Liu Xie knew Cai Yan's thoughts very well.

But he couldn't give what Cai Yan wanted.

So when he heard that Zhou Yu was interested in Cai Yan, he even felt relieved. In his opinion, Zhou Yu might be the most suitable person to Cai Yan. If Cai Yan is willing to marry Zhou Yu, it would be a good ending.

However, the Zhou family in Lujiang is also a first-class portal. He cannot guarantee whether he is willing to accept Cai Yan, a woman who has been married and has fallen into the enemy camp.

The view of chastity in this era is not as perverted as that of later generations, but after all, it has been influenced by Confucianism for many years, and the great clans still attach great importance to this aspect.

Even if Cai Yan has not been insulted, he cannot prove his innocence.

However, with Cai Yan's pride and self-esteem, he disdains to explain.

Liu Xie suspected that Cai Yan took the initiative to reject Zhou Yu, and perhaps he had such considerations.

It’s just that Ma Yunlu is foolishly kept in the dark.

This is not a big deal for her. She was born in Liangzhou and a warrior, and she was relatively simple in her mind. She couldn't think of so much and could not understand Cai Yan's difficulties.

"How is it eating?" Liu Xie smiled and took care of Ma Yunlu up and down. "Mrs. Bian is very attentive."

"She is just too careful." Ma Yunlu pouted. "If I continue eating like this, I am afraid that I can't ride a horse in the future, so I can only ride a camel or an elephant."

"It's not that exaggerating. You're not fat at all, you're just plump." Liu Xie laughed and pinched Ma Yunlu's face again. "The touch feels so good, as tender as his son."

Ma Yunlu curled his lips, half proud and half helpless.

"When will your Majesty go on the expedition?"

"It's not that fast. Why do you have to wait for peace in the country to accumulate grain for another three to five years. But you don't have to be idle for so long. Take the time, give birth to another one, and wean them, and then you can resume training."

Ma Yunlu struggled to count. "That's two years later?"

"Absolutely. During this period, you contact Zhang Qian more and try to choose more female cavalry. When going to war, female cavalry must follow and marry in the army as much as possible to avoid the soldiers missing their homesickness."

Ma Yunlu was so excited that he agreed immediately.

She thought for a while and suddenly said, "Cai Lingshi is also going to fight the West. Can you find a good partner in the army?"

Liu Xie glanced at her and touched her hair. "Cai Lingshi's affairs are quite complicated, so don't worry. Although you are kind-hearted, too much is not as beautiful as it is."

Ma Yunlu was a little surprised, but he didn't think much about it and nodded obediently.

After sitting for a while and looking at the child for a while, Daqiao came over with a few documents and asked Liu Xie to take a look.

The document was sent by Cai Yan, and the content was part of the geography book mentioned just now. It was Cai Yan's handwriting. It looks rather sloppy and should be a draft of the translation.

Liu Xie unfolded and spread it on the table. Just as he was about to speak, Daqiao took the map.

Liu Xie looked at her in surprise.

Oqiao whispered: "Empress and Concubine Xun have taken care of it. Your Majesty needs a map when looking at the geography. After that, Concubine Ma also taught him many times."

Liu Xie nodded, took the map, spread it on the table, and asked casually: "Will you go home when you come here?"

"No. The queen said that taking care of noble people is important and not delayed, so she came straight away."

Ma Yunlu said disapprovingly: "The queen is really, I have someone to take care of me, so why bother sending people from all over the place?"

"That's the queen's wish." Liu Xie stopped Ma Yunlu's complaints in time. He cared very much about maintaining the queen's dignity and did not give anyone an opportunity to take advantage of it.

It is rare for a relative who does not take power like Fu Wan.

"Yes, I'm not saying anything." Ma Yunlu knew that he had made up his words and quickly apologized.

Ohashi saw it and didn't say anything.

"The New Year is coming. You two months off. Let's go back to Suiyang to have a look." Before Daqiao could speak, Liu Xie said again: "After completing a task."

"Please give me instructions."

"Look at how many people want to pass the field, and who is obstructing it." Liu Xie straightened his waist and sighed. "My movement is too loud, it is difficult to hear the real folk voice. You should be my eyes and ears, go and listen

Listen to what the people in the Central Plains said."

"Yi." Ohashi bowed and agreed.

The geographical documents provided by Cai Yan do not have corresponding maps. Liu Xie can only guess based on his vague impression. Judging from the characteristics of a strait connecting the mainland in the southeast, this geography book seems to be the British Peninsula.

Liu Xie passed the general terrain in his mind and felt that the navy was irreplaceable.

Not to mention that the British Peninsula needs to cross the sea, even if it is a march on the Eurasian continent, water transportation is the lowest cost and the largest carrying capacity.

After occupying the Black Sea in the future, a Black Sea navy should be established.

The Black Sea is the inland sea. After establishing a navy, you must also control the strait leading to the Mediterranean. This is inseparable from land cooperation and control of corresponding strategic points.

The more you think about it, the more complicated it becomes.

Liu Xie couldn't help but smack his lips, revealing a hint of discomfort.

"What's wrong?" Ma Yunlu came over.

"I'm not waiting for it." Liu Xie said, filming the manuscript on the desk: "It's too difficult to prepare the information. Even if you have the information, you don't know whether the information is credible. It's better to travel thousands of miles than to read thousands of books. Don't leave yourself.

I'm really worried when I go there."

"Then just go to the Western Regions."

"You'll go if you say you'll go?" Liu Xie scratched his head. "How can you go far and feel at ease in the Han Dynasty?"

Ma Yunlu's eyes rolled. "Aren't your Majesty worried about those literati and officials?"

"You have a way?"

"Just exil to the Western Regions, killing two birds with one stone."

Liu Xie glanced at Ma Yunlu and said nothing.

"I'm wrong?" Ma Yunlu insisted: "They read and read, and can write down everything they see and hear along the way. Isn't it more accurate than translating the books brought by Hu Shang? It's better to let them keep them making trouble.

Go to the Western Regions to do intelligence."

Intelligence? Liu Xie's heart moved.

I have to say that Ma Yunlu’s suggestion makes some sense.

It is difficult to truly grasp the geography of the Western Regions by just translating the classics presented by Hu merchants. The best way is to send people, just like Zhang Qian was on a mission to the Western Regions, and the scale was larger.

After all, Zhang Qian went on a mission to the Western Regions just to contact the countries in the Western Regions and make enemies with the Huns together. Now he wants to include the countries in the Western Regions into the scope of Chinese civilization, and he needs more information.

Before the army moved, spies came first.

He did not do enough in this regard. He has always relied on the scout camp in the army to find out information. It is undoubtedly a big mistake to not build a real intelligence team.

Liu Xie quickly passed it in his mind.

In his opinion, the most outstanding intelligence expert of this era should be Guo Jia, but Guo Jia has always followed Cao Cao. Even if he wants to transfer him and entrusted with important tasks, Guo Jia may not be willing to come.

In addition to Guo Jia, Zhuge Liang is also a very good choice, but Zhuge Liang is an excellent administrative official and should be Situ, which is a pity to be an intelligence officer.

Liu Xie soon thought of someone: Hu Zong.

Hu Zong is not as famous as Guo Jia or Zhuge Liang, but he is an important official in the history of the Eastern Wu handling confidential affairs. In this era without professional training and relying more on talent, he was able to take on this important task, except for him and Sun Quan's.

Close relationships are also inseparable from his own talent in this area.

Moreover, Hu Zong is in Lantai and has been engaged in related work. It is natural to convert him into a professional intelligence official and it is perfect.
Chapter completed!