Chapter 339 If you dont ascend the throne, you will eventually be controlled by others.
"Why did Zhao Qing come here?" After chatting for so long, Emperor Liu finally became concerned about Zhao Pu's purpose.
Zhao Pu responded: "Your Majesty, first of all, it is about the affairs of Goryeo. I have asked for your wishes and you can just comply with them. The second one is for the affairs of the Western Regions and Hexi. Lu Duoxun, the governor of Hexi, asked to report that the Hexi Road was no longer able to provide for it.
To feed the war in the Western Region, in order to avoid delaying the war, I hope the imperial court can allocate another batch of military supplies to support the Western Region!"
Emperor Liu showed a little doubt in his eyes and said: "For raising food and wages and supplying military supplies, we have our own Ministry of Household Affairs, and the Ministry of War is responsible for it. Just wait for the minister's approval. Do we need to ask for instructions separately? Is it possible that there is no military supplies, food and equipment to adjust, and the Han Dynasty's finances have not yet
It must be so difficult!”
Faced with Emperor Liu's doubts, Zhao Pu immediately explained: "In the past year or so, due to supporting various wars, the storage of official warehouses in the northwest has indeed been consumed a lot. However, there is still spare power in Guanzhong, and there are still seven grains in Chang'an Dacang.
One hundred thousand dan, Longyou Fengxiang, can also be transferred. The Zhengshitang has already issued an order to transfer 200,000 dan for the war in the Western Regions!"
Hearing what Zhao Pu said, Emperor Liu's suspicion slowly subsided. He looked at him and asked directly: "Speak frankly, what are your thoughts on the military and political affairs in the northwest?"
Zhao Pu responded calmly: "Your Majesty, last year's Northern Expedition, the total number of troops and horses used in the northwest war was only 50,000, but the money and food consumed was even a waste. The roads were poor and poor, transportation was inconvenient, and the damage was huge. I have checked the northwest
The military feeds and the forward and backward transfer of money and food already exceeded the consumption of the Central Army, so it was really not a big deal.
After the war, the north was temporarily peaceful, and the military expenditures of the imperial court were greatly reduced. Only the Western Regions suffered from losses and losses. In order to support more than 30,000 troops in the Western Regions to fight, the imperial court needed to transport 100,000 civilians, and the distance was 3,000 miles. This pair of
The northwest is really a big burden for the imperial court!"
"It seems that you have some opinions on the war in the Western Regions?" Emperor Liu understood.
How could I have no objection? It's just that I didn't dare to mention it before. After all, Zhao Pu and others also knew what the actual goal of the additional troops in the Western Region was. Now, the expeditionary force has been found, and the two princes have returned safely. In this way
In this situation, it is natural to consider eliminating troops and reducing the burden, and consider the aftermath.
"Since Your Majesty is willing to fight for war, he should also bring an end to the war in the Western Regions!" Zhao Pu said bluntly: "According to the Hexi military and political report, before this summer, or even earlier, the remnants of the Khitan bandits entrenched in the northern Tianshan Mountains can be completely eliminated.
In this way, the Xizhou territory, except for Qiuci and Yanqi, where the Black Khanate is based, is all under Han rule. Therefore, I believe that for the situation in the northwest, especially the Western Regions, the imperial court should make preparations in advance to deal with the aftermath!"
Emperor Liu nodded: "That's what I meant. What worries do you have?"
Zhao Pu was silent for a moment, and there was a hint of reminder in his words: "Your Majesty does not think that the military and political generals in the northwest are eager to open borders, and I only have other concerns. The soldiers in the northwest are very high-spirited to fight. If the war expands, it will continue.
If you don't stop and get caught up in it, it will distract the attention of the court.
Gaochang is thousands of miles away from Xijing. I am afraid that His Majesty’s intentions will make it difficult for the frontline officers to understand, and the imperial court will not be able to achieve effective and timely control..."
Zhao Pu's words were already a bit heartbreaking, and they directly touched the sensitive part of Emperor Liu's heart. In the past few months, various worries have been filling his heart. Emperor Liu also paid special attention to this situation. The empire was too big, and the imperial court
The control over local areas, especially border areas, is obviously relatively weak.
At the moment, the problem is obviously not as serious as Zhao Pu described, and Emperor Liu is confident enough that the military and political affairs in the northwest will not break away from the court's control, but what about the future?
Emperor Liu had also heard about the small group that Lu Duoxun and other northwest civil and military officials had formed in the northwest. If he thought about it carefully, Lu Duoxun had been operating in the northwest for fifteen or sixteen years. It could be said that it was deeply rooted and its influence spread throughout the military and government.
, by no means limited to Hexi.
Perhaps, it’s time for Lu Dosun to move his position!
Emperor Liu thought of this and looked at Zhao Pu again. Emperor Liu's eyes had narrowed and he said calmly: "Zhao Pu, I am very surprised to hear such remarks from you!"
Zhao Pu was silent for a while, lowered his head slightly, and said: "Your Majesty, in recent years, the promotion of officials in the Han Dynasty has been rotated according to the system, and the transfers are orderly. However, looking at the inside and outside, there are too many important ministers and officials who have stayed in one place for a long time without being replaced.
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In the past, in order to suppress the local area and govern the people, we had to adapt to changes. I believe that this situation needs to be adjusted and sorted out internally and externally for the purpose of court governance!"
Zhao Pu only spoke half of what he said, but Emperor Liu obviously understood the meaning behind it. He wanted to attack the real power faction that was gradually emerging in the local area. The situation in the northwest is a typical example, and Lu Duoxun is one of the representative ones.
figure.
There was not much gloom on Emperor Liu's face. He looked at Zhao Pu for a while, and smiled a little, with some emotion. He suddenly realized that in Zhao Pu's eyes, today's big man seemed to have problems that needed to be corrected everywhere.
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"Lu Duoxun has been in office in Hexi for seven or eight years!" Emperor Liu said leisurely.
"Your Majesty, that's right!"
"Which position in the current imperial court is suitable for him?" Emperor Liu asked the key point.
After hearing the question and thinking about it, Zhao Pu finally said with certainty: "After Lu Yin was transferred to Tokyo, there is still a shortage of roads in the two Zhejiang provinces. The rich land in the southeast of the two Zhejiang provinces, the land of the imperial government's finance and taxation, needs to be managed by high officials. I think that Lu Duo
I am so qualified to take on this important responsibility!"
"Then it's settled!" Emperor Liu decided with one word.
"Yes!" Zhao Pu responded and asked for instructions: "Your Majesty, Hexi is a strategic location for the imperial court. If Hexi is not stable, the northwest will be unsafe. If Lu Duosun resigns, who will succeed him?"
Of course, Emperor Liu understood this. Ordinary people could not handle the complicated situation in the northwest. After thinking about it for a while, he said: "Ask Wang Ming to go to Hexi to take over!"
Wang Ming was also a diligent veteran among the local officials of the Han Dynasty. He had a rich resume and certain military talents. Most importantly, he had served as an envoy in the northwest.
After a pause, he added: "If you want to change, you might as well make a bigger move. My feudal officials have indeed been comfortable in their places over the past few years, and perhaps they really regard it as their own territory!"
Over time, it will inevitably become slack and even become stagnant! Water still needs to flow before it can show its vitality! First, implement the matters in Hexi, and gradually change the rest of the places, so as not to affect the normal administrative operation of the place!"
"I understand!" Zhao Pu responded.
Of course, if there are problems in the operation of local administration due to personnel transfers, it will prove the necessity of this matter. Emperor Liu will probably promote it more forcefully given his strength.
No matter what, the authority of the central court must be established, consolidated and maintained, and cannot tolerate challenges from anyone or any force. This point has nothing to do with anything else. Emperor Liu is absolutely on Zhao Pu's side.
In just a few words, Emperor Liu and his ministers decided on a personnel transfer involving important officials both inside and outside the Han Dynasty. What was different from the past was that this time, those who had been in power for a long time would be targeted. It could be regarded as a political turmoil.
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Lu Duoxun, who was far away in Hexi, never expected that he would be regarded as a breakthrough and a model. Of course, Zhao Pu could see this model clearly, not just because Lu Duoxun had been operating in the northwest for a long time.
The impact was huge, especially because Lu Duoxun did play a role as a behind-the-scenes promoter in the series of expeditions in the northwest.
His figure was always flashing before and after the war in the Western Regions. Regarding this transfer order, Emperor Liu would not consider Lu Duoxun's reaction. He had no choice. He packed his bags, returned to the court to report on his duties, and then went to the southeast. This was his only choice.
way out.
Perhaps, for most people, the two Zhejiang roads are as good as any other, and anyone would be happy to be transferred to Hangzhou. Only bureaucrats like Lu Duoxun would be dissatisfied. No matter how good the two Zhejiang roads are, they are not the foundation.
Even if it is not a tree without roots, it will be difficult to live freely in the northwest.
However, there is no way. No matter how powerful Lu Duoxun is in the northwest, he only occupies a small corner. Facing the orders from the central government, there is no room for opposition. If he does not go to the Zaitang, he can only be driven by others.
As for Emperor Liu, he still had the intention to examine Zhao Pu and Lu Duoxun. In his eyes, the two people had many similarities. They were both active and promising ministers with outstanding talents.
However, Lu Duoxun came from a better background and after becoming an official, he was a gentry bureaucrat. Did Zhao Pu, the head of the common bureaucrats, also have this consideration in mind when dealing with the Hexi incident?
Emperor Liu suddenly felt that he needed to have a more in-depth understanding of the current power factions of the Han Dynasty.
"Zhao Pu, I'm really curious, why do every policy I draft always hit my mark?" Before Zhao Pu left, Emperor Liu smiled again and asked lightly.