Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 983: Chapter 78: Youzhou Is a Good Place

He Lianfang came to Zhao Yao’s study and, seeing Zhao Yao intently looking at the map of Great Zhou, curiously asked, "What are you looking at?"

Hearing He Lianfang’s voice, Zhao Yao looked up at him and smiled slightly, "Looking at Youzhou."

"Why are you looking at Youzhou?" He Lianfang asked with some confusion as he wheeled the wheelchair closer, "Has something happened over there?"

Zhao Yao did not answer He Lianfang’s question, but instead asked him, "Second Uncle, what do you think of Youzhou?"

This question left He Lianfang slightly stunned, and then he replied, "Which aspect are you referring to?"

"The entirety of Youzhou." Zhao Yao pointed at Youzhou on the map, "What does Second Uncle think?"

He Lianfang turned his gaze towards Youzhou where Zhao Yao was pointing and pondered for a moment before saying, "It’s not a good place."

"Not a good place?" Zhao Yao was a bit surprised by He Lianfang’s answer, "Second Uncle, why do you think Youzhou is not good?"

He Lianfang said in a calm tone, "Nothing is good about it, but its geographical position is extremely important."

Zhao Yao grinned, asking with interest, "What do you mean by that?"

"Youzhou borders the Xiongnu and neighbors Goguryeo; it blocks the southward advance of the Xiongnu and Goguryeo." He Lianfang felt Zhao Yao’s question was somewhat redundant, "Don’t you know these things already? Why ask me?"

"According to you, Second Uncle, Youzhou is an important defensive line for Great Zhou. By holding Youzhou, it effectively blocks the southward movements of the Xiongnu and Goguryeo."

He Lianfang raised an eyebrow and asked, "What’s wrong with that?"

Zhao Yao laughed, "There’s nothing wrong. You’re right, Second Uncle; the geographical location of Youzhou is very important. But besides that, does Youzhou have no other advantages?"

"Other advantages?" He Lianfang asked puzzledly, "Like Lingnan, Youzhou has historically been a place of exile, but it’s even poorer than Lingnan. What advantages could it have?"

"If Youzhou had no advantages, why would Prince Han go to Youzhou?" Zhao Yao said with a look of admiration, "In fact, apart from Qingzhou, the place I valued most back then was Youzhou. Unfortunately, Prince Han got there first, and I had no choice but to choose Lingnan."

He Lianfang was surprised to hear this for the first time: "You valued Youzhou?"

"To me, Youzhou is even better than Lingnan, but unfortunately, Prince Han claimed it first." It was all because he was too young. By the time his brothers had chosen their fiefdoms, there weren’t many places left for him, so he had to choose Lingnan.

"Why did you value Youzhou?" He Lianfang was full of disbelief, "Because it borders the Xiongnu and Goguryeo?"

"That’s one reason, but more importantly, it’s a good place."

"A good place? What’s good about it?" He Lianfang had been to Youzhou before, and it was more desolate and poorer than Lingnan. Most importantly, the climate was terrible, with heavy snow and extreme cold in winter.

"Second Uncle, do you think Youzhou is barren and poor, without much food?"

"Isn’t it?"

"Indeed, Youzhou can’t grow double or triple cropping rice like Lingnan, but it can grow wheat."

"Youzhou can grow wheat, but the yield is not very high," He Lianfang reminded Zhao Yao, "Don’t forget, the court allocates grain to Youzhou every year."

"The low grain yield in Youzhou is because of limited farmland; much of the land is lying idle. With proper development of the wasteland, there won’t be a shortage of grain," Zhao Yao continued, "Youzhou also has vast grasslands, suitable for raising cattle, horses, sheep, and pigs, and of course, also chickens, ducks, and geese."

"The Xiongnu frequently raid southward; raising these animals would only lead to them being stolen," He Lianfang noted, "I remember that there are warhorse breeds in Youzhou."

"It seems there are quite a few iron and coal mines in Youzhou."

"I’m not sure." He Lianfang hadn’t noticed these, "Doesn’t Lingnan also have many iron mines?"

Zhao Yao said regretfully, "But no coal mines."

"Coal mines are not important."

Zhao Yao thought to himself: Coal mines are very important, just as significant as iron mines.

"And another thing, Youzhou is near the Bohai Sea." Zhao Yao remembered that in his dreams, the last two dynasties in Zhao Yao’s world set their capitals in Youzhou, "Actually, Youzhou is also suitable for a capital city."

He Lianfang was astonished by Zhao Yao’s last statement, and said with disbelief, "Youzhou suitable for a capital city? What are you thinking?"

"Because Youzhou is located in the northern territory, it is therefore suitable for a capital city," Zhao Yao said, pointing to the Bohai Sea near Youzhou, "Youzhou could capitalize on the Bohai Sea for development."

He Lianfang thought that if Zhao Yao went to Youzhou, he would certainly be able to develop it.