As the main forces of the warring sides moved into the predetermined area, all parts of the Western Regions suddenly fell into an unprecedented tense atmosphere. War! War! The war has broken out! Everyone knows that the war waged by the Great Jin and Shi Le for hegemony in the Western Regions has finally begun!

All parts of Dajin are also crazy about it, and everyone is constantly talking and cheering! War! War!

War with the Qiang, war with the Xianbei, war with the Romans.

The enemy was not to be outdone, and when the war clouds were gathering in the Western Regions, Tuoba Pugen, who was far away in Mobei, also began to move. He knew very well that this was his last chance to destroy Tuoba Biyan, and if he didn't seize it, a dark future awaited him and his tribe.

As soon as he received the information that the main force of the Jin army was advancing westward, Tuoba Pugen immediately reorganized his troops and horses and prepared to invade the south again. This time, Tuoba Pugen was also a desperate gamble, and in order to take Tuoba Biyan, a total of 70,000 elite cavalry troops were dispatched. The generals under his command are gearing up one by one, ready to fight to the death with the Jin army.

Tuoba Biyan was shocked when he heard the news, and hurriedly asked the Dajin table to be attached. After receiving the alarm from the north, Sima Shu hurriedly convened the cabinet for discussion. Some ministers thought that Tuoba Biyan was located outside the fortress, the land was narrow and the people were tired, and there was a Yin Mountain barrier with the Great Jin Dynasty, and it was difficult to transfer materials, and the Western Regions War was imminent, and the imperial court was unable to fully support it, so it was better to move the Tuoba Biyan tribe to the south.

However, this argument was fiercely opposed by the hardliners led by Zhang Bin and Zu Ti, and Zhang Bin said loudly: "Your Majesty, the minister thinks that Tuoba Biyan must not be allowed to move south, but should continue to support the other party to fight with Tuoba Pugen." This will not only continue to weaken the strength of the Xianbei people, but also leave a forward base for counterattacking Mobei in the future. ”

"But Lord Zhang. At present, we are making every effort to deal with the Shile Department in the Western Regions, and a large number of materials and soldiers are being transported to the Western Regions in a steady stream, and we really cannot afford to transfer a large number of troops to the north. Pei Wei frowned and said, he also thought that the risk of the Jin army's two-front battle was too great, not that the Great Jin did not have this strength, but because the Western Regions and Mobei were too far away from the Great Jin Dynasty, coupled with the impassable roads, the Jin army's logistics supply line was too long and easy to be taken advantage of by the enemy.

"Shizhi, how many manpower and force have we mobilized in the Western Regions?" Sima Shu asked after a moment of silence.

"Your Majesty. In order to recover the Western Regions. The Privy Council mobilized a total of 126,000 troops to the Western Regions, and if the follow-up government soldiers and artillery units were added, nearly 200,000 troops had gathered in the entire Western Regions. In order to ensure the logistical supply of these troops, the imperial court requisitioned a total of one million people. Nearly 100,000 mules and horses were used. "For these things are presided over by the Privy Council. Therefore, Zu Ti almost memorized these numbers backwards.

"Shhh So much!? Although Sima Shu was well aware of the difficulty of conquering the Western Regions. But when Zu Ti recited those numbers, he was still shocked.

"Mainly, the roads in the Western Regions are mostly desert, which is not conducive to the operation of horse-drawn carriages. In most cases, it was transported by mule and horse. Taking Yumen Pass as an example, you all know that Yumen Pass is my gate to the extreme west, but who knows that after passing this pass and the west is the barren salt ze, it takes 300 kilometers of desert journey to reach the prison sea city in the extreme east of the Tarim Basin. In such a long distance of vast yellow sand, if our army does not march step by step, even if it occupies some cities, it will not be able to hold it, and the back road will be cut off by the cavalry of the Qiang nationality at any time. Zu Li explained.

"So, until the Western Regions War is decided, we can't support the Tuoba Biyan tribe?" Sima Shu asked a little unwillingly, he very much did not want to give up Tuoba Biyan in the north of Yinshan, there has always been such a force in front, so that Tuoba Pugen has never been able to threaten the interests of the Great Jin.

"Your Majesty, Weichen is just a little worried, although the strength of the Great Jin has grown rapidly in the past two years, but the Western Regions War is imminent, and Jiangdong still needs the support of the imperial court, and the imperial court is really unable to support the two-front battle, it is better for us to deal with Shile first and then go north to eliminate the Xianbei people." Pei Wei still insisted on temporarily giving up Yinshan North, which is the best choice for the current Dajin. Pei Wei's words are old and seeking the country, and it is a relatively prudent way to deal with it.

"Your Majesty, the minister does not agree with Master Pei's opinion. Wechen thought that the two-front battle was not good for us, but it was not as serious as the boss said. As for saying that Jiangdong dragged the imperial court back, I'm afraid it's a bit exaggerated...... Hehe, everyone knows that Jiangdong's economy is still recovering, but after more than half a year of construction, it has improved slightly, and maybe Jiangdong will be able to achieve self-sufficiency next year. ”

"Of course, with the current difficulties of the imperial court, we really can't afford to go north on a large scale, but small-scale assistance can still be done, as long as we can keep Tuoba Biyan to hold out until the end of the Western Regions War, the imperial court can free up its hands to clean up the mess in Mobei." Du Xi, the head of the household department, unequivocally supported Zhang Bin's proposal.

"Ladies and gentlemen, what do you think?"

"Your Majesty," Zhang Bin, the first assistant to the cabinet, said: "The minister thinks that the Hebei Jiedu envoy Fu Hong, the good material of the world, and the armies under his jurisdiction are also elite soldiers, and the court only needs to let go, and it is not difficult to extinguish Tuoba Pugen." ”

Jiang Tong also played: "Tuoba Central Provinces, worried about Tuoba Pugen, not under the imperial court, quite a bit of it." ”

At this time, Wang Dao was appointed as the head of Shangshu Province under the five grades, although the quality was not high, but the real power was not small, and he was also an important minister in the court, and this time he was also among the people, but he did not say a word. Sima Shu specifically pointed out his general: "What does Wang Aiqing think?" ”

"The minister is stupid and has no good plan." Since Wang Dao returned to the imperial court, he has always been cautious in his words and deeds, and has never taken the initiative to express his opinions.

"It's okay to be helpless, Ai Qing Danyan's opinion on the situation in Mobei."

Wang Dao couldn't help but bow down and say: "The minister thinks that although Tuoba Pugen has invaded the south, its strength is limited, so it is not appropriate for the imperial court to mobilize again, otherwise it will be very difficult for the people." Although Tuoba Biyan, the Great Khan of the central Tuoba tribes, was an enemy of Tuoba Pugen, among his subordinates, there were only those who wanted to follow Tuoba Pugen. ”

"The king has a point." Pei Wei said, "Xianbei in the central part of the country, it is indeed unacceptable, if the coalition forces fight, I am afraid that they will rebel against my position." ”

Sima Shu nodded, he also had this worry in his heart, Tuoba Biyan's rule in the past two years has become more and more unpopular. Many Xianbei people secretly admire Tuoba Pugen, who has always held high the anti-flag, and think that Tuoba Pugen is the real hero of Xianbei people. Although the other party has never had the upper hand in the struggle with the Great Jin, his courage not to bow to the strong enemy has increasingly won the hearts of the people of Mobei Xianbei.

Sima Shu sighed and said, "It's a pity that all our supplies are tilted towards the Western Regions, otherwise we will definitely be able to take the opportunity to sweep away the northern part of Tuoba this time!" ”

"Mobei Xianbei tribes, Tuoba Biyan land boundary and Tuoba Pugen are adjacent to each other, that is to fight without fighting, although there is a worry of surrendering to the enemy, but with our support, there is no problem with self-preservation! In addition, the Hebei Jiedu envoy was limited in the number of troops transferred, so it was still possible to fight. Even if Tuoba Pugen broke through the first line of Yinshan, he could not break through the first line of the Great Wall. "As a military leader, Zu Ti was very aware of the deployment of imperial forces in the north.

"Fu Hong's department, it is necessary to pacify the Henan lands, so that the southern Tuoba who previously belonged to my Great Jin Dynasty will not succeed, and it may be difficult to go north with all his strength!" Pei said in a dangerous way, but it is reasonable.

"The minister thinks that 9,000 elite horsemen can be drawn from Guanzhong, and the commander of Fu Hong can be handed over to Hebei Jiedu, and the Xianbei tribes attached to it are mostly old with Tuoba Pugen, and they cannot be used." Zu Ti continued.

Pei Wei obviously thought for a long time at this time: "At the same time, Tao Kan of Liaodong can be ordered to lead thousands of troops to help in the war, as for Tuoba Biyan, it is better to give up than the Yan Department, they have long been out of elite soldiers after several blows, almost a rabble, and they are vulnerable." ”

Sima Shu nodded and said, "Isn't it an idea to discuss it like this?" Under the command of Fu Hong, the envoy of Hebei Jiedu, he really needs some mobile soldiers! The Privy Council may choose 9,000 cavalry in Guanzhong, as it is necessary from time to time. This time, these 9,000 men and horses were handed over to the commander of Fu Hong, and they will be returned to their belongings after the matter is over. ”

"Then edict all the departments in eastern Liao, and order Tao Kan to collect 10,000 cavalry, rush to Mobei in due time, and all of them will be dispatched by Fu Hong. Coupled with the 30,000 soldiers and horses under the command of the Hebei Jiedu Envoy, there can be 50,000 people, and they should be able to fight. The edict ordered Tuoba Biyan to ensure the stability of the tribe, not to slack off, to protect the territory under their jurisdiction, and to assist the heavenly soldiers to stabilize Mobei. ”

Fighting a war is a very expensive thing. Especially now, the Great Jin Dynasty wants to "win two high-intensity local wars at the same time", and the silver must not be spent like flowing water? Fortunately, in recent years, the domestic economy has developed well, the people live and work in peace and contentment, and the granary is very full.

However, what is more important is the development of industry and commerce and the "financial industry (money bank)", especially this money bank, which can "make money". In addition, the largest contribution is also made by overseas trade. In order to raise funds, Sima Shu learned from the lessons of previous dynasties, ancient and modern China and foreign countries, and established the 'East India Company' of the Great Jin Dynasty.

So, in June of the thirteenth year of Hongwu, the imperial court issued an edict to the local trading companies to "auction" the "franchise" of the Indian Ocean trade.

At this time, the Great Jin Dynasty had just entered the Indian Ocean for a few years, and the ports along the way had just been built, that is, the enclosure of the Indian Ocean had just been completed, and large-scale trade with various Indian tribes had not yet been carried out. However, the merchants were very discerning, and as soon as the decree was issued, the respondents gathered.

However, since it is an "auction", the buyer must have strong strength. The entrance fee to participate in the "bidding" alone is 10,000 silver dollars for each family. Therefore, trading companies, private wealthy merchants, and wealthy families joined forces to form "business groups" and participate in the bidding.

There are more than 20 merchant groups that participated, representing nearly 500 trading companies and more than 30 private money houses in China, and the imperial court alone received more than 200,000 silver dollars.

After a rather fierce competition, the "Puyang Merchant Group," which was dominated by Puyang's trading companies and money villages, and composed of nearly 40 trading companies and money houses in the Central Plains, defeated the "Jianghuai Business Group" and won the final victory with a bid equivalent to 6 million silver dollars. According to the agreement, the imperial court did not invest a penny, but obtained 25 percent of the shares with the guarantee of "national credibility".

At the same time, the "Puyang Business Group" invested one million silver dollars as a "pledge". In fact, the imperial court first embezzled this million silver dollars (promising to offset it with official profits in the future, in fact, in addition to the dividends of share capital, the imperial court can still obtain considerable taxes) as military expenses for the western expedition. However, the imperial court gave priority to purchasing materials from the trading companies affiliated to the "Puyang Merchant Group" and renting horse teams, which actually made the "Puyang Merchant Group" profit from it. (To be continued......)