Chapter 1573: The Son-in-Law's Two Strategies

Li Jilong's words seemed to open up in the relaxed atmosphere of the conversation. Seeing Emperor Liu chatting enthusiastically, he took the initiative to speak: "At present, the focus of the entire northern frontier garrison and border troops is on internal security and suppression, so the monitoring of the tribal spies in the Yin Mountains and the defense against the Khitan in Mobei have been weakened."

"For now, the desert and Mobei are still peaceful, and the Khitan dare not rashly march south. We have a temporary tranquility, but the borderlands are unsettled, and it is unknown when stability will truly be restored."

"Once the northern barbarians march south and invade our borders, it will inevitably pose a serious threat to the northern frontier of the Great Han. Especially given the current situation in the north, if internal and external forces collude and respond to each other, it could very well brew into a disaster..."

Hearing this, Emperor Liu's brow furrowed slightly, and his gaze slanted toward Li Jilong: "I feel as though I have heard similar words before. Previously, some court ministers submitted memorials to this effect, warning me."

"On the surface, they hoped the court would be vigilant against those chieftains and tribal leaders who had been stripped of their clan power and property, lest they harbor resentment and collude with Mobei, betray the court, and undermine the stability of the northern frontier."

"But in reality, they still harbor doubts about the court's policy of civilizing the barbarians—or even oppose it outright. In their view, if the old state of affairs were maintained, the northern frontier has been stable for over a decade, thriving and prosperous, with those tribes respectfully submissive."

"They argue that implementing this policy would instead disrupt the stability of the north, provoke discontent, and ignite contradictions—a path to chaos. Are you of the same opinion?"

Emperor Liu spoke these words in a genial tone, yet his manner carried an unmistakable strangeness. Hearing this, Li Jilong decisively and crisply shook his head, saying: "In your servant's view, if the northern barbarians march south, and those chieftains and tribal leaders still control their clan troops and property, then if they collude with the Khitan of Mobei and rebel against the court, would the damage they inflict on the northern frontier and on the court not be even more severe?"

"Heh heh..." Hearing Li Jilong say this, Emperor Liu's expression did not change, but it gave the son-in-law and son before him a feeling of easing: "This consideration of yours is the correct one—very insightful!"

Li Jilong lowered his head slightly, seeming a bit embarrassed. Though he was reluctant to admit it, he was indeed, to a large extent, still pandering to Emperor Liu.

"As you say, the current border defense of the northern frontier is indeed facing some difficulties. Since you have raised the issue, have you given thought to how to resolve it?" Emperor Liu continued to ask.

Li Jilong answered without hesitation, clasping his hands: "Your servant has two strategies—one superior, one inferior!"

Meeting Emperor Liu's slightly expectant gaze, Li Jilong said: "The superior strategy is to take the initiative and strike—dispatch troops northward, advance into Mobei. Rather than waiting for the day the barbarian hordes march south, better to carry the flames of war to Mobei and thoroughly crush the Khitan there. Then the threats from Monan, the southern slopes of the mountains, and the entire northern territory would be completely eliminated!"

Emperor Liu was sipping his wine, and upon hearing this strategy, he could not help but choke slightly. Looking at Li Jilong, who wore a thoroughly earnest expression, he said: "Do you not know the strategic national policy of the Great Han these years? Campaigning north against the Khitan, penetrating deep into Mobei—easy to say. If it were truly carried out, do you know what enormous cost the court would bear? Setting aside my own attitude for the moment, if this were reported to the court, the ministers of the Hall of State Affairs would never agree!"

"Not to mention others—Liu Yang is also overseeing state affairs. Ask him whether he would endorse this proposal."

Seeing Emperor Liu turn his gaze toward him, Liu Yang remained composed, thought for a moment, then answered steadily: "Batu was merely responding to Father's question with a strategy. He is a military commander, and from a military standpoint, this is indeed a method of seizing the initiative and eliminating the northern threat!"

Liu Yang's words circled around, offering an explanation on Li Jilong's behalf, but his attitude clearly indicated disapproval as well. At least for now, he would not endorse military action against Mobei.

In the northeastern region, matters were not yet concluded—how could they ignite the flames of war in Mobei as well? For a long time to come, the Great Han's focus would remain on internal governance and stability, consolidating rule. The ultimate goal of the policy of assimilating the barbarians was precisely for this purpose, even if the process created some seemingly unnecessary hidden dangers and troubles.

Li Jilong was, of course, a clever man, and he caught the implication beneath Liu Yang's words. Still, he responded with equanimity: "Your servant naturally understands the court's grand policies, but I do not believe that setting aside arms and avoiding war means fearing battle or shrinking from combat, nor does it mean the court should bind its own hands and feet. Otherwise, why would the court have launched a great army against Huanglong Prefecture this year, penetrating deep into the northeastern forests?"

"Moreover, even a northern strike into Mobei need not require the full strength of the nation. The Khitan's current power is insufficient to compel the court to commit all its forces. It would merely shift expenditure from border defense to offensive operations, and the specific tactics could adopt flexible and effective methods..."

"It seems you cannot sit still—you wish to render distinguished service!" Hearing Li Jilong's words, Emperor Liu was not angered, but said with a chuckle.

He simply let the matter pass without taking a position—but not taking a position was itself the clearest position.

"Now tell me your inferior strategy!" Emperor Liu gestured.

To this, Li Jilong's answer was even simpler and more direct: "Nothing more than increasing border garrison troops and strengthening the defensive strength of the northern frontier forces!"

Hearing this, Emperor Liu's brows twitched repeatedly, as if some inexpressible emotion rippled through his heart. Pouring Li Jilong a cup of wine, Emperor Liu said: "Batu, do you know how many garrison troops the court currently has, from Feng Prefecture in the west, to the Yin Mountains in the north, and the Yan Mountains in the east?"

Li Jilong was taken aback, then said: "Your servant does not know the exact number—roughly seventy to eighty thousand men, I would estimate."

"About right!" Emperor Liu nodded, then continued: "And do you know how many garrison troops there are across the entire north? And across the whole of the Great Han, north and south, how many garrison soldiers in total?"

"Nearly four hundred thousand!" Without waiting for his answer, Emperor Liu said directly, and with a somewhat oppressive tone continued: "Do you know how much the court spends each year to support such a vast number of border troops?"

At this point, Li Jilong naturally realized what Emperor Liu meant, but he still had to answer his father-in-law's question, and shook his head with some embarrassment: "Your servant does not know!"

"Neither do I!" Emperor Liu interjected forcefully: "But I do know that it changes every year, increases every year, and every year those people in the Finance Commission who hold the purse strings come to the court and to me complaining of hardship!"

"Under such circumstances, I have already suppressed proposals to reduce the border forces. For you to rashly propose increasing the garrison troops—without even waiting for feedback, I can tell you directly that the court ministers, especially those in the Finance Commission, will be jumping out of their shoes!"

In fact, Emperor Liu had come to place increasing importance on the issue of border defense military expenditure. In the past, he might have thought it was the civil officials at court trying to suppress the generals, suppress military strength, and suppress the meritorious aristocracy by cutting military preparedness.

But Emperor Liu had always valued the military and the army—highly valued them—and could never tolerate civil officials at court interfering wantonly. However, after all these years, the cries from the Finance Commission had grown louder and louder, eventually stirring Emperor Liu's thoughts. After conducting a detailed investigation, he had to admit that the expenditure on border defense was indeed considerable.

Not to mention the vast number of garrison troops—to support them, the annual costs of pay, uniforms, shoes and socks, grain and fodder, weapons, livestock, and other military supplies, plus the losses incurred in transport, all amounted to an enormously heavy expenditure.

And Emperor Liu treated the military—especially the border troops who endured the greatest hardship and the harshest conditions—with great generosity. At the very least, he absolutely would not allow any shortfall in their treatment.

And this was only the border forces. For national defense construction and border security, no matter how high the cost, the court had gritted its teeth and persisted in the past. But as time went on, even Emperor Liu gradually felt the pressure encroaching from all sides, as if he could see the day coming when the court could no longer sustain such a vast defense system, could no longer bear the enormous fiscal pressure—and that would mean collapse...

In fact, Emperor Liu had already considered making adjustments. Previously, he had ordered the Hall of State Affairs, the Bureau of Military Affairs, and the Finance Commission to deliberate jointly, but they had failed to reach any conclusion.

Reform was hardly easy—rash action could truly invite problems. The Finance Commission's proposals, whether reducing troop numbers or cutting benefits, had both been directly vetoed by Emperor Liu, as they were paths to disaster.

Therefore, when he heard Li Jilong propose continuing to increase the northern frontier garrison strength, it happened to strike a sensitive nerve in Emperor Liu, touching upon his recent anxieties, and his reaction was inevitably somewhat strong.

On the other hand, this consideration was not solely due to fiscal burden. There was also the question: if the border forces grew too large, would it create a situation of a strong periphery and weak center, of branches flourishing while the trunk withers?

This was something to be strictly prohibited and vigilantly guarded against!

Even though Emperor Liu had been constantly emphasizing the supremacy of imperial authority, advancing centralization, and ensuring control over the military, with the passage of time and the evolution of circumstances, it was still difficult to avoid forming a worrying situation—after all, there were precedents to learn from.

But to maintain the Great Han's vast territory, to sustain the court's rule, and to guarantee the security of the realm, it was unavoidable to spread out troops and strengthen defenses. Such a dilemma was something the Great Han Empire could not escape.

Li Jilong, as a military commander serving among the border forces, naturally would not consider so many factors, nor could he easily understand the court's pain points. But Liu Yang understood them very well. Therefore, seeing his look of confusion, he briefly explained the court's disputes regarding border defense.

And so Li Jilong suddenly realized—his recommendations were at odds with the court on every point...