Xiao Xueqiu replied, "Killing them would only vent anger for a moment and provide emotional release, but it wouldn't create any actual value.
Holding them captive purely would mean feeding idlers and wasting a lot of grain.
The captives, with their arms, legs, and heads, are also a form of wealth, much like gold and silver. They can work and be utilized for our benefit, creating tangible value.
However, to prevent them from harboring any ill intentions, we will assign them strenuous manual labor, ensuring they are so exhausted each day that they have no energy left to think about anything other than eating and sleeping."
Hearing Xiao Xueqiu's mature pronouncements, which surpassed that of many adults, everyone was amazed.
Yet, upon reflection, it was quite understandable. Princess Xue Sheng had learned to read and write by the age of two, had a thorough understanding of various philosophies by three, and had studied governance and geography extensively. Such pronouncements were therefore quite normal.
The Grand Tutor was right; their princess was indeed the chosen empress!
Bai Sheng turned her gaze to everyone and declared solemnly, "The years of war have left our Qing Huang Kingdom impoverished and weak. If we learn from history, we will find that the reason the originally prosperous and stable Qing Huang was exploited by the allied forces of Bei Qiang and Da Xia was due to our low security awareness.
This security awareness refers not only to guarding the borders and defending against foreign invasion, which is a visible, external security issue.
There is also an invisible form of security that everyone has overlooked: spies and infiltrators sent by enemy nations. They are skilled at lurking and acting, able to portray false sincerity with no discernible flaws, and they attack the mind, causing us to completely lower our psychological defenses, and then seizing opportunities to cause harm.
Huang Lian Sheng's birth mother was a top-tier spy who had been lurking in Qing Huang for many years. In addition to her, there were many other infiltrators. It was precisely because of their sabotage from within that the allied forces of Bei Qiang and Da Xia were able to march directly into our capital!
Now, in their struggle with Da Xia for Qing Huang, Bei Qiang has begun another slow infiltration, and there are undoubtedly many spies still within Qing Huang."
Everyone nodded in agreement, expressing their strong accord.
"Sheng'er, you've hit the nail on the head. Your Uncle Shen here is just a rough fellow who only understands fighting. I'm utterly helpless when it comes to internal strife, manipulation, and tricky matters," Shen Tianjun sighed helplessly.
The Grand Tutor also stated, "Sheng'er's summary is extremely accurate; this is indeed a significant reason for Qing Huang's defeat. However, such spies are typically trained for many years and are extremely difficult to guard against. Does Sheng'er have any countermeasures?"
Bai Sheng smiled confidently, "Master, the first department I intend to establish is the Ministry of National Security.
As Uncle Shen desires to retire, once my husband Zuo Ye recaptures Fengcheng, he will serve as the Chief Minister of the Ministry of National Security, also known as the Grand General Protecting the Nation. Zuo Ye will depart in a few days to advance on Fengcheng."
"No problem, Fengcheng will be ours again!" Zuo Ye said confidently.
Bai Sheng continued, "The Ministry of National Security will have four sub-departments: First, the Department of External Defense, which primarily focuses on border defense and combat. Uncle Shen, Zuo Ye, Xiao Shitou, Da Li, Lang Ya, Deputy General Xu, Deputy General Li, and Captain Jin will be fully responsible.
The main task at present is to recover our territory and drive out Bei Qiang and Da Xia, so the front lines of combat will mainly be in the west and south. However, once our territory is fully recovered, Da Xia will need garrisons guarding it in all directions. At that time, eight generals will be selected and assigned to the eight directions."
Shi Sheng asked, "Sister, do the north and east, which are surrounded by the sea, also need to have armies guarding them?"
"Of course. We must guard against enemy nations crossing the sea by ship and infiltrating Qing Huang!"
Zuo Yun suddenly stood up, his heroic aspirations puffing out his nostrils, "Sister-in-law, can I bring my little brothers along to participate in the battle?"
Zuo An also stood up, clenching his fist, "Aunt, and me too! I also want to go fight with Uncle Xiao Ye!"
"And us!" Tian Dou, Zuo Yu, Tian Ya, and Tie Zhu all stood up.
Bai Sheng looked at the children and her smile faded. "Fighting on the battlefield is not child's play; it is a struggle in a sea of corpses where one might bleed and die. Are you not afraid?"
"We are not afraid!" the children exclaimed in unison, their voices resounding. They had been planning this for a long time, always eager for real battlefield trials, and now that the opportunity had finally arisen, they were determined to seize it.
Bai Sheng smiled. "You are all still children, so first, we must ask your parents' wishes. If your parents do not agree, then no one is allowed to go."
Zuo An, Tian Dou, Tie Zhu, and Tian Ya all looked at their parents with pleading eyes.
Tian Guihua waved her hand, "When sons grow up, they don't listen to their mothers. Dou, go ahead. Keeping you here won't keep your heart."
"Roar roar roar!" Tian Dou cried out excitedly.
Grandma Zhong and Zhao Dazhuang exchanged glances and said to Tie Zhu, "Zhu, if you can keep yourself alive, then... try your best to keep yourself alive. Your father only has you as a son, and he might not be able to have another."
Zhao Dazhuang's old face instantly turned red. He glanced at Tian Guihua and mumbled weakly in a voice as quiet as a fly, "Mother, I can still give birth, and I can still give birth, I can still give birth..."
Tian Guihua kicked him hard under the table.
"Thank you, Father and Grandma!" Tie Zhu bowed gratefully to his father and grandmother, his head nearly hitting the table.
Baili Shushu was somewhat reluctant to part with Tian Ya, as she had only recently been reunited with her son and didn't want him to be so far away. However, seeing Tian Ya's pleading eyes, she relented. Her son had to grow, and she had to steel herself to let go. "Tian Ya, you must come back alive to see your mother."
"Thank you, Mother," Tian Ya said, his eyes reddening.
Zuo Song and Fang Shi exchanged glances, then looked at Zuo Siming and Wang Shi. Seeing that their parents had nodded, they said, "Xiao An, do whatever you wish. Whatever the outcome, you must bear it alone."
Zuo An's eyes lit up. "Thank you, Mother and Father! Thank you, Grandpa and Grandma!"
Seeing that all the adults had expressed their opinions, and knowing that the children would only be going to the battlefield for training and not be directly involved in extreme danger, Bai Sheng smiled and said, "Alright, all of you will go to the battlefield with Zuo Ye. However, from now on, you must accept Zuo Ye's strict training and diligently read two military books."
"Yes!" the children responded in unison.
Looking at these young men, General Shen laughed with satisfaction. Xiao Xueqiu's family had educated these children very well. They were brave, vigorous, and responsible, and the future of Qing Huang Kingdom was promising!
Bai Sheng continued, "The second sub-department of the Ministry of Security will be the Anti-Espionage Department, which will be responsible for digging out all the spies hidden within Qing Huang, screening suspicious individuals, and preventing spy infiltration. Yang Ming will be in charge of this department, with Lu Tong as his deputy to assist. Yang Ming can choose people he trusts according to his needs."
Yang Ming was greatly flattered. He hadn't expected to be appointed such a high-ranking official, given his lowly status as a servant.
The Yang family and Hu Daniu were also astonished, exchanging excited glances.
They had unswervingly followed their master and madam these past few years, and they hadn't expected to receive such great trust.
Lu Tong was completely stunned. He was an official now? And such a high-ranking one!