69novels Chapter 1072 Still Wants to Go to the North!
Chapter 1072 Still Wants to Go to the North!
After discussion, the merchants agreed to the plan. They eventually raised 500,000 shi of grain, relieving their immediate crisis.
Meanwhile, Zhou Zao, the naval commander, led 300 ships down the Yellow River to Qi to purchase grain. Qi had experienced less war and had a large grain reserve, but the price was high. Zhou Zao exchanged grain for silk and lacquerware, and promised that "Qi merchants would be exempt from customs duties for three years when entering Guanzhong," ultimately purchasing 800,000 shi of grain.
Gao Yao did not return to the palace for ten consecutive days, and rumors spread throughout the court. A group of veteran officials, led by the Grand Censor Zhou Chang, finally could not hold back and jointly submitted a memorial, requesting Gao Yao to return to the palace to govern and to establish the position of crown prince as soon as possible, arguing that "a country cannot be without a ruler for long." Among Gao Yao's children, Lü Zhi's eldest son, Gao Lin, was over thirteen years old, Consort Qi's pregnancy had not yet ended, and the other concubines also had children.
The political implications behind this memorial were known to both the court and the public.
When Gao Yao saw the memorial at Xiao He's residence, he only wrote eight characters: "The border is not yet settled, so I will not concern myself with family matters." He then ordered the memorial to be displayed in the court to make his stance clear.
This move alarmed Empress Lü's faction and fueled Lady Qi's expectations. However, truly astute courtiers, such as Zhang Liang and Xiao He, gleaned a deeper message: Gao Yao's return was aimed at completely reshaping the power structure, not only to recover lost territories but also to rectify internal affairs. Those who had been stirring up trouble while he was away would likely face retribution soon.
After all the arrangements were basically in place, Gao Yao made a decision that surprised everyone: to personally inspect the three northern prefectures and the Great Wall defense line.
"My lord, you mustn't!" Xiao He was the first to object. "The north has just been pacified, and the Xiongnu are watching us closely. What if there's danger..."
“It is precisely because this has just been decided that I must go,” Gao Yao said. “When the people see me, they will know that the court has not abandoned them; when the soldiers see me, they will know the importance of guarding the border. Besides,” he paused, “there are some things that cannot be decided without seeing them in person.”
"Your Majesty, this is still not appropriate." Xiao He's voice was calm and firm.
"Although Your Majesty has eliminated the main force of the Chu army, the Xiang clan is still like a centipede that has not yet died, and there are still many remnants scattered in various places. A wise man does not stand under a dangerous wall. Your Majesty should take your precious life into consideration. How can you go to such a dangerous place yourself? These matters can be handled by your subordinates. Your Majesty's focus at present should be on Wei Bao."
Xiao He's words were not alarmist. Since the chaos at the end of the Qin Dynasty, various feudal lords had risen up. Although the Chu army had been defeated, the Xiang clan's influence remained. Those Xiang clan members and former generals scattered throughout the land were like venomous snakes lurking in the shadows, ready to strike at any moment. Wei Bao, possessing the wealthy Central Plains and a strong army, had indeed become a major threat.
Upon hearing this, Gao Yao's lips curled into a dismissive smile. Having transmigrated to this world, he was intimately familiar with the course of history, knowing full well that figures like Liu Bang and Xiang Yu, who had ultimately achieved great things, were now defeated by him. In comparison, Wei Bao was merely a minor character in history; what significant role could he possibly play?
"Wei Bao is nothing but a nobody, not worthy of such attention!" Gao Yao waved his hand, his tone carrying a sense of superiority unique to transmigrators. "The Chu army's elite forces have been wiped out, Xiang Yu committed suicide at Wujiang, and the remnants of the Xiang clan are nothing but stray dogs, incapable of posing a threat. As for Wei Bao..." He paused, then chuckled, "This man is ambitious but incompetent, unfit for great responsibilities."
Xiao He frowned slightly. He didn't know where Gao Yao's almost blind confidence came from, but as prime minister, he had to analyze the situation thoroughly.
“Your Majesty, times have changed.” Xiao He stepped forward, his voice rising slightly. “Since Your Majesty began your campaign against the King of Wu, our army has fought across the north and south for over three years without rest. Although our soldiers are brave and skilled in battle, they are exhausted and in dire need of rest. On the other hand, Wei Bao has been recuperating and accumulating strength since he occupied the five commanderies of the Central Plains. When the King of Wu rebelled, apart from being defeated once by General Han Xin, the main force of the Wei army hardly moved an inch.”
He paused, and seeing Gao Yao's expression change slightly, he continued, "Wei Bao has long occupied the fertile lands of the Central Plains and has recruited many talented people. On the surface, the Wei army only has a few hundred thousand regular soldiers, but if Wei Bao really wants to recruit soldiers, with the five million people in the five counties under his jurisdiction, it would not be difficult for him to recruit an army of three hundred thousand in a short period of time."
"Three hundred thousand?" Gao Yao leaned forward slightly, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. "Does the Wei army really have that kind of strength?"
He was genuinely astonished by the number. In Gao Yao's memory, the mobilization capacity for ancient wars was limited, and 300,000 troops was no small number. Even the Qin state's entire strength during the Battle of Changping was no more than that.
“Your Majesty, the Wei army may indeed possess such strength.” Xiao He said solemnly, “The five commanderies occupied by the Wei army—Shangdang, Hanoi, Hedong, Handan, and Julu—are all the most prosperous places in the land. Hanoi and Hedong, in particular, have fertile land, dense populations, and thriving commerce. The combined population of these five commanderies is indeed close to five million. According to the conscription policy of one in ten able-bodied men, an army of three hundred thousand would not be excessive.”
Xiao He took out a scroll of bamboo slips from his sleeve, unfolded it, and presented it to the emperor: "This is intelligence recently gathered by the Qingyi Society. Although Wei Bao imposes heavy taxes, he greatly encourages agriculture and commerce, resulting in consecutive years of bumper harvests and full granaries. More noteworthy is that Wei Bao, emulating the Four Lords of the Warring States, has recruited many retainers, and his subordinates indeed include many talented individuals. Chen Ping and Kuai Tong, whom Your Majesty has been paying attention to, are merely two of the more prominent ones. According to reports, Wei Bao also has a large number of talented individuals under his command, such as the strategist Shusun Tong, the military expert Li Zuoche, and the administrator Sui He."
Gao Yao took the bamboo slip, his gaze sweeping over the densely packed characters, his expression gradually turning serious. He had originally thought his foresight into the course of history was an invincible weapon, but he had overlooked the complexity of the reality. The butterfly effect he had triggered since arriving in this world had already changed far too much.
"The Qingyi Society has also learned," Xiao He continued, "that although Wei Bao has developed a rift with some of his generals due to the King's previous plan, these conflicts are mainly concentrated among high-ranking generals. The impact on ordinary soldiers and civilians is actually limited. In other words, there may be hidden dangers at the command level of the Wei army, but its overall strength has not been damaged."
Gao Yao put down the bamboo slips and fell into deep thought. The hall fell silent for a moment, with only the occasional crackling of the candlelight.
Xiao He observed Gao Yao's changing expression and knew that his words had had an effect, so he pressed on while the iron was hot: "Your Majesty, the Southern Army has been fighting for three years, and the men and horses are exhausted. Although they have won one victory after another, the army's food and fodder have been consumed in great quantities, weapons and armor need to be repaired and replenished, and wounded soldiers need time to recover. On the other hand, the Wei army has been waiting in comfort and recuperating for nearly three years. With this shift in power, the situation is no longer what it used to be."