Previously, when the Han and Tang Dynasties were discussing the details of the peace agreement, Liu Chengyou drove south to Liyang. After the peace treaty was reached, there was no war in Huainan until the handover was completed. Since the military launch last autumn, the Han and Tang Dynasties continued to fight for five years. The war of several months can be declared over.
On February 15th, Liu Chengyou went north from Liyang, arrived in Chuzhou, and stayed in Qingliu County. It was probably the end of the war, the strategy of the southern expedition was achieved, and a complete victory. Liu Chengyou felt relaxed and took advantage of the good weather to climb Qingliu Mountain in the west of the county with Wang Pu and other officials.
It is mid-spring, the spring mood is already strong, and the mountains and forests are already dyed with fresh green. Qingliu Mountain is not considered a high risk, but it is tortuous enough. The entrance to the mountain is where the Qingliu Pass is set up. There are many peonies in the mountains and fields. Spring is in full bloom. Although the peonies are late, the mountains and fields are already full of brilliant mountain flowers in a variety of colors. .
I hired several mountain farmers to act as guides and followed the mountain path from Guannan to Guanbei, which not only served as a mountain climber, but also explored a sneak attack trail.
After passing through a gap, it suddenly dawned on me. I leaned against the rocks and rested for a while. If you listen carefully, in addition to the chirping of birds, there is also the gurgling sound of streams, which is the sound of flowing water.
"Please run water at the foot of Qingliu Pass, please run water across Qingliu Mountain." Liu Chengyou came to Shixing, read a few sentences casually, and then regretted it.
Wang Pu and Li Fang accompanied him and looked at Liu Chengyou unexpectedly. Although the emperor occasionally had "good nouns and sentences", they were always short and incomplete. Listening to his recitation at this time, it was a commonplace poem, and it stopped abruptly.
Facing their gazes, Liu Chengyou couldn't help but blush. He waved his hands and forced a smile: "That's all, I really don't have any poetic talent, so I made you two laugh!"
After hearing this, Li Fang said: "Poetry is a small way after all. Your majesty's talents are all used to govern the country and use troops!"
Liu Chengyou didn't take the compliment seriously, chuckled twice, and then his expression calmed down: "What I just chanted is not allowed to be spread out, otherwise, I will not be lenient!"
No matter what, if this kind of doggerel is spread, it will still damage the wisdom of the Han emperor.
"Yes!" Upon seeing this, everyone around him responded in unison, but his tone was quite relaxed.
"Li Fang!" Liu Chengyou seemed to want to change the subject and asked, "I heard that you are writing about the Southern Expedition?"
"Exactly!" Li Fang responded: "Your Majesty's southern expedition this time has captured all fourteen states in Huainan, expanded the land thousands of miles, added millions of people, and Jianghuai surrendered. I have the honor to participate in the expedition and carefully observe your Majesty's political plans and changes, and the capable soldiers of the Han Dynasty He is good at fighting and feels something in his heart. If he wants to summarize it, record it as an article!"
"Not bad!" Liu Chengyou raised his hand and ordered: "After the book is completed, you should give it to me to take a look at it and see how your account of the Tang Dynasty is described in your writing!"
Li Fang naturally responded happily: "Yes!"
"Let me give this book a name!" Liu Chengyou looked really interested and said, "Let's call it "A Brief Introduction to the Southern Expedition"!"
"yes!"
After resting for a while, Liu Chengyou sent someone to ask how long it would take to get out of the mountain. The guide replied that it was about twenty miles of mountain road. When hiking, you just have to look at your mood and artistic conception. If you walk too much on the mountain road, you will be tired. However, no matter how hard and tiring the path you choose is, you have to grit your teeth and go on.
"Back then, I could travel hundreds of miles with the army, cross mountains and cross-country, and feel as if I were walking on flat ground. However, after just a few years, I have grown fat on my shoulders and my physical strength has been exhausted!" Liu Chengyou lamented.
He was like this, but Wang Pu and Li Fang were even worse. Hearing his words, Wang Pu said while breathing heavily: "Your Majesty has worked hard to control all the people. The suffering during this period is worse than the physical fatigue!"
"On weekdays, when you are busy with military and state affairs, you can take some free time to climb high and look far away, which really has the effect of being broad-minded and open-minded!" Liu Chengyou said.
He tilted his head and saw that Wang Pu was really tired. Liu Chengyou immediately called out: "Li Jixun!"
Soon, a lean general from the front came quickly on the winding path: "What are your orders, Your Majesty?"
This time, there were two hundred Fenchen camp guards accompanying them. Traveling through mountains and rivers was a very easy thing for them.
Pointing at Wang Pu, Liu Chengyou ordered: "Find the guards and take turns carrying Wang Shangshu on their backs!"
"yes!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Wang Pu smiled bitterly, but he did not refuse the emperor's kindness, but his eyes were inevitably moved.
Lying on a guard to calm down, Wang Pu couldn't help but talk about state affairs with Liu Chengyou: "Your Majesty, now that the Han and Tang Dynasties are negotiating, the Tang army in the north of the Yangtze River is gradually withdrawing to the south. We will observe its movements and there will be no objections. . I will also take action to deal with the aftermath!"
"Wang Qing really never forgets his official duties for a moment!" Liu Chengyou sighed and said, "I have been thinking about this for a long time. Fighting for military power is only half the battle. Seize the land and defend it, calm the people, and restore production. , we need to invest more energy!"
"Your Majesty wins without being arrogant, and has a clear mind, which is admired by the old ministers!" Wang Pu said: "In addition, the hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians in Huainan and the hundreds of thousands of civilians in Huaibei should be evacuated and released as soon as possible. It is already mid-February, and farming in the Central Plains has begun. There’s been a delay!”
"This matter can indeed be arranged!" Liu Chengyou nodded: "After returning to the camp, he issued an edict and informed the states that all Huaibei soldiers recruited for this southern expedition will be exempted from two taxes for one year. Those who served in the army before , two years. Those who have meritorious services will be rewarded separately; those who are injured or killed will be given special compensation. The imperial court will send commissioners to be responsible for post-war comfort! This victory in the Southern Expedition is not the result of the soldiers alone, but the hard work of these civilians. , it can’t be erased!”
Liu Chengyou's proposal will be a big expense for the Northern Han Dynasty, but he is willing to bear it. Compared with the peace and comfort of people's hearts, these expenses are nothing. Compared with the harvest of this southern expedition, it was nothing. The money collected from the treasury of each state was already a huge harvest.
Wang Pu obviously agreed with this.
"What are Wang Qing's thoughts on the aftermath of the Huainan states?" Liu Chengyou asked.
Wang Pu obviously seemed to have considered it. When asked, he said calmly without thinking, "In my opinion, everything should be focused on stabilizing and appeasing the people of Huainan. Although the expedition to Huainan did not last long, it had a great impact on Huainan." The damage to the prefectures and counties was huge, especially to the four prefectures of Shou, Si, Chu, and Lu.
There are countless people who have fled from their homes and taken refuge in the mountains and forests among the various states. We should appease them all, return them to their homes, and restore their crops. From my perspective on the politics of the Tang Dynasty, for the people of Huainan, there are many miscellaneous taxes, and your Majesty can stop them. Governments in various places have corrupt and tyrannical officials, so they should follow Han law to correct the law.
To stabilize the people's hearts and regain their production, it would not take more than three years. With Huainan's foundation, it would become a major grain and tax area for the Han Dynasty, so that the imperial court would no longer suffer from poverty. In addition, many of the officials in Huainan fled south and fled to the south. The imperial court should select talented people from the Central Plains to serve in order to consolidate the rule of the Han Dynasty. As for those in Huainan who are willing to surrender and serve His Majesty, those with a good reputation should be given preferential treatment and be given official positions..."
Wang Pu said a lot in one breath. Liu Chengyou walked, listened, nodded, and commented: "Wang Qing's proposal almost coincides with mine!"
"The fourteen states in Huainan are thousands of miles from east to west, a vast land, and everything is complicated!" Liu Chengyou sighed.
Wang Pu seemed very natural, and said in a relaxed tone: "Your Majesty has overcome the dangers of the conquest, and now the overall situation has been decided. It is equally difficult and complicated to stabilize the people, govern the country, and bring order to chaos. However, Your Majesty only needs to provide good ministers and calmly manage them. That’s it!”
"Who does Wang Qing think can take charge of Huainan's military affairs?" Liu Chengyou asked smoothly.
Upon hearing the question, Wang Pu opened his mouth, but held it back and said, "Who does your Majesty prefer?"
There was a little amusement in Liu Chengyou's expression: "The day before yesterday, Wang Jun asked me for orders, saying that Huainan is under new control and everything is undecided. He is willing to lead the army and garrison for me to secure the southeast!"
"Your Majesty, don't you agree?" Wang Pu asked.
"Not yet!" Liu Chengyou waved his hand.
Seeing this, Wang Pu breathed a sigh of relief, and then said with a serious expression: "Your Majesty, the important land of Huainan must not be conflated with others. It should be under the direct jurisdiction of the central government, governed by ministers, and guarded by generals!"
The corners of Liu Chengyou's lips curled up slightly: "Wang Qing, do you want me to separate the military and political affairs in Huainan?"
"Exactly!" Wang Pu nodded directly, got off the guard's back, walked to Liu Chengyou, and said seriously: "Your Majesty, the root of the troubled times in the Tang Dynasty is the power of the vassal town, which is difficult to control by the court, and the branches are weak and strong. For three generations, , although there has been some improvement, and His Majesty has continuously strengthened the authority of the central government since he came to the throne, the number of states and towns in the world is still huge.
If Your Majesty wants to change his ways and get rid of the old disadvantages, the land of Huainan can be used for new systems! "
Wang Pu's intention, Liu Chengyou heard, was to let him use Huainan as a trial area to completely separate military and political affairs.
With a slight smile, Liu Chengyou said: "I do intend to reorganize the system and divide Huainan into Huaidong and Huaixi. I will set up the Administrative Envoys Division to be in charge of the administration of one section; I will set up the Prosecution Envoy Division to be in charge of the punishment and impeachment of the other section. Set up a capital and command department, take charge of the military affairs, and take charge of the defense, regiment training, and rural troops of the various states, supplemented by the imperial army to garrison them."
Although Liu Chengyou only mentioned it briefly, it already made Wang Pu's eyes light up.
After a pause, Liu Chengyou continued: "The specific details will be discussed and customized by all the ministers after returning to the capital. But here in Huainan, I have already considered the ministers who will implement the system. I will use you as the envoy to Huaidong Road. , take charge of political affairs and govern Yangzhou. After returning to the north, all the aftermath matters will fall on Wang Qing!"
Hearing this, Wang Pu didn't say much. He just put on a solemn expression and said, "I obey my order!"
