Call of the Heroes of Chaos in Another World

Chapter 2392 The Southern War Ends, Discussion on Taking Over the Eastern Barbarians

In the seventh year of the Yuanshi era, in the fifth month.

Early summer is the time when vegetation is lush and green, but an urgent report from the northern grasslands, carrying a chilling atmosphere, shattered the tranquility of the Tianjing Palace.

In the cabinet meeting place, Emperor Wang Yu sat in the main seat, his face calm. In front of him was an urgent report from the grasslands that Zhao Gao had just handed over.

Below, four cabinet ministers, Guan Zhong, Zhuge Liang, Zhang Liang, and Yao Guangxiao, sat on either side, all concentrating intently and quickly considering the impact of this matter.

Zhao Anling's dismissal as prime minister naturally meant his withdrawal from the cabinet.

After Kuai Liang became the Right Chancellor, he also withdrew from the cabinet.

Therefore, the current cabinet ministers, including the newly appointed Zhang Liang, consist of five people: Guan Zhong, Zhuge Liang, Zhang Liang, Yao Guangxiao, and Zhang Bin.

Zhang Bin was still in Yue Fei's army and had not yet returned, so naturally only the other four people were present.

"You all have seen the news from the Northern Barbarians," Wang Yu said slowly.

"With the Tuoba and Luandi tribes at the brink of war, Nurhaci will not miss this opportunity. The eastern part of the grasslands is about to descend into chaos."

"Even one move could have far-reaching consequences, and my brother-in-law and Temujin might also be involved!"

As he spoke, Wang Yu's gaze swept over the four high-ranking officials below him, and he continued, "My intention is to take advantage of the fact that the barbarians are fighting amongst themselves and unable to look south, to march east and pacify the Eastern Barbarians in one fell swoop! The reason I have summoned you all here today is to discuss whether we should fight this war, and if so, how we should fight it."

"Your Majesty, this is a golden opportunity, we must seize it!"

"Only by conquering the Eastern Barbarians in one fell swoop and bringing the four routes of the Eastern Barbarians under our control can we greatly reduce the pressure on our northeastern border. Only then can we go all out to advance south or west!" Guan Zhong said decisively after Wang Yu finished speaking.

Dealing with the Eastern Yi during the next major war, or even in the interim period before the next major war, was originally one of the steps in the Han Dynasty's strategy discussed by the cabinet ministers.

"However, General Yue's forces have been hampered since the last conquest of Wang and Long counties. Now, if a two-front war breaks out in the south and east, will it affect next year's plans?" Zhuge Liang asked with some concern.

The foundation of the four regions of the Great Yan Dynasty was already there. Most of them were wealthy areas, and with the cooperation of Xuanyuan Huang's son and a group of former officials of the Great Yan Dynasty, they could restore local order and the ability to generate wealth without much effort.

The four routes of Zhao and Song were taken much later than the four routes of Da Yan, so it might take longer for them to recover their ability to generate new blood.

However, according to their estimates, at the earliest next year or at the latest the year after, the Han Dynasty may not be able to continue its westward expansion, but at least its southward expansion will be guaranteed.

Of course, given the current situation, the Han Dynasty will most likely move south first and then west.

However, if they fight on two fronts, it will inevitably affect their plans for the next major battle.

"In my opinion, it would be better to postpone the southern front and focus all efforts on securing the northeastern war zone. In this way, it should not have too much of an impact on our Han Dynasty!" Zhuge Liang continued to suggest.

This year, the overall theme of the Han Dynasty is not war, but rather the restoration and accumulation of national strength, and the preparation of funds and provisions for the next major war.

The land of the Four Rivers, originally the most central part of the Great Cang, was completely under their control, which was the greatest source of confidence for the Great Han.

However, if a war were to break out on two fronts, the combined forces deployed in both locations at the same time could reach nearly a million, which would have a very direct impact on the Han Dynasty.

However, if we halve this foundation and maintain only one battlefield, the impact on the Han Dynasty will be minimized, if not nonexistent.

Just like when the Great Wu was recuperating a few years ago, it still had the capability to send out around two or three hundred thousand troops to maintain a local battlefield. "The South!"

After this war zone was mentioned, everyone present began to ponder.

After Jiang Chaoyu suffered a major defeat in Wang County and Long County, Jiang Ziya personally went to the front line to help Jiang Chaoyu maintain the war situation.

With Jiang Ziya's assistance, and with a general like Ji Chengfu under Jiang Chaoyu's command, Yue Fei and Guo Ziyi gained no further advantage, and the two sides experienced both defeats and victories.

However, for the Han Dynasty, their goal was to hold off the enemy and prevent the Qian Dynasty from concentrating all its forces to deal with the rebel kings within the country.

However, if they were to open up the southern route at this time, they would have to consider the subsequent changes within the Great Qian Dynasty.

"Your Majesty, the five kings within the Great Qian Dynasty, though nominally supporting the new emperor, are not truly at odds. The Great Han should not push them too hard!"

"Letting it go for a while might actually bring unexpected benefits!" Zhang Liang chimed in at the same time.

Brothers may quarrel within the walls, but they unite against external threats—this is an unchanging truth since ancient times.

Jiang Ziya was able to barely unite the original five kings of the Great Qian Dynasty into a central court, not only because the remaining five kings were the five strongest among the royal princes of the Great Qian Dynasty, though some were stronger and some were weaker, but in the short term, no one else could do anything to the other four.

This is also because of the stimulation they receive from external pressure.

Under these circumstances, perhaps removing this external pressure would allow the five kings to reconcile their internal discord.

"That being said, we must still ensure the supply of materials to Tianwu to slow down his demise. If Tianwu is gone, the last rebel king in the northeast of Daqian will also be gone!" Guan Zhong continued to add.

In the later stages of the Han Dynasty's conquest of the Song Dynasty, after Jiang Ziya had barely managed to assemble the Great Qian central court, he had already pacified the northwest. If he were to pacify the northeast, it would naturally not be in the interests of the Han Dynasty.

Even if this matter is ultimately unavoidable, we should try to slow down the process as much as possible. The longer it drags on, the more advantageous it will be for them.

"good!"

"Then let's do as my beloved ministers suggest!"

"Let's temporarily halt the southern front and focus all our efforts on annihilating the Eastern Barbarians!" Wang Yu finally decided.

Although at this point, a truce with Jiang Chaoyu would indeed be insufficient to effectively slow down the progress of the Great Qian Dynasty.

However, in any case, compared to slowing down the enemy's advance, our own development is obviously more important.

As long as one's own strength is strong enough, even if the enemy develops, it will not affect the destruction of them.

Conquering the Eastern Yi would not only grant access to several territories, but also free up a significant amount of border troops by providing them with the population, resources, and supplies of these regions.

This is even more beneficial for the Han Dynasty.

Of course, in the Southern Theater Command, with the enemy having two great generals, Jiang Ziya and Ji Chengfu, they were indeed unable to take those two counties in one fell swoop in a short period of time.

After all, the Han Dynasty couldn't possibly keep increasing its troops there indefinitely at this time.

(End of this chapter)