Soon, Zhuge Liang's "Strategy for Pacifying the Southern Surrounding Areas of Ri" reached the cabinet.
After reading Zhuge Liang's strategies, Yang Biao, Tian Feng, and others couldn't help but applaud in admiration.
Just like Liu Hong thought, the cabinet members also believed that Zhuge Liang's strategy was flawless. Not only could it achieve the greatest benefit at the lowest cost, but if this strategy succeeded, it would also set a new trend for the empire's future conquests of other places.
After unanimously approving Zhuge Liang's strategy, the cabinet members discussed the matter of the mission.
After some discussion, the group decided on three candidates. The first candidate was Jian Yong, the newly appointed Vice Minister of Rites; the second candidate was Man Chong, the newly appointed Vice Minister of Justice; and the third candidate was Zhuge Liang, who had submitted the proposal.
The cabinet also gave careful consideration to the selection of these three individuals.
Jian Yong was well-versed in etiquette and eloquent, and his gentle nature gave him the impression of a humble gentleman. As an envoy to the Han Dynasty, he would surely be able to maintain good relations between the various tribes.
Man Chong, known for his strict enforcement of the law and impartiality, was nicknamed "Little Yangqiu." His presence there perfectly embodied the image of the Han Dynasty as fair and selfless.
As for Zhuge Liang, he was both the proposer of the strategy and a favorite of the emperor, so the cabinet would certainly have to give him some face.
Subsequently, several members of the cabinet brought Zhuge Liang's strategy letter to Deyang Palace and reported to Liu Hong the selection of the envoy.
Upon hearing the three candidates announced by the cabinet, Liu Hong nodded and said solemnly, "These three candidates are all good. I intend to send them along."
"Then, Your Majesty, who do you intend to appoint as the principal and who as the deputy?" Yang Biao asked.
Liu Hong pondered for a moment: "The three of them will be deputy envoys. As for the chief envoy, I intend to appoint the third prince, Liu Wen!"
"The Third Prince?"
Upon hearing Liu Hong's chosen candidate, Yang Biao, Tian Feng, and the others were momentarily stunned.
Liu Hong smiled and said, "That's right. The Han Dynasty is determined to take over the area around Rinan, but the situation there is complicated right now, and we need the prince to be in charge."
Grand Secretary Yang Biao echoed, "Your Majesty is right. The prince's status is indeed prestigious, which will enable him to better unite the various tribes surrounding Rinan!"
The cabinet members all agreed with the emperor's opinion. They also knew that whether it was the Kushan Empire, the surrounding areas of Japan, India, Rome, or other places, it was easy to conquer these places, but it was not very realistic to rule them.
Now that the Kushan Empire has already granted a fief to the second prince, the same will surely happen to the surrounding areas of Rinan. It would be good to send the prince out in advance to familiarize himself with the area.
Yang Biao then stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, since you are preparing to send the Third Prince, in addition to the deputy envoys, you should also send some advisors to advise the Third Prince!"
Liu Hong nodded: "This is very necessary. I wonder if you have anyone to recommend?"
"As the saying goes, one should not avoid recommending worthy people even if they are relatives. I have a son named Hao, who is about the same age as the Third Prince and is quite talented. He can certainly share the burden for the Third Prince!"
Yang Biao made no attempt to hide his choice of nominee, directly recommending his second son.
In his view, the current emperor's sons would definitely be enfeoffed in the future, and might even be able to establish their own kingdoms and become kings. He would let his second son go with him, which would not only prevent him from competing with his eldest son Yang Xiu, but also allow the Yang family to expand their influence abroad.
Of course, Yang Biao dared to recommend his second son because he was well aware that the emperor thought the same way.
Cao Cao married five wives, and of the sons they had, the eldest went to Yizhou with the crown prince, and the second went to Kushan with the second prince. This shows that the emperor also hoped that his subjects and families could follow in the footsteps of the royal family and send their descendants out as well.
With the royal family, ministers, and clans taking the lead, the common people will follow suit, thus spreading the Han Dynasty far and wide.
With Yang Biao taking the lead, Xun You, Ju Shou, and others also recommended their second sons, and even the always upright Tian Feng was not left out.
This is a win-win situation both publicly and privately, so Tian Feng naturally wouldn't do anything to spoil the mood.
Soon, the cabinet drafted an edict, dispatching the third prince Liu Wen to the surrounding areas of Rinan to read the emperor's edict of investiture, with Jian Yong, Man Chong, and Zhuge Liang as deputy envoys.
At the same time, Liu Hong also issued a decree to recruit eligible sons, including the second sons of Yang Biao, Xun You, Tian Feng, Cao Cao, Chen Shuo, Yuan Zhen, and a number of other ministers.
The ministers and their families responded enthusiastically to the emperor's decree to recruit the prince, sending their sons to the prince's residence to report for duty.
Although these ministers and their families did not produce any notable figures in history, they were all educated and trained by elites and possessed considerable abilities, which guaranteed their success in unfamiliar environments.
By April, the mission was finally complete.
Outside Luoyang, the Third Prince Liu Wen, after bidding farewell to Liu Hong, set off for his destination with a determined look, just like his eldest and second brothers.
Behind Liu Wen, besides the thousand Imperial Guards who were escorting the delegation officials, there were also more than fifty young men from various families.
These young people, like Zhou Yu, Sun Ce, Ma Chao, and others, will follow the people they serve to create a new world.
Outside Luoyang, watching the delegation gradually disappear into the distance, Liu Hong also looked wistful.
This is already the third son he has sent away, and he will send away even more in the future. Apart from the crown prince, none of his sons may ever have the chance to return to the Han Dynasty.
Although I am getting closer and closer to the goal I set when I ascended the throne, some things are getting further and further away from me, such as family ties.
I came into this world all alone, and I may leave it all alone in the end.
Thinking of all this, Liu Hong, who had been emperor for nearly thirty years, couldn't help but feel a little sad.
"Your Majesty, you...?"
Zhang Rang, who was standing nearby, also noticed that something was wrong with Liu Hong. In a daze, he seemed to see a glimmer of tears in the corner of the emperor's eyes.
He asked himself, having served the emperor for nearly thirty years, that this was the first time he had ever felt sadness in this emperor.
"It's alright, it's just that the wind is a bit too strong!"
Liu Hong smiled and waved his hand, then wiped his eyes before turning and getting into the carriage.
After returning to the palace, Liu Hong did not attend to government affairs, but instead went to Weiyang Palace.
Now, Empress Song is nearly forty years old. Although she no longer has the beauty of her youth, in Liu Hong's heart, Empress Song's position has never wavered.
Only here could Liu Hong feel a touch of warmth and peace in his heart.
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