Cui Hong went to the front line and after returning, he became more and more confident in his judgment: Beijing and Hangu Pass could not hold on to this winter. If he wanted to block the tide of enemy troops, he had to find another way.

He personally visited Pojun Hou Fan Chuanshan, hoping to win the support of this person.

Fan Chushan's injuries were heavier than expected. He persisted all the way and fell down when he arrived at Hangu Pass. After careful treatment by the imperial doctor, he was able to sit up and eat, but he could not get on the horse to join the war. He heard that the Minister of War was visiting and thought he had another task, so he forced himself to hold up and ordered his entourage to put on a full set of armor and went out to greet him.

In the living room, the two exchanged a few greetings, and Fan Chishan asked, "The war is about to start again? I have been so idle these days that I feel so idle that I am just moving my hands and feet."

Cui Hong saw that Fan Chishan's injuries had not healed and said with a smile: "It's okay for the time being. When the war starts depends on the enemy's movements."

Fan Chishan frowned, "The enemy army is only more people, why are you afraid that he will do? Give me ten thousand people and drive them all into the desert."

Fan Chushan is a powerful general, but not a general. He likes to talk big, and doesn't care whether it can be realized or not.

Cui Hong said: "General Fan is right, the enemy is too many."

"That's not afraid. At worst, I can come in and out a few more times."

"Haha, General Fan is a powerful general, and the world admires him. Your Majesty will never want to let the general take risks again."

"Why, I've raised me like this?" Fan Chishan waved his fist and pulled the wound. He couldn't help but look painful on his face, and immediately covered it up.

"Of course not. There are many enemy soldiers, and the Chu army must increase its troops. As long as the number of people is equal or a little less, it is fine. If there are powerful generals like generals, the Chu army does not have to wait for the battle. They can attack directly and take back the capital."

"Then let's increase your troops." Fan Chuanshan didn't care about that much, and thought it was a good idea.

"The soldiers are all outside the frontier, and there are not many people left in a big city like Luoyang, so how can we increase our troops?"

Fan Chuanshanshen nodded with consent, "Yes, this is quite difficult."

"The only plan now is to recruit soldiers."

"conscription?"

"Well, the men who sent the counties and counties east of Hangu Pass and west of Luoyang are from many people to many people. The Ministry of War estimates that 100,000 people can be collected within half a month, or even more."

"Yes, our Great Chu is vast and has many people, and it can be even smaller than the enemy's soldiers?" Fan Chuanshan was not stupid after all. After hearing this, he finally realized, "Transfer troops and recruitment are all decided by His Majesty and the Ministry of War. The Grand Tutor asked me to tell me this?"

Cui Hong smiled and said, "The Ministry of War has been prepared long ago, but His Majesty is reluctant to agree."

"Why? Is it bad to have too many soldiers?"

"Your Majesty thinks for the long term. After the enemy conquered a country, he often drives the country's strong men into soldiers, which not only strengthens the momentum and prevents domestic rebellion. However, if this continues, the country will inevitably become weak and the people will be weak. This is a way to kill chickens and get eggs. Your Majesty thinks it is not worth taking."

"Your Majesty is right. I know that the hundred soldiers who have trained for a year are stronger than thousands of ordinary people, and the soldiers who have participated in a practical battle are stronger than the soldiers who have trained for three or five years."

"That's right, but at this critical moment of life and death, we can only solve the current problems first, and then discuss long-term plans. The enemy's troops use war to support their soldiers, and the Great Chu can also follow suit. There is no need to go too far. First, collect 100,000 soldiers, and then gradually expand to other counties. At least 500,000 troops can be added within three months."

"Five hundred thousand!" Fan Chishan was startled, "This is really a lot, but I haven't trained, can I go to the battlefield?"

"The enemy is not all well-trained soldiers. General Fan said just now that the soldiers who fought a war were stronger than the soldiers who had been trained for several years. This is the reason why the so-called "fighting" is to raise soldiers. Five hundred thousand Chu soldiers took turns to fight, and the remaining 100,000 people must be elite soldiers."

Fan Chishan was silent. He understood why the emperor was hesitant. Raising soldiers through war is also killing soldiers. This is using the lives of the people of the Great Chu to act as a city wall.

"This is by no means a clever plan. After that, Da Chu may take more than ten years to restore his national strength, but this is the only feasible solution at the moment. It is better than sitting there and waiting for death."

"Master Taifu hopes that I can persuade Your Majesty?"

Cui Hong nodded.

Fan Chishan lowered his head and thought for a while, "To be honest, I also think that there is no way to recruit soldiers, but I was a rough man who made me charge in the battle without saying a word. I asked me to persuade Your Majesty. This... I am really powerless, and Your Majesty doesn't take what I say seriously."

"General Fan just needs to ask His Majesty for troops, and you don't need to say anything else."

Fan Chuanshan scratched his head, "Your Majesty is as kind as a mountain. I just named me a marquis. I feel a little embarrassed to ask for something again."

Cui Hong smiled and said, "I want soldiers not for the general himself, but for the protection of His Majesty."

Fan Chuanshan thought for a while, "Okay, I'll go and ask Your Majesty for troops."

Cui Hong said goodbye with satisfaction, returned to his residence, and sent someone to invite Zhao Ruosu.

Zhao Ruosu came late and stood at the door, "Are you not afraid of causing trouble?"

Zhao Ruosu has a special identity and is a person who was personally given by the emperor as "sincere more sins". No one even looked at him more often, let alone invited him to the door.

"The big disaster is ahead, and it doesn't matter if you want to guard the pass. Only men over fifteen or under sixty can be recruited as long as they are not disabled."

"Okay." Zhao Ruosu said.

Cui Hong was stunned, "I haven't finished speaking yet."

"I will try my best to persuade Your Majesty." Zhao Ruosu bowed and said goodbye.

Cui Hong was stunned again and couldn't help but say to the follower beside him: "Zhao Ruosu was a normal person before, but since he was 'convicted' by His Majesty, he has become more and more strange."

The next afternoon, Fan Chushan asked to see the emperor and was immediately received.

The emperor was always unhappy. There were already several people in the study, including Donghai King, Cui Teng and others. As soon as Fan Chuanshan came in, everyone bowed to him. Some even came forward to bow and salute, and the emperor greeted him with a smile.

Fan Chushan was extremely uncomfortable and wanted to kneel down, but was supported by the eunuch.

"I am a reckless general who cannot bear such courtesy for you."

Cui Teng smiled and said, "You are not a reckless general. You are a powerful general. In the battle of the capital, the general has become famous all over the world. My servant said that he went out to buy things. People heard that he had met General Fan and gave him a discount, haha."

Fan Chishan blushed. He had been recuperating. This was his first time going out. I still don’t know how famous he is.

Han Ruzi smiled and said, "General Fan is injured better?"

"Okay, with just one order, I will rush into the capital." Fan clashed with a loud sound like a bell, trying to straighten his body. No matter how painful the wound hurts, his face will not be revealed.

"General, stop anxious and continue to recover from his injuries."

"Thank you for your concern, but I actually have something to say."

"Please say it."

Fan Chishan is so famous that he has something to say, but no one else can speak, and looks at him with respect, as if he is looking at a statue of a demon that appears.

Fan Chuanshan felt even more embarrassed, and then he understood why Cui Hong asked for help from him. He coughed a few times and said boldly: "There are too few soldiers in Hangu Pass, and Your Majesty should recruit more soldiers."

Fan Chushan would not beat around the bush and said it directly.

Han Ruzi smiled and did not speak to Fan Chishan, but turned to Cui Teng: "Your father has found a good helper."

It was Cui Teng's turn to blush, "I don't know... General Fan, has my father ever found you?"

Fan Chushan dared not lie and nodded in embarrassment.

"My father is also kind." Cui Teng said hurriedly.

Han Ruzi said: "Of course, and this is not the suggestion of Taifu Cui alone. The Ministry of War in Jincheng, Luoyang, Hangu Pass, as well as the generals and ministers, all the same ideas."

"What are your Majesty hesitating about?" Cui Teng asked.

"I can't bear to see the hard work of the Great Chu over the past few years be ruined."

Everyone was silent. Since the emperor ascended the throne for the second time, he has been working hard to improve the strength of Da Chu, reduce rents, resettle refugees, reclamation of wasteland, and release private slaves. All of this is for this purpose. Large-scale recruitment will destroy most of the previous efforts.

"Now, defending the country should be the priority." King Donghai inserted, and everyone else nodded.

Seeing that everyone's thoughts were indeed the same, Fan Chuanshan also said, "Although I'm not afraid of the number of enemies, it's always a good thing for us to have more soldiers. Maybe we can fight all the way to the West and take over the old nest of the gods and ghosts and great Shanyu."

Everyone laughed, and Han Ruzi laughed too, looked at someone in the corner and asked, "What do you think?"

Zhao Ruosu never took the initiative to speak. When asked, he did not hide it. "This is the only solution. Although Your Majesty has kindness, if he hesitates, it will be the kindness of a woman."

Only Zhao Ruosu dared to say such things, and in front of outsiders, the emperor was not angry, but nodded instead. Everyone else felt strange, but dared not ask.

"It's time to recruit soldiers, but there is no difference in the entire army. The only son in the family cannot be recruited. If the father dies early, the two brothers of Xu Liu... Let Grand Tutor Cui draw a plan." Han Ruzi said to Fan Chishan again: "Since General Fan can get up, I'll ask you to help Grand Tutor go to various places to recruit soldiers."

"Ah? I'm not good at recruiting. I'd rather go to the battlefield, and I can fight." Fan Chuanshan raised his fist and beat his chest twice, and couldn't help but cough a few times.

"In the war, the general must be valued. Now the time has not come. The general's reputation is well-known all over the world and should be spread everywhere. Moreover, with generals coming forward, it is easier to recruit troops."

Fan Chishan's face turned red again, and he said a few words in a stutter.

Everyone chatted for a while and saw that the emperor had nothing important to do, so they said goodbye one by one. Naturally, someone went to see Cui Hong, conveyed the emperor's decision, and turned it into a practical decree as soon as possible.

The King of Donghai was also about to say goodbye, but the emperor signaled him to stay for a while. No one noticed it, only Cui Teng saw it, and did not say goodbye. In the end, only the two of them and Zhao Ruosu were left.

Zhao Ruosu developed a habit. When the emperor asked him to come, he would come, and he would leave.

"Hurried recruitment is still not enough to block the enemy." Han Ruzi said, not driving Cui Teng away.

King Donghai learned his lesson and said nothing, Cui Teng said: "That's better than nothing."

"I have another idea."

"It turns out that Your Majesty already has a clever plan, no wonder he agrees to recruit soldiers." Cui Teng said with a smile.

Han Ruzi smiled and nodded, still looking at the King of East China, "I have decided to send an envoy to seek peace from the gods and ghosts."

"What?" Cui Teng was shocked and almost jumped up, "This, this..."

Han Ruzi waved his hand, "Don't worry, I haven't finished speaking yet. If the gods and ghosts are willing to withdraw, even if he puts forward some harsh conditions, I can accept it."

Cui Teng couldn't help but insult, "He will never withdraw his troops."

"If you do not retreat, the envoy will send a message to the gods and ghosts, Great Shanyu and his soldiers. No, there are two messages: one of the Chu army has entered the rear of the enemy from the Western Regions, and the other Chu army attacked by sea, and it is almost here. Remind the enemy to be careful."

Cui Teng said in surprise: "Deng Cui and Huang Pugong? These two Chu troops... haven't heard of it for a long time, right?"

"I'm sure that both Chu troops are still there." Han Ruzi said, as if he had a special channel of news.

King Donghai raised his head and smiled bitterly, "If Your Majesty does not have a more suitable candidate, then I will be the envoy and send a message to the enemy."

Zhao Ruosu didn't say anything, knowing that he had been selected. (To be continued.)
Chapter completed!