Do You Know?: Rule the World.

Chapter 186 Minglan is pregnant, and will bear another infamy.
Zhao Han blinked and saw Xiao Tao and Dan Ju smiling secretly with their eyes crinkled. She understood what was going on.

"I've been favoring you a lot lately. Will this have any effect on the baby in my womb?"

Upon hearing this, Minglan quickly shook her head gently and whispered, "The imperial physician said that the pregnancy is stable and there is nothing wrong."

"That's fine, that's fine."

Zhao Han breathed a sigh of relief, gently pulled her into his arms, and said with a smile, "From now on, whatever you want to eat, I will find it for you."

"I'd even summon the chefs from Fanlou to the palace to serve you personally."

Minglan looked up at Zhao Han, her dark eyes filled with a charming smile, her lips pouting, her cheeks round and playful.

"Your Majesty's words make it sound as if I am a glutton. If this gets out, I'm afraid I'll be laughed at to death. What kind of concubine acts like this?"

"Besides, this isn't the first time Your Majesty has become a father, so why does he seem so happy?"

Zhao Han laughed loudly, lifted her chin, and gave her a deep kiss on her pink lips.

Seeing this, Xiao Tao and Danju exchanged a glance and quickly lowered their heads. Only when Minglan's face turned blush and her body went limp did Zhao Han reluctantly let her go.

"This is our first child, so it has a special meaning."

"My late father had few children, which has always been a regret in my heart. I now have three sons and one daughter."

"To be honest, the territory of the Great Zhou will definitely become more and more vast in the future, and naturally, the more offspring I have, the better."

Minglan's eyes flickered slightly. Even ordinary families hope for many offspring, let alone the royal family.
She said gently, "Since I entered the palace, I have been deeply favored by the Emperor."

"I am currently pregnant and unable to serve you. Your Majesty may take this opportunity to favor other concubines and have more children."

“Just a few days ago, Sister Yanran mentioned Old Madam Yu to me. She wrote several letters to ask if Sister Yanran was pregnant.”

Zhao Han nodded and gently stroked her face.

"That's right. Yanran has been raised by them since she was a child, and they have a close bond with her. Naturally, she is looking forward to seeing her grandson soon."

"I'll stay with you for now, and we'll go to her place tomorrow."

Minglan immediately smiled and said, "Alright! It's a deal!"

-

The following day, in the Shou'an Hall of the Duke of Wei's mansion, the air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood.

The old lady held a silver spoon and gently stirred the ginseng soup on the table. Her face was rosy and she had an unprecedented joy.

Minglan knew that both Old Madam Sheng and Wei Shuyi were hoping that she would give birth to an imperial heir soon.

Therefore, early this morning, Xiao Tao was sent out of the palace to deliver the good news.

Standing to the side, Mrs. Fang said gently, "Can the old lady finally rest easy now?"

“Ming came to my side when she was eight years old. She is well-behaved and obedient, with a clear mind. She never argues with others or tries to steal the limelight.”

As she spoke, the old lady couldn't help but recall how Minglan looked when she first came to Shou'an Hall.

She knew that Minglan had always lived a very frugal life by Wei Shuyi's side.

At that time, Lin Qinshuang controlled the household affairs of the Sheng family. Sheng Hong favored his concubines and was unable to distinguish right from wrong, much like Sheng Huaiyuan back then.

Sheng Hong was raised by her personally, and she really didn't expect that such things could be passed down in the same lineage, so she couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.

Wang Ruofu would often cause a scene, disrupting the peace and order of the household.

She has always been unwilling to get involved in the infighting within the household, and there's the example of Lin Qinshuang, who was raised poorly.

When I first brought Minglan over, I was actually a little worried.

He was afraid that at his age he would raise another ungrateful child, repeating the same mistake and not having peace in his old age.

But as time went on, she realized that Minglan and Lin Qinshuang were worlds apart. Minglan knew how to behave appropriately and knew when to advance and retreat, which rekindled her hope for life.

The illness in Yangzhou was cured quickly, entirely thanks to Minglan's constant companionship.

"Sixth Miss is a blessed woman. Everyone knows she is greatly favored by the Emperor. If she can give birth to a prince this time, that would be perfect," said Madam Fang with a smile.

The old lady glanced at her sideways, picked up the ginseng soup, and took a small sip.

"It is her own good fortune that she has gained the favor of the officials."

"I just hope that this pregnancy will go smoothly tomorrow. Whether it's a prince or a princess, being safe and healthy is the best outcome."

Madam Fang agreed repeatedly, then changed the subject, saying, "I heard that Earl Liang of the Yongchang Earl's Mansion has been in poor health since the end of the year, and now he doesn't have much time left."

Upon hearing this, the old lady put down her soup bowl, her tone tinged with emotion.

"Back in the day, Lord Liang was a spirited and dashing man. If he were gone, the family would surely be in chaos again."

“The legitimate sons will not be protected by titles in the future, and neither of the two sons is particularly capable. Even if they have a fortune, they may not be able to keep it.”

"Fourth Sister's wishful thinking is likely to fall apart completely."

Madam Fang frowned slightly, a hint of regret in her voice. "Fourth Miss has always been ambitious and always wants to be the first in everything."

"Now everyone knows that Liang Liulang has a concubine named Chun Ke in his harem, but she doesn't have a legitimate son to rely on, so I'm afraid her future will be difficult."

The old lady shook her head. She had always thought that Mo Lan was originally a good child, excelling in everything from music and chess to calligraphy and painting, and composing poems.

Unfortunately, she had a birth mother like Lin Qinshuang, who instilled ideas of vying for favor and profit in her ears every day.

If, like in other families, all the illegitimate children were raised and educated by the eldest daughter-in-law, none of the things that happened back then would have occurred.

Although Wang Ruofu was not very clever and sometimes made mistakes, he had a very good heart and would never resort to underhanded means.

The children she raised were Hualan, who was steady and sensible, and Changbai, who was upright and responsible.

Although Rulan is not as good as the other two, she has no ill intentions, is open and honest with those around her, and never holds back. She is a good girl who is worthy of respect.

"You reap what you sow. Fourth Sister has stubbornly gone down a dead end."

"After arriving at the Liang family, she should have properly managed things as the eldest daughter-in-law, but instead she followed Lin Qinshuang's example and lowered herself to compete with the concubines. She was extremely foolish."

Mrs. Fang sighed softly, "The old lady is right."

Inside the flower hall in the backyard of the Earl of Wuxiang's mansion.

After Xiao Tao finished telling Minglan about her pregnancy, she looked at Wei Shuyi and Xiao Die with a smile.

Xiao Die took her hand and solemnly instructed her, "You must take good care of the Empress, don't just focus on eating."

"You must be careful in everything you do. Be extra careful when you get up at night, and keep a close eye on your diet. If you feel even slightly unwell, you must call the imperial physician immediately. Do not delay."

"I know everything, don't worry!" Xiao Tao smiled sheepishly.

"Fortunately, Danju is a meticulous person. If it were just you by Her Majesty's side, neither my wife nor I would feel at ease."

After Xiaodie finished speaking, she raised her hand and gently tapped her forehead.

Since Wei Shuyi has returned to the Wei family, she can no longer be addressed as "Miss"; now, everyone in the Wei family, and even outsiders, call her Lady Wei.

"Xiao Tao is much more mature than before. Take good care of Ming'er; you and Danju are her closest confidants," Wei Shuyi said with a smile, her eyes full of satisfaction. "Yes!"

"It's getting late. Her Majesty asked me to pick up some snacks from Ban Zhe Mian on my way back to the palace," Xiao Tao said, then left the Wei family with light steps.

-

It was mid-June of the seventh year of the Hongwu reign.

With officials like Wei Ling and 30,000 imperial guards in charge, everything in the southern border region is stable.

Having witnessed the power of firearms firsthand, the nobles and tribal leaders of Jiaozhi naturally started causing trouble.

Moreover, by submitting to the Great Zhou, they only need to pay a portion of their taxes and relinquish control of their private armies.

Their core interests, such as their rightful land ownership and clan management rights, have not been reduced by much, nor have they fallen into a situation where they are at the mercy of others.

In this way, they had neither the confidence to resist nor any benefit to gain from rebellion, so they might as well settle down and cooperate with the government in managing local affairs.

Sheng Changfeng returned to the capital two months ago. His time in Youyang had indeed broadened his horizons considerably.

The way the three branches of the family acted was truly astonishing to him. Only Sheng Changliang was somewhat better, not to the point of being shameless.

Today, inside the Wenhua Hall of the Imperial Palace.

Golden morning light streamed through the carved wooden window, scattering golden fragments across the floor. Several stacks of memorials were neatly arranged on the imperial desk.

Several important court officials, including Shen Shiqi, Han Zhang, Wang Anshi, and Gu Tingye, were present at this location.

Gu Tingye has already been appointed as the Privy Councilor. The last military officer to be exceptionally admitted to the Privy Council was Di Qing, but unfortunately, he was met with fierce opposition from a group of civil officials.

The reasons for opposition were varied, such as his humble origins and the fact that he was too popular with the soldiers, which might cause him to change his mind.

Di Qing burned paper money at home to pay respects to his ancestors, which was misinterpreted as a strange light appearing in the Di family's courtyard at night, and was forcibly linked to Zhu Wen, the founding emperor of the Later Liang Dynasty.

Rumor has it that before Zhu Wen usurped the throne, the Zhu family's courtyard emitted light for over a year.

They even spread rumors that Di Qing's dog grew a pair of dragon horns, indicating an ominous change in the heavens and impending chaos, suggesting that Di Qing was about to rebel.

Under immense pressure, Emperor Renzong had no choice but to dismiss Di Qing and appoint him to Chenzhou. Not long after, Di Qing died in despair.

Although some civil officials are still dissatisfied with Gu Tingye's entry into the Privy Council.

However, their criticism of Gu Tingye was based on trivial old stories such as his mischievous childhood, womanizing, and unrestrained speech.

After all, Gu Tingye was removed from the list of successful candidates in the imperial examinations, but he still had the title of a legitimate successful candidate in the provincial examinations. He had also made many military achievements and had even been on friendly terms with Zhao Han.

Above the throne, Zhao Han, dressed in a scarlet casual robe, calmly looked at the people in the hall.

"I have summoned you all here to discuss the matter of verifying the military register."

"You have probably all heard about the fact that some soldiers in various armies are paid for their work but not actually employed, and that some soldiers are exploited."

Zhao Han said quietly, these things had long been tacitly accepted by everyone.

The Great Zhou army was composed of the Imperial Guard, the Local Guard, the Village Guard, and the Barbarian Guard, each with its own independent military register.

The Imperial Guard was composed of elite soldiers selected from various regions, while the local militia consisted mostly of the elderly and weak who remained after the Imperial Guard was screened, as well as some able-bodied men conscripted from the civilian population.

Responsible for miscellaneous tasks such as road construction, city building, transporting grain and fodder, and maintaining local security, the local militia were selected based on household registration and received basic military training during the off-season for farming.
They only temporarily assemble when there is war or banditry in the local area, and disband and return to farming after the war ends.

The Tibetan troops were composed of ethnic minority tribes, mostly Tibetans who were familiar with the local terrain and skilled in horsemanship and archery, and were deployed in the northwest and southwest regions.

Emperor Taizu implemented a conscription system. Once recruited through the examination, it was like having a secure job, with the possibility of serving until at least the age of sixty.

In addition to their regular pay, soldiers receive food, spring and winter clothing, and other necessities each month.

They also implemented a policy of raising soldiers, recruiting refugees, starving people, and prisoners into the army during years of famine.

While it temporarily resolved the unstable factors, it also led to uneven quality within the military, a mix of good and bad, and other issues.

In short, the root of the problem of redundant troops lies with Emperor Taizu.

Wang Anshi's gaze sharpened, and he spoke first: "Your Majesty, I proposed this matter many years ago when I was serving in another post. I believe that it has long since reached the point where it must be addressed."

"I am willing to volunteer to investigate the military register."

After silently weighing his options, Gu Tingye, standing to the side, bowed and said, "Your subject is also willing to accept this task."

The Great Zhou now has more than 1,700 military camps, excluding the newly formed Valiant Cavalry Battalion and Divine Machine Battalion.

There were more than 500 core camps near Bianjing, and the rest were scattered in various routes.

Zhao Han nodded slightly. Wang Anshi was determined to eliminate the long-standing abuses, and the Gu family was quite prestigious in the army. It was indeed quite appropriate for the two of them to take charge of this matter.

If you want to take action against redundant soldiers, checking their military records is the first step.

"Your Majesty, I would like to recommend someone," Wang Anshi said softly, straightening his back.

"Go ahead."

Wang Anshi announced in a loud voice: "Zhang Dun, Collator of the Jixian Hall and Censor of the Secretariat!"

"Two years ago, Lord Li Chengzhi recommended this person to me. He has insightful views on the new policies and is of upright character. I believe he is capable of great things."

After thinking it over carefully, Zhao Han realized that the name Zhang Dun was not unfamiliar to him.

"To be recommended by Minister Wang, he must be quite remarkable. I will have him assist me in verifying the military register."

"Your subject obeys the decree." Wang Anshi bowed respectfully.

After a moment, Zhao Han sighed softly and raised her hand to furrow her brow.

"Verifying military records requires not only distinguishing between genuine and fake rosters, but also finding ways to deal with the resistance from generals in various regions. It is by no means an easy task."

Gu Tingye's eyes darted around, and he looked up at Zhao Han with a mischievous smile on his face.

"Your Majesty, I believe that it is unlikely to work to simply use the pretext of investigating redundant soldiers to conduct a large-scale investigation."

"Why not play a game of feigning one move while secretly making another?"

"Under the pretext of rewarding soldiers and verifying military merits and rewards, imperial envoys were dispatched to various camps. Generals at all levels would actively report in great detail in order to receive their rewards."

"Once we get the roster, we'll take them by surprise and call them out on the spot. We'll be able to catch any vacancies or imposters without them even having a chance to argue."

Before Zhao Han could speak, Han Zhang turned to look at him, frowning, and said, "The Duke of Zhenguo's plan is ingenious, but it's a bit too much..."

After considering it for a while, Sheng Changbai also cast a glance at him, suggesting that the plan was not very appropriate.

Gu Tingye waved his hand dismissively, "Lord Han need not worry. If there is any criticism, I, Gu Tingye, will bear it all. It's just a matter of being criticized for a while longer."

"Since Zhonghuai has spoken, I grant his request!"

After saying that, Zhao Han stood up, patted his shoulder, and whispered, "After this is done, I will definitely make it up to you."

Gu Tingye grinned, "I've got it."

(End of this chapter)