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

"Whoosh—!!"

The office erupted in chaos! Although the cabinet ministers were somewhat prepared, they were still overwhelmed by the sheer euphoria of hearing the undeniable victory of "annihilation" and "capture of the false emperor." They grabbed each other's arms, their excitement leaving them speechless.

"And there's more! There's something even more important!"

Xue Guoguan's voice rose again, drowning out all the noise. His smile was almost overflowing, and every word was filled with trembling joy.

"Korea! King Injo of Joseon, grateful for the restoration of the Celestial Empire and awestruck by the might of His Majesty and the Crown Prince, has submitted a petition to surrender, wishing to submit the entire nation to the Ming Dynasty and become its eternal subjects! From this day forward, the three thousand miles of land, eight provinces and prefectures, and millions of people of Joseon will all be under the control of our Great Ming! His Majesty has granted his request and will soon issue a formal edict to establish prefectures and counties in Joseon and implement the rule of the Ming Dynasty!!"

"boom--!"

If the previous news was a thunderclap, then this last paragraph was a raging thunderbolt from the heavens, striking directly at the crown of every cabinet minister!

Thorough, clean, and decisive—they conquered Korea! Territorial expansion! True territorial expansion! Since the Yongle reign, when has the Ming Dynasty ever achieved such a truly remarkable military feat, expanding its territory by thousands of miles and conquering a country to establish prefectures?!
A moment of deathly silence fell over the duty room, followed by an even louder cheer that seemed to burst through the roof!

"Heaven has eyes! Our ancestors have blessed us! This is an unparalleled achievement! An unparalleled achievement indeed!"

"Your Majesty is wise! The Crown Prince is mighty! The revival of our Great Ming Dynasty is in sight! A golden age is on the horizon!"

"Quickly! Report to His Highness Prince Ding! No! We will go ourselves! Go to the Wuying Hall immediately!"

Xue Guoguan clutched the seemingly light yet incredibly heavy report of victory tightly, tears glistening in his old eyes.

They won! Won so decisively! Won so gloriously! During his tenure as Grand Secretary, with his assistance, the Emperor and Crown Prince accomplished such a monumental feat! They expanded their territory to Korea and annihilated the Jurchens! This was not merely a military victory, but a tremendous political success! Enough to be recorded in history and shine through the ages!

His name, Xue Guoguan, will surely be engraved in history as one of the "Supporting Advisors of the Restoration"! When he retires in the future, a posthumous title of "Wenzheng" will probably not be a pipe dream!
At this point in life, what does the husband want?
"Go! Go immediately to see His Highness Prince Ding and report the good news!"

Xue Guoguan waved his hand sharply, his voice resolute.

He carefully rolled up the report of victory again, as if holding a priceless treasure, and strode out of the duty room first.

The others, unable to contain their excitement, quickly straightened their clothes and followed closely behind.

A group of the empire's highest civil officials, whose average age was over fifty, walked briskly with rosy cheeks, as if they had become twenty years younger.

Wuying Hall, a side hall.

Prince Ding, Zhu Cijiong, had just finished processing a batch of routine reports regarding the collection of summer taxes in Shuntian Prefecture. He was leaning back in his chair, looking somewhat tired, and closing his eyes to rest.

An ice basin was placed inside the hall, its coolness dispelling the summer heat, but his brows still carried a faint weariness that seemed out of place for his age, and a lingering solemnity.

Regent—it sounds like a position of great power and prestige.

Only when he actually sat in this position, faced with mountains of memorials every day, handled countless government affairs, balanced the complex interests of all parties, and had to be careful at all times to avoid any words or actions that might arouse suspicion, did he truly realize how heavy this "burden" really was.

However, Zhu Cijiong was self-aware. He only wanted to be a dutiful prince who "guarded the house" and enjoy wealth and leisure under his elder brother's protection. He was unwilling and dared not step into the center of the vortex of power.

However, things rarely go as planned.

His father and elder brother had been gone for many years, temporarily entrusting this vast empire to him. Although he had the assistance of important ministers, many things still required his final decision.

This power, though seemingly tempting, was actually like adding fuel to a fire, making him feel extremely uneasy.

He longed for the war in Liaodong to end soon, and for his father and brother to return in triumph. He longed to be relieved of this heavy burden and return to being the carefree prince who only needed to study and practice archery, without having to worry about the affairs of the world.

"Ugh……"

A barely audible sigh escaped from the young Prince Ding's mouth.

He rubbed his temples, preparing to get up and stretch his limbs, when he heard unusually hurried, even somewhat panicked footsteps and suppressed, excited conversation coming from outside the hall.

"Your Highness Prince Ding! Your Highness Prince Ding! Great joy! This is an extraordinary event for Your Highness!"

Xue Guoguan's loud yet trembling voice carried through the palace doors, completely devoid of his usual composure and maturity.

Zhu Cijiong's heart skipped a beat, and he sat up abruptly. Could it be that something had changed in the Liaodong war? He subconsciously gripped the armrest, his heart pounding faster than usual.

The palace doors were pushed open, and Xue Guoguan, along with several other senior cabinet ministers including Xu Fuguan, practically barged in. Their faces were flushed with almost manic joy, and their eyes shone brightly. They didn't even care about the court etiquette they usually paid the most attention to.

"Mr. Xue, esteemed elders, what is the matter that has caused such a panic?"

Zhu Cijiong stood up and asked, trying to remain calm, but his voice was slightly tense.

"Your Highness! Great news! A tremendous victory!"

Xue Guoguan strode forward, disregarding proper etiquette, and presented the urgent document, still stained with sweat, with both hands. His voice was hoarse with excitement, but every word struck Zhu Cijiong's heart like a hammer blow.

"Liaodong and Korea, urgent dispatch! His Majesty and His Highness the Crown Prince have led the royal army to a great victory in Korea. The main force of the Jurchens has been annihilated. The young Qing emperor Fulin, along with his mother and a host of other false princes and ministers, have all been captured alive! The Qing dynasty is dead! Liaodong is completely pacified!"

"what?!"

Zhu Cijiong's eyes widened suddenly. He grabbed the report of victory and began to scan it rapidly. His breathing became heavy, his knuckles turned white from the force of his grip on the document, and an excited blush quickly rose on his face.

Before he could even process this earth-shattering news, Xue Guoguan's voice rang out again, like another thunderclap:
"Not only that! King Injo of Joseon, overwhelmed by the might of the Emperor and filled with gratitude, has taken the initiative to submit a petition, wishing to bring the entire country under the sway of the Great Ming and become its eternal subjects! His Majesty has granted his request and will soon issue an edict to establish prefectures and counties in the former Joseon territory, bringing them under the direct rule of our Great Ming!"

"Your Highness, this is an unparalleled feat of territorial expansion, a glorious achievement etched in history! Since the founding of our Great Ming Dynasty, and even before the prosperous Song and Tang Dynasties, when has there ever been such a magnificent military achievement?! The accomplishments of Your Majesty and the Crown Prince are comparable to those of Qin Shi Huang and Emperor Wu of Han, shining brightly for millennia!"

"Capture the false emperor alive? The entire nation of Korea submits?"

Zhu Cijiong murmured repeatedly, his expression shifting from shock to ecstasy, and then to a sense of pride and excitement.

He suddenly raised his head, his eyes already glistening with tears—tears of pride for his father and brothers' achievements, and tears of joy for the prosperity of the Ming Dynasty.

"Good! Good! Good!" He said "good" three times, his voice choked with emotion.

"Father is a divine and mighty warrior! Elder brother is a brilliant military strategist! They have conquered vast territories for our Great Ming, relieved the border troubles of the past century, and expanded our territory by thousands of miles! Such achievements are beyond the reach of our ancestors and are a blessing to the people and a fortune to the nation!"

He clutched the victory report tightly, as if he could see his father and brothers commanding with composure and banners waving on the distant Korean battlefield through the words. His heart was filled with surging pride and excitement.

After the initial excitement, Zhu Cijiong immediately thought of the most practical question and asked eagerly:
"Mr. Xue, did the victory report mention when Father and Brother will return to the capital in triumph? They have been away from the capital for more than a year and three months. Now that Liaodong has been pacified and Korea has been settled, their return must be imminent, right?"

His tone was filled with undisguised anticipation. He didn't want to shoulder the burden of regent for even a day longer.

Xue Guoguan stepped forward, cupped his hands in greeting, and replied:

"Your Highness, although the report of victory did not specify the exact date of Your Majesty and the Crown Prince's return, we surmise that it will not be too soon."

"Oh? Why?"

Zhu Cijiong's heart tightened.

"Your Highness is wise."

Xue Guoguan analyzed the situation clearly and logically.

"Korea has just annexed the country, and everything is in need of rebuilding. Although the king has surrendered, the situation within the country is complex, and the people's hearts are not yet settled. Various places need to be appeased, suppressed, and reorganized. Your Majesty and His Highness the Crown Prince will surely be in charge for a period of time to stabilize the overall situation, implement new policies, establish prefectures and counties, settle officials, and take stock of households and land. This is by no means an achievement that can be accomplished overnight. This is the first point."

Secondly.

He continued.

"Although the pseudo-Qing dynasty has been destroyed, its remaining scattered tribes are still scattered in the mountains and grasslands, and it will take time to wipe them out to prevent them from rising again. Liaodong has been plagued by war for many years, and the people's livelihood has been devastated. It also needs to be vigorously pacified and production restored. These post-war matters are numerous and complex, and all of them need to be coordinated by Your Majesty and His Highness the Crown Prince."

"Therefore, in my humble opinion..."

Xue Guoguan concluded.

"Even if everything goes smoothly, His Majesty and His Highness the Crown Prince will not be able to set off for the capital until late autumn or even early winter at the earliest. Moreover, the journey back is long and the imperial procession is very large. It is feared that they will not arrive in the capital until the end of the year or even the beginning of next spring."

As Zhu Cijiong listened, the fervent light in his eyes gradually dimmed, replaced by a hint of undisguised disappointment and helplessness.

It would be another six months or so... He would have to continue carrying the burden of regent. He smiled bitterly to himself, but dared not show it on his face. Instead, he nodded, putting on an expression of "deep understanding and righteousness."

"Mr. Xue is quite right. I was too impatient. My father and elder brother are at the front expanding the territory of the Ming Dynasty with all their might, while I am at the rear overseeing the country and maintaining stability in the court. This is my duty, and I dare not neglect my public duties for personal reasons. I hope that my father and elder brother will return to the capital as soon as possible to relieve themselves of their heavy responsibilities."

He took a deep breath, gently placed the report of victory on the imperial desk, straightened his back, and his face regained the composure and responsibility befitting a prince regent. He solemnly addressed the cabinet ministers:

"In that case, we must devote ourselves wholeheartedly to all matters at home and not slacken in the slightest, so that Father and Brother will have no worries about the rear. The newly pacified territories of Liaodong and Korea must prioritize the procurement of all necessary supplies such as money, grain, weapons, officials, cloth, and medicine, and allocate them in a timely manner without any mistakes! This is the most important task at present!"

"also."

He thought for a moment and added:
"The war is over. After the war, we will reward those who have made contributions, provide relief to the wounded and injured soldiers, settle the livelihoods of the people in Liaodong and Korea, and demonstrate the benevolence of the court. There are many things to do, and we need to plan ahead and make contingency plans in advance. I hope that you gentlemen will put in a lot of effort to draft a detailed proposal to ensure that it is thorough and appropriate."

Seeing that Prince Ding, though young, was clear-headed and able to quickly calm down from his euphoria and arrange practical matters, Xue Guoguan and the others nodded in approval and bowed in unison, replying:
"Your Highness, rest assured! We will do our utmost to handle this matter properly and will never dare to fail the trust placed in us by His Majesty and His Highness the Crown Prince!"

"Thank you for your trouble, gentlemen."

Zhu Cijiong nodded slightly, a tired but sincere smile on his face.

After discussing several important political details related to the front lines, Xue Guoguan and his entourage bowed and took their leave. Holding the weighty report of victory, they left the Wuying Hall with the same weighty joy and sense of responsibility.

Stepping out of the palace gates, the afternoon sun was still blazing, but the elders felt refreshed, as if the sunlight itself carried the golden glow of victory. They looked at each other, and in each other's eyes, they saw an irrepressible excitement and pride.

"Expanding the territory to Korea, destroying the Jurchens... Such achievements have never been heard of since the Yongle reign!"

Zhang Zhifa stroked his beard, filled with emotion.

"Indeed, His Majesty and the Crown Prince are truly unparalleled rulers! The revival of the Ming Dynasty is just around the corner!"

Hong Chengchou replied, his eyes full of anticipation.

Xue Guoguan walked at the front, listening to his colleagues' discussions, his heart filled with pride.

But as the Grand Secretary, he considered things more deeply and further ahead.

After the initial excitement came a heavy responsibility. He stopped, turned to face the crowd, and his expression turned serious again:
"Gentlemen, I am happy as I am. However, it is easy to expand territory but difficult to maintain it; it is easy to defeat the enemy but difficult to pacify the people. Korea is newly annexed, like a blank sheet of paper or a piece of uncut jade. How to govern it, how to truly integrate it into our Great Ming, so that it becomes a bulwark rather than a burden, an aid rather than a drag, the knowledge involved is no less than that of fighting on the battlefield."

His gaze swept over the crowd:
"Next, the Ministry of Revenue should coordinate funds and grain to ensure a continuous supply; the Ministry of Personnel should select and train capable officials to serve in Korea as soon as possible; the Ministry of War should plan the long-term garrison and the establishment of guard posts in Korea; the Ministry of Rites should formulate the ceremony of submission and the regulations for education; the Ministry of Works should plan the repair of roads, post stations and ports... There are countless tasks, each of which is related to the overall situation and whether this hard-won victory can be truly digested and transformed into the eternal territory of our Great Ming."

He took a deep breath and said in a low voice:

"His Majesty and His Highness the Crown Prince have conquered vast territories. The heavy responsibility of governing the country and consolidating the gains now rests on our shoulders. I urge you all to be fully focused, work together with one heart, and not make any mistakes at this final juncture, so as not to betray the blood and sweat of the soldiers at the front and the trust of His Majesty and His Highness!"

These words, like a cool spring, quickly calmed the several Grand Secretaries who were immersed in excitement.

Yes, the war is over, but there are even more problems to deal with.

Destroying a country is easy, but truly turning a country into your own province requires ten or even a hundred times more effort.

Hong Chengchou was the first to cup his hands in greeting and solemnly said:
"What the Prime Minister says is absolutely right. Expanding our territory is a great achievement for our time; governing and pacifying will benefit future generations. We must diligently fulfill our duties, do our utmost to ensure the needs of the front lines, and plan for the post-war period, so that the newly acquired territory of our Great Ming Dynasty will be as solid as a rock and the people will be at peace!"

"I will heed your teachings, Your Excellency!"

The others also responded solemnly. (End of Chapter)