The Golden Family, rising from the Western Regions

Chapter 411 Eight Ministries and Five Offices, Three Armies of the Capital Region

The bronze bells outside the hall rang for the third time, and sunlight streamed through the window lattices onto the golden bricks, reflecting the varied expressions of the officials.

This transformation, which concerns the administrative structure of the Ming Dynasty, is unfolding step by step within the emperor's ingenious plan.

"The Ministry of Commerce is in charge of maritime trade, commercial taxes, and market management throughout the country. It is on par with the Six Ministries and is awarded the rank of Second Grade Official."

Han Jiuyuan was very upset. Since the Sui and Tang dynasties, commercial affairs had always been under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Revenue. Now His Majesty wanted to separate this "fat piece of meat" from the Ministry of Revenue, which was tantamount to cutting off half of the Ministry of Revenue's territory.

Moreover, commercial taxes now account for 30% of the Ming Dynasty's annual revenue, and this figure will be even higher in the future.

The commercial ports in the desert and Gansu were raking in money every day, and the Ministry of Commerce was probably second only to the Ministry of Mining and the Ministry of Personnel in terms of real power.

Li Xiao had no intention of giving the officials too much time to react, and directly appointed, "The candidate for Minister of Commerce is Chen Chong."

"Chen Chong?"

All the officials turned their gazes to the old man in the middle of the right side of the court.

That was Chen Chong, the nearly sixty-year-old governor of the desert. He was wearing a scarlet official robe of the second rank, his beard and hair were already white, and the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes still bore the marks of the desert winds and sand.

This man was originally a former official of the Liao Dynasty. He was captured by Li Xiao during the Western Expedition ten years ago. Because he was knowledgeable about agriculture, he was appointed as a military advisor in the Tuntian Division. Later, he rose through the ranks to become the governor of the desert. He was a close friend of Han Jiuyuan.

Chen Chong stepped out of the ranks slowly, his movements as steady as ever, showing no sign of surprise.

On the very first day he arrived in Longcheng by imperial decree, he was summoned to the Imperial Study by Emperor Li Xiao.

Li Xiao had already informed him of the imperial decree to establish the Ministry of Commerce and appoint its Minister.

He walked into the hall, placed his hand on his chest, and bowed: "Your subject Chen Chong will certainly rectify commercial taxes and regulate markets, so that merchants from the north and south can travel freely without hindrance..."

After hearing Chen Chong's declaration of loyalty, Li Xiao nodded slightly, "Good."

"I have always trusted Minister Chen with his work."

His gaze swept over the officials, and he said, "Minister Chen has spent five years in the desert."

"From land reclamation and development to the establishment of trade markets, they transformed a barren land into a prosperous and fertile land with shops lining the streets and merchants gathering."

"Nowadays, the trade tax revenue of the desert far exceeds that of Guanzhong. Even the camel caravans of the various tribes in the Western Regions only recognize the desert trading ports. This ability is enough to qualify him for the position of Minister of Commerce."

When Chen Chong first took office as the governor of the desert, it was still a desolate wasteland with soldiers stationed there. It was he who overruled objections to open a "mutual market" and petitioned Li Xiao to reduce commercial taxes for three years, which attracted merchants from all directions to gather there.

Today, the desert boasts hundreds of silk shops alone, where gems from the Western Regions, furs from the Northern Frontier, and silks from the Jiangnan region converge. Its prosperity has long surpassed that of Guanzhong after the war.

This achievement is truly unparalleled.

Standing to the side, Han Jiuyuan secretly breathed a sigh of relief, a relieved smile appearing on his face.

Although the Ministry of Commerce was separated from the Ministry of Revenue, the person in charge was an old friend, so there would always be more face in future dealings and coordination.

He smiled at Chen Chong and said, "Brother Chen, congratulations!"

"With your talent, you truly deserve the position of Minister of Commerce."

Li Xiao smiled slightly when he saw this.

Were the two close friends?
That's assuming there's no conflict.

The Ministry of Commerce was originally a branch of the Ministry of Revenue, in charge of commerce and commercial taxes. It's likely that these two close friends will run into trouble.

For a monarch, it is not a good thing for his ministers to stick together too much, especially for two high-ranking and powerful ministers.

Upon seeing this, the officials all stepped forward to offer their congratulations, and the atmosphere in the hall became lively.

After Chen Chong returned to his post, Li Xiao's voice rang out again, this time with a touch of iron-bloodedness: "The position of Minister of Justice shall be taken over by Zhao Dadao."

"Zhao Dadao?"

"He is His Majesty's uncle."

Amid the murmurs, a burly man strode forward.

Zhao Dadao was nearly fifty years old, with a scar on his face that stretched from his brow bone to his jawline. It was a battle wound he had sustained in his early years when he fought against the Naiman people.

Dressed in a red official robe, he still couldn't hide his fierce military bearing. As he entered the hall, he patted his chest heavily and said in a booming voice, "Your subject Zhao Dadao kowtows to thank Your Majesty."

Zhao Dadao joined Li Xiao's uprising in his early years and rose through the ranks to become a commander of ten thousand households. Later, he transferred to civilian work as the governor of Yinshan, where he used an iron fist to deal with border troubles. Even the Kangli tribe in the northwest called him "Zhao Yama".

It doesn't matter if he can't investigate cases; the Ministry of Justice has plenty of capable people. The most important thing is that he has a fiery temper, is upright and incorruptible, and despises those who scheme and plot.

Such a person in charge of the Ministry of Justice is far more awe-inspiring than a civil official.

After the candidate for Minister of Justice was confirmed, Li Xiao's gaze turned to a young figure at the end of the right rank: "Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate..."

"I have decided that Sori will take on this role."

Everyone subconsciously looked up and saw that Sori was only in his early thirties, standing out conspicuously among the many old officials.

What's even more amazing is that this person was not from Jinzhou, but a Han Chinese who was brought back from Guazhou when Li Xiao first conquered the Xia Kingdom.

Sori strode forward, his figure as straight as a sword, his face devoid of any flattery, only displaying a stubborn sharpness.

He bowed deeply, his voice clear and resonant: "Your subject, Sori, thanks Your Majesty for your great favor."

Sori had previously served as a legal advisor and dared to impeach members of the Li family.

Last year, during his inspection of the salt fields, he uncovered some shady dealings and brought down three salt transport officials. This was also an important reason why Li Xiao realized that he had to move Luo Ping's position.

This person is intolerant of any wrongdoing, stubborn yet upright, making him perfectly suited for the position of Left Censor-in-Chief.

He paused, then emphasized, "I want to make it clear to you all that the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate of the Great Ming Dynasty is ranked as a second-rank official, on par with the Ministers of the Six Ministries."

"From now on, you, Suo Qing, can supervise the actions of the six ministries at the same level and impeach them directly without any need to avoid it."

By appointing the hot-tempered Zhao Dadao to head the Ministry of Justice, and the sharp-witted Suo Rui to head the Censorate, along with the future Dali Temple, the aim was to replicate the previous dynasty's system of checks and balances among the "Three Judicial Offices."

However, the Left Censor-in-Chief now holds a more prestigious position and wields greater power of oversight, capable of supervising princes and nobles above, and investigating and prosecuting lawless officials below.

Sori bowed again, his tone resolute: "Your subject will certainly uphold justice and discipline, and will impeach any corrupt officials, those who embezzle public funds, pervert the law, or form cliques for personal gain, no matter how far away they are."

After Zhao Dadao and Suorui returned to their positions, Li Xiao changed the subject and talked about the more crucial financial power: "The Great Ming Bank is in charge of coin minting, official silver storage, and nationwide remittance. It is the only official bank of our Great Ming."

“Currency is the lifeblood of a nation. The previous management by the Hexi Merchants was not a long-term solution. Only by establishing an independent agency can we stabilize the foundation of commerce.”

"They were guided by the Ministry of Revenue but not subject to its control."

"The chief manager of the Great Ming Bank will remain Cui Benchang, who will be granted the title of Vice Minister of the Third Rank."

In the middle of the right section, a middle-aged man wearing a blue official robe suddenly looked up, his face filled with disbelief.

In his early years, Cui Benchang was just an accountant in a military town in northern Xinjiang. Later, when Li Xiao was preparing to set up a bank, he volunteered and opened the first money shop in northern Xinjiang with a few employees.

Who would have thought that in just a few years it would be upgraded to the Great Ming Bank, and he himself would go from a bookkeeper to a high-ranking official of the third rank.

He staggered out of the ranks, slapped his chest heavily in a deep bow, his voice trembling with emotion: "Your subject... Your subject Cui Benchang kowtows to thank Your Majesty for your grace in restoring us to peace."

He repeatedly bowed his head and said, "Back then, I was just a lowly accountant trying to make a living. Your Majesty was kind enough to entrust me with the position of a money exchange. Now I am in charge of the Great Ming Bank and manage the currency of the entire country."

"This...this is truly a case of ancestral graves emitting auspicious smoke—no, it's like they've caught fire!"

These simple, almost crude words elicited a low chuckle from the audience, but greatly pleased Li Xiaolong.

He gestured for Cui Benchang to stand up: "When you managed the bank, the accounts were accurate to the last detail, and you even achieved an annual income of one million taels. This third-rank official position was earned by yourself."

"From now on, manage the bank well and don't let me down."

Don't think that one hundred taels of silver is not much. That's because the Ming Dynasty's war reparations were in the millions, and the war looting was in the tens of millions.

That was war profits. For a legitimate financial business like the Ming Dynasty Bank, an annual income of one million was already a lot.

As the Ming Dynasty's commerce flourishes, the money earned will only increase.

Hearing Li Xiao's encouragement, Cui Benchang tearfully agreed, and when he stood up, his steps were unsteady, as if he were walking on clouds.

"The Xuande Division remains unchanged, not under the Six Ministries, and is still headed by Wu Lizhen, who is granted the title of Vice Minister of the Third Rank and will be directly under my command." Li Xiao's voice rang out again, this time without causing much of a stir.

The Xuande Division was in charge of propaganda and served as the mouthpiece of the Ming Dynasty. It was an institution trusted by the emperor, so its independent establishment was inevitable.

Standing in the corner, Wu Lizhen bowed and accepted the order, his expression calm and composed, clearly already aware of the arrangements.

Following that, Li Xiao announced the final appointments: "Li Dongkun, Minister of the Imperial Household Department, is granted the title of Minister of the Second Rank, and will be in charge of palace affairs and royal assets."

"The Court of Judicial Review was promoted to the second rank and, together with the Ministry of Justice and the Censorate, was known as the 'Three Judicial Offices,' responsible for reviewing cases and exercising caution in sentencing and prison."

As soon as these words were spoken, the hall finally fell completely silent.

Han Jiuyuan silently counted the numbers in his mind.

The Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of Mining, the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Works, the Ministry of Heavy Industry, and the Ministry of Commerce were the eight ministries, while the Censorate, the Court of Judicial Review, and the Imperial Household Department were the three offices.

Adding the two independent institutions, the Ming Bank and the Xuande Department, completes the structure of "eight ministries and five offices".

Li Xiao, seated on the dragon throne, swept his gaze across the hall, taking in the expressions of all the officials: "From this day forward, the structure of the Ming Dynasty court is set."

"Each department performs its own duties and is accountable to me."

He paused, then his tone suddenly became authoritative: "Let me make this clear from the start: if anyone dares to form cliques, engage in corruption, or break the law, I will not let them off the hook."

"Your Majesty, we obey your decree. Your Majesty is wise."

Amidst the thunderous response, a new political landscape has already taken shape.

But Li Xiao clearly had no intention of stopping. After a brief pause, he changed the subject, turned his gaze to the ranks of military officers in the hall, and his tone suddenly became more iron-blooded and authoritative.

"With the court structure set, the military system in Longcheng also needs to be adjusted. The Grand Protectorate will still command all the troops in the country, and I will personally serve as the Grand Protector, the supreme commander of the Ming army."

Upon hearing this, all the military officers in the hall bowed in unison: "Long live the Emperor!"

The emperor's personal control of the military was intended to strengthen the absolute control of the imperial power over the army.

The Grand Protectorate still has two commanders, left and right, who are in charge of military affairs in the east and west respectively.

Li Xiao planned to establish the Central Army Commander, the Southern Army Commander, and the Northern Army Commander after the war against the Jin Dynasty ended.

Today we are reorganizing the Wuwei Army.

"The Wuwei Army was reorganized into the Imperial Guard of the Ming Dynasty. A new Imperial Guard Command was established, and Hou Shou was appointed as the commander of the Imperial Guard with the rank of a second-grade military officer."

As soon as he finished speaking, a thin man with sharp eyes stepped forward. It was none other than Skinny Monkey.

He was dressed in a yellow cloth armor with red trim, and he had a robust build and an air of competence.

Everyone knows that he was Li Xiao's childhood friend who grew up with him, starting as a personal guard in Hexi Fort and rising all the way to the commander of the Imperial Guard. Now he has become the commander of the Imperial Guard.

"Your subject, Hou Shou, kowtows to express his gratitude to Your Majesty."

He bent over with his back ramrod straight, his voice brimming with barely suppressed excitement.

Li Xiao looked at his old friend, a rare warmth appearing on his lips: "Hou Shou, you have followed me for twenty years without ever having a disloyal heart."

"This Imperial Guard Commander's Office is in charge of the gate control and patrols of Longcheng and the future Daming City. It is equivalent to the shield of the capital region. I entrust my home to you. Rest assured."

The Commander of the Imperial Guards was essentially equivalent to the "Admiral of the Nine Gates," wielding supreme power over the defense of the capital region. Only the emperor's absolute confidants could hold this position.

Hou Shou patted his chest heavily: "Even if I am shattered to pieces, I will never allow Longcheng and Daming Prefecture to suffer the slightest loss."

Li Xiao nodded slightly, then changed the subject: "The defense of the capital region is a weighty responsibility."

"Order the elite cavalry to cooperate with the Imperial Guard Commander's Office to guard the capital region."

"Li Shurong is appointed as the commander of the Valiant Cavalry Battalion, with the rank of a third-grade military officer."

"Another two thousand elite troops will be selected from the First Town to form the Guard Battalion, with Yang Shoujing as its commander and a third-rank military officer."

As Li Xiao finished speaking, two more military officers stepped forward to receive the order.

It was Yang Shoujing, known for his bravery, and Li Shurong, who was wearing black cloth armor.

The Imperial Guard, the Elite Cavalry, and the Protectorate Army stood in a tripartite balance, independent of each other, and all directly responsible to the emperor.

This arrangement not only prevented military power from falling into other hands but also ensured mutual checks and balances, preventing even a childhood friend like "Skinny Monkey" from monopolizing military power in the capital region.

Moreover, after the Eastern Expedition against the Jin Dynasty ends, Li Xiao will select elite troops from the national army to form a vanguard battalion to jointly defend the capital region.

By this time, the sun had risen high in the sky. Li Xiao ordered his men to prepare mutton soup noodles, and he and his ministers ate lunch together in the main hall.

In the afternoon, the morning assembly resumed.

Li Xiao sat on the dragon throne, his expression returning to solemnity: "The central affairs are settled; it's time to discuss the local matters."

"As you all have probably heard, I intend to merge Jinzhou and Damozhou to form Zhili Province, which will be the most important province in the country."

As soon as he finished speaking, the ministers nodded slightly.

This is no secret; the merger of the two states has been underway for some time.

Although Jinzhou was the capital, it was located in the north, mainly consisting of grasslands and mountains, and was known for its brave cavalry.

The desert economy is more prosperous, with a larger arable land area and a larger population to support.

The merger of the two states will allow the Ming Dynasty to form a more powerful hinterland base.

More importantly, it was to prepare for the future relocation of the capital to Daming Prefecture.

Li Xiao unfolded a map and traced a large area of ​​the northern frontier with his finger: "Zhili Province encompasses most of the northern frontier, including the entire Jinshan area and the land to its north."

"This place is not only the birthplace of our Great Ming Dynasty, but also a rich land with numerous iron mines and salt fields. It is the core of the Great Ming Dynasty and must be fully integrated."

He paused, then dropped an even bigger bombshell: "Zhili Province holds immense power and responsibility, ranking first among all the prefectures in the country."

"I have decided to promote the Governor of Zhili to the rank of Second Grade, on par with the Ministers of the Eight Ministries, and the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner to the rank of Second Grade."

Upon hearing this, the hall fell into a deathly silence.

The governors of other prefectures and provinces were of the second rank, and the provincial judges were of the third rank, while those of Zhili were one rank higher.

Moreover, a high-ranking official of the second rank who is in charge of a region wields far more real power than officials in the imperial court; such a position is incredibly wealthy and powerful.

Many officials who had served as local governors had a glint in their eyes, and Han Jiuguang even straightened his back subconsciously, his face showing hope.

His younger brother, Han Jiuyuan, had already become the Minister of Revenue, so it was impossible for him to remain in the imperial court; he would inevitably be transferred to a post outside the capital.

Looking across all the provinces and states in the country, is there any place better than Zhili?

Moreover, this is a second-rank official, which is an even higher status.

Li Xiao took in everyone's expressions and a faint smile appeared on his lips: "I have decided that the position of Governor of Zhili will be filled by Qin Chunsheng, the Governor of Xihai."

"Qin Chunsheng?"

"He is His Majesty's maternal uncle."

Han Jiuguang's heart sank, and the light in his eyes dimmed instantly.

The officials all realized that although Qin Chunsheng was a relative of the emperor, he was no ordinary person.

Previously, he served as a commander of ten thousand men in the army, comparable to Zhao Dadao. Later, one of them became the governor of Yinshan, and the other became the governor of Xihai. Both were high-ranking and powerful figures, and were also representative of the imperial relatives of the Ming Dynasty.

More importantly, he is Li Xiao's maternal uncle, a natural ally of mutual interests.

Soon, Qin Chunsheng stepped forward slowly. He had a refined appearance and a composed demeanor. He walked into the hall, bowed, and said, "Your subject Qin Chunsheng thanks Your Majesty for your great favor."

Li Xiao looked at his uncle and said solemnly, "Zhili is the heart of the capital region and is related to the foundation of the dynasty."

"I know that you have governed Xihai well. I am now entrusting you with this task. I hope that you will integrate the resources of Jinzhou and the desert, pacify the people, and build Zhili into a stable rear area for the Ming Dynasty."

Qin Chunsheng kowtowed again, his voice steady and powerful: "Your Majesty has entrusted me with this task, and I dare not fail to do my utmost."

"In Zhili, I will certainly encourage agriculture and sericulture, rectify officialdom, and develop industry and commerce, so that the people of the northern frontier can live and work in peace and contentment, and safeguard this land of origin for the Ming Dynasty, so as not to fail Your Majesty's great trust."

With the conclusion of this morning assembly, all tasks are being carried out in a busy and focused manner.

The news of the founding of the Ming Dynasty and the establishment of the reign title Wutai spread rapidly throughout the country, as if it had wings, along the newly repaired post roads.

In the northern desert, the cold wind swept by, carrying snowflakes. When Zhou Mancang, a centurion, reined in his horse, a layer of white frost had already accumulated on his felt hat.

He was followed by five bodyguards with swords. After returning to his tent, he warmed up and recovered, then ordered all the captains and shihu (household commanders) to come for a meeting.

"Everyone come out, it's time for a meeting. Big news from the Thousand Household Office."

Zhou Mancang's shouts pierced through the wind and snow, penetrating into the dugouts that were half-buried underground.

Most of the people in the Hundred Households Office were Han Chinese who had migrated from Lingzhou three years ago. Their faces still bore the marks of time, but their eyes were much brighter than when they were in their homeland.

"Commander Zhou, is the charcoal for winter coming again?" someone asked with a smile, rubbing their hands together.

Zhou Mancang raised his hand to lower his voice, his gaze sweeping over the surging crowd, and his voice suddenly rose: "Ten times more important than buying charcoal."

"His Majesty has proclaimed himself Emperor in Dragon City, establishing the Ming Dynasty with the reign title Wutai. From now on, we are all citizens of the Ming Dynasty."

"He declared himself emperor?"

The crowd instantly exploded.

Old Man Wang, the captain, gaped open: "Heavens above!"

"The king has really become the emperor! That's wonderful!"

Back when he was a tenant farmer in Lingzhou, Old Man Wang couldn't even get enough bran to eat. The government's exorbitant taxes and levies were so heavy they could squeeze oil out of his bones.

Now his family rents 30 acres of grassland, and the 20 ewes they owed last year have given birth to 17 lambs. They just paid off the debt last month and have two silver coins in their pocket.

He always says, "Back then, the king said, 'Come to the northern desert, there will be work to do and food to eat.' He wasn't lying to us."

Now that Li Xiao has become emperor, Old Man Wang is the most excited.

Cheers rose and fell from the crowd, and the Han people happily discussed among themselves.

The herders who originally lived in the northern desert did not show the same excitement as the Han people; instead, they displayed a kind of almost religious reverence.

"It is Hutengrigul Khan."

The old herdsman Batu touched the wolf tooth necklace on his chest and said to his son beside him in broken Mandarin, "He was the Khan sent by the Eternal Heaven. Now he has become the emperor and is the common ruler of the grasslands and the Han people."

In their hearts, the title "Tengri Gur Khan" carries far more weight than "Emperor," representing the highest respect for a god-like ruler.

Unlike the cold winds of the northern desert, the afternoons in Xianyang were still somewhat warm.

On the drum tower in front of the government office, the drummer struck the drum three times in succession. Zhang Zhongwen, the clerk, stood on the high platform, unfurled a bright yellow proclamation, and loudly proclaimed: "By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: The Great Ming Dynasty is established, and the reign title is Wutai..."

The news spread like ripples from Gulou.

In front of the silk shop on West Street, the shopkeeper Zhao Shichang was measuring cloth for a customer when he heard a noise and looked up sharply. The soft measuring tape in his hand fell to the ground with a "thud": "It's really done. From now on, we are merchants of the Ming Dynasty."

In his early years, he did business under the rule of the Jin Dynasty and was repeatedly exploited by tax officials. After the Ming Dynasty took over Guanzhong last year, it not only standardized commercial taxes but also required merchants to register their household registration freely, so they no longer had to hide and evade taxes like before.

The owner of the grain store next door poked his head out and shouted with a smile, "The Ming Dynasty is now secure, business will definitely get better and better."

Several women stood on the street corner, holding their children, their faces filled with worry.

"The founding of a nation is a good thing, but what if a major war breaks out?"

A woman said worriedly, "My husband just found work at the post station. He can't have anything happen to him."

This place is only a hundred miles from the border of the Jin Kingdom. Last month, there were reports of small groups of Jin soldiers harassing the area. Even the women on the street know that there might be another major battle with the Jin Kingdom at any time.

But her words were immediately drowned out by shouts from a group of teenagers.

"The Hero Rankings are updated again, go check it out!"

A dozen or so teenagers were running around in the street, their faces full of excitement.

Since the Ming Dynasty conquered Guanzhong, the government office has posted a "List of Battle Heroes" every month.

Whoever makes a great contribution on the battlefield will be rewarded with a thousand taels of silver and promoted to a thousand households.

Whoever repelled the Jin scouts in the northern desert will be rewarded with fifty sheep.

These stories have long been a favorite topic of conversation among young people.

"I'm going to join the army."

Sixteen-year-old Wang Hu clenched his fists, his eyes shining as he stared at the story of "Zhang Dadan charging into battle alone" on the notice.

"Once I've done something good, I'll let my mother live in a brick house."

Several other young men nearby chimed in, saying, "Let's go together, and we'll achieve fame and fortune right away."

Amid the commotion, Li Mo, the owner of the South Street Grocery Store, quietly closed half of the door.

As a spy planted by the Jin dynasty in Xianyang, he had to send messages to Zhongdu via secret letters every month.

But just now, listening to the cheers in the street and seeing those young people so excited to join the army, Li Mo felt a lump in his throat.

He has been in Xianyang for three years and has personally witnessed the dilapidated city walls being repaired, the government organizing refugees to reclaim wasteland, and merchants no longer having to bribe tax officials.

The strength of the Ming Dynasty was not based on boasting, but on the everyday life of its people.

"Could the Jin Dynasty defeat the Ming Dynasty?" This question weighed heavily on his mind.

He personally witnessed the endless stream of grain carts from the Ming Dynasty being transported to the border, each cart bearing a wooden sign that read "For Military Grain Use Only".

Yesterday, while inquiring near the government office, I bumped into the newly appointed tax collector checking the accounts, calculating every single penny clearly.

How could such a court be easily defeated?
"Shopkeeper, I'd like a can of oil." A customer's shout interrupted his thoughts.

Li Mo forced a smile and started working.

His family was still in Zhongdu, so he had no choice.

(End of this chapter)