Emperor Liu himself also thought about it, with a complicated meaning in his eyes, and said: "Anxi is a vast area with few people, so setting up a separate road was originally to reduce the administrative burden. However, since you proposed it, it will be demolished as soon as possible.
It is also conducive to strengthening the management and control capabilities of local governments.
I have 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, the number of people is not that large and can only satisfy half of them. You can handle the rest by yourself.
Of course, you left the east of Qiuci to the imperial court. The remaining land is only Shule in the south and Suiye in the north, which is convenient for you to organize and govern and promote Chineseization.
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 Andong is remote and cold. Compared with the two, Anxi is uniquely endowed. If you can make it in the first two, there is no reason why Anxi cannot. In the past thousand years, the Silk Road has been a golden road.
Even those foreign countries can develop and grow through this road. Are the subjects of the Han Dynasty inferior to 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!"
“During the past few years in Anxi, I have conducted many investigations and concluded that the area is vast, but it is not a barren land. It has a favorable geographical location and a suitable 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 has kept it separated from the Central Plains and been repeatedly invaded by barbarians. But as long as it has a sufficient population and maintains communication with the Central Plains, it will definitely be able to develop on its basis." Liu Min
He 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.
At the beginning, 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 now as I did to Anxi.
However, whether you can attract the population of the Central Plains depends on your methods. In addition, you can recruit the people of Yixia and Xia in the four northwest territories and use all possible means, whether it is to induce them with benefits or to impress them, but it is still the same
A little principle, no force!"
"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 imperial court cannot force the soldiers with administrative orders. It depends on their wishes and 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 the Privy Council will arrange for replenishment.
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 talk about more.
Talk too much!"
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 added: "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 regret 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 let you down. I will transfer Li Jilong and Yang Yanlang to you. You can rest and recuperate in the future.
Focus on the basics, that’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. They replace Yang Yanzhao and Guo Yi. This exchange does not seem to be a loss.
"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 do 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 longing for 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, but you can serve her at any time and show your filial piety. It just so happens that your wife is pregnant, and my sister-in-law will probably be happy to take care of her herself."
"Your Majesty!" From Emperor Liu's explanation, Liu Min finally felt something unusual and couldn't help but call out.
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 and after drinking, Emperor Liu asked again: "Do you know how much food the imperial court spent during the two years of the Western Expedition?"
"Just now I 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 you fight for in the end is money, 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. It is not the case that the Financial Secretary complained to me.
Two days a day!
Therefore, even if you still want to conquer the west, there is not much the imperial court can offer, so 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 as he was drunk. Seeing this, Liu Min hurriedly supported him. Emperor Liu pointed his hand outward and said, "Let's go, follow me."
a place!"
At night, on the Luoshui River, the lights were dim and the colorful lanterns were densely covered. This was prepared for the Jiaqing Festival. Two huge ships were moored at a pier near the imperial city.
Of course, in terms of scale, it is not comparable to the treasure ship, but in terms of cost, the difference is thousands of miles. That is 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 Emperor Liu's most extravagant waste in terms of personal enjoyment. However, except for the initial southern tour, they were basically not used on weekdays, and the annual maintenance costs were not much at all.
"If I remember correctly, this boat originally cost two million yuan!" Emperor Liu said, looking at the dragon boat and the Phoenix Palace on the water.
After hearing the question, Yan Tuo showed hesitation and could not answer for a moment. Noticing his strange look, Emperor Liu looked puzzled: "Why, 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!"
Yantuo still gave a conservative answer. In fact, it was more. Of course, if it was just the cost, it would not cost so much. However, the ship materials, craftsmanship, and luxurious decorations, combined,
Then the value will rise 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 anything from the boat,
It is enough to make a commoner's family rich and prosperous for a lifetime.
After listening to Yantuo's answer, Emperor Liu suddenly realized. 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 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?"
