Emperor Liu himself also considered it, with a complex meaning in his eyes, and said: "Anxi is a vast land with few people, so setting up a separate road was originally to reduce the administrative burden. However, since you proposed it, we will demolish it as soon as possible. It is also conducive to strengthening the management and control capabilities of local governments.
I have already informed the Ministry of Officials about the officials you are looking for. Lu Duan is a capable person and is already reviewing and selecting them. However, there are not that many people, so you can only satisfy half, and you can handle the rest by yourself.
Of course, you left the east of Qiuci to the imperial court. The remaining land is only southern Shule and northern Suiye, which is also convenient for you to organize and implement Hanization.
As for population, this has always been a major problem for the Han Dynasty in expanding its borders. Immigration to the border cannot be coercive in major political affairs, otherwise problems will occur sooner or later. Yulin's lesson is profound enough.
However, Nanyang is far away and dangerous, and Anxi is remote and bitterly cold. Compared with the two, Anxi is uniquely blessed. The first two can be broken out, and there is no reason why Anxi cannot. In the past thousands of years, the Silk Road has been a golden road. Even those foreign countries can develop and grow through it. Are the subjects of the Han Dynasty not as good as them?
How to govern, how to attract people, how to attract people, I and you have full power, but it depends on you how far you can achieve it! "
"In the past few years in Anxi, I have conducted extensive research and concluded that the area is vast, but it is not a barren land. It has favorable geographical location, climate and environment, otherwise it would not have given birth to a thousand-year civilization in the Western Regions.
It's just that there has always been a lack of long-term, sustained and sophisticated management, which made it feel separated from the Central Plains and was repeatedly invaded by barbarians. But as long as there is a sufficient population and communication with the Central Plains is maintained, it will definitely develop based on its foundation," Liu Min said, looking quite confident.
Emperor Liu nodded and said: "The Western Region is a good place. I know this and have never doubted it. Many ministers in the court also know it. However, some practical problems are not so easy to solve and have even troubled China for thousands of years.
I am very happy that you are determined to pioneer. To put it in a high-sounding way, you represent not only my Liu family, but also China. Its historical significance and value may be difficult for you to understand.
Back then, your eldest brother worked hard for Anton and recruited people. He racked his brains and exhausted all his energy. I gave the same policy support to Anton as I did to Anxi now.
However, whether you can attract the Central Plains population depends on your methods. In addition, you can recruit all Yixia people in the four northwest territories, and use all possible means, whether it is to lure them with benefits or to impress them with emotion, but the principle is still the same, no force is allowed! "
"Yes!" Liu Min responded solemnly: "Thank you, Your Majesty!"
"I haven't finished speaking yet!" Before he knew it, Emperor Liu began to talk to Liu Min as the emperor again, and his tone and expression were full of seriousness: "The court does not impose requirements on the people, let alone the army! What you mentioned The settlement of the Western Expeditionary Army in the local area is certainly a priority, but the court cannot force the soldiers with administrative orders. It needs to depend on their wishes. As for the morale of the military, you are the commander-in-chief, so I don't need to say more about it.
Therefore, it is okay to replenish your troops, but not according to your ideas! Many soldiers have been fighting in the Western Region for two years. It has been long enough and hard enough. They can be gradually withdrawn and replenished by the Privy Council.
Of course, if there are soldiers who take the initiative to stay and listen to their wishes, we can also be extra lenient and grant their requests. In this matter, this is the greatest support I can give you. There is no need to discuss more. Talk a lot! "
Liu Min thought for a while, nodded and said, "Yes!"
"Among the generals of your Western Expedition, there are many elites and backbone talents of our Han Dynasty. I put them in the Western Expedition Army for more training and experience, but not all of them are given to you!" Emperor Liu pondered. Next, he said: "People like Yang Yanzhao and Guo Yi should also be transferred back and given other important responsibilities!"
Everything else was fine. When he heard this, Liu Min immediately showed reluctance and hesitated: "This, this"
"What is this?" Seeing this, Emperor Liu immediately glared at him: "Are you still reluctant to let go? Let me tell you, there is no need to discuss this matter!"
Seeing the bitter look on Liu Min's face, Emperor Liu softened his tone and said: "The soldiers will replenish you, and the general will not short-change you. I will transfer Li Jilong and Yang Yanlang to you again. You can rest and recuperate next time, fight." Focus on the basics, it’s enough for you to get used to!”
"Yes!" After hearing this, Liu Min's brows relaxed.
Li Jilong and Yang Yanlang are also elite talents among the nobles' descendants. It seems that this exchange is not a loss if they replace Yang Yanzhao and Guo Yi.
"Also, your thirteenth brother asked me not long ago, hoping to serve in the army. This boy has a lot of experience in suppressing the rebellion in Yulin, but he still needs to grow up!" Emperor Liu said again: "Brothers who fight tigers, Join the father-son army and send him to Anxi, so you can take care of him alive!"
"Thirteenth brother has this ambition, I should try my best to support him!" Liu Min showed a slight smile on his lips, and his eyes showed admiration.
"In addition, when you return to Anxi, please take Princess Wei with you!" After pondering for a while, Emperor Liu added: "My sister-in-law raised you and put all her efforts on you. You can't be happy even if you are alone in the capital. Instead, she became ill with missing her, which was too painful for her.
From now on, I'm afraid you won't be able to go back to Beijing, so you can take her with you and serve her at any time to show your filial piety. It just so happens that your wife is pregnant, and my sister-in-law is probably willing to take care of her in person."
"Your Majesty!" From Emperor Liu's explanation, Liu Min finally felt something unusual and couldn't help but call.
Emperor Liu raised his hand to stop him and said solemnly: "Anxi, I will leave it to you!"
After hearing this, Liu Min stood up and bowed again: "Thank you, Your Majesty!"
"Come, continue to have some wine with me. You and I, father and son, haven't had such a conversation over wine in many years!" Emperor Liu waved his hand.
Noticing Emperor Liu's old and tired look, Liu Min resisted his alcohol addiction and advised: "You'd better drink less and take care of yourself!"
"It doesn't matter!" Emperor Liu shook his head: "Opportunities are rare, so I always ask for a good time!"
The father and son clinked their wine glasses. After drinking, Emperor Liu asked again: "Do you know how much food the imperial court spent during the two years of the Western Expedition?"
"I just heard Fourth Brother mention it, it's about tens of millions!" Liu Min lowered his head and said.
"Yes!" Emperor Liu sighed: "In a war, what we fight in the end is money and food, and national strength. In the past two years, there has been a Yulin Rebellion and a Western Expedition to the Black Khan. The imperial court has spent a lot of money. The Financial Secretary complained to me, but it is not Two days a day!
Therefore, even if you still want to conquer the west, there is not much the imperial court can offer, and I have to issue an edict to stop you! "
Hearing what Emperor Liu said, Liu Min also seemed a little embarrassed and said, "Before, I was reckless!"
Emperor Liu smiled, took another sip of wine, and stood up. His body was swaying a little as he was drunk. Seeing this, Liu Min hurriedly supported him. Emperor Liu pointed his hand outward and said: "Let's go to a place with me!"
Above the Luoshui River at night, the lights are dim and the colorful lanterns are densely covered. This is prepared for the Jiaqing Festival. At a pier near the imperial city, two huge ships were moored.
Of course, in terms of scale, it cannot compare to the treasure ship, but in terms of cost, the difference is thousands of miles away. That was the "Dragon Boat" and "Phoenix Palace" that the Shaofu spent a huge amount of money to build for Emperor Liu and Empress Fu.
These two ships were probably the most extravagant waste of Emperor Liu's personal enjoyment. However, except for the initial southern tour, it is basically not used on weekdays, and the annual maintenance costs are not much at all.
"If I remember correctly, this boat originally cost two million yuan!" Emperor Liu said, looking at the dragon boat and phoenix palace on the water.
When asked, Yantuo showed hesitation and could not answer for a while. Noticing his strange look, Emperor Liu looked puzzled: "What, what's the problem?"
Under the pressure of Emperor Liu's eyes, Yantuo still replied hesitantly: "Back to the official house, the dragon boat construction cost about five million dragons!"
Yantuo still gave a conservative answer. In fact, it was more. Of course, if it were just the cost, it wouldn't cost so much. However, the materials and craftsmanship used, plus the luxurious decorations, combined, would increase the value exponentially.
It can be said that in the process of unifying the world, the rare treasures collected by the separatist forces of Sichuan, Shu, Jiangnan, Zhejiang, and Guangxi are all reflected in the Dragon Boat and Phoenix Palace. They are really jewels. Just take something from the boat, It is enough to make a civilian family wealthy for a lifetime.
After listening to Yantuo's answer, Emperor Liu suddenly understood. A rare look of embarrassment appeared on his old face. He pondered for a moment and sighed to Liu Min: "When your mother was here, she once advised me on this matter. I also listened to it, so I made a promise to never build a dragon boat again!”
"However, now it seems that this is still not enough!" He raised his thin hand and pointed at the two palace ships. Emperor Liu said firmly: "I plan to dismantle these two ships and remove the gold and jade treasures on them. All of them were sold, and the proceeds were used to develop the Western Region!"
When Liu Min heard this, his face was full of surprise. He was stunned for a while, and then he raised his hands and persuaded: "Your Majesty, this is not allowed!"
"Why not!" Emperor Liu put his hands behind his back and said forcefully: "This kind of thing is harmful to the country and the people without any benefit. If we don't deal with it, how can we still keep it so that future generations can criticize and accuse me?"
