My father is Chongzhen? Then I have no choice but to rebel.

"This……"

Cao Wenzhao smacked his lips.

"We've caught them, but... how to deal with them has become a problem."

"Yes, if we had died in the chaos of battle, it would have been a clean break. But now that we're prisoners, it's just more trouble."

Someone whispered.

Throughout history, dealing with the rulers of enemy states has always been an extremely sensitive matter.

Killing prisoners is considered unlucky, especially if the other party is a monarch who surrendered voluntarily or was captured, as it makes it easier for others to accuse him of being "tyrannical".

But leaving it behind would be a huge hidden danger.

He represents the legal system of the previous dynasty. Even though he is just a child, he has a certain symbolic meaning and may be exploited by the remaining forces or those with ulterior motives.

"His Royal Highness."

Sun Chuanting spoke first, stroking his beard as he spoke carefully.

"In my humble opinion, since they have already been captured, and are women and children at that, it would be better to... spare their lives. They can be escorted to the capital and confined in a secluded house near the imperial city, where they can be made to study and learn etiquette, and thus live out their remaining years. In this way, we can not only demonstrate the benevolence of our Celestial Empire and appease distant peoples, but also put an end to the hopes of those in Liaodong who may still harbor foolish loyalty."

Even if they were placed under the emperor's watchful eye and kept under strict supervision, they wouldn't be able to cause any trouble.

"What Lord Sun said is a wise and experienced approach to governing the country."

The other person agreed.

“Killing him would only require one strike, but it might chill the hearts of those who have just submitted to Liaodong. Keeping him alive would demonstrate benevolence and could also serve as leverage.”

"This humble general disagrees!"

Zu Dashou, however, voiced his opposition loudly.

"Your Highness, Lord Sun! Although Fulin is just a child, he is a descendant of Huang Taiji! The Jurchens have ravaged Liaodong for decades, slaughtering more than a million of our people. This is a blood feud! Who knows if this bastard will become a source of trouble in the future? So-called benevolence is for obedient people, not for the descendants of such enemy chieftains! If you don't cut the weeds at the root, they will grow back in the spring breeze! In my humble opinion, it would be better to let Zheng Zhilong deal with them cleanly at sea, and announce to the outside world that the mother and son died in a shipwreck. That would be clean and efficient!"

"General Zu, killing prisoners is an ominous sign, let alone children?"

"A child? When he dons the dragon robe, he becomes a false emperor! He becomes the leader of the remnants of the Jurchens!"

"But now he has taken off his imperial robes and is a prisoner!"

"Prisoners can also be a threat!"

A dispute immediately broke out in the hall. The civil officials mostly favored "appeasement and control," while the military generals mostly advocated "eliminating the root of the problem." Each held their own opinion, and neither could convince the other.

Zhu Cilang listened quietly to the argument, his fingers still lightly tapping the armrest.

Historically, whether to kill or spare the former royal family has always been a difficult question.

Keeping them alive has its uses and risks, while killing them has its reasons and potential consequences.

Fulin was just a child under ten years old; to say that he posed any real threat was a joke.

But his "identity" is indeed a problem.

He thought of the Southern Ming Dynasty in another time and space, and of the endless farces involving "Prince Zhu the Third".

A symbolic signboard can indeed stir up trouble at certain times.

But the Ming Dynasty of today is the Ming Dynasty under Zhu Cilang's rule, with its military might at its peak, its national strength growing daily, and its internal affairs having been reorganized.

Can a mere child from a fallen nation, who has lost all his foundations and is only a few years old, really stir up much trouble?

Placing him in Beijing, right under our noses, under strict surveillance, and completely isolated from the outside world, might be a safer option than killing him and letting the rumor that "Fulin is not dead" secretly circulate in the grasslands and the Changbai Mountains.

Moreover, keeping him alive, to some extent, is also a "demonstration" to Liaodong, the Mongol tribes, and even some forces in Korea that still have doubts—look, our Great Ming Dynasty is also extremely benevolent and righteous towards those who surrender and the former imperial family.

Having made up his mind, Zhu Cilang raised his hand and gently pressed it down.

The hall fell silent immediately, and everyone looked at him.

“What you all say makes sense.”

Zhu Cilang spoke slowly, his voice calm yet resolute.

"However, our Great Ming is a land of propriety, and the emperor governs the world with benevolence and filial piety. Although Fulin is the descendant of a false emperor, he is young and has already been captured. Killing him would be a simple matter, but it is probably not the act of a benevolent ruler, and it would also give others something to say."

He paused, then continued:

"I hereby convey my decree to Zheng Zhilong: Secretly escort Fulin and Borjigit ashore and hand them over to the land forces. Cao Wenzhao's troops will dispatch elite soldiers to guard them closely along the way. They should depart immediately and be sent to Seoul first. After returning to the capital, they should be settled in a secluded courtyard outside the city, provided with their living expenses, and ordered to study and understand principles. They should be strictly prohibited from communicating with the outside world."

All matters concerning their guarding will be jointly handled by the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Brave Guard Battalion. They were told that if they behaved themselves, they would be guaranteed a comfortable life and could live out their days in peace; any sign of disobedience would be met with the ruthless force of the law!

His gaze swept over the crowd, finally settling on the faces of Zu Dashou and other generals:
"As for the other princes of the Jurchens, none of them have been found alive or dead, so they will be judged by their merits in battle. Zheng Zhilong's troops will search for three days, and regardless of whether there are any results, they can return to their voyage and join forces with the land forces to prepare for the follow-up matters."

"As for North Korea..."

Zhu Cilang turned his gaze back to the huge map on the wall, a sharp glint in his eyes.

"The Jurchens have been defeated and the internal troubles have been temporarily quelled. Next, we should think about how to completely control Korea."

"I will obey your orders!"

All those below the hall, regardless of their previous opinions, bowed solemnly and accepted the order.

This set the tone for a debate about the fate of the former dynasty's false emperor.

With the complete annihilation of the Jurchens, the Ming Dynasty's comprehensive assimilation and transformation of Korea was about to enter a deeper and more comprehensive phase.

Zhu Cilang then immediately wrote down an order for Zheng Zhilong in his own hand, using the Crown Prince's seal, and handed it to a messenger, ordering him to send it back as quickly as possible.

He knew that Zheng Zhilong must still be at sea, watching over the mother and child. The scene shifts to Liaodong.

Spring comes late and goes late in Liaodong.

While the interior of China is already lush and green, and the summer heat is gradually rising, the Liaodong region finally breaks free from the last vestiges of the chilly spring and fully displays its vibrant vitality.

The sunlight became generous and warm, and a gentle southerly breeze swept across the mountains and fields, bringing the fresh scent of sprouting plants.

If the original historical trajectory had been followed, Liaodong at this time would have been a completely different scene.

Years of war have left the land barren, villages dilapidated, and sparsely populated. Those who have survived either huddle in ruined fortified villages, barely clinging to life, or struggle to survive in the mountains and wilderness, their faces pale and their eyes filled with fear and numbness.

The Jurchens' exorbitant taxes and levies year after year had already squeezed this fertile land between the Changbai Mountains and the Heilongjiang River to the brink of collapse.

However, the Liaodong region that was now in front of him was quite different from the tragic scene he had imagined.

The Liaohe Plain, on the vast black soil.

What you see is no longer an endless expanse of unsettling weeds and ruins.

Vast tracts of land have been reclaimed, the black soil gleaming with an oily sheen under the sunlight. The ridges are neat, and the ditches are crisscrossed. Although many field ridges and edges still bear the scorch marks or scattered rubble left by last year's war, the orderly vitality of agrarian civilization has stubbornly regained its dominance.

The most eye-catching sights are the rows and rows of crops in the fields that have just broken through the soil and are stretching out their tender green or light purple leaves.

Unlike traditional wheat and sorghum, these plants are relatively short, but they grow exceptionally vigorously, densely covering the fields. In fertile fields with relatively abundant water and more level land, the planting area of ​​this crop is particularly vast, almost forming a green ocean.

Those are potatoes, and sweet potatoes too.

Last autumn and winter, just as the Ming army's victory in the recapture of Liaodong had come to an end, a "seed project" concerning the future fate of Liaodong and even the stability of the entire empire's northern border was launched in full swing, under the personal planning of Zhu Cilang and the full support of Emperor Chongzhen.

Countless potato seed tubers and sweet potato vines were continuously transported from Shandong, Dengzhou, Laizhou, and even Fujian and Guangdong to various prefectures and counties in Liaodong via both sea and land routes.

The promotion process was not smooth sailing.

For the vast majority of Liaodong farmers who have cultivated millet, wheat, and sorghum for generations, these two strangely shaped "lumps" and "vines" from overseas are completely unfamiliar.

Even if the government made all sorts of promises, such as "yielding thousands of catties per mu", "resistant to cold and drought", and "an excellent product for famine relief", many people were still skeptical and even resistant – what if it didn't work and delayed a season's harvest, which would mean starvation!

At the critical moment, Emperor Chongzhen stepped forward.

Instead of issuing decrees from the inner palace, he traveled lightly and simply, under the protection of generals such as Zhou Yuji, to visit the "imperial estates" in various parts of Liaodong. These estates were the lands of the Jurchen nobles that had been confiscated and were being reformed, and did not involve ordinary people.

In the fields, this supreme ruler would personally pick up a potato covered in mud or a section of sweet potato vine, and patiently explain to the surrounding people, who were both awe-inspiring and curious, in official language with a slight Hejian accent:

"Fellow villagers, do not underestimate these clods of earth and these vines. They are a gift from heaven, an auspicious sign from overseas. They have been tested in Fujian, Guangdong and other places for many years and are indeed a treasure for high and stable yield! With careful care, an acre of land can yield two or three thousand catties, which is not an exaggeration!"

I know that Liaodong is bitterly cold, with a short growing season. Other crops only yield one harvest a year and are frequently affected by frost. But these potatoes and sweet potatoes are perfectly suited to the short days and poor soil, and the time from planting to harvest is short—perfect for the climate and soil of Liaodong! As long as they are grown well, I dare not say we'll have white flour every day, but there will be absolutely no problem feeding the whole family and getting through the winter!

The emperor's words were simple, yet carried an indescribable weight.

Finally, Emperor Chongzhen also guaranteed that if the yield of potatoes and sweet potatoes was less than 2,000 catties, the imperial court would subsidize the rest.

"In all newly recovered areas of Liaodong, those who cultivate potatoes and sweet potatoes will be exempt from land tax and poll tax for five years!"

Upon hearing this, the people no longer hesitated.

"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

The crowd erupted in thunderous cheers. The emperor's personal guarantee acted as the most effective stimulant and reassurance, instantly shattering all doubts and hesitations.

What could be more touching for these people who have struggled for decades in war and oppression than having enough to eat and not having to pay taxes?
Thus, from the end of last winter to the beginning of this spring, an unprecedented "potato and sweet potato movement" swept across the entire Liaodong region like a wildfire.

The government-established "Agricultural Promotion Offices" were overflowing with people coming to receive seed potatoes and seedlings, and to learn techniques for ridging, seedling cultivation, planting, and fertilization.

Many families have cleared out land in front of and behind their houses, as well as in the corners of wasteland, and planted several rows of trees.

Those with better conditions would even take out half or even all of their best irrigated land to cultivate.

Although this is the first year of large-scale promotion and the planting time was a little late, everyone felt much more at ease looking at the vibrant green fields.

According to the estimates of the experienced farmers from the south at the "Farmers' Association," as long as the weather is favorable and field management is in place, the harvest can be expected around August or September.

Although Liaodong could only barely grow one crop a year due to the climate impact of the "Little Ice Age," the presence of potatoes and sweet potatoes, two high-yield crops that are relatively undemanding in terms of soil and not afraid of the cold, meant that even a single harvest was enough for most families to have enough food to eat or even a slight surplus after paying almost non-existent taxes.

To live, to live with hope—this once incredibly extravagant wish is now taking root and sprouting along with these unassuming seedlings in the black soil, illuminating the eyes of countless people in Liaodong.

In addition, if you walk around the towns and villages of Liaodong and observe carefully, you will find another interesting change - the hairstyles of many people look somewhat "incongruous".

During the decades of Jurchen rule in Liaodong, the "shaving of heads and changing of clothes" policy was implemented, forcing Han Chinese men to shave most of their hair off, leaving only a small tuft about the thickness of a little finger at the back of their heads, which was then braided and hung down behind their heads, known as the "money rat tail".

That hairstyle carried a strong imprint of conquest and humiliation.

After the Ming army recovered the city, although the court did not immediately issue a mandatory "hair-shaving order", almost all Han Chinese people cut off their braids, which symbolized enslavement, without hesitation, using the fastest scissors they could find!
Many people couldn't even wait for their hair to grow long enough to tie up in a bun before hastily shaving it into a style similar to a "crew cut" or "buzz cut," just to erase the shameful mark as quickly as possible.

As a result, in the streets and fields, one could see men with uneven short hair who looked somewhat comical, but whose eyes were full of relief and ease.

More noteworthy is that not only the Han people, but also many people of various ethnic groups who had submitted to the Jurchen rule, including Jurchens, Mongols, and Han Bannermen, had quietly undergone changes.

Initially, most of them still maintained the "money-tail" hairstyle, only changing the clothing that represented their Manchu identity to ordinary Han Chinese clothes.

But they soon discovered that walking outside with such a braid was quite inconvenient, and even... dangerous.

When they tried to enter the city to buy or sell goods, the guards at the city gates would always stop them and interrogate them with great care, their eyes filled with scrutiny, as if the hair behind their heads was not a symbol of rebellion.

When you go to a shop to buy something, the shopkeeper's price is always 20-30% higher than what he charges Han Chinese customers, and his tone is also cold and distant.

Walking through the streets and alleys, one can always feel the hostile or wary gazes cast upon them. Even children playing will often keep their distance or point and whisper when they see them.

An invisible pressure, like a fine, dense net, descends upon every aspect of life. (End of Chapter)