It was the end of July, and everything was on track in Shuofang County, except for business. Not only did Xiang Ao and Hu Zhao have thoughts about the Southern Xiongnu, but Xu Fu, who was temporarily in charge of Xiang Ao's military, was even more excited.

At the beginning of July, the Xiongnu Zhonglang Zhang Xiu was incompatible with the Southern Xiongnu Shan Yu Hu, so he killed the Hu Zheng and set up the right Xian Wang Qiangqu as Shan Yu. Later, the imperial court was imprisoned and died for the crime of unauthorized killing. However, the Southern Xiongnu were not calm, and the old ministry did not recognize the new Lishan under the command of the right Xianwang Qiangqu, and the right Xianwang Qiangqu of course chose to suppress, so the Southern Xiongnu civil strife began. Xiang Ao saw the clue before, so he used 800 miles of fast horses, and asked for a letter of war in the Luoyang court, requesting to send troops.

"The minister is young and does not know his relatives, but he is fortunate to be cared for, and he has completed his studies so far, and he is grateful for His Majesty's protection. There are very few ministers, but all of them give the ministers the wisdom of the king and the things of loyalty. The minister was so gracious when he was young, and he felt very frightened, and he thought about sharing his majesty's worries day and night. Everyone in the world calls the minister a great filial piety, but the minister knows that he is ashamed. However, in the style of Han Wu, the Huns, Qiang, Xianbei and other foreign tribes all surrendered to our Han, and our Han was powerful in the world. Your Majesty is benevolent and kind, and does not want to fight. However, from Qin to our dynasty, all foreign tribes are eyeing the wealth of our Central Plains. ...... The minister is willing to exchange his life for the territory of the Han Dynasty, although he has no complaints. ...”

Xiang Ao's letter not only patted Liu Hong's sycophants, but also expressed his loyalty to the Han and Liu Hong in the words. However, because this book will be discussed in the court, Xiang Ao even listed many historical facts of foreign people who surrendered and then invaded the Han Dynasty, hoping to persuade the ministers in the court.

And Xiang Ao's move made the court set off a big wave, and most of the scholars objected, believing that the Han was a state of etiquette, and it was not allowed to waste money in the treasury, but only to appease and supervise. The relatives didn't say much, after all, what they cared about was power.

The eunuchs supported Xiang Ao, after all, they liked to speculate on Liu Hong's thoughts, and knew that Liu Hong wanted to leave a name in history for his exploits like Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty. Many generals who did not participate in the political struggle were angry in the court and strongly agreed with Xiang Ao's move. There is also a slight mention of the indoctrination work item after the subjugation, which roughly means cultural invasion. Most people didn't think there was any problem, and many scholars even stopped it, after all, the literature of the hundred schools of thought was in their hands, and it was a tool for them to fool the people.

However, the far-sighted Confucian or famous people of the dynasty were indeed shocked, and from the words in Xiang Ao's book, the Confucian was terrified to hear it. Such a young man can have such a deep insight, and can even be classified as a supreme power strategy, if this young man is really allowed to carry it out, I am afraid that the world will change greatly. However, the Confucians are not fools, if the purpose of Xiang Ao's move is clearly explained in such a scene, I am afraid that Xiang Ao will have no place in the Han Dynasty.

They wanted to change the decay of the Han Dynasty, but the general trend did not allow it, so they had to protect themselves. Today, I see that the young man who is far away in the north has such a grand wish, and the hope for the Han in his heart is even more certain. So a group of Confucians raised eyebrows in the court, and launched the current Confucian general Lu Zhi to express his position. After all, Lu Zhi is also a person in the army, and he is more convincing about the matter.

"Your Majesty," Lu Zhi stood up stubbornly: "The minister thinks that there are many ambitious people among the foreign races, and as long as the people of the foreign race are given the opportunity to rise, they will become a threat to my Han." Although the Xiongnu are weak now, a few years ago, Xianbei was not just a remote side, cowering in a small place north of Youzhou, but now it is indeed the biggest threat to the north of our Han Dynasty. The minister thought that if he could completely subdue the Southern Xiongnu, my Han would only need to resist Xianbei and not have to be distracted by the Southern Xiongnu. Moreover, from the perspective of the territory, if the land south of the Hetao is included in the territory of the Han Dynasty, it can suppress the Qiang people and other foreign tribes in the land of the Western Regions, and it will also support the Protectorate of the Western Regions. The benefits outweigh the disadvantages. ”

"Humph! Lu Shangshu said lightly, in vain to work hard and hurt the people's money, the Han Dynasty only passed the natural disaster a few years ago, and when the treasury was weak, how to send troops? ”

"Oh? Liu Situ is indeed busy with social affairs, didn't Xiang Taishou already explain in the book that only part of the armor was needed for this mobilization, and there was no need for the imperial court to issue grain and grass? "Lu Zhi is also direct, doesn't this turn into the people's vernacular, doesn't it mean that Situ Liu He's ears beat cattle worms?

"Lu Shangshu..."Liu He's character Ji Cheng is the Situ of the court, and Lu Zhi was so joking about the court, where is the old face.

"That's it!" Emperor Han Ling was a little angry: "Although I Xiang Qing was a young man, I also did things that you and other ministers failed to do, if Xiang Taishou failed this time, I will naturally punish him." The conquest of the Southern Xiongnu was so decided at this time, and it was reconsidered in the future on the issue of education. Before a few scholars could object, Zhang Rang and the first eunuch bowed down and shouted His Majesty's wisdom, and the ministers who agreed also bowed to him. Master Craftsman Yang Qiu and Situ Liu He looked at each other, both frowning.

After retiring from the dynasty, Yang Qiu and Liu He came to Liu He's mansion. Yangqiu is square, and has a discordant relationship with Cai Yong's uncle Weiwei Cai Qian, and has framed Cai Yong many times.

"Ji Cheng, like this, if Cai Yong and the others are allowed to gain power, it will not be easy to deal with it."

"Fang Zheng doesn't have to worry too much, the old man also thought about it a little on the way. Although they can earn this move, that Ao is not a child. Young people, it's a good thing to want to expand the territory for the Han Dynasty, but it's difficult for the Huns to dominate Mobei for so long, how can it be a good match? Hehe, the imperial court has also sent troops outside the fortress many times, and there have been victories in recent years? Let's just wait and see, and think about how to impeach Xiang Ao for the responsibility of being unfavorable. Besides, Lu Zigan is also a disciple of Fangzheng, and the old man still has to give some thin noodles. ”

Yang Qiu thought about it for a while, and felt that what Liu He said was very true, so he let go of the worries in his heart.

At this time, it was the middle of July, and the fighter did not wait for anyone, and Liu Hong also understood, so he quickly returned to the horse, and temporarily worshiped Xiang Ao as the general of the Huns, and allowed the army to be expanded to 10,000, divided into two battalions. Troops were allowed to be sent on the grounds of quelling the civil strife in the Southern Xiongnu. He also informed Xiang Ao that although he had no food, grass and heavy support, 3,000 soldiers and armor were sent to Xiang Ao for the expansion of the army.

At this time, Xiang Ao's hands were full of nearly 2,000 soldiers, and when he went out to stay in Jilusai, there were less than 1,500 soldiers who could immediately attack, of which the cavalry accounted for most of them. Although Emperor Liu Hong of the Han Dynasty took this opportunity to expand his army to Xiang Ao, it was a pity that the number of people in Shuofang County was too small, and under the active governance of Xiang Ao, the number of people could exceed 30,000.

Not to mention expanding the army by 10,000, even if it is 5,000, it is even more difficult. Unless Xiang Ao is reckless and forcibly recruits 10,000, the total population of Shuo Fang is 30,000, and if he wants to raise an army of 10,000 people, he will have to be dragged to death in less than half a year.

After being appointed by the imperial court, not only Xiang Ao was extremely happy, but even Xu Fu was excited. Xiang Ao was even thinking in his heart: It's not my person, why are you happy? However, it did not affect Xiang Ao's arrangement, Xiang Ao's name Zhang Long took over the reconstruction of Jilusai, and sent people to cooperate with Zhang Long to protect the herdsmen's grazing safety.

Although Zhang Long wanted to fight with Xiang Ao and lead the troops in his heart, there were indeed not too many people available to Xiang Ao's subordinates. After recalling Jiang Yan, he ordered Jiang Yan to lead 500 cavalry out of the country by three seals, and sent Jiang Meng and Jiang Jing to accompany him to explore the road first. Xiang Ao urgently recruited troops in Shuofang County, mainly logistics soldiers.

Of the 3,000 armor sent by Liu Hong, only 800 were taken out and handed over to Gao Shun. Gao Shun's performance over the past few months has convinced most of the soldiers in the army, and Xiang Ao will appoint Gao Shun as the third lieutenant as early as a month ago. The three letters were originally the county seat, and only the county lieutenant was set up, who was responsible for supervising the affairs of the bandits. Although the three seals were not converted into military fortresses, Xiang Ao specially set up a lieutenant for the three seals, in order to find an opportunity to move troops to the Southern Xiongnu.

Recruitment is not slow, originally Xiang Ao came out in the hands of Xianbei, many people were willing to enlist in the army, this time Xiang Ao's court allowed, but the recruitment was also extremely smooth.

Xiang Ao expanded the cavalry to 2,000, and the infantry only recruited nearly 700 of the 800 accompanying Gao Shun as the necessary offensive troops, 500 left three city defenses, and 200 escorted the baggage. Xiang Ao handed over the newly recruited 500 cavalry to Zhang Long in case Xianbei attacked unexpectedly. And the people who went out to rebuild in the chicken and deer plug still have 500 soldiers left to defend.

For the imperial court's move, although Xu Fu was excited, but he couldn't figure it out, Xiang Ao was outnumbered at this time, and he was completely unsuitable for sending troops, and the imperial court did not send the central elite troops, saying that it was a counterinsurgency, how to look at it more and more like a child.

"How to fight this time, Yuan Zhi can have an opinion?"

"Fujun, what is the intention of the imperial court, that is, he has worshiped Fujun as the general of the Huns, and also agreed to send troops, why don't you send troops to reinforce, and even don't give grain and grass?"

"Yuan Zhi doesn't need to care too much, Ao just wants to know how we should use troops in such a situation to maximize our benefits. To be clear, our focus is not on how many Huns we were slaughtering, but on plundering the population. ”

After hearing this, Xu Fu suddenly realized that although the troops were sent under the banner of helping the Southern Xiongnu to rehabilitate, the focus was not on rehabilitation. But why would Emperor Han Ling agree? What do the rest of the people in the DPRK mean?

"From Yifu's point of view, our army is very small, and it is not suitable for large-scale frontal combat, so we can plan the Qiangqu Department and let the Qiangqu be the vanguard."

"Well, Yuan Zhi really has the same concerns as me." Xiang Ao nodded, then looked up at Xu Fu eagerly: "Can Yuan Zhi temporarily give advice to me on this trip?" ”

"As it should be. Blessing is the duty of the people. Xu Fuzuo bowed his head and took over the position of military advisor proposed by Xiang Ao.

"That's very good." Xiang Ao pulled up Xu Fu, and the two of them plotted together on the map of the Southern Xiongnu and the annexed states on the table.

However, the land of the Southern Xiongnu is mostly next to the plateau and the desert, and there is no too complicated terrain, and the Southern Xiongnu mostly operate on the grasslands on the plateau, so it is simple to find them, just discuss how to reduce casualties. In a head-to-head match, Xiang Ao does not lose to Xu Fu, but when it comes to the ability to plan, Xiang Ao is not as good as Xu Fu. As a friend, he has also faced off against each other in the sand table several times, as long as it does not involve the art of scheming, Xu Fu is completely defeated. But if you add the strategy of scheming, Xiang Ao can only hehe.

Xiang Ao took Jiang Yan as a part and sent 500 cavalry, a total of 1,000 cavalry from Sanfeng into the territory of the Southern Xiongnu, wandering and plundering the population. With Jiao Meng and Jiao Jing as a group, they also led a thousand cavalry to enter from Dacheng County, which was also the purpose of population plunder, and traveled between Liangzhou and Bingzhou. However, Xiang Ao is not stupid, in order not to affect his follow-up plans, the plundering population must be a rebel crowd who does not recognize Qiangqu as a single Yu. After all, Xiang Ao swaggered away with 500 elite cavalry and 800 elite infantry towards the court tent in Nanshan Yuqiangqu.