Speed Pass starts with choosing a hunter

Chapter 457: King of the North

Bai Yuan leaned back.

"Mr. Zhou, we are all working for the court, why talk about money?"

He looked dignified and imposing.

Zhou Xianhai was shocked.

How shrewd he is.

With his status, talking about money is the most economical way. What he fears most is talking about other things. What if Bai Yuan asks for too much, he really can't afford it.

"No talk of money?"

"Does this kid want more?!"

Zhou Xianhai coughed lightly: "Master Bai also knows that the country is in turmoil now, and the court can't offer anything."

Li Kang sent him to Lingzhou without intending to fail.

At most, the price paid will be higher or lower.

If he could lower the price, he would also gain a considerable achievement.

The Central Plains War, after all, is a competition of financial resources.

Now is a critical moment, so of course we should save as much as possible.

Bai Yuan waved his hand: "Master Zhou, I said, I don't want money."

"What does Lord Bai want?"

"I want the right to mint coins in the thirteen northern states."

"Oh, coinage. What, the right to coin?"

Zhou Xianhai almost vomited blood, and it was not the four states of Shuofang, but the thirteen states of the northern border!
Are you trying to split the earth and become king?

"Well, I."

Zhou Xianhai was a little hesitant.

This time, Li Kang sent him to Lingzhou to lobby and gave him great authority, but he didn't dare to give what Bai Yuan wanted, nor could he afford it.

You must know that Bai Yuan is a military governor.

He already had great power, and later the late emperor Li Chengyuan promised Bai Yuan the right to recruit soldiers and mint weapons. Now, if the right to mint coins is added, Bai Yuan would be almost equivalent to a prince.

And he is not a prince of a state like the King of Qingzhou, but the King of the North!
Bai Yuan chuckled: "Master Zhou, you can rest assured. I am a loyal minister and will never have any other intentions. I will ensure that the chaos of the Demon Sect is quelled and I will return it immediately."

Zhou Xianhai glanced at Bai Yuan.

I muttered in my heart.

"Have you ever seen a loyal minister who controls thirteen states and has three hundred thousand mercenaries?"

Everyone knows that the Zhenbei Army and the Zhenxi Army have now secretly leaned towards the northern border.

Add to that the coinage, and Bai Yuan's power is truly terrifying.

As for the nonsense about returning the money, Zhou Xianhai didn't believe a single word of it.

Not to mention that there is a lot of room for manipulation. It is not uncommon for generals to deliberately nurture enemies in all dynasties. Moreover, after the world is at peace, even if Bai Yuan dares to return, the court may not dare to accept it.

"I need to discuss this matter with His Majesty before I can give you a reply."

Bai Yuan nodded.

"Please convey this to me, Lord Zhou."

Zhou Xianhai didn't say much to persuade Bai Yuan.

At their level, there are no stupid people anymore and the interests are very clear. He came to Lingzhou just to find out what Bai Yuan really wants.

Now that it has been confirmed, the next thing will of course be left to Li Kang and Liang Yuankang to decide.

Just complete the task.

Zhou Xianhai has been an official for a hundred years, so he naturally knows what to do.

He glanced at Situ Nan behind him.

Since leaving Xingdu, Situ Nan has been very silent and hardly speaks a word. After arriving in Lingzhou, he didn't say a word at all.

"It's my nemesis."

Zhou Xianhai shook his head.

This former university scholar had a smooth life, but he was often defeated by Bai Yuan. He was inferior to Bai Yuan in both martial arts and literary talent.

The last time he came to Lingzhou to persuade Bai Yuan, he came back with injuries all over his body.

"Since there is a metaphor, why should there be light?"

Get out of town.

Zhou Xianhai then looked at Situ Nan and said, "Master Situ, what do you think?"

Situ Nan finally spoke: "This matter is not something you and I can decide, let His Majesty decide."

"reasonable."

Zhou Xianhai nodded.

Ever since Situ Nan went to Lingzhou that year, he has become much more taciturn since he came back. He no longer has the spirit of a scholar, but his official position has been promoted again and again.

This is what is commonly known as getting the point.

As for being an official, as long as you find the right path, the road ahead will be much smoother. Situ Nan has found the right path.

"Young people are to be feared."

Zhou Xianhai sighed: "I'm old."

He planned to stay in Xingdu after completing this trip, and retire to his hometown in a few years, so that at least he could have a decent ending.

Whether it was Bai Yuan or Situ Nan, it was difficult to deal with them.

Three days later.

Zhou Xianhai and Situ Nan returned to the temporary capital of Zhenyuan Dynasty.

They did not talk about this matter directly at the court meeting, but went straight to Emperor Zhenyuan's study.

“Right to mint coins”

Li Kang frowned tightly.

He originally thought that Bai Yuan would ask for some food, gold, silver and the like, but he didn't expect it to be the right to mint coins.

The right to mint coins in the North has almost no value to him at the moment.

It's equivalent to getting something for nothing.

But he felt comfortable now. If he really returned to the capital one day, it would be extremely difficult to take it back.

His reputation must have been ruined.

But if he doesn't give it to Bai Yuan, he will definitely defend the four states of Shuofang and allow the Demon Sect to move south. At that time, his dream of conquering the world will be completely shattered.

"Please Master."

Li Kang sighed softly.

The consequences of this matter are too serious, and it may even affect the destiny of the world. He must find Liang Yuankang to endorse him.

soon.

Liang Yuankang came into the study.

Zhou Xianhai told Liang Yuankang all of Bai Yuan's demands.

Liang Yuankang's expression did not fluctuate at all.

He looked at Li Kang calmly and said, "Your Majesty, just give way. You can't even understand what happened in your past, how can you care about what will happen in the future?"

Hearing Liang Yuankang's words.

Li Kang's eyes became firm again.

"What the Master said makes sense."

Emperor Taizu had once offered his territory to the Western Desert to send troops, so how could he avoid it?

History is written by the victors.

As long as he can become the real emperor, he can just find a way to take it back when the time comes. Now he is timid and will be defeated by his fifth brother in the end, and his reputation will only get worse.

When it breaks, it breaks.

"Okay, then we'll grant him the right to mint coins in the thirteen states in the northern border."

"The Emperor issued an edict stating that the Demon Sect was causing unrest and the world was in turmoil. He allowed Bai Yuan, the governor of Shuofang, to control the thirteen states in the northern border and mint coins in preparation for war."

A young eunuch recited.

Then he held the imperial edict in both hands and handed it to Bai Yuan.

Bai Yuan did not kneel.

Li Kang is not worthy of making him kneel.

There was no dissatisfaction on the young eunuch's face, simply because the man in front of him had the ability to not kneel.

"Master Bai, His Majesty's order has been delivered. I will go back and report first."

When the young eunuch had finished his work, he fled from the government office.

We left Lingzhou that day.

He was afraid that Bai Yuan would be unhappy and leave him alone.

Bai Yuan looked at the golden imperial edict in his hand, with the corners of his mouth slightly raised.

Purpose achieved!

Compared with asking for food, fodder, gold and silver, the right to mint coins is of course more lasting.

The main reason why the Northern Territory cannot afford to support the Zhenbei Army and the Zhenxi Army is that the Northern Territory has always been sucked dry by the Central Plains and the South of the Yangtze River, and too much money has flowed out.

Bai Yuan wants to curb this phenomenon.

Everything must be done with a legitimate reason. Now that Li Kang and Li Dai, the two emperors in name only, have agreed, there is no need to worry about being backfired. With the right to mint coins, it will be much easier for the people in the North to do business.

The taxes received will naturally increase as well.

This is the real way to make money in the long run.

"Li Kang gave the coinage rights to Bai Yuan?"

Li Dai looked at the information and pondered.

A young general stood beside him and said, "That's quite generous. Li Kang wasn't like this before."

"Ninghe, don't say that again."

"alright."

The young general curled his lips.

This general named Ning He is the fourth person above the Qianlong Gang, the military prodigy, Ning He.

He had been stationed in southern Xinjiang before, and was secretly transferred back to his side by Li Dai when the late emperor was suppressing a rebellion.

Everyone thought that the Fifth Prince and Ning He had never met.

In fact, before Li Dai became the fifth prince, he once traveled to southern Xinjiang. It was at that time that he made friends with Ning He, who had not yet entered the Hidden Dragon List, and the two became close friends.

Later he proclaimed himself emperor.

Ning He naturally took the position of commander of the Imperial Guards.

This position is not prominent.

But he is the most trusted of the confidants, and only the person the emperor trusts the most can become the commander of the Imperial Guards.

This shows the relationship between the two.

Ning He: "Should we admit it?"

Li Dai had written a secret letter to Bai Yuan before, saying that as long as the Demon Sect could be stopped, he could make all the decisions in the North.

Now even Li Kang has been given the right to mint coins. If they don’t give it, they will definitely offend Bai Yuan.

Li Dai chuckled: "It's fine if you don't express your opinion. Anyway, my third brother must be more anxious than me right now."

Among the three existing forces in Xuanyang.

Li Dai can be said to be the one who cares the least about the Demon Sect.

Jiangnan is to the south of Xuanyang. By the time the Demon Sect reaches Jiangnan, the Central Plains will have already been reduced to ruins.

Therefore, the rebels and Li Kang are the ones who should be really panicking.

He could just acquiesce and then put all the blame on Li Kang after the success.

As for whether the power in the North can be taken back, it depends on each party’s abilities at that time.

Ning He curled his lips and said, "You guys just like to play with these things. It's boring."

He has remained in the military.

In comparison, things in the army are much more direct. Even if there are conspiracies and tricks, they are simply for the purpose of killing the enemy.

It would never be as gloomy as it is now.

Li Dai was helpless: "Some things are beyond one's control. People in the world think that no one dares to control an emperor, but in fact, the constraints are even greater. The mouths of scholars can kill people."

"."

Ning He did not refute this time.

During this period of time, he could clearly feel the changes in his old friend.

And all of this has to change.

"I will not be born into a royal family in my next life."

Li Dai sighed softly.

He rubbed his brow tiredly.

Ever since he was born, he has been fighting constantly, because if he doesn't fight, he will die, and not only he will die, but also his family, so he must fight.

It's the same this time.

In a valley in Yuzhou.

Thick smoke billowed out of the large kilns, where thousands of workers were busy.

Bai Yuan looked at the fiery scene.

My heart moved slightly.

This is the coinage location chosen by the North. Official documents have been sent to various state offices, and will soon be sent to the prefectural and county offices, and finally notified to the villages scattered across the North through the village heads.

The newly minted copper coins can then be circulated.

As for what happens next, he, the governor, doesn't need to worry about it anymore.

It’s not that there were no capable people in economics in ancient times.

However, in order to maintain stability, ancient dynasties emphasized agriculture and suppressed commerce, so these talents were buried.

Bai Yuan had already discovered several talented people.

The one who surprised him the most was actually Lu Yu.

Before, I just thought this guy was greedy for money, but I didn't expect that he was extremely talented in business.

He simply gave all the tasks of coinage and promoting trade routes to Lu Yu, and Lu Yu did a very good job.

Lu Yu stood aside, laughing:

"In three days, the first batch of copper coins will be available. We will then send them to Binzhou, where there are the most merchants. It will definitely have a good effect."

Bai Yuan nodded.

He has always adhered to the principle of not employing people if you doubt them, and trusting people if you employ them.

Since it has been decided to let Lu Yu take charge, naturally I won't interfere too much.

Lu Yu rubbed his hands.

He found that he still preferred making money.

After Lu Yu implemented a series of reforms to boost the economy.

It works quickly.

The most direct manifestation is that the tax revenue in the North has increased by a full half percent. Although it is only half a percent, considering the scale of the entire North, this is a number that cannot be underestimated, and it will only increase in the future.

It also made up for some of the losses of the Cao Gang merchant caravan.

The situation in Beiyuan is becoming increasingly tense.

Gradually, the Demon Sect reappeared in the North.

"A Yuan, followers of the Tianxin Sect have appeared in many places. They are hiding too deeply and are difficult to find."

Yang Fangyu frowned.

During this period, various places in the northern border continued to report on the affairs of the Tianxin Sect.

Although he is now only the governor of Lingzhou on paper, he actually does the work of the chief steward of internal affairs in the northern territory.

Bai Yuan had already looked for the other two military governors.

The two men chose to let it go, neither getting involved in Bai Yuan's affairs in the Northern Territory nor trying to stop him.

That's enough.

Therefore, Bai Yuan is now a super governor who actually controls the thirteen states.

Bai Yuan's heart sank.

“It has really started.”

Some time ago, he had received intelligence that the Tianxin Sect had completely controlled the southern part of Beiyuan.

Although there was no obstruction from the Soul-Chasing Tower, the speed still exceeded his expectations.

This shows that Tianxin Sect’s will is extremely firm.

The demons are so actively trying to control the southern part of Beiyuan, most likely for only one thing, which is to restart the military, or even to overthrow Xuanyang and establish a new country.

War is inevitable.

The old chief of the monster hunters has led the Zhenbei Army northward to guard the Great Wall.

The two sides have been in a standoff for some time.

A war could break out at any time.

Just then, Dong Wanjun slowly walked into the lobby of the provincial government.

"Master."

"General Dong."

Bai Yuan and Yang Fangyu's luggage.

Dong Wanjun: "What is the current situation of the Demon Sect?"

Bai Yuan immediately told Old Man Dong everything.

When it comes to experience in dealing with the Demon Sect, perhaps only Master Xu Dingchun can surpass Old Man Dong in this world.

Old Dong groaned and said, "Don't worry about the demon species for now, just deal with the demon sect's army."