On April 1st, news of the surrender of the various barbarian tribes reached Luoyang.
What the people talked about most during this barbarian invasion was Dong Zhuo's role as a prisoner in turning a group of barbarians against the enemy.
No one had ever imagined that this war could be fought in this way.
In a short time, Dong Zhuo's name became widely known. Of course, his three great hobbies also became popular, becoming a topic of conversation among young people.
Inside the Deyang Palace, Liu Hong also summoned the seven cabinet ministers to discuss the next steps for the Han Dynasty.
Liu Hong glanced at everyone and said in a deep voice, "Now that the rebellion in Jiangnan has been quelled and the barbarians have been subdued, they have begun to move out of the mountains and learn to farm. The only remaining threats in the south are the Baiyue and the western kingdoms of Jiuzhen and Rinan prefectures. What are your thoughts on this?"
(Jiuzhen Commandery: present-day Hanoi region, Vietnam. Rinan Commandery: present-day central Vietnam.)
Cao Song, then Minister of Revenue, replied: "Your Majesty, Yangzhou, Jingzhou, Jiaozhou and other places are currently under development, and large areas of land need to be cultivated. We are no longer able to develop the Baiyue and the southern countries."
The rice there can be harvested three times a year, ensuring a plentiful food supply. I believe we should first subjugate them and use their grain to support the development of Jiangnan, then occupy it later!
Liu Hong nodded: "What Cao Qing said makes sense. In that case, let's send a team to garrison in Rinan County, and also send envoys, scholars and merchants there to strengthen communication!"
All seven cabinet ministers nodded in agreement with Liu Hong's proposal.
In their view, the emperor's so-called "deepening of communication" was nothing more than using trade, economics, and cultural infiltration as a soft weapon to control and disintegrate the southern states, paving the way for future occupation.
In the past, such insidious and ruthless methods would have been unimaginable, but in today's court, this approach is highly regarded by many officials.
In their view, this method is more efficient and can generate huge profits compared to bloodshed in war.
It's foolish to have this method available but instead send soldiers to bleed and die.
After discussing matters in the south, everyone turned their attention to the northern grasslands.
Minister of War Li Ying picked up a report and said, “Your Majesty, the Duliao Camp was fully staffed last year, consisting of 130,000 Great Wall guards, 20,000 cavalry, and 10,000 soldiers from the auxiliary battalion.”
These soldiers, most of whom had served for two years, already possessed considerable combat capability, enough to keep the Xiongnu, Xianbei, and other tribes outside the Great Wall!
Liu Hong nodded: "That's good. Last year the weather was cold and many cattle and sheep froze to death on the grassland. This year they have nothing to trade with the Han, so they will definitely raise troops to plunder. We need to be prepared!"
Li Ying said, "Your Majesty, rest assured. General Zhang Huan has sent a document to the Ministry of War. Not long ago, Qiangqu dispatched his son Yufuluo and nobles such as the Left and Right Rizhu Kings to lead 40,000 Southern Xiongnu troops in three routes to clear out the Xianbei and the Left Wise King's tribe near the Great Wall!"
"In that case, Tan Shihuai and Xie Zhiyu will definitely turn their attention to the Southern Xiongnu!"
Liu Hong said in a deep voice, "We can't stop the Southern Xiongnu by ourselves. Notify General Zhang Huan to prepare for reinforcements. We must not let the Southern Xiongnu suffer a crushing defeat!"
"Yes!" Li Ying nodded in response.
Liu Hong then looked at Yang Ci and asked, "What is the situation with the envoys sent to the grasslands by the Foreign Affairs Department? Have the Yuwen and Murong tribes of the Xianbei in the central region responded?"
Yang Ci said respectfully, "The envoy has returned to Youzhou. It is reported that the Murong tribe refused the Han dynasty's investiture, but the attitude of the Yuwen tribe is somewhat unclear."
Liu Hong sneered: "Heh~, it's understandable that Murong Tu refused to submit last year because he was tricked by the Han and the Northern Wuhuan."
The Yuwen tribe's attitude is ambiguous, suggesting they are not well aware of the strength of our Han Dynasty and are seeking to gain more benefits.
“Your Majesty is right. According to the envoy’s analysis, that is indeed the case!” Yang Ci nodded in agreement.
"Since he wants benefits, then give them to him!"
Liu Hong chuckled and then looked at Chen Fan: "The cabinet can issue orders to the border counties of Bingzhou, Youzhou, and Liaozhou, except for the Yuwen tribe, to immediately cease trade with other tribes."
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Chen Fan replied respectfully.
Then Liu Hong looked at Yuan Feng and asked, "Minister Yuan, how is the progress of the newly minted coins?"
"Your Majesty, thanks to the joint efforts of the Research and Development Department and the Academy of Engineering, the template for the new coin has been engraved and production has begun!"
As he spoke, Yuan Feng took out a round silver coin, three centimeters in diameter and three millimeters thick, from his sleeve: "This is the design of the new coin. Please take a look, Your Majesty."
Liu Hong took the silver coin and examined it closely. To prevent the silver coin from wearing out, Mo Shang and Gongshu Lian had added some synthetic steel, making the surface of the silver coin look bright and hard, quite similar to the silver dollars of later generations.
The silver coin features different designs on both sides, with the obverse side displaying a dragon symbolizing the emperor.
The back features a sun and moon image at the center, surrounded by images of nine tripods, signifying the radiance of the Han Dynasty spreading in all directions.
Originally, according to Mo Shang and Gongshu Lian, the plan was to carve the emperor's portrait on the front, but Liu Hong refused.
Although having his portrait on currency greatly enhances one's reputation, Liu Hong has always believed that he is not yet great enough to be considered that great.
"Great, great! Putting aside the material, the exquisite design alone makes this new coin quite valuable!"
After carefully examining the silver coins, Liu Hong smiled with satisfaction.
Liu Hong then handed the silver coins to Chen Fan, allowing the assembled cabinet ministers to take turns examining them.
"Hmm, not bad, it's indeed a rare gem!"
"Yes, in this way, the value of this silver coin will certainly be very stable!"
After reviewing the new currency, the cabinet ministers praised it highly.
Then, Liu Hong looked at Yuan Feng and asked, "How is the production of silver coins progressing? What is the current reserve?"
"Your Majesty, the mint has been completed and is currently in operation with ten sets of molds. It can produce five thousand coins per day, and the total reserves are two hundred thousand coins."
Liu Hong frowned: "Why is there so little?"
Yuan Fengdao said, "Your Majesty, the template is easy to solve, but the silver ingot reserves are insufficient, so large-scale casting is not possible."
"Heh, it seems we need to speed up the development of Yamatai and the Kingdom of Dog Slave!"
Upon hearing this, Liu Hong couldn't help but chuckle.
Although many adventurers from the Han Dynasty are now sailing to the Japanese archipelago, many have only recently landed, and the mining of silver ingots has not yet reached a large scale.
Thinking of this, Liu Hong said, "The cabinet can send an official document to Donglai and Langya counties, directing them to focus their main efforts on acquiring silver ingots."
At the same time, preferential policies were formulated to encourage more people to go to the Dog Slave Kingdom to mine silver!
The cabinet ministers nodded: "Yes, Your Majesty!"
Liu Hong continued, "In addition, these 200,000 silver coins will be transferred to the Ministry of Revenue for initial circulation in the factories and shops of the Royal Trading Company. Once production increases, they will be released to the general public!"
Yuan Feng: "Your subject obeys the imperial decree!"
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