Warrior in Turbulent Han Dynasty

In the study of Jinxiang Hall, Zuo You knelt on the ground, holding up a roll of things in both hands. The **** on duty Wang Zhong stepped forward and took it away carefully and placed it on the table in front of Guo Shao.

"Zuo Shaoqing get up." Guo Shao glanced at him, and gradually stretched out the picture on the table.

A pair of well-proportioned and fine drawings gradually appeared in front of him. Guo Shao's eyes lit up and he first saw a circle that said "Youzhou". When the picture is fully expanded, the title "Youyun Sixteen States Map" is written from right to left at the top, and the names of the painters, Wang Pu, Zuo You, and Zan Jurun are on the right.

Even the scale is marked at the bottom right. Because Guo Shao drew pictures like this, the people around him learned to make maps like this according to the emperor's habits.

This picture is better than Guo Shao himself, and the civilian officials are better than Guo Shao in looking up the terrain records or Dan Qing's skills. Guo Shao almost forgot the existence of Zuo You for a moment. He carefully admired every line on the drawing. His short nails and rough fingers stroked along the road on the drawing, and his eyes became more focused.

The sixteen states of Youzhou, a place that has been lost for decades, and the place names that have always appeared in the history of youth, are right in front of them. From the picture, Guo Shao seemed to see the expansion of his territory. An inexplicable ambition in my heart was ignited by this delicate thing.

It is not only a territory, but also the prestige of a generation of emperors and the cornerstone of the national defense line.

Guo Shao raised his head and asked, "Why do you present pictures?"

Zuo You bowed cautiously: "Your Majesty may be useful, the ministers will share the worries for your Majesty."

Guo Shao pondered for a moment, his eyes swept over the name on the right of the picture, and he turned to Wang Zhong and said: "Send someone to pass the decree, call Wang Pu... and Wei Renpu, Zan Jurun come to meet."

Wang Zhong bowed and said: "The slave servant will follow the order and do it immediately."

Zuo Youbai retreated and waited outside first.

When Guo Shao was waiting, he walked in front of the window for a long time, then sat on the chair again, and looked through the file on it. Some records of various aspects of the Liao Kingdom...The emperor of the Liao Kingdom was Yelujing, and Guo Shao didn't know him well. Yelujing lived in Shangjing, thousands of miles away, and was originally a very far away person. According to the things collected by the Privy Council, Yelujing's reputation is not very good, cruel, alcoholic, and sleepy. The current internal turmoil in Liao is not good, and there are also reasons for the "faint monarch" in power.

However, Guo Shao didn't look at Yelujing's fame, he only looked at what this person did and what happened in Liao. Guo Shao felt that the responsibility for the status quo of Liao was not the lord of Liao, it was indeed the result of former grudges.

If Yelujing can build great merit and prestige, the situation is not unchangeable.

For a while, Guo Shao felt that his situation was somewhat similar to this enemy... No matter how he excused Guo Shao and his supporters, they had changed the nature of usurpation. They would either force prevention or re-establish their status with great power, otherwise he would Power is not so secure.

Only now did he understand that the emperors were not so down-to-earth, even if they continued to promote monarch power, loyalty, filial piety, and inferiority, they were always afraid of being pulled from the throne!

If you rush to guard against the internal checks and balances of the generals, it is inevitable that the force will be weakened. At this time, the gate of the country is open, from Hebei to Central Plains and Ma Pingchuan, who has been threatened for a long time, this emperor will not be too practical; how can he not be responsible for the world if he sits in this position?

Guo Shaojiu looked at the scene outside the window, the flat brick floor, the magnificent building, very solemn.

At this time, Wang Pu and others had been brought into the study, and they were already working in the imperial city. The four of them worshipped together, and Guo Shao recovered, asked them to get up, and then gave them to sit back and forth.

Guo Shao asked straightforwardly: "You guys think that with the current strength of the Great Zhou, there is a chance of victory over Liao State?"

He did not say that the capture of Youyun Sixteen Prefecture was equally important to the Liao State; the attack on Youzhou was equivalent to a full-scale war with the Liao State, which was basically the consensus of the Zhou courtiers.

Several people looked sideways at Wang Pu, and Wang Pu said with a serious face: "Whether we can defeat the main force of the Liao army, it is really hard to say..."

Guo Shao said: "The implied meaning of Wang Shijun's words, is it inappropriate to go to war?"

Because of a war with a low chance of winning, the best option is not to fight; if there is a choice. This is the principle of the use of troops in ancient and modern times. Wars were originally intended to achieve a certain purpose.

However, Wang Pu said: "The imperial court's intention is to recover the Youyun Sixteen Prefectures, not to divide it with the Liao Army. The old officials have repeatedly reasoned that as long as they can quickly capture Youzhou City, they will win a lot."

Wei Renpu said: "The minister and the emperor have discussed the strategy, and there is a strategy that is feasible: first enter Youzhou with great speed; if the city can be captured as soon as possible, when the Liao army reinforcements arrive, the Zhou army will have a large number of elite infantry relying on Youzhou City. , You can fight a decisive battle. It is difficult for the Liao army to defeat the main force of the Great Zhou frontally, let alone recapture Youzhou City. As long as this situation is reached, the Great Zhou will have a way to occupy the land of Youzhou. The key lies in whether it is sure to capture Youzhou. State City."

Wei Renpu pondered: "Youzhou is a majestic city, easy to defend and difficult to attack since ancient times. But your Majesty can win Jinyang in half a month..."

Zan Jurun looked in respect: "Your Majesty led the army to attack, and the attack was invincible. The Great Zhou army has excellent armor and weapons, but now it is not the same as usual; the Liao State has been riding on the head of the Central Plains for many years, and our country should compete with them!

"Several of you think the time for the Northern Expedition has arrived?" Guo Shao asked cautiously.

Wang Pudao: "The raid on Youzhou is a tricky method. The old minister agrees to try this strategy, as the deputy Wei said, only because your majesty has captured Xiongcheng many times... If the old minister considers this important matter, after the war with the Liao country~ www.readwn.com~ Fighting is national power. The great power and population of the Great Zhou can be consumed with the Liao State. If a big country goes to war, of course it will hurt both sides."

He arched his hands and said: "Your Majesty asked about the time, but the minister thought the time had come, but it was not yet."

Guo Shao looked at Wang Pu calmly, and asked casually: "What do you say?"

Wang Pudao: "At this time, the Great Zhou annexed all countries, and the national power greatly increased, and there was little worries about the rear; and the dim political and internal strife of the Liao Kingdom was still not over, it was a favorable time for the Great Zhou to start war.

The minister also said that the time has not come because he is worried about the variables after the war. As the minister considered, the battle with the Liao Kingdom may be a long-term war of attrition. At this time, the country will be determined slightly. Once there is no progress and a large amount of national power will be consumed, the situation may not be good... However, if it is really possible to fight quickly, of course it is best. . "

Guo Shao said, "Now the Great Zhou is offensive. We fight as we want, and stop if we want to stop. If the Liao army dared to attack, then after the emperor's northern expedition and withdrawal, the court was in turmoil. The Liao army had a better chance at that time."

Wei Renpu praised: "The Great Zhou Dynasty established the country by military force. Why did you ever be afraid of war? Your Majesty is the master after the first emperor. The Sixteen States of Youyun were lost in the (later) Jin Dynasty. They should return to China (the dynasty that established the country in the Central Plains). )."