After Liu Zhang finished explaining his conditions, he stepped aside and quietly waited for the reactions of the ministers.
In particular, the reactions of He Jin and Yuan Wei were crucial.
Liu Hong naturally had no objections. Anyway, he had already made up his mind. If he asked for money, he would not get a penny!
Don’t both the general and the tutor advocate the Western Expedition? Yes, I agree. It’s just that with this money, food, soldiers and horses, I can’t help you!
Yuan Wei didn't speak, his gloomy face already showed his attitude.
He Jin was the most shocked, his eyes widened, and he kept scolding Liu Zhang in his heart.
This thief is so abominable! Two hundred thousand troops? Two million stones of grain and grass? You might as well just rebel! If you have so much money, why would you, Liu Zhang, be used?
"Isn't General Hou going too far? How many soldiers and horses did General Hou use to break the Yellow Turban in the past? The last battle in Meiyang only had tens of thousands of troops, so why does it cost 200,000 this time? There is also food and grass. Didn't you hear just now? Is that what Da Sinong said? The treasury can’t even come up with 300,000 shi, so where can I find 2 million shi of food for you!”
Liu Zhang didn't care at all about He Jin's anger and directly spread his hands, looking indifferent.
"General, you have to force me to go on the Western Expedition. Can't you satisfy some of my demands? Do you still want to send me tens of thousands of new soldiers with a hundred thousand stones of food and grass? If so, wouldn't you just ask me to die? Really? If that’s the case, there’s no need to lose the lives of tens of thousands of soldiers in vain. You might as well just let His Majesty kill me!”
"you...!"
The anger in He Jin's heart was instantly ignited. He didn't expect Liu Zhang to be so ignorant of praise!
"Your Majesty, the general is too rude! It seems to me that he just doesn't want to serve your majesty!"
How could Liu Zhang let He Jin take all the blame? He snorted coldly.
"General, it stands to reason that you are in charge of the world's troops, and you are the real commander in chief! Why don't we go to the west in person, and let Liu Zhang see the general's style!"
He Jin was immediately speechless. Even if he was given an army of 200,000 troops, not to mention tens of thousands of troops, he would not dare to go to Liangzhou.
"The general is joking. The general is responsible for the most important tasks in the world. How can he leave the capital so easily? In my opinion, we have to rely on the general for this matter! The general might as well ask for less money and food for his troops, so as not to embarrass your majesty!"
Yuan Wei rescued He Jin with a smile, and did not forget to praise Liu Zhang.
Liu Zhang was smiling but not smiling. He knew full well that Yuan Wei had sinister intentions and refused to give him any face.
"Master, it's so easy to stand and talk! Why don't you ask for more money and food for the soldiers and horses? Then why don't you ask Bian Zhang and Beigong Boyu if he is willing to surrender! When the soldiers and horses gather and the food and grass are ready, what will happen in Liangzhou? We still don’t know! I made this request after considering it for His Majesty’s sake!”
"Besides, who in the world doesn't know that the Yuan family is a top-notch family? They have countless money and supplies! As the head of a hundred officials, why doesn't Grand Tutor Yuan set an example for them?"
Yuan Wei didn't expect that Liu Zhang had openly broken up with him, so he stopped smiling.
"In the opinion of the general, what should I do?"
Liu Zhang laughed loudly and looked at Yuan Wei with evil intentions.
"The Yuan family is extremely rich. One million stones of food and grass must be just a drop in the bucket for the Yuan family of Taifu! I don't think it would be better for Taifu to give out one million stones of food and grass, and the other ministers can make up the rest! By the way, the general should also do the same To set an example, why not take half a million dan!"
As soon as Liu Zhang finished speaking, he heard He Jin's angry voice.
"I have no money!"
Yuan Wei's face was extremely gloomy. How could anyone bring this kind of thing to the court? Liu Zhang was so courageous!
"Your Majesty, I, the fourth and third prince of the Yuan family, have been loyal to the emperor, patriotic, upright and upright in every generation! Not to mention a million dan, even the 10,000 dan that the veteran just mentioned has already been enough for the whole family to live frugally and live in a few years. Save up!”
"If I say anything that is untrue, I will definitely die a bad death!"
Liu Zhang had a look of disdain on his face. He didn't expect that Yuan Wei would risk his life just to avoid paying! No wonder he was killed by Dong Zhuo later! You deserve it!
"Your Majesty, the general has slandered me so much. If you don't give me an explanation, I will resign immediately!"
Liu Hong frowned slightly, but he didn't expect Yuan Wei to still hold on to this! In his heart, he also blamed Liu Zhang for being reckless.
"General Hou, why don't you apologize to Tai Fu Yuan!"
mean!
Liu Zhang cursed Yuan Wei secretly in his heart, but still bowed to Yuan Wei.
"Taifu Yuan, Liu Zhang is talking nonsense, please forgive me!"
Yuan Wei took a few deep breaths and did not continue to pursue the responsibility.
"The general has slandered me, I don't have to hold him accountable, but you must agree to this Liangzhou matter!"
Liu Zhang didn't expect that this old immortal would give him a plan to repair the plank road in secret! On the surface, he forgives himself, but in fact he threatens him with the Western Expedition!
"General Hou, please think of another way! The civil and military forces of the dynasty are what you are best at conquering!"
Liu Zhang listened to Liu Hong's pleading tone and knew that the time had almost come.
"Your Majesty, if you want to completely put down the rebellion in Liangzhou, the three points I mentioned before are absolutely the minimum conditions without any discussion! However, if we want to deal with the current chaos in Liangzhou, I have a good plan in mind."
Liu Hong pretended to be excited and quickly urged Liu Zhang.
"Say it quickly!"
"Your Majesty, if the national treasury is really unable to support the Western Expedition, we can only shelve this matter temporarily. Since we cannot recapture Liangzhou, it is better to trap the rebels in Liangzhou so that they cannot get involved elsewhere! When the treasury is sufficient, we can put down the rebellion in one go !”
He Jin snorted coldly, with a trace of disdain on his face.
"General Hou said it lightly! If Liangzhou is left alone and the rebels completely take control of Liangzhou, can they stay there safely? Has General Hou forgotten that when Geng Bi was still in Liangzhou, Bian Zhang and others Do you dare to attack Sanfu?"
"General, don't worry, I haven't finished speaking yet."
Liu Zhang glanced at He Jin indifferently, and then looked at Liu Hong.
"Your Majesty, you only need to let Polu General Dong Zhuo station in Meiyang, and then re-enable Huangfu Song to station in Chencang. Order the two of them to strengthen the city defenses and stock up on food, grass and equipment, and we will be able to curb the bandits' eastward advance!"
"Choose another general who is both wise and brave and let him station in Hanzhong. On the one hand, he can prevent the Xiliang army from invading Sichuan and Shu. On the other hand, he can seize the opportunity when the Xiliang army advances eastward and invade Tianshui from Qishan Road!"
Liu Hong nodded, first vocally agreeing with Liu Zhang's strategy.
"The national treasury is now empty. Judging from the current situation, we can only temporarily rely on the general's strategy."
"General, Taifu, what do you think?"
Hearing Liu Hong ask himself a question, He Jin looked at Yuan Wei, and he didn't know whether he should agree or not.
"Your Majesty, I think the general's strategy is feasible. Now the imperial court is indeed unable to conquer, so it can only temporarily trap the rebels in Liangzhou. When the treasury is full, we might as well go to Liangzhou to quell the rebellion!"
Yuan Wei agreed, and He Jin didn't have any objections.
"I also think this method is feasible!"
Liu Hong became worried when he saw that neither of them had any objections.
"But where can I find this wise and brave general?"
