Chapter 103: Restarting the State Pastoral System

The second thing was the compensation paid by the State of Wu, which included 50 million taels of silver, 100,000 war horses, 200,000 cattle and sheep, 100 beautiful women, etc.

Of the compensation, Xu Mujun kept 10 million taels of silver and 50,000 war horses, which he intended to use as military pay and to form a cavalry unit.

The remaining 40 million taels of silver, 50,000 war horses and other items will be escorted back to Beijing by Cui Xiawu, who made great contributions in this war.

Cui Xiawu was the champion of the military examination in Dayu Enke, and also the general who won the merit of being the first to reach the battle of Heishan Pass.

The merit of being the first to reach the top of the city wall of Heishan Pass and survive!

The third thing was that Xu Mujun led his troops to dig for more than two months and finally cleared all the ruins in Heishan Pass.

Hundreds of secret letters were found in the government office of the commander of the Black Mountain Pass.

These secret letters are evidence that the garrisons, noble families and merchants in Bingzhou, Binzhou, Youzhou and other places are plotting rebellion with the State of Wu!
Among them, those with the largest number of letters will be discussed!

"The Emperor of Wu State has actually collapsed?"

Looking at the information in his hand, Zheng Yi couldn't help but feel a little emotional.

He has been here for four years. Although the time is not long, how many opponents, or enemies, have he killed?

Emperor Zhengyong, Prime Minister Yang, the Queen Mother, the Prince of Yan, and now this Emperor of Wu whom he had never met before.

Zheng Yi believes that as time goes by, he will outlast his opponents one after another!
The second thing was that Zheng Yi agreed to Xu Mujun’s request.

Xu Mujun is now in Heishan Pass, suppressing the two states of Manghuang together with Chen Hongxiu and Zhao Tieshan.

Although these two states are large in area, most of the land is grassland, which is suitable for raising horses but not for farming.

Even the cities are pitifully few.

He signaled Xu Mujun to stay at Heishan Pass, while Chen Hongxiu and Zhao Tieshan each led an army and were stationed in the two states of Manghuang. They were now recruiting civilians to repair the city walls of their respective states and were ready to resist the counterattack of the Wu State at any time.

As for which prince of Wu State he wanted to support, Zheng Yi thought about it for a few minutes and soon came up with the answer.

More than ten princes of the Wu Kingdom were fighting for the throne around the imperial court.

Only when the final victorious prince appears can the Wu Kingdom be stabilized.

In that case, then don't help anyone and just remain neutral.

Only in this way can they obtain the greatest benefits.

The third thing is that the border troops and merchants sold out national interests for their own benefit, and even sold a large amount of salt, iron, weapons, etc. to the Wu State.

Of the three, this is the most difficult.

Bingshang is not just a chamber of commerce organization, but the representative of the northern families.

The liquid funds they have in their hands are at least hundreds of millions of silver taels.

Plus their fixed assets, land, shops, etc.

If all of it were converted into gold and silver, it would be an astronomical figure.

Moreover, Bingshang is also related to the southern aristocratic families. If Bingshang is disturbed, it will inevitably cause unrest among the aristocratic families in the north and south.

Zheng Yi closed his eyes and sat in deep thought from day to night, and only came to his senses when Cui Xiabing came to find him.

"What is your Majesty thinking?"

Cui Xiabing frowned for Zheng Yi again, her eyes full of pity.

"My dear, why do you think these officials are so greedy?"

Zheng Yi did not mention the matter of the aristocratic family. After all, Concubine Cui also came from a noble family, and one of the largest ones at that.

"For their own benefit, the frontier garrisons and officials actually sold out national intelligence and even grain, fodder, salt and iron to the Wu Kingdom."

"If it weren't for them, how could the Wu Kingdom be so rampant and march straight into the heart of our Dayu?"

Cui Xiabing shook her head and said, "Your Majesty, I don't understand politics and military affairs. I only know that Your Majesty is the true dragon emperor, and your words are law."

"The entire Dayu belongs to you, Your Majesty..."

"besides."

Cui Xiabing turned around, stared at Zheng Yi and said, "Your Majesty should also have spiritual roots. When I serve Your Majesty and sleep with you, I can feel the magic power in your body."

"Your Majesty is now a monk, and what you should pursue is immortality and freedom. Why bother with worldly affairs?"

Zheng Yi's eyes flashed, yes!

I am a monk, and I already have the method to achieve immortality, so why am I worrying about this?
No matter whether these noble families, businessmen or officials betray me, let them die!
So what if the world is in chaos?
As long as I can keep living, the whole world will return to peace sooner or later.

Besides, hadn’t he made so many preparations to deal with the corrupt officials in the aristocratic families and the court?

"Hahaha……"

Zheng Yi laughed loudly and picked Cui Xiabing up. "My beloved concubine has really solved a big problem for me. Now, what reward do you want?"

Cui Xiabing's eyes lit up, and she said in a tender voice, "Your Majesty, I also want a child."

"I have heard from Master that if both parents have spiritual roots, there is a high chance that their child will also have spiritual roots!"

"A child with spiritual roots..."

Zheng Yi's eyes moved, and he quickly made a decision in his mind. He immediately picked up Cui Xiabing and strode towards the bedroom.

Now those who gave birth to his daughters include Empress Lu Lin'er, Imperial Concubine Xu Qingluan, Imperial Concubine Yang Huan, Virtuous Concubine Li Changle, Bipin Bihe, Yue Concubine Miao Yuesheng, and Concubine Wan, Qing and Miao are currently pregnant.

Including them, there were nine daughters in total.

If Cui Xiabing's baby is added, wouldn't that mean there are enough ten innate energies?
That night, Zheng Yi was in high spirits, and a stream of innate pure yin energy entered Cui Xiabing's body, helping her become pregnant.

A few days later, Zheng Yi issued several decrees.

First, the two states of Manghuang are located outside the Black Mountain Pass. The area is vast and sparsely populated, the people are fierce, and it borders the Wu State, so there is no strategic location to defend.

In order to suppress the two states of Manghuang and resist the Wu State, we need people who are good at fighting and can be stationed in the two states of Manghuang. Therefore, the system of provincial governors is restored in the two states of Manghuang!
Zheng Zongxian, the first governor of Mangzhou, Prince Dayu, also known as the wise prince!
Originally, Zheng Zongxian tried to refuse, but he could not resist Zheng Yi's persuasion, coercion and inducement, and finally had no choice but to agree to become the governor of Mangzhou and suppress the northern border for Dayu.

The first governor of Huangzhou was the great general of Dayu, Xu Mujun!

The two powerful innate realm masters suppressed the two states in the northern border. Unless they can find a new innate realm master or cultivator, even if the Wu Kingdom mobilizes the entire country, they will not be able to cross the line.

What is strange is that after this imperial decree was announced, no one in the court opposed it.

Some people even proposed to restore the provincial governor system in the thirteen states of Dayu.

Miao Xiu can be the governor of Yongzhou or Yunzhou, Shi Heilang can be the governor of Yuezhou, Xu Xuanwu can be the governor of Nanyue, Lu Jinghe can be the governor of Jizhou, Gongsun Bo can be the governor of Youzhou, and so on.

The governor of a state is the ruler of a state and is in charge of all military and political affairs.

It can be said that the governor of a state is the ruler of a state, and the strong threat is enough to threaten the imperial power. These proposals were rejected by Zheng Yi.

"The two states of Manghuang are the newly acquired territories of Dayu. The people are in turmoil and are on the verge of foreign enemies. We have restored the state governor system in accordance with local conditions."

"The people of Dayu live and work in peace and contentment, and there are no powerful enemies outside. Why do we need to establish a governor?"

Zheng Yi said coldly: "Don't mention this matter again!"

The second imperial edict was about the arrangement of compensation for the State of Wu.

Over these 50 million taels of silver, as well as a large number of cattle, sheep, and other livestock, the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War quarreled to the point of desperation, and even the Ministry of Works got involved.

In the end, Zheng Yi still maintained Xu Mujun's proposal and distributed the large amount of compensation from the Wu State.

It has to be said that war is the only chance to make a fortune!

At the same time, he issued a secret decree to Cui Xiawu, which was delivered personally by the Shadow Guard and the Embroidered Uniform Guard, asking him to act at his discretion.

It would take Cui Xiawu at least half a year to escort 50 million taels of silver and a large number of livestock through the customs and reach the capital.

The past six months have provided Zheng Yi with a buffer period to deal with the northern families and corrupt officials.

Zheng Yi ordered Cui Xiawu to lead his troops to Bingzhou and station there, waiting for his next instructions.

He stayed in Bingzhou in the name of training troops and suppressing bandits, looking for opportunities.

The reason why the Shadow Guards and the Embroidered Uniform Guards had to deliver the letter together was naturally because they had another mission.

Just when Zheng Yi was busy arranging this matter, Chen Liancang brought a piece of news.

"Your Majesty, Fayuan has awakened."

"Oh?"

Zheng Yi's eyes lit up: "He's awake, have you pried his mouth open?"

Chen Liancang said: "Not yet, but he wants to see your majesty."

"see me?"

After thinking for a while, Zheng Yi said, "Concubine Cui once said that besides a cultivator's own magic power, the most important thing is the power of his mind."

"Even if a powerful cultivator has no mana in his body, he will use the power of his mind to kill the enemy or control others. I...will not go there for now."

"That source of law..."

"Mr. Chen, you are like this."

Zheng Yi whispered, "You divide the Shadow Guards into two groups, the light and the dark. Keep an eye on him at all times and never let him sleep."

"If he shows any signs of dozing off, use cold water or fire to wake him up. No matter what, don't let him sleep. Do you understand?"

"promise!"

"besides."

Zheng Yi added: "Put more oil lamps and braziers around him to keep him in the light at all times."

"If he can endure this for half a month, I don't believe this old monk still has any spiritual power!"

Chen Liancang's mouth twitched. This kind of punishment... is it really acceptable?

However, since this was what Zheng Yi said, he could only say, "Yes!"

Looking at Chen Liancang's departing back, Zheng Yi murmured, "The punishment of being a prisoner is something that ordinary people simply cannot bear. I wonder if the cultivators can hold on?"

In the following days, Chen Liancang continued to report Fayuan's reactions and actions to Zheng Yi.

On the first day, he chanted sutras. He didn't seem to be worried about his situation at all, and even had the energy to shake his bird.

The next day, he chanted scriptures and continued to persuade the surrounding shadow guards.

On the third day, I was still chanting, but I felt a little dazed.

On the fourth day, he started yelling and cursing Zheng Yi and the surrounding shadow guards.

On the fifth day, they began to beg for mercy, and at the very least, they asked the Shadow Guards to move the braziers around them further away.

Upon hearing the news, Zheng Yi immediately ordered to double the number of braziers around.

Day 6, Day 7…

It was not until the eighth day that Chen Liancang finally found Zheng Yi with a grim look on his face.

"Your Majesty, it is just as you expected."

"Today, the third group of Shadow Guards who were guarding the source of law suddenly went crazy and attacked their own people. Fortunately, we arranged another group of people to be on duty outside. They captured this group of crazy Shadow Guards, and only four people were injured."

"very good."

Zheng Yi nodded and said, "He should be unable to hold on any longer. Keep going!"

"promise!"

On the ninth day, Fayuan started to go crazy, screaming for Zheng Yi to come see him.

On the tenth day, Fayuan's breath became weak and he spoke nonsense.

On the eleventh day, Fayuan muttered to himself, shouting that he would tell you everything you wanted to know.

On the twelfth day, Fayuan began to beg for mercy and retched continuously.

After thinking about it, Zheng Yi decided to wait a few more days.

Sure enough, on the fourteenth day, the Shadow Guard who was feeding him water suddenly stopped and actually pulled out a dagger and stabbed towards Fayuan's neck.

He wants to commit suicide!

Fortunately, Fayuan had the Blood Moon Gu that Zheng Yi had specially left on him, and it bit off the dagger in the Shadow Guard's hand at the critical moment.

From then on, Fayuan started crying and making a fuss, and his nerves gradually collapsed.

Until the seventeenth day, the aura of the source of law had become extremely disordered and weak, with pupils bulging outward, as if it was ready to devour anyone.

And on this day, Zheng Yi returned to the underground palace.

Two shadow guards carried a solid wooden chair, and Zheng Yi slowly sat down.

"Fayuan, why do you want to see me?"

(End of this chapter)