Chapter 24 Stone Wall

When Du Xian walked out of Danfeng Gate, there were already dusk bells. There were tall palaces and towers on all sides, and it was impossible to tell where the bell sound came from.

As soon as he took the reins, he saw Cheng Qianli, the Minister of War, and a follower, walking out of the palace gate. Du Xian hurriedly stood there.

Cheng Qianli also stopped as if he had met by chance. The two of them greeted each other from afar, and then walked together with a gentle smile.

At noon, I heard the eunuchs shouting the imperial edict from the Xuanzheng Hall. General Du just came out now, so he must have offered good advice in front of him.

Cheng Qianli said relaxedly with a smile.

However, it is impossible to have much sincerity in this smiling face. Although they are officials in the same dynasty, people who are not in the same system still have to eat separately.

What's more, Cheng Qianli was almost at the level of being a great minister, and his path was very similar to Du Xian. It was also the result of making contributions in Dingbian and matching the position through the marriage station. So he felt somewhat repulsive to Du Xian.

Du Xian is white and fatter than Cheng Qianli, and has a more elegant style, but he is now in charge of military general position, while Cheng Qianli is the prime minister of the Political Affairs Hall.

The Jin Dynasty continued the Tang Dynasty system, but the civil and military were actually not clear. It was not uncommon to change the positions of generals and ministers, and their status was not much different. However, those who could participate in national decision-making were first-class.

Du Xian didn't want to have any unhappiness with Cheng Qianli, and he was even more unwilling to show off his favor in front of him. At that time, he changed the topic: When I came out of the greenhouse hall, I mentioned that I was frugal and rich all over the world, and I still wore old clothes. Is the green cloth robe made by Concubine Cheng?

Cheng Qianli was stunned for a moment and then said: I didn't pay attention to it. Besides, not everyone can be summoned by him alone. He usually wears a robe in the Hanyuan Palace or the Zichen Palace.

While talking, the two walked to the entrance of Changlefang and Yishufang. Because they were different in their directions, they bid farewell to each other and parted ways.

The next day, the court discussed that Du Xian also came. It was a bit new for him to appear on such an occasion. Everyone saw it but didn't say anything.

After a while, Xue Chongxun entered the palace and received the worship ceremony, he talked about Du Xian. He first praised Du Xian's contributions and talents, and then expressed his public opinion that Du Xian would also serve as a bachelor of the cabinet, and the court would also participate in the future.

Xue Chongxun created a cabinet organization himself, which really saved him a lot of trouble in the early stage. Just like now, it is easy to promote a person to a decision-making organization, because the cabinet is a new yamen. There is no old system to follow, and there is no provision for a designated number; while the government affairs hall is different. There can only be six or seven prime ministers in a period of time. The system has been inertia for many years. Changing the old system will involve many issues and cannot be changed easily.

Forcing people to enter the government affairs hall means that one has to be done first, which is a troublesome thing.

The prime ministers are all very strong through human rights. If the emperor uses the supreme monarchy and makes up for it without any legitimate reason, the sequelae will be more serious. If the prime minister wants to change it, they will generally be demoted or dismissed directly through a series of games using reasonable reasons.

Of course, there is no such problem if Xue Chongxun does not move to the Political Affairs Hall and directly stuffs people into the cabinet.

After the meeting broke up in the morning, Xue Chongxun took Du Xian to the greenhouse hall again, not knowing what to discuss.

The ministers of the Zhengshi Hall felt a little uncomfortable when they saw this. When the prime ministers returned to the Zhengshi Hall to work, they could not help but talk indirectly on the road.

Dou Huaizhen, who had never been valued but was still in the position of prime minister, was stirred up by a few words and couldn't help but say: If this continues, what's going on in our political affairs hall?

Because the group was in public and on the road in the palace, Zhang Shuo immediately said seriously: Where is Dou Xiang saying this?

Dou Huaizhen didn't taste it and said angrily: Du Xian was rank of General of Right Martial Guard, the third rank, and a third rank official was appointed as a fifth rank cabinet bachelor, and he was not the chief yet.Isn’t it normal for everyone in the cabinet to be awarded the third rank?Besides, Du Xian's daughter was also a concubine in the harem. One day when the emperor was happy, it was not impossible for Du Xian to have another Duke and Marquis.At that time, the cabinet will not be a problem for the fifth-rank official, and will be ranked among the third ministers and nine ministers.

In fact, Dou Huaizhen's words are correct. Some people in the Political Affairs Hall do feel the crisis that some power may be undermined, but it is not easy for everyone to say it openly.

Cheng Qianli was no longer very happy when he heard the promotion of concubines from the harem. At this time, he helped Du Xian on the cabinet say a few words: General Du can obtain the current gift of grace, and he also followed the blood and fire.

As the boss of the Political Affairs Hall, Zhang Shuo glanced at two people who had different opinions. The Political Affairs Hall of Yuezhi is not a solid piece of the Political Affairs Hall. There is also Liu An who doesn't speak behind him. This guy is not the one who vents his nostrils after Zhang.

Zhang Shuo pretended to be a peacemaker and said to Dou Huaizhen earnestly: Whether it is the political affairs hall or the cabinet, they are all working for the court.We will do our duty as much as we have. That's all, don't think too much.

……

Xue Chongxun waited happily in the greenhouse hall when Du Xian came, and continued yesterday's topic and asked about the strategies in Youzhou.

However, Du Xian seemed to be in a bad mood today, because he didn't sleep well last night.

Yesterday, the emperor talked to him for most of the time, and the most asked about Northeast Defense. He still hadn't finished his feelings and said he would talk about it again today.

After Du Xian returned, he thought that the emperor must have asked Youzhou's plan. He checked the book collection overnight and thought about it. He almost didn't have a good night's sleep, so he took a nap when it was almost dawn.

Du Xianqing knew that a strategy should be truly implemented, not only should it take into account the actual situation and timely conditions, but also to consider the preferences and tendencies of those in power. Otherwise, no matter how good it is to be supported, it would be in vain.

Just like when he was preparing to fight the Turks last time, Du Xian thought about Xue Chongxun's temperament and made remarks that he attached importance to the cavalry, and it was successfully used.

He was just middle-aged, and he was at the age of being energetic and ambitious in his career. He did not value the title that everyone envied, but instead valued the position where the real power yamen could have a place to use.

This time, Du Xian still pondered Xue Chongxun's thoughts carefully and knew it. Some of the thoughts were completely different from those of most court officials. No wonder Xue Chongxun regarded him as a confidant and often felt very tacit understanding.

Xue Chongxun indeed asked Du Xian about his opinion on the governance of Youzhou.

Du Xian was prepared and thought for a moment before answering: There were Khitan and Xi tribes in the northeast, and Wang Xianzhi, Zhao Qu and others placed them on the spot, but I didn't agree.It is understandable to appease the young people, but the population of Donghu has expanded in the continuous migration to the west. If the number of Hu people in Youyun increases, it is not a long-term plan. Youyun has long been a land occupied by the Han people, and there is no reason to give in at all. However, it seems that it is not harmful for the time being, and resettlement nearby can save the power of people and animals.If Your Majesty plans for a hundred years, he should change the previous practices of Youzhou.

The words made Xue Chongxun express familiar remarks. Isn’t this meaning of preventing Hu Hua?

Xue Chongxun originally thought that no one could think of that problem at the moment, and he could think of it because of his previous experience. Unexpectedly, he heard something similar from Du Xian's mouth and felt very helpful...

There is a sense of pleasure in which your own thoughts are understood and recognized.

Xue Chongxun was owed and looked very interested, and continued to ask: If you change the civil and military officials in Youzhou, how should you make a new plan?

Du Xiandao: The center should give local power to adapt to local conditions.

At this time, local governance is of course autonomous, mainly due to slow traffic, and the capital cannot control it in detail due to conditions, so it can only give a vague government order.

Therefore, Xue Chongxun was not very satisfied with this answer and asked again: If General Du was there, what strategy would he use?

Please let your Majesty advise me to point it out on the picture.

Du Xian stood up and saw Xue Chongxun nodding before walking to the large picture he drew, found the location in the northeast corner, and pointed to a place. Khitan and Xi have often joined forces to invade the border in recent years, and Youji and other places have to expand border troops to prepare for borders. If they are not young and strong enough, they use Hu people.Therefore, the primary task of Youji is still military affairs... Yingzhou lives outside the pass. If it can be taken, the offense and defense will be easier. However, the Han army repeatedly attacked and repeatedly fought for Yingzhou, but failed to gain a foothold.If the minister is in charge of Youzhou, he must first reorganize his army and ask for an order to capture Yingzhou. This is the necessary first step.

Xue Chongxun nodded in agreement and said: Let’s fight and defend it. We will have a reliable stronghold outside the pass. At that time, we will send some exiled people and support the migration of local victims in various places. Eliminating the land outside the pass is the kingly way to expand territory.

Du Xian continued: The first step is that the Han soldiers lost many times, but it is actually easy. It is nothing more than winning the battle and it can be achieved in the short term.The second step is really not easy... Your Majesty, please look at the terrain around this place, which has three natural barriers. If it is properly managed, it will definitely be like a place in Guanzhong, and it will become the key and foundation of the Hu people on the Eastern Front to avoid the national border.Living in secluded clouds and outside the pass, you can attack and retreat or defend, and expand your land to the Liaohe area when you are strong, and you can protect half of Henan Road, Huainan Road and Jiangnan Road without any worries.Therefore, I believe that rebuilding the Great Wall and building fortifications in the quiet clouds is a long-term plan for a century.However, this policy not only consumes the national strength, but also changes the previous dynasty's practice of not building the Great Wall. It is afraid that domestic opposition will continue, so it is very difficult.

After hearing this, Xue Chongxun refused to say anything. In fact, Du Xian’s ideas were very similar to himself, but as Du Xian himself said, there were many things involved, and Xue Chongxun could not easily consider them thoroughly.

Not to mention that the court officials might object, even he had some ideas that were not clear: How should the Great Wall, a thing that is almost a symbol of Chinese civilization, determine its pros and cons?

When the military was strong in the early Tang Dynasty, the Great Wall was not built to determine the four directions, but once the momentum of progress slowed down, there were many problems. One of the things that made Xue Chongxun very cautious were the Hu Qi mercenaries...

Is the Hu cavalry that he bought is reliable, or are the stupid stone city walls reliable?