We have fought to the Arctic Circle, and you want me to inherit the throne?

After taking a look at the letter from the King of Baekje, Li Che curled his lips in disdain.

He didn't take it, but just waved his hand, sneered and said: "This Baekje King is really good at climbing the ladder."

If before, Baekje regarded Daqing as its father country, it would definitely be a happy event for Daqing and a major diplomatic victory.

But what is the situation now?

The Fengtian Army was the only dominant force in East Asia, and Baekje had lost its military and diplomatic power, becoming a piece of meat on the chopping board.

At this time, acting like a loving father and a filial son is just flattering themselves!

The pool water is misty and hot steam is rising.

Li Che leaned against the smooth pool wall, closed his eyes and enjoyed the soothing hot water.

His fingers tapped unconsciously against the pool wall in the water, making a dull sound.

After a moment, Li Che slowly opened his eyes and glanced at several people:

"Now that Silla has been destroyed and Goryeo has long since become a thing of the past, only Baekje remains in the southeast of Fengguo, like a soft thorn stuck in my throat."

"They were obedient. They surrendered their military power, disbanded their troops, and served me as their master."

"But the power to collect taxes and appoint officials is still firmly in your hands. This makes me feel...uneasy."

He paused, his eyes sharpening: "Tell me, how did you pull out this soft thorn?"

Everyone's eyes were focused on Huo Duanxiao.

Everyone has their own expertise, and such important matters of state still depend on this capable minister.

Huo Duanxiao moved to the edge of the pool and reached out to take two empty white porcelain teacups from the tray by the pool.

"Your Highness," Huo Duanxiao spoke clearly, "Baekje is now a hollow shell. Its military and diplomatic power rests with me, and the people's morale has long been worn thin by years of war."

"What they rely on are nothing more than two things: one is financial power, the other is official power."

"However, these two powers may seem to be its foundation, but in reality they are its death warrant."

He reached out and took two teacups and placed them in front of him, representing Baekje's financial power and official power respectively.

Huo Duanxiao raised three fingers and said, "To break these two powers, we don't need weapons, we only need three strategies in a row."

Li Che's eyes lit up: "Please teach me."

The others also quieted down and listened attentively.

Huo Duanxiao said slowly: "The first strategy is to remove the firewood from under the cauldron!"

"Although Baekje was small, it was supported by land taxes. However, its people were small and exhausted, and its granaries had been empty for a long time."

"Your Highness, please order the Ministry of Revenue to open our Fengguo granaries in the name of 'sympathy for our vassal states and joint efforts to combat the disaster' and sell grain, cloth, salt, iron, and other necessities of life to Baekje at a fair price."

"The price is set at 30% lower than the local market price in Baekje."

Chen Gui's eyes lit up, and he asked tentatively, "By selling at low prices, Lord Huo is trying to squeeze out the local merchants and government warehouses?"

"Exactly!" Huo Duanxiao nodded with a smile. "Our Fengguo is vast and rich in resources, and we have abundant produce, including high-yield new crops like sweet potatoes and corn."

"The large quantities of cheap goods dumped on the market caused farmers, vendors, and even local officials in Baekje to rush to buy our goods."

"Baekje's grain merchants, cloth merchants, and blacksmiths will be forced to close down within a month."

"The tax grain and cloth collected in the government warehouses will also be piled up like mountains, becoming a burden, as no one will buy them due to their high prices."

A hint of coldness appeared on his lips. "By then, Baekje's private commerce and agricultural circulation will be completely destroyed, and its financial power will exist in name only."

Chen Gui frowned and said, "But the Baekje royal family still has the power to levy taxes. If we sell things to the people of Baekje at fair prices and then have them take them away under the guise of taxes, wouldn't that be aiding the enemy?"

Huo Danxiao smiled and shook his head: "The King of Baekje has no military power. Even if he is allowed to take the money and food, what will happen? If he does so, he will lose the support of the people."

Li Che thought quietly and felt that this plan was very good.

After all, money is nothing but paper and scrap metal, and it is only effective when the government has sufficient credibility.

Selling Fengguo's unused supplies to Baekje at a low price not only solved Fengguo's problem of excess grain, but also made Baekje more dependent on Fengguo.

"What about the second plan?" Li Che asked.

"The second strategy is to divert water to irrigate the canals and disrupt the order of appointment of officials."

Huo Danxiao picked up another teacup, representing official power. "The Baekje bureaucracy is complex and entangled, and most of it comes from the old nobles and powerful. These people are most concerned with practical benefits."

"Your Highness may order the Ministry of Revenue to take the lead in promoting the 'Fengguo Bank' and 'Fengguo Official Notes' throughout Baekje."

"First, we established numerous money houses throughout Baekje. Under the pretext of 'facilitating business and benefiting the people,' we allowed Baekje officials, gentry, and wealthy households to borrow money from our government by mortgaging their land, shops, and mansions."

"As for the interest rate," Huo Duanxiao smiled slightly, "just set it so that they feel a little pressured, but still able to bear it."

Baekje has been in war for years, and now except for the wealthy families at the top of the pyramid, ordinary nobles have little money.

Although these nobles have no money, they still care about their reputation and are definitely willing to borrow money to show off.

Using a tiny amount of silver and money to exchange for the real estate of Baekje is a business that is sure to make a profit.

Li Che nodded slightly: "Go on."

"Secondly, the bank will issue official notes. These notes can be exchanged directly for silver at various banks, used to purchase goods from merchants in Feng State, and even used to pay taxes."

Yang Zhongsi was a little confused: "Master Huo, how does this have to do with disrupting the order of officials?"

Wang Chongjian, who was standing by, had a gleam in his eyes: "It's a huge connection!"

"General Yang, imagine what would happen if the officials of Baekje discovered that their salaries were paid in Silla copper coins, which could depreciate at any time, while our Fengguo official notes were hard currency that could buy better things and even pay taxes."

"What will they think?"

"When they needed money for promotions, to purchase land, and to maintain a decent life, they discovered that only our Fengguo Bank could provide low-interest loans, but only on the condition that they pledged loyalty to the state and promoted its policies."

“What will they choose?”

Huo Duanxiao nodded slightly and glanced at Wang Chongjian with appreciation: "In less than half a year, Baekje's official system will be firmly bound to our Fengguo's trade system."

Huo Duanxiao didn't say it explicitly, but Li Che understood it very clearly. This was exactly the national policy of a certain beacon country in his previous life, a replica of the US dollar hegemony.

Need money for a promotion?

Find Fengguo Money House.

Does it cost money to maintain respectability?

Find Fengguo Money House.

Want to curry favor with your boss?

Giving Fengguo official tickets is the most decent way!

Over time, do they still have the King of Baekje in their eyes?

They will only be loyal to the country that can bring them real benefits.

Although his official power seemed to still be in the hands of the King of Baekje, his heart had actually changed long ago, and the officials he appointed must be his personal servants!

Huo Duanxiao looked at Li Che again and said sternly, "When his financial power is paralyzed and the officialdom becomes dependent on him, then it will be a natural time for success."

"Your Highness may issue a royal decree stating that Baekje has just been established and much remains to be done. To help restore the people's livelihood, special officials from the Kingdom of Baekje will be dispatched to Baekje."

"Nominally, they were there to assist Baekje local officials in managing the people's livelihood."

"In reality, they brought with them our Fengguo's advanced farming methods, workshop technology, and legal regulations."

"Let them go directly to the counties and villages to organize farmers' associations, build water conservancy projects, open literacy schools, teach Fengguo Mandarin, and even help localities establish a more efficient taxation system."

"When Baekje children aloud the books of the Fengguo in school, Baekje's local officials found that without the help of Fengguo officials, they could not even keep proper accounts or implement government orders."

"Tell me, who will ultimately hold the power of grassroots governance in Baekje, depending on the will of the people?"

"This is the third strategy, transplanting flowers and trees!"

"Like a frog in warm water, a frog is moistened silently." Huo Duanxiao's voice was calm and steady. "The foundation of financial power has been destroyed, the public opinion in the officialdom has become dependent on the government, and grassroots governance has changed hands. Now, the King of Baekje is nothing more than a clay puppet sitting in the court."

"Your Highness only needs to send another messenger with a document to explain the pros and cons."

"To comply with public opinion, we ask the King of Baekje to voluntarily surrender his final authority to collect taxes and appoint officials, and to fully integrate his territory and people into the provincial system of our country."

"Without bloodshed, and with just cause and justice, the overall situation will be settled!"

After Huo Duanxiao finished speaking, he looked at Li Che quietly.

The pool was silent, with only the sound of rippling water.

Chen Gui and Wang Chongjian were stunned and felt a chill rising from the soles of their feet.

Yang Zhongsi took a deep breath. He had been fighting for half his life and killing people everywhere.

But I never thought that destroying a country and eradicating its roots could be so...feminine and cruel, without even the flash of a knife!

Li Che was silent for a long time, then slowly stood up from the water, with water droplets rolling down his strong body.

"What a trick!" Li Che looked at Huo Duanxiao with a swift gaze. "This strategy is very much to my liking. I will hand it over to you. You will be in charge of all the necessary personnel, money and supplies."

"Sir, obey the order."

Huo Duanxiao agreed without any pride on his face.

. . . . . .

When Li Che and his companions had almost finished soaking, they asked the slave to give them a good scrub, then they changed into bathrobes and went upstairs.

There are Korean beauties on the second floor to give them massages, needless to say.

As for those hidden services, Li Che did not arrange them.

In his previous life, Li Che had often accompanied his leaders to social events. Although he was not very familiar with the affairs of the world, he still understood some basic social etiquette.

Whether or not such a thing can be arranged depends on the identity and age of the other party.

For example, when you meet a client of Yang Zhongsi's age, you don't even know if he still has that ability, and you just make random arrangements...

You are clearly trying to curry favor with others, but instead you make them feel embarrassed and angry. Isn't that a loss?

Yang Zhongsi was already amazed by the ordinary massage, and he walked out of the room with a red face.

"Your Highness, I will be leaving tomorrow." Yang Zhongsi took a sip of tea. "Although Fengtian is a good place, the situation on the front line is more urgent. If I'm not there, what if those white-skinned ghosts take action..."

"Okay." Li Che nodded in agreement, "In that case, please ask Uncle Yang to bring Zilong with him."

"Oh?"

Yang Zhongsi looked up at Li Che's side and saw the heroic cavalry general bowing to him.

Li Che laughed and said, "Hot air balloons and mortars are just appetizers. I want to see which one is the strongest cavalry, the foreign Cossack cavalry or my Fengguo armored cavalry!"