The World Online

7th month, 8th day, Shanhai City.

Although the Capital City had a bunch of matter for Ouyang Shuo to handle, after returning, he did not gather up officials like before.

He only called to meet Jiang Shang, Zhang Liang, and Du Ruhui in the Imperial Reading Room.

First, Jiang Shang reported the opinion of the Cabinet on Dali.

“The Cabinet suggests we take away the country title of Dali and give Prince Duan Yu the title of Dali Marquis. Due to the special relationship between the Duan family and Dali City, we can allow them to stay there. Only thing is that the palace has to be renovated and downgraded to a marquis manor.” Jiang Shang made a simple introduction.

Before this, Great Xia’s titles would be to the person and could not be inherited. The Dali Marquis title given to Duan Yu was breaking that tradition and was the first time it had happened since Great Xia established the country.

They could only touch the Dali Duan family like that.

Ouyang Shuo nodded and added, “That’s great. We must also give the past emperor a title. Great Xia must bury him with the traditions given to a prince.”

Ouyang Shuo had a good impression of Duan Zhengchun whom he had met once before.

“The king is wise!” Jiang Shang nodded. Only then could they calm down the people. “As for how to deal with Dali, the Cabinet has two plans for the king to decide from.”

“Speak!”

“First, move Dali Prefecture under the direct control of the Imperial Court. Secondly, move Dali Prefecture under Yunnan Province and move the governing city over to Dali City.”

Dali City had close to 10 million civilians, which was close to a province. The Cabinet was hesitating and worried that if they moved Dali under Yunnan, it would cause the Provincial Governor to have too much power.

Of course, the second method had its pros.

Everyone knew that Yunnan Provincial Governor Bai Hua was the Lord of Consonance City. There, her influence on the Kunming people was unparalleled.

Using the chance to move the governing area, they could move Bai Hua away from Consonance City to help balance her influence in the province.

Even if Bai Hua did not want to, she had to follow.

Dali was an imperial city and was more suitable to be the ruling area than Consonance City. The outside world would not be able to say that the king was lowering the power of a previous ally.

As this involved the trust of the king toward the Provincial Governor, it was a really sensitive matter. Before they understood the thoughts of the king, Jiang Shang naturally did not dare to make a decision.

Ouyang Shuo naturally saw through what the Cabinet was thinking, “Let’s use the second method.”

“Yes, my king!”

Jiang Shang’s eyes lit up.

Ouyang Shuo sat on the seat. At this moment, his thoughts were totally different from what Jiang Shang had expected.

Toward Bai Hua, Ouyang Shuo not only trusted her, but he also had high hopes for her. Leaving Consonance City would only be good for her. If one did not leave their comfort zone, how would one be able to improve in the future?

However, since even an experienced person like Jiang Shang could read his intentions wrongly, who knows if Bai Hua would too.

“I hope she understands!”

Ouyang Shuo was not going to explain it to her. Somethings would lose its meaning if it were said out. … “What are the Privy Court’s thoughts on the 800 thousand Dali Guards?” Ouyang Shuo asked.

With Dali going under them, the 800 thousand guards needed to be reorganized. Great Xia had never organized such a huge army before, so the Privy Court needed to come up with a suitable plan.

After all, Great Xia had gotten troops in Japan, Korea, Nanzhang, and Zhenla and was not in need of troops.

Furthermore, the guards that had never been through war were only better than newbies; they were far worse than the Great Xia Army.

The Battle of Japan was a proof. The 500 thousand Dali Guards lost 200 thousand men in just a day. Although Han Xin had planned for that to happen, it was enough to show their weakness.

Only empires like Great Qin, Great Han, and Great Tang that remodeled their guards using their generals could form a true army.

No matter what, the foundations of the guards were good, and their qualities were all exceptional.

As for Dali, as Duan Zhengchun had entered not for long, and Dali itself lacked famous generals, its guards were weak.

As for how to reorganize them, Du Ruhui was really experienced, “The Privy Court recommends to split them into three. A portion becomes a proper army, a portion becomes city protection forces while the last would change occupations.”

“City protection forces?” This was a new idea.

“The Privy Court feels that toward the capital cities and the imperial cities, just relying on bailiffs would not solve huge rioting incidents. There’s a need to have a city defense force to ensure the safety of the city.”

Du Ruhui’s suggestion was similar to the armed police of the Federation. Thinking about it, Ouyang Shuo said, “We should not call it city defense force and instead call it the garrison force. Its role includes internal protections, transport, water irrigation, forest, gold, border protection, and fighter fighting.”

“The garrison force would not be under the Grand Council but be led by the Privy Court and the local offices. County and above cities will have relevant garrison forces based on their needs.”

This time, Du Ruhui was stunned.

Based on the king’s words, the number of troops needed was huge.

More crucially, each and every role had something to do with the local offices. Including the Four Seas Bank, Water Irrigation Division, Taxation Department, and the like.

Ouyang Shuo said toward Jiang Shang, “This matter will be handled by the Cabinet and the Privy Court. Draw up a detailed system and do not let things mess up.”

“Yes, my king.”

Such huge coordination work needed was something only the Cabinet could manage. Luckily, Jiang Shang was someone who did not mind hard work, and he smiled, “I suggest that we use the Capital City as a testing ground to try it out. After it works, we can expand to the provincial governing area and then to the prefectures.”

These were the words of a really experienced official.

Du Ruhui naturally had nothing to say. If he was going to get all the garrison forces into position, the scale would be no less than 500 thousand. With it being under the command of the Privy Court, it would only increase their power.

Ouyang Shuo continued, “The 800 thousand Dali Guards will form two War Fighting Legions, one will be the 5th legion of the Guards Legion Corps with Yue Yun as the Legion General.”

The Guards Legion Corps was the only one that had not reached full capacity. Ouyang Shuo not only filled it up, but he also took the chance to promote the young general Yue Yun.

Du Ruhui nodded and noted it down.

“The other would be left to the Household Legion Corps, to build its 1st legion.” This was the 3rd direct subordinate legion corps after the Guards and City Protection Legion Corps.

Just by listening to the name, one would know that this would be like the Guards Legion Corps, the best of the best.

However, the positions of the two differed by a lot.

“Appoint Oda Nobunaga as the 1st legion Legion General. This legion will only have gunners, a subordinate cannoneer regiment as well as a Flying Squad. This will be the first thermal weapons legion in the dynasty,” Ouyang Shuo said.

Along with the dynasty industrializing, thermal weapons usage in the army was much needed.

Before using it on a large scale, Ouyang Shuo needed to set an example to the whole army. He planned to use this as a starting point to slowly spread through the army to complete a historical level change.

The Household Legion Corps was such a symbol.

After Oda Nobunaga was captured, Ouyang Shuo had a deep conversation with him in Edo. At that time, Ouyang Shuo revealed his thoughts about the Household Legion Corps to Oda Nobunaga.

Just this alone helped Ouyang Shuo persuade Oda Nobunaga.

When Jiang Shang, Zhang Liang, and Du Ruhui heard those words, they were all deep in thought. Without a doubt, to Great Xia, this was a historical moment.

From this moment onward, Great Xia would be in for some exceptional change.