Chapter 152 Andong Protectorate!

“This marquis has pursued the traitor Shui Rong to Shangjing City. The Li royal family has mobilized 300,000 troops to defend the city.”

“I was outnumbered, but fortunately Eunuch Xia arrived in time with 8,000 elite cavalrymen. We captured Shangjing City in one battle and put down the Korean rebellion.”

Jia Cong said casually.

“My Lord, what are you doing?”

Xia Shouzhong was at a loss whether to laugh or cry when he heard this.

The reason why Jia Cong was allowed to participate in writing the memorial was to make it easier for Jia Cong to act.

Including how to advance, how much to capture, how much to report, and how much to leave behind.

To put it bluntly, it means cooperating to give benefits to Jia Cong.

As a result, Jia Cong advanced Xia Shouzhong’s arrival in Shangjing City by two days and shared a lot of military merit.

If Jia Cong’s opinion was true and rewards were given based on merit, Xia Shouzhong’s contribution would be ranked second.

“Eunuch Xia, just report the truth. If anyone in the court dares to criticize it.”

“I will settle it for Eunuch Xia!”

Jia Cong responded indifferently.

Such a big thing naturally cannot be hidden from the investigation of others.

But the military merit was won by Jia Cong, so he can give it to whoever he wants!
“Your servant…Your servant thanks you very much, my Lord. I am ashamed to accept it.”

After hearing this, Xia Shouzhong shuddered and finally said with gratitude.

Logically speaking, as the personal steward of Emperor Shunde, Xia Shouzhong could not make friends with foreign officials.

But this definitely does not include masters of the fourth realm, let alone Jia Cong.

Even Emperor Shunde was thinking about how to win over Jia Cong all day long.

There was no precedent of eunuchs being granted titles in Daqian.

But judging from his merits afterwards, Xia Shouzhong’s nephew was awarded a low-level title, which meant he had someone to rely on.

……

“I also have some ideas about how to manage Korea in the future.”

“Eunuch Xia, why don’t you stay here for a while and take a look, and then join me in submitting a memorial.”

“I will completely obey the Marquis!”

Xia Shouzhong bowed and accepted the order.

Jia Cong ordered his men to summon in the Korean officials who were waiting outside.

Message
A moment later, more than thirty civil and military officials of the third rank and above in the city walked tremblingly into the hall.

Half of them are officials from other places who came here in the past three days.

For the dignitaries in the capital, these three days were like a nightmare.

Hou Jingyun and Ma Ruyue basically killed for three days without sleeping.

No one knows when the butcher’s knife will fall on their home.

“We pay our respects to the Lord of the Upper Country!”

“I summoned you here to discuss the future of Korea.”

“This… we all depend on the decision of the Marquis.”

“I will do my best to cooperate with you, Lord!”

Everyone looked at each other.

Kim Dae-jung, the right counselor of the Uijeongbu, stepped forward and said.

“Yes, Lord Jin is right. We will all leave it to the Marquis to decide.”

“Your Majesty has worked tirelessly to quell the rebellion in Korea. I have no way to repay your kindness. I am willing to die for you.”

Everyone responded in a flurry of voices.

Compared with before, these high-ranking officials who came to the capital, who were afraid of being killed, were respectful to the point of being almost fawning.

Baochai, who was standing behind Jia Cong, handed him a booklet.

It records the backgrounds and family influence of the officials present, who are basically spread across all provinces of North Korea.

His family is one of the top aristocratic families in the local area.

Then he stretched out his hand and a map of Korea spread out behind Jia Cong.

“Li Yuzhe came to his senses in time and surrendered to the country. Later, Korea was incorporated into Daqian.”

“I am going to report to Your Majesty and propose that Korea be divided into two parts, with the establishment of the Andongbu Protectorate and the Andongbu Protectorate.”

“The two major protectorates each command 20,000 troops and are in charge of four provinces. In each province, the highest-ranking official is the governor, who is in charge of all government affairs. Under the province, there are two levels: prefectures and counties.”

“Among them, the Grand Protector of the Protectorate and its subordinate officials were dispatched by the imperial court.”

“The remaining provincial governors…”

Jia Cong said, glancing at the dozen high-ranking civil and military officials in front of him. “I want to select one from among you.”

“The imperial court only cares about revenue, not governance. In other words…”

“Whoever can make money for the court will be appointed as the governor of each province!”

“If you can always do a good job, then the position will be inherited by your family and you will be the governor for generations!”

As soon as the words fell, everyone present’s heart skipped a beat.

I suddenly felt my breathing quicken.

The highest official in the previous province of Joseon was called the Provincial Governor!
Ranked second grade.

The imperial court has the final say on all appointments, promotions and transfers.

Govern the people and maintain government affairs, protect the country and the people.

If any mistakes or omissions are made, the official will be dismissed.

But what Jia Cong said was different.

In simple terms.

As long as you can make money for Daqian, the imperial court will not care what you do in the area under your jurisdiction.

It’s like a country within a country.

If managed well, it can enable the family to develop rapidly.

“The Protectorate will announce the minimum tax amount for each province at the beginning of each year!”

“I don’t care how you run your business, whether you do business and collect taxes or let your soldiers plunder.”

“The person who pays the most taxes each year will be appointed as the Deputy Protector General of the Greater Protectorate for a term of one year.”

“You can call upon 10,000 elite soldiers from the Protectorate!”

“For three consecutive years, the person who pays the lowest taxes will be dismissed from office and will never be employed again!”

“This duke selects officials by employing the virtuous rather than the relatives, and the capable are promoted while the mediocre are demoted.”

“In this first year, the first governor will be selected based on the amount of taxes paid by each province.”

“You all go back and discuss it carefully. Once the officials from all regions have arrived, I will start the selection process.”

……

“Don’t worry, my Lord. We are willing to serve you at your service and do our best to serve you!”

As soon as he finished speaking, the senior North Korean officials present were immediately excited as if they had been injected with chicken blood.

After everyone patted their chests to show their loyalty, they left the hall.

I have already started to calculate in my mind how much of my family’s assets I can take out to temporarily pay taxes.

How to make money in the first year.

……

“General Manager Xia, what do you think of the system I have set?”

After everyone left, Jia Cong asked Xia Shouzhong with a smile.

“The Marquis is wise!”

“I admire you very much!”

It took Xia Shouzhong a long time to come back to his senses, and he bowed and exclaimed in admiration.

“I am just worried that if these people unite in advance and collude with each other…”

“They won’t unite in advance. North Korea is now at the end of its rope. There aren’t many experts or troops left.”

“Eunuch Xia, if you become the governor…”

“What’s the first thing you do after taking office?”

Jia Cong asked with a smile.

“This…” Xia Shouzhong’s body stiffened.

When I was reminded of this, I suddenly thought of something.

According to what Jia Cong said before, Daqian only looks at the payment of taxes and nothing else!
The first thing the governors of each province would do after taking office would be to take action against a number of large families!

So the officials just now could see that Jia Cong was using them to plunder Korea.

But this is an open conspiracy. What does it matter even if it is seen through?

Firstly, no family could resist the temptation to establish a country within a country and pass it down through generations.

Secondly, if you don’t get promoted, others will.

Then you will completely become a lamb to be slaughtered, without the power to fight back.

There is no other way except to collect taxes by all means!

……

(End of this chapter)