Chapter 586: The Journey to Wulanba

Latest website: "Expand the Ningjin Army to sixty thousand men to specifically deal with the harassment of the Beidi." Zhao Xu pondered for a moment and said in a firm tone.

This number was one he had weighed; it was neither too many nor too few.

Limited population made it impossible for him to conscript soldiers recklessly.

Generally speaking, a conscription ratio of twenty to one is quite high; any higher would affect production and construction.

After all, they all belonged to the prime of youth.

If he did so, he would not have enough population to push forward the steam revolution in Yanzhou.

Therefore, with a population of over three million in Yanzhou, he maintained the Prince's Personal Army at one hundred and fifty thousand.

The Ningjin Dusi currently has a population of over one million, so logically, maintaining an army of fifty thousand would suffice.

Because of the threat from the Beidi, he gave an extra ten thousand, maintaining it at sixty thousand.

"Thank you, Your Highness. Sixty thousand Ningjin Army troops are more than enough to deal with one Beidi Khan Court." Yang Zhen felt invigorated upon hearing this.

Zhao Xu looked toward the distant North Territory and nodded slowly.

In his heart, he had actually divided the Ningjin Dusi and Yanzhou into two war zones.

The Ningjin Army is responsible for the northern war zone, dealing with the Beidi people, and future expansion of territory to the north will also be done by the Ningjin Army.

Even if the Prince's Personal Army participates at that time, it will only be to assist.

If the north is handed over to the Ningjin Army, then the south is naturally handed over to the Prince's Personal Army.

Besides this, Zhou Yi is responsible for the ocean.

This is his entire strength at the moment.

In the future, whichever direction has a problem, the army from that direction will be dispatched, allowing him to remain calm and orderly.

Of course, he did this also to dilute military power.

The Ningjin Army, the Prince's Personal Army, and Zhou Yi's navy are relatively independent, and all report directly to him.

In this way, he can avoid any one general from controlling too many troops.

Of course,

It is not that he does not trust Chang Wei.

It is that the army needs a stable structure so that whoever sits in Chang Wei's seat will not cause too much trouble.

After chatting for a while longer about the defense of the Ningjin Dusi, the three of them descended from the city tower.

Zhao Xu then said to Yang Zhen: "General Yang, if you have nothing to do, you can return to Yancheng to see the old General Yang and your daughter."

"Your Highness..." Yang Zhen's whole body trembled, his eyes suddenly turned red, and after hesitating for a while, he said: "It is already a great favor for Your Highness to let this subordinate command the Ningjin Army. This subordinate is worried that I will expose my identity and cause trouble for Your Highness in the imperial court."

"Hahaha..." Zhao Xu laughed loudly, "Nowadays the imperial court is made foul by the powerful clans, and the Emperor is effectively under house arrest; what kind of imperial court is left? You just go; if something happens, this Prince will take responsibility for you."

Chang Wei was even more disdainful of the powerful clans, "With His Highness backing us, why pay those flies any mind? Sooner or later, I will shove them into the latrine to eat shit."

Yang Zhen was stunned for a moment, then suddenly started laughing, "That is crude, but true."

He felt much more relieved; that was right, with Yan Wang backing him, what else did he have to fear?

Even the Beidi were driven out of the Ningjin Dusi by Yan Wang; how much of a storm could this group of powerful clans stir up?

After chatting for a while longer, Zhao Xu specifically went to comfort the soldiers of the Ningjin Army.

The next day, he led Liu Fu and other officials to the county town near Jincheng.

He let them gain a better understanding of the situation in the Ningjin Dusi.

After staying for more than three days, he and the others traveled for more than two days and returned to Yanzhou.

Beidi Khan Court.

At the same time Zhao Xu arrived in Yanzhou, Mule Hongzhen was seeing off Wulanba and his party with the support of Tiemuta.

Thanks to Ivan's medical skills, he survived this war.

Returning to the Khan Court and resting for several days, he could barely get up and walk.

"Wulanba, once you go to the Ross country, you must be cautious in your words and actions," Mule Hongzhen said earnestly.

This Ningjin war made him realize the gap between the Beidi and Yan Wang in terms of firearms.

This gap is so large that the number of soldiers can no longer compensate for the advantage of firearms.

Therefore, after being injured, he learned from his mistakes and decided to put aside the Beidi's arrogance toward the Ross country.

He followed Wulanba's suggestion to send envoys to the Ross country to establish contact with them and find ways to narrow the gap in firearms with Yan Wang.

"Father Khan, please rest assured. The Ross country is not Gaoli; this child knows what he is doing. Moreover, with Ivan's introduction, this mission will go much more smoothly." Wulanba looked at Ivan.

Ivan bowed to Mule Hongzhen while on horseback.

The excitement in his eyes could not be concealed.

He had thought he would be trapped here by this barbaric tribe for the rest of his life.

He did not expect that today he would finally be able to return to the Ross country openly.

Although he still felt disgust toward the Beidi.

But through his understanding during this period, he believed that compared to the Beidi, this Yan Wang of the Da Song would be the enemy of the Ross country in the Far East in the future.

It is very necessary to support the Beidi to deal with this Yan Wang.

Of course, this was just his own thought.

Once he sends the intelligence back to the Ross country, the great Emperor Nicholas will make a response.

Therefore, suppressing the malice in his heart, he said to Mule Hongzhen: "Please rest assured, I will act as a bridge between the Ross country and the Beidi, and let us establish a good relationship."

Mule Hongzhen showed a look of gratitude and gave a look to the Beidi general beside him.

The Beidi general immediately stepped forward and opened a box to show it to Ivan.

Under the sunlight, the box glowed with a dazzling golden light.

Ivan looked over, his breathing involuntarily growing heavier.

It was a chest full of gold bars.

"If the Ross country can sell firearms to the Northern Di, there will be generous gifts offered every year," Mule Hongzhen said.

Besides the gift for Ivan, he also had Wulanba bring heavy gifts to be presented to the important officials of the Ross country at that time.

"Many thanks, Khan." Ivan, disregarding his identity as a Missionary, hurriedly placed the chest into his luggage.

He did not feel ashamed; after all, most Missionaries in this era were merely a type of spy.

Mule Hongzhen nodded, and seeing the sun rising higher and higher, he urged Wulanba to set off.

According to Ivan's account, they would head to the Extreme North, and then from the Extreme North, proceed to the capital of the Ross country.

Once the figures of Wulanba and his party disappeared, Mule Hongzhen said to Tiemuta, "My injuries only require quiet recuperation; you should also set off and go find your second uncle, Ashuer."

"Is this really necessary?" Tiemuta had never dared to contradict his Great Khan, but this time, he could not control himself.

This man, who had failed in the competition for the Khan throne back then, had exiled himself and his royal tent to the Extreme West to punish himself, fighting year after year against the constantly eastward-invading Tusman.

To let him know that his Great Khan had lost the Ningjin Dusi.

This second uncle would not know what kind of language to use to humiliate him and his father.

"Although he is at odds with me, that is the family business of the Northern Di; regarding external threats, he and I are always of one mind. Facing the rising Yan Wang, we can no longer worry about too much, and furthermore, only he can help you conquer Tibet in a short period of time," Mule Hongzhen said slowly.

Tiemuta sighed and then nodded.

After this battle, they dared not underestimate Yan Wang ever again.