New Year's Eve.

Imperial Palace, Golden Palace.

The hall was empty, with only the emperor Xiang Yanran, the grand lieutenant Li Rong, and Cai He and the eunuch, and the atmosphere was solemn.

On the throne stage, there is a huge volume of "The World Geometric Map", which is several times more accurate and detailed than the one in Princess Li Yu's study.

The Grand Marshal Li Rong reported: "Your Majesty. Since Xiaohan, the military towns in the northern border have frequently reported that the Huns outside the border are short of food, repeatedly invaded and detained borders, looted merchants and border residents, and more than 100 times, and plundered thousands of border residents."

Xiang Yanran was silent and suddenly asked, "King Ping, how many war horses are there on the Shandan Army Horse Farm?"

"The Shandan Army Horse Farm has raised 100,000 war horses. 100,000 cavalry and 300,000 infantry. You can fight at any time!"

Li Rong said in a deep voice.

Xiang Yanran's eyes were fierce.

He stood up and looked north.

More than ten years ago.

That year, the Xiongnu asked Da Chu to marry and engage in trade.

However, since the founding of Taizu Xiang Yu, the Great Chu practiced the "unfriendly relationship, did not cede land, and did not pay tribute!"

If you don’t agree, do it!

I had fought countless wars with the Huns, and the Huns fled in a hurry.

However, after Taizu's death, the Great Chu frequently suffered civil strife. The emperor changed every few years, so he had no time to take care of the Huns, which made the Huns gradually become bigger.

The Huns failed to get married. They were angry and repeatedly invaded the border, plundered border residents, and frequently reported to the military.

Xiang Yanran was over thirty years old, and when he was young and energetic, he imitated Emperor Taizu Xiang Yu when he was angry and led an army of 300,000 to command the army in person.

Li Rong was also appointed as the general and led 50,000 cavalry alone as support to fight against the Huns.

The Great Chu army swept across the grasslands, and the Hun tribes were defeated and retreated into the depths of the grasslands.

pity.

The Great Chu army was not familiar with the grassland terrain and did not have the advantage of land. He advanced rampantly because of his small victory in the previous series. He was defeated and lured the enemy by the Huns. Hundreds of thousands of heavy troops surrounded the depths of the grassland.

In order to support, Li Rong led his army to receive emergency military information and personally led 50,000 cavalrymen with the Li family as the core to break into the siege of the Huns and protect the troops and break through.

In this battle, Li Rong's three sons broke through to protect the sage and were killed in battle.

Li Rongzhong had more than ten arrows and was almost dying. Although the Great Chu army killed more than ten thousand Xiongnu, it also damaged tens of thousands of them, and lost morale and had to retreat to the Great Chu territory.

Fortunately, after returning to Dachu, Li Rong, the King of Ping, recovered for several years and finally recovered. He was only injured in his abdomen, injured his essence and had no descendants.

The battle to destroy the Huns failed.

For more than ten years after that, the Great Chu Dynasty did not raise troops, rested and did not talk about war easily.

"A cup of turbid wine is a thousand miles away, and Yan Ran has no choice but to return!"

"I ascended the throne at the age of more than ten. My father hopes that one day I will be able to climb Yanran Mountain and carve stones to record my merits, so I am called "Yanran".

I will never forget the father's dying instructions. One day, I will "Yanran will give merit" and even if I die in the northern border, I will be able to smile and be worthy of the ancestors of the Xiang family!"

Xiang Yanran said, and took a deep look at Li Rong.

There was a storm of fire in his heart.

I hope to go on a war again, sweep the Xiongnu royal court with my own hands and kill the Xiongnu king at the foot of Yanran Mountain.

If the Grand Marshal Li Rong felt that the time was ripe and he could fight one after another, he would have the urge to fight the Huns again.

"Our Great Chu has been preparing for war for many years, and it is possible to fight at any time. But... the time is not yet ripe. I have asked the veteran General Song Xiang to go to the northwest to inspect border towns to strengthen defense and resist the harassment of the Huns."

Li Rong was silent and shook his head.

After more than ten years of rest and recuperation after the last war, Da Chu had recovered his vitality and had sufficient food and grass.

But the strength is not much stronger than it was back then.

Moreover, internal troubles and external troubles are coming one after another every now and then.

Hundreds of thousands of troops were dispatched, and people ate and horses chewed, which was too much loss.

It would be fine if we go to the battle at this time.

But if the battle situation is not good, if you are not careful, fire will be burned everywhere and surrounded by enemies, you will lose all the way and the Great Chu will be in turmoil.

Xiang Yanran was silent.

He was aware of King Ping's concerns. He understood them so deeply that no one in the world could do.

Li Rong felt that the time had not come, so he definitely felt that he was not sure and the risk of going to fight was too high.

OK!

I have been enduring it for more than ten years.

Bear with it more.

It took a few more years to eliminate the ills of the Great Chu country, store more food and grass, and remove all obstacles for the northern expedition of the Xiongnu.

"It's so heavy snow outside... Auspicious snow indicates a good harvest. Next year, the grain should have a good harvest! Storms in the border town can also eat more."

Xiang Yanran looked outside the Golden Palace and suddenly smiled and said, "By the way, how about your son-in-law who came to the door? I saw that he still had some skills, so I gave him the Excellent Academic Examination."

"Mr. Xiao Hun... Fortunately, it's just a problem of spending money, which is beyond the reach of people. As the Marquis, he is suffering from the marriage to my Prince Ping's Mansion. The emperor's gift is worthy of it."

Li Rong smiled bitterly.

This is also the emperor's "arbitrary behavior", otherwise any young marquis would be willing to marry into the royal palace.

"I owe you three sons, so I can't pay it back! I can only give you a son-in-law and make up for it. The Prince Ping's Mansion cannot be without a queen! I will give birth to a grandson earlier, so as to inherit the position of Prince Ping."

Xiang Yanran sighed, "King Ping, you have worked hard for a while. Let's go back first, my brother and sister are still waiting for you to go back! Tomorrow, the first day of the first lunar month, the palace will have a banquet for the ministers, so you have to come early."

"Yes! The emperor also rested early!"

Li Rong bowed and left.

...

In the Golden Palace, quieted down again.

Xiang Yanran looked through many memorials from the northern border on the throne.

A little upset.

Although this Great Chu has the appearance of a "prosperous era", there are many hidden dangers, and there are many problems. Where can I start to solve it?

This year's annual review.

He was dissatisfied.

Every year, the children of the top ten families in Jinling account for half of them, and the children of officials account for half. But looking at the talents of these families, they are all ordinary people, and they barely succeed, without a single amazing talent.

On the contrary, Dong Xianliang, his father Yan, and Chao Fangzheng, these "excellent" civilian Confucian scholars, have some good minds and opinions.

As for the "Youjia" Xiaohunhou Chu Tianxiu, he was not a Jinling clan. The Hunhou has never been involved in the officialdom in all dynasties... But although the Chu family in the previous dynasty declined, his foundation is still there.

The most urgent task is to win the world's talents and use them for your own purposes.

However, every year, when the net is cast every year, I can’t catch a few big fish that are useful. There are actually many people who are just making up for the numbers.

Xiang Yanran suddenly remembered the question and answer sheet written by Dong Xianliang, "Dethroning all schools of thought and respecting Confucianism alone".

He has read it many times.

I have already remembered it silently.

Xiang Yanran pondered for a long time and Dong Xianliang was quite talented.

If there are more talents in this kind of talent, why worry about the great Chu going to rise?

"After the Spring Festival and Lantern Festival, all officials will go to court and implement new policies! Let the ministers make the best plans and throw stones to ask for directions."

He thought to himself.

"emperor!"

Cai and the eunuch saw that the emperor had been pondering, and didn't know how long it would take, so they said carefully: "Today's New Year's Eve... The Empress Dowager, Empress Cui, Concubine Yang, and the concubines are waiting for you to have the New Year's Eve dinner in the harem... The Empress Dowager has urged him several times!"

"oh!"

Xiang Yanran woke up and stood up.

Out of the Golden Palace.

But I heard that there were "crackling" firecrackers everywhere inside and outside the Jinling Imperial City. You can also hear the excitement outside in the palace.

After the New Year's Eve.

It's New Year.

"It's already the year of Hai, it's over!"
Chapter completed!