You have truly caused me great suffering!

On the training ground, Chen Shaolong was overjoyed; the test shot gave him hope.

In this world, once you can create something, you don't have to worry about making improvements later.

The real fear is that it might not be possible to actually do it.

Just like cannons, when they were first made, they were large catapults that launched iron balls.

The effect was similar to that of a regular catapult, but it had to be made with precious copper.

That was copper! At that time, the most popular coins were made of copper, which meant they were essentially made from copper.

But now, artillery has become a powerful weapon for the Jing army.

To be honest, the result this time exceeded Chen Shao's expectations.

"Make five hundred of them first, of the same quality. Calculate how much funding is needed and submit a report to the emperor."

Everyone present from the engineering department felt a slight pressure.

This thing isn't that easy to make.

But if you have enough money, it's not impossible to give it a try.

It would be best to get all the processes and molds ready as soon as possible, so that only assembly remains, which would be much simpler.

Seemingly noticing the change in everyone's expressions, Chen Shao added, "I'll give you three months."

With that, there was basically no pressure left, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Chen Shao was indeed not in a hurry. At this time, the imperial court was different from the Song Dynasty; there was no enemy that they urgently needed to defeat but could not.

Chen Shao only wanted to establish this direction and then develop along this path from then on.

If a real battle breaks out, the Great Jing's archers, crossbows, armored cavalry, naval warships, and offensive and defensive cannons are already invincible.

When Chen Shao was in a good mood, he would reward everyone, and everyone, regardless of who was in front of the emperor, would have a chance to share a cup.

This time was no exception. Although Chen Shao's caravan had relinquished its monopoly on trade in the Northwest, it made even more money in the Southern Wilderness than before.

After allocating 100,000 taels of silver, the people from the Ministry of Agriculture followed the imperial carriage and found this place.

Xu Yan took a few golden fruits and stepped forward to ask for a reward.

"Your Majesty, the lemon seedlings have been successfully cultivated, and a bountiful harvest has been achieved on Guangnan Road."

Chen Shao nodded and said, "This is also a great achievement."

At this time, lemons are called "Li Meng". They have been around in Guangxi for a long time, but are not common.

When Su Shi was demoted to Lingnan, he discovered this thing and developed its uses.

Pan-fried sea bass with lemon was included in his personally written "Dongpo's Menu".

It can remove fishy smells and enhance flavor.

Chen Shao wanted to use it for its efficacy in treating scurvy.

However, the voyage was delayed due to the war in the Southern Wilderness.

But it's never wrong to be prepared in advance.

Chen Shao couldn't help but laugh when he thought about how tough the case of Jianyili was.

As for when it will be finished, that depends on how quickly the frontline takes over.

To be honest, it's not easy to survey land, explore mines, build cities and ports, and relocate people.

Fortunately, the southeastern coast and various naval forces have boundless energy and willingness.

Chen Shao then bestowed rewards upon the people of the Ministry of Agriculture again, and instructed Xu Yan to ensure that the rewards were distributed.

After touring the engineering institute, Chen Shao confirmed that there was no major progress on other matters, and then set off to return to the palace.

Although it was late autumn, the scenery inside and outside the imperial city was particularly beautiful.

Chrysanthemums bloom along the paved paths of the Imperial Garden, creating a beautiful tapestry of blossoms.

Unidentified white camellias are fading, yet they flutter in the air, adorning the ground with a dazzling array of colors.

And there are flowering trees brought back from countries thousands of miles away, proudly blooming on their branches.

Bright green, snow white, and peach pink—all colors are vibrant. Elegant red walls and yellow tiles, carved windows and ornate beams are subtly interspersed among them, creating a colorful and splendid atmosphere.

In the tranquil garden, a west wind blows, and the air is filled with the cool, subtle fragrance of a hundred flowers.

Chen Shaodu couldn't help but stop and admire it.

Holding onto the bridge railing, I saw that the pool below was exquisitely constructed, probably renovated by the Imperial Workshop when I moved to the Summer Palace.

Beside the pond, there is a rockery with unusual shapes, forming a raised pool. Every two or three days after a rain, the water that has accumulated above the rockery will flow into the pool, and the "tinkling" sound of the water is like beautiful music.

Not far away, there is a dam from which the water in the pool flows out, along a cobblestone stream, and into the underground canal system beneath the imperial city.

The petals that had fallen onto the water's surface moved with the direction of the green water, making everything seem to come alive.

This beautiful, antique scenery kept flashing through Chen Shao's mind, along with the scene of muskets firing simultaneously.

The scents of flowers and the smell of gunpowder both pleased him.

Chen Shao knew that although the smoke from the muskets was unpleasant to smell, it could preserve the beautiful scenery of the garden.

Da Jing may have its flaws and shortcomings, but he wants Da Jing to preserve the splendor of the clothing and the civilization of the etiquette on this land.
-
After the small court assembly in October, Chen Shao gathered several trusted confidants in the Funing Hall to discuss matters.

The southern wilderness has entered the cool season, which is also the most suitable time for war.

Construction on the islands is also in full swing.

This matter cannot be ignored; the imperial court must grant them official recognition.

If the name is not correct, then the words will not be proper. Under what name should those islands in the southern wilderness be given as a reward? After the people settle down, how should their household registration and land ownership be recorded? These are all problems.

When it comes to this kind of territorial expansion, everyone is very enthusiastic and the discussion is very lively.

A spoils-sharing meeting is always more comfortable than a pot-digging meeting.

“The southern wilderness is vast, and the islands are separated by the sea, so it would be inconvenient to manage with just one route,” Yuwen Xuzhong said. “It would be better to set up several routes.”

Chen Shao shook his head, and Liu Jizu said, "The main trading ships of the Southern Wilderness are separated by sea, but they can still communicate with each other by ship. The area is already scattered, and if it is further divided into several routes, it will be detrimental to internal trade."

Separating them makes them harder to manage, a point Chen Shao acknowledged.

There was a unified road-level government office, which made it convenient for Chen Shao to dispatch high-ranking officials to develop these areas as quickly as possible.

No matter when, to accomplish great things, power must be centralized, not dispersed.

Otherwise, conflicting policies will waste human and material resources.

Cai Xing had been to Southeast Asia, so he was more qualified to speak on the matter. After Chen Shao looked at him, Cai Xing understood immediately and said, "What Minister Liu said is correct. Although the islands are separated by sea, it is easier to travel by boat than by official road."

As long as there is a demand for navigation, the shipbuilding industry will continue to advance.

The seas off the southern wilderness are already quite prosperous, with fishing, transport, and trading ships coming and going in an endless stream.

If they are given legal status, this place will develop rapidly in the future.

The world is bustling, all come for the benefit, and the world is bustling, all go for the benefit.

As long as there are benefits, even the most barren land can become a mini-Nanjing.

Even the most prosperous cities like Bianliang (Kaifeng) will decline once the benefits are gone.

In the fifth year of Jianwu, in October, the Emperor of the Great Jing Dynasty issued an edict to build the Tiannan Circuit, which included Taiwan Prefecture, Luzon Prefecture (Philippines), and Zhennan Prefecture (Java).

The Jinghai Patrol Office was established to command the navy, suppress pirates, and escort merchant ships.

The Maritime Trade Commissioner's Office was established to manage overseas trade, collect customs duties, and inspect foreign goods.

It established a pearl and salt mining and metallurgical supervision bureau, which was in charge of pearls, sea salt, gold mines, copper mines, and spices.

The entire territory of Zhenla was divided in two, assigned to Annam Circuit and Yunnan Circuit.

Between Yunnan and Vietnam, there were also a number of small tribes and forces such as Bagan (Myanmar), Jinchi, Baiyi, Chuankuang, and Penman, all of which were designated as Zhenla territory and divided up.

Over the years, due to the unique terrain, numerous small kingdoms have sprung up here like stars in the sky, and tribes have intertwined like vines.

They served as buffers, pathways, or were associated with Dali one day and Jiaozhi the next.
Caught between three great powers, it has survived for a millennium through flexible diplomacy and a resilient culture.

But the good days are over; the local administration is to be replaced by the central government, and the territory will be incorporated into the Great Jing territory.

However, the Great Jing does not allow its control; it is only permitted near the Arctic Circle, where strict regulations have been established and monuments have been erected within its territory.

Once this edict was issued, the goal for the upcoming sixth year of Jianwu was immediately apparent.

As a result, a large number of officials were promoted, and nearly three thousand more official positions were created.

The court was filled with joy.

These official positions are not empty titles. Don't be fooled by their remote location on the southeast coast; there are plenty of people and clans willing to go there.

Anyone with even a slight understanding of maritime trade knows the future potential of this place. Going to this land to serve as an official and reclaim wasteland for the sake of the clan's future is a very farsighted act.

Although the war in the Southern Wilderness is not over yet, the core territory of the 'epic power' Jianyi has not been touched at all.

However, the Great Jing Dynasty had already begun granting official positions and granting fiefdoms to its people.

The entire Jing army was invigorated. Everyone saw a bright future, a seemingly endless war, and countless lands, official positions, and titles waiting to be bestowed upon them.

Now all you have to do is roll up your sleeves and get to work.

Anyway, the other side can't beat me.

Compared to the ten-year bloody war of Dingnan, the titles and official positions obtained in this war were indeed smaller, but the difficulty was also reduced.

In the past, you really had to risk your life to fight the Jurchens, but now there are no opponents worth risking your life for.

Chen Shao has recently been selecting suitable officials to take up their posts in the Southern Wilderness.

Just hearing the name 'Southern Wilderness' is enough to deter many people.

There was no other way; the capital was now located in the prosperous Jiangnan region, and no one wanted to leave.

Left with no other choice, they had to select people from the local area. With this open-ended approach and lowered standards, a steady stream of people volunteered to apply.

In other prefectures and counties of the Great Jing Dynasty, it is not easy to achieve results, and one doesn't know when it will be one's turn to be promoted.

If you want to get promoted quickly, you have to go to places that receive special attention from the imperial court but have harsh conditions.

Whether it was Dali or Annam, those who went to reclaim the land in the early stages were all rewarded.

Now the opportunity has come again.

The name of Nanhuang was changed to Tiannan Road, which means that it is south of the ends of the earth. Although it sounds farther away, it is better than Nanhuang.

At least the name isn't scary.

Ship after ship carried countless young people from the Central Plains who harbored ideals or longed to make achievements, get promoted, and make a fortune, heading towards the boundless sea.

On the sea, there are desolate lands waiting for them to develop.

At that time, they did not realize how significant this matter was.

This was a momentous event that rewrote the history of Central Plains civilization, but everyone still considered it a chore.

With rolling waves and surging tides, the flame of civilization from the Central Plains finally reached countless islands in the Southern Wilderness.
-
The results of this year's autumn harvest have finally been fully tallied.

After last year's downturn, this year has unexpectedly been a bumper year.

Chen Shao couldn't help but sigh, "Just keep your head down and get to work. Whether it's a bountiful harvest or a disaster, it's up to God."
In the fifth year of Jianwu, the annual revenue of rice and wheat was 6000 million shi (a unit of dry measure). According to the imperial court's tax collection ratio, the people should have kept seven or eight times that amount for themselves.

This is a grand spectacle never before seen.

For ten consecutive days, the Dajing Daily praised this number, and people still couldn't get tired of it. Even Korea, Japan, and the Western Liao Dynasty sent their congratulations.

Food is absolutely essential.

After receiving his report card for this year, Chen Shao was full of pride and felt he could finally go to the hot spring palace to enjoy a life of luxury.

The officials were used to it, and once again they all came to see him off. When the common people heard about it, they also came to bid him farewell.

In addition to the empress and concubines, Chen Shao's children also accompanied him.

A few days ago, Jin Ye'er gave birth to a prince named Chen Qian. The next day, news reached the palace that Mao De was pregnant again.

At this rate, he might surpass Emperor Huizong of Tang (Zhao Ji) in history.

Zhao Ji was good at everything except being an emperor; he fathered more than 80 princes and princesses.

Even after being captured and taken to the freezing cold city of Wuguo, he still fathered six sons and eight daughters.

This number far exceeds that of Li Longji, who ranked second (59 children, 30 sons and 29 daughters).

For Chen Shao, having children was not just about happiness; it was also very important for the stability of Dajing.

One of the inherent weaknesses of the Great Jing Dynasty is that its clan is too weak.
If you don't have more children, what if they are eaten up and left without offspring?
Moreover, among the emperors, although Zhao Ji had the most sons, Liu Sheng, the Prince of Zhongshan (son of Emperor Jing of Han), was even more powerful than Zhao Ji, and it is said that he had more than 120 sons.

In order to catch up with the records of these extraordinary people and win the game again in the future, Chen Shao has been working very hard.

Not long ago, someone wrote to him urging him to recruit more women for the imperial concubine examination, but Chen Shao ignored it.

But if he wants to have more children, he should indeed take in some more women.

It's important to know that historically, those who had many children and were considered blessed with good fortune often had harems that were several times, even dozens of times, larger than their own.

After Chen Shao ascended the throne, he basically did not expand his harem. He kept the same dozen or so women, who kept having children.

Inside the carriage, Chen Shao held Prince Chen Heng, born to Liu Caiwei, in his arms.

The crown prince sat next to him, looking out curiously.

At this moment, the two little princesses grabbed his robes again and said in their childish voices, "Father, hug me."

Chen Shao handed his youngest son to Crown Prince Chen Wang, then picked up the two little princesses, who were finally satisfied.

The imperial family of Chen Shao had a certain warmth and life, and in fact, it might even be more cozy than the homes of ordinary people.

This is the result of his deliberate efforts.

In this era, there are not many men who are willing to put effort into cultivating a good family atmosphere, especially those in high positions of power.

He taught by example, and the one he cared about most was still the Crown Prince.

Chen Shao was far better than previous emperors at raising offspring.

Because he had experienced the trials of later generations and understood many principles, and because yellow men and black women were the most concerned about offspring on this planet, Chen Shao could also be considered a semi-expert in education.

Although Emperor Huizong of Song (Zhao Ji) was prolific, he relentlessly oppressed his crown prince, Zhao Huan, which eventually led to Zhao Huan's mental illness.

When the enemy army was at the city gates, he pushed his son out to take the blame; he was completely inhuman.

No matter how many sons a person has, it's useless. (End of Chapter)