the harvest in Dajing this year.

After six years of accumulation since the founding of the nation, the treasury of the Great Jing Dynasty is now very full.

This year is another bumper harvest; perhaps the time is ripe for me to tour the land.

Chen Shao was eager to go around and see whether his decrees were being strictly implemented.

The people of Dajing lived much better under his rule than they had during the Song Dynasty.

After the capital was moved, Bianliang (Kaifeng) was said to have declined considerably, and Chen Shao wanted to go and see if it still retained some of its former prosperity.

After being separated for more than two hundred years, how well have the Youyan region, which has returned to the Central Plains, integrated into the Central Plains?

After the six-year logging ban, the soil and water quality of the upper reaches of the Yellow River, the coal mines and coal in various places, and the winter camp of the Northern Barbarians in Yunzhou—these are all things he wants to witness with his own eyes.

As for the newly acquired overseas territories, including Japan and Vietnam, Chen Shao had no intention of going there.

I have little interest.

Leaving the bustling, vibrant city of Nanjing, and arriving at the Guanzhong Plain, Chen Shao could imagine the scene with his eyes closed.

The area is bound to be characterized by rolling hills, withered grass, and bare trees. Further north, the north winds carrying sand and dust will blow away the peaceful and prosperous landscape of Guanzhong.

The surrounding population will gradually dwindle. At this time, because the imperial court is stockpiling supplies in preparation for the western expedition, there will be many able-bodied men and laborers on the main roads.

These were all people recruited by local officials from far and near to transport grain and supplies.

The weathered, hardworking farmers, the heavily armored soldiers.
Having personally led troops, Chen Shao could vividly recall the scenes.
-
The next day, at a small court assembly before the Mid-Autumn Festival, Chen Shao expressed his intention to tour the country and told the officials to feel free to express their opinions.

These words were like water poured into hot oil, causing an uproar in the imperial court.

Everyone whispered among themselves and looked at the important officials, but Liu Jizu and his men were also stunned.

The fact that no private meeting was held this time shows that His Majesty was genuinely seeking everyone's opinions.

So they all expressed their opinions. Liu Jizu was the first to agree. He was a businessman by trade, and the so-called "business" was actually buying and selling, traveling around to earn the price difference.

He enjoys traveling and thinks His Majesty should also go out and see more of the world.

Yuwen Xu hesitated for a moment, choosing not to speak and instead listening quietly to others' opinions.

Some people agreed, while others disagreed. After both sides explained their reasons, Yuwen Xuzhong nodded.

Zhang Run's personality is such that once Chen Shao has spoken up, he will only try to help His Majesty accomplish it, rather than worrying about whether he can do it or not.

The court assembly was very lively.

Li Gang strongly agreed, saying that His Majesty should go and take a look.

Only by seeing it with your own eyes can you know what areas still need improvement.

He himself traveled all over Hedong and Northwest China before he came to understand why Dajing was so successful.

Cai Xing expressed his opposition, worrying that His Majesty would be exhausted along the way and that uncontrollable variables might arise once he left the capital.

It would be safer to stay in the capital. There are also some places where the feng shui is unfavorable and the climate is unpredictable; Your Majesty, with your precious health, should not venture there lightly.

Even the sons of noble families are said to avoid sitting under dangerous roofs, let alone Your Majesty, who is the ruler of hundreds of millions of people.

The Great Jing Dynasty can do without anyone else, but it cannot do without His Majesty.

Some people also worry that touring the country would be a waste of resources and manpower.

But few people thought this way; almost all the ministers knew that His Majesty was not a person who indulged in extravagance.

He was not a hedonistic and incompetent emperor. Everyone advised him to select many concubines, but he kept putting it off and hasn't done so yet.

Even if he were to tour the entire country, he would not repeat the mistakes of Yang Guang.

In the six years since the founding of the Great Jing Dynasty, the most frequent edicts issued by the emperor were either edicts about burning coal or edicts encouraging agriculture.

Throughout history, very few rulers have been able to cherish the people's strength to this extent.

Bai Shizhong offered a compromise suggestion. He stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, why not tour only the capital region and the Huai River area? You can return to the capital in three to five months. From these two places, you can also get a glimpse of the entire landscape."

"You think you can get a glimpse of the whole picture from the capital region and the Huai River basin?" Chen Shao gave him a disapproving look. "Do you even believe that yourself? Jinling Prefecture and the Huai River basin have always been the most prosperous areas; they're not representative at all."

Bai Shizhong was adept at reading people's expressions. Seeing that the emperor's expression was not good, he immediately said, "We can also go south to Suzhou and Hangzhou, or west to Jingchu."

Chen Shao waved his hand, signaling him to stop talking.

Seeing that the court was still arguing, Han Shizhong immediately said, "Your Majesty, I believe that this inspection tour is very necessary. It can not only deter the barbarians, especially the newly annexed people in the north, but also allow us to understand the people's grievances. If Your Majesty does indeed proceed, I request permission to accompany you."

After he said that, the others stopped arguing about right and wrong and all expressed their willingness to go along.

They were afraid that the emperor would leave them behind.

A discussion about whether or not to go suddenly turned into a scene of people scrambling to drive along.

Looking at the chaotic court, Chen Shao couldn't help but frown. Indeed, in this world, even the most powerful dynasty is essentially a huge makeshift organization.

The dissenting voices disappeared immediately, because the officials were afraid that if they continued to object, they would be left out of the selection of those accompanying them.

The Ministry of War took the lead in stating that it would begin "bandit suppression" and clearing out areas six months in advance.

The Ministry of Revenue also stated that it could take advantage of the autumn grain entering the capital to transfer grain from the Grand Canal and set up grain depots at major stations along the route.

Officials from the Court of Imperial Sacrifices spoke eloquently, saying that flags, carriages, and chariots needed to be prepared according to the standards of a grand imperial procession.

This is because it is crucial to demonstrate the "legitimate lineage" of the grand spectacle, especially when passing through newly surrendered territories, the procession must be sufficiently imposing.

Although the crown prince is young, he is capable of overseeing the country. After all, Chen Shao spends many years in the imperial palace and has already trained the Zhongshu Menxia (Secretariat and Secretariat).

Not to be outdone, the officials from the Imperial Observatory also came out and said that according to the celestial phenomena of the past few months, His Majesty should travel from north to south, first north and then south.

Chen Shao originally wanted everyone to discuss whether or not they should go, since he himself wanted to go but wasn't sure.

If the officials strongly object, he will simply go along with it and not go.

Unexpectedly, Han Shizhong's insistence on accompanying the emperor made the inspection seem to be a done deal.

The Ministry of Works further stated that it would build hundreds of dragon boats and multi-storied ships at the mouth of the Yangtze River, hoping that His Majesty would primarily use waterways.

The matter was settled rather haphazardly, but it wouldn't be possible to make it happen until a year later.

Because the preparations beforehand are very complicated and take a long time.

All beginnings are hard.

After Chen Shao moved the capital to Jinling, he never went far away, at most wandering around the area a few times.

Perhaps with more experience, the second and third inspections will be much easier.

In fact, the officials all remembered that His Majesty was a military general who had fought his way through thousands of miles in the Northwest.

He once personally led troops to conquer the five prefectures of Hexi and fought all the way to Yumen Pass.

Even after the court session ended, people's enthusiasm remained undiminished, and they began to eagerly discuss His Majesty's tour of the country.

Now that the matter was settled, Chen Shao asked Guangyuantang to scout ahead.

He was also a little excited; he could finally travel to different places.

He believed that his Great Jing Dynasty was an empire far surpassing the Han and Tang dynasties, and that the lives of its people were certainly better than those of the Song Dynasty.

But to see exactly how much better it is, he needs to go and see for himself.

When Chen Shao was fighting in the Northwest, he saw the problems with the Hongliu River and thought of ways to manage it.

Sure enough, the benefits of river management were immediate, and it quickly revitalized Youyan Yinxia.

Therefore, to see things clearly and solve them, you have to be there in person.

Given his personality, he was actually quite content to stay in the capital and didn't really want to go out on inspections.

Emperors like Yang Guang, Kangxi, and Qianlong were simply driven by a strong desire to travel, explore, and have fun.

There's not a single serious matter here.

But Chen Shao was different; he genuinely wanted to test his policies.

This means that going on an inspection tour will not be easy; on the contrary, it will be very tiring.
-
From the day Chen Shao announced his intention to tour the entire country.

A month and a half has passed.

By mid-September, the weather was already quite cold.

Various places were reporting auspicious omens, which made Chen Shao both amused and exasperated.

The Funing Hall was filled with memorials of all kinds, red, yellow, and even blue packages that smelled of earth.

Chen Shao casually picked up a book, the cover of which was emblazoned with the words: "Urgent report from Suzhou Prefecture: A ten-thousand-year-old divine turtle has appeared in Taihu Lake, carrying the Eight Trigrams on its back, to respectfully welcome Your Majesty!"

He raised an eyebrow, flipped it open, and saw a turtle drawn inside, with a yin-yang symbol painted on its back.

"This turtle... is drawn quite smoothly," Chen Shaoman commented casually.

The memorial went even further: "This is truly a blessing from heaven, a miraculous mushroom sprouting from the earth!"
Your Majesty, I have heard that when Your Majesty is on the throne, the rivers are clear and the seas are calm, and all things display auspicious signs. Yesterday, a fisherman from Taihu Lake presented a rare turtle with shell markings resembling the He Luo Book, and its shell gleaming like the stars. This is a divine turtle that is rarely seen in a thousand years! This is because Your Majesty's benevolence matches that of Heaven, and thus this sacred creature appeared on its own. It is a sign that when Your Majesty is on your southern tour, the wind god will calm his anger, the rain god will sprinkle the road, and the sun will shine brightly.

Suzhou, renowned for its abundance, is said to be a land of plenty, with the saying "When Suzhou and Huzhou prosper, the whole country is well-fed." Now, with the divine tortoise guiding the way, it is truly a land of splendor. If Your Majesty were to grace us with your presence, it would surely bring joy to all the people and a bountiful harvest, like colorful clouds supporting the moon, adding splendor to brocade! We, your humble servants, eagerly await your arrival, ready to hold our whips and stirrups, and respectfully welcome Your Majesty!

Merchants in Yangzhou even spontaneously raised funds to build a "Longevity Palace" for him on the Slender West Lake.

Qufu, Shandong, presented a painting titled "The Appearance of the Qilin," claiming it to be the hometown of Confucius, a true auspicious omen, and the very heart of the region's cultural heritage.

Not to be outdone, Jiangnan West Road (Jiangxi) reported that "Mount Lu has been illuminated with five-colored light," which many people have witnessed.

The Huguang Province went even further, sending a huge "Jiahe" (an extra-large ear of rice), claiming that a single stalk of rice had grown three hundred grains, symbolizing "unity of the world and abundance of food and clothing".

Chen Shao clicked his tongue a few times. Strictly speaking, these bastards could all be charged with deceiving the emperor.

But they were also very cunning, only saying that someone saw it or someone discovered it, never mentioning whether they themselves saw it or not.

Throughout history, reporting auspicious omens rarely resulted in punishment, but many were rewarded for it.

Because most emperors, especially those with less impressive achievements, needed such celebratory events to emphasize their divine right of kings and their status as the Son of Heaven.

The more insecure someone is, the more they like this; for example, Wu Zetian's behavior has reached a fantastical level.

In the fourth year of the Chuigong era (688 AD) alone, 1872 auspicious omens were reported from various places, averaging five "miracles" every day.

From the "Luo River map" to the "hen turning into a rooster," all sorts of bizarre phenomena have emerged.

Moreover, this kind of thing sounds outrageous, but once it spreads, ordinary people are willing to believe it.

After all, you're the emperor now; it's normal for some strange things to happen.

Otherwise, wouldn't we be just like ordinary people like us?

Regardless of whether it's true or not, Chen Shao definitely won't be going on a lake tour to admire the turtles during this inspection tour, and he certainly won't be in the mood to pay homage to Confucius.

With that free time, he would rather measure the Yellow River water level or touch the city wall of Gubeikou.

Even visiting Lulong Ridge, the old battlefield where the Jing army destroyed the Jin dynasty, would be more meaningful than going to these places. (End of Chapter)