Chapter 66

Holy Monk 32 (Emperor opens map cannon) - OK.

- "Holy Monk" means "Holy Monk". Could be a title? It's part of the title. Might be considered a named entity? It's a term describing a saintly monk. Not a person name. It's part of the chapter title. Should we list "Holy Monk"? Possibly as a title. But it's not a rank. It's a descriptor. Might be considered a coined term? It's a common phrase. I'd skip because it's generic. However "Emperor opens map cannon" is a phrase: "Emperor opens map cannon". Not a name. So maybe no named entities here besides maybe "Holy Monk". But I'd skip. - OK.

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- No named entities.

His prestige on the grasslands grew day by day; the herders trusted and admired him, and whatever the master said, they considered it right, never questioning his actions. - OK.

- Named entities: "grassland" is a generic place, not a proper name. "Master" as title. Also maybe "herdsmen" is generic. So we add "Master". - OK.

One could even say that the herders' trust in Master Xuanji surpasses even their Supreme Leader. - OK.

- Named entities: "Master Xuanji" and "Supreme Leader". - OK.

Thus we add "Master Xuanji" and "Supreme Ruler". Also "grassland" is generic. - OK.

Whenever he speaks, the herders drop whatever they're doing and come to help, no matter how busy they are. - OK.

- No new named entities.

same as line 2 (image paragraph). No.

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Wuligajina immediately spread the news about Master Xuanji. - OK.

- Named entities: "Wuligajina" is a person's name. Also "Master Xuanji". - OK.

Thus add "Wuligajina".

The parrot flapped its wings and let out a squawk at Jiang Sixin, warning him. - OK.

- Named entities: "parrot" is a generic animal, not a name. "Jiang Sixin" is a person's name. - OK.

Jiang Sixin's face fell instantly; he despised this kind of person who ate his food and drank his drink while the master belonged to someone else! - OK.

- Named entities: "Jiang Sixin". - OK.

Around the simple kiln, idle Hu people gathered to watch. - OK.

- Named entities: "Hu people". - OK.

Among the Hu people on the grasslands, anything Master Xuanji tinkers with is considered useful—like wheat, black vegetables, or milk powder. Seeing him start to tinker with other things, they immediately think about how to use it, without worrying it might be pointless. - OK.

- Named entities: "grassland" (generic), "Hu people", "Master Xuanji". - OK.

If someone else did these things, the results would be different. - OK.

- No.

A Hu person saw Father Sangya helping with the work and hurriedly asked, "Father Sangya, what are you doing?" - OK.

- Named entities: "Hu people", "Sangya". - OK.

Father Sangya wiped the dirt from his hands, looked admiringly at the master not far away, and said with a chuckle, "We're working for the master! The master is really amazing!" - OK.

- Named entities: "Sangya", "Master". - OK.

He's smart—how could he not understand the master's intention? Once he learns to make mud bricks, building a house will be much easier. - OK.

- Named entities: "Master". - OK.

He vaguely guessed the master's meaning: is he unwilling to move? - OK.

- Named entities: "Master". - OK.

That's right; this mud-brick house can withstand winter winds, and since the master doesn't raise livestock, he doesn't need to find a place for them to overwinter—he truly doesn't need to move. - OK.

- Named entities: "Master". - OK.

Having experienced his wife suffering a miscarriage during last year's migration, Father Sangya also privately does not want to move. - OK.

- Named entities: "Sangya". - OK.

As the weather grew colder, this thought became stronger. - OK.

- None.

Especially his two big, plump sons, who are still young and might not endure the jostling and hardship of migration. - OK.

- Named entities: "two big plump sons" is generic. - OK.

The Hu people were very grateful for the master's help; upon hearing this, they stepped forward, rolled up their sleeves, and said, "Master, let us help you too—just tell us what to do." - OK.

- Named entities: "Hu people", "Master". - OK.

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Then he stood aside, no longer working, but instead explained to everyone how to fire the mud bricks. - OK.

- No named entities.

Sangya saw this, thought to himself, "The master is truly generous; by explaining it publicly, everyone now knows the secret of making mud bricks!" - OK.

- Named entities: "Sangya", "Master". - OK.

Everyone present wasn't stupid; even if someone didn't react at first, they quickly understood after a companion's prompting, and they all looked at the master with grateful eyes. - OK.

- Named entities: "Master". - OK.

In their hearts, the master was like the deity in his temple—selfless and loving all people in the world. - OK.

- Named entities: "Master". - OK.

The Hu people greatly respected Master Xuanji, who brought vitality to the grasslands, and all were eager to come help. - OK.

- Named entities: "Hu people", "Master Xuanji". - OK.

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When the master began building houses with mud bricks, more herders gathered; since no one on the grasslands had built houses before, they all wanted to know how the houses were constructed. - OK.

- Named entities: "Master". - OK.

Jiang He generously shared his own design drawings with the group, and even when they didn't understand, he patiently explained why the house should be built that way and its benefits. - OK.

- Named entities: "Jiang He". - OK.

The Hu people listened, astonished and curious, their faces full of wonder and doubt. - OK.

- Named entities: "Hu people". - OK.

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"Probably, I heard that the people from the Central Plains live in houses." - OK.

- Named entities: "Central Plains people". - OK.

"I heard that houses are indeed much warmer than tents, not afraid of even the strongest wind." A herder said enviously, "If it weren't for making a living, who would want to move every day?" - OK.

- Named entities: "herders" is generic. - OK.

Whenever migration is mentioned, the herders present feel sorrow. - OK.

- Named entities: "herders". - OK.

The strong adults are fine, but for the elderly and children, it's truly a ordeal; it would be best if they didn't have to move. - OK.

- No named entities.

Especially seeing the master's house gradually being built, this feeling grows stronger. - OK.

- Named entities: "Master". - OK.

Father Sangya listened to the people's words, a flicker of thought crossing his eyes. - OK.

- Named entities: "Sangya". - OK.

His household is small, hard to keep up with, but they have few cattle and sheep; if the house is warm, they actually don't need to migrate. - OK.

- No named entities.

His two sons are still young; if they fall ill during the migration, where would they go to cry? - OK.

- No.

Father Sangya was decisive; he immediately went to ask the master whether they could use the kiln, as his family no longer wanted to migrate this year. - OK.

- Named entities: "Sangya", "Master". - OK.

A faint smile flickered in Jiang He's eyes, and he indeed said, "Father Sangya is a shrewd person." - OK.

- Named entities: "Jiang He", "Sangya". - OK.

He chose this spot for building a house, with a large surrounding area suitable for growing oats. - OK.

- Named entities: maybe "oats" is a type of grain. Not a name. - OK.

When spring arrives and the snow melts into water, the river formed by the runoff will not change its course for the next thirty years, making life extremely convenient. - OK.

- No named entities.

Building a house here not only makes farming convenient, but also symbolizes prosperity for the family. - OK.

- No.

On this grassland, it's not just Father Sangya who is shrewd; many families with few livestock also want to build houses. - OK.

- Named entities: "Sangya". - OK.

In their minds, they think that such a smart person as the master would consider a house better than a yurt, so it must be good. - OK.

- Named entities: "Master".

Out of curiosity about the house, the Hu people eagerly helped build it, and within just a few days, a house was erected.

- Named entities: "Hu people".

They curiously observed the house and found it indeed quite good.

- No.

"It's quite windproof, but still cold, right?" someone muttered, still somewhat hesitant.

- No.

The herders observing the house asked, "Master, what is that?"

- Named entities: "herders", "Master".

The temple's structure is simple: the outer hall is a Buddha hall, the inner small rooms are living quarters, and they discovered that the master had built a brick platform resembling a bed inside the room.

- Named entities: "Master".

Akeshan was also curious, "Doesn't Batu's family have a bed?"

- Named entities: "Akeshan", "Batu".

That bed made them envy desperately; on the grasslands, a wooden bed is the most precious, and only nobles can sleep on a bed.

- Named entities: "grassland" is generic, "nobles" is generic.

"The bed isn't warm enough; Batu recently caught a cold." Jiang He explained to them, "This is called a heated brick bed (kang); its feature is warm in winter and cool in summer, and sleeping on it in winter feels even warmer."

- Named entities: "Batu", "Jiang He".

No matter how much they deify the master, they still doubt it, thinking that a mud-brick bed could never be warm.

- Named entities: "Master".

Jiang He didn't want to waste words; he let them mutter, and later he would let them experience it themselves.

- Named entities: "Jiang He".

Three days later, Jiang He greeted everyone and had them sit on the already-matted heated bed.

- Named entities: "Jiang He".

The Hu people who had been sleeping on the ground were quite a novelty; they had previously seen the wooden bed at the master's house, and the nobles of the grasslands also had beds to display their wealth, but they had truly never seen a bed made of earth before.

A Hu person muttered in his heart, "The master is just stirring up trouble; our wool felt is much warmer, far warmer than this earthen bed."

He hadn't finished muttering when he sat down heavily on it, and then he was completely stunned.

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The wind on the steppe scrapes people like knives, the snow on the steppe is like nails; winter is truly hard to endure, not only will livestock freeze to death, but even some children, women, and the elderly with slightly weaker bodies will also freeze to death.

At this moment, the group of Hu people sitting on the heated earthen bed felt that if they slept on this warm earthen bed, the elders in their homes and the unfortunate children born in winter would surely live well.

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"Hey, look, you can light a fire here," someone shouted, "No wonder it's not cold."

After Sang Ya Die looked at it, his eyes lit up.

Recently he also asked friends and neighbors to help him fire bricks; his family's house will be built soon, and by then this heated earthen bed must be built; he also worries that his two children are too small, the winter wind is bitter and the weather cold, making the children prone to illness.

The Hu people who decided to follow the master in building houses also cheered joyfully.

Indeed, they could forever trust the master; with this warm earthen bed, the livestock in their homes would no longer fear the cold.

The Hu people who decided not to migrate all went to Sang Ya Die, saying, "Sang Ya Die, I remember this heated earthen bed was built with your help, right? Please help us build one for our home; we'll pay you."

Sang Ya Die couldn't help but look toward the master, and an untimely thought flashed through his mind: the method of building a heated earthen bed, the master had taught only him; those herders would surely not dare to disturb the master, so they would definitely come to him.

Was the master doing this to increase his prestige among the Hu people?

If the master merely wanted to repay a kindness, he had already done more than enough—whether healing his leg injury, giving him two sons, or teaching his daughter medical skills, it was already sufficient.

After the house was built, Jiang He did not rush to move into the newly built temple.

Jiang Si Yin didn't understand why moving house required checking an auspicious date; he counted the days on his fingers, hoping it would come soon.

Having a house, he did not want to live in a cold yurt anymore.

Sang Ya Die's house was soon built as well, and the heated earthen bed was fired up.

Almost every day someone went to look at his earth pit, feeling how warm it was.

Taking advantage of the fact that it's not too cold yet, the Hu people in the tribe all decided to build houses and asked Sang Ya Die to come build heated earthen beds in their homes.

When a parrot flew across the sky and looked down, it saw that scattered houses had already been built on the steppe.

It nodded to itself, unlike yurts that cluster together; these Hu people still had sense, knowing that around the houses they could plant black feather grass and oats, leaving space for them.

These plots would become their planting fields.

On the day Jiang He moved house, the old Chanyu brought the eldest prince to offer congratulations.

They sat on the warm heated earthen bed; the old Chanyu decided he also wanted to lay a heated earthen bed in his royal tent, anyway he had plenty of money and didn't mind dirtying the tent.

The deep autumn wind scraped across the steppe like a knife, turning the green grass into patches of dry grass.

As the leader of the steppe, the old Chanyu, after building a heated earthen bed in his royal tent, led a trend among the nobles, with almost every noble family wanting to build a heated earthen bed.

Not only did they follow the Chanyu, they also wanted to make winter warmer.

The Right Minister was indifferent, saying, "No need to worry; the Black Bear tribe also doesn't want to fight, they're busy doing business."

The tent with a heated earthen bed lit underneath was truly warm; people slept above, livestock below, and everyone could spend a cozy winter.

The two Hu men, Hala Babage, took turns staying beside the master; each took a ten-day leave, then returned braving the heavy snow, refusing to go back no matter what Jiang He said.

The Left Minister caught the meaning of his words; the eldest prince was skilled in business, and following him one could enjoy soup; if he ascended the throne, he would surely bring the entire steppe a more prosperous life.

The first snow on the steppe finally fell.

"Father is already old, indulging in pleasure!" the third prince whipped the ground, sending up a spray of grass chippings, and he said gloomily, "Let's see if I can rally those ministers; there must be some who want to liven things up."

As long as they can bear children, men aren't picky.

The Central Plains people are right; it's best for a couple to stay with their original spouses.

The serving old woman, however, went back home.

The emperor smiled narrowly, "My little crown prince is truly adorable!"

Upon waking in the morning and seeing the outside all white with snow, Jiang Si Yin cheered and ran out to play, Akeshan and several little companions also came over, and several children jumped about in the snow.

As for the yurt getting dirty? That's no problem; when they're freezing in winter, they'll even hug the sheep and sleep together.

Someone hinted, "Actually there are also other paths to success."

When the weather turned cold, sweaters were in short supply, his private treasury was about to overflow; indeed, money is people's courage, and the emperor felt he was now audacious.

Greedy for life, fearful of death, enjoying pleasure—what kind of steppe warrior is that?

Three months ago, Ru Fei, who oversaw all affairs of the sweater workshop, died, said to be an accident.

They were originally lowly herders of a small tribe, with few livestock, and after having a heated earthen bed, there was no need to migrate.

I don't know where the empress got that fox spirit; after giving birth she actually looked younger and more beautiful, bewitching the emperor to the point that he couldn't see any other women.

Since the empress gave birth to his little crown prince, good things have come one after another.

However, the emperor did not feel embarrassed.

This is also what many herders hope for.

The Hu women of the steppe stroked the soft wool on the sheep, smiling until their eyes narrowed: "This winter, with the heated earthen bed, there definitely won't be any livestock freezing to death—how wonderful!"

Now each of them lay there until their bones went soft.

Sang Ya Die became busy as a bee, directly rallying a crew to build heated earthen beds everywhere for the nobles.

When the empress was pregnant, the emperor launched a killing spree, and no one knows how many died; now everyone knows the crown prince is your berserk trigger.

Moreover, the Black Bear tribe also planted black feather grass and oats; buying seeds from the people of a small tribe is no difficulty.

After seeing off the two princes, the Left Minister invited the Right Minister to his home for tea.

The ambitious one couldn't help but fall silent.

After all, such shameless people are their ruler; saying it out loud really makes them lose face, and if the steppe's Chanyu found out, who knows how he'd mock them.

Even if the ministers feel embarrassed, what can they do? They can only go along and help the emperor cover it up.

The Left Minister greeted the Right Minister to sit on the heated earthen bed, and served him milk tea made with milk powder, saying, "This winter, our livestock didn't freeze to death nor lose weight; the people sold wool twice, exchanging for much tea and salt; Master Xuanji's taught us to grow black feather grass, which we dried into many vegetable snacks, edible for people and livestock alike… Next year we can also plant wheat, so we won't lack food or clothing—what's the trouble?"

Those ambitious schemers, after witnessing this grand spectacle, immediately lowered their flags and ceased their drums.

Sang Ya's father almost went dizzy with busyness; when he realized one kang team wasn't enough, he decisively raised two more.

The Black Bear Tribe couldn't send any junior agents here; they'd already learned the milk‑powder formula long ago, and those doing business with the Central Plains aren't only the Iron Full Tribe, but also many people from the Black Bear Tribe.

This year the Hu sold wool and milk powder; most of them aren't short of money, and they also want to build kang.

The Second Prince and the Third Prince indeed began secret contacts with ministers.

Among the Hu there are no taboos in relational ethics; a woman whose husband has died is quickly reassigned.

"Come, let's have some stinky tofu," the Right Prime Minister beckoned, "It smells foul but tastes fragrant; I heard the Master gave the recipe to the Great Prince."

Adoption is impossible, never in this life! Only his son can inherit his throne!

After all, it's not only the Iron Full Tribe that has wool; anyone who sees the milk‑powder formula can master it.

But if they could avoid changing husbands, they'd still prefer the former ones; they have to adjust to a new man, and the new man's wives are many—how much standing would the newcomers have?

These warm kang require the wives, one by one, to be tended by him; this year there is also wheat bran and straw, and the Master has once again refined the feed formula—cattle and sheep neither froze nor lost flesh, so what more trouble is there?

They were so angry they jumped up; isn't going to the Central Plains to chase autumn winds a steppe tradition? How come one or two of them are all enchanted by the kang? If they don't set off now, after the snow falls travel will be inconvenient.

Because they followed Jiang Siyin to learn medicine, treating and delivering livestock, which earned the family a good sum, several families, at their children's pleas, also built houses in autumn and stayed.

When Sang Ya's father handed the money to his wife and daughter, Sang Ya's mother and daughter trembled as they counted.

He thought the Hu were becoming more and more adept at enjoyment; with kang keeping warm in winter, they're even more comfortable than the Central Plains folk.

He was older now, his heart softer, unwilling to lose any junior.

The Left Prime Minister took a bite of stinky tofu, "If the Black Bear Tribe harbored evil intentions…"

Now it's different; each day at court, the Emperor is vigorous.

Of course there are those who want to stir things up, like the Second Prince and the Third Prince.

Sang Ya felt these days were especially unreal; her father now commands a kang team of thirty, and their family's life is better than that of many nobles. The clan chief, upon seeing her father, is beaming, because the chief's two sons are staying in her father's kang team.

The Emperor is too indifferent to his women; they cannot bear their daughter being used and then "dead" remarried.

Oh, right, Ru Fei's twin sister has married, to a young man of the Xing clan.

His household raises many cattle and sheep, earning quite a lot.

Aren't you afraid you'll be infamous in the histories forever?

In the past, whenever the Emperor attended court, the senior ministers would constantly bother him with the issue of adoption; over time, he grew tired of seeing the old faces of the ministers.

These schemers didn't know the Emperor has only one son destined; they plotted to send their daughters into the palace, since the Emperor can now father children—if their daughters bore a prince…

"Scholars are pedantic," the Emperor blurted, "Once they go to the frontier they'll see: widows don't stay single? Nonsense, many have married two or three times!"

The towering Emperor, hands on his hips, followed his big fat son.

Before anyone could come to offer condolences, Ru Fei's parents pulled out a woman who looked exactly like Ru Fei, claiming she was Ru Fei's twin sister. After the Empress saw her, she wept copiously, saying seeing her was like seeing her own dear sister, and she arranged for her to return to the sweater factory to fulfill her twin sister's unfinished endeavors.

These women still harbored secret thoughts: as long as the cattle and sheep don't starve or freeze, the men needn't go to the Central Plains to chase autumn winds. Though their husbands are warriors—one can fight three Daqing men—there are still casualties.

The Left Prime Minister mused that the Second Prince and the Third Prince are merely young and naive; this winter is so comfortable, who wants to go out and stir trouble? Now the subjects are all busy making milk powder, contemplating raising wool prices, or seeking ways to buy wool from Central Plains merchants to turn into clothing.

Later came ordinary herders who arrived after hearing the news.

The Emperor sighed that Ru Fei had accompanied him for a spell, and specially bestowed favor on her sister, giving her a great dowry.

Now they dare not imagine anything; at most they think that if a promising child from the family could become the Little Crown Prince's study companion, that would be the safest path to a bright future.

This affluent life is indeed good, but without force it can't be defended; the Iron Full Tribe and the Black Bear Tribe have long been mortal enemies, each wanting to annex the other, yet neither has the capability.

Before winter, three teams built kang for every household daily, and their family took silver until their hands ached.

You're quite generous, putting a green hat on yourself! That was a woman who once was with you, and you even let her marry another man, who happens to be your trusted minister!

Jiang Siyin felt a bit suffocated; the midwife wasn't a junior agent, truly the ones who should stay stayed, and those who shouldn't left.

The Right Prime Minister's expression was odd, "The Second Prince and the Third Prince also complain that we're bewitched by the small profits of milk powder and wool."

Sitting on the kang, the Left Prime Minister showed a contented look, "Lying on this kang is truly comfortable."

"But war demands lives," the Left Prime Minister said softly.

This winter, the Emperor of Daqing felt it was the most prosperous winter since his ascension ten years ago.

"Your Majesty, is this so crude a performance entertaining? Even if you claim it's divine, we can still tell—she's the very 'dead' Consort Ru herself!"

"Ah, the royal family's expressions are truly interesting, seeing that I have such a healthy and clever Crown Prince?"

He now must handle state affairs properly, leaving his son a peaceful flourishing era.

In the dead of winter, who would rather go outside to feel cold wind and drink icy water than lie on the kang? Is the household meat not fragrant, or the kang not warm?

"Stop thinking about it," the clearly perceptive elders at home rejected the suggestion, "Didn't you see the Emperor's consorts have all left the palace to work?"

Watching the Emperor strolling behind the Little Crown Prince, the royal family and the senior ministers couldn't help to curl their lips.

They first sought the Left and Right Prime Ministers.

The Emperor recalled that Master Xuanji, having seen the Mandate of Heaven, told him his son was forced into being; when the nation's fortune is strong, it flows smoothly. For his Little Crown Prince, he must also strive.

Shu Wu Chanyu also did not wish to suffer.

This grand spectacle left everyone in the court speechless, even forcing them to sincerely act along, causing them great anguish.

Yet the situation was not optimistic; when the Second Prince and the Third Prince left, it was said their expressions were very grim.

Jiang Siyin, seeing the steppe's changes, couldn't help muttering, "Indeed, moving from luxury to frugality is hard."

Dressed warmly, the kang bed also very warm, so warm that the Hu have no desire to go to the Central Plains to chase autumn winds.

In these ten years, due to the heir issue, the Emperor's previously bent back suddenly straightened.

During the grand New Year, his big fat son roamed before the royal family, chattering, collecting red envelopes one after another, laughing so broadly his baby teeth showed.

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