After returning from a mission, the first thing he did was to meet the emperor. However, when he rushed to the imperial tent, he could not see Yelujing immediately. However, he was not treated lightly and was received personally by Xiao Haili, the Prime Minister of the Beifu.
Xiao Haili has a tall appearance and a good image. He is from a noble family in the northern Khitan mansion. He is honest, upright and upright in government. He is fair and impartial in making decisions. He is very popular among people. He is a very talented minister of the Liao Kingdom.
In his early years, he was slightly implicated because of Yelucha's rebellion. However, as a close relative of the emperor, he had no major problems and was talented. Yelujing appreciated his diligence and conscientiousness, and later promoted him to the prime minister of the Beifu. He was very trustworthy. And Xiao Haili is only forty years old now, but he already knows everything about the military and state affairs and helps with the general affairs.
In recent years, the Liao clan kings have been quarreling and rebelling. Compared with Xiao Husi, who blindly catered to Yelujing and never dissuaded him from admonishing him, Xiao Haili was fair in his judgment of prison and had no injustice at all. Therefore, his reputation has always been very good and he has been praised by many people. The old minister of the clan did not look down upon him just because he was "young".
Yelujing's reputation in official history is not good. He was a sleeping king and a coward, playful and unrestrained. However, upon closer inspection, it can be found that during his reign, a large number of people with the ability to govern the country emerged from the upper echelons of the Liao Kingdom. minister.
As for why he is notorious, it is true that he has some chaotic behaviors such as irregular rewards and punishments, disregard of government affairs, and excessive bloodlust, especially in his later years. But more factors may lie in the comments of future generations. Yelvxian of Jingzong after Yelvjing was the son of Yelvruan, and the throne returned to the lineage of King Yelvbei of Dongdan. It is not incomprehensible that Yelvjing, as the legitimate son of Taizong, magnified some of his shortcomings in political life to smear him. things.
They were both important ministers in the official system of the northern Liao Kingdom. One was the Prime Minister of the Northern Palace and the other was the Secret Envoy of the Northern Privy Council. There was no great disparity in power and status between the two, and they communicated on an equal footing.
"Your Majesty is still hunting?" Xiao Husi asked as he took a seat in the tent.
"Exactly!" Xiao Haili's resolute face revealed a helpless expression and nodded.
Hearing this, Xiao Husi was not surprised and asked directly: "Why did your Majesty remember to go south to Yunzhou for hunting? Could it be that there are changes in Han affairs?"
Obviously, as a person with rich experience and high political sensitivity, Xiao Husi could not help but have speculations in his mind. Especially when Fang returned from his mission to the north and had a secret meeting with Zhao Siwan, he couldn't help but make more assumptions. In particular, Yelujing had been emperor for more than seven years, and this was the first time he went south like a crowd and paid attention to affairs in the south.
Xiao Haili shook his head and said: "Your Majesty's thoughts are not something we can guess. In the past few years, he has visited various regions on inspections. Perhaps it was just a whim to come to the south to observe. After all, the states and counties in the south are also ours in Daliao. The land is important!”
As he spoke, Xiao Haili thought to Xiao Hu: "This time, the Northern Privy Council has been ordered to go to the Han Dynasty for nearly half a year, and it has only returned so far. I think I have gained a lot!"
Mentioning this, Xiao Husi couldn't help but look serious. He sighed slightly and said: "The Han Kingdom has only been established for twelve years, but now it has become a powerful enemy of Liao Dynasty. I must advise your majesty to take precautions in advance. The trouble is already deep, if it is not controlled, it will definitely endanger Daliao in the future!"
Xiao Husi was usually a very cautious and prudent person. At this time, seeing him showing such an attitude and directly revealing his fears and worries about the Northern Han Dynasty, Xiao Haili also became serious.
In fact, with the internal stability of the Liao Kingdom and the gradual recovery of national power, many of the upper echelons of the Liao Kingdom would inevitably turn their attention to the Han Dynasty in the south. After all, there are many knowledgeable people in the upper echelons of the Liao Kingdom.
After three generations of laying the foundation, today's Liao Kingdom can no longer be regarded simply as a nomadic country. The conquest of Youyun and Liaodong areas, the integration of Han culture, and the establishment of the monarchy system have greatly strengthened the feudal attributes of the Liao Kingdom, and This is almost an irreversible process. Although Yelujing's years of reign have seen an in-depth reform process of Sinicization, the upper echelons have been influenced by Han culture for a long time.
Taking history as a guide, it seems that aristocratic ministers such as Yelu Wuzhi also learned to read Han classics. There were also Han ministers in the Liao court, and they could all understand the huge threat to them from a unified and powerful Central Plains dynasty.
Therefore, when the two powers stand side by side, after the internal conflicts are alleviated, it is impossible not to focus on the big man in the south. Especially after today's big man shows off his sharp edge and shows strong offensiveness, it has aroused many people's concerns.
Even in the official history, Zhou Shizong worked hard to rule and conquered the east and west, but the Liao Kingdom never stopped holding back, and the Hebei area was constantly intruded.
When Zhou's army attacked the Northern Han Dynasty, they also responded with a large army and devoted themselves to suppressing it. Because he was deeply disturbed by this, Chai Rong couldn't wait to launch the Northern Expedition shortly after capturing Huainan. Recovering Youyan was his ambition, and attacking the Liao Kingdom and reversing the passive situation of northern defense was the main purpose. However, the follow-up was weak and difficult to achieve. All done, he returned seriously ill. Even so, Ying and Mo were recovered, and Youzhou was threatened with troops, which laid the foundation for the subsequent construction of the three-pass defense line.
The reason why the Han Dynasty was able to maintain a better international environment and lighter border defense pressure than that of the later Zhou Dynasty, in addition to the power changes and political turmoil in the Liao Kingdom similar to the official history, was also rooted in the Battle of Luancheng, which made its military strength and National strength was greatly damaged. The casualties of the army, the changes in the throne, and the plundered goods could not make up for the domestic spoils. As a result, in the following years or even ten years, there was not enough strength to effectively suppress the rising Han Dynasty.
At that time, Yelu Ruan could be regarded as having foresight and determination to personally mobilize a large number of troops to wrestle with the big man. At that time, the Han Dynasty had only been truly stable for two or three years, and its overall strength was not particularly strong. If Yelu Ruan successfully launched the Han-Liao War, even if the Han Dynasty could not be destroyed, its national power would be greatly weakened and its unification would be hindered.
However, a rebellion in the Vulcan Lake brought all Yelu Ruan's plans to naught, and he even lost his life, and the throne of the emperor was moved. Taking advantage of this rare loose environment, the Han monarchs and ministers firmly seized the opportunity, reformed and strengthened themselves, conquered the south, collected land, cities, and population, and became stronger and stronger as they fought.
In the side tent, listening to Xiao Husi's words, Xiao Haili showed a serious expression, looked at him and said: "In recent years, the Liao Dynasty has devoted itself to peace and security, and the Han Dynasty has aspired to unify, and its threat has grown. Although I don't feel it deeply, I still feel it. It can also be observed. According to the opinion of the Northern Privy Council, it is possible to launch a Northern Expedition in the Han Kingdom today?"
After hearing the question, Xiao Hu thought for a moment and said firmly: "Based on my findings, the Han Dynasty already has the strength for the Northern Expedition, but its political power is still in the power of a small country in the south. When it is flattened and has no worries in the south, it will definitely turn around and go north to fight with Daliao is the enemy. The war between Liao and Han is inevitable after all!"
Xiao Husi said this, and Xiao Haili became more cautious and said: "Privacy Bei should explain the experience and knowledge of this mission to Your Majesty in detail!"
"That's what I meant!" Xiao Husi nodded.
"Prime Minister, the King of the North Courtyard is here!" While the two were talking, the guards came to report.
"Please quickly!" Xiao Haili said.
The two of them stood up at the same time, preparing to greet him. Because of his contribution to the establishment, coupled with his erudition, outstanding political talents and certain military capabilities, Yelu Wuzhi was named the King of the North Courtyard by Yelujing. He was the head of the official line in the north of the Liao Kingdom and managed the ministries of the Five North Courtyards.
In terms of status, there are many people in the Liao Kingdom who are more noble than Yelu Wu, but when it comes to political status and power, there are almost none who are equal to him. Therefore, Xiao Haili and Xiao Husi both respected this aristocratic minister who twice stopped civil strife and preserved the Khitan's strength and did not dare to neglect him.
However, before the two of them could leave the tent, Yelu's housekeeper had already opened the tent and entered.
"Meet your Majesty!" The two of them saluted.
Yelu Wuzhi is in the prime of life. He is calm and elegant, and his high position all year round gives him a sense of dignity. Waving his hand, Yelu Wuzhi looked directly at Xiao Husi and said straight to the point: "I heard that Privy Councilor Bei has returned. I came here specially to say hello. I also want to hear what you learned about your trip south!"
Obviously, Yelu Wuzhi is also concerned about this matter.
