Chapter 725: Coinage Rights

Yancheng.

The palace.

The news that the steam engine appeared in Lincheng and that the powerful tribes withdrew to the south of Jiujiang under the cover of the joint fleets of Britain and Wu were successively sent to Zhao Xu.

Two days later, Chang Wei sent another battle report, and the royal army took over Yangcheng.

Immediately, Zhao Xu gave Chang Wei an order to return to Yancheng.

In addition, he also called Zhou Yi back.

Sun Zheng's mission basically achieved his goal.

Next, he will follow the agreement with Wu State, and the two sides will temporarily divide the river to rule, and will not continue to fight fiercely with Wu State, which has joined the Eastern Tu Alliance.

After all, while he was fighting, the participating countries in the Eastern-Turk Alliance were transfusing blood to Wu.

This is equivalent to a nanny in the game who keeps nursing the opponent's health. After cutting it for a long time, the opponent is still alive and kicking.

In the end, the two sides will engage in a war of attrition, and the internal attrition will ultimately be Dasong's national power.

This is definitely not what he wants to see.

Of course, the blockade of Jiujiang by the fleets composed of Britain and Wu was also an important reason.

Yanzhou's navy may be able to defeat the British fleet based on its numbers, but it is obviously unable to defeat the combined fleet of Britain and Wu.

What's more, Sam Country is also involved.

When the naval battle begins, their warships will certainly not be absent.

Therefore, facing the current situation, his best solution is to stabilize the north.

In this way, he controls nearly half of Dasong's territory and has a population of about 40 million.

Land means resources, and population means labor.

Resources plus labor are the basis for industrial take-off.

Furthermore, the 40 million itself is also a consumer market, a consumer market that is not affected by powerful people at all.

Within a few days, Chang Wei and Zhou Yi arrived in Yancheng.

At this time, Zhao Xu convened the ministers in the meeting hall to discuss matters.

"Your Highness, Lu Chang's current attack is going smoothly. He has basically captured the counties in Ningzhou and is marching towards Bozhou and Yuzhou."

The civil and military ministers lined up on both sides, and Chang Wei came out to introduce the current war to Zhao Xu.

Zhao Xu nodded, and the main force of the three powerful families withdrew to the south of Jiujiang. Bozhou and Yuzhou were just some remaining wealthy families.

To deal with these powerful families, the 30,000 troops and horses commanded by Lu Chang were more than enough.

However, according to contemporary experience, once these unwilling wealthy families are defeated, they will turn into bandits and cause banditry.

Therefore, he said to Chang Wei: "When attacking the city, we must pay attention to clearing out the remnant soldiers of the wealthy clan who have taken refuge in the deep mountains and old forests, so as to prevent them from harming the countryside.

"Yes, Your Highness." Chang Wei responded.

Zhao Xu then looked at Liu Fu, "The captured city will only be managed by the royal army. In the end, you officials will be required to go to the local government. A few days ago, I asked you to draw up a list of officials, and we have a clue. "

Liu Fu came out of the queue, cupped his hands and said: "Reporting to Your Highness, I have selected seven outstanding people from the governors of Sizhou, Jinzhou, Yanzhou, and Ningjindusi to serve as Qinzhou, Yongzhou, Qizhou, Ningzhou, Bozhou, Yuzhou and Jingzhou Prefecture."

"Some officials were also selected from each county to serve as county guards, officials at county magistrates and below, and Yanzhou officials who were lacking due to overseas assignments were selected from among the students of the Government Affairs School."

Zhao Xu looked satisfied after hearing this.

When experienced officials go to these places, they can restore local livelihoods more quickly.

Although, the Jingzhou mentioned by Liu Fu is still at war.

But when the royal army marches to Jingzhou, it will only be one day early and one day late.

Except for Jingzhou, there are basically no major problems in the war in the north.

Liu Fu was also ready to take over the states.

At this time, Zhao Xu looked at Zhou Yi, "How is the situation in Ryukyu?"

"Back to Your Highness, since the Japanese soldiers in Ryukyu were annihilated by the Marines, Shang Bin has basically controlled the three Ryukyu islands, and because of his benevolent government, he has won the support of the people of Ryukyu in the three islands." Zhou Yidao.

After a pause, he continued: "Besides, the general is training soldiers for Ryukyu. When the general came back, Shang Bin vaguely mentioned that he wanted the Ryukyu army to be equipped with firearms from our Yanzhou. I hope His Highness will decide."

"It's not impossible to have our firearms, but you can't give them away for free. Just let them buy them with money. The firearms currently used by the royal family's troops can be sold to him." Zhao Xu said.

The establishment of the Ryukyu Army can still reduce the pressure on Yanzhou.

Otherwise, they would have to leave a large number of marines to protect Ryukyu.

Once the training of the Ryukyu Army is completed, they can withdraw most of the Marines, leaving only some to supervise the Ryukyu Army.

"Yes, Your Highness." Zhou Yi responded, and then he frowned, "Your Highness, I heard that there are twelve British steamships. They are currently in the Kingdom of Wu. I am worried that the Japanese will instigate the British to help them recapture them. Ryukyu, with the current warships of the Yanzhou Navy, it is probably difficult to protect Ryukyu.”

Zhao Xu snorted softly, "Okay, I don't know your tricks yet. At the end of the year, our steamship will be launched, but before that, if Ryukyu is captured by the Eastern-Turkish Alliance, you will jump on your own Go to the sea and feed the sharks.”

Zhou Yi's eyes suddenly lit up, and his little wife no longer looked like she was being wronged.

He knew that the Ship Department was building a steamship, but he did not know when the steamship would be launched.

Now that King Yan said it, he suddenly felt at ease.

Zhao Xu was too lazy to pay attention to him and said to Chang Wei: "Leave 30,000 troops and horses in Yangcheng. The remaining troops will go to Xiangcheng to join Ma Han's army and capture Jingzhou. Jiangbei should be at peace. "

"I will obey your orders," Chang Wei replied.

After deciding on the priorities to be dealt with, Zhao Xu continued to discuss other reforms with the ministers.

After all, the court was about to take over half of Dasong.

It needed to be improved in all aspects.

In terms of government affairs, Zhao Xu asked Liu Fu to expand the Education Department, which would be responsible for official examinations in the future.

At the same time, laws were enacted to severely punish officials who cheated in official examinations, with the highest penalty being death.

Participants were banned from taking exams for life and would never be employed.

In the officialdom, an assessment was conducted every three years, and officials were promoted or demoted based on the assessment results.

At the same time, officials needed to be rotated every five years, that is, transferred from states, counties, and prefectures to other states, counties, and prefectures.

This was to prevent officials from operating their power in the local area, confronting the court softly, and becoming local emperors.

The most important thing was to reduce the power of state governors, county governors, and county magistrates.

In the future, state governors would only be responsible for government affairs, and the state and county soldiers of each state would be directly commanded by the royal palace.

The Wuhou, who was responsible for public security, would be commanded by the Wuhou Division directly under the court.

"In addition, the court will establish four major banks, namely the Commercial Bank, the Construction Bank, the Agricultural Bank, and the Royal Bank, which will be managed by the Royal Bank." Zhao Xu said slowly.

There are cloth shops for cloth, rouge shops for rouge, and banks are naturally responsible for silver.

He had already thought about the coinage right in his mind.

It was just that Yanzhou was too small and it was dispensable.

And now, the time has come.