[{"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-367":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},2364636,4623,"Chapter 367: Each Gets What They Need","restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-367",367,"\u003Cp>Shenglong City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ministry of Revenue, how much longer until the grain and funds are fully raised?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the date of military mobilization drew near, Hu Xinbo grew increasingly concerned about the grain and funds issue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike previous external campaigns, where sending a single army sufficed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Against a behemoth like Dayu, we must commit all our strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Majesty, as of now, the Ministry of Revenue has raised one million dan of grain, one million five hundred thousand taels of silver, two hundred thousand bolts of cloth, salt...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Ruan Xinjie finished speaking, Hu Xinbo’s expression darkened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The amount raised seemed large, but it still fell far short of his expectations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Logically, the Great Yue Dynasty had enjoyed decades of favorable weather and harvests; the imperial treasury should have accumulated reserves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the previous emperor loved territorial expansion, launching foreign wars every few months.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even bullying tribal tribes consumed no less grain and funds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The territory expanded by a full circle, but the newly acquired lands were mostly undeveloped regions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tax revenues collected were insufficient to cover administrative expenditures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Logically, what they most needed now was to organize migration and develop these new frontiers—not wage war against Dayu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Too slow!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The people of Dayu alone can raise two million four hundred thousand taels of silver from Guangdong and Guangxi—does our Great Yue Dynasty really rank lower than their two provinces?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Xinbo rebuked sharply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since the outbreak of war, they had intensified intelligence gathering on Dayu, especially in Guangdong and Guangxi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mu’s fundraising in Guangdong and Guangxi was public knowledge; obtaining intelligence was not difficult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Comparison brought pain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter what, Hu Xinbo could not accept that the Great Yue Empire lagged behind its neighbor’s two provinces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Majesty, our situation differs from Dayu’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since overseas trade emerged, Dayu has become a black hole for wealth—silver from across the world flows into Dayu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In terms of private silver reserves, even a single Dayu province likely holds more than we do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet we have our own advantage: domestic prices are far lower than in Dayu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the same amount of silver, we can procure far more supplies.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ruan Xinjie hurriedly explained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Comparing financial strength with Dayu was pure humiliation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dayu’s court was poor because its system was rigid and its tax structure skewed, unable to mobilize private wealth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After granting autonomy to regional viceroys, it avoided excessive taxation and did not infringe on scholar-officials’ core interests—and still raised sufficient funds to suppress rebellion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If a thorough tax reform were enacted, collecting all due taxes, Dayu’s fiscal revenue would surpass that of the Song dynasties.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their deep reserves are not something a vassal state like ours can challenge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a furious, resentful grunt, Hu Xinbo reluctantly accepted reality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Across the world, the Great Yue Dynasty was a major power—except when facing Dayu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This geopolitical reality had become their nightmare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Majesty, calm yourself!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No matter how powerful Dayu once was, that is past.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dayu, wracked by constant internal unrest, is already beset by internal and external crises, on the verge of collapse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Dayu emperor is arrogant and reckless, daring to provoke the mighty Great Yue Empire—this is self-destruction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once we launch our northern campaign and annex Guangdong and Guangxi, we shall force Emperor Yongning to kneel and submit!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Minister of Rites Ruan Yixiu immediately spoke to counsel him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the new emperor’s confidant, he did not know how to solve problems—but he knew he must maximize emotional support.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Keep the emperor pleased, and everyone’s life becomes easier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ministry of War—don’t tell me you’re not ready either?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After his emotions calmed, Hu Xinbo turned and asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The grain and funds issue being hard to resolve was normal; any dynasty over a hundred years old discovered it never had enough money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ever-bloating bureaucracy was the greatest gold-sucking beast—no amount of wealth could escape its appetite.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The military was different; Great Yue had never laid down its arms. In the late emperor’s time, they had conquered countless states.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Majesty, the thirty-thousand-strong army is fully assembled, but we face a severe shortage of weapons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many weapons were forged decades ago and require replacement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially in armor—our shortfall is critical.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Ministry of War has issued orders urging the Ministry of Works to accelerate production; for specific progress, you must ask the Ministry of Works.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Minister of War Chen Chuyang immediately shifted blame.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The number of troops was met—but how many were mere fillers remained unknown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Embezzling pay was not unique to Dayu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before profit, bureaucrats everywhere were the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following their elder brother’s example, their military household system had now reached the brink of collapse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, in this world, everything was scarce—except people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Recruiting able-bodied men from the populace would quickly fill the ranks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the combat effectiveness of these new recruits, it was not the officials’ concern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, the main force on any battlefield was always a few elite units.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Victory depended entirely on the clash of these main forces; all other troops merely followed to exploit success.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ministry of Works!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the emperor call his name, Minister of Works Tai Mochuan stepped forward immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Majesty, all weapons are being urgently manufactured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the number requiring replacement is enormous; many weapons long overdue for replacement were not changed on time, increasing our workload.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dayu is unlike any enemy we’ve faced before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Considering the need for siege warfare in the northern campaign, we specially accelerated production of large-caliber cannons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, the workload below is overwhelming; artisans are stretched thin, and raw material supply has hit obstacles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Ministry of Works can only prioritize the most critical weapons, ensuring the army’s combat readiness, and supply the rest later.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His circuitous reply pleased Hu Xinbo greatly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the attitude he wanted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Difficulties were fine—as long as solutions were sought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hated most when subordinates, faced with trouble, dumped problems onto him as emperor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet as the one responsible, Tai Mochuan inwardly groaned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the past, when bullying tribal tribes, any crude weapon sufficed—total superiority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Funding for firearms research had long been embezzled by Ministry of Works officials.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Daily weapon production funds were routinely slashed; firearms exploding in barrels was routine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When supporting the Bai Lian rebellion earlier, they purchased several batches of firearms—and then stopped entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that the enemy was Dayu, such luck was gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the weapon gap was too wide and exposed on the battlefield, it would be deadly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, that was not the most lethal issue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Quality gaps could be excused with excuses—the emperor knew nothing of the details.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Failing to meet quantity targets was the real problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an era of handcrafted production, who besides Dayu could possibly fill a twenty-thousand-man equipment shortfall in mere months?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the emperor was not a rational being; once a task was assigned, it had to be completed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a brief hesitation, Tai Mochuan made a decision aligned with his instincts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soldiers just needed weapons in hand—what kind didn’t matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Equip the elite units fully; the rest could take the field with spears or broadswords.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, when it came to lining their pockets, everyone had a share—the Ministry of War could only cover for them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Provincial Military Command.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the spring plowing underway, the air grew thick with the scent of gunpowder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the de facto head of Guangdong and Guangxi’s military and civil administration, Li Mu grew busier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Marquis, the pirate representatives have arrived in the reception hall.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Dagé reported.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Throughout history, large-scale amnesty of pirates was never easy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In past amnesty cases, officials suddenly turning on rebels or pirates pretending to surrender were common.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To amnesty pirates, one needed not only the emperor’s approval but also to resolve mutual distrust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Serve tea first; I’ll be with you shortly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mu said slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pirates along the coast of Dayu were as numerous as cattle hairs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those invited today were all pirate bands with over a thousand members.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among them, the strongest group possessed hundreds of ships and over ten thousand armed subordinates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In overall strength, these pirates were stronger than the imperial navy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mu had previously modeled Western-style sailing warships, whose combat power was formidable, but the sails were too complex to handle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The East and South Seas were filled with countless islands and hidden reefs, and the climate changed unpredictably—utterly unsuitable for such vessels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were fine for coastal defense, but venturing out to hunt pirates carried far too great a risk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since force wouldn’t work, political means were the only option.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Given his status and rank, pacifying pirates was too trivial a matter to warrant his personal involvement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lowering himself to meet these men was something he’d use later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your humble subject, pays homage to Marquis!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the hall, the pirates bowed deeply in a full kowtow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was clear the lure of official ranks held immense appeal for these pirates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No need for such formalities!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve summoned you here today primarily to discuss two matters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One concerns your pacification; the other, the campaign against Annan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In my view, these two matters can be merged into one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Annan people refuse to submit to our rule and have repeatedly challenged Great Dayu’s authority. The Emperor has decided to launch a campaign against Annan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For you, this is the perfect opportunity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I hereby decree: for every Annan soldier’s head you bring, the court will pardon one of you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ten thousand Annan heads mean ten thousand pardons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Any additional heads will count as military merit, granting you official titles from the court.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rank you earn will determine the size of your future troop complement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, as imperial troops, you may no longer plunder—but collecting reasonable taxes remains permissible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The specifics of taxation can be discussed together after your pacification is complete.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After receiving their bows, Li Mu immediately unveiled his pacification plan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frankly, this plan bore the suspicion of using others as blades.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But for pirates, they feared no conditions from the court—they feared the court having no demands at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one would risk losing their office to pacify pirates without cause.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A pie falling from the sky usually meant danger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Marquis, the court won’t even pay us a single coin for soldiers—yet expects us to fight? Isn’t that—?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scar-faced man spoke up first in protest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had once been a military household of Dayu, driven to piracy after his family could no longer survive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After turning to piracy—a profession with great profit—Zhu Zhongxuan’s career reached its peak, quickly becoming one of the few major pirates along the coast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew piracy, a life on the edge of death, was no long-term solution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After years of raiding and amassing wealth, he gradually began to consider retiring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing that the famed Han River Marquis intended to pacify pirates, he became instantly interested.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who would willingly remain a pirate when they could return to the imperial fold?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how much wealth one amassed overseas, one could never enter respectable society, nor even be buried in one’s ancestral tomb.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In contrast, becoming an official was far more comfortable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only could one sleep soundly at night, but one could also return home in glory, becoming the envy of childhood friends.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master Zhu, you misunderstand the situation—you’re still pirates, not yet soldiers of Great Dayu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before formal recruitment, don’t speak to me of soldier pay.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I know full well how rich the seas are; none of you are short on money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Giving you a chance to fight is a sign of my respect for you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you don’t want to, there are plenty outside willing to take your place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among the merchants, many also desire official posts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Great Dayu has no shortage of men; a single call could raise an army.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Annan is a minor target; crushing it won’t take much effort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’m assigning you because you’re the most skilled at plundering—you’ll strip Annan clean.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I want a stable Annan. Your task is to eliminate its local gentry and officials, leaving behind a clean Annan!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mu’s forceful tone startled the pirates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His overwhelming aura pressed down on many, nearly suffocating them, awakening their deep-seated fear of the government.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, the intensity came quickly and faded just as fast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regaining their composure, the pirates grew excited again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even setting aside pacification, raiding Annan was highly profitable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once imperial troops moved, Annan’s main forces would be drawn away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A hollowed-out Annan was a giant, fat sheep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ordering them to purge Annan’s officials and gentry was clearly an invitation to plunder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These pirates, besides raiding merchant ships, occasionally targeted small southern kingdoms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Attacking Annan carried no psychological burden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to past banditry, this was now legal plunder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The heads they took wouldn’t just remove their wanted notices—they could earn official titles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the infamy of slaughtering Annan, it was no concern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mu, a noble of impeccable pedigree, needed to preserve his reputation; these pirates did not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if word spread, they had too many debts to be crushed by one more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Marquis, I’m just a crude man—please forgive this lowly subject’s insolence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cleaning up Annan? No problem!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marquis, just watch: this time, I, Zhu Zhongxuan, will cut off twenty thousand Annan heads to apologize to you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having broken the silence, the astute Zhu Zhongxuan immediately begged forgiveness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, the other pirate leaders instantly regretted their hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t defiance—it was a deliberate move to draw closer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, all knew: no matter what explanation Li Mu gave, Zhu Zhongxuan would bow and beg pardon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No other reason existed—he was Han River Marquis, Great Dayu’s most decorated warlord, commander of Guangdong and Guangxi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To rejoin the imperial fold, one must seize this leg now—or never see him again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the promise to cut Annan heads, that was no issue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fighting Annan’s regular troops posed some difficulty for pirates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Li Mu had laid his cards bare: the heads of Annan officials and gentry counted too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a little plundering, the heads would pile up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a top military official, Li Mu’s status made it pointless to deceive these pirates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they refused this chance to grow rich, others would rush in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just spread the word that Annan’s rear was undefended, and pirates would come knocking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2380,"2026-06-21T08:09:04.021Z",1,"Qwen3.5 397B","207a2962888a7a0daeb1f5d5cfe68d3deceac8543d29bcd0b20993b4d0bd6c5e","restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-368","restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-366",391,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Frestoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-cover.jpg"]