Chapter 401: Merging the Korean Peninsula
Li Hao waited outside the Hall of Supreme Harmony, a newly renovated building where morning court sessions were held, and where civil and military officials were arguing fiercely over the Northern Expedition.
The reason was simple: money. Zhao Xiaofei couldn't afford the money he had, as he had to support both the army and the imperial court.
Now that the court officials no longer needed him to pay for their expenses, tax revenues were slowly recovering. Administrative expenses in various places basically no longer needed to be paid by Zhao Xiaofei. Only for military expenses did Huang Degong, Gao Jie, and He Tengjiao still ask Zhao Xiaofei for money.
"You soldiers can just farm on the spot, and I will pay you one more fee at most. This court is not mine, so don't always think about taking advantage of me!" said Zhao Xiaofei.
"The taxes and silver from all over the country have not yet arrived, and the rice in Taicang has long been gone. I hope Prince Li will be generous and donate, otherwise there is a high possibility of a military mutiny!" said Zhang Chao, the Minister of Revenue.
"My dear Zhang, I didn't promote you to cry poor. If that were the case, what's the point of the cabinet letting you be the Minister of Revenue? People say that we should increase revenue and reduce expenditure, and you have done a good job in reducing expenditure. But we should also think about increasing revenue!" said Empress Dowager Lu Ling.
At this moment, the eunuch outside the palace shouted: "King Li Hao of Joseon is here to see you!"
"Call King Lee Ho of Korea into the palace!" Lu Ling said.
Li Hao had already changed into new clothes. He walked in quickly with his head lowered and his waist bent.
He stood at the front of the civil and military officials, then knelt on the ground with a plop and said, "Lord Li Hao of our country greets the Queen Mother and Her Royal Highness the Princess Regent!"
"Li Hao! Do you admit your guilt?" Before Lu Ling could speak, Princess Kunxing asked first.
"I am guilty!" Li Hao's words "I am guilty" made all the civil and military officials in the underground stunned?
When did Li Hao call himself a minister? He is the king of Joseon, and at most he can call himself a little king!
The ministers underground were discussing one after another. Princess Kunxing coughed, and all the civil and military officials underground immediately quieted down.
"Li Hao and others were ungrateful and surrendered to the Jianlu. They assisted the Jianlu in attacking the capital and other places, and aided the tyrant in his atrocities. They should have been executed along with their entire clan, but Taizu once designated Korea as a country that would not be conquered. So the death penalty can be spared, but your Li family does not need to take charge of Korea." Princess Kunxing said.
As soon as these words came out, there was another uproar. It was Taizu who decided not to conquer the country. Now to eliminate the country, isn't it a bit too much?
"Now that you, Li Hao, have come to your senses and returned to the right path, the Ming Dynasty will naturally forgive you. The court will confer upon you the title of Prince Rui, and you will reside in the capital forever. The court will send other officials to manage Korean affairs." Princess Kunxing said.
"Thank you, Your Highness the Princess, and thank you, Queen Mother! I swear to be loyal to the Ming Dynasty until death!" Li Hao kowtowed to express his gratitude.
At this time, Ni Yuanlu stood up and said, "No! Korea is one of the countries that Taizu designated as unconquerable. If we abduct their leader and bring him to the capital, enfeoff him as a prince, and make Korea our own territory, we will be violating Taizu's will!"
"Prime Minister Ni, we have violated Taizu's teachings many times. What time is it now? If Taizu were alive, he would change the rules. Rules are dead, but people must live! We cannot let rules become our chains!" said Princess Kunxing.
"Prime Minister Ni, you should think about who will take over Korea! Now that Korea is one of the provinces, it is not appropriate for Shi Lang to be in charge. Who else in the court can be the governor of Korea?" Princess Kunxing said.
"To the Queen Mother and Her Royal Highness the Princess! I recommend Li Banghua's younger brother, Li Bangmei! Two years ago, Li Banghua went home to recuperate due to illness and has never been able to get up since then. His younger brother is talented and capable. He is now the Governor of Jiangxi!" said Ni Yuanlu.
"I've heard of him. He's quite capable of governing Jiangxi. Let him go!" Princess Kunxing said.
"Yes! Your Majesty..." Before Ni Yuanlu could finish his words, a young eunuch came in hurriedly and said something to the empress dowager.
Lu Ling interrupted Ni Yuanlu and said, "If you have anything to say, please submit a memorial! Concubine He and Concubine Huang are about to give birth. Everyone, please kneel and pay your respects!"
"Dismiss the court!" the eunuch shouted.
Zhang Shulan has been invited to the palace, and the two concubines are now in excruciating pain.
Zhang Shulan, wearing a white coat, gloves, and a mask, was given an injection by her apprentice, who then began giving it to both of them.
Princess Kunxing sat outside the door and said to Lu Ling, "Don't worry! Nothing will happen with Mr. Zhang around!"
Of course, Lu Ling wasn't worried about anything happening; she was just worried about not giving birth to a daughter. She couldn't let Zhao Xiaofei's son, the fake prince, become emperor. That would be truly unfair to the late emperor.
But what you fear will come true. At last they all gave birth that night, and they were all girls.
This made Kunxing both sad and happy. He was sad because his brother had no heir, but he was happy because his son had a chance to become emperor.
"Don't worry, there is still the baby in Concubine Qin's belly!" Princess Kunxing pretended to comfort her.
"Yes! Yes! Yes! There's one more!" Lu Ling's panicked heart calmed down a little.
But at this time Lu Ling was still afraid. What if Concubine Qin was also pregnant with a girl?
The plaque on the gate of Jiang Xiaomei's house had just been changed to Jiang Mansion. She smiled and nodded as she looked at the house. If this house were placed in the future, she would definitely be a wealthy family among the wealthy.
Just as she was about to enter the palace, the chief eunuch Liu Quan arrived at the gate, dismounted, and saluted Jiang Xiaomei, saying, "Lady Jiang, I have come by the Empress Dowager's decree to bring Consort Qin into the palace!"
Jiang Xiaomei bowed and said, "Mrs. Qin is in the mansion and has just finished her meal. Please come in, Eunuch Liu!"
Liu Quan didn't say anything polite. He went into the mansion, found the Qin sisters and took them away.
In the east warm room of Kunning Palace, Lu Ling said to Qin Xiaomi, "You are about to give birth in the next few days. Living outside the palace is inconvenient. From now on, you will live in the west warm room and are not allowed to go out!"
"Yes!" Qin Xiaomi said with her head down.
Lu Ling was extremely nervous. Qin Xiaomi's belly was her last hope. If she gave birth to a daughter, they would consider adopting one from another clan.
At night, Liu Quan knelt on the ground, and Lu Ling said, "Now that you have completed this matter, I will ensure that your brother will become a marquis."
"I understand! Even if I die, I will do my best to get things done properly and will never let anyone else know." Liu Quan said.
"I'm glad you know. Everything will depend on the next few days." Lu Ling said.
Concubine He and Concubine Huang Shu had already regained consciousness and were devastated to learn they had given birth to a daughter. Concubine Huang Shu was especially shocked, as she knew that if she hadn't given birth to a son, then Qin might have become the future empress dowager.
She understood the principle that a mother's status depends on her son. She now thought that if Qin gave birth to a boy, she could unite with several concubines, including Empress Dowager Lu Ling, to kill the mother and keep the child. Qin must not live!
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