Chapter 891: The World Situation

"The armies under the Beitiao and Ono clans were already receiving our training, and now, with the coordination of the front-loading rifled muskets, just as His Highness expected, I presume there will soon be a result regarding Dongying."

"Furthermore, those four clans have assured this old minister that in the matter of dealing with the Watanabe case, they will cooperate sincerely and never undermine one another," Yang Feng said slowly, looking toward Zhao Xu above the steps.

At the same time, he inadvertently glanced at Zhao Heng, comparing the father and son.

Zhao Xu's back was straight, and he sat on his chair like a pine or cypress.

With the passing of years, the childishness on his face had faded, replaced by a touch of steadiness.

Moreover, having long experienced the battlefield, there seemed to be an added air of martial killing intent between his brows.

At this moment, looking down from on high at the crowd, he was every bit an awe-inspiring monarch.

Even he, in front of Zhao Xu, dared not harbor a shred of contempt.

And this feeling...

He glanced again at the frivolous-looking Zhao Heng; he had never felt this before this emperor.

"That is good. This Prince cultivated them so that they would work for this Prince, not merely to play their own little games," Zhao Xu nodded lightly.

Liu Fu and Yang Feng each reported on their respective affairs.

Zhao Xu pondered for a moment and said to the civil and military officials, "Although the internal chaos of the Great Song has been quelled, a greater threat to the Great Song is approaching. Many of you do not understand this greater threat at all. Today, this Prince shall explain it to you here in the Golden Throne Hall."

People and nations share a characteristic: only pressure can give both the motivation to forge ahead.

After all, a nation is composed of people; if the people become slack, the entire nation becomes slack.

At present, with the internal chaos of the Great Song quelled, he did not wish for the officials to think that all was well.

And thereby devote excessive energy to power struggles and personal indulgence.

This was the reason he wanted to popularize the world situation to everyone in the Golden Throne Hall.

Thinking of something, he ordered someone to fetch the world map from his study.

Once the map was delivered, he had Liang Cheng hang it up in the Golden Throne Hall.

Immediately, he walked to the front of the map.

Not only the civil and military officials, but even Zhao Heng was very interested in the content of Zhao Xu's lecture this time.

He stood up from the Dragon Throne and went to Zhao Xu's side.

The officials gathered around at the same time.

At this moment, Zhao Xu spoke eloquently, "You have all studied at the Government Academy and should know that this world is round and that there are many nations, but you do not yet understand these nations well. This Prince shall tell you about these realms."

Clearing his throat, he began to introduce them one by one.

The Tusman Empire in Zhongtu, the island nation in the East Land Southern Region, as well as Africa, which is called the Dark Continent in this era, and the New Continent of South America and North America.

Finally, he focused on introducing the Xitu Guo.

Especially powerful nations like Britain, Frank, and Ross.

"... Relying on firearms and artillery, they have occupied nearly half the world for hundreds of years. Now they have come to Dongtu, attempting to incorporate Dongtu into their sphere of influence; this is the reason they participated in the Great Song's internal chaos."

"Soon, their Coalition will arrive in Tianzhu. What methods they will take against the Great Song next is not yet known."

"Therefore, the Great Song currently faces threats on both the northern and southern fronts. Only by defeating the Northern Di and the Westerners in Dongtu can the surroundings of the Great Song be secure," Zhao Xu concluded with this statement.

Both Zhao Heng and the officials were stunned.

Only Liu Fu and Yang Feng remained calm.

Previously, Zhao Xu had already spoken to them about these matters.

"I thought that just the Northern Di was the mortal enemy of the Great Song. I did not expect there to be even more terrifying foreign tribes. The Great Song was almost plunged into an irredeemable abyss," fine beads of sweat appeared on Zhao Heng's forehead.

If not for Yan Wang, he truly would have been a monarch of a fallen nation.

At this moment, the look the officials cast toward Yan Wang was also one of reverence.

They could not imagine at all how the Great Song would face this dangerous jungle of a world without Yan Wang.

At that time, the Great Song would certainly have been carved up by the Xitu Guo; these vampires would have sucked the Great Song dry.

They would run rampant in the Great Song, high and mighty, regarding the people of the Great Song as inferiors, just as Yan Wang said, treating them like black slaves, hanging signs in front of the restaurants they frequented that read 'No Great Song People or Dogs Allowed.'

But now, Yan Wang had not only eliminated the powerful clans but also saved the Great Song.

Now, the Great Song had established a Steam Industry.

Although the scale of the Steam Industry was not as large as that of the Western Lands, the level was on par.

In terms of cutting-edge technology, it was even a step ahead.

Now, utilizing small-scale Steam Industry, it had even given birth to Electricity.

Yan Wang said that this thing did not even exist in the Western Lands at present.

As long as it was popularized in the Great Song, the Great Song's industry would comprehensively surpass the Western Lands.

By then, even if the Xitu Guo threw the strength of their entire nations together, they would not be the Great Song's match.

"Therefore, before the Electric Power Industry is popularized, we must thwart the plot of the Westerners to interrupt the Great Song's development," Yang Feng suddenly said loudly. "Since that is the case, we shall fight them in Dongtu and drive them completely out of Dongtu."

Liu Fu nodded; given the current situation, they had to resolve the Northern Di and Ross in the north, as well as the Western Lands Allied Forces about to arrive in the south.

Otherwise, they would certainly continue to manufacture wars.

And they must never let war happen within their own territory again.

That would cause too much damage to the Great Song.

At the same time, he agreed with Yan Wang's plan to seize the other side's colonies.

Only predatory warfare could guarantee the gains of war, rather than dragging the Great Song down.

Thus, he said: "I do not understand military affairs, but I will certainly do my utmost to cooperate with the Research Institute to build Power Plants, to popularize electricity in the Great Song as soon as possible, so as not to delay the Great Song's development."

"Mm, this is the two-step strategy this Prince spoke of: one internal, one external," Zhao Xu laughed.

Then, he ordered Liang Cheng to put the map away.

Zhao Heng and the officials returned to their respective seats.

Zhao Xu added, "The confrontation with the Xitu Guo is not only military and industrial, but also a confrontation of government systems. With the unification of Great Song now imminent, I hereby announce several reform policies to suit our development; you are to implement them immediately upon your return."

He paused and said, "Regarding diplomacy, the Court of State Ceremonial shall be renamed the Diplomatic Department starting today. Regarding commerce and industry, the Commerce Department shall be split into the Commerce Department and the Industrial Department, with each performing its own duties."

"Regarding education, the Technology Academy and the Government Academy shall be merged to formally establish the Yanzhou Academy, with the subjects of the two academies subdivided into areas such as Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Law, and so on."

"In addition to the Yanzhou Academy, a number of key colleges must be established, such as the Yanzhou Medical College, the Yanzhou Agricultural College, the Yanzhou Military Academy, and other types of colleges. I will provide you with the specific names and organizational structures of these colleges after the court session," Zhao Xu said.

Liu Fu and the other ministers were shocked upon hearing this; this reform seemed to be a significant undertaking.