big song poppi

Chapter 663 0660 [Raccoon Slave]

Han Zhen actually didn't care whether the baby in Zhao Fujin's belly was a boy or a girl.

After all, he is still young, Zhao Fujin is only twenty years old, and they will have children in the future.

What he was worried about was Zhao Fujin's health.

The little girl is thin, not as plump as her sister Fujin. Her figure is similar to Runniang's. She will definitely suffer during her first pregnancy.

Look, it’s been more than half an hour, and there is still no news.

Han Zhen could imagine at this moment the little girl lying on the bed, pale-faced, groaning in pain with cold sweat on her forehead.

"Cotton likes warmth and light, is afraid of waterlogging and is drought-tolerant. It is best planted in dry, rainless places with plenty of sunlight. In the past few years, I have traveled all over the country and tried planting in many places. I found that Hebei is the most suitable place, followed by Shandong and Guanzhong. The south is hot and humid with a lot of rain, which is not suitable for growing cotton."

Your Highness, Deng Song reported the results absentmindedly.

Over the years, he has devoted himself to cotton and has traveled almost all over the country. He has opened experimental fields in many places across the country to plant cotton, made multiple comparisons, and analyzed a number of factors such as soil, water, and fertilizer. The experimental records he has written alone are three or four feet thick.

Han Zhen listened absentmindedly. He vaguely remembered that the most suitable place to grow cotton was Xinjiang, which is where the East and West Karakhanid Khanates and the Uighurs are located today.

The second largest area is the Hexi Corridor, Longzhong Plain and Linxia Basin where the Western Xia was located.

However, one of these two places is too far away, and the other has not been conquered yet, so they are not under consideration for the time being.

Before Han Zhen could speak, Chang Yukun said, "I think the cotton issue can be postponed for a few years. Hebei has suffered many wars and floods. It was not until Your Majesty established the country that the people of Hebei and Hebei finally lived a stable life. Changing course will only arouse the people's resentment."

"Besides, Shandong is the largest granary besides Liangzhe and Jiangnan. I think it is inappropriate to act rashly."

Xie Ding agreed and said, "I second the motion."

The people in Hebei have suffered so much. They have finally lived a stable life for two years and finally experienced the feeling of having surplus food. Now if they are asked to change to growing cotton, there is no guarantee that another Gaotuo Mountain will appear.

As for Shandong, it was the birthplace of Han Zhen. With his prestige, it would be absolutely no problem for him to promote the switch to cotton planting.

But the problem is that Shandong has been run by him for so many years that it has long become the largest granary in the north.

You know, the Western Army of the Five Northwestern Routes now relies entirely on Shandong for blood transfusions.

In this era, there is never enough food, so he really doesn't dare to move.

Han Zhen pondered and said, "Mr. Deng, please select a place in Guanzhong for trial planting. If it is feasible, then promote it."

Cotton still needs to be planted. After the arrival of the Little Ice Age, the weather has become increasingly cold.

The most intuitive feeling was that it snowed in Hangzhou last year and a thin layer of ice formed on the West Lake.

This is the case in Liangzhe, let alone the north.

Without cotton clothes to keep warm, countless people froze to death every winter.

The kang is not a panacea. You can't stay on it for twelve hours a day, and coal costs money.

"I accept your order."

Deng Song bowed in response.

"His Majesty……"

Liu Chang rushed out from the back of the hall and said with great joy: "Congratulations, Your Majesty. Congratulations, Your Majesty. The Queen has given birth to a prince, and both mother and child are safe."

Prince!

The eyes of the ministers in the palace lit up, and they all showed joy on their faces, smiling and congratulating: "Congratulations, Your Majesty!"

They were happy from the bottom of their hearts. Having a crown prince meant stability in the world.

And stability is more important than anything else.

As the saying goes, it is better to be a dog in peacetime than a man in troubled times.

Han Zhen secretly breathed a sigh of relief, as long as the person was okay.

Then he smiled and said, "Hold a banquet. I want to entertain all of you tonight."

Dozens of thick and long candles illuminated the hall brightly.

A group of women from the Jiaofangsi, dressed in light gauze, danced gracefully to the beautiful music.

Wow, this little waist can be twisted, as if it has no bones.

The banquet ended near the hour of Hai.

Han Zhen took light steps and went to the bathhouse to take a bath first, otherwise the smell of alcohol on his body would easily stink up his newborn baby.

After washing off the smell of alcohol, he returned to his bedroom.

Zhao Fujin was already asleep on the bed, her face still a little pale, obviously she had suffered a lot during childbirth.

Next to her, there was a small swaddling cloth.

The wrinkled little fellow was sleeping soundly with his eyes tightly closed, and his little mouth moved from time to time, as if sucking.

The baby had just been born, so he didn't dare to kiss it for fear of bacterial infection. He just used his fingers to tease the little thing's clenched fist.

"Husband."

A whisper sounded in my ears.

Zhao Fujin woke up at some point and was looking at him with sleepy eyes.

"Thanks for your hard work."

Han Zhen gently stroked her hair, his eyes full of care.

Zhao Fujin shook her head: "It's not hard for me. Women will always go through this. My sister said that only after experiencing the pain of childbirth can you better understand how to be a good mother."

After all, you are young and recover quickly.

After resting for just two or three hours, I feel energetic again.

After sleeping for a while, Zhao Fujin regained some energy and whispered, "My husband, the baby's nickname has not been chosen yet."

"Just call him Gousheng."

Han Zhen joked.

"Although it's a cheap name, it's too vulgar." Zhao Fujin rolled her eyes at him in reproach, showing her charm.

The child's nickname is usually humble so that he will be easier to raise.

This was not only true among the common people, but also among the royal family.

You don't think names like Black Butt, Liu Zhu, Pheasant Slave, Ji Slave, and Badger Lang are good names, do you?

Han Zhen pondered and said, "How about calling me Li Nu?"

"This is good."

Zhao Fujin responded with a smile.

Li Nu is an elegant name for domestic cats. Lu You wrote in his poem "Presented to a Cat": I packed salt to welcome the little Li Nu, who will protect the thousands of books in my mountain house.

In this era, cats had a high status and were regarded as auspicious animals with special powers.

The so-called salt wrapping means that when the owner asks for the kitten from neighbors or vendors, he often exchanges it for salt.

Salt is hard currency at this time, and in many remote areas, it is more useful than copper coins.

Moreover, when buying a cat, people usually don’t say “buying” or “exchanging”, but rather call it “hiring”.

There is even a book specifically for raising cats, "Maoyuan Maocheng", which records the complete cat-hiring ceremony.

[Looking for a cat - choosing a date - placing a contract for a cat - welcoming the cat home - worshipping the Kitchen God, making a cat toilet - taming the cat and settling it down]

This shows how much the people of the Song Dynasty loved cats.

In addition, it is generally believed that cats have a strong life, so it is suitable to use them as nicknames for children.

"Li slave, little Li slave, do you like the nickname your father gave you?" Zhao Fujin's face showed the maternal glow and she whispered softly.

She was responded with a loud cry.

Zhao Fujin was at a loss: "Did my voice sound too loud and wake up the cat?" Just then, a wet nurse came forward quickly, opened the swaddling clothes and checked, and said: "Empress, the little prince has urinated."

Newborn babies will defecate within four or five days. This is the meconium accumulated in the womb. It is not smelly, but black and sticky, like heated asphalt.

The nurse wiped the meconium gently and skillfully, and after changing the baby into a clean diaper, the little one immediately stopped crying and continued to sleep soundly.

Normally, after a child is born, he or she should sleep with the wet nurse.

After all, the baby cried several times every night in the first two months, disturbing his mother from getting a good rest, but Zhao Fujin couldn't bear it and insisted on sleeping with his son.

After spending some time with Zhao Fujin, Han Zhen finally got up and left.

He was too heavy when he slept and was afraid of hurting the little cat.

After leaving the bedroom, Han Zhen asked, "Where are we going tonight?"

Liu Chang flipped through the book and said, "Your Majesty, today is a bye."

understood!

Han Zhen nodded and walked towards Fu Yu Pavilion.

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Lu Tian was not among the concubines in the harem. Before, he would go to Fanlou only when he was free. But since the sleeping schedule was arranged, he changed to going only when he was free.

The so-called byes were given by Zhao Fujin and the other girls for his own good, as they were worried that he would hurt his body from fighting every night.

But Han Zhen knew his own situation best. He was gifted and violent and bloodthirsty in his heart. Now that he lived in the palace, he could not fight on the battlefield and could only vent in this way.

Moreover, he was familiar with the Taoist breathing method and practiced it diligently every day.

Taoist exercises are upright and peaceful, with emphasis on the word "nurturing".

……

The quiet courtyard is somewhat out of place with the extravagant and decadent Fanlou.

There was a dim candlelight in the bedroom.

A pair of blurry figures were reflected on the paper-pasted window frame.

The two figures almost overlapped, constantly moving around the room, accompanied by bursts of cat-like murmurs.

"what!!!"

I don't know how long it was before a scream was heard.

In the bedroom, Lu Tian lay on the bed, her erect grinding wheel covered with red palm prints, which looked particularly bright red against her snow-white skin.

Her whole body twitched slightly, and her red little mouth opened slightly, like a fish dying of thirst.

After a long time, she slowly came back to her senses.

Entering early autumn, the nights were already a little chilly. Lu Tian lazily pulled a thin blanket over her body, her delicate and charming face showing both anger and joy: "Your Majesty is so arrogant, and he doesn't even know how to feel sorry for me."

Han Zhen teased, "If I really loved you, you would be unhappy."

Although she is not as durable as An Niang, her slender waist is unusually powerful, and her movements are particularly seductive.

Lu Tian bit her fingers lightly, giggled, and then asked expectantly, "Your Majesty, can you stay here tonight?"

"Ah."

Han Zhen nodded, leaned over and lay beside her, gently stroking her jade back with his big hands.

The two talked quietly, and before they knew it, Lu Tian fell asleep.

……

……

The next day.

Early in the morning, Gao Qingyi entered the palace led by the eunuch Huangmen.

Entering the Chuigong Palace, Gao Qingyi saluted meticulously and said, "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you!"

While paying his respects, he secretly glanced at Han Zhen who was sitting behind the imperial desk.

Although he had surrendered to Qi for more than a year, this was the first time Gao Qingyi met the emperor.

His first feeling was that of such a strong aura.

His eyes are like swords, seeming to be able to see into people's hearts.

Like the scorching sun in the sky, people dare not look directly at it.

"No gift."

Han Zhen looked at Gao Qingyi with some surprise.

He originally thought that this Bohai warrior was a strong man with a broad back and strong arms, but he never expected that he had a plain figure. If there was any outstanding quality about him, it was probably the ferocity that emanated from his bones.

Han Zhen greeted him, "Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Gao."

Gao Qingyi lowered his head and said graciously, "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I am not tired. I am a soldier. When I led troops to fight, I often climbed on ice and slept in the snow, and ate the wind and drank the dew. Coming to the capital this time is nothing."

Han Zhen smiled and said, "I heard that Gao Qing brought his family with him?"

"Yes."

Gao Qingyi nodded and took the opportunity to say, "In the past, I have admired Chinese culture and yearned for the Central Plains. During this trip, what I saw and heard shocked me greatly. Bianjing is as prosperous as a fairyland. Therefore, I plan to settle my family in the capital and enjoy the grace of Your Majesty every day."

"Gao Qing is thoughtful."

Han Zhen smiled slightly and said in a clear voice: "Give Gao Qing a mansion, five catties of silver, ten pieces of silk, and twenty bottles of colored glass."

"Your Majesty, I am so grateful for your kindness!"

Gao Qingyi's eyes lit up and he knelt on his knees to express his gratitude.

Your Majesty's reward was a great help to him.

Before coming here, he had decided to settle his family in the capital as a token of his allegiance. However, when he was having a banquet with Zhang Feiyuan last night, he learned that the housing prices in the capital were much more expensive than he had imagined.

A private courtyard house in the outer city costs 20,000 strings of cash, while in the inner city, there is no house that costs less than 50,000 strings of cash.

Especially Gao Qingyi's family, with parents, wives, concubines and children totaling 17 or 18 people, they need a house with at least three courtyards. Such a house would cost at least 100,000 strings of cash even in the outer city.

Since surrendering to the State of Qi, Gao Qingyi has received a lot of rewards, and he also received dividends last year, totaling over 40,000 strings of cash.

The key point is that he spends a lot of money on a daily basis. As the commander-in-chief of an army and a native of Bohai, he should reward the soldiers under his command, right?
Tribal families must be maintained, right?
There must be personal connections in official circles, right?

After adding up the food, drink, and shelter for the whole family, there is only 20,000 strings of cash left. With this money, one can choose any mansion in Linhuang Prefecture, but in Tokyo City, one can only buy a small courtyard in the outer city, and that's in a remote location.

Gao Qingyi submitted his pledge of allegiance and Han Zhen gave him rewards, and the atmosphere in the Chuigong Hall became much more harmonious.

Moreover, Gao Qingyi, the Bohai warrior with thick eyebrows and big eyes, is very unambiguous when it comes to flattery.

For a while, the emperor and his ministers had a very pleasant conversation.

"Xixia has been restless recently. Gao Qing has been taking good care of Dongsheng Prefecture in recent years."

Han Zhen's words startled Gao Qingyi. He stopped smiling and said solemnly, "I dare not hide anything from your majesty. Before I set out, Li Qianshun sent someone to contact me secretly and promised me a high position and generous salary. This is a secret letter from Xixia. Please take a look. Li Qianshun is a cunning man. I am afraid he will try to sow discord between us."

As he spoke, he took out a secret letter from his lapel and presented it respectfully.

After receiving the secret letter from Liu Chang, Han Zhen did not check it immediately, but chuckled and said, "Don't worry, Mr. Gao. Although I dare not compare myself to the ancestors of Tang and Han, I still have some tolerance. I don't employ people if I doubt them, and I don't doubt people if I employ them."

Gao Qingyi secretly breathed a sigh of relief and flattered him: "Your Majesty is a man of great talent and ambition, and your future achievements will not be inferior to those of Emperor Tang and Emperor Han."

The strategy of sowing discord seems simple, but it works well.

Because once a chain of suspicion is formed, the outcome is often like a runaway train, and no one knows where it will crash into.

Han Zhen's behavior and words finally made Gao Qingyi feel relieved.

This is also one of the reasons why he wanted to go to Beijing to meet the emperor.

If His Majesty shows any hesitation, he will immediately request to be transferred out of the three states of Dongsheng.

(End of this chapter)