Chapter 1023

The bloody sunset reflected on the land of Qingzhou, cloaking everything in a crimson hue.

After a brief silence in the Imperial Study, Fei Ji asked with concern, “If that’s the case, what should Gubat do? Your humble official believes that he will not accept this condition.”

“He doesn’t need to accept this condition in the first place, because I still need him to manage the grassland,” Xiao Ming said calmly. “This government decree is only aimed at the barbarian captives going to Siberia and Australia, after all, I do not want the land I have painstakingly conquered to become a place for them to multiply. As for Gubat, no matter how much he causes trouble, a broken tribe cannot stir up any storms. The era of cavalry is, after all, over.”

Fei Ji and Pang Yukun suddenly understood. They said in unison, “Your Majesty is wise.”

With a slight smile, Xiao Ming said, “The calamity on the grassland has been eliminated, but this does not mean that the northern threat has been removed. On the contrary, we will face an even more powerful enemy—Tsarist Russia. The conflict between the Empire and Tsarist Russia will be unavoidable in the future.”

Pang Yukun was now gradually understanding Xiao Ming’s way of thinking. He said, “So Your Majesty is keeping Gubat to prevent Tsarist Russia from seizing the power vacuum left after the demise of the barbarians.”

“Precisely. The Cossack cavalry that Qi Guangyi annihilated this time is enough to illustrate the problem. But even so, I am afraid that some of the remaining barbarian forces have already been taken over by Tsarist Russia.”

As he spoke, Xiao Ming came to the world map and drew a circle around the area between the west of Tian Shan and the Caspian Sea. This area was the land of the future Kazakhstan, and it had always been within Russia’s sphere of influence in this era, because it was very close to Moscow and Saint Petersburg. Whether it was the former Muscovy or its subsequent inheritors, they all regarded this place as their traditional territory.

According to the intelligence obtained by the secret guards, after Dolgor surrendered, Tsarist Russia took over this area, representing the Golden Tent Khanate in ruling the various countries in the Western Regions on this land.

“Is Your Majesty preparing to contend with Tsarist Russia for this place?” Fei Ji realized something.

Nodding slightly, Xiao Ming said, “This place is a necessary path for the Silk Road. Now that it is occupied by Tsarist Russia, it means they have cut off our land trade route to Europe. I will not allow my neck to be choked by others.”

Pang Yukun frowned. He said, “But this place is too far from Qingzhou. Even if we defeat the Tsarist Russian army on this land, it will be difficult for us to control it. And Your Majesty has said that to completely control a piece of land, a large number of immigrants are needed to multiply.”

“Moreover, after the emigration to Guandong, Siberia, and Ryukyu, seven million people have already moved out of the country. According to Your Majesty’s plan, we will also have to immigrate to Australia and North America. In this way, the population within the Empire will only decrease, and the resulting population shortage will seriously affect the development of industry and commerce,” Fei Ji echoed.

“Elder Fei’s understanding of the population dividend is becoming clearer and clearer. That’s right. With the expansion of the Empire’s industrial scale and the increase in types of industries, a sufficient population is needed to achieve a complete industrial system, otherwise, the Empire will not be able to break through the all-encompassing bottleneck,” Xiao Ming said.

In fact, he had always attached great importance to the population issue. This was also why he had issued decrees to stimulate childbirth. However, population growth was not something that could be greatly increased in a day or two. Based on the Empire’s current population base of eighty to ninety million, it was estimated that they could only increase the population by a maximum of twenty million in ten years.

But even so, the Empire’s population was still number one in the current world. Fei Ji’s concern was right, but it was a little unnecessary, because he did not plan to get fat in one bite.

The reason he migrated so many people to Guandong was to expand the Empire’s land area in Asia and to gain actual control, because the threat of Tsarist Russia was imminent. If he did not occupy it, Tsarist Russia would. This was a matter of territory.

However, the issues with Australia, North America, and Southeast Asia were different. He did not have an urgent need to forcibly relocate citizens to settle there, because what he wanted in these regions were economic interests. He only needed the army to control the local natives and at the same time, use economic interests to guide the citizens to migrate and settle.

In this way, after only a few decades of procreation, the people who came here to find a new life would form a sizable population and gradually use their demographic advantage to actually occupy these places.

Thinking of this, he told the two of them his thoughts.

Fei Ji and Pang Yukun nodded at the same time. Pang Yukun said, “So Your Majesty has had a plan all along. That’s excellent.”

“The most important issue for the Empire now is the development of industry and commerce. I will not destroy my own foundation. Now that the barbarians are gone, the imminent threat is no more. Although Tsarist Russia is eyeing us covetously, they cannot cross the Empire’s defense line. Therefore, I have now created an unprecedentedly stable environment for you. Your cabinet must seize this opportunity and fully build the Empire’s industrial system.”

With that, Xiao Ming picked up a thick document from the table. This document was the Empire’s development plan, which he had Yang Chengye compile and he had ultimately approved.

In this plan, he listed a series of projects that needed to be built with priority. In terms of energy, he approved the construction of thermal power plants in various prefectures, a large-scale coal company in Chang’an City, which was rich in coal, and also included an oil extraction plan.

In terms of transportation, he approved the nationwide construction of bridges, railways, and ordinary roads in all prefectures and counties. In terms of industry, he chose resource-rich areas to establish heavy industrial zones, while coastal areas would focus on light industry.

In addition, in terms of education, he approved the construction of key academic institutions in Jinling, Chang’an, Jinzhou, Bozhou, Lin’an, Songjiang, Suzhou, and other prefectures, with a focus on popularizing scientific and technological knowledge.

In terms of shipbuilding, in addition to the former Dengzhou and Jinling shipyards, he once again approved the establishment of thirty large-scale shipyards, including the Bisha City shipyard, Songjiang shipyard, Lin’an shipyard, and Guangzhou shipyard.

These shipyards were all state-run shipyards, capable of building both warships and civilian ships. After dealing with the threat on the grassland, the Empire would spend more energy on the seas in the future, so Xiao Ming specifically gave some attention to the shipyards this time.

Pang Yukun took the development plan. A single glance at it was enough to make him realize that he would be incredibly busy in the coming days.

After discussing the state affairs, the two were about to leave. At this time, Qian Dafu came in from the side hall and handed a battle report to Xiao Ming.

“Your Majesty, Luo Xin, the commander of the Southwest Army, has reported that their hunter cavalry outside Songzhou City discovered a sudden northward movement of Tibetan cavalry,” Qian Dafu said.

“Tibet?” Xiao Ming frowned deeply. The barbarians had just been eliminated, and now a new threat from Tibet had emerged. However, the purpose of Tibet’s direct northward movement this time, without attacking Songzhou, was too obvious.

He did not expect that before Tsarist Russia could even make a move, this Tibet was in a hurry to steal the fruits of his victory from him.