Hyper-Dimensional Player

Chapter 803 68: Opening Maritime Trade, Seizing Yizhou

This Li Yanqing indeed possesses some abilities. He has trained local militia to take over the six counties of the Min Kingdom's old territory and managed to stabilize the local situation, making him one of the outstanding talents at present.

"Rise." Duncan said calmly.

Lu Qiongxi, standing beside him, secretly transmitted information about Li Yanqing to Duncan.

The Min Kingdom was destroyed by the Southern Tang, but the Southern Tang was unable to completely control the old territory of the Min Kingdom. Even today, it remains a fragmented state with warlord divisions due to the many mountains in the Fujian area, making total control particularly challenging.

During the reign of King Qi of the Min Kingdom, an official of the Min Kingdom, the son of Li Min, his nephew Li Renyu, was handsome and was taken as a male favorite by him, rising to the position of Salt and Iron Envoy and right chancellor.

The person before us has some blood relation with Li Renyu.

After the fall of the Min Kingdom, some members of the Li family fled to the Southern Tang, among whom was Li Yanqing. He lost his father at an early age and was raised by his mother. Although he is quite talented, he is often looked down upon by colleagues due to his background.

The Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms still have a hierarchy of contempt.

Although the court of Southern Han is absurd, Liu Chang and his sons are debauched, at least their preferences are normal for women, at most taking the wives and daughters of their brothers into the palace, some of whom were considered nieces, which wasn't a big deal in royal families, considering how chaotic the Tang Dynasty's royal family was.

First there was Li Zhi, then Li Longji. After the fall of Tang, Zhu Wen liked having his daughter-in-law compete for his favor, using this to determine the crown prince's position.

Liu Chang and his sons preferred eunuchs more than them.

As for King Qi of Min Kingdom, he was more promiscuous, indulging in both men and women, greatly favoring his nephew Li Renyu, causing contempt among the ministers at the time for this male favorite.

This background is a stain on the person before us.

Serving with male favor casts shame on future generations, even those with distant relations, making it difficult to lift their heads, subject to public ridicule and scorn.

Duncan looked up and down at the person before him, questioned him a few times, then instructed the attendants to take him away.

"This person is usable."

"But he needs further polishing."

Duncan noticed the other party's demeanor, sensing a pressing ambition to prove himself, suggesting that he could be used as a tool, but requires sharpening first.

Li Yanqing's talent is sufficient, but he hasn't been put to good use.

Moreover, his strong personality and refusal to conform have led some Southern Han officials to curse him harshly behind his back, basically implying his ancestors rose by selling themselves. Once, upon hearing this, he fought physically, resulting in his dismissal and investigation. Duncan reinstated him only after Southern Han's downfall.

"For taking the Min Kingdom's old territory, this person might be of use."

Duncan noted this silently, signaled Lu Qiongxi beside him, and the group prepared to return to the royal city.

Overseas expansion is now ready to be scheduled.

Considering Guangzhou's favorable conditions, developing maritime trade is imperative; establishing trade routes with Southeast Asia could increase future treasury revenue by at least thirty percent.

Night fell.

Inside the royal city, Lu Qiongxi led several female attendants to Duncan's bedroom, respectfully saying, "Your Majesty."

"The eunuchs castrated at a young age have all been selected."

"Here is the list."

Liu Chang arbitrarily castrated people.

Some were castrated after starting a family, others as children. Duncan instructed Lu Qiongxi to compile a list, selecting those castrated as children, most of whom are quite young.

"Hmm?"

Duncan glanced at the list, which had over ten pages, and couldn't help but sigh, as the people have truly fought for survival.

Most of the castrated scholars had started families.

Those castrated as children are mostly those who couldn't survive otherwise and sought palace employment.

"Initially, don't let them practice Kuifa techniques."

After pondering a moment, Duncan said, "Send someone to teach them child exercises and see if they can concurrently practice."

Lu Qiongxi respectfully nodded and said, "Yes, Your Majesty."

After speaking, she withdrew, leaving behind a group of beautiful female attendants.

The leading beauty was King Tong Liu Hongzheng's wife-consort, considered Liu Chang's aunt, under thirty years old, quite competent, and behind her stood another beauty with a girl, the wife and daughter of King Bian Liu Hongji. The Liu family had a penchant for beautiful women, Liu Sheng eliminated all brothers, selecting those with excellent appearance to enter the palace.

In 947 AD, Liu Sheng carried out the largest scale slaughter and purge of his surviving brothers.

In one day, eight brothers were killed simultaneously.

Then, in 954, the twelfth brother, King Gao Liu Hongmiao, was killed. In 955, the eighteenth brother, King Tong Liu Hongzheng, was killed.

By now, almost all the brothers were dead.

The leading beauty had been in the palace for six years, sheltered by Lu Qiongxi, Liu Sheng altogether killed fifteen brothers, and all the wives and daughters brought into the palace were overseen by Lu Qiongxi, who secretly collected a group of them as confidants.

It's quite ironic.

After Duncan's destruction of Southern Han, most of Liu Chang's old acquaintances were unusable, yet the palace inside and out had over ten thousand eunuchs to manage. In contrast, Liu Chang's aunt generation, those wives and daughters of the slain Liu princes, felt deeply grateful to Duncan, as if reborn with full loyalty.

Moreover, most of them came from wealthy backgrounds, literate and educated, making them suitable for managing tens of thousands of eunuchs.

This loyalty is all thanks to Liu Chang and his sons.

Additionally, Liu Sheng's ruthless purging left no descendants, and these women imprisoned in the royal city had no ties outside. Duncan needed people whose backgrounds were thoroughly cleaned; Liu Sheng's past grudges were now transformed into Duncan's loyalty, requiring almost no effort to consolidate his rule.

"Divide these names into two parts."

Duncan handed the list to the beautiful woman beside him, pondered a moment and said, "Those selected should be called the Immaculate Army."

He intended to use some of these people for training troops.

The beautiful lady received it respectfully, her skin white as snow under the palace lamp's flame, her figure ample, not withdrawing, but instead signaled the beauties around to come forward to change clothing and serve in bed. Having resided long in the palace and being at the prime of life, they seized any chance they got, or they'd never have the opportunity to rise.

Lu Qiongxi appears to be pushing all her people toward me.

No wonder there were so many inept monarchs in ancient times.

Duncan kept half, while the other six waited outside; clearly, staying long in this royal city isn't viable, he still needs to venture outside.

.........