Chapter 2327 Plan
Bai Erlang chattered beside Bai Shan and Zhou Man, and then looked around curiously after he finished speaking, "This is the Kucha Palace. It looks a bit more and higher with more steps. It looks very ordinary."
Bai Shan said: "Of course it can't compare to our palace, but it is still luxurious. Look at the shops and houses in the city."
"That's right." Bai Erlang looked around curiously. Seeing the soldiers driving the people in the palace to a side hall, he couldn't help but ask, "What should we do with these people?"
Bai Shan took a look and said, "General Ashina is not a murderer. He will most likely let the palace maids go. As for the ministers, we'll see how the situation develops. But it also depends on how General Ashina plans to deal with the Kingdom of Kucha."
General Ashina was also pondering this question. Originally, he had intended to sweep all the way across, regardless of whether Yanqi, Kucha, Shule, or Khotan were involved. He would take over any states that had betrayed the Jin Dynasty. Later, Guo Xiao, the Anxi Protectorate, would clean up the mess, and then all these small states would be incorporated into Anxi. After all, the area wasn't very large.
As a result, Guo Xiao actually killed himself, and the morale was greatly damaged. Now that the Western Regions have entered winter, the weather will become increasingly cold, and there may be heavy snow.
This kind of weather is not conducive to the soldiers fighting at all.
If we wait until next year for the ice and snow to melt, it will take at least until April...
If the timeline is extended too long, it will have a huge impact on the national treasury. Not only the Ministry of Revenue, but I'm afraid His Majesty will not be very happy either.
The loss is too great, which is not worth it for Dajin.
Therefore, the previous plan was obviously not feasible. It would take at least two months to take over the Kingdom of Kucha and put things in order.
If Guo Xiao were there, this kind of thing could be left to him. After all, he was the Protector General of Anxi, and as the general manager, he only needed to lead the troops in the front to conquer the territory.
General Ashina rubbed his forehead and made a quick decision: "Re-establish the King of Kucha. Capture all of the King's brothers and relatives. I will choose one to succeed him later."
The confidant immediately went down to arrest the man.
It was getting dark, and Bai Shan and his men stayed in the palace temporarily. When General Meng found out that they were staying there, he immediately ordered people to send the wounded here, along with the military doctor who was busy at the city gate.
As soon as he arrived, he immediately shouted at Zhou Liru, "Young lady, you are so unreliable. You clearly said you would be gone for a while, but you never came back. Do you know how many injured people were sent to me?"
Seeing Zhou Man standing beside him, he complained even more, "Master Zhou, you are the imperial physician. Such things as charging into battle are the business of the soldiers, and plotting and scheming are the business of the civil officials. We doctors just stay in the back to treat people. How can you take such a risk?"
Manbao said: "I am also a civil servant."
She emphasized: "I was compiled by Chongwenguan."
The military doctor choked.
Bai Shan considerately gave him a way out, "All the wounded soldiers have been sent to the side hall. I'll go get some people to boil water. Let's start treating the wounded now."
Tonight is probably going to be another sleepless night.
The military doctor nodded repeatedly. Seeing that Bai Shan and Zhou Man were both covered in moisture, with their hair still a little damp, he wondered, "Why are they still showering? Are they planning to go to bed right after taking a shower?"
The things in the palace are much more complete than those in their tent.
The place had been almost completely looted by the soldiers, and some soldiers had rough hands and couldn't help but drop things while rummaging through them.
Bai Shan sent someone to pass on the message in advance that the wounded soldiers would be sent over soon, so the medicinal materials in the warehouse and the things in the kitchen must not be damaged.
So the soldiers were more cautious and sent all the herbs they found to the side hall, leaving the things in the kitchen basically untouched.
Bai Shan went to the side hall and selected a number of palace maids. All of them had calluses on their hands and often did rough work in the kitchen and the yard outside. He asked them to fetch water, boil water and deliver water.
A large amount of hot water is needed to treat the wounded.
So when General Ashina finally finished his meeting with the lieutenant generals and came out, he looked up and saw people carrying wounded soldiers to the side hall. Looking around, he saw that the lights in that place were the brightest in the entire palace.
"That's..."
General Meng immediately replied, "Reporting to the Grand Steward, Imperial Physician Zhou and others are treating the wounded there."
General Ashina was surprised, "Lord Zhou is willing to do such rough work?"
In his impression, the imperial physicians of the Imperial Medical Service were very proud, and it was not difficult for the powerful people in the capital to invite them. After all, treating the powerful people was one of the responsibilities of the Imperial Medical Service.
However, it was difficult for officials below the fourth rank to invite imperial physicians, let alone these soldiers.
Military doctors are a lowly job after all, and generally no one is willing to be one.
General Meng was still young and didn't know about this sinister world. He answered directly: "Of course I am willing. The soldiers in our army were also treated by Doctor Zhou before..." And how could this be considered rough work?
Is sewing up his stomach rough work?
Thinking of his stomach, General Meng felt a little pain in his stomach, as if the wound had broken open. It seemed that he would have to go to Zhou Man to treat the wound later.
General Ashina stood there thinking for a moment, then thought of Bai Shan, his future nephew-in-law, and the grandson of the Minister of Revenue, and said, "Let's go and take a look."
While Bai Shan was helping Man Bao, he said to her, "If General Ashina reinstates the King of Kucha, we should be able to return soon."
Manbao asked, "You're not going to fight anymore?"
Bai Shan said, "General Guo's death will affect morale, and Anxi also needs a new Protector General. This trip back and forth will take a long time. Without someone like General Guo to lead the rear, I'm afraid General Ashina will be unwilling to let go and conquer these small countries."
What if we capture two cities and then lose one?
Without the imperial court's appointment, the Anxi Army would not have submitted. "Besides, the battle line is too long, and the pressure on the national treasury is too great if it lasts too long."
Among the various expenses of the Ministry of Revenue after the beginning of spring, the most important one is definitely the Central Plains. As for the Western Regions, it is already very good that they are willing to provide food and fodder for the war.
It was also because of the fickleness of several small countries in Kucha that the imperial court provoked them. When they saw that the Great Jin was in trouble, they took advantage of the situation. If they did not take action this time, they would never have peace in the future. If there was any disturbance in the Great Jin again in the future, they would probably rebel.
What Bai Shan did not say was that although the current emperor was in his prime, the prince was not young either. In ten or eight years, he might have to consider the succession. If the court was in turmoil because of the next emperor, and the chaos in the Western Regions spread eastward, it would be a great harm to the country.
It is better to defeat them while you still have the strength to do so, so that they will not dare to take action easily in the future.
Manbao calculated the time and asked, "Can we go back home for the New Year?"
See you at 6pm
(End of this chapter)
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