CHAPTER 510: CHAPTER 510 ADVANCING AND RETREATING TOGETHER ON THE PATH OF PROSPERITY

Song Zhiyuan casually spoke in front of the Emperor to gain favor, not naming names, but Emperor Chu, being a wise man, raised his eyebrows and chuckled.

Song Qing truly knows how not to suffer losses.

"What my mother said was just from experience. If the Emperor wishes to hear, I can recount it for you. It’s like this: to have more princes, eat more meat and let the ladies eat more vegetables..."

Isn’t it said that he and the Emperor were childhood friends who faced hardships together?

Come, good brothers should advance and retreat together on the road to middle-aged prosperity. I’ll lean on you, you support me, and we’ll journey down the road of prosperity, never to return.

Emperor Chu looked at Song Zhiyuan’s face, which had grown noticeably rounder, and said, "No wonder you’ve become so round."

Song Zhiyuan just smiled without speaking.

Seeing through it but not exposing it, leaving a bit of dignity for the subject, then we can remain good ruler and minister.

"As you mentioned, children depend on fate, and sometimes having too many princes may not be a good thing." Emperor Chu hinted, "Too many princes might seem soft and cute when they’re young, but they become quite formidable when grown. Each one becomes a wolf cub, eagerly eyeing the meat in your hand."

Song Zhiyuan understood; this was about the princes secretly engaging in political maneuvering and rallying ministers to their cause.

He thought for a moment and said, "Wolf cubs are better than little lambs. A strong monarch can ensure a stable empire and even expand territories, with a legacy lasting thousands of years."

"You certainly aren’t shy about speaking well." Emperor Chu cast him a sidelong glance.

Song Zhiyuan cupped his hands: "I am just speaking objectively."

Emperor Chu snorted softly, picked up a small bamboo tube from the table, and tossed it to him: "Take a look at this."

Song Zhiyuan caught it, pulled out a small scroll of paper from inside, and saw it was filled with tiny characters, causing his brows to furrow.

"East Sea?"

"In the previous dynasty’s Xia royal family, there was a concubine gifted by the Ying Country of East Sea. The remnants of the Xia have remained hidden all these years. Their stand-ins have died two or three times, yet the real identity has never been uncovered. It seems they’ve infiltrated the East Sea." Emperor Chu mentioned calmly, playing with the jade ring in his hand, "I thought they were mere rats in a stinking drain, but underestimated them. They’ve turned into eels slipping into the sea, no wonder they’re so elusive."

Song Zhiyuan read the tiny words, seeing mentions of the Xia remnants appearing in the East Sea.

"If their main base is indeed in the East Sea, or rather in Ying Country, we might be in a passive position." Song Zhiyuan said, "The soldiers of Great Qing are not skilled in naval warfare. Once war breaks out, our army will be at a disadvantage."

Emperor Chu looked at him and said, "Isn’t there a plan to open sea trade routes? My intention is to take this opportunity to form a naval force. Once the naval force is trained, it will be the end of the Xia remnants."

Song Zhiyuan was momentarily stunned but didn’t oppose the idea. Instead, he proposed a leader: "Which general does the Emperor intend to lead the training?"

"Long Siyan."

Song Zhiyuan’s eyes widened: "The pirate Long Siyan?"

Pirate Long Siyan, with robust martial skills, excellent in naval combat. Back then, with only 500 men, he managed to trap all 5,000 soldiers of Great Qing in the West Sea. Later, he was recruited as a fifth-rank general of Great Qing all because he had a beloved wife and young child, and wanted a stable environment for his family, so he shed his pirate identity.

If he is involved, forming a formidable navy isn’t impossible.

"Has the Emperor’s mind been made up?"

Emperor Chu: "The Long family’s members are already on their way to the capital."

Understood, this was notification; the decision was final.

"I understand, I will discuss the funding with the Minister of War later."

Emperor Chu nodded: "I want a well-equipped navy."

Therefore, the military expenses must undoubtedly be top-notch.

Song Zhiyuan suddenly felt a headache. He would have to tussle with the Minister of Revenue again!

"Your Majesty, great joy, Consort Xiao has given birth to a Commandery Princess." Eunuch Zhou came to report joyfully.