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What impressed the ministers the most was not these matters, as they were merely rewards given by the royal family to show imperial grace. What truly won their hearts was that Zhao Wang Dan had changed his former extravagant habits and had been attending court on time to handle state affairs for a whole month. His hands-on approach and strict governance were indeed the demeanor of a wise ruler. Just as everyone was excitedly spreading the news that the Zhao Kingdom's Sovereign had awakened, this gentleman disappeared again! Nevertheless, this incident was still talked about by the common people for quite some time.
The soon-to-be-lazy Zhao Wang Dan did not vanish suddenly; it was due to the reluctance of his ministers to give up power. Since you all enjoy managing and causing headaches, I might as well return this mess back to you!
Everything must have a beginning and an end. Once again planning to throw in the towel, Zhao Wang Dan decided to visit the widow of Zhao She. By seniority, Zhao She was still his uncle. It was reasonable for him to pay a visit both publicly and privately. What he did not expect was that when he entered the home of the acting Chancellor, he almost thought he had walked into the wrong place.
The dilapidated walls and the simple yet tidy interior furnishings made it hard to believe this was the home of a high-ranking official! It felt more like he had entered a commoner's house! Just as Zhao Wang Dan was about to scold for being misled by that fool, he saw an orphaned mother kneeling on the ground in a hurry.
It would be one thing if others did not recognize her, but how could his childhood companion Little Kuo not be recognized!? Shocked, Zhao Wang Dan helped the widow and his former classmate up, offering kind words of comfort. He also earnestly promised that he would ensure an improvement in the living conditions of the Horse Armor General's family!
Whether or not improvements could be made was not important; after all, they had grown accustomed to living this way. Having a benevolent Sovereign say such words meant more than anything!
What no one expected was that Zhao Wang Dan broke his promise again. It wasn't that he forgot; upon returning to the palace, he asked his ministers how to handle this matter. The response he received was that the treasury was empty, and with the Zhao Kingdom's army expedition adding further strain, there were currently no extra funds available for assistance.
The treasury is empty! The treasury is empty! Perhaps even the rats in the treasury have starved to death!
Feeling deeply guilty towards his childhood companion, Zhao Wang Dan found himself at a loss for solutions. After all, he couldn't just confiscate someone else's property because of this! Moreover, these wealthy merchants were either relatives or high-ranking officials; it wouldn't be good to touch anyone!
Since most of Shangdang Region had been occupied by the Qin Army, Zhao Wang Dan felt furious upon hearing the news. Although he initially did not want to concern himself with state affairs, curiosity got the better of him. Zhao Kuo was currently the only general who had returned home; he needed to summon him to inquire about conditions at the front lines. Besides, they had grown up together as friends and he believed he could gather some real information.
The Ancestral Regulations strictly prohibited military expeditions during mourning periods. If one could abandon filial piety, it would be questionable whether they could truly be loyal to their ruler and love their country. Following these regulations, Zhao Kuo was preparing his belongings for a return journey with the coffin at dawn the next day. Suddenly hearing a Royal Decree summoning him late at night, he hurriedly tidied himself up before entering the palace to meet with the Sovereign. After completing their formalities, their friendship resumed.
Once formal greetings were over, Zhao Wang Dan dismissed those around them so that Zhao Kuo could step forward. In the brightly lit hall, only their breathing could be heard in the silence. Neither knew where to begin when recalling those seemingly long-gone memories.
Zhao Kuo stole a glance at Zhao Wang Dan, who was sitting behind the Dragon Writing Desk, and sighed inwardly. His body, clearly worn from excessive indulgence, made him appear much older than his twenties. Sitting like this for too long must be tiring!
Zhao Wang Dan looked at his childhood playmate, who was in mourning, and also sighed heavily in his heart. "There are no outsiders here; we are no longer ruler and subject. I am still that little Dan from the past, and you are the Xiao Kuo of old!"
If that were truly the case, it would not be appropriate! The saying "to accompany a ruler is like accompanying a tiger" is no joke! Every word must be carefully considered before responding! Zhao Kuo thought seriously for a moment and suddenly realized that King Zhao wanted to know some matters that could not be discussed in public! If he were to be overly sentimental now, he would be kicked out of the entertainment circle by this childhood friend. Resolving to speak plainly, he hurriedly stated that it was indeed the case.
Upon hearing this answer, Zhao Wang Dan smiled knowingly. "Xiao Kuo! I heard you just returned from the front lines; I happen to want to know about some matters there as well. Speak freely! How could an experienced Old General let the battle turn out like that!? My Zhao Army has hundreds of thousands of brave soldiers; are they all made of dough?"
Hearing that this was indeed the topic of inquiry, Zhao Kuo immediately felt the urge to pour out all his grievances. If it weren't for Lian Po's cowardice in fortifying everywhere, the Shangdang Region should have belonged to Zhao State by now! And now look! All our mobile forces are stuck at the Dan Shui River Defense Line and can't cross the river; they are just playing in the mud with the Old General!
Just as Zhao Kuo was about to reveal the truth, he suddenly recalled his father's last words. He quickly concealed any mention of Old General Lian Po and directly asked, "Does Your Majesty want to hear the truth or a lie?"
Zhao Wang Dan did not take offense at this remark. He smiled and nodded, seriously stating that the purpose of summoning him to the palace late at night was due to concerns about too many people talking during the day. If he wanted to hear lies, he could do so during daylight!
Although there was a Lord of the Nation present, Zhao Kuo decided not to complain but instead outlined the difficulties currently faced by the Zhao Army one by one. There were many reasons for this passive situation; among them, the careless production of Military Maps was particularly detestable, and those sacrifices should rightly fall on those who created these maps!
Zhao Wang Dan thought carefully and then informed Zhao Kuo about the origins of Zhao's military maps. They had been drawn up decades ago, and it would likely be impossible to hold those mapmakers accountable since few remained alive.
Was it said that Qin Army's Cavalry was too strong? It seemed our cavalry should be unrivaled in archery! How did they come to dominate in Shangdang Region while being suppressed by Qin Army's Infantry Phalanx? Where did these tens of thousands of Qin Army come from? When did their Cavalry become so powerful!?
When Zhao Wang Dan voiced these questions, Zhao Kuo felt a lump form in his throat. War is not merely about fighting; it's not as simple as two armies clashing with swords drawn. The competition involves logistics support, military intelligence gathering, and a strong national foundation!
Military logistics support includes surveying military geography across various nations, reconnaissance of enemy weaponry and supply lines. Utilizing ubiquitous spies to gather intelligence ensures one's own army knows both itself and its enemy. The intricacies involved can be vast or minimal; it may even require an enormous support organization to function properly. Without these fundamental elements for waging war, an army deployed for combat would find itself in a rather awkward situation.
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