Big man: I am the Champion Marquis!

Chapter 71 The Emperor's Sword
Huo Xian studied the gun barrel carefully, shook it in his hand, and felt that it was too hard.

It is said that the horse lance was the standard equipment for generals from aristocratic families during the Sui and Tang dynasties, and this was also because the manufacturing cost and cycle were too long.

What kind of wood to choose, what process to use for soaking and drying in the shade, etc., all require continuous practice and exploration.

Even though some spear and gun technologies have been developed, there is still a difference between mass-produced and specially supplied weapons.

The steel-frying method already exists, and Huo Xian can't think of any more ways to improve the production process.

He was trying to improve the manufacturing process of some weapons, watching the craftsmen trying to use a whole piece of steel to wrap a piece of steel in the middle. If he tried more, he might get some surprises and gains.

The steel clamping process and steel cladding are not new things. It is said that they existed in the Warring States Period. They were still used in the Han Dynasty.

Huo Xian planned to try the techniques of pouring steel, clamping steel, wrapping steel and embedding steel, but he was not sure whether he could succeed. With more resources, he could afford the cost of trial and error.

A eunuch came up to Huo Xian and said, "Sir, the Emperor has summoned you."

"Oh, I see!" Huo Xian said to the craftsman without even turning his head, "Hit the blade again and see if you can make it less likely to break!"

After saying this, Huo Xian turned and left.

As soon as he arrived at the gate of Xuanshi, Huo Xian wanted to escape because he saw some ministers. If not now, when would he escape?

"Come here!" Liu Che shouted, "It's either brandishing swords or enjoying yourself. Is my cavalry general just fooling around like this?"

Liu Che said all the good and bad things, but since he was the emperor, his words naturally became the truth.

Huo Shan loved pleasure, and Liu Che supported this because the emperor himself loved pleasure. Liu Che was also happy that Huo Shan didn't care about state affairs, because he didn't want the general to have too much power.

Huo Xian knelt obediently. In the Han Dynasty, the emperor and his ministers mostly knelt when they spoke to each other.

Even during the morning court, the ministers sat on their knees.

Holding a tablet, standing, or kneeling was something that only happened after the Tang and Song dynasties. In the Ming and Qing dynasties, ministers often knelt.

"Li Guangli has disappointed me. Now the troops he led are resting in Dunhuang." Liu Che said, "General Huqi, what do you think we should do?"

Huo Xian replied, "After all, I am a Chinese man, I can order the surrounding counties to deliver supplies."

Li Guangli has begun to threaten Wei Huo, but the threat is small. The most important thing is that the army is now resting in Dunhuang, and the court has no reason to let them fend for themselves.

Liu Che nodded slightly and said, "They need to rest and recuperate. We should give them some supplies. We will conquer Dayuan again next year and this army will have to go into battle again."

Liu Che nodded with relief, "You still know the big picture. Some people have already thought that I shouldn't conquer Dayuan, thinking it would be a waste of money and manpower."

From the perspective of a military officer, Huo Xian said, "We must fight against Dayuan. If we withdraw our troops now, the Western Regions will not accept the might of the Han Dynasty! If the Western Regions are in chaos, it will be difficult to fight the Xiongnu!"

The reason for attacking the Western Regions was not only because of the war horses, but more importantly, controlling the Western Regions would also be of great benefit to sending troops to fight the Huns.

Zhang Qian's biggest mission during his mission to the Western Regions was to contact the countries in the Western Regions to jointly send troops to attack the Western Regions.

It’s a pity that the Dayuezhi was destroyed, and the countries in the Western Regions repeatedly wavered between the Han Dynasty and the Xiongnu.

Shi Qing and others had nothing to say. Now the outer court officials headed by the prime minister had almost become decorations.

No one can disobey the emperor's order, and with the Marquis of Champion cheering on, even if they want to propose a truce, they have to give up at this moment.

Otherwise, they would be like Song Guang and others who have been thrown into jail, and dismissal from office would be the lightest punishment for them.

What's more, there are many people in the court and the country who are in favor of war, and many people understand the importance of the Western Regions to the Han Dynasty.

Liu Che continued to ask, "If we attack Dayuan, what do you think we should do?"

Shi Qing and the others looked at each other, and then Shi Qing spoke, "Your Majesty, we are not familiar with military affairs. Previously, General Ershi's war was not going well, and we thought that the military marquises and generals should discuss military affairs."

Liu Che was very satisfied with Shi Qing's answer. This was exactly the answer he needed.

Many officials had a very low opinion of Shi Qing. This prime minister did nothing during his tenure and almost became the emperor's yes-man.

Liu Che spoke again, saying, "The general reported that the Xiongnu dared not go south, and I decided to order the general to return to the court. What do you think?"

Shi Qing said again, "Your Majesty, the Huns dare not go south, so there is no need to station a large army outside the Great Wall. It is better to send the army back to the capital to prepare for the expedition to Dayuan next year!" Seeing Shi Qing's obedient appearance, some civil servants felt they could not bear to watch. The prime minister had fallen to such a state.

But Shi Qing had no choice. He didn't want to do this, but the reality was that he had to do this.

The first prime minister, Wei Wan, was the emperor's former prince tutor. He was an honest minister who was content with his duties. He served under the reigns of Emperor Jing of Han and Emperor Wu of Han and had a good end.

The second prime minister was Dou Ying, who was killed and his entire clan was exterminated after serving as prime minister for only one year because of the "false Zhao case". The third prime minister, Xu Chang, was also an honest man, but was dismissed from office by the emperor after he took power.

The fourth prime minister, Tian Fen, was the emperor's uncle. He served as prime minister for four years before dying of illness. Liu Che's evaluation was that if Tian Fen were still alive, his entire clan would be exterminated.

Xue Ze served as prime minister for seven years, but there was almost no decent political achievement and he was dismissed from office. Everyone thought that he had a good ending because he was incompetent and had no faults.

Gongsun Hong was the first prime minister of the Western Han Dynasty who was not from an aristocratic family due to his meritorious service, and he was also the first minister to be granted a title of nobility as prime minister. He was indeed capable and had a good end as the emperor's confidant.

Li Cai was Li Guang's cousin. During his tenure, he made outstanding achievements, especially in rectifying the administration of officials, reforming the currency, and monopolizing the salt and iron business. After serving as prime minister for three years, he was investigated for illegally occupying the land of the Han Jingdi Mausoleum. He committed suicide because he did not want to be insulted by the clerks.

Zhuang Qingzhai served as prime minister for three years and committed suicide in prison.

To be the prime minister under Emperor Wu of Han, one must either be a confidant or be mediocre, otherwise there would be no good ending.

The emperor has been continuously weakening the power of the outer court officials. If Shi Qing and others are not smart, they will inevitably die or even their entire families will be exterminated.

Huo Xian expected that the Huns would not send troops south. Wu Shilu might not dare to send troops south, as he would naturally be afraid of the fate of Zuo Xian Wang.

Moreover, winter was not the best season for the Xiongnu to march south. So even if they were angry, they could only endure it.

Liu Che then issued an edict, saying, "General, when you return to the court, you should reward the army and award the military merits as soon as possible. You must not let the soldiers have merits without rewards."

Liu Che then looked at Huo Xian and said, "General Huoqi, you should keep an eye on this matter. The soldiers won the battle, so they should be rewarded and compensated. We must not let them down."

Huo Xian clasped his fists and bowed, "Your Majesty, rest assured. I will not be responsible for the verification of military merits. However, if there is a big discrepancy and the soldiers complain, I will find someone to clarify. If anyone dares to embezzle the soldiers' rewards, I will chop off that person's head first and then come to Your Majesty to apologize!"

Liu Che pretended to be angry and said, "Behead him first and then come to ask for forgiveness. There will be no evidence against him. How can you do that? You are still reckless!"

Shi Qing and others felt a chill down their spines when they heard this. According to the cavalry general's intention, anyone who dared to tamper with military merits and rewards would be killed.

But what Your Majesty meant, although it seemed like you were blaming him, was actually also support!
Huo Xian still looked confused and said, "I hate people who suck the blood of soldiers the most. I will kill them if I see them! If Your Majesty doesn't allow me to kill them, next time I go to war, I will tie up that person's family and clan and drag them to the battlefield to let them know how hard it is for the soldiers to gain military merits!"

"Nonsense!" Liu Che said with a smile, "The court has laws and regulations, and those who break the law will be punished. You dragged people to the battlefield, what kind of thing is that?"

"Qi Keshi!" Huo Xian said directly, "I will convict the seven Keshis first, and they have no choice but to go!"

The so-called seven categories of marriage are: one for an official who has committed a crime, two for being a fugitive, three for being a son-in-law of a concubine, four for a merchant, five for having city registration, six for parents having city registration, and six for the great-grandparents having city registration.

Officials who have committed crimes, those involved in life-threatening lawsuits, sons-in-law who marry into the family, as well as merchants and even the descendants of merchants will all be sent to the frontier to serve!

Liu Che pointed at Huo Xian, looking as if he was too lazy to discipline him. "When that happens, all the officials and merchants in Chang'an will be taken to the battlefield by you. How can I let you act like this? Back off!"

Shi Qing and the others were sweating even more. It didn't seem like the Champion Marquis was just talking casually. The emperor's intention was probably just to control the scope, and he would do so!
It is difficult to have a good ending if you disobey the emperor's will, and now this Marquis of Guanjun is the knife in your majesty's hand.

And it is a very sharp and fearless blade!
After the officials left, Liu Che smiled and said to Huo Xian, "You are really not afraid of offending people. If this statement gets out today, everyone in the government and the public will definitely talk about you."

"I have the trust of His Majesty, so why should I care what they say!" Huo Xian made his position clear, "Your Majesty, if it were me, I would scare them!"

Liu Che was undoubtedly very satisfied with Huo Shan's words. He needed Huo Shan to be a lone minister.

To be more precise, he also had to make Huo Xian a lone minister.

Whether in his own hands or in the hands of the next emperor, Huo Xian should not get close to some officials in the court.

Even though Huo Xian was a newly promoted noble, he could not be too close to the descendants of the founding heroes and some of the relatives. This champion marquis could only be a knife in the hands of the emperor.

"The general will definitely not take care of the army's rewards after he returns to the court, so you should keep a close eye on it." Liu Che smiled and arranged things for Huo Xian, "I have to go to the Jianzhang camp to check on the cavalry these days. I don't know what you are busy with all day long!"

Huo Xian was also helpless. The emperor knew very well what he was busy with, but there was nothing he could do if the emperor insisted on complaining.

It's better to go and do something. Although Huo Xian may make more mistakes than he does now, it doesn't matter. Even if he makes something wrong, there will be someone to cover for him!
(End of this chapter)