Murong Yun
Early autumn.
The weather this year has been very smooth. Even though some counties have been hit by floods and droughts, the overall environment in the world is still very good.
Liu Yu could already tell this from the harvest estimates reported by various prefectures and counties.
"It's just a year of rest and recuperation, but it's so gratifying to have achieved such great results."
In the main hall, Liu Yu was working with Xi Jian, Gongsun Sheng, Xun Sui and others to deal with the memorials submitted by various states and counties.
"Your Majesty, this is all due to the strike and recuperation, which is also due to your Majesty's kindness." Gongsun Sheng flattered him in a very rare way.
When Liu Yu heard these words, there was no big sense of disobedience.
Because Liu Yu felt that he was worthy of this praise now.
During this year, Gou Xi, Ran Long, Liu Kun and others in the northwest were busy conquering the Qianghu and Xianbei tribes, while Murong Xianbei in the east repeatedly launched attacks on Dongping Prefecture and Sanshan County.
However, the Han army defended with solid countermeasures.
There is no additional taxation or corvee added to the people in the country.
"If another year comes, I'm afraid Jiangdong will be completely unable to sit still." Gongsun Sheng said immediately.
"Yes, I heard that Sima Shao from Jingkou has organized a strong army of tens of thousands, claiming that it can compete with Wang Dun." Liu Yu said.
After Xi Jian heard this, he suddenly smiled.
"Your Majesty, this is just a boast they make. Based on the supplies in Jingkou, there are tens of thousands of people living there, and at most there are more than 10,000 people."
After Liu Yu heard this, he felt it made sense.
Sima Shao, the crown prince of the Jin Dynasty in Jiangdong, did not go well with his military training in Jingkou. Originally, they wanted to imitate the Han army's model of dividing fields between soldiers and soldiers, but the nobles from Nandu and the local indigenous people repeatedly opposed it, and there were even several riots.
These turmoils were naturally initiated by powerful families.
Faced with heavy pressure, Sima Rui could only compromise and retreat, greatly reducing the number of original "Jingkou Soldiers" job fields to just those near Jingkou.
"No, we can't take it lightly at this time. I heard that although Sima Shao is young, he acts fairly, decisively and shrewdly. Anyone who joins him is dedicated to his life. It can be seen that he is a hero." It was a reminder.
After Liu Yu heard this, he nodded slightly.
Today's court meeting is to determine the next step.
Because the current situation in the world has already undergone a sudden change.
Zhang Shi and Liu Yu in Liangzhou basically maintained a mutually beneficial situation. Because of the increasingly prosperous trade, Sima Bao of Qinzhou in the middle was also full of food. The attitudes of Liangzhou and Qinzhou became increasingly fierce. Vietnam is more cooperative and friendly.
However, Sima Rui of Jiangdong and other Nandu nobles all fell into schizophrenia one by one.
Facing the increasingly stable situation in the north, these northern nobles who fled to Jiangdong soon split into two factions.
One group of people faces the world situation passively. Anyway, whether they follow Liu Yu or Sima Rui, they are still the same ministers and it does not affect them.
But the other group of people has become Liu Yu's enemy.
They could not return to the north, because that would mean losing the superior treatment of the nobles. If they were mixed with the common people and poor families to participate in Liu Yu's official selection, it would be worse than killing them.
"The Beauty of the Sun and the Moon"
Therefore, these people continue to advocate training for self-protection in order to maintain their power and status.
However, they did not want Emperor Sima Rui to have military power in his hands. Faced with Crown Prince Sima Shao who was training troops in Jingkou, they obstructed and suppressed him in every possible way.
"These high-ranking noble clans who fled south are really at both ends of the spectrum. If they return north as soon as possible, I will also value them. But now it seems that they can never be reused."
"Sima Rui and his son treated them so favorably, and even in exchange for such a result, I am afraid that I will never be able to satisfy their desires."
Liu Yu shook his head and said.
"Your Majesty, for this reason, we should increase our troops in Xuzhou. Once we have the opportunity, we can send our troops south and attack Shouchun and Jingkou first, and then we can go straight to Jiankang." Gongsun Sheng said.
"Your Majesty, I feel that we should not be so impatient with Jiangdong. We should watch the fire from the other side and let Sima and his son and the Gaomen check and balance each other's internal friction. When they are both hurt, we can defeat them with thunder." Xi Jian immediately put forward a different opinion.
"How is this possible? That Sima Shao has the spirit of a young hero. In time, he may become a hero. If he is not eradicated as soon as possible, wouldn't it be a disaster?" Gongsun Sheng said.
"No, no, the chaos in Jiangdong can only be settled by Sima Shao. His strength is far inferior to that of Wang Dun and his like. Now that Wang Dun has failed in his attack on Yizhou, he must be afraid of criticism from Jiangdong and face the increasingly powerful forces. Sima Shao will definitely become angry and do something unworthy of his ministers, and it will not be too late."
Xi Jian also mastered important military affairs and paid great attention to the situation in Jiangdong and Jingzhou.
Not long ago, the Jin generals, Jingzhou Mu, and Wuchang County Duke Wang Dun led an army to conquer Yizhou's Chengguo Emperor Li Xiong.
The Jin army led by Wang Dun set out from Bajun and captured several cities along the way. The people in the territory were eating pots of wine to welcome the Jin army.
Faced with such a good situation, Wang Dun immediately felt elated. Then, because he underestimated the enemy and advanced rashly, he suffered consecutive defeats in Jiangyang and Anhan. Tens of thousands of Jin troops suffered heavy losses and had to retreat to Bajun in disgrace.
By the time Liu Yu learned the news, Wang Dun had already led the defeated soldiers from Bajun back to Jingzhou.
"With Wang Dun's new defeat, shouldn't he restrain his authority? Do you still dare to be so arrogant?" Liu Yu asked with some surprise.
"Your Majesty, Wang Dun is the most stubborn person. If others have done something wrong, they will definitely criticize him. If he has done something wrong himself, he cannot allow anyone to criticize him, not even thinking about it in his heart." Xi Jian said with a smile.
Xi Jian once had contact with Wang Dun in Luoyang, and he knew his temper very well.
Although these high-ranking disciples of the Langya Wang family never lacked talents, their arrogance also impressed him deeply.
"Wang Dun is so arrogant, then Sima Shao in Jingkou will be in big trouble." Liu Yu immediately became happy.
From this point of view, Wang Dun's character is very similar to Yuan Shao of the Three Kingdoms in the late Han Dynasty.
Once you suffer a military defeat, the first people to suffer are those who may laugh at you.
"Yes, Your Majesty, so I feel that Jiangdong should not be allowed to feel our hostility at this time. Instead, we should send envoys to pay our respects and let them know that Your Majesty has no hostility."
"Only in this way can Wang Dun and Sima Rui truly meet each other in war."
Liu Yu thought about it carefully and found that this was indeed the case.
Crown Prince Sima Shao, who is now in charge of the "Jingkou Soldiers", is very high-spirited. Although he does not have many troops, he already has the posture of a strong army. Facing the general Wang Dun who has returned from Yizhou's defeat, he will definitely be able to fight for it. idea.
At the very least, they must take advantage of Wang Dun's defeat to recapture Jiangzhou in the upper reaches of Jiangdong.
On Wang Dun's side, although he suffered a defeat, his ability to control Jingzhou and Jiangzhou is still strong, and he will inevitably make a fierce response.
"Okay, then let's use this strategy, sit on the mountain and watch the tiger fight, and let Wang Dun and Sima fight first."
After seeing Liu Yu's statement, Gongsun Sheng stopped talking.
Anyway, his strategy was to target Sima Shao in Jingkou. It would be better if Wang Dun could also deal with Sima Shao, or both of them could lose.
"Your Majesty, now Wang Dun has been defeated in Yizhou. Although Li Xiong, a Di man, has won, he has mobilized a large number of troops. I heard that the troops in Hanzhong are also showing signs of decreasing. I feel that we should increase the number immediately. After capturing Hanzhong first, we can take the initiative whether we enter Yizhou or not." Xi Jian said again.
"If we increase the number of troops in Hanzhong, we will definitely need to increase the supply of grain and grass. Doesn't that mean we also need to increase taxes from Guanzhong?" Liu Yu frowned slightly.
The weather in Guanxi this year has been smooth, and it can be said to be the best situation in more than ten years.
If we can take this opportunity to make preparations, next year's food and population will usher in higher explosive growth.
If a large amount of manpower and material resources were recruited to support the Hanzhong war, it would delay the previous year.
"Your Majesty, Hanzhong is the key point. If Li Xiong turns around, he will definitely increase his troops first. By then, the two cities Your Majesty left in Hanzhong may not be able to be saved. It is better to pre-emptively attack Hanzhong directly."
"The people in Guanzhong have been suffering from war and famine for more than ten years. Now your Majesty is just increasing the corvee tax, so why can't you endure it?"
According to Xi Jian, the people in Guanzhong have been tortured to the point of despair, and now Liu Yu has just given them hope this year.
If they contribute manpower and material resources, it should go very smoothly.
"Your Majesty, I also think that more troops should be sent to Hanzhong." Xun Sui said from the side.
"Back then, Wei Wu and Emperor Zhaolie failed in their battle for Hanzhong, which allowed Yizhou to continue Han Zuo for decades. Now that Li Xiongxin has defeated Wang Dun, he has won the hearts of many people in Yizhou. If he is allowed to increase his troops and capture Hanzhong, That would be a repeat of Emperor Zhaolie’s situation back then.”
"Once you cut off your own path, it will be a hundred times more difficult to conquer Yizhou."
After hearing the suggestions from Xi Jian, Xun Sui and others, Liu Yu started to think again.
In Hanzhong, the problem of transporting grain and grass was actually bigger than the problem of combat.
Once they get into a fight, they will first consume each other's food supplies and energy.
Wait until one side can no longer hold on, and then use the final blow to determine the outcome.
Back then, when Liu Bei, Emperor Zhaolie of the Han Dynasty, captured Hanzhong, he basically followed this path.
Now it seems that his situation is the same as that of Cao Cao back then, but Li Xiong, who has the geographical advantage, is just like Liu Bei back then.
Under this situation, Liu Yu was really worried, fearing that the useless problems that Cao Cao faced back then would arise.
At least hundreds of thousands of people have to consume food rations for a year, and then maybe they get a 'tasteless' result?
In the end, Liu Yu agreed to the proposal to capture Hanzhong, and sent Xi Jianzhi to take charge of all matters concerning the capture of Hanzhong.
When Xi Jian left Yecheng, it happened to be the time when a group of Taixue students from Yecheng Imperial College were graduating.
Xi Jian was originally responsible for this matter, but now that he was going to Yongzhou, Liu Yu personally took over the matter.
The main direction of defense is Dongping Prefecture, which was the former Han four counties.
The Han army there was flying this red black dragon flag.
The Han army in Dongping Prefecture called this the "Huanghan Xuanlong Banner".
"General, these Qingzhou thieves actually came here?"
A Xianbei general said in surprise after hearing Murong Yun's words.
They never expected that in a remote and remote place like Mashijin, where even Xianbei despised poverty, the Qingzhou Han army would come across the sea.
"No, they probably aren't here to plunder."
Murong Yun said with a serious expression.
If the Han army came to plunder Liaodong County, they would definitely go to a wealthy city or around a village.
In that case, it would not only be food and money, but also many men and women.
There are only a few living people in Mashijin, so how could the Han army come here to plunder.
Then there is only one possibility.
"These Qingzhou thieves are here to steal territory!"
Murong Yun almost said these words through gritted teeth.
The Wubao on the opposite hillside is obviously a newly built city. The Qingzhou thieves want to control the surrounding roads.
As long as these forts and walls are built, the area south of Mashijin will no longer be under the control of the Murong family.
At this time, all the Han troops on the opposite side had completed their formation on the hillside.
Murong Yun squinted his eyes and made a quick estimate.
There were about a thousand people, but he didn't see any cavalry, but he knew that the Qingzhou thief Liu Yu had surrendered Kuntou and Suotou Xianbei, and there was no shortage of horses.
"Maybe their cavalry are hiding behind the hillside, waiting for me to attack, and then take advantage of the chaos to sneak up on me!"
Murong Yun immediately thought of the enemy's possible conspiracy.
At this time, the Xianbei cavalry he sent out was about to reach the front of the Han army.
Murong Yun silently thought in his heart that he would just find out the enemy's intention today. As for whether to continue fighting, he would let his brother Murong Gui make the decision.
Under the gaze of hundreds of Xianbei people in the distance, the red black dragon flag fluttering in the wind made a whirring sound.
Gao Yi, who was under the banner, stared blankly at the Xianbei rider running ahead.
At this time, a subordinate next to him asked him.
"Military Commander, a Xianbei is here. Do you want to give him an arrow?"
As he spoke, he shook the bow and arrow in his hand.
Gao Yi rolled his eyes at him and said with some dissatisfaction.
"If someone is flying a plain flag and shoots cold arrows, wouldn't it be too shabby?"
The subordinate had no choice but to put down the bow and arrow in his hand angrily.
At this time, the riders from the Murong tribe holding plain flags had also arrived at the bottom of the hillside.
They started shouting loudly from a distance of about forty or fifty steps.
"I am under the command of General Zhenglu of the Great Jin Dynasty, and there are so many people across from me. Why did you invade my land and kill my soldiers?"
The Murong cavalryman first shouted in Xianbei dialect, and then shouted again in a strange copycat Heluo tone.
"General Zhenglu? Who is he?"
Under the gaze of the Han soldiers on both sides, Gao Yi took a step forward, walked to the front of the formation and shouted loudly.
Upon seeing this, the Murong cavalryman knew that this was the leader of the 'invaders' and shouted loudly at Gao Yi.
"Murong Yun, General of the Great Jin Dynasty!"
After hearing the name, Gao Yi didn't even frown, and suddenly became wary.
"Murong Yun, that is Murong Gui's younger brother."
A guard with short hair on top and braids on the sides said in Gao Yi's ear.
"That's the big boss of Murong's tribe. There might be a large group of enemy troops behind him."
Gao Yi immediately prepared to fight at any time.
"I am Gao Yi, the prefect of Sanshan County of the Han Dynasty. I will go back and tell Murong Yun that from today on, Ma Shijin is the land of the Han Dynasty. Anyone who dares to trespass will be shot to death!"
After Gao Yi said that, he pointed at the heads hanging on the dock not far away and shouted again.
"If you don't listen, this is what will happen!"
Afterwards, the Han troops behind Gao Yi raised their weapons high and mocked the victor.
Murong Xianbei's cavalry did not react at all, but quickly turned their horses' heads and ran back.
"How about it, what is the Qingzhou thief opposite here doing?"
As soon as he saw Murong Yun, the cavalryman who sent the message was questioned.
"Report to the general, the right thieves are Qingzhou, they want to steal the land!"
Immediately, the Xianbei cavalry recounted the brief conversation to Murong Yun.
After listening to it, several Xianbei generals around them all showed doubts.
"Sanshan County, why have you never heard of it?"
"Gao Yi, the governor of Sanshan County? Where did he come from?"
Murong Yun snorted coldly.
"Sanshan County?"
"Hmph, these Qingzhou thieves regard Mashijin as their three counties."
After Murong Yun finished speaking, he pointed to the mountains in the distance to the south.
I saw exactly three of the most conspicuous mountains in the distance, on the land between the seas on both sides.
"These Qingzhou thieves are just looking for death!"
"General, let's go back and mobilize our troops and crush them!"
Several generals yelled viciously.
Murong Yun did not answer immediately, but continued to ask.
"Can you find out how many soldiers and horses the enemy has?"
"The villain doesn't know!"
"Does the thief have cavalry?"
"I don't know either."
After getting two 'I don't know's, Murong Yun lost interest in continuing to ask questions.
The Han army on the opposite side occupies the only main road, and there are obstacles on both sides. If it extends to both sides, there will be rough seas.
"We don't know the enemy's situation, so we can't act rashly. Let's retreat first."
Murong Yun immediately left a dozen cavalrymen to continue monitoring, and then returned with his own guards.
The Xianbei cavalry that came in a mighty force then left in a mighty force, but Gao Yi never relaxed his vigilance in his heart.
"Military leader, the thieves ran away in fear." A general shouted.
"No, they didn't run away. They should have gone back to mobilize more soldiers." The sergeant with short hair said.
"Yu Wenzhong, take a few people with you to drive away the thieves who are following you." Gao Yi said.
The short-haired sergeant named Yu Wenzhong immediately took the order and left.
With the sound of horse hoofbeats, a dozen cavalrymen rushed out from behind the hillside and rushed straight towards the few Murong Xianbei cavalrymen who stayed in place.
Seeing that the enemy came to kill them without saying a word, Murong Xianbei's cavalry did not dare to continue to follow them, and they all ran north in unison.
Looking at Murong Xianbei's cavalry being driven into the distance, Gao Yi felt a little relaxed.
Gao Yi was originally from the east of Qingzhou. Although his uncle was a bandit in Changguang Mountain when he was young, he later defected to Liu Bogen to rebel and was assigned to Liu Yu's command.
Because he was too young at the time, he never received much credit.
It was just that when Liu Yu formed the Young Yulin Soldiers, he was selected because of his suitable age.
Liu Yu wanted to drive a nail in Liaodong County this time and needed a suitable leader, so he happened to choose his old subordinate Gao Yi.
Immediately, Gao Yi led more than a thousand people to Mashijin in the name of the prefect of Sanshan County in Pingzhou of the Han Dynasty and the general against the bandits.
"Military leader, if a thief comes with a large army, what should we do?" asked a general.
A look of disdain immediately appeared on Gao Yi's mature face.
"As long as we follow His Majesty's request and build the forts and city walls and ditches here, it will be difficult for Murong Yun to attack even if he brings in a large army."
"What's more, Ma Shijin, oh no, Sanshan County is far away from Pingzhou City. Even if Murong Xianbei wants to mobilize a large army, it won't take more than a month to come back."
"With a month's time, we will definitely be able to build it."
Gao Yi is very confident about Mashijin to be built.
"What if they come back soon?" the general asked again.
The hundreds of Xianbei cavalry just now were already quite powerful. If they were to attack suddenly, they would be enough to kill more than a thousand Han troops.
"What are you afraid of? As long as you are alert, thieves will not even think of a sneak attack."
After Gao Yi said that, he ignored it.
After the Xianbei cavalry retreated, all the Han soldiers returned to their respective positions and went about their work.
At this time, several men with panicked expressions came out of the Wubao not far away.
As soon as these people saw Gao Yi, they immediately became a little excited.
"General, have all the Xianbei slaves left?"
"Is it really there?"
Looking at these panicked faces, Gao Yi felt a sense of pride in his heart.
He said angrily that the hundreds of Xianbei cavalry just now were so frightened that they fled without fighting after seeing the majesty of the Han army soldiers.
These Han people were immediately moved to tears, holding each other's hands and congratulating each other.
"Great, really great!"
"God, after so many years, I finally no longer worry about being robbed by Xianbei."
These people continued to ask Gao Yi.
"General, will those Xianbei slaves come back in the future?"
Gao Yi nodded firmly.
"Of course, come back. Murong Gui has always regarded Liaodong as his private property. Now that we have seized Ma Shijin, we will definitely send troops to retake it."
When these common people heard this, their faces were full of panic.
"What should we do?"
"What should we do? Of course we do!"
After Gao Yi said that, he pulled out his saber with a cry, and then continued.
"Let's kill some thieves if they come!"
Those Han people all looked embarrassed.
"But we don't have swords and guns. Even if we did, we would definitely not be a match for the Xianbei bandits."
Gao Yi has already been prepared for this.
"Don't worry, the emperor of Han Dynasty has already thought of it."
"We only need to build the forts and high walls here. Then no matter how many Xianbei people come, they will never be able to get past Ma Shijin."
"Okay, okay, let's repair Mashijin Pass immediately!"
"However, your manpower is still too few. I, the general, need more people." Gao Yi said.
"For those who come to build and farm, they will be given one day's rations until the wall is repaired!"
Several people and common people immediately helped and offered suggestions.
"General, if you go further north fifteen miles up the mountain, there is a large city with a population of several thousand people!"
"Then are you willing to lead the way?"
"It's okay to lead the way, but the place should be occupied by the Xianbei people now. Even if they go there, I'm afraid it will be difficult to do anything."
"This is not a problem. As long as we can find enough people, it doesn't matter even if there are a few Xianbei people."
