Lu Duoxun's brows were obviously full of expectation, and Liu Chengyou said slowly: "I have an errand, let's talk about it first. It's not a nice job. It can even be described as hard, complicated, and dangerous. I wonder if you are willing to do it?" I’m willing to take it!”
Lu Duoxun was slightly stunned when he heard this. A trace of doubt flashed in his eyes, and he asked tentatively: "May I ask, Your Majesty, if it is related to Longyou and Hexi?"
A smart person reacts quickly. Liu Chengyou also showed a little smile in his eyes, and said leisurely: "You just mentioned that the Central Plains has been in decline and chaos for hundreds of years, so that thousands of miles of mountains and rivers in the northwest have fallen into the hands of foreigners. The civilization of the country has declined, and the majesty of the celestial dynasty has ceased.
Now, I am the lord of the world and am committed to restoring the rivers and mountains. As you said, one day, I will lead everyone to march westward, recapture Hexi, and reconnect the Western Regions.
At the moment, although I am committed to bringing peace to the world and opening up a prosperous world, I have to think about the long term. The land west of Hexi has been separated from the Central Plains for a long time. The current situation is mostly described by business travelers and envoys from the east. However, the current situation is ultimately chaotic and vague! "
After talking for a while and staring at Lu Duoxun, Liu Chengyou expressed his plan: "This time I will send Bu Jia Shi to Beijing and ask the imperial court to send envoys to the town. I agree and intend to send some officials to assist him.
Since you have carefully studied the affairs in Hexi and have gained a lot of experience, I would like to send you to the west to inspect the situation in Longyou and Hexi. Their tribes, cattle and horses, cities, roads, mountains and rivers, everything is big and small, and I will report it carefully.
By the way, as my envoy, I will appease the various ethnic groups in Hexi and the Chinese survivors, and promote the reputation of the Han Dynasty! "
"We have traveled thousands of miles here, and the mission is far away. Our safety and danger are unpredictable. Whether we go or not, I won't force you..." After a pause, Liu Chengyou said again.
After saying that, he picked up the book he had put down and flipped through it, quietly waiting for Lu Duosun's decision.
Lu Duoxun, on the other hand, looked obviously troubled. In fact, the emperor has said this, so how much room for choice is left for his ministers?
It is true that Lu Duoxun could refuse, and Liu Chengyou would not blame him if he had something to say first, but from now on, he will probably continue to stay in Zhaowen Hall. He may be able to move to the Third Hall, but his future will definitely be slim. Or you can get some qualifications and be released as a county magistrate or judge, but that'll be it for the rest of your life.
And this was obviously not what the young and ambitious Lu Duoxun wanted. After only going through it in his mind, the idea became clear. The only thing that made Lu Duoxun hesitate was the risk of traveling westward. As Liu Chengyou said, it was a hard job and even put his family and life in danger...
His eyes fluctuated and he struggled in his heart, but Lu Duoxun was not too entangled in the end. Letting the emperor go for too long would be a loss of courtesy. Seeing that Liu Chengyou's attention seemed to be all on the book, Lu Duoxun took a deep breath, cupped his hands and said, "I am willing to travel westward to promote the prestige of our country. I will live up to my mission and walk through the thorny land."
"Okay!" Seeing that he was serious about what he was doing, Liu Chengyou smiled faintly. His attitude was always calm. He stretched out his hand and said, "Get ready when you go home!"
"Your Majesty, I am alone. I have no worries and can leave at any time!" Lu Duoxun immediately asked with a positive attitude.
Liu Chengyou nodded slightly, but said: "It's a long way to Guanshan. Zhang Qian is traveling west, and there are still more than a hundred people accompanying him. How can I let you go alone? I need to pick some people to assist you. I will return to Liang after I leave Jia Shi. Zhou, during this period, you can also find some people who can pass through, and I will make other arrangements!"
"yes!"
After returning from Zhaowen Hall, Liu Chengyou was still thinking about Hexi. The map was not very clear, and his mind was even more blurry. No matter how much he thought about it, he could only lament that it was not enough.
Returning to Hexi is still out of reach for the current Han Dynasty. However, it is still possible to do some preparation, investigation, and penetration in advance.
"Gui Yijun..." Liu Chengyou leaned lightly against the imperial desk, holding the imperial pen in his hand.
In the past few years, the Guiyi Army has also been to Tokyo several times and paid tribute to some local products, but it was just a touch with little nutrition. The imperial court did not yet have the strength to exert influence over the lands of Sha and Gua.
After much thought, Liu Chengyou finally made up his mind to find a way to strengthen contact with the Guiyi Army. However, it is not that easy to travel thousands of miles and be blocked by barbarians.
"Shi Hongzhao." Liu Chengyou suddenly thought of Shi Hongzhao in Lingzhou.
"Pass an edict and ask Duke Zheng to return to Beijing to report on his duties!" Liu Chengyou summoned a Chongzheng Lang and ordered.
Speaking of which, Shi Hongzhao had been stationed in Lingzhou for several years, guarding the northwest border for the Han Dynasty. It’s time to call him back and keep in touch with him. Speaking of which, after all these years, Liu Chengyou still has an inexplicable yearning for this domineering commander...
...
On the winter solstice, the whole city of Tokyo celebrates, and the people are happy, wearing new clothes and eating dumplings.
In the palace, Liu Chengyou held a family banquet. Three generations of old, young, old, women and children were gathered together, and it was very lively.
The weather was very cold, and under the dark night, there were snowflakes flying, falling on the eaves and the ground, making a rustling sound. Wearing a brocade coat made by the queen herself, Liu Chengyou was walking among the palace rooms. He drank some wine and became a little drunk. Looking at the snowy scenery of the palace, Liu Chengyou was a little dazed for a moment, as if he was intoxicated.
A few snowflakes hit his face, bringing a chill to his face. He became more alert, and Liu Chengyou suddenly remembered the war in Hanzhong. It has been a month since Xiang trained troops in Linxi County, and according to the frontline military report, the Shu army held on and never moved. Of course, the most important reason was the weather. A winter rain that lasted for ten days greatly hindered the progress of the Han army.
Due to the fierce fighting in winter, the defeat of the fortified city, and the wrong climate, the newly occupied prefectures and counties were unstable and people were uneasy. The grain road was stretched by more than 200 miles, making transportation more and more difficult. Therefore, it was unavoidable that some officials in the court suggested that Liu Chengyou ordered the withdrawal of the troops because they were working hard for a long time and wasted money and food.
"The march in winter is going against the times after all!" Liu Chengyou sighed softly as he raised his hands behind his back and exhaled a mouthful of white steam.
It was already midwinter and the weather was severely cold. In fact, Liu Chengyou already wanted to quit. There was still no progress on Xiang Xun's side. He had already made a decision and asked Xiang Xun to withdraw his troops and return to Xingzhou to rest for a winter and wait until next spring before making further progress.
Xiang Xun couldn't blame Xiang Xun for the situation this time. He originally expected that Li Tinggui's ragtag group of defeated soldiers and newcomers would be unable to stop him. Soldiers, horses, money, food, and civilians were all ready, but the rain was too deadly.
When Liu Chengyou thought of withdrawing his troops, what he was most unwilling to accept was that he was worried about giving the Shu army more time to prepare and adjust. Originally, the Shu army was defeated and Hanzhong's troops were weak. The Han Dynasty took advantage of the victory and advanced, intending to win it in one fell swoop and lay the foundation for the southward march into Shuzhong.
But in the spring of next year, Liu Chengyou was only worried that the Shu army would regain some strength and devote itself to the defense of Hanzhong...
