The next day, Wang Yan, who stayed in Xijing, sent someone to present the imperial jade seal to Yi Que. The emperor accepted it and passed it on to all the ministers to appreciate it. They all thought it was genuine. He was so happy that he presented it to the world.
In fact, even if this seal is fake, Liu Chengyou intends to take it as real. This is just a tool to unite people's hearts. Jade may be precious, but more important is the heritage value and symbol attached to the stone. Liu Chengyou could have found another jade, carved it, engraved it, and given it a national significance. If he said it was true, then it would be true.
"If you are ordered by God, you will live a long life!" Liu Chengyou murmured, with a cynical smile on his lips. He was playing with the precious seal that civil servants treated with caution, as if he was really playing with a toy.
"Your Majesty has received this seal, which is indeed destiny. Not only the ministers of the court, but also the people of Tokyo are all happy and cheering for your Majesty and the great man!" Zhang Dejun, who was standing by, saw that the emperor was in a good mood and complimented him.
Noticing the flattering look on the eunuch's face, Liu Chengyou turned his head and looked at Zhang Dejun with curiosity: "Really? Is this the reaction outside the palace? All your craftsmen and minions have spread outside the palace. ?”
Zhang Dejun is not very old, but he is already a well-known eunuch in the palace. At least in the Han Palace, he is very powerful and has real power. Moreover, under Liu Chengyou's instruction, a group of informants were secretly organized to monitor inside and outside the imperial city. Of course, they were not as formal as Wude Si. In this way, Liu Chengyou's eyeliners finally spread both inside and outside.
Facing the emperor's smiling gaze, Zhang Dejun's heart skipped a beat, and he couldn't bear Liu Chengyou's intention. With a respectful and humble smile, he said, "I heard about it from the people who went out to buy the palace!"
"Oh!" Liu Chengyou responded, withdrew his gaze, put down the jade seal, waved his hand, and ordered: "Put it away!"
"Your Majesty, Privy Councilor Guo Rong and the commander in front of the palace, Murong Yanzhao, are asking for an audience outside the palace!"
"Prepare some wine and meat in the courtyard of the palace. I want to eat with the two ministers!" Liu Chengyou ordered.
"yes!"
Just under the verandah, a wide dining table was placed and a charcoal stove was set up, which could be used for both heating and barbecue. The wine was warming on the side, and more than a dozen plates of skewered mutton were laid out in several layers. Sichuan peppercorns, essential oils, salt and other condiments were also prepared...
Snow was falling outside again, not very heavy, and the wind and cold were dispelled by the brewing heat. The three monarchs and ministers sat opposite each other. Liu Chengyou personally entertained the guests in a familiar manner, and greeted Guo Rong and Murong Yanzhao: "Today we are all doing our own thing. We, the monarch and ministers, are having wine and barbecue! Speaking of which, under the light snow scene, There’s something special about warming up your body and filling your stomach!”
"Your Majesty is so elegant, I will accompany you!" Murong Yanzhao was not polite and directly picked up the wine bottle and poured it for Liu Chengyou and Guo Rong respectively.
"Don't dare to talk about elegance!" Liu Chengyou picked up a skewer of mutton, pointed at the wine glass, and said with a smile: "The civil servants and noble scholars talk about elegance, I am just here for the sake of wine!"
Hearing this, Murong Yanzhao said: "Your Majesty gives you wine and meat, and you two should enjoy it!"
The three of them had a glass of wine and drank it warmly. It was a royal wine with a hint of sweetness. Guo Rong picked up a skewer of meat, put it on the fire, brushed it with oil and sprinkled it with salt. He moved very skillfully and his expression became more relaxed. He said: "Your Majesty has many things to do every day and rarely has leisure. I'm afraid I won't be able to summon the two ministers here today." Just to eat wine and meat..."
"As expected of the well-known Prime Minister Guo at home and abroad, this time he opened his mouth and got down to business!" Liu Chengyou rarely joked to Guo Rong. He spoke harshly and sprinkled more salt on the mutton, trying to evenly distribute it.
Looking up at the flying snow outside the palace, Liu Chengyou said with emotion: "It's already the twelfth lunar month, and if it doesn't last another month, the seven years of Qianyou will have passed. Zhao Pu is probably on his way to Sichuan. With this person's talent, this time The defeat of Shu will definitely end as I expected.
After the incident in Hanzhong, I decided to reorganize the troops and horses in the southwest, hoard food, grass and weapons, open roads, stabilize the rear, and digest the newly captured prefectures and counties. But the great Han cannot stop his march to dominate the world! "
After Liu Chengyou finished speaking, both of them looked more serious. After toasting Liu Chengyou with a glass of wine, Guo Rong said: "Your Majesty is planning to take action against Jinghu?"
"Not bad!" Liu Chengyou nodded, not trying to hide it. In fact, the emperor had been thinking about Jing Lake for a long time. This was almost universally known to the senior officials of the imperial court. It was just because of Qin Feng that he had to solve the problem in the southwest first.
Now that the four states have been conquered, Hanzhong has also been captured, and the military and national strength of Shu have been severely damaged. Since Liu Chengyou said that he had no intention of destroying Shu for the time being, his strategy turned and only Jingnan and Hunan were the most suitable for the strategy.
The smell of meat had begun to dissipate, and Liu Chengyou couldn't help but take a deep breath and said, "I want to hear your opinions?"
"There is no need to elaborate on the benefits of Jinghu Lake. I agree with it! However, the war in the southwest has just ended, and the follow-up still needs the support of national strength. Whether the imperial court has spare power to send troops to Jinghu Lake and when to send troops need to be determined by your majesty and the princes. Come on!" Murong Yanzhao looked very straightforward and expressed his attitude directly.
After taking a bite of the roasted meat, sipping a glass of wine, and showing a cheerful expression, Liu Chengyou looked at Guo Rong.
Guo Rong thought about it and suddenly said seriously: "If possible, it would be best to send troops next spring!"
Hearing this, not only Murong Yanzhao, but also Liu Chengyou couldn't help but frown: "Isn't it too hasty? Tell me your considerations!"
Guo Rong responded calmly: "The Gao family in Jingnan is nothing to worry about. Gao Baorong is a coward with mediocre talents and succeeded to the throne just because of his birth. According to the research of the Military Intelligence Department, in these years, the Han Dynasty has become increasingly powerful and full of edge. However, Gao Baorong became increasingly panicked and did not dare to be offended or disobeyed. He spent all day busy in state affairs and enjoying himself in the palace.
The minister expected that Gao Baorong was actually ready to be captured by the Han Dynasty. The imperial court is sending troops south. As long as they are properly controlled, they may be able to capture all of Jingnan without losing any blood, and then march into Hunan! "
"If we can force the Gao family to surrender, that would be the best!" Liu Chengyou pondered: "Talk about Hunan!"
"The key to the Jinghu strategy is also in Hunan. Your Majesty has heard about the current situation in Hunan. After all, Zhang Wenbiao is a man who cannot support him. He is extravagant and greedy for enjoyment. The soldiers and civilians under his rule have become disgusted with him. If it weren't for this year's Hunan University, Hungry, I'm just afraid that it has been merged by Zhou Xingfeng.
News from Hunan shows that the famine in Hunan this year is the most serious in recent years, and many people can only eat vegetation to satisfy their hunger. At the time of the catastrophe, Zhou Xing met with an opportunity to win people's hearts.
He opened warehouses in Tan, Lang, and Heng prefectures to release grain for relief, and fully supported the people. Even the people under Zhang Wenbiao's rule who went north to seek survival were given rations. This shows Zhou Xingfeng's ambition. Although this person has a fierce character, his methods are extraordinary and he is courageous, so the scholars and the people can follow him.
As long as he survives next year, he can go south at any time, easily capture Zhang Wenbiao, and reunify Hunan. But if we want to advance south, the obstacles and resistance will be even greater! "
Liu Chengyou took out two more skewers of meat, flipped them over the flame, sprinkled them with condiments, and stared at them in trance. In Shen Ning's eyes, the two skewers of meat seemed to be transformed. One was called Jingnan and the other was called Hunan.
Guo Rong drank a glass of wine, and his interest became stronger, and he continued: "The reason why I propose to mobilize the army next spring is precisely because of the great famine in Hunan, and Zhou Xingfeng sent out warehouses to help the people. When spring comes, there will be a need for grain. Its consumption will make its treasury even more empty.
Even if he has some soldiers and horses under his command and has some fighting strength, how can he withstand our army's offensive when he is short of food? Although the expedition to Shu in the southwest consumes a lot of money, with the current national strength of the imperial court, there is still not much problem in sending an infantry and cavalry south!
If the incident starts in Hunan, and the strategy of destroying Guo is to take Jingnan first, then Gao's troops, horses, money and food can also be used as help. Although the land of Jingnan is small and the people are not rich, the Gao family has guarded it for many years and has experienced few wars, so they have some savings..."
"Guo Qing, you have already regarded Jingnan as yours!" Liu Chengyou finally spoke, with a more relaxed tone.
Guo Rong took a bite of the meat, chewed it carefully, and then said, "I know you should not be arrogant, but given the current situation of the Gao family in Jingnan, there is no need to pay too much attention to it!"
"How to mobilize the troops and horses, do you have any clues?" Liu Chengyou asked directly.
