When the news reached the capital, with the intentional promotion of the court, a celebratory atmosphere was once again set off.
No matter how easy it was to annex Champa, it could be called the destruction of a nation in name. Expanding the meaning further, it could even be called the recovery of the Han and Tang territories.
If the country wants to prosper, the people's spirits must be lifted. If the people are listless, numb and indifferent, how can the country be good?
The money doesn't have to be too much; the free distribution of 100,000 bottles of celebratory wine makes the people of the capital as joyful as if it were a festival.
Merchants love this kind of celebration the most. Holding a promotion not only wins the favor of the government, but also allows them to make more money. Why not do it?
"Congratulations to the Great Ming Dynasty, congratulations to the Emperor!" Inside the restaurant, several drinkers raised their glasses and drank, shouting.
The waiter came forward attentively with two plates of dishes. They were just a plate of fried peanuts and a plate of mixed cold dishes, but they made a very good impression on the guests.
"Old Chen, have you bought the war bonds?" A drunkard with a flushed face grabbed a few peanuts and threw them into his mouth, asking while chewing.
From their behavior, it can be seen that these drinkers are either soldiers or martial arts students, and they exude a military aura.
After several years of hard work, the social status of soldiers has been greatly improved. Even if they break the law and commit crimes, local officials have no right to deal with them. The military police and the military court have to make decisions.
Coupled with the change to new military uniforms and the full and timely payment of military salaries, the appearance and spirit of the soldiers have undergone tremendous changes, giving all sectors of society a new understanding.
Being neatly dressed and appearing majestic was only superficial. Having money in one's pocket made the soldiers more confident and more popular with businesses.
Preferential treatment does not mean indulgence. Although the power to punish soldiers who commit crimes and violations of the law is initially vested in the military court, the punishment is very severe.
To put it simply, military management is about rewards and punishments, which is similar to governing officials. It involves combining kindness and severity, and is not complicated at all.
This was the emperor's view, but it had been a difficult problem for all dynasties. The emperor could not guarantee that without him, the Ming Empire's administration and military would still be the same.
The emperor's worries were not without reason. Unfortunately, he could not live another 500 years. He could only push the Ming Empire to new heights during his lifetime and leave more capital for his descendants to spend their money on.
"We're soldiers, so how can we not buy war bonds?" A proud expression crossed the drunkard's ruddy face, and he chuckled as he said, "With our Ming army alone, how can we not be victorious against the barbarians?"
"That's right, that's right." The drunkard with a small scar on his left cheek nodded repeatedly and said, "The Jiannu are the most difficult to fight. Now they are fleeing for their lives. Count the enemies around us. Which one can still be our opponent?"
After a pause, he added, "The Mongols are considered stronger, but if we were to fight, they wouldn't be enough."
"Given His Majesty's temper, a fight is inevitable sooner or later." The bearded drunkard took a sip of his wine, his eyes brightening slightly as he said, "I hope our Beijing Camp Flying Cavalry can be called up so we can have another good fight."
"Three to five years at the most. I think we'll definitely catch up," the scarred drunk said confidently. "Judging from the arrangements made by the Ministry of War and the deployment of military garrisons across the country, they've already begun..."
"Too much, too much, you've said too much." The bearded drunkard suddenly glared and interrupted his companion's narration.
The scarred drunk slapped his head and nodded in acknowledgment, "I drank too much and didn't control my mouth. I deserve a beating and a fine."
"Isn't forcing you to drink alcohol what you want?" another drinker quickly joked, changing the subject, saying with a smile: "It would be better to punish you by not allowing you to drink."
The scarred drunk chuckled dryly and begged for mercy, "Drink less, drink less, just this one bottle."
The bearded man shook his head helplessly, then remembered something and said, "There are people buying war bonds on the market now, and the price they offer seems quite high."
"What were you doing earlier?" The scarred drunk snorted. "When you were issuing the order, you were hesitant. That meant you didn't trust the strength of our Ming army. Now that you see we've won, you think you can take advantage of it."
Another drinker agreed, saying, "We've only just conquered a small city, Champa. There will be even bigger victories and even greater dividends to come. I have to hold onto these war bonds until maturity."
"Besides, I didn't expect to earn much. I just wanted to support my fellow soldiers and give them a shout-out."
The bearded man laughed heartily, patted his companion on the shoulder, and said, "I didn't expect you to say that. You're right, we're just here to show our support, not to make money."
As they were talking, there was a loud sound of gongs and drums and a lot of noise outside, which attracted the attention of the people in the restaurant.
"Come and see, it's a royal celebration parade." someone shouted excitedly.
The emperor created his own version of the float parade, complete with floats, gongs, drums, music, singing and dancing. It was inexpensive and could be reused with variations.
We then contacted merchants in the capital, followed the royal floats to share in the royal aura, promoted our products, and organized sales promotions. The response was quite enthusiastic.
At that time, there were few entertainment activities, and the common people had nothing to complain about. As long as there was something exciting to watch, they would be very happy.
The cart was decorated with red silk and green cloth, and was covered with flowers. Beautiful women were singing and dancing on it, and musicians were playing musical instruments. It moved slowly along the street, and there were crowds of onlookers on the roadside, as if it were a major festival.
Next came the floats made by various businesses, featuring performances by handsome men and beautiful women, and with their shop names displayed. Some even scattered small items like candy, drawing cheers and scrambles from the people.
The people from the Wucheng Bingmasi maintained law and order along the streets. Some walked, some rode horses, and all wore uniforms, which were similar to the police in later generations.
The change happened in just these few years, from top to bottom, and it was becoming the familiar appearance in the emperor's memory.
Inside the restaurant, the owner, waiters, and customers were all seeing such a spectacle for the first time. The parade, the new terms, the new format—it was a dizzying sight.
"Look, that's the courtesan." Someone pointed. This person, who was rarely seen by ordinary people, was now showing up in public.
"The courtesan, I don't think she looks that great either." The bearded man examined her carefully and said with a pout, "It's her singing that's so beautiful."
The scarred drunkard laughed and joked, "That's right, that's right. In the boss's eyes, my sister-in-law is the most beautiful, and he won't tolerate any other women."
The bearded drunkard looked smug, but then he slapped his thigh and said, "I forgot there's a parade of floats today. My wife might have come out with her child in tow to watch the fun. There are so many people here, so make sure we don't get squeezed or bumped into."
"Don't worry, Boss," the scarred drunkard quickly consoled him. "The parade lasts three days, so it's not too late to accompany my sister-in-law and nephew tomorrow. I'm sure my sister-in-law knows her limits and won't be so anxious."
"Look, look, the dragon dancers are coming." Someone nearby shouted, changing the topic.
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