In the history of Jihan, there have always been two factions-the Northern Expedition faction and the anti-Northern Expedition faction.
The two factions were constantly competing with each other until Ji Han's demise.
The Northern Expeditionists have their own ideas and persistence - without the Northern Expedition, how can we help the Han Dynasty? !
Once it loses its righteousness to help the great Han people, then this regime will become a completely separatist regime, and even the foundation of its own country will be lost, so naturally no one will support it.
Therefore, the Northern Expeditionists are desperately pursuing the Northern Expedition. Regardless of whether there are practical difficulties or not, the Northern Expedition is the top priority.
The opposition to the Northern Expedition is more complicated. A somewhat simple and rough division can be divided into the slow-advance faction and the capitulation faction.
The slow advance faction does not mean that the Northern Expedition should not be considered as the first priority when considering all national affairs.
In history, there were two famous representatives of the Slow Advance School, one was Wang Lian and the other was Fei Yi.
Of these two people, Wang Lian opposed the Northern Expedition when Zhuge Liang was in power. The reason was very simple. The Han Dynasty lacked national strength and could not use troops frequently. It must first stabilize the country and then consider the Northern Expedition.
Zhuge Liang didn't listen, because Zhuge Liang felt that he could take care of both the war and the domestic economy. In fact, he did well until Zhuge Liang's death.
The other Fei Yi was someone who firmly opposed the Northern Expedition after Zhuge Liang's death.
Historically, after Zhuge Liang's death, Jiang Wan took over and presided over several Northern Expeditions. Unfortunately, the results were not great, and a lot of money, food, and troops were wasted each time he sent out troops.
Therefore, when Fei Yi was in power, according to his own political philosophy, as General Ji Han, he never launched a Northern Expedition, and he even took a clear stand against Jiang Wei's Northern Expedition.
But Fei Yi's purpose was not to settle down in a corner and act as a separatist regime.
Fei Yi has Fei Yi's difficulties.
First, since Zhuge Liang's death, Liu Chan has abolished the position of prime minister. This position is only reserved for Zhuge Liang, and no one else can get involved.
In fact, Adou is really not stupid. He understands the importance of the balance of power. He dares to delegate power to Zhuge Liang with confidence, but he will never trust anyone else except Zhuge Liang.
So after Zhuge Liang's death, the "palace and mansion, all integrated into one" structure no longer existed. During Jiang Wan's reign, Liu Chan continued to take back his rights. By the time Fei Yi became the general, he no longer had the right to act arbitrarily .
In both cases, Fei Yi believes that the years of war have compressed the economy of Shuzhong to the extreme. Both the aristocratic families and the people are deeply oppressed. At this time, we can no longer easily use troops. The most important thing at the moment is to recuperate and restore people's livelihood. .
Fei Yi is not Zhuge Liang. He has no way to clean up the mess after Liu Bei's defeat in Yiling in a short time like Zhuge Liang. He also has no way to find the right balance between the Northern Expedition and people's livelihood like Zhuge Liang, who can do both. Both sides should be taken into consideration. Fei Yi can only do what Fei Yi is good at doing.
And to be honest, under the circumstances, Fei Yi's idea was not wrong.
Modern people all know that wars are based on comprehensive national strength. At that time, Ji Han's national strength was severely reduced due to years of fighting. However, the foundation laid during Zhuge Liang's early reign was still there. Fei Yi had to wait several years to shrink his troops for defense and resume production. The country's national strength can be restored, and by that time it is not impossible to carry out the Northern Expedition.
But it is a pity that Fei Yi did not wait for that day. He was assassinated.
It can be seen that even Cao Wei knew that Fei Yi's policy was correct under the circumstances, and Ji Han must not be allowed to relax, otherwise it may be another situation where "Yongliang does not remove its armor, and the Central Plains does not release its saddle" situation.
Therefore, whether they are Wang Lian or Fei Yi, although they also oppose the Northern Expedition, what they oppose is the blind Northern Expedition. In fact, they believe that only by first dealing with the internal people's livelihood and economic problems can they better support the Northern Expedition. , Kuangfu Han room.
What is really hateful are the capitulationists who persuade the Lord to surrender even though they have troops approaching the city and they still have the strength to fight.
These surrender factions were mainly composed of aristocratic families in Shu, and the most famous representative was Qiao Zhou.
They did not want the Northern Expedition at all, because the Northern Expedition would affect their actual interests. In their view, it was a very unwise choice to use a state to fight against a country.
Moreover, if your old Liu family wants to help the Han Dynasty, what does it have to do with us, aristocratic families in central Shu? !
If your old Liu family went to war with their own money and men, and we shouted "666" on the fringes, then the Shuzhong family wouldn't say a word of nonsense. But every time your old Liu family went on the Northern Expedition, they spent a lot of money. The money, food, and food that should originally belong to us.
It’s always the Northern Expedition, how can we still find ways to occupy fields and hide small towns? Everything is under military control, so how can our wealthy life be guaranteed? !
Especially in the late Shu Han Dynasty, the Jingzhou faction and the Yuancong faction were almost dead. After there was no longer a faction in the court that could check and balance the Shuzhong aristocratic family, the Shuzhong aristocratic family became the dominant family, and this messed up situation was completely out of control. .
Therefore, when Deng Ai led no more than a few thousand troops to sneak across the Yinping Trail to Jiangyou, the Jiangyou garrison with superior strength directly opened the city and surrendered, providing Deng Ai's exhausted army with the most important rest and supplies, and at the same time returned it to Deng Ai. Ai replenished his troops.
When Deng Ai led his troops to Chengdu, Liu Chan, who obviously only needed to rely on Chengdu's strong city defenses to delay time and could wait for reinforcements in less than ten days, directly chose to surrender under the instigation of these surrender factions.
I have to say a few words for Liu Chan here. Liu Chan is indeed a mediocre person, but he is not a fool, and he does not want to give up the foundation laid by his father to others.
It's not that Liu Chan didn't want to fight, he actually tried hard, but Zhuge Zhan, who he had high hopes for, was too reckless, and all Liu Chan's last trump cards were wasted in Mianzhu.
You said that your majestic Zhuge Liang's son did not defend the city pass despite his superiority, and insisted on leading his troops to fight Deng Ai in the field. Who gave you the courage and confidence? !
When your father led the army to fight, he first practiced with Menghuo in the south before he dared to send troops to the northern expedition. When you first entered the battle, you dared to fight against the famous general Deng Ai in a field battle? !
If Zhuge Zhan was smarter and learned from Liu Xun, Deng Ai would only end up being suffocated to death in Shu.
It's a pity that Zhuge Zhan thought too highly of himself, and Liu Chan entrusted others with him, completely destroying his last hope.
Therefore, when Deng Ai's troops came to the city, Liu Chan was completely isolated and helpless. He didn't have to surrender even if he didn't want to. If he didn't, someone would kidnap him and open the city to surrender.
And don't talk about it for the common people. In that era, the common people's lives were actually the same whether in Cao Wei or Ji Han. They were all oppressed anyway.
And do you think these capitulationists would really care about the lives of these ordinary people? !
What these capitulationists really wanted was their own rights and interests. The idea of surrendering for the sake of the people was just a figment of the minds of later generations.
Well, let’s go too far and bring it back to the present.
After listening to Zhuge Liang and Zhang Xi's story, although Huang Quan could understand Liu Bei's idea of another northern expedition and felt that now was a good time, Huang Quan still firmly switched to the slow advance faction.
"This is a good opportunity, but now we don't have enough food and grass, and we don't have enough troops and armor. How can we use our troops?!"
This is Huang Quan's attitude.
We had just done it two years ago, and although it could be considered fruitful, the Northern Expedition, which involved all the country's efforts, was really too much for the families and people in Shu.
Especially the last general mobilization order Zhuge Liang made, Huang Quan didn't know about it at the front line at the time. After returning to Chengdu afterwards, he learned about the general mobilization order and felt very resentful towards Zhuge Liang.
Fortunately, Yang Hong, Qin Mi and others gave him a soft nail to push back. Otherwise, even if Chang'an was captured, Shuzhong would be severely damaged if it was such a waste of people and money.
Although Huang Quan has good moral character and has done his best since he chose to assist Liu Bei, Huang Quan is a Shu native after all, and he has to consider the aristocratic families and people of Shu.
This two-year break has finally allowed the aristocratic families and people in Shu to breathe a sigh of relief. This is going to be the Northern Expedition again. Are you kidding! ! !
Thinking of this, Huang Quan couldn't help complaining, and said to Zhuge Liang and Zhang Xi, "Quan is guarding an important place and I don't know the details of the court. Both monarchs are talented in helping the world, how can they not know the importance of this matter?! Why? Don’t you want to give your Majesty a piece of advice?!”
In response, Zhuge Liang and Zhang Xi also looked at each other and smiled bitterly at the same time.
Who said there is no more advice? !
When Liu Bei ordered Zhuge Liang and Zhang Xi to inspect Hanzhong together, they discovered that things were not that simple.
When meeting Liu Bei, Liu Bei's first instruction was to ask the two of them to pay more attention to Hanzhong's ordnance and food reserves. Do these two people still know what Liu Bei was thinking? !
After persuading, both Zhuge Liang and Zhang Xi had already persuaded Liu Bei tactfully.
But Liu Bei only answered one sentence.
"I am sixty-three years old this year, my second brother is also sixty-one, and my third brother is almost sixty years old. All three of my brothers are getting old, and their health is getting worse every year. Time is running out, and I'm afraid I won't be able to see you anymore. The moment of the revival of the Han Dynasty has come, but at least, let the three of us brothers get together in Chang'an to pay homage to the late emperors of the Han Dynasty."
As soon as these words came out, not to mention Zhang Xi, even Zhuge Liang was unable to say any more words of advice.
When Liu Bei said this, he was no longer speaking as an emperor, but as a lord, speaking the truest words in his heart to his confidants. At this time, there was no room for further advice.
There is a saying that Liu Bei's decision was made out of impulse, which is not the way a monarch should think. It may even cause Ji Han to suffer great losses because of his impulse.
For example, the great defeat of Yiling in history is the best example of this situation.
However, in this case, if the subordinates cannot advise the lord, they can only try their best to find a way to formulate the most complete and stable battle plan to reduce the risks caused by the lord's impulsive actions and maximize the success rate. .
This is the most important thing to do as a subordinate under the current circumstances.
This is also the reason why Zhuge Liang and Zhang Xi were in a bad mood on the way to Hanzhong, but they continued to communicate, and as soon as they arrived in Hanzhong, they pulled Huang Quan for a secret discussion.
Huang Quan was silent for a long time after hearing Liu Bei's words relayed by Zhuge Liang.
In the end, none of the three people discussed the question of whether the Northern Expedition should be carried out, but instead discussed what preparations Hanzhong needed to make in the event of the Northern Expedition.
There is a lot going on at the end of the year, please forgive me
(End of chapter)
