Chapter 912 Feng Chan

Winter arrived.

Generally speaking, winter has the most festivals and the richest forms.

Because in winter, after a year of hard work, most of the common people can finally stop working in the fields, thanks to the grace of Heaven, and begin to rest in peace. Since it is a rest, naturally, more entertainment is needed to enrich life at this time.

Fengxin City has some peculiarities.

One is that the workshop complexes outside Fengxin City continue to operate in winter. In this era, there is no concept of "sweatshops" yet. Ordinary people, even standard households, are very enthusiastic about having laborers work in the workshops.

This is because, although no so-called "capitalist sprouts" have emerged in Jindong, everything is mainly owned by the Prince's Mansion, which also means that there will be no arrears in wages…

At least for now, looking at the endless stream of merchant caravans and carts waiting to ship goods even after winter has begun, no one believes that these workshops will be unable to pay.

In addition, after winter, the Prince's Mansion organized several construction projects, absorbing a lot of labor, not conscripting corvée, but hiring.

The Prince's Mansion has money, real money.

The victories in long-term foreign wars and the income from several treasure houses once made the Prince's Mansion worry about whether spending the wealth in the treasury too quickly would lead to an imbalance in market prices in Jindong.

Now, with the opening of the silver mine in the Heavenly Break Mountains, the realization of coinage, and the income and expansion of bonds, the Prince's Mansion is very wealthy in terms of finance.

This also set off a "rush to work" after winter.

Whether it was wild men from the snowy plains or refugees from Chu, or even west of Wangjiang, there was a large-scale influx of people.

After all, in the current ideological concept of "all land under Heaven belongs to the Emperor," it is a matter of course for most superiors to enslave and drive the common people. It is the responsibility that the common people need to bear for the country, and some even think… why not use them for nothing.

Blindman once joked that the first "migrant worker wave" in later history books would probably be this year.

Absorbing the foreign population is an established policy. Those who come in winter are basically young and strong laborers. These people will inevitably be settled down. Even if they may just want to work short-term jobs and have not brought their families, the Prince's Mansion has ways to keep them in Jindong. After the spring, they will find ways to have their families move over as well.

On a larger level, the Prince's Mansion is also deliberately restraining the urge to "spend money."

One is because the frozen soil in winter is not suitable for the start of large projects.

The second is a very real problem… Running workshops, doing business, and following the routes that time-travelers like to take is indeed very enjoyable, but the reality is that although the population of Jindong is growing by constantly absorbing refugees, in the general direction, the population is still a growing "fixed value."

If too many people run to other industries for a period of time, what will happen to your land?

An even more bloody problem is, what if everyone sees this benefit and few people are willing to farm next year?

Jindong needs food, not only to meet its own needs but also to store it for future wars.

In the last battle out of the South Gate Pass, the Yan army did achieve amazing results, but precisely because of the difficult logistics and insufficient supplies, the Yan army only achieved results and did not turn the results into substantial territorial expansion. After the battle, they could only come back. The root cause was still the lack of food.

Moreover, for Jindong, the more the population absorbed, the more food it needs to consume. Similarly, the more labor must be invested in the fields in the second year, but there is a contradiction here.

If Jindong was just a region in the interior of Great Yan, without the threat of foreign enemies and without the need for military warfare, it would be fine to develop its own industry and commerce peacefully, or even simply act as a big milk cow to provide blood to the imperial court. However, the Emperor and the Prince of Pingxi had already reached a tacit understanding.

Giving Jindong the highest level of autonomy, almost the treatment of a country within a country, but at the same time, in order to recuperate, the imperial court also stopped supporting Jindong with food, salaries, and military equipment.

Unless it is wartime, at other times, there will be no transfers from the imperial court.

…

"Heh, I always thought 'emphasizing agriculture and suppressing commerce' was idiotic when I was taking history classes, but I found out that the idiot was actually myself."

Zheng Fan said with emotion, looking at the memorials for next year's plans in front of him.

"Food is fundamental," Blindman said with emotion.

"Yes." Zheng Fan nodded, "In these years, the only affluent battle was the year when we went south to attack Qian and opened up Jin at the same time. It was also because the late Emperor trampled on the aristocratic families and plundered wealth. Since then, every major battle in Yan has been fought with our belts tightened."

Zheng Fan took a sip of tea and continued:

"South of Zhennan Pass, south of Nanmen Pass, and south of Nanwang City, there have been many wars in these years. After these places have become the front line, that is, the area where the forces of both sides are intertwined, it is impossible to obtain food from the enemy again.

"If a war to destroy a country really breaks out in the future, it is estimated that it will be a competition of national strength, logistics, and food."

"Yes," Blindman echoed.

"Alright, I'm relieved that you and Si Niang are taking care of these overall plans. I can rest assured."

Blindman smiled slightly.

One is used to being a hands-off shopkeeper, and the other is used to being left alone; they are both used to it.

At this time, Xiao Yibo came over and reported: "Your Highness, everything has been arranged at home."

"Okay, let's set off."

"This subordinate will not go." Blindman got up. "Next year's plan must be completed in detail during this period."

The first official five-year plan, prepared for the war of unification, has heavy tasks and high goals, so there is no room for any carelessness.

"Okay, you've worked hard."

"Your Majesty is too kind."

Blindman took his leave.

Zheng Fan returned to his main courtyard and, with Si Niang's help, changed into a purple python robe.

The python robe of the Prince of Pingxi is custom-made by the imperial court, that is, several sets of formal official uniforms issued by the imperial court and those worn on weekdays, but Zheng Fan basically only wears those embroidered by Si Niang herself.

It is definitely transgressing the rules, after all, the clothes embroidered by Si Niang have some unique aesthetics, but the Prince of Pingxi's arrogance is not a matter of a day or two, and no one will use this kind of thing to criticize him.

In fact, Si Niang is also very busy, but tomorrow is the auspicious day, and today, we must pray for the children.

As a mother, Si Niang must participate.

Soon,

everything was ready.

The Jin Yi personal guards cleared the way.

A large carriage belonging exclusively to the Prince's Mansion drove out of the Prince of Pingxi's Mansion.

The carriage is very large. It was transformed from a military tent. The front can be used for office work, and the back can be used for rest, so it can accommodate many people inside.

The Prince's Pixiu, with a dozen or so horse brothers, pulled the car in front, very proudly.

Moreover, all these horse brothers are pure white horses, not a single black or cheap one.

The Prince's Mansion family is all inside.

Zheng Fan sits in the first seat, with Si Niang sitting on his right, holding his own son, whose name the Demon Kings discussed and decided was "Zheng Lin."

As a father, Zheng Fan is quite satisfied with this name, a single character, not flashy.

As for the nickname, it is called "Lin'er," also written as "Lin'er."

Xue San wanted to suggest calling him "Goudan" (Dog Egg), but was once again violently attacked by Demon Maru.

It doesn't matter what other places are like. In the Prince of Pingxi's Mansion, the saying that cheap names are easy to raise is really not popular.

After all, children who can grow up in the environment of the Prince's Mansion basically have to have a strong destiny.

On the left, Xiong Liqing sat holding Da Niu, and below her sat Liu Ruqing.

Sitting below Si Niang was the Sword Saint's daughter-in-law. The Sword Saint's son could already walk staggeringly on his own, but his mother still held him in her arms, not daring to let him run around and disturb everyone.

On both sides of the outermost periphery of the carriage,

Tian Tian and Ji Chuanye, one a Prince, the other a Crown Prince, were like two little door gods.

Only in the Prince of Pingxi's Mansion is there this kind of specification.

Even the Crown Prince doesn't feel that he has lost his status by being seated like this. He is already used to this atmosphere in the Prince of Pingxi's Mansion.

Outside the carriage were Chen Xianba, Zheng Man, and Liu Dahu, plus the Sword Saint and Xu Chuang.

The outer perimeter was tightly protected by the Jin Yi personal guards, and after leaving the city, the Guardian Army would add to the protection.

When the Prince's Mansion family went out, the people on both sides of the official road in Fengxin City all kowtowed and worshiped.

Originally, many families wanted to set up incense tables, but Zheng Fan was worried that the smoke would choke the children, so he asked people to clean the streets in advance. This was really cleaning the streets but not cleaning the people.

The people were very enthusiastic, and the Prince had to come out and wave his hands from time to time.

Si Niang and Xiong Liqing also had to hold their children out to show their faces from time to time.

The prayer ceremony,

seems to be done for Heaven to see,

but in fact, it is still performed for the living to see.

Heaven is too far away, and the people are at your feet.

After leaving the city for a long distance, the accompanying people gradually thinned out.

Acting like this is really a bit tiring.

Soon, tea and snacks were sent into the carriage, and everyone began to eat some food.

Da Niu can already eat some snacks, and Xiong Liqing specifically feeds her small pieces.

Si Niang also took snacks to feed Zheng Lin.

Although Zheng Lin is younger than Da Niu,

there is no need to worry about feeding. The cub born with the ninth rank will not have indigestion.

However,

Zheng Lin was obviously fed wine by A Ming and likes flavorful food.

The snacks in the back house of the Prince's Mansion are relatively light and not as full of sugar and frosting as the snacks outside, so Zheng Lin is a little resistant to eating this.

When put into his mouth, he deliberately spits it out.

Looking at Da Niu there, she eats a bite and gives you a bright smile from time to time in the middle.

The daughter is really sensible,

this son is really… um.

Si Niang was also a little annoyed.

No one in this world is omnipotent. Si Niang is a good hand in business, but when it comes to being a mother, she is only limited to giving birth to the child.

Maternal love, care, and parent-child relationship, etc.,

she understands;

but her understanding is actually the same as Zheng Fan's easy-to-make Sword Saint frequently realize when he speaks great truths;

it's really just understanding.

That side is so well-behaved,

this side is so naughty,

losing face for the mother, and also annoying the mother;

Si Niang picked up a silver needle with her left hand,

and shook it in front of Zheng Lin.

"……" Zheng Lin.

Zheng Fan, who was sitting there, also saw this scene, and his eyelids twitched.

Soon,

Zheng Lin began to eat extremely obediently,

eating snacks when he should, drinking tea when he should, and being extremely well-behaved.

The destination of the team's progress is not far away, only half a day's journey. The destination has arrived.

There is a mountain here.

Compared with the continuous Heavenly Break Mountains, this mountain, called Flying Kite Mountain, is actually more like a hill.

But at least, it has the appearance of a mountain.

An imperial envoy team is already waiting here.

The leader is an old acquaintance, Eunuch Huang. In Eunuch Huang's team are also the Fu Prince's Mansion family.

After the end of the war, after the army returned to Nanmen Pass, Zheng Fan went directly back to Jindong to accompany the Princess to give birth, and then went to Xuehai Pass and Zhennan Pass to collect military power, and then came back to accompany Si Niang to give birth. After turning around, it was also a while.

The Fu Prince's Mansion and his party stayed in Nanmen Pass for a long time.

Because according to the etiquette of affiliation, Zhao Yuannian had to first submit a memorial in Nanmen Pass in the posture of a Qian Kingdom vassal prince, requesting that the Great Yan Kingdom allow him to affiliate;

Then the Emperor and the Ministry of Rites jointly issued a document in reply, asking him to think twice;

Zhao Yuannian then submitted a memorial, firmly expressing his desire to affiliate, and the Emperor and the Ministry of Rites had no choice but to agree;

Then Zhao Yuannian's family set off for Yanjing, where they received rewards in Yanjing.

In fact, the Fu Prince's Mansion no longer has a fief. It is really just a family coming to affiliate, but anyway, the war is over, and everyone has plenty of time, so just follow the process.

Great Yan needs this ritual to prove that Great Yan is destined and that the luck of the Xia is with me.

Ji Lao Liu also needs this ritual.

Since he succeeded to the throne, he first ate the benefits left by the late Emperor, and the Barbarian Royal Court was destroyed. Now he is accepting a Qian Kingdom vassal prince to affiliate. In the history books, it is enough to brag about it.

Zhao Yuannian has no other choice but to honestly accompany him to complete this ritual.

However, in the end, Ji Lao Liu should have known about the relationship between the Fu Prince Consort and Zheng Fan, so on the basis of retaining Zhao Yuannian's title of Great Yan Fu County Prince, he designated a small county town near Fengxin City as the fief of the Fu Prince's Mansion.

The map used by the Emperor should still be the old one.

In fact, the land of Jindong has been deserted in the past few years because of the constant wars. Most of the original county towns and settlements have long been deserts. Nowadays, the Prince of Pingxi's Mansion has directly re-planned.

Maybe the fief of the Fu Prince's Mansion is already full of workshops or has long been divided into fields.

The Emperor actually knows this, but he doesn't care.

The fief is just a gesture. The main thing is to conveniently send the Great Yan Fu County Prince Zhao Yuannian… his mother,

to the mouth of the man named Zheng in a legitimate way.

Ji Lao Liu also personally wrote a letter to Zheng Fan in the middle, or a secret decree, specifically requesting that the Prince of Pingxi open it himself.

Because the Emperor knew that sometimes these letters were not read and replied by the man named Zheng himself at all!

Blindman presented this letter requiring "personal opening" to the master.

Ji Lao Liu in the letter can be described as extremely wretched.

Yes,

the Prince of Pingxi did not even think that Ji Lao Liu, who had already become the Emperor, could be even more coquettish than anyone else.

The Emperor actually asked himself in the letter if the Prince of Jin might also miss his hometown and whether he should also be enfeoffed to a territory in Jindong.

This is certainly not possible to plant nails. If the two powerless and powerless vassal princes are thrown to Jindong, how can they make waves under Zheng Fan's eyes?

Even the Prince of Cheng's Mansion, which still has power, slapped him when he wanted to, before he was even a Prince.

It's just that he wants to, since you want the Fu Prince Consort, why don't you take the Jin Prince Consort together?

I, will do a favor.

Fortunately, Zheng Fan was not so absurd and directly ridiculed the Emperor in his reply.

The Fu Prince Consort was what he had promised, and Zhao Yuannian can be considered to have been running around before and after, and the Fu Prince Consort has also served him. He should be left, but the Jin Prince Consort is fine. Although Prince of Jin Yu Ciming should be looking forward to this happening, but is the Prince of Pingxi this kind of person?

And now,

when the Prince of Pingxi's Mansion team arrived at the foot of Flying Kite Mountain;

the first person to come to greet him was not Eunuch Huang, who came with the imperial decree, but Prince Fu Zhao Yuannian.

Moreover, Zhao Yuannian stopped in front of the carriage, and the Fu Prince Consort got into the car first.

After getting into the car,

facing this big family,

the Fu Prince Consort was very nervous.

She took the initiative to kneel down,

without any pretense,

and said directly:

"Greetings to all the sisters."

Liu Ruqing took the lead in standing up, avoiding the salute.

Xiong Liqing held the child and did not speak.

The Prince sat there, and it was false to say that he wasn't a little embarrassed, after all, in front of his wives and children, the pretty widow he had abducted from outside had come, which was always a little embarrassing.

The happiest one was Si Niang.

The back house of the Prince's Mansion is not so much the Prince's as Si Niang's.

Si Niang has a high interest in collecting these sisters with various titles.

Si Niang stood up holding Zheng Lin,

and said with a smile;

"Oh, my sister has finally arrived."

"I was delayed on the road, please forgive me, sister."

"Now that you have entered this family, you are one of us in the future. Our back house in the Prince's Mansion has no rules. You can scheme and fight with each other at will, and you can compete for favor and power at will. It's very free."

"Hehe, what my sister said is true." Xiong Liqing echoed with a smile.

"Get up, sister."

"Thank you, sister." The Fu Prince Consort got up.

After that,

Si Niang handed Zheng Lin into the arms of the Fu Prince Consort.

"I've been waiting for you to take care of the child."

"……" The Fu Prince Consort.

Zheng Fan also coughed at this time,

and said;

"Alright, we are one family from now on."

He didn't say anything like you go to live in the Fu Prince's Mansion, and this Prince will find you when he has time.

But directly settled her in the house.

The Censors in the court would not have any objections to this. They were eager for the Prince of Pingxi to behave like a beast every day, losing the hearts of the people.

"Let's pray."

…

The Prince walked out of the carriage.

Tian Tian pulled Ji Chuanye's hand and followed him, looking at the mountain, Ji Chuanye said with some doubt:

"This mountain is not high, it's very ordinary."

He didn't know why his godfather chose this mountain with no name to pray for blessings.

Tian Tian recited what Blindman had taught him before:

"Brother, the mountain is not high, but it is famous if there is an immortal."

Tian Tian didn't recite the second half of the sentence.

"What my brother said makes so much sense. It was originally an ordinary mountain, but after my godfather prays for blessings here today, it will naturally become a famous scenic spot in the future."

Immediately,

Eunuch Huang accompanied him.

The Prince of Pingxi led a group of family members to climb Flying Kite Mountain and set up an altar on the top of the mountain to hold a prayer ceremony.

The ceremony was solemn but not extravagant.

The Prince held a wine cup,

and toasted three times;

"First, I salute the founding of the Great Xia, the opening of the frontiers by the Three Marquis, and the shaping of a grand map of the Xia."

"Second, I salute the late Emperor, the Prince of Jingnan, and the Prince of Zhenbei, who created the magnificent situation of Great Yan."

"Third, I salute all the loyal and brave men of all races who have followed this Prince since the raising of troops in Tiger Head City and died for this Prince. May their heroic souls rest in peace!"

The prayer ended.

As everyone was about to go down the mountain, Eunuch Huang took the initiative to suggest that from today onwards, this mountain would be named after the Prince, so why didn't the Prince take the opportunity to rename it?

Generally speaking, only the Emperor can rename mountains and rivers, because it means re-registering the mountain and river gods of this area.

But Eunuch Huang did not think that the Prince in front of him was not qualified to do so, and he did not think that His Majesty would be angry after learning about this.

After hearing this suggestion, the Prince of Pingxi

stared at Eunuch Huang for a long time,

making Eunuch Huang feel hairy in his heart, almost suspecting that he had said something wrong.

Afterwards,

the Prince laughed loudly,

ordered people to prepare pens, ink, paper, and inkstones, left ink treasures, and then ordered people to carve stone statues on this mountain peak, and performed the act of renaming.

From today onwards,

Flying Kite Mountain was renamed…

Mount Tai.