Do You Know?: Rule the World.

Chapter 72 The disaster of collapse
After several days, the autumn air deepened and the white dew arrived. When I woke up in the morning, I could see a thin layer of white frost in front of the steps.

Gu Tingye had already set off for the White Deer Grotto Academy, and this time he was even more determined, vowing not to return unless he passed the imperial examination.

Today is the regular court day.

As soon as the sky was getting light, Zhao Han dressed neatly and headed straight for Donghuamen with the help of Hualan.

In the Chuigong Hall, Zhao Han was still at the end of the civil service team, his dark green official robe looking unremarkable among the other officials.

Zhao Zhen sat upright on the dragon throne. As his eyes swept across the civil and military officials, they unconsciously lingered on Zhao Han.

After all the officials had finished their formalities, the gentle expression on Zhao Zhen's face gradually faded, and he said in a deep voice, "Last night, I received an urgent report from the Shaanxi Road Transport Commissioner, which traveled eight hundred miles."

"Western Xia is quite dissatisfied with the amount of this year's annual gift and has already gathered troops on the border. Judging from their movements, they seem to be planning to invade Huanzhou."

After the Qingli Peace Agreement, the Great Zhou had to pay Western Xia 72,000 taels of silver, 153,000 pieces of silk, and 30,000 kilograms of tea every year.

In order to cover up the humiliation, it was called the annual gift.

The Western Xia was ambitious and dominated the area like a poisonous scorpion. It wanted to obtain economic supplies from the Great Zhou through annual tributes, but was unwilling to be restricted by peace talks.

They often claimed that the amount of the annual gift was insufficient or the quality of the items was not up to standard, and stationed troops on the border to put pressure on the court, or even led troops south to burn, kill, and loot, forcing the court to make repeated concessions and increase the annual gift.

"You are all pillars of the nation. This matter concerns the safety of the border. Please speak frankly on how to respond."

After these words were spoken, the atmosphere in the hall became a little solemn.

Chai Jin, the Minister of Revenue, who had always advocated peace, was the first to step forward and say, "I think it would be better to stick to the same principles as in previous years."

"If we add some annual gifts to the original amount, Xixia will benefit greatly and will withdraw its troops soon, and the border will be spared from further conflict."

Wang Juzheng, a deputy minister of the Ministry of War, stepped out right behind him and said, "I second the motion."

"Western Xia has repeatedly stationed troops to exert pressure, and for many years all they have sought has been money and gold."

"Increasing the annual gift can both prevent unrest on the border and save the cost of mobilizing troops. It's truly a win-win solution."

"If we anger Xixia over a few pieces of silver silk, the loss will outweigh the gain."

"I also second the proposal!"

"..."

Four or five court officials who advocated peace came out one after another, and most of their words were about keeping the peace and upholding harmony.

Some also mentioned the expenditure on military supplies, and some were worried that the border troops would not be able to defeat the Western Xia.

In short, whenever there was an unusual movement at the border, the voices of peace always prevailed in the court.

Upon seeing this, Duke Yingguo Zhang Fu's face became solemn, his eyes filled with disdain.

He took a deep breath, strode out and said, "Your Majesty, if we keep negotiating peace and increasing the annual reward, it will only allow Xixia to gain an inch!"

"In the winter of the previous year, they used the quality of silk fabrics as an excuse to burn, kill, and loot in Yanzhou, leaving the people at the border displaced."

"The year before last, they besieged Suide for half a month under the pretext of a shortage of tea."

"Western Xia is like a wolf and a tiger, and has been coveting the Central Plains for a long time!"

"There's no guarantee that one day they won't be greedy and march south, causing even greater disaster."

"If you want to fight back by then, I'm afraid you'll have missed the opportunity and will only regret it."

"I am willing to lead the troops to fight and ensure the safety of the border!"

Yu Yan, the Deputy Minister of the Cabinet, frowned and said, "Western Xia is nothing to be afraid of, but what if the Liao Kingdom takes advantage of the situation and invades?"

"Although they are not united, if our dynasty remains deadlocked with the Western Xia in Huanzhou, the Liao Kingdom will definitely increase its troops on the Youyun border to exert pressure."

"The national treasury is already tight, and I'm afraid it will be difficult to sustain it if we use two armies."

"Duke of England, you cannot only focus on the smoke of war in the northwest, but forget that the Liao Kingdom is also eyeing us covetously in the northeast." The Western Xia is indeed not a threat, but the Liao Kingdom is different. Its total military strength exceeds 300,000, with more than 100,000 elite troops.

The Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun were occupied by them for many years, and the road to the south was smooth.

Once the Liao Kingdom gets involved, I'm afraid half of the country will be engulfed in war.

“Lord Yu, you…!!”

As a military general, Zhang Fu was not good at speaking, and he was so angry at his words that his beard trembled and his face was distorted.

Looking at the two old ministers with red faces, Zhao Zhen was extremely conflicted while sitting on the dragon throne.

The annual gifts have boosted the prestige of the Western Xia. If they continue to retreat, they will probably be ashamed to face their ancestors when they enter the ancestral temple a hundred years later.

But Yu Yan's words were not without reason. The armies around Da Zhou relied on annual subsidies to live in peace and had not seen a major war for many years. Now they were attacked from all sides.

It's really difficult for him as an official!

Thinking of this, Zhao Zhen looked at Zhao Han inconspicuously.

"Mr. Zhao, your previous suggestion of using price to control price has been quite effective in Liangzhe. I wonder what your opinion is now?"

Zhao Han's heart trembled when Zhao Zhen called out his name, and his father-in-law Sheng Hong also trembled.

Zhao Han pondered for a moment and was about to step out to make a report.

He glanced out of the corner of his eye and saw Sheng Hong covering half of his face with a tablet, shaking his head at him repeatedly, his eyes full of anxiety, as if he was afraid that he would utter a single word.

In Sheng Hong's view, war and peace were of paramount importance to the court and had nothing to do with their lowly positions as officials.

If you take a wrong step, you may be exiled to a distant state at best, or be doomed forever at worst.

At a time like this, kneeling down and confessing your stupidity is the best way to protect yourself!
How could Zhao Han not understand Sheng Hong's meaning?

But at this moment, when the emperor asked for advice, Han Zhang, Xue Pu, Hai Ning and other old ministers all looked at him.

There is definitely no way to hide!
Zhao Han restrained his expression and stepped out, saying, "I believe that instead of pouring the silver and silk into the bottomless pit of Xixia, it would be better to use it in the army to strengthen our armor and soldiers."

Chai Jin, the assistant minister of the Ministry of Revenue, snorted coldly and scoffed at Zhao Han's words.

"After all, Zhao Shidu is still young and has just entered the court. It's easy to say, but it's hard to do!"

"You only know that the annual gift is a bottomless pit, but you don't know that once war breaks out, transporting food and fodder, armor and equipment, providing compensation for the wounded, and repairing city defenses all cost money."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Han tightened his grip on the tablet and secretly memorized the man's name and appearance in his mind.

His eyes were calm, and he said in a deep voice, "Although it is difficult to reorganize the army, it is a strategy to remove the firewood from under the cauldron."

"I am indeed new to the court, and have little experience in military and political affairs, but I do understand the principle of maintaining an army for a thousand days and deploying it for a moment."

"I think it would be better to send an envoy first to stabilize Xixia and buy time for our dynasty to reorganize its army."

"Order the Shaanxi Road Transport Commissioner to conduct a thorough investigation of the old and weak among the troops, cut down on redundant soldiers, and use all the money and food saved to recruit strong and capable soldiers."

"The Western Xia are skilled in horseback riding and archery. The only way our dynasty can rival them is to counter cavalry with cavalry."

"I can use a year to build an elite cavalry force that can rival the Western Xia!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the hall suddenly fell silent.

Sheng Hong looked at his son-in-law who was talking in the middle of the hall, and was so surprised that he almost dropped the tablet in his hand.

I just felt my scalp tingling and my legs trembling.

Oh my God!
One year? To build elite cavalry to rival the Western Xia? That's an outrageous boast!
It’s over, it’s over, a catastrophe is coming!

　Please read, please read, please read~
　　
　
(End of this chapter)