Huangming

Chapter 427 Turning Enemies into Opportunities, the Birth of the Crown Prince (Bonus Chapter for 1200 Monthly Tickets!)
“If we want to stabilize Liaodong, killing is not the way to go.”

Actually, before attacking Hetu Ala, or rather, Pingjincheng, Xiong Tingbi had the idea of ​​annihilating the Jurchen people.

As for how to operate it, it's very simple.

Let's follow the rules of the grasslands.

When Mongolian tribes settled scores with their enemies, they would erect a cartwheel in front of their camp. Any male who was taller than the cartwheel would be killed, while the women and children would be enslaved.

Using the wheel as a boundary, adult Jurchen men were executed, female relatives were distributed to meritorious soldiers, and children were reduced to slaves, thus completely severing the roots of the Jianzhou Jurchen.

At that time, he hated these Jurchen tribes intensely.

They burned, killed, and looted, turning villages in Liaodong into scorched earth and piling up the heads of Han people into mounds of skulls. If we could retaliate against them with the "laws of the grasslands," we could not only appease the hatred of the people of Liaodong, but also solve the problem of future troubles once and for all.

But when the city of Pingjin fell and he held the power of life and death in his hands, he hesitated.

Liaodong is already remote and bitterly cold. If everyone is killed, this land will truly become a desolate wilderness with no one to care for it.

Killing people is easy; more than 10,000 Jurchen tribesmen can be wiped out in half a day. But what happens after they are killed?

This Pingjincheng, this land along the Suzi River, cannot remain empty forever.

Within a hundred miles around, apart from a few scattered Jurchen villages, there wasn't even a proper Han Chinese estate.

If no one guards it, the Korean tribes to the east, the Mongol princes to the north, and the Haixi Jurchens will send troops to occupy it sooner or later.

We may destroy one major Jin dynasty today, but another minor Jin dynasty might emerge tomorrow. This is only a temporary solution.

Zhou Wenhuan nodded and said:

"The strategist is wise. Killing is not enough. After all, it is not easy to relocate people after killing them."

These words struck a chord with Xiong Tingbi.

He also considered immigrating to the border region.

When Qi Jiguang was guarding Jizhou, he recruited refugees to reclaim wasteland, which not only strengthened the border defenses but also solved the problem of food supplies.

Liaodong is not like Jizhou; the climate here is harsh, the frost-free period is short, and the land is barren.

More importantly, decades of war had already devastated the Han Chinese population in Liaodong, leaving nine out of ten households empty.

"The Liaodong mutiny during the Jiajing era, the Imjin War during the Wanli era, plus the Jurchen harassment in recent years..."

Xiong Tingbi counted on his fingers, his voice heavy with emotion.

"The Han people in Liaodong either fled to Shanhaiguan, were captured by the Jurchens and enslaved, or died in war and famine."

Nowadays, even large cities like Liaoyang and Shenyang have populations of only tens of thousands, and half of the shops in the cities are empty. Who would want to move to Pingjin City?

"Not to mention the people of the Central Plains."

Xiong Tingbi shook his head with a wry smile.

People from Jiangnan complain that it's cold here, and people from the Central Plains complain that it's remote. Even if the government provides land and grain, few people are willing to leave their homes and come to this godforsaken place.

We can't exactly kidnap people, can we?
Only exiled people come here, but those are all criminals.

Zhou Wenhuan remained silent.

He knew Xiong Tingbi was right.

The biggest problem in Liaodong has never been the Jurchens, but the "people".

Without a sufficient population, the land cannot be cultivated, the food supplies cannot be replenished, and the border defenses cannot be strengthened. Even if the Jin dynasty is destroyed, this land cannot be held.

Xiong Tingbi sighed and said:
"We can't kill them, and we can't relocate them, so we have to think of other ways."

Seeing Xiong Tingbi's furrowed brows, Zhou Wenhuan immediately stepped forward to offer his advice.

"My lord, in my opinion, it would be better to report this solution to His Majesty and then ask the officials in the court to discuss it."

The civil officials are mostly talented in governing the country; even three cobblers with their limited abilities can outwit Zhuge Liang, so the court will surely be able to devise a comprehensive plan.

This matter is of great importance. If we can leverage the power of the imperial court to share the burden, we can reduce the risks and make the subsequent implementation more logical.

Xiong Tingbi slowly shook his head.

"Wen Huan, you only know the wisdom of the officials in the court, but you have forgotten the hidden dangers of 'armchair strategizing'."

They were far away in the capital, having neither witnessed the devastation of Liaodong nor smelled the bloodshed of the pacification of Jincheng. If they were to formulate policies solely based on the words in their memorials, they might easily detach themselves from reality and only complicate the situation further.

"During the Yongle era, after the court conquered Annam, it forcefully promoted the Han Chinese system and abolished the local hereditary chieftains. What was the result?"

In just over a decade, an anti-Ming wave swept across the entire territory. After twenty years of war, the Ming Dynasty suffered heavy losses and ultimately had no choice but to abandon Annam.

During the Wanli era, after the rebellion of Yang Yinglong was quelled in the Bozhou Campaign, the policy of replacing native chieftains with appointed officials was implemented too hastily. Officials disregarded the people's plight and forcibly measured land, causing deep resentment between the native chieftains and the Hakka people.

Even today, the Bozhou area is still like a powder keg, ready to explode at the slightest mishap.

There was also the Luchuan Campaign during the Zhengtong era. Although the imperial court suppressed the Luchuan chieftain with military force, it failed to fill the governance vacuum in time, leading to continuous turmoil on the southwestern border, requiring annual conscription and the expenditure of countless grain and funds.

Zhou Wenhuan had read about these past events in historical records, and now, reminded by Xiong Tingbi, he suddenly understood. The hope on his face gradually faded, replaced by solemnity.

"Is Your Excellency afraid that... if the court follows the old precedents, it will either be too harsh and cause drastic changes, or too lenient and leave room for trouble?"

"Exactly."

Xiong Tingbi nodded, his tone softening somewhat.

"Liaodong is neither Annam nor Bozhou. The Jurchen tribes here have deep-seated grievances with the Han people, so we must be extremely cautious in dealing with them."

Rather than letting the court make decisions based on imagination, we should first come up with a plan that suits the actual situation in Liaodong, and when we report it to His Majesty, we should attach an analysis of its advantages and disadvantages. Only in this way can we truly stabilize this region.

Zhou Wenhuan's eyes gleamed with anticipation: "Then, my lord, do you already have a good plan in mind?"

Xiong Tingbi smiled calmly and nodded.

"Since we cannot kill them all, nor can we let them go unpunished, we can only deal with them in stages and use both kindness and severity."

Especially for those remnants of the Jurchen Eight Banners, I'm thinking of using a 'three-tiered treatment method'.

By dismantling organizational structures, aligning interests, and differentiating management, we can gradually eliminate their potential threats.

"A three-tiered treatment method?"

Zhou Wenhuan moved closer, a look of curiosity on his face.

"Listen to me."

Xiong Tingbi leaned forward slightly, his voice carrying a hint of smugness.

"These remnants of the Jurchen Eight Banners are the most potentially dangerous of all the surrendered soldiers."

They grew up in the Jurchen tribe for generations, and were deeply influenced by the Eight Banners culture, so they had a natural aversion to the Ming Dynasty.

Furthermore, these people are mostly former core members of the Eight Banners, either confidants of the Jiala Ezhen or veterans of the Bayara. If they are allowed to band together, they will surely become a major threat in the future.

"Therefore, the first step must be to 'cut off its claws and teeth'."

The high-ranking generals of these remnants, such as the former Niru Ejen and Jiala Ejen, who had the blood of Han people on their hands and had committed numerous atrocities in Liaodong, were all executed according to the law.

This not only avenged the anger of the people of Liaodong, but also severed the "backbone" of these remnants, leaving them leaderless.

Zhou Wenhuan nodded: "To cut the weeds, you must pull them out at the root; this step is indeed necessary. And then what?"

"Then came the process of 'extracting the roots and diluting the mixture'."

Xiong Tingbi continued:

“The remaining surrendered soldiers were organized into a ‘border defense team’ of every hundred men, but each team had to include two hundred veteran Ming soldiers.”

I plan to transfer these veterans from the three towns of Xuanfu, Datong, and Yansui. They have guarded the border for many years, are resilient, and have always been wary of the Jurchens. They can both monitor the surrendered soldiers and maintain order in the situation.

"These mixed-up teams will not stay in Liaodong, but will be assigned to the border towns and garrisons in Xuanfu, Datong and Yansui to take on the task of guarding the border and fortresses."

For example, they could guard the beacon towers along the Great Wall, assist border troops in farming, or patrol key border routes.

At the same time, it was strictly forbidden for surrendered soldiers from the same tribe or banner to gather in the same garrison. Even fathers, sons, and brothers had to be assigned separately to completely eliminate any possibility of them sticking together.

Zhou Wenhuan nodded repeatedly, then asked further:
"But what if the surrendered soldiers harbor resentment and secretly conspire to rebel?"

"This is where the second layer comes in. Family members pledge their assets, thus binding their interests together."

A sharp glint flashed in Xiong Tingbi's eyes.

"There are about five thousand family members of these surrendered soldiers. They cannot be allowed to go to the border town with the surrendered soldiers, nor can they stay in Liaodong."

The plan is to relocate them to refugee resettlement areas in Dengzhou and Laizhou, Shandong.

The area already had the potential to accommodate refugees, and there was relatively abundant arable land.

The local officials were instructed to register their households, each allocated ten mu of farmland, and provided with seeds and farming tools, allowing them to live and work in peace and contentment.

He changed the subject, adding a touch of authority to his tone:

"However, there is one condition: surrendered soldiers must serve in border towns for five years without any changes of plans during that time before their families can be moved to the garrison to reunite with them."

If surrendered soldiers dare to rebel or desert, their families will be immediately demoted to military households and forced to serve the border troops for generations.

By using family members as hostages and land as bait, with this combination of pressure and leverage, I don't believe they would dare to make any rash moves.

Zhou Wenhuan clapped his hands in praise: "This plan is brilliant! It not only gives the surrendered soldiers a way out, but also seizes their weakness."

What then is the meaning of the third layer, 'differentiation and control'?

"The third step is to weaken their 'Jurchen identity' and gradually integrate them into the Ming Dynasty."

Xiong Tingbi explained:

"First of all, there was a difference in treatment. The salary of the surrendered soldiers was only 70% of that of the regular soldiers of the Ming army."

Furthermore, they will never be granted military officer titles such as "hundred households" or "banner commanders".

Even if they have made meritorious contributions, they must first undergo a three-year observation period to confirm their loyalty before they can be promoted.

Secondly, there is the assimilation of customs.

They were required to change into Ming army uniforms and were no longer allowed to wear Eight Banners armor or Mongolian robes.

They also had to attend three 'Chinese language classes' each month, where the garrison clerks would teach them to recognize Chinese characters and speak Chinese. If they missed all three classes, their monthly salary would be deducted.

"As time goes by, they will wear Ming Dynasty clothing, speak Chinese, have their families farm in Shandong, and guard the border towns themselves. Their identity as 'Jurchen Eight Banners' will naturally fade away."

In another ten or twenty years, their descendants, born and raised in the Ming Dynasty, will no longer be 'Jurchens,' but rather border troops of the Ming Dynasty.

Zhou Wenhuan stood aside, completely convinced, his eyes filled with admiration:
"Your plan is extremely comprehensive, as it not only solves the immediate problem of surrendered soldiers but also lays the foundation for long-term stability in Liaodong!"
My subordinates were only thinking about 'killing or releasing' before, never imagining that we could 'turn the enemy into a useful force' in this way.

Xiong Tingbi shook his head and said:

"Liaodong has been devastated for too long. Killing can only relieve the hatred temporarily, but it cannot fill the population gap or defend thousands of miles of territory."

Only by combining kindness and severity, and by dividing and weakening the enemy, can this land truly be stabilized.

This is not only for today, but also for the foundation of the Ming Dynasty for centuries to come.

"As for those Han Chinese soldiers who surrendered, they should not be treated the same as the Jurchen soldiers who surrendered. They should be given priority in being appeased and helped to return to the registered households."

"These people were originally subjects of the Ming Dynasty. They were either captured after the city fell or forced to join the rebels due to hunger and cold. They had no sense of belonging to the Jurchens."

They are key to winning the hearts and minds of the people in Liaodong. In dealing with them, we must adhere to the principle of 'forgiving past transgressions and helping them return home,' and we must not alienate the people.

"What you say is absolutely right, but how exactly should it be done?"

"The first step is to pardon them and restore their citizenship."

"Three days later, a 'pacification platform' will be set up outside Pingjin City, where it will be publicly announced:"

All Han Chinese soldiers who surrendered were exempted from punishment as long as they could testify to the misdeeds of their superiors and hand over their weapons.

Those who wished to return to their hometowns were issued a 'travel permit' by the government.

Another 'settlement allowance' will be issued, five taels per person.

In addition, local Ming troops from Liaodong were to be dispatched to escort them, in groups of fifty men, to their ancestral homes in Kaiyuan and Tieling. They were also to assist them in redeeming their families who had been taken away by the Jurchens and in rebuilding their burned-down houses.

We need to let them know that returning to the Ming Dynasty is better than being a slave to the Jurchens.

"And what about those who are willing to join the army?" Zhou Wenhuan pressed, his pen flying across the paper as he jotted down notes.

Those willing to join the army will be organized into a separate 'Liaoning Army New Battalion'.

"Let them garrison these cities originally occupied by the Jurchens."

Firstly, the Liaodong people were familiar with the local mountains and terrain, and could find their way through heavy snow in winter, making them more suitable for defense than soldiers transferred from within the Great Wall. Secondly, since they were all from Liaodong, they had less regional barriers with other Ming soldiers, making conflicts less likely.

However, we should send a trusted Liaodong general to command him, such as Zhu Wanliang. He is a steady and reliable man who can keep the situation under control.

Zhou Wenhuan nodded as he wrote.

"But there is one type of person who must never be forgiven."

Xiong Tingbi's tone suddenly turned menacing.

"Those Han Chinese generals who voluntarily surrendered to the Jin and aided and abetted the tyrant, Tong Yangxing, must not be forgiven!"
These people have forgotten their ancestors and helped the Jurchens slaughter their compatriots. The blood of Han Chinese is on their hands more than that of Jurchen nobles!
They must not only be killed, but severely punished.

They chose the drill ground outside Pingjin City and executed him by slow slicing in front of all the people of Liaodong!
We must show everyone in Liaodong what the consequences of being a traitor are, and see who dares to betray the Ming Dynasty and defect to the enemy!

Zhou Wenhuan was startled upon hearing this and quickly wrote on the paper, "Severely punish the traitors and publicly execute them by slow slicing."

Xiong Tingbi softened his tone and then brought up another important matter:
"And there are the Han people of Hetu Ala, who are the fundamental source of popular support in Liaodong."

They were subjects of the Ming Dynasty, who had been enslaved, had their land seized, and their homes destroyed by the Jurchens over the years. They hated the Jurchens to the bone and were the foundation of the policy of "Liaoning people guarding Liaodong territory".

For them, the core principle is to 'restore their rights and compensate for their losses,' enabling them to rebuild their lives and livelihoods.

"First, we must organize a 'land survey team' to survey the land occupied by the Jiannu princes and nobles, and confiscate it and return it to its original owners."

Those lands that were converted into 'Eight Banner Manors' were redistributed to landless Han Chinese at a rate of '15 mu per person'.

The government was to allocate seeds and farming tools from the granaries of Liaoyang and Shenyang, give each household a hoe and a bag of wheat seeds, and exempt them from taxes for three years.

"Only when they can recuperate, cultivate their land, and improve their lives will they truly submit to the Ming Dynasty."

"Secondly, it's about rebuilding homes."

Xiong Tingbi continued:

“On the post-war ruins of Kaiyuan, Tieling, and Pingjincheng, settlements were rebuilt according to the principle of ‘one hundred households forming a village and one thousand households forming a town’.”

The village set up a "village council" which was presided over by local gentry and scholars among the Han people. They were responsible for mediating neighborhood disputes and teaching everyone about the law.

For example, the "Fighting Law" and "Land and Housing Law" in the "Great Ming Code" were explained to the common people in plain language.

We also need to restore the post roads and markets. Soldiers should be dispatched to repair the post roads, and local merchants should be brought in to lead the markets, allowing Han people to exchange grain and cloth for salt and iron, gradually restoring normal life.

"Finally, each village and town should form a 'village militia' with fifty people per village, selected from young and strong Han Chinese, and equipped with swords, spears, bows and arrows that the Ming army had discarded."

Ming military officers were sent to train them twice a month, teaching them basic formations and combat, and assigning them the responsibility of preventing sneak attacks by remnants of the Jurchen forces and bandits in the mountains.

This not only reduced the defensive pressure on our army, but also gave the Han people a sense of security in terms of 'self-protection,' knowing that the Ming Dynasty could not only help them reclaim their land, but also protect them so they could live in peace and stability, thus naturally strengthening their sense of belonging.

Zhou Wenhuan nodded repeatedly as he listened, his writing speed increasing, and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

These policies are interconnected, offering both reassurance and protection, and are far more comprehensive than his previous "kill or release" approach.

"As for the Jurchen people themselves."

They were the core ethnic group of the Jurchens, with a strong tribal identity, but most of them were also victims of war.

They were forced into war by the nobles, and they couldn't even get enough to eat.

We cannot simply suppress them; we must "disperse the tribes, encourage them to engage in agriculture and Sinicize, and gradually integrate them." We must proceed slowly and patiently.

"The first step is to move away from the old nest and live in a scattered and mixed manner."

“Relocate all the Jurchen people in Pingjin City; we cannot allow them to live together in clans.”

For example, the people originally belonging to the Plain Yellow Banner should not be sent to one place. Instead, they should be divided into more than a dozen groups and resettled in Han Chinese villages in Kaiyuan and Tieling, with ten to twenty Jurchen families assigned to each village.

Let them live in the same villages and farm the same fields as the Han people. They can work the land and go to the market together on weekdays. Over time, the barriers between them will naturally diminish.

"The second step is to change one's livelihood."

"The Jurchen people mostly relied on nomadic herding and hunting for a living and did not know how to farm. The government had to send Han Chinese farmers to teach them step by step."

For example, how to plow the land, how to fertilize, when to sow seeds, and even how to offer "farm tool rental" services, allowing people to borrow them first and return them after the autumn harvest.

A rule was also set: if grain production could reach 80% of that of Han Chinese farmers within three years, taxes would be waived for the following year.

If someone refuses to farm and instead tries to make a living by hunting, they will be demoted to a "village slave" and sent to a post station to perform labor.

Let them know that only by farming diligently can they live a stable life.

"The third step is Sinicization education."

“In villages inhabited by Jurchen people, ‘Confucian schools’ were established. The government printed the ‘Three Character Classic’ and ‘Analects’ as teaching materials and found local scholars from Liaodong to be teachers.”

The regulations stipulated that Jurchen children aged seven to fifteen must attend school and study Chinese for one hour every day.

Those who pass the exam, such as being able to recite the Three Character Classic, are exempt from six months of corvée labor for their families.

If one could pass the preliminary examination, one could participate in the imperial examinations just like Han Chinese students, and after passing the examinations, one would be appointed to an official position on the same level.

We must use incentives to guide them to learn Han language and etiquette, gradually diminishing their identity as 'Jurchen tribes.'

He finished speaking in one breath and then realized that Zhou Wenhuan was standing with his mouth open and his brush resting on the paper.

Xiong Tingbi frowned and asked, "Have you remembered everything I said?"

Zhou Wenhuan then came to his senses and scratched his head somewhat awkwardly:

"My lord, you are so thorough. I... I only remembered half of it. I was so shocked that I missed many details."

He never expected that Xiong Tingbi not only won the war, but also thought out every step of the post-war governance in such detail, from small things like farm tool rental to big things like the imperial examination and officialdom.

"Confused!"

Xiong Tingbi gave a feigned rebuke, but his tone carried a hint of helplessness.

"These are all crucial to stabilizing Liaodong, and not a single word can be wrong."

Take your paper and pen, I'll tell you again. This time, write it down carefully. After you're done, compile it into a booklet and send it to the capital along with the news of the capture of Huang Taiji, to be presented to His Majesty.

We must let His Majesty know that Liaodong can not only be conquered, but also defended and governed effectively!

"Yes! I obey my orders!"

Zhou Wenhuan immediately straightened up, gripped the brush tightly, and looked at him with admiration.

Only now did he truly understand why His Majesty had entrusted the safety of Liaodong to Xiong Tingbi.

Such profound foresight is unparalleled in the entire Ming Dynasty.

Liaodong.

Xiong Tingbi was still working tirelessly to stabilize Liaodong.

And in the Forbidden City.

Even inside the Kunning Palace, Emperor Zhu Youxiao of the Ming Dynasty was not at ease.

now.

In the East Warm Pavilion of Kunning Palace.

Intermittent cries of pain from Empress Zhang Yan could be heard from inside, occasionally punctuated by the low, comforting words of the midwife.

Outside the East Warm Pavilion.

Zhu Youxiao paced back and forth, a hint of worry on his face.

The palace maids and eunuchs inside the hall all lowered their heads, not daring to breathe loudly, and even their breathing was extremely soft.

"Your Majesty, would you like some ginseng tea to warm yourself up?"

The personal eunuch Wei Chao stepped forward with a teacup, his voice extremely low, carefully sipping the steam from the rim of the teacup, as if afraid of disturbing His Majesty's concentration.

Zhu Youxiao waved his hand, his gaze never leaving the warm pavilion:

"How is it going inside? Hasn't the midwife given us any word?"

Wei Chao quickly bowed: "I just asked, and the midwife said that Your Majesty's baby is in the correct position, but she is very weak. She has already been given ginseng soup and is still holding on..."

Before he could finish speaking, a more urgent cry of pain suddenly came from the warm pavilion, and Zhu Youxiao's brows furrowed immediately.

He had experienced the birthing of concubines before.

He also waited outside the palace when Zhao Qingyue gave birth to a princess last year, but his feelings then were not nearly as heavy as they are today.

Firstly, Zhang Yan was the Empress, and he had always respected this dignified and composed empress.

Secondly, production in this era was inherently a life-or-death ordeal for women.

Too many women died in childbirth, and even with the imperial physicians and midwives in the palace, it was impossible to guarantee that there would be no miscarriage.

More importantly, if this pregnancy results in the birth of a prince, who will be the eldest son of the legitimate wife, then the foundation of the Ming Dynasty will truly be established.

In the two years since Zhu Youxiao ascended the throne, he has implemented new policies, strengthened the military, suppressed Shanxi merchants, and pacified the Jurchens. Every single one of these actions has threatened the vested interests of the old nobles and corrupt scholars.

Although the ministers didn't say it aloud, they always felt that he was "deviant and unorthodox".

He was subtly implying that he hadn't been influenced by great Confucian scholars from a young age and didn't understand the "way of sages."

To say that his emphasis on industry and commerce and his reform of taxes were "putting the cart before the horse" is to say that he prioritized industry and commerce and reformed taxes.

Even after the great victory in Liaodong and the gradual pacification of the country, there were always people who secretly criticized it.

During a meeting at the Wenhua Hall a few days ago, an old minister subtly suggested that "Your Majesty should emphasize education in order to rectify the mind of the ruler."

Their words implied that they disliked his policies for not conforming to ancestral rules and ancient laws.

Zhu Youxiao knew perfectly well that the reason these people hadn't openly opposed him was simply because he hadn't gone too far enough.

When the reforms enter the deep-water zone, these people will definitely jump up in protest, oppose them, or even quit.

But once an eldest son is born, the situation changes.

Those pedantic scholars would focus their efforts on cultivating a "qualified crown prince," believing that "although His Majesty has flaws, his legitimate son is still teachable."

With this hope, they will be more tolerant of the new policies.

Even if he were to push for more radical reforms in the future, such as reforming the taxes levied on the gentry, implementing the land tax system, abolishing the fire tax, and providing a stipend for honest officials, these people would not easily "overturn the table" against him.

The eldest son served as a buffer between him and his ministers.

"Your Majesty, you've been standing for an hour. Why don't you sit down for a while?"

Seeing that Zhu Youxiao's forehead was covered in a fine sweat, Wei Chao cautiously offered some advice.

Aside.

Wei Zhongxian and Wang Tiqian also offered words of comfort.

Just as Zhu Youxiao was about to speak, a clear, loud shout suddenly came from the warm chamber from the midwife:

"Your Majesty, give it your all! The head is coming out!"

Immediately following was an even more intense cry of pain.

"Ahhh~"

Subsequently
"Wow~~"

A loud baby's cry suddenly pierced through the curtains of the warm pavilion and echoed throughout the Kunning Palace.

Zhu Youxiao strode to the door of the warm pavilion. Just as he was about to lift the curtain, he saw the midwife come out carrying an infant wrapped in a bright yellow swaddling cloth, kneeling down with a beaming smile:
"Your Majesty, the Empress has given birth to a legitimate prince, weighing eight pounds. Both mother and child are safe and sound!"

Wei Chao was stunned for a moment, then overjoyed, and knelt down with a thud:
"Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations! It's a prince! A legitimate prince!"

The palace maids and eunuchs inside the hall also knelt down in unison, shouting "Long live the Emperor!" The previously oppressive atmosphere was instantly replaced by ecstatic joy.

The eldest son has been born.

The foundation of the Ming Dynasty is in place!

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