The Ming Dynasty: Starting with the border troops, it was overthrown and the Qing Dynasty was destro

Chapter 340 The Birth of the Crown Prince
December of the tenth year of the Chongzhen reign (1644), Chengdu.

It was deep winter, and the north wind was biting, but outside Changchun Palace, there was a bustling scene.

The battle raged on the front lines, and the princess's due date was fast approaching. Chengdu, and even the entire Sichuan and Guizhou provinces, were closely watching the movements of the Prince of Han's residence.

Following tradition, the side hall of Changchun Palace was converted into a maternity ward. The fire was burning fiercely, and curtains were hung outside every window to keep out the wind and keep warm.

Outside the side hall, various ritual objects were displayed, such as beautiful jade symbolizing good fortune and gourds representing the hope for male offspring.

Furthermore, various deities gather here, including images of Guanyin (the Goddess of Mercy who grants children), the Goddess of Mount Tai, the Virgin Mary, and so on, all emphasizing the protection of the gods.

The palace servants held their breath, hurrying back and forth with hot water and towels, creating a tense atmosphere.

Jiang Han stood outside the hall with his hands behind his back. The occasional cries of pain coming from inside made him unconsciously furrow his brow.

Since the princess was diagnosed with pregnancy in February, the entire harem has been revolving around her for the past ten months.

Not only were the best physicians from the Imperial Medical Academy on duty day and night, but their diet and daily life were also extremely meticulous and cautious.

Even when Jiang Han is very busy, he always makes time to accompany the princess for a chat and a walk every day.

Having family around can alleviate much of the hardship of paperwork.

But when the moment of delivery actually arrived, even though Jiang Han had seen many storms, he couldn't help but secretly break out in a cold sweat.

Under the medical conditions of that era, childbirth for women was tantamount to walking through the gates of hell.

Postpartum infections, difficult-to-correct abnormal fetal positions, and horrific postpartum hemorrhage can all easily take the lives of mothers.

Midwives and doctors rely heavily on experience and lack systematic obstetric knowledge.

The efficacy of so-called labor-inducing decoctions is difficult to control; once a difficult or complicated disease is encountered, the outcome is almost always the death of both mother and child.

The infant mortality rate is also quite high, with umbilical cord bleeding, asphyxia, premature birth complications... every step is fraught with danger.

Therefore, throughout the entire pregnancy, Jiang Han did everything he could to reduce the risks using every method he could think of.

This includes accompanying the princess on daily walks and conversations to prevent the new mother from sitting or lying down for extended periods.

Moderate physical activity helps maintain a pregnant woman's physical fitness, while also promoting proper fetal positioning and reducing the risks of childbirth.

Before giving birth, Jiang Han repeatedly emphasized that all the scissors, towels, and other items used for childbirth must be repeatedly boiled in boiling water.

The midwives and female officials involved in the delivery had to change into clean robes and wrap their hair and cover their mouths and noses with gauze in an effort to minimize the risk of infection.

Finally, he naturally resorted to his secret weapon—forceps.

The forceps, meticulously crafted by master craftsmen from the Ironworks, had already been given to midwives and physicians to familiarize them with its operation, and had successfully resolved several cases of difficult childbirth.

However, this thing has both advantages and disadvantages. Although forceps can save mothers and babies in critical situations, they can also cause considerable harm to both.

For mothers, this could cause tissue tearing and lead to severe bleeding;

For the fetus, the injuries can range from minor abrasions and squeezing to severe skull fractures and intracranial hemorrhage.

Therefore, Jiang Han also issued a strict order that forceps should not be used for delivery unless absolutely necessary.

But as time went by, the noise in the delivery room became less and less.

This is Wang Yiying's first pregnancy. Although she has taken good care of herself during her ten months of pregnancy, the baby seems to be larger than usual. Several hours have passed since her water broke.

As labor dragged on, the princess's strength and spirit were rapidly depleted by the continuous excruciating pain, and her cries for help grew intermittent and weaker.

Inside the delivery room, the midwife's anxious voice could be heard from time to time, which made Jiang Han even more anxious.

"Your Majesty, push harder!"

"I can see the head, give it another push!"

The ladies-in-waiting beside her held ginseng soup and fed it to the princess from time to time to keep her strength up.

Jiang Han paced anxiously back and forth outside the hall, glancing at the imperial physician Zhang Jiyuan beside him, his tone somewhat unfriendly:

"what happened?"

"Didn't you say the baby was in the correct position and everything was fine?"

Zhang Jiyuan fell to his knees with a thud, his voice trembling:

"Your Majesty, the Empress's baby is indeed in the correct position."

"It was just that it was my first pregnancy and I was inexperienced, and the baby seemed quite healthy, so it was a bit difficult."

"This is a common occurrence in first-time mothers with large babies; Your Majesty can only rely on yourself..."

Seeing his trembling expression, Jiang Han realized he had lost his composure, so he waved his hand:

"Never mind, I was just in a hurry. Get up."

"Go inside and give the order: if it really doesn't work, use forceps. Don't delay any longer!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jiyuan scrambled forward and tried to persuade him:

"Your Majesty, we must not act rashly!"

"Such metal objects are extremely dangerous; they could harm the princess and the unborn child!"

"Wait a minute!"

Jiang Han clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white, and he was torn between two conflicting emotions.

He was well aware of the risks, but he couldn't just stand by and watch the princess die from exhaustion, resulting in the loss of both her and her unborn child.

But just then, a loud baby's cry suddenly came from inside!
The loud and vibrant cry instantly shattered the almost frozen atmosphere outside the hall.

"Born! Born!"

At the same time, the midwives and female officials inside the palace shouted with ecstatic joy.

Immediately afterwards, the door to the side hall was pushed open, and a female official quickly walked up to Jiang Han, bowed deeply to him, and said excitedly:
"Congratulations, Your Majesty!"

"Her Majesty has given birth to a prince, and both mother and child are safe!"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Han finally breathed a sigh of relief:
"Mother and child are safe... Good! Good!"

A surge of warmth coursed through his body, instantly relaxing his tense frame.

Upon hearing this, the surrounding eunuchs and imperial physicians immediately joined in the chanting and singing.

"Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations, Your Majesty!"

Jiang Han nodded with a smile:
"Good! Good!"

"Everyone will be rewarded! Everyone will be rewarded!"

He then pressed on, asking further questions:

"How is the Princess Consort?"

"Is the young master still in good health?"

The female official raised her hand and led Jiang Han to the door:
"Your Majesty, the Empress is simply exhausted and has already fallen asleep."

"The prince weighs seven pounds, his cries are loud and clear, and his limbs are strong. There are no problems to be seen for the time being."

"The imperial physician and midwife are examining the patient inside. The wet nurse will be able to start breastfeeding soon."

Jiang Han's heart finally settled down, and he strode into the side hall, wanting to see his wife and children.

A faint smell of blood still lingered in the inner room. Jiang Han first looked at the princess in the delivery room through the gauze curtain.

At this moment, Wang Yiying had fallen into a deep sleep due to exhaustion. Although her face was somewhat pale, her expression was very peaceful.

Jiang Han sighed softly, not wanting to disturb him further, and changed into clean robes. After washing his hands and face, he went to the inner room.

He lifted the curtain and his gaze immediately fell on the tiny swaddled baby in the wet nurse's arms.

The wet nurse understood and carefully handed the baby over.

Jiang Han gently took his son. The little guy was all wrinkled and red, his eyes were tightly closed, but his mouth was moving as he looked for milk.

The loud cries that had just been heard had now turned into soft moans.

Jiang Han carefully examined the baby for a moment, and only after confirming that the baby was unharmed did he reluctantly hand him back to the wet nurse.
"Take good care of him, make sure the young master is well-fed and sleeps well."

As he left the side hall, his smile broadened, and he addressed the surrounding imperial physicians, midwives, and palace servants in a loud voice:
"You have all served the Princess well and will be rewarded!"

"Imperial Physician Zhang Jiyuan has done a good job in overall planning. He is hereby awarded one hundred taels of silver and five bolts of brocade, and promoted to the position of Director of the Imperial Medical Academy!"

"The other imperial physicians who treated the patients and the midwives who delivered the babies will also be rewarded with one hundred taels of silver and three bolts of brocade!"

"The palace servants, both inside and outside the palace, will each receive half a year's salary, and will also be given two sets of new clothes!"

"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty!"

Everyone was overjoyed and kowtowed to express their gratitude, filling Changchun Palace with a joyful atmosphere.

With the affairs of the inner palace temporarily put to rest, Jiang Han took a deep breath and ordered his men to immediately move to the front hall.

Today's delivery is a major event not only for Jiang Han, but also for the court officials.

Inside the Chengyun Hall, the civil and military officials, who had already received word of the situation, gathered together.

Everyone was eagerly anticipating and whispering among themselves; the atmosphere was both tense and enthusiastic.

When Jiang Han appeared before the throne, the hall fell silent instantly, and everyone held their breath.

Amidst the expectant gazes of the crowd, Jiang Han smiled broadly and proclaimed:
"Everyone!"

"I hereby announce that the Queen Consort has given birth to the Crown Prince, and both mother and child are safe and sound!"

Once the news was confirmed, a deafening cheer erupted inside the Chengyun Hall:
"Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations, Your Majesty!"

"The birth of the Crown Prince signifies the eternal stability of the nation!" "We, your subjects, congratulate Your Majesty and the Han Kingdom!"

The officials knelt down one after another, expressing their heartfelt congratulations.

Jiang Han now controls two provinces, and Yunnan will soon be conquered by the Han army.

By the late Ming Dynasty, controlling the three southwestern provinces already gave them the resources to contend for the throne.

For this thriving regime, the birth of a legitimate eldest son meant greater stability, a significance no less than the victory of a major war.

Civil officials saw a guarantee for the continuation of future governance, while military generals saw hope that their achievements could be passed on.

Soon, the government's celebratory gongs and drums resounded throughout the streets and alleys of Chengdu.

The news spread like wildfire throughout the city.

The constables went from street to street, shouting loudly:

"The Crown Prince has been born! Mother and child are safe!"

The people on the street, upon hearing this, all showed joy on their faces:
"Great news! The King of Han has an heir!"

The restaurant owner excitedly called to the waiter:

"Quick! Set off firecrackers! Drinks are half price today!"

The women from various families agreed to go up Mount Qingcheng.

"go!"

"Let's go to the temple to pray for the young master's well-being!"

May the young prince live a long and healthy life!

The women made an appointment to go to Qingcheng Mountain and Yuanjue Temple.

In an instant, the entire city of Chengdu was plunged into a sea of ​​revelry.

The sound of firecrackers rose and fell, and the gongs and drums resounded, making it even more lively than the Lunar New Year.

Teahouses and taverns were packed with people, and the faces of passersby were filled with genuine smiles.

Temples and Taoist monasteries were bustling with worshippers, who prayed devoutly for the newborn prince.

The birth of the crown prince has given all those who long for a stable life a great sense of reassurance.

Immediately afterwards, the Prince of Han's Palace also officially issued a proclamation, announcing the name of the heir apparent, Jiang Dingshuo, to the people of all regions.

Following precedent, Jiang Han also drafted a sixteen-character genealogy:

"May our hearts be filled with joy and harmony; may our ambitions be broad and our vision far-reaching, and may our world be prosperous and peaceful."

In the edict announcing the lineage, he also added a special sentence:
“The purpose of naming and naming is simply to ensure orderly inheritance and clarify the lineage.”

"In the future, everyone should use their own words and intentions, without needing to deliberately avoid them, which would only cause unnecessary trouble."

Jiang Hancai was too lazy to learn from Lao Zhu and use any obscure characters, nor did he plan to avoid using any taboo characters in the future.

There's no need. Just use the words that are appropriate. Trying to avoid them will only give you a headache.

The news quickly spread from Chengdu, and congratulatory messages and gifts from officials and generals from all over the country began to arrive at the Chengdu Prince's Mansion like snowflakes.

The gift list is dazzling, including jade ruyi, longevity locks, precious South Sea pearls and coral, as well as various exquisitely crafted gold and jade carvings.

These were all sent by generals who were stationed in various regions, including Zhu Zi from Baoning Prefecture, Li Laowai from Kuizhou Prefecture, and Shao Yong from Guizhou.

Even Li Zicheng, who was on the front lines in Yunnan, specially sent someone to deliver a pair of bronze peacock bottles, saying they were a specialty of Yunnan and a token of his appreciation.

These military generals are all quite wealthy now. Besides Jiang Han's consistent generosity in rewarding them, the spoils of war from years of campaigns also make up the majority of their wealth.

However, among the congratulatory gifts were some rather "unique" trinkets.

Auspicious omen.

Some local officials, in their unconventional ways, boasted in their congratulatory messages that various strange phenomena had occurred in their jurisdictions.

A report came from Changshou County, Chongqing Prefecture, stating that a golden-scaled red carp had appeared in the Jialing River, and fishermen dared not catch it. The villagers said that this was an auspicious omen.

A petition from Qu County, Shunqing Prefecture, stated that a farmer's yellow ox had given birth to a pure white calf, and they hoped to present it to Chengdu.

These are considered good; some are even more outrageous.

For example, the magistrate of Hejiang County in Luzhou reported:

It is claimed that when the crown prince was born, the Hejiang River flowed backward, and auspicious beasts came treading on the water from the river surface, with rainbows hanging upside down on both banks and a strange fragrance wafting through the air.

These successive "auspicious omens" left Jiang Han both amused and exasperated. He simply replied with two words:

Bullshit

Jiang Han summoned Zhao Sheng and threw all the congratulatory messages claiming to have discovered auspicious omens at him.

"Take a good look at all of this! What are these things?!"

"If a yellow cow gives birth to a white calf, it might have had white cow blood in its ancestors. What's so strange about that?"

"In such vast rivers, it is quite common to occasionally spot a golden-scaled red carp. Is that something to be celebrated?"

"As for other things like phoenixes and lingzhi mushrooms, they are mostly folk tales passed down through generations, and should not be believed lightly."

Jiang Han's tone grew increasingly stern, while Zhao Sheng frowned deeply, picking up the congratulatory letter and examining it carefully.

Jiang Han pointed to the congratulatory message at the very top, his anger intensifying:

"And then there's Hejiang County, they've come up with all sorts of things like the river flowing backwards and auspicious beasts walking on water."

"This is simply unreasonable."

"Send a document to the Imperial Inspector stationed in Luzhou, instructing him to thoroughly investigate what this magistrate of Hejiang County is up to!"

Seeing that Jiang Han was truly angry, Zhao Sheng quickly tried to calm him down:
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger."

"The officials below were probably overjoyed upon hearing of the birth of the crown prince and wanted to bring good luck, so they came up with these things."

"The intention may have been good, but it was used in the wrong place."

"I will go back and issue a document instructing them to conduct a self-examination and self-reflection."

Jiang Han snorted coldly and emphasized:
"Mind?"

"I think it's just opportunistic thinking!"

"We are where we are today because of the bravery of our soldiers and the support of the people."

"It was built brick by brick, through countless battles and countless hardships!"

"What use are some empty and absurd things?"

He looked sharply at Zhao Sheng.

"Under no circumstances should this trend be allowed to continue."

"Make them all straighten out their attitudes and focus their efforts on practical matters such as encouraging agriculture, reassuring the people, and streamlining the criminal justice system!"

"Stop thinking about these flattering and unfounded rumors all day long!"

"If everyone is busy with empty talk and the administration is corrupt, I wouldn't mind carrying out a major purge!"

Jiang Han's words were filled with murderous intent, and Zhao Sheng realized the seriousness of the situation.

"understood."

"I will immediately draft an edict and issue it in the name of the Censorate to all provinces, prefectures, and counties, strictly emphasizing the importance of pragmatism, prohibiting unfounded claims of auspicious omens, and ordering officials at all levels to reflect on their own conduct."

"Your Majesty, what do you think of the wording and style of this document?"

"After all, it's the time of the Crown Prince's birth, and many officials are doing their best. If the wording is too harsh, it might dampen their enthusiasm."

Jiang Han took a deep breath, calmed himself down, and waved his hand:

"Fine, considering it's a joyous occasion and this is his first offense, I will not pursue the matter further this time, nor will I name names."

"You should issue a letter in the form of advice and warning, clearly informing all regions that I, the King, do not favor this approach, and that they should focus their energy on important matters."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Sheng finally breathed a sigh of relief, then picked up a stack of congratulatory messages and prepared to leave.

"Wait a minute."

Jiang Han stopped him and pulled out a long list of gifts from the table.

"Here is a gift list. Take it and check it with the Imperial Household Department, then draft a return gift list for me."

"I appreciate the sentiments of the soldiers and officers, but it wouldn't be right to accept their favors without giving anything in return. Let's reciprocate."

He pondered for a moment, then continued to give instructions:
"According to their rank, civil and military officials should be rewarded with additional Shu brocade, python satin, and cotton cloth, and distributed in the form of cloth coupons so that they can withdraw them at their own discretion."

"Silver dollars were also awarded as usual, ranging from ten to twenty taels."

"In addition, soldiers and militiamen in various places are rewarded with one tael of silver, combat soldiers with three taels of silver, and officers are rewarded with additional rewards according to their rank."

"Finally, to celebrate the birth of the Crown Prince, it is hereby announced to the provinces of Sichuan and Guizhou that the summer tax and autumn grain tax for the coming year will be reduced by 30%!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Sheng immediately bowed respectfully.
"Your Majesty is benevolent!"

On behalf of the people of the two provinces, we kowtow to express our gratitude for Your Majesty's grace!

This generous and universally beneficial reward reignited the enthusiasm of both the imperial court and the common people.

Especially after the decree granting a 30% tax exemption was issued, the people of the two provinces practically worshipped Jiang Han in a temple.

(End of this chapter)