The Great Han Dynasty: From Feng Lang Juxu to the Eternal Emperor

Chapter 525 Secret Development
Weining finally gained a foothold in South Vietnam.

Zheng Xi is a good person. At least he has a decent reputation and everything is arranged properly.

Wei Ning successfully moved into the harem and lived in the same palace with Wei Qing and Gongsun He. In addition, there were also the families of Wei Qing and Gongsun He.

He didn't bring Huo Guang out. With Huo Qubing's aura around him, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty shouldn't embarrass Huo Guang.

After Wei Ning came back, Wei Qing and Gongsun He called Wei Ning to the middle hall.

Wei Qing looked at Wei Ning and said, "Ning'er, now we have found a place to stay and it is safe."

"I plan to make contact with Gongsun Ao and ask him to mobilize his troops."

Wei Ning asked Wei Qing: "Uncle, are you planning to kill him back now?"

He has absolute confidence in the military, and Weining also knows it, but he feels it is not appropriate, at least now is not the time.

Wei Ning said to Wei Qing: "Uncle, we have no excuse now. There is no reason to send troops. The possibility of defeat is too high. Can the soldiers sacrifice their lives for me?"

Gongsun He also nodded and said: "I don't recommend sending troops now, just stay calm and observe secretly first."

"Ning'er still has spies in the Han Dynasty. Let them collect intelligence first, and then we will make countermeasures."

Wei Qing pondered for a while and said: "I'm too passive. Now I need to make a good plan. I can't rely on others like a headless fly."

Wei Qing said it right. You must make a good plan and be fully prepared before you can be ready for the follow-up.

If we counterattack, we will need a large amount of military expenditures. Gongsun Ao has the money, but military rations are a problem.

Gongsun He said that it could promote cooperation between Gongsun Ao and Zhengxi.

South Vietnam has a large amount of grain stored in it, so it is not difficult to solve the food problem.

The only problem facing Weining now is the arsenal.

He needed to build a powerful arsenal. Although the soldiers brought by Gongsun Ao were well-equipped, the weapons were definitely not enough.

All talents need to be recruited.

Wei Qing looked at Wei Ning and said, "You can try to contact Lu Chongguo."

Lu Chongguo was originally a court official who was going to be the Shaofu. Later, he was dismissed by Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty and stayed at home.

There are also a group of talents from the Academy of Sciences. Since Dade's death, people from the Academy of Sciences have left the court one after another.

This group of talents must be taken over secretly.

Wei Ning glanced at Wei Qing and Gongsun He and asked, "Uncle, uncle, where is the arsenal?"

If placed on the Japanese island, the distance would be too far and it would be difficult to go to sea. After Gongsun Ao went to sea in the southeast, they no longer had enough contacts in the southeast to support them in secretly transporting people to sea.

Then it can only be built within South Vietnam.

But another question arises, whether Zheng Xi can be trusted.

If all the technology of the arsenal is leaked, it will undoubtedly be a disaster for the future Han Dynasty. It will be very troublesome to raise a powerful enemy in South Vietnam.

Although Zhengxi seems to be very friendly to Weining now, who knows what will happen in the future?

Moreover, this is a confrontation between countries, not personal relationships. Even if Zheng Xi is trustworthy, what about the group of officials below her?
Won't they take advantage of your illness and kill you?

Regarding where to build the arsenal, the three of them were hesitant for a while.

In the end, it was Weining who made the final decision: "In South Vietnam!"

"Right under our noses!"

"Uncle, please send a letter to Gongsun Ao first and ask Gongsun Ao to establish a grain trade with South Vietnam."

"Uncle, you go and choose a site. Find a remote place where we can build. When the time is right, we will leave the palace."

Now that Wei Ning has made his decision, Wei Qing and Gongsun He will naturally not question Wei Ning's decision. Once any group has doubts, that group will be in trouble in the future. Wei Qing and Gongsun He are both top politicians and would not make such low-level mistakes.

After discussing the future plan, Wei Qing and Gongsun He went to implement it.

Wei Ning went to look for Zheng Xi, and there were some things that needed to be discussed with Zheng Xi.

Unfortunately, Zheng Xi was currently discussing matters in the main hall, and Weining could only wait in the side hall for Zheng Xi's discussion to end.

Weining was not kept waiting for too long, probably only for a stick of incense, and Zhengxi came to the side hall with a thoughtful expression on his face.

When she saw Wei Ning, she said without waiting for Wei Ning to speak, "There is something I want to ask you."

Wei Ning hummed and said, "You tell me."

Zheng Xi said: "My ministers want to reform South Vietnam, and want to transform it from agriculture into a country based on commerce."

Obviously, they saw that business made much more money than agriculture, and they wanted the country to become rich, so they planned to spend great efforts to develop business.

Wei Ning hummed and said, "Okay."

Zheng Xi asked doubtfully: "You think it's okay too?"

Wei Ning said: "Of course."

“But people in your country don’t have enough to eat, so how can we develop business?”

"Has your country's science and technology reached a certain level? Have you mastered technology in textiles, handicrafts, porcelain, cloth, tea, and silk?"

"Of course you can develop business, but your economic capabilities need to reach a certain level."

"It took us hundreds of years to dare to make this attempt. Do you have the background?"

“Have you ever thought about what the future of your country will be like if business fails to develop well and agriculture is in shambles?”

Zheng Xi: "..."

"It's okay if you just say no."

Wei Ning said: "It's different. If you say no directly, you will object. So I tell you why it doesn't work and where it doesn't work, so that you can know."

Zheng Xi nodded thoughtfully and said, "Well, I also think it's a bit too hasty, but I don't know why the Prime Minister suddenly wants to do these things."

Weining didn't know much about South Vietnam, but he knew that Zhengxi's prestige was very high in South Vietnam, and the people below should not have other ideas.

Zheng Xi added: "The Prime Minister also wants to develop education, introduce all the Confucian books of the Han Dynasty, and formulate a country with Confucianism as the core."

Wei Ning glanced at Zheng Xi and then said, "Then do you know what the consequences will be?"

"It's you who wants the Zen position."

"Confucianism never allows women to hold power."

Zheng Xi: "..."

She looked at Weining and asked, "How did you develop cultural knowledge before?"

Weining said: "A hundred schools of thought contend and a hundred flowers bloom. Let the literati explore on their own. After the great collision of cultures, they can then choose a national policy that suits their country to formulate an education system."

Zhengxi nodded and said, "Yes, I understand."

"Hehe, I lied to you before. I just want to ask you for advice on how to govern the country."

Wei Ning looked at her speechlessly and said, "This is not a secret. If you want to find out, you can just ask. I didn't say not to tell you."

Zheng Xi said: "Aren't you afraid that you will hide your secrets?"

(End of this chapter)