Jia Yi was looking at the Confucian scholar, who was likewise looking at him. The scholar bowed slightly with his hands clasped. "This humble subject greets the Chancellor."
Liu Che introduced him with considerable interest. "Chancellor, this is a Great Confucian from East of the Passes, surnamed Dong. He studies the Spring and Autumn Annals of Luo Palace, and I was just about to speak with him."
"Have you come to see me about something important?"
The Spring and Autumn Classic covered a vast field. As the only classic written by two Confucian sages, it was studied by several major schools. Still, it was perfectly normal for a scholar of Spring and Autumn Confucianism to meet the emperor. After all, Emperor Xiaowen's reverence for the Confucian School had centered on the Spring and Autumn Classic.
Shaking off these thoughts, Jia Yi began reporting his findings. "Your Majesty, a small-scale battle took place on the Northern Frontier earlier.
"After verification, I have confirmed that the number of Xiongnu moving south has gradually increased in recent years. I consulted the records and judged that the climate on the grasslands has begun to deteriorate. Water and pasture are less abundant than in previous years, and the Hu people are moving south to survive.
"This means the Hu people face a crisis of survival, a very thorny problem. The court should pay greater attention to it. My recommendation is to expand our intelligence gathering on the grasslands so that we can gain a comprehensive understanding of Xiongnu movements."
At this, Liu Che straightened in his seat. This was not merely a small battle. Once the facts were confirmed, it might mean all-out war between two empires.
The regimes of the Central Plains had always exercised the utmost caution toward the northern Hu people. Consider