Chapter 534 - 458: King of the North (Part 2)

Chapter 534: Chapter 458: King of the North (Part 2)

’As long as I become the true emperor, I can just figure out a way to take them back later. If I act timidly now and end up defeated by my fifth brother, my reputation will be even worse.’

He had to be decisive.

"Fine. Then grant him the right to mint currency in the Northern Thirteen States."

...

"An edict from the Emperor declares: The Demon Sect brings turmoil, and the realm is unsettled. The Shuofang Jiedu Envoy, Bai Yuan, is granted control over the Northern Thirteen States and may mint coinage to meet the needs of war."

A young eunuch read aloud.

He then presented the Holy Decree to Bai Yuan with both hands.

Bai Yuan did not kneel.

’Li Kang wasn’t qualified to make him kneel.’

The young eunuch’s face showed no trace of displeasure. He knew the man before him had the power not to kneel.

"Lord Bai, His Majesty’s decree has been delivered. I will now return to give my report."

With his task complete, the young eunuch practically fled the Prefecture Magistrate’s Office.

He left Ling Province that very day,

terrified that Bai Yuan might, in a moment of displeasure, decide to keep him there.

Bai Yuan gazed at the brilliant gold Holy Decree in his hands, the corners of his mouth turning up slightly.

’Objective achieved!’

Compared to asking for rations, gold, and silver, the right to mint coins was of course more sustainable.

The primary reason the Northern Territory couldn’t support the Northern Garrison Army and the Zhenxi Army was that the Central Plains and Jiangnan had constantly been bleeding it dry, causing a massive outflow of silver coins.

Bai Yuan intended to put a stop to this.

Everything required a legitimate pretext. Now that Li Kang and Li Dai, the two nominal emperors, had both agreed, he didn’t need to worry about a backlash from fate.

With the right to mint currency, it would be much easier for the people of the Northern Territory to do business.

The taxes collected would naturally increase as well.

This was the true path to long-term prosperity.

...

"Li Kang gave the minting rights to Bai Yuan?"

Li Dai mused as he looked over the intelligence report.

A young general standing beside him remarked, "That’s surprisingly generous. Li Kang wasn’t like this before."

"Ning He, you shouldn’t say things like that anymore."

"Fine."

The young general curled his lip.

This general, named Ning He, was the very same Ning He who ranked fourth on the Hidden Dragon Gang’s list—a military prodigy.

He had previously been stationed at the Southern Border, but was later secretly recalled to Li Dai’s side when the late Emperor was quelling a rebellion.

The world believed that the Fifth Prince and Ning He had never met.

In truth, long before Li Dai was known as the Fifth Prince, he had traveled through the Southern Border. It was there he befriended Ning He, who had yet to make it onto the Hidden Dragon Gang’s list. The two became the closest of friends.

Later, when he proclaimed himself emperor,

Ning He naturally assumed the position of Commander of the Imperial Guard.

Although this position was not particularly prominent,

it was reserved for the most trusted of confidants. Only the person the Emperor trusted most could become the Commander of the Imperial Guard.

This was a testament to their relationship.

Ning He asked, "So, are we going to acknowledge it?"

After all, Li Dai had previously sent a secret letter to Bai Yuan, promising him full autonomy over the affairs of the Northern Territory as long as he could hold back the Demon Sect.

Now that even Li Kang had granted the minting rights, they would surely offend Bai Yuan if they refused.

Li Dai chuckled lightly. "We can just not take a stance. In any case, my third brother is definitely more anxious than I am right now."

Among the three current powers in Xuan Yang,

Li Dai’s faction could be said to be the one least concerned about the Demon Sect.

Jiangnan was in the south of Xuan Yang. By the time the Demon Sect reached Jiangnan, the Central Plains would have long been reduced to ruins.

Therefore, the rebel army and Li Kang were the ones who truly needed to panic.

He could just tacitly approve, and then after everything was settled, he could shift all the blame onto Li Kang.

As for whether he could reclaim power over the Northern Territory, that would depend on their respective abilities when the time came.

Ning He curled his lip. "You people just love to play these games. It’s so boring."

He had always been in the military.

In comparison, things in the army were much more direct. Even if there were plots and schemes, they were solely for the purpose of killing the enemy.

It was never sinister like this.

Li Dai said helplessly, "Some things are beyond one’s control. Everyone thinks that once you become emperor, no one dares to control you, but in reality, the constraints are even greater. The words of scholars can be lethal."

"..."

This time, Ning He did not argue back.

Over this period, he had clearly sensed the changes in his old friend.

And all of these were changes he had been forced to make.

"’In my next life, I pray I am not born into the Imperial Family.’"

Li Dai let out a soft sigh.

He wearily rubbed the spot between his eyebrows.

Ever since he was born, he had been constantly fighting. Because if he didn’t fight, he would die, and not just him, but his family too. So, he had to fight.

This time was no different.

...

「In a valley in Yu State.」

Billowing clouds of thick smoke rose from a series of large kilns as thousands of workers bustled about.

Bai Yuan gazed at the bustling, fiery scene.

’He felt a stir of emotion.’

This was the minting site chosen for the Northern Territory. Official Government Office documents had already been sent to the various Prefecture Magistrate’s Offices and would soon be passed down to the County Magistrate’s Offices. Finally, the Village Chiefs would inform the scattered villages across the Northern Territory.

The newly minted copper coins could then begin to circulate.

As for what came after, he, the Jiedu Envoy, would not need to worry about it.

It wasn’t that ancient times lacked people skilled in economics.

It was simply that for the sake of stability, ancient dynasties always prioritized agriculture and suppressed commerce, so such talents were buried and forgotten.

Bai Yuan had long since unearthed several such talents.

Among them, the most surprising was, in fact, Lu Yu.

He had previously thought the man was just greedy, but it turned out he had an incredible talent for business.

So he simply handed over all matters related to minting and promoting trade routes to Lu Yu, and Lu Yu had indeed done an excellent job.

Lu Yu stood to the side, chuckling to himself:

"In another three days, the first batch of copper coins will be ready. We’ll send them to Binzhou. That’s where the most merchants are, so it will definitely have a good effect."

Bai Yuan nodded.

He had always held to the belief: don’t use those you doubt, and don’t doubt those you use.

Since he had decided to put Lu Yu in charge, he naturally wouldn’t interfere.

Lu Yu rubbed his hands together.

’He was realizing he still preferred making money over everything else.’

...

Following Lu Yu’s implementation of a whole set of reforms to stimulate the economy, the effects were seen very quickly.

The most direct result was a five percent increase in the Northern Territory’s tax revenue. While five percent might not sound like much, on the scale of the entire Northern Territory, it was a figure not to be underestimated—and one that would only grow.

It also helped compensate for some of the losses from the Cao Bang’s merchant fleets.

The situation in the Northern Plains grew increasingly tense.

Gradually, figures from the Demon Sect began to reappear in the Northern Territory.

"Ah Yuan, disciples of the Celestial Heart Sect have appeared in many places. These people are hidden too deeply; it’s very difficult to find them."

Yang Fangyu frowned.

Recently, various parts of the Northern Territory had been constantly reporting incidents related to the Celestial Heart Sect.

Although on the surface he was just the Prefect of Ling Province, he was actually performing the duties of the Chief of Internal Affairs for the entire Northern Territory.

Bai Yuan had already approached the other two Jiedu Envoys.

Both of them had chosen a hands-off approach, neither participating in nor obstructing Bai Yuan’s affairs in the Northern Territory.

This was enough.

Thus, Bai Yuan had now become, in a practical sense, a super Jiedu Envoy with control over the Thirteen States.

Bai Yuan’s heart sank.

"So it begins."

He’d received intelligence a while ago that the Celestial Heart Sect had already taken complete control of the southern Northern Plains.

Even without the Soul-Chasing Tower to hinder them, their speed still exceeded his expectations.

This showed that the Celestial Heart Sect’s will was extremely resolute.

For the Demon Seed to be so aggressive in controlling the southern Northern Plains likely meant only one thing: they intended to restart the war, perhaps even to overthrow Xuan Yang and establish a new nation.

A great war was now unavoidable.

The old clan chief of the Demon Hunters had already led the Northern Garrison Army north to stand guard along the Great Wall.

The two sides had been in a standoff for some time now.

A major war could break out at any moment.

Just then, Dong Wanjun slowly walked into the main hall of the Prefecture Magistrate’s Office.

"Master."

"General Dong."

Bai Yuan and Yang Fangyu greeted him.

Dong Wanjun asked, "What is the current situation with the Demon Sect?"

Bai Yuan immediately told Old Dong everything, down to the last detail.

When it came to experience in dealing with the Demon Sect, probably only Master Xu Dingchun in the entire world could claim to surpass Old Dong.

Old Dong mused for a moment, then said, "For now, you don’t need to worry about the matter of the Demon Seed. Just focus on dealing with the Demon Sect’s army."

Bai Yuan was surprised. "Master, have you thought of a way?"

Dong Wanjun shook his head. "I don’t have a plan yet, but someone has arrived."

Before the words were even out of his mouth,

a tower-like figure appeared outside the hall, his signature big beard immediately drawing their attention.

Bai Yuan’s eyes lit up.

"Elder Huyan!"