My father is Emperor Wu of Han, how can I be different from him?

Chapter 106: There is no reason to guard against thieves for a thousand days

As the officialdom changes heated up, the temperature in the Han Dynasty also rose. It was not because the court was making any big moves, but simply because summer had arrived.

The first court meeting in the first month of summer.

Outside the Xuanshi Hall, Liu Ju walked leisurely with his hands behind his back. The one leading the way today was not the eunuch or the eunuch, but the attendant, Huo Guang.

Yes.

Classmate Huo Guang was promoted to a small position.

"Brother's heart fire symptoms have improved a lot in recent days. Let me tell you that you two doctors don't need to come to your house for follow-up visits as often as before."

"Eh."

Liu Ju said indifferently: "Those two old men are idle all day anyway. If they don't work, they will be supported. Let's find some work for them."

Huo Guang bowed slightly and said with a smile, "Brother expected that His Highness would evade the question like this, and said that since a medical officer was to be sent, someone else should be sent instead."

"Oh?"

Huo Qubing did not stand in front of his cousin, which was exactly what Liu Ju wanted. He asked suspiciously, "Change someone?"

"Yes." Huo Guang bowed with a sincere smile on his face. "A few days ago, a sister-in-law was not feeling well. She wanted to ask Yishuo to come and see her. If she is pregnant, it would be more convenient for the female official to come and diagnose her frequently in the future..."

Liu Ju's eyebrows twitched, and then he laughed heartily, "Hahaha, why not? Congratulations, cousin!"

Since Huo Qubing could say this, it was probably true.

It's rare.

Although Guanjun Hou was extremely opposed to marrying, he was not ambiguous about having a son. Thinking of marrying, Liu Ju stopped smiling and asked, "My cousin, are you going to make your sister-in-law his wife?"

Calling her sister-in-law is actually a respectful title. Huo Qubing did not marry, and the women in his mansion were at most concubines.

Now that one of them is pregnant, there should be a chance for her to be promoted to the main wife. After all, Huo Qubing has never intended to marry.

"Hey……"

Huo Guang laughed dryly and explained, "My brother has no such wish, and my sister-in-law is also a simple person and doesn't ask for too much."

Hear the words.

Liu Ju could only smile bitterly.

After a moment of embarrassment, he did not ask any more questions. Thinking of his recent experience, he smiled vaguely and said, "Ha, my sister-in-law has a good temper, just the opposite of the one in Changning Palace."

The prince changed the subject, and Minister Huo understood the meaning.

But when the prince mentioned the one in Changning Palace, he was just expressing his feelings, and Minister Huo actually agreed!
"That's true."

Huo Guang put his hands in front of him, lowered his head and brows, and said softly: "The one in Changning Palace is a little too anxious."

Liu Ju suddenly slowed down his pace and looked at the other person with a strange look.

It's not like he hadn't chatted with Huo Guang before, but the content of their conversations was always limited to gossip about family matters, food and clothing.

but now.

What they talked about was not some superficial topic!
"The Queen is virtuous, but Li Ji is so aggressive. It's her fault." Huo Guang continued speaking, as if he didn't notice the Prince's strange look.

Huo Guang today.

He is no longer the son of a minor official in Hedong County, and his vision is different now.

Having stayed by the emperor's side for so long, and having seen and heard everything every day, Huo Guang knew a lot about the grievances in the court and the right and wrong in the harem.

He had not previously had deep conversations with the prince because he was listening.

look in!

Looking at the disputes among the upper echelons of the Han Dynasty is one thing, and looking at the interpersonal relationships of one's own brothers is another.

After careful observation, Huo Guang discovered that the Queen and the General were really good to his brother, and that his brother had a very close relationship with the Crown Prince's Palace.

That's the truth.

His elder brother Huo Qubing was tied to death along with the crown prince!

And he himself was tied to death with his brother. In other words, Huo Guang's relationship with the Prince's Palace was also closely connected.

unless.

The link between the two - something went wrong with Huo Qubing, otherwise... well, but how is this possible?
With Huo Qubing around, Huo Guang had no other thoughts. It was also because of Huo Qubing's existence that Huo Guang could only think about the Prince's Palace!

Get along for a long time.

Huo Guang understood his brother's character. With Huo Qubing's current official position and military achievements, if the position of crown prince was replaced, his brother would probably not have a good ending...

The prince can only be his brother’s cousin!
That's the case.

He would naturally think about the prince. Li Ji had been making frequent moves in the harem, and now that the prince had mentioned it, Huo Guang responded and expressed his position.

If it was not long ago.

Even if Huo Guang was loyal to the prince, he would not have spoken to him as frankly as he did today. He was just being cautious.

But why did he respond today?
the reason is simple.

His elder brother was about to have a descendant, and the Huo family was about to welcome the next generation. In order to plan for the future, Huo Guang felt that he could no longer stay out of it. He had to let the prince walk more steadily...

"Now that the third prince is still in his infancy, Li Ji is already impatient. When the third prince reaches adulthood, who knows how many disputes there will be."

Minister Huo was speaking, and the prince was listening.

Hearing this, Liu Ju raised his lips slightly and asked tentatively: "Then what do you think we should do?"

The prince dared to ask, and Huo Guang dared to answer, "If the prince is older, he can be sent to a fiefdom, away from the center of power."

“It makes sense.”

Huo Guang lowered his body and said calmly: "If Li Ji is restless, let her 'stay away' as well."

When a prince goes to his fiefdom to serve his country, it is a departure in terms of distance, but Li Ji is a concubine, and if one wants to keep her away from the center of power, they have to rely on emotional alienation!

That is, fall from favor!

"Haha, haha." Liu Ju looked at Huo Guang, deeply gazing at this talented person who could assist the king, and said with a smile: "You are right. How can we guard against thieves for a thousand days?"

"I have my own concerns about this matter."

He looked ahead and didn't say much about the matter. "The court meeting is about to begin. Let's go into the hall first."

"Yes……"

The scene outside the Xuanshi Hall did not affect the normal convening of the court meeting inside the hall when Liu Ju entered the hall.

Except for the emperor, most people are already in place.

It is worth mentioning that the Imperial Censor Shi Qing is also there. Now, Prime Minister Zhao Zhou is in a state of only going to work but not doing any work.

Although there is a prime minister, it is the same as if there is no prime minister. The Grand Censor acts on behalf of the prime minister.

The power that Zhang Tang had to fight and seize to obtain in the past, Shi Qing now gets it easily.

Ugh.

I can only say that life is unpredictable...

Without further ado, the emperor took his seat and the court meeting began directly.

The Chief Censor spoke first and recounted all the recent government affairs, big and small. The emperor interrupted from time to time and gave some suggestions for adjustments.

This session, rather than being a meeting of business, was more like the emperor developing the ability of a "prime minister in reserve".

After Shi Qing finished speaking, he returned to his original seat, and the others made their reports in unison.

Sang Hongyang cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, the salt and iron officials in each county have been promoted smoothly, and assassinations and disappearances have not occurred again."

"All taxes have been paid to the national treasury."

The salt and iron tax matters that were originally under the jurisdiction of the Shaofu have now been transferred to the Da Nongling. The salt and iron revenues no longer go into the imperial treasury, but into the national treasury.

"Keep an eye on it."

The emperor on the main throne said: "Financial and taxation are of great importance. I plan to use the army again next year, and there must be no mistakes!"

Once you say this.

Everyone in the hall had different expressions. Some, like Sang Hongyang, who was hearing this for the first time, had a tense expression on their faces and bowed solemnly, “Yes!”

There were also those who remained calm, such as General Wei Qing. Wei Qing had known for a long time that the emperor was going to mobilize troops. To be exact, he had known about it as early as last year.

Last autumn, the emperor thought about mobilizing troops, but had to give up because of an unexpected incident. What was it?

Prime Minister Li Cai died...

Although it was the emperor who "invited" him to die, and Li Cai deserved to die, his death was too untimely!

The death of Li Cai triggered turmoil among the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers. Zhang Tang and Zhuang Qingzhai stepped down one after another, and were succeeded by Zhao Zhou and Shi Qing.

The court was in turmoil, and the successors of the three ministers were unable to act on their own. After careful consideration, the emperor decided to delay the decision to mobilize troops.

Delayed until next year!
"I have already explained the matter of military preparation to the general. I am informing you today as a way of keeping you informed." Liu Che looked at Shi Qing and said.

"The Imperial Censor must make plans with the Nine Ministers in advance for the allocation of treasury funds, the requisition of civilian laborers, the counting of horses, the transportation of food and fodder during war, and the post-war cleanup."

"I can tell you the truth right now!"

"Next year's battle will require a much larger force than before, and the logistical pressure will double. You must be prepared!"

Shi Qing looked solemn and bowed solemnly:
"Yes, Your Majesty!"

After these words, the relaxed atmosphere in the hall disappeared.

After the emperor gave Shi Qing instructions, he looked at Wei Qing and said, "In addition to the Northern Army, the general will select some elite troops from the border troops, mainly cavalry."

Wei Qing bowed and said, "Yes!"

After he finished answering, he thought of another thing and said thoughtfully: "Your Majesty, I wonder if we can recruit the Xiongnu cavalry from the five vassal states?"

Ok?
Liu Che frowned and said, "During the battle of Hexi, many Xiongnu soldiers participated in the battle. I even made the Xiongnu generals who made meritorious contributions marquises. How can I not recruit them?"

Wei Qing paused, "The other day, the General of the Cavalry reported that the Xiongnu cavalry from the five vassal states were difficult to conquer, and they were also undisciplined in the army, and their loyalty was not high..."

(End of this chapter)