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“Grain.”
In the government office, Fiji and Luo Quan exchanged glances, both with helpless smiles on their faces.
At this moment, they realized that Xiao Ming had many constraints, such as the grain problem he mentioned. Looking at Great Yu Empire as a whole, King Qi’s fief was not considered a grain-producing area, and for war, a lack of grain was unacceptable.
Slightly sighing, Fiji said to Luo Quan, “We were too eager. His Highness understands the situation of his fief better than us. When and how to fight this war should be decided by His Highness.”
“Councillor Fei is right. Now only His Highness can save Great Yu Empire from danger. This battle must be thoroughly considered before the soldiers can move.” Luo Quan echoed.
Fiji continued, “But Your Highness, campaigning against the Prince of Zhao is secondary. Now that His Majesty’s last will is here, I wonder what Your Highness’s intention is…”
“Temporarily set aside the matter of the last will.” Xiao Ming said indifferently. He paused and then said, “However, although the enthronement is postponed, you two must make this last will known to the officials of the fief, lest the officials of the fief be influenced by the Thirteenth Prince’s enthronement.”
Fiji, having served Xiao Wenxuan for so many years, was a shrewd man. He instantly understood Xiao Ming’s thoughts.
Now, regardless of whether Xiao Ming ascended the throne, the land he could control was merely the prefectures and counties of his fief. Officials and generals in other lands would not surrender to him. Compared to Xiao Ming, the people in the royal territories would be more inclined to believe that the Thirteenth Prince was the Emperor of Great Yu Empire. After all, there was a distinction between legitimate and illegitimate lineage, and no matter how young the Thirteenth Prince was, he was still the legitimate son.
Moreover, everyone in the world knew about the ‘pledge of allegiance’ matter, which made his ascension even more absurd, even leading to him becoming the first scapegoat.
Rather than that, it would be better for Xiao Ming to hold the last will but not declare it. This way, he could advance or retreat freely. If the general situation was favorable to him, he could seize the opportunity to make the last will public. If it was unfavorable, he only needed to proclaim it internally. This way, his foreign wars would have a legitimate cause.
“Yes, Your Highness.” Fiji nodded upon hearing this.
The matter of the last will was thus set aside. Xiao Ming pondered how to settle the ministers who came from Chang’an. These former officials of the previous king followed Fiji and Luo Quan to Qingzhou because of him.
Moreover, according to the last will, he was now the Emperor of Great Yu Empire, and he had a responsibility to lead these ministers to restore the magnificent empire of Great Yu.
Given the current shortage of officials in his fief, he had no reason to turn these people away. If these ministers were willing to study some political knowledge at Bowen Academy, it would be even more in line with his wishes.
So he said to Fiji, “Councillor Fei, there are many officials and generals who have come to Qingzhou. What do you think should be done with them?”
“This…” Fiji cautiously looked at Xiao Ming.
Although the young man in front of him was his son-in-law, he was even more aware that he was the de facto emperor of Great Yu Empire. Serving a monarch was like accompanying a tiger, and this being Xiao Ming’s fief, he dared not speak rashly, only saying, “Everything depends on Your Highness’s decision.”
Luo Quan, being straightforward yet subtle, coughed and looked around, seemingly uninterested in this question.
The demeanor of the two made Xiao Ming feel helpless. Compared to people like Pang Yukun, Fiji and Luo Quan carried a stronger influence of officials under feudal monarchy.
“Alright, you must be tired from the long journey. You two should go back and rest now.” Xiao Ming frowned and said.
Fiji and Luo Quan nodded and went to Wei Family Restaurant under the guidance of Qingzhou officials.
After the two left, Pang Yukun, Niu Ben, and other Qingzhou officials returned to the government office.
Pang Yukun said, “Your Highness, a total of eight thousand five hundred thirty-two people have come to Qingzhou for refuge this time. I have already settled them in the civilian quarters of Qingzhou for temporary residence. I hope Your Highness will instruct on how to proceed.”
The situation this time was special, and Pang Yukun dared not make decisions on his own.
Xiao Ming said, “Currently there are only eight thousand people. It is estimated that in the coming days, more officials will come to Qingzhou for refuge, and their family members will also arrive in Qingzhou.”
“I also think so, which is why I am worried.” Pang Yukun’s head ached.
Unlike Pang Yukun, Niu Ben was quite happy. He directly said, “Your Highness, however many generals come to Qingzhou this time, I want them all. The army is currently lacking generals, and this is truly a timely rain.”
“The bureaucracy also lacks people, but we cannot blindly put these officials and generals into the bureaucracy and the army just because there’s a shortage. Qingzhou is different from Chang’an. Generals are easier; a bit of training will suffice. But if officials who don’t understand Qingzhou’s situation take office, it might cause problems.” Pang Yukun saw this matter very clearly.
Xiao Ming nodded, “Chief Grand Councillor Pang is right. For me, what is needed are elites, not just the number of officials. However, this time Mother brought Father Emperor’s last will, and I cannot abandon them, otherwise who would be willing to seek refuge with me?”
“Last will?” Pang Yukun and Niu Ben asked simultaneously. Zhan Xingchang, Lu Fei, and other generals also perked up their ears.
Xiao Ming nodded, “Father Emperor made a last will before Mother escaped, allowing me to continue the great succession. Now, this last will is in Mother’s hands, but because Father Emperor was trapped in Bīshuǐ Pavilion, there is no imperial seal on this last will.”
“So many, Your Highness is now the Emperor!” Lu Fei immediately said loudly, jumping and dancing with joy.
Pang Yukun, Niu Ben, Zhan Xingchang, and others, after their initial astonishment, all showed wild joy. Now that Xiao Ming had inherited the great succession, they were no longer officials of a fief but powerful ministers of Great Yu Empire.
Luo Xin, not to be outdone, said, “So, does this mean we should now call you ‘Your Majesty’?”
“It’s too early to call me that now.” Xiao Ming waved his hand. He said, “Currently, Great Yu Empire is in peril. As long as Great Yu Empire is not unified, I cannot claim to be the Emperor of Great Yu Empire.”
Everyone became fervent because of the last will, but Xiao Ming’s words calmed them down again. Pang Yukun said, “Your Highness is absolutely right. Now that Great Yu Empire is fragmented, Your Highness declaring himself Emperor now would be detrimental to Qingzhou. It would be better to ascend the throne when the world is settled. Furthermore, this last will does not have the Emperor’s imperial seal, and other vassal kings might not acknowledge it.”
“Even if it did, they probably wouldn’t recognize Your Highness as ruler. These vassal kings have long been wishing for chaos in the world. Your Highness, in my humble general’s opinion, a conquered empire is more stable.” Niu Ben said.
Lu Fei and the other generals all echoed his sentiment.
Looking at the fervent crowd, Xiao Ming said, “The empire of Great Yu Empire naturally cannot fall into the hands of ambitious people like the Prince of Zhao. However, we are not yet strong enough to make enemies on all sides. Therefore, from now on, we must forge distant alliances to attack nearby foes, sow discord, engage in both vertical and horizontal alliances, and compete for dominance in the world.”