After calming down a little, Liu Yang stood up subconsciously and bowed in front of Emperor Liu's slightly gratified gaze: "I have one more thing to discuss, Your Majesty!"
Liu Yang's solemn look attracted the attention of everyone in the hall. Emperor Liu also narrowed his eyes slightly and raised his hand to signal: "Speak!"
Liu Yang said in a deep voice: "In addition to General Guo leading the navy south to defeat the Goryeo Navy, General Ma Renyu was also ordered to lead his troops north to attack Liao Tongzhou and annihilate the remaining troops in order to respond to the Shiwei and Jurchen rebels.
Duke Rong Guo planned to add 100,000 troops to Ma Renyu and try his best to attack him. Before winter, regardless of the outcome of the battle, if Tongzhou could not defeat him, he would withdraw his troops and make a truce.
After that, leave enough troops to garrison, gradually withdraw the army, and return to the pass. Wait until the next year or the next year, and then take action according to the development of the situation! "
After saying this, Liu Yang shut up, lowered his head slightly, and silently waited for Emperor Liu's response. If Liu Yang's decision-making on Goryeo affairs was based on observation, testing and expectations, then Liu Yang's advice at this time made him feel a little surprised.
After such a long time, although the accompanying ministers, local officials and even the prime ministers in Xijing had the consciousness to dissuade Emperor Liu from withdrawing from the army, this was the first time that Liu Yang raised the objection directly to Emperor Liu.
"What do you mean, are you planning to withdraw your troops?" At this time, Emperor Liu seemed to be able to only see Liu Yang.
"Yes!" Liu Yang answered firmly.
"Is this your idea or the camp general's suggestion?" Emperor Liu's tone suddenly became a bit harsh.
A wave of pressure hit his face. Liu Yang froze for a moment, raised his head again, and said softly: "This is my proposal. Before returning, I discussed it with Rong Guogong and other generals. They have no objection!"
"No objection?" Emperor Liu murmured, thinking to himself that maybe he didn't want to object and didn't dare to support it.
After staring at Liu Yang for a while, Emperor Liu continued to lean back, changed to a more comfortable lying position, and said calmly: "Tell me what you think!"
When asked, Liu Yang's expression did not relax. He took a breath and responded: "First of all, the initial goal of this Northern Expedition was just to capture Liaodong. Now that Liaoyang has been conquered, it has exceeded expectations. If we see that it is good, we will stop.
Secondly, although the battle in Liaodong had twists and turns, it achieved a lot of gains. Most of the enemy forces in Liaodong were lost, and their elite troops were severely reduced. In order to destroy the remaining enemies, there was no need to station hundreds of thousands of officers, soldiers and civilians to serve there. Pursuing the remaining enemies, taking over the Northeast, and deploying troops and strategies can all be arranged according to the actual local geographical, military, tribal and other conditions.
Thirdly, since the Northern Expedition, several armies from the west and the east have attacked across the board, with a huge amount of effort and expense. This is actually the most numerous wars since the founding of the Han Dynasty. I don’t know the detailed consumption of warehouses, but I can be sure that both the soldiers fighting in front of the battle and the officers and civilians feeding back to the rear are exhausted and need to recuperate;
Fourthly, it has been more than half a year since the soldiers went out to serve. They have fought hard for several months and fought more than fifty battles, large and small. There have been many casualties. The soldiers are exhausted and their morale has been damaged. For most of them, traveling thousands of miles to a foreign land makes them homesick. The love is strong and the heart is heavy.
Fifth, half of the soldiers and soldiers fighting in Liaodong came from the Central Plains troops and horses. They fought in the far northeast, and the water, soil and climate were not suitable for them. So far, tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians have been infected in and around Zhucheng. This is because of the full supply of medicine, and it has not been expanded. .
I have carefully studied with some local officials and people. When winter comes, the climate is harsh, and the harsh conditions are many times worse than we originally imagined.
During his tour of Hexi last year, His Majesty experienced the severe winter cold in Hexi. His Majesty also experienced it personally. The situation in the Northeast is not better than that in the Northwest! Even if enough firewood and bedding are supplied, it is difficult to guarantee that soldiers will not be injured in non-battle situations.
The severe cold weather in winter will be the best defensive support for the Liao army, barely maintaining the army in Liaodong. Not to mention that grain and grass will be consumed by the transportation of firewood and other military supplies, which will hardly deter the enemy.
Instead of doing this, it would be better to withdraw the troops and horses and allow the soldiers and civilians to return to the country to recuperate in order to relieve the fatigue of the long march..."
Obviously, Liu Yang has said so much, but the most important consideration lies in the last one, the climate problem in Northeast China. The room suddenly became quiet, everyone was waiting for Emperor Liu's reaction.
The two brothers Liu Xu and Liu Xi were also thinking about it, but they couldn't help but glance sideways at Liu Yang. They know a lot about Emperor Liu, especially regarding the issue of troop withdrawal. Emperor Liu has never expressed his attitude to the outside world so far. This is also a kind of attitude.
After Liu Yang finished speaking, his face showed a touch of calmness, and his expression gradually calmed down, silently waiting for Emperor Liu's judgment, just like waiting for a sentence.
In the past, Prince Liu Yang's political and political affairs were mediocre and mediocre, even giving people a mediocre feeling. Regarding military and state affairs, he was more like Emperor Liu's yes-man.
But this time, it was the first time that I expressed my views to Emperor Liu and made a different voice...
Emperor Liu was also lost in thought. Although his expression seemed indifferent, his slightly furrowed brows proved that he was indeed thinking. In the past, he often had an attitude of investigation and judgment regarding any of Liu Yang's suggestions and the handling of government and state affairs.
But this time, he seriously considered Liu Yang's opinion as a minister's military and political advice. And Liu Yang's words did bring him some more serious thoughts.
There was one thing that served as a reminder to Emperor Liu, which he had ignored before. That is the weather problem in the Northeast. Regarding winter operations, Emperor Liu has always believed that it can be overcome with sufficient logistical supplies and cold-proof materials.
This is what Emperor Liu considered based on past battles. Whether it was the southward expedition to Huainan in the fourth year of Qianyou's reign, or the first northern expedition in the eleventh year of Qianyou's reign, they both spanned two years and three seasons, and survived the entire winter, always maintaining To suppress the enemy.
However, to put things into perspective, in the unfamiliar and extremely harsh climate and environmental conditions of the Northeast, it seems that the first two cannot be completely compared. Not to mention the price paid, how much of the effect can be achieved still needs to be determined. A question mark.
Especially when Liu Yang mentioned last year's inspection of the northwest, this suddenly brought back Emperor Liu's memories. You must know that last year, the camp consisted of only 10,000 people, and it was not war time. They only traveled in the wind and cold, and were forced to freeze to death. The pressure of frostbite forced me to stay in Liangzhou throughout the winter.
Today, there are 400,000 soldiers and civilians in the Northeast. The problems faced by so many people and the difficulties that need to be overcome cannot be simply multiplied by a number.
Thinking about last year's experience, Emperor Liu's legs couldn't help but tremble even if he was sitting on a hot bed under his buttocks. But what about the Northeast? He has never actually investigated the actual situation there. He has always avoided governing the country based on memorials, but this time, he seems to be governing the army based on battle reports and is just immersed in his own considerations.
As for the other reasons mentioned by Liu Yang, they are certainly reasonable, and Emperor Liu was not untouched. Before that, he had the idea of withdrawing troops from Liaodong. The purpose of withdrawing the troops was not to stop the war, but to transfer Liaodong troops to fill the west.
With the changes in Goryeo, Emperor Liu temporarily gave up that idea and decided to continue to persist in Liaodong, attacking Khitan in the north and Goryeo in the south.
However, Liu Yang's advice to him at this time was to withdraw troops from Liaodong, which Emperor Liu had never imagined...
As he was thinking, Emperor Liu's expression also changed. It was very rich. After pondering for a long time, Emperor Liu finally turned his head, looked at the prince who had been standing for a while, and said calmly: "If the troops are withdrawn, what will happen to the situation in Liaodong? What to do? If there is a mistake, we have to rescue the emergency and dispatch the generals and troops. The setbacks and troubles in the process are not small at all! "
Emperor Liu's words broke the solemn atmosphere in the air. Liu Yang felt a little relaxed. Even the two brothers Liu Xu and Liu Xi, who were a little restless, felt as if their restraints had been lifted. Their bodies relaxed slightly and looked at the prince.
Liu Yang cupped his hands and said: "I have discussed with the generals and left one hundred thousand troops and horses, enough to control the Khitans in the north and deny Goryeo in the south. The rest can be withdrawn for the time being!"
"Has a specific troop withdrawal plan been drawn up?" Emperor Liu asked.
When Emperor Liu asked about the specific plan, it proved that he was no longer so resistant to withdrawing troops, and might even accept the suggestion.
Of course Liu Yang felt it too. After a little consideration, he reported: "According to the assumption, we still need to wait for the results of the progress of the north and south water and land armies, and the return army will also pass through the water and land routes! There is not much of a problem on land. There are only water routes. As long as we will Once the Goryeo naval forces are eliminated and the threats at sea are eliminated, we can return to the enemy by sea!"
After hearing what he said, Emperor Liu nodded lightly and acknowledged it. After thinking about it for a moment, Emperor Liu smiled at Liu Yang and said, "The real intention of sending Guo Tingwei south to attack the Goryeo Navy is also to prepare for the withdrawal at sea?"
Upon hearing the question, Liu Yang maintained a respectful posture, bowed his head, and responded: "Yes!"
