Water Margin begins as a captain in Yanggu County

Chapter 399 Long live the Emperor!
In the inner palace, Cheng Xiaoniang was still leading everyone on a tour. They were on their way to the small courtyard in the east, where they could see the artificial hill of Genyue in the distance, and they couldn't help but marvel at it.

On a whim, a dozen or so people, including two small children, headed towards Genyue to see it...

Su Wu had already hurried into the main hall of Yanfu Palace, but it was completely empty; there wasn't a single person there...

To Su Wu's great surprise, he simply sat among the many seats, waiting dumbly...

Thinking that everyone was wandering around the palace, Su Wu didn't think much of it. However, he couldn't help but feel that it was really inconvenient that there weren't enough people in the inner palace. If there were a few eunuchs who knew where Lady Cheng and the others came from, they would have rushed to call them back...

Of course, this matter wasn't important. Su Wu's mind was immediately occupied by more important matters, and he began to think about the school, specifically how to arrange the curriculum of the martial arts academy...

With no one around, Su Wu found a table, paper, and pen and began to write again...

After finishing writing this, I looked up and realized that at least half an hour had passed, and still no one had returned...

Su Wu took out a large sheet of paper from his bosom and continued writing. This time, what he was writing was very important, and since no one was around, it was convenient to write this.

Wu Song, Commander of the Palace Guard, Marquis of Dongping.

Lu Da, Signatory to the Privy Council, Marquis of Langya.

Lin Chong, Commander-in-Chief of the Capital Region Military Forces, Marquis of Yingchang.

Xu Guanzhong, Associate Privy Councilor, Marquis of Daming.

Wu Yong, a Hanlin Academician, was the Marquis of Jizhou.

Zong Ze, Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, Marquis of Wuzhou.

Yao Pingzhong, Commander-in-Chief of the Yanyun Road Army, Marquis of Guanzhong.

Liu Yanqing, Associate Privy Councilor, Marquis of Yan'an.

Yan Qing, Commander of the Intelligence Division, Supervisor of the Imperial City Division, Marquis of Handan.

Hua Rong, Commander-in-Chief of the Eastern and Western Military Regions of Jingdong, and Earl of Qingzhou.

Han Shizhong, Commander-in-Chief of the Eastern Route of Jingdong, Earl of Laiyang.

Liu Zhengyan, Commander-in-Chief of the Xihe Lanhuang Army, Earl of Wuwei.

Yue Fei, Protector-General of the Beiting Protectorate, Earl of Loyalty and Bravery.

Liu Guangshi, Commander-in-Chief of the Military Forces of Fuyan Road, Earl of Chengyi.

Wang Bing, Commander-in-Chief of the Hedong Army, Earl of Wujin.

Wang Xun, Commander-in-Chief of the Military Forces of Liangzhe, was the Earl of Jinyong.

Hu Cheng, Commander-in-Chief of the Military Forces of Dongping Prefecture, was promoted to Earl of Yi.

Zhu Tong, Commander-in-Chief of the Naval Forces, was also known as Duke Qinxuan.

Zhu Long, Commander-in-Chief of Qizhou Military Forces, Earl of Zhaoyong.

Luan Tingyu... Earl

Zhu Wu... Earl

Huyan Zhuo, Yang Zhi, Earl

Sun Li... Viscount

Cao Zheng... Viscount

The Nguyen brothers... Viscount

Unraveling treasures... Viscount

Shi Wengong, Baron...

Liang Hongyu, Baron...

Following this order, Viscount, Baron...

Su Wu almost entirely omitted all other honorary titles and prefixes such as "founding father of the nation," simply listing them off in this manner.

There were also some people, such as Zhong Shidao, who were posthumously granted the title of Duke, Zhong Shizhong, and Marquis of Huanqing.

Wang Yuan, grant him the rank of Earl.

Li Gang was granted the title of viscount, Zhao Sicheng was granted the title of viscount, Li Hang was granted the title of viscount, Zhang Shuye was also granted the title of viscount, one of Zhang Shuye's sons who died in battle was posthumously granted the title of marquis, and both of his sons were granted the title of viscount.

Su Wu continued writing slowly, pausing from time to time to delete, add, and revise as needed...

All that could be heard outside the door were the sounds of women singing. Su Wu bent down and blew on the ink stains. By the time Cheng Xiaoniang walked in, Su Wu had already folded the large sheet of paper and put it into his chest.

This is still a first draft; it will need to be revised whenever something comes to mind.

As Cheng Xiaoniang entered the room and was about to sit down at the front, she caught a glimpse of Su Wu sitting on the side table and exclaimed, "Ah!"

Su Wu smiled broadly: "You've finally finished your shopping and are back..."

Cheng Xiaoniang smiled and hurried over, but halfway there her eyes reddened and tears began to fall.

Su Wu rose to greet him, then gently pulled him into his arms, saying, "What are you doing? Don't cry on such a joyous occasion..."

Cheng Xiaoniang simply raised her hand to wipe her cheeks, saying, "Husband, of course, don't cry, don't cry..."

"Have you looked around the whole place?" Su Wu asked, looking up at the surroundings.

"I only toured one side. Tomorrow we'll head west and that should be the end of our tour. This palace is truly vast..." Cheng Xiaoniang replied, stopping her tears.

"Alright, from now on, all the affairs of the harem will be in your hands..." Su Wu nodded, released the person in his arms, and sat down in the center, saying, "Come, sit next to me..."

Then he also arranged: "Madam Meng and Third Madam, one of you will be on the left and the other on the right."

With just a few words, the order of precedence in the harem was properly arranged.

Cheng Xiaoniang took her seat and gave the order: "Quickly, bring some snacks and tea. We've brought everything. Then go to the kitchen to start a fire, and go to the palace gate to find the soldiers to prepare food and wine..."

This harem is truly new; it has neither people nor resources...

Fortunately, by tomorrow at most, a hundred or so young and strong eunuchs will arrive to serve. They are familiar with the ways and should be able to get the harem running smoothly.

Su Wu took his seat but said nothing more, only watching Cheng Xiaoniang.

After sitting down, Cheng Xiaoniang looked at Su Wu. Seeing that Su Wu didn't speak but only smiled, she asked, "Husband, what's going on...?"

Su Wu raised his hand and said with a smile, "Let's see if you have any plan..."

"Huh?" Cheng Xiaoniang was stunned for a moment, turned her head to look around, and then said, "Then... shall I tell you?"

Su Wu nodded.

Then Cheng Xiaoniang spoke again: "From now on, Sister Meng will be in charge of the palace's finances and expenditures, while Third Sister will manage people, both superiors and subordinates. I'll just slack off and have it easy..."

One person manages the finances, and the other manages the human resources; that's how you start a company.

Personnel matters were settled, and manpower was being acquired. But where would the funds come from? Su Wu frowned, pondering this not just this once, but the entire system for allocating funds to the palace—how should it be structured…?

Where does it come from, and how much is given each year...?

There are essentially two sources: first, the imperial court provides a fixed amount of money and grain annually; second, the imperial treasury also needs a source of funds.

Meng Yulou used to run a small business, but that business will definitely go to Li Hang's side now...

Does the imperial harem need to have its own businesses?
Alright, Su Wu has made up his mind. No need. The court will still provide a fixed amount every year. We'll need to discuss the exact amount with others and calculate it. It just needs to be neither too extravagant nor too stingy...

"Send someone to deliver some money and provisions tomorrow..." Su Wu said casually.

Meng Yulou immediately replied, "Young Master Su, don't be anxious. The imperial court is of utmost importance. We brought all our possessions with us when we came to the capital. We still have quite a bit of money here..."

"How many?" Su Wu asked curiously. At this moment, he was very relaxed and just thought it was a joke.

"There are over two hundred thousand strings of cash in total..." Meng Yulou replied with a sense of pride.

Su Wu smiled: "That's quite a lot. This money is your personal savings, keep it for emergencies. You'll still need to send money and provisions tomorrow... Expenses in the palace are quite high..."

“I’ll listen to my husband…” said Cheng Xiaoniang from the side.

"May I do some work in the capital?" Meng Yulou asked.

Su Wu nodded subconsciously, but then shook his head after a sudden thought: "No, from now on, the palace's finances and expenditures must be transparent. I will not be harsh, but we must not compete with the people for profit..."

Su Wu didn't initially think it was a big deal; Meng Yulou knew how to do some small business, so he figured he might as well do a little...

On second thought, he realized that if the palace were to do business, who in the world could compete with them? Wouldn't that be like monopolizing a single industry?
As for capital, there's as much as you need! Countless people are vying to give it to you...

In the future, it will inevitably become a problem that is difficult to control, so there is no need to open this door.

Seeing that Meng Yulou looked slightly disappointed, Su Wu, who was quick-witted, said, "There are orphanages in the capital, which were originally government property, but now they are in ruins. Why don't the three of you take them over? What do you think?"

In theory, the Song Dynasty had a very comprehensive welfare system, including facilities for the elderly living alone and orphanages. Of course, this was only theoretical; it had some effect initially, but its effectiveness diminished later on.

This work can continue, especially in orphanages. The reason why others can't do it well, and why the government can't do it well, is largely due to funding issues…

If the imperial harem, the empress, or the imperial concubines were to handle the fundraising, especially from the public, it would be much easier...

Of course, Su Wu didn't believe that the welfare home system could truly be perfected; to achieve such perfection, there would have to be a huge increase in social productivity...

This arrangement serves two purposes: firstly, to do our best and do our utmost; secondly, it inevitably involves matters of reputation and so on…

After the three women exchanged glances, Cheng Xiaoniang said, "Husband, don't worry. We'll leave the palace tomorrow to visit and see what the orphanage is like. Once we take over, we'll definitely do a good job!"

He did another thing, big and small, countless things in total. Su Wu stood up: "Have someone boil water..."

A bath is necessary...

Just by saying that, I wonder how many people blushed.

But Su Wu asked again, "Bring them all here so I can see them..."

She was asleep the whole time, so I put her on the back of the bed, and now I'm going to pick her up.

Xuan Niang, Kai Ge'er...

Xuan Niang is babbling and can say quite a few words now; she can walk and run around on her own all over the place...

Kai'er, he can barely stand, but he's quite good at crawling...

They put the two children on the ground to tease them; one was walking, and the other was crawling...

One could only make "uh-huh" and "waaaaaah" sounds... while the other could actually say, "Father... I miss my father so much..."

In truth, she didn't even know who her father was, and couldn't remember him. Of course, someone had taught her to speak, but so what? How could Su Wu not be pleased?
He simply picked up Xuan Niang, his face full of smirks...

That Kaige'er, on the ground, murmured, "Mmm, mmm, mmm..."

Naturally, Cheng Xiaoniang quickly went to pick him up.

Su Wu laughed heartily, glancing at Xuan Niang in his arms, then looked up at Cheng Xiao Niang and said, "This boy, once he's a bit older, he'll go to school... Zhong Si School! He'll have to be properly tested every day when he comes back, lest he become a dull-witted tyrant..."

"Husband, you're talking nonsense! Kai-ge'er isn't some kind of dim-witted tyrant..." Cheng Xiaoniang feigned anger and turned her head away...

It was a feigned anger, yet it possessed an undeniable charm, and Su Wu's heart was instantly captivated...

Su Wu must have had some deep thoughts about this.

The Loyalty Academy is filled with descendants of loyal and righteous individuals, as well as the sons and grandsons of tribal chiefs from all over the country...

Most of the descendants of the loyal and righteous are fatherless and have few worries, making them the most suitable for cultivating a team.

The children from those tribes grow close at an early age, which is beneficial for their future unity and cooperation.

Of course, these are all Su Wu's hopes at this moment. How the child turns out depends on himself and on Su Wu's teaching...

Enjoying snacks, having tea, taking a bath...

Fun things to do at night...

Su Wu was young and strong, full of vigor and vitality.

There were inevitably some private whispers: Madam Cheng wanted to have another child... Madam Meng also wanted to have another child...

In the end, everyone said that it would be best to have Hu Sanniang first...

How could Su Wu not have received the favors of everyone and endured many hardships?
Having risen early, Su Wu felt refreshed and energetic, with servants attending to him, and even his clothes appeared neat and tidy...

No matter how you look at it, it's all neatly combed... My face looks a bit fairer, my beard is well-trimmed, and my hair is styled with meticulous care...

Men still can't live without women...

Today, Su Wu greeted everyone in the Funing Palace with a smile, and no matter how troublesome or irritating the matter was, he seemed to have gained a lot of patience...

Even Wu Yong and Su Wu stopped scolding them...

Wu Yong couldn't help but laugh as well. After they finished discussing matters and left the palace, he said to Zong Ze beside him, "Today, His Majesty is different from before. He is overjoyed and treats everyone with great warmth!"

Zong Ze's face crinkled with laughter: "This is the way of yin and yang harmony!"

"Alas, there's something I didn't do well before. I shouldn't have let that Third Sister leave the army; we should have kept her with us..."

Wu Yong regretted it too late. He hadn't taken it seriously at the time. Now that he thought about it, if he had kept worrying about this matter and kept San Niangzi with him in the army, he would have received far fewer scoldings from the king.

Zong Ze also smiled: "Just remember this time..."

"It seems this time it won't work..." Wu Yong sighed.

"Why didn't it work this time?" Zong Ze asked.

"Firstly, the palace is already short-handed; secondly, this battle against the Jurchens is taking place in the freezing winter. Does Your Majesty not feel pity for them?"

Wu Yong spoke with certainty.

"You've got a good eye for things..." Zong Ze said.

"Of course, I can usually guess what the king is thinking..." Wu Yong said unconsciously without thinking much.

Zong Ze suddenly sighed: "You should stop guessing. The King is a great ruler, and should not overstep his bounds!"

Wu Yong's heart suddenly tightened, and he looked at Zong Ze.

Zong Ze nodded slightly: "It's a matter of life and death!"

Wu Yong suddenly bowed deeply and said, "Thank you for your guidance, sir!"

"Let's go..." Zong Ze waved his hand, said no more, and headed towards the Hall of State Affairs.

Wu Yong followed behind, his mind racing with thoughts of the events that had transpired before and what was happening now, a chill running down his spine.

Two days later, on the third day, the coronation ceremony took place.

There was no grand ceremony. The Zhao family ancestral temple used to have a high platform, and all the items in the ancestral temple had been moved to Li Bangyan's old residence.

Su Wu didn't have any ancestors to bestow titles upon; inside, he only paid respects to the gods of heaven and earth, the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, and all sorts of legitimate rulers...

Then came the civil and military officials, and the three women from the harem...

Several groups of soldiers lined up behind them.

The Confucian, Buddhist, and Taoist priests went ahead to pray and offer sacrifices, and those behind them just knelt and knelt...

At this moment, Su Wu was truly filled with awe, a feeling that arose spontaneously from who-knows-where.

The ritual was completed in just a few rounds.

At this moment, Su Wu actually regretted it a little. He shouldn't have made it so simple. He hadn't thought things through carefully enough beforehand.

The sacrificial ceremony should not be so brief and simple. The awe that arose in Su Wu's heart under such circumstances made him feel as if he owed something...

But since things have come to this point, it's over now that it's said.

After another round of sacrifices at the ancestral temple, Su Wu spoke at length to the various memorial tablets...

Then everyone moved to the Funing Hall, which served as a court assembly, and food was also prepared.

He was granted the title of Empress and many other honors and rewards.

Thus, it was still only morning, so after a simple meal, the officials returned to their offices to continue their work, and the soldiers went back to their posts.

However, a large number of people had gathered in the square outside the Daqing Gate of the Imperial City, all of whom knew that the Emperor was being crowned on the throne today...

The common people, on the other hand, were mostly beaming with joy, their faces all showing smiles...

“Great Yan, from now on we are no longer subjects of the Great Song, but subjects of Great Yan…”

"Yes, a new dynasty should have new policies that benefit the country and its people..."

"That's natural, it's always been this way. Once a new dynasty is established, a golden age will soon follow!"

"That's wonderful! Our new emperor is truly an exceptional man, invincible in battle, and kind to everyone. In the past, it was said that our new emperor was always righteous and chivalrous. We are so lucky, we are all so lucky..."

"Our new emperor rose from humble beginnings, and he knows best the suffering of us common people..."

"I've heard that the Genyue Garden, once the residence of the Zhao Emperor, is now frequented by everyone. I wonder if that's true?"

"It's absolutely true. The Ministry of Works has already started hiring and is about to begin construction. They're going to separate Genyue from the Imperial City by walls. From now on, anyone can go into Genyue and wander around freely for a fee..."

"I need to go and broaden my horizons!"

"Of course we have to go! How can we not go, given this honor bestowed by the new emperor?"

"I've heard that His Majesty is extremely frugal; the entire harem has only about a hundred people in total..."

"Really? How can this be enough to serve you?"

"Our Emperor is a man accustomed to hardship; do you think he's the kind of person who lives a life of luxury?"

"That's a huge amount of money saved..."

"This time, Xu is truly blessed..."

"I heard that His Majesty will soon lead a personal expedition to fight the Jurchens?"

"That's for sure. Our Emperor is the Son of Heaven on horseback. Once the Jurchens are wiped out, the world will truly be at peace. From now on, there will be good days ahead. The whole world is our land, and all of it belongs to our Great Yan!"

On the city tower of Daqing Gate, drums were beating, and a loud voice was singing: "The Emperor has ascended the throne, may the new Dynasty, Great Yan, last ten thousand years!"

Suddenly, people around the city gate began shouting, "Long live the Emperor!"

The shouts then spread: "Ten thousand years! Ten thousand years!"

"Long live your Majesty!"

"Long live my emperor!"

Countless ordinary people are there, perhaps just there for the excitement!

But it is also the most basic expectation of ordinary people for the future, hoping that everything will really get better and better...

Outside the imperial city, shouts rose and fell, lingering for a long time...

The Emperor has already started working again in the Funing Palace!

Next, we need to streamline the transportation of goods and goods across the land.

A military commissioner should be appointed for each route, and a provincial-level general administration office should be established.

This matter gave Su Wu a major headache. Countless lists had been drawn up, but Su Wu was unfamiliar with and didn't know much about most of them, making things difficult...

We could only listen as Cheng Wanli, Zong Ze, Zhang Shuye, Wu Yong, Zhao Sicheng, and others slowly recounted their lives, political achievements, reputations, and public image...

There were one or two familiar faces, such as Tang Ke, the prefect of Hangzhou, whom Su Wu had indeed met before, and who had been recommended as the military commissioner of Liangzhe Road.

Su Wu hesitated, but eventually nodded. There was really no one else, and this was someone he had met before and had some initial impression of.

This is probably what Su Wu was thinking: first, set things up, and then deal with problems as they arise...

It's okay if something goes wrong!
How could a newly established country have everything go smoothly for the whole world?

Even if something goes wrong, Su Wu is filled with malice at this moment. He is holding a knife and looking around, not knowing who to kill!
The capital is busy...

Inside the Beiting Protectorate, Yue Fei stared at a letter from the capital, a letter that was already twenty or thirty days old…

Although these were official documents and letters from twenty or thirty days ago, it already signaled a change of dynasty...

All sorts of things, big and small, left Yue Fei somewhat lost in thought...

Just as he was lost in thought, someone rushed in through the door and shouted, "Protector, urgent report from Linhuang Prefecture!"

(End of this chapter)