Han Shizu

Chapter 913 Next Step Strategy

Regarding the answers of the three sons, Liu Chengyou did not express any deep opinions, but said with a light smile: "You must know that the soldiers outside all fought bloody battles for the long-term stability of the country and the consolidation of the great Han's society. Ministers, you need to treat each other with courtesy and compassion at all times!"

"Yes!" The majesty of the emperor's father is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. No matter what he said, the three princes would honestly agree.

Looking at the fourth child, Liu Chengyou waved to him, called him to his side, squeezed his little face that was flushed by the wind, and said: "Joining the army and conscripting is not just a word of mouth. It’s hard to know if you experience it yourself. You still have a long way to go if you want to be a general, understand?”

Liu Fang nodded, then shook his head again, in a daze.Seeing this, Liu Chengyou smiled: "This battle has been rare for decades, and it is even more rare for children like you. Since you are in the army, you should be a good student to experience it."

"Yes!"

Among them, the fourth son's military talent is visible to the naked eye.Not only his personality and ambitions, but he likes to write about the art of war on weekdays, listen to ancient and modern battle examples, and has great interest and enthusiasm for military warfare.It is not fast to learn other things, but in martial arts, you can easily understand those maps in Liu Chengyou's imperial palace, especially the military maps. I always read them with great interest.
Therefore, Liu Chengyou really likes this fourth son.

"You've worked hard all this way, so take a rest. Zhang Dejun, serve them a bowl of ginger soup!" Liu Chengyou ordered, pointing to Liu Fang: "The weather is getting colder, who asked you to wear so little? Your grandmother gave it to you." Where's the jacket?"

Of the three brothers, Liu Fang wore the thinnest clothes. Hearing the question, he smiled embarrassingly, and Liu Fang replied, "I'm afraid it will get dirty when I go to the army, so I put it away!"

Liu Chengyou patted his head for his answer: "Wear warm clothes, if you don't put them on your body, how can they be effective! If you are filial to your grandmother, use her rewards well and take care of your body!"

"Officials, King Chen Liu, Uncle Gao Guo, Privy Chai, and Marshal Zhao, please see me!" While the third son was drinking hot ginger soup, Zhang Dejun came to report.

"Daddy has important military and national affairs to discuss, so I'll leave first!" Liu Xu got up and said obediently.

Glancing at them, Liu Chengyou intended to let them stay and listen together, but after thinking about it for a while, he put his mind back and said, "Go down and have a good rest!"

"Your Majesty, my ministers and others!" Four commander-level Han generals will come in to pay homage.

"Excuse me! Take your seat!" Liu Chengyou had a friendly attitude, and he stretched out his hand to signal that each of them would be given a bowl of ginger soup. Looking at An Shenqi, he asked, "How is King Chen Liu?"

An Shenqi still looks a little weak. Obviously, the loss caused by the former's overwork and physical injury is not so easy to make up for, and the hair that has turned white can no longer turn black.

"Thank you for your majesty's concern!" An Shenqi replied: "I am old and decayed. After this battle, my energy is really hard to support. I hope that your majesty will show mercy. On the day of triumph, I should disarm the old minister and return to his hometown!"

This is probably An Shenqi's cleverness, since he retreated bravely, the emperor had some compassion because of the battle.Sure enough, Liu Chengyou comforted him with gentle words: "For the country, you have dedicated yourself and worked hard. You should take good care of your body. There is no need to say more about retiring! If you are missing a pillar like you, it is my loss. , is also a loss to the imperial court!"

"Your Majesty's words, how dare a veteran minister!" An Shenqi stroked his gray beard and said modestly.

After exchanging pleasantries with An Shenqi, Liu Chengyou looked around at the four important ministers present, and said directly, "After the Battle of Nankou, the battle situation has undergone a decisive change. I have thought about how the Northern Expedition will progress. I have thought about the next battle strategy. However, We need to hear your opinions!"

Facing the emperor's inquiries, An Shenqi said: "After this battle, both Han and Liao suffered heavy casualties. Our army needs time to rest, and so does the Liao army. However, the national strength and the comparison between strength and weakness are very clear.

Relying on the background of the big man, supplementing the source of soldiers, ordnance, food and grass, can quickly restore the strength of the camp.In contrast, Khitan is not the case. The loss in the Battle of Nankou is a traumatic situation for them, and it cannot be made up in a short time.

The veteran thought that the army could be suspended temporarily, which is not only the time for retraining the soldiers and horses, but also the time for the soldiers to recuperate and recover.At the same time, it can also oppress the Liao army in general, as long as it is exhausted, it can drag down Khitan! "

An Shenqi's suggestion is to emphasize stability and use power to overwhelm others. At the same time, it is also an old-fashioned way to seek the country. If the fight continues like this, it will be difficult for the Liao army to survive.

Of course, there are no absolute pros and cons.After all, the Khitan is not an ordinary nomadic dynasty, and if it is treated with the old eyes of nomads, it will suffer.If the Liao army insisted on tightening their necks to fight, they would have a hard time, and the price paid by the big man would definitely not be small.

In order to support You Yan's hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians, the big man has already lost half of his national strength, and the treasury and official reserves are continuously consumed, and the daily expenditure is a huge amount.

Financial pressure is on the one hand, but manpower consumption is even greater. There are 500,000 soldiers and civilians in the front, and more than one million people are mobilized in the rear.The war hurts the people and the peasants, and the peasants are the foundation of the country. If the spring plowing is delayed in the next year, the war is still not over. At that time, even the big man has to consider whether he can bear the loss.

Of course, there are still a few months before the next year's spring plowing, which seems to be enough, but we must consider the impact of the climate on combat in the middle of winter.

However, no matter how you say it, if you drag it on, the big man will always have a lot of confidence.

After An Shenqi said, Chai Rong calmly stated his considerations, pointing out directly that the war has been delayed for too long, and the price paid by the big man is too great.

Then he said: "It is necessary for the army to rest and reorganize. However, I dare not agree with blindly procrastinating. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to drag down the Khitan. If half a year later, the war is still not over, and the farming season has come, and the veterans Tired, shall we continue to fight, or choose to withdraw?

Therefore, the minister believes that it is possible to use force to force the enemy, but it cannot be fixed, and a more active strategy should be adopted.Now, Li Chongjin has firmly controlled Jinshan, and the defeated Liao army is stationed in Huailai. The minister suggested that before the arrival of severe winter, first collect the prefectures of Gui, Wu, Xin, and Wei! "

Chai Rong still has a consistent style. He likes to pursue the initiative and control the situation in his own hands. He has a positive and high-spirited spirit.

Chai Rong was full of enthusiasm and his words were contagious. Liu Chengyou obviously thought about his advice.There is a fact that Liu Chengyou has to admit. This Northern Expedition was the most prosperous battle since the founding of the Han Dynasty, but the price paid was enough to make him feel pain.

Without expressing his opinion easily, Liu Chengyou looked at Zhao Kuangyin again.Facing the eyes of the emperor, Zhao Kuangyin looked very calm, cupped his hands and said: "Your Majesty, in the battle of Nankou, I have gained something after thinking hard. The Liao army originally took a defensive position, but then turned defensive into an offensive. They sent 200,000 troops to wipe out Chen Liu. Wang Jun, I thought that the Liao army knew that with its national strength, it would be difficult to fight against the big man for a long time, so it wanted to break the predicament by attacking my army along the way.

The minister thought that there was no need to rush to fight.With the current strength of our army, it is not difficult to take advantage of the victory to attack the Liao army when Confucian prefectures are in decline. It is also possible to recover the prefectures of Gui, Wu, Xin and Wei in one fell swoop!
However, what I am worried about is that the Liao army will no longer dare to confront our army head-on after being hit hard by Nankou.The terrain of the Guiwu prefectures is narrow, and it is really inconvenient for the cavalry to fight. If the remaining [-] Liao troops are withdrawn to the Yunshuo area, it will be tantamount to breaking them out of the mountain cage and releasing their cavalry combat capabilities.

If the Liao army can be delayed here, it can lengthen its front line and consume its national power.In the spring of the next year, it will also be the time when its soldiers are exhausted, and an attack at that time will have the effect of destroying the dead.

At the same time, I thought that the strength of the east side could be strengthened. At that time, the two armies will attack the Liao army, and the victory lies with me. "

Zhao Kuangyin's consideration was considered comprehensive, and he also proposed a clearer thinking for Liu Chengyou.

"What's your opinion on Tibet?" Liu Chengyou asked Gao Huaide again.

Compared with Chai Zhao, Gao Huaide's answer was much simpler: "I believe that rest is the most important thing at the moment. How to use troops depends on the reaction of the Liao army. Then we will adapt to the situation!"

"Zang Yong is right!" Looking at Gao Huaide, Liu Chengyou sighed: "Yes, the way to use troops is to adapt to local conditions and adapt to changing circumstances! It depends on our opponent's reaction!"

"Do you think the Liao Army will voluntarily give up the states on the right side of the mountain?" Liu Chengyou said suddenly.

In this regard, several people looked at each other in blank dismay, but could not give an accurate answer.

"If this is the case, then we can only choose to take advantage of the situation and rush forward!" Liu Chengyou sighed: "As Zhao Qing said, no matter what, the strength of Hedong should be strengthened!"

In fact, after the First World War in Nankou, the first phase of the Han Army's Northern Expedition had already been achieved.The elbow and armpit troubles were basically eliminated, and it was only a matter of time before the forces of the Liao army were completely driven out of Yannan.

The goal of the next stage should be to restore the sixteen prefectures of Yanyun. In this regard, the deployment of the Han army's military strength should also be fully adjusted.Among them, the biggest adjustment is when the soldiers and horses in the east of the river, the original containment army, should be used as the main force to attack Liao.

(End of this chapter)