Chapter 508 Single Night
Five days later, October 24th.
Tomorrow is the wedding day of Wei Changtian and Liang Qin. Now everything has been prepared and Wei Changtian returned a few days ago.
On the first day after returning, he went to see Ning Yuke and told her about the Shu army's next offensive plan, and also arranged the Shu Kingdom's next major development strategy.
Although most people in Shu now have no worries about food and clothing and live a rich life, social productivity is still backward, and the production structure of the small peasant economy means that it is essentially no different from Daning.
Therefore, in order to quickly narrow the gap in "comprehensive national strength" with Daning, it is far from enough to just reduce taxes and distribute land. Ultimately, it is necessary to change the production structure and complete the industrial revolution.
As a result, the previously shelved steam engine research and development plan was officially put on the agenda for the first time.
Of course, Wei Changtian is not like the protagonists of many time-travel novels in his previous life, who can draw the blueprint of a steam engine at will.
His understanding of the steam engine was actually limited to boiling water, using the steam to push the piston after the water boiled, and then transmitting it through a series of complex mechanical transmissions to become usable power.
Obviously, such a level of knowledge and the photos of steam engines that he had accidentally seen a few times in his previous life were not enough to support Wei Changtian to invent a real steam engine.
But why do we have to do it ourselves? Are all those skilled craftsmen just for show? Tell us what you know, and let the craftsmen figure out the rest.
Just like that, under Wei Changtian's "suggestion", Ning Yuke immediately ordered the Ministry of Industry to set up a new institution specifically responsible for the research and development of these "strange skills and tricks".
It was named "Tiangong Bureau".
The next day after returning, Wei Changtian went to "inspect" the Datong City under construction.
Now, nearly two months have passed since the groundbreaking ceremony for the city.
With the presence of cultivators, the speed of construction is naturally incomparable to that in ancient times, so the city wall project has now been completed.
And the area inside the city walls was not empty. Not only were many houses built, but there were even several small markets.
Although it is not large in scale, it is still lively and has a sense of home.
But these people were actually refugees from other states who came to Shuzhou to escape famine, and there were very few people from Shuzhou.
This is because, due to the appearance of the Tengu Army, there have been many rumors in the Shu Kingdom about the true purpose of Datong City.
Many people in Shu now know that this new city was built for the demon clan, so they are unwilling to move here to live even if the land price is very cheap.
Of course, refugees from other states would definitely be even less willing.
But the fields that Wei Changtian had promised to distribute to them were all nearby, so they had no choice but to settle down and became the first batch of residents in Datong City.
Although I have to "coexist with monsters" in the future, at least I won't starve to death now.
What's more, most of these people were previously the lowest-level tenant farmers. They worked hard under the scorching sun every day and in the end they could only exchange enough food from their masters to barely fill their stomachs.
But now, no matter what, they finally have their own fertile land, and the food they grow belongs to them.
Coupled with the extremely low land tax in Shu , there is no doubt that such a life was something these refugees had never dared to dream of before.
So even if they have to live with the demons in the future, they are unwilling to give up everything they have now.
The third day after returning.
On the way back to Shuzhou City from Datong City in a carriage, Wei Changtian received good news from Chu Xianping:
Yangzhou is willing to surrender.
It took only three days for Chu Xianping and Du Chang to successfully "persuade" the governor and general of Yangzhou to give up resistance, and from then on it was "gloriously" incorporated into the territory of Shu.
Wei Changtian was actually not surprised by this result.
After all, after several nationwide troop movements, there were not many state troops left in the states of Daning. Unless Ning Yongnian sent troops to support, Yangzhou would have no chance of resisting the Shu army.
Surrender is a sign of knowing the current situation and not wanting to engage in futile resistance.
Not surrendering is a sign of courage and unwillingness to become a traitor.
The probability of these two choices is about half and half.
But now it seems that the main officials of Yangzhou still care more about their own lives.
Of course, Wei Changtian was extremely welcoming of their "compromising" behavior.
He took over an entire state without losing a single soldier.
This not only avoided the loss of the Shu army, but also served as an excellent "example" for the rest of the southern states.
I believe that when the Shu army continues its eastward expedition, the resistance and opposition it encounters will be much reduced as a result.
As for when to continue to attack Suzhou eastwards,
this needs to be discussed with Chu Xianping, Liang Zhen and others, because it will take some time to take over Yangzhou.
But I don't think the wait will be too long.
The fourth day after returning.
After five full days of thinking, You Wenzong finally decided to "abandon darkness and join light", and was escorted from Guanghan to Shuzhou City today.
After giving him the Puppet Pill, Wei Changtian took him to Weiyang Palace to meet Ning Yuke.
Ning Yuke announced to the world through an imperial edict that You Wenzong had suddenly become the prime minister of Shu.
This was something Wei Changtian had promised a long time ago.
However, You Wenzon, who changed from a "chess piece" to a "chess player", did not look very excited, and even seemed a little lonely.
Wei Changtian knew that he still had some unresolved issues in his heart, but he did not try to persuade him.
After all, the guilt caused by "betrayal" can only be resolved over time.
Besides, it is actually a good thing that You Wenzong feels guilty, which shows that he is not only an excellent politician, but also a loyal minister.
Of course, no matter what, such a "loyal minister" eventually betrayed Ning Yongnian.
Is it out of a desire for greater power?
Was it for the safety of his family? Or was it because after seeing the customs and practices of Shu, he was impressed by the more excellent "system" of Shu?
Only You Wenzon himself knows the exact reason.
All Wei Changtian could do was to ask Wei Xianzhi to send his family to Shuzhou as soon as possible. Perhaps after reuniting with his family, You Wenzon would be able to get out of the haze and devote himself wholeheartedly to the "greater cause".
The fifth day after returning.
He is going to marry his first "wife" tomorrow. According to what he did in his previous life, Wei Changtian should have a "single night" or go to a brothel to have a good night.
But Wei Changtian certainly has neither the time nor the interest to do these things.
Looking back now, he seemed to have seldom visited brothels since coming to Shuzhou.
The last time, I think I was in Fengyuan accompanying Old Zhang.
From a frequent visitor to a brothel to a "gentleman".
This change was not because Wei Changtian suddenly became serious, but simply because he had no time.
Plus, the women in his family alone are enough to make it difficult for him to "deal with".
Xu Qingwan, Lu Jingyao, Yuan'er, Qiuyun, Yang Liushi Thinking of Yang Liushi, Wei Changtian realized that he had forgotten about this during the few days he returned to Shuzhou City.
I turned my head and looked at the sky. It was still early.
"Wan'er, I'm going to go to Liu Shi's place."
After standing up and putting on his outer robe, Wei Changtian said something to Xu Qingwan who was checking the guest list for tomorrow.
"Hmm?"
Comrade Xiao Xu raised his head and asked softly, "Are you coming back tonight?"
"this."
Wei Changtian touched his nose: "Not necessarily."
"Yes, I understand."
Xu Qingwan came over and straightened his clothes, and reminded him worriedly: "But if you stay at Miss Liu Shi's place, don't get up late tomorrow morning."
"Don't delay the bride-picking."
"Oh, why don't I go with you."
"You and Miss Liu Shi can do whatever you need to do tonight. I will wake you up tomorrow morning."
Wei Changtian: “???”
(End of this chapter)
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