Han Shizu

Chapter 421 Khitan changes, worries

In the middle of March in the fourth year of Qianyou, Emperor Liu Chengyou of the Han Dynasty led two elite imperial guards and a Fengchen sergeant to hunt in Dunqiu, accompanied by his empress and concubine.The two commanders of the Fengchen Battalion were Wang Yansheng, and they competed swords. Shi Yanchao was a warrior on horseback.

After three days of spring hunting, they returned with a full load. The noble concubine Gao and the virtuous concubine Zhe also rode horses and held bows to shoot and hunt. Zhe won the game and got five pheasants and two hares.

Liu Chengyou also came off the stage, galloping on horses, hunting dogs chasing ahead, knights surrounding him, the emperor bent his bow and shot, killing a deer with one shot, all the soldiers watched and shouted long live.

Of course, what made Liu Chengyou happiest was that in the ensuing military drills, several outstanding young officers emerged. In addition to Ma Renyu, there are Shi Shouxin, Han Chongyun, Han Lingkun, Dang Jin and others.

Especially Shi Shouxin, let Liu Chengyou look at it several times, there is no way, this person's "fame" is no less than Pan Mei.For a while, Liu Chengyou had the heroes of the world, and he had the pleasure of being in my pocket. After returning to Beijing, Liu Chengyou ordered the Privy Council to reward and select these people, and the Ministry of War registered them.

After a full three months, the Privy Council and the Ministry of War have completed their analysis, their duties and powers have been clarified, and the national military and political orders are back on track.Of course, there are still a few places where the boundaries are blurred, such as military registration, relocation, and compensation. It's not that they don't notice, but it's just for mutual restraint and mutual supervision.

In the Hall of Chongzheng, Wei Renpu, Wang Pu, Gao Xingzhou, Murong Yanzhao and several important civil and military officials were ordered to gather together. Looking at their configuration, one can know that the emperor is discussing the army.

Looking at several important ministers and ordering people to serve them with tea soup, Liu Chengyou looked around and said directly: "Youyan, Dingzhou, Cangzhou, Yingzhou, Daizhou and other states have reported one after another that Khitan invaded our borders and plundered us. Scholars and people, the states in the north are too disturbed, and I am deeply troubled!"

Wei Renpu was at the side, and added: "It has been more than three years since the battle of Luancheng. According to the detailed investigation reports and the observations of the border states and counties and merchants, we can know from all sources that Khitan has grown in strength during this period of time. Recovery a lot."

"In the past two years, due to the serious damage to our vitality, we suffered several setbacks in the city of Youzhou, so we never invaded again. However, since the autumn of last year until spring, the Khitan cavalry went south and invaded our Han territory. There have been more than [-] times this spring alone, and the northern fortresses can be said to be full of wars."

"And this time Huqi, the few are a hundred, and the many are no more than a thousand. They specialize in killing and plundering the people, disrupting our production, and the officers and soldiers attack. If it is good, they will fight, and if they are not good, they will retreat. The battle is very flexible. Zhao Kuangzan, King of Yan, and He Fujin were deployed in Hebei, and they all sent troops to attack, but there were very few gains."

Murong Yanzhao, who had guarded Hebei for two years, heard the news and couldn't help being angry: "Hu Kou is so rampant, I wish I could follow Huo and drive northward to the grasslands!"

Of course, this can only be said, Yanshan and the danger of the Great Wall are still in the hands of the enemy, and there is not enough cavalry, so there is nothing to do.Even if he forced his way out and had nothing to rely on behind him, he would just die.To put it bluntly, the Khitan people who have recovered their strength can defecate and pee on the head of a big man without any scruples.

I know the reality in my heart, but Murong Yanzhao's ambition is still worthy of encouragement and praise: "General Murong, his ambition is commendable, and his spirit is commendable!"

"The Khitan harassed the border in such a hurry, and their tactics were so cunning, it seems a bit unusual!" the old father-in-law Gao Xingzhou frowned and stroked his beard.

Glancing at the old man, Wei Renpu said: "What the king of Linqing said is true. The Khitan cavalry who is the most southerner went deep into the river. Although why did the commander mobilize troops to hunt and kill him, I still see him crazy! I am afraid that the Khitan cavalry has others. conspired."

After Wei Renpu finished speaking, everyone present looked dignified.Liu Chengyou got up and stopped at the map hanging on the side of the hall, every time he looked at the territory of the Han Dynasty who was missing a piece, he was very uncomfortable.

Others also stepped forward. This time the Khitan disturbed the border, the scale of the mobilization seemed small, but it affected a wide area, stretching thousands of miles from east to west.

"Tell me, is this a sign of Khitan's massive invasion of the south!" Suddenly, Liu Chengyou turned around and asked.

"Your Majesty!" After saying this, Wang Pu stood up, with a bitter expression on his face, and solemnly said to Liu Chengyou: "I'm afraid, I have to prepare for the worst!"

"What do you think?" Liu Chengyou took a breath and looked at his chief conspirator Wei Renpu.

Wei Renpu's expression was serious, he thought about it carefully, and said cautiously: "Your Majesty's guess, if you think about the situation in Khitan over the past few years, it is very possible!"

Without waiting for Liu Chengyou to ask questions, Wei Renpu explained: "The Khitan is a serious problem for our dynasty. Although there have been no major battles in recent years, we have never dared to be careless. The Military Intelligence Department under the Privy Council has also invested a lot of force to investigate its domestic situation."

"The Khitan ancestor died at the hands of His Majesty. The Khitan lord Yelu Ruan led his troops to go north four years ago to fight for the throne. Youshu Lu and Shu Lihu were in Zuzhou, which offended a large number of Khitan nobles. After succeeding to the throne, Weijia All ministries cut down the people of their tribes in order to strengthen their own ministries. They greatly rewarded their trusted ministers, appointed Han officials who died in the north, and despised the Khitan nobles. All kinds of measures made the Khitan Lord lose the hearts of his clan and nobles. From the first year of Qianyou to Qianlong In the second year of You, Yelu Tiande, Xiao Han and other clans successively plotted a coup d'état, which is a clear proof that Khitan's interior is not stable."

"Although Yelu Ruan, the Khitan Lord, has a reputation of benevolence, he is full of ambitions and has the intention of invading the south. When he lost Youzhou, he sent Yelu Antuan to lead the army southward to lead the army and people for Zhao Yanshou, king of Yan. Desperate to resist Fangxiu."

"Considering the domestic situation in Khitan, I boldly guessed that the Khitan Lord sent troops to the south. First, he could use the effect of beggar-thy-neighbor to suppress dissatisfied nobles and tribes in the country; second, he could take the opportunity to control the armies; Recapturing Youyan, and even the land of Hebei, if it’s not enough, it can take away wealth and people, or it will destroy the production of our Hebei states.”

After listening to Wei Renpu's explanation, the hall was extremely quiet, and the atmosphere was a little depressed for a while.

After staring at the map for a long time, Liu Chengyou couldn't help sighing: "Although Wei Qing's words are conjectures, the analysis is methodical and the situation is comprehensive. I dare not be careless. I would rather believe that there is something than that there is nothing. Everyone, if Khitan really makes a big move Going south, how to deal with it?"

As soon as this question came out, Wang Pu's face changed again and again, and he gritted his teeth and said: "Your Majesty, if the Khitan really invades the south on a large scale, then our strategy of attacking Huainan must be adjusted or even postponed!"

It can be seen that Wang Pujin's words made a very difficult decision. Among the courtiers, the one who cares most about the Southern Expedition must be Wang Pu.After all, it was him who proposed the "Planning Policy" as soon as he came out of the mountain, and followed the preparation, adjustment, and optimization along the way, which took a lot of effort.

Liu Chengyou looked at him in surprise, and immediately shook his head: "No! The strategy of the Southern Expedition has been prepared for such a long time, and the court has invested a lot, how can it be easily changed!"

"Don't say it's just speculation and omens!" Liu Chengyou's face turned ruthless, he raised his hand and flicked his sleeves forcefully, and said domineeringly: "It's the Khitan who really invaded the south on a large scale. I have worked hard and the court is united. The army and the people shrink their clothes and diet. The great Han has lived for three years." The merits, the burst of energy, can't resist the Khitan and take Huainan!"

Listening to Liu Chengyou's glance, warriors like Gao Xingzhou and Murong Yanzhao were all infected and their emotions rose.Wang Pu was also in a daze, but he quickly adjusted and cupped his hands to Liu Chengyou: "Your Majesty, when I proposed the strategy of 'first south and then north', I said that we need to wait for a good opportunity. Except for the situation in the south, we will complete the preparations for the attack. In addition, the threat from the Khitan in the north has to be taken into account. Even the threat from the north is the first to bear the brunt!"

"If the Khitan intends to invade the south, it must not be a good opportunity. Otherwise, the north invades the south, and the war in the south does not go well. Huainan cannot suddenly fall. The big man will never have the strength to fight on both sides!"

Even Wang Pu, who worked so hard for the "Huainan Strategy", said so, Liu Chengyou's feverish mind forcibly calmed down, thought for a while, and unexpectedly saluted Wang Pu: "It's my good fortune to have a good minister like this, It's the luck of the big man!"

"Your Majesty, I can't bear it!" Wang Pu was surprised, and quickly returned the salute, bending even lower.

Standing up, Liu Chengyou looked at Wei Renpu, and asked solemnly: "If Khitan invades south, our army will take a defensive position in Hebei, attack Jiangbei with all its strength, and make a quick decision. Is it feasible?"

Facing Liu Chengyou's serious gaze, Wei Renpu also thought about it calmly for a long time, and then gave an affirmative answer: "Forgive me for speaking bluntly, no! Soldiers are important to the country, and risks cannot be ignored!"

(End of this chapter)