Mythical Three Kingdoms-Chapter 1720 - 1634: How Can Others Sleep Soundly Beside My Bed?
Regardless of the complex situation in Yizhou concerning Wutugu, Zhang Su’s report alone was enough to make those present display a somber expression.
"Everyone, speak your mind," Zhang Su said, seated at the first place on the left, addressing the gathered civil servants and military officers. Among the civil servants, he was currently the foremost figure, with his brother Zhang Song sitting beside him, while the main seat was naturally reserved for Yan Yan, and Zhang Ren was the leading military officer on the right.
Speaking of which, Yan Yan, in deference, wished for Zhang Ren to sit with him, but Zhang Ren courteously declined. Although the military merits of both were similar, Yan Yan’s seniority as an old minister from the time of Liu Yan gave him the right to sit in the high seat.
"I have nothing to add," Zhang Song said, shaking his head slightly after his brother signaled him with a look.
Zhang Song indeed had nothing to contribute; he was unwilling to provoke such a formidable force as Kushan. Previously unaware of this nation, after learning about it from Yongchang, Zhang Song preferred not to take any action.
"I think this might be a good opportunity," Huang Quan noted the expressions of Zhang Su and Zhang Song but chose to support Zhang Su’s suggestion after brief hesitation, not for money or treasures, but from his own reasoning.
"I checked the classic books about Kushan and compared the records with my impressions, and it seems that country is the descendant of the King of the Yuezhi," Qin Mi suddenly said. "The earlier records and those in the Book of Han largely coincide."
Wang Lei, who had been hesitant, was taken aback by this and asked Qin Mi, "Zichi, are you certain about this?"
Qin Mi smiled and said, "How can I jest about such matters? Hong Gang, rest assured, after comparing the classic books and my impressions of the Central Plains’ histories, I’m almost certain Kushan is the descendant of the Great Yuezhi. Although there are minor discrepancies between the two in the historical records, out of respect for the venerable, I can still discern this. I can understand the reasons behind the discrepancies too."
All the civil servants nodded; Qin Mi was indeed reliable in the realm of classic books. His reputation for extensive reading was well-earned. If not for his inability to forge his own core theories, he might already have become known as a Great Confucian Scholar.
Nevertheless, in terms of a vast knowledge bank, even most Great Confucian Scholars would be outdone by him. His grasp of myriad strange and esoteric knowledge was genuine, almost like a living library.
"The Great Yuezhi, huh?" Zhang Song mused, stroking his chin, his unsightly face contorting into an odd expression like a chrysanthemum. "If it’s that nation, it might be worth squeezing. They have grown stronger over the century, but I doubt their reverence for the Great Han Dynasty has entirely vanished."
"Indeed, the Great Yuezhi were our ally and vassal state for two hundred years. They fled over a hundred years ago, but that shouldn’t be enough for them to forget who we are," said Wang Lei, a staunch supporter of the Imperial Han and devoted to the Han Dynasty, exuding confidence in his nation.
"That’s true," Zhang Su nodded. "This way, the pressure lessens considerably. The real question is how much the Great Yuezhi’s strength has changed over the years."
"I feel we need to be more cautious," Huang Quan interjected. "I trust Zichi hasn’t made a mistake in this regard, but times have changed, and a century is long enough for a small nation to grow into a colossal entity. Evaluating them through a century-old lens is unwise," he said with a grave expression. "And based on recent reports, the other party is anything but simple."
"Gong Heng makes a valid point," Zhang Su nodded. "However, knowing they are the Great Yuezhi gives us a psychological advantage; at least there won’t be hesitations and fears typical when confronting an unknown nation."
The civil and military officials all laughed; even Wutugu, gnawing on a pig’s foot, joined in, his laughter echoing throughout.
"That’s indeed the case," Huang Quan nodded. "At least our mental burden is lessened significantly, but I believe we should still proceed with caution."
At this moment, Meng Da set down his wine goblet and spoke up, "Regardless of whether we proceed cautiously or not, I believe we must act decisively and fight them in open combat, showcasing the elite prowess of our great army," Meng Da said with utmost seriousness.
"We can’t allow others to sleep soundly beside us. If we retreat, it would only embolden them further. We fight, deliver a formal challenge, set the time and place, and let them understand it’s time to hold back," Meng Da addressed the assembly.
The civil and military officials all nodded in agreement. From any angle, Meng Da’s words made sense. A large-scale war of attrition wasn’t suitable for Yizhou, nor was it in the Han Dynasty’s interest, but allowing Kushan to attack was even more unsuitable.
"Yes, we should indeed proceed, especially if they truly are the Great Yuezhi. If we gain a slight upper hand, they should agree to our terms, fostering peace through battle," suggested Wang Lei to the group.
