A private banquet ended in the friendship between the monarch and his ministers. It was already evening. Liu Chengyou still did not let Wang Pu out of the palace, but took him to bed and wanted to talk privately.
Although Wang Pu was moved by the emperor's warm approach, he was also a little overwhelmed. Too much favor was not enough, and too much favor would make people feel a certain amount of pressure.
"Sit down first!" Liu Chengyou drank some wine and became more interested. He smiled and said to Wang Pu, "I have something to show you!"
With that said, he gave instructions to Sun Yanxi, and soon, under Wang Pu's curious eyes, two chamberlains came in carrying a large and generous box and placed it in front of him.
"You all go out!" Liu Chengyou raised his hand, then pushed open the lid himself and signaled to Wang Pu.
After taking a closer look, there were memorials neatly placed in the box. Judging from the size of the box, there were probably hundreds of them. With a slight frown on his brow, Wang Pu picked up the letter on the front and opened it to read. Without even looking at it twice, his expression immediately became tense. He suddenly stood up, bowed his head and prostrated, saying he was terrified.
That memorial was an official document of impeachment against Wang Pu by officials and officials in the court. Judging from the situation, it is estimated that the entire box contained impeachment papers against Wang Pu. And when the emperor placed it in front of him and asked him to read it in person, Wang Pu, no matter how good his psychological quality was, would inevitably feel uneasy.
Seeing this, Liu Chengyou quickly helped him up: "What are you doing!"
Paying attention to Wang Pu's tense expression, Liu Chengyou smiled: "You have misunderstood my intentions. These memorials are just nonsense written by people with narrow vision. They are not without the slander of those who are jealous of the virtuous and capable. I regard them as It’s like watching a joke, just for fun!”
With that said, under Wang Pu's surprised gaze, he picked up a small oil lamp in the palace and threw it directly into the box. The flames boiled with oil, swallowed up the memorial, and expanded rapidly.
The firelight penetrated the smoke and reflected on his face. Wang Pu was still kneeling, stunned for a few moments. Liu Chengyou looked at him and said seriously: "Although three people are like tigers and everyone's words are worth their weight in gold, my trust in you has never wavered.
You may not know it when you return to Beijing for the first time, but I have received news that since you left office, the officials in Huaidong have been very pleased with the favor and couldn't help but be overjoyed.
Why? But it was Qing's resignation that made them no longer have to follow the rules, be careful in everything, and not dare to slack off like they did in previous years, just like the ropes were tied to them.
The officials in Huaidong behave like this. How can I be dissatisfied with you, the one who holds the reins? All criticisms will only increase my respect for you. How many people can be in the court who are not afraid of resentment, dedicated to the country, and serve impartially? "
"Your Majesty!" After listening to Liu Chengyou's heartfelt words, Wang Pu couldn't help but bow his head again, choked with sobs and bowed in admiration: "The holy king is bright and wise, shining for thousands of miles. I can serve my orders and I will have no regrets even if I die!"
Among the important ministers of the Han Dynasty, his integrity and uprightness were comparable to Wang Pu's. However, the biggest difference between the two people is that Fan Zhi is strict with himself, but he less persuades others and pays more attention to his own moral restraint.
When he became prime minister at the beginning of the year, his family relied on his authority to seek land and property in Luoyang, but after Liu Chengyou "concerned" about the Xungui issue in Luoyang, he immediately asked his relatives to sell off all the properties. , family members and relatives are not even allowed to engage in business or property purchase, and are only allowed to farm and study. As a result, among the prime ministers, Fan Zhi not only lived in poverty, but also his family and relatives did not benefit from him.
In this way, Fan Zhi has nothing worth criticizing on a moral level. Wang Pu is even more extreme. He not only strictly demands himself and his family, but also respects himself and others, requiring his subordinates to be consistent with him. However, there are thousands of types of people in the world, how can they be of the same gender? This is why Wang Pu is often resented by his subordinates.
The fireworks in the box were soaring, the light was flashing, and the smoke was swirling. The chamberlains and guards waiting outside did not wait to be notified, but hurriedly entered, wanting to escort him.
"Official!"
"Why panic!" Liu Chengyou pointed at the burning memorial and ordered calmly: "Carry it outside the palace and burn it until it is completely clean!"
"yes!"
Raising his hand and waving the smoke, Liu Chengyou called Wang Pu and walked out of the hall, saying, "I have something important to discuss with you!"
At night, the Han palace was dotted with lights like stars. In the summer night, the heat had dissipated, and the gentle breeze was blowing, which was quite pleasant.
Taking steady steps, Liu Chengyou said: "Wang Qing, I have decided to expedition to the north of Khitan!"
Liu Chengyou's words were calm, but when they fell into Wang Pu's ears, he was like a thunderbolt. He asked in astonishment: "Your Majesty has given up on the Pingnan strategy?"
"Yes!" Liu Chengyou responded: "Within the imperial court, civil and military officials have reached a consensus to go all out for the Northern Expedition. For more than half a month, military preparations for the Northern Expedition have been in full swing and are being prepared secretly!"
"Then Prime Minister Li went south to Yangzhou?" Wang Pu asked.
"It's just a trick to confuse the enemy!" Liu Chengyou said softly: "I do not insist on being able to completely hide the Northern Expedition and the large-scale troop movement from the Khitans, but I can hide it for a while. I will try my best to prepare the court more fully and give less. Time for the Khitans to react!”
Wang Pu nodded subconsciously, his mood lifted, and he fell into deep thought. Liu Chengyou did not interrupt his thoughts when he considered the matter.
"Your Majesty, is it because of the Khitan invasion?" Wang Pu asked after a long time.
Liu Chengyou nodded again.
"However, I heard that the Khitan did not launch a large-scale army, and even defeated the Marquis of Guo outside Yanmen Pass! If it only stops here, it will not make His Majesty determined to change the national policy and launch a large-scale Northern Expedition!" Wang Pu raised the question.
"You are really smart!" Liu Chengyou sighed and explained directly: "Although there are only ten thousand troops at the gate, the scale of the war is not large. For a big man, it is not a good sign. Moreover, what outsiders don't know is that, The Khitan also colluded with the Yan general Zhao Siwan to plot to seize Youzhou, and the troops and horses were all ready to go. If the King of Yan hadn't been aware of it and taken precautions early, our northern defense would have lost its strongest and most important foothold!"
Hearing this, Wang Pu couldn't help but break into a cold sweat, took a deep breath, and said, "In this way, I can understand why Your Majesty suddenly decided to change his mind and start the Northern Expedition to Khitan! Yanshan is dangerous. If it is not restored, the imperial court will It is always difficult to go south with peace of mind.
Since the Khitan intends to take the initiative to invade the south, they need to be more vigilant. The imperial court spent huge sums of money to build the Hebei defense line, but in the end it was in a passive position. In the past few years, the peace between the two countries was enough to support it, but if there was a fierce war, the price of the imperial court's northern imperialism would definitely be high! "
Liu Chengyou had never doubted Wang Pu's strategic vision. He originally proposed the strategic concept of "first south and then north" and assisted Liu Chengyou in improving it.
"Wang Qing's opinion is very much in my opinion!" Liu Chengyou breathed a sigh of relief and suddenly said: "I still remember that when you proposed the idea of 'first south then north', you meant that after taking over Huainan, you would When we decided to go north and south, did you think that we would be here today?"
When asked, Wang Pu shook his head and said with a wry smile: "How could I have predicted the situation ten years from now? However, I have always believed that as long as the Central Plains is stabilized, long-standing disadvantages are eliminated, the pattern is flattened, and the south is unified, it will be a matter of time. And the Liao Dynasty in the north This is not the case for the country. They have developed and grown for decades. By attacking, learning, and capturing the Han lands, they have strengthened themselves. Their foundation has been stabilized and the country is still strong. They are the most powerful and dangerous enemy of the Han Dynasty.
The loss of Yanyun caused an almost irreparable omission in the Central Plains' defense line against the Hu people outside the Great Wall. If it is not repaired, it will be unsafe for a hundred years. Therefore, if the imperial court has enough strength to restore Yanguan to the north, I will naturally support it. .
And if we defeat the Khitan, regain Guanshan, and then level Jiangnan, it will be a piece of cake! "
"What if it fails?" Liu Chengyou asked.
Hearing this, Wang Pu became very serious and said: "The number of victory or defeat is not determined by heaven. The wise monarch, the preparation of the temple, the brave strategy of the general, and the life of the soldiers may affect the outcome of the war. However, your Majesty has decided to go to the Northern Expedition." , we must make thorough preparations, and we must be determined to win!"
"I've learned a lesson!" Liu Chengyou smiled casually.
After pondering for a while, Liu Chengyou suddenly changed the subject and said, "You also met several of my princes in the Wenhua Palace. What do you think?"
Wang Pu didn't react for a moment and didn't know what he meant. He just gave a standard answer: "Your Highnesses are all talented and outstanding!"
Liu Chengyou couldn't help but smile and said, "In your opinion, who can be the crown prince?"
After saying this, Wang Pu couldn't help but be surprised. He couldn't help but look at Liu Chengyou and sighed in his heart. He just returned to the capital. How many "surprises" would His Majesty give him?
Over the years, the voice of establishing a crown prince has never faded in the court. Every once in a while, someone raised the idea, but Liu Chengyou dismissed it because he was still young, or kept it silent. Wang Pu had heard about this even as far away as Yangzhou.
In front of the ministers, Emperor Liu had never expressed his intention to establish a crown prince. This was the first time for him and Wang Pu. He didn't know whether it was a good thing or a bad thing.
