In mid-March of the fourth year of Qianyou's reign, Emperor Liu Chengyou of the Han Dynasty led the elites of two divisions of the imperial army and a group of Fengchen sergeants to hunt in Dunqiu, accompanied by his queen and concubines. The two commanders of Fenchen Camp were sent to Wang Yansheng, and they competed with each other. Shi Yanchao, a warrior on horseback, competed with Wang Yansheng, known as "Wang Jian'er", and naturally fell behind.
After three days of hunting in the spring, they returned with a full load. The noble concubine Gao and the Xian concubine Zhe also rode horses and bows to shoot. Zhe defeated them and got five pheasants and two hares.
Liu Chengyou also came off the scene, galloping on horseback, with hunting dogs chasing in front, and knights surrounding him. The emperor bent his bow and shot, killing a deer with one shot. All the troops watched and shouted, "Long live the mountain."
Of course, what made Liu Chengyou most happy was that in the subsequent battle drills between the armies, several young officers emerged who performed well. Although they were low-level officers at the battalion and team levels, it was obvious that except for Pan Mei, who had long been in the eyes of the emperor, In addition to Ma Renyu, there are others such as Shi Shouxin, Han Chongyun, Han Lingkun, Dang Jin and others.
Especially Shi Shouxin, Liu Chengyou looked at him several times, but he couldn't help it, this person was as "famous" as Pan Mei. For a time, Liu Chengyou was a hero in the world, and he had the pleasure of becoming a hero. After returning to the capital, Liu Chengyou ordered the Privy Council to reward these people and register them in the Ministry of War.
After three full months, the Privy Council and the Ministry of War have completed their analysis, responsibilities and powers have been clarified, and the national military and political orders are back on track. Of course, there are still some areas where the boundaries are blurred, such as military registration and relocation. This is not to ignore it, but to restrict and supervise each other.
In the Chongzheng Hall, Wei Renpu, Wang Pu, Gao Xingzhou, and Murong Yanzhao were ordered to gather together several important civil and military ministers. Looking at their arrangement, you can know that the emperor is discussing the army.
While looking at several important ministers and ordering tea and soup to be served, Liu Chengyou looked around and said directly: "Youyan, Dingzhou, Cangzhou, Yingzhou, Daizhou and other prefectures have reported one after another that the Khitans have invaded our borders and robbed us. Scholars and people, the states to the north are extremely disturbed by them, and I am deeply troubled by them!"
Wei Renpu, who was standing by, added: "It has been more than three years since the Battle of Luancheng. Based on detailed investigation reports and observations from various border states, counties and merchants, it can be seen from all sources that the Khitan has become stronger during this period." Recovered quite a bit.”
"In the past two years, due to the severe loss of vitality and several setbacks at the gates of Youzhou City, there was no large-scale invasion of the invaders. However, from the autumn of last year to the spring, the Khitan cavalry went south and invaded our Han territory. The size of the cavalry has reached seventy The remaining times, this spring alone, there have been more than thirty times, and the fortresses in the north are full of wars."
"Moreover, this time there are some barbaric cavalry, some with hundreds of cavalry, some with no more than a thousand cavalry. They specialize in killing and plundering the people and disrupting our production. The officers and soldiers attack, fight if it is beneficial, and retreat if it is unfavorable. They even give up seizing property and never entangle them. The battle was very flexible. King Zhao Kuangzan of Yan and He Fujin of Hebei both sent troops to attack, but very little was gained."
Murong Yanzhao, who had been guarding Hebei for two years, heard the news and couldn't help being angry: "The Hu bandits are so rampant, I wish I could follow Wei Huo and drive north to the grassland!"
Of course, this can only be said. The dangers of Yanshan Mountain and the Great Wall are still in the hands of the enemy, and the cavalry is insufficient, so there is no way out. Even if you attack reluctantly and have nothing to rely on behind you, you will only die. To put it harshly, the Khitan people who have recovered their strength can shit and pee on the head of a big man without any scruples.
Although he knew this reality in his heart, Murong Yanzhao's ambition still deserves encouragement and praise: "General Murong, his ambition is commendable and his spirit is commendable!"
"It seems a little unusual that the Khitans are so anxious to harass the border, and their tactics are so cunning!" Gao Xingzhou, the father-in-law, said with his eyebrows twisted and his beard stroked.
After glancing at the old commander, Wei Renpu said: "What King Linqing said is true. The southernmost Khitan cavalry actually went deep into the river. Although the commander-in-chief sent troops to hunt and kill him, he is still arrogant! I'm afraid there are other Khitan people. Planned."
After Wei Renpu finished speaking, everyone present looked solemn. Liu Chengyou stood up and stopped at the map hanging on the side of the hall. Every time he looked at the missing pieces of the Han territory, he felt very displeased.
Others also stepped forward. This time the Khitan invaded the border area, the scale of their troops seemed small, but the area affected was very wide, stretching thousands of miles from east to west.
"Do you think this is a sign of the Khitan's large-scale invasion of the south?" Suddenly, Liu Chengyou turned around and asked.
"Your Majesty!" After saying this, Wang Pu stood up, with a bitter look on his face, and solemnly said to Liu Chengyou: "I'm afraid, our court has to prepare for the worst!"
"What do you think?" Liu Chengyou took a breath and looked at his chief conspirator Wei Renpu.
Wei Renpu's expression was serious, he thought about it carefully, and said cautiously: "Your Majesty's guess, combined with the situation in Khitan in recent years, is very likely!"
Without waiting for Liu Chengyou to ask, Wei Renpu explained: "The Khitan is a serious problem for our country. Although there has been no major war in recent years, we never dare to be careless. The Military Intelligence Department under the Privy Council has also invested a lot of effort to explore its domestic situation."
"The former Khitan leader died at the hands of His Majesty. The Khitan leader Yelu Ruan led his troops northward four years ago to fight for the throne. Empress Youshu Lu and her uncle Li Hu were in Zuzhou, which offended a large number of Khitan nobles. After succeeding to the throne, Wei Jia The various tribes cut off their people in order to strengthen their own tribes. They rewarded their trusted ministers greatly, appointed ministers of the Han Dynasty in the north, and despised the Khitan nobles. All these measures made the Khitan master lose the heart of the clan and the nobles. From the first year of Qianyou to Qianlong In the second year of You, Yelu Tiande, Xiao Han and other clans successively plotted rebellions and coups, which proved that the Khitan was not stable internally."
"As for the Khitan Lord Yelu Ruan, although he has a reputation of benevolence, he is full of ambition and has the intention of invading the south. When he lost Youzhou, after a little reorganization, he sent Yelu An Tuan to lead the army south to serve as the king of Yan Zhao Yanshou led the army and the people. Fight until you die."
“Thinking of the domestic situation in the Khitan, I boldly guess that if the Khitan leader raises his troops to go south, firstly, he can act as a beggar-thy-neighbor and suppress the dissatisfied nobles and tribes in the country; secondly, he can take the opportunity to control the armies; thirdly, he can avenge the great defeat; fourthly, If we try to recapture Youyan and even Hebei, if it doesn't work, we will take away the wealth and people, and if it doesn't work, it will destroy the production of our Hebei provinces."
After listening to Wei Renpu's explanation, the hall was extremely quiet, and the atmosphere was a little depressing for a while.
After looking at the map for a long time, Liu Chengyou couldn't help but sigh: "Although what Wei Qing said is just speculation, the analysis is well-organized and based on the situation, I dare not be cautious. I would rather believe that it exists than that it does not exist. Everyone, if the Khitan really makes a big move How to deal with going south?”
As soon as this question came out, Wang Pu's expression changed again and again, and he gritted his teeth and said: "Your Majesty, if the Khitan really launches a large-scale invasion to the south, then our strategy of attacking Huainan will have to be adjusted or even postponed!"
It can be seen that Wang Pujin made a very difficult decision with his words. Among the officials, the one who cares most about the Southern Expedition is Wang Pu. After all, this was the "pacification policy" he proposed as soon as he came out of the mountain, and he spent a lot of effort preparing, adjusting, and optimizing it along the way.
Liu Chengyou looked at him in surprise and immediately shook his head: "No! The Southern Expedition strategy has been prepared for so long, and the court has invested so much, how can it be changed so easily!"
"Don't say it's just a guess and a sign now!" Liu Chengyou had a hard look on his face, raised his hand and flicked his sleeves, and said domineeringly: "The Khitans really invaded the south in a big way. I worked hard to achieve this, the court worked together, the army and the people reduced their clothes and food, and the Han Dynasty accumulated three years of With the power and energy it unleashes, can’t we resist the Khitans and take Huainan!”
After listening to Liu Chengyou's glance, warriors like Gao Xingzhou and Murong Yanzhao were all affected and became emotional. Wang Pu was also in a daze, but he quickly adjusted and handed over to Liu Chengyou: "Your Majesty, when I proposed the strategy of 'first south then north', I said that we need to wait for good opportunities. Unless the situation in the south changes, our preparations for the offensive will be completed. In addition, we have to take care of the threat from the Khitan in the north. In fact, the threat from the north is the first to bear the brunt of it!"
"If the Khitan intends to invade the south, it must not be a good opportunity. Otherwise, the northern invaders will attack from the south, and the war in the south is not going well. Huainan cannot suddenly fall. The Han Dynasty will never have the strength to fight on two sides!"
Even Wang Pu, a person who worked hard for the "Huainan Strategy", said this. Liu Chengyou's somewhat heated mind forcibly calmed down. After thinking about it, he unexpectedly saluted Wang Pu: "I am lucky to have such a good minister. It’s a lucky man!”
"Your Majesty, I can't bear this!" Wang Pu was surprised and quickly returned the greeting, bending even lower.
After standing up, Liu Chengyou looked at Wei Renpu and asked solemnly: "If the Khitans are in great difficulty, is it feasible for our army to take a defensive position in Hebei and attack south to the north with all our strength to achieve a quick victory?"
Facing Liu Chengyou's serious gaze, Wei Renpu also thought calmly for a long time, and then gave an affirmative answer: "With all due respect, no! The military is a major event for the country, and there is no room for risk!"