This banquet can be said to be a joy for the guests and hosts.

But this was also the last time Zhao Kuo and the second prince had a banquet. The next day, the mission of the Seleucid Empire left the imperial capital.

Since the entourage, Doros, the chief envoy of the mission, was just a court minister, Zhao Kuo, as the emperor of the Han Dynasty, could not condescend to see him off. The person responsible for seeing him off was Su Li, the foreign minister of the Han Dynasty.

Doros smiled at Su Li and said, "Thank you, Minister Su for seeing you off. I will go back and convey the goodwill of your emperor to our noble Seleucid Emperor."

Unlike the second prince, Doros obviously did not intend to spend more time on the Han Dynasty. Although he had lived for several months, he had basically not learned any language of the Han Dynasty.

After listening to the translation, Su Li also smiled and said, "I hope that this time our business group of Han Kingdom can carry out trade activities in your country, and can achieve mutual benefit between you and us. I also hope that the envoy can have a smooth journey back this time!"

In the midst of this laughter, the Seleucid delegation left.

Compared with the few hundred people when they came, this time when the Seleucus mission returned, there were a total of thousands of people, and there were thousands of carriages.

These carriages basically come from various factories under Zhao Kuo's Shaofu, mainly high-profit commodities such as silk, ginseng, and porcelain.

Of course, in order to let other Han people see how profitable the Western Regions trade is, Zhao Kuo also forcibly ordered the ministers and merchants in the Han country who had more industries to participate, even if you only need one carriage.

As the saying goes, seeing is better than seeing at first sight.

I believe that after this commercial activity is over, the ministers and merchants of these great Han countries will choose to take the initiative next time.

There is no way, in this world, who can refuse the temptation of money?

Use official positions to embezzle?

If it is under the rule of other emperors, it may be feasible, but under the rule of Zhao Kuo, who dares to do this, then this person will be really tired of living.

So, it’s better to honestly operate the industry as His Majesty said.

The second prince was leaning against the side of the green willow girl. He looked at the distant imperial capital through the carriage window, and sighed softly: "Brother Zhao, goodbye."

The second prince was still very melancholy. Antioch City, the capital of the Seleucid Empire, was thousands of miles away from the imperial capital. Perhaps after leaving this time, he would never be able to meet Brother Zhao in his life.

At this moment, the second prince's eyes suddenly narrowed because he saw Zhao Kuo's adopted son Zhao Zheng suddenly rode his horse.

"parking!"

The second prince hurriedly spoke and got out of the carriage.

Sure enough, the young Zhao Zheng stopped in front of the second prince, saluted, and took out a long sword.

"Uncle Shi, my father said that I must leave you for a long time. In order to avoid falling in love with the scenery, he will not come to see you off today.

This long sword is the first steel sword created by my father and craftsmen. It has accompanied my father through many ups and downs. Today I will give this sword to Uncle Shi. I also hope that Uncle Shi will be as good as this sword in the future!”

The second prince smiled, thought about it, took out a token from his arms and placed it in Zhao Zheng's hand: "This is my gift to your father. I hope that one day, I will meet your father again and listen to his teachings!"

Zhao Zheng took the token of the second prince, saluted to the second prince, and then rode away.

The second prince smiled as Zhao Zheng left.

Although Brother Zhao didn't come,... in fact, he still came.

At this moment, another familiar voice rang beside the second prince: "It seems that you have not only married a girl in our Han Kingdom during this period, but also have a new confidant."

The second prince turned his head and smiled immediately: "Li Baijiang, we haven't seen each other for a long time."

Li Jian sighed and said to the second prince: "There is no way, who makes my life miserable?"

This time I not only want to escort you back to the Western Regions, but also follow your delegation to return to Seleucau."

The second prince was slightly stunned when he heard this, but soon came to his senses: "Are you a member of the Great Han Kingdom responsible for escorting your business group?"

Li Jian nodded and patted the second prince on the shoulder: "Actually, I can see that your guy has a very special background, otherwise he would not be so leisurely in the mission.

Let’s talk about a deal. I took good care of you when I was in the Han Dynasty. When I went to Seleucus, if I had any trouble, you would have to help my brothers, right?"

The second prince looked at Li Jian in front of him and couldn't help laughing: "No problem!"

Li Jian looked at the second prince in front of him and his smile was also very pleasant.

As the highest leader of the "Nightingale Branch of the Seleucid Empire" who is about to officially start work, Li Jian feels that being able to have the Second Prince, the introducer who helps him enter the Seleucid Empire, is simply to reduce the task this time to a simple and difficult level! The Seleucid delegation left, and the spring plowing came.

While the farmers were busy with spring plowing, Zhao Kuo also summoned many important officials from the Han Dynasty and began to discuss the next goal of military conquest.

In this regard, Prime Minister Xu Li was actually a little hesitant: "Your Majesty, now in Lingnan and the southwest, there are two large armies fighting, which has already put a certain burden on the national treasury.

If we add a large army to conquer the treasury, the expenditure on the treasury may be too large.

The old minister felt that it would be better to wait and see for two years, and wait until the decisive victory of Lingnan or the southwest has achieved and the troops have been put in place, and then carry out the next conquest."

Although Finance Minister Guo Zong is the one who is in charge of the money bag, as the prime minister of the Han Dynasty, Xu Li is undoubtedly the "master" of the Han Dynasty in the true sense. He has a very thorough understanding of the human, material and financial resources of the Han Dynasty. In addition, he is a confidant who Zhao Kuo trusts very much, so he dares to put forward such an objection in front of Zhao Kuo.

Xu Li originally thought that this objection would arouse Zhao Kuo's displeasure and even reprimand, but unexpectedly, after hearing Xu Li's words, Zhao Kuo smiled heartily.

"Prime Minister Xu's words are indeed very reasonable, but don't misunderstand, Prime Minister, I don't plan to dispatch an army this time. I only need to dispatch 20,000 musketeers."

After hearing Zhao Kuo's words, Xu Li, like many of the Han ministers present, was stunned: "Twenty thousand musketeers?"

Zhao Kuo nodded with a smile: "Yes, I want to give it a try and see if the 20,000 musketeers can fight independently."

For Zhao Kuo, he knew very well in his heart that sooner or later, musketeers would replace these spearmen, swordsmen, and crossbowmen, and become the real constituent arms of infantry.

But it is useless to know Zhao Kuo alone, and everyone needs to know.

Therefore, a small-scale war that proves the role of musketeers is Zhao Kuo's goal this time.

After all, Zhao Kuo was also very clear. It is true that the two southwest and southeastern troops are fighting. If we make another 100,000 or 200,000, it will indeed make the country unable to bear it.

In fact, Zhao Kuo can also promote it slowly. It is okay not to fight this year or even next year. But in that case, Zhao Kuo will expand a bit slow.

Zhao Kuo is now in his thirties. Although he still has decades of time, he always feels a sense of urgency whenever he thinks about it.

Time is endless! It’s better to let the Han Kingdom expand out quickly, which is truly reassuring.

Moreover, since we just obtained a lot of wealth, captives and materials from the Western Regions last year, the Han Dynasty still has a great desire for expansion, and it is a relatively good state of seeking war for the whole nation.

When will you not expand at this time?

You can't fight big battles all at once, you can fight small battles slowly.

After listening to Zhao Kuo's words, Xu Li and other important officials of the Han Dynasty also fell into deep thoughts.

After a moment, Guo Zong spoke: "If only 20,000 troops were dispatched, it would basically not cause any financial pressure."

Don’t listen to Xu Li just said that, and you feel that the treasury of the Han Kingdom is now very empty. On the contrary, the treasury of the Han Kingdom is very abundant.

The huge amount of wealth brought about by destroying the other seven countries was hoarded in the national treasury, but it has not been spent half of it. In addition, the wealth of conquering the Western Regions is countless.

These are just the wealth obtained from the war. Considering the income from commercial taxes, agricultural taxes, horse taxes and other incomes in the Han Dynasty, it can be said that the treasury of the Han Dynasty is in a state of extremely high income.

However, war is indeed very expensive. Now the 300,000 troops in the southwest and southeast are already spending money like flowing water. If the third battlefield is really opened up, the income of the Han Dynasty's treasury will go from still having surplus to insufficient income. This is the reason why Xu Li opposes.

Xu Li is a person who is used to hard life. If his income is lower than his expenses now, he will be really unsure.

But now, after hearing Guo Zong's statement that this would not happen, Xu Li was relieved and said, "If there is no fiscal deficit, the old minister firmly supports the war."

Pang Qing coughed and said, "The old minister has no objection."

Li Mu said excitedly: "Your Majesty, I am willing to go to war as the chief general!"

The three prime ministers have formed a unified opinion, so it is naturally impossible for the other ministers below to say anything more.

Zhao Kuo smiled and said, "It's very good, so let's study now, where to hit.

Xiang Yan, let’s talk.”

At meetings like this, Sima Shang, the Minister of the General Staff, usually came to provide military advice. However, Sima Shang is still fighting in Lingnan, so this task falls on Xiang Yan, the chief of staff who is in the imperial capital.

Xiang Yan stood up and came to the map that had been hung aside. He picked up the long baton in a familiar way and began to point fingers while talking.

"According to the analysis of the General Staff, since this battle was mainly dominated by the power of small troops, a large-scale conquest of the Seleucid Empire in the West was obviously an entirely unfeasible option.

Let’s look at the north. The desert in the north has now been completely conquered by our Han Kingdom, and there is no war in the north.

In the northeast direction, Jizi North Korea has not yet perished and the Korean Peninsula has not been completely conquered, so it can be listed as an option.

In the south, there is war in Lingnan and the southwest, so it is naturally impossible to continue to open up the battlefield.

There are many Qiang tribes in the plateau in the west. They are barbaric by nature and often plague the counties of Longxi and Guanzhong in our Han Dynasty, which is also an option that can be considered.

So after comprehensive consideration, only the Western plateau and the Northeast Jizi North Korea are two more suitable targets.”

After listening to Xiang Yan's words, the important officials of the Han Dynasty present were all in thought.

After a moment, Prime Minister Xu Li said, "So, which goal does the General Staff think is more appropriate?"

Xiang Yan said, "Reply to Prime Minister Xu, this actually depends on the intention of His Majesty this time.

His Majesty is going to dispatch 20,000 musketeers. If you want to test the combat effectiveness of these musketeers, the western plateau is undoubtedly a very suitable battlefield.

Jizi North Korea in the northeast has mountains and water, with dangerous and difficult roads. It also has many city walls. Although it can be overcome by musketeers, it is not a suitable battlefield.

In addition, in the future, after the opening of the trade route between the Seleucid Empire in the West, a large number of our caravans will pass through the Hexi Corridor on the north side of the Qilian Mountains to the Western Regions. The large number of Qiang people in the western plateau are on the south side of the Qilian Mountains. It is difficult to guarantee that they will not pose any threat to this trade route.

From this we judge that whether from the military or from the commercial interests of the Han Kingdom, attacking many Qiang tribes on the western plateau is a better choice.”

After Xiang Yan said this, Zhao Kuo nodded secretly.

It seems that Xiang Yan has really gotten enlightened.

In many cases, war is not just war, it is composed of many complex factors, and the most important of them is political factors.

To put it bluntly, if a country's top leaders want to fight, they must have judged that they feel that war can bring enough benefits to the country before they start the war.

Now Xiang Yan can break out of his simple military interests and use the comprehensive interests of the country to judge the goal of the war. This is the best proof of his growth.

After hearing Xiang Yan's words, Xu Li nodded slightly and said, "So, launching a war on the western plateau is indeed a good choice.

But the western plateau is so big, we can't possibly conquer the western plateau with these 20,000 soldiers, right?"

Xiang Yan nodded and said, "That's true, so this time the place we plan to conquer is only this part."

As he said that, Xiang Yan's baton drew a flat oval on the map.
Chapter completed!