I, the prince, only want to be deposed.

Chapter 358: Battle to establish prestige in the Western Region!

Weiyang Palace, Shiqu Pavilion.

A group of inner court officials, including Wei Qing, looked solemn, as if something bad had happened.

Liu Che glanced at everyone and said straight to the point:
"A few days ago, Jiang Chong came back and brought me a letter from the new Xiongnu Chanyu Wuwei, who wanted to restore the previous marriage system with the Han Dynasty and asked the Han Dynasty to send a princess and money and property."

"I laughed at that time. He was just a stray dog ​​that I drove out of Mo Nan."

"If Huo Qubing had not suddenly passed away, there would have been no place for the Xiongnu to survive in Mobei. How dare you be so arrogant? This is the way to seek death!"

"I didn't expect that the Xiongnu people themselves dared not challenge me, but took advantage of the small countries in the Western Regions, instructing Loulan, Gushi and other countries to rob and kill Han envoys, blocking the trade route of our great Han Dynasty."

"Tell us what you think about this matter."

Upon hearing this, Sang Hongyang spoke first:

"Your Majesty, I think that the Xiongnu are now far away in the northern desert. A few days ago, when the eldest prince went to the Korean Peninsula, Your Majesty sent General Gongsun He of Fuju and General Zhao Po Nu of Xionghe to lead 20,000 cavalry each to go deep into the desert for more than 2,000 miles to search for the enemy. Although the two generals returned without success, it can be seen that the Xiongnu had no courage to fight."

"Therefore, the Xiongnu should not be able to pose a threat to the Han Dynasty for the time being."

"On the contrary, it is the small Western countries such as Loulan and Gushi located on the Western Trade Road that have truly affected the interests of the Han Dynasty. After all, the eldest prince has discovered a silver mountain overseas, and a steady stream of silver mines are being shipped back from overseas. After the smelting plant in Youbeiping County is built, silver will also be continuously sent to Chang'an."

"Although these silvers are not considered as currency in our Han Dynasty, they are the currency recognized by the Western Regions. We must ensure that this trade route is unobstructed in order to maximize the effectiveness of this silver mountain."

"Therefore, I suggest that Your Majesty should send troops to attack Loulan and Gushi as soon as possible."

"This will deter other small countries, ensure smooth trade routes, and safeguard the interests of the Han Dynasty. It will also weaken the Xiongnu and make them less capable of competing with the Han Dynasty. It will kill two birds with one stone."

"Um……"

Liu Che first glared at Sang Hongyang, warning him not to call Liu Ju by his current name again, and then nodded slightly.
"Wang Hui, you have been on diplomatic missions to the Western Regions many times. How much do you know about Loulan and Gushi?"

"To reply to your Majesty, Loulan and Gushi are mostly blond-haired and blue-eyed Tocharians."

Wang Hui, who was fortunate enough to attend the inner court meeting for the first time as an envoy, bowed and replied,

"As far as I know, both countries should have more than 1,500 households, totaling more than 15,000 people, each with thousands of cavalry. These thousands of cavalry are also of varying quality. If the Han army marches west through Yumen Pass to attack them, it should not be too difficult."

"But attacking only two countries may not be enough."

"There are thirty-six small countries in the Western Regions, and these small countries together form a trade route to the Parthian Empire."

"Because they have been under the rule of the Xiongnu for many years, their fear of the Xiongnu has penetrated into their bones. However, our Han Dynasty envoys have always treated them with courtesy, which has caused these small countries to lack awe."

“Once the Xiongnu envoys arrive, these small countries will immediately compete to attach themselves to them, and will be subservient to the Xiongnu, making things difficult for our Han envoys and caravans. I’m afraid it will be difficult for the trade routes to remain open…”

Upon hearing this, Sang Hongyang immediately said:

"Your Majesty, why don't you use the 'United Protectorate' strategy that the eldest prince implemented on the Korean Peninsula not long ago."

"Those small countries in the Western Regions feared the Xiongnu because they had often attacked them before."

"I have no respect for the Han Dynasty, not only because our Han Dynasty is a country of etiquette, but also because our military force has never set foot in the Western Regions."

"If the Han Dynasty also establishes a 'United Protectorate' in the Western Regions, the Han army stationed there will not only be able to intimidate them, but also be able to coordinate their troops. It will be difficult for the Xiongnu to reach out to the Western Regions, and the trade routes will be safe..."

Before he finished speaking, Liu Che's brows had already furrowed:

"Sang Hongyang, what's wrong with you?"

This was the third time that Sang Hongyang had called Liu Ju by the wrong name. Sang Hongyang, who was good at mental arithmetic, was very particular about details, and at least he had never made such a mistake before. Therefore, Liu Che had reason to suspect that this guy was calling Liu Ju by the wrong name on purpose.

"Your Majesty, please forgive me. I will be more careful next time!"

Sang Hongyang bowed his head and apologized.

Wei Qing and Gongsun He, who were standing by, saw and heard everything, but they kept their eyes lowered and remained silent.

Liu Ju had just been deposed as the crown prince. Wei Qing, as Liu Ju's uncle, and Gongsun He, as Liu Ju's uncle-in-law, needed to keep a low profile. The two had already reached a consensus in private.

However, they felt that although Sang Hongyang called Liu Ju's name incorrectly three times, what he said could not be regarded as irrelevant.

After all, it was Liu Ju who found the silver mountain, and the silver mines were transported to Chang'an.

The "United Protectorate" was indeed proposed by Liu Ju, and a pilot project has been completed on the Korean Peninsula.

I just wonder what Liu Che feels now?

Liu Che no longer paid attention to Sang Hongyang, but looked at Wei Qing and others:
"what about you?"

"I support Chancellor Sang Nong's proposal."

"I second the proposal..."

"Seconded……"

Basically, everything that needed to be said about Sang Hongyang had been said. In addition, the inner court formed by Liu Che himself was originally a pro-war faction that opposed generous bribes and marriages, and advocated the concept of "the affairs of the present and the benefits of future generations". Naturally, there was nothing much to say.

"In that case, let's not discuss this matter any further. Wei Qing, you lead the inner court to come up with a charter for me to review as soon as possible. Sang Hongyang, you also go and check the treasury so that I know how to fight this war to establish my power in the Western Regions."

Liu Che nodded and was the first to leave Shiqu Pavilion.

As soon as I walked out of the gate of Shiqu Pavilion, Su Wen came to greet me holding a scroll of bamboo slips:
"Congratulations, Your Majesty. Congratulations, Your Majesty. The eldest prince has just sent someone to announce the good news that Your Majesty has a grandson!"

"I am a grandfather now?"

Liu Che couldn't help but be stunned for a moment, unable to hide the surprise in his eyes.

Even though he is not even fifty yet, he is actually already old enough to have a grandchild. After all, people get married and have children early these days, and many people become grandfathers in their thirties.

But this cannot be blamed on anyone else. It is just that Liu Che's son was born too late, which would be considered late marriage and late childbearing in later generations.

"That's right. Today at 3:30 pm, the adopted son of Bowang Garden gave birth to a baby boy. Both mother and child are safe!"

Su Wen quickly added.

"Why are you so happy that your son gave birth to a son?"

Liu Che glanced at him again and said in a cold tone,
"Come to think of it, I remember that Yi Shuo seemed to be pregnant a little longer than the average person, right?"

"According to what I know, the child should have been pregnant for more than fourteen months..."

Su Wen bowed.

Liu Che had not paid much attention to this little thing before. Upon hearing this, his expression changed again, with a hint of surprise flashing across his face:
"Isn't that the same time period as Emperor Yao's pregnancy?"

(End of this chapter)