…
The next moment, Yao Zhong immediately came out and said: "Your Majesty, I sincerely request to allocate funds to various places in Jingzhou to stop the war against Chu. The local people are in urgent need of restoring their livelihood. I hope your Majesty will allow it."
As soon as these words came out, the six ministers all narrowed their eyes.
Brother, what we are discussing now is whether we should support Bai Qi in his western expedition to Guishuang. This is not the time to talk about people’s livelihood. Your transition is really unacceptable. It’s no wonder that you were so ostracized in the previous dynasty.
Liu Ce smiled and said: "Yao Yushi, I remember that in the past two years in various places in Jingzhou, the imperial court seems to have been distributing money and food on time to restore people's livelihood.
Now that the war with the Puppet Chu has ended for some time, Wu Zhenying has not heard anything in his memorials about what the local people lack.
I wonder why Yao Yushi asked the court to allocate funds to various places in Jingzhou? "
Yao Zhong replied: "Your Majesty, as the saying goes, we don't worry about scarcity but inequality. Since the old age of the previous dynasty, all the people in the world have been in decline and miserable. Now that it is finally possible for the people to see hope in life, they naturally have to be more kind.
The money and food I ask for is not much. Your Majesty will only send four million more silver dollars to Jingzhou this year so that the lower rivers and the damaged official roads in various towns can be repaired and strengthened so that the people can feel the benefits brought by the new dynasty. "
As soon as she finished speaking, Xu Wenjing was the first to express her objection: "Although Yao Yushi's words are not bad, although our treasury is full now, the money and food are not brought by strong winds.
Now that Guishuang is openly provoking our country's national prestige, how can we swallow our anger? I believe that when things are urgent, the first priority is to defeat Guishuang and then appease the people of the world.
If Kuishang is allowed to cause harm to his neighbors, this will be tantamount to insulting the national dignity! Please, Your Majesty, the Holy Judge, order Bai Qi to send troops to Guishuang to strengthen the country's prestige! "
Obviously, Xu Wenjing advocated the annexation of Kushan and strongly supported Bai Qi's western expedition.
And his statement also caused a lot of discussion among the ministers, some supported it, some opposed it, and some remained silent.
After all, as the earliest counselor who started his career with Liu Ce, Xu Wenjing has made great achievements in military affairs. There are few officials here who can replace her in Liu Ce's mind.
More importantly, Qin Mo and Ye Bin also supported the use of troops against Guishang. Faji and Yang Sicheng did not express their stance on this. Although Gong Yanggao, the Minister of Personnel, did not express his support in private, he expressed support for Bai Qi in private.
In this way, the Western Expedition is actually a certainty and basically cannot be changed.
Faced with the ambiguous attitude of the important officials in the court, Yao Zhong felt that he was very "aggrieved" and very "sad".
Why doesn't anyone say a word to echo him?
At the critical moment, Liu Ce spoke up: "Okay, Yao Yushi, please go back to the queue first. Not only Jingzhou, but also the people of other states, I will treat them equally.
But Xu Shangshu is right. Our dynasty has just been established. We are facing provocations and intrusions from foreign enemies. If we do not punish them severely, it will be an insult to our country.
After all these years of operating in the Western Region, I have finally managed to get the local people to have the slightest idea of surrender. How can I just give up all my previous achievements?
Therefore, it is imperative to use troops against Guishuang. This battle will demonstrate the prestige of the Han Dynasty! Don't you hear it said that one battle can last for thirty years?
Even if it is for the hundreds of millions of our Chinese people to live and work in peace and contentment, this battle must be fought. Do we want to leave a second Munro Empire to future generations as a disaster? "
"Your Majesty, Holy Might!"
Upon hearing this, all the officials responded in unison.
Yes, this is the Han Dynasty, and neither military nor national power can be compared to that of the previous dynasties. How dare the little Guishuang dare to challenge the power of a tiger like a clown? Then retaliate.
Many officials also expressed from the bottom of their hearts that they would abandon all the mundane behavior of the previous dynasty and integrate into the new court as soon as possible.
…
In the fourth year of Xuanwu, on the third day of the first lunar month, the Western Region Protectorate was appointed.
"Secretary Zhuge, Your Majesty, please come in quickly. It's really easy for Bai to wait."
After several months of travel, Zhuge Zhi finally arrived at the Protectorate of the Western Regions and reunited with Bai Qi smoothly.
It is worth mentioning that there was another person traveling with Zhuge Zhi.
In the previous dynasty, King Huai and Wei Ji were kings.
This Ji was the only member of the former royal family who first followed Liu Ce. He also contributed a lot during Liu Ce's southern and northern campaigns. Therefore, after the founding of the Han Dynasty, he still maintained the throne and could come and go in the palace at will. He won Liu Ce's trust.
It's just that the reason for following Zhuge Zhi to the Western Regions this time is really not very honorable.
Wei Ji was afraid of others and liked wealth and sex.
Because behind Princess Shen Bi's back, he was following a singer outside, but his son Wei Ye caught him and told Shen Bi.
At this time, Wei Ji was so frightened that he hid in Liu Ce's side hall for several days and did not dare to leave the palace. In the end, he shamelessly found a job to supervise the army, and then followed Zhuge Zhi to the Western Region Protector's Mansion.
Wei Ji still weighs more than 200 kilograms, and is fatter than before.
Stepping into the Duhu Mansion, Wei Ji directly found a seat and sat down, crossed his legs, squinted his eyes and said: "General Bai, when will we go to war? This time we have something to say first,
I don't care about anything. As long as I share the work, I can prepare enough yellow and white things that I like to see and hear. "
Bai Qi smiled and said: "Your Majesty, your shares in the Far East Polo Ground are enough for your whole family to squander, why should you compete with Bai for these credits?"
Wei Ji hurriedly said: "General Bai, are you here to laugh at me? It's not like you don't know that all the money I earned was stolen by my wife.
Now, I don’t have much money at my disposal. She is guarding all the shares and real estate.
Alas, speaking of it, it is really difficult for me. I thought that life would be easier now that Your Majesty has ascended the throne. I don’t want to be rich and powerful, at least I can be a rich man.
As a result, oh, I am crying just talking about it, I won’t mention it anymore, I won’t mention it anymore..."
As he spoke, Wei Ji pretended to roll up his sleeves to cover his face, pretending to be crying.
Zhuge Zhi shook his head and said to Bai Qi: "General Bai, you should know about the Mengluo people, right?"
Bai Qi replied seriously: "The general already knows that the Mengluo Empire has been destroyed and the grasslands outside the Great Wall have fallen apart. Now there is no danger to the Han Dynasty. Huo Shuai is really a genius, and the general admires him very much."
Zhuge Zhi gently shook his feather fan: "General Bai does not need to be so humble. Now the Kushan atrocities have angered the civil and military officials of the court. Your Majesty is determined to demand severe punishment from General Bai."
Bai Qi's pupils flashed with murderous intent: "Does your Majesty have any clear instructions?"
Zhuge Zhi cupped his hands and replied: "Your Majesty did not give any clear instructions. Before I left, Your Majesty only said one sentence to me. I will be away, so I will not give you any orders. I will leave everything to General Bai to decide."
Bai Qi stood up and walked back and forth in the palace hall for a while, then clenched his fists and looked at Zhuge Zhi: "Your Majesty means..."
Zhuge Zhi nodded: "The first thing is to destroy the country, and the last thing is to damage the bones and muscles so that we can't touch the Western Regions."
Bai Qi came closer and asked: "The general has found out the true and false status of some of the Kushans. After deducing on the sand table, it is not difficult to destroy them. I am afraid that there will be any changes in the Dashi area, which will cause unexpected changes in the battle situation."
Zhuge Zhi smiled faintly: "This is your Majesty's intention in letting me come to the Protectorate of the Western Regions."
"Oh? Minister Zhuge, please speak clearly."
"General Bai will only lead the troops on the western expedition. Just leave the piece of Dashi to the lower officials. I can guarantee that Dashi will not be able to take care of Guishang!"
"General Zhuge, won't you go with me?"
"General Bai is already capable enough. It will not be of any help if I go with you again. Please give me 300 soldiers from the Western Regions, General Bai."
