Hidden in the court

"General Chen, you have fought in battles before. For a place like the Western Regions, how much strength will the army have left after a long expedition? If they stay in the city and the siege equipment cannot be transported, we will definitely have a hard fight."

The one who spoke was also a military commander, much thinner than the previous one, with a goatee. The two men were of similar rank, both from the third rank. One was General Chen Ju of Yunhui, and the other was General Lu Peng of Guide.

"General Lu is wrong. It is true that we have to go to great lengths to fight, but we can use local materials for siege equipment. After all, there are oases near those city-states. If all else fails, we can use artillery, which can also serve as a deterrent."

The burly Chen Ju said in a relaxed tone.

Hearing this, Lu Peng felt a little disappointed. He cursed the old man inwardly for being forty years old and not thinking before speaking. He immediately started to retort:

"You have cut down all the oases. Even if you take down the city, what's the point of having those dead cities?"

"I didn't say we were going to take it down. Why don't we let those foreigners bear the consequences?" Chen Ju explained, not caring about being criticized.

"It's better not to take it down..."

Xihe Tu, who had been watching the rivalry for a long time, saw that the two of them had created some sparks again, and stopped them in time: "That's enough, both of you shut up."

The two glared at each other and retreated angrily.

Without asking for other people's opinions, Xihe Tu turned to look at the Minister of Works Gongshu Qie, an old man with white hair and beard but a bright gaze.

"Gongshu Qi, what kind of equipment is suitable for transporting to the Western Regions?"

"Your Majesty, the walls of the city-states in the Western Regions are short and mostly rammed earth. The Ministry of Works can manufacture small ladders and goose carts to reduce the weight and facilitate transportation. Cannons can also be used to bombard the walls. If the number of shells is small, transportation will not be difficult."

"Well, then, as you said, I will give you two months. What I want is enough artillery shells to fill up the city of Kucha."

After saying this, Xihe Tuxuan called out Xin Yunian, the Minister of the Honglu Temple.

"Issued an imperial decree to hold the twelve states of Qiuci, Yanqi, Gumo, Khotan, Shule, Shache, Wulei, Yuli, Wensu, Cheshiqian State, Puli, Taohuai, etc., accountable.

Order them to release our merchant caravan immediately and give us a satisfactory explanation, otherwise their country will be destroyed and their clan will be exterminated.

In addition, I will draft another decree to inform Ruoqiang, Loulan, Jingjue, Qiemo, Yuwen, Jianmi, Shanhuan and other countries. If you want to establish a lasting friendship, you can. When our heavenly soldiers pass by, you can help them with all your strength and guide the way for our army. You can ensure the survival of their territories and their eternal prosperity. "

Xihe Tu's voice was not loud, but it was powerful and domineering.

Everyone present was excited to hear this. Xin Yunian naturally knew how to write, "Those who follow me will prosper, those who go against me will perish." This is not arrogance, but strength.

The Northern Territory has to give some face when talking to Liang Wu, but as for these small countries, I'm sorry, everyone here is garbage.

At this point, no one would say anything. Just fight. Once the treasures from the Western Regions are captured, there will be no middlemen left.

"From now on, all the goods and merchandise entering the country from the twelve countries of Qiuci, Yanqi, Gumo, Khotan, Shule, Shache, Wulei, Yuli, Wensu, Cheshiqian, Puli, Taohuai, etc., will be seized by the merchants of the caravans."

"Xihe Huchen, Lu Peng, Chen Ju, Liu Dong."

Xihe Tu named four more people in one breath.

"The minister is here."

"The four of you will each lead 3,000 light cavalry. Organize your troops immediately, station them at the border, and wait for orders."

"Yes!"

After saying that, the four men walked out side by side.

Xihe Tu glanced at his eldest son beside him. Seeing that he had no reaction, Xihe Longyao seemed to feel his father's gaze and nodded at him.

Xihe Tu was relieved and said, "Xihe Longyao, you will be in charge of all material dispatch."

"Yes."

This bland remark made Xihe Tu's heart, which had been relieved, rise again.

"Chanduo."

"The minister is here."

"The Ministry of Revenue must fully cooperate in allocating money and grain."

"Yes."

Qian Duo felt bitter. The treasury had money, but in his opinion, it shouldn't be spent like this, right? The key point was that there was really nothing to fight for in the Western Regions.

At this time, four old men standing side by side had already arrived outside the hall, and they started laughing as soon as they walked out of the hall.

"Hahaha, that's great." Chen Ju laughed the loudest, and his sound was like muffled thunder.

"That's right. I've long disliked those barbarians from the Western Regions. Now, let's get the cannons ready and bombard them."

Lu Peng was the most normal one among them. He stroked his beard and said, "To be honest, my wife fell in love with a set of jadeite a few days ago, but the merchant from the Western Regions knew that my wife liked it and raised the price to the highest price stipulated by the market. What kind of character is my wife? She is thrifty and refused to buy it on the spot. She felt wronged for several days."

"Oh my god, our Master Lu is really different. He loves his wife very much."

Several people started to make a fuss, and Liu Dong was the first to find the highlight.

"No, no, Lao Lu. My sister-in-law feels wronged, so can she let you know about this?"

Lu Peng's expression froze, "Ahem, I heard from the servants..."

Seeing his expression, Chen Ju, who knew him best, reacted and immediately said with a smile: "You heard him talking, he must have not gone to bed in those few days."

Hearing this, Lu Peng retorted, "Then at least I can still get on the kang, but you can't even get through the door."

"Who said that? I'm in good health and I've made my wife obedient. Are you afraid that I can't get in?"

As the youngest and least experienced among these people, Xihe Huchen has been influenced by his family since he was a child, and his level of joking is very high. However, now that people are talking about his wife, Xihe Huchen doesn't know how to start.

Liu Dong noticed it, looked at Xihe Huchen and asked, "What's the matter, do you want to get a wife?"

After his thoughts were revealed, Xihe Huchen smiled awkwardly.

Lu Peng and Chen Ju also stopped arguing and looked at him.

"What's the big deal? You're already eighteen. Come back and report to His Majesty so that he can find you a concubine. It's not a good idea for a grown man to go to a brothel every day."

"Just forget it. You can find someone if you want. You have to ask His Majesty first, and you have to find someone this brat likes."

"I'm fine with it, but it's mainly because of my elder brother..."

Xihe Huchen said, and the three of them also reacted. The eldest has not yet married, and the second will have to wait until the year of the monkey and the month of the horse.

Thinking about Xihe and Long Yao, um, it feels like it’s harder to get them married than to ascend to heaven.

"It's okay. When we come back this time, let's go and report to the emperor together. How can we not have a royal grandson for so many years?" Liu Dong comforted.

The burly Chen Ju thought about it and said, "How about I go and get you a girl from the Western Regions?"

"The girls from the Western Regions are exposed to the wind and sun every day and have no manners. They are not as fair and caring as the girls here."

"Then look at this black boy, he's not white either."

The four of them left the palace, chatting and laughing all the way.