Wait, please don't call me Emperor Zhaolie

Chapter 222: Western Region Hu Ji Loves Him Very Much

"Xuan De..." Qian Zhao was thinking about the past, and suddenly glanced sideways and saw that there were a few white hairs on Liu Bei's thick black hair at his temples.

This had never happened before. At that time, Xuande was responsible for handling many affairs by himself. No matter how hard he worked, he could still be full of energy after a half-day rest, and he would not have any gray hair.

I didn't expect that after only one year of recapturing Luoyang, it would be so tiring. Especially since many powerful people in Xuzhou rebelled, causing a sensation throughout the world.

Even though he was far away in Yanzhou, he couldn't help feeling a little frightened, but the one who bore the most pressure was undoubtedly Xuande.

Qian Zhao came to his senses and realized that he was no longer in Pingyuan County, and Xuande was no longer a county magistrate. Instead, he was in charge of twenty-three counties across the country, governing nearly ten million people, and was the most capable prince in reviving the Han Dynasty.

Others feel that he is becoming more and more majestic, but they don't know the hard work involved.

Thinking of this, Qian Zhao's intention to recount the past faded a little, and he sat closer and advised: "Xuan De, you still need to take care of your health. Don't be so busy with military affairs and official affairs. It's too exhausting to consult with others on everything, no matter how big or small. Sometimes you need to relax more, and listening to the sound of stringed instruments is also very wonderful."

"I think the enjoyment of a county governor is much better than yours. Now that he is in charge of several states, why can't he treat himself better?"

Liu Bei chuckled and said, "Zijing, I know that the body is the foundation of everything, but if I don't take care of some things, then no one will."

"There are countless princes in the world, but how many dare to measure the land? How many can distribute the land equally to the common people? The states have become so corrupt. How can we save the people if we don't prescribe the right remedy? How can we save the nobles from idle talk if we don't dig out the root cause?"

Liu Bei smiled and pointed his finger back, saying: "If I were born in a peaceful and prosperous era, I would fight cocks and run dogs with you, marry a few more wives and concubines, and become a village knight."

"After you make some money as a merchant, I will invite you, Yunchang and Yide to leave Chang'an and go to the Western Regions. I have heard that the Hu girls in the Western Regions are very beautiful and good at dancing. Wouldn't life be boring if you don't see them?"

"I didn't expect that Xuande actually likes Hu Ji?" Qian Zhao was a little surprised. No wonder he refused to take a concubine before. He was advised by everyone to have more children, so he took in many concubines. Unexpectedly, he had a unique taste. There were indeed very few Hu Ji in the Central Plains at that time.

Qian Zhao nodded thoughtfully, patted his chest and promised: "Xuan De, leave the matter of Hu Ji to me. No matter how difficult it is, I will find a way to get it done."

As long as Liu Bei doesn't indulge in sex and ruin his health, no matter how strange the hobby is, as long as it can relax his body and mind, he will do it well.

Liu Bei couldn't help but glare back, and scolded with a smile: "Zijing, how come I find you to be a sycophantic minister? This Yanzhou is thousands of miles away from the Western Regions, and it costs a lot of manpower and material resources to transport a Hu girl. Even if her appearance is stunning, who can be so extravagant? Aren't you afraid of being infamous for generations?"

"This..." Qian Zhao widened his eyes and was stunned on the spot.

What Xuande said was completely different from what he thought.

"I was going to ask someone to go to Bingzhou to buy a girl from the Xiongnu tribe. Why is she still infamous? Qian has no acquaintances in the Western Regions, so how can we go to other countries to buy one? Xuande, please don't make fun of me."

Liu Bei was speechless after hearing this, and finally raised his finger and pointed at him, saying, "Get lost!"

Then he couldn't help laughing out loud, and Qian Zhao also laughed.

Everyone in the world knows that ordinary women in the Xiongnu tribe are herding cattle all year round, have plump figures and dark skin, and like to shave their heads. It is difficult to pick a fair and beautiful girl among a thousand people. They are far inferior to the Hu girls from the Western Regions he mentioned.

Xu Chu and Dian Wei, who were sitting in the hall, looked at each other in surprise. It had been a long time since they saw the envoy laugh so happily. Could this be a meeting with his childhood friend who was a senior official?
How come he was discussing world affairs like the knights, and then ended up talking about beauties and traveling around the world with a sword? !

Dian Wei thought that if he were born in a prosperous era, when the envoy wanted to take people to travel to the Western Regions and passed through Chenliu, he would definitely go with them.

The envoy's description of Hu Ji's beauty made him feel a little itchy, and he couldn't help but want to go and see her. "Xuan De, you should still take more concubines that you like. Look, I have two more sons and a daughter this year, which is a great celebration."

After saying this, Qian Zhao stroked his grown beard, straightened his back, and looked a little proud.

Liu Bei smiled, cupped his hands and congratulated him, "I would like to congratulate Zijing on your great achievements."

"But last year, I also took in two concubines in Xuzhou. Both of them are stunningly beautiful, good at playing the zither and dancing. One is elegant and charming, and the other is gentle and lovely. My family house has also expanded."

Liu Bei also laughed and said it a little casually.

Qian Zhao admitted that he felt a little jealous.

Xuande's power was growing, and many people wanted to curry favor with him. Even the nobles were willing to offer their beautiful daughters to him. In comparison, the position of a prime minister with a rank of two thousand stones was far inferior.

Qian Zhao said indignantly, "Xuan De, you said in the past that I would be the General of Anxi in the Western Regions Protectorate. I wonder if you really mean it. I want to see how beautiful the Hu girls in the Western Regions are. If they are very beautiful, I will marry them."

No matter whether his body could hold on or not, he could not easily lose to Xuande in terms of offspring, otherwise he would be laughed at by him.

Liu Bei smiled and said, "Okay, since Zijing has the heart to reopen the Western Regions for the Han Dynasty, I will naturally allow it. If you can emulate Zhang Qian's feat of opening up the Western Regions and go to further places to spread the power of the Han Dynasty, what's the reward for you to be a hundred Hu concubines?"

"Wherever the sun and moon shine, wherever the Han envoys go, all is Han territory."

Qian Zhao saw that Xuande talked endlessly about the Western Regions, especially the revision of Emperor Xiaoxuan's Dinghu Stele, which made him smile slightly.

He said subconsciously: “Xuan De, you are more domineering than Emperor Xiaowu and Emperor Xiaoxuan.”

He was not clear about the previous Han emperor's moves, but he knew Xuande very well and was afraid that he was really preparing to launch a war against more than 30 countries in the Western Regions in the future.

If we let him follow Ban Dingyuan's example and establish a protectorate with only dozens of people, it would be overestimating him. How many people can use troops to destroy a country like Ban Chao did?

"If Xuande wants to pacify the world, he still needs to rest and recuperate for a few more years. Frequent military operations outside the borders will easily consume the people's strength. The original purpose of sending troops to the Western Regions was to break the arms of the Xiongnu. Now that the Xiongnu have submitted to the Han Dynasty, we can slowly open up the Western Regions."

Qian Zhao thought about Liu Bei's words and then advised.

"Zi Jing, there is something you don't know."

"Without the Xiongnu, there are still the Xianbei. Even without the Xianbei, other foreign tribes will migrate here to occupy the grasslands and take control of the Hetao and Western Regions. It will be like the return of the once powerful Xiongnu. It must be remembered that the Han Dynasty took a hundred years of war to bring down the Xiongnu."

"If it happens again, the people will suffer. Don't leave trouble for future generations. Don't let others sleep soundly beside your bed. Even if it costs money, you must chase it to the end and eliminate it."

Liu Bei clapped his hands and laughed.

His attitude has always been very clear: the Han Dynasty is not a place where people can provoke it at will. If you do, either don't attack it, or if you do, the country will be destroyed.

Even if they have to run thousands of miles away, we must send envoys to find out their movements and unite with other countries to destroy them.

(End of this chapter)