Although Xi Zhicai felt that he was not keeping up with the emperor's pace, he still had to keep up, right?

Xi Zhicai then turned his head and looked in the direction Liu Hong was looking.

Upon seeing the four islands marked on the sea, Xi Zhicai couldn't help but reveal a strange expression. Were they planning to take over even overseas?

"Your Majesty's target, could it be that slave kingdom?"

Liu Hong nodded. "That's right! These are the ones! According to records, this slave kingdom is located at the southernmost tip of this archipelago. During the reign of Emperor Shizu, they sent envoys to the court and were granted an official seal by Emperor Shizu, who then bestowed upon them the title of King of Slave!"

"I have also seen records about the slave country in the palace documents: (There are Wa people in the Lelang Sea, divided into more than a hundred countries, who come to pay tribute every year.)"

Xi Zhicai looked at Liu Hong with some doubt, "According to the records, the many small countries on the islands, which are separated from our Han Dynasty by the sea, have always been very respectful and seem to pose no threat to our Han Dynasty. Why would Your Majesty be concerned about them?"

"All of this is just a facade! The more it's like this, the more uneasy I feel. The more outwardly submissive they are, the more wary I should be. Besides, I've wanted to destroy them for a long time now..."

Liu Hong narrowed his eyes slightly, staring at the archipelago on the map with a murderous look, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

"Your Majesty, what's wrong...?"

Xi Zhicai stared blankly at Liu Hong, who had a murderous look on his face, a hint of doubt on his expression.

"Could it be that this slave kingdom is just as hateful as the Jie people...?"

Seeing the emperor's inexplicable murderous intent, Xi Zhicai couldn't help but think to himself.

Liu Hong turned his head and found Xi Zhicai looking at him with a puzzled expression. Only then did he realize that in the eyes of the Han Dynasty, the slave kingdom of this era was nothing more than a bunch of useless villages, and there had never been any offense against it, so no one had ever paid attention to it.

As he thought about it, a sliver of clarity returned to Liu Hong's eyes, but the cold light in them remained icy.

"Hmm, it's nothing. I'm just taking precautions. After all, people from small places are bound to be narrow-minded. If they gain power in the future, their harm might be even more terrible than that of the Northeast or the grasslands!"

Liu Hong didn't say much about the ethnic group on the island, fearing that if he said too much, he might really lose his temper.

"Your Majesty is right...! These islands are isolated overseas and are indeed easy to escape the control of our Great Han."

However, at present, the army of our Great Han consists mostly of infantry and cavalry, and the southern navy has few who understand naval warfare, so it is not yet capable of launching attacks from sea. This matter needs to be considered more carefully!

Although Xi Zhicai sensed that the emperor's determination to destroy this island nation was even greater than that of the Jie people, he still braced himself and offered his advice.

Hearing Xi Zhicai's advice, Liu Hong nodded, forcibly suppressing his discomfort, and said in a deep voice:

"I know that the focus of the Han Dynasty is currently on the Northeast and the Northwest, and these areas require time. Although we cannot attend to them for the time being, it is still no problem to cause them some trouble!"

"What does Your Majesty mean?"

Xi Zhicai's expression shifted slightly, and he looked at Liu Hong with some curiosity.

"Heh~, the Royal Merchant Guild's slave purchase order is still quite powerful. Let the people of the Three Hans deal with them, and we'll take this opportunity to help the Three Hans! This will also make things easier for us in the future!"

Looking at the Three Han and the Nu Kingdom across the sea, Liu Hong couldn't help but sneer.

Xi Zhicai smiled and nodded, "That's true. Now that the Five-Year Plan of our Great Han has begun, there is a severe shortage of labor in various places. Relying solely on the slaves in the Northeast, Northwest and grasslands is indeed not enough!"

Furthermore, many soldiers in the army are single, so their wives can be used to solve the marriage problem within the military!

"Their women...?"

Xi Zhicai's words startled Liu Hong, and he couldn't help but think of those "teachers" from later generations.

"Tsk tsk tsk, why did Zhicai suddenly bring up their women...?"

Liu Hong clicked his tongue and gave Xi Zhicai a strange look.

"Uh, Your Majesty, when the instructors of the Military and Political Affairs Department were educating the soldiers, they discovered that many soldiers' thoughts, besides being soldiers to get food and kill enemies to make merit, were not limited to that."

Their biggest desire, besides securing a high position for their wives and children, is perhaps what truly fuels their ambition...!

Although he didn't quite understand why the emperor's gaze suddenly became so strange, Xi Zhicai truthfully told Liu Hong what the soldiers in the army were thinking.

"Hmm, that's true. In a man's life, whether he studies to become an official, does business to make money, or goes to the battlefield to kill enemies and make meritorious contributions, he can achieve great things."

Everything they pursue boils down to one prerequisite: their parents, wives, and children. Which man wouldn't risk his life to give them a better life?

In the end, Liu Hong couldn't help but sigh softly, "Men suffer! It's true in modern times, and it will be true in future generations!"

Xi Zhicai nodded. "Your Majesty is right. Although having wives and children might be a burden for the soldiers."

However, I believe that with proper education and guidance, the vast majority of soldiers will fight bravely and tirelessly to protect their wives and children and to ensure their well-being!

"Yes! For the sake of our wives and children, all hardships are worthwhile. This is the spirit of the men of our great Han Dynasty...! Isn't everything we do today also for our future wives and children?"

Recalling the heroic stories of countless martyrs who sacrificed their lives, Liu Hong couldn't help but feel deeply moved. A crazy plan suddenly popped into his mind, and he glanced at Xi Zhicai without leaving a trace.

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