Isn’t it enough to regain Hebei and Shandong?
Did the Liberation Army spread to other places?
Wan Yanliang was a little confused and didn't know what Xu Lin meant.
"if not?"
"Your Majesty, have you ever thought about why no one in the army surrendered to the army all the way south?"
"…………"
It's okay not to say it. But when Wan Yanliang thought about it carefully, he really felt that there was an inexplicable sense of violation.
Logically speaking, if hundreds of thousands of troops from the imperial court came to attack the rebels, and their reputation was overwhelming, no matter what, someone should take the initiative to surrender, but until now, there has been no one.
Thinking about it again, an inexplicable panic swept through Wan Yanliang's heart.
"you mean……"
"The people of Hebei have surrendered to the thieves."
Xu Lin looked solemn.
Wan Yanliang's fists clenched instantly.
"Impossible! If the thief didn't hold the imperial examination, the people of Hebei would not be able to fully support him!"
"But the thieves were so powerful that they once overpowered our army. Maybe this situation made the people of Hebei think that the Kingdom of Jin was very weak. Even if they did not sincerely join the thieves, they would not help me wholeheartedly."
Xu Lin looked serious, which made Wan Yanliang realize that what Xu Lin said made sense.
"You mean, they are sitting on the mountain watching the fight between tigers and tigers, waiting for the showdown between the Dajin army and the bandit army?"
"exactly."
"Asshole!"
Wan Yanliang's anger meter was instantly full: "You bastards who are eating inside and outside! I'm going to kill them all! Kill them all!"
"Your Majesty, this is not the most important thing."
Xu Lin shook his head and said: "The Confucian family only sees pros and cons. It is not difficult to understand that they sit on the mountain and watch the tiger fight. They will join whoever wins. However, the people of Hebei also followed suit and never surrendered to the army to ask for forgiveness. This is It’s very confusing.”
Wan Yanliang was stunned again.
"People?"
"Yes, people."
Xu Lin said slowly: "The Confucian family knows how to distinguish between pros and cons. Even if they join, they will have backup plans. But ordinary people do not have such means. If they follow the wrong person, they will die. Therefore, the people are ignorant, timid and dare not Follow the thief.
But this is not the case now. In many prefectures and counties such as Baozhou, Anzhou, Mozhou, and Bazhou, the people have all moved south. In Zhending, Boye, and Hejian, the people either entered the city or entered the Wubao, all for defense. Don't surrender the army.
It is understandable that a few people from one or two places would follow the thieves, but as the army marched southward, it was probably not just the people from one or two places who joined the thieves. If what I expected was true, the situation would be the same everywhere as we continued south. What difference will it make. "
"What exactly do you want to say? Say it clearly in one breath!"
Wan Yanliang ran out of patience.
Xu Lin did not beat around the bush and said: "The traitor army was able to fortify the walls and clear the wilderness in Hebei. First, it relied on the ability of its people. Second, it relied on the support of the people. In a very short period of time, the people of Hebei risked their lives to accompany them. It is conceivable that the thieves will end up with them." What kind of means are there to reach heaven?
If the thieves are followed by the people, they will only defeat the thieves. Even if they regain Hebei and Shandong, it will not help. The thieves will not be defeated. Therefore, the veteran believes that if Hebei and Shandong are to have long-term peace and stability, they must use murderous tactics. "
"Killing and killing people?"
Wanyan Liang narrowed his eyes. After thinking for a while, he looked at Wanyan Benjian with some suspicion and said, "Tell me about it."
"Here."
Xu Lin's eyes flashed and he said slowly: "Our army can capture a large number of people in Hebei, especially the old, weak, women and children. When we next besiege Hejian, we will drive the old, weak, women and children in front of the army to provide a shield for the army to advance." !”
After Xu Lin finished speaking, all the generals around him showed expressions of astonishment.
Drive the people in front and let the defenders of the Liberation Army in the city throw a rat weapon?
And then successfully conquer Hejian City?
This...this trick sounds quite effective, but...is it too destructive?
If this is a mark for others, they will be scolded in future generations...
The generals looked at Xu Lin with different expressions. They didn't know how the old guy came up with this method.
Wanyan Benjian looked at Xu Lin with an unhappy face.
"Xu Dujian, you came up with this despicable trick to dedicate it to His Majesty. Do you want His Majesty to be remembered as a tyrant a hundred years later when he drove the people in front and the army behind?" Will his face be passed down to future generations?"
The relationship between Wanyan Benjian and Xu Lin is not good.
As a member of the Wanyan clan, he naturally had a bad relationship with the favored ministers of various clans around Wanyan Liang. They were hostile to each other, and no one looked down on the other.
As a favorite of Wanyan Liang, Xu Lin, like the other favorites around Wanyan Liang, had trouble dealing with these veterans of the Wanyan royal family. They fought for power and profit, and slandered each other. This was a common occurrence.
This time Wanyan Benjian was the Commander-in-Chief of the Left Army, and Xu Lin was the Commander-in-Chief of the Left Army, which was equivalent to the status of supervisor of the army.
Wanyan Liang's original intention should be to ask Xu Lin to supervise and suppress Wanyan Benjian on his behalf and prevent him from taking too much power, so as to ensure the emperor's absolute leadership of the army.
However, because the emperor himself was present, Xu Lin, the Zuo Governor, could not play any role in supervising the Zuo Commander-in-Chief.
But it is a fact that the relationship between the two is not good.
Wanyan Ben's words made Wanyan Liang, who had just been a little excited, stunned for a moment, and then looked at Xu Lin with an unkind expression.
"Xu Lin, this idea is certainly useful, but people who have used this strategy since ancient times don't seem to have a good reputation, right? It seems a little inappropriate for you to offer such a strategy?"
Wanyan Ben was immediately happy when he saw it, feeling that he had grasped Wanyan Liang's pulse.
But Xu Lin seemed to have expected Wanyan Ben to say this.
After giving Wanyan Benjian a vicious look, Xu Lin held his head high.
"This is a strategy I suggested to Wanyan Benjian, the commander-in-chief of the left army. After thinking about it, the governor decisively adopted my strategy and had many plans with me in private.
While I was waiting to discuss the strategy, His Majesty was ill and didn't know anything about it. He entrusted the military affairs of the entire army to me and the Grand Governor. His Majesty didn't learn about it until Hejian City was captured.
After His Majesty learned about this incident, he deeply believed that it was inappropriate to do so, so he deeply blamed the ministers and the governor, punished us, and set up an altar in the river to commemorate the people in the river who suffered for no reason. "
Xu Lin showed the script he had designed for Wan Yanliang and emphatically explained the key plot points.
When all the generals heard this, they were all stunned, and then all looked at Wanyan Benjian.
Wanyan Ben was also stunned when he saw it, and then was shocked.
He really didn't expect that Xu Lin could do such a thing that was harmful to others and not beneficial to himself. He... was he a madman?
Before Wanyan Benjian could react, Wanyan Liang did.
He was greatly relieved.
It turns out that there are still people who think about me wholeheartedly rather than themselves!
Xu Lin! You are the one who is dedicated to me!
So Wan Yanliang happily stepped forward and took Xu Lin's hand, approvingly saying: "I never thought that Xu Dujian would be so loyal. Xu Qing, you have lived up to me!"
"It is my duty to devote myself to His Majesty."
Xu Lin has a selfless look on his face, and he and Wan Yanliang get along well with each other, making them a perfect picture.
However, through the figures of the two of them, Wanyan Benjian standing opposite looked quite embarrassed.
There is no one inside or outside this time.
Xu Lin was really willing to cut himself off to pull down this old guy. This was a good move. Wanyan Benjian didn't know what to do.
Doing such a thing?
It didn't matter, he had no sympathy, let alone any sympathy for these traitorous Han people.
But he was worried that his biographer would write down today's events after his death, which would go against his upright conduct throughout his life.
He did kill people profusely, but he also killed the enemy soldiers on the battlefield openly and honestly. He spent his whole life in the army, but suddenly a record of "driving the people first" appeared. No matter how you look at it, it is discordant.
But if you don't follow Xu Lin's wishes...
Isn’t it just that you don’t want to share the blame for the Lord?
Wan Yanliang was very particular about the distinction between monarch and ministers, and the moral standards between monarchs and ministers. The so-called master humiliated his ministers to death, which was an insult. If his ministers could help share the burden, why not?
Does it have to be the emperor’s responsibility?
Wouldn’t my subordinates have some insight and help the emperor take the blame?
Xu Lin is already on board, but his status is not enough. He cannot bear this big blame alone. He needs another big guy with a heavier weight to carry it with him.
This person is Wanyan Benjian.
Xu Lin! You hurt me!
