The Youzhou Camp.
Zhao Changqing and several generals sat around the table.
There was a letter on the table.
The envelope had been opened, and a thick stack of letters lay scattered on the table.
Strictly speaking, this is not a letter, but a memorial to the emperor.
A memorial to the Emperor from Han, a compiler at the Hanlin Academy.
The contents have just been passed around among those present.
After reading it, everyone fell silent.
The tent was deathly silent; no one spoke.
After a long while, someone with an impatient personality finally couldn't stand it anymore and broke the silence.
"This Han Xiuzhuan... I heard he's only eighteen years old?"
A military officer named Li, who had just come from the capital, nodded and said, "He was exactly eighteen years old. I was there when he was paraded through the streets as the top scholar. He still looked like a young man with a youthful face."
General Zhang looked incredulous: "An eighteen-year-old can write such a memorial? Don't try to fool me, old Zhang."
Someone else chimed in, "The memorial is well-written; no wonder he's a top scholar. But the ruthless strategies proposed in it are not something an eighteen-year-old could come up with. Could it be that someone is plotting this behind the scenes?"
"Regardless of whose idea it was, this drastic measure, once implemented... hehe..."
Another general jumped up and said, "Commander, delay might cause trouble! Let's take advantage of the current internal strife in the Wuhuan and their inability to spare any attention. Let's do it!"
Zhao Changqing, dressed in silver armor, scanned the people in the tent with his eyes.
His eyes sharpened, and his right fist slammed down on the table.
"Dry!"
Autumn, the third year of Zhengguang.
Good news kept coming from the border of Youzhou.
In August, Zhao Changqing led his army to attack the Gaoli Kingdom, which bordered the northeastern border.
After suffering ten defeats in ten battles, Gao Li sent envoys with a letter of surrender and gifts, expressing his willingness to pay tribute annually and to recognize Da Gan as his suzerain state.
In September, Zhao Changqing sent men to cut off the trade route from Rouran to Dagan.
The Rouran people on the northwestern border were located at a strategic transportation hub, and all trade routes to the west and north passed through them.
Now that the route has been suddenly cut off, merchants from the Western Regions and the Northern Territory have no choice but to take detours, and Rouran's tax revenue has plummeted.
Left with no other option, Rouran sent people to hold a diplomatic note with Daqian.
They expressed Rouran's willingness to restore trade routes and tax revenue, and indicated their willingness to maintain friendly economic and trade relations with Dagan in the long term, and to reduce tariffs on goods entering Rouran from Dagan by 30%.
In October, the Grand Commander of the Youzhou Army issued an order to ban the sale of goods to the Northern Desert.
The pass leading to the northern desert was closed.
All merchants traveling to the northern desert will be subject to strict inspection.
Merchants were prohibited from transporting essential goods such as salt, iron pots, grain, and medicinal herbs to the northern desert.
Horse plague is currently spreading throughout the entire northern desert region.
The treatment of horse sickness relied entirely on medicinal herbs transported from Da Gan.
However, with Zhao Changqing's intervention, the Northern Desert suddenly lost its continuous supply of medicinal herbs overnight.
Without the medicine, the horses infected humans, and the humans infected the horses, making the situation worse and worse, and it looked like it was about to get out of control.
The Northern Desert sent someone to the Youzhou camp to request an audience with Zhao Changqing.
In November, the internal strife in the Wuhuan Kingdom was finally quelled.
Chakachin unified the southern and northern Wuhuan and imprisoned the eldest prince in the northern palace.
However, after he finished cleaning up his mess, he looked around again—
I was startled.
How come all of Wuhuan's neighboring countries have become Da Gan's lackeys?!
What exactly happened outside while he was fighting amongst himself?
Without a doubt, there are highly capable people behind this great undertaking.
Every step the Youzhou army took struck at the opponent's weak points, leaving them powerless to resist and with no choice but to surrender.
What surprised him even more was that Zhao Changqing was so ambitious.
Even with expert guidance, the ability to quickly subdue the three surrounding countries in just a few months demonstrates a remarkable level of execution.
Four neighboring countries formed an alliance, encircling him.
Chakchin sat on his throne, which was covered with a tiger skin, and gritted his teeth inwardly.
In a mansion in the capital city of Dagan, Han Xiuzhuan was explaining his design to his mother.
“Mother, I have checked the Ministry of War’s records and found that Gao Li’s military strength and financial resources are insufficient to sustain a victory. If we lead our army to attack, and if nothing unusual happens, our army will surely win.”
He Youyou nodded: "Yes, understanding the enemy thoroughly is essential to winning battles, that's true. What about the Rouran?"
“I discovered from the Ministry of Revenue’s archives that our country has very frequent trade relations with the Rouran, and the Rouran collects high transit taxes during transit trade. If we can start from this point, it will be like having their throats in our hands.”
"The Northern Desert?"
"I learned about the horse plague outbreak in the Northern Desert from an official in the Ministry of Rites. I also checked the recent trade records between the two countries and found that their demand for medicinal herbs has increased significantly recently."
He Youyou praised him generously, "Ali, you did a great job and grasped the crux of the problem. However, this matter is of great importance. Why didn't His Majesty entrust it to the Council of State Affairs for discussion, but instead let you handle it alone?"
If those old foxes in the Political Affairs Hall were to discuss these issues, they would probably come up with similar ideas, perhaps with even more sophisticated, ruthless, and deadly methods.
Ah Li looked puzzled: "Mother, I also find it strange. In his letter to the Emperor, the King of Yue specifically instructed me to do this."
He Youyou's expression hardened when she heard him say that.
Zhao Changqing specifically asked Ali to do it?
Instead of having the emperor convene his ministers to discuss the matter?
Could it be...
“Zhao Changqing…he may be intentionally grooming you.”
“Cultivate me?” Ahri was stunned.
King of Yue...
he……
Ah Li glanced at He Youyou silently, then lowered her eyes.
However, He Youyou quickly put the matter out of her mind.
She has more important things to worry about.
The internal strife within the Wuhuan state has been initially quelled, and everything is in need of rebuilding.
This is the perfect time to do business.
He Youyou made sure to remind Cheng Tingrui to pay close attention to the situation in the Wuhuan Kingdom.
Treat your major clients like royalty.
We sell whatever the Jade Emperor needs.
A few days later, Cheng Tingrui held the letter that had arrived from the border, his face grave.
"Youyou, our Jade Emperor is coming to the capital."
He Youyou asked in surprise, "What is he doing in the capital at this time?"
"I heard they're here... for a marriage alliance."
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