Chapter 608: I

Zhu Youxiao glanced helplessly at Empress Zhang, but still reached out to look at what she handed him, then returned it to her, asking with some resignation: "Is this good enough now?"

Empress Zhang took it back and said with a smile: "That's fine now."

"Then keep me company and have something to eat." Zhu Youxiao took Empress Zhang's hand and said: "My appetite is pretty good today, let's eat something nice, have them prepare it."

"Alright." Empress Zhang acknowledged, then sent the palace maids to make arrangements.

The couple lingered affectionately here, and soon the dishes were brought up.

Sure enough, they were all good—every dish Zhu Youxiao loved was there.

The couple chatted and laughed while eating.

At that moment, footsteps suddenly sounded from outside.

A person ran in.

Zhu Youxiao looked up and saw Wei Chao, his face full of joy.

Ever since Wei Zhongxian and Chen Hong had left, matters within the palace had basically all been handled by Wei Chao, and now he was thoroughly the chief steward of the inner court.

Upon seeing Zhu Youxiao, Wei Chao knelt down with a thud.

"Your Majesty, a victory report from Liaodong!" Wei Chao said with an excited tone.

Hearing this, Zhu Youxiao also stood up.

It wasn't that he was all that excited—this victory had long been within his expectations; its arrival now merely let him breathe a sigh of relief.

The reason he stood up was that this time, all matters in Liaodong had finally been settled.

"Quick, bring it up!" Zhu Youxiao said excitedly.

Wei Chao dared not show the slightest delay, hurriedly ran up, handed the routine memorial to Zhu Youxiao, then stood respectfully to one side.

Empress Zhang did not crowd in at this moment, and even instinctively stepped back a little.

As the Empress of the Great Ming, Empress Zhang knew what matters she should inquire about and what she should not, and she handled the measure extremely well. This was also why she enjoyed such a reputation for virtue both inside and outside the court.

Zhu Youxiao paid no attention to Empress Zhang, taking the routine memorial and reading it.

This routine memorial was submitted by Sun Chengzong; of course, it mainly reported the victory, while briefly recounting the course of this campaign.

After scanning it once, Zhu Youxiao found there was really nothing much to see.

After uniting with the Khorchin, Ordos, and other small tribes, the Great Ming could be said to be sweeping all before it. The Liaodong army, having been provoked, could be said to be at soaring morale.

After all, Hong Taiji had already been destroyed, and having fought the Mongols for so many years, there was no fear left in their hearts. With the Imperial Guard Corps behind them as well, these Liaodong soldiers could be said to have erupted with tremendous fighting power, directly sweeping clean the five tribes of the Inner Khalkha, and the advance went very smoothly.

By the time of the decisive battle, there was even less difficulty. Whether in numbers or equipment, the Great Ming army held comprehensive superiority, and with no fools in command, this battle went extremely smoothly.

In fact, this was also within Zhu Youxiao's expectations. When there is a generational gap in weapons, it is very hard to win, and even if you have some tactics, they are of little use.

Facing the Great Ming army with cold weapons while still vainly hoping to win—the difficulty was too great. Although the Liaodong army's equipment was not as good as the Imperial Guard Corps', they still had many things, such as flintlock muskets, the first-generation rocket artillery, and even mortars.

Under such firepower, it was hard for the Liaodong army to lose even if they tried. Not to mention fighting you on the battlefield—before you could even charge to the front, your men would already be gone. The Imperial Guard Corps fighting you was like playing around.

Zhu Youxiao nodded with satisfaction, handed the routine memorial in his hand to Wei Chao, and said: "Send it to the Staff Office and the Grand Secretariat, have them produce a reward list, and draft a reward memorial to submit."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Wei Chao promptly acknowledged.

"By the way, there's one more matter. Rewards for the various Mongol tribes should also be put on the agenda. Have the Grand Secretariat and them draft one up. This matter must proceed quickly. Then send someone over to proclaim the edict—don't skimp on the prince titles that should be given."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Wei Chao acknowledged once again.

"Alright, go on then." Zhu Youxiao waved his hand with a smile.

Even after Wei Chao left, the smile on Zhu Youxiao's face did not fade.

The people of this Great Ming era might not understand, but Zhu Youxiao knew very well in his heart that resolving the problems of Liaodong and the north was of tremendous significance to the Great Ming.

Now only Ligdan Khan remained on the grasslands, and he was hardly worth fearing. Even if he made a fuss, he simply could not stir anything up.

Moreover, starting this year, life on the grasslands would grow harder and harder, and when the time came, few paths would be left to them. Either they came to fight the Great Ming, or the only option was surrender.

As for fighting, the grasslands had no hope at all; surrender, of course, could be accepted. Only, when the time came, how they surrendered would not be up to Ligdan Khan.

Although there would still be one battle, Zhu Youxiao was no longer in a hurry.

Empress Zhang looked at the delighted Zhu Youxiao and said to the palace maid attending beside her: "Go fetch a jug of wine."

Glancing at Empress Zhang, Zhu Youxiao said with a smile: "You understand me best. Today I'll have a little."

Ordinarily Zhu Youxiao did not drink, and even when he did, it was very, very little. But today he was truly happy, so having a bit was no problem.

Empress Zhang looked at Zhu Youxiao and said: "Though I don't know what matter has made Your Majesty so happy, since Your Majesty is happy, then I am happy too. I'll drink a little with Your Majesty."

In Empress Zhang's view, the Liaodong matter was nothing at all.

Ever since Zhu Youxiao had ascended the throne, the situation in Liaodong had been continuously improving, not as severe as in history. Moreover, Liaodong was originally a remote, bitter-cold land, and Empress Zhang did not understand it very well, which was why she held such a view.

Perhaps quite a few people in the Great Ming held such views, but Zhu Youxiao was not among them.

Zhu Youxiao naturally would not explain anything, only saying with a smile: "A burden on my heart has been lifted, so of course I'm happy. Besides, I've been waiting all along for news from Liaodong. Now that the news from Liaodong has arrived, I happen to want to go out for a stroll."

Giving Zhu Youxiao a helpless look, Empress Zhang said: "It's only been this long since you returned, and you want to leave again?"

There was resentment in Empress Zhang's tone, and she cast a rather plaintive look at Zhu Youxiao as she said: "The realm is so vast, and Your Majesty has raised so many officials—why must you do everything yourself?"

"Just leave it to the people below to handle. If they do well, reward them; if they do poorly, punish them. Why exhaust yourself like this?"

Zhu Youxiao waved his hand and said: "This time, you've got it wrong."

Then he said with some emotion: "The Great Ming has reached where it is today—many matters no longer require me to personally handle them."

"This time I'm going out just to walk around and take a look. Outside, they are auditing the land, and I want to see how they're doing. Besides, the Great Ming has such fine mountains and waters—how boring would it be not to go see them? So I want to go have a look. Additionally, I'll make a trip to Tianjin; some matters should also be put on the agenda."

Empress Zhang looked at Zhu Youxiao, her gaze even more plaintive, and said softly: "Then I want to go see too."

Hearing this, a look of embarrassment appeared on Zhu Youxiao's face.

The reason he could so confidently run all over the world was not only because the court ministers caused no trouble, but also because Empress Zhang held the palace down.

He could take others out, but he absolutely could not take Empress Zhang.

If the palace were to fall into chaos, with himself absent, the people outside would not be able to manage it well either, so someone needed to hold the palace down—and that person was naturally Empress Zhang.

Moreover, should anything happen in the capital, Empress Zhang could make decisions as well.

Looking at the somewhat awkward Zhu Youxiao, Empress Zhang shot him a glance and said with a smile, "I understand, Your Majesty. This humble one can never go anywhere in this lifetime, so I'll just stay and guard this palace."

Zhu Youxiao reached out and took her hand, saying with a smile, "Baozhu, those words of yours are wrong. You're not guarding the palace—you're guarding me."

Looking at the expression in Zhu Youxiao's eyes, Empress Zhang smiled even more brightly.

With that, the meal came to an end, and the husband and wife went off to bathe together.

After bathing for four full hours, Zhu Youxiao took Empress Zhang for a stroll around the garden before the two of them finally returned together to Kunning Palace.

That night, Zhu Youxiao never came out again.

The news of the great victory in Liaodong spread throughout the capital, but the reaction was lukewarm.

Compared to the last time when Hong Taiji was destroyed, no one paid much attention to or cared much about this great victory in Liaodong. After all, it was a slaughter between Mongol tribes—nothing special in itself, and far removed from their own concerns.

Besides, the present Ming Dynasty was very strong, and both officials and commoners had grown accustomed to such things.

His Majesty's martial achievements already rivaled those of the sage-emperors of past dynasties. The only ones in the entire Ming Dynasty who could be compared to His Majesty were Emperor Taizong and Emperor Taizu; no one else could even come close.

Under such circumstances, the Liaodong campaign stirred barely a ripple. What everyone actually cared about was the land survey—that was the matter weighing on many people's minds.

Many of the officials were anxious and fearful, worried that problems might be found and that the court would hold them accountable.

Many of the high-ranking officials in the court had no idea how much land their own families owned. But in their hearts, they knew full well it was certainly not a small amount—they all felt that their family members back in the countryside had surely been accumulating land without restraint. However it had been acquired, the amount of land was definitely substantial.

Now that the court was investigating, it didn't matter how you'd acquired it—if you had too much land, you were in trouble.

Back in the day, Xu Jie had been known as a worthy chancellor—but what happened in the end?

After so much land was found in his household, his reputation was ruined overnight.

They said Yan Song was corrupt—but you were even greedier than him! Look at the land in your household—what was that?

It was all evidence of your corruption!

Back then, one Hai Rui had everyone panicking—but what about now?

Nowadays, every single one of those fellows in the Office of Transmission is a Hai Rui. If they set their sights on you, you're finished.

No one who got into the Office of Transmission was easy to mess with. Many were graduates of the Imperial Academy. These people were proficient in mathematics and understood human nature and the petty tricks of officialdom very clearly.

Trying to fool them—that was no easy task!