Shuhan

Changan.

The Xuanshi Hall was magnificent and golden. Sitting on the dragon throne, Liu Chan was wearing an intricate and exquisite dragon robe embroidered with a five-clawed golden dragon, looking majestic and inviolable.

Although his face looked young, his brows revealed a bit of the emperor's calmness and worry.

Today, he specially summoned Prime Minister Zhuge Liang and Shangshu Ling Fa Zheng, two pillars of the country, to discuss state affairs.

The autumn wind blew through the hall, causing the curtains to rustle slightly, which seemed to indicate that the upcoming topic would be like the wind, stirring up the situation in the court and even the whole world.

Soon, a eunuch outside the palace announced loudly: "Prime Minister Zhuge Liang and Shangshu Ling Fa Zheng have arrived!"

As the words fell, two important ministers slowly stepped into the hall. Their steps were steady and their eyes revealed determination and wisdom.

Zhuge Liang, dressed in the prime minister's robe and holding a feather fan, has a gaunt face and a transcendental temperament between his brows, as if all worldly affairs are under his control.

Fa Zheng, on the other hand, was dressed in official uniform, with a slightly burly figure, a resolute face, and sharp eyes, revealing a decisiveness that should not be underestimated.

The two men walked into the hall, bowed deeply to Liu Chan, and shouted in unison: "Long live the king, long live the king, long, long live the king!"

Liu Chan waved his hand gently, indicating that they could sit down without formalities.

The hall was silent for a moment, with only the occasional bird calls outside the window breaking the solemnity.

Liu Chan did not exchange pleasantries and went straight to the point. His voice was soft but every word was sonorous: "Now the granaries of the Han Dynasty are full, all because of the good harvest in autumn and the hard work of the people. I want to unify the world and send troops to destroy Wei. I wonder if the two ministers think that the logistics can support it?"

Upon hearing this, Zhuge Liang and Fa Zheng could not help but look at each other, with a hint of imperceptible worry in their eyes.

Finally, Zhuge Liang stroked his feather fan, walked forward slowly, and said in a steady and powerful voice: "Your Majesty, if the force is controlled within 50,000, the logistics can be barely maintained; if it exceeds 50,000, the war should not last more than half a year to avoid a shortage of food and grass; if the force increases to 100,000, the war must be controlled within three months, otherwise not only will the food and grass run out, but the logistics line will also be in danger of being cut off, which will affect the spring plowing and autumn harvest next year and shake the foundation of the country."

After hearing this, Liu Chan frowned slightly, as if he was not very satisfied with Zhuge Liang's answer. He asked in confusion: "I have observed that this year is also a bumper year in Guanzhong. Why is the food and grass so tight?"

At this time, Fa Zheng stood up and said in a firm and calm voice: "Your Majesty is right. Guanzhong has indeed had a good harvest, but if we launch a large-scale offensive against Hedong and Hongnong at the same time, the consumption of food and grass will be huge. In addition, although Yangzhou has been recuperating for several years, it has not yet fully recovered. There are also small rebellions in the four counties of southern Jing. If we start a war lightly at this time, I am afraid that the food and grass will not be able to support it, and the national strength will also be greatly damaged."

After hearing this, Liu Chan was silent for a long time, and the atmosphere in the hall became extremely depressing.

In recent years, years of war have exhausted the people and the national treasury is almost empty.

With only 50,000 soldiers and horses, it is impossible to shake the foundation of Wei State, but when he thinks of the ambition to unify the world, he can't help but feel anxious.

Liu Chan spoke again, with a hint of helplessness and expectation in his voice: "Then according to your two nobles, when will we have the foundation to destroy Wei?"

Zhuge Liang pondered for a moment and slowly replied: "If there are no natural disasters or man-made disasters, in another two or three years, the national strength may be restored to a level sufficient to support large-scale wars."

Upon hearing this, Liu Chan could not help but sigh. Two or three years was really too long for an emperor who longed to achieve hegemony.

He looked at Chang'an City outside the window, feeling mixed emotions.

This is not only a test of patience, but also a test of the country's governance capabilities.

At this time, Fa Zheng seemed to see through Liu Chan's thoughts and whispered to him, "Your Majesty, governing a country is like cooking a small fish. You can't be impatient. The current urgency is to consolidate domestic affairs, develop agriculture, and enhance national strength. At the same time, strengthen border defense to prevent Wei's surprise attack. When the time is right, we can conquer the country and succeed in one fell swoop."

Zhuge Liang also said on the side: "Your Majesty, we must first stabilize the country before we can resist foreign aggression. There are many disasters in the Han Dynasty. If these disasters are not resolved and we launch arbitrary wars, there may be disasters." Liu Chan nodded. Although he was still unwilling in his heart, he also understood that being eager for quick success and instant benefits would only plunge the country into a deeper crisis.

Liu Chan's eyes moved back and forth between the two important ministers.

If the late emperor wanted to realize his goal of destroying Wei and reviving Han, he had to first eliminate all hidden dangers in the country.

So, he slowly opened his mouth, his voice was soft but full of unquestionable determination: "What are the hidden dangers within our Han Dynasty?"

Upon hearing this, Zhuge Liang's body shook slightly, and then he stepped forward. His clothes swayed in the wind, and every step he took seemed so steady and powerful.

"From my perspective, the Han Dynasty faces three major threats: the threat of aristocratic families, the threat of meritorious officials, and the threat of new lands."

He looked up at Liu Chan, his deep eyes gleaming with wisdom, and continued, "Your Majesty, the trouble of our Han Dynasty lies first in the aristocratic families. The aristocratic families are deeply rooted and prosperous. In order to maintain their own power and interests, they will inevitably oppose Your Majesty in every way.

Now, before the war breaks out, they can still barely maintain their superficial obedience, but once the war breaks out, there is no guarantee that they will not make some small moves behind the scenes. If the war goes badly, I am afraid they will turn against us in an instant. This trouble must be eliminated. "

Liu Chan frowned when he heard this. He was well aware of the huge and complex power of the aristocratic families. This was not a problem that could be solved in a short time.

But he quickly adjusted his mood and continued to ask: "How should we solve the problem of nobles?"

Fa Zheng exchanged glances with Zhuge Liang, and then he took a step forward, speaking in a steady and powerful voice: "Your Majesty, most of the generals under your command are heroes with outstanding military exploits, but behind their military exploits, there is often an expansion of power.

Many people have become extremely arrogant and oppressed the villagers. Some even resold military supplies and smuggled with the State of Wei. If such behavior is not severely punished, people's hearts may be broken and the nobles may be difficult to control. "

After hearing this, Liu Chan's face darkened. It's not that he had not heard about these things, but due to considerations of friendship, he had never made up his mind to deal with them.

But at this moment, facing the impending war, he understood that if he wanted to destroy Wei, even if he was a meritorious official, he must be severely punished if he made a mistake.

His eyes became firm, as if at this moment, he was no longer the gentle young emperor, but a determined warrior.

"What is the threat from the new land?" Liu Chan asked again.

Zhuge Liang sighed softly, his gaze became far-reaching, as if he had penetrated time and space, and saw the suffering and chaos in those newly conquered lands: "New lands are the places we have recently conquered. These places have not yet won the support of the people, and have been devastated by wars. The people are exhausted, and people with ulterior motives are active everywhere. The secret agents of the Wei State School Affairs Office are even more pervasive. If we do not spend time consolidating these new lands, but just keep conquering them, then sooner or later these places will erupt in unrest and become a hidden danger to our rear."

After hearing what Zhuge Liang said, Liu Chan felt an indescribable heaviness in his heart.

He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, as if trying to get rid of the depression and confusion in his heart.

"Alas." Liu Chan sighed softly, and the sound echoed in the empty hall, sounding particularly clear.

"The country has so many internal troubles. If we rashly launch a war, it will be fine if we win, but if we lose, the consequences will be disastrous. Now, we need to figure out how to solve these three internal troubles."

Zhuge Liang and Fa Zheng looked at each other, and they understood each other without saying much.

But how to solve the three problems?
This is probably not an easy thing to do.

ps: There will be another chapter tomorrow morning. (End of this chapter)