A family of loyal martyrs, starting with nine wives to continue the family line.

Wei Zhao suppressed the military map of Huainan, but did not order the camp to be dismantled.

Several people in the tent were watching him.

Liu Jingshuang's hand was already on the hilt of her sword, and Zhao Qiniang had even drawn up the route for the troops to march out.

As soon as Weinan was pacified, Luo Shao was put into a prison cart, and cartloads of silver and grain from the government treasury were transported to Golden City.

At this point, taking advantage of the situation to press south into Huainan seems like the most advantageous course of action.

But Wei Zhao didn't move.

"His Majesty?"

Zhao Qiniang couldn't hold back any longer: "Du Heng has already retreated to Huainan, and his navy has retreated and deployed along the Huai River. If we attack now, we can at least seize a few of his naval strongholds."

Wei Zhao looked at the military map but did not answer immediately.

Of course he wanted to fight.

After Luo Shao opened his treasury, he saw everyone as a bag of money and grain.

Du Heng controlled the salt route, had many ships, and must have had a lot of money.

If we can take Huainan, the millions of refugees in Golden City will at least be able to catch their breath a little longer.

But that's where the problem lies.

Huainan is not Weinan.

Luo Shao was a paper king, with weak foundations, scattered troops, and local powerful figures each harboring their own ulterior motives; he would crumble at the slightest blow.

Du Heng is different.

This man is cunning, his navy is strong, and his water fortresses are interconnected. If pushed too far, he can burn his ships and cut off the salt route, leaving the Xinwu army to grind him down on the water.

It can't withstand the wear and tear.

Wei Zhao's biggest fear now is not that the enemy is strong, but that time will be wasted.

"Let's not fight yet," Wei Zhao finally said.

Liu Jingshuang looked up: "Why?"

"I am awaiting news from the capital."

Zhao Qiniang frowned; "The capital?"

Wei Zhao pointed his finger at Weinan, then at Huangjincheng.

"Luo Shao's money and provisions have been obtained, but this is only a temporary reprieve, not a cure. Millions of refugees need to be resettled, surrendered soldiers need to be absorbed, the land registers in Weinan need to be cleared, and the rewards for merit in the army need to be distributed. If these things are not settled first, even if I attack Du Heng today and Han Dashan tomorrow, chaos will still ensue."

After saying that, he himself felt annoyed.

When I used to read history books, I always felt how exhilarating it was for famous generals to sweep across the world.

Now that it's my turn, I realize that before sweeping away enemies, you need food, and after sweeping away enemies, you need people to take over the burden.

Otherwise, if the city falls, the people starve, and the surrendered soldiers rebel, all the previous victories will be for nothing.

If Su Qingyun can push down the military merit system, then the new Wu Dynasty will truly have a backbone.

Without this backbone, he could continue to fight piecemeal, and the ground he conquered might not be secure.

Liu Jingshuang remained silent for a moment, then loosened her grip on the hilt of the knife.

"Then let's wait."

She doesn't like waiting.

But she understood what Wei Zhao meant.

The Imperial Guards could rely on loyalty and righteousness, and the Imperial Army could rely on imperial power to suppress them, but the new Wu dynasty would face not just one or two battles, but the entire corrupt empire. Relying solely on the old army would not be enough.

Three days later.

An urgent messenger from the capital rushed into the Guiping camp, but before his horse had even come to a complete stop, he had already tumbled off its back.

"Your Majesty! An urgent letter from Lady Su!"

Wei Zhao reached out and took the bamboo tube; the seal on it bore Su Qingyun's private seal.

When he opened the letter, no one in the tent spoke.

The paper was unfolded, revealing neat handwriting, yet each line was stiffer than the last.

"The Weinan government treasury has been moved to the new treasury."

"The Golden City soup kitchen can last for twelve days."

"The regulations for the military merit system have been drafted."

"Military merits are recorded for slaying enemies, capturing flags, scaling city walls, and beheading generals. Military merits can be exchanged for land, silver, titles, and military registration. First, Weinan will be included, followed by the capital region. Land belonging to rebels, runaway households, unclaimed wasteland, and hidden land belonging to temples and monasteries will all be surveyed and cleared."

"The powerful families have already made moves; Li Huai can suppress them."

"Your Majesty, I beseech your wise judgment."

After reading it, Wei Zhao's lips slowly curled up slightly.

it is good.

Su Qingyun certainly didn't disappoint him.

This woman usually smiles gently, but when it comes to actually using a knife, she's more accurate than anyone else.

The decision to start the military merit system by targeting Weinan, rather than the main residences of prominent families in the capital, was a brilliant move.

Weinan had just been shattered, the local powerful families were terrified, the surrendered soldiers were still waiting for their rewards, and the displaced people were still waiting for their land.

If the merit-based military system were abolished at this point, no one would dare to object.

Whoever jumps is a remnant of Luo Shao.

Holding the letter, Wei Zhao's anxiety finally subsided somewhat.

Wei Zhao handed the letter to Liu Jingshuang.

After reading it, Liu Jingshuang's expression changed.

"Military merit system?"

"Um."

Zhao Qiniang's eyes lit up. "Kill the enemy and exchange land?"

"Kill the enemy to gain land, seize cities to gain titles."

Wei Zhao said, "It's not just the Wei family army, nor just the Imperial Guards. Surrendered soldiers, refugees, and people from humble backgrounds—as long as they join the New Martial Army, they will be counted according to their military merits."

Liu Jingshuang closed the letter: "The powerful families will try to stop us."

Wei Zhao smiled.

"Let Li Huai go and chop it down."

Zhao Qiniang grinned: "Prime Minister Li is probably just wondering how to find a reason to raid the next house."

Wei Zhao almost laughed out of anger.

Good guy.

Li Huai, the prime minister, was essentially used like a butcher by them.

But now we need butchers. The rules need to be changed, and it's impossible without bloodshed.

If those former noble families and officials obediently stepped forward and left their tents, Wei Zhao could give them some face.

If you still want to use household registration, grain transport, and land register to block him, then don't blame the new martial arts for being swift.

He picked up his pen and wrote a reply.

"allow."

The moment the first word was uttered, the eyes of everyone in the tent froze.

Wei Zhao did not stop.

"The military merit system will be implemented in Weinan starting today. Su Qingyun will be in charge of the money, grain, and land registers, Li Huai will supervise the treasuries in the capital region, and Fang Fuyao will assist in finalizing the military merit regulations."

He paused for a moment after writing this.

This is not enough.

The military merits and rewards in Weinan alone could stabilize a region, but could not control the Ninth Prince.

Han Dashan and Zhou Laodao have joined forces. Du Heng is in Huainan's Suoshui Village. Qin Lie is observing the situation. Ma Chengyi is guarding the mine. Xu Zhongmou is blocking the grain route. Xue Feng is in charge of the imperial clan. Sun Qing is watching the sea route. Feng Wanjun is hiding in Lingnan.

Taking them down one by one is too slow.

These people are afraid of him now, but not to the point of kneeling down.

Make them feel the full force of pain.

The pain is so intense that we dare not band together anymore, dare not stand by and watch, and dare not use the people as food and shields anymore.

Wei Zhao continued writing.

"Within three months, recruit a million new soldiers."

The pen paused for a moment, and a drop of ink pressed onto the paper.

Liu Jingshuang looked at him: "Your Majesty, a million new troops may not be enough in terms of combat strength."

"I know."

Wei Zhao finished writing the last few words.

"What I want is not for them to be able to fight a tough battle immediately."

He put down his pen, his voice calm.

"I want the world to know that the Xinwu Dynasty has no shortage of soldiers."

That's the most fatal thing.

Of the million new recruits, perhaps only 30%, or even 20%, are truly capable of fighting.

But once the military merit system is implemented, these people will no longer be just random soldiers who were forcibly recruited.

In their eyes, there are fields, titles, and a way to make a living.

Combat ability can be trained.

The will to fight came first.

Back then, the Qin Dynasty crushed the six states one by one through military merit, not because every Qin soldier was born a fighter, but because they knew that the enemy's head could be exchanged for their own land.

This thing is too primitive.

That's incredibly effective.

Wei Zhao sealed the letter and handed it to the messenger.

"Sent back to the capital by express courier."

The messenger knelt down to receive it.

"As you command!"

As Wei Zhao watched him leave, the anger in his heart finally subsided.

Not attacking Du Heng is not letting him go.

First, sharpen the knife.

Once the knife is sharpened, I won't go through each village one by one with you.

I will strike with this blade, so that all nine princes will hear the crack of their bones.

……

Chenqiao.

Han Dashan stared at the military map, his face dark for three days straight.

"Wei Zhao hasn't made a move yet?"

The scout knelt before the tent: "No. The Xinwu Army is still in the Guiping area, checking the treasury and incorporating surrendered soldiers. They have not advanced towards Huainan or Chenqiao."

Old Zhou sneered, "He's quite composed."

Du Heng sat to the side, his smile long gone.

What he feared most was that Wei Zhao would not move.

If Wei Zhaoruo immediately attacks Huainan, he can still deploy defenses along the river, burn a few empty fortresses, and delay the Xinwu army.

But Wei Zhao's presence in Guiping was like a knife hanging in mid-air; the fact that it didn't come down only made it harder for people to sleep.

What is he waiting for?

grain?

Soldiers?

Or is there something unresolved in the capital?

Du Heng felt increasingly uncomfortable the more he thought about it.

Qin Lie also arrived.

The Tieling army did not venture deep into Chenqiao, but only brought a few hundred personal guards.

He stood in front of the military map for a long time, then suddenly said, "It's not that he doesn't want to fight."