Zhou Shuren continued to stare at the map, his gaze deep and penetrating. Not all the stationed generals were blameless. Did they truly think the Emperor was too far to notice? They should heed the Emperor's words, for he knew everything.
The Emperor turned the string of pearls in his hand. "A considerable number of trading caravans travel this route each year. I hear they offer tributes along the way and are forced into employing escorts."
The ministers in the study were astute, and several of the military generals swallowed hard. This was indeed the purpose of military expansion— not for the Imperial court's defense but for personal gain.
Zhou Shuren thought the Emperor had more to say, and indeed, the Emperor continued, "Interestingly, if the caravans don't use escorts, they encounter robberies three out of five times."
