PDLP Chapter 419 Busy Gwangju Port
Chapter 419 Busy Gwangju Port
Despite the alliance between the Jin and Han kingdoms, a heavy atmosphere of war still hung over the Nenjiang Plain, making the situation delicate and tense. In order to firmly hold this strategic location, Wang Changdao personally led his elite troops to erect more than a dozen imposing military fortresses across the vast Nenjiang Plain, which stood like iron walls, protecting every inch of the land.
Meanwhile, Nazaze adopted a roundabout strategy, leading his troops across the Jinshan Mountains, advancing like a whirlwind towards the vast grasslands of eastern Mongolia. In this free land, he commanded with composure, and his troops were invincible. After two months of bloody battles, he finally brought the eastern Mongolian lands under his control, achieving a great military exploit.
Beneath the ancient city walls of Anyang Prefecture, Li Zhen finally witnessed the long-awaited moment—the arrival of the first batch of war reparations from the Jin Dynasty. This reparations were not only a symbol of victory but also a solace for past suffering. Hundreds of pounds of gold gleamed with a heavy luster; thousands of pounds of silver piled up to symbolize the weight of victory. In addition, there were dazzling arrays of silks and satins, vibrant in color and lustrous in their fine sheen, which complemented the soft and warm furs, creating a luxurious yet tender scene.
However, the path to reparations for the Jin Dynasty seemed particularly difficult, so much so that they had to complete the task in an almost cruel way—sending nearly a thousand innocent Jin citizens into Anyang Prefecture as part of the compensation. This act undoubtedly convinced the world that the hands that manipulated all of this were stained with disgraceful filth, and the infamy of human traffickers was firmly branded upon them.
This scene is both an irony of victory and a profound revelation of human greed. In the game of power, sacrifice and consequences are always intertwined. Li Zhen, gazing at the scene before him, felt a complex mix of emotions: joy at victory and pity for the fate of the innocent. The wheels of history roll ever onward, and what will become of those swept along by the tide of time?
Li Zhen sighed softly, turned his gaze to the bailiff beside him, and slowly instructed, "Immediately send people to carefully examine these Jin people. Those who are innocent and without suspicion should be temporarily placed in the mines."
Among this large force, who knows if there might be Jin spies lurking among them? Sending them directly into the tightly managed mines would make it difficult for even those with malicious intentions to transmit any intelligence. Even if they tried to cause trouble, the Han soldiers guarding the mines would surely make them understand why the flowers are so red.
The bastard nodded slightly, a hint of worry in his eyes, and then raised another issue: "This time we have made a swift and decisive advance, capturing many cities of the Jin Kingdom. For now, these places are temporarily under the jurisdiction of the Han generals, but this is not a long-term solution. We must find and send official officials to govern them as soon as possible to ensure order."
Upon hearing this, Li Zhen frowned and fell into deep thought for a long time.
After a moment, he spoke slowly, his voice steady and powerful: "So, in your opinion, how many official positions are there?"
Bu Liang sighed and replied, "Roughly estimated, there are more than three hundred vacancies in major official positions across the country. This only refers to the officials in charge of the overall situation and does not include the minor officials in each county."
On this ancient yet revitalized land of Han, the university system had taken root and flourished, but no one had anticipated the rapid pace of national expansion. As if overnight, the vastness of the territory exceeded all expectations. Those university students, still immersed in books and idealistic worlds, were both excited and somewhat bewildered by the sudden call of the times.
The machinery of the state roared forward, and the vacancies in officials were like ravines that urgently needed to be filled. However, Li Zhen, the Han leader known for his foresight and wisdom, was unwilling to compromise and held reservations about those old officials who were stuck in their ways and had rigid thinking.
“It’s time to let them step into the torrent of society ahead of time,” Li Zhen said thoughtfully, his eyes gleaming with determination and expectation. “Tell them that true learning is not found in the ivory tower, but in the vast world. Society is the best school for tempering one’s will and testing the truth. Yes, this is our only option at present.”
Despite his inner turmoil, the prime minister, who held the highest position among the civil officials, weighed the pros and cons of this move and knew there might be some impropriety. However, faced with the greater good of the nation, his personal hesitation seemed insignificant. He silently nodded, deciding to follow Li Zhen's decision, though his heart was filled with mixed emotions. At this crucial moment, any hesitation could delay the nation's progress; he could only put aside his personal concerns and devote himself wholeheartedly to laying the foundation for the future of the Han Dynasty.
At this time, the Gwangju Han Kingdom naval base in the southern part of Goryeo was unusually busy. As countless ships approached, the Han Kingdom naval soldiers directed the Goryeo people to load and unload the ships.
Since Wanyan Ping established the Wei Kingdom in Fusang, he has also begun to fulfill his promise to Li Zhen. He not only ceded the entire Shandong to Li Zhen's Han Kingdom without compensation, but also regularly transported a large number of silver ingots from the Wei Kingdom to the Han Kingdom in exchange for Han Kingdom's grain and other supplies. The Guangzhou naval base became the most important transit point.
Captain Guo Bo, swaying his obese body, approached the officer in charge of the dock with a broad smile.
"Hehehe... Battalion Commander Xu, Brother Xu, we meet again. Come, come, this is some top-quality caviar I brought from Japan. Please have a taste."
Xu Hu was engrossed in his work, his pen flying across the paper as he signed urgent documents, completely oblivious to the anxiously waiting Guo Pangzi beside him. He didn't even look up, his voice carrying an undeniable firmness: "Brother Guo, are you trying to make an exception again and get your shipment loaded and unloaded ahead of schedule? This time, I really can't comply. We just finished dealing with the ships from the day before yesterday this morning, and there are still dozens more waiting in line. Brother Guo, you'll need to be patient and wait a while."
Upon hearing this, Guo Bo's face instantly turned bitter, as if he had swallowed a bitter pill. He sighed helplessly, gently placing the precious caviar on the table, his eyes full of pleading: "Brother Xu, the cargo on my ship this time is of utmost importance, and time is of the essence; it must be delivered on time. Brother, please, for the sake of our years of friendship, help me out. When I return from my mission to Japan, I'll definitely get you two Japanese women!"
Upon hearing this, Xu Hu couldn't help but smile wryly: "Our dockworkers are so few and far between, where would we find any extra labor? I can't possibly roll up my sleeves and unload that ship full of cargo for you, can I?"
Seeing a glimmer of hope in the conversation, Guo Bo quickly pressed his advantage: "Brother Xu, how about this arrangement? You just need to do me the honor of giving me a shoreline to dock, and I'll take my capable crew and handle the loading and unloading ourselves. As for the cost, we'll stick to the old rules, not a penny less. What do you think?"
Xu Hu thought for a moment, then nodded: "Alright then, but you'd better hurry."
After leaving Xu Hu's room, Guo Bo wiped the sweat from his face and let out a long sigh of relief. The cargo on the ship was all contraband; he wouldn't have taken the risk if the cargo owner hadn't promised him a huge freight fee. Luckily, his own people were unloading the cargo this time, saving him unnecessary trouble.