The Great Han Dynasty: From Feng Lang Juxu to the Eternal Emperor

Chapter 412 Pirates
When Zhang Qian came forward to 'threaten', both parties calmed down. After all, no one dared to have a real fight with the big man.

Although there is anger in my heart, I have to hold it back now.

Of course, the most important thing was the Han Dynasty's exercises in the previous two days, which really shocked them.

After realizing the gap in military strength between themselves and the Han Dynasty, they had to shut up at the negotiation table.

Confrontations between countries have always been about who has the bigger fist and who has the right.

Now let alone Loulan and Dawan, even if all the sixteen countries in the Western Regions unite, they may not be enough to defeat the Han Dynasty.

……

In early September of the first year of Yuanding, Zhang Qian and Huo Qubing returned to Chang'an from the Western Regions.

This time Huo Qubing barely made any effort. He was still hoping that Loulan and Dawan would really fight, so he would go in to stir things up, and take the opportunity to take down Loulan and Dawan.

Weiyang Palace.

Huo Qubing said excitedly: "Uncle, you didn't look!"

"I went to the military exercise for four days, and on the fifth day Master Zhang brought them here to talk."

"At first, they refused to give in to each other. Master Zhang said that if you continue to argue, that land will belong to us big men..."

"Well, it was solved so easily."

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty smiled broadly and said to Huo Qubing, "Is Zhang Qian so powerful?"

"Isn't it your cousin who is the most powerful?"

"If he hadn't proposed military exercises, how could those countries in the Western Regions be frightened by us? How could Zhang Qian shine at the negotiating table?"

Huo Qubing chuckled and said, "That's true. My cousin's proposal is very good."

Sang Hongyang stood aside and nodded repeatedly.

The deterrent effect of this kind of military exercise is self-evident. The most important thing is that it does not require too much financial support.

If it really turned into a military intervention, it would require strong financial and food support from the Ministry of Revenue, which was naturally not what the Han Dynasty wanted to see.

The chiefs of the three provinces and six ministries were discussing political affairs in Qilin Hall.

Outside the main hall, an eunuch hurriedly came over, cupped his fists and said, "See your Majesty."

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty waved his hand and said, "What's the matter?"

The eunuch said: "The Minister of War said that he has something urgent to report."

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty looked at Wang Hui suspiciously. Wang Hui shook his head and said, "Your Majesty, I don't know what happened."

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty said: "Proclaim it."

Not long after, the Minister of War hurried to the main hall, clasped his fists and said, "Your Majesty, Gongsun Ao has sent an urgent military report from the southeast."

"Pirates invaded villages in the southeast, robbed and killed hundreds of people, and took away countless amounts of property and food."

After the words fell, the hall fell into silence.

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty had a rosy complexion, slapped the document angrily and said, "How outrageous!"

"Gongsun Ao still has the nerve to write a letter?"

"Where are the people? Where are the pirates?"

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty was about to issue an order to warn Gongsun Ao, but was stopped by Wei Ning. Wei Ning hurriedly said: "Father, there are no ships in the southeast."

"Gongsun Ao has no way to go to sea to pursue the enemy."

Previously, Weining had been asking the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of War to build ships, but everyone believed that there would not be too many threats in the southeast, so this matter has been postponed.

As the economy of the Han Dynasty began to develop rapidly, the output of food crops increased, and the Jiangnan region became more and more developed, finally attracting the attention of pirates.

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty suppressed the anger in his heart.

What Wei Ning said is not unreasonable. Gongsun Ao cannot be blamed for this. In fact, the Han Dynasty's navy did not develop at all.

There are no ships in the southeast, and many ships cannot go to the sea. It is okay to walk inland, but the ships will soon corrode at sea, and they may not be able to catch up with the pirates. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty looked at Wang Hui and asked, "What suggestions does the Ministry of War have?"

Wang Hui cupped his fists and said, "This revenge must be avenged, but now we need to be patient."

"I suggest that Gongsun Ao first step up his defense of the southeastern sea area..."

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty interrupted him and said: "The southeast coastline is so long, how can he defend it?"

"Are we going to station troops along the southeastern coastline?"

Wang Hui was stunned by the question and didn't know how to answer for a while.

Weining came forward to explain to Wang Hui: "Why not learn from beacon towers and build outposts every few miles along the southeast coastline?"

Wang Hui glanced at Wei Ning gratefully. He knew that no matter what Wei Ning said was right or not, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty would not reprimand Weining.

Weining was saving himself, otherwise the angry Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty would not know what he would do.

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty asked Weining: "Build outposts for several miles, not to mention whether there are so many troops in the southeast. What if it is night? How to defend?"

After all, it is not land. City walls can be built on land, but city walls cannot be built in the southeast.

He was just a little insignificant Japanese pirate. For a big man to go to war in such a big way was obviously not worth the gain. To put it bluntly, it was a waste of troops and finances.

Zhao Zhou came out and said: "Your Majesty, it is better to send troops to protect each village first. This way the loss of troops will be smaller."

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty nodded and said, "What next?"

It can't go on like this forever.

Zhao Zhou said: "Check."

"Let Gongsun Ao investigate the origins of these pirates first."

At first, Wei Ning subconsciously thought that these pirates were Japanese pirates, but then he thought about it, and now Japanese pirates have not become a phenomenon. The name Japanese was given to them by Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, and Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty has not yet given it to them.

Then the origin of this group of pirates is slightly suspicious.

Even if the Japanese slaves move in full force now, they may not have the ability to build ships and sail to the Han country, let alone pretend to be pirates and rob the Han country?
This is impossible no matter how you think about it.

Zhao Zhou's suggestion was very good, and Wei Ning also nodded secretly.

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty looked at Zhao Zhou and asked, "Who should I ask to investigate?"

Gongsun Ao was responsible for the military affairs in the southeast, so naturally he couldn't spare the time to investigate the origins of the pirates.

Zhao Zhou suggested: "Let the governors and prefects of the southeastern coastal counties jointly investigate."

Wei Ning hurriedly said: "No!"

"Father, I suggest sending people from the imperial court to the southeast to investigate."

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty glanced at Wei Ning doubtfully, not knowing what he meant, but he still listened to Wei Ning's words and said, "Tell me who to let go."

Huo Guang is revising the law, and the three provinces and six ministries are each performing their duties. The Yushitai can send people there, but now there is no one available at the Yushitai, and most of the people have been sent to monitor the place.

Wei Ning thought for a while and said, "Father, why not send my cousin to the southeast."

Huo Qubing hurriedly said: "Your Majesty! I am willing to go to the southeast to find out the origin of the pirates!"

He had been holding back in Chang'an for a long time, and was called back before he had enough time in the Western Regions. This time he might not be able to go to the southeast to fight a war.

He hasn't fought in a sea war yet, and he really wants to try it.

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty looked at Huo Qubing's eagerness to try, so he helplessly covered his forehead and said, "Okay, you go to the southeast."

"Remember, you are here to investigate, not to fight. You must distinguish clearly."

Huo Qubing hurriedly said: "I obey the order!"

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty waved his hand and said: "Everyone, go down. Qubing, you stay."

"According to the order!"

(End of this chapter)