After returning to the palace, Liu Chengyou did not return to the Chongzheng Palace. Instead, he went directly to the Privy Council to sort out military affairs with the Deputy Privy Councilor Zheng Renjie and other officials and officials. The Privy Council has always been the military and political center of the Han Dynasty. After the army was launched, its weight became even more important. All the important military and political orders related to the war in the Central Plains and Hebei Province came from this.
News about Khitan's military intelligence came one after another from the north. Border guards were guarding the border, and military intelligence was scouting, and each reported according to the situation. With the increase in information, Liu Chengyou also gained a more comprehensive understanding of the situation in Yandi thousands of miles away.
The Khitan military strength shrunk in an all-round way. There were very few Liao cavalry for fifty miles around Youzhou, and there were even less traces around the Han army's defense line in Yannan. The new Khitan emperor Yelv Jing accepted homage in Miyun, Tanzhou, and officially ascended the throne. His civil and military honorific title was Emperor Tianshun.
Zhao Kuangzan sent his commander to find Silk Stocking and lead his Qingqi to the north to test the situation. As a result, they passed Huairou and approached Miyun before the Khitan cavalry intercepted them. After a fight, Hu Qi went crazy and struggled for more than ten miles. According to Zhao Kuangzan's report, although he gained nearly two hundred soldiers, he also lost hundreds of horses. You know, the cavalry under Zhao Siwan is the most powerful army in the Yan army.
Although it is only a small part, it can be seen from it that the will of the Liao army does not seem to be completely dissolved. This strengthened Liu Chengyou's determination to go south.
That night, Liu Chengyou's spirit was in a state of excitement. He took the time to go around the Third Division and called Fan Zhi, who was still in the political hall, to discuss the issue of money and food together. To fight a war is to fight for money and food, and to fight for national strength. This concept has been in Liu Chengyou's mind for a long time. Take root in. At this time, it is not just the Privy Council and the Ministry of War who are forgetting to eat and sleep.
When Liu Chengyou returned to the Privy Council, he was surprised to find that Guo Wei, dressed in purple, had been reinstated and returned to the Yamen. Wei Renpu was also called to listen carefully and inquire about the details of military affairs...
Liu Chengyou was very grateful to his ministers for staying up late at night, and praised them from the bottom of his heart. He even prepared late-night snacks and drinks for them, and also joined the discussion. The monarch and his ministers directly sketched the The specific matters of the Southern Expedition come. In the second half of the night, he couldn't stand it anymore, so he asked the ministers to go to rest. Liu Chengyou only took a nap in the privy room.
In the early morning, when the sky was still hazy, Liu Chengyou returned to the Zhengdian Hall, washed and ate briefly, put on his dragon robe, and then summoned all the officials to the Guangzheng Hall.
It was the same people as yesterday. However, when the civil and military officials rushed to the court room one after another, they found that Guo Wei, who had not appeared in the temple for a long time, was already there. Many people had surprised expressions on their faces. After being surprised, the civil servants suddenly realized and stepped forward to see the ceremony and were happy. For example, Shang Hongqian, Wang Yin and Du Hanhui happily talked about old times with Guo Wei in the court room.
After more than half a year of hiding, Guo Wei's reputation in the court does not seem to have been too weakened. This is the difference between people.
Privy Guo is being watched, and your Majesty should be on guard against him. This statement was made boldly and secretly by Wang Jingchong, the deputy military envoy, and then Liu Chengyou explained it to him calmly and asked him to guard against him...
In the Guangzheng Hall, Liu Chengyou wore a emerald gold robe and ascended to the throne. After accepting the worship, he pointed at Guo Wei and explained: "Privy Secretary Guo has been recuperating for half a year. Now he has recovered and returned to take charge of military affairs!"
After saying that, he looked around, looked solemn, and said loudly: "After taking into consideration the opinions of the people and considering the situation in the north and south, I have decided to abandon the north for the south, turn the troops forward, attack the Puppet Tang Dynasty, and capture all the land north of the Yangtze River!"
"Your Majesty is wise!" The first person to stand up and shout was Wang Pu, who was very excited. He looked tired, his eyes were red, and he obviously hadn't slept well, but his expression was full of excitement.
"Don't be too busy singing praises!" After a pause, Liu Chengyou said in a deep voice, with an aura of contempt for all directions: "I have spoken up front, and giving up the opportunity of the Northern Expedition is an extremely difficult decision for me. However, the plan has been decided, gentlemen. We should work together and strategize to conquer Huainan and drink from the Yangtze River!"
"As ordered!" After hearing this, all the civil and military personnel immediately responded in unison.
The strategy was determined, and Liu Chengyou immediately discussed the specific matters of the southern expedition with his ministers. The strategic shift cannot be implemented by Liu Chengyou with a slap on the head and an edict. From top to bottom, it involves all aspects and departments of the court. Fortunately, the Han Dynasty court is now in a state of war, and various departments have been operating around the fight against the Khitan for some time.
After discussion, several orders were agreed upon in the palace and issued immediately.
First, he ordered the king of Yan, Zhao Kuangzan, and the troops in northern Hebei Province to deploy He Fujin, continue to strengthen defense preparations for the Liao Dynasty, and closely monitor the movements of the Khitan troops in Tan and Ji.
Secondly, the imperial troops and garrison troops along the Yellow River were returned to their original defenses, while the remaining states were temporarily suspended from mobilization. Under the leadership of Wang Jun and Murong Yanzhao, the Xiaodi Army, Husheng Army, Fengguo Army, and Long Jie Ma Army, which went north first, turned around and headed south. We went to the nearest prefectures and counties, collected boats, recruited civilian ships, transported troops by water, and assembled in Suzhou. The entire Jingjiang Army also mobilized to the south.
Third, the transshipment of grain, fodder, and ordnance to Hebei was stopped. The supplies that had already arrived were unloaded into warehouses, and those on the way were also diverted and transported southward. The grain equipment Tokyo subsequently raised was transported southward along the canal.
Fourth, the two capitals and various towns in Henan each assigned quotas to recruit 50,000 civilians to prepare for the needs of the army. The Han army in Huaishang needs to explore the enemy's situation, increase its vigilance, and be prepared to welcome the central imperial army's move south.
Fifth, on the Hunan side, Lizhou defense envoy Cao Yin had to unite with Langzhou Wang Kui, Zhou Xingfeng and others to create some conflicts and troubles to involve the Tang army. Of course, this is a secret production.
Sixth, send envoys to Nanping and Wuyue to plan major events.
Seventh, the military and political command system for the Southern Expedition was determined, and the camp capital at Huainan Road was deployed. After discussion and consideration, the deputy commander of the bodyguard Wang Jun and Murong Yanzhao were selected as the camp capital Yuhou. Wang Pu, Shangshu of the Ministry of Industry, was the land and water transport envoy of Huainan Road and was responsible for the logistics and supply of the army. The ministers were based in Tokyo and were responsible for the raising of all kinds of supplies. Wei Renpu was part-time inspector of the capital; Guo Wei, as the privy envoy, handled national military orders; in addition, the emperor's uncle Murong Yanchao was promoted to Kaifeng governor by Liu Chengyou, and Hou Yi The old man worked for too long, so he moved his position...
Generally speaking, these military and political orders still appear conservative, and Hebei retains the basis for resisting the Khitan at any time. We have to be conservative. The Khitan's heavy troops on the front line of Yanshan are also worthy of this vigilance. The intensity of early warning in the north must be adjusted based on the situation in Khitan.
This is also the reason why Liu Chengyou also announced his own expedition to Huainan, but temporarily used Wang Jun and Murong Yanzhao to lead the expedition on the front line. Until it is completely confirmed that the threat from the north has been lifted, Liu Chengyou still plans to stay in Tokyo.
Under the emperor's will, Zhongshu Menxia, the Third Division, and the Privy Council were like clockwork machines, accelerating on the war channel, and a series of military and political orders were transmitted from north to south. After making up his mind, Liu Chengyou relaxed and began to devote himself wholeheartedly to the Huainan strategy.
Not long after, he received a report from the northern Hebei capital's deployment of He Fujin. The Khitan emperor sent an envoy to the court, and he had sent soldiers to escort him to the capital.
In the afternoon of that day, the Liao envoy arrived in Beijing and was summoned to the palace by Liu Chengyou. Liu Chengyou had a hunch that the news brought by the Liao envoy was definitely good news.
Since the establishment of the Northern Han Dynasty in the twelfth year of Tianfu, in the past five years, the hatred between the Northern Han Dynasty and the Khitan has been as deep as the sea, and they have attacked each other. There has never been peace on the border. Liu Chengyou's foreign attitude It's also hard, hard to the end. After several years, this was the first time that envoys came and went, and it was the Khitan people who took the initiative to send envoys.
In the Chongzheng Hall, accompanied by Wei Renpu and Guo Wei, Liu Chengyou received the envoys, Liao Zuo's envoy from the province, and Xiao Husi.
Xiao Husi was originally the censor Zhongcheng of the Liao Dynasty. He was a member of the Qunmu Department of General Dian and was among the ministers of the Southern Expedition. Yelujing came to the throne, and because of his talents, he moved to Zuoke Province as an envoy to Tokyo.
This is a middle-aged man with a hairy face and clear outlines, and a pair of bright eyes. After entering the palace, he looked around and faced the scrutiny of the Northern Han Dynasty monarchs and ministers. He was as calm as the wind.
When he arrived at the palace, he bowed and saluted with a loud voice: "Foreign Minister Xiao Husi, on the orders of Emperor Tianshun of Liao Dynasty, I send my greetings to the Emperor of Han!"
From his attitude, we can see arrogance. I don't know if it is the arrogance that the Khitan has cultivated towards the Central Plains Dynasty for more than ten years, or if it is a deliberate act to avoid losing its power.
"No courtesy!" Liu Chengyou waved his hand, pretending not to know and asked: "Emperor Tianshun? If I remember correctly, you, the master of Khitan, were not given the honorary title Tianlu? When did it change so suddenly?"
