November 10th.
Inside the Deyang Palace in Luoyang.
Liu Hong sat behind the imperial desk, engrossed in reading a memorial from Cao Cao.
Cao Cao also wrote down in detail all his actions and subsequent plans in the memorial.
On the table were more than a dozen secret letters, which came from Xi Zhicai, Jia Xu and Yuan Shao respectively.
Through these secret letters, Liu Hong also gained a general understanding of the situation in Kushan.
Currently, the eldest prince controls more than sixty cities of varying sizes in the Kushan capital and the southern region, with a population of over eight million.
In addition to the 200,000 border troops in the southeast, he also had 10,000 palace guards and 150,000 newly recruited soldiers under his command.
However, due to Damoshi's previous extensive plundering of the people around the capital, which caused widespread resentment, the eldest prince had no choice but to provide a large amount of money and grain to appease the surrounding people, thus delaying the campaign against the second prince.
With the assistance of Xi Zhicai, the second prince, Damoti, successfully annexed more than forty cities of varying sizes in the west, bringing his population under his rule to over six million.
In addition to his original 150,000 troops, he also recruited 100,000 new soldiers.
Although the population and army are small, the area under its rule is peaceful, barely maintaining a balance with the eldest prince.
As for the Third Prince, he originally occupied more than a hundred cities in the east, with a population of over ten million and abundant finances, making him arguably the most powerful.
However, after Li Ru's meddling and Cao Cao's underhanded tactics, the Third Prince's strength was greatly reduced, and his original advantages disappeared. He can now only defend passively and is powerless to attack.
Thus, the three Kushan kings coexisted, and the three forces barely achieved a balance, with none able to destroy the others.
"These guys are really something, they actually managed to turn the huge Kushan Empire into a three-way melee!"
After reading Cao Cao's memorial and the secret letters from the others, Liu Hong's lips curled into a strange smile.
The idea of dividing the country into three parts sounds wonderful, with one side taking turns on the stage, but the consequences are terrifying. The three forces would fight each other back and forth, and the country's defense capabilities and population would plummet.
At that time, the Han Dynasty will only need to give a gentle push, and the Kushan Empire will crumble in an instant.
Just then, Zhang Rang jogged over.
"Your Majesty, the ministers of the Cabinet, the Privy Council, and the Six Ministries have all arrived and are waiting for an audience outside the hall!"
"Announce!"
"Here you go!"
Zhang Rang agreed, then called out loudly towards the outside of the hall, "Summon all ministers to the hall!"
As Zhang Rang finished speaking, veteran officials such as Cao Song, Yuan Feng, Duan Jiong, and Zhang Huan, as well as younger officials such as Yang Biao and Xun You, entered the hall one after another.
"Your Majesty, we, your humble servants, pay our respects!"
"Gentlemen, please dispense with the formalities and be seated!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!!"
After expressing their gratitude, the officials took their seats in turn.
After everyone was seated, Liu Hong handed the memorials and secret letters on the table to Zhang Rang, who was standing to the side.
"Go and show these things to my ministers!"
"Here you go!"
Zhang Rang respectfully accepted the secret letters and then presented them to Cao Song and the others.
Upon seeing the contents of those secret letters, the assembled ministers were all astonished.
All they knew was that the emperor had sent men to Kushan to carry out various acts of sabotage.
But to their surprise, the people sent by the emperor were so powerful that they split the Kushan Empire into three parts.
The ability of Xi Zhicai, Jia Xu, and Yuan Shao to stir up trouble is truly extraordinary.
Of course, behind these people was Cao Cao, who was secretly plotting against them.
With these guys around, it would be difficult for the Kushan Empire not to perish.
Liu Hong smiled and looked at Cao Song, who was at the head of the group: "Grand Secretary Cao, what is the current situation of the national treasury surplus and the state granaries in various regions?"
"Your Majesty, including overseas mining, royal trading revenue, and foreign trade, the national treasury's annual income is now around 130 million taels."
After deducting annual subsidies for food, military, education, medical care, scientific research, and navigation, there is an annual surplus of 30 million taels.
The national treasury currently holds 80 million taels of silver, and the war reserve grain in official granaries across the country has been restored to about 80%!
Cao Song was intimately familiar with the national treasury silver and local government granaries, reporting them clearly without even needing to draft a report.
Young officials like Yang Biao and Xun You looked at Cao Song with admiration.
The most important job of a qualified prime minister is to have a clear understanding of the court's resources.
Only by having a clear understanding of the situation can we allocate resources properly and assist the emperor in governing the Han Dynasty well.
Liu Hong nodded in satisfaction: "So, the national treasury's silver reserves and the official granaries' grain reserves are fully capable of supporting a major war involving 500,000 people?"
Upon hearing this, everyone present felt a jolt of fear and looked at Liu Hong in disbelief.
Your Majesty, could it be that you intend to send troops to attack the Kushan Empire at this time?
Just as everyone was pondering, Cao Song stood up and replied, "Your Majesty, supporting a major war involving 500,000 people is not a problem, but it should be limited to the vicinity of the Han Dynasty, and the duration should not exceed three years. An expedition is not feasible..."
Since driving the Xianbei and Xiongnu out of the grasslands, the Han Dynasty has been focusing on the development of Liaozhou and the grasslands for the past few years, investing a great deal of manpower and resources.
In addition, with the newly established Yizhou in southern Parthia last year, the current surplus in the national treasury is also due to Cao Song's careful saving.
If we wait a few more years, until the Han Dynasty and Rome begin full-scale trade, and until Liaozhou, the grasslands, and Yizhou start to generate revenue, the Han Dynasty's treasury revenue will increase at least fivefold.
At that time, Cao Song would dare to agree to any large-scale expedition, let alone a battle involving 500,000 people.
But not yet!
Therefore, Cao Song's words were a tactful way of expressing his refusal to allow the emperor to send troops.
"I see!"
Liu Hong murmured softly, then looked at Yuan Feng: "Grand Secretary Yuan, how is the construction progressing in various parts of the Han Dynasty?"
"Your Majesty, the Grand Canal is now fully connected to the north and south, and the highway network centered on Luoyang and Chang'an is under construction. Most of the main roads have been completed."
Currently, the main roads leading from Luoyang to Liaozhou, Yangzhou, and Yizhou are fully open to traffic.
The main road from Chang'an to the Western Regions has already reached Dunhuang, and it is estimated that in another three years, a main road from Dunhuang to Wusun will be completed.
Liu Hong nodded in satisfaction: "Very good. Order the Ministry of Works to immediately send people to the Western Regions for surveying. It would be best to start construction next year!"
"Here you go!"
Upon hearing the emperor's instructions to Yuan Feng, everyone immediately understood.
It seems the emperor is preparing for a campaign against the Kushans.
"Gentlemen, since the Kushan Empire will take several more years, let's discuss the Qiang people!"
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