Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 519: Chapter 278: The Inevitable Fight_2

Zhao Yao said with deep conviction, "It’s possible, but the civil officials have not proposed peace." The civil officials currently on the court have all experienced the chaos of the previous dynasty, and they know in their hearts that blindly seeking peace will not bring true tranquility. "Besides, when Grandfather was alive, he established the rules of no marriage alliances, no ceding territory, and no reparations." The rules set by Grandfather were reminiscent of a certain emperor in the history of Zhao Yao’s world in his dreams. "No one dares to violate this ancestral rule."

He Lianfang silently thought to himself: This rule was not set by the Late Emperor, but was proposed by Prince Yi Yong.

When Prince Yi Yong was alive, he once said that after peace in the Central Plains, the Xiongnu would be faced next. In facing the Xiongnu, if one blindly seeks peace like in the previous dynasty, it would only make the Xiongnu more aggressive. To truly resolve the Xiongnu issue, there is only one way, and that is to fight until the Xiongnu are afraid, to fight until the Xiongnu dare not entertain the slightest thought of invading the Central Plains.

Five or six years ago, when the new Modu Chanyu emerged, it prompted the emperor to become vigilant against the Xiongnu. If at that time there had been a war with the Xiongnu, the Great Zhou might not necessarily lose but also might not necessarily win.

In recent years, the Great Zhou has adequately prepared to deal with the Xiongnu. If the new Modu Chanyu truly intends to march south to attack the Central Plains, the Great Zhou is very confident of victory.

A few years ago, if the Great Zhou had attacked the Xiongnu, victory was not assured, not because the soldiers of the Great Zhou were lacking, but because the Great Zhou lacked sufficient grain supplies.

At that time, the policy of rest and recuperation implemented by the Great Zhou finally took effect, and in many places, grain production increased significantly, but there was still not enough for the populace to eat.

The people were not getting enough to eat; where would the grain for war come from? This was the reason why Prime Minister He strongly opposed going to war back then.

After five or six years of intensive rest and recuperation, grain production across the Great Zhou has multiplied several times, and in many places, the people are not only able to eat their fill but have surplus grain at home.

"If the Xiongnu really attack the Great Zhou, I want to go to the battlefield." Zhao Yao has always wanted to join the military and apply the military strategies he learned from He Lianfang on the battlefield.

He Lianfang understood Zhao Yao’s desire to go to the battlefield, but he could not help but pour cold water on Zhao Yao: "You are too young, your father will not let you go to the battlefield."

"In another year, I can join the army." His second brother and ninth brother both entered the military camp at the age of twelve, so he could join the army next year as well.

Before being titled and going to Lingnan upon coming of age, Zhao Yao wanted to hone himself in the military, not only to apply the military strategies his uncle taught him.

He Lianfang said nothing. He worried inwardly that the Emperor might not agree to let Zhao Yao enter the military camp next year.

"Your father probably won’t meet with the Xiongnu people for the time being."

"Father is petty; when the Xiongnu people came to the capital, they intended to give Great Zhou a show of strength. A petty father will surely be angered, so it’s normal for him not to meet the Xiongnu people for the time being." Zhao Yao said with a smile, "The Xiongnu people should be thankful that Father will not meet them in the coming days. If Father were to meet them in the palace tomorrow, they would not meet a good end."

At this moment, in the Imperial Study, the Emperor who was discussing defenses with Shen Hu and the others suddenly sneezed.

"Achoo!"

His sneeze was very loud, startling Shen Hu and the others.

Sun Kui immediately became anxious: "Your Majesty, this servant will go call the Imperial Physician right away."

"Why call the Imperial Physician?" The Emperor rubbed his nose and said, "Surely someone is cursing me."

Shen Hu said, "It must be the Xiongnu."

Song Dekang agreed, "It must be the Xiongnu."

Chu Ying said, "Absolutely."

Zhang Gong’s eyes lit up as he said, "Your Majesty, the Xiongnu are cursing you, how daring of them. Let me go take care of them."

"Lao Zhang, you are too cunning." Shen Hu glared at Zhang Gong and said, "Your Majesty, I also want to go."

Song Dekang and Chu Ying, not to be outdone, also expressed their desire to go.

Prime Minister He and Grandmaster Liu did not speak.

"I want to go too."

Upon hearing this, Prime Minister He and Grandmaster Liu said in unison, "No way!"

Emperor: "..."

"Why can’t I go?"

"Your Majesty, you cannot personally lead the campaign." Prime Minister He said.

Grandmaster Liu said, "Even if we go to war with the Xiongnu, there is no need for Your Majesty to personally lead the campaign."

"I haven’t been to war in years, and you’re not letting me lead this time either!" The Emperor looked unhappy. "You wouldn’t let me personally quell the rebellion before, and now, even if there’s a war with the Xiongnu, you still won’t let me go. What’s the reason behind this?"

Prime Minister He said expressionlessly, "Because you are the Emperor of the Great Zhou."

"Your Majesty, if we let you personally lead the campaign against the Xiongnu, wouldn’t that make us look incapable?"

"Exactly, and it would make the Great Zhou look weak."

"Having the Great Zhou’s emperor personally fight against a mere Xiongnu would greatly undermine the national prestige of the Great Zhou."

"Boss, leave the matter of fighting the Xiongnu to us, and spare yourself the worry."

They were joking; they finally had the chance to fight the Xiongnu. They themselves were not enough to fight, so how could they let the emperor lead the campaign personally?

If the Emperor were to personally fight the Xiongnu, then there would be nothing left for them to do.

Emperor: "..."

Seeing Shen Hu and the others eager and ready for action, itching to lead troops to attack the Xiongnu, Prime Minister He couldn’t help but pour cold water on them.

"Maybe the new Modu Chanyu will not dare to attack the Great Zhou."

Grandmaster Liu said, "In the past, when the Xiongnu attacked the Central Plains, they never brazenly sent people to spy. This time the new Modu Chanyu sent people to the Great Zhou to probe, indicating that the Xiongnu Royal Court is not truly peaceful."

Prime Minister He continued from Grandmaster Liu’s words, "There must be quite a few people in the Xiongnu Royal Court opposing an attack on the Great Zhou, after all, the Royal Court has not yet recovered the Han Tribe."

"No way, is the new Modu Chanyu so cowardly?" Shen Hu and the others couldn’t accept it.

"If the new Modu Chanyu doesn’t attack, then we’ll force them to attack." Song Dekang said fiercely, "Kill this group of Xiongnu; the new Modu Chanyu will surely send troops south, and then we can rightfully engage them."

The Emperor raised his hand to interrupt Chu Ying and the others’ chatter and said firmly, "The Xiongnu will definitely march south to attack the Great Zhou."

Seeing the Emperor speak so definitively, Prime Minister He asked in confusion, "Your Majesty, why are you so certain?"

"It’s very simple. The new Modu Chanyu has long delayed recovering the Han tribes, thereby affecting his authority and position." The Emperor lightly tapped the imperial desk with his right index finger, smiling faintly as he said, "Since he can’t quickly regain control over the Han tribes, he can only attack the Central Plains to re-establish his prestige, so this battle is inevitable."