197: Second plan

Chapter 196: The Second Plan

"Your Majesty?"

Lu Xiangqing looked curiously at Zheng Yi.

Regarding the eradication of banditry after the war, restarting the provincial governor system was undoubtedly the safest option.

Only by centralizing the power of an entire province in the hands of a single person could administration and military marches be carried out with the utmost efficiency, nipping banditry in the bud.

"Your Majesty… Why do you disagree?"

Zheng Yi shook his head.

With his past-life experience, he naturally knew what kind of thing the provincial governor system was.

Once the provincial governor system was restarted, it would inevitably lead to separatist regimes of warlords, or even things much more serious than that.

Admittedly, the provincial governor system could maximize the efficiency of operating all manpower and material resources of a large province, achieving administrative goals at the fastest speed.

However, the core of the provincial governor system was entirely built upon the provincial governor's loyalty to the emperor and the imperial court.

Once this provincial governor harbored rebellious intentions, it would inevitably cause turmoil in a province and turn them into one of the feudal lords.

Therefore, unless absolutely necessary, Zheng Yi would never restart the provincial governor system.

Moreover, the provincial governor system in the Mang Huang Two Prefectures already existed in name only.

The two provincial governors—one led troops to eradicate the rebel army, while the other still held fast at Black Mountain Pass to resist Wu Country.

Since both provinces were like this, how could other provinces easily restart the provincial governor system?

Wang Anshi stepped out of the ranks and said, "Your Majesty, if you are unwilling to restart the provincial governor system, what other methods are there to suppress the banditry following the rebel army?"

"Although these bandits pose little threat to the localities, they are bound to be a destabilizing factor."

"Every time we suppress bandits, we must mobilize a large army, which consumes a great deal of resources, and there is even collusion between officials and bandits…"

Wang Anshi's eyes suddenly lit up as he said, "Your Majesty, could it be that you want… the military district system?"

A few years ago, Zheng Yi had tried to form the Nanyue Military District in Nanyue County and implemented the military district system.

Who would have thought that Xu Xuanwu actually harbored rebellious intentions, and the military district system directly multiplied his strength severalfold.

Had it not been for Xu Mujun suppressing him, that Xu Xuanwu would have been the strongest faction among all the rebels under heaven.

Zheng Yi nodded and said, "Indeed, We truly have this intention."

"That must never be done, Your Majesty!"

Lu Xiangqing grew anxious and quickly said, "Have you forgotten the disaster caused by Xu Xuanwu?"

"Had it not been for Xu Xuanwu, why would Nanyue County, Yun Province, and Yue Province have suffered rebellions? Had it not been for Grand General Xu…"

"Minister Lu, We have Our own thoughts regarding the military district system."

Zheng Yi spoke, "We plan to divide Great Yu into several military districts, with the forces under each military district radiating out to the surrounding several provinces and counties."

"Each military district will be equipped with one general and three deputy generals to suppress the local area."

"The general within a military district will have the authority to train and command troops, but they will have no authority to mobilize troops!"

"Moreover, the generals and deputy generals of each military district will serve a five-year term. After five years, they must be swapped with the generals and deputy generals of other military districts, or be assigned to other posts."

"Furthermore, when the military district generals and deputy generals are transferred to other military districts, they may only bring their own personal guards and are not allowed to mobilize a single soldier from within the military district."

"In this way, we can stabilize the rule of the military districts, ensure the loyalty of the military districts, and suppress the borders of Great Yu for Us."

"How does this sound?"

With Zheng Yi's words, the few people present fell into deep thought.

Having the authority to train and command troops, but no authority to mobilize them?

In other words, if a military district general wanted to mobilize soldiers within the military district, they would need the imperial court's approval and delegation of power before doing so?

Military district generals would be rotated every five years, thus eradicating factionalism and the predicament of the tail wagging the dog.

If it were like this…

Li Changfeng's eyes lit up slightly as he said, "Your Majesty, this subject seconds the motion!"

Zheng Yi nodded and said, "Of course, this military district system can only be implemented after the world is pacified. Your cabinet can set the military district regulations and select the candidates for the military district generals."

Seeing that Zheng Yi's mind was made up, the others could only say helplessly, "We, your subjects, second the motion!"

"What about the other policies…"

Next, several more policies were discussed, all concerning the most urgent issues of Great Yu at present.

Because several of these policies were relatively sensitive, they even summoned the other ministers of the Six Ministries and the Nine Ministers to deliberate.

It was not until half a month later that the new plan was finally promulgated!

The tenth year of zhengyong, the tenth day of the fifth month.

"By the mandate of heaven, the emperor decrees:"

"In the fifth year of zhengyong, the hearts of the people of our Great Yu pointed the way, and officials and people were united as one, enhancing the national power of our Great Yu and also restoring people's livelihoods so they could live and work in peace and contentment."

"The five-year period has arrived, and hereby promulgated are:"

"Item One: Exert all efforts to suppress the southern rebel army, taking the four provinces of Qing Province, Yang Province, Xu Province, and Jiang Province as the final objectives, striving to eradicate all rebel armies within five years."

"Item Two: Initially form five major military districts to pacify the banditry following the rebel army, suppress unruly people, and maintain local stability and prosperity."

"Item Three: Reiterate the policy of 'fields for deliberating crimes', increase the intensity of punishment, and strive for clean governance among officials and hundreds of officials serving the people."

"Item Four: Vigorously develop light industry, taking the governance of the people as the primary focus."

"Item Five: Establish official schools with counties as the unit. School-age children will pay tuition to enroll, while intelligent children can enroll tuition-free. After graduating from twelve years of education in various subjects, they can be regarded as Xiucai and may participate in the imperial examinations."

"Item Six: The imperial examinations are temporarily postponed due to the rebellions in the southern provinces. Two reliable examinations must be held within five years, and eligible scholars can constantly pay attention to the newspapers of the Publicity Department."

"Item Seven: Reiterate the 'military merit system'. Those who establish military merits shall receive corresponding rewards, be granted official titles, and be elevated in nobility."

"Item Eight: Reiterate the 'Shangwu Division'. Martial Artists of the Grandmaster Realm and Innate Realm among the common folk who join the Shangwu Division shall receive generous rewards."

"Item Nine: Newly recovered territories such as Yong Province, Shu Province, Jing Province, Hai Province, Bin Province, Yun Province, and Yue Province shall be exempted from farmland taxes for three years, while commercial taxes and tariffs shall be collected normally."

"Item Ten: Search the world for capable and unusual people to serve the country."

Although the officials in the imperial court were still discussing it, there were undoubtedly far fewer discussions compared to the first time.

With a formidable enemy at hand and under heavy pressure, the gazes of many officials were still focused on the south.

After all, the southern rebel forces had allied together, and over one million rebels had gathered in Xu Province.

As for the imperial army, Xu Mujun, Minister Miao, Cui Xiawu, Jin Peng, Zhengkou General Tang, and others were also leading large armies marching toward Xu Province.

The Longxiang Army, commandery troops, New Army, imperial guards, and many other military forces gathered in Xu Province, bringing the number of the imperial army up to over five hundred thousand.

For a time, countless troops gathered in Xu Province, awaiting the arrival of the final decisive battle.

At this time, apart from dispatching personnel from the Ministry of War to constantly observe the movements of the large army, Zheng Yi also made quite a few preparations.

White Jade Capital.

"This subject, Ma Jinwu, pays respects to Your Majesty!"

The commander of the Jinyi Guard, Ma Jinwu, had finally returned to the capital.

For five years, he had been investigating the intelligence of Fuyou House outside, but unfortunately, until now, he did not have much useful intelligence in his hands.

During these five years, he had also luckily achieved a Breakthrough, becoming an Innate Realm Martial Artist!

"Beloved subject, rise."

Zheng Yi said, "You have worked hard these past few years, beloved subject."

Ma Jinwu said, "Serving Your Majesty is this humble subject's duty!"

"Your Majesty, this humble subject has dedicated these years to investigating Fuyou House, and now we have discovered Fuyou House's stronghold in Jiang Province, awaiting Your Majesty's command at any time."

"There's no rush for now."

Zheng Yi said, "Now that the final decisive battle between our Great Yu Dynasty and the rebel army is imminent, We have another important task to entrust to you."

"Please give your instructions, Your Majesty!"

Zheng Yi said, "The rebels of the four southern provinces have now gathered their forces in one place, with an army reaching one million people. Among them, there is no lack of Innate experts, and even Cultivators hidden in secret."

"We are concerned that Grand General Xu and the high-level combat strength are hollowed out, so We hereby order you to lead numerous Martial Artists of the Shangwu Division to go to Xu Province to support Grand General Xu."

Ma Jinwu immediately said, "This humble subject obeys the decree!"

"In addition…"

Zheng Yi waved his hand, and six sandalwood boxes appeared before him, emitting a faint fragrance of incense.

What was strange was that the openings of the sandalwood boxes were also sealed with scabs of blood, looking extremely bizarre.

"Contained within these six sandalwood boxes are six spiritual insects. These spiritual insects are the most ferocious creatures under heaven, impervious to swords, spears, water, and fire, and can easily annihilate even Innate Realm powerhouses."

"However, once released, they will attack anyone around them. We will give you a chant and a bottle of essential blood, with which you can temporarily control these six spiritual insects."

Zheng Yi instructed, "If any Cultivators make a move within the rebel army, you can open these six wooden boxes and release the spiritual insects to ambush and kill the Cultivators. Do you understand?"

What was packed inside the sandalwood boxes was, of course, the Blood Moon Gu that Zheng Yi had specially blood-sacrificed.

Through Zheng Yi's continuous blood-refining using essential blood, the current Blood Moon Gu had long since stepped into the Late Stage of Qi refinement.

With six Blood Moon Gu at the Late Stage of Qi refinement, he did not believe that anyone else in the entire Great Yu could contend against them!

Ma Jinwu solemnly took the six wooden boxes and said in a deep voice, "This humble subject obeys the decree and will definitely not fail Your Majesty's commission!"

"That's right, Your Majesty, this humble subject wants to know how many Innate powerhouses and how many Grandmaster Realm Martial Artists there are in the Shangwu Division now?"

Zheng Yi said indifferently, "Besides you, there are six Innate powerhouses and more than twenty Grandmaster Realm Martial Artists."

"Six… six Innate powerhouses!"

Ma Jinwu directly drew in a breath of cold air.

Last year, after breaking through to become an Innate Realm Martial Artist, he had been smug for a long time, thinking that his Innate Realm strength was already in the top three under heaven.

For a period of time, he even thought about challenging Xu Mujun.

Never had he expected that… over the past few years, the Shangwu Division had actually scraped together six Innate Realm powerhouses!

This… was simply too terrifying.

Zheng Yi said indifferently, "Among these six Innate powerhouses, there are people from the Taiyi Sect, those from martial arts halls, those from the military background, and Martial Forest figures, but they are all loyal people and must not be neglected."

"Our Great Yu is determined by the Mandate of Heaven. In the future, there will be more and more Innate powerhouses, so there is no need to be so shocked."

"Yes… Your Majesty."

Ma Jinwu respectfully said, "This humble subject will definitely not fail the mission and will assist Grand General Xu in pacifying Jiangnan!"

"You may withdraw."

"Understood!"

At this time in Youzhou of the northern lands, a woman was standing alone at the bow of a boat crossing the Canglong River. She wore a veil, a black Daoist robe, and a pair of extremely spirited eyes.

Gazing at the deep and dark river water of the Canglong River, the woman said indifferently, "This trip to Snow Cloud Country has finally found some opportunities, and I wonder how Bing'er is doing."

"That damned Great Yu Emperor is muddle-headed and incompetent, actually provoking the world into rebellion. Truly deserving of death!"

"After I return to the palace, I must take Bing'er away to go to Snow Cloud Country for secluded cultivation."

"That branch of the Northern Pole Palace in Snow Cloud Country has actually not distanced itself from the mainland, but rather maintained its Dao lineage by relying on ten-thousand-year black ice."

"Snow Cloud Country actually shows signs of the recovery of Spiritual Qi; it must be a place of pilgrimage for people of our generation."

"Now the Northern Pole Palace has opened its mountain gates to recruit Disciples, Bing'er is simply too suitable to go there…"

Just at this moment, another small flat-bottomed boat was sailing over the surface of the Canglong River, with one tall and one short figure faintly visible.

The river breeze swept over, and the sound of a ballad rang out.

"Capturing the golden essence to consolidate the foundation of life, the sun's soul is to the east and the moon's splendor is to the west."

"Refining the elixir of immortality within it, after taking it, one is on par with heaven and earth."

"Do not blame the sparse news from the Jade Pool, it is only because worldly affairs block the heavenly secrets."

"If a person finds fire in the water, there is a yellow child ascending to Taiwei~"

At the same time, the voice of the tall figure on the flat-bottomed boat came over once again.

"This poor Daoist is Tian Xingzi. I wonder which Fellow Daoist is ahead? Might you come aboard for a chat?"

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