"Yes, I want to hear everyone's opinion. Elder City Lord Li, please send someone immediately to summon Wang Yuan, He Jiong, Zhuge Zhan, Gongsun Shang, Ma Chen, and Qu Zhong to the Prince's Mansion to meet with me. We shall discuss our countermeasures together!" Hua Tianxiong said, a trace of gravity on his face.
Conflicts and wars among the vassal states and sects of the Huaxia Continent are common occurrences, happening almost daily. After all, besides the one sect, two cults, three schools, and four major kingdoms that hold supreme power in the eastern corners of the continent, there are thousands of smaller states like the Qin State, varying in size. Wars triggered by territorial expansion, resource competition, or even women are countless, yet it is always the common people at the bottom who suffer the most.
The Xiongnu State covers a vast territory, twice the size of the Qin State's 9.6 million square kilometers. Its people are wild, fierce, and brave by nature, living a nomadic life across the board. Without a fixed livelihood, they worship force, and to the surrounding nations, they have always been a menace, frequently invading and plundering the resources and wealth of their neighbors.
The Zhao State is the homeland of Lady Duan, Hua Tianxiong’s mother. Previously, through numerous marriages with the Qin State, it had maintained a certain level of deterrence against the threat of the Xiongnu. For decades, the Xiongnu did not dare to invade the Zhao State openly. However, it has been nearly ten years since Lady Duan passed away, and the Qin King, Hua Zhengchun, has not been very attentive to state affairs. Most importantly, with Queen Ye Yingwen and the Imperial Father-in-law Ye Batian controlling the government, it is difficult for Hua Zhengchun to support the Zhao State or dispatch troops against the Xiongnu.
Nevertheless, due to the presence of the four major Sixth Rank empires in the vicinity, it is not easy for the Xiongnu to completely destroy the Zhao State. The Xiongnu State falls under the sphere of influence of the Ao State and pays tribute to it, while the Zhao State belongs to the sphere of influence of the Pu State and pays tribute to it. It is impossible for the two Sixth Rank empires, Pu and Ao, to launch a large-scale, full-blown war over these two small states. Therefore, the war would likely end with the mediation of the two great empires, with the victim, the Zhao State, ceding land and paying reparations, and the Xiongnu withdrawing their troops.
After Wang Yuan, He Jiong, Zhuge Zhan, Gongsun Shang, Ma Chen, Qu Zhong, and Wu Tian had all arrived at the grand hall of the Prince's Mansion, Li Gang briefly explained the current situation of the Xiongnu invading the Zhao State. Hua Tianxiong then asked each official to share their own perspectives.
General Wu Tian spoke first. Having led troops in battle for a long time, he did not fear war; rather, he had a heartfelt longing for it. "Your Highness, I request to lead a detachment of troops to directly assist the Zhao State in attacking the Xiongnu. Although the Xiongnu are strong and well-equipped, if we contribute even a little more, we can kill one more of them. Our dispatch of troops would also make the Xiongnu realize that our Great Qin Empire stands with the Zhao State, and in the future, they would not dare to harass the Zhao State at will!" Wu Tian said excitedly.
"Your Highness, I feel that General Wu’s suggestion is inappropriate. All our combined forces currently add up to no more than 700 people, which is not even as many as one Xiongnu battalion. Moreover, other reconnaissance teams have yet to return, and there are only a mere four hundred soldiers in Shicheng currently; it is impossible to participate in the war," Zhuge Zhan of the Ministry of Works said candidly.
"I feel that with our current force of 700, we cannot provide much help, but we can take in the refugees from the Zhao State to expand the population of our Shicheng. Only with a larger population can we develop Shicheng. Our city currently has fewer than ten thousand households and a population under fifty thousand; settling the refugees should be our most important task right now," Wang Yuan from the Ministry of Revenue said from the perspective of his department.
"The new refugees will need management, and we need to set up more administrative officials. Judging by the current progress of the war, it will take at least half a year to end. We must manage these refugees effectively, otherwise, it will affect the normal development of Shicheng!" He Jiong of the Ministry of Personnel said.
Gongsun Shang of the Ministry of Works analyzed, "The new refugees will need long-term housing. I suggest building more collective housing in the empty areas of the Southern City to solve their most basic needs for shelter and food. This will allow for better management and assistance. Work on fortifying the city walls and repairing streets can be postponed. We can intensify construction after the resettlement work is done. In any case, no amount of renovation will help us deal with the Beast Tide next March; we will ultimately have to flee to Lincang City to survive it!"
"Many of the refugees possess specialized skills. We can actively recruit them for the development and construction of Shicheng. This is a great opportunity to acquire talent," Ma Chen of the Ministry of Rites also contributed.
"I believe the refugees must be strictly managed. Due to the sharp increase in population, we may face severe shortages of food and housing, which could lead to social unrest. We must severely crack down on robbery. We must maintain absolute control over social order, otherwise, as the number of refugees grows, the strain on resources will inevitably lead to instability, which would have a very negative impact on our development!" Qu Zhong of the Ministry of Justice said cautiously.
Looking at Li Gang, Hua Tianxiong asked, "What is the Elder City Lord's opinion?"
"Before Your Highness arrived, such an event would not have been a good thing for Shicheng. But now, with Your Highness here, these refugees will be a powerful force for the future development of Shicheng!" Seeing everyone looking at him, Li Gang slowly stood up and said. Turning to face Hua Tianxiong, Li Gang knelt on one knee, cupped his hands, and said in a loud voice, "We swear to follow the Prince of Shicheng to the death! Please issue your orders, Your Highness. We will exhaust our hearts and strength, and serve until our dying breath!"
Hua Tianxiong thought to himself that the ginger really is spicier when it's old; Li Gang had actually discerned his intentions. Hua Tianxiong then stood up and said in a clear voice:
"Gentlemen, this invasion of the Zhao State by the Xiongnu is unjust and will inevitably draw condemnation from neighboring friendly nations. The result will surely be their defeat. However, war brings great harm to the victim, so our Great Qin Empire must actively assist the Zhao State in resisting the Xiongnu. Given that Shicheng is close to the border of the Zhao State and our financial, material, and military resources are limited, we cannot send a large force to directly assist in the resistance. But we can do our part to ensure the refugees from the Zhao State have food to eat and houses to live in—at least to provide them with a temporarily safe and warm home, thereby assisting the Zhao State's war effort. I want everyone to prepare for the following tasks. General Wu Tian, take command!"
"The general accepts the order!" With a loud shout, Wu Tian stood up, cupped his hands toward Hua Tianxiong, and replied, "Please issue your orders, Your Highness!"
"Your task is to immediately lead 100 soldiers to the checkpoint ten miles away to strengthen our defenses. If there are refugees from the Zhao State, please bring them into the pass as quickly as possible and instruct them to report to Shicheng. Of course, you must also prevent any Xiongnu or spies from entering the pass!"
"Yes, Your Highness, rest assured. I will depart for the checkpoint immediately!"