After listening to what Song Yu and the other five said one after another, Liu Mingzhi put down the tea cup in his hand with a faint look.
"Since several of my dear friends have expressed their thoughts, let me tell you again, should I use troops against Tsarist Russia?"
Song Yu and the other five looked startled one after another. They looked at each other for a moment, and they were all silent.
"What? Don't you ladies have any good suggestions?"
Cai Jun, the Honorable Marquis, pondered thoughtfully for a long time, looked at Liu Mingzhi and shook his head gently.
"Your Majesty, if we use troops against Tsarist Russia at the moment, I'm afraid it will be useless!"
Song Yu nodded in agreement without hesitation: "Old minister, I agree, Your Majesty, if I, Da Longru, are to send troops to Tsarist Russia now, I must at least find a justifiable reason.
Otherwise, I'm afraid there will be some unnecessary rumors. "
Jiang Yuanming was also silent for a long time, looking at Liu Mingzhi across from him with flickering eyes.
"Your Majesty, Song Shangshu and the others are right.
Considering the relationship between His Royal Highness the Grand Prince and His Royal Highness the Imperial Concubine, it is really hard for us to directly send troops to treason against Russia without any name. "
"What Jiang Shangshu said is right. In addition, Yu Shiyanguan is also a big trouble.
If we really want to fight, the veteran will naturally not be afraid, but how to send troops in a legitimate manner is the most important issue. As long as this matter is resolved, the veteran will have no objection. "
"I am not afraid of a military confrontation with Tsarist Russia, but I hope that your Majesty will think twice before doing so.
After all, the relationship between His Royal Highness the Grand Prince and His Royal Highness the Imperial Concubine is now well known both inside and outside the court. If we use troops at this time, it will not be conducive to the current situation of our Dalong. "
Liu Mingzhi looked at the five people with different opinions in front of him with a dull expression, and finally fixed his gaze on Jiang Yuanming, the Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue.
"Lao Jiang, for now, if I want to use troops against Tsarist Russia, can the current situation of the national treasury support the consumption of the war?"
Although Jiang Yuanming couldn't guess the true intention of Young Master Liu's words, his expression still couldn't help but become a little solemn.
"Your Majesty, wait a moment."
"Um."
Jiang Yuanming took out a thick account book from his pocket and placed it on the table beside him. He nodded and opened the cover of the account book and carefully examined the contents.
After half a stick of incense, Jiang Yuanming looked at Young Master Liu seriously.
"Reporting to your majesty, there is no problem in sending troops to conquer Russia with an army of 200,000 for about a year and a half without affecting the people's livelihood and governance of Dalong.
But... in... in..."
"But what? Just say it."
"Yes, the preparation of food and fodder for 100,000 recruits may be affected to some extent. As for the specific impact, the veteran cannot guarantee.
After all, the war is changing rapidly, and veterans dare not jump to conclusions in the face of unpredictable situations. "
Liu Mingzhi frowned slightly and was silent for a moment: "Is it a question of money or food?"
"It's a matter of food and grass. As for money, the national treasury will naturally have no shortage of it.
Let's not talk about the various taxes paid by the imperial court every year. Just the gold and silver that the Western Expedition Army continuously transported to the capital was a huge amount.
However, no matter how much gold and silver there is in the treasury, it can never be used for food.
Moreover, the gold and silver that the soldiers of the Western Expedition transported to the national treasury cannot easily flow into the private sector, otherwise it will cause a series of unimaginable serious consequences.
Your Majesty also worked as a clerk in the Ministry of Household Affairs back then, so he naturally knows what kind of bad impact it will have on the court and the people once a large amount of gold and silver flows into the private sector.
Once there is a surplus of gold and silver and a shortage of matching materials, prices will be inflated, which will definitely cause panic among the people.
At that time, His Majesty was no longer focused on conquering Russia with military force. The internal chaos alone was enough to keep the court busy for a long time.
Therefore, the issue that really affects the army's expedition is always the issue of sufficient food and grass.
If food and grass are not sufficient, everything else will be useless no matter how powerful it is. "
Liu Mingzhi tapped the table gently and glanced at the map next to him calmly.
"Of course I understand what you said. In other words, if I, the dragon, want to use troops against Tsarist Russia, without shaking the foundation of my dragon, my army must be finished within a year. This war.”
"Reporting to Your Majesty, it only takes about six to seven months, and it may even be less, because the food and grass consumed on the march cannot be ignored."
Liu Mingzhi's expression suddenly tightened, and he narrowed his eyes slightly at Jiang Yuanming, who had a slightly heavy expression.
"What if we neglect the construction of people's livelihood and government administration? How long can we sustain it?"
"If we spend all the money and food needed to build people's livelihood and government and send all our troops to conquer Russia, there will probably be no problem with an army of 300,000 fighting for three or four years.
But, Your Majesty, are you willing to ignore the people under your rule?
It can be said that the livelihood plans of more than 20 million, almost 30 million people, all depend on your Majesty's thoughts.
The old minister advises you directly, I hope your Majesty will never have such an idea. "
As soon as Jiang Yuanming finished speaking, Song Yu suddenly stood up and shook his head at Young Master Liu cautiously.
"Your Majesty, what Jiang Shangshu said makes sense, but it must not be done like this!
If Your Majesty sends troops to conquer Russia regardless of the people's livelihood and government, the consequences will be disastrous. I hope Your Majesty will think twice before doing so. "
Liu Mingzhi saw Song Yu's nervous expression and waved his hand indifferently.
"Song Aiqing, there is no need to be nervous. I am not that confused yet. Please sit down."
"Thank you, Your Majesty, Your Majesty is wise."
Liu Mingzhi leaned on the chair with a lazy expression and gently fanned the Wanli Jiangshan carved jade fan in his hand.
"My dear friends, if we send troops to Tsarist Russia regardless of the overall interests of the people's livelihood and government, I am afraid that even if I, the dragon, have taken over the entire territory of Tsarist Russia, I will be unable to defend it.
It is not difficult to send troops, nor is it difficult to capture Tsarist Russia, but the difficult part is what to do after it is captured?
How to deal with post-war matters? How to stabilize the overall situation after the war? This is our most difficult problem. "
"Your Majesty, it is not appropriate to use troops against Tsarist Russia now, but we cannot sit idly by and allow Tsarist Russia to gradually grow in power."
"Your Majesty, the war and the front line of the Western Expedition have been stretched far enough. Before the Western Expedition comes to a complete end, I think it is best to wait and see what happens."
Liu Mingzhi stood up straight away and patted his palms gently.
"Several dear friends."
"I'm waiting here."
"Well, let's put aside the issue of whether to use troops against Tsarist Russia for the time being.
After all, this is no small matter, and naturally the result cannot be determined easily. "
"Your Majesty is holy."
"The Ministry of Husbandry, the Ministry of War, Mr. Cai Laohou."
"The old minister is here."
"After the three of you have finished the government affairs at hand, you will draw up a rough military plan for me, using Tsarist Russia as the imaginary enemy."
"imaginary enemy?"
"Your Majesty, are you assuming that Tsarist Russia is my dragon's enemy?"
"The old minister seems to understand, but he is not too sure."
"What Mr. Cai Laohou said is correct, just assume that Tsarist Russia is our enemy, and then formulate a rough military strategy based on your own ideas.
Let’s not talk about whether the strategy is useful or not. To be prepared for danger in times of peace, at least be prepared! "
"I obey your orders."
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