"Return to the capital?" Zhao Huizu smiled, a smile that was a little bitter. He raised his glass and took a sip, exhaling the alcohol and saying, "This wine is good."

The wine is not good, but it is not bad either. However, it has a high alcohol content and is most suitable for the winter in Liaodong.

Zhang Junneng glanced at Zhao Huizu and naturally understood what he meant.

If you are not the eldest son, you cannot inherit the title; the court seems to have new policies, and inheriting the title is not as simple as before.

Zhang Zongbao laughed and said, "It doesn't matter whether we return to the capital or not. We are all officers and our salaries are enough to support ourselves."

Then he teased Zhao Huizu, "Have you ever thought about settling down in Liaodong after retirement, getting married and living a good life?"

Zhao Huizu waved his hand and said with a smile, "Don't make trouble. If you dare to do this, my mother will come from the capital and beat me to death."

"I, I..." Zhang Junneng laughed so hard that he almost spit out the wine, pointing at Zhao Huizu and trembling all over.

The change was imperceptible and gradual. Hanging out with the soldiers all day, influenced by what they saw and heard, these three were no longer the dandies of the capital.

Zhao Huizu and Zhang Junneng also laughed out loud. They did not regret it, even though their words and actions were like those of a vulgar soldier.

What you can see every day are comrades-in-arms and brothers-in-law who fight side by side.

There are many people I will never see again, and I can no longer sit here with them, drinking and eating meat during the New Year; there are many people who left the army with disabilities and injuries...

"Old Zhang is married, and his family is in Jinzhou." Zhao Huizu suddenly said with emotion: "He has no arms, but he still drives a truck to transport supplies."

Zhang Junneng nodded and said, "I've seen him too. He said he's doing well. His wife is going to give birth in the spring. He hopes it's a son so he can help him with the work when he grows up."

Zhang Zongbao laughed and said, "It's a pity I didn't see it."

"It's okay." Zhao Huizu said, "Old Zhang gave me the address. When we have time, we can go to Jinzhou to see him."

"And his son," Zhang Junneng added, somewhat uncertainly, "and his daughter is not bad either. Old Zhang always says his wife is beautiful, but his daughter probably won't take after him."

Zhao Huizu nodded, and suddenly a woman's face appeared in his mind, and he couldn't help but lose his mind for a moment.

I wonder if she still lives on that island, still fishing, or if she's married and even has children.

The image of the woman was fleeting, and Zhao Huizu returned to normal. Years had passed, and his memory had faded somewhat, only occasionally recalling it would bring up a complex emotion.

Liaodong has been pacified, there will be no more wars, let’s live a good life!

…………………….

The Spring Festival is both the beginning and the end of the year.

Because of Pingliao, this Spring Festival seems particularly different.

Whether it was the Jiannu who fled north in panic, or the officials, soldiers, and people of the Ming Dynasty, they were all making plans for the new year.

The Jiannu were trying to survive, while the officials, soldiers, and common people of the Ming Dynasty were considering and preparing for new policies and a new life.

The enemy that posed the greatest threat and harm to the Ming Dynasty has lost its power to threaten and harm, and has no chance of competing in the Liaodong reconstruction that is about to begin.

Leaving 40,000 troops in Liaodong was sufficient, and the remaining troops were transferred to other northern border towns. With a strong army that had experienced the baptism of war as a model, and the Mongolian tribes with the tigers and rabbits seeking death, the threat from the north could be dealt with.

After suppressing the rebellion in the southwest, he transferred 20,000 strong troops to Yunnan, reorganized and trained the Yunnan garrison within a year, and then mobilized the chieftains to launch an attack on the Toungoo Dynasty of Myanmar.

The navy and marines were expanded to 15,000 men. As long as they could successfully land, both the Spaniards in Luzon and the Dutch in the East Indies would be crushed or expelled.

The number of troops stationed in Mekong Province will exceed 10,000 this year, enough to traverse the Indochina Peninsula and expand the largest grain base in the Ming Dynasty.

The emperor walked in front of the huge sand table, thinking and planning, his vision was no longer limited to the Ming Dynasty.

In the seventh year of Tianqi, a great disaster will occur in the new year, and the national policy of the Ming Empire will also change dramatically because of it.

Plunder, a rather unpleasant word, would be the Ming's primary means of development. Southeast Asia would be the Ming Empire's focal point.

"Your Majesty," Li Chengcheng called softly, interrupting the emperor's thoughts, "Your Majesty, it's time for dinner."

Zhu Youxiao nodded, his eyes lingered on the sand table for a moment, before turning and leaving.

Ten dishes were already placed on the table. The emperor smiled faintly, remembering the solemn promise that Old Wei had made to him a few years ago.

The Jiannu were finished, the threat to the Ming Empire was lifted, and the people could enjoy peace again. So what if the emperor had a hundred dishes for every meal?

There's no such thing as extravagance and extravagance. The key is to ensure that ordinary people have enough to eat, not how frugal you are.

In the side hall, Wu Yue and Zhao Dabao were also sitting at the table, enjoying the same ten dishes as the emperor.

This is May’s wish, exactly the same as “What are you eating?”

But May is not greedy, she is tasting what this dish is, what that dish is, eating her fill but never feeling stuffed.

"Can you please slow down?" May looked up and gave Zhao Dabao a dissatisfied look.

Zhao Dabao chuckled. He was already used to May's scolding and didn't take it seriously at all, although he still slowed down a bit.

"I will be in junior high school when school starts. When will you graduate from elementary school?" May asked slowly while eating.

Zhao Dabao paused with his chopsticks, thought seriously, and said, "By the end of this year, I should be able to pass the graduation exam."

After a pause, Zhao Dabao said uncertainly, "But I don't want to go to junior high school. Elementary school is enough."

May frowned. This was not the first time Zhao Dabao had said this, and she didn't know whether it was a good idea or not.

Zhao Dabao put down his bowl, filled his bowl with soup, and drank it slowly. He said, "I think it would be nice to learn a skill. It would be useful at the Academy of Sciences. I'm not as smart as you, and I can't learn to read and count as quickly."

"It's always good to read more." Wu Yue pursed her lips and persuaded, "Wouldn't it be nice to stay in Shaoyingyuan for another two years? You'll have food and clothes."

Zhao Dabao fell silent and didn't say anything until Wu Yue finished her meal. Then he stood up and left, saying, "I'm going to the carpentry shop to finish building the car."

May nodded, walked to the desk in the corner of the hall, sat down, and flipped through the book thoughtfully.

Adults have their plans, and children have their ideas.

Zhao Dabao and Wu Yue are not very old, but like most of the children in Shaoyingyuan, they have experienced the pain of losing their loved ones and the suffering of hunger and cold. They are more mature in their thinking and think more.

I'm going to junior high school this year. It takes me three years to complete the course. I think I can finish it in two years at most. And then where should I go and what should I do?

May thought about it, with a maturity in her eyes that was disproportionate to her age.

............................