Northern Prefecture Rivers and Mountains

Chapter 450 Money

"So much was seized?" Liu Daogui was incredibly surprised as he looked at the various figures presented to him.

The combined wealth of the treasuries of the five kingdoms of Yao Qin, Western Qin, Hu Xia, Northern Liang, and Southern Liang did not amount to that of the kingdom of Lin Yi.

The total amount was nearly ten million strings of cash, not including what the soldiers embezzled.

This completely changed Liu Daogui's worldview. He had always thought that the Southern Frontier was a barren land, but in reality it was incredibly rich. In recent years, maritime trade had been booming without him even realizing it, making the geographical location of the Lin Yi Kingdom particularly important.

Tan Pingzhi's memorial also mentioned that if Linyi is not defended, Jiaozhou will be difficult to protect; if Jiaozhou is lost, all of Lingnan will be lost.

In addition to these money and silk, they also saved more than 20,000 people in Lingnan.

Tan Pingzhi's merits in this battle are immeasurable.

Two more talented generals emerged from the army: Tan Hezhi and Liu Yuanjing.

Yin Zhongwen said, "Linyi is a barren land. If too many troops are stationed there, the transport of supplies will be difficult. If too few troops are stationed there, the local people will take advantage of the situation, which will only harm our military strength. It would be better to retreat to Jiaozhou."

"Have you ever seen any barren land with so much money?" Liu Daogui threw the document at him.

The expansion period of a dynasty usually lasts only the first two generations. With so many elite troops and fierce generals at its disposal, it is invincible. If this period is missed, it is difficult to have such a good opportunity again.

"However, our army suffered heavy casualties and forged a blood feud with the local people. Our soldiers are not used to the climate and cannot penetrate deep into their territory." Feng Kai also sided with Yin Zhongwen and did not want the national strength of the Han Dynasty to be poured into the south.

Defeating Linyi is easy, but maintaining long-term occupation is not.

The two capitals of the Kingdom of Lin-yi were destroyed, but many remnants remained in the deep mountains and forests.

"What do I need his country for?" Liu Daogui looked at everyone and said slowly, "The Han navy is invincible. The Lin Yi Kingdom has a long and narrow terrain that stretches across the South Sea. We only need to use Xiangpu and Qusu City as our base, connect with Jiaozhou and Guangzhou, and slowly develop the coastal areas."

With such great potential profits in Linyi, there's no need to worry about a lack of people going there.

The Han people have never lacked a spirit of adventure. The two Han dynasties were always pioneering and enterprising. They not only communicated with the Western Regions, but also actively expanded southward. Emperor Wu of Han destroyed Nanyue, and Emperor Guangwu ordered Ma Yuan to quell the "Rebellion of the Two Expeditions". A bronze pillar was erected on the southern border of Xianglin County. When the bronze pillar broke, Jiaozhi was destroyed.

Liu Daogui not only learned from the experiences of the Han Dynasty, but also aimed to expand and advance upon that foundation.

"Occupying these two cities means controlling most of Southeast Asia. The profits from the annual trade will be ten times that of the land in Jiaozhou. I intend to establish the Kingdom of Yue, appointing the eldest son of the Duke of Changsha as the Duke to guard this land and expand our territory. What do you all think?"

"I think this is inappropriate," Liu Muzhi said, bowing.

Liu Daogui was taken aback. In the past, Liu Muzhi had always fully supported any decision, but this time he actually objected. "Please speak up, my lord."

“The Nanyue Kingdom had been in power for 93 years and was highly regarded by the local people. Therefore, its name should be changed to Wu.”

Liu Muzhi was worried that if the Yue Kingdom grew too powerful, it would threaten the Central Plains.

As long as it wasn't against establishing a fiefdom, Liu Daogui didn't care; it was just a matter of a country's name. "I will do as you say, sir."

Feng Kai said, “The Han Dynasty has the Protectorate of the Western Regions, and the southern border is extremely vast. If we consider the sea area, it is no less than that of China. Since Your Majesty intends to encompass the four seas, why not establish a Protectorate of the Southern Border?”

“Excellent!” Liu Daogui readily accepted.

There is more than just one Lin Yi Kingdom in the southern border region. Across the sea, there are vast tracts of land, all of which are unclaimed. If Xiangpu develops one day, it can use this land as a base to encompass the entire Southeast Asia.

Whether it can be successfully operated is another matter; the priority is to secure the land and leave a foundation for future generations.

Liu Daogui immediately enfeoffed Liu Yixin as Duke of Wu, established the State of Wu in the former territory of Linyi, appointed Tan Pingzhi as Protector-General of the Southern Frontier, governed Xiangpu City, changed the territory of Linyi to Xiangzhou, and Tan Pingzhi concurrently served as Governor of Xiangzhou.

The 20,000 people rescued from the area were settled locally, each allocated 200 mu of land and received a monthly allowance of one string of cash.

The money and grain from Jiaozhou and Guangzhou need not be transported to Guanzhong; they should all be sent to Xiangpu to manage the local economy.

This was equivalent to the two prefectures of Jiaozhou and Guangzhou temporarily supporting the Southern Xinjiang Protectorate and the Wu Kingdom.

Those soldiers who are willing to stay in the southern expedition will be promoted one rank in rank, their military merits will be promoted three ranks, and they will be rewarded with one hundred strings of cash.

Having suddenly received a windfall, Liu Daogui was now flush with cash and decided to use it as needed.

After the court meeting, the Ministry of Personnel immediately got busy, re-examining the prefectures and counties of Jiaozhou, and appointing officials from the Southern Protectorate and the Wu Kingdom.

Although the State of Wu was a vassal state, it was still under the control of the imperial court.

According to the old system of the Jin Dynasty, large states could form private armies of 5,000 soldiers, medium-sized states 3,000, and small states 1,500.

The southern expeditionary army had been too bloody, forging a deep-seated hatred with the people of Linyi. Three thousand private soldiers were certainly not enough, so Liu Daogui simply increased the force to five thousand, in accordance with the standards of a major state.

Tan Hezhi was appointed Chancellor of Wu, and Liu Yuanjing was appointed Lieutenant of Wu.

After selecting three hundred elite soldiers from the Tiger Guard Army, Liu Yixin was sent to Pengcheng, Guangling, and Jingkou to recruit soldiers himself. "The Southern Frontier is not a desolate wasteland; it holds great potential. If you can expand the territory of the Han Dynasty after you go south, you will surely be rewarded with the title of King one day!" Liu Daogui was increasingly pleased with his nephew.

He was seven feet tall, with a dignified appearance and a heroic spirit.

They are not much worse than Liu Yixing and Liu Yiwu.

Liu Daolian was dissolute and greedy, and the affairs of the household fell to him from an early age. It was precisely because of this that he was tempered and honed.

"Uncle, rest assured, your nephew will make Wu a prosperous and wealthy land, just like Jiangdong!" Liu Yixin said without a smile.

"Excellent!" Liu Daogui patted him on the shoulder.

Jiangdong was still a wild and undeveloped land during the Han Dynasty, but it gradually prospered after more than two hundred years of development and expansion by the Eastern Wu and Eastern Jin dynasties.

Huaxia excels at management and construction, and Xiangzhou is not only fertile but also rich in gold and silver, and various rare treasures.

If the Han Dynasty could manage even the harsh and cold Hehuang region, there's no reason why the mild climate and fertile land of Linyi couldn't be managed.

Moreover, Xiangzhou is backed by Jiaozhou and Guangzhou, so if there is any change in one of them, reinforcements from the other two prefectures can cross the sea and arrive within a few days.

“My son, I promise you all the best on this trip. You’ve already been granted the title of Duke, while I’m still just a Duke of a prefecture…” Liu Daolian burst into tears in front of all the officials.

This left Liu Daogui extremely embarrassed. He wasn't worried about his son at all; he was clearly using this opportunity to vent his dissatisfaction.

Neither the civil nor military officials wanted to get involved in the Liu family's affairs, but their suppressed expressions revealed their true thoughts.

Liu Yixin said solemnly, "Father, please bear with me for a while. But I will expand the southern frontier and then take you south to enjoy a life of comfort. I will then pass the throne to you."

Liu Daolian's expression changed, and he shook his head repeatedly, "Let's forget it, let's forget it. That kind of barren land, aren't you just going to kill your father? Besides, what kind of logic is there in the world for a son to give up his position to his father?"

The ministers could no longer contain themselves, and some of them burst into laughter.

Liu Daogui secretly praised him, thinking that no one knows a father better than his son, and that Liu Daolian still needed Liu Yixin to treat him.

These words shifted the topic to the father and son, avoiding Liu Daogui's embarrassment.

"Go ahead," Liu Daogui waved his hand.

"Take care, Uncle; take care, Father." Liu Yixin mounted his warhorse and led more than three hundred riders eastward.

Half a month later, the cargo ships carrying gold and silver treasures from Xiangzhou arrived at Ba Shang. The treasures were dazzling and piled up like mountains.

No matter how much money or silk is listed on official documents, it's just a number and doesn't really convey much meaning. Only when you see it with your own eyes will it truly move you.

The harbor was completely silent. The Tiger Guards, boatmen, and civilians all stared wide-eyed, their faces filled with disbelief.

Not to mention them, even Liu Daogui had never seen so much money and treasures in his entire life.

Even Liu Muzhi's eyes lit up. "The national treasury can finally be replenished! This money is enough for His Majesty to launch a northern expedition against Wei, and even invade Liaodong!"

Warfare cannot be fought without money and supplies.

We have enough money now, and food isn't really a problem.

In recent years, the weather in Northeast China has been favorable, and Liu Daogui has reduced taxes and levies, allowing the people to rest and recuperate. As a result, the population has continued to grow, and instead of reducing taxes, they have actually increased.

With a large number of prisoners of war converted into slaves and becoming free labor, the grain reserves in major granaries such as Luoyang, Shanxian, Pengcheng, Huatai, Fangtou, and Gaotang have become plentiful.

The cultural heritage of Northeast China is far superior to that of Southern Mongolia and Northern China.

In addition to the hundreds of thousands of livestock seized during the conquest of the Qin and Liang states last year, Liu Daogui's current wealth is terrifyingly abundant.

The major battles of the past two years have been swift and unstoppable, with only the sieges taking some time, but not for long. The casualties among the soldiers were not significant, and the national strength was not depleted. On the contrary, the country has grown stronger through the wars.

However, it is precisely at times like these that we must not let our guard down, after all, this is a national war.

"Now that we have enough money and supplies, let's expand our forces by another 30,000 Tiger Guards and 100,000 Volunteer Soldiers. With Mount Tai pressing down on us, we will annihilate Wei in one battle!"

It would be a real waste to have so much money and supplies if we didn't convert them into combat power.

Liu Daogui had little interest in palaces, pavilions, wine, wealth, and women, but was extremely enthusiastic about expanding territory.

The Han Dynasty has risen to prominence and is now at its zenith. It has a multitude of fierce generals and elite troops under its command. If it does not expand now, when will it ever do so?

(End of this chapter)