New Shun 1730

"Ban Dingyuan said: The officials and soldiers in the cold foreign countries are not filial sons and grandsons, but are exiled to the frontier garrisons because of their crimes. The barbarians have the heart of birds and beasts, which is difficult to raise and easy to defeat. Now your emperor is strict and urgent, and there are no big fish in clear water. You can't get along with the government. It is better to be relaxed and simple, lenient to minor mistakes, and just focus on the general outline..."

"I think that although there is a gap of 1,700 years, the principle is still applicable. To manage Nanyang, you must know the similarities and differences between Nanyang and the mainland."

Liu Yu ignored the emperor's metaphor and directly used Ban Chao's original words to answer the real selection problem beyond the emperor's metaphor.

Ban Chao's meaning is also quite straightforward: the garrisons in colonies and frontier areas are basically "scum", where are the good ones? They are either exiled criminals or "adventurers" who are eager to make merit and get rich, and there are no filial sons and grandsons.

Who would go to the frontier colonies for filial sons and grandsons? Isn't it good to take the imperial examination at home?

Therefore, those who are the "Protector General of the Western Regions" must understand that they should not be so rigid and should not treat the region as the interior of the country.

Jian Xiaoguo, the general outline, as long as the basic line is correct, there is no rebellion, and there is no intention to split the land and become king, it is best to turn a blind eye to the rest.

The emperor nodded slightly to show his agreement.

He picked up a copy of the Book of the Later Han Dynasty from his side, and skillfully turned to the Biography of Ban Liang, reading: "Dingyuan was generous and dedicated to the western region. He walked on the green onions and snow, and was close to Longsha."

"After 1,700 years, the word generous no longer has its original meaning. We can learn from history, and some of the principles in it are still applicable today."

"What you said is very true. The candidate for the "Protector General of the Western Regions" really needs to understand this point. It should be based on local conditions. In short, it is necessary to simplify the minor mistakes and general outlines."

"I have not considered the possibility of independence and division in the future of Nanyang. As long as the Celestial Empire's navy is still there, Nanyang will be no different from the provinces in the interior."

"However, just understanding this principle is probably not enough. You also need to understand the affairs of Western countries, diplomacy, and the countries in Nanyang. 's situation, customs, human feelings, and religion. "

"I think we should still choose from those who came from Jinghai Palace. It is said that one should not avoid relatives when selecting talents, but when it comes to oneself, it is inevitable to consider avoiding suspicion. I don't think I should ask you, my dear?"

Since the emperor used the story of Dou Gu and Ban Chao as an example, Liu Yu also followed this example and said: "In the past, Ban Chao made meritorious deeds, Dou Mengsun praised his merits, but asked to select another envoy to the Western Regions. Emperor Ming of Han said: Why not send an official like Ban Chao and select another one?"

"I don't recommend anyone. I just express the merits and abilities of each person. As for who to choose as the person who will govern Nanyang in the future, it is your majesty's holy decision. "

It sounds like what Dou Gu did back then was like taking off his pants to fart: first he talked about Ban Chao's achievements, courage, strategy, and the bravery of the thirty-six people to pacify Shanshan. Then he asked Emperor Ming of Han to send someone to continue the mission to the Western Regions.

The emperor directly replied, isn't Ban Chao good? Do we need to find someone else?

But this farting by taking off pants is meaningful. As an important minister leading the army, and also having the favor of Ban Chao, he should not take the initiative to recommend to the emperor. Important ministers do not recommend people they have promoted, but they can report their achievements and attribute the favor to the emperor.

Now in Dashun, it is almost the same situation.

The affairs of Nanyang are complicated. There are many ministers in the court who are qualified, but the problem is that they are not capable. It is not that they are stupid, but they don’t know the situation in Nanyang at all, and they don’t understand trade at all. If they meet a dull one, they can’t suppress Nanyang at all.

The emperor used Ban Chao and Dou Gu to make an analogy, which is also clear. Liu Yu can attack Nanyang, but he must return to the court after conquering Nanyang.

Although he said it to give Liu Yu face, saying that the rest of the Nanyang can be handled by front-line personnel like Dingyuan Hou, and there is no need for "Nine Ministers" to squat there.

The candidate for "Ban Chao" must be capable, able to deal with Westerners, and understand the geography, customs and customs of Nanyang. In fact, the scope is very small.

As long as the "overall situation" is taken seriously, the person selected must be someone close to Liu Yu.

At the very least, or the most indifferent relationship, there must be a sense of teacher-student relationship.

Not to mention the most outstanding people in Jinghai Palace, Liu Yu must have a good relationship with them.

Regarding the candidate, Liu Yu thought it was better to let the emperor choose. Although the emperor said that the navy was established, many things would be different from before, as long as the main force of the navy was in Guangdong, Nanyang would be easier to control than the southwest and northwest, and there was no need to worry about the independence of the land there.

But no matter what he said, Liu Yu thought that if you really understood it, you would choose the right person; if you just said it, but you were suspicious in your heart, you would not be able to choose the right person after all.

In this case, it doesn't make much sense to recommend someone yourself. There are only a few suitable people, and if you want to choose the right ones, you can't avoid the people in the small circle that Liu Yu has already planned and laid out.

"Your Majesty, I think that the purpose of managing Nanyang still depends on the purpose. As the saying goes, only when the top and the bottom are united can things be accomplished. Your Majesty wants to achieve a certain purpose, or what kind of Nanyang you want, it is best to choose someone with similar ideas to your majesty, rather than choosing someone and then telling him what to do."

"For example, the Han Dynasty opened up the Western Regions to fight the Huns, so it is necessary to tighten military control."

"But why did this dynasty go to Nanyang? Your Majesty has his own plan in mind. Why not ask this question to several candidates?"

"It seems inconvenient for me to know in advance."

If it were someone else, it might not matter whether they listened to the emperor's ideas or not.

But there is a history between Liu Yu and the emperor in this matter. That is, when Liu Yu was taking the exam in Wude Palace, the emperor deliberately missed a question.

Because of this history, I have to think more about it. Those people I trained are absolutely fluent in answering questions. Even if they don’t know the questions, they can definitely talk about Nanyang. But if I know it in advance, I am afraid that the emperor will remember this "history" and I will mutter in my heart that it is Liu Yu who missed the question.

Some things, when the relationship is good, are beautiful memories; once the relationship gradually changes, it becomes a heartache.

However, the emperor laughed for a long time after hearing this, and slowly shook his head and said: "I don't understand the affairs of Nanyang myself. If I really ask myself, I don't know whether it is right or wrong, so how can I know whether their answers are right or wrong?"

"The key to going to Nanyang is not to go. Just like the affairs of the northwest, it is not about fighting; the affairs of the southwest are not about fighting. It may be immigration, or changing the natives to the Han people, or other means. Since we want to 'simplify minor offenses and outline the general outline', we must know what the outline is, right?"

"My dear, there is no need to avoid suspicion. I will say it directly: this matter , you can't avoid suspicion. All the Nanyang governors who can be selected have close relations with you, so it's meaningless to avoid them. "

"It's already May. Can we send troops this winter? If we send troops this winter, when will it end? When we send troops, how much will the trade with the Netherlands lose? Can it be restored? Will it affect the livelihoods of some craftsmen who specialize in exporting in-demand goods? "

"This matter can only be discussed with you. "

"And as for going to Nanyang, setting up military towns, formulating strategies, and planning the Han and Tang Western Regions countries Prostrate... All the above major policies and strategies should be discussed with me by Tianyou Palace and the Privy Council. "

"But how to control Nanyang, how to deal with Westerners, how to use both kindness and power to prevent the small countries in Nanyang from having a rebellious heart, how to make decisions on the spot... This requires a person who is in charge of the front line. He must be born in Jinghai Palace. "

"My dear minister, you wanted to emulate Zhang Bowang and Ban Dingyuan in the past. But after the Pingzhu War, you should take the responsibility of the Nine Ministers and the Guards, and make your own plans. Living in the temple, some front-line matters should be trusted Newcomer. "

"When I read the Book of the Later Han, I often think of your ambition to be a great official in the past. But I read the biography of Dou Mengsun instead of Ban Dingyuan. "

"Dou Mengsun has been in high office for a long time and is very honorable. He has been rewarded with rent and salary, and his wealth has accumulated to billions. However, he is modest and frugal, and loves people and is generous. Scholars call him for this. The Han emperor thought he was familiar with border affairs, and whenever there was an emergency at the border, he would be interviewed... You should do it."

The emperor used the old story of Ban Chao and Dou Gu as a metaphor at the beginning, and the metaphor he chose was actually quite subtle.

Not clever, but subtle.

In history, there were two real champions.

One was sealed in Langjuxu, and the other was engraved in Yanran.

The one who engraved in Yanran was called Dou Xian, not Dou Gu and Dou Mengsun. But the two were from the same family, and their biographies were also together.

The example of Huo Qubing was not very good, and the emperor did not like to use it very much.

First, God was jealous of talents, and Huo Qubing died early. Secondly, Huo Qubing had a "good" brother.

Liu Yu joined the army when he was young, conquered Luocha, pacified the Junggar tribe, and conquered Japan. The emperor thought he was better than the Han and Tang dynasties, and always acted like Liu Yu could be his champion.

When Liu Yu went to Mobei to negotiate with Luocha, he flattered the emperor and copied the inscription on the Yanran stone.

He often used Ban Chao as his idol. In theory, the emperor should make a metaphor, which is more suitable for the second champion, Dou Xian.

However, this metaphor is not good either.

Dou Xian did inscribe Yanran, but he was too powerful. He was so powerful that he was almost all the people in the military. In the end, he was also confiscated and forced to commit suicide.

When mentioning the champion, Huo Qubing, we have to mention Wei Qing; when mentioning the champion, Dou Xian, we have to mention Dou Gu.

First, the emperor thought that using Huo Qubing as a metaphor was unlucky for Liu Yu; second, the emperor wanted to save face, thinking that if he succeeded in going to Southeast Asia and containing the West in the future, future generations would be able to evaluate him as being on par with Han Wu and Tang Zong, but now he was a little embarrassed to compare himself to Han Wu, and he couldn't bring himself to do so.

So the emperor used Dou Gu as a metaphor, hoping that after this battle, Liu Yu would be like Dou Gu, who returned to the court to enjoy a peaceful life after chasing the Huns and conquering the Western Regions: the emperor would ask about any major events; but let the young people go to the front line; you give strategic ideas and lay a good foundation, and someone will engrave it on the Yanran Mountain in the future.

You can have a huge fortune, but you are modest and frugal, and you love people and are generous, so the scholars call you this. I will also ask you about any strategic matters.

But after this battle, you don't have to lead the army. It's not that I don't trust you, but you have to change your mindset, don't always think about going to the front line, and believe that there will be no shortage of newcomers like Zhang Bowang and Ban Dingyuan in this world.

However, in addition to this, there is a very hidden meaning, which even makes the emperor feel like he has a destiny.

In the second year of Emperor Zhang of the Han Dynasty, in March, Dou Gu, an important official who pursued the Xiongnu and took over the Western Regions, died of illness.

On the ninth day of the fourth month of the same year, Emperor Zhang died.

In the "Book of the Later Han" used by the emperor himself, which Liu Yu could not have seen, a few words were added at the end of this biography:

Is it fate? Is it heaven?

If Mengsun had not died, would he have held the general's seal, engraved the stone on Yanran, made great contributions to the world, and had power over the court and the country, but the one who had his family confiscated and his clan exterminated would have been none other than him?

Or would he have held the general's seal, engraved the stone on Yanran, retired after his achievements, closed his door and guarded himself, and was loyal and faithful, imitating the loyalty of Wu Hou and the retreat of Wei Gong?

It is unknown.

The most feared three words in the affairs of the country and the family are unknown.