The Holy Emperor of Ming

Chapter 268 Generous dowry

Because they found themselves unable to bear it.

It was still the same. The imperial court was too powerful, and the factory guards were still eyeing them covetously, wishing they could pounce on them immediately and suck the marrow out of them.

The only righteous martial arts sect that could fight against it, under the leadership of Shaolin and Wudang, retreated step by step, with no intention of standing up to fight.

This left them helpless and furious.

The lower-class people were at first in disbelief, and then were basically filled with ecstasy.

Because it means that the children they sold have returned.

Except for a small number of people, few parents are willing to sell their children, but they have no other choice.

Even if the money they earned from selling their children is asked back, most of them are willing to pay it back slowly.

As for those who were unwilling, Zhu Houzhao and the court obviously would not care about their ideas.

After the imperial edict was issued, government offices across the Ming Dynasty began to formally promote it.

The main purpose was to allow slaves of landlords, gentry, rich people, including those from the martial arts world, to come to the government to register their household registration.

Once you have obtained your household registration, you are considered a true citizen of the Ming Dynasty, and your life and death are no longer controlled by your master.

If anything goes wrong, you can directly investigate, which is much more useful than burning the indenture.

After all, the Ming Dynasty court no longer recognizes any indentures, so it doesn’t matter whether you still have an indenture or not.

Not only slaves, but also people without household registration had to register their household registration.

Especially among those martial arts forces, people without household registration account for the majority.

"Master Wang, I came here today to inform you that if you have any servants, you should have them go to the government office to register their household registration.

By the way, everyone else who doesn’t have a household registration needs to apply for one, including you.”

"understood."

"Ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous. I am at the Xiantian realm, but I still have to go to the government office to register my household registration."

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Shaolin Temple.

"Abbot, you are too polite. I am here to handle my household registration. Thank you for your cooperation."

Similar things are happening to Wudang, Emei and other martial arts forces.

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"Master Li, please don't forget that within five days, everyone must go to the government office to complete their household registration.

After five days, the government will conduct irregular inspections. If it is found that there are still people who have not registered their household registration, then you, Master Li, will be the first person responsible."

"Huh, got it."

"Okay, I'll take my leave now."

"How dare you, a mere constable, speak to me like that? This is too much, too much."

"Yes, Dad, are we really going to let those slaves get their household registration? They were bought with our own money, or they were born in our family, how can we do this?

We also have to employ and support them, and pay them. How much more money will we have to spend?"

"This is an order from the imperial court. We cannot resist, but we cannot do nothing either.

You have someone spread the news quietly, saying that no family will send slaves to the government office to handle household registration."

"Dad, why is this?"

"Don't ask so many questions, just do it."

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"Master Li, this is the money I collected from you. I will return it to you today and take my daughter home."

"Humph, I gave you this money in the beginning, but after so much time, the money doesn't have to be paid interest? This is not enough."

"Mr. Li, the court has said that there will be no interest. You have to pay back the amount you sold it for."

"Bullshit, it's been so long, how can you not ask for interest? If I don't pay the interest, don't even think about taking your daughter away today."

"Then I'll go to the authorities."

"You old bastard, you still dare to scare me, am I afraid of you?"

"I'm going to sue the Royal Guards."

"You, you, take your daughter and get out of here right away."

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Similar and various other incidents were happening all over the Ming Dynasty.

Overall, it went smoothly.

Because all the major righteous forces such as Shaolin and Wudang cooperated in setting up household registration.

Minor storms were directly resolved by local factory guards and government officials.

Amidst the heated discussions, the court proceeded in an orderly manner.

All, including evil forces, began to apply for household registration.

All of these take time, and the factory guards are still busy finishing up, so the third step of the plan is still under preparation.

October 6th.

Zhu Houzhao diverted some of his attention because the envoys from the Song Dynasty finally arrived at the capital of the Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Houzhao, who was thinking about how many gifts Zhao Ji had sent, immediately met the envoys from the Song State in person.

After seeing him and hearing about the gifts worth a total of one million taels of silver, most of which were gold and silver, Zhu Houzhao nodded with satisfaction and praised: "Not bad, Zhao Ji seems to be respectful. I don't blame him for sending it so late."

The envoy of Song State felt humiliated, but he did not dare to refute.

Because he knew too well that if he dared to refute and die in the Ming Dynasty, the Song Dynasty would not stand up for him. Instead, it would put all the blame on him to appease the Ming Dynasty, and his family would also suffer.

"Your Majesty, the Emperor of the Great Ming, our Emperor of the Great Song has something else to discuss with you." The Song envoy said respectfully. "What is it?" Zhu Houzhao said indifferently, and then he remembered and asked again: "Is it to send the princess to marry?"

The Jinyiwei had already investigated this matter, so he naturally knew about it, but he didn't care.

"That's right." The Song envoy didn't expect the Ming emperor to be so direct, but he didn't have any extra expression and said seriously: "The friendship between our Song and Ming is stronger than that of the Jin.

I heard that Your Majesty is going to take a concubine. It just so happens that I, Princess Yaoqin of the Great Song Dynasty, am only 29 years old. I have both talent and beauty, a kind heart and a gentle mind, and my martial arts skills have reached the innate realm. I think you and Your Majesty are a perfect match made in heaven.

Therefore, I wish to have a long and happy marriage with Your Majesty, which symbolizes the deepening of the friendship between the Song Dynasty and the Ming Dynasty."

"No need." Zhu Houzhao did not think much about it and said truthfully, "I already have eleven concubines, and I am almost too busy to handle it. I don't want to take in any more concubines.

Go back and tell Zhao Ji to be more respectful and give more gifts, and the relationship between Ming and Song will naturally improve."

The Song envoy twitched his lips, pretending not to hear the insult, and asked, "Your Majesty, Princess Yaoqin has already arrived in the capital of Daming."

"You are all going back anyway, so just take it back." Zhu Houzhao said casually.

The envoy of Song State did not dare to take the princess back, otherwise he would be finished.

He was anxious, but suddenly, an idea flashed in his mind, and he said, "Your Majesty, our Song Dynasty has prepared a rich dowry for Princess Yaoqin. It is extremely generous."

Zhu Houzhao's eyes lit up immediately, and he asked curiously, "How much?"

"The total value is four million taels!" the Song envoy said bluntly.

"Four million taels! That's a lot." Zhu Houzhao nodded and hesitated.

Although the Ming Dynasty court is not short of money now, it is getting richer and richer.

But he also knew that there were more and more places to spend money, and this would be even more so after the war broke out in the future.

Four million taels is enough to pay several armies for a year.

It’s just one, should you feel more wronged?

Seeing Zhu Houzhao's hesitation, the Song envoy gritted his teeth and said, "Your Majesty, if Princess Yaoqin marries you as your consort, the annual gifts from our Song Dynasty will definitely be more."

"Okay, then it's settled. I will take her as my concubine." Zhu Houzhao stopped hesitating.

Just bear with it, as long as it's good for the Ming Dynasty.

The envoy of Song State secretly breathed a sigh of relief and finally agreed.

He didn't worry too much about what he said. According to his understanding of his own Majesty, Ming Dynasty would definitely not refuse if he sent more gifts to it every year.

Maybe you will be happier and more at ease.

"How much more can it be?" Zhu Houzhao couldn't help but ask.

"I cannot be sure of this, but His Majesty the Great Song will definitely not be stingy." The envoy of the Song State said firmly.

"Yes, that's true." Zhu Houzhao nodded, and he seemed to believe it.

He said simply: "I will issue an edict right now to take Princess Yaoqin of Song as my consort. She will also be of the first rank. She will enter the palace tomorrow."

"Yes." The envoy of Song State saluted and responded.

Soon, he brought a senior eunuch from the Imperial Household Department to the envoy's residence and formally announced the decree.

Princess Yaoqin of Song State came forward and accepted the imperial decree.

In the room, after everyone left, Princess Yaoqin of Song looked into the distance expressionlessly.

She was wearing a yellow dress and looked extremely beautiful, but her face was too pale, without a trace of blood.
At this moment, his eyes were a little dazed, and I don't know what he was thinking about.

The decree to take a concubine was soon known to all interested parties.

Let’s not talk about other people for now. In the palace, all the concubines frowned slightly.

No woman would want to share her husband with more women.

However, they knew that this was the princess of Song State, and since it was about the marriage between the two countries, they could not say much.

I can only feel uncomfortable in my heart.

During dinner, Zhu Houzhao personally told the women about this matter, even about the generous dowry, and finally sighed: "I have eleven of you concubines, which is enough.

They all thought that they would not take a woman who had not reached the level of a grandmaster as a concubine.

But for the sake of Ming, I can only put myself in a difficult position a little longer."

After hearing this, all the women were speechless.

But they also knew that their husbands were speaking the truth.

All together, they felt both angry and amused.

"Your Majesty, I'm really sorry for you." Yao Yue couldn't help but roll her eyes and spoke.

"It doesn't matter. I am the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty and the most powerful man in the world. What does this little grievance mean?
For the sake of the Ming Dynasty, I can endure greater grievances." Zhu Houzhao became proud when he heard this.

Most of the women couldn't help but glare.

"Your Majesty, the Princess of Song will enter the palace tomorrow. Do you want to consummate your marriage with her? I have no business to do so." Bai Fanghua said gracefully and gently. It will be her turn tomorrow or the day after tomorrow.

"No need. It depends on first come first served. I will consummate the marriage with her on the 23rd." Zhu Houzhao waved his hand and said in a principled manner.

Bai Fanghua felt relieved. It was only two nights a month, and she didn't want to be occupied by other women.

During the dinner, Zhu Houzhao was the only one who had no thoughts, just like usual.

The other girls all had some thoughts.

There is another point in common.

Including the Princess of Song, there are twelve concubines in the palace. Each of them has two days a month. It's not a big deal, they are used to it.

(Chapter 1.)
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(End of this chapter)