On the wedding day, my wife was abnormal

On his back were two chubby little boys, delicate and delicate as jade—Lin Zhen's eldest son, Lin Chengyu, and his second son, Lin Chengshu! Both little guys were wearing festive red brocade jackets and trousers, their little faces flushed, and they were shouting with excitement!

"Gee! Gee! Grandpa, run! Charge! Beat the barbarians!" Two-year-old Lin Chengyu tightly grasped a strand of Lin Zhenxian's snow-white beard with his little hand, and waved a small wooden sword with the other hand, and let out a childish shout of killing.

"Beat the barbarians! Beat the barbarians! Charge!" One-year-old Lin Chengshu could not speak much and could only follow his brother's shouting like a parrot. His chubby little hands also imitated his brother's behavior, pulling the other side of his grandfather's beard, and bouncing his little butt up and down, treating his grandfather as a charging warhorse.

"Ouch! Ouch! My little ancestors! Be gentle!" Lin Zhenxian crawled on the ground cooperatively, baring his teeth exaggeratedly and wailing in "pain", but his old eyes, as sharp as an eagle, were filled with pampering and satisfaction that were almost overflowing. The smile on his face was like a blooming chrysanthemum, and every wrinkle revealed happiness.

After he crawled a few steps, he would deliberately say "ouch", which made the two little guys giggle and pull even harder.

Next to the carpet, there were two baby girls (Lin Zhen’s two daughters) wearing pink swaddling clothes, as white as jade balls, sitting there, being held carefully in the arms of their nanny.

They opened their big black eyes, curiously looking at their grandfather and brothers "fighting" on the ground, babbling bubbles from their little mouths.

As Lin Zhenxian crawled past them, she did not forget to stretch out her rough big hands and gently scratched her granddaughter's tender tofu-like face, making the little girl open her toothless mouth and giggle.

The entire Songhe Hall was filled with the innocent laughter of children, Lin Zhenxian's exaggerated "screams" and the suppressed laughter of the wet nurses, creating a warm scene of joy and family happiness.

This was the scene Lin Zhen saw when he stepped into Songhe Hall.

He was dressed in a black dragon-patterned uniform, with an upright posture and a look of fatigue on his face, but his eyes were still sharp and deep.

He looked at his grandfather and sons playing happily on the ground, and a warm arc involuntarily appeared on the corners of his cold mouth.

He did not disturb them immediately, but just stood quietly by the door, watching this rare moment of warmth, and a warm feeling surged in his heart.

The turbulent waves of Hu County and the undercurrents of the capital seemed to be isolated from this warm place.

"Daddy!" The sharp-eyed Lin Chengyu was the first to notice his father. He immediately released his hand that was pulling his grandfather's beard, climbed down from Lin Zhenxian's back using his hands and feet, and rushed towards Lin Zhen like a small cannonball!

Lin Chengshu followed closely behind, staggering over.

Lin Zhen squatted down, opened his arms, and held his two sons steadily in his arms.

Cheng Yu hung on his neck like a little monkey, while Cheng Shu hugged his legs, tilted his little face up, and called out in a baby voice, "Daddy! Hug me!"

"Be good." Lin Zhen picked up one of his sons in each hand and kissed each of their pink little faces, making the two little guys giggle.

He carried his son to the edge of the carpet.

"Zhen'er is back?" Lin Zhenxian slowly got up from the ground, patted the non-existent dust on his robe, and with a satisfied smile on his face, he reached out and took the still twisting little Chengshu from Lin Zhen's arms, rubbed his little face with his beard, causing the little guy to giggle again.

"Your Majesty, have you given us everything?"

"Yes, everything is settled." Lin Zhen put Cheng Yu down and let him play by himself. He turned his gaze to Lin Zhenxian, his expression becoming serious. "Grandfather, I came back this time to discuss the affairs of Northern Yan with you."

"Beiyan?" Lin Zhenxian held little Chengshu in his arms and sat down on a red sandalwood armchair covered with thick brocade cushions. He picked up a delicate rattle on the low table next to him and teased his great-grandson without looking up, speaking casually.

"Didn't I conquer Northern Yan? The royal court has surrendered, so what else is there to discuss? Let the court send a few capable civil servants to collect taxes and appease those who need to be appeased, and that will be the end of it, right?"

"It's not that simple, Grandfather." Lin Zhen sat down across from Lin Zhenxian, poured himself a cup of warm tea, and said in a deep voice, "Northern Yan is a vast territory (northern Shanxi and parts of the Mongolian grasslands), and the people are fierce and ruthless, especially the nomadic tribes. Although the royal court has surrendered, the tribal leaders (chiefs) still maintain their own forces and pretend to obey.

"An imperial decree, a hundred miles from Yanjing (the old capital of Northern Yan), is like waste paper! Furthermore, the region is bitterly cold, the soil is barren, and the people, many of whom rely on nomadic means, live in poverty. If we only focus on taxing and exploiting people without considering improving their livelihoods, rebellion will inevitably ensue! The imperial army will then be exhausted by the long expedition, expending countless resources and suffering the loss of lives. Wouldn't that be a loss?"

Lin Zhenxian paused teasing his great-grandson, raised his eyelids, and glanced at Lin Zhen: "What do you think?"

"The most urgent task is to 'strengthen the foundation and nourish the essence'!" Lin Zhen put down the teacup, his eyes burning.

"First, transform the natives into commoners! Abolish the old hereditary system of tribal chieftains in Northern Yan and establish prefectures, prefectures, and counties, modeled after the inland areas. These will be governed by officials appointed by the imperial court! Select local talented individuals who are fluent in Chinese and loyal to the imperial court to serve as grassroots officials, and gradually implement the Daqian Code and its taxation system!

Second, establish military and civilian settlements on the border! Relocate landless refugees from the interior, recruit veterans, and establish military and civilian settlements in the lush grasslands of Northern Yan (the Hetao Plain). The court will provide oxen, seeds, and farm tools, and exempt them from taxes for three years! Encourage the reclamation of wasteland, the planting of cold-resistant crops (such as oats and potatoes), and the construction of forts and strongholds, gradually transforming nomadic people into settled farmers. This will not only solve the problem of resettlement, but also strengthen border defenses and provide the court with a stable source of tax revenue and military rations.

Third, promote commerce! Open the Yanjing-Datong-Taiyuan trade route, lower tariffs, and encourage Shanxi merchants to move north! Exchange salt, iron, tea, cloth, and porcelain from the Central Plains for furs, livestock, and medicinal herbs from Northern Yan! Exchange what we have and what we don't have, and prosper the economy! Fourth, and most importantly—exploit mining!

Lin Zhen's voice suddenly rose, with a hint of uncontrollable excitement:

"Grandfather! The land of Northern Yan may seem desolate, but it actually holds mountains of gold and silver! According to the latest secret report from the Ministry of Industry, astonishing reserves of high-quality open-pit coal have been discovered north of Yanmen Pass and on the southern foot of the Yin Mountains! The coal is of far superior quality to that of Liaodong! Furthermore, a large vein of iron ore has been discovered near Yunzhong County (Datong), and the grade is exceptionally high! There are also copper and limestone mines... the reserves are all extremely rich! If we can vigorously mine them, Northern Yan will not only become self-sufficient, but will also become a new mining powerhouse for our Daqian! It will provide a continuous supply of steel for the giant ships of the deep-water port, the workshops of Hu County, and even the future armored armies!"