Chapter 340: I beseech Your Majesty to expand the imperial harem!
"A northern expedition against the Wuhuan?"
Hearing Sima Yi's proposal, Liu Xie could not help frowning slightly. "The war has only just ended, and we need to rest and recuperate. Wouldn't launching a northern expedition now be somewhat inappropriate?"
"Besides, the Wuhuan are far beyond You Province. Sending troops to campaign against them would be no easy task and would inevitably affect our plans to march south."
The Wuhuan were a grave threat on the frontier.
Liu Xie understood that, of course.
But the Wuhuan were no weak force. Diverting troops to subdue them now would consume considerable grain and fodder, manpower, and supplies.
Before repelling external threats, one must first secure the realm within. In Liu Xie's view, moving the capital to Luoyang and pacifying the realm were the pressing matters. The campaign against the Wuhuan could wait a little.
They could not let it hold up their advance south.
Sima Yi replied, "Your Majesty, the Wuhuan have marriage ties with Yuan Shao. Since General Gongsun's death, they have repeatedly raided the frontier, plundering people and property."
"When Gao Gan rebelled, he contacted the Wuhuan to attack Ji Province together. I fear that unless we subdue them completely now, they will seize the opportunity to attack You Province when the Royal Army marches south."
"We would then face enemies before and behind us, with grave consequences."
Sima Yi laid out his reasons for campaigning against the Wuhuan and its necessity to Liu Xie one by one. They had not sent troops against them before because the imperial capital was in Ji Province, and the Wuhuan had not dared invade.
But once the capital moved to Luoyang, the empire's center would shift. Moreover, a campaign against Jing Province would