Establishing a thousand-year family from the nobles of the Western Han Dynasty

Chapter 60: Change strategy and suppress Xu

"But Your Majesty should also focus on the present. This Northern Expedition has consumed countless money and food with only 100,000 people. Everything must be done step by step."

Xu Gong still advised Liu Che not to be so hasty, saying that some things did not require the use of force, nor did they have to be completed immediately.

He believed that South Vietnam was now dominated by powerful officials and was constantly in internal strife. It was like a fish on the chopping board, ready to be slaughtered. There was no need to act rashly, and it might even perish on its own.

According to military strategy, it is best to defeat the enemy without fighting.

"Well, don't worry, teacher. I already know about it and will pay attention to it in the future." Liu Che originally wanted to argue, but after thinking it over carefully, he gave up.

In fact, I still don’t want to have any disagreements with the teacher. When encountering something, I will try to obey as long as it is not a matter of principle.

Xu Gong was stunned when he saw this. He had already prepared a long speech, but His Majesty just agreed to it? This was not the same character.

"Well, I hope Your Majesty can listen to me." He sighed, then followed silently.

.........

After witnessing the cruelty of war, Xu Gong changed his previous radical strategy and adopted a more peaceful way of governing the country to offset the losses from foreign wars.

For example, regarding the issue of taxation, Liu Che was not as frugal as his father and grandfather. He was even extravagant. He built palaces on a large scale, worshiped ghosts and gods, and held frequent sacrifices. Xu Gong therefore submitted a memorial hoping to reduce palace expenses, save people's strength, and prepare for more wars in the future.

Liu Che was still willing to listen to this, and the entire court would humbly follow the teacher's advice, while others would subconsciously think it was disobedience.

At the same time, in order to cultivate more talents, Xu Gong gave up his absolute leadership in the military. Of course, he did not give up the military power. For example, the central army in the north and the south were still under his control. What he gave up more was the dominance of a large number of border troops, so that the generals did not have to ask him for advice at any time.

Originally, the prime minister's power was more focused on the court and his control over the army was weak, but Xu Gong was an exception. Since the reign of Emperor Jing, he has controlled the military power of the Northern Army. After serving as the Grand Marshal, he even controlled the Southern Army and the palace guards. Basically, he was the only one under the emperor in the entire Chang'an army.

After he was appointed as prime minister, Emperor Jingdi also handed over the formulation of the border defense strategy against the Huns to Xu Gong, who was actually in charge of the border troops until now.

Because Xu Gong always adhered to the principle of reporting at all times, Liu Che always believed that the overall situation was under his control. Of course, he was wary, as he was originally dissatisfied with the system of the prime minister monopolizing power, but he was not worried deeply now.

Because Liu Che had initially implemented the system of inner and outer courts, strengthened the power of the Shangshu and Changshi, and intended to concentrate all the power of the empire in himself, most of the Three Dukes were weakened.

However, the main target of the prime minister was the right prime minister Gongsun Hong. No one dared to touch the left prime minister Xu Gong because of his seniority and prestige, and he was also known for his blind loyalty.

But everyone knows that the weakening of the prime minister's power is an established fact. The prime minister's power is too great, and it can even check the imperial power. In the face of the current trend of centralization, it will not be allowed to exist.

General Wei Qing was also successfully reused and was given the title of General Conquering the Barbarians, with very terrifying independent power. Liu Che actually had the intention of weakening him and wanted to take away the military power of the Xu family.

The General of the Guard at that time, Xu Gong, had passed away. After several twists and turns, it happened that the new General of the Guard was also a member of the Xu family, and almost all the military power of the central government was in the hands of the Xu family.

Therefore, the border troops could no longer be given. Liu Che did trust Xu Gong, but he was still somewhat suspicious of the Xu family. Although he knew that only two of the six talented men of the Xu family were left and that the entire family was full of loyal and heroic deeds, he had never come into contact with them personally, and the only one who was truly touched was Xu Gong.

In fact, this was what Xu Gong himself was worried about. He knew that His Majesty was intending to suppress the Xu family. Centralized power would not allow the emergence of a super family that combined fame, military power, political power and title.

As the saying goes, everything that goes up must come down. This is certain. The Xu family has only four generations of officials in the court, but three of them have held high positions as the Three Dukes. The younger Xu Nan is already a general of the guards, and the position of the Three Dukes is a foregone conclusion. Another important point is that the Xu family is extremely popular among scholars. They founded the "Imperial Academy" and taught everyone regardless of family background. They were called the reincarnation of saints, and even Liu Che's reputation improved, and he was praised by countless scholars.

Liu Che was a man who cared a lot about his reputation, so he was not opposed to this, but he felt a little alienated from Xu, who was also popular among the people.

In the Prime Minister's Mansion, it was already late at night, the evening breeze was blowing, and Xu Gong was still reviewing local memorials by the light of an oil lamp.

Most of the time, Liu Che would leave all the trivial matters to Xu Gong, so it was very easy for him.

"Prime Minister, His Majesty has an order to convey." The waiter asked for a meeting outside the door.

"Come in." Xu Gong raised his head and tidied his appearance, although he had the privilege of not bowing when entering the court.

The waiter did not read it out, but placed it on the table and left.

He picked up the imperial edict and took a look at it, and finally understood why the waiter did not read it out and left in a hurry.

It turned out that His Majesty had already drawn up a list of people for the second Northern Expedition. Xu Gong would still be in charge of the troops, and General Wei Qing would accompany him to lead the troops to continue to resolve the Xiongnu royal court in the south and north of the desert.

The specific scale of the war was not specified, and it seemed that the plan was to act first and report later.

Of course, this is not the most important thing. Except for an insignificant Xu Chu, there is no other descendant of the Xu family in the list of generals. Xu Nan, who originally had the hope of becoming one of the Three Dukes based on his military achievements, was arranged to garrison in Liaodong to provide support.

It was obvious that Liu Che did this, which was to curb the power of the Xu family.

"Alas... Your Majesty, is it time to put away the bow after the birds are all killed?" Xu Gong knelt back helplessly, and the imperial edict fell to the ground.

His father and elder brother had both asked him to keep the Xu family prosperous and alive, but now he was afraid he would have to break his promise, because Emperor Liu Che no longer planned to use the Xu family as important officials. How could the family prosper if they lost the emperor's favor?
"Father, brothers, what should I do now?"

"Forget it. This time I must ask for a chance for Nan'er to make merit, even if it means sacrificing my old bones!"

Finally, he made up his mind and planned to go to her bedroom and kneel down for a long time. He must not let the Xu family decline in his hands!

Just as Xu Gong was about to get up, a familiar starlight suddenly floated over, like a bright lamp in the deep sea, a fire in the darkness, so warm and dazzling...

"Is this...father?" He was stunned where he stood, but quickly reacted, knelt back down, waiting to go to the mysterious "paradise".

The light in Random's eyes churned rapidly, and he felt as if he had been healed. The feeling was very comfortable.

Did my father always stay in such a beautiful place...

When Xu Gong opened his eyes again, he found himself next to a familiar pond where his father Xu Zhen was fishing.

He knelt down immediately, tears streaming down his face: "Greetings, father!"

(End of this chapter)