Warrior in Turbulent Han Dynasty

In the palace where Yelujing lived, the windows were nailed shut, and there was usually no one around. He was afraid that he would be killed by the people around him when he fell asleep, and the attendants were even more afraid that he would kill indiscriminately when he was drunk.

He rubbed his temples, looked down at Yang Gun, and asked in Khitan, "Have you seen the Great King of the South Courtyard (Xiao Siwen)?"

Yang Gun said: "Report to Khan, I see you. Xiao Gongping is only in charge of military affairs in Youzhou, and occasionally mentions Khan, hoping that Khan will drink less, saying that drinking is a mistake."

Yelujing nodded and said nothing, remembering the use of troops against Hebei before, Xiao Siwen sent someone to Beijing to report, but before he could answer, he dispatched troops and generals himself. In the end, there was no loss, but a large amount of property and people were snatched back. Of course, Yelvjing couldn't blame him.

The relationship between the Xiao family and the Yelu family of the royal family is very good. The royal family usually marry the Xiao family when they marry a wife, and the prime minister is basically from the Xiao family. However, this kind of alliance relationship is at the clan level, and it is difficult to say between individuals, just like Yelujing, most of the people who want to kill him are from their own Yelu clan.

Therefore, Yang Gun seemed very unwilling to talk about the Xiao family, so he asked cautiously: "I heard that Zhou's army attacked the Northern Han Dynasty?"

Yelujing said: "I got the news ten days ago."

Yang Gun couldn't help but said: "But after I arrived in Beijing, I hardly heard anyone talking about it. The nobles don't seem to take it seriously."

"It's just no public talk." Yelujing was calm at this time, and he didn't seem to be as violent as the rumors said. "Many ministers and nobles are ignorant. They have seen Han'er only in the southern city of Shangjing, or artisans and farmers farming in Bohai Sea. They think that Han'er is very docile, just like sheep, so they inevitably have contempt. But not everyone is so short-sighted."

Yang Gun pondered: "I think of the battle of Gaoping a few years ago... In my opinion, the Han people are really docile, even a little timid and weak to be bullied. Compared with my great Khitan herdsmen who are brave and good at fighting, it is not an exaggeration to say that they are sheep; but those 'nobles' and warriors in the Central Plains are by no means sheep, but a pack of wolves! They are the same as us, and they all rely on fighting for sheep to eat."

"Except for the Battle of Gaoping, Xiao Siwen suffered a lot in the Battle of Zhuozhou." Yelujing said, "Isn't Guo Shao, the current Emperor of Zhou, the butcher who slaughtered the Khitan warriors back then?"

Yang Gun echoed: "This man has a great reputation, and many ministers have heard of him. He is called 'Guo Blacksmith'. But it seems that he is not the same kind of person as the craftsmen we have seen."

"This person is not from Guo Wei or Guo Rong's family, but his surname is Guo. I heard that he is somewhat related..." Yelujing murmured, and stopped talking at this point. He felt that Zhou State's situation at this time was somewhat similar to that of Daliao, except that Zhou State's foundation was shallower than that of Daliao. If Blacksmith Guo wanted to truly stabilize the throne, he probably also wanted greater prestige and achievements!

Guo Tiejiang is a dangerous man! Yelujing immediately said: "We must not take Zhou Guoguo blacksmith lightly."

Yang Gun hurriedly bowed and said, "Khan is wise."

Another reason why Yelvjing didn't dare to underestimate him was because he was an emperor. He knew that it was not easy to secure the throne after seizing power by force during the turbulent period. After Guo Blacksmith proclaimed himself emperor, he was able to quickly launch an attack to destroy Shu and Southern Tang... Yelujing couldn't do this kind of thing in Daliao, because it couldn't be integrated internally, and it was difficult to easily gather the troops of various ministries; Yelvjing intuitively felt that Mr. Zhou Guoxin was quite powerful.

At this time, Yang Gun said: "My minister has the courage to speak up, please Khan send troops to reinforce the Northern Han as soon as possible, so the relationship between the land is very important. The Southern Han has a large population, and now the Shu Kingdom and the Southern Tang Dynasty have successively belonged to the Zhou Kingdom. Their strength is increasing day by day. Whether they will threaten Daliao in the future will have to wait and see. It is not a good thing for Daliao if the Central Plains grows bigger.

There is the Northern Han Dynasty in the west and Youzhou in the east, which are the key places for our Daliao to attack and defend the Central Plains. Although the land of the Northern Han Dynasty was barren, compared with the dense and deep towns in Hebei, it was the shortest way to threaten the Central Plains from the east of the river. The relationship between Hedong and Daliao is of great importance, and Khan has checked it. "

After hearing this, Yelujing looked at Yang Gun one more time, but asked, "Five years ago, during the Battle of Gaoping. You led troops to assist the Northern Han Dynasty. You stood still in Gaoping and watched the Northern Han Dynasty suffer a disastrous defeat. I heard that it was because the Lord of the Northern Han Dynasty spoke rudely. Are you angry?"

Yang Gun put his hands on his chest and bowed: "Khan Mingjian. Back then, the Lord of the Northern Han Dynasty really spoke rudely. He said in the battle that 'without the help of Daliao, the Zhou army could still be defeated'. The minister led troops to help him all the way. He said this, and the minister was really angry.

However, I don't have the guts to miss important state affairs just because of anger! At that time, the Lord of the Northern Han Dynasty was very arrogant. If he really defeated the Zhou army and went south to replace him, then the Northern Han Dynasty would be the second Zhou State. Now that the situation in Daliao is no longer Taizong (Liao Taizong), he can aggressively attack and coerce the (later) Jin until it is destroyed... If that is the case, the Northern Han will not listen to Daliao.

Therefore, the minister at the time believed that it was in the best interest of Daliao to maintain the status quo in the Northern Han Dynasty. Because of the threat of the Zhou State, the Northern Han had to bow down and obey the imperial decree of the Daliao Emperor; at the same time, the Northern Han was located on the head of the Central Plains in Hedong, which could also restrain the Central Plains Dynasty. However, the minister did not expect that after a few years in the Zhou Dynasty, he would be able to achieve the current situation. "

"Good." Yelujing uttered a voice, very satisfied with Yang Gun, and immediately said, "You can reply to the envoy of the Northern Han Dynasty. Daliao will mobilize troops from the south of Yinshan Mountain to help them. Who will be the general?"

Yang Gun bowed and said: "I am willing to be the pioneer of Khan!"

"You just came back from work, so you won't be exempted this time." Yelujing said, "Tell Brother Yeluxiu to go."

...

Brother Yeluxiu, a general who can fight well in the Liao Kingdom. Not long ago, Shiwei and other tribes thought that the Liao Kingdom was weak and betrayed it. Brother Yeluxiu led his troops to quickly quell it. Wherever he went, no one could stop him. He killed the rebel corpses all over the grasslands, and the atmosphere of terror enveloped all the tribes. With his outstanding military exploits, Brother Yeluxiu has become a general that the nobles of Shangjing talk about for a while.

In Jinyang City, it was heard that Brother Yeluxiu led his troops to rescue, and the imperial court celebrated, and the pessimistic atmosphere of subjugation gradually disappeared.

The vanguard cavalry of the Liao Army quickly entered the Dai-Xin Corridor. Upon hearing the news, Fu Zhaoxu wanted to withdraw his troops from Longzhou immediately and return to the border of Liaozhou to station and wait and see.

At that time, some generals were greedy for meritorious service, and suggested that before the arrival of the Liao army, they should give up attacking Longzhou Jiancheng and attack the Yang Ye department in Baigu eastward. This kind of suggestion is the way to maximize military merit...Although Yang Ye claims to be Yang Wudi, Zhou's army attacked with an army of 50,000, of which 20,000 were elite troops of Long Jie.

If you win in Baigu, you can stabilize there. If the Liao army has a large number of troops, it will not be too late to withdraw at that time. If there are not many people, they can continue to fight the Liao army in a field... If they can get some cheap gains in the face-to-face confrontation with the Liao army, this will be a great contribution! The Central Plains still recognizes the combat power of the Liao army, and it is a foreign race. The domestic public opinion of defeating the Liao army is equivalent to the reputation of a "national hero", and no one is not tempted!

Lin Renzhao also said in the big tent of the Chinese army: "My lord, there is really no need to worry."

All the generals agreed one after another, military generals are not greedy for merit, and civil officials are not greedy for money. Isn't this difficult for the strong?

Lin Renzhao said: "If the Liao army has a large number of troops, they must have a lot of infantry and equipment. They cannot arrive in a short time, and it will not be too late to retreat at that time. If there are only a few thousand or ten thousand cavalry, how can we not fight with a five-fold advantage? When the Liao army arrives, it would be embarrassing to run away without even seeing anyone, as if we are cowards! Hold your breath!"

But Fu Zhaoxu didn't think so. He was a general, but his position was not just a general, but also a relative of the emperor. Moreover, Fu Zhaoxu was calm and respected the meaning of Shangfeng.

Although Lin Renzhao spoke harshly, he did not reprimand Lin Renzhao, but instead said: "General Lin is right, but..." He turned his head and said to Liu Renzhan, "The purpose of our troops is to consume and exhaust the Northern Han. We have defeated the Northern Han army several times in the Northern Han battle for more than a month now; and the Liao army has already moved south, and the Liao army has to consume the Northern Han country's money and food. So far, my department's goal has been achieved, and it seems unnecessary to take risks. What does Mr. Liu think?"

Liu Renzhan nodded in agreement, then turned to Lin Renzhao and said, "My lord is thinking about the overall situation, so don't be greedy for merit."

Lin Renzhao respected Liu Renzhan very much. Hearing this, he immediately said: "The last general must obey the military order!"

This general surnamed Lin is very difficult to control. He is the kind of person who has military talent but doesn't understand the world's superiority and inferiority. He often makes people who are higher than him feel ashamed;

Fortunately, Liu Renzhan was able to control him, Fu Zhaoxu felt relieved, and respected Liu Renzhan even more; in order to maintain his dignity, Fu Zhaoxu could not bow down to his subordinates, and made an excuse that Liu Renzhan was old... Respecting older people is also a virtue.

Fu Zhaoxu was originally a very talkative and easy-going person; Liu Renzhan was not a fool like Lin Renzhao, he knew the rules very well, and he was very grateful for others' face. So Fu Zhaoxu and Liu Renzhan got along very well without any disputes.

At this moment, Liu Renzhan tactfully said: "My lord said to retreat, but the overall situation is the most important thing. The old man also said, don't retreat too far, and go to the nearest station to Liaozhou first?"

Fu Zhaoxu groaned endlessly, thinking about it in his heart.

Liu Renzhan clasped his fists again and said, "Liaozhou is close to the Northern Han Dynasty. We retreat here, and we also maintain the threat to the Northern Han Dynasty. In such a close place, we just adjust our deployment, and we can't talk about fleeing. We are repairing in Liaozhou. We just stabilize our position and play by ear. The generals should accept it better, and it won't hurt morale."

Fu Zhaoxu mused, "Liaozhou's city walls don't seem to be very strong..."

Liu Renzhan said: "As long as there is a city, we can perfect the fortifications there. If the Liao army really dares to attack a city with 50,000 elite guards, then we don't have to deliberately avoid this kind of battle."

He thought for a while and persuaded: "We will continue to threaten in Liaozhou. Since the Liao army has come, they will stay and wait and see in the Northern Han Dynasty. Could their consumption be transported from the Liao Kingdom thousands of miles away? They still have to consume the national power of the Northern Han Dynasty. In this way, our approach does not conflict with His Majesty's intentions."

When Fu Zhaoxu heard the last sentence, it was an explanation in line with the emperor's will, and immediately said: "Let's follow Liu Gong's strategy!"

!!