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In the late autumn of the third year of the prosperous reign, when news of the pacification of the Hetao region reached Bianliang, the ginkgo trees outside the imperial study were shedding their golden leaves.

Su Ning stood before the map, gazing at the newly painted red land, and remained silent for a long time.

From north to south, from east to west, the territory of the Great Zhou Dynasty has never been so vast.

North of the Yanshan Mountains, on the Liaodong Peninsula and the Hetao Plain, patches of land were marked with vermilion lines, and these patches of land became the territory of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

The vast expanse of red on the map resembled a burning fire, stretching from Bianliang into the distance.

Finally, it has restored a little bit of the appearance that the Tang Dynasty should have had.

Su Ning silently repeated this sentence to himself.

The Tang Dynasty, a glorious era only seen in history books, a golden age that countless people yearn for.

With all nations paying tribute and the world submitting, Chang'an was teeming with merchants and envoys from all corners of the globe.

Now, the Great Zhou Dynasty is finally starting to look somewhat promising.

But Suning knew that this was just the beginning.

He turned around and walked back to the imperial desk.

On the desk lay a thick stack of memorials, some concerning the resettlement of immigrants in Liaodong, some concerning the planning of military farms in the Hetao region, and some concerning the collection of taxes in various places.

He had to review every single item and make his decision on every single one.

Cabinet members Wei Renpu, Wang Pu, Li Fang, and Zhao Pu stood aside, waiting for Su Ning to speak.

"The remnants of the Khitan are hiding in the southern and northern deserts. What's been happening in the capital lately?" Su Ning asked.

Zhao Pu said, "According to reports from scouts, after Yelü Jing retreated to Shangjing, he has been reorganizing his remaining troops and gathering the scattered tribes. Winter is approaching, and they are short of food and clothing, making their lives difficult. Several small tribes have already secretly sent people to Youzhou, wanting to submit to the Great Zhou."

Su Ning nodded: "Those who surrender will be accepted. Give them land and food so they can survive."

"Your Majesty is merciful."

“It’s not about mercy.” Su Ning shook his head. “It’s about letting them know that following the Great Zhou means survival, while following the Khitan means certain death. Once they all understand this, Yelü Jing will truly be all alone.”

Zhao Pu and the other three all looked thoughtful.

Su Ning's gaze returned to the map, this time looking south.

What about Dali?

Wei Renpu said, "The Duan family of Dali Kingdom recently sent people to Bianliang, saying they wanted to pay tribute. I reckon they are feeling insecure after seeing that we destroyed the Dingnan Army."

Su Ning laughed: "It's good that they're feigning weakness. Only by feigning weakness will they behave. Let them come here, I want to see them."

He paused, then tapped lightly on the map with his finger. "The remnants of the Khitan are no threat, and Dali, confined to a corner of the country, can't cause any trouble. The most important thing now is to stabilize the territory we've conquered."

"Your Majesty means..."

"Let them rest and recuperate," Su Ning said. "Let the people catch their breath. We've been fighting too hard these past few years, from south to north, from east to west, one battle after another. The people have been running around with us, they deserve a break."

Wei Renpu and the others nodded unconsciously.

"Issue the imperial decree," Su Ning said, "Starting tomorrow, taxes in Hebei, Hedong, Liaodong, and Hetao will be reduced or exempted for three years. All prefectures and counties shall open their granaries to distribute grain to relieve the widows and orphans. Where there is land but no one to cultivate it, the government shall organize military farming. Where there is land but no cattle, the government shall lend cattle."

Li Fang wrote them down one by one.

“Furthermore,” Su Ning paused, “the Khitans of the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun can no longer be treated as enemies.”

Wei Renpu and the other three were all stunned for a moment: "Your Majesty means..."

"Fight is fighting, but once it's over, that's it," Su Ning said. "The Khitans are people too, and they want to live a good life. Those who are willing to submit will be accepted. Those who are willing to serve as officials or generals in the court will be given important positions. Those who are willing to stay on the grasslands to herd livestock will be allowed to do so."

"I want them to know that the Great Zhou is not their enemy, but their home."

These words sent a jolt through Zhao Pu and his three companions.

Zhao Pu, Wang Pu, and Li Fang recalled the words Su Ning had spoken during their time at the study companion camp.

"The world does not belong to the Han people alone. The Khitans, Tanguts, Bohais, and Koreans are all human beings. As long as we can live well, it doesn't matter who is the emperor."

They didn't quite understand back then.

Now they all understand.

……

In the spring of the fourth year of the prosperous reign, an imperial edict was issued to the entire country.

"The Rhyme of a Prosperous Age".

This set of books is not about poetry and songs, but rather a set of standard pronunciation guidelines.

Su Ning gathered more than a dozen scholars who were proficient in phonetics and spent two years compiling it.

The book details the pronunciation, tone, and usage of each character, and also includes mnemonic rhymes for demonstrating pronunciation.

"From now on, all scholars in the world must learn this pronunciation," Su Ning said in the court. "Whether you are Han, Khitan, or Tangut, you must speak the same language and write the same characters to be considered a person of the same kind."

The courtiers looked at each other, some wanting to say something, but swallowing their words.

Who dares to say it's wrong?
The edict elicited mixed reactions across different regions.

Han Chinese scholars took it for granted.

They grew up reading classic texts and writing in Chinese characters, so what's so difficult about them speaking the same language?
The surrendered Khitan generals felt awkward, but they had no choice but to accept it.

Cao Bin had many Khitan generals who had surrendered. They fought and ate with the Zhou army. What was so special about them learning a few words of Chinese?
Those Tangut and Bohai people who had just submitted were completely bewildered and simply followed along.

Regardless, starting from the fourth year of the prosperous era, the Great Zhou Dynasty had its own "common language".

When the news reached the capital, Yelü Jing was so angry that he smashed his cup.

"What is that kid Su Ning trying to do? Make us Khitans learn their language?"

No one dared to speak.

However, some Khitan nobles were already secretly learning it.

After all, life is much better back in the Great Zhou!

They had enough to eat and wear, and they could even become officials.

What's so bad about learning a few phrases?
Learning to speak is for the sake of living.

Being alive is more important than anything else.

……

In the summer of the fourth year of the prosperous reign, another imperial edict was issued.

A Central Commercial Division and Local Commercial Bureaus were established.

"The affairs of commerce and industry should not be underestimated," Su Ning said. "The people need to eat, and the court needs to spend money; both are inseparable from commerce and industry. From now on, engaging in commerce will be legal, and the court will encourage it."

"Each prefecture and county shall establish a Bureau of Commerce, which shall be responsible for registering merchants, collecting commercial taxes, and mediating disputes. Commercial taxes shall be levied on profits, with higher profits resulting in higher taxes, lower profits incurring lower taxes, and no profits incurring no taxes."

As soon as the imperial edict was issued, merchants throughout the land spread the news.

In the past, doing business was a profession that was looked down upon.

Scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, with merchants ranked last.

Wherever I go, people talk behind my back.

Now the imperial court says that doing business is legal and even encourages it?
What are you waiting for?
Dozens of shops appeared overnight in Bianliang City.

The once quiet and deserted streets and alleys suddenly became lively.

Shops selling cloth, grain, tea, and porcelain lined up one after another, their signs hanging high and low.

In Yangzhou, Hangzhou, Chengdu, Youzhou, and other major cities, the streets were bustling with people and business was booming.

There were even more merchant ships on the Bian River, their sails stretching from the east to the west of the city.

But Suning knew in its heart that relying solely on private enterprises wouldn't be enough.

Too much private capital will cause problems.

Hoarding, price gouging, collusion with officials, and oppression of the people... these are all things that have happened in every dynasty. Therefore, Suning has a backup plan: it absolutely cannot allow the unregulated growth of private capital.

……

In the autumn of the fourth year of the prosperous reign, a secret imperial edict was issued from the palace.

The National Capital Administration, reorganized from the Chengxin Trading Company, quickly seized key industries.

Industries that are vital to the national economy and people's livelihood must be state-owned.

The government developed the steel industry, mining and smelting sectors, established the Royal Academy of Sciences, and encouraged and invested in technological research and development.

In fact, Industry 1.0 is not too complicated; it simply requires a matter of direction.

Therefore, Suning now gathers talents from all over the world and devotes all its efforts to the research and development of industrial technologies.

Suning believes that with the intelligence and talent of Chinese people, breakthroughs in steam engines and the Industrial Revolution will soon be achieved.

“I don’t care what you’re called,” Su Ning said to his old subordinates at the State Capital Administration Bureau. “From now on, you will be in charge of the key industries for the court. The leaders in these industries—steel, coal, grain, salt, tea, mining, shipbuilding, and infrastructure—must be from the court.”

"Private capital can be used, but it must be done within the rules of the imperial court. Anyone who dares to overstep the boundaries will be watched by the Imperial City Guard."

The old subordinates knelt down to receive the imperial decree.

They have been with Suning for twenty years, from the reading companion camp to the trustworthy business, from Minglitang to Huangchengsi.

Now, I'm about to change my identity again.

But they all understood one thing...

Following His Majesty is the right thing to do.

This is a characteristic of Chinese culture: the superiors influencing the inferiors.

This is what is meant by "learning both literary and martial arts to sell to the emperor."

Therefore, whatever the upper echelons of feudal dynasties wanted, those intelligent people would study it.

For example, the emperors of the Southern Tang Dynasty were often indulging in a life of pleasure and indulgence, and they loved to compose poems and essays, so the court and the country were filled with poets.

Therefore, all Suning needs to do now is point out the right direction to these talented individuals and let them study along that direction.

Once a technological breakthrough is achieved, it can be fully implemented to promote new forms of education, allowing China to develop slowly from the ground up.

……

After five years of prosperity, the Great Zhou Dynasty entered a period of comprehensive recuperation and development.

In the north, the remnants of the Khitan forces finally settled down.

Occasionally, envoys would be sent from the capital, but they would not mention annual tribute or key locations; they would only talk about "peace talks" and instead ask the Great Zhou to lift its trade blockade against the Khitan.

Su Ning wasn't in a hurry; he let the Ministry of Rites talk slowly and drag things out.

Let's talk it out one day at a time, or drag it out one year at a time.

Anyway, he's not the one who's in a hurry.

In the west, the land reclamation efforts in the Hetao region are beginning to show results.

The people who migrated from the interior reclaimed wasteland along the Yellow River and cultivated the land. The first season's wheat harvest yielded over 100,000 shi (a unit of dry measure).

Li Chongjin wrote from Yinzhou, saying that the land in the Hetao region is so fertile that seeds can grow easily, and next year's harvest will only be better.

In the south, the Dali Kingdom sent envoys to pay tribute.

Su Ning met them at Chongyuan Hall.

The envoy was a middle-aged man in his forties, surnamed Gao, who was the Qingping official of Dali, equivalent to the prime minister of the Central Plains.

He knelt in the hall and respectfully presented the gift list...

Dali horses, Dali knives, and Dali medicinal herbs were displayed in a row, filling the entire area.

Suning looked at the gift list and nodded.

"Go back and tell your Duan family that the Great Zhou is willing to coexist peacefully with Dali. As long as Dali submits to the Great Zhou, I can grant you some autonomy, except for military power, finance, and personnel appointments."

The envoy surnamed Gao was stunned.

He didn't expect Suning to be so easy to talk to.

"Does Your Majesty mean... that Dali can govern itself?"

“Yes,” Su Ning said. “You should continue to live your lives as before. I will not send anyone to manage you; you should manage yourselves. But there are three conditions: First, the army must be under the unified command of the Great Zhou; second, taxes must be paid to the Great Zhou; and third, the appointment of officials must be approved and authorized by the Great Zhou.”

"If you do these three things, Dali will still be your Dali."

The envoy surnamed Gao knelt on the ground and kowtowed repeatedly.

"Your Majesty's words will certainly be conveyed back to you!"

After the envoy left, Zhao Pu said softly, "Your Majesty, what about Dali..."

"No rush," Su Ning said. "Let them think it over slowly. If they figure it out, they'll come naturally. If they don't, I won't force them. Anyway, the all-round blockade will only get tighter and tighter. In time, they'll know what to choose."

To the east, more and more merchant ships are appearing on the sea.

Some went to Korea, some to Japan, and some even to Southeast Asia.

The merchant ships were built larger and more robust, some even capable of carrying thousands of stones of cargo.

The influx of massive capital led to an explosion in maritime technology.

More advanced rudders, stronger sails, more accurate compasses, and larger ships were built one after another.

With the addition of technical research and development and support from the Royal Society of Naval Maritime Research, all the problems seemed to disappear.

The officials in the Ministry of Revenue were so busy calculating that the silver in the national treasury was piled up like a mountain.

In the past, people lived by counting copper coins; now, they count silver by the chests, warehouses, and cellars.

Bianliang City was peaceful and prosperous.

In the imperial study, Su Ning looked at the reports sent from various places, a faint smile on his face.

The report from Liaodong said that the immigrants had settled down and would be able to support themselves next year.

The report from Hetao said that the harvest from the military farms was excellent, and the warehouses were overflowing.

The report from Youzhou stated that the construction of the new city was progressing normally and the people were living in peace and contentment.

Reports from Jiangnan indicate that silk and tea are in short supply, and merchants are making a fortune.

Zhao Pu stood aside and said softly, "Your Majesty, the world is at peace now, and everything is thriving."

Su Ning put down the report and looked out the window.

The sun is shining brightly outside the window, and the flowers in the yard are in full bloom.

Several bees flew back and forth among the flowers, their buzzing sound coming through the window and sounding particularly pleasant.

"Next, we must ensure that the people of the Central Plains live well," Su Ning said.

"Live well?"

“Yes.” Su Ning stood up and walked to the window. “The Central Plains were in chaos for more than a hundred years. From the An Lushan Rebellion to the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms, the people didn’t have many days of peace. They fought, fled, starved, and sold their children. Generation after generation endured it all.”

"Now everything is fine. The war is over, the territory is stable, and the national treasury is full. It's time to let the people live in peace for a few days."

Su Ning paused, then looked north. "Furthermore, we must continue the comprehensive blockade against the Khitan. Make them lack food, iron, salt, and tea. Let them know that following Yelü Jing will only lead to their deaths."

"We should also blockade Dali. Let them know that they can only have a good life if they do business with the Great Zhou. If they don't follow the Great Zhou, they can only shut themselves off and live a miserable life."

Zhao Pu nodded. "Your Majesty is wise."

After Zhao Pu left the imperial study, Su Ning turned around and walked back to the imperial desk.

There was a pile of memorials waiting for his review on the desk.

...(End of this chapter)