Although it was already February with signs of spring emerging, the warmth from the fire in the Jiade Hall was still intense, making people feel a bit dizzy.

Perhaps what made them dizzy wasn’t just the heat, but also the scent of spices filling the air along with the heat.

To Zhang Rang, however, Liu Hong seemed to be more adapted to such an environment.

He reclined among thick fur blankets, his face pale and sickly, reaching out to take a memorial scroll from the side.

In December of the previous year, he formally announced the title of Marquis of Guannei to the public, available for purchase at the price of five million coins.

Five million coins sounded like a lot, equivalent to half the price of a Three Excellence Public official, but the price wasn’t unreasonable.

There were indeed differences between the Marquis of Guannei and a regular Marquis, such as enjoying a estate of thousands rather than tens of thousands.

Liu Hong, who was always stingy, had set this number at eight hundred.

Moreover, aside from this salary and estate, they didn’t have the same authority over farmers within their fiefdom as someone like Qiao Yan.

But for those unable to obtain a title through great achievements, this was a shortcut!

Not to mention that Liu Hong also stated in the edict selling the Marquis of Guannei title that holders enjoyed the right to wear a golden seal and purple ribbon, and the title could be inherited by descendants!

This was much more profitable than the frequent dismissal of Three Excellence officials due to timing.

Despite numerous remonstrations after the edict was announced, many still purchased the position of Marquis of Guannei.

Liu Hong naturally welcomed all comers.

He intended to support the imperial scholars of the Hongdu Gate School, maintain his private army of the Eight Division of the Western Army, and firmly grasp enough wealth to secure his peace of mind.

Only by doing so could he ensure the stability of his imperial position and ensure that the eventual heir to the throne was someone he desired.

To Qiao Yan, however, Liu Hong’s actions didn’t have much impact on her as the Marquis of Leping, who already secured her position as Governor of Bingzhou.

In fact, she found selling the title of Marquis of Guannei less troublesome than levying various taxes on the common people.

Leping still enjoyed exemption from tributes for five years, but other parts of her Bingzhou did not have this privilege.

Selling the title of Marquis of Guannei mainly allowed those wealthy families in Luoyang who didn’t mind being accused of buying titles to flaunt their wealth and social status without burdening the common people.

What did this have to do with Qiao Yan?

Liu Hong himself didn’t find this situation ridiculous at all.

The emperor only saw the money he could gain.

He flipped through the memorial without finding any radical opposition, then picked up the memorial report sent by Qiao Yan.

His brow furrowed as he read the first line.

“In the fourth year of Guanghe, Tan Shihuai perished, leaving behind his son Helian greedy and ignorant.

He attempted to seize power in Beidi and met his end. Helian’s son Qianman, still young, was declared Khagan of the Xianbei.

I have been aware of this situation in Leping for several years, intending to support Qianman against the Khagan, inciting internal strife and restoring stability to Bingzhou.”

“However, the Khagan’s three brothers each possess great martial prowess. With the Khagan leading, his second brother Fu Luohan commands tens thousand soldiers and is titled a ‘great man’.

His third brother Budu Gen also commands tens thousand soldiers and eyes Yanmen with hostility.

If we cannot preemptively defeat this formidable force, once these three brothers unite their strength, they will amass an army of one hundred thousand.

At that time, Bingzhou will be difficult to defend, and Sanfu will suffer.”

Khagan, Fu Luohan, and Budu Gen—these were the current Khagan of the Xianbei and his two equally formidable brothers, especially the latter two.

Of course, when referring to their respective tens of thousands of troops, the combined total reached one hundred thousand, it was clear that Xi Zhicai was slightly exaggerating under Qiao Yan’s “truthful” reminder.

While Fu Luohan’s treatment could never exceed his older brother’s when he was still in the position of Khagan, the title of ‘great man’ was just a hollow gesture.

As for the tens of thousands under his command, they could, at most, only reach a few thousand.

But nowadays, if you slightly exaggerate and include those who are not capable of fighting within their ruled territories into the count, it’s not just Qiao Yan who does this.

Turning ten thousand troops into a hundred thousand by tripling the number is just a common practice.

Previously, Liu Hong had heard nothing but the truth from Qiao Yan, so how could he suspect her of playing word games now?

From this report, he only saw the urgency of the military situation.

Once Bingzhou fell to the united Xianbei forces, the Xiongnu within Bingzhou would inevitably turn hostile as well.

While they might remain independent and north of the Taihang Mountains separately, united they might aspire to plunder the wealthier lands of Sanfu.

The mention of “Sanfu suffering” in this memorial was not impossible.

The rebellion of Zhang Ju in Yuyang has not been quelled to this day, and the Hu tribes who conspired with him are indeed the Wuhuan, which undoubtedly gave Liu Hong some misconceptions about these northern barbarians.

From this perspective, Qiao Yan’s previous attack on the Xiongnu in the north was indeed necessary.

Given the current momentum of the Xianbei troops, if not for the Great Han’s previous victories over the Xiongnu beyond the Yin Mountains, they would have united without hesitation, raiding Bingzhou as they did every winter to gather winter supplies.

It was only because, coincidentally, before their winter plundering, Qiao Yan was appointed as Governor of Bingzhou, which temporarily made the three brothers hesitate to act.

Moreover, Youzhou and Jizhou had already yielded little profit, which also deterred them.

Feeling frustrated, Liu Hong coughed involuntarily before continuing to read on.

Fortunately, the contents written thereafter in the letter eased his frown.

Qiao Yan’s decision to attack the Xianbei was not made rashly.

Beyond the exaggeration of Xianbei strength previously mentioned, all preparations for war against the Xianbei were accurately documented.

For example, she mentioned that in December after taking office, she recruited qualified assistants and clerks, along with several stewards granted by the Ministry of War, to conduct comprehensive inspections and audits of treasuries across various counties.

Detailed data was submitted along with this memorial for the emperor’s review.

It was all straightforward and sincere.

Liu Hong perused the data, a smile appearing on his face.

Having received similar reports from the reliable Cui Lie in the past, he could tell that Qiao Yan had not falsified anything in this matter.

It seemed that his trust in her as Governor of Bingzhou was not misplaced.

With this thought in mind, Liu Hong continued reading, noting Qiao Yan’s further statement that a portion of the treasury’s weapons and provisions must be kept in storage for immediate support to the capital, while another part was allocated for hiring laborers to repair river channels during the dry season, especially expenses for border defenses in the northwest, including supplying troops at the camp of the General of the North, and another part was reserved for disaster relief in case of unforeseen natural calamities.

Finally, the remaining portion was designated for the expenses of this military campaign.

Based on these straightforward figures, Qiao Yan concluded that our forces, while ensuring border stability and adequate supplies, could deploy a force of nearly ten thousand troops against the Xianbei, with sufficient provisions.

As for where these ten thousand troops came from—

Some of them were former Black Mountain bandits and Hedong bandits who had surrendered.

Some were troops assisted by General of the North from the side, led by Chu Yi under Han Fu’s command.

Some were reasonably drawn from the border defense garrisons.