Chapter 460: All the Power of the Nation
"It's not just our house, it's the same in other houses!"
"Old lady, there's no need to worry about Cong'er's safety. This time, hundreds of thousands of troops are on the march, and with us as well, how could it be Cong'er, the commander-in-chief, leading the charge? Unless we're all dead, Cong'er will just sit in the center and command all the troops."
"What are you talking about!" After hearing what the others said, the old lady felt better. If she had to go, being the head coach would certainly be much better than being a subordinate.
At least, safety can be greatly guaranteed.
"You are also my nephew, and the master of the Shi family. Your brother died fighting at the border. If you two dare to make me, an old lady, send you off, I will not forgive you in the underworld."
Shi Nai, who was trying to comfort Lady Jia, couldn't help but chuckle at the words. Meanwhile, Xiangyun, who was standing nearby, burst into tears again when she heard her father mentioned.
Even though she had two uncles and aunts to care for her at home, and the old lady in the Jia Mansion treated her very well, she still lacked the love of her parents. How could she not feel lonely? Her carefree nature was only superficial. Why was she able to eat and sleep with Daiyu and have such a good relationship? It was because their personalities were very different on the surface, but their hearts were the same.
"The Minister has entrusted me with the task of raising military funds!" Lin Ruhai said in a serious tone.
"The treasury is still quite well-off, and the Minister and His Majesty have already agreed to hold off on spending money on other areas to prioritize raising military funds. Even the Emperor's treasury has been emptied, leaving behind over three million taels of silver!"
"Don't worry, before you go out to fight, the military pay will be handed over to you in full!"
"Preparations for food and fodder have also begun. Right Vice Minister Liu is in charge! We've already sent people to check the several large warehouses outside the city. Although the harvest was poor last year due to the chaos in Jiangnan, the previous few years were good years, and most government warehouses are relatively well stocked, so gathering food and fodder shouldn't be difficult."
"The Ministry of War is also preparing the military equipment and armor. His Majesty has ordered that any shortages should be transferred from other camps, even if it means using the weapons of the Dragon Guards to fill the gaps in the army. However, we are still far short of arrows. The Minister of Works, Lord Zhu Lan, has already issued a strict order to the Ministry of Works. Before the Marquis sets out on the expedition, at least 150,000 arrows must be replenished."
"I'm afraid Cunzhou will be busy these days."
Jia Zheng clenched his fists and said, "I will be on duty tomorrow morning. Even if I have to stay at the government office for the next ten days without sleep, I will do my part. Although I, Jia Zheng, am not qualified to fight alongside my nephew, I will definitely not delay this duty."
Jia Zheng did not like his job in the Ministry of Works. On weekdays, going on duty felt similar to Baoyu going to school, but for the sake of his nephew, he took the risk.
"In short, my Lord, just rest and recuperate!" Wang Ziteng said with a smile. "This time, His Majesty is determined to conquer the southwest. Whether it's money, food, or military equipment, there will be no shortage. As for the deployment of troops, it's up to you, my Lord. Although we know a little about military affairs, our military operations are far from yours. If we make random suggestions, we will only cause trouble for you."
Jia Cong laughed heartily. "The hidden danger of the southwestern barbarians has indeed existed for many years, and they are indeed difficult to conquer. However, as the Marquis of Guanjun, I am no ordinary person. There is no need to brag. I earned this title by fighting in the army."
"What was the Luosha Kingdom like back then? I, with only a few thousand soldiers, was able to defeat tens of thousands of their elite troops. Now I have hundreds of thousands of soldiers and the support of the entire Daqian nation. If I can't conquer the southwest, I will have no face to return."
Upon hearing this, Wang Ziteng and Shi Nai couldn't help but burst out laughing!
Jia Cong was the most meritorious warrior during the reign of Emperor Longxing. Even when many heroes gathered together during the time of Emperor Taizu and Emperor Taizong, he was still the top one. Moreover, although the troops of Daqian were not as fierce as when the country was founded, they were by no means a pushover. With hundreds of thousands of troops gathering in the southwest, they did have considerable confidence in Jia Cong.
Moreover, they also knew that as long as they could win this battle, Jia Cong would surely be crowned a prince!
If they could become the only king of a different surname during the reigns of both the Retired Emperor and the Longxing Emperor, the Jia family's power would far surpass that of the founding dynasty, and even the power of other founding families would rise with it. Therefore, they were not only not opposed to this war, but actually had a certain desire for it.
War is bad for the people, but for the Heroes of War, it's a stepping stone to advancement. If the country is peaceful and the people are safe, and the troops are free to roam, what power do the Heroes of War have? Therefore, the Heroes of War absolutely do not want the country to be completely stable. Although this idea is somewhat selfish and extreme, it is also the reality of human nature.
If a person does not work for himself, he will be punished by heaven and earth. This is true for anyone who involves his own interests.
Seeing that everyone in the family had relaxed a lot, Jia Cong finally spoke, "Old lady, sisters, are you relieved now?"
"If I, the Marquis, don't lead the troops, even my uncle and the others won't trust me! Only if I, the Champion Marquis, go, can our Daqian achieve a great victory."
"Brother Cong's words are indeed true. Although there are many military heroes in the court now, there are only a few who can truly be commanders!"
"Marquis Kaoshan and Duke Qing are too old. While they could serve as commanders, they've lost half their lives after traveling thousands of miles. Among our generation's military heroes, only Lao Niu can be considered a figure. Few of the others have actually fought on the battlefield. They're somewhat capable in solo combat, but when it comes to deploying troops... These hundreds of thousands of troops aren't the foundation of our Daqian, but we can't afford to lose too much."
"For someone like me, even if I am willing to lead the troops, His Majesty will not be willing to hand over the troops to me! Therefore, it will be enough for me to be a vanguard general for the Marquis at that time." Shi Nai laughed.
"Only Cong, though still young, can rival the older generation in terms of military achievements . In my opinion, Cong, the Champion Marquis, is no less worthy than General Huo of the Han Dynasty. He achieved fame at a young age and has made outstanding contributions. If such a figure can emerge from one of our families, I, Shi Nai, will be proud of him whenever I go out."
"If Brother Cong can conquer the southwest in one battle this time, his achievements will almost be comparable to General Huo's Fenglangjuxu!"
"How many civil and military officials only seek a page in the history books, but Cong'er is destined to be remembered in history!"
"You don't have to comfort me, an old woman. Although I am a woman in the harem, I also know that war is dangerous. I don't ask for great achievements from you, nor do I ask for you to leave your names in history. If you can all return safely, it will be the greatest blessing for me. Compared with achievements, I would rather my grandson stay by my side." The old lady sighed.
