Looking at the yellowing leaves and feeling the bleakness of the autumn wind, Zhu Xiong Ying just stared blankly outside the hall.

Empress Ma walked over and asked softly, "Ying'er, what are you thinking about?"

“Grandmother, I think autumn has arrived.” Zhu Xiong Ying turned around, revealing a lovely smile. “Everyone says that spring is for planting and autumn is for harvesting. I wonder if the people of my Ming Dynasty have enough grain to eat this year.”

Empress Ma smiled and said with some relief, "Ying'er, your grandfather will be surveying the land and reviewing the household registration next year. The Ming Dynasty has been established for more than ten years. Although there have been some setbacks, it is generally good and much better than the former Yuan Dynasty."

Zhu Xiong Ying immediately asked, "I read a book a few days ago that said there were only 1.61 million households when the Ming Dynasty was founded?"

"That was the area we could control at the beginning of the dynasty, with a small population and few registered households. It was the area around Yingtian Prefecture. The landlords and powerful families concealed their population, so that was the number on paper," Empress Ma patiently explained. "But in the fourth year of Hongwu, the number of households in Zhejiang Province had already reached 1.61 million."

Looking at Zhu Xiong Ying, Empress Ma continued, "After the founding of the country, the farmers who had been deregistered were brought back under control to increase the population, and the counties that had been abolished during the war were also re-established. In addition, there has been continuous immigration, so the population has increased."

Zhu Xiong Ying nodded, then asked, "Grandmother, why are taxes so heavy in Jiangnan?"

"That's because the north has only just been reclaimed, and the northern lands have always been disloyal. Since the Song Dynasty, the Yan region has been controlled by foreign tribes, and the people there have long forgotten that they are Han Chinese. With the Yuan Dynasty's collapse, the northern lands have become even more disloyal," Empress Ma continued to explain. "The heavy taxes in the south are also unavoidable; the taxes and corvée labor in the south account for half of the country's revenue. Our Ming Dynasty is short of money and grain!"

Empress Ma patiently said to Zhu Xiong Ying, "Your imperial grandfather established the Lijia system, which, together with the Yellow Register of Taxes and Labor Services, the Household Registration Book, and the Fish Scale Register, can ensure the collection of taxes and labor services and the maintenance of local security. In addition to increasing grain production through military and civilian settlements, we are also reducing or exempting taxes in other places."

More than ten years have passed since the founding of the Ming Dynasty. Although there are still occasional minor rebellions and some areas have only just been recovered, overall, the national strength of the Ming Dynasty is rapidly increasing, and the lives of the people have improved considerably.

Empress Ma patiently continued educating Zhu Xiong Ying, while Zhu Yuanzhang had already returned from his work. He simply listened without interrupting. This wasn't empress interfering in politics; it was simply his wife teaching her grandson!

Seeing a young palace maid walk by in the distance, Zhu Xiong Ying suddenly said, "We've eaten our fill and have fields to cultivate. But now it's autumn, and I wonder if the people will be warm enough. What will ordinary families wear in winter?"

Empress Ma said with a smile, "Coarse cloth clothes, maybe with a quilt. But more often than not, we stuff cotton, willow catkins, and straw into our clothes. In the end, it's still poverty. We need to have enough to eat to get through the winter, otherwise we'll either freeze to death or starve to death."

Zhu Xiong Ying frowned, then asked, "So, do they burn charcoal?"

Empress Ma smiled and poked Zhu Xiong Ying's little head, "Ying'er, do you know the saying 'Why don't they eat meat porridge'?"

Zhu Yuanzhang, standing nearby, felt sorry for his grandson. "Our eldest grandson rarely leaves the palace. He was born into wealth and has never experienced hardship. Besides, there are many kinds of charcoal. How can he be like Emperor Hui of the Jin Dynasty?"

Seeing Zhu Xiong Ying nod, Empress Ma said, "If the family is better off, they can burn some ordinary charcoal. Ying'er, charcoal is a precious thing. Ordinary people don't even have enough firewood in winter, let alone good charcoal!"

"That won't do! It's cold in winter, we need to burn charcoal!" Zhu Xiong Ying said seriously, her little face stern. "We need to eat our fill and wear warm clothes. We can't let anyone starve or freeze to death in winter!"

Empress Ma smiled happily and said expectantly to Zhu Xiong Ying, "Ying'er, your imperial grandfather was diligent in governing and loved the people, but the Ming Dynasty was too short-lived and its foundation too weak. The Yuan Dynasty and the wars also caused great damage to the country. If your imperial grandfather couldn't make sure the people had enough to eat and wear, then you must work harder in the future to make sure the people have enough to eat and wear!"

Zhu Xiong Ying suddenly stood up, somewhat excited, "Why must we wait until later? I can help my grandfather right now!"

Zhu Yuanzhang rushed over, happily picked up Zhu Xiong Ying, and kissed Zhu Xiong Ying's face hard.

Old man Zhu Yuanzhang was delighted and said, "My good grandson! Tell me, how do you want to help us?"

"I haven't thought about it yet, but I can start thinking about it now!" Zhu Xiong Ying hugged Zhu Yuan Zhang's neck and said in a serious tone, "I can learn from my grandmother. When there is a famine, I should eat less. I am a man and cannot weave cloth, but I can wear old clothes. The fabric for new clothes can be made into clothes by my grandmother and given to the widows and orphans."

Looking at Zhu Xiong Ying speaking so eloquently, Zhu Yuanzhang and Empress Ma were very pleased, as they were both people who loved their people dearly. This was also due to their example, which is why their eldest grandson was so benevolent.

However, Zhu Yuanzhang disagreed with Zhu Xiong Ying's suggestion, saying, "Ying'er, you're growing taller now, and you need new clothes. You are the grandson of the Ming Dynasty, and you represent the dignity of the Ming Dynasty. You can't always wear old clothes!"

"But the Empress Dowager is still the mother of the nation. Her clothes are washed and washed again and again, and she doesn't change them even when they are worn out!" Zhu Xiong Ying said matter-of-factly. "Grandson's clothes can also be left as they are old. If they can't be worn out, they can be left to Yunwen. If Yunwen can't wear them anymore, they can be given to Yunhuo!"

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded, then smiled and said, "Empress, our Grandson said you should prepare a few more new outfits. The Ming Dynasty is growing stronger every day. We don't need to talk about fine clothes and extravagant lifestyles, but at least we should look presentable. It's unseemly for the Empress and the Grandson to wear old clothes!"

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!