The Ming Dynasty started with caution

The princes returned to the palace, and the Supreme Emperor Hongzhi was a little confused.

Liu Jian opened his mouth and moved his lips slightly: "With only Empress Zeng in the harem, having many children and grandchildren is the blessing of the country."

The reproduction of royal heirs is also a major event in the court.

Hongzhi only appointed Queen Zhang at the beginning, which was no different from the previous emperor who only favored Concubine Wan Gui.

Not paying attention to the family's incense and reproduction is a fool's errand!

The Supreme Emperor Hongzhi felt uncomfortable in his heart.

"Now that the Queen Mother has just passed away, it is too urgent. We will discuss it after a while."

"No rush, no rush, even the selection will take a month or two. Besides, Qin Tianjian still needs to wait and see. Even if there is a suitable civilian girl, the clan's innocence needs to be checked..."

The ministers in the main hall all agreed in their hearts.

You are not willing to spend money on the Queen Mother, but you are willing to spend money on the new emperor's concubine. This is a major event to stabilize the country and the country.

…

Tang and Song Dynasties, Agra.

Wang Shouren received a batch of improved seeds from the capital. The geography of Arag was far different from that of the Ming Dynasty. There was no dredging of water conservancy and the soil was barren.

Weeds grow better than crops and make people taller.

The food harvest was very small.

"Sir Wang, the locusts are flying in from the southeast. Will we be able to harvest the food?"

The corn and rice are riddled with holes. Where can we find the duck army?

The grain was immature and could not be eaten when it was taken back. Wang Shouren thought for a while and asked, "Where is Zhu Gongqiao?"

"The Zhu Dong family has taken people to Turpan to do business. Turpan has invaded Dunhuang. It is a good time to do business." Liu Yangzheng said next to him.

Zhu Gongqiao was a very shrewd businessman and earned tens of thousands of taels of silver from merchants.

Wang Shouren thought for a while and then said: "From today onwards, ten families will be established to have the same card-making system as the Ming Dynasty Baojia system. If there is anything suspicious, the ten families will sit together."

Lack of food leads to looting and riots.

If one person takes the lead, thousands of others will follow.

The current goal is not to solve the hunger and cold of the people, but to strictly enforce laws and maintain the stability of the Tang and Song Dynasties.

As for whether the Tang and Song Dynasties could be maintained, he was also worried.

Zhang Bailing pondered for a while and said: "The imperial court has announced to the world that the new emperor wants to have a concubine."

Wang Shouren's eyes brightened, and he pondered for a moment before speaking: "If we can marry with the Ming Dynasty and pay tribute to the capital every year, we can get back a large amount of iron tools, money and food."

Envoys coming to Beijing to pay tribute are actually economic activities, otherwise no one would have nothing to do and go to the capital every year.

During the reign of Emperor Wen, he also married Jurchen Yuxu from the north.

As long as the married woman is alive, she can maintain a stable relationship and even borrow troops from the Ming Dynasty.

Zhang Bailing said worriedly: "I'm afraid that the officials will dissuade women from foreign lands from becoming concubines."

"What are you afraid of? There are so many old scholars and civilian girls who have fled with us in Nanchang. Just send him a Han woman. Speaking of which, I also have a daughter who is waiting to be married." Liu Yangzheng felt that what Wang Shouren said was a good idea.

…

Beijing, March has passed.

Zhu Houzhao's marriage selection was put on the agenda, and the cabinet's announcement of the emperor's appointment was announced to the world. The good news spread among the people and became an uproar.

The last time a chosen woman entered the palace was thirty years ago, when Emperor Hongzhi accepted Queen Mother Zhang as his crown princess.

The most lively institution was the Imperial College, where it was possible to select concubines from civilian girls.

Zhang Hui, who held a wine ceremony in the Imperial College, ordered that if there were any eligible civilian girls among the prison students, they should report them and send their birth dates to the yamen of the Ministry of Rites.

In Kunning Palace, Queen Mother Zhang and Queen Zeng were looking at the concubine selection brochures submitted by officials from various places.

"The Ai family is looking at the daughters of Li Bingtian, Wei Wenshu, and Yu Yun, the Imperial College students. They are all good. They will be sent to the Ministry of Rites soon."

"The daughter of Chen Guangde is born in Baoding Prefecture. Please take a look at her."

in the market,

People from all over the capital sent their daughters to the Yamen, where they were selected by the county magistrate and elected to the palace.

In the blink of an eye, it was two months again, and the women elected by the people from all over the country were sent to the capital one after another.

Every day when going to court, you can see the women who choose ladies lining up to enter the palace.

It took more than half a month to select sixty people, from whom three concubines would be selected.

Fengtian Temple.

The Supreme Emperor Hongzhi glanced at him, his appearance was quite delicate and simple, and a smile gradually appeared on his face.

The princes glanced at these concubines, and their hearts suddenly moved.

"They all come from innocent families, and their birth dates are very suitable for the new emperor. Let the new emperor choose." Mao Ji, the Minister of Rites, said with a smile.

Zhu Houzhao glanced at them and saw that they were all equally beautiful, "I don't want to choose, I want them all."

The princes' smiles gradually disappeared.

The Supreme Emperor Hongzhi's expression turned grim.

Although there is no fixed quota for the harem, there are usually three or five, no more and no less, which is the best, so that the incense can be prosperous without being indulged in the waste of political affairs.

At this time, the little eunuch came in and announced.

Immediately, Xue Ju, the minister of Honglu Temple, came in and reported: "The Tang and Song Dynasties sent envoys to say that they wanted to marry the imperial court."

In the main hall, everyone's expressions changed slightly.

Yan Chengjin was surprised, maybe Wang Shouren would send Zhu Houzhao a big horse.

This guy was so careless that he sent someone here without communicating with him.

After calming down a little, he still chose to believe Wang Shengren. After all, Wang Shouren knew the temperament of the Supreme Emperor and the princes.

If things go wrong, run away with a bucket.

Li Dongyang frowned: "We have no military affairs with the Tang and Song Dynasties, so why should we marry them? Their attempt to cling to the Ming Dynasty is obvious."

"That's right. Besides, being able to take a foreign woman as a concubine will be criticized by the people." Jiang Mian added.

The second man's meaning is obvious.

Since ancient times, marriages have been intended to quell the war between the two countries. However, the Tang and Song Dynasties did not border the Ming Dynasty. The marriage was not good for the Ming Dynasty, but only beneficial to the Tang and Song Dynasties.

Honglu Temple Minister Xue Ju raised his head: "But this woman looks no different from the Han people."

The last time he was sent as an envoy to Tang Song Kingdom, he clearly saw that the kingdom was all dark.

"How could there be a Han princess?" Xie Qian wondered.

Zhu Houzhao said indifferently: "What's so strange? The poet Li Bai is also a Han Chinese from a foreign land."

The retired emperor Hongzhi and the other officials had never heard that Li Bai was a foreigner, and they just thought Zhu Houzhao was talking nonsense.

But the next sentence made them unhappy.

"Invite her into the palace, I want to see her." Zhu Houzhao ordered happily.

Not long after, a woman with a veil on her head came in, with silver ornaments tied on her hair, and wearing the silk and satin of the Ming Dynasty, just like a lady from a noble family.

"Liu Zhao, the daughter of the Tang Song Kingdom, greets the respected emperor of the Ming Dynasty and the new emperor."

Yan Chengjin was stunned. This is really a Han Chinese, without any foreign accent.

The retired emperor Hongzhi and the other officials also looked very strange.

Why does it sound like the official language of Jiangnan? It is completely different from the envoys I have met. His speech and behavior seem to be quite familiar with the etiquette of the court.

"You are a Tang Song nationality, why are you a Han Chinese?"

"Liu Zhao is not a pure Tang Song royal family. His father made military achievements and was named the King of Southeast. Although his ancestors were Han Chinese, his father was a first-class official of Tang Song."

The retired emperor Hongzhi and the other officials looked puzzled.

The last time the envoys went to Tang Song, they had verified that the kings of Tang Song were not Han Chinese. Now they have sent a Han Chinese woman. Could she be an imposter?

"Do you have a document and an official seal?"

Xue Ju, the minister of the Honglu Temple, pulled out a book from his sleeve and handed it over: "I have checked the identity. The envoy has been to Daming. I recognize him."

Zhu Houzhao was suspicious. Could this be sent by a fool?

Yan Chengjin's heart moved slightly. Wang Shouren was as bold as Zhu Houzhao. He didn't know where this woman came from.

Liu Jian said: "Marriage with the Tang and Song kingdoms is of no benefit to the court. Even if the identities are true, I think there is no need for marriage."

The officials nodded in agreement.