We have fought to the Arctic Circle, and you want me to inherit the throne?

The birth of Xiao Qubing was of great significance, and it excited the entire Feng State court.

Li Che had already communicated with the civil and military officials and decided that as long as the child was a boy, he would be immediately made the crown prince.

He didn't want to follow Emperor Qing's example and use the method of raising poisonous insects to seize the throne.

When it comes to appointing a crown prince, the eldest son should be the legitimate heir. This rule passed down by our ancestors makes sense.

If even the monarch's choice of the crown prince is unclear, the people below will develop ambitions and fall into endless political infighting.

Of course, this also has its advantages.

The forces supporting each successor check and balance each other, so the monarch above can just sit back and watch, rest assured.

But does Li Che need this kind of restriction?

There are no internal conflicts in Fengguo. Even if there are, they have all turned from internal conflicts to external conflicts.

Today, Feng State is still in a stage of rapid expansion. There is plenty of cake to be divided, and there are still large tracts of land overseas waiting for Li Che to conquer.

Therefore, the birth of Qubing is a good thing for the whole Feng State.

Needless to say, Li Che was so happy that he ordered a grand banquet and rewarded his ministers that day.

The ministers had just received a wave of rewards from Li Che during the New Year, and now they received another wave of rewards, which was even more generous than before. It goes without saying that they were extremely grateful.

However, reward alone was not enough. After careful consideration, Li Che finally made a decision - amnesty!

This was the first amnesty in Feng State after Li Che took control of the area outside the Great Wall.

Before this, Li Che was a little confused. He didn't understand why ancient kings would pardon criminals to show their benevolence when they had happy events.

But as his understanding of ancient politics deepened, he gradually began to understand that the political significance of a general amnesty was not as simple as it seemed.

Take Fengguo for example.

There were actually a lot of criminals in Feng State, so many that the management pressure and costs were becoming increasingly huge, causing the court to complain bitterly.

The vast majority of them were war criminals of various ethnic groups, including private soldiers of the previous dynasty's families and prisoners of war from the Mohe, Goryeo, Khitan, Northern Hu, and Portuguese.

There are also a small number of prisoners with light and heavy sentences left behind by the aristocratic families of the previous dynasty when they controlled Chaoyang City.

A very small number of them were criminals captured by Li Che after he took control of Chaoyang City.

Pardoning them will not only ease the pressure on the guards, but also win over the various forces behind the prisoners.

For those foreign war criminals, Feng State still adopted the civilian nobility system, and Feng State's military system gradually improved, and it had not needed foreign prisoners of war for a long time.

This resulted in most of the alien races still being low-ranking nobles, not only restricted in their movements but also requiring guarding.

But in fact, these captives could see the lives of the people of Fengguo every day, and they had long been yearning for it and envious of it.

They just lack an opportunity to join, and it is difficult to obtain high-ranking civilian nobility through labor alone, and the Fengguo court is not in a position to set them free directly.

The birth of Qubing was an opportunity. After Li Che discussed with the cabinet, he decided to grant him the third level of nobility.

All prisoners were promoted to level six civilian nobility or above, and could move freely in non-military areas and participate in production and construction.

As soon as the order was issued, there was a cheer in Qihuo Cave, and countless foreign prisoners knelt on the ground and shouted "Long live the king".

These people had been subdued by the Fengtian Army and had no thoughts of betrayal, not to mention that they had lost their country.

As for the prisoners left over from the previous dynasty's rule, the situation is much more complicated.

There must be some who were innocent and some who had really committed crimes. When Li Che first moved into Chaoyang City, everything was in ruins and he had no time to check the situation of these criminals.

There is now an amnesty, and serious crimes such as treason, high treason, and murder are not included in the amnesty, while ordinary criminals such as theft, fighting, etc. can be released.

As for the prisoners captured after Li Che moved into Chaoyang City, they will not be released!

When the aristocratic families were in charge before, they could use reasons such as the world is fickle and they have no choice to exonerate them.

Later, Li Che took over Chaoyang City. Although the politics was not clear and peaceful, there were laws to follow.

You still commit crimes, steal and rob. If you are not bad at heart, what are you?

If pardoning other criminals is to help Xiao Qubing accumulate merit, then pardoning these real evildoers will not only fail to accumulate merit, but will damage one's virtue.

The amnesty lasted for three full days, and at least tens of thousands of people walked out of the Qihuo Cave and regained their freedom.

Chaoyang City cannot accommodate so many people, so they will go to other cities and production and construction corps to start a new life.

The prisoners took off their worn prison uniforms, received the supplies distributed by the soldiers, and walked out of the city along the streets.

Li Che stood on the roof of Tianshang Renjian, looking at the street below, with the corners of his mouth slightly raised.

That's right. Although they are not from Daqing, they are all neighbors living on this land. Why should they fight with each other?

It is better to unite against the outside world, beat the Japanese first, and then beat the foreigners, that would be more satisfying!

"Your Highness."

Li Che turned around and saw Qiu Bai, bowing and asking, "Wang Yongnian is here."

Li Che nodded slightly and looked at the figure coming in from the door.

Wang Yongnian was wearing an old official robe that was washed so much that it looked white. The wooden yoke that had accompanied him for more than seven hundred days and nights was still around his neck and wrists.

He lowered his head, not daring to look directly at Li Che on the throne, feeling uneasy.

"Wang Yongnian." Li Che's voice was calm.

"I am guilty...I am guilty." Wang Yongnian responded in panic.

Li Che did not speak immediately, but just raised his chin to Qiu Bai who was standing beside him.

Qiu Bai understood and walked forward holding a tray.

Wang Yongnian looked closely and saw that there was no document on the tray, only a small brass key.

When Wang Yongnian saw the key, his pupils suddenly shrank and his heart almost jumped out of his chest.

Qiu Bai walked behind him and gently inserted the key into the lock of the shackles. He heard a very clear "click".

Then, Qiu Bai gently took off the heavy wooden yoke that had bound Wang Yongnian for two years and placed it on the tray.

I felt a sudden lightness on my neck and wrists, and the long-lost feeling of freedom spread throughout my body like an electric current.

Wang Yongnian subconsciously raised his hand and touched his neck, then moved his wrist in disbelief.

He stared blankly at the shackles, as if he didn't recognize this 'old friend' who had been with him day and night.

For him, this shackle is both a heavy pillar of shame and a life-saving straw.

For two years, he worked diligently and meticulously, and pointed out and recorded any violation of court etiquette without mercy.

He knew very well that his life was hanging by a thread, and if he slacked off or made the same mistake again, he would be plunged into an abyss.

Even the most discerning censor could not find any fault with his dedication to duty under tremendous pressure.

He silently and painstakingly used his actions to wash away the stigma he had suffered in the past.

Wang Yongnian had heard of the amnesty, but he didn't dare to hope that he would be included. He never thought...

Thinking of this, the fear and regret that had accumulated over the past two years burst out at this moment like a flood that broke through a dam!

"My lord...my lord..."

Wang Yongnian's whole body began to tremble violently, and he couldn't suppress sobs in his throat. Tears fell like beads from a broken string, and his vision was blurred in an instant.

He could no longer hold on and fell to his knees with a thud, his forehead hitting the cold and smooth ground heavily with a dull sound.

"Your Highness! Your Highness's grace! I, the guilty one... Your Highness, the guilty one, Wang Yongnian, bow down to thank Your Highness for giving me a new life!"

"This life of your majesty was given to me! I will serve your majesty till death is my last. If I have any second thoughts, I will be punished by heaven and earth!"

Wang Yongnian cried and banged his forehead against the ground again and again. Soon, blood oozed out, as if he wanted to vent all the emotions he had felt in the past two years.

Li Che looked at Wang Yongnian, who was crying bitterly, with a barely perceptible scrutiny in his eyes.

He didn't stop him immediately, waiting until Wang Yongnian's emotions calmed down a little, then he spoke slowly and gently: "Get up."

"I dare not!" Wang Yongnian choked.

"The shackles are gone, so how can I be a guilty minister?" Li Che said, "You have performed your duties diligently over the past two years, and have been diligent in supervising court ceremonies. You have contributed greatly to the solemnity and orderliness of the imperial court."

"Although I have never explicitly mentioned your contributions, I have seen them all."

When Wang Yongnian heard this, his body shook again.

She raised her head and looked at Li Che with tears in her eyes, so excited that she couldn't speak.

Li Che's affirmation made his heart surge even more than if the shackles were removed.

Li Che changed the subject, his tone becoming a little warmer:

"I also heard that your son Wang Xi is doing an excellent job in the Department of Agriculture."

"He developed several composting methods that were quite effective, and he also took care of the sweet potato, corn, and cotton seedlings."

"I have read his proposal and it is clearly organized and insightful. He is a hardworking and promising candidate. I am very optimistic about him."

When talking about his son, Wang Yongnian felt mixed emotions.

Your Highness's way of employing people is truly magnanimous. Even though he is wearing a heavy yoke, he can still make use of his talents. Not only has his son not been implicated, but he can also make a name for himself under the new policy.

Little did people know that Li Che's way of employing people was a combination of the essence of many wise rulers in history.

Boss Cao believed in "selecting people based on their talents", while Liu Da'er was known for his "magnanimity, generosity, and the ability to appoint talented people to the right positions". Both were already quite impressive, but not enough for Li Che.

When Li Che employs people, he employs those with virtue and those with talent. There is no one in the world who cannot be employed!

Even Old Wang, who is half paralyzed in the west of the city, can weave a straw mat, right?

Wang Yongnian kowtowed again, "My son is dull, but to be favored by Your Highness is a blessing earned through many lifetimes! Your Highness's kindness, my father and I, the Wang family, will never forget!"

Li Che nodded slightly: "The shackles are gone. I hope you and your son will work together to serve the country in the future. Don't let me down."

"I will do my best to assist Your Highness and serve the country!" Wang Yongnian responded firmly.

Wang Yongnian slowly stood up and looked at the young prince who gave him new life and hope, and suddenly remembered the figure who pushed him into the abyss.

Strong gratitude and guilt intertwined together, eventually overcoming his last hesitation.

He raised his head suddenly, tears still in his eyes:

"Your Highness, I have something else to report!"

"This matter... this matter is of grave importance. It has been buried in my heart for years, like a thorn in my throat, tormenting me day and night. I dare not deceive Your Highness any further!"

Li Che paused slightly as he picked up the teacup, a sharp look flashing across his eyes: "Oh? Your Majesty, please feel free to speak."

Wang Yongnian took a deep breath, as if he had exhausted all his strength, and said word by word:

"Back then, the Wang family secretly ran a slave trade throughout the interior of the country. The real mastermind behind it wasn't just me!"

"I...I am just a puppet on the stage. The one who truly controls the overall situation and reaps the greatest benefits...is...is..."

His voice trembled violently and he looked around fearfully, as if he was afraid the walls had ears.

Finally, he spat out the name with fear:

"It's... it's the former King of Shu, the current... Crown Prince! King of Shu, Li Huan!"