Chapter 669: The Immortal

Xianyang.

In the huge palace, there was only one monarch and one minister left.

The empire's southern expedition to Baiyue has become more and more successful after the Ling Canal was dug and the waterways were dredged. With the continuous input of supplies and troops, it was only a matter of time before Baiyue's war was won.

Now, there is another threat facing the empire.

Huns!

Henan in the north of Guanzhong is where the Huns live. It has vast pastures that can support a large number of herdsmen. In the early wars, although the empire captured the Qilian Mountains and the Xiongnu's Western King's Court, it did not mean that it had won victory.

In fact, the threat from the Huns was still there. Because the Xiongnu went south to plunder, they could attack from multiple directions, directly threatening Guanzhong.

Over the years, as the Xiongnu recuperated and regained their strength, their troops continued to move south and eroded Henan. Guanzhong is the center of the empire, but there is a huge military threat in the north. For a capital city, such an environment is truly harsh.

The empire had planned to fight back against the Huns a long time ago, and now, the time has come.

However, Li Si, the most trustworthy minister of the empire's master, was hesitant.

"Li Si, don't you support fighting against the Huns?"

"Your Majesty, the Xiongnu have no advantage of the city walls. They live in the water and grass, and there is no benefit in fighting. We should be careful about conquest."

As the leader of the Legalists, Li Si has always had disagreements with Confucianism, but this time, Li Si rarely maintained a cautious attitude towards the empire's use of foreign troops.

In the past, the imperial army could gain cities and land by attacking the six kingdoms, and could defeat the Xiongnu, but gained little. Such military operations deserve caution.

But Emperor Zun looked in his eyes and smiled softly.

"Is that all?"

"His Majesty!"

Li Si bowed his hands and lowered his head. The reason why Li Si opposed this military operation was not just because it was a loss-making military operation.

Because after this military operation, there are still more.

Expelling the Huns is nothing more than a trivial matter. How much manpower and material resources will be needed to build the Great Wall in the future?

After the Great Wall was built, it couldn't just be left like this. A large army needed to be stationed to garrison it.

The number of border troops stationed will definitely not be less than 200,000. Coupled with the levied labor and replenishing the borders of Guizhou, the supplies these people need will be an astronomical figure.

Li Si made a rough estimate and found that the annual cost of an army of 200,000 would be five to six million dan in terms of food and grass alone. In addition, there are expenses such as clothing for the four seasons, armaments, and military expenses for military academy soldiers, which cost about ten to two hundred thousand yuan.

These require continuous investment.

You must know that it is not the land of the Six Nations, and it can be supplemented by war.

In comparison, the cost of conducting a military operation to expel the Huns was nothing.

Such consumption will greatly drag down the empire's finances, leaving Li Si with no confidence.

Li Si knew it, but couldn't say it out loud. Because there are deeper reasons involved, involving the deepest conflicts within the empire.

Such a huge project is purely a blood transfusion. Although it has long-term benefits, it will definitely intensify the conflict between Kansai and Kanto in a short period of time.

Especially in the land of Qilu, a group of Confucian scholars were originally opposed to the system of prefectures and counties because they were dissatisfied with the empire's continuous blood drain on the land of Qilu. As a result, the issue of enfeoffment will inevitably be brought up again, setting off a war between the courts.

Li Si was a member of Legalism and was suppressing Confucianism, but he was also a minister of the empire and knew clearly that this would make it more difficult for the empire to govern in the future. The break between Confucianism and the empire was not what Li Si wanted to see, because as a result, it would become more difficult for Legalism to implement its great policies.

"I know your concerns. But if we people don't do these things, who will be able to do it in the future? The suffering in the world will only last for a while. Only by recuperating and recuperating can it last forever."

After Emperor Zun said this, Li Si took a deep breath and bowed his hands.

"I obey the decree!"

Yin Yang family.

"Where is Lord Moon God? He hasn't come back yet?"

In front of Mr. Xiang, Mr. Yun Zhong looked a little anxious, making Mr. Xiang look strange.

"What's wrong?"

"The empire is preparing to conquer the Huns. At the same time, it has sent an additional 200,000 people to Baiyue. It won't be long before the army led by Nei Shi Mengtian will set off from Shangjun, but the herbal medicine made by the Yin Yang family is not ready yet. "

In order to prepare for possible wars, the Yin Yang family produced various herbal medicines for the empire's army.

Although the ingredients of these herbal medicines are very common, they can be used in large quantities.

The deputy leader of the Yin-Yang family, Yueshen, said that he would meet with the Yin-Yang family to prepare these raw materials and head to Longxi. It has been almost a year since he left and he has not returned yet.

In fact, Mr. Xiang is also in a hurry, and the two Mrs. Xiang also went with the Moon God, and they have not turned around yet.

Mr. Xiang was helpless at first. The two Mrs. Xiang were always jealous, which gave him a big headache. But once, after Concubine Yan and Yueshen talked to them respectively, these two people suddenly changed.

No longer jealous, on the contrary, they returned to the way they were before they were married.

Although Xiangjun didn't know what happened, he was completely loyal to Concubine Yan and Moon God from then on.

"Lord Dongjun is about to leave seclusion. It is said that he will also go to the west to look for opportunities."

Yun Zhongjun is a little strange, what's going on? One of them hasn't come back yet, and the other one is going there too?

Snare.

"Chief, Nei Shi Mengtian has received military orders and will attack the Huns soon."

In front of Zhao Gao stood a man in black robe. After returning from Yueshi, the man in black robe brought back detailed information from there.

"Good, the war is finally here."

Zhao was overjoyed, as he clearly saw the deep-seated contradictions within the empire.

"In this way, the Yuezhi side can also move."

The black-robed man's words made Zhao Gao nod.

"How is the situation over there with the four great Xihous of the Yuezhi?"

"The four major Xihous of the Yuezhi have reached an agreement with King Wusun. An army of 80,000 will arrive at Yumen Pass in two months."

"Very good. In this way, no matter what happens in the end, Zhao Shuang's army will be dragged in the western border and will not be able to turn back in a short time."

Luo Wang actually didn't care about the victory or defeat of Xi Mian. Because no matter what the outcome is, it is what Zhao Gao wants to see.

Luo Wang did not pay much cost in this matter, but the benefits gained were huge.

"One more thing, both Tuduo and Chongming seem to be very interested in Loulan."

"Loulan?"

Zhao Gao groaned, he was very unfamiliar with this place name. But in the end, he didn't react too much, but focused on Guanzhong.

"Zhao Shuang and Meng Tian are both being dragged at the border, and Wang Li is in Dongjun. It will be more convenient to act with a trap in Guanzhong."

"The leader is talking about the eldest son?"

"The eighteenth young master is growing up day by day. It's time to consider how to deal with this eldest son."

Because of his relationship with Lord Changping, the eldest son was in a delicate situation.

Although the empire has not established a prince, according to the traditional inheritance rules, it is to establish the elder rather than the virtuous.

Fusu is the leader of all the young masters, so he is special after all.