Ten days later, the team sent to Rome finally returned to the concession. When I went there, there were more than 30 people including the guards, but only two came back. Among them, the book official who served as the official envoy, his head was brought back in a wooden box, and the others were all Has been killed by the sword of Da Qin people.
The two countries did not cut their arms to each other, and Dahan and Daqin were not at war. Caracalla made such a brutal act, which made Jia Xu extremely angry. But Jia Xu didn't faint, he knew that Daqin's actions would not be limited to this. Jia Xu immediately mobilized the soldiers and civilians in the concession to prepare to defend against the enemy's attack.
There are only 30,000 Han troops in the concession, plus his own 1,000 escorts, stationed in three new cities. However, in just three days, Jia Xu recruited 50,000 young and strong people and assigned them to various cities and some acropolises on the outskirts of the city. Under the rule of the Han people, the tribes in the concession have gradually got rid of poverty. The people of these tribes are sturdy in nature, many of them are natural warriors, and their patriarchs are officials in the concession, enjoying rich salary. Just as Jia Xu had expected, these people have all recently joined the nationality of Dahan and are willing to become citizens of a Dahan. They are now the same enemy as the Han army in the city.
The news came back to Chang'an, and the whole nation was in an uproar in the Han Dynasty. More than 20,000 Han merchants involved tens of thousands of families. They died in vain. I don't know how many parents lost their sons, how many wives lost their husbands, and how many children lost their fathers. The whole country mourned and the big man cried.
Liu Xin immediately made an order to designate this day as a national disaster day and mourn the whole country. All entertainment activities will be banned for three days. He himself was dressed in plain clothes, fasted for three days, and worshiped each other in the northwest direction every morning and evening.
Three days later, it was time for the meeting again. This is a large-scale imperial meeting, and all officials of Grade 5 or above in Chang'an must attend.
Looking at the great Han elites gathered together, Liu Xin said with a full face of grief: "The recent massacre of my great Han merchants in the Great Qin Empire, everyone already knows. I think twice and decide to go personally!"
At this time, Liu Xin didn't know that Caracalla killed the past envoys of Jia Xu, otherwise he would never wait for three days, I am afraid he would immediately send troops to kill him.
Zhang Fei couldn't help it, and shouted in his throat: "Okay! I would like to be the pioneer!"
Jushou hurriedly persuaded: "Your Majesty Qi Zou, you once said that in the future, you will no longer ask for personal enlistment, and hope that your Majesty can keep his promise.
Liu Xin waved his hand and said, "This time is different. In the past, it was a dispute within our big men. This time, we are fighting against foreign aggression. Everyone is responsible. I must go!"
Guo Jia said anxiously: "Your Majesty, the Daqin people tore up the agreement and attacked my Dahan businessman suddenly. Obviously they have premeditated. If our army rushes forward, we are afraid of their treacherous tricks, I hope your majesty will think twice!"
Liu Xin once promulgated a decree that officials above grade five and their immediate family members were not allowed to engage in business. After hearing the news of the massacre of Dahan’s businessmen, many officials felt very indignant, but did not feel much grief because their vital interests were not greatly harmed.
When Guo Jia came out to dissuade him, some ministers had already whispered back: "Yes, the ancients said, if you are too far away, please be cautious if you hear about it."
Liu Xin said in a deep voice: "I ask you, are those businessmen the people of my big man? Are there any taxes they contributed in your salary? They were killed innocently in a foreign country. Are we obliged to seek justice for them? "
Before the ministers could answer, Liu Xin had already stood up against the table and said loudly: "This battle must be fought! I will definitely fight! I invite you to come today to discuss how to fight, not to listen to you. Discuss whether or not to fight!"
Liu Xin also knew that this battle was very difficult to fight. Not only was it necessary to mobilize a huge force, but it was also extremely difficult to provide logistical supplies. But he knows better that if this battle is fought, no country will dare to bully Dahan’s citizens at will. The people in those places that have just been included in Dahan’s territory will also be proud of their status as Dahan citizens. This is for the maintenance of Dahan. The unification of the culture of the Han Dynasty has an extremely important and far-reaching influence.
Standing among the civil and military in the hall, it is not ruled out that some people have the mind to protect themselves and hope to live a comfortable life, but more people consider the actual difficulties of this battle, so they will look forward to the future.
However, the era of peace of the big man has only just passed two or three years. Although there have been some major wars in these two or three years, some small battles still occur from time to time. More importantly, the Han soldiers still maintain sufficient blood. After hearing Liu Xin's shocking words, Xu Huang, Zhang Fei and others are already gearing up, ready to do a big job.
Seeing that Liu Xin had decided, Guo Jia no longer discouraged him, and asked, "I wonder if your Majesty wants a small fight or a big fight?"
Liu Xin was silent for a moment, then sat down again, propped his hands on the table, frowning and asked, "How do you talk about small hits? How do you talk about big hits?"
"If it's a small fight, your majesty only needs to send a Qingqi to Daqin, break his several cities, and looted and return. If it's a big fight, you need to take a long-term plan." Guo Jia paused and continued, "We have not considered victory. Consider defeat first. Great Qinfei is comparable to a small country. The use of troops in this battle can be at least 400,000 or more, and transportation of grain and grass requires more than 500,000 civilians. Nearly a million people expedition thousands of miles away, in case of defeat..."
Dianwei already said impatiently: "Fengxiao, why do you have aspirations for others and destroy your own prestige! My army is invincible and invincible, how can I lose?"
"The arrogant soldier will be defeated! When evil comes, you have to think like this." Liu Xin waved his hand and nodded, "Feng Xiao's consideration is not unreasonable. However, I want to tell everyone that this expedition is indeed very dangerous. Everyone must have the spirit of breaking the boat and fighting back, and I will not reserve a way out for you!"
Guo Jia pondered: "Your Majesty, is this going to be a big fight? The ministers please follow your Majesty's expedition, and sooner or later you can make suggestions for your Majesty!"
Xu Huang caressed his palm: "Yes! It's time to fight him hard, beat him, and be afraid of him! Please lead all the troops as pioneers, and never look back!"
Zhang Fei shouted: "Second brother, this pioneer belongs to my old Zhang, you are not allowed to grab it!"
Over there Zhang Yun, Zhao Yun, Zhang Liao, Guan Yu and others also invited Ying, and the atmosphere in the hall suddenly became warm.
"Fengxiao, you have been in poor health. You still don't want to go on this expedition. There are many things in the court that need you to deal with." Liu Xin raised his hand and signaled everyone to calm down, and continued, "The most important thing is now. It is to solve two problems. One is the strength of the army. My big man has a vast territory and the world has just been settled. It is impossible to transfer all the troops out. Sufficient and complete forces must be left. Therefore, this time I only plan to use one, two, Three or sixty-four corps, three hundred and fifty thousand people, and their strength is slightly insufficient. Let's see if there is any solution."
Tian Feng got up and said, "Your Majesty, according to the information from the Foreign Affairs Office, Daqin has a larger area than our big Han, and its population has surpassed our big Han. 300,000 people will attack a huge country with a population of more than 50 million. Even if they can win, it is a tragic victory. The minister has a strategy. Cao Cao and Yuan Shao’s soldiers were ordered to be disarmed and returned to their fields two years ago. Among these people, there are also many warriors. Why don’t your Majesty decree to enlist them temporarily, but After the war is over, they will be sent back to the village to work in agriculture."
Zhao Yun also arched his hands and said: "Your Majesty Qizou, now every part of the grassland has surrendered to my great man, and I am proud to be a part of the great man. The herdsmen on the grassland are good at riding and shooting. The help of our army!"
Liu Xin groaned: "According to what you said, 200,000 old troops were temporarily enlisted to form a guard army, and the old armored weapons in the treasury were transferred to them. In addition, the Huns and Xianbei tribes were preached. They ordered them to transfer one hundred thousand young and strong knights and gather them in the territory of Qiuci under the protection of the Western Regions within a month. But there is still a problem that needs to be solved urgently, that is, the transportation of grain and grass."
Jushou also frowned and said: "In this way, your majesty has used 650,000 troops. The daily expenditure of the army is huge. In addition to the long road, I am afraid that even if the recruitment of 500,000 civilians will be difficult, this is indeed a case. problem."
Zhang Fei said without hesitation: "Then collect one million civilian husbands!"
Liu Xin shook his head and said, "If so many people are recruited, who will grow the crops in the field? Without planting crops, what will the people eat next year? Besides, the drought situation in the north has not improved so far. Even if 500,000 people are recruited, I feel that Too much. I have an idea, that is to use war to support war, but I don't know if it's appropriate."
Everyone was at a loss. They hadn't even heard of what it meant by fighting to raise war, let alone whether it was right or wrong.
Liu Xin explained: "These countries around Dahan are our friendly neighbors. Our target in these battles is only Daqin. This year, the Uzbeli Fortress, the Turugert Fortress, and the Kangju Fortress The garrison camps and the Great Han Concession in Parthia have already hoarded a lot of food and grass, which can cope for a period of time. If it is really lacking, you can also purchase it from the countries along the way. So I want to come and only recruit 200,000 civilians..."
Jushou interrupted Liu Xin's words and said repeatedly: "Your Majesty, this is absolutely impossible. The army is large in number, and the food and grass stocked in front is only enough to support more than a month. If there is no food and grass to buy along the way, hundreds of thousands of troops will face a shortage of food. In danger!"
Liu Xin smiled bitterly: "This is exactly what I want to say about raising war by war. As long as the grain and grass are enough to support the army to reach the Daqin border, all the grain and grass in the future will be provided by the people of Daqin!"