Chapter 123 Irreconcilable Enemies If one million were used to buy the elixir of immortality…
One million?!
That's it?
Should they say that this is truly worthy of being called the champion?
The First Emperor, upon seeing the announcement, was not moved by the thought of a million coins. On the contrary, he desired Huo Qubing even more.
oh!
How can there be such a divine general?!
Why not from the Qin Dynasty?
Although everyone was somewhat shocked, they accepted it relatively well. Speed is of the essence in war, so they naturally had to concede defeat.
Wei Zhongxian was the one who was most emotionally distraught among them. His spies had already infiltrated Lintong Pass, and he was just one step away from the final breakthrough.
Huo Qubing, I hate you!
Wei Zhongxian's tears had already flowed like wide noodles, but unfortunately no one paid attention to him. He didn't cry when Zhu Di beat him, nor did he cry when his precious treasure was castrated.
But at this moment, he really shed tears.
He was just one step away from having his precious child back, but Huo Qubing shattered his dream.
Wei Zhongxian vowed to be irreconcilable with Huo Qubing!
——
Ever since Huo Qubing made a pledge before His Majesty the Pig, Wei Qing's brow has never been relaxed.
At this moment, in a side hall of Weiyang Palace, Wei Qing stood by the window, looking worried.
"Wei Qing, you've been quite absent-minded these past few days." Liu Che put down the bamboo slips in his hand, his voice tinged with helplessness. "Even when I'm talking to you, you often drift off into thought."
Wei Qing snapped back to his senses and quickly turned around to bow, saying, "Your subject deserves to die a thousand deaths."
Liu Che waved his hand, indicating that he didn't need to be so polite: "Is it all because of that child Qu Bing again?"
Wei Qing's Adam's apple bobbed, and his eyes deepened with worry: "Your Majesty, Qu Bing is young and impetuous. He made a pledge to fight this time. If he cannot..."
"I trust him." Liu Che interrupted Wei Qing, his eyes gleaming with confidence. "When Qu Bing was seventeen, he led eight hundred cavalrymen deep into the desert and killed more than two thousand Xiongnu. Such a talent is rare, perhaps only once in a century."
Wei Qing hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.
He recalled Huo Qubing's spirited appearance when he made his pledge to the army; the burning flame in the young general's eyes was almost blinding. But a pledge to the army was no joke; if he couldn't bring back those millions, he would be stripped of his rank and dismissed from office according to the law.
Thinking of this, Wei Qing felt a tightness in his chest.
Liu Che saw through Wei Qing's thoughts, got up and walked to his side, patted him on the shoulder: "Wei Qing, I understand that you treat Qu Bing like your own son. But a fledgling eagle must eventually leave the nest. Qu Bing may bring us a great gift this time."
"I hope so." Wei Qing forced a smile, but it looked worse than a grimace. How could he possibly be at ease? Qu Bing's opponent was none other than the God of War, Bai Qi.
Liu Che shook his head, then suddenly raised his voice: "Someone, summon the Crown Prince."
Before long, Liu Ju strode into the hall.
The young boy, dressed in the apricot-yellow robes of a crown prince, already possessed some of the spirit of Emperor Wu of Han (Liu Che), but with an added air of caution and composure.
"Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty." Liu Ju bowed respectfully.
Liu Che smiled kindly: "Ju'er, how are your studies going these days?" The child can't go to school in Songyang County, so he has to be taught at home.
well.
It's better to go to school.
Liu Ju straightened his back and said, "Your Majesty, I have finished reading the entire Analects and am currently studying Sun Tzu's Art of War."
"Oh?" Liu Che raised an eyebrow with interest. "Then let me test you. The Analects says: 'Governing with virtue is like the North Star.' What is the meaning of this?"
After becoming a father, this will automatically trigger a test for you.
Liu Ju replied without hesitation: "This means that a ruler should win people over with virtue, just as the North Star remains in its place while all the other stars revolve around it. If a ruler can set an example, the people will naturally submit to him."
Upon hearing this answer, Liu Che's eyes flashed with surprise, and he asked again, "Then how should we understand the concept of 'knowing yourself and knowing your enemy' in 'The Art of War'?"
This time, Liu Ju pondered for a moment: "Master Zhuge taught me that this saying applies not only to the battlefield, but also to governing the country. Only by understanding one's own strength and the situation of one's opponent can one be invincible in every battle. But Master Zhuge also said that the highest level is to subdue the enemy without fighting."
"Good! Well said!" Liu Che laughed heartily and turned to Wei Qing, "Kongming's teachings are excellent, and I am very pleased."
Wei Qing's tense expression relaxed slightly.
The atmosphere inside the hall was harmonious and joyful for a moment, and even the sunlight outside the window seemed a bit brighter.
Just then, hurried footsteps sounded outside the hall, and a guard rushed in: "Your Majesty! General Huo Qubing has returned!"
A glint of light flashed in Liu Che's eyes: "Summon them!"
A moment later, Huo Qubing strode into the hall. He was covered in dust from his journey, but his face beamed with undisguised excitement. Wei Qing carefully examined him and, finding that apart from being slightly tired, showed no signs of injury, he was somewhat relieved.
"Your subject Huo Qubing greets Your Majesty!" Huo Qubing knelt on one knee, his voice booming.
Liu Che raised his hand: "No need for formalities. Qubing, you've returned ahead of schedule, but..."
Before Liu Che could finish speaking, Huo Qubing excitedly said, "Your Majesty, I have fulfilled my mission! We have captured a city! Magistrate Jiang has already distributed a reward of one million!"
These words caused an uproar in the hall. Wei Qing stared wide-eyed at his nephew in disbelief. Liu Che was also stunned, and after a long while, he said, "What did you say? You captured the city so quickly?"
The military order was signed just two days ago. The soldiers in Songyang County are not the elite troops of the Han Dynasty, but just some refugees. How could they be captured so quickly?
Liu Che thought that he would need to train for at least some time.
No child?
Is fighting a war really that simple?
Huo Qubing nodded emphatically: "Indeed! Your subject led more than a thousand men to capture Lintong Pass."
Liu Che, recovering from his shock, suddenly burst into laughter: "Good! Good! Qubing, Qubing, you have indeed not disappointed me!" He turned to his attendants, "Immediately summon Chancellor Gongsun Hong, Imperial Censor Han Anguo, and others to the palace for a meeting!"
In less than half an hour, the main hall of Weiyang Palace was filled with important court officials. Huo Qubing stood in the center of the hall and took out a beautifully bound book from his bosom.
"Your Majesty, please take a look."
Huo Qubing opened the booklet. "This is the product catalog. One million has been deposited into the account and can be redeemed at any time."
Liu Che took the booklet, his fingers gently tracing the colorful illustrations of objects. Although it wasn't the first time he had seen these things, the feeling he had this time was particularly different—because they could finally afford those expensive items that they could only look at with longing.
Liu Che gently stroked the diagram of the fully automatic irrigation system on the system booklet, his eyes gleaming with excitement: "Do my beloved ministers still remember the scene we witnessed when we inspected the disaster situation in Guanzhong last year during the severe drought?"
During his reign, natural disasters occurred frequently, causing some resentment among the people.
He knew all of this.
The emperor claimed to be the son of Heaven, but he couldn't control the wind and rain. He was powerless in the face of natural disasters.
Upon hearing this, Gongsun Hong immediately stepped forward, his white beard trembling slightly: "This old minister remembers it clearly. Along the banks of the Jing and Wei rivers, a thousand miles of land were barren, the people dug wells three zhang deep but found not a drop of water, the old, weak, women and children knelt on the cracked ridges of the fields, wailing in despair..."
This is a human tragedy: the parched earth and emaciated people, the farmers and the farmland have all dried up.
"That's exactly right."
Liu Che's expression was solemn as he pointed his finger heavily onto the booklet. "According to the booklet, this fully automated irrigation system can draw water over a hundred miles using mechanical power, irrigating during droughts and draining during floods. If it can be built, it can guarantee a harvest for millions of acres of fertile land in Guanzhong, regardless of drought or flood!"
Upon hearing this, Wei Qing couldn't help but lean closer for a closer look: "Your Majesty, can the iron pipes depicted in this drawing really deliver water automatically?"
Huo Qubing immediately helped explain: "Uncle, you don't know this. This thing works by basking in the sun. Through underground pipes, it can precisely deliver river water to every field. Farmers only need to turn on the valve, and the water will come naturally. They no longer need to carry it by hand."
Aside from being expensive, there are no other problems.
Grand Minister of Agriculture Sang Hongyang's voice trembled with excitement: "Your Majesty! If this can truly be achieved, agriculture in our Great Han Dynasty will undergo an unprecedented transformation! This old minister has calculated that the labor saved in transporting water alone is equivalent to freeing up 300,000 able-bodied men!"
This will be an unprecedented change.
Liu Che's gaze swept intently over the assembled officials: "That's not all. Have you all considered that with a stable water source, farmers can try planting more cash crops? Mulberry trees, vegetables, and other produce can all be grown according to local conditions. The grain from the imperial granary will no longer be the people's only hope."
Han Anguo suddenly knelt and kowtowed: "Your Majesty is wise! This old minister recalls what I saw last year in Hedong County, where an old farmer broke his leg while drawing water, leaving his entire family of seven without a livelihood. If only this thing had existed earlier..."
He wasn't flattering anyone; he was genuinely happy for the Han Dynasty and its people. Finally, they could relax a bit.
Emperor Wu personally helped the old minister up and said gently, "What Minister Han said is exactly what I have been thinking about day and night. This 180,000 may seem expensive, but it can actually save countless people from suffering."
Gongsun Hong, tears streaming down his face, exclaimed, "Your Majesty is benevolent! This is a deed that benefits the present and future generations! This old minister can almost see the fertile fields of Guanzhong stretching for thousands of miles next year, with waves of rice rippling in the breeze..."
Inside the main hall, the officials knelt down in a rush, tears streaming down their faces.
Liu Ju looked up at his father with curiosity and asked, "Father, does that mean no one will go hungry anymore?"
Liu Che embraced the crown prince and patted his head. He didn't know what to say; even with this divine object, the prospect of no one going hungry was still a long way off.
Wei Qing pointed to another page in the booklet: "There is also this iron forging technology. Last time, we had to give up because the price was too high. If we can obtain it, the quality of our army's weapons will be improved by more than one level."
Equipping everyone with powerful weapons would significantly increase their combat strength.
Han Anguo coughed lightly: "Your Majesty, I think that set of medical books should also be considered. The Imperial Medical Academy has always said that with it, many difficult and complicated diseases can be cured."
Your Majesty, Your Majesty….
Liu Che listened attentively to each minister's advice, occasionally making notes in the register. Suddenly, his eyes lit up: "Qubing, how much of this high-yield cotton seed did you need last time?"
"Your Majesty, this is not expensive," Huo Qubing replied.
Sang Hongyang slammed his fist on the table excitedly: "Your Majesty, this must be purchased! If its cultivation can be promoted, the people of our Great Han will no longer lack clothing in winter."
The discussion grew increasingly heated, with ministers bringing up procurement plans that had been previously shelved due to price concerns. Emperor Wu nodded intermittently, occasionally inquiring about details, before finally making the decision:
"As you all have suggested, let's first purchase a fully automated irrigation system and high-yield cotton seeds, and then acquire iron forging technology. Medical books can be bought, and the remaining money can be used to replenish the antibiotics and hybrid rice seeds we've already consumed."
The ministers all praised in unison: "Your Majesty is wise!"
After the meeting, Liu Che deliberately kept Huo Qubing and Wei Qing behind. He mysteriously took out a brocade box from under the table, and inside were several packets of Want Want Rice Crackers.
“I specially saved this,” Liu Che said, like a child sharing a secret. “Come, have a taste.”
Huo Qubing couldn't help but chuckle: "Your Majesty still likes this so much." This was the one he brought back last time.
He didn't like the sweet taste, so he gave it all to His Majesty.
Wei Qing carefully took a piece and put it in his mouth. The crispy texture and milky aroma made him smile involuntarily.
Taking a bite, the milky aroma filled his mouth, and Liu Che squinted his eyes in satisfaction: "Once this batch of supplies arrives, I'm going to buy a truckload of Want Want Rice Crackers and eat them until I'm sick of them."
Such a simple dream made Huo Qubing and Wei Qing smile. Huo Qubing even silently vowed to fulfill His Majesty's wish.
Unexpectedly, the next second...
Emperor Zhu said something that left them both speechless: "Qubing, do you think it would be better to use this million to buy an elixir of immortality?"
-----------------------
Author's Note: Wei Zhongxian: Since you don't value my kindness, then try my hatred! [dog head with rose in hand]
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