85: Beiyang Navy

Chapter 85: Northern Ocean Navy

Establishing a navy.

Punitive fields.

Propaganda Office.

Merit-based military system.

These national policies were the countermeasures crafted by Zheng Yi specifically to deal with the threats currently faced by the Great Yu Dynasty.

The navy, the merit-based military system, and military factories.

Building up forces, winning over the military, and using this as a backing to suppress the court.

Punitive fields.

These would gather most of the land estates and distribute them sequentially to meritorious soldiers or refugees.

The Propaganda Office.

This was for Zheng Yi to control the propaganda outlets, publicize his own great achievements and the court's policies, and master the channel of the people's ears and throats.

No matter in any political system or any country, the propaganda outlet is the uncrowned king!

Furthermore, Zheng Yi even thought that when the time was ripe in the future, he would change the Propaganda Office into the Ministry of Propaganda and establish it as a separate department!

As for the other plans, they were merely to check for omissions and fill in the gaps.

These were all merely superficial national policies.

And Zheng Yi's true purpose was to gather the strength of the entire country to build a navy, carry out major overseas developments, and at the same time find a method of immortal cultivation for himself.

Overseas.

Nanyue County.

Fuyou House.

And the Emperor's mausoleum.

These few places were all channels for him to find ways to obtain the cultivation method.

Judging from the current situation, perhaps only excavating the Emperor's mausoleum was a good method.

Fortunately, Hu Bafeng had already gathered several friends, disciples, and grand-disciples he knew before, and taking advantage of building the imperial mausoleum for Zheng Yi, he secretly dug towards the imperial mausoleum of the founding Emperor Zheng Mingsen.

In order to excavate Zheng Mingsen's imperial mausoleum, he specially chose his own imperial mausoleum to be right beside Zheng Mingsen's imperial mausoleum.

The distance between the two was only about five miles.

According to Hu Bafeng, in half a year at most, the passage into Zheng Mingsen's imperial mausoleum could be dug through.

At that time, any item in Zheng Mingsen's imperial mausoleum could be obtained.

A few days later, Zheng Yi received several other people in White Jade Capital.

Meng Guang!

He was precisely the general of Pseudo-Yan who led troops in an uprising when Shenji Camp besieged Yan City of Pseudo-Yan.

It was also this person who personally captured Pseudo Prince Yan and handed him over to Shenji Camp.

"Meng Guang!"

"This general is here!"

Suppressing the excitement in his heart, Meng Guang knelt on the ground and performed the great ceremony of three kowtows and nine bows.

He knew that the opportunity to reward meritorious service had arrived!

Zheng Yi nodded inwardly. He had already investigated this person's identity clearly through the Jinyi Guard.

Originally, he was a captain of the commandery troops in Guangfa Commandery, Jizhou, but because his wife was taken a fancy to by a profligate son of a local powerful clan, she was seized through coercion and inducement.

His wife was also a resolute person and actually jumped from a building to commit suicide.

In a fit of rage, Meng Guang simply charged into the powerful clan's mansion with a single blade and hacked that person into ten thousand pieces.

Afterward, he fought a bloody path out of the besieging retainers and commandery troops, turning to banditry.

Later, he took up banditry in the Shuippo Mountains, gathering over a hundred brothers to rob the rich and aid the poor.

After that, he encountered Pseudo Prince Yan, subdued him, and was appointed as the deputy city-guard general.

"Rise."

"Meng Guang, you have done very well. If it were not for your righteous act, who knows how many of our Great Yu people would have been displaced and homeless."

Meng Guang said, "To eat the ruler's stipend is to share the ruler's worries; this is what this humble subordinate ought to do!"

"Merits must be rewarded."

Zheng Yi said directly, "You have made a great contribution to Great Yu, and Us naturally will not forget you."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

"We have two options here, see which one you choose."

Meng Guang did not speak, but listened carefully.

"For the first destination, you can enter the Imperial Guard as the deputy general to Chen Wannian, commanding fifty thousand imperial guards to garrison the capital."

"Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guard, a second-rank military official."

Meng Guang's eyes suddenly lit up. A second-rank military general was enough to be called soaring straight up to the heavens in a single step.

Furthermore, serving as a general under General Chen Wannian, they could also be considered old acquaintances.

Pondering for a moment, he said, "Your Majesty, this subject has been thoroughly awed by the Red Barbarian Cannon of Shenji Camp and submits heart and soul. I wonder if there are any Red Barbarian Cannons in the Imperial Guard?"

Zheng Yi smiled and said, "The Red Barbarian Cannon is a secret of our Great Yu, and the Imperial Guard does not have it for the time being. However, in the next few years, the Red Barbarian Cannon will be gradually distributed to all branches of the military, including the Imperial Guard."

"Besides the Red Barbarian Cannon, there are also Thunderbolt Mines, firearms, and other items."

Thunderbolt Mine?

What kind of thing was that?

Meng Guang was utterly confused, but still asked, "I wonder where the second destination mentioned by Your Majesty is?"

Zheng Yi said, "We know that you once turned to banditry and spent three years as a water bandit. Rest assured, We always promote people based on talent and do not look at the past."

Meng Guang said helplessly, "Yes... Your Majesty, that was all a helpless move by this general."

"Since you were a water bandit for three years, you must be familiar with naval warfare, right?"

Speaking of this, Meng Guang's eyes suddenly lit up and he said, "Your Majesty, if this general claims to be second in naval warfare in the north, no one would dare claim to be first!"

"The Youzhou Imperial Guard once led troops to attack this humble subordinate's stronghold, dispatching over ten thousand soldiers for half a year without breaking it. Instead, we were led by this humble subordinate with over two hundred brothers to the verge of collapse!"

"Good! What We need is precisely talent like you."

Zheng Yi clapped his hands and said, "We intend to establish the Northern Ocean Navy along the coast of Bin Province. If you are willing to go to the navy, then you shall be the head of it!"

"You can take your subordinates who are proficient in naval warfare to Bin Province to establish the Northern Ocean Navy base. If you want people, people will be given; if you want money, money will be given; if you want grain, grain will be given!"

"We have also specially allocated ten Red Barbarian Cannons to you, as well as the corresponding artillery formation, to be under your command."

"If you can successfully build the Northern Ocean Navy, then you will be the first Grand Governor of the Northern Ocean Navy!"

As soon as Zheng Yi's voice fell, Meng Guang immediately said, "Your Majesty! This general chooses the second option!"

"Oh? You don't regret it?"

Zheng Yi asked in return, "If you choose the first option, it is a true second-rank military post, right under the Emperor's feet, commanding the imperial guard with considerable power."

"If you single-handedly establish the Northern Ocean Navy, you will be starting from scratch. For at least two or three years, you won't have much power."

Meng Guang took a deep breath and said, "What Your Majesty is concerned about is precisely the mission of this subject."

"Since Your Majesty wishes to build the Northern Ocean Navy, this general will naturally do his utmost to share Your Majesty's worries!"

"Good!"

Zheng Yi said, "Then today We bestow upon you the position of Regional Commander of the Northern Ocean Navy, holding the imperial axe and token to head to the coast of Bin Province and take charge of all matters regarding the establishment of the navy."

"Except for the troops under Grand General Xu Mujun, all other commandery troops shall be under your command to establish the navy!"

Meng Guang took a deep breath and knelt on the ground once again: "This general obeys the decree!"

After Meng Guang left, Zheng Yi received Chen Hongxiu and Zhao Tieshan once again.

"This general greets Your Majesty!"

The two bowed, and Zheng Yi raised his hand and said, "Rise."

"Two beloved subjects, how is the actual combat effectiveness of Shenji Camp?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty." Chen Hongxiu took the lead in saying, "All soldiers of Shenji Camp are already familiar with the combat methods of artillery, firearms, and Thunderbolt Mines, and are sufficient to take on a thousand!"

"Good!"

Zheng Yi said, "You two lead Shenji Camp to head north."

"Head north?"

"Correct, go to Bin Province, go to Canglong River, and go under the command of Grand General Xu Mujun."

Zheng Yi said indifferently, "After several months of preparation and several months of training, it is time to test the results."

"Let us use Black Mountain Pass of Wu Country as the whetstone for the first major battle of Shenji Camp."

The two looked at each other and both discovered excitement in each other's eyes.

"Understood!"

"We will naturally write a letter to Grand General Xu explaining the role of Shenji Camp. You two do a good job."

"Understood!"

Several people withdrew. Zheng Yi took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

During this period of time, with a bunch of matters piled up together, he was indeed somewhat exhausted.

If it weren't for having martial arts cultivation in his body, he would have collapsed from exhaustion long ago.

Fortunately, with the Five-Year Plan in place, other courtiers and the cabinet only needed to implement it according to the specific contents of the Five-Year Plan, and he could easily relax from then on.

All state affairs could be handed over to the cabinet.

"Chengen."

"this servant is here."

Zheng Yi said, "Summon ten beauties over and see if there are any beauties who studied medicine at home and excel at massaging~"

Liu Chengen hurried forward a few steps and whispered, "Your Majesty, Consort Cui just sent someone over to ask if Your Majesty has time?"

"Consort Cui?"

"Yes, Your Majesty." Liu Chengen said, "Didn't you say before that we must pay attention to the movements of Jiao Fang Palace at all times? Therefore, today when Consort Cui sent someone to look for Your Majesty, this servant kept it in mind."

Zheng Yi nodded and fell into deep thought.

Consort Cui?

What is she looking for Us for?

Ever since he was tricked by Consort Cui with soul-bewitching incense last time, Zheng Yi had lingering fears about it and tried to avoid her as much as possible in everything.

Unexpectedly, today she actually came looking for him on her own initiative!

What is she doing this for?

Could it be... the matter of Cui Jinghao?

Aren't cultivators in rumors supposed to be ruthless and unconstrained by the power of family affection?

How come she...

Zheng Yi suppressed all these doubts in his mind. He definitely would not go to Jiao Fang Palace.

What if there were another trick, and he fell asleep in a daze all night, what would happen if an accident occurred?

"Chengen, send Our sedan chair to Jiao Fang Palace to fetch Consort Cui."

Zheng Yi thought for a moment and said, "If she is willing to come, bring her to White Jade Capital; if she is not willing, do not force it."

"this servant obeys the decree!"

An hour later, just as Zheng Yi was pondering Consort Cui's true intention and walking back and forth nervously, Liu Chengen hurried in.

"Your Majesty."

"Hmm? Consort Cui didn't come?"

"Consort Cui... has come! She is waiting outside the hall."

"She actually came?"

Zheng Yi said, "Let her enter... No, go to the sleeping quarters and wait for Us."

"Understood!"

Taking a deep breath, Zheng Yi came to the sleeping quarters.

"Your Majesty~ Her Ladyship is waiting for you in the sleeping quarters."

Consort Cui's personal maid Xiaoer was waiting outside the room. Zheng Yi nodded, pushed open the door, and walked in.

"Your Majesty~"

Under the dim light, an peerless beauty dressed in pink palace attire rose to greet him, half-kneeling in front of him to perform a full bow.

Zheng Yi hurriedly reached out to support her up: "Beloved Consort, please rise. In these past few days, We have been busy with state affairs and neglected you. We originally intended to go to your place after finishing these matters, but unexpectedly, Beloved Consort, you came here yourself."

Zheng Yi talked a load of nonsense. Since she really came, it proved she was asking something of him.

And what else could it be for if not Cui Jinghao.

It seemed that although Consort Cui was a cultivator, she must be a 'wild' cultivator.

She inevitably still had a deeper connection with the mortal Cui Family.

In that case, the initiative was in his own hands.

Consort Cui smiled and said, "Your concubine and Your Majesty share the same mind, so naturally we would think of the same place."

"Your Majesty has worked hard."

"Beloved Consort has also worked hard."

Pulling Consort Cui to sit down on a stool, Zheng Yi directly spoke, "Beloved Consort, why are you looking for Us today? What important matter is there?"

Asked this, Consort Cui's eyes became somewhat red, and she actually began to sob softly, tears seemingly flowing from the corners of her eyes.

Zheng Yi praised inwardly. They truly say women are made of water; they can cry just like that.

He could only endure his patience and say, "Beloved Consort, do not cry. Has someone bullied you? Tell Us, and We will avenge you!"

"The one who bullied your concubine... is Your Majesty!"

"Oh? Beloved Consort, stop speaking in riddles. What is this all about?"

"It... It is the matter of my grandfather."

Consort Cui gritted her teeth and said, "Your Majesty, although my grandfather had correspondence with that Pseudo Prince Yan and accepted medicinal materials from him, my grandfather definitely had no intention of rebellion!"

"Please forgive him this once, considering how diligently and laboriously your grandfather has worked for Great Yu all these years!"

Zheng Yi asked strangely, "Forgive him? Beloved Consort, you must be mistaken. We have never pursued the matter of his contact with Pseudo Prince Yan, and besides, that pile of letters was burned to ashes by Us with a single fire!"

Consort Cui stammered, "It... It is the matter of Your Majesty punishing his old man with one million mu of land estates. One... One million mu, it is simply too much..."

Zheng Yi's expression turned cold. He let go of Consort Cui's hand and asked, "Beloved Consort, do you know how many members your Cui Family has?"

"This... This..."

Consort Cui hesitated and said, "Your concubine does not know."

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