Free Web NovelChapter 2338: Chapter 2313: Plans
Bai Erlang chattered endlessly beside Bai Shan and Zhou Man, and after finishing his words, he curiously looked around, "So this is the palace of Kucha, huh? The steps seem a bit more, a bit higher, and it looks quite ordinary."
Bai Shan said, "Naturally, it doesn’t compare to our imperial palace, but it’s considered luxurious. Look at the shops and houses in the city."
"That’s true," Bai Erlang curiously glanced around, seeing soldiers herding the palace people towards a side hall, he couldn’t help but ask, "What will happen to these people?"
Bai Shan glanced at them and replied, "General Ashina is not one to commit slaughter; most of the palace people will likely be released. As for those ministers, it depends on the situation. But it also depends on how General Ashina plans to handle the Kucha Kingdom."
General Ashina was also pondering this issue. Initially, he intended to sweep across the lands regardless of places like Yanqi, Kucha, Shule, and Yutian. Anyone who wronged the Great Jin, he would deal with them, and later, Guo Xiao, the Protector of Anxi, would handle the aftermath and incorporate these small countries into Anxi. After all, the territory isn’t very large.
However, Guo Xiao ended up causing his own demise, and the morale was greatly affected. Now, the Western Regions have entered winter, and before long, the weather will become increasingly cold, with the possibility of heavy snow.
Such weather is entirely unfavorable for the soldiers to fight.
If we wait until the ice and snow melt next year, it would be at least April...
Dragging the timeline out this far would greatly impact the national treasury. Not only the Ministry of Revenue but likely His Majesty would be displeased as well.
The loss is too great, making it unwise for the Great Jin.
Therefore, the previous plan is clearly unfeasible. To take over and organize Kucha, it would take at least two months.
If Guo Xiao were still here, such matters could be handed over to him, after all, he is the Protector of Anxi; as the Chief Steward, he only needs to lead the troops to capture the territory.
General Ashina rubbed his forehead, decisively saying, "Reestablish the King of Kucha. Capture all the relatives of the King of Kucha, and later I’ll select one to succeed as King of Kucha."
His confidant immediately nodded and went to capture the people.
Night fell, Bai Shan and the others temporarily stayed in the palace. Junior General Meng learned they were staying here and immediately ordered the wounded soldiers to be sent over, along with the military doctors busy at the city gate.
Upon his arrival, he immediately shouted to Zhou Liru, "Young lady, you didn’t keep your promise! You said you’d only go for a while, but you never came back. Do you know how many injured were sent to me?"
Then seeing Zhou Man standing to the side, he complained further, "Lord Zhou, you’re the Imperial Doctor, charging ahead is the duty of the soldiers, and scheming is the duty of the officials. We doctors should just treat people from behind. How can you risk such danger?"
Manbao said, "I’m also an official."
She emphasized, "I’m even a compiler for the Chongwen Pavilion."
The military doctor was speechless.
Bai Shan sympathetically gave him an out, "The wounded from the army have all been sent to the side hall. I have sent some people to boil water. Let’s start treating the wounded now."
Tonight will probably be another sleepless night.
The military doctor nodded repeatedly and saw Bai Shan and Zhou Man both covered in steam, their hair still a little wet, thinking to himself: Did they even bathe? Planning to wash and sleep?
The things in the palace are much more complete than in their camp.
Originally, the soldiers had looted almost everything, and being rough-handed, they couldn’t help but break things while searching.
Bai Shan had sent word in advance that the wounded would be sent over soon, so the medicines in the storeroom and things in the kitchen should not be broken.
Thus, the soldiers handled things more gently, and the medicines they found were sent to the side hall, and the kitchen was mostly untouched.
Bai Shan went to the side hall and selected many palace staff, all with calluses on their hands, who often did heavy work in the kitchen and outside courtyard, to fetch and boil water.
Treating the wounded required a large amount of hot water.
So when General Ashina finally finished meeting with the deputy generals, he saw the wounded being continuously carried to the side hall, and looking around, that place was the brightest in the entire palace.
"That place is..."
Junior General Meng promptly reported, "Reporting to Chief Steward, Imperial Doctor Zhou and others are treating the wounded there."
General Ashina was surprised, "Lord Zhou is willing to do such menial work?"
In his impression, the Imperial Doctors from the Imperial Hospital were quite proud. The nobles in the capital could invite them easily enough since treating nobles was part of their duty.
But officers below the fourth rank found it difficult to invite them, let alone soldiers.
Military doctors were lowly, and generally, no one was willing to do this work.
Junior General Meng was young and unaware of such sinister social customs; he straightforwardly replied, "He is willing. Our soldiers were previously treated by Imperial Doctor Zhou..." and how is this menial work?
Is stitching up his stomach menial work?
Thinking of his stomach, Junior General Meng felt a bit of pain, as if his wound was tearing open. It seemed he had to visit Zhou Man to have his wound treated again later.
General Ashina stood in thought for a moment and remembered that Bai Shan, the future son-in-law, and the grandson of the Minister of Revenue, were inside; thus, he turned and said, "Let’s go have a look too."
Bai Shan, while assisting Manbao, said to her, "If General Ashina reestablishes the King of Kucha, we should be able to return soon."
Manbao asked, "No more fighting?"
Bai Shan replied, "With General Guo’s death, morale would be affected, and Anxi needs a new Protector. The time required for back and forth is not short. Without someone like General Guo holding the rear, General Ashina probably wouldn’t dare to easily conquer these small countries."
What if they capture two cities but lose one behind them?
Without a court appointment, it would be impossible for the Anxi army to submit, "And the extended front lines and prolonged time would place a significant burden on the treasury."
Come spring, the Ministry of Revenue would have various expenses, with the Central Plains being the most important. Here in the Western Regions, if they are willing to provide supplies for the campaign, it’s already quite good.
It’s also because the small countries of Kucha have been treacherous with the court, taking advantage of Great Jin’s misfortune. If we don’t act this time, they won’t settle in the future. If Great Jin faces another crisis, they will likely rebel.
Bai Shan didn’t mention it, but although the current Emperor is in his prime, the Crown Prince is not young, and in ten or eight years, they might need to consider succession. If the court faces turmoil over the next ruler, and the Western Regions become chaotic and eastward, it would be a significant harm to the state.
It’d be better to subdue them while there’s still strength, so they wouldn’t dare act recklessly in the future.
Manbao calculated the time, asking, "Can we go back for the New Year?"
