Wang Mang's military thoughts are derived from his political thoughts, that is, those who win the hearts of the people win the world, the more people there are, the more powerful they are. But it is not accurate to say that Wang Mang had political thoughts. It should be said that he only had political ideals. Wang Mang's political ideal is to win the hearts and minds of the people. He worshiped Duke Zhou and believed that those who win the hearts of the people will win the world. Facing a military war, Wang Mang started from the logic of political ideals and wanted to rely on more to win. But if the war was really that simple, Liu Bang would not have humiliated the marriage at the beginning of the founding of the Han Dynasty.
The Xiongnu killed the people on the border wantonly, and the soldiers on the front line could only stare. The soldiers witnessed the massacre by the Xiongnu single-handed soldiers, but were unable to fight back, which caused the morale of the soldiers to waver. The supply of Wang Mang's 300,000 troops was a heavy burden for the Han, whose economy was already in decline and the people were filled with resentment.
Yan You, who led the army stationed in Yuyang County, saw that the Huns were rampant, the people were suffering, and the army was helpless, so he wrote to Wang Mang. Yan You used history as an example to explain in detail how the Zhou, Qin and Han dynasties dealt with the Xiongnu. Yan You said that the Zhou Dynasty expelled the Huns without killing them, that is, they only drove the offending Huns out of the country. The Zhou Dynasty's method was not good and could only be regarded as a medium strategy, because the Xiongnu lingered like flies. Once the Huns' power grows, they will do it again. Qin Shihuang went on a military rampage and handed over 300,000 troops to Meng Tian and ordered him to lead the army to pursue the Xiongnu 700 miles away and build the Great Wall behind them. Such an approach wastes people and money, leads to people's uprising and the country's collapse, and has no merit. In order to subdue the Xiongnu, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty fought for thirty years of war, which depleted the savings of his ancestors, made the people miserable, and almost triggered civil strife. It can only be regarded as a low-grade strategy.
Yan You described and belittled the three methods of dealing with the Xiongnu in the past dynasties, just to highlight his good strategies. Yan You saw the domestic contradictions. He pointed out that there was a famine in the country, difficulties in supplying the army, and an army of 300,000 people marching out. Once a mutiny broke out, it would be difficult to control it. Yan You's reason is that the frontline troops are currently insufficiently supplied, and some soldiers have begun to chew on the wind and sand. If it is a long way to transport grain from the Central Plains to the border fortress, it is not cost-effective to consume most of it before it arrives. Moreover, the army mostly uses cattle and horses to transport grain. The border fortress is full of sand, and the livestock have no grass to eat. In fact, after saying so much, Yan You just wanted to say one thing: There is insufficient military rations and the war cannot be delayed any longer, otherwise the consequences will be disastrous.
The purpose of Yan You's letter was to request to lead his army into battle. Although the Huns were rampant, the people were harmed, and drinking water and military rations were insufficient, Wang Mang persisted in himself and refused Yan You's request. Wang Mang thought of war too simply, and even underestimated the outbreak of domestic conflicts. Wang Mang believed that if he could quell the first rebellion of the Imperial Army, he would be able to quell all subsequent rebellions and even defeat the Huns. Wang Mang lives in the ideal of politics, and even more in the ideal of war. Since he became emperor, in order to restore the historical scene of the Zhou Dynasty, he began to bury his head in the pile of old papers and live in his ideals wholeheartedly.
If the frontline sergeants were waiting for the news of Wang Mang's order to go to war and felt that time was passing very slowly, then the army was moving even slower. The army marched very slowly, and the 300,000-strong army squirmed slowly, showing no fighting spirit at all.
The army was not well supplied, and some opportunists began to loot. The unbearable people fled in all directions. Some of the capable ones occupied the mountains and became kings, blocking roads and robbing; the incompetent ones fled to the mountains and stayed with the beasts. The situation across the country has developed to this point, and it is really chaotic.
Just as the country was in chaos, another bomb exploded. The filial Chanyu whom he enthroned actually ran to the Xiongnu in one breath while the guards were not paying attention. He complained to Wu Zhuliu Ruodi Chanyu with runny noses and tears.
Wang Mang received reports from Yanan and Zhendi Group Army. The report said that after investigation, they found that the person who planned the Huns' attack on the frontier was none other than the son of Xiao Shanyu who lived in Chang'an. Therefore, Wang Mang realized the horror of war for the first time. The son of Xiao Shanyu whom he kept as a hostage turned out to be an undercover agent. Wang Mang was furious when faced with this situation, and he quickly summoned foreign envoys. In front of many foreign envoys, Xiao Shanyu's son was beheaded.
Wang Mang loves to fight in groups and has already raised an army of 300,000 people, but he still feels that the number is not enough. So, he conscripted troops from Goguryeo and ordered Goguryeo to raise troops to attack the Xiongnu. Fighting against the Huns would cost lives, and resisting Wang Mang would also cost lives. After weighing the pros and cons, Goguryeo decided to resist Wang Mang. In order to suppress the Goguryeo rebellion, Wang Mang sent another army to conquer.
Just when Wang Mang felt that his military strength was insufficient, the southwestern barbarians also rebelled. The reason why the southwestern barbarians and the Xiongnu rebelled was also because of the seal. For a few seals, Wang Mang was like a hornet's nest, being attacked from all sides. Soon, another news came that the Western Region had also rebelled. If you take a look at the territory of the Han Dynasty during Wang Mang's time, you will see that the surrounding countries all resisted Wang Mang.
Yan You once again wrote a letter to advise Wang Mang to stop causing conflicts with neighboring countries. Otherwise, it is Wang Mang who suffers, and it is Wang Mang who regrets it. It should be emphasized in particular that since Wang Mang became emperor, he read the memorials across the country alone. When Yan You's memorial was successfully delivered to Wang Mang, Wang Mang did read Yan You's memorial, but he turned a blind eye. In Wang Mang's heart, it seems that Yan You does not exist. Wang Mang turns a blind eye to Yan You because he lives in the pile of old papers and the prosperous age of the Zhou Dynasty that he yearns for.
Just when Wang Mang was yearning for the Zhou Dynasty, God played another absurd but true joke on him. Xiao Chanyu fled back to the Huns and complained to Wuzhu Liuruoda Chanyu. Wuzhu Liuruoda Chanyu not only did not pity Xiao Chanyu, but also demoted him and punished him. However, no one could escape when the deadline came, and Wu Zhuliu Ruotian died. After the death of Wuzhuliu Ruodi Chanyu, Xiao Chanyu succeeded him.
Logically speaking, it is already strange that Xiao Chanyu can succeed Uzhuliu Ruoda Chanyu. What's even more unexpected is that after Xiao Chanyu took command of the Huns, he actually said to Wang Mang: Let's continue the marriage. Hearing such news, Wang Mang breathed a sigh of relief and was extremely happy. However, Wang Mang was overwhelmed by Xiao Chanyu's subsequent request. Xiao Shanyu proposed that the prerequisite for the marriage was to send his son back. When Wang Mang heard this request, he immediately regretted his impulsive move.
Xiao Shanyu came to his door. Wang Mang felt that he would be a fool if he didn't deceive him. In order to win the final victory, Wang Mang resorted to political tactics. He told Xiao Chanyu that he would make peace first, and then send Xiao Chanyu's son back to the Huns. Wang Mang detained the envoys sent by the Huns, and sent another team of envoys to the Huns as quickly as possible to sign a peace treaty.
After signing the contract, Wang Mang sent the Huns envoy back. The Huns envoy told Xiao Shanyu that they had found out that Wang Mang had killed his son a long time ago. After Xiao Chanyu heard this, he was sad and regretful. He was sad because his son died; he regretted because Wang Mang had deceived him.
