Chapter 143: Pre-War Preparations

Zhang Chong trotted over quickly, having roughly guessed why Chen Mu was looking for him.

"Crown Prince Highness."

Chen Mu nodded.

"Zhang Chong, I now need you to stay here to defend and help the Egyptians resist the Westerners, but the premise is that we must safeguard our own military strength."

"I am returning to Great Xia to levy more troops and prepare more weapons, so that we can be certain of defeating them in one fell swoop."

Chen Mu knew that warfare was not child's play; he could not recklessly go to war with them without absolute certainty.

As the saying goes, sharpening the axe does not delay the work of woodcutting. He needed to take a few months to make some preparations and thereby reduce casualties among the Great Xia army.

Hearing Chen Mu say this, Zhang Chong paused slightly before nodding. "No problem, I obey your arrangements."

With that, Zhang Chong dropped to one knee before Chen Mu. "Rest assured, even if it comes down to the last man and the last soldier, I will hold this fortress."

Knowing Zhang Chong's loyalty, Chen Mu bade him rise and patted him on the shoulder.

"There's no need to push yourself to that extent. If things truly become untenable, you are to retreat. If you preserve the land while losing the people, both people and land are lost; if you preserve the people while losing the land, both people and land are retained."

A warm surge welled up in Zhang Chong's heart, and he vowed to guard the coastal fortress for Chen Mu.

Chen Mu said nothing more, feeling that he had already said everything that needed to be said.

Afterward, Chen Mu left behind a sufficient supply of rations, weapons, and equipment for Zhang Chong's army, and led a portion of his troops back by ship first.

Upon returning to Great Xia, Chen Mu took a train directly back to the capital. After resting briefly, he proceeded to the imperial palace.

Chen Xingtian: "You've worked hard, Mu'er. Sit down, quickly sit down. How is the situation in Chizhou?"

Chen Mu took a sip of tea and then recounted the situation on the Chizhou continent.

Chen Xingtian frowned. "Regardless of the means, the fact that they have also mastered direct-current motors is indeed very troublesome. If our weapons do not possess an absolute advantage, our army will suffer heavy casualties. And undertaking a distant expedition is extremely unfavorable for us."

Chen Mu nodded. "Indeed, that is precisely what I thought, which is why I hurried back to develop more advanced weapons first."

Chen Xingtian's eyes lit up. "Oh? What other powerful weapons do you have in mind?"

Chen Mu: "Judging by the terrain this time, naval warfare is crucial. Therefore, I want to build warships and mount cannons on the ships."

"First of all, I need a large number of warships: heavy warships requiring ten light cannons, medium warships requiring one heavy cannon, and light warships with at least one light cannon, alongside a large fleet of transport ships."

"Furthermore, the technology of cannons and firearms must be further improved. We can start with the materials used for the gun barrels and cannon barrels to further increase their range and firepower, ensuring we can suppress the West."

"Now, domestic mineral production has expanded further and can support alloy technology."

"There may be boarding actions on the sea, so this time we must also bring sword-and-shield infantry."

"Of course, electric tracked vehicles and musketeers must also be included."

Chen Mu spoke at length, listing numerous requirements. Chen Xingtian initially smiled and nodded, but his brow soon furrowed.

"Mu'er, your strategy is sound, but Great Xia has just finished building railways and manufacturing many oil tankers. The research at the Institute of Engineering also consumes vast resources, and the national treasury is empty."

Since ancient times, warfare has been the most costly endeavor. When the cannons roar, ten thousand taels of gold are spent—this is no joke.

Chen Mu smiled slightly; he had already thought of a countermeasure.

"It doesn't matter, solutions still exist. Since ancient times, if the imperial court wishes to increase fiscal revenue, there are ultimately only two avenues: increasing income and reducing expenditure. Reducing expenditure is impossible at present, as people's livelihoods undoubtedly require spending. Therefore, we must find a way to increase revenue."

"The national treasury is currently empty, but there are many wealthy merchants in the private sector who have earned a considerable amount of money through trade with neighboring countries. We can find a way to tap into their resources."

Ever since Great Xia established railway connections with its surrounding vassal states, bilateral trade volume had grown daily. State-run entities could not completely control it all and had subcontracted portions to private aristocratic families and wealthy merchants.

Naturally, they had made a fortune and had no need to fear a falling-out with foreigners, seeing as Great Xia's merchants represented Great Xia to a certain extent.

Chen Xingtian: "Those aristocratic families have already been suppressed to the point of complete obedience. Wouldn't it be inappropriate to pressure them for money once more?"

Chen Mu shook his head. "There is no need for forced levies. We can offer them certain benefits. As the saying goes, if merchants can secure a two-hundred-percent profit, any human law can be trampled underfoot. Naturally, I have my ways."

Chen Mu let out a cold snort and continued immediately:

"These wealthy individuals, though they consider themselves lofty, fear one thing above all else: that their social status cannot be elevated and their wealth cannot be safeguarded. After all, no matter how wealthy you are, you are neither an official nor can you directly wield power."

Chen Mu spoke eloquently, outlining his vision.

"Therefore, these people all aspire to become officials. In the past, they would find ways to purchase official titles through financial contributions to enter officialdom, but they can no longer use that method now. Today, I can offer them a new opportunity."

Chen Mu drew a circle on the map and continued:

"I can make them a promise: when we secure a firm foothold on the Chizhou continent and in the Western world in the future, we will bestow official ranks upon them based on the amount of their financial contributions. Would this not be far superior to merely being an ordinary wealthy person in Great Xia?"

This method employed by Chen Mu was commonplace in the history of his previous life—it was similar to practices like war bonds, and Chen Mu was simply adopting it for his own use.

Chen Xingtian stroked his beard. "However, if these people become officials, it will affect the imperial court's control over those regions. Although they are already far away from the mainland, what should we do if these individuals develop inflated ambitions later on?"

Chen Mu: "Naturally, there is no need to grant them overly high positions. The primary officials will still be appointed by the imperial court; we merely need to create specific titles for them that appear imposing and allow them to amass wealth."

"Should they become too greedy and threaten national interests, their official positions can be revoked, and no one can say the imperial court acted unjustly. Should they harbor ambitions, we shall simply execute them."

Chen Xingtian nodded slowly. "That is indeed feasible."

Chen Mu added: "In overseas governance, the most important element is the military. As long as the military remains absolutely loyal to the imperial court, those merchants will be unable to stir up any major waves."

Hearing this, Chen Xingtian nodded repeatedly. "Good! Your consideration of matters becomes more thorough by the day."

The matter was thus settled, and Chen Xingtian immediately arranged for personnel to execute the plan.

Given Chen Mu's current achievements, others within the imperial court naturally dared not raise any objections, and some officials even followed suit by making financial contributions.