"My dear friends, maybe you will think that I am much more timid and timid than before. Even I have asked myself many times, where did the ambition, pride and courage of the past go? Why do I have to fight every battle now? Think twice before acting and looking forward and backward?" Wu Feng's face was also full of deep thoughts, as if he was pondering the feeling, "Without him, the bigger the empire, the more conflicts and the greater the risks. At present, the Tang Empire seems to be extremely powerful. The military is at its peak and the people are at home, but this is only a superficial phenomenon. The undercurrent lurking below still wants to overturn the empire all the time. Sometimes I can't help but regret it. The empire's steps are too big and too fast, and almost all of them are Expansion is achieved through wars. The wars are continuous and the empire has little time to digest and assimilate. At present, about half of the empire's territories have not been truly integrated into the imperial political system and are maintained entirely by the inertia of military power and local administrative systems. rule, and to completely reverse this situation, it cannot be achieved without more than ten years of rule.”
"However, the empire has reached this point and has no choice but to retreat. Whether it is the Liberians or the Machikhans, they cannot wait for the empire to digest these areas before launching an attack. They also know that now is the time. When the empire is most critical, as long as the empire can be defeated at this time, the empire may fall apart and lose its territory outside the empire. The empire will be a regional power at best and can no longer threaten their survival. This This is their wishful thinking. Therefore, we cannot underestimate their determination and will, otherwise we will make a huge mistake. If we cannot let them get their wish, we must meet this challenge. Only by completely defeating them can we truly Let the empire stand forever in the east of the mainland." Wu Feng's mood seemed to become a little excited, and he who rarely used gestures to express his feelings could not help but wave his right hand vigorously to express his determination.
These words made the five people present feel a little uneasy, to be honest. No one, including Liang Chongxin, has yet raised the seriousness of the problem to such a high level. Almost everyone believes that the empire can complete a war in the south that is not too large in scale and intensity to weaken the Macchi Khanate. potential, forcing them to withdraw from the three encroached provinces of Ronisia, Yuejing, and Anjie. Even if the Liberians in the north wanted to take action during this period, firstly, the time was too short, and secondly, the Liberians It is unlikely that people will use this opportunity to launch a full-scale invasion of the south. By the time the Liberians are fully prepared, the war in the south should be over.
"Your Majesty, I have not thought carefully. I have failed the Holy Grace." Seeing Ling Tianfang and Bo Jinchen standing up to apologize at the same time, Liang Cuimu and the others had no choice but to stand up and apologize together.
"That's all, Tianfang and Jinchen, you two are no better than Chongxin Wenxiu and Lige. You need to look at the overall situation. All things considered, once we attack the Machikhans, the Liberians will never let them go. This opportunity, I can be sure of this! So we have to prepare for the worst. The military strength in the northern region is insufficient. No matter where the Liberians attack from, it may lead to quite serious consequences. From the east If we push forward, we will press directly into the hinterland of the imperial capital of Gyeonggi. The impact of the shock to the empire can be imagined. From the west, it is possible to cut off the connection between the empire and the central continent. What will become of the central continent by then? The Western Regions and Tengger The grasslands and even Meili may undergo changes that we don't expect, and our many years of management may be ruined, so we have to think carefully." Wu Feng sighed.
Ling Tianfang and Bo Jinchen were trying to figure out the meaning of Wu Feng's words. According to His Majesty's inference, the northern part of the empire needed to add at least one or two army legions, even if one legion could be transferred from the southwest. Although they are still a little weak, it seems that His Majesty has the idea of expanding the army.
"Your Majesty, the First Army can be withdrawn from the Southwest and South China Sea areas. It can be deployed on the southern battlefield to speed up the progress of the war, or it can be placed in the north to strengthen the defense force. However, overall the defense force in the north is still a bit weak, unless we increase the army establishment again. , reorganize one or two legions." Ling Tianfang cautiously suggested that the Imperial Administration Council and the Privy Council have reached a consensus on the issue of military expansion, and if they overturn it at this time, it is very likely to encounter opposition and criticism from the Imperial Administration Council.
"Well, the First Army will be deployed to replace the Sixth Army and stationed in the South China Sea to deter the Nanyang Alliance. The Second Army and the Sixth Army will serve as the main offensive force on the eastern front in the Ronisia campaign, and strive to capture Ronisia as quickly as possible! In addition, I have decided to reorganize the former Jerok Duke Defense Force and the integrated troops of the empire that have not yet been disbanded into a legion. In addition, the Meili surrender army and the Pancha New Army in the mid-continent will form a legion. These two legions must be established immediately, and one is ready to be made. To prepare for the war with the Liberians in the future, another legion must prepare to take over the defense of the Jerok Legion, and prepare for the Jerok Legion to return to the empire to join the war."
As soon as Wu Feng finished speaking, Ling Tianfang and Bo Jinchen exchanged glances. Although they both knew that military expansion was inevitable, the expansion of two legions was still expected. If the Privy Council proposed it, they would definitely be opposed by the Government Affairs Council. However, if His Majesty the Emperor personally proposed it, it would be much better. Even if it would cause some controversy, it would be much weaker.
"Well, Your Majesty, both the minister and Ambassador Bo agree with this opinion. However, the numbers of the various legions in the empire are still a bit confusing. I wonder if they need to be readjusted? In addition, do you have a suitable choice for the commanders of these two legions? Candidates? These issues need to be determined immediately so that work can be started immediately." Ling Tianfang immediately answered.
"Well, the Jerok Army was renamed the Twelfth Army of the Empire, and the Indian Army was renamed the Thirteenth Army of the Empire. Based on the division directly under the Jerok Army, the Meili surrendered army and the new army were selected to form the Fourteenth Army. Shalang will serve as the commander, and the Fifteenth Army Corps will be formed by Jerok's former National Defense Force and the Imperial Reorganized Army, and Qu Bo will serve as the commander of the army." Wu Feng thought for a moment and then concluded: "The formation of the Fourteenth Army Corps and the Fifteenth Army Corps will be organized immediately by the Privy Council. After the official announcement, Shalang immediately took office, pulled up the 14th Army Corps in the shortest time, and transferred the 12th Army Corps back to the northwest county. Qu Bo immediately formed the 15th Army Corps to replace the 11th Army Corps, and the 11th Army Corps advanced to Jierok County to deploy defenses, and The Fifth Army and the Tenth Army will work together to strengthen the northern frontline defense."
After this arrangement, Wu Feng didn't say much nonsense and turned to Liang Cuimu and the others: "Chongxin, I appoint you as the commander of the Southern Theater Command, with jurisdiction over the first, second, third, sixth, and fifth tiger guards. A legion, with full power to command the war against the Machikhans. The plan I just proposed is just a general intention. If you feel there is something wrong or the battlefield changes and need adjustment, everything will be based on your opinion. I will give you two months. Time to prepare, one strike will succeed, give me the opportunity to capture Ronisia, Yuejing, and Anjie in one fell swoop, and completely destroy the war potential of the Machikhans. I hope you can solve the war in the south as quickly as possible, but I won’t give it to you Set a time limit and hope you take care of yourself.”
"Wenxiu, Lige, I appoint you two as the commander-in-chief and deputy commander of the Northern Theater Command, under your jurisdiction are the 5th, 9th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, and 15th legions, plus six more The Rangers, three heavy cavalry divisions (the Third Army's heavy cavalry division has been swapped out to become a directly affiliated heavy cavalry division), and the armored beasts. You two will be responsible for the entire northern theater combat mission. In the early stage, It may be focused on defense, but it may evolve into a full-scale war in the middle and later stages. You must be prepared for a full-scale war, and be prepared to fight against the Liberian army of more than one million people. I will also inform the Baiin people and ask them to enter a state of war readiness immediately. Once a war breaks out, they will support us from the rear. As for the Luobei people, I have informed Watt and asked him to draw six more troops from the Luobei standing army. The Ten Thousand Rangers, as a flanking reserve team, I will personally march to the front line if necessary!"
A series of appointments showed Wu Feng's unquestionable determination. Time waits for no one. Wu Feng is determined to completely solve the problem of Maci Khan in the south before the Liberians are fully prepared, and at least to destroy the Maci Khan war. Potential, cut off the military strength of the Maci Khans, and reduce the Maci Khans to a second-rate weak country. Prepare for the next step to completely eliminate the Maci Khans, but they have to prepare for the worst, just in case the Maci Khans The people resisted desperately and the war fell into a stalemate, so the Liberians were quite passive when it came to intervening.
When the two prime ministers of the Imperial Government Affairs Council received the summons, it was already a done deal. Wu Feng directly informed Xiao Tang and Su Qin of the information obtained by the intelligence department and the decisions he had made, and asked the Government Affairs Council and the Ministry of Finance to immediately make appropriate arrangements and fund them. The funds will be allocated immediately to provide financial guarantee for the two new corps. At the same time, Wu Feng also asked Su Qin to immediately make preparations for a visit to the Three Kingdoms Alliance to ensure that the Three Kingdoms Alliance would remain neutral once the war broke out.
This is the first time that Wufeng has shown such a strong attitude on the issue of military expansion. He has hardly solicited the opinions of the Government Affairs Council. Although Xiao Tang and Su Qin both have some ideas, in this case they can only obey and put them into action quickly. action. The Privy Council has already taken action ahead of the curve, with large-scale military mobilization and material replenishment, and the deployment of military officers. It will take two to three months. It is indeed a bit tense, but the war waits for no one. The only hope is that the war in the north will not be like His Majesty the Emperor. If it breaks out as predicted, it would be best if it can be delayed for another month or two.