Chapter 180: The King's Ambition

The king returned to the Honglu Guesthouse; it was already dark. He ordered Zhao Ba to have people keep a close watch on the Xianbei. Now that they are staying together in the Honglu Guesthouse, it's quite convenient.

For this, Wei Shen was puzzled: 'They are envoys; you really can send them away? Not killing envoys isn't that the rule?'

The king said innocently: 'I'm just asking. They came rushing to my father emperor; if my father emperor didn't kill them, wouldn't that be fine?' As a youngster, what does the king know about rules!

After laughing, the king's expression suddenly changed, he spoke fiercely: 'I just can't forget the over two hundred who fell outside Xihua Gate! They were my first batch of personal guards, following me from Chang'an all the way north a thousand li, and they died in the first year on New Year's Eve! It's all because of the Xianbei's greed and shamelessness! The Xianbei had better behave honestly before me, let me know their intentions aren't pure; nobody should think they can cross the border alive!'

Wei Shen sighed and patted the king's thin little shoulder: 'I'll help you keep watch; this grudge will surely be avenged.'

'Maybe someone thinks Qimu Ling also didn't gain any advantage, with more casualties evening things out. But cousin, that's what they deserved! They are aggressors! Death is the fitting end for aggressors. We were peacefully celebrating New Year at home yet innocently lost our lives, so this grudge won't fade; in my case, this grudge hasn't been avenged yet.' The king understood clearly, he could empathize with the personal guards. They were just a group of lowly soldiers with no background or connections; even if they had a bit..., they wouldn't have been selected to leave their homes and follow him north.

All are the same as him, no choice.

After dinner that day, Zhao Ba came to report that the ones arriving today were the Tuoba Xianbei, i. e., the Western Xianbei. However, it's heard that the Eastern Xianbei will also come.

That night the king went to summon Zhu Ti from the myriad realms, inquiring and learning that the Eastern Xianbei did not enter the Great Jin from Youzhou; they should be passing through Shanggu Pass.

'Okay, took a big detour. The king isn't here to have Zhang Tu pay more attention to the border. The king is also out of the loop; truly didn't know that besides vassal states, even several enemies of the grasslands are on the invitation list. They've all come, surely they also know the king isn't in Youzhou, so you should divert some attention to security issues.'

The king has few people in the court; some information he knows is limited.

He really couldn't figure out why his father emperor is so idle!

Zhu Ti agreed, and also stored a batch of new goods from Luofu Tower in the warehouse; the king immediately hung several strings on himself, leading the fashion trend in Chang'an, which relies on the king.

The king then went to Bai Yang's place; the few fine jade pendants received today would be better sent to the autumn auction.

Bai Yang took a look and said, 'Where did you get so many finely carved jade pendants and tablets? Oh, and there are seals too?'

'There are plenty of rich people in Chang'an! Just send them all to sell, and I'll exchange them in batches for grain.'

'Your Majesty, you haven't gathered enough grain yet? How much have you passed through my hands here?'

'Anyway, it's not bad that the warehouse doesn't take up space. The king attended a court meeting once and felt that the more grain, the better. Listening to their bickering, there's nothing good. Things like which dam is about to fail, which place is flooding, which place has drought and locust disaster; the officials only cry poverty or argue. The king listening only wants to stockpile grain and build walls, best to give Youzhou a cover.'

Bai Yang: ……

'In a chaotic age, adding a cover is useless, Your Majesty; stockpiling grain is indeed not wrong.'

'Also stockpile some weapons.' Bai Yang sincerely suggested.

The king showed him the string of 108 honey-wax beads around his neck, and also showed him the 27 bodhi seeds held in his hand.

'Isn't the king guiding those great clans to play with bead strings? What an elegant hobby! He's also bought plenty of koi carp; it's time to cultivate a new hobby. When they spend money, money can flow to the king's hands! That way he can have money to shop.'

His older brother Bai sincerely said: 'You should just stir-fry bodhi; as much as you want, I have plenty here, but honey-wax is too expensive, cost high.'

The king raised his little neck: 'Of course, the king wearing this himself isn't disliking the weight! Once the king catches his breath, he'll have people go dig something like the Baltic Sea themselves!'

Bai Yang: ……

Global strategic plan approved!