Aspiring to the Ten Kingdoms

Chapter 184 Reordering the Strategy
Xiande three years, November 23rd.

Winter came earlier this year than usual.

After a lapse of one year, Luo Youdu stepped into Bianjing Kaifeng again.

With the prosperity of the Great Zhou Dynasty, the prosperity of Bianjing is also changing with each passing day.

Luo Youdu looked at the familiar and unfamiliar scenery around him, and felt quite proud in his heart, and he also had his own contribution to this.

Luo Youdu didn't go back to the mansion directly, but drove towards the imperial city on Qingqi.

Arriving at the gate of the city, Luo Youdu said to Zhang Qiong and the others: "You have been away from home for almost a year, go back. When I leave, just go to the Imperial Army Division and let Chang Side escort me back home."

As his status got higher and higher, Luo Youdu also began to pay attention to his own safety.

Not to mention that there are powerful guards like Zhang Qiong and Chang Side, but the personal guards with less than two digits will never go out.

He didn't want to die before he left because of his carelessness.

People as strong as the little overlord Sun Ce will be recruited by carelessness, let alone him?
Luo Youdu came all the way to Da Nei, and was about to ask the guards to inform him.

The soldiers guarding Ouchi said respectfully: "Commander Du, the official sent an order in advance, saying that if Commander Du arrives, you can enter directly and go to the Hall of Yanhe by yourself."

Luo Youdu bowed in return and stepped inside.

All the guards in Ouchi watched him go away unknowingly.

Luo Youdu came to Yanhe Hall with ease.

Just as he was walking up the steps, Guo Rong laughed and came from the top.

"My hero is back!"

Guo Rong didn't give Luo Youdu time to salute, so he dragged him into the hall, and said as he walked, "In an informal occasion, you and I are welcome. Mr. Wen Bo and I have been waiting for you for a long time."

He continued: "Li Jing and Zhou Xingfeng scared you so much that you couldn't sleep well. Haha, after you seized Jiangling, Li Jing abdicated and gave up the throne to his son Li Hongji. Hmph, I'm going Reply, let him handle state affairs well, don’t think about it. Li Hongji is young and energetic, how can he be allowed to take the throne? Zhou Xingfeng also sent a big gift and tribute. Haha, with Jiangling in hand, they are all at peace few."

In the whole world, only Guo Rong, Wang Pu, and Luo Youdu understood the significance of Jiangling's capture.

Wang Pu's "Ping Bian Ce" first goes south and then north, first easy and then difficult.

But after Luo Youdu's improvement, it has become the benefit of consolidating the mountains and rivers, recuperating, and waiting for the changes in the north.

They took the four prefectures of Qin, Cheng, Jie, and Feng to consolidate the western defense line and limit the expansion of Western Shu.

The purpose of attacking Huainan was to seize the wealth in the south of the Yangtze River and defeat the power of the Southern Tang Dynasty at the same time.

And Jiangling can restrain the Western Shu in the west, control the natural moat of the Yangtze River in the east, and deter Wuping and the Southern Han Dynasty in the south.

Although the land in the south has not been officially included in the territory of the Great Zhou, it can still maintain peace with each other and live in peace.

Even if there are people who are not good enough to be seduced by Khitan, how can such a huge city as Jiangling be taken easily?

Luo Youdu dragged the happy Guo Rong into the hall.

"Mr. Wen Bo!"

Luo Youdu bowed slightly to Wang Pu, looked at Wang Pu's face turned pale, and said with concern: "Mr. Wen Bo, you should pay attention to your health. Only in good health can you serve Your Majesty better."

A look of worry also flashed in Guo Rong's eyes, and he agreed: "Youdu is right. Uncle Wen really worked hard during the time when I went to Huainan. Now that you are back, you can rest assured and don't continue to work hard. gone."

Wang Pu said with a smile: "Your servant obeys!" He also bowed to Luo Youdu to express his gratitude.

Guo Rong walked to the main seat and said: "Two gentlemen, take your seat. The three of us, the monarch and the minister, are just talking about the next move."

The future of a country is always in the hands of a few people.

The internal affairs of the Great Zhou were mainly determined by Guo Rong, Fan Zhi, and Wang Pu, but the military strategy of the Great Zhou was always decided by Guo Rong, Wang Pu, and Luo Youdu.

From the initial acquisition of the four prefectures of Qin, Cheng, Jie, and Feng, to the subsequent seizure of Huainan, and even the acquisition of Jiangling, they were all carried out in accordance with the strategic guidelines drawn up by the three of them.

Now that Luo Youdu has improved Wang Pu's "Strategy for Ping Bian", half of the goal he set out has been completed, and he needs to re-plan his next steps.

Reasonable strategic direction is greater than all tactics.

The earlier the goal is set, the easier it is for the development of Dazhou.

Wang Pu wanted to go to the right.

Luo Youdu held Wang Pu's arm, dragged him to the chair on the left and sat down.

Only then did I walk to the right and take my seat.

In terms of current achievements, Luo Youdu has already surpassed Wang Pu.

But in this informal occasion, favors account for more than meritorious status.

Wang Pu is a minister of Guo Rongqian's residence, and he has come all the way through ups and downs, so the relationship is naturally closer.

Luo Youdu treats it with the attitude of a junior, which is more suitable for the current environment.

Wang Pu was already ill, so he could only let it go.

Guo Rong was very happy when he saw this.

Guo Rong handed a stack of manuscripts to Luo Youdu and said, "This is Mr. Wen Bo's compilation of the current Khitan situation. You can read it first, and discuss it after reading it."

Luo Youdu stepped forward to take the manuscript and read it carefully.

The situation in Khitan was slightly different from what he remembered, but it remained basically the same.

The main reason is that two consecutive Khitan emperors failed to open the treasure brought to them by Yelu Deguang.

Yelu Deguang took over the Central Plains and served as the emperor of the Central Plains for half a year.

When he withdrew from the Central Plains, he looted all the books, civil servants, craftsmen, and wealth in the Central Plains, and brought them back to Shangjing.

This cultural treasure belonging to China has fallen into the hands of Khitan.

However, after Yelude's death, his successor, Yeluruan, was fond of drinking and hunting. In his later years, he even appointed treacherous craftsmen, rewarded them with rewards and killed them, which led to the failure of the government and political corruption.In the end, he was killed by Yelucha in a dream.

The current Khitan emperor is called Yelujing, who is also a slumbering lord. He often drinks heavily and likes to stay up late. He often goes to bed at dawn and wakes up at noon. Therefore, he ignores the government for a long time, and the Chinese call him the "Sleeping King".

The point is that this guy is not good at sex, and he doesn't know what to do.

Just like in history, under the rule of such a monarch, Khitan's political situation was turbulent, internally unstable, alienated, and ministers often rebelled or went south to the Central Plains.

Among them, Xiao Meigu, Yelu Louguo, Lin Ya, Yelu Dilie, and Yelu Wan, the important officials and nobles of Khitan, caused the biggest disturbance.

In history, until Yelujing was killed by his attendants for being too cruel.

Liao Jingzong Yeluxian came to the throne.

It was the only wise king of Khitan who opened the treasure, ruled the people of the country with Chinese culture, and pushed Khitan to its peak.

Luo Youdu pondered in his mind, this is to fight Khitan, not after Yeluxian ascended the throne.

However, in his memory, Yelujing's life was very tough, and despite the constant rebellion around him, every rebellion was quelled by him.

As long as they don't repeat the mistakes of the Great Song Dynasty, and spend more than ten years to pacify the Southern Tang, Southern Han, and Western Shu, there is still plenty of time left for them.

Luo Youdu said: "The battle in Huainan cost a lot to our army. I thought that if you forget the battle, you will be in danger, and if you want to fight, you will die. You need to give the common people and soldiers time to recuperate. Now the initiative is in my hands, and I can wait for changes in the north."

Guo Rong nodded and said: "Sure enough, wise men see the same thing, and Mr. Wen Bo also said the same. I have no objection. These years of successive wars have indeed hurt the foundation of the country. We need to calm down and develop well. But the goal must be one step ahead. Make a decision and get ready."

"Now there are two differences, who will change? Mr. Wen Bo and I intend to attack Liu Han first, and the other intends to go directly north to recover the land of Youyan. Don't care about anyone's suggestion, sir, just talk about your opinion, the Northern Han Dynasty first , or first Youyan."

Luo Youdu looked at Guo Rong with an expectant face, and Wang Pu with a calm face, and suddenly had a feeling that his wife and mother entered the water together, and who should be rescued first.

After careful consideration, Luo Youdu felt that the proposal to attack the Northern Han Dynasty was probably proposed by Guo Rong.

Guo Rong was impatient. Although later generations praised the victory and shunned the defeat, they regarded the Battle of Gaoping as a hearty victory, and regarded the encirclement of Taiyuan after Guo Rong ascended the throne as a victory.

But it's not really a win.

At least from Luo Youdu's point of view, the Battle of Gaoping was a disastrous victory for Dazhou, and the subsequent siege of Taiyuan was unsuccessful. Shi Yanchao died bravely in battle and was forced to withdraw his troops.

Guo Rong himself also knows that the victory is just for the sake of face and overall morale.

It is reasonable for Guo Rong to want to avenge the Northern Han Dynasty.

Luo Youdu smiled and said, "I chose to fight Khitan directly."

Sure enough, Guo Rong looked a little depressed.

Luo Youdu said: "Whether to fight Liu Han or Khitan, there are two problems that cannot be avoided. Liu Han's Taiyuan, Khitan's Youzhou. Shouzhou's difficulty, your Majesty should have a deep understanding. Taiyuan and Youzhou Compared with Shouzhou, a giant city will only be more difficult, not easier."

Guo Rong's expression was solemn, this chewing on Shouzhou broke his good teeth.

The key is that Shouzhou has not been eaten in the end. After they ran out of ammunition and food, they wiped out all the reinforcements from the Southern Tang Dynasty, causing Shouzhou to lose all hope. Then Liu Renzhan died of grief and indignation, which forced Shouzhou to surrender.

Luo Youdu continued: "The small soldiers of the Northern Han Dynasty are brave. If they defend Taiyuan, it will be a life-and-death battle for the survival of the country. There is no such thing as giving up and surrendering, and Khitan has a close relationship with the Northern Han Dynasty, which is a father-son relationship. They will certainly not sit idly by Yes. There are strong soldiers on the inside, and reinforcements from outside continue to support, so the outcome is hard to tell."

He remembered that Zhao Kuangyin attacked the Northern Han Dynasty many times in history, but because he couldn't take Taiyuan, Liao's reinforcements continued and he retreated.

Zhao Kuangyin's military level is still good, and he was unable to fight several times in a row, which can only show that it is really difficult to fight.

"Attacking Youzhou is different. The soldiers of the Northern Han Dynasty are weak, so they may not dare to support them. Even if we support Khitan, we are not afraid. It just happens that the field battle is eliminated, so that we can attack Taiyuan in the future."

"As for Khitan, Youzhou is the most important military town among the sixteen prefectures of Yanyun. They will definitely come to rescue them. But they will never fight us at all costs. Guarding Liaodong and Shangjing are their retreat routes."

"That's why I think it's the best policy to go directly north to the land of Youyan and take back the northern gate first."

Guo Rong resigned to his fate and said with a smile: "Since the two gentlemen feel that it is the best policy to take Youzhou first, it is decided like this!"

　Sorry for the late update, because of the epidemic, I have to spend more than an hour queuing up for nucleic acid every day.In the evening, it should be a little later.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)