You have truly caused me great suffering!

Li Mo, the prefect of Zhenjiang, had some connections with Chen Chong. He leaned closer and asked, "Does His Majesty intend to visit the military camp tonight?"

It was indeed dusk, and night was approaching.

Chen Chong nodded slightly.

This is His Majesty's own decree, and there is no room for disobedience.

Chen Shaoxing hurriedly led his men toward the Guazhou camp.

If it were an ordinary army, he would have waited until tomorrow to come, but this was an expeditionary force that had been on a five-year expedition, annihilating Japan and slaughtering all the powerful clans of the Kanto region.

I absolutely have to meet him.

The military camp had long been prepared to receive the emperor, because they would do everything in their power to prepare even if there was only the slightest possibility.

Li Yanqi rode on horseback, waiting for the emperor's arrival. Liu Mao, standing beside him, was so nervous that his palms were sweating and his lips were pale.

The last time Liu Mao went to meet the emperor, he was in a daze and barely said a few words.

This has nothing to do with courage. Liu Mao was a fierce general, but that's how it was when facing the emperor in this era.

Li Yanqi glanced at it and understood, showing no sign of mockery.

As night approached, the camp had prepared many torches, but none of them were lit.

It remains to be seen whether His Majesty will simply take a quick look around or stay for a while.

Soon, the emperor's personal guards galloped up on horseback, with Chen Shao close behind.

Without a full ceremonial procession, Chen Shao rode over on horseback, his horsemanship skills never waning.

When he was in the imperial palace, he would ride back to the capital every year, making dozens of trips back and forth.

Chen Shao's path to power was somewhat similar to that of Zhu Yuanzhang. He initially led troops personally, but soon took a behind-the-scenes role in overall command and strategy.

But it's not impossible for him to play.

Upon arriving at the military camp, Chen Shao did not smell the stench he remembered. Even when he was commanding troops in the Northwest, there was an unpleasant odor when the Lingwu Camp was first established.

However, the responsibilities of the middle and lower-ranking military officers in Dajing are very clear, including the hygiene of the soldiers.

With so many people gathered together in the military camp all day, if hygiene is neglected, it can easily lead to the spread of infectious diseases.

The accompanying doctors would also prepare insecticidal herbs, which would be boiled and used for the soldiers to bathe in.

Because the pressure of fighting was not great, or even nonexistent, the soldiers still had to wash their clothes and shoes to keep themselves clean.

The evening breeze was cool, and the streetlights were just coming on. Chen Shao looked at the military camp and realized that it had been a long time since he had been there.

He felt a little ashamed.

An emperor who has conquered the country on horseback cannot be too far from his soldiers; he must at least be able to see them and hear their pleas.

For him, the new policies were the foundation for stabilizing the country and expanding its territory, and the army was the source of his confidence and strength in implementing these policies.

As long as he doesn't lose his unparalleled prestige in the army, all the conspiracies and schemes in the world will be ineffective against him.

The men in the camp, seeing that the emperor had actually arrived, still felt as if they were in a dream.

They only came to their senses when Chen Shao rode his horse, surrounded by his guards, onto the high platform.

The emperor has arrived.

The emperor has really arrived.

As Li Yanqi dismounted and shouted "Long live the Emperor!", the camp erupted in a deafening roar.

The cheers continued for a long time before Chen Shao waved his hand, signaling everyone to be quiet.

Many valiant generals made significant contributions during this eastern expedition.

Chen Shao had the rewards announced aloud, and then he burst into laughter.

"Winning a battle means being happy and laughing! Tears are for the enemy."

Li Yanqi and Liu Mao exchanged a glance, both finding the words particularly invigorating.

Many of those present would be taking off their armor tomorrow to return to their hometowns and become small landlords.

Chen Shao walked around the camp, and when he reached the cooks' quarters, he stirred the food with a spoon and said, "Bring all the wine we could get from the city. The restaurants had no choice but to sell it to us. Today, we're really forcing them to buy! I'll take some money from my own treasury and treat everyone to a good drink. Tomorrow, we'll go home in high spirits!"

The soldiers closest to him felt their blood boil upon hearing this, a surge of courage rushing to their heads.

At this point, they'd do anything you asked.

As long as the person in front of them is leading them.

After staying in the military camp for a while, Chen Shao saw countless torches lit up at Guazhou Ferry, so he invited everyone to gather on the drill ground to drink and dance.

As night deepens, the moonlight shines like a ribbon, and gentle waves lap against the shore. As usual, the spring moonlit night in Jiangnan is very gentle, but the riverside is filled with boundless passion.

Generals die in a hundred battles, and strong men return in ten years.

He boarded a ship in Dengzhou and Laizhou, Shandong, left the Central Plains, and headed to a foreign land, where he remained for more than ten years.

Finally, I can return home in glory, and the emperor bestows wine upon me, so let us get drunk together in the river breeze.

Tonight is destined to be an unforgettable night.
-
Chen Shao returned to the dragon boat on the river in the middle of the night.

He was in high spirits tonight and was quite drunk, so someone had already been simmering a hangover soup for him on a stove.

The Fujian-style ship used by the emperor this time is not like the style of Jiangnan, but more like the style of a northern mansion.

In Jiangnan, even wealthy families often built multiple gates and doors, with pavilions and towers connected by winding corridors, corridors, and passageways. If you weren't familiar with the area, you would definitely get lost after wandering around for a long time and wouldn't even be able to find the way out.

Chen Shao's boat is a typical courtyard house, emphasizing axial symmetry, facing south, closed to the outside, and open to the inside.

His cabin was like a constellation surrounding the moon, with him completely encircled in the center.

So after Chen Shao returned, someone came quickly, even though it was already midnight.

Consort Shu arrived with her two younger sisters.

Jin Ye'er glanced at the hangover soup and said with a grin, "Sister Shu'er, you rest, I'll take care of His Majesty."

"Yes." Li Wanshu smiled, bowed, and withdrew.

Chen Shao smelled a faint, familiar fragrance and pressed his flushed cheeks against the soft, smooth brocade.

Just as I was about to have a nice nap, I heard a voice that seemed to be telling me to open my mouth and drink something.

Chen Shao immediately opened his eyes warily.

Then I found the three Kim sisters, one with her arm around me, one holding a bowl, and one holding a spoon.

He chuckled, realizing that getting our Great Emperor Taizu to drink something in a daze was far too difficult.

But after seeing who was in the room, Chen Shao had no more suspicions.

He thought the spoon was too slow, so he grabbed it and drank it all. Jin Le'er laughed and snuggled into his arms.

Chen Shao held her close as they heard the sound of the fleet setting sail.

Zhenjiang Prefecture was never part of Chen Shao's plan, since it was practically within the vicinity of Jinling, almost under the emperor's nose. He only went to Guazhou Ferry before returning to continue his journey.

The Fujian-style ship has already set sail and should arrive in Suzhou early tomorrow morning.

Consort Shu, Jin Mo'er, was one of the earliest concubines to follow him, and she was no longer the innocent girl she once was.

After giving birth to two princesses, she maintained a slender yet graceful figure with a unique air of elegance. She usually wore light makeup and appropriate clothing, presenting a peaceful and refined appearance to outsiders.

When facing Chen Shao, she still exuded a seductive charm. She bent down and took off Chen Shao's two boots, then untied the drawstring on his socks and took them off for him.

Jin Le'er was still as charming and adorable as ever, while Jin Ye'er, who was embracing Chen Shao from behind, remained as alluring and seductive as ever.

A night breeze swept by, causing the two lanterns outside to sway. The sound of the lanterns, accompanied by soft murmurs, added to the tranquility of the night.
-
There is a saying: "Above is heaven, below are Suzhou and Hangzhou."

The proverb was already being quoted in Fan Chengda's "Customs of Wu County" during the Southern Song Dynasty, indicating that this saying existed during the Song Dynasty.

However, Chen Shao did not find Suzhou particularly prosperous.

Perhaps it was because he had witnessed the splendor of Bianliang (Kaifeng), the capital of the Eastern Capital, and then personally built an even more magnificent city, Jinling (Nanjing).

So your standards are a bit too high.

However, Suzhou's gray-tiled and white-walled houses, cobblestone alleys, small bridges shaded by green trees, and the numerous rivers throughout the city do indeed possess a unique beauty.

Especially at this time of year, with the bright spring sunshine, coming here from Nanjing feels like stepping from the bustling world into a misty, dreamlike old dream, elegant and tranquil.

Upon arriving in Suzhou, Chen Shao, accompanied by a group of officials, toured the city.

After wandering around Suzhou in the city center for a while, Chen Shao felt a bit tired. This was the residence of wealthy and powerful families, and there weren't many workshops.

So he suggested going to the outskirts of Suzhou, or even the suburbs, to take a look.

The officials in Suzhou were somewhat surprised, but Yuwen Xuzhong and the others who accompanied him remained calm.

His Majesty is not here for sightseeing.

Every day in the Funing Palace, they discussed the country's trade, war, and people's livelihood.

Arriving at the outskirts of the city, the scene was indeed quite different.

The workshop was bustling with activity, lacking the refined and leisurely atmosphere of Suzhou, and instead filled with the spirit of labor.

The various types of spinning wheels dazzled Chen Shao.

After Da Jing improved cotton spinning, cotton quickly became an important crop and commodity.

Silk was good, but it was too expensive and could not meet the needs of the general public.

Cotton-padded clothing is becoming the largest export commodity in Dajing, and it is also extremely important domestically.

Especially when developing the northern border, cotton clothing is a powerful tool to ward off the cold winter.

The officials in Suzhou were initially worried that this place was not considered high-class and might displease His Majesty.

But to their surprise, His Majesty, who had been listless and yawning constantly, suddenly became energetic upon arriving here.

When the mood struck him, he even tried his hand at operating the spinning wheel for a while.

Before leaving, he took a piece of cotton cloth from under the government-run spinning wheel.

Upon arriving outside the workshop, Chen Shao summoned the officials from Suzhou Prefecture to his side.

Although they were landlords, they were not actually qualified to get too close to the emperor.

Gao Wenyuan, the prefect of Suzhou, Li Ning, the vice-prefect, and Peng Ren, the Suzhou textile commissioner, pushed through the crowd and joined the fray.

Chen Shao sat on a railing and casually asked about the output and sales of these cotton products, as well as the treatment of the textile workers.

As a result, not only did the prefect and the vice-prefect know nothing when asked, but even Peng Ren, the Suzhou textile commissioner, stammered and kept wiping his sweat.

Chen Shao's expression immediately changed. The Suzhou Textile Commissioner was a specially created official position under his jurisdiction. The Textile Bureau was responsible for supervising the production of brocade, silk, gauze, and other textiles, managing weaving households, paying tribute according to quotas, and inspecting the private weaving of prohibited patterns, as well as the entry and exit of materials such as silk, cotton, and dyes.

Chen Shao is very professional; he has long been an expert in cotton spinning and manufacturing, and no one can fool him.

These three people in front of him were clearly not ordinary people. They didn't even have the ability to lie to Chen Shao; they simply didn't understand these things at all.

"Bastard!"

After uttering those two words, Chen Shao turned and left.

Suzhou and Hangzhou are top-tier wealthy and prosperous places, and the temptation to become an official here is immense.

It's not surprising that people spend all their time indulging in the beautiful scenery, food, and women of Suzhou, forgetting their own duties.

They probably never imagined that Chen Shao would abandon the beautiful scenery of Suzhou and come to this workshop where the lower classes toil away to earn a meager living.

Chen Shao took a few steps, still not satisfied, and turned to Yuwen Xuzhong, saying, "Liu Jizu and the Ministry of Personnel are also implicated in this matter; they must both reflect on their actions. When Li Tangchen left, he set up a system for supervision and investigation for me; did he actually use it?"

At noon, Chen Shao had his meal in a pavilion in a garden in Suzhou.

Suzhou gardens are the best in the world; the more patiently you appreciate them, the more you will discover their beauty.

The garden is filled with pavilions and towers, lush flowers and plants, and swaying flowers everywhere. The famous peonies, such as 'Guiji Zuijiu' and 'Jiaorong Sanbian', bloom with bowl-sized flowers and emit a faint fragrance.

The water beneath the arched bridge is as clear as a mirror. As soon as someone arrives, the densely packed golden and red carp rush in from all directions, leaping out of the water one after another, as if someone is washing a red cloth on the water.

Chen Shao seemed completely unaffected by his anger during the day. He sat in the pavilion eating a pot of fine wine, accompanied by marinated dog meat, live fish dumplings, ham and bamboo shoots, and four kinds of exquisite dishes.

However, Yuwen Xuzhong and the others were well aware that His Majesty was in a very bad mood.

Because he generally doesn't like to eat alone.

They would either return to the inner palace or summon their close officials to host a banquet.

He glanced at the guards and eunuchs, but neither Dong Dahu nor Chen Chong looked at him directly.

Yuwen Xuzhong knew that he was still angry.

"What are you lingering outside the pavilion for? Come in and talk."

Yuwen Xuzhong quickly entered the pavilion and said with a smile, "Your Majesty, we have already sent people to thoroughly investigate the assessments of the three of them."

The ways of officialdom are always the most treacherous, and Chen Shao understood this well.

However, what he could not accept was that such a serious dereliction of duty could occur in such an important place and in such a crucial position.

In his view, cotton spinning is the main focus of Dajing's future trade, comparable to porcelain, silk, and tea.

Moreover, compared to the previous three, cotton spinning, from cotton planting to the later textile production, can drive more development of people's livelihoods.

It can enable more people to have food to eat.

"Many similar incidents will occur during this inspection, but I don't want them to be discovered through inspections alone," Chen Shao sighed. "How many prefectures can I inspect? And how many times can I conduct such inspections?"

When the ruler is distressed, the minister is disgraced; when the ruler is disgraced, the minister dies.

Upon hearing his tone, Yuwen Xuzhong felt a lump in his throat and quickly said, "Your Majesty, we are extremely terrified. We will certainly learn from this painful experience and come up with a plan to put Your Majesty's mind at ease."

Chen Shao nodded slightly and did not continue to press the issue. "Throughout history, many customs were established at the founding of a dynasty. The Great Jing Dynasty has been established for ten years. If these customs are not changed now, they will become fixed and become established rules of conduct in officialdom. It will be difficult to change them in the future."

"We need to hurry." (End of Chapter)