"How virtuous and capable is the Khitan Lord? He dares to take the throne. Do you really think that we have no one in the Central Plains?" After Liu Zhiyuan finished speaking, the hall was silent for a short moment. Liu Xin, the commander of the Xingjie Army, spoke first and expressed his indignation. He often turns to what has become a common topic these days: "Brother, since the Jin Dynasty is dead and the people are helpless, please hurry up and give orders to all directions to prevent the enemy from attacking the north!"
Liu Xin was Liu Zhiyuan's younger brother. He was a violent man with little talent. He only relied on his status as a member of the Liu clan to occupy a high position in Hedong. It seems that these opinions may be his thoughts, but the wording is drafted for him in advance by his adviser. Recently, he was one of the Hedong civil and military officials who actively encouraged Liu Zhiyuan to join.
After all, they are from the Liu family. Even if they don't have any profound insights, they can still feel the rare opportunity. Examples of one person attaining enlightenment and a chicken or a dog ascending to heaven are all too common in this era.
Looking at Liu Xin, Liu Zhiyuan didn't say a word, as if waiting for his next words. It's a pity that Liu Xin has nothing left in his stomach, so he looks at Liu Zhiyuan blankly and says nothing.
It was Liu Chong who answered the question, raised his hand to Liu Zhiyuan, and persuaded in a positive tone: "Brother, I believe that what I said makes sense. Today, apart from you, there is no hero who can turn the tide and rebuild the world." Compared with Liu Xin, Liu Xin Chong looked calmer, but the hope in his eyes could not be concealed at all.
Unfortunately, I also failed to get positive feedback from Liu Zhiyuan. With a formidable expression on his serious face, Liu Zhiyuan turned his attention to others, hoping to get advice.
Seeing this, Yang Bing, the governor of Jiedu, spoke slowly and said slowly: "Your Majesty, the Khitan master has the intention to sweep the world and annex the eight wastelands. He has occupied the Central Plains and Hebei, and his power reaches Guanyou. How can Hedong be left alone? Although the king sent envoys twice and failed to show his sincerity, he still sent elite troops to guard the passes. This was both a precaution and a sign of fear. With the cunningness of the Khitan master, how could he not have noticed it. The king is the founder of the Jin Dynasty, with high virtue and prestige, and also supports In the land of the king, given the current situation, if we don’t advance, we will retreat, so please end it as soon as possible!”
Yang Bin's attitude is also very clear, persuade him to come in!
Under Liu Zhiyuan, Yang Bin gradually became the leader of the government. His statement completely aroused the resonance of all civil and military officials. Soon, everyone present spoke one after another, showing more or less positive attitudes.
Only Chang Si, the commander of the prison capital, tried to remind him: "The Khitan drinks the Ma River, and there are hundreds of thousands of tiger and wolf soldiers running rampant in the Central Plains. With the power of the east of the river, it may be difficult to defeat them. Otherwise... Or should we wait and see for a while?”
Chang Si is not young, has old hair, but is very energetic. This man started out as a soldier, but had little military exploits and mediocre abilities, so he was able to hold the position of general. It was just his luck that Liu Zhiyuan took notice of him. However, this man had a close friendship with Guo Wei. When Guo Wei was in his later years, he often fed and clothed his family and treated him as his father and uncle. Even to this day, he still calls him Uncle Chang in private.
Perhaps he also realized that his tone was too weak. Under the eyes of everyone, Chang Si smiled and hurriedly changed his tone and swore: "It's not that the last general is timid to the enemy and has the Khitan majesty. Your Majesty has an order, but the last general's muscles and bones are old. But you dare to pick up your sword and mount your horse to charge into battle for the king!"
Hearing his expression of loyalty, Liu Zhiyuan had some reaction. He raised his hand to stop the agitated veteran, and said calmly: "You are speaking from experience. It is an indisputable fact that the Khitan army is strong. Even if you think about it, you will be able to step on it." The iron horse and the golden sword in the mountains and rivers will inevitably be afraid!"
Liu Zhiyuan's words were filled with fear of the Khitan, but looking at his expression, it was just fear. In this era, as a qualified hero, when ambition is aroused, even if the Khitan army is doubled, let alone hundreds of thousands of Khitan troops, it is impossible to surrender without a fight.
At this time, Shi Hongzhao stood up with excitement and said loudly: "Although the Khitan troops are numerous, I am not afraid! I don't believe it. Three hundred thousand Khitan soldiers are all strong soldiers. The king is standing in the east of the river, with strong soldiers and horses. Tens of thousands of swordsmen think that they can rely on it, so why fear the Khitan?"
Shi Hongzhao's passionate and generous words were quite encouraging, and Liu Zhiyuan couldn't help but express admiration in his eyes when he looked at him. Although this person is irritable, vulgar, stubborn, and arrogant, his courage is real. Coupled with the loyalty that is often shown on his face, he is even trusted by Liu Zhiyuan.
However, there were always people who didn't buy his account. A slightly sinister voice sounded from the side: "Sharp your sword horizontally? General Shi's heroic spirit soared into the sky. Haha, it seems that you want to imitate Jing Yanguang." Got it!"
The person who spoke out was Wang Zhang, the official of Kongmu, the capital of both envoys. This was an official under Liu Zhiyuan. He was in charge of government affairs together with Yang Bin and was in charge of money and grain.
Jing Yanguang was a "big man" in the Later Jin Dynasty. He was also born in the military. He was famous for his archery skills and physical strength. He served in the Later Liang, Later Tang, and Later Jin dynasties, but his true rise had to be followed by Shi Jingtang, the ancestor of the Jin Dynasty. In the process of recruiting Khitan for aid, Shi Jingtang made great achievements in seizing the Central Plains from the south and establishing the Jin Dynasty on behalf of the Tang Dynasty.
When Shi Jingtang was in trouble both internally and externally, and died of grief and anger, he was relied upon to be the minister of Tuogu, and served as a powerful minister for a long time. At that time, the young emperor Shi Chonggui succeeded to the throne, and Jing Yanguang, who was in power, launched a top-down "anti-Khitan" movement. After some "angry youth" actions, Yelv Deguang and Shi Chonggui's "grandfather and grandson" were separated.
In this process, the phrase "sharpening the sword horizontally" came into being. At that time, Jing Yanguang gave a tough response to Qiao Rong, the Khitan envoy who came to the south to hold him accountable. One of the words said: There are a hundred thousand people in the Jin Dynasty sharpening their swords. If Weng wants to fight, he will come early. These words were spoken with impassioned passion and overwhelming pride.
But after being invaded by the Khitans from the south, Jing Yanguang immediately swallowed his words. The Khitan destroyed the Jin Dynasty and launched three large-scale southward attacks. The first two were blocked by the Jin State, and there were considerable victories. The officers and soldiers of the Jin State were not afraid of Beidi and fought bloody battles. On the contrary, Jing Yanguang was afraid of fighting when leading the troops and was timid when facing the enemy. He behaved very cowardly. Last year, when the Khitans marched south again, Yelv Deguang entered Bian. Unable to bear the responsibility of "provoking a national war", he strangled his throat and committed suicide in fear of punishment.
Wang Zhang compared Shi Hongzhao to Jing Yanguang, which was obviously not a good word.
Although Shi Hongzhao was a standard martial artist mass-produced in this era, he was vulgar and irritable, fond of martial arts and disliked literature, and had a very bad temper. Although he was not familiar with the concept of "sharpening swords horizontally", he was even a little confused.
But the sarcasm in Wang Zhang's tone was actually felt. His irritable temper suddenly broke out. He blushed and looked at him angrily, and said sternly: "So what? How do you treat me?"
"In front of the king, what can I do? How dare I do that?" Compared to Shi Hongzhao's stern look, Wang Zhang looked very graceful and said calmly in the face of his fierce gaze: "I have no other intention, I just want to remind you. General, arrogant soldiers are easy to lose, let alone, in front of the Khitan army, we have no capital to be arrogant. Military battles are important matters, life and death are at stake, so we must not be careless!"
Wang Zhang's words seemed to remind Shi Hongzhao, and he glanced at Liu Zhiyuan subconsciously, but when he saw his serious expression, his heart skipped a beat, and he quickly apologized: "I have lost my composure, please punish me!"
Having been watching this wonderful show, Liu Chengyou couldn't help but have a hint of amusement and amusement in his eyes. The people under Liu Zhiyuan are not monolithic at all, and they have criticized each other more than once or twice. That is to say, under Liu Zhiyuan's suppression, he could still maintain harmony among the generals and help each other in the same boat.
Liu Zhiyuan's mind was obviously not on the dispute among his subordinates. He waved his hand and pondered for a while before looking at Wang Zhang: "Everything about Qiangu in the east of the river is entrusted to you. The general affairs are spent and the military resources are wasted. Please report to the envoy." Gu'an. Well... if we use troops, will the warehouses be enough?"
Facing Liu Zhiyuan's inquiry, Wang Zhang did not hesitate, straightened up and held a courtesy, and solemnly replied: "After several years of operation, although there is little surplus, the money in the east of the river is still empty. However, the weather is fierce today. If the king wants to send his troops southward, Even though I have worked hard, I am determined to raise 50,000 horse and infantry troops for the king, which will last for half a year!"
Liu Zhiyuan was obviously very satisfied with Wang Zhang's guarantee, and his slightly stern eyebrows couldn't help but raise.
He raised his eyes and slowly glanced around the officials in the hall. After seeing that no one expressed his opinion, Liu Zhiyuan sighed with emotion and expressed his position: "The Rong and Di are plundering, the state of China is ups and downs, and I lead the east of the river alone. I only ask to protect and govern the people." It is enough to be free from the scourge of war and enjoy peace, so why should we ask for anything more? Don't say too much about raising an army!"
"Let's all disperse!" After another pause, Liu Zhiyuan stood up, looked solemn, and walked away.
Liu Zhiyuan left, and all the civil and military personnel present looked at each other, somewhat helpless. Liu Chengyou quietly paid attention to the reaction of his eldest brother Liu Chengxun, and saw that his handsome face was full of contemplation, looking "preoccupied".
From the beginning to the end of the meeting, Liu Chengyou did not say a word, but just listened silently. After everyone dispersed, Liu Chengyou also stood up, and with calm steps he caught up with another person who also said nothing.
"General Guo!"
Hearing the slightly dry call, Guo Wei stopped, turned around, looked at Liu Chengyou with some surprise, and clasped his fists respectfully: "What's the matter with calling the general?"
Liu Chengyou tightened his sleeves with his hands, clasped his hands behind his back, and looked at Guo Wei from a distance. With a solemn and courteous manner and a cautious expression, Liu Chengyou secretly sighed in his heart. At this time, Guo Wei was an educated martial artist, well-educated and not at all arrogant. It is really difficult for ordinary people to feel disgusted.
"Just now in the hall, all the princes spoke enthusiastically, but the general looked calm and did not say a word, but why?" Liu Chengyou looked at Guo Wei calmly and asked. The tone was flat, even a little boring.
Guo Wei also looked at Liu Chengyou. Of course he knew about the "extraordinaryness" of the second prince of Peking, but when he heard about it, he couldn't help but wonder. Under the young man's close gaze, he suddenly felt a little awkward in his heart, but he replied calmly: "The general speaks lightly and has little knowledge, so it is inconvenient to make unreasonable comments."
Seeing Guo Wei's humble look, Liu Chengyou's face did not change at all, but his voice was slightly higher: "General, why should you belittle yourself? I often hear adults say that the general is witty and intelligent, and his words are always meaningful and sincere. The current situation is turbulent. I have nowhere to go to the east of the river, so I ask the general to give me some advice."
After listening to his words and looking at Liu Chengyou's numb expression, Guo Wei's eyelids drooped slightly, and he thought for a few times before speaking eloquently: "No matter how much we talk about the future of Hedong, it will all be in the King of Peiping's thoughts. With the king's He is wise, wise, resolute, and I am afraid he has a plan in mind. The general will wait, just wait for the opportunity, wait for the direction of the king's horse, and go with the sword..."
After Guo Wei finished speaking, he observed Liu Chengyou's reaction, which was still autistic and uncomfortable. With his mind racing, Liu Chengyou asked in a strong tone: "Where will the opportunity come from?"
"Perhaps, when Wang Xiufeng and Bai Gong return to Jinyang, the situation will become clear." After thinking about it, Guo Wei said.
"I've learned a lesson!" He replied calmly, without saying any more words. If his thoughtful eyes moved away from Guo Wei, Liu Chengyou cupped his hands and walked slowly towards the inner courtyard of the palace.
Looking at Liu Chengyou's back, Guo Wei couldn't help but feel a little turbulent in his calm heart. His brows were slightly furrowed. Liu Chengyou's gaze just now actually made him feel a little palpitated. The second prince of Peiping seems to be very concerned about him. Why is this? I couldn't help but feel a little suspicious.
Taking a deep breath and shaking his head, Guo Wei walked quietly outside the palace, muttering: "This Prince of Peiping, Erlang, the city is getting deeper and deeper..."
Liu Chengyou looked for Guo Wei, naturally just for testing. Facts have proved that this person has some skills in assessing the situation, and he sees the situation very accurately. Liu Chengyou also agreed with him in his heart. Liu Zhiyuan really had to wait for the two people to return north before he could make up his mind about the trends in Hedong.
The Wang Xiufeng and Bai Gong mentioned by Guo Wei refer to Wang Jun and Bai Wenke. Wang Jun was born in Xiangzhou, with the courtesy name Xiufeng. When he was young, he moved to many places and changed owners several times. It was not until he took refuge with Liu Zhiyuan that he settled down. He is a general in the military. Although his rank and status are not high, he is quite capable and efficient in doing things, and is highly appreciated by Liu Zhiyuan.
Previously, he was sent to Bianliang as an envoy by Liu Zhiyuan to present congratulatory gifts to Khitan and express his loyalty. By the way, he explained to Yelu Deguang the reason why he did not dare to leave the town and go to Beijing to pay homage in person, and to test his attitude. Of course, more important is the "spy" mission. Yelv Deguang took control of Bianliang, and the people of Henan Province in the Central Plains were deeply poisoned by him. News of this kind came one after another, but what exactly happened still requires on-the-spot "investigation" by dedicated personnel.
As for Bai Wenke, he was a native of Jinyang. He was over 70 years old and had an official residence in Beijing as deputy stay-at-home officer. He was also ordered to serve in Bian, which was exactly the same as Wang Jun's mission.
The distance between Jinyang and Bianjing is actually not that far. Ignoring the mountains and rivers, the straight-line distance is only seven or eight hundred miles. Bai Wenke came out later. Needless to say, Wang Jun had been in Bian for nearly half a month. After delaying for a long time, he expected to return to Jinyang.
There were endless thoughts and thoughts in his mind. As he moved around, Liu Chengyou's expression became even more indifferent. When he arrived in front of his mother Li's court, Fang stretched out his hands and rubbed his face, trying to make his facial muscles softer, before entering to say hello...
