[{"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-382":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},2364651,4623,"Chapter 382: Foolish Allies","restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-382",382,"\u003Cp>The morning court ended in unease, and Emperor Yongning fell into dread.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Lu Guoheng’s accusations were baseless, the sheer power of the aristocratic faction was a real problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t just the aristocrats who had grown powerful—there was also the far more troublesome Liaodong faction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the emperor lost in thought, the remaining cabinet ministers and heads of the Six Ministries silently groaned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A cunning villain’s elaborate schemes can’t match a fool’s sudden insight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s acceptable to stir discord between the emperor and the aristocrats, but timing matters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The realm is still not at peace; this is precisely when you need them to fight for you. Doing this now is tantamount to tearing down your own Great Wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These civil officials merely scheme daily to curb the aristocrats’ power—not to destroy them outright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether they admit it or not, the aristocratic faction is now the pillar of the Great Yu Dynasty, no longer the empty vessels they once called them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone here is a beneficiary; none wish to overturn the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Guoheng’s public impeachment laid the conflict bare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this point, the original plan to reduce their authority must be halted immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only must their power not be weakened, but measures must be taken to appease those who have rendered meritorious service.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Any drastic action now risks driving the aristocrats away from the court.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A single independent Liaodong faction already drives everyone mad—forcing the aristocrats into open opposition would make life unbearable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Majesty, Marquis Wuyang has submitted a memorial.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He wishes to resign as Viceroy of Guangdong and Guangxi, and recommends Marquis Hanshui for the post.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Said Minister of Personnel Yue Mingyu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This memorial should have been debated in court.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the unexpected disruption at the grand audience left it suspended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Approved!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Emperor Yongning said, expressionless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had this appointment been made before today, it would have sparked fierce struggle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, under these circumstances, there’s no need for debate at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The aristocrats’ rise depends on the emperor’s support.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The emperor’s hold on the throne depends equally on the aristocrats’ backing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if he harbors deep suspicion, for political necessity, he must now show full trust in the aristocratic faction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Draft an edict: elevate Duke Cheng to Special Envoy, Grand Master of the Imperial Household, Left Pillar of State, and Grand Tutor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elevate Marquis Wuyang to Special Envoy, Grand Master of the Imperial Household, Left Pillar of State, and Grand Preceptor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elevate Marquis Zhenyuan to Special Envoy, Grand Master of the Imperial Household, Right Pillar of State, and Grand Protector.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elevate Marquis Hanshui to Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This string of promotions made the civil officials drool with envy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Three Excellencies—this was everyone’s lifelong ambition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though these were honorary titles, every official granted them in Great Yu was a renowned minister of his age.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Normally, one might emerge only once every few decades.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if they wished to oppose, they had no grounds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three promoted men had not only achieved great military victories but also excelled in local governance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Majesty, wise indeed!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ministers replied, half-heartedly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Envy aside, their accomplishments truly warranted such honors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Using these promotions to appease the aristocrats was undoubtedly the best choice now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I don’t want to hear any more of this nonsense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Let’s discuss the tax system of the Eight Southeastern Provinces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chief Minister, state your views first.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Emperor Yongning waved his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Half of Great Yu’s problems stemmed from lack of funds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He naturally had no intention of relinquishing the tax revenue he’d finally secured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the ministers’ opposition was a thorny issue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If mishandled, it would inevitably trigger further problems.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Majesty, the new tax law in the Eight Southeastern Provinces conflicts with Great Yu’s statutes in several areas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Given the extraordinary circumstances that prompted this emergency measure, it’s not entirely problematic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The local officials have only just adapted to the new system; hastily reverting it would cause chaos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I suggest we allow it to continue for a while longer, and reconsider its revision only when conditions mature.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wan Junhui spoke, gritting his teeth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tax reform had eluded every previous emperor of Great Yu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The success in the Eight Southeastern Provinces was pure accident.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rebels had severely crippled the gentry class, reducing resistance to tax reform to its lowest point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under threat from the rebels, countless gentry had chosen temporary compromise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To force reform under such pressure, Wan Junhui lacked the courage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now that the outcome was a fait accompli, the situation had changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Opposition from court officials wasn’t uniform—it varied by circumstance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Officials from the northern provinces opposed because they resented extending the Eight Southeastern Provinces’ reforms nationwide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if the reforms were confined solely to those eight provinces, without harming their own interests, they still hoped the court’s finances would improve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even within the Eight Southeastern Provinces, officials held divergent views.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tax reform harmed the gentry—but even this was not uniform.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not all gentry engaged in commerce; many were still traditional land-owning scholar families.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These “conservatives” despised merchants and advocated agriculture over commerce.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were not strongly opposed to increased commercial taxes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, some gentry who had lost in prior competition were happy to watch the chaos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, the aristocrats’ tax reform had left land untouched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had they been consulted before implementation, they might have opposed it—but now it was settled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The new tax revenue was primarily used for military and postwar reconstruction, making them beneficiaries too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Judging from the ministers’ earlier behavior, though some clamored for army cuts, it was not the prevailing view.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fiercest opponents of army cuts were the officials of the Eight Southeastern Provinces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having endured the horrors of war, they understood the value of peace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those opposing tax reform and those opposing army cuts were the same group—proof their resistance was not fierce.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Understanding human nature, Wan Junhui decided to take a gamble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The court’s revenue had surged; most current troubles could now be resolved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the situation improved, he could remain Chief Minister for several more years—no need to resign and return home so soon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once one has tasted the allure of power, few willingly relinquish it unless forced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Majesty, the Chief Minister speaks wisely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The situation in the Eight Southeastern Provinces is unique; drastic changes are inadvisable in the short term.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the sake of the realm, we must temporarily burden the merchants of the Eight Southeastern Provinces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Let us set a three-year limit, and revisit the matter only after stability is secured.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Jiaxi chimed in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The emperor’s intent was clear—he had no intention of letting his hard-won revenue slip away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how many flaws the tax reform contained, before the annual tally of over thirty million taels of silver, they were negligible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Given Emperor Yongning’s nature, even with ministerial opposition, he would likely push ahead anyway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, the tax reform was the aristocrats’ doing—they would surely support it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The more than three hundred thousand conscripted troops in the Eight Southeastern Provinces were its strongest backers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Local resistance could be crushed by force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With these allies, the emperor had the strength to defy the ministers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knowing the emperor held leverage, and seeing the Chief Minister take the lead, Gu Jiaxi immediately decided to follow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Grand Secretary Gu, this is inappropriate!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Eight Southeastern Provinces have just suffered war—taxes should be reduced, not endlessly extorted!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qiu Ruiyang immediately objected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, he didn’t wish to play the villain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tax reform harmed the gentry but benefited the court.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having reached the cabinet, his thinking no longer centered on local interests—he must consider the realm as a whole.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As an official from the eight southeastern provinces, he could not betray his class at a time like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His complex inner thoughts made his opposition half-hearted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reasons he found to oppose were half-baked, more like going through the motions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, officials who had been wavering instantly made their choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a heated debate, the supporters gradually gained the upper hand—just as everyone thought the outcome was settled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My loyal ministers, since you all agree the tax reform in the eight southeastern provinces is sound, could it not be extended nationwide?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Emperor Yongning’s words left the ministers utterly furious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how much you want reform, you must choose the right time!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right now, the priority is to preserve the fruits of reform, not rush to extend it nationwide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The success in the eight southeastern provinces was only possible because over three hundred thousand troops stood behind it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those gentry who dared openly oppose were physically eliminated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other regions, even if the court issued reform orders, the edicts would never leave the yamen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how good a policy is, if no one implements it, it ends in chaos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It brings no practical benefit except damaging the emperor’s and the court’s prestige.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Majesty, this must not be done!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“An orange grown south of the Huai becomes an orange; grown north of the Huai, it becomes a citron.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Take customs duties as an example—you must first have overseas trade to collect them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Our dynasty’s maritime trade is concentrated in the south, which is why we can collect massive tax revenues.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the northern provinces, you’d struggle to cover the cost of collection—setting up an office would be a waste.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Local governance must adapt to local conditions; one-size-fits-all won’t work!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wan Junhui swiftly rebutted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The emperor’s sudden idea was utterly disastrous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d bet his life that word of today’s incident would spark a massive uproar in court.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Northern provincial officials who might have been won over would now be pushed to the opposition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you truly want reform, do it quietly—why announce it at all?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For instance, Sichuan’s current situation is perfect for pushing reform.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just issue a secret imperial edict to the Marquis of Zhenyuan—he could directly replicate the achievements of the southeastern reforms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once the facts are established, the court merely needs to tacitly accept them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Similar operations could be carried out in Shanxi as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Civil officials cannot advance reform—but the military can.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whenever a province rebels, launch reform there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Decades later, tax reform could be extended nationwide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having accomplished this great feat, all of us could achieve fame and glory, remembered for eternity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This excellent situation was ruined by a single sentence from Emperor Yongning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deep inside, Wan Junhui was so furious he wanted to kill someone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without hesitation, the ministers once again unified their stance and immediately rebuked Emperor Yongning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lianzhougang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the ship’s horn sounded, the eyes of the prisoners of war gradually grew moist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether they would ever return to their homeland in this lifetime was uncertain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But there was no choice—life in Guangxi, though slightly better than farming at home, granted them abysmal political status.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As exiled criminals, they were looked down upon wherever they went, and their families suffered by association.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unless absolutely necessary, they stayed within their labor zones and never visited the military households.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if unspoken, their families still envied the military households just one wall away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While they labored, the military households farmed the garrison’s land and received high profit shares.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The garrisons even provided livestock and seeds; in famine years, they covered losses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If a family member enlisted, they received a stipend of qianliang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as they didn’t have too many children, they could eat coarse grain and vegetable buns until full.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During festivals, they could even enjoy a meal of meat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their standard of living was better than wealthy villagers back home, comparable to small landowners.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These convicts fared far worse—lower rations, barely seven or eight tenths full.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, the garrisons heavily promoted high-yield vegetables, so they benefited too; otherwise, life would have been even worse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eating meat was a luxury unless they earned merit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even so, the family members who came with them quickly accepted reality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had lived at the bottom anyway; after exile, their living standards were slightly better—what more could they expect?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most crucially, the debts weighing on them were now erased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had they not joined the rebellion and seen something of the world, they might have been content.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But precisely because they had seen the world, they could no longer accept their fate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The military households next door were their objects of envy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only did they enjoy higher living standards, but they also had hope for upward mobility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enlisting in the army, if one earned merit, could change an entire family’s fate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that they had a choice—even risking death in a foreign land—countless volunteered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Treason was a capital crime; even if the emperor pardoned the realm, they would not be included.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Entering Annan to fight for their lives was their only chance to change their fate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Third brother, how did you end up here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Didn’t we agree you’d stay home to care for the family while I went to risk my life?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the familiar face, the middle-aged man with a sallow complexion immediately demanded an answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Influenced by clan values, everyone placed immense importance on continuing the ancestral line.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even when risking life, one wouldn’t stake everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Big brother, I signed up without telling you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Father and mother agreed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As for home matters, since we’re out here risking our lives, the garrison will take care of them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young man replied immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This exile resulted from their joining the rebellion, which dragged in many relatives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Trouble had been caused—it needed fixing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if they weren’t assigned together, the simple logic held: the trouble you caused, you must fix.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though unspoken, he had seen his parents weep countless times, saying they had no face to meet their ancestors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This opportunity came only once—he wouldn’t let it slip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if the eldest brother went, he was only one man—how many heads could he take?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they couldn’t secure amnesty for everyone, how could they return with any dignity?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You shouldn’t have come!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If anything happens, the ancestral line will be broken.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The eldest brother’s lament received no agreement from the young man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Big brother, in our situation, even if we stayed home, the ancestral line would still be broken.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What decent family would consider marrying into ours?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if struck by resonance, the prisoners on the ship all burst into tears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The poor had no right to descendants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not just now—even before exile, they were all bachelors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The few who had married did so only after joining the rebellion, using plundered wealth to marry and have children.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Precisely because they had nothing, they dared to risk their lives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough—dry your tears.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’re taking you out not just to redeem yourselves, but to seek wealth and rank.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The court has promised: half of all looted wealth will be yours.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you worry about your ancestral line, go capture more women—take them home and breed slowly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Annamese are weaklings—easy to crush.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you fight bravely, you’ll get military merit, land, and women—all of it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The commanding officer immediately launched into his big lie mode.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The method was crude, but the effect was excellent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When a person hits rock bottom, what they need most is hope.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if the path to success is filled with risks, everyone is still willing to fight for it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhennan Pass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The farce in the capital has not yet reached them; everyone remains immersed in the joy of victory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The end of the southern campaign means not only that reinforcements are coming, but also that resources will be redirected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Annan war has, up to now, remained in a defensive posture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides strategic necessity, resource considerations have also played a part.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It is not difficult for Guangdong and Guangxi alone to defeat the Annan forces militarily; the difficulty lies in how to annex Annan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The dust has settled; everyone can relax now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The progress of the campaign has been even smoother than expected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A portion of the pre-collected military funds remains unused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In addition to using it for postwar reconstruction, we have also received our share.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One million five hundred thousand taels of silver and eight hundred thousand shi of grain will be delivered to Guangxi within three months.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I have already coordinated matters; the Viceroy of Fujian and Zhejiang and the Viceroy of Jiangnan have both agreed to provide us with supplementary funding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The exact amount of supplementary funding will be determined after the autumn tax collection is completed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now we can act freely and fight a battle against the Annan people!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mu said to the group with great heroism.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those attending the meeting were all the core team he had painstakingly built.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their loyalty was not lacking, but their vision was truly limited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no way around it; their upbringing had restricted their horizons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only after joining the military did they begin to make up for it through learning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knowledge can be acquired, but deeply ingrained beliefs are not easily changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most people opposed the plan to administer Annan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why leave the comfort of Great Yu for the remote, backward land of “Annan”?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The strategic plan had moved forward only thanks to Li Mu’s persistence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even now, most merely gave surface support; secretly, they had no hope for administering Annan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the fault of books.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Texts described Annan as either a poor backwater or a land rife with “miasma.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though Li Mu repeatedly assured them that Annan’s land was fertile, they still lacked confidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many feared that the scouts below had sent false intelligence to deceive their Marquis.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Annan was not wealthy enough to generate tax revenue in the short term, the war expenses would become a crushing burden on this group.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2944,"2026-06-21T08:09:04.021Z",1,"Qwen3.5 397B","c7ec95b293ca4a69e9828f11cf2aaf77051d787b0f0d4b89dd85be227c6ddd30","restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-383","restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-381",391,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Frestoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-cover.jpg"]