Father, I really don’t want to be the emperor

What Xiao Zhong has to do now is very simple, which is to defend the occupied land and continue to confront the opponent.

As long as both parties maintain the status quo, that is what Ning Fan is most willing to see.

When Ning Fan proposed this plan, Xiao Zhong couldn't understand it for a while. In ordinary wars, people always hope to occupy more of the other side's land, but Ning Fan just doesn't think so.

"Your Majesty, you have to think carefully. There are still nearly two months before winter comes. If you continue to order the team to move forward, we can at least go one or two thousand miles deep into the Rakshasa Kingdom. This is a lot of land.”

Xiao Chong was a little unwilling. As a general, being able to expand his own country's territory was an achievement that could shine in the annals of history.

So from Xiao Chong's perspective as a general, he hopes to continue to push forward, at least to continue to occupy the enemy's land.

"Don't do that. We in Dakang don't need too much land. What we need are resources, not useless land."

"The further north you go, the longer the winter and the lower the temperature, making agriculture unsuitable for development. In addition to the bare land, there are endless vast frozen soil and various forest resources. It is useless for us to ask for it, and We still need to station people there for a long time.”

Ning Fan pointed to the large land in the north on the map. In his eyes, this was useless.

After the experience of being ambushed last time, Xiao Zhong sent heavy troops to protect Ning Fan on his way back to Dakang this time.

Five thousand cavalrymen wearing iron armor surrounded Ning Fan's carriage and walked in the vast wilderness.

The roars of wild beasts could be heard from time to time in the mountains, but Ning Fan was not affected at all while sitting in the carriage.

Along the way, apart from admiring the scenery, he spent the rest of the time reading.

"Your Majesty, the tent has been set up."

Luo Cheng's voice came from outside the carriage. Ning Fan opened the curtain and a cold wind rushed in instantly.

Surrounded by several royal guards, Ning Fan quickly walked into the large tent. However, before entering the tent, Ning Fan looked around. After seeing the continuous guard tents around him, Ning Fan quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

"We have sentry posts within thirty miles from the front, rear, left, right and right. If anything happens, we will send out signal flares immediately."

Luo Cheng may have known about Ning Fan's concerns about his own safety, so he took the initiative to report security issues to Ning Fan.

"How about safety when you're on guard duty in the wild at night?"

The tent was warm, the fire was burning brightly, and the aroma of food made Ning Fan feel hungry immediately.

"These guards who are sentrying outside are at least ten people in a group, and they are all equipped with animal skin cloaks. Safety in the wild is not a problem."

Luo Cheng said.

Ning Fan took out the map to study the location. According to the marked location on the map, he would be able to enter Dakang in seven days.

It took Ning Fan a month to come to the northern front line this time. However, this month also allowed Ning Fan to successfully change the situation on the front line. Now victory on the front line is just around the corner.

Originally, Ning Fan planned to let Xiao Zhong retreat as soon as winter came, but now Ning Fan changed his mind. He wanted to build a strong and indestructible fortress in Blackwater City to completely block the Rakshasa Kingdom from the fortress. .

"Your Majesty, please try it. This is the latest elk hunted. After being carefully cooked, it tastes pretty good."

Luo Cheng brought over a plate of roasted venison that was crispy and brown. Just looking at the appearance of the meat made Ning Fan feel hungry.

He picked it up and tasted a piece, feeling the fragrance lingering on his teeth and cheeks, so Ning Fan ate some more.

The carriage was traveling on the mountain road, and the scenery of the houses on both sides had a medieval feel. The sight of the birch forest all around gave Ning Fan the illusion of walking in the long river of history.

Before everyone entered Dakang, they arrived at the latest station built by Shen Mengxi. Shenlong has been waiting for a long time, and riding Ning Fan's Shenlong steam locomotive greatly shortened the trip time.

"Your Majesty, according to the current construction progress, it will take another month to build the railway to the front line. After all, we are short of manpower."

Shen Mengxi reported to Ning Fan on the progress of the latest project on the train.

"I asked Ergou to go to Annan and ask him to bring back two million laborers from Annan. These laborers will be used for the construction of the northern railway and the development of mineral resources."

Ning Fan slightly revealed his plan to Shen Mengxi.

When Shen Mengxi learned that Ning Fan was going to increase the labor force by two million from Anlan at one time, she was so shocked that she couldn't recover for a long time.

"Not only do we need to recruit a large number of civilian laborers from Annan, but also from places like Miluo, Goryeo! Of course, we will not use these labor forces in vain, we will pay them!"

Ning Fan said.

"If we just build railways and mines, we definitely can't use so much labor. After all, the labor force recruited from these countries has exceeded one million, and the food used every day is also huge."

Shen Mengxi was worried. He felt that Ning Fan had acted too hastily.

"You don't have to worry about the food problem. I have ordered people to reclaim a large amount of swampland in the south of the Yangtze River. A large number of sweet potatoes will be planted by this time next year."

Ning Fan is quite confident about the future food response.

Although the ocean-going fleet was severely damaged by the English and was unable to conduct ocean voyages, not long ago, Ning Fan received news from Qin Yingxin that he had purchased a large amount of sweet potatoes from merchants along the coast.

You don’t have to wait until next year for these sweet potatoes. You only need to wait until the right season to start planting them immediately, and you can harvest them in large quantities within a few months.

The yield of sweet potatoes is extremely high. As long as they are planted in large areas in the south of the Yangtze River, hunger and food crises can be quickly alleviated.

"Your Majesty, is this thing really that magical?"

Shen Mengxi still didn't believe it.

Although Ning Fan has created too many miracles, Shen Mengxi is still a little uneasy when it comes to food.

"Don't think too much. I will show you this magical crop in person when I get back."

Ning Fan just smiled lightly and didn't say much.

"Your Majesty, how can we resolve the grievances between us and the British? In my opinion, even if we admit defeat and surrender, the British will definitely not let us go."

Shen Mengxi is no longer a scientist who focuses on invention research, but sometimes has some political thinking.

"Then how do you think we should deal with this Englishman? He is the overlord of the world, and his overall strength far exceeds that of our Dakang."

Ning Fan looked at Shen Mengxi with a half-smile, but he wanted to hear Shen Mengxi talk about how to resolve the grudges with the English.