Everyone was arguing endlessly about how to deal with the future intrusion of foreign races, and Yuan Xi was also feeling overwhelmed as he listened.
The invasion of nomadic peoples has always been one of the major tests of life and death that China has had to face, and climate change is an important factor that has driven the nomadic peoples to invade southward. It is now foreseeable that in the next few decades, the trend of colder weather will not ease, but will worsen.
What's more troublesome is that Yuan Xi's current strength is not enough to deal with the two major obstacles at the same time.
First, even if the Han Dynasty, as a unified dynasty, adopted a tough policy toward foreign races, it would still be painful. However, at present, Yuan Xi, with only one state, could not possibly send his troops on an expedition to the frontier, wasting manpower and resources.
You must know that the biggest trouble with nomadic peoples is that their royal courts are too far away. If they are defeated, they will flee to the north and wait for an opportunity to make a comeback. Unless their royal courts are destroyed and their people are relocated to controllable areas, it is impossible to eradicate the hidden dangers.
Second, the ethnic situation in Youzhou is now extremely complicated, because strictly speaking, the Wuhuan and Xianbei people inside the Great Wall have long been registered as citizens and are part of the Han people. They have an internal conflict with Yuan Xi. Only the Xianbei outside the Great Wall are considered foreigners.
But the problem is that the ethnic policy of the Eastern Han Dynasty had many flaws compared to the Western Han Dynasty. Although the main purpose was to use the Hu to control the Hu, the treatment of these border residents was not good. The situation of many Hu and Han border residents was worrying. Under such circumstances, the dissatisfaction of these border residents was increasing day by day.
There had been constant fighting within Youzhou over the years, from Liu Yu to Gongsun Zan, the leaders had changed one after another, and finally a mess was left for Yuan Xi. There were many foreign ethnic groups in the border areas, and it would be extremely difficult to unite this group of people to deal with the future threat, the Xianbei outside the Great Wall.
Yuan Xi is now trying to deal with this situation, but it is already difficult for him to manage his current territory, let alone the entire Youzhou.
You should know that there is also the Gongsun Du family involved, whose strength is not much weaker than Yuan Xi's!
Yuan Xi cursed inwardly, Youzhou was such a mess, and the situation was so bad that it was at the bottom among the thirteen states.
Everyone thought that Guo Jia's idea was too radical. Ju Shou then proposed a strategy of using a small group of elite troops to harass the tribal herdsmen with evil intentions and make their rear troops run around in a hurry. However, everyone still felt that this method could not stop the foreign tribes from moving south in large numbers.
Seeing that Lu Xun was sitting quietly in the back without saying a word, Yuan Xi knew that he was a low-key person. Moreover, with Ju Shou and Guo Jia in front, it would be inappropriate for Lu Xun to stand out.
After Lu Xun came to Beixin City, he met and talked with Ju Shou, and was highly appreciated by Ju Shou. So Lu Xun followed Ju Shou as a disciple, which made Guo Jia very unhappy. Although Lu Xun also treated Guo Jia as a disciple, there was still a difference between him and a real disciple.
Later, Tian Yu and Gao Shun also expressed their opinions from the perspective of deploying troops, but they both agreed that Youzhou was not strong enough to support large-scale military deployment at the moment. Moreover, the weather was turning cooler and Liaodong was about to enter a bitter cold. If a conflict broke out at this time, it would be a fight of life and death.
Yuan Xi listened to the fact that everyone was at a loss as to what to do, and thought that having more counselors and generals had both advantages and disadvantages. Before, he only needed Guo Jia to offer suggestions and he would make the decision, but now he had to listen to opinions from all sides and then make a choice, which required extremely high judgment.
If I had eight counselors under my command, I'm afraid my performance wouldn't be better than Yuan Shao's, right?
Seeing that Lawrence Lu seemed to be hesitant to speak, he said, "I want to hear Boyan's opinion."
Lu Xun did not expect Yuan Xi to name him, so he immediately bowed and said, "Xun believes that war can only frighten the enemy, but it is difficult to conquer people's hearts. What the people need most now is food and clothing. If we start a war rashly, the people will only suffer from hunger and cold."
"The most urgent task is to adopt a policy of recuperation and rest. When people's lives improve and people's hearts are in favor, it will not be too late to consider pacifying the country."
After hearing this, Yuan Xi remained silent. This was not unexpected for him. In later generations, Lu Xun always valued courtesy over punishment, opposed cruel and harsh laws, and believed that people should be the foundation.
In this respect, he is different from Yuan Xi. Although Yuan Xi understands that using harsh punishments in troubled times will backfire, if they are not used, there will be more people with evil intentions in the harsh environment.
Moreover, in later generations, Lu Xun served as an official in Jiangdong, where there had always been fewer wars, so the people had little desire for war and only wanted to have their own piece of land and live a good life.
Therefore, Lu Xun's policy of recuperation is very suitable in Jiangdong, but it is not the same in Youzhou.
The people living on the northern border have always been tough and their territories are short of food, so they often have to fight for their lives. Even if they want to recuperate, it depends on whether the Hu people outside the Great Wall are willing to do so.
He thought for a moment and said, "The autumn planting is almost finished. I plan to gather my troops and return to Jicheng in the next few days."
"When we get there, I plan to listen to Liu and Zhao Yun's opinions."
"We can talk to Wuhuan Chanyu if we can, but if he pushes the issue too far, I don't want to back down. After all, if I take one step back, I may have to take ten steps back in the future."
Guo Jia praised: "My lord, you see clearly that the Wuhuan people have not yet been educated and do not understand the Central Plains people's way of humility. Only by defeating them will they be willing to submit."
Yuan Xi smiled bitterly. This was the truth, but he couldn't do it now.
He had to rely on the Jizhou Army's help to defeat the Black Mountain Army with hundreds of thousands of soldiers. Moreover, infantry was the main force in mountain combat, which was the strength of the Youzhou Army, so he was able to defeat them with relatively small losses in the end.
There are hundreds of thousands of Wuhuan, which are cavalrymen who can all mount horses. Youzhou now has only a few thousand cavalrymen, most of whom are the Wuhuan cavalrymen under Yan Rou and Xianyu Fu. The number is not even on the same level as the enemy.
Although the enemy's equipment is not good, they will not be stupid enough to fight against the Youzhou heavy cavalry head-on. As long as the enemy focuses on harassing and killing the people of Youzhou, it will be enough to make Yuan Xi anxious.
From Liaoxi to Liaodong, the foreign Xianbei, Wuhuan Chanyu, Gongsun Du's family, and Yuan Xi, none of these four parties has the strength to overwhelm the others, so it is not appropriate for them to take tough measures.
Guo Jia said, "There is one more thing."
"There are many counties in Liaoxi and Youbeiping, and there are remnants of Gongsun Zan's forces. If you want to take them over, you need a legitimate name."
After hearing this, Yuan Xi nodded and said, "I have thought about this. If everything goes well in Jicheng, I will be able to have a child around the New Year."
When everyone heard this, they all looked happy.
Although Yuan Xi's reputation as a lustful person was widely spread among the gentry, as Yuan Xi's subordinates, they would not think that this was an excessive matter. On the contrary, if Yuan Xi was not lustful and had no offspring, that would be a real problem.
The subordinates follow their lord with the hope of passing the throne from generation to generation, and of giving their wives and children titles and blessings. If their lord has no children, wouldn't it be a waste of time? And who are they working for?
Yuan Xi continued, "If a boy is born and Gongsun Zan leaves a daughter, I will marry the two families. In this way, I can occupy the entire Youzhou and have a legitimate reason to do so."
But to Yuan Xi's surprise, everyone looked at each other and seemed to be hesitant to speak.
Yuan Xi asked curiously: "What's wrong?"
"Any questions?"
Guo Jia smiled bitterly and said, "It is appropriate for the two families to marry, but..."
Ju Su said, "Mr. Feng Xiao may have concerns. Let me tell you."
"Your Highness has defeated Yuan's archenemy Gongsun Zan, which is equivalent to destroying Gongsun's qualification to compete for world domination."
"Now that we are forming a marriage alliance, will the other party use the name of Gongsun clan?"
"In this way, wouldn't you be giving the Gongsun family a chance to establish their reputation again?"
"Jizhou will certainly be unhappy and suspicious. What if this matter is used by someone with ulterior motives in the future and uses the name of Gongsun to cause chaos?"
"By then, I'm afraid it will affect the sons and offspring of the princes who are to marry them, and then backfire on the mother and daughter."
Yuan Xi finally understood and said depressedly, "I didn't think of this. At first I thought about the pity of the orphans and widows, but I didn't expect so many things to happen later."
"So, marriage is no longer possible?"
Guo Jia smiled and said, "It's not impossible, but we can't use the name of Gongsun family."
"It is said that Gongsun Zan's forces needed to be appeased before, but now that the Young Master has established his power, he no longer needs these people who are wavering. If we don't give them any hope, they will obediently join the Young Master."
"In other words, Madam Hou is no longer suitable to use the title of Gongsun Zan's widow. Only in this way can the remnant forces of Gongsun Zan be completely dispelled from their disloyalty."
"This way, we can get rid of the previous entanglement. After the mother and daughter marry into the Yuan family, they will no longer have to bear the consequences of Gongsun Zan's previous misfortune."
Yuan Xi was not able to react for a moment, "What do you mean I can't use the title of Madam Gongsun Zan?"
Guo Jia showed a look of regret, "Of course, you should marry her and that's it."
Yuan Xi was stunned.
Guo Jia showed a playful smile on his face, "If you are not interested, you can marry her to someone else."
Yuan Xi was dumbfounded.
He sighed, "This was not my original intention."
Ju Su laughed and said, "Young Master, your reputation has already spread, why are you still worrying about these things?"
"Those who achieve great things do not care about trivial matters. When Emperor Gaozu achieved great things, he still abandoned his wife and children. What you did today is not an unjust thing. You just took in another concubine. What are you afraid of?"
"Besides you, is there anyone else who dares to marry a marquis' wife?"
Everyone, including Lu Xun, laughed, and the room was filled with a happy atmosphere.
Yuan Xi smiled bitterly and said, "Let me go back and think about it carefully."
"Do you have anything else to say?"
Everyone shook their heads, and Yuan Xi said, "Okay, everyone go back to take care of their respective duties today. Within half a month, move the existing internal affairs functions of Beixin City to Jicheng as much as possible and lay off redundant staff. This place will serve as a fortress connecting Bingzhou and Heishan in the future."
Tian Yu said: "The people who are undergoing labor education here..."
Yuan Xi thought for a moment and said, "General Yan, you will take charge of the military defense of Zhuo County, and Mr. Han Yu will take charge of the internal affairs."
Chen Gui and Yan Rou hurriedly stood up to receive the order. Yuan Xi said to Yan Rou, "General, you are originally a Han Chinese, and you are also a Wuhuan commander. No matter whether they are Han or Hu people, they are all Youzhou people. I don't ask for much. Remember to treat everyone equally and without distinction, so that the Han and Hu people will not be hostile to each other."
Yan Rou said in a deep voice: "I will definitely live up to my mission!"
Yuan Xi nodded. He was confident in Yan Rou's style of doing things. Although he was a Han Chinese, he was supported by the Hu people and was able to mediate between the Han and Hu people. He should be a good candidate to manage Beixin City.
Yuan Xi saw everyone off and walked all the way back to the backyard, wondering how he was going to tell the Marquis's wife about this.
He didn't have any moral quirks when it came to widows, and he wouldn't marry her himself. If Hou was coveted and used by people with ulterior motives in the future, he would probably have a harder time.
But doing this now, Yuan Xi always felt that saving people from the watchtower at that time seemed to have bad intentions!
He thought about it and walked straight to the marquis's room. When he reached the door, he saw that it was ajar and there was still light in the room.
Some time ago, under the care of the Marquis's wife, her daughter's illness had recovered. It was probably because she wanted to ventilate the house now. Yuan Xi thought about it and walked up and knocked on the door gently.
After a while, Hou opened the door, but she didn't expect that it was Yuan Xi who came. She subconsciously took half a step back and then stood still.
The two looked at each other and couldn't help but think of the embarrassing incident in Xiaolou last time. The air was filled with ambiguity.
Yuan Xi cleared his throat and said, "In half a month, I will move my residence to Jicheng. Before that, I have something to ask Madam Zhou Zhi."
Hou hesitated for a moment, then stepped aside and whispered, "Please come in, sir."