Farmer of Shu Han

The road from Chang'an to Taiyuan is much easier to travel than in the early years.

Chang'an is the center of the Han Dynasty, while Taiyuan is the center of Bingzhou.

The administrative centers of various counties may not be able to connect directly with Chang'an.

But the administrative centers of various states must have direct official roads to Chang'an.

This is not only a need for the central government to strengthen its control over local areas, but also a need for national strategic security.

"Hand-made maniac" Lao Ying just unified the six countries and built nine highways in one go, which was based on such considerations.

The Qin Straight Road leading directly to Jiuyuan is just one of the nine roads.

"Qin built a highway in the world, reaching Yan and Qi in the east, Wu and Chu in the south, and reaching all the views on the rivers and lakes and the coast. The road is fifty steps wide, with trees every three feet, and thickly built outside, hidden with golden spikes and planted with green pines."

Who would have thought that Lao Ying exhausted the people's strength to build the nine roads in the world, but his own people did not enjoy it, but all benefited Liu Han.

Especially in the Former Han Dynasty, the reason why it was able to create martial arts that were admired by later generations and the territory reached the limit of military expansion in the feudal era was that the roads built by the "hand-made maniacs" played an indispensable role.

However, the roads fell into disrepair due to age - after all, even just maintaining these roads was a huge and long-lasting project that consumed people's manpower.

Coupled with the destruction caused by wars, these roads gradually shrank or even disappeared, and finally disappeared in the long river of history.

But then again, the Qin Straight Road, which had the longest use time, was not gradually buried until the Qing Dynasty, which is enough to illustrate the engineering quality of the roads built by the "hand-made maniacs".

The Three Kingdoms was only more than 400 years away from the Qin Dynasty.

These roads, except for the Qin Straight Road, can still be used directly after a little repair.

The remaining eight roads, although no longer as wide and magnificent as they used to be, at least the traces are still there.

There are even many sections that are still the main official roads in the local area.

One of the nine roads is called Linjin Road.

As the name suggests, it is a highway that goes directly from Xianyang to Jin.

Starting from Chang'an, heading northeast, you reach the river, cross Pujin, pass Puban, reach Hedong, and finally reach Shangdang.

However, the section from Hedong to Shangdang has long been destroyed due to various changes in Shangdang County.

Fortunately, in recent years, the engineering team has initially reopened this road in accordance with the court's outsourcing business, and is currently preparing to widen and reinforce it.

As for the road from Hedong to Taiyuan, Ji Han still inherited the practice of Emperor Zhaolie, vigorously developed the postal system, and set up a series of pavilions and halls along the way.

At the same time, the rich experience and skilled workers accumulated by the engineering team over the years were used to continuously build and widen the official road.

Especially after the battle of Shangdang, the court felt the importance of Taiyuan and used the Joint Reserve Bureau to issue a special national debt specifically for the construction of the official road between Hedong and Taiyuan.

Most of it was paid by the aristocratic families in Hedong and Taiyuan, and a small part was paid by the wealthy families in Shangdang whose property was confiscated.

Of course, this incident also caused some waves in the court.

For example, someone in Yongliang also stood up and said, doesn't Qin Jiudao also have a western road (from Chang'an to Hexi Lintao)?

Why not expand it?

For example, along it, the post road that directly connected to the Western Regions in the former Han Dynasty can be reconnected and repaired to facilitate the travel between Hexi and the Western Regions, wouldn't it be wonderful?

The court can issue another national debt. We Guanxi, especially Liangzhou people, have money, so we will buy it!

It's not that the people in Yongliang are stupid and have a lot of money, but these days, those who collect money are not considered capable, and those who pay money are considered capable.

If you want to get rich, build roads first.

Feng Da Sima said this in Nanxiang a long time ago. If you spend a lot of money, it will never be wrong.

If the post road between Hexi and the Western Regions can really be built, then it will be full of gold!

Not to mention the initial investment, 50% to 60% can be recovered when the road is built-the engineering team does not bring their own dry food to work for free.

When the imperial court built a large project, as long as they had some connections in the local area, they could fill their stomachs even if they sold vegetables.

Of course, this proposal was rejected at the court meeting.

The reason is also very simple.

There is no manpower.

The imperial court can raise food, and the people are willing to pay, but where can they find so many people to build roads?

So when they learned that the local people of Taiyuan took advantage of the time difference to eat up the 50,000 laborers in the hands of the General Zhendong in advance, even Hedong, which was originally a political ally, couldn't help but spray:

Taiyuan guys are really not human! With such a big appetite, why don't you eat all the shit? !

The Han people are really short of people in all walks of life in all places.

So this is why those who collect money are not considered capable, and those who pay money are considered capable.

After all, it is related to the right to bark.

The more capable a certain interest group is, the louder the dog barks in the court, and the more food they can allocate to their own territory.

As for the political groups like Shudi, which were born as ladies and maids, they have no right to bark. You just eat whatever the court gives you.

It’s good to have something to eat, and you still want to bark?

Why are the noble families in Taiyuan and Hedong willing to be bled by Feng again and again?

In addition to Feng’s methods and the general situation, it is also to enhance their right to bark in the court and avoid the fate of the Shudi nobles.

Of course, Feng no longer needs to bark in the court to highlight his existence.

He just barked in Taiyuan, and the Han emperor Liu Adou immediately sent people to reward him.

The angel sent was Li Xiang, who was the Shangshu Lang at the time.

Li Xiang’s master was Li Fu, who was urgently sent by Adou to visit the prime minister when the prime minister was seriously ill and asked the prime minister about the national plan a hundred years later.

However, he died in office a few years ago.

His son Li Xiang was also famous, and the emperor remembered his father's past achievements, so he filled the position of Shang Shulang.

After all, the person who was sent by Adou to inquire about important matters when the Prime Minister was seriously ill could be said to be Adou's close confidant.

The son of a confidant is still a confidant.

Li Xiang read out the imperial edict in public and rewarded the army. After completing the process, he found an opportunity to come to see Feng Da Sima privately.

"Xiang, I have met Da Sima."

This time, he bowed politely, indicating that he was not coming to meet him as an angel.

When Feng Da Sima saw Li Xiang coming to ask for an audience, he was not surprised. Instead, there was a trace of trance in his eyes:

"Li Shangshu, please sit down."

"Thank you, Da Sima."

After Li Xiang sat down, Feng Da Sima took the initiative to speak, with a somewhat nostalgic look on his face, and said in a leisurely tone:

"Every time I see Li Shangshu these days, I always think of an old friend and an elder."

Li Xiang made a respectful listening gesture:

"Those who can be called old friends by Da Sima must be extraordinary people, and those who can be called elders are even more respectable people."

Although Li Xiang is younger than Feng Da Sima, the difference is less than ten years.

Now, because of their status, Li Xiang willingly placed himself in the position of a junior.

Thinking of that so-called old friend, Feng Da Sima couldn't help but smile:

"The old friend I'm talking about is none other than Li Shangshu's late father, Li Pushe. Li Pushe has a keen sense of fruitfulness and is quick in politics. He is a great minister of my great Han Dynasty. He is truly extraordinary."

As soon as Li Xiang heard that the person Da Sima mentioned was his late father, he quickly stood up to show his respect and filial piety.

"If my late father had known something underground, he would have been delighted to receive such high praise from the Great Sima, and would have thanked the Great Sima."

Li Xiang bowed respectfully to Da Sima.

With Da Sima's comments, your posthumous name is considered safe.

"I'm just telling the truth."

Feng Da Sima accepted this courtesy and motioned for him to sit down again.

After the late emperor entered Shu, Li Fu served as the governor of Brazil.

After that, he served as governor of Jiangzhou and general of Yangwei.

Then he entered the court, served as a servant of the minister, and was granted the title of Marquis of Pingyang Ting.

Finally, he served as the former supervisor of the army and led the general Sima.

None of the positions he holds is empty, they are all critical. This shows that he is capable and indeed extraordinary.

"Since Li Shangshu knows that the old friend I am thinking of is my late father, then does he know who the elder I am thinking of is?"

Li Xiang wanted to shake his head, but a flash of inspiration flashed in his heart and he blurted out:

"Could it be that Da Sima is talking about the Prime Minister?"

There is currently only one prime minister in Ji Han.

If there were three rises in the Han Dynasty, there would probably only be one like this.

Feng Da Sima nodded, indicating that Li Xiang had guessed correctly.

His eyes looked towards the tent door, as if he wanted to look further through the tent door.

"Yes, that's the Prime Minister. I remember that when Chang'an was recaptured, the Prime Minister refused to enter the city first. He specially sent someone to summon me and entered Chang'an with me. His intention of protecting him with his fists made me feel like boiling water boiling my heart every time I think about it."

Feng Da Sima's voice seemed to be close but was actually far away. He was remembering and longing for her, but also a little regretful and sad, which made Li Xiang not dare to answer easily.

In fact, with his current status, he is not qualified to talk about this topic.

His relationship with Da Sima was not as close as this.

So he didn't understand why Da Sima mentioned this to him.

There was silence in the tent for a long time, and then Feng Da Sima's voice continued to sound:

"The recovery of the old capital of Chang'an was originally a matter worthy of joy and celebration, but who would have expected that the prime minister fell ill due to overwork and became seriously ill."

Li Xiang then opened his mouth and said:

"The prime minister was appointed when the army was defeated, and he was ordered to be in danger, but he was afraid of harming the late emperor's reputation, so he devoted himself to the Han Dynasty and died. He was a model of a true Han minister, and I couldn't live up to the chance."

"Yeah, I can't wait for the Prime Minister to be in trouble."

Feng Da Sima spoke up, saying one more word than Li Xiang:

"The Prime Minister is seriously ill in Chang'an, and His Majesty sent Li Pushe to visit him and consult the Prime Minister on national affairs a hundred years from now."

Having said this, he looked at Li Xiang and said, "I didn't expect that His Majesty would send you to see me today. It reminds me of this old incident in Chang'an."

Hearing what Feng Da Sima said, Li Xiang's heart skipped an inexplicable beat. He always felt that there was something in Feng Da Sima's words.

But for a moment, he was a little confused about the meaning behind Da Sima's words.

If you can't figure it out, you won't dare to answer easily.

There was no focus in Feng Da Sima's eyes, and he had no intention of forcing Li Xiang to speak. He just asked in a nonchalant voice:

"Does Li Shangshu remember the former Hussars General Li Ping (also known as Li Yan)?"

Li Xiang's heart jumped a few more times involuntarily.

Li Ping is one of the two auxiliary ministers appointed by the late emperor to His Majesty. How could he not know?

Having said this, Li Xiang already vaguely understood what Feng Dashima might be going to say.

In other words, why did Da Sima behave so abnormally in the past few days.

He couldn't help but whispered:

"Da Sima, that's not the case, is it? Who doesn't know that you and His Majesty are so close? Well, His Majesty has great trust in Da Sima..."

As close as brothers, indeed as close as brothers.

No, maybe His Majesty is not as close to Da Sima as he is to his brothers.

After all, they are brothers-in-law.

Feng Da Sima's eyes finally gained focus, and he glanced over, with a calm smile on his face:

"Does Minister Li think that I can be better than the Prime Minister? However, even if he is the Prime Minister, when he led the army to the north, the regent appointed by the late emperor dared to hold back in the rear."

"Others say that I am cruel and ruthless, and call me the reincarnation of the King of Ghosts. You can imagine how much they hate me. In this world, I don't know how many people want to kill me."

"If there is a chance, I don't know how many people will spread my slander in front of your majesty. As the saying goes, a lot of gossip can melt gold, and a lot of criticism can destroy a person."

"Emperor Xiaowen, who is as wise as he is, still summoned an important minister like Ji Bu because of one person's praise, and sent him away because of one person's criticism."

"Now in the battle of Hebei, "In the Han Dynasty, everyone, no matter wise or foolish, thought that victory was certain and had no other thoughts."

"Especially since the news of General Zhendong's victory outside the Great Wall reached Taiyuan, there have been rumors that Hebei would be recovered in a matter of days."

"In their words, it seemed as if the army could fly over Taihang Mountain in one day, and the rebels in Hebei would surrender when they heard that the king's army had arrived."

Feng Da Sima stared at Li Xiang, "Li Shangshu, tell me honestly, is there anyone in the court who thinks so now?"

Li Xiang felt the threat of Sima's gaze and did not dare to look up. He stammered, "Yes."

In fact, even he had some such thoughts.

There was an optimistic statement in the court that the Han cavalry could completely flatten Hebei in three months.

The court and the people were full of extremely optimistic views on this war.

Especially the great victory of General Zhendong in subduing hundreds of thousands of Hu people pushed this optimism to the peak.

Therefore, the court was not moved by the war report that the Grand Marshal captured a fort today, attacked a camp tomorrow, and captured dozens of people the day after tomorrow. Some even thought it was an exaggeration.

"But for me, this time's opponent Sima Yi is the biggest enemy since I led the army to go to war."

Feng Da Sima's voice was faint and vague, "From the current situation, if the war goes smoothly, it's fine, and everyone thinks it's natural."

"But what if there are twists and turns? I'm afraid you will be suspicious and have doubts." Feng Da Sima looked at Li Xiang and said meaningfully, "If there is a chance, I'm afraid it won't be a public outcry?"

In addition, some guys who always criticize Feng Da Sima are adding fuel to the fire.

There is also a queen who always wants to return to Weiyang Palace to live.

Jiang Wan is seriously ill and can hardly manage affairs.

Fei Yi, who succeeded Jiang Wan, does not have enough prestige.

The Shangshutai may not be able to suppress the interest groups in the court who are fighting for the right to bark.

What if Adou, the henpecked man, did what happened in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, and called Feng, who was at the front line, back to Chang'an, saying that he was lonely and missed him, so he specially called him back to talk...

Be safe from the worst.

Li Xiang broke out in a cold sweat when he heard what Da Sima said.

Because Da Sima's words not only accurately reflected the views and mentality of most people in the court, but also some possible situations in the future.

Your Majesty really understands Da Sima!

No wonder he specially sent himself to see Da Sima, ostensibly to reward the army, but actually to ask Da Sima what he was thinking.

Thinking about all these, he did not forget the purpose of his trip, and asked with courage: "Does the Grand Marshal have no confidence in this battle?"

"Why would I write the Three Outings without confidence?" The Grand Marshal snorted coldly, and then softened his tone, "But even if I am confident, what does it matter? As the saying goes, war is dangerous, and we must be careful."

Li Xiang asked again:

"What does the Grand Marshal mean?"

"This battle may be more difficult and longer than we imagined..." Grand Marshal Feng finally revealed his "true feelings", "I have already informed the Shangshutai, please pay more attention Prepare food and grass. "

"But except for the Shangshutai, I'm afraid no one in the court has a correct concept of how long this battle will last."

After hearing this, Li Xiang waited for a long time, but did not hear the Grand Marshal continue to speak, so he had to ask:

"Then according to the Grand Marshal's estimate, how long will this battle last?"

"I don't know."

Li Xiang: ...

"But I know it may take a long time, so Your Majesty should be mentally prepared."

"Xiang understands."

After sending Li Xiang away, Grand Marshal Feng looked far away, looking in a certain direction, with a slight coldness in his eyes.

At the same time, he subconsciously licked his lips, as if he was ready to grind his teeth and suck blood.