Do You Know?: Rule the World.

Chapter 172 The Imperial Family and Jiaozhi, You're Hiding Something from Me

Inside Xuanming Hall, the air was filled with a warm fragrance.

The Duchess of England looked at Yan Ge'er in her arms with eyes full of affection, gently stroking his chubby cheeks with her fingertips.

Zhang Guifen is her only daughter, who has never left her side since she was a child, and Yan Ge'er is her blood-related grandson.

This affection is unmatched by anyone else in the Zhang family.

"Mother, put her down and rest. Your arms must be sore from carrying her for so long." Zhang Guifen looked at her with a smile. Even though she was a mother herself, her still spirited brows had gained a touch of gentleness and composure.

Upon hearing this, the Duchess of England glanced at her sideways and sighed, "Let me hold you a little longer. I'm not that old yet."

“When I look at Yan Ge’er, I can’t help but think of you when you were little. You were just this small back then, wrapped in swaddling clothes, and your voice was louder than anyone else’s when you cried.”

“You can only fall asleep if I hold and rock you in the middle of the night. Once, your dad tried to hold you, but you cried your heart out as soon as he took you. In the end, I had to carry you around the room for most of the hour before I could finally get you to sleep.”

Zhang Guifen smiled and said, "Was my daughter really that bad when she was little?"

"If you don't believe me, ask your father and your brothers." The Duchess of England snorted lightly, then lowered her head and continued to focus her gaze on Yan Ge'er.

After a moment, she said softly, "Now that you have given birth to a prince, your father, Zheng'er, and I can finally rest easy."

Just as Zhang Guifen was about to speak, her trusted palace maid Hongying led a group of eunuchs forward.

Seeing this, the Duchess of England reluctantly handed Yan Ge'er to the wet nurse and, together with Zhang Guifen, bowed to receive the imperial decree.

"The Emperor decreed to the Minister of State:"

Consort Zhang, born into a distinguished family, is gentle and kind by nature, and possesses both beauty and intelligence. She gave birth to the fourth prince, ensuring the continuation of the imperial lineage and contributing greatly to the nation. I am very pleased with her.

His father, Zhang Fu, was known for his loyalty and bravery, and repeatedly made military achievements, thus bringing honor to the family.

His elder brother, Zhang Zheng, inherited his father's integrity, served diligently in the military, and remained steadfast in his commitment, never tarnishing the family's reputation as a military family.

Your clan has always been loyal and upright, and your family is full of outstanding individuals who are truly pillars of the family.

Now, Lady Zhang is hereby promoted to the rank of Imperial Concubine, and it is hoped that she will assist in managing the affairs of the inner court to maintain order in the harem.

Qin Zai. "

After the imperial edict was read, Zhang Guifen bowed with a joyful expression and said, "Your Majesty, I thank you for your great favor!"

The head eunuch stepped forward, bowed slightly, and personally handed the imperial edict to her. The Duchess of Yingguo let out a long sigh of relief.

From now on, in the harem, apart from Hua Lan, she will be the most honored.

After the eunuch left, the Duchess of England pulled her back to sit on the soft couch, and the mother and daughter chatted for a long time.

She didn't leave the palace until it was almost evening.

-

Several months have passed in the blink of an eye, and the end of the year is fast approaching.

Qi Heng was preoccupied with many matters and could not return to the capital to reunite with his family. Shen Hezhen was worried about him, but she had to take care of the New Year's affairs in the mansion.

Princess Pingning also refused to let Han Ge'er and Yu Jie'er travel with her on the long and arduous journey to Jiangnan.

Therefore, Shen Hezhen had no choice but to prepare some clothes and food that Qi Heng liked, and send them to Jiangnan by fast horse.

The same was true for Wang Anshi's wife, Lady Wu.

Today, the regular court session is being held in the Chuigong Hall.

From the capital region to the south of the Yangtze River and then to the six northern circuits, the land survey and acreage of hidden fields has yielded fruitful results and is now gradually being extended to the southwest and northwest circuits.

Zhao Han's gaze slowly swept over the assembled officials in the hall, and he said in a deep voice, "Pei Hu, the Pacification Commissioner of Guangnan West Circuit, submitted a memorial yesterday mentioning the Kingdom of Jiaozhi."

“In recent months, the Kingdom of Jiaozhi has been frequently mobilizing troops, and spies have reported that the King of Jiaozhi has convened a meeting of nobles from various tribes. His movements are secretive and may be detrimental to the Guangnan border of our dynasty.”

At the beginning of the Great Zhou Dynasty, Emperor Taizu was focused on consolidating the northern border and mainly dealt with the affairs of the southern border by appeasement, leaving him little time to pay close attention.

At that time, Dinh Bo led the pacification of the twelve governors and established the Dai Co Viet Kingdom, also known as the Dinh Dynasty. Emperor Taizu enfeoffed him as the King of Jiaozhi and formally incorporated him into the vassal state.

Later, the Dinh Dynasty was in turmoil, and the powerful minister Lê Hoàn usurped the throne and established the Early Lê Dynasty. Thái Tông, under the pretext of restoring the old territories and punishing the usurper, launched a large-scale military campaign against Giao Chi.

As a result, the Zhou soldiers suffered a major defeat due to the hot and humid climate, the prevalence of miasma, their inability to adapt, and poor command.

Taking advantage of the internal turmoil, former Lê Dynasty minister Lý Công Uồn seized the throne, established the Lý Dynasty, moved the capital to Thăng Long, and named the country Dai Việt.

He called himself Emperor of Da Yue internally, while the Zhou dynasty referred to him as Jiaozhi.

Emperor Zhenzong conferred upon him the title of Prince of Nanping, and Emperor Renzong further bestowed upon him the title of Grand Tutor, intending to maintain the relationship between the imperial clan and the vassal state through imperial favor.

In the sixth year of the Tiansheng era, on the day of Wuxu in the third month, Li Gongyun died of illness. After his son Li Dezheng succeeded him, he repeatedly sent troops to invade the border of Guangnan.

They committed arson, murder, looting, and all sorts of atrocities in the Yongzhou and Qinzhou areas.

The current King of Jiaozhi is Li Rizun, the eldest son of Li Duc Chinh. He often refers to himself as the Celestial Empire, the superior nation, and is increasingly arrogant compared to Li Duc Chinh.

During the Jiayou era, they frequently raided the borders of the Great Zhou Dynasty, seizing grain and abducting civilians.

Zhang Fu, dressed in purple robes and a jade belt, with a resolute gaze, stepped forward and said in a booming voice, "Jiaozhi is nothing but a tiny, barbarian country!"

"When Nong was desperate, he asked the Kingdom of Jiaozhi for help, and the King of Jiaozhi immediately expressed his willingness to send troops to help him."

"This reveals their ambition!"

Nong Zhigao was once an enemy of Jiaozhi, but also once submitted to Jiaozhi, and their relationship was fickle.

Many years ago, when Nong Zhigao and his son rebelled, the Kingdom of Jiaozhi originally wanted to take the opportunity to interfere in the internal affairs of the Great Zhou Dynasty and gain benefits from it.

As a result, Pei Hu, Gu Tingye, and others fought bravely and skillfully, leading their army to quickly stabilize the battle situation and pursue the Nong family's rebel army all the way, with an unstoppable momentum.

When Jiaozhi realized there was no profit to be made and that rashly helping them would only increase the risk, they secretly withdrew their troops and decided to remain on the sidelines, hoping to reap the benefits later.

Gu Tingye's eyes flickered slightly, and he immediately spoke up: "In my opinion, Jiaozhi has always acted like a petty person, abandoning righteousness for profit, currying favor with the powerful, and has never shown the slightest respect for a vassal state."

"Li Rizun is just using the same old tricks, trying to take advantage of the fact that our dynasty has cleared up the hidden land and the center of gravity has shifted slightly to invade the border again."

"I believe we should make preparations as soon as possible to wipe out this small country in one fell swoop and eliminate future troubles."

"I've even come up with a pretext for sending troops: make Li Rizun hand over all the border people he's abducted over the years, not a single one will be missing!"

"If he refuses to comply, or if the number of people he returns is insufficient, or if he is humiliated or maimed, then he has defied the might of our Great Zhou Dynasty, and our dynasty will have every right to send troops to punish him!"

Upon hearing this, Sheng Changbai turned to look at Gu Tingye.

Although the reasoning is somewhat crude, using the pretext of rescuing the people to send troops can indeed win over some public support.

However, once war breaks out, the allocation of supplies and the loss of soldiers must be carefully considered.

In Jiaozhi, miasma abounds and the roads are rugged; soldiers are bound to die of disease before even reaching the battlefield.

"Lord Gu is right, I second that!" Zhang Fu stroked his beard and laughed.

Wei Ling followed closely behind, proclaiming loudly, "If Your Majesty grants my request, I am willing to lead the troops into battle!"

"We will surely defeat those barbarians of Jiaozhi and bring them to their knees, and rescue all the captive people!"

Han Zhang frowned slightly and slowly stepped forward.

He was dressed in a purple court robe, his expression calm, and he cupped his hands and said, "I understand Lord Gu's concern for the people on the border."

"I believe this matter requires further consideration."

"Although Jiaozhi is small, it has been operating in the southern border region for many years. It is easy to defend and difficult to attack. Once the enemy forces enter the mountains and forests, our soldiers are very likely to lose their way. If we pursue them rashly, we may encounter an ambush."

Gu Tingye waved his hand and said, "Lord Han is overthinking it. The Shenji Battalion has not been idle these past few years."

"This humble official would also like to test how effective firearms are in the mountains and forests!"

"If the enemy hides in the dense forest and puts up a stubborn resistance, we will use the Tiger Cannon to blast open a passage, and then let the Shenji Battalion soldiers advance with rockets."

"I refuse to believe that the soldiers of Jiaozhi are made of iron!"

Zhao Han looked at them, his gaze slightly somber. If he wanted to send troops to Jiaozhi, the first thing he needed to solve was the problem of miasma.

After a moment of contemplation, he said slowly, "Miasma is a disease caused by soil and water, and it can be prevented and controlled."

Zheng Xiao nodded repeatedly and cupped his hands, saying, "Your Majesty is right."

"When I previously quelled the rebellion of the Nong bandits, I ordered my soldiers to wear realgar, burn mugwort and calamus, and eat betel nuts."

When officials of the Great Zhou Dynasty were first assigned to a post in the southwest, the first thing they did was to imitate the local officials and people by chewing betel nuts, believing that this substance could prevent miasma and aid digestion.

“These are all good ideas, but they are not enough. Dealing with Jiaozhi is not as simple as suppressing the Nong rebels.” Zhao Han said calmly.

After weighing the options in his mind, Hai Yanping stepped forward, holding his official tablet, and said, "Your Majesty, I believe we should first send a brave general with an elite force to march south."

"Firstly, it can deter Jiaozhi (Vietnam), and secondly, it can assist Lord Pei in strengthening the border defenses and drawing up detailed geomantic maps."

"Thirdly, Li Rizun saw that our army was already prepared. If we can restrain our unusual movements, we can save a battle. We can wait until our dynasty is fully prepared before fighting him."

Upon hearing this, Han Zhang, Shen Shiqi, and others stepped forward to second the statement.

Zhao Han tapped her fingers lightly on the armrest of the throne.

“What Hai Aiqing said makes sense. The period from October to February of the following year is when the miasma is at its weakest.”

"If we send troops now, gather provisions, and prepare military equipment, plus the marching distance, we will most likely arrive in Jiaozhi between February and March."

"If Li Rizun intends to delay until early summer, when the heat and humidity are at their peak and the miasma is at its worst, it will be disadvantageous to our army."

Before he finished speaking, Wei Ling cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, I am willing to lead the elite troops to Guangnan!"

He knew that unless he made a great contribution, it would be highly unlikely that he could get an official title for his elder sister. Even if Zhao Han wanted to consider his relationship with Minglan, he would probably face opposition from the court officials.

"Your Majesty, we are also willing." Gu Tingye, Zheng Xiao and others echoed, for military officers who wanted to be promoted primarily through military merit.

The situation in the southern border region presented a golden opportunity to make a name for themselves, and they naturally didn't want to miss it.

Zhao Han looked at them, considered for a moment, and then said in a deep voice: "Zheng Xiao and Wei Ling shall lead the Xiaoqi Battalion and five thousand elite troops south immediately, under the command of Pei Hu, and send back reports regularly."

"Gu Tingye will remain in the capital to train the Shenji Battalion, and will be given another post when the time is right."

"Your Majesty, we obey!" Wei Ling and the others bowed respectfully.

After the discussion concluded, the ministers, as was customary, reported on various matters.

Zhao Han sighed and looked at Zhao Zonghui, who was in charge of the Grand Clan Court. He was Zhao Yunrang's fourth son.

Upon noticing this gaze, Zhao Zonghui felt a chill run down his spine. He instinctively gripped his ceremonial tablet, lowered his head, and held his breath.

In the early days of the Great Zhou Dynasty, the number of members of the imperial clan was limited.

They are mainly direct descendants of Emperor Taizu and Emperor Taizong, but after several generations, there are now more than a thousand people.

During the reign of Emperor Taizong, it was stipulated that members of the imperial clan could only hold the position of Prefect of Kaifeng; other official posts held by them had no real power.

Descendants of the imperial family were also prohibited from holding local official positions and could only remain in the capital. Those within five degrees of kinship could reside in the imperial palace.

Those beyond the fifth degree of mourning resided outside the palace, but could not freely enter or leave Bianjing City.

This move avoided the risks of royal interference in politics and local separatism.

However, food, clothing, daily necessities, weddings, and funerals were all provided by the imperial court, which amounted to a considerable expense each year.

Some members of the imperial clan were lazy and arrogant, frequenting brothels and causing trouble, which also brought considerable trouble to the governance of Bianjing.

Han Zhang, Shen Shiqi, and several other important court officials stood tall, ready to speak at any moment.

"I am determined to recover Yan and Yun, and I dare not slacken my efforts. However, the imperial clan spends millions of strings of cash every year. If we do not reform, I am afraid it will be difficult to support the military supplies for the Northern Expedition in the future."

"I have decided to reform the regulations governing the imperial clan!"

"Members of the imperial family outside the fifth degree of kinship will no longer be granted official positions or salaries. They must leave the capital within six months and settle in local prefectures. They can participate in the imperial examinations or military examinations based on their true talents, just like ordinary people."

"I will also instruct the Ministry of Revenue to allocate resettlement allowances based on population size to help them purchase property and make a living in the local area, so that they can support themselves."

The age for granting official positions to members of the imperial clan within five degrees of kinship was changed from seven to fifteen.

"For weddings, funerals, birthday gifts, clothing for all four seasons, and monthly salary, all will be reduced by half."

"The expenses of each member of the imperial clan must be registered and recorded, and verified by the Grand Clan Court. If anyone is found to be extravagant or wasteful, the first offender will have their supplies suspended for three months, and the second offender will be stripped of their official position, expelled from the capital, and no longer supported by the court."

At this point, Zhao Zonghui couldn't help but gasp.

The reform of regulations governing members of the imperial family has finally arrived.

"If any member of the imperial clan defies the imperial decree, I will not tolerate it out of kinship. At the very least, he will be punished by the Grand Master of Ceremonies with caning, and at worst, he will be stripped of his imperial clan status, demoted to a commoner, and exiled to the border."

"My actions are not out of disrespect for my relatives, but for the sake of the Great Zhou Dynasty and the old lands of Yan and Yun!"

"Zhao Zonghui, you have been in charge of the Grand Clan Court for more than ten years. You should do your best. If you show any favoritism, I will not let you off lightly."

Before Zhao Zonghui could speak...

Han Zhang and the others exchanged glances and exclaimed in unison, "Your Majesty is wise! Only when the imperial court and its officials are of one mind can we unite the nation's strength and recover the lost territories as soon as possible."

Upon seeing this, Zhao Zonghui immediately bowed.

"Your Majesty, I obey your decree. I will certainly act impartially. If there is any error, I will leave it to Your Majesty to decide!"

"Great!" Zhao Han laughed loudly.

He then stood up and announced the adjournment of the court.

Outside the Chuigong Hall, Zhao Zonghui raised his hand to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead. The imperial family members had long been accustomed to a comfortable life.

From birth, they were provided for by the imperial court, never having to lift a finger to be clothed or fed, and never having to work or earn a living.

Even if they made some mistakes, no one dared to take them seriously because of their special status.

Such a sudden reduction might be difficult for them to accept.

Just as he was feeling a chill run down his spine, Han Zhang strode over and gently patted him on the shoulder.

"There is no need to worry too much. If you encounter any problems, you are welcome to come and discuss them with me and the other officials."

Zhao Zonghui nodded.

"I will go to the Grand Clan Court shortly to sort out the register of imperial clan members."

"Let's ask a few more respected elders of the clan to come forward and inform the clan members about this matter tomorrow."

-

In the fifth year of the Hongwu reign, the year-end had passed.

Wei Ling and Zheng Xiao have already set off south. Although the imperial clan members are dissatisfied with the new regulations, no one has dared to openly oppose or cause trouble.

Today is the Lantern Festival.

The entire city of Bianjing was filled with joy. The Imperial Street was newly decorated, and there was no curfew for three consecutive days, allowing people to enjoy the lanterns and have fun all night long.

As night falls, countless lanterns used for praying for blessings float on both banks of the Bian River, flowing slowly along the river.

Hundreds of lanterns hung high in Fanlou, and vendors guessing lantern riddles were surrounded by crowds.

The Duke of Wei's mansion was brightly lit.

Inside the Wei Rui Xuan, Wang Ruofu frowned deeply.

For a moment, he was caught in a dilemma, unsure whether to stand or sit, and paced anxiously around the room.

Sheng Hong leaned against the soft couch, holding a book in his hand, squinting as he slowly flipped through it.

"Sit down, you're making me dizzy." Sheng Hong looked up at her.

Wang Ruofu snorted and gritted her teeth, saying, "Ru'er is on the verge of death, and you still have the mind to read?"

"Her Majesty specially sent a midwife from the palace to the Wen residence to deliver Ru'er's baby. What's the rush?" Sheng Hongqing stroked his beard.

Wang Ruofu rolled her eyes at him and continued to stand at the gate, glancing outside every now and then.

About half an incense stick's time later, Liu Mama came running up, panting, and said, "My lord, my lady, the fifth young lady has given birth!"

"It's a boy. Mother and child are safe!"

"Second Brother and First Madam will return after sitting in the Wen residence for a short while."

Upon hearing this, Wang Ruofu let out a heavy sigh of relief and sat down on the soft couch with light steps. "That's wonderful, wonderful!"

Sheng Hong glanced at him sideways and said quietly, "I told you there was no need to worry too much."

Wang Ruofu picked up his teacup, drank it all in one gulp, and then turned his gaze to Liu Mama.

"Quickly bring me my pair of kingfisher feather and gilded necklaces and longevity locks, and add a few gold ingots, and send them to Ru'er!"

“Madam…” Liu Mama pursed her lips and kept giving Wang Ruofu meaningful glances.

Wang Ruofu was in a good mood and didn't think much of it, but frowned and pressed for an answer.

"What are you standing there for? Hurry up and go!"

Liu Mama glanced at Sheng Hong cautiously out of the corner of her eye, stepped forward, and subtly tugged at Wang Ruofu's sleeve, whispering, "Let's go tomorrow. Why are you in such a hurry, Madam? We haven't told the old lady the good news yet."

"The old lady has already retired for the night. I will tell her myself tomorrow."

"Take two bolts of brocade that the Emperor previously bestowed upon you and send them to the Wen residence to make some undergarments for your grandson."

Sheng Hong put down his book and looked at Liu's mother with a smile.

Upon hearing the words "old lady," Wang Ruofu instantly realized what was happening, and her smile froze on her face.

She forced a smile and stammered, "It's getting late... there's no rush. Let's send it over on the third-day celebration, so we don't have to make two trips."

Upon hearing this, Sheng Hong narrowed his eyes and stared intently at Wang Ruofu. Having spent many years together, he knew very well what Wang Ruofu looked like when she felt guilty.

"You're hiding something from me."

"You were just rushing to the Wen residence to deliver gifts, how come you changed your mind so quickly?"

Wang Ruofu clenched her handkerchief, her eyes darting around, and gave a dry laugh. "How could that be? What are you saying, my lord? What could I possibly be hiding from you?"

Sheng Hong took a deep breath, turned to look at Liu's mother, and said, "You tell her, if I find out later, I will not let her off easily!"

Liu Mama frowned, hesitated for a moment, and under Wang Ruofu's flustered gaze, slowly knelt down and said, "My lord, please calm your anger."

"Official..."

Wang Ruofu was about to speak when Sheng Hong silenced her with a sharp glare.

Seeing this, Liu's mother knew she could no longer hide the truth. It was better to admit her mistake herself than to let Sheng Hong find out.

So he said, "The Wang family sent someone last month, saying that the household is short of funds and urgently needs money."

"Madam, out of consideration for her family, made a moment of confusion and used her own money to subsidize the Wang family. She just exchanged those necklaces for money last month."

(End of this chapter)