[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers":3,"chapter-restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-365":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Restoring the Mountains and Rivers",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2364634,4623,"Chapter 365: Imposing Military Pay","restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-365",365,"\u003Cp>The threat from Annan was now on the table, and the Provincial Governor of Guangxi’s plea for aid had arrived; mobilization was officially scheduled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All officials present had lived through the White Lotus Rebellion and knew full well that military issues could not be delayed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Marquis, when do you plan to march? What preparations do you need from us?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An Qingfeng asked, gritting his teeth against the pain of parting with funds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stick your head out, it’s a sword; pull it back, it’s still a sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Annan’s invasion will inevitably bleed Guangdong dry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rather than be forced to pay and supply grain, it’s better to offer it voluntarily and build a reputation for putting the greater good first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At his rank, any further advancement demands thinking in terms of the entire Great Ming’s interests.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Though the situation in Guangxi is dangerous, it can still hold out for some time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Considering the practical circumstances, I plan to march after the spring plowing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Until then, focus on raising funds and grain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Annan is no weak foe; this war won’t end in a day or two.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neither Guangdong nor Guangxi are major grain-producing provinces; earlier efforts to retake Huguang and Jiangxi already drained local grain reserves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grain prices remain high among the people; this time, we won’t raise grain locally but will purchase it from outside sources—you only need to raise military pay.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Initially, prepare three million taels of silver: Guangxi will raise two-tenths, Guangdong will bear six-tenths, and the remaining two-tenths will be requested from the imperial court.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mu’s answer eased the tension among them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only raising military pay, not grain, lifted a heavy burden from everyone’s shoulders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The allocated sum of 1.8 million taels was substantial, but thanks to the profits from overseas trade, raising this amount was far from impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The path to raising funds had already been paved by the Marquis of Wuyang: if short on cash, levy likin from sea merchants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though this move effectively legalized maritime trade and violated the court’s maritime ban, exceptional times call for exceptional measures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They weren’t the only ones taxing; Fujian and Zhejiang provinces were also extracting money from sea merchants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the rebellion is quelled, Nanzhili will likely do the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The noble elite weren’t direct beneficiaries of overseas trade, but they were direct beneficiaries of customs duties.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Half the pay and grain for the troops under these noble generals came from sea merchants—that was their incentive to tax.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All officials present were outsiders who had privately taken bribes from sea merchants, but that wasn’t enough to make them defy the prevailing tide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The profits from maritime trade were rich enough that even with added taxes, everyone still made a fortune.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, Great Ming’s goods held a monopoly and were irreplaceable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a participant in overseas trade, Li Mu understood perfectly what the words “Great Ming” meant in this era.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whatever the commodity, if it was made in Great Ming, it became a luxury abroad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even a chamber pot used by common folk could fetch a sky-high price overseas, eagerly sought after by foreign nobility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Marquis, we can raise military pay quickly, but grain won’t be available in the short term.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grain is scarce across the entire realm; Huguang and Jiangxi’s grain must be prioritized for the suppression forces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the past, we imported grain from overseas, but now that Annan has invaded Guangxi, the southern sea routes for grain may be disrupted.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An Qingfeng immediately warned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Officials serving in Guangdong had far broader horizons than those in other regions and knew well that beyond Great Ming lay vast lands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Importing grain from the South Seas wasn’t a secret.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to Great Ming’s ever-rising grain prices, grain in the South Seas was much cheaper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most crucially, barter was possible—Great Ming’s goods were high-margin products with substantial profits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The imperial army’s ability to launch a swift counteroffensive against the rebels was partly due to the cheap grain purchased abroad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that war has ignited, the loss of grain imports from the Zhongnanbandao has made foreign procurement far harder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if grain can be bought, the cost will rise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An Qingfeng feared Li Mu had underestimated the situation and might fail to secure enough grain, forcing him to impose levies later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Lord An, rest assured—those merchants have keener noses than we do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I understand, as soon as the Annan envoy scandal broke, some foresaw war between Great Ming and Annan and began stockpiling grain in advance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’ve sent envoys to negotiate; they are loyal subjects of Great Ming and are willing to sell grain to the court at fair prices.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mu smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ordinary sea merchants couldn’t predict the course of events or accurately judge the timing of war.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But his own sea merchants were an exception.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With confirmed intelligence, failing to stockpile grain would be unthinkable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Guangdong’s current grain prices, even selling at fair price still yielded substantial profit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides those arranged by Li Mu, some opportunistic merchants had also stockpiled considerable grain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sending envoys was primarily aimed at these merchants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In wartime, you can never have too much grain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Negotiations went smoothly; in Great Ming’s official-dominated world, everyone’s ultimate goal was always office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After friendly talks, they became Li Mu’s grain procurement officers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only sea merchants, but some reputable pirates were also secretly summoned by Li Mu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To swallow Annan, he had quietly prepared for two or three years already.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With official business concluded, everyone lost interest and departed in small groups.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Be careful!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing his wife stride toward him, Li Mu hurriedly warned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to a few months ago, Jing Yaqing’s belly was clearly showing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s the harm in walking a few steps? Common women still work the fields when pregnant!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jing Yaqing said playfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was true—Great Ming pregnant women were far less delicate than those in later eras.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lower classes struggled just to survive; they had no means to nurture a pregnancy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Occasionally eating an egg was a privilege reserved for wealthy peasant households.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aristocratic families had no shortage of goods and lived more comfortably, yet still had to follow ritual norms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Han River Marquis House was an exception—no direct senior relatives lived above them; they were the ones setting the rules.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How to walk, how to carry oneself—these restrictions imposed on ladies of the inner quarters, Li Mu ignored, and Jing Yaqing chose to pretend ignorance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to her former close friends, her life was the easiest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though she verbally refused, she deeply appreciated Li Mu’s concern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re just mischievous.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Li Mu reached out and gently poked his wife’s forehead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t press the matter further; reason told him arguing with a pregnant woman led nowhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I heard Annan’s had more trouble—how long will you stay home this time?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jing Yaqing asked with concern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Living in a marquis’s household meant being inseparable from politics—even the inner quarters had to stay alert to court developments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Annan’s invasion, Li Mu, as Provincial Military Commander of the Two Guangs, was the first target; heading to the front was merely a matter of time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll likely stay until spring plowing, but it depends on how the situation develops.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If we’re lucky, I’ll be here to see our child born.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mu said, slightly embarrassed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had planned every detail of this war, yet had failed to account for the timing of his child’s birth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Intelligence suggested Annan would strike after next spring’s plowing, but war preparations must begin early.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You couldn’t wait until the enemy’s army arrived before starting to prepare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, the climates differed—Guangdong’s spring plowing ended slightly earlier; otherwise, they’d miss even that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, Li Mu could have struck first, denying Annan the chance to plow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the garrison lands in the Two Guangs were the largest landowners; over two to three million soldiers and civilians depended on the land for food.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If planting was delayed, the garrisons’ self-sufficiency system would collapse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, he relied on his troops to live off the enemy’s land to ease logistical pressure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Annan’s agriculture was disrupted, even if his army marched in, there’d be no one left to loot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just being home for the New Year would be enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since our marriage, most years I’ve spent the holiday alone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jing Yaqing said, her voice low.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The world saw only her glittering married life, but only she knew the bitterness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the capital, she’d have her family and friends nearby—but here in Guangdong,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>when Li Mu was away, officials came to pay New Year’s respects, dropped off gifts, and left immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among the inner quarters, due to differences in status, everyone approached her with ulterior motives; true friendship was impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Staying cooped up in the mansion day after day—no matter how large the Marquis House—eventually grew unbearable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t worry—there won’t be any more separations.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After we finish Annan, I’ll personally lead troops less often, and have more time to be with you and the child.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mu immediately comforted her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Planning the Annan campaign is top secret; only a few participants know about it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For safety’s sake, even our own wife must be kept in the dark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially since Jing Yaqing is pregnant—if she finds out, who knows what she might think.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, compared to the prosperous capital, Annan is a remote, backward land.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one wants to go to Annan when they can return to the capital.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even in the early stages of developing Annan, Li Mu didn’t hope for voluntary immigration—he planned to use exiled convicts instead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To attract voluntary immigrants, either the realm must fall into chaos, or the drought in the north must worsen further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, people are reluctant to leave their homeland; no matter how good the conditions, it’s hard to draw enough immigrants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ordinary people feel this way, let alone Jing Yaqing, who has been pampered since childhood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if she reluctantly agrees verbally, she’ll likely harbor resentment inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During pregnancy, idle thoughts easily lead to trouble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only must his own wife be kept in the dark, but all his subordinates and clan members were also tricked onto this campaign.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once the plan succeeds and the imperial edict is issued, the emperor will bear the blame.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Son of Heaven’s command cannot be disobeyed”—this excuse will be enough to convince everyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the spoils are divided, everyone will settle in Annan and establish firm roots.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mu studied history: when Great Yu lost Jiaozhi, the civil-military conflict was merely the spark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The real cause was the lack of local supporters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Local gentry never integrated into Great Yu’s system; the court and officials saw the land as barbaric, and few of their sons could enter court service.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without access to power or political status, they naturally felt no sense of belonging.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The upper class wasn’t won over, and neither were the common people below.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Yu troops had crushed the tyrannical warlords, they never touched the social structure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lives of the common folk changed nothing in substance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since life was hard either way, to them, it made no difference who was emperor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The local gentry held the power of speech; once they stirred things up, neutral civilians quickly sided against Great Yu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that the problem was clear, he had to find a way to change it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Winning over the local gentry would cost too much—Li Mu couldn’t afford such a price.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, the band of brothers following him couldn’t just go over and work for free; everyone wanted meat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Driving out the Annan king isn’t enough—you must purge the vested interests to have enough cake to divide among his men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If his own men get meat and the local people get broth, the first step succeeds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Next, we must vigorously promote immigration, increase the Yu population, and encourage ethnic integration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two cultures are similar, and daily customs don’t differ much—resistance won’t be strong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a few decades, they’ll be indistinguishable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If immigration is large enough, this progress can be accelerated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guilin Prefecture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Excellency, good news!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Marquis of Hanshui has returned from the front to Guangzhou and will personally oversee the coming major battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is the operational plan from the Provincial Military Commander’s office—we’re only required to raise two-tenths of the military funds, totaling sixty taels of silver.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Bo said with a delighted expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having dealt with Li Mu the longest, he had the most confidence in him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Annan claims to have raised a million troops—even halving that number still poses a deadly threat to Guangxi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For any other commander, he’d be uneasy; only Li Mu was an exception.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Marquis of Hanshui has returned—so the rumors were true.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The court intends to appoint the Marquis of Hanshui as acting Viceroy of Guangdong and Guangxi to lead the war against Annan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This war is to protect Guangxi; technically, asking us to raise two-tenths of the military funds isn’t unreasonable—but sixty taels of silver? That’s no easy sum!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Sihan frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He felt no jealousy at Li Mu being entrusted with acting Viceroy authority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the war erupting suddenly and his own plot to transfer command failing, he was relieved to have a capable commander at the front.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fundraising task assigned to him did consider Guangxi’s actual conditions, yet he still worried.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guangxi differed from Guangdong—it hadn’t benefited from maritime trade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even with secret ports opened, very few sea merchants had settled here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially since the war with Annan began, the trade route to the Zhongnanbandao was cut off, eliminating any chance of acting as a transit hub.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Customs revenue was minimal; provincial mineral resources had long been sold off; Guangxi’s land was poor, the origin of rebel forces, and land taxes couldn’t be raised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meeting the fundraising target in such a short time was no small challenge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Excellency, the grain and silver issue can always be worked out with effort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as Guangxi is protected, paying a price is worth it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Zhenbang spoke with righteous conviction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Provincial Governor, Provincial Administration Commissioner, and Provincial Surveillance Commissioner had always been the province’s three top officials.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Due to differing responsibilities, the fundraising burden fell mainly on the Provincial Governor and Provincial Administration Commissioner—it wasn’t his concern as Provincial Surveillance Commissioner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since he didn’t have to do the actual work, he spoke without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2392,"2026-06-21T08:09:04.021Z",1,"Qwen3.5 397B","5c6f424608254b57b98748e993c587c46b08f031feac945396e98a974a988dd1","restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-366","restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-364",391,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Frestoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-cover.jpg"]