You have truly caused me great suffering!

Outside Pingzhou City, at the Central Army Headquarters.

Qu Duan, along with Li Yanqi and other generals, hurriedly dismounted.

Although he had once served as a captain in Xia Prefecture, the old soldiers of Yin Prefecture in the central army ignored him.

Qu Duan's reputation has never been very good.

He had a terrible temper and his military discipline was too strict. In the early days of the Yinzhou Camp, many people were whipped by him.

The advantage is that this person doesn't have double standards; he's strict with others, but even stricter with himself.

He never violated the military regulations he set, but when one of his uncles violated them, he was beheaded.

So even though people don't like him, they don't hate him much.

Qu Duan didn't care about that at all. At this moment, he was feeling very upset. He had finally gotten his chance, but he had misjudged it.

According to his calculations, the best option for the Jin army was to march southeast from Liaodong.

So he personally led a large army, ready for battle, and the Jin soldiers actually backed down.

Wanyan Zongwang stopped at Yanshan, and his vanguard general Wanyan Ang did not go south.

What kind of pioneer are you if you don't head south?
Is this how you Jin soldiers used to fight? How could you face Wanyan Aguda?
Qu Duan had no choice but to lash out at the Jurchen Tartars for their ignorance of military strategy. He could only unleash his fury on Liaodong and recover the entire region in one fell swoop.

Today I have arrived in Pinglu. With the two armies now combined, I will become a deputy general.

We can't possibly compete with Zhu Lingling for the title of Marshal.
Therefore, Qu Duan had a gloomy face the whole way. When he entered the central command tent, he cupped his hands and said, "General."

"Brother Qu Duan," Zhu Lingling stood up and said with a smile, "You've come at the perfect time."

"Now that the war in Liaodong is over, I need to return to Bianliang to report the battle to the Prince of Dai. Once I arrive in Bianliang, I will recommend you to lead the troops here. You should keep that in mind."

Qu Duan's eyes widened in disbelief.

Zhu Lingling chuckled inwardly, thinking that her younger brother's composure was still lacking.

"General, are you joking?"

Qu Duan looked at Zhu Dashuai, who was as strong as an ox, and couldn't associate him with the word "recuperating for illness".

"I have no time for jokes with you," Zhu Lingling said. "I've been feeling unwell since I came from Wuhui Ridge. I've been fighting in the north and south all these years without slacking off. Now that the fighting is almost over, it's time for me to rest."

Zhu Lingling chuckled to herself, thinking that she had already amassed enough merit, and if she continued to fight, she would be too accomplished to be rewarded.

There should always be some space left for those below; giving it up now will please everyone, from top to bottom. The ancients said that moderation is key, and that's absolutely true.

Seeing that Qu Duan didn't seem to understand, Zhu Lingling thought to herself, "Qu Duan is my old subordinate, and we'll have a relationship in the future, so why not give him some pointers again?"

“I recently read some books written by you Han people and came across a saying that goes, ‘The moon wanes when it is full, water overflows when it is full, a vessel tipps when it is full, and ambition overturns when it is full.’ This is how I feel about going to Bianliang today. Brother, you should also think more about these words when you lead the troops.”

“Look at these soldiers. They are just like you and me, eager to make a name for themselves. We are all gathered together, and although our positions are generals and soldiers, we are brothers who share life and death.”

"Life and death, honor and disgrace are intertwined. If you are to truly lead the army in the future, we brothers should be more lenient towards any mistakes we may have made, so as to repay the bond of comradeship we have shared over the years!"

At this point, Zhu Lingling patted Qu Duan on the shoulder, but Qu Duan did not speak.

Zhu Lingling shook her head inwardly: What an idiot! You're lucky you followed the Prince of Dai, otherwise you would have been killed long ago.

Nevertheless, he still planned to recommend Qu Duan to Chen Shaoju in his place.

Firstly, although this foolish bird isn't very skilled, it's actually quite capable in battle, and it won't cause a disastrous defeat. If the front lines are lost, returning to Bianliang would be a sin.

Secondly, Qu Duan is a person that everyone hates, yet the Prince of Dai has been using him, which shows that he values ​​him highly. By giving him a push, the Prince of Dai feels more at ease.

When Qu Duan left, he was still upset. He had originally thought that he would continue to fight against the Jurchen Tartars under Zhu Lingling's command.

I didn't expect him to leave on his own.

If he really recommends himself, then it is highly likely that he will directly confront Wanyan Zongwang.

Thinking of this, Qu Duan couldn't help but feel his blood boil. Wanyan Zongwang had already proven himself in the war to destroy Liao.

Defeating him would undoubtedly be a tremendous achievement.

Inside the main tent of the central command headquarters, Zhu Yuanzhang was much more relaxed when talking to his subordinates.

"That kid is slow to learn. After I leave, all of you be careful. If he really gets into trouble, you all have to plead for him first, then come to Bianliang to find me."

"Don't worry, Commander. We always follow military orders, so we won't commit any capital offenses. If it's a minor mistake, a few beatings won't matter."

Zhu Lingling laughed heartily, “That’s right. Having Qu Duan in charge of the troops is also to keep you in check. Every time a country is founded, after the war is over, there are always some military men who become arrogant, forcing the emperor to take action.”

"Everyone should refrain from causing trouble and enjoy their wealth and comfort, or they will regret it later."

Zhu Lingling knew she would definitely accompany Chen Shao to the very end, and she wouldn't feel at ease if she wasn't by his side during that process.

The last step is crucial; one must not make a mistake on the last leg. I will stay by his side and protect him.

Zhu Yuanzhang always felt that becoming emperor was not just a matter for the Prince of Dai.

The time has come. If the Prince of Dai does not declare himself emperor, it will be time for us to play our part.

Zhao Kuangyin's good brothers had long proven one thing: it was not difficult to drape the true emperor in a yellow robe.
-
September 15th.

Zhu Lingling left Youyan and headed to Bianliang. On the way, she passed through Botou County in Cangzhou, Hebei, where she happened to see laborers digging a canal.

The river has been dug for a full six months.

In terms of progress, we have now reached Cangzhou, which shows that the speed is not slow.

Seeing the lively scene, Zhu Lingling sent someone to inquire who was directing the excavation.

Upon receiving the reply that Yang Cheng was in Botou County, Zhu Lingling was overjoyed and hurried to meet him.

Yang Cheng rolled up his trousers, gathered his hair with a towel, and his calves were covered in mud, looking no different from a laborer digging a river.

He was also happy to see Zhu Lingling, wiping his sweat, and asked, "Is the battle almost over?"

"should be."

"Excellent, excellent!" Yang Cheng said, "These days, the grain transport has taken away more than 30,000 of my laborers. Finish the war quickly and don't take away my manpower anymore."

"Old Yang, do you want to come to Bianliang with me?"

Yang Cheng sat down next to Zhu Lingling and said, "You have news?"

Of course he knew why Zhu Lingling went to Bianliang. This man was always good at guessing what the Prince of Dai was thinking, and he also had three daughters by the Prince of Dai's side!
Three!
In the inner palace of the Prince of Dai, the number of female relatives could be counted on two hands, not exceeding ten. This fellow had three daughters in the Prince of Dai's harem.

How could he be so cunning?

Of course, others couldn't envy him. When he gave his three daughters to the Prince of Dai, the Prince of Dai didn't have as many troops as him.

At that time, the Prince of Dai was a general of the Song Dynasty and a confidant of Tong Guan. After Zhu Lingling came into contact with him, she discovered that he had ambitions to replace Western Xia.

That's why he resolutely pledged allegiance to Chen Shao. His original plan was that Chen Shao would replace Western Xia, and then he would become a prince of Western Xia.

At that time, he never expected to achieve such great success.

Zhu Lingling lowered her voice, moved closer, and whispered, "No."

"You're really bored, why are you bothering me!" Yang Cheng waved his hand dismissively, clearly annoyed by the wasted emotion.

Yang Cheng was a very special person. He was not greedy for money, not lustful, and did not even seek enjoyment, but he was addicted to being an official and had a morbid pursuit of achievements.

To dig the river, he used up all his savings, and whenever he had free time, he would lead a group of his people, including his son, to carry soil together.

He would beat his sons and nephews whenever they complained, causing them to suffer greatly. They had to live a poor life and work like oxen.

The Yang family's nephews and nieces complained to everyone they met, hoping that Yang Cheng would resign from his post as soon as possible, saying that it would be better for everyone to go back to the Northwest to farm than to die in a ditch.

So although he did get things done, he was also very keen on power and official positions.

If the Prince of Dai really wanted to become emperor, he would definitely go.

Yang Cheng had worked hard and made great contributions, and Zhu Lingling knew that the Prince of Dai would certainly not treat him unfairly.

Thinking that Yang Cheng was a reliable person and held considerable influence by the Prince of Dai's side, Zhu Lingling said, "Now that the time is ripe, even if the Prince of Dai doesn't intend to do this, shouldn't we, as his subordinates, lend him a hand?"

Yang Cheng tilted his head and glanced at Old Zhu. "You're the one who's most thoughtful."

"So, how about coming to Bianliang with me?"

After Old Zhu finished speaking, he also looked Yang Cheng up and down. The man was covered in mud; if you didn't know better, you would think he was faking it.

But someone as experienced as Zhu Lingling could tell at a glance that the color of his skin, the wrinkles, and the skin on his calves that had been soaked in water for a long time were not something that could be faked.

Yang Cheng was also a pragmatist, and he was about to go to the capital. Fearing that his nephews and nieces would take the opportunity to run away after he left, he made sure to bring these people with him.

The young men of the Yang family almost burst into tears upon hearing the news.

Finally, we can leave the ditch.

They had no intention of going to Bianliang to enjoy a life of luxury; even working one less day would be a great thing.
-
Bianliang City.

Chen Shao has been quite relaxed these past few days, and he has been assigning tasks to Zhao Huan whenever necessary.

After all, Zhao Huan is now the emperor.

Moreover, by using the last remaining royal identity of the Zhao family, Chen Shao had to do many things that were inconvenient for him to do on his own.

Especially in foreign affairs.

In many things, the Zhao family has its own unique advantages. For example, when dealing with Jiaozhi, the Zhao family's previous weakness and indulgence easily made Jiaozhi feel contempt.

They didn't take the Song emperor seriously, so they had a perfectly good reason to start a war.

Historically, both Han envoys and later Mongol envoys risked their lives and were prepared to die in order to provoke incidents and gain a reason to start a war.

Now, Zhao Huan only needs to use harsher language to achieve the same effect.

The Zhao family had been compliant for generations, and the accumulated weakness they had built up finally came in handy.

When the elderly Li Qiande heard that the Song Dynasty had sent someone to question him, he was indeed furious and immediately wanted to take revenge.

Just like it was more than forty years ago.

While he was preparing for war in Jiaozhi, he was unaware that Wu Jie had already led his troops to Qinzhou and was deploying them.

When Chen Shao left Taiyuan, he sent Wu Jie south.

Moreover, the preparations were quite thorough. In order to deal with Jiaozhi, Chen Shao sent Liu Guanglie to Jiangnan in advance and appointed Liu Jizu as the transport commissioner of Jiangnan Circuit.

He wanted to ensure that nothing went wrong.

Jiaozhi is different from Goryeo; Jiaozhi is their homeland and an inseparable part of it.

They cannot be vassals; any dynasty with any ambition would not allow it.

Just like the Ming Dynasty, once it had the time, it immediately went to reclaim its lost territories.

When Zhu Di recovered Jiaozhi, they had been separated for too long and had become ambitious.

Therefore, it came at a great cost and sowed the seeds of future division.

This time, Chen Shao intends to take it back completely and to settle scores with those who have committed the crime of separatism over the years.

Over the years, Jiaozhi (Vietnam) has regarded itself as a mini-Central Plains of Southeast Asia, expanding in all directions and thus conquering a considerable amount of territory.

Unfortunately, although they were used to being domineering, they were only really effective in fighting in Southeast Asia.

Previously, he faced a thousand old and weak border troops, and the Guangnan border was at his mercy.

This time, he was about to face a group of Northwest Chinese soldiers who had destroyed the Xia on the grasslands, the Hui in the Gobi Desert, and the Fan on the plateau, and who had destroyed three kingdoms in just a few years.

Moreover, the other person is on defense, while he is on offense.

Today, Chen Shao is hosting a banquet for several people in Zhaodefang, namely Wang Bing, Yuwen Xuzhong, and Ma Kuo.

After the recapture of Liaodong, Wang Bing and Ma Kuo abandoned their idea of ​​continuing to fight for the Song Dynasty.

First of all, there really is no chance anymore.

Secondly, Zhao Huan personally ordered them to relinquish their military power.

This is Zhao Huan's second use: to order the disarmament of these armed forces loyal to the Song Dynasty, especially the new armies that Li Gang had created to deal with him.

Wang Bing then relinquished command of the Huaihai New Army and arrived in Bianliang to await further instructions from the imperial court.

From both a public and private perspective, he had no reason to continue. You say you are loyal to the Song Dynasty, but the emperor of the Song Dynasty has already asked you to hand over your military power. So, will you hand it over or not?
However, Chen Shao's magnanimity and benevolence were indeed beyond their expectations. After being transferred back to the capital, they were not suppressed.

He even became a guest of honor of Prince Chen Shao of Dai.

The banquet was quite lavish, and Bianliang, as the leading city of the time, was likely far ahead of the second-place city.

The kind that can't be caught up with.

Even so, Chen Shao did not really approve of this kind of prosperity that was supported by the entire nation.

Yuwen Xuzhong no longer harbored any resentment. He felt that the Prince of Dai becoming emperor was the will of Heaven and a blessing for the Central Plains.

Wang Bing and Ma Kuo were both somewhat surprised by his change.

Chen Shao picked up his wine cup and said, "This time, the Emperor has ordered the removal of military power from Huaihai and Hebei. It is understandable that the two Huai regions, being wealthy, would maintain some local militia, but Hebei can no longer support many troops."

"Grand Tutor Cai and I have come up with a plan: to have these surrendered rebel armies from Hebei settle in Youyan and Liaodong. We will distribute the lands of Youyan and Liaodong to them as a means of resettlement. What do you all think?"

The Song Dynasty had always been fond of pacifying bandits and refugees, either by providing them with work relief or by directly recruiting them into the local militia. However, it never considered distributing land to them.

This time, the Prince of Dai is going to become emperor, but he is taking the path of abdication and does not massacre the gentry of the current dynasty.

Therefore, there is no reason to confiscate their land.

Going to Liaodong would indeed be a good idea to distribute land to so many rebels.

Ma Kuo said, “This is a very good move. Liaodong is a vast and sparsely populated area, and it borders the northern border. Since the Xianbei, it has been ruled by foreign tribes for a long time. This time, due to the Jurchen massacre, the population has been reduced to less than one in ten. It is a good opportunity to fill the gap with Han Chinese from Hebei.”

Yuwen Xuzhong did not immediately express his opinion, but thought for a while before saying, "The fields in Liaodong have been abandoned by the Khitan for a long time. They are covered with dense forests and lack water conservancy. I'm afraid they won't be easy to settle."

Chen Shaodao said: "We have already decided that the Dingnan Army will distribute farm tools, oxen, and seeds, build irrigation canals and reservoirs, reward farming, and exempt farmers from taxes for five years."

"If this can be achieved, it will be a blessing for the people and a boon for the nation!"

Yuwen Xuzhong discovered that as long as he firmly resolved to defect, all the difficulties that had troubled him for half his life suddenly disappeared.

The moment a thought of self-deception arises, one suddenly feels the vastness of the world!

Things that used to require painstaking efforts to persuade those in power to do, but could never be accomplished, no longer need to be brought up; the Prince of Dai has already thought of them more thoroughly than anyone else.

Putting everything else aside, with the Liaodong region secured, any northern nomadic tribes that wanted to invade southward would have no choice but to force their way into Youyun.

With the current king's military strength, the North is simply no match for him.

Chen Shao chuckled and finally revealed his purpose, "Zichong, I know you are very knowledgeable about Liaodong and even more familiar with the Jurchens. I would like to invite you to Liaodong to defend against the Jurchens. Are you willing?"

Ma Kuo was slightly taken aback. In fact, he wanted to seek refuge with the Prince of Dai, but he was too embarrassed to speak up.

Unexpectedly, before he could even bring it up, the Prince of Dai took the initiative to recruit him.

This made him, who had once been a staunch opponent of the Prince of Dai, feel ashamed and full of admiration.

"If the Prince of Dai does not abandon me, Ma Kuo is willing to be a lowly soldier in Liaodong!"

"You want me to be a lowly soldier? I'm afraid Aguda would laugh at me if he knew in the afterlife." Chen Shao laughed, "I'll recommend you as the Pacification Commissioner of Liaodong, and give you three years to govern Liaodong well, how about that?"

"I will dedicate myself to this cause!"

Chen Shao nodded. "Remember, when you go there, you must develop the economy, stabilize people's livelihoods, and defend the territory. Don't worry about the Northern Expedition; I will make the necessary military arrangements."

"The reason I want Zichong to go to Liaodong is because, in addition to the Han people I am about to settle there, there are also Khitan, Bohai, Jurchen, Shiwei, Xi and Tieli people. I know that Zichong is a man of great talent and is good at dealing with these northern tribes. They all respect you."

Although the Jin Dynasty was founded by the Jurchen people, not all Jurchens submitted to them. Chen Shao himself had Jurchen garrisons under his command.

Upon hearing that Ma Kuo was being given such an important position, Wang Bing silently took a sip of wine.

He felt that he was different from Ma Kuo.

During Chen Shao's time in Hedong, Ma Kuo visited him several times, and the two had a friendship.

Wang Bing asked himself that even though they were both Tong Guan's confidants back then, he had no real relationship with Chen Shao. On the contrary, during the seven days at Hengshan, he was the closest to Chen Shao but did not go to his rescue.

Later, Zong Han was about to head south, and Taiyuan was in grave danger. Chen Shao led his troops into Hedong and stationed them near Taiyuan.

At that time, I led the Huanqing Army and held the rank of the top general in Hedong. I confronted Chen Shao for a period of time.

To avoid direct confrontation, he went to Kaifeng Prefecture, and later, with the support of Minister Li, he went to Lianghuai to train troops.

The purpose of training troops was to serve as the main force of the opposition army when Chen Shao usurped the Song throne, and to protect the Song dynasty's territory and state.

The more he thought about it, the more convinced he was that Chen Shao would never forgive him. Listening to them talking at length about the governance of Liaodong, he couldn't help but down another mouthful of wine in silence.

"Masaomi."

"Masaomi?"

Wang Bing raised his head only after being nudged by Yuwen Xuzhong.

"The Li family established the 'Pseudo-Vietnam' in Jiaozhi, and since its establishment, they have constantly harassed Guangnan. Now that the Emperor has issued an edict to hold them accountable, they not only do not repent, but have become even more arrogant. In particular, Li Gande is the murderer who massacred hundreds of thousands of border people during the reign of Emperor Shenzong."

As Wang Bing listened, he gradually became agitated. The King of Dai wouldn't tell him these things for no reason.

Is it
"Zhengchen, I have already dispatched Wu Jie with troops to Guangnan. This time, we are determined to recover Jiaozhi. Are you willing to go and assist us?"

Although he was very excited, Wang Bing, having served as a general for many years, still asked, "Your Majesty, now that the northern border is about to engage in a decisive battle with the Jurchens, is it not a concern that our finances will be strained if we launch a campaign against Jiaozhi at this time?"

Chen Shao laughed and said, "You don't need to worry about this. I have ample funds to support the war to recover Jiaozhi."

The fortified village economy of the Northwest meant that it could independently support a large army, not to mention the two Silk Roads.

Despite fighting on two fronts, Chen Shao has already begun planning to reduce his army.

Moreover, it involves a massive reduction in military personnel.

What he fears now is not war, but the lack of war to fight. His massive army yearns for a chance to prove itself and achieve great deeds.

If there are enough battles to fight, Chen Shao can easily support this large army in the Northwest, since the cost of each battle is very low under the fortified village economy.

This kind of collective farm-like grassroots structure remains a formidable force even a thousand years later.

Israel was able to win the previous Middle East wars thanks to organizations like the "kibbutz".

Every time they won a battle, they brought a lot of spoils to the fortress. The fortress also relieved them of their worries; their families always had food to eat, and the elderly and children were always taken care of.

Moreover, the benefits brought by the conquest of Jiaozhi were greater than anything else, and it was the most crucial step in his development of the entire Southeast Asia.

Wang Bing disregarded his pride and stood up, intending to clasp his hands in a gesture of respect. After a moment's thought, he lifted his robe and knelt on one knee. "If Your Majesty does not despise me, I am willing to go south to Jiaozhi as the vanguard. I will surely capture Li Qiande alive and present him to your command!"

Yuwen Xuzhong laughed and said, "That Li Qiande became the ruler of the 'false Yue' state at the age of six, and it has been more than fifty years now. Fortunately, he is still alive, which allows us to avenge the hatred of Yongzhou."

Chen Shao looked at the three of them and was very pleased.

When he reached his position, what he valued most was talent; acquiring one talented person was worth more than a thousand soldiers.

The Song Dynasty was not lacking in talent; some were undeserving of their reputation, while others were not well-known but were exceptionally talented.

These three are not very famous, but they have real skills.

As for Zong Ze, who is still in Hebei and struggling on his own, he probably can't bring himself to come and join him.

Fortunately, he posed no threat; he could simply subdue those people in Hebei one by one.

Even according to the rules of the Song Dynasty officialdom, as the Grand Marshal of the Army and Navy, he had the legitimate power to appoint and dismiss Zong Ze.

After stripping him of his military power, Chen Shao didn't intend to do anything to him.

Hopefully, he can think more positively, live a few more years, and see the prosperous era he is about to establish.

You'll probably feel much better then.

After the banquet ended, Chen Shao personally saw them off.

Bianliang at night, especially in this area, is very bustling.

Countless lights illuminated the streets between the mansions of the wealthy. Under the dazzling lights, the night view appeared even more magnificent and beautiful.

Chen Shao shook his head. The Song Dynasty was using all the local money to support Bianliang.

It's almost like how Li Longji drained the blood of the entire world to support Chang'an back then.

Without a doubt, this was a sign of national ruin.

Before the An Lushan Rebellion, Chang'an, like Bianliang, was a place of great prosperity and prosperity.

The difference is that the last time it was Hu Lu'an, the fat man, who violently rebelled and shattered the Central Plains, which can be described as "a systemic trauma to Chinese civilization".

This time, I can try to change dynasties as peacefully as possible.

The prevailing social atmosphere in Bianliang was one of extravagance and hedonism, and the dazzling lights at night were glaringly irritating to Chen Shao.

China's resources should not be wasted on such things.
-
When it comes to conquering Jiaozhi, if anyone is more anxious than Chen Shao, it's Xiao Ting.

Her fleet discovered another gold mine in the southern wilderness.

The presence of Jiaozhi (Vietnam) in the way only made them more obstructive.

Therefore, after dealing with the affairs in Liaodong, she went to the capital again to discuss the pros and cons with Chen Shao.

After arriving in the capital, Xiao Ting came to Zhaodefang.

The carriage entered Chen Shao's residence. Seeing the layers of guards, Xiao Ting nodded.

She was afraid that Chen Shaozhi would become complacent and neglect his defenses, and that something must not happen at this time.

There will never be another man in the world who can understand me so well and support a woman in managing such an important matter.

The carriage curtain was lifted, and a woman with light makeup stepped out. She was also dressed in brocade, with gold and silver ornaments on her head, and her makeup was delicate and refined.

Xiao Ting is tall and slender. Over the years, she has been in charge of the caravan, and her demeanor exudes a natural elegance and the air of authority that comes with her position.

Moreover, her face was exquisitely beautiful, as if it were naturally formed. Every part of her face, including her eyes, nose, mouth, and cheeks, was beautiful. The beauty mark at the corner of her eye not only did not detract from her beauty, but also added a touch of mature and alluring charm.

He glanced around and saw that the courtyard was full of personal guards, and there wasn't even a maid.

Xiao Ting was taken aback.

She had initially worried that Chen Shao would be careless, but she hadn't expected him to be so risk-averse.
Now that the women have arrived, the guards, finding it inconvenient to remain in the inner room, are packing up and leaving.

Chen Shao was sitting at his desk, processing reports, when he smelled a fragrance.

Having received advance notice, he knew it was Xiao Ting who had arrived, and without even looking up, he said, "Sit down and rest for a while."

Xiao Ting was very discreet and didn't look at his reports at all, for fear of seeing any secrets.

She was not interested in anything outside of the caravan.

After reviewing the report, Chen Shao closed it and smiled as he said to her, "It was sent by my cousin Liu Guanglie. I've asked him to start sending supplies to Guangnan in preparation for the battle."

Xiao Ting's beautiful eyes lit up, but she deliberately didn't bring up the matter again. Instead, she smiled and said, "Your Majesty is coming to the capital without a maid or servant."

Chen Shao smiled and said, "I want to focus my energy on military affairs."

Xiao Ting covered her mouth and laughed. Chen Shao looked at her charming appearance, and his long-dormant body naturally couldn't resist. He reached out and beckoned her.

Xiao Ting obediently came into his arms, and Chen Shao hugged the beauty, kissed her forehead, and felt extremely fond of her.

"Your Majesty, please wait a moment. Allow me to take a bath and then I will come to serve you."

The two of them, each wrapped in a blanket, sat facing each other on the bed, neither of them both too lazy to put on any more clothes.

"The coastline of Jiaozhi is long and has several ports, but it is rife with pirates."

"It's alright, we'll sweep it up on the way when we go to Southeast Asia."

Xiao Ting suddenly adopted a girlish demeanor, clapping her hands and exclaiming, "Your Majesty is so amazing!"

Chen Shao glared at her irritably, while Xiao Ting said with a grin, "Your Majesty, please recruit some more miners from Hedong. Let's build the mine in the Southern Wilderness first."

At this moment, Xiao Ting's maid, Chu Ling, brought in a porcelain basin of warm water to wash the two of them.

Her face was flushed; as Xiao Ting's maid, marrying out was definitely out of the question.

Last time she went to Taiyuan, Xiao Ting had her serve Chen Shao once. The young girl was in the prime of her youth, and after listening to him for so long today, her heart was already fluttering with desire.

Chen Shao opened the quilt, lay down casually, and said, "Don't be impatient. Although it's not easy to completely subdue Jiaozhi, it's not difficult to crush them first."

“Sending people now would be too dangerous, and with our troops not yet here, there is a risk of death if we encounter attacks from native barbarians.”

When attacking places like Jiaozhi, it's best to first support a local puppet ruler. Chen Shao has already sent Guangyuantang to investigate.

The present-day "Dai Viet" Kingdom was established in 1009. Kingdoms that have existed for more than a hundred years are always full of various problems.

They implemented a policy of separate governance for "commoners" and "Chinese," with "foreign quarters" established in Chinese-populated areas and managed by Chinese leaders;
Li Cong Uan, who founded Dai Viet, had Central Plains ancestry, so he and his descendants had a strong sense of identity with "Chinese" culture.

They have always considered themselves part of "Huaxia" (the Chinese civilization), referring to their native ethnic group as "Huaren" (Chinese people) to distinguish them from the surrounding "barbarians."

In their classical texts and everyday language, they often refer to themselves as "Han people" or "Chinese".

Although it is now the Song Dynasty, they still refer to the people from the Central Plains as Tang people, or simply Northern people.

This distorted and twisted view of Chinese and barbarians makes it seem as if the people of the Song Dynasty were northern barbarians, while the people of Dayue were the true successors of the Chinese civilization.

Although they are just indulging in self-congratulation in the border regions, over the years and through so many generations, they have gradually come to believe it themselves.

Chen Shao began to explain his strategy for conquering Jiaozhi. At this moment, a maid came in with clothes and helped the two of them change.

Xiao Ting listened attentively and asked, "After Your Majesty recovers Jiaozhi, who will you send to guard it? This place is too remote; we must be careful that someone doesn't seize power."

Chen Shao chuckled, "Once my caravan opens up the sea route to Southeast Asia, there will be no such thing as remoteness anymore."

A sly glint appeared in Xiao Ting's eyes. She knew all this, and she just wanted Chen Shao to tell her himself.

This highlights the value of caravans.

With the development of productivity, especially the innovation and progress of technology driven by itself, a new pattern is about to take shape.

At that time, the problem of the 'central territory' that has plagued various dynasties will be improved.

As their plans are realized, especially in the commercial sector, the enormous profits will generate huge demand, thereby driving changes in transportation.

Chen Shao believes that in the near future, both land and sea transportation tools and roads will be developed.

Even if I can't see the results, seeing the initial signs is enough. (End of Chapter)