"Master."
In the evening, Bai Yu, who came back from court, greeted Dong Zhongshu, who was reading at his desk.
He bought a small courtyard in Chang'an and invited Dong Zhongshu to stay at his home temporarily.
Dong Zhongshu was sitting by the window in a leisurely manner, with his hair simply pulled into a bun and wearing only a white lining.
The room he was in was filled with a faint fragrance of pen and ink.
This is an additional change brought about by his cultivation realm.
Although it is just a simple ink fragrance, if you smell something evil, you will be greatly affected and even unable to bear it.
Confucianism has been cultivated to such a high level that it can survive on the fate of the country and has a mighty atmosphere.
Dong Zhongshu's handwriting is very beautiful, and he annotated it while reading it.
Bai Yu knelt down and helped grind: "Your Majesty is also planning to hold a banquet in Weiyang Palace to honor the merits of the generals in Beiguan.
I heard from the censor that your majesty personally delivered the edict to all the people to express Huo Qubing’s contribution. This kind of honor has never been given before. Even when General Wei invaded Dragon City, His Majesty never praised him like this. "
Dong Zhongshu looked calm: "Huo Qubing grew up beside His Majesty and received the emperor's teachings.
Since ancient times, the particularity of the monarch-minister relationship must be considered for ministers who can be raised by the emperor.
The higher his achievements, the happier His Majesty will be, because Huo Qubing's achievements and behavior are influenced by His Majesty to a certain extent, which is an extension. "
Dong Zhong said in a soothing voice: "I have thought about it carefully in the past few days. You have to remember that it does not matter if we suppress or even be hostile to Huo Qubing. There are disputes and contests among various families in the court, and the civil and military disputes are actually part of the state affairs.
But you must not criticize Huo Qubing's military exploits, that would be questioning His Majesty.
You can't even see this clearly? "
Bai Yu said in shame: "Disciple is stupid."
"You are not stupid, but you have never met a peer who is so dazzling that it makes others lose any brilliance. You are probably proud in your heart, so you want to compete with him. I don't object, but you must Know the timing.”
Bai Yu bowed to show that he was taught.
"In my opinion, Master, Huo Qubing defeated the Xiongnu rear with thousands of troops, defeating an army ten times our own? The Xiongnu are not that easy to fight, right?"
He was not questioning, but discussing.
Not only did he have doubts about the military exploits given in the notice, Fan Xie, Zhou Ping and others also secretly had their own guesses.
"You have to admit that some people can make things look easy, that's why some people are called geniuses."
Dong Zhongshu thought deeply and said: "The edict given by His Majesty will not be false. How dare you falsely report military achievements? In the worst case, it will shake the foundation of the country.
He led his army to defeat the Huns. Relying on the advantage of surprise attacks, the Huns were not fully prepared and it was possible for them to break down their camps one after another. "
Bai Yu said: "Your Majesty has asked Master to go with him to participate in the award ceremony for the brave generals of Beiguan, and he wants to have a big banquet for all the ministers."
Dong Zhongshu glanced at his disciple.
If a banquet is held to reward a soldier, he must be allowed to go.
Are you trying to slap his old face...
When he was in His Majesty's study, Huo Qubing shouldn't have been stopped before he left for the expedition... Dong Zhongshu regretted that he couldn't calm down for a while.
"Then go ahead. You have to acknowledge what you said."
Dong Zhongshu asked: "Huo Qubing returned to Chang'an?"
"It should be in Beiguan. When the situation stabilizes, I will come back with General Wei."
Bai Yu said: "However, the censor and Taichang said that Huo Qubing took a break from the Xiongnu battlefield and returned to Chang'an to meet with His Majesty."
"So he returned to Chang'an first and then went to Beiguan?"
Dong Zhongshu nodded and said, "That's right."
"Everything is correct?" Bai Yu asked puzzledly.
"Yesterday, the Yushi Fan family told me that the Qiang, Di and other tribes on the western front have also withdrawn their troops.
I was not sure before, but it seems that Huo Qubing really retreated from the west of the Xiongnu territory, passing through the Western Region, the intersection of Qiang and Di, and then turned back to Chang'an from the west, and then went to Beiguan to report to Wei Qing.
The timing is right. "
Bai Yu said in surprise: "Master, what you mean is that he went outside Xiguan on his way back and attacked the troops of the Qiang and Di tribe who threatened our Han border?"
"It is not difficult for him to attack the Xiongnu, rest for a while on the way back, and then attack the Qiang, Di and other tribes."
The Qiang and Di and other nomadic tribes were scattered in power, did not have a unified and powerful political power, and their fighting power was far inferior to that of the Xiongnu.
Huo Qubing came back and dispersed them in a surprise attack, which was a basic operation.
Dong Zhongshu sighed lightly and said: "From this point of view, Huo Qubing is not only brave but also not selfish.
Do you remember that in Fanxi, Zhou Ping and others repeatedly proposed to mobilize troops to strengthen defense because of the gathering of foreign troops in Xiguan?
Now that Huo Qubing has led his troops to easily disperse the foreign tribes, who can share your Majesty's worries and who is more worthy of your trust compared with Fan Xi and Zhou Ping? "
"Don't get too close to Fanxi."
Bai Yu's complexion changed slightly.
Emperor Liu Che changed his ministers more frequently than his harem concubines. During his reign, he changed more than ten prime ministers alone.
Dong Zhongshu's meaning is very obvious. He is not optimistic about how long Fan Xi can continue to sit in the position of censor.
————
In early July, Huo Qubing returned to Chang'an with Wei Qing and other generals.
During this period, Wei Qing led the army and had several small-scale battles with the Xiongnu on the grassland, pursuing attacks along the way.
At the end of June, Wei Qing led his army to retreat and rest.
However, the Xiongnu had retreated deep into the prairie, and Wei Qing and other generals received an imperial edict from the emperor, asking them to return to Chang'an.
July 6th, the sun is scorching hot.
A group of more than 10,000 soldiers and horses, together with the Chang'an Guards who went on an expedition, are on their way back to Chang'an.
The current situation in Beiguan has basically been calmed down.
To sum up, in this battle between Han and Hungary, neither side achieved the desired result, and there was no unreserved battle throughout the whole process.
The reason was that Huo Qubing's attack completely disrupted the Xiongnu's deployment.
After learning that Qu Meng had also been killed, Yi Zhixie decided to withdraw his troops.
The main significance of Huo Qubing's surprise attack on the Xiongnu's rear was that it posed a great threat to the Xiongnu in terms of strategy, so that the Xiongnu would not dare to attack the Han without reservation in the future.
Returning to Chang'an in the carriage with the army, Wei Qing looked at Huo Qubing who was sitting opposite.
The two met not long ago. Wei Qing returned from chasing the Xiongnu, and the two were able to see each other.
"When you attacked the Xiongnu royal court, did you sense that there was danger deep in the royal tent?" Wei Qing asked.
Not seen for the past few months, this nephew who had traveled thousands of miles had an increasingly grim face, clear lines, and more military and indestructible aura than before.
Huo Qubing: "There is a murderous intention deep in the Xiongnu royal court. I have sensed it in advance. Unfortunately, the soldiers I brought are not enough. If there are ten thousand troops, and the energy of the soldiers is consistent, there may be a chance to attack the Xiongnu royal court."
Wei Qing laughed dumbly: "Is ten thousand people enough?"
Huo Qubing did not answer but asked: "Has uncle thought of another strategy?
When the Huns withdraw this time, their troops and horses will quickly disperse and return to their respective tribes, with the purpose of harvesting the last summer harvest and herding horses.
If we raise our troops to raid the Huns in August, we only need 30,000 to 50,000 elite troops, marching quickly and trying to be hidden, so that we can penetrate directly into the heart of the Xiongnu royal court. It was too late for all the troops to hit the enemy and return to defense!
If this proposal is successful, what will be the result? "
Wei Qing was shocked and his eyes flashed:
"Your attack on the Huns' rear this time is actually a strategic test and route attempt, so that you can attack the Huns again in the future?"
Huo Qubing raised the corner of his mouth.
If he goes through it, he can't exactly follow the champion's trajectory, so what's the point?
In fact, he did not use all his strength in his attack on the Huns. He did some things and others not.
The real intention, idea, is just like what Wei Qing said.
Everyone thought that this battle was a shocking achievement. Who would have thought that he only regarded the previous battle as a test.
His real goal was to overthrow the Xiongnu's Great Chan Yu Yi Zhixie.
If they can really raise their troops at the end of August, Yi Zhixie, the Xiongnu, and even the whole world will be caught off guard.
Taking back the things that foreigners took away from the Han people and the humiliation that the people suffered, and doubling it, is what Huo Qubing has been pursuing!
Of course, wanting to attack the Huns on a large scale is not as simple as it sounds.
The premise is that a large amount of combat preparations, materials, and even military rations are prepared and mobilized in advance.
But the just-concluded Battle of Dingxiangbei, because there was no major battle between the two sides, provided innate conditions for subsequent battles.
The previous consumption itself was not large. In preparation for the war in Dingxiangbei, Beiguan had consumed less than half of the supplies it had hoarded.
This provided the basis for Huo Qubing's proposal to fight again.
At present, the things in Beiguan have not been withdrawn to various places. If there is another war in the short term, the mobilization can be completely reduced, which greatly increases the concealment and convenience.
Huo Qubing made his real suggestion at this moment, and the time was just right.
So when Wei Qing heard this, his heart moved. He thought about it and said:
"You have had this idea for a long time, so you didn't use all your means in the previous attack and just left as soon as you touched the royal court?
You continued to attack the Xiongnu's rear, but the Xiongnu's front army did not retreat. You also remained behind the Xiongnu's rear and did not retreat. Just to prevent the two sides from having a war, reduce consumption, and save armaments for you to start another war?
You had this plan, why didn't you tell me earlier? "
Huo Qubing said calmly: "I have had this idea for a long time, but I have to go through the Huns before I can decide whether to propose it to my uncle. Otherwise, it will always stay in the idea stage.
If uncle agrees, we will go to His Majesty and tell him, if His Majesty also agrees. Haha, the Xiongnu will be in a big disaster this summer and autumn.
When I left the Xiongnu before, I said that I would lead troops to penetrate his royal court. "
Wei Qing said thoughtfully: "Your fighting method is too dangerous. Have you ever thought that if you lose, you won't have a chance to retain your strength and fight again.
And if we want to fight a big war, there are some materials and soldiers that need to be mobilized. One month is too tight.
The civil servants... would not support going to war twice a year and exhausting the country's strength. "
"There is no such exaggeration as depleting the national power. Less than half of the things prepared for the Battle of Dingxiangbei were consumed. I have carefully calculated that if we attack in my way, the remaining materials will be enough to fight a battle."
Huo Qubing smiled and said, "Besides, I am different from my uncle. I have the spirit to defeat the enemy. If I choose the strategy of gentleness and stability, my cultivation will slow down."
"Let me think about this."
Wei Qing thought for a while and then changed the subject: "I heard that you withdrew from the Hun Palace and captured a few Hun prisoners. Where are the people?"
"After returning from the border of the Western Region, I asked Zhao Ponu to deliver the Huns prisoners to Roshina in the Western Region." Huo Qubing said.
Wei Qing thought for a moment and understood his nephew's intention.
It was of strategic significance to take Luo Gubi, the uncle of the Xiongnu Great Chanyu, as a prisoner and send him to the Western Regions.
Da Shanyu's uncle Luo Gubi is definitely a hot potato for the Western Regions.
Send it to the Western Regions, how to deal with it will be a headache for the Western Regions.
If he were to be sent back to the Xiongnu, it would be tantamount to offending the Han, and the Xiongnu might not be grateful for it, and it might even be regarded as a humiliation.
Therefore, if Luo Gubi is sent back, the people of the Western Regions will not be pleased with him inside and outside, and he may even be angered by the Huns.
If not, the best way is to secretly kill Luo Gubi and digest it himself.
Huo Qubing sent Luo Gubi to the Western Regions to force the Western Regions to express their stance and get closer to the Han Dynasty.
If Xiyu kills Luo Gubi, the two parties are equivalent to using Luo Gubi as a contract and reaching conditions for further cooperation.
"Well done!" Wei Qing figured out the key and praised.
"I guess my uncle will be promoted to Grand Sima this time!"
The great Sima of the Han Dynasty was Taiwei, one of the three princes.
The most prominent military position in the dynasty was in charge of all the military equipment of the Han Dynasty.
The nephew and uncle talked all the way, and three days later the team approached Chang'an.
In the past three days, Wei Qing had spent most of his time deducing the assault proposed by Huo Qubing. It was indeed very tempting and very feasible.
When you get back, you can secretly tell the emperor to suppress the war preparation materials in Dingxiangbei and not to withdraw...
When the team arrived ten miles outside Chang'an, Taichang Zhou Ping, the head of the nine ministers in charge of state ceremonies, came to greet them personally.
In the morning, the sun is just right.
Cicadas chirp on the treetops, and green leaves follow the wind.
When Wei Qing saw Zhou Ping, he got out of the car.
Zhou Ping glanced at Huo Qubing, who was following Wei Qing, and he couldn't help but sigh in his heart.
In just one month, the seventeen-year-old captain actually fought his way back from the Huns' rear and returned to Chang'an.
No wonder His Majesty likes him. Who can be so fond of such a brave and unparalleled general?
"Your Majesty said that when the general returns to the court, he should welcome all the generals into the city according to the national etiquette. There are also people in the city waiting for the generals who have returned from Beiguan, especially Huo Hou. Your Majesty asked you to ride on horseback and be in front of the generals."
What Zhou Ping meant was that in order to boost the morale of the people, the emperor planned to let them parade through the streets and put Huo Qubing first in line.
"You want me to ride into the city and let the people watch?"
Huo Qubing thought to himself: If I say that I am afraid of society, I guess no one in this era will understand how to avoid being paraded on the street. Can anyone help me with some advice? It’s very urgent.
While he was teasing himself, he saw Zhou Ping taking out the clothes that Liu Che had awarded him, which were like opera robes, ready to dress him up.
There are also special clothes for showing off to the public... Huo Qubing was stunned.
Zhou Ping said: "After we enter the city, we go south from Anmen Street and enter the palace to see His Majesty.
Main Street has been closed off for safety reasons. People along the way are waiting on the side of the street and are not allowed to move forward without permission.
His Majesty also arranged a grand banquet, and there will be rewards at that time. "
It seems that there is no way to hide... Huo Qubing was appointed by Zhou Ping. The clothes he put on were smoked and smelled of flowers.
Silver robe and green horse.
He was soon dressed as a white-faced general.
Even Jin'an's horse had a crown on its head.
It kept looking up with its huge horse eyes, trying to see what it was wearing.
Ps: Huo Qubing had the intention to explore the road before the battle... his true thoughts are now exposed. I said before that there were few troops and it was inconvenient to go ahead. It was unexpected and in line with Huo Qubing's character. He was a bit awesome, right?
(This short paragraph is not included in the billed word count) The important thing is that this chapter still has more than 4,000 words. Please vote and subscribe~
(End of chapter)
