I am not Yuan Shu

Chapter 284 New Field Army
Yuan Shu had similar thoughts.

He even thought that Liu Kui was a bit mentally abnormal. Why was he so happy seeing Liu He in such a miserable state?
Doesn't he know that he looks like a super pervert now?

Liu Kui was totally unaware of the situation. He continued to laugh as if no one was around and coughed at the same time. The eunuchs around him were so scared that their legs almost went limp, fearing that he might suffocate from coughing or die. That would be the end of him.

However, this situation did not occur in the end.

Probably because he was in a good mood, Liu Kui just coughed, but nothing serious happened. He just watched the beheading scene of Liu He's family. Finally, he saw with his own eyes that Liu He, who looked like a dead fish, was put on five ropes and was "drawn to pieces" in public.

After Liu He had the latest form of six equal parts, Liu Kui nodded with satisfaction and asked the eunuch beside him to take him away from the scene.

After Liu He's death, the reward ceremony was considered to be completely over. Relying on this reward, the military group under Yuan Shu was initially formed, including himself, and he officially established a firm foothold in the Han military.

Yuan Shu was very happy about this, but he still felt it was not enough.

It is a very depressing thing to have only a position and title but no actual power, and he will soon go north to deal with the Xianbei people, so how can he not have his own military group?

The Han Empire massively reduced the number of its standing army due to financial problems, which was certainly a good thing for the Han Empire's finances, but not for Yuan Shu's personal ambitions.

As the de facto second most powerful person in the empire, he is apparently dissatisfied with the current situation.

So after the awarding ceremony, Yuan Shu once again went to the Shangshu Terrace and entered Yuan Feng's office. After closing the door, the father and son began a secret conversation.

There is only one core topic in the dialogue.

Yuan Shu wanted to re-establish a large-scale and well-organized field corps with the nature of a standing army.

It is different from the field infantry cavalry regiment formed by the temporary combination of Luoyang Central Army and Sanhe recruited soldiers, and it is also different from the field cavalry corps formed by the temporary combination of border defense camp soldiers and border county recruited soldiers.

This is a standing comprehensive field corps combining infantry and cavalry, which has field combat capability, city defense capability and siege capability. It is fully suitable for the northern border area and can replace the previous border defense system with many loopholes, making the northern border of the Han Dynasty an ironclad one.

Yuan Feng did not immediately give a positive or negative response to Yuan Shu's latest request.

"If you just want to recruit an army to go north with you, that's a very simple matter. But if you want to keep it ready, if you want the court to pay for the support of this army, it will be very difficult. First of all, the court is not short of troops. Although it may not seem like a lot, it is enough to use in the event of a war.

Just like this time, it is not difficult to directly issue a recruitment order and gather 50,000 or 60,000 troops. The strategy of integrating soldiers with the people is very effective. Even if this point is not taken into consideration, at present, although we are the father and son who control the power, such a matter that actually costs money cannot be decided casually. "

Yuan Shu had no intention of getting so many bugs in the court to agree to this matter. His goal was to obtain the name of a regular army. As for how to operate it, he could solve it himself.

"If the court cannot afford the money, I can find a way to solve the funding problem myself, but the name is very important, father, I need this name."

"You pay for your own troops?"

Yuan Feng was a little surprised and said, "This is not a small amount, nor is it a one-time amount. I know you have a lot of rewards and a lot of property, but when it comes to spending money to support the army, it is not that simple."

Yuan Shu nodded.

"This matter has naturally been on my mind. There is only one thing I need to confirm. Father, are you willing to support me in establishing such an army?"

Yuan Feng looked at his son, pondered for a moment, took a deep breath, and nodded slowly.

"You always do things with a purpose, and you never act recklessly. Everything you do should be for the future. So you want an army that completely obeys your orders, right?"

"Exactly."

Yuan Shu did not hide it from Yuan Feng and said honestly: "During this expedition, I felt this even more deeply. If this army was trained entirely by me, it would definitely save a lot of unnecessary expenses and save a lot of trouble.

The imperial court always thinks that letting recruits plunder the local area can save military expenditures, but wool comes from sheep. If a place is plundered and destroyed, it will not be able to recover production for several years. The imperial court's tax revenue is reduced, which is essentially eating up the food of the next year, just for the sake of short-term pleasure. The ancients said that meat eaters are vulgar and cannot plan for the long term. I thought that meat eaters read a lot and understand things, so they should not be unable to plan for the long term. Now I realize that it is not that meat eaters cannot plan for the long term, but that they are unwilling to plan for the long term, and are reluctant to give up the current luxury and cannot see the abundance of the future! "

Yuan Feng pondered for a moment and nodded slowly.

"Of course what you said makes sense, but the finances are tight and the treasury is empty. Many times, the court has no choice but to do so."

"If the ministers eat one less snack and buy one less piece of Shu brocade, they can save enough money to feed a hundred thousand soldiers for a day!"

Yuan Shu said disdainfully: "But they can't do that. Otherwise, how can they show the difference between them and ordinary people? How can they distinguish between noble and humble? In their eyes, noble and humble are more important than the invisible life and death!"

"Hehehehe..."

Yuan Feng smiled bitterly, shook his head and said, "Shu, when you say that, you are scolding my father as well."

Yuan Shu shook his head.

"Father, this is true. It was the same with our Yuan family in the past, but we must make changes in the future. We are no longer a simple Han minister family. There is a high possibility of new changes. Even if there are no new changes for the time being, we have the power of the world in our hands and cannot be like those insects.

We must consider the national economy and people's livelihood, and we must consider the country as a whole. If we treat the country as a way to gain benefits like those insects, we will suffer a terrible backlash sooner or later. By then, those insects will be able to transform themselves and become ministers, so what will happen to my Yuan family?"

Yuan Feng's expression gradually became serious.

He realized that what Yuan Shu said made sense and realized this clear possibility.

"So, you want to build this army, not just for your own command and power?"

"These are all important, but what is more important is that at the most critical moment, there is a force that can be fully trusted."

Yuan Shu whispered: "The Luoyang army is under our control now, but can it be completely under our control in the future without being infiltrated by others? Rather than saying that the Luoyang army is controlled by my father and me, it is better to say that it is jointly controlled by the entire Yuan family and their disciples and former officials.

The Luoyang army is involved with too many external forces. Just like before, they can work together to deal with the eunuchs, but if they want to deal with scholars and party members, it is completely different. It is difficult to rely on them completely. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a new army.

Father, you can imagine that if we are facing a powerful enemy and there are only two armies that can save the situation, would you rather trust me and the army I lead, or the Luoyang garrison?"

Yuan Feng nodded and quickly came up with his own answer.

"Of course my own people are trustworthy. The Luoyang garrison is indeed involved in all aspects..."

“So, it is most important to build an army that is not involved with any other forces.”

Yuan Shu said quickly: "I will lead this army northwards, consolidate the northern border defense line, and make this army stronger. By then, with my father at home and me outside, the situation will be stable and truly reliable."

Yuan Feng leaned back, let out a long breath, and nodded slowly, as if he completely agreed with Yuan Shu's opinion.

But then, he was left with a look of deep weariness.

"Shu, I really feel so tired..."

Yuan Shu was a little surprised.

Isn’t it said that power is the best aphrodisiac?
How could Yuan Feng feel tired when he holds so much power?

(End of this chapter)