This was the first time Liu Dan met an envoy from the Western Region Protectorate, and he took it very seriously.
After quelling the rebellion of the southwestern barbarians and temporarily reestablishing order in the southwest, Liu Dan lost his goal, and the emergence of the Western Regions attracted his attention.
The territory of the Han Dynasty was unprecedentedly large, and the sphere of influence it encompassed was unprecedented in the Xia Dynasty.
Rebellions and riots occurred almost all the time along the tens of thousands of miles long border, but most of them could be dealt with by just relying on the county guards and the guarding princes.
After basically defeating the Xiongnu, the only place left that could compete with the Han army was the Western Regions, not because their combat power was that strong, but because they were simply too far away for the Han army's logistics.
This is the value of Wushuang Hou Kingdom and Wusun Kingdom.
The envoy sent by Luo Shi was naturally a member of the Zhaocheng clan. After entering the palace, Liu Dan and several important officials from the imperial court were there. After all, the Western Region Protector's petition for war was not a trivial matter, and even required the cooperation of the entire Han court.
If Emperor Wen of Han was on the throne, Luo Shi's memorial would probably not be approved, but who made Liu Dan the current emperor?
"Have you all read the memorial presented by the Protector?"
Liu Dan looked at the people in the palace and said loudly: "The King of Dayuan is disrespectful to the Han Dynasty and even wants to cut off the trade routes. The guardian of the capital has written a letter, hoping to conquer it. I deeply agree."
The business culture of the Han Dynasty was much stronger than in history, especially Chang'an, which was the intersection of the Western Regions and Guandong, with complex interests. The Western Regions trade routes were important to many people, especially the royal family and nobles, who made profits from them and became powerful in Guandong. There are many nobles who benefit from trade routes in this palace.
As soon as Emperor Liu Dan said this, these people responded in groups.
Amid the commotion, a voice of opposition resounded, "Your Majesty, the southwest war has just ended. Now we should recuperate and recuperate. I think we should not start a war thousands of miles away for the time being."
The sound was almost loud, and when everyone saw it, he turned out to be a man of great military merit!
The reason for the opposition of the distinguished military figures is simple. The Han Dynasty has not had the habit of two fronts so far. If the war in the Western Regions starts, then the right to conquer will definitely fall in the hands of the Western Regions Protectorate, the Hexi princes, and at most the generals of Guanzhong.
There are no princes in Guanzhong, and most of them come from Guandong!
The princes of Guandong are naturally opposed to launching a war in a place where they cannot gain benefits, and the princes of Guandong have valid reasons. In addition to the fact that the court really needs to recuperate, some princes said with emotion: "Your Majesty, the Kingdom of Dayuan is far away in the Western Regions, all the way up the mountains. The water is high and far away, with the Gobi Desert running through it, and the Hexi Corridor blocking it. Even if it takes another hundred years, chaos will not come to Chang'an.
However, the Shanyue in Jiangdong and the barbarians in Liaodong can invade the land of my Han Dynasty in a short time.
I have never heard of anyone who can stay healthy for a long time without dealing with serious problems in his heart. Isn’t it the same for the country?
Your Majesty, I am worried about the future of the Han Dynasty. "
Directly vetoing Luo Shi's proposal shows that we are jealous of talents, but with these two killer moves, what we pay attention to is convincing people with reason. Even if Luo Shi is standing here, he can't say anything.
Because this is a matter that makes sense to both sides, and it all depends on the emperor's choice.
Although Liu Dan is ordinary in other aspects, he knows a lot about war, especially the Liaodong Protectorate. There are a group of ruthless people inside. He deeply understands that just relying on the power of the Liaodong Protectorate, after the death of these people, Before, it was almost impossible for Hu people to develop.
As for Shanyue in the Jiangdong area, Liu Dan didn't take it seriously. Shanyue was just like the southwestern Yi. At most, they had some advantages in the mountains, but the gap would be immediately apparent on the plains.
These barbarians have no cavalry, sharp arrows and weapons, and no armor that is sufficiently armed. It is impossible for them to pose any threat to the rule of the Central Plains Dynasty. Even if Shanyue unites to counterattack, at most they will lose the original Yue land and the current Kuaiji County, there is no problem in guarding the Wu region, that is, the Jiangdong Plain.
Thinking of this, Liu Dan waved his hand and said: "My dear friends, I have already made a decision. I agree to all the war requirements of the Western Region Protector. No country or person can challenge the majesty of the Han Dynasty."
Seeing that the princes still wanted to speak, Liu Dan stopped him directly and said: "But what you all said just now is also reasonable.
As the saying goes, two fists are no match for four.
But would a strong man wielding his fists be no match for a baby's four hands?
The Huns are dead. Is there any country under the sky that can compare with the Han Dynasty?
I think there is no such thing!
With the great strength of the Han Dynasty, even if there was a war on two sides or even three sides, what would happen?
The Liaodong Protectorate suppressed the northeast, the Western Region Protectorate suppressed the northwest, and the Han imperial army swept across the world. This was the most powerful and invincible Han Dynasty. "
Liu Dan's words shocked everyone in the palace. Are they going to fight on both sides at the same time?
Does what the emperor said make sense?
have!
Can it be done?
able!
The Han army is invincible in the world, even half of it is enough to sweep the world, but the prerequisite is that the world's money and food return to the period of Emperor Xiaowu.
What restricted the military strength of the Han Dynasty was never the number of soldiers and the quality of the soldiers, but the money and food to support these soldiers. In this era of low productivity, it took one hundred people to support one off-the-job soldier.
If Luo Sheng and Luo Shi knew that the emperor would start a war on both sides, they would definitely regret asking the emperor for a war. If they were to fight the war in the Western Regions alone, the Han court would have many years of deep cultivation in the Yishui River Valley, plus many years of farming and reserves in the Hexi Corridor. , as long as the war does not drag on for too long, such as one or two years, it is completely sufficient.
After all, the Xiongnu in this time and space suffered such a severe blow that they had completely lost their ability to contain the Han army.
Today's grasslands can be said to be the showground of the Han people. Coupled with the emergence of horseshoes, a large number of horses can be used to use materials, without having to transport logistics as difficult as the second force general Li Guangli in history.
Everyone was so shocked that before they could react, Liu Dan shouted loudly: "Da Sinong!"
Sang Hongyang walked out of the queue with his head held high. After making great achievements last time, the emperor gave him part of the power and responsibilities of the chief minister, "Your Majesty, I am here!"
Liu Dan asked with a smile: "Da Si Nong, I am going to start a war, and I have to ask for money and food from you, the great steward."
The tone was full of intimacy. Liu Dan now had great trust in Sang Hongyang, a little expert who could make him money. Sang Hongyang bowed and said confidently: "Your Majesty, it's just a two-front war. I will definitely raise enough money and food for you for the imperial court."
"oh?"
Although he knew that Sang Hongyang was a capable person, Liu Dan was still so confident that he asked curiously: "What's the clever idea of Da Si Nong?"
Sang Hongyang then replied: "Your Majesty, last time we just ransacked some merchants' homes to make up for the shortfall of the war in the southwest. Based on the experience last time, it is time to spread it to every county in the world." ”
When Liu Dan heard that business tax and property tax were still collected, he asked doubtfully: "Da Si Nong, I know that last time you and Da Si Shang went to collect it in person, so it was effective, but how big the world is." Ah, can you still run from county to county?
If it weren't for Sang Qing's supervision, I'm afraid those treacherous merchants wouldn't be able to hand over business taxes easily.
I'm afraid your method won't work. "
Sang Hongyang was not worried at all when he heard this. Instead, he replied with a smile: "Your Majesty, the bustling world is all for profit, and the world is bustling for profit. If you give the order, as long as someone can report others for tax evasion, then Give him half of the capture.
As long as you do this, everyone in the world will be your eyes and ears, and even those treacherous merchant slaves will be used by you!
Are you still worried about uncollectible taxes? "
boom!
As soon as Sang Hongyang said these words, the temperature of the entire palace seemed to drop a few degrees in an instant, and almost everyone looked at Sang Hongyang with completely uncontrollable killing intent.
"Your Majesty, please kill this traitor!"
Immediately, some people couldn't sit still and shouted: "Your Majesty, loyalty and filial piety are the foundation of the world. Sang Hongyang instigated slaves to betray their masters. Isn't this challenging the order of heaven and earth?
King Su is here.
In the past, when King Su assisted King Kang of Zhou Dynasty, there were so many slanderous words in the world. King Su said: On the day when I die alone, the world will know that I am lonely and loyal.
When King Su passed away, King Kang of Zhou treated him with fatherly courtesy and said with tears: "Uncle Wang treats me with loyalty, and I serve Uncle Wang with filial piety."
This is the foundation of the people of Zhuxia.
If you lose your loyalty and filial piety, can you still be called a human being? "
He did not criticize Sang Hongyang's method, but directly criticized the flaws in Sang Hongyang's words. In fact, after hearing Sang Hongyang's words, Liu Dan's eyes also flashed coldly, and he only felt shuddering.
I couldn't help but feel deeply grateful that I was no longer a prince, but the emperor of the Han Dynasty.
Otherwise, Sang Hongyang will have this sharp weapon pointed at him. His own family knows his own affairs. When he was a prince, he committed a lot of things. If the court does not pursue them, it will be repaid. If he does, he will encounter Sang Hongyang again. Such a minister.
The only result is that he commits suicide and his family is exiled.
But now that he is the emperor, Sang Hongyang is the sharpest blade in his hand.
Liu Dan said in a deep voice: "What Da Sinong said is a policy for the country, and I should implement it.
But loyalty and filial piety are the foundation of human life. I should not ignore it. I am not allowed to report my master, so let's do it this way. "
There was silence in the hall, except for Sang Hongyang's high-pitched voice, "Your Majesty, you are wise!"
————
Liu Dan is a difficult emperor to evaluate, because he is not an incompetent emperor in the traditional sense. In the years when he first became emperor, the wars he launched were very necessary, and he used his only advantages. , that is, he was keen on war and won many victories, and in fact maintained the unity of the empire. However, military affairs were a continuation of politics. He went to war everywhere during the period of weakness of the empire. This untimely behavior exposed his political weakness. The shortcoming is that it turns out that a warrior emperor will not be a good empire ruler. ——"The Rise and Fall of the Han Dynasty"
(End of chapter)
