The First Family of the Red Mansion

Chapter 42 The Crown Prince's Further Targeting

Jia Daishan was somewhat surprised when he heard the battle report from the front. He didn't understand how the Rakshasa dared to interfere in the Great Zhou's revenge against the Oirat.

According to information gathered by scouts, these northern Rakshasa people were merely refugees fleeing war in their homeland.

In Jia Daishan's eyes, these eastward-bound Rakshasa people were nothing more than a group of refugees.

They were just some refugees. How dare they oppose the Great Zhou, provide weapons to the Dzungar Khanate, and even decide the location of the Torgut Khanate's migration?

However, regardless of the circumstances, the Dzungar Khanate absolutely could not remain on the northern slopes of the Tianshan Mountains.

That's so that if they stay there, the Dzungar Khanate in the west will become a huge loophole when the Great Zhou conquers the Tatars in the north.

If the two of them were to form an alliance, the defense line in the north of the Great Zhou would be greatly extended.

However, it is now deep winter, and the time is no longer on the side of the Great Zhou. If they want to eliminate the Dzungar tribe, they can only wait until the weather warms up next year.

"Where is the Prince of Xining now?"

"Reporting to the General, after the Torgut tribe migrated westward, the Prince of Xining has completely occupied the Torgut territory east of Yibohai."

"At this moment, the Prince of Xining is building garrisons north and west of Yibohai to appease the local Han people and people from the Western Regions."

"A group of Tibetan monks from the Khoshut tribe have arrived, and they are now less than two days' journey from here."

"Tell them they don't need to come here anymore. Gushi Khan has already been escorted back to Shenjing. Send people to escort them directly to Shenjing. Leave everything to His Majesty."

Jia Daishan waved his hand, then wrote a memorial and handed it to Zhang Wannian: "Send this memorial back to the capital immediately and deliver it to His Majesty."

…………

"Those Rakshasa demons are going too far!"

Looking at the memorial that Jia Daishan had sent back from the front lines, Emperor Anping slammed his fist on the table in anger.

During this period, he had already had the books of those Western missionaries rectified, removing the superstitious and strange content. Through the rectified books, he also gained a general understanding of the current situation in the West.

Even in the eyes of the tiny red-haired barbarian kingdoms, the Rakshasa were a barbaric and weak nation.

The foreign merchants captured by Dai Quan spoke of the Rakshasa Kingdom with disdain, describing it as a barbaric, weak, and pathetic creature.

Since its establishment, the Rakshasa Kingdom has been repeatedly invaded by its western neighbor. Moreover, this country, which was established around the same time as the Great Zhou Dynasty, has already had six emperors in just a few decades. The seventh emperor, who has only recently ascended the throne, is a half-grown boy who was chosen by others.

And this half-grown boy isn't even a member of the original royal family?

"What a bunch of barbarians! They have no manners whatsoever. How can the emperor not be a member of the royal family?"

"Moreover, this new emperor comes from a powerful maternal relative's family; isn't he just another Wang Mang?"

At that time, Emperor Anping also looked down on the Rakshasa people, which made Liu Hu, who was with him, fall into deep thought.

If I remember correctly, the Tsar at this time should be the first Tsar of the Romanov dynasty.

It was from this young Tsar, who was born into a powerful family, that the Russians began to slowly transform into the terrifying European steamrollers.

It was this man who, after ascending the throne, ended decades of social unrest in Tsarist Russia and repelled invasions from Poland and Sweden.

Then, through diligent governance, they laid the foundation for the rapid development of the Rakshasa Kingdom in the future.

Unsurprisingly, it won't be long before the eastward expansion of the Rakshasa people becomes their main strategy, rather than a spontaneous movement by the people.

At that time, the Great Zhou will be facing a giant bear that is insatiably greedy for land.

"It seems it's time to promote the development of firearms in the Great Zhou."

"With the Rakshasa in the north and the red-haired barbarians in the south, if the Great Zhou's firearms are not strengthened, we will probably suffer heavy losses when facing these enemies in the future."

Although Liu Hu already had this plan, now was not the time to implement it.

Having spent this time by his side, he has also gained a general understanding of some of the rules and regulations of the imperial court.

Moreover, the longer he spent with Emperor Anping, the more he understood the depth and complexity of Emperor Anping's mind.

It is vast and boundless, yet unfathomably deep; one careless step and you could drown.

Liu Hu is currently just a lowly guard. If he were to rashly propose improvements to firearms to Emperor Anping, he would be courting death.

The Firearms Bureau has tens of thousands of craftsmen who manufacture firearms for hundreds of thousands of troops in the north. How could a mere guard like him possibly interfere?

This matter requires further consideration!

At worst, after he bestows the rewards, Emperor Anping can reward more workshop artisans, and he can conduct his research privately.

"Your Highness, tell me, why did the Rakshasa dare to provide the Dzungars with firearms to resist the Great Zhou?"

Upon hearing Emperor Anping's question, the Crown Prince hurriedly cupped his hands and said, "Father, I believe that those Rakshasa people are afraid."

During this period, apart from Liu Hu, only the Crown Prince was someone Emperor Anping could see frequently.

The Crown Prince lived up to his title as heir apparent. Although he had previously tried to sow discord between Liu Hu and Emperor Anping in order to lower Emperor Anping's guard against him.

During this period, every time he saw Liu Hu, he acted as if nothing had happened. Although he wasn't overly affectionate, he would always smile and nod at Liu Hu, making it impossible for anyone to feel any aversion.

"Father, we can tell from the words of the foreign merchants that those Rakshasa people who are heading east are just Rakshasa refugees fleeing war."

"These people didn't dare to use force against the Dzungars and Torgut tribes before, let alone our Great Zhou."

"Now, our Great Zhou has defeated the Oirat's main force of over 100,000 men in just a few months, which has made those Rakshasa people feel a sense of crisis."

"They were afraid that after the Dzungar Khanate was destroyed, they themselves would become the next target of our Great Zhou."

"The reason they supported the Dzungars with firearms was to make the Dzungars an intermediary country between the Great Zhou and them, so as to avoid directly facing the military might of our Great Zhou."

Upon hearing the Crown Prince's analysis, Emperor Anping nodded noncommittally.

"What is your opinion on the proposal in the Duke of Rong's memorial?"

He then handed Jia Daishan's memorial to the Crown Prince.

The crown prince didn't stand on ceremony and took it to read it immediately.

"Father, it is now deep winter, and it is certainly not the time to wage war against the Dzungars."

"The Duke of Rong has proposed postponing the war against the Dzungar Khanate until next spring, and in my opinion, there is nothing wrong with that!"

After reading Jia Daishan's memorial, the Crown Prince spoke.

"But the imperial court no longer has the funds or supplies to sustain it until then!"

"Moreover, at this time, the Jianzhou Jurchens in Liaodong were already restless, and the Dutch in the South Seas were clamoring for an explanation from the Great Zhou because their envoy had been burned to death in Shenjing."

"Dutch warships have appeared in the waters near Dayuan Island."

"Although we won a great victory in the western expedition, it also depleted the wealth of the Great Zhou."

"Now that the country is surrounded by wolves on all sides, the slightest misstep could lead to its downfall."

Emperor Anping sighed deeply, and these words silenced the Crown Prince.

Yes, the imperial court is out of money. Even if the Duke of Rong's proposal is excellent, the court won't last until then.

"But if we just let the Dzungar Khanate go, the pressure on the northern part of the Great Zhou will be too great in the future."

"Moreover, the Tatars in the northern desert will certainly not sit idly by. If the Dzungar Khanate and the Tatars form an alliance, what will happen in the future...?"

Without the Crown Prince saying anything more, Emperor Anping already understood.

Emperor Taizong destroyed the Tumed tribe and the Oirat tribe. If he couldn't destroy the Tatars in the northern deserts, then it would be the responsibility of the crown prince after he ascended the throne.

If I were to hand over the Dzungar Khanate to the Crown Prince, a huge vulnerability would be left in the west when the Crown Prince ascends the throne and launches a campaign against the Tatars in the northern desert.

"Liu Hu, do you have any ideas about this?"

Emperor Anping and his son couldn't think of a better solution for a while. After a long silence, Emperor Anping suddenly asked Liu Hu, who was silent behind him.

"Your Majesty, I don't have any either!"

Liu Hu replied with a serious expression.

Facing Emperor Anping, Liu Hu was somewhat more at ease, even though he was more cunning and shrewd.

However, Liu Hu was just a young boy, and he was a trusted confidant of Emperor Anping. As long as Liu Hu did not do anything treasonous, Emperor Anping could find a reason to forgive him.

However, Liu Hu was cautious when facing the Crown Prince, because the young man lacked martial ethics and did not know how to control his strength.

If I say something wrong, who knows if he'll use me as a scapegoat and then stab me in the back?

"you……"

When Emperor Anping saw Liu Hu's appearance, he immediately understood why.

Looking at Liu Hu's sincere face and the Crown Prince's innocent face, Emperor Anping felt a headache coming on.

Although he didn't want to see the Crown Prince and Liu Hu get too close, he also didn't want them to become enemies in the future.

One of these two men was a successor he was satisfied with, and the other was a trusted confidant he had cultivated.

It was all because of a single sentence from the Crown Prince that the two of them ended up like this today.

"Liu Hu, the Crown Prince didn't mean anything by it at the time, you..."

"Guard Liu, if you still hold a grudge because of what I said back then, then I can apologize to you!"

The Crown Prince also spoke sincerely, and then he was about to apologize to Liu Hu.

"Your Highness, I cannot accept this!" Liu Hu hurriedly stepped aside.

"This guy wants my life. If I actually dared to accept your bow, how would Emperor Anping view me afterward?"

Emperor Anping also gave the Crown Prince a meaningful look, wondering why the Crown Prince kept targeting Liu Hu.

He then said to the two of them with a stern face, "Let bygones be bygones, and neither of you are allowed to mention it again."

Although this move clearly favors the crown prince, there's nothing that can be done, since the crown prince is the heir he chose himself.

After some time, Emperor Anping understood the Crown Prince's deeper meaning, but you can't just let Liu Hu be the only one to suffer!

Are you so sure that I won't kill him?

"Liu Hu, you may speak your mind freely; I will not punish you for it!"

"Your Majesty! It's getting cold, and the Jianzhou Jurchens need some cotton-padded clothes to get through the winter."

"To appease the Jianzhou Jurchens, would Your Majesty consider sending them some clothing as a reward?"

"Liu Hu, how dare you! Ever since the fire in Shenjing, the Jianzhou Jurchens have begun to amass troops, intending to wage war against other Jurchen tribes."

"They've already decided to ignore the imperial court's orders, yet you still want the Emperor to bestow cotton-padded clothes upon them. What are you trying to achieve?"

Upon hearing Liu Hu's words, the Crown Prince immediately jumped out and questioned him.

After Liu Hu finished speaking, he stepped aside and gave the Crown Prince a deep look, his eyes devoid of any emotion.

Even though the Crown Prince was used to big scenes, he was still frightened by Liu Hu's look.

"Oh no, I've overdone it. Liu Hu really hates me now, doesn't he?"

Emperor Anping did not notice the two men's actions. After listening to Liu Hu's words, he fell into deep thought.

Finally, his gaze grew increasingly strange, and then he couldn't help but gasp.

"Isn't this a bit too much...?" Emperor Anping asked Liu Hu.

Even if Emperor Anping had read those Western books before, he wouldn't have been able to understand the deeper meaning behind Liu Hu's words.

After reading those Western books, Emperor Anping thought for a long time before he understood Liu Hu's meaning.

Emperor Anping understood, but he hadn't expected Liu Hu's idea to be so ruthless.

"Your Majesty, since the Great Zhou can no longer afford to fight, why don't we eliminate the main force of the Jianzhou Jurchens with minimal cost?"

"Once the Jianzhou Jurchens lose these tens of thousands of main forces, the threat from Liaodong will naturally be eliminated."

"After that, the Jianzhou Jurchens will be at our mercy, we can do whatever we want with them!"

Liu Hu did not want to offer Emperor Anping such a ruthless and vicious plan, but today he was a little annoyed by the Crown Prince.

But since he's the crown prince, Liu Hu really can't do anything to him.

Since that's the case, then he'll let the Crown Prince know that he, Liu Hu, is not someone to be trifled with, and that he doesn't really think he's a pushover, having been tricked by him time and time again.

"Your Highness, you may step down!"

What was about to be said was not suitable for the Crown Prince to know, so Emperor Anping waved his hand, dismissing him.

"Your subject obeys the decree!"

Although he was unwilling, the Crown Prince obediently accepted the decree after hearing Emperor Anping's words.

"Still too young!" Emperor Anping said wistfully, watching the Crown Prince's departing figure.

I don't know if he's referring to the Crown Prince or Liu Hu?

"I was just being reckless! I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness!"

To avoid being seen by Emperor Anping as someone who harmed Heaven but not Wenhe, Liu Hu immediately knelt down and begged for forgiveness.

"What's wrong? Are you still angry?" Emperor Anping looked at Liu Hu kneeling on the ground, not letting him get up, and asked him with a half-smile.

"Your subject dares not!" Liu Hu replied obediently.

"Then we still have it!" Emperor Anping looked at Liu Hu, who was full of dissatisfaction, and almost laughed out of anger.

If it were anyone else, Emperor Anping would have dragged them down and beheaded them long ago.

How dare you hold a grudge against the Crown Prince? You have a death wish! The Crown Prince is also a ruler; how can you, his subjects, hold a grudge against him?

But Liu Hu was different; he was only sixteen, a time of youthful vigor and ambition.

Having been targeted by the Crown Prince time and again, if Liu Hu didn't have some temper, Emperor Anping would have to re-evaluate him.

Only someone with a dark and gloomy mind, at Liu Hu's age, could remain unfazed by the Crown Prince's targeting.

Whether Liu Hu was Emperor Wu of Han's Marquis of Champion or Cao Rui's Sima Yi needs to be reconsidered.