Winter comes early in the north, and Zhu Xiong Ying had only set off from Yingtian Prefecture in the autumn, so it was almost winter when he arrived in Beiping. Looking at the heavy snow outside, Zhu Xiong Ying breathed a sigh of relief, feeling somewhat worried.

Although we now have coal briquettes and firewood, winters like these are still quite cold.

“Cotton, nobody likes to grow cotton now,” Zhu Xiong Ying sighed. “It keeps you warm, but it doesn’t keep you full. People who are afraid of hunger are thinking about growing more grains.”

The grain has been recovered from Liaodong, but Liaodong is still relatively remote and undeveloped. It is no longer the granary of the north, and its development is still in its early stages.

Sitting in his study, Zhu Xiong Ying looked at the map and then said, "Have someone ask the Duke of Song and the Duke of Liang where the prisoners captured during their northern expedition are now, and give me a list."

Wang Chengen naturally accepted the order immediately. However, he didn't need to personally request the lists; his subordinates would definitely deliver the message.

Zhu Xiong Ying couldn't help but laugh, muttering to herself, "My maternal grandfather was someone who liked to kill prisoners, and my paternal grandfather was a tyrant in the eyes of many. Now it's my turn. I guess I'll be accused of not being benevolent in the future."

After thinking about it, Zhu Xiong Ying simply shook his head. There was no need to care too much about such things. He was a realist, so naturally he wouldn't consider so many things.

Maximizing profits is still the most important thing, or it could be said that Zhu Xiong Ying is now more concerned with empty fame.

Whether a ruler is benevolent, tyrannical, incompetent, or wise, Zhu Xiong Ying truly doesn't care about such things now. What he desires most is to wield great power and control the court, just like his imperial grandfather—that's what matters most.

As for other matters, in Zhu Xiong Ying's eyes, they were merely empty titles, not worth much attention. Faced with absolute power, many things are simply not worth worrying about.

The Ming Dynasty today is not like it was in the mid-to-late Ming Dynasty. Not to mention that the military merit group made it difficult for civil officials to breathe, even the military merit group dared not breathe loudly in front of Emperor Zhu.

Zhu Xiong Ying still has a lot to do. Liaodong is the key area he needs to focus on next. He is not just here in Beiping to be a mascot or simply to establish a capital. The tens of thousands of troops under his command are not just for show, and he is not going to engage in small-scale battles!