Chapter 699

The first battle was a victory, capturing the entire territory of Tokhara in one fell swoop!"

Su Dingfang won.

And it was when his military strength was insufficient.

Qin Mu only gave him 50,000 troops and then handed the two Persian princes to Su Dingfang.

Su Dingfang truly understood Qin Mu's intention.

Using the Persian princes, he recruited Persian soldiers on a large scale and captured the entire territory of Tokhara in one fell swoop.

Supporting war with war!

With this kind of fighting style, Great Qin didn't need to pay anything and could keep fighting.

This was an inspiring piece of news.

In the court, the officials were all beaming with joy.

"Your Majesty truly has a keen eye for talent, General Su Dingfang, who was promoted by you, is a tiger general!"

"Using Persian soldiers to fight for our Great Qin, Your Majesty's strategy is brilliant!"

"In this battle, the logistical support of the Western Regions Protectorate also made an indelible contribution!"

"Your Majesty is far-sighted and had plans in the Western Regions long ago, so this battle could be won easily!"

The Western Regions won a victory and occupied new territory.

This was of great help to the prosperity of the Silk Road.

Moreover, the people of the Western Regions were brave and fierce, making them a very good source of soldiers.

Qin Mu swept his eyes over the officials.

"I plan to expand the army by one million! Once the expansion is complete, we will fight externally on all fronts and expand Great Qin's territory!"

He officially issued the strongest sound of expanding the army.

Expand the army by one million!

This was definitely a shocking piece of news!

The surrounding small vassal states, after hearing this news, were probably restless.

However, the most uncomfortable one was Great Tang.

Great Qin expanding the army, the one facing the threat at the closest distance was only Great Tang!

"Your Majesty, expanding the army requires a large amount of expenditure. Just the daily consumption of food and forage for people and horses is a huge number. I hope Your Majesty will think thrice."

How could Qin Mu not know about these things?

He just felt that this was not a problem.

"If you don't have money, go make it, is there a problem with that?"

No one else was qualified to answer this question.

Only Shen Wansan had this qualification.

"Your Majesty, this subject suggests opening two other trade routes to increase the imperial court's income."

Currently, Great Qin's foreign trade mainly consisted of two major parts.

One was the Silk Road, leading to countries west of the Western Regions. Mainly doing business with the Persians and the Arabs.

The other part was the trade with Great Tang.

Great Qin and Great Tang were originally from the same source, and the mutual trade involved was also more extensive.

Shen Wansan proposed opening two other trade routes.

This was unimaginable to other officials.

"What other trade routes could there be?"

"Could it be going to the north of the desert to find the remaining Turks, Dingling people, and Tungusic people?"

"Or, Minister Shen, you want to cross the ocean to the east to find the Japanese to do business?"

A group of officials all somewhat misunderstood Shen Wansan's words.

In their view, let alone finding two more trade routes, they couldn't even find one!

The examples just mentioned were simply impossible things!

Qin Mu tapped the dragon table twice.

Below, it immediately became quiet, and everyone cupped their hands and stood solemnly, waiting for the Emperor's instructions.

Qin Mu understood Shen Wansan.

He was a pure businessman and didn't understand politics much.

And because of this, his thinking was somewhat out of tune with other officials.

Regarding the two trade routes Shen Wansan mentioned, Qin Mu had actually thought about them long ago.

The timing was not right before, so they couldn't be implemented.

Now it was possible.

"From Yizhou, through Yelang, leading to the Harsha Empire, there is a Tea Horse Road. This road can be widened, and this ancient road can be utilized."

"Another sea route, going south to Siam and the Nanyang regions. This trade route cannot be ignored either."

"I heard that Great Tang is currently doing business with the Kingdom of Siam. Great Qin merchant fleets going to sea will block Great Tang merchants, making them have no business to do! This move also has great strategic significance." Shen Wansan was very excited.

"Yes, yes, what this subject suggested is exactly these two trade routes. It turns out Your Majesty knew long ago!"

"Your Majesty's consideration is much more comprehensive than this subject's!"

In the great hall, the civil and military officials only then knew that it was these two trade routes.

They really hadn't thought of it.

Mainly, the officials were habitually limited to the surrounding areas.

For places like the Harsha Empire and the Kingdom of Siam, which they almost never dealt with, they had no impression at all.

Naturally, they didn't know how much potential these two trade routes had?

"Your Majesty, are the mere Siam and Harsha Empire worth Great Qin opening two trade routes?"

People of the Central Plains naturally had a kind of arrogance.

They thought that those barbaric small countries were small and poor, and would not have any products.

Doing business with them was completely unnecessary!

Qin Mu, however, knew the importance of these two trade routes.

"These two countries are both rich in rice and spices. For Great Qin, opening these two trade routes is equivalent to adding two huge spare granaries."

"You wouldn't not know the importance of this, would you?"

The officials suddenly realized.

"So it is rich in rice. Food reserves are related to national stability, this trade route should be opened!"

There were also those who were quick to seize the opportunity and realized more things from this.

"Since it is a natural granary, why doesn't our Great Qin capture it and make it Great Qin territory?"

Qin Mu smiled slightly.

His officials were indeed very on the ball.

"First conduct trade, investigate the situation of Siam and the Harsha Empire. When the time is ripe, send troops to pacify them in one fell swoop!"

Qin Mu's words set the tone for this matter.

The opening of trade routes is often accompanied by war.

Capturing Siam and Yelang would also form a strategic encirclement of Great Tang.

Looking at it in the long term, it also had benefits.

Shen Wansan didn't care about anything else, he only cared about opening trade routes.

"Your Majesty, this subject can handle the widening of the Tea Horse Road. But for the sea trade route, this subject asks himself that he doesn't have that ability, so please ask Your Majesty to choose someone else." This matter, even if Shen Wansan didn't say it, Qin Mu had already made arrangements.

For the sea trade route, who was more suitable than Zheng He?

"Zheng He, you lead the 30,000 troops under your command, both as soldiers and merchants. While opening up the sea trade route, you are also responsible for clearing out pirates."

"This subject accepts the decree!"

Since his last expedition to the Three Hans, Zheng He had always wanted to return to the sea.

Navigation had a magical charm for him.

Although he had the sea charts given by Qin Mu, he still didn't understand everything overseas.

In his lifetime, he really wanted to go overseas and look around.

To show Great Qin's might on the sea!