Ze Tian Palace, side hall, imperial army meeting room.
When Wei Chou talked about confiscating 20 magic crystal cannons from the imperial army, everyone burst into laughter. Zhang Wei said casually, "As expected of the Minister of War. You're so confident even when you're robbing. That's great!"
Lin Muyu pondered for a moment and asked, "Have you found out where these magic crystal cannons came from? Could it be that other people have also mastered the technology of casting magic crystal cannons other than the Imperial Armament Department? "
"That's not the case." Wei Chou answered, "The serial number of the Ministry of War is engraved at the bottom of these magic crystal cannons. If I'm not mistaken, they should have been lost in the battle of Lingdong Province. Later on, the Tianji Empire's army didn't have time to take them away, so they fell into the hands of the people. As for how the imperial army got them … they probably bought them from those merchants or mercenaries."
"It seems like the imperial army is really racking their brains for armaments!" Feng Jixing sighed and said, "Since Zhuang Yan could think of this method to get armaments, he must have thought of other ways. They're still being polite to the Ministry of War for now, but once they have enough armaments and have a solid trump card, I'm afraid that won't be the case anymore."
"Yes." Lin Muyu nodded and said, "After all, there are too many people in the imperial army. Once they're equipped with magic crystal cannons, it'll be a big deal. Wei Chou, Zhang Wei, you guys have to send people to investigate carefully. Don't let your guard down."
"Yes, Lin General!" The few of them cupped their fists together.
Lin Muyu pondered for a moment and said, "Zhuang Yan and Su Changying are both smart people. They'll definitely fight against the imperial army in other ways. As for what they're best at, it should be stirring up the hearts of the people and using the constitution. From today onwards, everyone in the imperial army must learn the constitution and restrain their words and actions. No one can be caught by the imperial army. Do you all understand?"
"Yes!"
"Especially you, Zhang Wei." Lin Muyu raised her eyebrows and said, "According to the Constitution, there is a military regulation that states that soldiers are not allowed to have more than three concubines and are not allowed to play around with women. But you, Zhang Wei, have been in and out of the Red Light Alley. Once you are caught, I'm afraid that no one will be able to protect you. So you have to restrain yourself, understand?"
Zhang Wei knelt on one knee. "Yes, Lin General. I understand. I will restrain myself!"
After following Feng Jixing for so many years, Zhang Wei's temper had indeed been restrained quite a bit. Based on his temper in the past, he would probably have gone to the Imperial Parliament with a knife and started a massacre. The Empire was won by Lin Muyu, Feng Jixing, and Tang Xiaoxi together. Anyone who dared to bully them would be making an enemy out of Zhang Wei. At least, that was what he thought.
Lin Muyu sat on the commander's seat and flipped through the military order book in front of her. "Winter is coming. How are the preparations for our military supplies?"
"Don't worry, Lin General." In the crowd, Ding Xi cupped his hands and said, "Her Highness has ordered me to take charge of the Military Supplies Department. I have already made arrangements with the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Revenue. Everyone in the Longdan Army Camp, the Imperial Army, and the Exiled Army will have a set of cotton clothes ready in half a month. The weather will be cold in half a month and they will come in handy."
"Well, thank you, General Ding Xi." Lin Muyu nodded and said, "By the way, what about the provisions for the warhorses? Also, have the people we sent to the Northern Desert to buy warhorses returned? "
Ding Xi said, "The provisions have been prepared. There are more than 40 forage yards in Lanyan City, enough for our 100,000 warhorses to survive the whole winter. In addition, the people who went to the Northern Desert have come back quickly. Since the death of the Northern Desert Wolf Lord Maodun, more than a dozen tribes have lost their leaders. However, we still have many warhorses. Our envoy met with their tribal leaders and reached an agreement. They are willing to sell us 150,000 warhorses at a price of about 150 Jin Hun Coins each. So we need to prepare nearly 30 million Jin Hun Coins."
"30 million?! Does the Ministry of Revenue have that? "
"The Ministry of Revenue is a little tight. We need to move some Jin Hun Coins from other places."
Lin Muyu frowned and turned to look at Qin Yin. She said, "Xiao Yin, do you have money?"
Qin Yin pursed her red lips and said, "Ze Tian Palace is poor too. Even if we cut back on expenditure, we still don't have that much money. There are about 10 million Jin Hun Coins in the treasury of the palace. You can have it all. You have to figure out a way to get the rest."
Lin Muyu turned to the other side. "Xiao Xi, does the Seven Seas Palace have money?"
"No …" Tang Xiaoxi blinked. "During the last expedition to Cangnan Province, the treasury of the Seven Seas Province was almost used up. Now there's a shortage of supplies. After Xiao Yin returned, she pardoned the people and reduced taxes. So now, all the places are very poor."
"It seems that the eleven years of war have really made the Empire poor. The dignified Lanyan City can't even produce tens of millions of Jin Hun Coins …"
"Yes, it has always been like this."
Feng Jixing said, "Yu, why don't you ask Jin Xiaotang? The Ziyin Flower Chamber of Commerce should still be rich. These 150,000 warhorses are very important to us. The future war will still be the battlefield of the cavalry. The magic crystal cannons are too clumsy and can only be used for defense. The real offensive war will still rely on the cavalry and the rapid charge of the magic crystal crossbows.
We can't do without warhorses! "" Yes, I will ask. But it won't be too ideal. The big families in Lanyan City are also very poor now. The business of the Ziyin Flower Chamber of Commerce is not as good as before. "
Tang Xiaoxi pursed her lips. "The grand Qin Empire has thousands of years of savings. Where did all the money go?"
"It's all on the steel walls and in the wilderness of the battlefield." Feng Jixing sighed.
At this time, Ding Xi said, "I think there are some people who are very rich."
"Who?" Lin Muyu asked.
Take Zhuang Yan as an example. He's the governor of Sunset City, and the Zhuang Family he belongs to is a business tycoon in the Swift White Province. Ever since the demons were repelled, Sunset City has been living a peaceful life. Even the war between the Darkstone Empire and the Tianji Empire didn't reach Sunset City. Therefore, Zhuang Yan is very rich. It can be seen from the fact that he could gather nearly sixty thousand troops. Without money and military provisions, who would follow him? "
Qin Yin's lips curled up slightly. "Lord Ding Xi, you mean … we should slaughter the big families?"
"Yes."
Ding Xi said, "Since Zhuang Yan, Su Changying, and the others can establish a parliament with great fanfare to reduce their power, then why should we be polite? We can come up with all sorts of excuses to reduce the properties and fiefs of the feudal vassals. For example, Zhuang Yan is still the governor of Xiyang City, but Her Highness the Empress has the power to demote him. "
Feng Jixing's eyes lit up. "General Ding Xi means to remove the positions of the feudal vassals in their fiefs?"
"Yes."
Ding Xi took a deep breath. "Her Highness can select a group of young talents from the imperial capital to take up posts in various places. It's called the 'Decree of the Emperor', but in fact, it's just to replace the feudal vassals' positions in their fiefs and make them lose their roots. If these feudal vassals don't want to be replaced, they need to hand over a certain amount of property to reject the Decree of the Emperor. This way, they can legitimately confiscate the local financial resources."
"Good!"
Lin Muyu clapped her hands and smiled. "Lord Ding Xi's plan is not bad. It's feasible! Xiao Yin, Xiao Xi, what do you think? "
Qin Yin and Tang Xiaoxi nodded in unison. "I agree."
Lin Muyu looked at Shangguan Jingyue and said, "Then I'll have to ask Lady Attendant Shangguan to draft up the Decree of the Emperor as soon as possible. Send it directly to the feudal vassals. If they don't show any signs within seven days, take away their fiefs."
"Yes, Lin General!" Shangguan Jingyue left happily.
Lin Muyu rubbed her palms together. "This way, we have the money to buy war horses!"
Wei Chou said, "Lin General, Shen Hou Zeng Yifan sent a letter from Dong Shuang City. He learned that the Celestial Empire of the Celestial Pole Continent has passed through the Forest of No Return and has started a war with the Tianji Empire's Zhang Cheng Army."
"Chen Yu has started a war with Zhang Cheng?"
Lin Muyu was stunned and said happily, "This is a good thing. This is a good thing. This way, the Celestial Pole Continent will not be a threat to us for at least half a year. This is great!"
He was complacent and felt that there was no room for him to sit on the marshal's seat. He then said, "Oh right, how is the reconstruction of the Empire's navy going?"
Baili Cang cupped his fists. "Reporting to the marshal, several large shipyards are short of money, so the construction of the ships is very slow. Currently, there are only about a hundred ships. Moreover, the navy's recruits still need to be trained, so it is impossible for them to form a fighting force in a short period of time."
"Money … We still need money!"
Lin Muyu held her forehead and couldn't help but feel a headache.
"Yu, are you alright?" Feng Jixing asked.
"I'm fine." Lin Muyu shook her head and said, "Everyone here is the backbone of the Empire. Think of a way to get money. Without money, we won't be able to build more ships. Without ships, we won't be able to train our navy. Without the navy … our Eastern Sea will still be empty. We won't have our own border and can only be attacked. Without warships, we won't be able to gather an army for an expedition."
"Eastward expedition …?" Tang Xiaoxi was stunned.
"Yes, eastward expedition." Lin Muyu looked at her and said with a smile, "Xiao Xi, don't you think we should completely destroy the Celestial Pole Continent?"
"I'm afraid this is a little difficult." Ding Xi sighed and said with a smile.
"I know it's difficult, but we have to prepare in advance." Lin Muyu twirled the pen in her hand. She pondered and said, "It's not that I want to be militaristic, but if our Qin Empire doesn't be militaristic, we will definitely be destroyed. Even if I have to let down the future generations, I must fight on."
Qin Yin was slightly moved and said softly, "I will do my best to support you."
Tang Xiaoxi nodded. "Me too."
All the generals were stunned, then they cupped their fists and said, "We will definitely follow the marshal. Wherever the soldiers point, we will never retreat!"
Lin Muyu smiled happily. The people in front of her were the real pillars of the Empire. It was this group of people who defeated strong enemies time and time again: the Yihe Kingdom, the Demon Race, the Tianji Empire, and the Blackstone Empire. They were the real treasures of the Empire. History would always remember their names and their glorious achievements.
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