Warrior in Turbulent Han Dynasty

In the evening at the Tokyo Imperial Palace, Guo Shao felt bored listening to the articles Guo Zhang had just learned, so he asked him to rest. Only Guo Zhang's mother, Li Yuan'er, was left by Guo Shao's side.

"The right way is that a tiger father has no dogs. Our youngest Duke (Li Jilong) has good qualifications. I heard Dong Zunhui say after the banquet that Li Jilong marched and fought very quickly and with great discipline, which is very rare for a son of this age." Guo Shao said in a casual tone.

Li Yuan'er said: "There are too many qualified young people in the world, and it is not because of His Majesty's favor and trust that he has the opportunity to serve the country."

On Li Yuan'er's rounder and more delicate face, she had a submissive expression, with a slight smile in her softness. But the most difficult thing to penetrate and force in this world is the human heart. It is difficult for Guo Shao to guess how much of that smile comes from the heart.

Guo Shao couldn't help sighing, remembering Li Yuan'er's sincerity back then, he stretched out his hand to hold Li Yuan'er's little hand, with an apologetic look on his face, and said, "I am also very sad about Li Gong's death."

Li Yuan'er was about to shed tears for a moment, but after a little silence, she said softly: "The Liao people have sinister intentions, and your majesty is wise and mighty, and he has avenged his revenge. My father is in heaven, so I should be relieved."

The implication of her words is that Zhongli, who poisoned Li Chuyun, was a spy of the Liao Kingdom. This is also the official statement of Daxu.

After hearing this, Guo Shao could only nod his head and said, "I am very pleased that the noble concubine can understand the general situation."

Li Yuan'er said softly: "Your Majesty has great kindness to both the concubine and the Li family. Even if I am an ox or a horse, I can't repay it. I still don't change my original intention for your majesty."

At this time, Guo Shao felt an indescribable trouble in his heart. He really wanted to have a sincere talk with those close to him, but... Now that they have owned the Sangong Sixth Court through great power|power and rules, would Li Yuan'er or anyone dare to vent their deepest emotions to Guo Shao?

But now Li Yuan'er's performance is very suitable for her identity and situation. Guo Shao felt that there was nothing wrong with her.

...The days of early spring are still short and the nights are long. The next day, Guo Shao left the imperial concubine's palace for the Jinxiang Palace early, and it was still dark at all.

He and Li Yuan'er talked a lot last night, the harem has become politics|politics, and almost none of the thousands of words was distracted, but Li Yuan'er's unintentional remark of not changing his original intention left a deep impression on Guo Shao.

Today coincides with the three-day central minister's discussion, so Guo Shao came to the meeting hall early.

He took a lamp from the eunuch Cao Tai and shone it on the wall behind the throne, on which hung a large map of Xu territory. Under the nearby light, he could see every line on the map clearly. Cartography is difficult to be precise, but the current map has changed the previous habit of drawing mountains, rivers and cities in a large and intuitive way, and has turned to the concept of proportion, focusing on size; so this map rarely draws pictures, but is full of lines and circles.

This is the territory he rules.

Not long after, Guo Shao noticed Cao Tai who was standing next to him looked up from the corner of his eyes, and he guessed that a certain minister had come early.

Guo Shao said without turning his head: "Since I ascended the throne, I have not only obtained glory, wealth and supreme power, but also have to undertake missions and responsibilities. Every dynasty has its mission. Some have their missions, some want to cultivate their lives and restore the Han population, some want to expel foreign aggressors so as not to die|country destruction|species, and some want to end the division and unify the country. What do you think is Daxu's mission?"

Cao Tai was stunned, and did not speak easily. The people behind him were also a little surprised, as if the emperor still had eyes on his back.

The man said: "Returning to Your Majesty, since the end of the Tang Dynasty, the borders and lands have been divided and the countries have stood side by side. It is the general trend to recover the lost land and unify the world."

Hearing the voice, it was only then that Guo Shao knew that the person who arrived earlier was Zuo You.

Guo Shao turned his head and saw Zuo You standing in the middle of the empty political hall with his fists folded and bowed. The two looked at each other from afar, Guo Shao couldn't let go of Luo Yanhuan and Li Chuyun's death, so much so that he also had an inexplicable feeling when he saw Zuo You... At the beginning, he almost killed Zuo You, an old friend who had been with him for many years, in a single thought.

He continued to illuminate the line on the map with a lamp, and said casually, "There are still Dali Kingdom, Jingnan Army and other places that have not surrendered, but the overall situation has been settled." He pondered for a moment and then said, "My original intention is not limited to this."

Zuo You said: "I would like to hear about your majesty's general plan."

Guo Shao put down the lamp holder, turned around, and his eyes lit up: "Sweep away the haze in the world, establish a fair and clear system and order, the people will be rich, and the country will be honored; then let the country have a bright future."

Zuo You immediately bowed and said: "Your Majesty has a great talent and general plan, and the ministers are willing to do their best for His Majesty's great ambition."

At this time, several people including Wang Pu and Wei Renpu came, and when they saw Guo Shao standing there, they clasped their fists and bowed.

Perhaps a few ministers thought that Guo Shao was just talking grandiose big words after hearing it at first. But Guo Shao recalled his enthusiasm when he was younger, and he really thought so, and his ideals during the Southern and Northern Wars were indeed the same.

Now he doesn't want to change his original intention, but finds that he seems to have taken it for granted; conspiracy and cruelty not only happen to others, but he has also done a lot of it himself! Bright dreams are, after all, only imaginations. What's wrong?

Perhaps there is nothing wrong, but everything must have a process, a long process that lasts for thousands of years.

Guo Shao was unwilling to doubt his institutional ideals. Just as he would not doubt that the advancement of production methods is the future direction, according to experience, the West dominated the future world through the industrial revolution... Although in this world, he can't see that day.

The sky outside the window gradually brightened, and more than 20 civil and military ministers arrived one after another.

After the gift of the monarch and his ministers, Guo Shao put away his wild thoughts in the morning, and said clearly: "Spring is coming, and the weather is getting warmer. In the battle of Liao, I want to fight in person."

There was a lot of discussion in the political hall, Prime Minister Li Gu clasped his fists and said, "The world has been in chaos for a long time. After Daxu unified the kingdoms, he fought for years. Our court defeated the Liao army in Hedong, and now we are going north again. If the war lasts for a long time, the treasury will not be able to make ends meet."

General Gao Huaide also said: "The official dragon body has just recovered, if you want to conquer Liao, you only need to send one general."

Guo Shao said: "I have been raised in the palace for too long, and I just want to take advantage of this battle to go back to battle." His implication is that he has given the world a sick impression for so long, and now he wants to prove his martial arts again.

Guo Shao turned his head to look at Li Gu again: "Don't worry, Mr. Li. Except for the battle to regain Youzhou, Daxu's army has always fought quickly. This time is no exception. We are not going to compete with the Liao army in the northeast. The goal of this battle is to force the Liao state to seek peace."

Several prime ministers seemed to be relieved when they heard that, Li Gu also changed his attitude and said: "Your Majesty is sympathetic to the people, and the world is very fortunate."

Guo Shao looked sideways slightly, motioning to Wei Renpu.

As usual, Wei Renpu, deputy envoy of the Privy Council, went to the top of the ministers and hung up a map of Liaodong. He calmly bowed to the officials: "Everyone, the previous national policy of the imperial court was to take Hexi, build a horse farm, open up the Western Regions, obtain enough horses and cavalry, and then switch from defense to offense to deal with Liao."

Everyone seconded one after another.

Wei Renpu said: "However, the situation has changed. The old man and Wang Shijun all thought that it is not appropriate to continue the national policy at this time. Last autumn, the Liao Kingdom lost more than 30,000 Khitan and Xi troops in Hedong again. In the past five years, it has lost more than 80,000 troops. The Liao Kingdom's military strength is no longer what it used to be. At this time, Liao's internal troubles are even worse. It is difficult to pose a threat anymore.

Our court no longer needs to expend national power to expand the cavalry in large quantities, as long as the peacemaker of the Liao Kingdom is forced to take power, the two countries negotiate a peace treaty. Then use the hands of the Liao Kingdom to subdue the northern tribes, and the border troubles in the northern border can be solved. "

The civil and military discussions were so noisy that Wei Renpu kept raising his voice.

The civil servants obviously supported the change of national policy. Over the years, Guo Shao understood the classics and history experience of the civil servants very well. He should rest and recuperate at the beginning of the country, especially when the foreign troubles were not serious. The generals are not very satisfied, only war can bring them military merits.

Shi Yanchao yelled bluntly: "We have fought so many battles with the Liao Kingdom, and lost so many brothers and people. Are we going to reconcile now?"

Wang Pudao: "A month ago, Yang Ye wrote a letter saying that the Hutuo River was filled with corpses of the Liao army. The river almost stopped flowing, and the valleys were littered with corpses. In terms of blood debts, it's not just us who hate the Liao people?"

Guo Shao said: "General Shi, don't worry, there are still many battles to be fought."

Everyone looked at each other in blank dismay, the emperor seemed to have caught Shi Yanchao's mind.

As soon as Guo Shao took the case, he ignored the arguments of the crowd and said directly: "That's it, Deputy Envoy Wei will continue to discuss the strategy."

Wei Renpu bowed his hands and calmly pointed to the map with his palm: "Liaoyang Prefecture is the seat of Dongdan Kingdom (the former land of Bohai Sea). Daxu planned to divide his troops into three groups to threaten Liaoyang. The main force marched out of Pingzhou, swept west of Liaoning, and besieged Jinzhou; the Jiaolong army moved two routes by water and captured Tiezhou (Yingkou) and Suzhou (Dalian).

Dongdan is an important place in the Liao Kingdom's confidant, and the Liao Dynasty's court must not sit idly by. They may gather a large army to save Liaoyang and fight our dynasty; if they don't want to fight, they can only accept peace. "

Shi Yanchao opened his mouth and asked: "In case the Liao Kingdom doesn't submit, we don't have enough cavalry, and we want to build the castle all the way to Liaoyang Mansion like attacking Youzhou?"

Wei Renpu said: "Marshal Shi asked a good question. If so, we will retreat after recovering Jinzhou."

He looked back and said, "After Liao Taizu Yelu Abaoji destroyed the Bohai Kingdom, the northeast regions were under the jurisdiction of the Liao Kingdom. Xu Jun dispatched to attack the territory under the jurisdiction of the Liao Kingdom, captured a city, and erected a stone tablet to engrave his achievements. Even if he retreated, it would not be regarded as a loss of momentum."

In Guo Shao's view, it is absolutely impossible for the Liao army to fight recklessly in Jinzhou. The most likely thing is to wait for Xu Jun to go deep and have nothing to rely on, and use cavalry to attack the food road; There was no need for him to risk his prestige at this time.

Wei Renpu said again: "Of course, this is only the most unfavorable situation. Although Daxu's army can be called victorious, the income of a city is really not worth the cost of using a large army. The best result is to force the Liao Kingdom to give up being an enemy of Daxu and come to seek peace."