Starting with a Wei Wu soldier

Chapter 249 The Discussion on Establishing a Capital

The triumphant clamor and lingering ceremonies atop the Vermilion Bird Gate were shut out from the imperial city as the palace gates closed one by one. Inside the Taiji Palace, though a festive atmosphere prevailed, there was a more orderly busyness and solemn anticipation. Chen Xing and Murong Mingyue returned to the inner palace for a brief rest, bathing and changing to wash away the dust of their journey, but did not linger. The empire was newly founded, and everything needed to be rebuilt, especially a matter of paramount importance concerning the foundation of the nation—the time had come to decide immediately and announce it to the world—the establishment of the capital.

The following day, the third day of the second month of the first year of Qiming, the regular court session was held. Inside the Taiji Hall, civil and military officials gathered, the atmosphere solemn yet enthusiastic. This was the first grand court assembly since Chen Xing's triumphant return from his southern expedition, bringing back the imperial seal, making it a momentous occasion.

After the court ceremony, Chen Xing sat on his throne, his gaze sweeping over the assembled officials below. Representatives of the newly surrendered Southern Dynasty officials were also allowed to attend the end of the court assembly, allowing them to personally experience the atmosphere of the new dynasty. Key officials such as Jia Wen, Zhao Tiezhu, Su Xiaoxiao, Chen Wei, Dian Xiong, and Shen Qing were seated at the front. Lin Wan'er and Lan Fenghuang were also not present in the court, but their influence had already begun to permeate.

"My lords," Chen Xing began, his voice echoing through the hall, "I led my army on a southern expedition, and thanks to the blessings of Heaven and Earth and the valiant efforts of my soldiers, the south is now pacified, and the world is initially at peace. However, conquering the world is easy, but governing it is difficult. The empire is newly established, and many things await our attention. Today's court assembly will first discuss a matter concerning the foundation of the nation and its eternal legacy—where should our Xingqi Empire establish its capital?"

The question caused a slight commotion in the hall, which quickly subsided. The matter of establishing a capital had been discussed since the Xingqi regime consolidated its power in the north, but since the north and south were not yet unified, the northern capital was temporarily chosen as the administrative center. Now that the north and south were unified and the Imperial Seal had been obtained, the issue of establishing a capital had become an urgent and crucial national policy that needed to be clarified.

As the chief minister, Jia Wen stepped forward first, holding his jade tablet, and said loudly, "Your Majesty, the capital city is the foundation of the nation, the center of the king's rule, and the focus of the world's attention. The key to choosing a capital city lies first in its strategic location, second in its transportation, third in its people and resources, and fourth in its traditions. This old minister, along with colleagues from various ministries and departments, and after consulting learned scholars and examining the geography of ancient and modern times, believes that there are three main options: Beidu (Beijing), Luoyang, and Chang'an. We beseech Your Majesty to make a wise decision and allow us to explain the advantages and disadvantages in detail."

Chen Xing nodded: "Prime Minister Jia, please explain in detail."

"As you command." Jia Wenqing coughed, clearly having prepared a plan beforehand. "Firstly, the Northern Capital. This place is where Your Majesty rose to power, with deep roots and a stable populace. Moreover, after years of development, its city defenses are strong, its treasury is full, and it controls the grasslands to the north and Youyan to the east, making its strategic location important. However... its location is in the far north, and the journey to govern the newly annexed vast Jiangnan region, connect with the Central Plains, and even the Western Regions is long and arduous, making the canal transport difficult. In the long run, I fear it is not the best central hub for governing the entire world."

Many generals who came from the north or had followed him in the early days nodded slightly, but also seemed somewhat disappointed. The north was their hometown and starting point, and they had deep feelings for it, but what Jia Wen said was indeed true.

"Secondly, Luoyang," Jia Wen continued. "Luoyang is located in the center of the empire, with the natural defenses of mountains and rivers, and the fortifications of all sides. Previous dynasties often regarded it as the eastern capital. It is economically prosperous, culturally rich, and conveniently located, especially with the Grand Canal connecting the north and south, which allows the wealth of Jiangnan to be smoothly transported north. Establishing the capital in Luoyang is conducive to controlling the Central Plains and radiating influence in all directions, especially to appease the newly annexed Jiangnan people, demonstrating the intention of 'governing from the center of the empire.' However... although Luoyang is excellent, it has been ravaged by war many times, and its palaces and city walls have been damaged. Moreover, its historical impression as a 'secondary capital' is more profound. As the primary capital of a unified empire, its grandeur may be slightly inferior, and it is difficult to reflect His Majesty's ambition to sweep away the barbarians, unify the north and south, and create a new era."

The officials from the Central Plains and the South in the hall seemed to be deep in thought. Luoyang was indeed a good compromise, especially with its obvious advantages in terms of economy and transportation.

"Thirdly, Chang'an." Jia Wen's voice rose slightly, carrying a weighty historical significance. "Chang'an, since ancient times, has been the capital of emperors. Many powerful and unified dynasties, such as the Zhou, Qin, Han, Sui, and Tang, established their capitals here. Located on the Guanzhong Plain, it is fortified on all sides, a city of abundance stretching for thousands of miles. The Wei River canal, with some improvements, can also facilitate transportation. More importantly, Chang'an represents a powerful spirit of inheriting the orthodox traditions of Chinese civilization, pioneering and enterprising, and embracing all corners of the world. The Qin unified the six kingdoms, the Han opened up the Western Regions, and the Tang..." "All nations are united around this center. Now that Your Majesty has obtained the Imperial Seal and unified the North and South, it is fitting to establish the capital in Chang'an. This would demonstrate Your Majesty's commitment to inheriting the legitimate dynasty and establishing a prosperous empire, and would also facilitate the management of the Western Regions, deter the Northern Frontier, and extend the Empire's influence to a wider realm. As for the problems with the Grand Canal, there have been solutions throughout history. Our dynasty can also devote its efforts to dredging the waterways and constructing new canals; these are not insurmountable obstacles. Moreover, Chang'an is a large city with its foundations still intact. With some repairs and expansions, it can regain its former glory as an imperial capital."

Jia Wen spoke earnestly, citing numerous classical texts, and eloquently explained the symbolic significance and strategic advantages of establishing the capital in Chang'an. Many ministers in the hall, especially those well-versed in history and ambitious scholars, listened with great emotion. Chang'an was not merely a city, but a symbol, a totem of a powerful empire.

Chen Xing listened quietly, his fingers unconsciously tapping lightly on the armrest of the throne. Jia Wen's analysis coincided with his own inclinations. As a time traveler, he deeply understood Chang'an's special status and symbolic significance in Chinese history. Choosing Chang'an meant choosing a path towards a strong, open, and confident empire. Although the pressure would be immense in the short term, with the resources and organizational capabilities currently at Xingqi's disposal, coupled with Su Xiaoxiao's increasingly sophisticated commercial network and Shen Qing's planned inland waterway transportation system, it was not insurmountable. Moreover, establishing the capital in Chang'an would better direct the empire's attention to the west and north, aligning with his broader, more futuristic vision.

Of course, there will also be dissenting or doubtful voices.

A Vice Minister of Revenue, hailing from the north and in charge of grain supplies, stepped forward, saying with deep concern, "Your Majesty, we are aware of the advantages of Chang'an as described by Minister Jia. However, although Guanzhong is known as the Land of Abundance, after hundreds of years of development, its land carrying capacity is nearing its limit, and the Grand Canal is indeed a chronic problem. If the capital is established here, the grain supplies for a million soldiers and civilians will all rely on transshipment from Guandong and Jiangnan, a journey fraught with danger and enormous costs. If the Grand Canal fails, or if there is an emergency in Guandong, the capital will be thrown into turmoil, a matter of great importance. Luoyang, located in the central region, offers convenient transshipment and is the safest option."

An official from the Ministry of Works added, "The palaces and city walls of Chang'an have been abandoned for many years. To restore them to their former glory and expand them to meet the needs of the new dynasty would require an astronomical amount of money, grain, and manpower. The empire is newly established, and all industries are in need of development. Is it appropriate to undertake such a massive undertaking?"

At this moment, Chen Wei stepped forward, his voice booming like a bell: "This humble general is a rough man and does not understand many principles. But this humble general knows that the capital city is the courage of the empire! Strong courage leads to strong morale in the army and the people! Chang'an is the capital city that best inspires courage! When His Majesty led us to rise from the north, did we ever fear the long journey or the difficulty of obtaining supplies? We fought our way through! Canals blocked? We dredged them! Palaces in ruins? We rebuilt them! Our Xingqi soldiers are brave and hardworking, the people are diligent, and with His Majesty's wise leadership, what is there to worry about in achieving great things? This humble general believes that if we are to build, we should build the best capital city; if we are to establish a capital city, we should establish one that best reflects the spirit of Xingqi! Chang'an is undoubtedly worthy of this title!"

Chen Wei's words were simple yet powerful, representing the military's pioneering spirit and resonating with many generals.

Although Su Xiaoxiao was not in court, her opinions had already been conveyed through Jia Wen or private audiences. She preferred to consider the matter from an economic perspective, believing that while the reconstruction of Chang'an was extremely costly, it was also a huge opportunity to stimulate domestic demand and promote the economic recovery of Guanzhong and even the Northwest. Moreover, in the long run, the commercial benefits and tax revenue generated by a stable and powerful capital city that radiated influence in all directions would be enough to offset the initial investment. She had already begun planning how to mobilize commercial resources from the North, Jiangnan, and even the Western Regions to participate in the reconstruction of Chang'an and the commercial layout of the new capital.

Chen Xing took in everyone's reactions and made his decision. He slowly stood up, and the hall fell silent instantly.

"What you all say makes sense," Chen Xing said in a steady voice. "The matter of choosing a capital is related to the fate of the nation, and we must be cautious, but we must not be cowardly either. Beidu is the foundation of my country and has made invaluable contributions, so it can be designated as a secondary capital to control the northern frontier. Luoyang, located in the center of the country, has convenient transportation and can be designated as the eastern capital to pacify the Central Plains and connect the north and south."

He paused, his gaze sharpening and resolute, and said, word by word, "However, my Starrise Empire aspires to unify the world, inherit the orthodox tradition, and establish an unparalleled foundation! Without the ambition to embrace the four seas, one cannot wield such a grand ambition; without the courage to look down upon the past and present, one cannot create such a glorious era!"

He raised his hand, pointing westward, as if piercing through the palace walls to see the ancient capital that bore countless legends: "Chang'an! Only Chang'an can bear the witness to the enlightened and prosperous era that I, my ministers, and all the people of the world will jointly create!"

"By imperial decree: effective immediately, Chang'an shall be the capital! The northern capital shall be renamed Beijing, and Luoyang the eastern capital. Jia Wen shall be in overall command, with the Ministry of Works, the Ministry of Revenue, and the Directorate of Works assisting in the construction. Begin immediately to survey the terrain, plan the layout, procure materials, recruit craftsmen, and begin the comprehensive construction of the new Chang'an city and imperial palace! The aim shall be to ensure a grand scale, a rational layout, and impregnable defenses, showcasing the grandeur of the new dynasty! Shen Qing, in conjunction with the Ministry of Works, shall oversee the water transport and irrigation projects, ensuring the capital's supplies are uninterrupted!"

The Emperor's mind was made up, and there was no turning back. A moment of silence fell over the hall, then, led by Jia Wen and Chen Wei, all the civil and military officials bowed in unison, their voices echoing through the hall:

"Your Majesty is wise! We obey your decree! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"