A son who doesn't resemble his father? Love you, old man, see you at Xuanwu Gate!

Chapter 105 Military Reform
The willows are dark and the flowers are in bloom, but the lights are brilliant.

As the topic of the spring expedition came up, the atmosphere in the Xuan Shi Hall became even more enthusiastic.

Zhang Qian would first accompany Huo Qubing as a colonel to guide the army and completely eliminate the remaining forces of the Xiongnu on the right flank in the Hexi Corridor. After the army returned in triumph, Zhang Qian would then be sent as an envoy of the Han Dynasty to various countries in the Western Regions.

In addition to persuading the Wusun to return east, the mission also aimed to recruit other small kingdoms in the Western Regions to submit to the Han Dynasty, in order to demonstrate the power and prestige of the great Chinese nation.

Liu Ju granted Zhang Qian, as an envoy, considerable autonomy, including but not limited to the power to declare war on or even destroy small states in the Western Regions.

This is the essential difference between subduing the Western Regions with military might and bribing them with lavish gifts. With the reminder from Chancellor Gongsun Hong, the way the Han Dynasty interacted with foreign tribes underwent a major change from then on.

Everyone in the hall thought there was no problem. His Majesty had done too much to show favor to foreign tribes. Those people enjoyed the preferential treatment of the Han people, but they didn't even learn the basic Han language. Their behavior was no different from when they were with foreign tribes. If education could not play its due role, then the only option was to reform them with heavy blows.

Let's see whether virtue or power is more useful!

The palace gates were tightly closed.

Eunuchs and palace maids were forbidden from appearing within a hundred paces of the Xuan Shi Hall, and the discussion of politics officially entered an important phase.

Imperial Censor Zhang Tang stood up and respectfully reported, "Your Majesty, I believe that Your Majesty's original plan to have Marquis of Champion, Li Guang, Li Gan, and Han Shuo each lead 10,000 cavalry to attack the Hu Pass is inappropriate."

This spring campaign strategy.

His Majesty originally intended for Huo Qubing to lead the army alone, and the special performance venue set up for Huo Qubing was intended to make the Marquis of Champion known throughout the world.

But plans can't keep up with changes. The sudden rise of the Crown Prince's palace, the alliance of the Grand General, the Marquis of Champion, and the Twelve Generals of the Northern Army, angered and threatened His Majesty. He was eager to promote a rising star in the army to challenge the Grand General and the Marquis of Champion.

However, while there are plenty of ordinary soldiers, talented generals are hard to find. His Majesty could only choose the best among the worst, picking and choosing, and finally selected Li Guang, Li Gan, and Han Shuo. He planned to use a numerical advantage, three against one, to defeat the Marquis of Champion on the battlefield.

Suppress the military power of the Grand General and the Marquis of Champion, and raise flags for the three generals Li and Han.

The awkward thing is that before the spring expedition even began, His Majesty couldn't hold on any longer and had to retreat to a detached palace. Now, even that's no longer safe, so he's gone on a southern tour.

The emperor walked from the Northern Army camp into Chang'an, entered Weiyang Palace, and became the de facto ruler of the Han Dynasty as the crown prince.

Li Guang, Li Gan, and Han Shuo were still prisoners of the Marquis of Champion at this very moment.

Therefore, the strategy for the spring expedition will be decided by the ruler.

“Li Guang is acceptable, but Li Gan and Han Shuo are two junior officers who lack the experience and ability to lead an army independently. I implore Your Majesty to consider the lives of the soldiers, the strategy of the spring campaign, and the well-being of the Han Dynasty, and to remove Li Gan and Han Shuo from their positions as commanders of the army.” Zhang Tang said respectfully.

Not everyone in the world is like Wei Qing or Huo Qubing, capable of winning a single battle and being ennobled as a marquis or general. How many people throughout history have been like Wei Qing or Huo Qubing?

Zhang Tang wasn't saying that Wei Qing and Huo Qubing were unprecedented figures, and he believed that the Han dynasty would produce many talented people who could produce such figures again, or even surpass them. But to say that Li Gan and Han Shuo were such figures was to be playing with the lives of the soldiers.

After more than a decade of war between the Han and the Xiongnu, the Han Dynasty's population, wealth, and resources were greatly depleted, and it could no longer afford the loss of tens of thousands of light cavalry.

Let's be frank. We can't let His Majesty continue to act recklessly. Liu Ju nodded, looked at his trusted ministers from both the central and external courts, and asked, "What are your thoughts?"

The discussion quickly reached a consensus, and they all said in unison, "We believe that what the Grand Censor said is absolutely right!"

Let alone Li Gan and Han Shuo, even Li Guang was considered unqualified by many civil and military officials of both dynasties. He was not a marquis, his military leadership was incomprehensible, the soldiers he led did not return, and he was full of complaints.

Did he really think that just because he earned the title of "Flying General" among the Xiongnu, he would be recognized in the Han Dynasty?

If it weren't for considerations of His Majesty's feelings, political balance, and Li Guang's decent personal abilities, Li Guang would have been relieved of his post as General of the Spring Expedition.

"In that case, Li Gan is relieved of his post as General of Cavalry and Han Shuo as General of Light Chariots. Li Guang remains General of Valiant Cavalry. Li Gan will be his deputy and Han Shuo will be his colonel. The three of them will lead an army into battle." Liu Ju issued an edict, changing the commanders of the spring expedition strategy.

Huo Qubing had an army of 10,000 cavalry, Li Guang had an army of 10,000 cavalry, and there were still 20,000 cavalrymen missing two commanders. The eyes of the generals of the Northern Army lit up immediately.

Who wouldn't want to lead an army and be ennobled?

Among them, some had not yet been granted titles and honors for their military achievements, while others had been granted titles and honors for their military achievements but were later pardoned for their crimes. This was an opportunity.

Without hesitation, General Gongsun Ao moved to the center of the hall, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, I request to lead an army."

Li Xi, Su Jian, Zhao Shiqi, Zhao Anji, Guo Chang, Xun Zhi, Gao Bushi, Zhao Ponu, and even Zhang Qian stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, your subject requests to fight!"

Lu Bode and Zhang Cigong felt a little regretful, as they were going to fight against the Southern Yue Kingdom, and they couldn't join in the excitement.

Although it was regrettable, the thought of being granted a title and generalship after conquering the Nanyue Kingdom made it all worthwhile.

"General Gongsun, why don't we just let it go?" Zhang Tang suggested.

Gongsun Ao's eyes immediately turned towards him, his anger undisguised.

Zhang Tang, however, was unconcerned and continued, "In the sixth year of Yuanguang, you, along with the Grand General, Gongsun He, and Li Guang, each led ten thousand cavalry into battle. Gongsun He did not encounter the Xiongnu army and achieved no victories. Li Guang was defeated by the Xiongnu and captured, but escaped by feigning death to seize his bow and horse. As for you, you were defeated by the Xiongnu at the very beginning, losing seven thousand soldiers. You deserve to be executed, but your life was redeemed with money. Why not entrust the important task of leading the army to someone else?"

Among the generals of the Han Dynasty, Gongsun Ao was generally considered to have bad luck on the battlefield. He encountered the main force of the Xiongnu at the start of the battle and got lost and missed the appointed time. Although the concept of luck is mysterious, it is better for people like Li Guang and Gongsun Ao not to be appointed as military commanders.

The imperial court has mobilized so many light cavalry; it's not easy. We don't want them to be wiped out in one battle, and besides, we don't want to affect the main army's transport.

Noticing the gazes of the crowd, Gongsun Ao wanted to retort but couldn't open his mouth. In past battles, the odds of winning when he led the army alone were worlds apart from those when he followed the general. Who could he complain to?

"I have no intention of appointing a new general."

As anger rose, Liu Ju spoke up: "The intention is to unite our forces, with General Wei and Marquis of Champion Huo Qubing leading 30,000 light cavalry to utterly defeat the Xiongnu!"

(End of this chapter)