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

Chapter 19 Has He Always Been So Brave?
"The general's words seem to indicate that the Champion Marquis's adventure will be successful? Not necessarily!"

"According to Marquis Bowang, there are many Xiongnu tribes in Hexi, among which the Hunxie and Xiutu tribes are the most respected. The western hinterland that Marquis Guanjun wants to attack is where the Hunxie tribe is located."

"Even if he travels a long way to get there, how can he guarantee victory? Rather than being completely defeated!?"

Li Cai looked directly into the general's eyes, showing no fear at all.

He also has the capital to not be afraid.

The three highest officials in the court today are the prime minister, the grand marshal, and the chief censor. The position of grand marshal has been vacant for a long time, and only two are left.

However, the two of them now have to make a discount.

do not forget.

Prime Minister Gongsun Hong is nearly eighty years old!
Old and frail, Gongsun Hong fell ill again not long ago. Anyone with a discerning eye could see that he might have to retire...

And Li Cai, the Imperial Censor who gave up his military career to pursue literature, is the best candidate to succeed him!
now.

He is not the prime minister, but he is better than the prime minister. He is one of the three highest officials in the country, and in fact he holds all the three highest positions. It is no problem for such a person to challenge the general.

While Wei Qing was still pondering, Huo Qubing, who was standing beside the palace, stood up and said coldly: "I don't trust the Imperial Censor. I am willing to issue a military order on the spot!"

"If you lose, bring your head to me!"

Straightforward words don't work in the court. Li Cai heard them like wind in his ears and immediately refuted them:
"Marquis Guanjun has said this more than once, and I will say it again. Your life and death is a small matter, while the lives of tens of thousands of soldiers are a big matter!"

"Who can guarantee that when you lead the Han men into the desert, you will bring back a great victory instead of a pile of withered bones?"

The voice just fell.

A steady voice rang out from the other end of the hall, "I'm willing to be your guarantor."

Wei Qing looked ahead and said calmly, "I, Wei Qing, am not a talented person, but I have fought in a few battles and I think I have some ability. The people I teach will not be bad!"

Hear the words.

Huo Qubing, whose blood was boiling, suddenly calmed down and stopped arguing.

The other generals in the hall also looked at each other in bewilderment.

Every single general present had fought under Wei Qing, and some had even been granted titles of nobility under him!

This was the case with Zhang Qian's title of Marquis of Bowang, and also with Gongsun Ao and Gongsun He.

Who doesn't know how good the general is at fighting?

The then Imperial Censor, Marquis of Le'an, Li Cai, also knew this, because the battle that won him the title of marquis was also led by Wei Qing!

"The general has his own reputation, how could I not know that?"

Li Cai stepped forward and said in a serious tone, "In the past, the attack on Longcheng and the surprise attack on the Right King of the Xiongnu were all outstanding achievements of the general."

"I admit that I am not talented, and I am really humble."

At this point, he suddenly changed the subject: "But you are you, Captain Huo is Captain Huo, and there are good teachers and bad students, how can they be mixed up?"

"Besides, Captain Huo is the general's nephew. Who knows if he is biased?"

as predicted.

As soon as Wei Qing opened his mouth, someone would bring this up. Why did he avoid suspicion before? The answer lies here.

"okay!"

At this time, Liu Che, who was sitting in the main seat, interrupted the argument and said, "I said that we should promote people regardless of their relationship with us, so please stop talking nonsense, Imperial Censor!"

Li Cai bowed when he heard this. Even without mentioning the uncle-nephew relationship, he also had something to say.

"Your Majesty, we should indeed send troops to Hexi as quickly as possible, but we don't necessarily have to take dangerous measures..."

Inside the Xuanshi Hall, the Grand Censor was still making an impassioned speech.

Right side of the main hall.

After listening for so long, Liu Ju finally understood what he heard. He thought to himself, "Oh, the old fellow my cousin is scolding is this guy, right?"

"sure!"

Facing the fierce attacks from the champion marquis and the general, has Li Cai always been so brave?
Now this person has said that steady and cautious progress can also lead to a quick victory. The key is that the emperor father was really moved by his words and looked like he was frowning and thinking.

On the dragon couch.

Liu Che tapped lightly on the imperial desk, his eyes moving around.

The Hexi Corridor must be taken as soon as possible. This place is close to the capital of the Han Dynasty, and we cannot allow others to sleep next to our bed.

From his heart, Liu Che preferred Huo Qubing's strategy.

On the one hand, we are optimistic about him, but on the other hand, the pressure on the national treasury is too great. If we can win the battle in one go, we should try not to fight a second time.

Besides, the second time, there may be more soldiers mobilized!

just.

If he took the risk and suffered heavy losses, it was not what Liu Che wanted to see... While he was thinking, he glanced at Liu Ju who was frowning below, and his heart couldn't help but move.

At this time, Li Cai also said at the end, "Your Majesty, I insist that this battle should be based on stability, and we should advance step by step!"

After saying this, the Imperial Censor bowed and looked up at the Emperor.

Never thought about it.

His Majesty did not respond to him, but turned his head and asked a person on the right: "Prince, what do you think?"

Prince?

Not only Li Cai, but everyone in the hall looked at Liu Ju who was in the front row.

When the prince entered the palace earlier, the generals had their own guesses, but they did not express them because they were about to discuss the matter.

At this moment, His Majesty specifically asked the Crown Prince to reply, and they couldn't help but imagine, does His Majesty's actions mean that the Crown Prince is going to start participating in politics?
For a while.

Some are excited about it, while others are indifferent.

But no matter what, everyone kept silent tacitly, and the hall became so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.

"cough."

Liu Ju cleared his throat, stood up and bowed.

Since the emperor asked sincerely, the prince should... tell him seriously.

Only clear tones were heard in the hall, humble yet resolute.

"Father, what the Imperial Censor said earlier is reasonable. It is not wrong to seek safety, but I have a question."

Without the emperor having to speak, Li Cai followed his reputation and said solemnly:
"Your Highness, please speak."

"I heard that the Xiongnu people are a nomadic tribe, riding horses and herding, and have no fixed place to live. The Imperial Censor said that we should proceed step by step, but also said that we should act quickly..."

Liu Ju looked puzzled and asked sincerely, "Let me ask you, if our Han army advances slowly, won't the Xiongnu run away?"

"If the people run away, will it be of any use even if we occupy the land?"

"May I ask the Imperial Censor, how can we ensure that the war will not reach a stalemate if we advance cautiously step by step?"

One question, but Liu Ju asked three questions.

Treat others in their own way. Don't you, Li Cai, want to ask others for a guarantee? Then I also ask you for a guarantee.

Can you give it to me?
No!

Because while Li Cai was still frowning, Gongsun He, who had been thinking for a while, replied at the back of the hall: "The Xiongnu people live in tribes. When a small tribe encounters the enemy, they will definitely flee."

"Afterwards, the big tribes gathered the small tribes to form a large army. Besides, there are no beacons or passes in the Hexi Corridor. Even if we occupy it, we have no strategic location to defend."

At this time.

Huo Qubing, who had been silent for a long time, finally exploded, his expression condensed, and his sharp edge was revealed, "So this battle should focus on strangling the living strength of the Xiongnu!"

"A surprise attack on the Hunxie and Xiutu tribes!"

"The strategy of advancing step by step may seem good, but once the battle line is extended, the logistics supply will be disturbed!"

After hearing this, the generals in the hall all began to have ideas.

however.

If you want to refute someone, you can always find a reason.

"If playing it safe doesn't work, then taking risks will definitely work?" The gloomy voice of the Imperial Censor was heard, not to Huo Qubing, but to Liu Ju!

After the prince spoke, Li Cai noticed a subtle change in the atmosphere in the hall.

That's the influence of the crown prince at work!

The prince may not understand military affairs, and it doesn’t matter even if he says something wrong, but as long as he expresses his attitude and takes a stand, no one can ignore it!

Simultaneously.

There will inevitably be people who will sway with it.

So when Li Cai spoke again, he ignored everything else and went straight to the prince.

His angle is very tricky - I really can't prove that I can do it, so I doubt that you can do it either!
Liu Ju curled his lips in his heart. It would be boring to argue with each other.

Fortunately.

The emperor knew what he wanted to hear and see, and when the quarrel was about to resume, he waved his hand:

"I know it well!"

"The general stays, everyone else goes away!"

(End of this chapter)