The slight punishment of a minor eunuch can be seen as a reassurance to the imperial relatives and scholars.
As for the eunuchs, they were nothing more than servants of the emperor. Beating them was no big deal, since this little eunuch had indeed disobeyed the emperor.
If you can't even do the bare minimum, who else should we hit if not you?
Thinking of this, Xi Zhicai felt somewhat relieved.
Liu Hong looked at Xi Zhicai with a solemn expression and said in a deep voice:
"I have a question, and I need Zhicai to answer it!"
"Your Majesty, please ask."
Xi Zhicai's expression immediately turned serious.
"What do you think is most needed by me and the Han Dynasty right now?"
Xi Zhicai was slightly taken aback. He didn't understand why the emperor would ask such a question. Wasn't the most important thing to do to secure the throne, then take control of the military, and finally gather talented people and control the court?
However, Xi Zhicai quickly dismissed his idea, reasoning that based on his understanding of the emperor, it was impossible for the emperor not to know these things.
Is it a rhetorical question you already know the answer to, or is there another reason behind it?
Xi Zhicai fell into deep thought for a moment.
Liu Hong watched Xi Zhicai quietly, without urging or asking for advice. This was an opportunity and a test for Xi Zhicai. As the saying goes, one's position determines one's perspective. Before, they were good friends and could freely express their aspirations.
Now that he has become the emperor, his thinking naturally needs to change. Seizing power is just the beginning; Liu Hong's goal is a much larger empire.
After a moment, Xi Zhicai opened his eyes and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, in my opinion, there are two urgent matters at present."
Which two?
"First, we need to create momentum so that all the people and scholars in the world know that His Majesty is virtuous and loves the people, as well as his determination to make good use of scholars. Only in this way will those people in the court and the palace be wary and make choices. His Majesty can also take this opportunity to gather a group of talents for his own use."
"Yes, there's more!"
"And then there's the issue of the Western Qiang."
"Oh? The Western Qiang?"
"Indeed... As Your Majesty is surely aware, in recent years, numerous tribes of the Western Qiang have frequently rebelled, incurring enormous expenses and depleting the national treasury, leaving the country unable to strengthen its defenses in the north. This has given the Xianbei, Xiongnu, and other northern tribes the opportunity to rise. Furthermore..."
As he continued, Xi Zhicai realized something was amiss and stopped talking.
Liu Hong disagreed, saying, "Furthermore, the late emperor was not discerning in his choice of officials and was indecisive about the Western Qiang issue, which led to instability among the Qiang people and mired the Han Dynasty in this quagmire!"
"That's exactly right!"
At this time, the literati of the Han Dynasty still held them in awe and respect. Even someone as free-spirited and unconventional as Xi Zhicai dared not easily discuss the emperor's rights and wrongs, let alone in front of the emperor.
"Hmm, I wonder if Zhicai has any brilliant ideas?"
"The only way to solve this problem once and for all is to divide and conquer the Qiang people by completely integrating them into the Han Dynasty and turning them into Han people!"
"Oh? How do you divide and devour?"
"The most important task at present is for His Majesty to appoint a renowned scholar as the governor of Jincheng, grant titles to the Qiang chieftains who have submitted, and then allow them to relocate to the inner city."
After all, the Qiang region is harsh and cold. Once the Qiang leaders moved to the inner city and enjoyed the prosperous urban life, they would certainly not want to return to that place.
Once they are away from their people for too long, their control over them will disappear, making it much easier to appease and educate the Qiang people.
"Zhi Cai's plan is brilliant!!"
Liu Hong largely agreed with Xi Zhicai's methods, believing that neither annihilation nor appeasement could completely solve the problem.
Whether due to ethnic customs or the prejudices of the literati, the Qiang people have become an unstable factor. Only by completely integrating them into the Han Dynasty and making them subjects of the Han can the problem be solved once and for all.
Although the Western Qiang is not the most pressing issue at present, we still need to have the necessary strategic vision.
Just like Zhuge Liang's Longzhong Plan, Liu Bei only had a small county town at the time, but Zhuge Liang devised a plan for him to divide the world. This long-term strategic vision alone is enough to prove his ability.
"Your Majesty, this plan is good, but it will take a long time, and it will be difficult to see results even within three to five years!"
"Time? Does Zhicai really think we're short of time?"
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