Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 518: Chapter 278 Must Fight No Matter What

After slapping the Xiongnu in the face, Zhao Yao did not rush back to the palace but went to find He Lianfang.

He Lianfang was not surprised at all when he saw Zhao Yao coming. He asked with slight curiosity, "How were the Xiongnu?"

"Not too impressive..." Zhao Yao recounted the Xiongnu’s provocation to He Lianfang. "I think the Xiongnu underestimated us too much, they simply don’t regard us of the Great Zhou at all."

"That’s normal. In the eyes of the Xiongnu, we Central Plains people are no different from the sheep they raise."

Hearing this from He Lianfang, Zhao Yao suddenly thought of a term: "Two-legged Sheep." In the history of the world in Zhao Yao’s dream, there was once a situation where foreign invaders treated the Central Plains people as two-legged sheep.

"Since ancient times, the Central Plains people have been no match for the Xiongnu." Although He Lianfang said this calmly, there was a certain chill in his tone. "In battles against the Xiongnu, the Central Plains people have lost more than they have won. For the peace of the Central Plains, they have been forced to bow and scrape, marrying off princesses to the Xiongnu."

"I don’t like political marriages." Zhao Yao said bluntly, "The peace obtained through such marriages is too humiliating."

"Yes, but the previous dynasty took pride in those marriages." Mentioning the previous dynasty’s attitude towards the Xiongnu, He Lianfang’s expression turned cold. "Actually, in the early days of the previous dynasty, it was entirely capable of countering the Xiongnu, but instead, it sought peace, offering up its princesses."

The previous dynasty had once experienced a golden age. During its peak, the nation’s strength was at its height, and logically it did not need to humble itself to seek peace with the Xiongnu, yet it did.

Regarding this point, Zhao Yao couldn’t understand. He couldn’t fathom why the court of the previous dynasty was so afraid of the Xiongnu, that it lacked even the courage to fight a battle. What was most puzzling was that the previous dynasty had many brave and battle-hardened generals, and sending them to fight the Xiongnu might not necessarily have led to defeat, but the court simply refused to fight the Xiongnu.

Every time the Xiongnu invaded south, the previous dynasty immediately sought peace, sending princesses, grains, and treasures.

It’s most ridiculous that instead of using its soldiers to combat the Xiongnu and protect the people, the previous dynasty used them to fight amongst themselves. In internal strife, they fought viciously.

"The Chen Dynasty once attacked the Xiongnu, winning a few battles, but in the end, they lost more and were forced into political marriages." He Lianfang’s tone was one of helplessness. "That’s why the Xiongnu do not regard us Central Plains people."

Zhao Yao sneered, "If the Xiongnu think we of the Great Zhou are the same as the previous dynasty, they are gravely mistaken. We are not afraid of them."

"The people still fear the Xiongnu." In fact, it’s not the people’s fault for fearing the Xiongnu; this fear has been etched into their bones from long ago.

"From now on, the people of the Great Zhou need no longer fear the Xiongnu." When the Xiongnu arrived in the capital, Zhao Yao witnessed first-hand the people’s fear of the Xiongnu. This indeed cannot be blamed on the people; the blame lies with the previous dynasties, which were so ineffectual that they repeatedly subjected the people to Xiongnu’s oppression. "In the future, it will be the Xiongnu who fear us of the Great Zhou." Hopefully, it can be like a certain dynasty in Zhao Yao’s dream world where the Xiongnu were utterly crushed, scared to come near the Central Plains again.

"That’s right, it’s time for revenge, to make the Xiongnu start fearing us Central Plains people." After He Lianfang said this, a ruthless glint appeared in his eyes. "From now on, the Xiongnu must fear us Central Plains people to their cores."

"Uncle, I think the new Modu Chanyu sent people to the capital as a diversion." Zhao Yao said with a slightly thoughtful expression, "I have a feeling that once this group of Xiongnu returns to the grasslands, the new Modu Chanyu will send troops south to attack the Great Zhou."

He Lianfang nodded in agreement and said, "This battle is inevitable, regardless of whether this group of Xiongnu gathers authentic military intelligence or not."

"Since it’s inevitable, there’s no need to be polite to this group of Xiongnu."

"With your father’s temperament, he certainly won’t be polite to this group of Xiongnu."

"Indeed, previously, a minister suggested treating this group of Xiongnu with courtesy, only to be scolded harshly by my father..." Zhao Yao recounted the events of the early court session to He Lianfang.

After hearing this, He Lianfang sneered and said, "These civil officials only talk about etiquette; can etiquette deter the Xiongnu?"

"Fortunately, they are not spineless like the civil officials of the previous dynasty, who would lose their nerve upon hearing about the Xiongnu." Although the current court’s civil officials liked to adhere to Confucian principles, at least they hadn’t lost their backbone and dignity.

"If the civil officials were like those from the previous dynasty who suggested political marriages at the news of the Xiongnu’s arrival, given your father’s temperament, he might have killed them." He Lianfang had some understanding of the emperor’s disposition.