As Zhu Yuanzhang rushed out like the wind—or rather, like a madman—Song Lian wore an extraordinarily colorful expression.
He took a deep breath. “Hasn’t the Grand Marshal’s personality… changed a little too much?”
Ye Zheng smiled. “General Chen has always been this loud and flustered whenever he’s around his son.”
General Chen…
Song Lian’s face darkened. This old fox is reminding me that I let something slip!
He immediately smiled back. “General Chen is simply a man of true temperament. Though, with a child like Biao’er, any father would inevitably dote on him.”
Chen Wenzheng had no idea what riddles the two scholars were speaking in. He helped Xu Da clean away everything on the table that might reveal Zhu Yuanzhang’s presence. Then Xu Da sprawled into the grand armchair at the head of the room, arranging himself into an especially imposing pose.
The one in charge now is me, Marshal Xu Da!
Even Chen Guorui is only a general. He’ll have to look up at me!
Chen Wenzheng said bluntly, “Uncle Xu, you’d better not look so smug. The moment Biao’er leaves, you’ll be the one getting beaten.”
Xu Da replied, “Getting beaten afterward is a problem for afterward. If I don’t take advantage of him now, I’ll have fewer and fewer chances in the future.”
Chen Wenzheng found that surprisingly convincing.
“That’s true.”
He began wondering whether he could also take advantage of Fourth Uncle. Unfortunately, whether he was Zhu Wenzheng or Chen Wenzheng, “Chen Guorui” could beat him whenever he pleased.
Ah… if only I could achieve some earth-shattering military merit and surpass Chen Guorui. Then I’d carry Biao’er around right in front of him and strut proudly until Fourth Uncle blew his beard and stamped his feet in fury.
The rebellious young man Chen Wenzheng happily indulged in his daydream.
…
In the courtyard.
The moment Zhu Yuanzhang rushed outside, he snatched Chen Biao from Li Zhen’s arms and rubbed him fiercely against his chest.
As usual, Chen Biao resembled a tiny kitten rejecting its owner. His chubby little hands pushed desperately against Zhu Yuanzhang’s cheeks, trying to keep the scratchy beard away.
Of course, just like a kitten, all his struggling was completely useless.
Zhu Yuanzhang’s beard still pricked his face until it hurt.
After rubbing against his son, Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly felt the sky turn bluer, the grass greener, the flowers brighter, and even the air fresher. The gloom weighing on his heart vanished, and even the bloodshot redness in his eyes faded considerably.
Chen Biao stopped struggling and obediently wrapped his arms around Zhu Yuanzhang’s neck, embracing him closely.
“Dad, you’ve worked hard.”
Zhu Yuanzhang sniffed.
For some reason, his nose felt sore, and his eyes stung.
The first thing out of his mouth was a complaint.
“Biao’er, tell me—dividing the land is such a wonderful thing. Why are we still getting cursed?”
Looking at his father’s aggrieved expression, Chen Biao took the initiative to press his own soft, tofu-like cheek against Zhu Yuanzhang’s rough, stubbled face.
“Didn’t I already tell you? The Well-Field System is digging up the very roots of the landlords and gentry. It’s taking the lives of the powerful clans.”
Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head.
“I’m not talking about the landlords and gentry. Let them curse me—I don’t care. What I don’t understand is this: women receiving land—isn’t that a good thing? Then why are women cursing me? Those people…”
He proceeded to list the names of several famous women.
Zhu Yuanzhang knew that some of the poems criticizing him had actually been written by men under women’s names.
But some talented women from Suzhou and Hangzhou truly were renowned. Their poetry had once made paper prices soar throughout the region. Even a rough man like Zhu Yuanzhang had read their works. It was also true that they had held poetry gatherings, joined forces with scholars, and published anthologies specifically to denounce him.
After listening to his muttering, Chen Biao rolled his eyes.
So that’s what’s bothering you? You got scolded by beautiful women?
You thought you’d done something good, so all the beauties would admire you—but instead they dislike you even more?
Fine. Whether it’s a feudal man, or a modern man or woman, anyone would feel upset after being rejected by handsome men or beautiful women. Dad, I understand.
Chen Biao patted Zhu Yuanzhang’s rugged face with his chubby little hand.
“Dad, you know that after the Southern Song, the scholar-officials shifted the restraints of Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucian ritual ethics onto women, right?”
Zhu Yuanzhang nodded.
“I know. You told me before. I’ve been studying it.”
Even while beset by crises at home and abroad, even while he wanted nothing more than to charge into Zhang Shicheng’s territory and butcher Xie Zaixing’s entire family, Zhu Yuanzhang had never forgotten to study the Heavenly Book every night by lamplight.
Chen Biao sighed.
“Then you must also know that, not just daughters of official families—even ordinary peasant girls were bound by ritual propriety. Some women would rather starve to death than go out to earn a living, because they feared losing their chastity.”
“Those talented women all come from wealthy merchant or gentry families and are unmarried. How could they possibly gather freely with unrelated men to discuss poetry and literature or collaborate on books?”
“The famous poet Xue Tao belonged to the official entertainer class. The famous poet Li Qingzhao only had her poems circulated before marriage—she never mingled intimately with unrelated men. She associated with scholars only after marrying, when she and her husband hosted guests together.”
“Under ritual constraints, if a woman became famous for her literary talent, then either she belonged to the entertainer registers, or her father, brothers, or husband compiled and published her works.”
“Dad,” Chen Biao asked, “which category do you think those unmarried, famous young women belong to?”
“And what do you think of those wealthy merchants and gentry who raise their daughters in specially built secluded towers, set aside private courtyards for them, and receive unrelated male visitors every day? Which category do they belong to?”
Zhu Yuanzhang’s scalp tingled.
“But those are their own daughters! How could they possibly…”
Chen Biao remained expressionless.
“In ancient times, emperors married off princesses for political alliances. Even emperors did such things, let alone ordinary people.”
“But the gentry still care about appearances. Families that raise daughters like this are mostly wealthy merchants. And they aren’t necessarily biological daughters—they might be adopted daughters. They may not be willing to treat their own daughters that way.”
“Don’t quite a few of the Grand Marshal’s generals also keep adopted daughters? The difference is that military men will marry their adopted daughters off properly, even if only as concubines. Wealthy merchants have much lower moral standards than soldiers.”
Looking at his son’s indifferent expression, Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly felt that Chen Biao truly resembled one of those clay child immortals enshrined inside magnificent temples.
So he vigorously kneaded his son’s cheeks, rubbing away that aloof, otherworldly expression until it became the familiar, lively face glaring angrily at him.
Only then did he relax.
Chen Biao immediately pinched Zhu Yuanzhang’s cheeks in return.
“Dad! What are you doing!”
With a solemn face, Zhu Yuanzhang said, “Have you forgotten that many of your father’s colleagues—including the Grand Marshal himself—married adopted daughters? Don’t lump those adopted daughters together with those talented women from Suzhou and Hangzhou! Even your father won’t be able to save you if you do!”
Chen Biao immediately twisted around to look at Li Zhen, standing only three steps away.
“Uncle-in-law! You won’t tell Mom, will you?”
Li Zhen looked bewildered.
“Were you saying something just now?”
Chen Biao instantly put on a flattering smile.
“Uncle-in-law is the best! Biao’er loves you!”
Zhu Yuanzhang immediately objected.
“Why do you love him?”
Li Zhen shot Zhu Yuanzhang a look of utter disdain.
Ignoring his father’s completely mistimed jealousy, Chen Biao continued,
“In any case, these famous talented women actually matter the least, despite their reputation. The ones you should pay attention to are the ladies from noble and official families who only publish poetry anonymously without appearing in public. Their attitude reflects much deeper reasons.”
As they walked back inside, Zhu Yuanzhang listened while Chen Biao whispered from his shoulder.
“You can’t simply divide the people of this world into men and women. Even among men, different classes fight over resources because each class has different interests. Women are exactly the same.”
“Women with bound feet don’t want foot-binding abolished because, if small feet are no longer considered beautiful, what will become of them?”
“Wealthy women don’t want women to receive land because they never worry about food and certainly won’t farm. If women receive land, then even if they don’t cultivate it themselves, they’ll still owe corvée labor—or have to pay the taxes that substitute for labor.”
“Furthermore, once hereditary fields become contracted fields, wealthy families can still accumulate land through contracts. But there’s a big difference between seizing land once and for all and having to seize it again every thirty years. The latter creates far more complications and uncertainty. Naturally, women don’t want their family’s interests harmed.”
“Dad, every policy benefits some people while harming others. Those whose interests are harmed will oppose it.”
“It’s normal that the Grand Marshal doesn’t understand that. But why don’t you understand? Did you read the Heavenly Book for nothing?” Chen Biao said disdainfully. “I know you’ve been busy lately, but you still can’t stop studying.”
Zhu Yuanzhang protested, “I have been reading it! It’s just that without you explaining it, I can’t understand it!”
Chen Biao continued pinching his father’s face.
“Then why did you ignore me for over half a month? Let me tell you—I’m still angry! When we get home, I’m telling Mom! Yangzhou is such a gloomy ghost town, yet you lived right next door and never came to see me!”
Zhu Yuanzhang panicked.
“Biao’er! Are you a little tattletale puppy? Things that we father and son can settle ourselves—how can you tell your mother? That’s not how people behave!”
Chen Biao refused to let him off.
“You’re finished, Chen Guorui! I’m telling you, you’re finished!”
Father and son bickered noisily all the way into the study.
The moment they entered, Chen Biao’s triumphant shouting came to an abrupt halt.
Both Ye Zheng and Song Lian wore stern teachers’ expressions and spoke in perfect unison.
“Biao’er, how can you call your father by his given name?”
Zhu Yuanzhang’s lips curled upward.
“Exactly!”
Chen Biao froze.
“Master Song… Master Ye… why are you here?”
I’m doomed. My image…
…Actually, never mind. A slightly worse image is probably better.
Immediately recovering his spirits, Chen Biao declared,
“This is all Dad’s fault! Yangzhou is gloomy and desolate, and he left me alone next door for over half a month! I refuse to believe the Grand Marshal’s residence and our Chen residence are only separated by Uncle Xu’s house, yet he couldn’t even spare enough time to look at me once each day!”
He wanted to squeeze out a few tears to make himself look pitiful.
Unfortunately, during the past half month he’d continued eating well, reading books, and spending time with his three older brothers. He hadn’t been lonely at all.
No tears would come.
All he could manage was to wrinkle his nose and pretend to look aggrieved.
Despite how unconvincing his act was, both Ye Zheng and Song Lian believed it completely.
Even an immortal child is still a child.
Grand Marshal, how could you treat Biao’er like this?
Song Lian immediately frowned.
“General Chen, in this matter, you truly were in the wrong.”
Ye Zheng also said,
“General Chen, you really didn’t visit Biao’er for more than half a month?!”
Xu Da, sitting in the seat of honor with his chin resting on both hands, chimed in,
“Exactly. I advised Brother Chen many times, but he always said, ‘If the Well-Field System has not yet been implemented, how can I think of home?’ He insisted on following the example of Yu the Great, who passed his own home three times without entering.”
Chen Biao grabbed Zhu Yuanzhang’s cheeks.
“Huh? Dad, you actually said something like that?!”
Zhu Yuanzhang immediately cursed,
“Don’t listen to his nonsense! It was the Grand Marshal who dragged me away and forbade me from going home! Xu Da’s house is right next to the Grand Marshal’s residence, and even he couldn’t go home! We both ate and slept in the Grand Marshal’s residence!”
“Biao’er, believe your father! I begged over and over, but the Grand Marshal simply wouldn’t allow it. It was the Grand Marshal who kept lecturing me with that story about Yu the Great passing his home three times without entering.”
“Dad missed you terribly!”
Xu Da: “…”
I really thought I’d finally get to see you stumble in front of Biao’er. But the boss is still the boss. I can’t compare to his ability to lie with a straight face.
Ye Zheng: “…”
There it is again. Even now, I still can’t get used to Grand Marshal Zhu so skillfully making himself take the blame.
Song Lian: “…”
I’m so shocked that my mind has gone completely blank.
Zhu Yuanzhang continued grumbling, showing not the slightest respect toward the Grand Marshal.
Chen Biao hurriedly covered Zhu Yuanzhang’s mouth.
“All right, all right, I believe you! Master Song and Master Ye are still here. Don’t let people laugh at us!”
Lowering his voice, he whispered,
“Walls have ears! Do you want the Grand Marshal to beat you up?”
Only then did Zhu Yuanzhang shut his mouth.
With a pitiful expression, he said,
“Biao’er, I’ve missed you so much these past days. I’ve had such a hard time.”
Now it was Chen Biao’s turn to comfort him.
“All right, all right. I know. Dad loves me most. There’s no way you’d willingly leave me alone next door for over half a month. It was all the Grand Marshal’s orders. You couldn’t help it.”
Chen Biao genuinely believed his father and sincerely meant to comfort him.
But to everyone else, every word dripped with sarcasm.
Xu Da naturally wouldn’t pass up an opportunity to mock Chen Guorui.
“That’s right. It was all the Grand Marshal’s orders. Biao’er, don’t misunderstand.”
Ye Zheng sighed.
“Ah… Grand Marshal…”
Grand Marshal, don’t you feel even a little embarrassed?
Song Lian: “…”
Still too shocked to think.
Without the slightest blush, Zhu Yuanzhang merely glanced at Xu Da, silently adding another mark to his mental ledger before lifting Chen Biao onto the seat of honor.
“What are you sitting there for? Move.”
Xu Da slapped the table.
“Chen Guorui! You may be my boss, but I’m the Grand Marshal now! Yangzhou is under my command! Show some respect!”
Zhu Yuanzhang raised an eyebrow.
He knew this old fellow’s skin was itching again.
Finally regaining his senses, Song Lian looked toward Ye Zheng in disbelief.
What are they doing? Even Marshal Xu has completely changed his personality! Wasn’t he always deeply respectful toward the Grand Marshal?
Ye Zheng merely lifted an eyebrow.
You’ll get used to it.
Song Lian looked away and took a deep breath.
Get used to it. Get used to it. I absolutely must get used to it. I can’t let that old fox Ye Zheng laugh at me.
Chen Biao tugged on Zhu Yuanzhang’s sleeve, signaling for him to put him down.
The instant his feet touched the floor, Zhu Yuanzhang charged over, dragged Xu Da bodily out of the chair, gave him an extra kick in the backside for good measure, then picked Chen Biao back up and settled into the grand armchair himself.
Sitting in Zhu Yuanzhang’s lap, Chen Biao sighed.
“Uncle Xu, every single time you provoke Dad, you get beaten up. Why do you keep doing it?”
Xu Da rubbed his backside, baring his teeth.
“Is this provoking him? I’m just telling the truth. Boss, can’t you show a little respect for me, the Grand Marshal?”
As Zhu Yuanzhang stroked his son’s head as though fondling a precious jade ornament, he declared domineeringly,
“If I don’t respect you, then go complain to the Grand Marshal. I’ll wait and see who he sides with.”
Xu Da rolled his eyes.
Right, right. You have two identities. Aren’t you impressive?
He felt thoroughly depressed.
He had thought that, with Masters Ye and Song present, Zhu Yuanzhang would at least put on an act and play along.
Once again, he had miscalculated.
After waiting for the farce to end, Li Zhen finally spoke.
“Biao’er, didn’t you have something to discuss with Guorui and Marshal Xu? Talk about the important matter first.”
Chen Biao looked awkwardly toward Song Lian and Ye Zheng.
“Dad still has work to do. I’ll tell him after he comes home.”
“Dad, you absolutely must come back today! I have something very important to tell you!”
Ye Zheng immediately pulled along the still-dazed Song Lian.
“Marshal Xu, General Chen, Jinglian and I shall take our leave. We still have other matters requiring our attention.”
Dragged along by Ye Zheng, Song Lian also hurriedly offered his farewell.
Zhu Yuanzhang said,
“Very well. We’ll have your documents sent by fast horse to Yingtian immediately for the Grand Marshal’s review.”
Ye Zheng cupped his hands.
“Then we’ll trouble General Chen.”
With that, he immediately turned and hurried away, Song Lian following close behind.
The pair looked as though they had merely squeezed in a brief visit amidst an overwhelming workload.
In truth, that was exactly the case.
They had simply encountered a minor interruption.
After leaving the Grand Marshal’s residence and climbing into their carriage, Song Lian finally lowered his voice.
“What exactly is going on?”
Seeing that Zhu Yuanzhang had already revealed Chen Biao’s identity to Song Lian, Ye Zheng no longer concealed anything and explained the entire story.
Song Lian frowned deeply.
“An immortal… an immortal… Zhu Yuanzhang truly does possess the destiny of an emperor.”
Ye Zheng merely smiled without speaking.
The destiny of an emperor?
Biao’er’s descent to the mortal world wasn’t for something as insignificant as that. The Heavenly Book is the true secret.
Now that Song Lian had entered their circle, although Ye Zheng still crossed swords with him at every opportunity, he also regarded Song Lian as a comrade and hoped that he, too, would someday be allowed to read the Heavenly Book.
But that wasn’t a decision he could make.
Later he would suggest that Zhu Yuanzhang allow Song Lian to study it.
For now, however, he could only keep silent.
Recovering from his astonishment, Song Lian asked,
“If Biao’er cannot return to the identity of Zhu Biao, what exactly are the conditions? Is changing his name enough? Does Biao’er himself simply not know? Or is it that the common people mustn’t know?”
Ye Zheng replied,
“That’s the great problem.”
“The physiognomist who read Biao’er’s face said Heaven’s secrets were still unclear. He needed a few more days before he could see them clearly.”
“The next day, however, he got drunk, missed a step, suffered a stroke from the fall, remained unconscious for several days, and then died.”
“Even the Grand Marshal was dumbfounded. He could only figure things out on his own.”
Song Lian sighed.
“It seems he revealed Heaven’s secrets and suffered divine punishment.”
Ye Zheng nodded.
“Revealing Heaven’s secrets was one thing. Wanting to calculate them several more times over the following days and reveal even more… that was simply too reckless.”
Song Lian said,
“So, judging from the Grand Marshal’s current arrangements, he is preventing the public from learning Biao’er’s identity, so that Zhu Biao has not ‘returned to his proper place’ in the eyes of the world.”
“At the same time, he’s keeping it from Biao’er himself, so from Biao’er’s own perspective he also hasn’t ‘returned to his proper place.'”
“A double layer of protection?”
Ye Zheng nodded again.
Song Lian frowned.
“Then why not simply hide Biao’er away or have someone else adopt him? Fabricating a Chen Guorui is far too easy to expose.”
Ye Zheng sighed.
“Biao’er was born already possessing knowledge. By the time his abilities were exposed, he already knew who his real parents were. It couldn’t be concealed.”
“And besides…”
He sighed once more.
“You’ve seen it yourself. The Grand Marshal and Biao’er are so close. How could they bear to be separated?”
“I suspect that even the people around the Grand Marshal would be unwilling to see him separated from Biao’er.”
Remembering the violent and savage Zhu Yuanzhang of recent days, then comparing him with the current “Chen Guorui,” hugging Chen Biao while cheerfully talking nonsense, Song Lian could not help sighing.
“Biao’er… is the Grand Marshal’s sheath.”
After Ye Zheng and Song Lian left, Chen Biao finally took the letter from his robe.
“It’s from Mother. She wants to organize the women of Yingtian Prefecture together with the Marshal’s wife to support the Well-Field System, unbind women’s feet, and grant land to women. She hopes you and Uncle Xu will cooperate. She says the Grand Marshal has already agreed.”
Zhu Yuanzhang and Xu Da’s eyelids twitched.
The Grand Marshal agreed? Agreed to what?
Well… if the Grand Marshal’s wife said the Grand Marshal had already agreed, then the Grand Marshal had already agreed.
Zhu Yuanzhang opened the letter. In it, Madam Ma explained in detail what she wanted to do before asking Chen Biao for help.
Although she already had a plan, she was still deeply anxious, so she had written to seek her son’s approval. If he approved, she hoped that Yangzhou, where land had already been distributed, would also have women join their ranks and support the soldiers at the front.
In a war of words, ordinary women could never match the silver tongues of famous courtesans and celebrated talented ladies.
So instead of arguing, they would simply work hard and use their actions to show their support for Marshal Zhu, letting him know that countless silent women were looking forward to his policies.
Farming was exhausting, and corvée labor could literally work people to death.
But if women could receive land, then baby girls would no longer be drowned at birth, killed in childhood, or sold away once they grew a little older…
Even if, after receiving land, they might still be exploited by both their natal families and their husbands’ families, at least they would survive. At least there would still be a sliver of hope.
For impoverished women who possessed nothing, even the possibility of profit meant hope of staying alive.
Whether men or women, the vast majority of poor commoners desired very little.
As long as they could survive.
They did not ask for comfort, nor dignity.
As long as they did not freeze to death or starve to death.
Yet even such a tiny wish could only be fulfilled during prosperous ages, when the weather was favorable and poor families actually possessed land.
Madam Ma wrote that she could not compose elegant poetry. The few books she had read and the handful of characters she knew only allowed her to barely explain Marshal Zhu’s virtues to poor, uneducated women, then lead those women, once they understood the Well-Field System, to contribute whatever they could for Marshal Zhu.
Zhu Yuanzhang blinked.
Before he realized it, tears came pouring down, instantly soaking his entire face.
Only when drops of water landed on his head did Chen Biao realize his father was crying.
He quickly pulled out the towel tucked behind his back to absorb sweat. Without caring that it was still damp with his own perspiration, he climbed onto his father’s thigh and wiped away his father’s tears and snot.
Such a big man, crying until tears and mucus covered his face—it was truly an ugly sight.
Xu Da opened his mouth, then immediately shut it again, his survival instincts kicking in.
Anyone foolish enough to laugh at the Grand Marshal while he was crying would probably be thrown into the enemy ranks to be hacked to pieces long before the Grand Marshal ever became Emperor.
“Biao’er… your mother…” Zhu Yuanzhang sobbed. “When I fought at the front, she stayed behind making clothes and sewing leather armor with everyone else. Back when I first raised the army, where did we have metal armor? Everything I wore was sewn by your mother after she collected hides. Thick leather was so hard to stitch that every time she finished a suit of armor, every finger on her hands would be wrapped in cloth.”
“Later, once life improved, she managed the distribution of cloth armor and weapons. Together with the soldiers’ wives, she made clothes, shoes, and socks for the entire army. People outside always say I treat my soldiers like sons. When did I ever have time for that? The one who truly treated them like sons was your mother.”
“I just… I just wanted that once we’d made it big, I’d never let her worry again. I wanted her to enjoy life as a wealthy lady. But now she still has to help me. I…”
Chen Biao stared at him in disbelief.
“Dad, how can you be like this? You’re actually repaying kindness with ingratitude.”
Zhu Yuanzhang’s loud sobbing stopped abruptly.
Chen Biao rubbed the towel vigorously across Zhu Yuanzhang’s face.
“Mother has done so much for you. Then once you’re free of trouble, you’re going to lock her away in the inner courtyard, where all she can see is that tiny patch of sky? Mother is so capable. Once your troubles are over, you should support her even more in doing good things and let her earn fame.”
Zhu Yuanzhang grabbed the towel Chen Biao was using to torment his face.
“Huh?”
Chen Biao said, “Mother knows how to make clothes, so let her manage the textile workshops. Women know better than men what styles women actually need. Mother loves reading, so let her establish a women’s academy and teach women to read, write, and calculate. If one day you’re assigned to guard the frontier, women there face far fewer restrictions. Mother could easily manage civil affairs while you focus solely on fighting…”
Standing atop Zhu Yuanzhang’s legs with his arms folded, Chen Biao continued, “Just don’t copy the Grand Marshal. The Marshal’s wife is so capable, yet after the Grand Marshal becomes Emperor, she’ll only be stuck sitting in the imperial palace, wasting her days dealing with nothing but trivial squabbles among the Grand Marshal’s three thousand palace women.”
Silently wiping away his tears and snot with the towel, Zhu Yuanzhang replied, “Once the Marshal’s wife becomes Empress, there’ll be plenty for her to do. What do you mean wasting her days? You’re slandering the Grand Marshal again. Enough of that. How are you planning to help your mother?”
Chen Biao clapped his hands.
Li Zhen immediately handed over a thick stack of papers.
Pointing at the dark circles beneath his eyes, Chen Biao declared proudly, “Stayed up all night making these!”
Zhu Yuanzhang panicked.
“No matter how important it is, you’re not allowed to stay up all night!”
Chen Biao answered, “Mother hardly ever asks me for anything. Forget staying up late—even if I had to walk through fire and boiling water, I’d still do it. Take a look and see if there’s anything to add.”
Zhu Yuanzhang immediately ruffled the head of his son, who had actually dared stay up all night.
He regretted it immensely. If he’d been watching him, his son would never have stayed up so late.
At the same time, he felt oddly jealous.
As he read through Chen Biao’s suggestions for Madam Ma, he muttered sourly, “Every time I ask you to help your father—or help the Grand Marshal—you complain nonstop. Yet the moment your mother asks, you’re this enthusiastic.”
Chen Biao looked at him with utter disdain.
“Can you compare with Mother? Can the Grand Marshal compare with the Marshal’s wife? Search your own conscience. If it were you, who would you help more willingly?”
Zhu Yuanzhang was completely speechless.
With his arms folded, Xu Da leaned over to sneak a look while saying, “Biao’er is absolutely right!”
Zhu Yuanzhang threw the towel—still damp with Chen Biao’s sweat and his own tears and snot—at Xu Da.
“Go wash it. Hurry up and get lost.”
Then he continued reading Chen Biao’s plan.
Li Zhen went to fetch a fresh towel and, on the way, dragged away Chen Wenzheng, who had been curiously touching everything in Zhu Yuanzhang’s study.
Chen Biao, exhausted after staying up all night, quickly grew sleepy. Leaning against Zhu Yuanzhang’s chest, he fell fast asleep.
While carefully holding his sleeping son, Zhu Yuanzhang continued refining his wife’s plan.
His son was right. They no longer lacked wealth. What his wife needed might not be a rich but boring life.
She supported him.
He should support her as well.
Perhaps the first thing to do was give her a proper name she could use publicly?
Most women remembered by history had names of their own. Since his wife was now going to earn fame in the outside world, she should have one too.
…
Although Zhu Yuanzhang had scolded his son for staying up late, he himself worked through the entire night helping perfect Madam Ma’s plan. Early the next morning, he immediately had Li Zhen send the letter by fast horse.
Afterward, he woke his son for breakfast.
Once breakfast was finished, he carried the child—who promptly fell asleep again—and went back to bed with him.
It was the first dreamless sleep he had enjoyed since implementing the Well-Field System.
In Yingtian Prefecture, Madam Ma opened the letter.
At the beginning of it, Zhu Yuanzhang neither exchanged family greetings nor discussed official business.
Instead, he wrote that their son had once asked him what the Grand Marshal’s wife was called—whether her name was Ma Cuihua or Ma Xiuying. He felt that “Ma Xiuying” sounded much better and wanted to know what Madam Ma thought.
Madam Ma was stunned for a long moment.
Warmth spread through her heart.
Most girls only had childhood pet names, things like “Little Girl,” “Niu Niu,” or “Elder Sister So-and-so.”
Madam Ma had been no exception.
Ordinarily, when a girl came of age, if she had a cultured father who cherished his daughter, he would give her a courtesy name.
That courtesy name became the proper name she could use publicly.
If her father had not bestowed one, then after marriage her husband would.
This was the origin of the phrase “waiting in the boudoir for her courtesy name.”
Madam Ma’s biological father had died early. Although Guo Zixing had raised her, she was not his own daughter. Zhu Yuanzhang, meanwhile, was a rough soldier.
So even now, Madam Ma still had only her childhood nickname and no courtesy name.
She let out a long sigh before smiling.
“From now on, I am Ma Xiuying.”
Ma Xiuying gently stroked her belly.
“To have given birth to a child like Biao’er… my ancestors must have accumulated an immeasurable amount of good fortune. For Biao’er’s sake, I must do even more good deeds.”
For the sake of the child in her womb, no matter how important the matter, Ma Xiuying would never overwork herself.
As she read through the plan that Chen Biao and Zhu Yuanzhang had revised for her, she gradually began putting everything into motion.
Soon, the teahouses, restaurants, and opera stages owned by the Chen family throughout Yingtian all switched to new plays and new stories.
Simple, catchy nursery rhymes also began spreading among the common people.
“If land is shared, we’ll all eat well.
If land is shared, we’ll all dress well.
When Mother has land to farm, her children grow up healthy.
When Big Sister has land to farm, she’ll marry into a good family.”
The rhymes had little literary merit, but they quickly spread through every street and alley. Any child playing outside could sing at least a line or two.
Storytellers in the teahouses also began recounting tales hidden within famous poems.
For example, the celebrated poem Pity the Farmers:
“Across the land there are no idle fields, yet farmers still starve to death.”
Then they spoke of the history of the Song Dynasty.
The Song treasury had overflowed with wealth. Jiangnan possessed thousands of miles of fertile land.
Yet ordinary people had nowhere to stand.
Where had all the land gone?
Into the hands of powerful clans, wealthy families, and rich merchants.
Now Marshal Zhu wanted to distribute land to ordinary people.
And every thirty years, the land would be redistributed again.
The rich could buy another person’s thirty-year lease. To ordinary people, that was practically a lifetime anyway.
The poor might sell away their own lives, but once their descendants came of age, they would receive land again.
There would still be hope.
Even the wealthiest great households could one day be ruined.
But as long as their descendants survived to adulthood, they would receive land again.
They could rise once more.
Besides, the Grand Marshal had never said he would seize the land they already possessed.
Could it really be that they refused even to share ownerless land with common people on the verge of starvation?
Then they spoke of unbinding women’s feet and granting women land.
With so many men drafted into the army and dying in battle, households consisting only of widows and daughters were everywhere.
If women were neither allowed to unbind their feet nor receive land, were those families simply expected to starve to death?
A daughter could take a husband into her family.
She could also adopt an orphan to continue the family line.
The ancestral incense would not be extinguished.
The women of wealthy households did not care about that little bit of land.
They would never starve, nor worry about their family lines ending.
Did that mean they should ignore the suffering of ordinary women?
Especially those women whose fathers and brothers had died fighting against the Yuan.
If such women starved to death, would the comrades who had fought beside their fathers and brothers truly feel no guilt?
But ordinary people could not write poetry.
Nor could they pay famous courtesans to sing songs.
So how were they supposed to support Marshal Zhu and encourage him to continue distributing land?
Were they simply supposed to stand by and watch well-fed people, who never cared whether commoners lived or died, use elegant words to mislead Marshal Zhu into believing that the people truly opposed him?
One day, a large platform was erected outside Yingtian City.
Ma Xiuying disguised herself, concealing her pregnant belly. She attached false features to her face and used the harmless cosmetics specially made for her by Chen Biao to transform herself into a plumper-looking married woman.
“I am Zhu Yuanzhang’s wife, Ma Xiuying.”
Dressed in plain clothing, she addressed the crowd below.
“You’ve probably heard that I, too, have lived among the poor. I don’t need to tell you how important land is to us—you already know it in your hearts. It’s just that, like me, you’re not good with words. You can’t explain lofty principles or compose beautiful poetry.”
“Tomorrow I will return here to recruit women to sew clothes, shoes, socks, and leather armor for the soldiers at the front. We also need strong women to transport grain. The army requires women to wash clothes, cook meals, and care for the wounded…”
“I have many, many tasks that need women.”
“For women, military camps may seem like dangerous places. But I guarantee your safety and your honor, in the name of the Grand Marshal’s wife, Ma Xiuying.”
Her calm gaze swept over the murmuring crowd.
“Beginning tomorrow, and for seven consecutive days, I will have people register everyone who wishes to work with me. After seven days, we will begin assigning tasks. You may think of it as performing your corvée labor before receiving your land.”
Ma Xiuying made a joke.
It was not particularly funny.
Yet, for some reason, laughter rippled through the crowd one wave after another.
“I’m just a rough woman who doesn’t know how to speak properly. Please forgive me.”
She cupped her hands in salute just as a man would.
Suddenly, a dark-skinned, powerfully built woman shoved her way through the crowd and stopped beneath the platform.
Speaking in accented Mandarin with a strong Southern Fujian flavor, she asked, “Lady Xiuying, what if I don’t want to do this kind of work? What if I want to join the army?”
Ma Xiuying blinked in surprise before smiling brightly.
“The Red Turbans don’t have women soldiers yet. But if you’re confident in yourself, I’ll recommend it to the Grand Marshal. Still, serving as a woman soldier is extremely difficult. Are you certain?”
The sturdy woman grinned.
“I came from Fujian. My ancestors include Lady Xu, daughter of Grand Councillor Chen Wenlong. Even without joining the Red Turbans, my followers have never stopped fighting the Yuan Tatars. Though, to be honest, my current status is closer to that of a bandit. I wonder whether the Grand Marshal would be willing to take me in.”
Ma Xiuying immediately stepped down from the platform and clasped both of the woman’s hands.
“If you already command your own force, then I’ll accept you on the Grand Marshal’s behalf right now.”
The woman’s eyes lit up.
“The Grand Marshal’s wife can decide something like that too?”
Ma Xiuying laughed heartily.
“Ask anyone here in Yingtian. Is there anything I, Ma Xiuying, can’t decide?”
Just then, a graceful woman wearing a veiled hat approached.
From the way she walked, everyone could tell she had bound feet.
“Then may the Grand Marshal’s wife also make a decision for me? May I perform on stage?”
The woman removed her veiled hat, revealing a face that, though touched by age, still retained its elegant beauty.
“I have many sisters. Thanks to the Grand Marshal and the Chen family, we can now support ourselves through textile workshops and embroidery houses. We never wished to mention our past again.”
She paused.
Smiling through tears, she continued, “But if our singing voices and our pipa can repay the kindness that saved our lives, then we are willing to display our skills once more.”
Several women behind her also removed their veiled hats.
They were all former brothel musicians whom Chen Biao had specifically instructed the Chen family to shelter after Zhu Yuanzhang had shut down the brothels.
The noisy crowd instantly fell silent.
Everyone knew that although famous courtesans appeared glamorous, once they left that profession they wanted nothing more than to erase their former names forever so they could live respectable lives.
Now they had already escaped that sea of suffering.
No one remembered the days when they had sold smiles and beauty for survival.
In the future, they could marry good men and become respectable wives.
Yet they had chosen to tear open their own scars again, solely to repay Marshal Zhu’s kindness.
Ma Xiuying said solemnly, “I’ll leave this matter to the Chen family. They will certainly find a way for you to sing without damaging your reputations. And if you don’t mind the rough soldiers under the Grand Marshal’s command, I’ll personally take responsibility for arranging your marriages. I’ll make sure every one of you is matched with a good man who will cherish you.”
The crowd immediately erupted into lively chatter again.
“Wonderful! Then shall we hold all the weddings together? I heard Lady Xiuying used to organize weddings for ordinary soldiers!”
“Really? Then I’ll definitely come drink the wedding wine!”
“Young ladies, if you’re willing to speak for us, we’ll protect you!”
“What’s embarrassing about singing or performing at the Chen family’s restaurants? Those aren’t brothels. Go ahead and sing!”
“That’s right! It’s the Bodhisattva Chen Family!”
The women froze for a moment before smiling even more brightly, tears flowing even harder.
“Thank you, everyone! Thank you all!”
The sturdy, dark-skinned woman scratched her nose.
“My good lady, someday I’d also like to find wives for my men from among them. Lady Xiuying, you’ll have to help me too.”
Ma Xiuying laughed.
“Aren’t your soldiers also the Grand Marshal’s soldiers? Leave it all to me.”
The woman laughed.
“Excellent. Then I’ll entrust everything to Lady Xiuying.”
“Lady Xiuying… I… I…”
One woman gathered her courage, clutching a scroll.
“I… I can write poetry too! But I don’t know where in Yingtian I can have it printed. Could you please point me in the right direction?”
“So can I! My father was a jinshi of the Yuan Dynasty! I’ve studied since childhood! Are the talented women of Hangzhou the only ones who know how to write poetry?!”
Once one woman stepped forward, several more ladies accompanied by family servants bravely emerged from the crowd.
Ma Xiuying herself was stunned.
She had never expected so many people to respond so enthusiastically the very first day she appeared to spread the message.
Soon she smiled and nodded repeatedly in agreement.
So many people had been just like her.
They had all been holding back their frustration.
They had already prepared countless things.
All they had lacked was someone willing to step forward first.
All they had needed was a leader who could give them courage.
Standing tall, Ma Xiuying declared, “Then let registration begin today. The sooner everyone signs up, the sooner we can begin working.”
Soldiers moved in to maintain order.
Clerks sat beneath newly erected tents and opened blank registers.
Very soon, a long line formed before them.
Countless plainly dressed women joined the queue.
The line stretched so far that its end could no longer be seen.
The name of Lady Xiuying also spread rapidly throughout Yingtian, then eastward across Zhejiang, westward across Zhejiang, and gradually throughout all of China.