Emperor Zhao Han stared at the brazen Cao Feng, clearly taken aback.
Cao Feng’s bad reputation was well known. Zhao Han had long believed him to be an ignorant and useless Young Marquis and had never taken him seriously.
Yet the talent Cao Feng had displayed in court forced him to look at the young man in a new light.
Now, faced with the Hu tribe rebellion in the Liaozhou Military Governorship, he was boldly proposing three levels of strategy to defeat the enemy.
If he had not just composed poetry that stunned the entire court, Zhao Han might have charged him with deceiving the throne on the spot.
The Sixth Prince watched Cao Feng closely, doubt rising in his heart.
Could it be that Cao Feng truly possessed extraordinary talent and he had misjudged him?
If so, he had made a grave mistake.
A man of such ability should have been recruited, not offended beyond repair.
No one dared underestimate Cao Feng anymore.
He had already proven through his own ability that he was not merely a reckless wastrel.
At least in poetry, he had crushed the scholars and great literati of the court.
Seeing the doubtful gazes around him, Cao Feng secretly smiled.
His poems had clearly intimidated them.
Had this been earlier, if he had claimed to possess a strategy to defeat the enemy, they would have mocked him and accused him of deceiving the throne.
The Emperor might not even have allowed him to speak.
Now they remained silent, unwilling to label him lightly.
This world truly bullied the weak and feared the strong.
When you are strong enough, others dare not underestimate or bully you. Instead, they fear and respect you.
“Present the superior, middling, and inferior strategies one by one,” Emperor Zhao Han urged when Cao Feng delayed.
He sincerely hoped the young man would offer a strategy worth hearing.
At this moment, the most anxious person was not Cao Feng, but Marquis Cao Zhen.
He feared his son would say something shocking and invite disaster.
He still wished to live a few more years.
Facing the Emperor’s unquestionable tone, Cao Feng bowed slightly.
This was his chance. If he failed now, offending imperial authority would not be easily forgiven.
He took a deep breath and began.
“My inferior strategy is to mobilize the Empire’s elite troops, such as the Longxiang Army and the Shenwu Army, gathering no fewer than 300,000 soldiers.”
“Appoint a veteran general to lead them and march to Liaozhou in overwhelming force.”
“This time, forget about concerns of exhausting the people or talk of pacification. If we fight, we must strike hard enough to cripple the Hu tribe, to exterminate them entirely.”
“Our army would sweep from east to west, leaving no tribe alive. Kill until corpses cover the fields. Kill until heads roll!”
“If the Hu tribe are completely eradicated once and for all, there will be no future rebellions.”
A collective gasp rose in the court.
What a bold proposal.
Mobilize the Empire’s elite forces and wipe the Hu tribe out entirely.
Ruthless.
Emperor Zhao Han was deeply shaken.
He had considered this before.
But his concerns were many. The source of this chapter is g.com.
The Hu tribe rebellion was confined to Liaozhou. If he mobilized the entire army, other regions might erupt in crisis.
That Cao Feng, as the heir of the Marquis of Zhenbei’s Residence, had conceived the same idea as himself was astonishing.
“The advantage of this strategy is that it would solve the Hu tribe problem once and for all.”
“But the disadvantages are obvious. If our army leaves in full force, the Hu tribe will simply flee on horseback.”
“Meanwhile, surrounding enemies may seize the opportunity. The Great Qian Empire could face the danger of collapse.”
“This all-or-nothing approach means total victory or total ruin.”
Duke Li Xin nodded in agreement. “Your Majesty, this strategy is unwise. We cannot risk the Empire for a minor affliction.”
Emperor Zhao Han nodded slightly. “What about the middling strategy?”
“The middling strategy is to divide and weaken them, using the Hu tribe to control the Hu.”
Cao Feng continued, “The various Hu tribe tribes within Liaozhou are not united. They harbor deep grudges and often fight among themselves.”
“We can recruit and reward those tribes loyal to the Great Qian Empire with high positions and rich benefits.”
“Let loyal Hu tribe fight rebellious Hu.”
“We can sit back and watch them tear each other apart.”
“In the end, without sending a single soldier, the court can reap the benefits.”
“No matter who wins, the court stands undefeated.”
Emperor Zhao Han’s eyes lit up.
This was promising.
The court would not need to mobilize extensively, yet could suppress the rebellion.
Officials began discussing enthusiastically. Their suspicion toward Cao Feng turned into admiration.
Truly, like father like son.
The Cao family had been generals for generations. Their foundation was profound.
The Second Prince was inwardly delighted.
With such talent in the Cao family, his efforts to court them were worthwhile.
He would need to secure Cao Feng firmly.
As the ministers spoke excitedly, Cao Feng raised his voice again.
“But this strategy has clear flaws.”
The Emperor leaned forward.
“Though the tribes quarrel, they understand that if the lips are gone, the teeth grow cold. Some tribes may accept our rewards but contribute little. In that case, the court may lose both money and advantage.”
Emperor Zhao Han looked at Cao Feng with growing admiration.
Not only could he compose poetry, but he also possessed insight.
Even if the strategy proved imperfect, it far surpassed the reckless ideas of many generals.
“And the superior strategy?” the Emperor asked.
All ears perked up.
“Establish rotating officials, promote education, and relocate settlers to guard the Frontier.”
The court blinked in confusion.
Was this not a strategy to defeat the enemy?
Why speak of administration and migration? You are reading on g.com, the official source.
Even Emperor Zhao Han felt a flicker of disappointment.
“Your Majesty,” Cao Feng continued loudly, “the repeated rebellions occur because the Hu tribe and the Great Qian Empire remain divided at heart.”
“When we grant benefits, they behave. When benefits cease, they rebel under their tribal leaders.”
“If Liaozhou is to enjoy lasting peace, we must appoint court officials to govern directly, promote education, and relocate settlers to guard the Frontier.”
“In Liaozhou, most local officials are Hu tribe tribal leaders.”
“Though they appear to obey the Governor, they secretly act otherwise.”
“To speak plainly, the tribal chiefs are the true rulers of Liaozhou.”
“They live among their people and command instant loyalty.”
“When dissatisfied, they raise rebellion at will.”
“When our army arrives, they flee or feign surrender, repeating the cycle.”
“We must stop appointing local Hu tribe leaders as officials. Instead, the court should send its own administrators to govern directly.”
“With sustained contact between court officials and common Hu tribe people, the chiefs’ influence will gradually weaken.”
“Second, promote education.”
“The court should establish schools in Liaozhou to teach the Hu tribe our official language and rites.”
“Let them identify with and integrate into the Great Qian Empire.”
“In one or two generations, the Hu tribe of Liaozhou will be no different from other citizens of the Empire.”
“Third, relocate settlers to guard the Frontier.”
“Encourage our people to settle in Liaozhou.”
“Once the inland population grows, the Hu tribe will no longer dare stir trouble.”
“And if they do, we can recruit troops locally and crush them decisively.”
Brilliant.
A glint flashed in Emperor Zhao Han’s eyes.
This was a plan of generations, not of a single day.
If accomplished, Liaozhou would be fully integrated into the Great Qian Empire, ending the cycle of rebellion.
Marquis Cao Zhen stared at his eloquent son in shock.
Was this truly his son?
Had the Young Marquis finally awakened?
Had the Cao ancestors manifested their blessing?
Emotion surged within him.
Emperor Zhao Han finally praised him openly.
“The heir of the Marquis of Zhenbei’s Residence, Cao Feng, possesses strategic insight. Truly a worthy son of a military house.”
At those words, Cao Feng finally relaxed.
If the Emperor spoke thus, his life was likely safe.
He bowed slightly.
“Your Majesty overpraises me. This humble subject is but a citizen of the Great Qian Empire. To relieve Your Majesty’s burdens is my honor.”