Chapter 959: Returning Home

"Your Highness, how should we get along with these natives in the future?"

Seeing the native inhabitants leave, Zhou Yi suddenly wore a thoughtful expression.

Although these natives had basically been slaughtered clean by the British.

But even if their numbers were scarce, this problem still had to be faced.

"Replacing Native Chiefs with Imperial Officials," Zhao Xu said.

The "native" refers to the Native Chiefs in contemporary history.

In contemporary history, the dynasties of the Central Plains, after long-term friction and struggle with frontier Native Chiefs, finally figured out this method.

This method was for the Imperial Court to directly appoint officials to govern the local Native Chiefs.

Whereas previous dynasties basically let the local Native Chiefs manage themselves.

Consequently, this led to rampant rebellions.

Now, after the Australian continent had been slaughtered by the British, they naturally could not control this place.

Abandoning this land of abundance would be equivalent to letting others occupy it.

After all, the modern era has already arrived, and with the enhancement of transportation capabilities, this continent will be exposed to everyone in the world.

Therefore, since he had worked so hard to conquer it, he naturally would not hand it over to others.

But since he had decided to occupy the Australian continent, then, just as Zhou Yi was considering, the problem of the natives on the island had to be dealt with.

Then, Replacing Native Chiefs with Imperial Officials was naturally the most suitable method.

Furthermore, they had driven away the British and had descended upon the Australian continent in the capacity of liberators.

The natives here would also find it easier to accept them, and might even hope from their hearts that they would stay to protect them.

In this way, even after one or two hundred years, no one would be able to pick out any flaws in them.

Thinking of this, Zhao Xu explained it to everyone once.

Upon hearing this, everyone nodded one after another.

Zhou Yi said: "Under the vast heaven, there is no land that is not the King's; to the borders of the earth, there is no one who is not the King's subject. It is brilliant."

At this moment, everyone burst into laughter again.

After discussing this matter, Zhao Xu entered the Governor's Mansion.

Overall, the war on the Australian continent had ended.

The only remaining problem was the Arland Territory.

This only required the Marine Corps to send soldiers to take over.

Because from the confessions of the captives, he learned that in order to concentrate his forces, Oliver had also dispatched the troops of the Arland Territory here.

The Arland Territory was currently nothing more than an empty city without defenses.

"Once you have taken the Arland Territory, you can go and stake out your land," sitting in the conference hall inside the Governor's Mansion, Zhao Xu said to the generals. "As for the rules for rewards, this King will settle them with your General Zhou."

This was what he had promised, so he naturally had to fulfill it.

Upon hearing this, the generals looked at one another, their expressions excited.

Then Zhao Xu added, "And once you have finished staking out your land, you must immediately transfer your main forces to Luzon and establish supply points between Luzon and Malacca to prepare for the capture of Malacca."

Pausing for a moment, he continued: "As for this King, I will not accompany you; I will return to Da Song tomorrow. The Western Lands Allied Forces and the countries they control, such as Jiaozhi, Piaoman, and Tianzhu, have always been restless, and the Northern Di and the Ross in the North are also eyeing us covetously. They have gone to such great lengths, surely to invade Da Song. This King needs to go back to preside over the situation and stabilize the morale of the army."

Zhou Yi, Gong Ying, Pan Zhang, and others' expressions became grave.

They had been advancing triumphantly all the way, like a hot knife through butter, and were about to be rewarded for their merits, so they had been happy to the point of forgetting themselves.

With Yan Wang saying this, they were suddenly jolted awake.

The danger to Da Song had not yet been resolved.

Whether it was Luzon or the Australian continent, it was nothing more than peripheral skirmishing.

"Your Highness, it is not too late to discuss rewards after we have defeated the Western Lands Allied Forces. We, the generals, will also depart tomorrow and head immediately for Luzon," Zhou Yi said.

"That is correct," the other generals said with firm gazes, echoing in unison.

Zhao Xu shook his head. "That is unnecessary. It is better to discuss the rewards first. Only when you have your own pastures here will you have more motivation to fight the Westerners in order to protect your own overseas property, is that not so?"

"Your Highness truly understands the human heart," Gong Ying chuckled, and the generals also revealed knowing smiles.

Zhao Xu nodded. "Furthermore, when this King comes here next time, I hope to see herds of cattle and sheep here, and plantations flourishing,"

"And their masters will be you."

Once he said this, many generals even drifted off in thought, beginning to fantasize about the arrival of that day.

The love for land was carved into their bones.

Who would not want to own a vast pasture of their own?

After chatting with the generals for a few more moments, Zhao Xu kept Zhou Yi behind and let the others disperse.

That night, the two discussed the details of the rewards, setting issues such as how much time would be given for staking out land based on the magnitude of one's merit.

The next morning, he arrived at the port and boarded a Warship.

After exchanging military salutes with the naval officers who had come to see him off, Zhao Xu took the Warship toward Da Song.

Departing from New South Wales, they first passed through Queensland, then passed Moro Island, and arrived at Yizhou.

When he returned to Jinghai, he had spent a full fifteen days at sea.

Immediately, he took a Steam Locomotive back to Yancheng, from which he had been away for more than a month.

At this time, Liu Fu, Yang Feng, Chang Wei, and other generals were already waiting for him at the station.

When passing through Haicheng, he had sent a Telegraph to Yancheng in advance.

This Haicheng is the contemporary Fuzhou; after Lincheng, the Wired Telegraph had been laid to this place.

When at Jinghai, he had sent another Telegraph.

Therefore, they were all aware of his itinerary.

Accompanied by high-ranking officials of the Imperial Court, Zhao Xu first made a trip to Wuji Palace.

When a child is away, a mother worries; he had to report his safety to them first.

"So, Xu, you conquered a massive island only slightly smaller than Great Song?" Upon seeing Zhao Heng, Zhao Xu briefly recounted the war for the Australia continent.

When he introduced this continent, Zhao Heng was so astonished that his jaw dropped.

"Yes, Father Emperor," Zhao Xu said, "If Father Emperor wishes to go, your son can send ships to take you there for sightseeing and leisure."

"Incredible, truly incredible." Zhao Heng looked at Zhao Xu, his heart filled with joy.

He had originally thought the surprises Zhao Xu had shown him were enough, but he did not expect this was merely the beginning.

Although his ninth son was currently the true helmsman of Great Song and he himself held only a nominal title.

Yet, when history books record the great achievements Zhao Xu established, they would inevitably mention him, the emperor, as well.

And with this, he was satisfied; he had no more regrets in this life.

Mi Huanghou, however, did not care how much territory Zhao Xu had conquered; she only scrutinized Zhao Xu, concerned about whether he was eating well and if he had lost weight.

Finally, she said sternly, "Don't run around recklessly after coming back this time. Your father and I are growing older by the day and only wish to have our children and grandchildren by our knees; hurry up and give me three or five grandsons with Susu."

Hearing this, Yang Feng seized the opportunity to chime in, "Her Ladyship is absolutely right."

Liu Fu and the others all revealed smiles; they enjoyed seeing Zhao Xu getting rebuffed in front of Mi Huanghou.

After all, in Great Song, only she could reprimand Zhao Xu.

Zhao Xu scratched his head.

In reality, with the mind of a modern person, he did not want to have children so early at all.

However, being put on the spot, he gave a few vague excuses and prepared to let things take their natural course in the future.

Immediately after, he led the officials back to the Prince's Mansion to inquire about the current situation surrounding Great Song.

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