After King Gong's wedding, at the end of April, Emperor Xuande suddenly discussed with his courtiers in the early court that he wanted to expedition the Liao Kingdom to the north and recapture the fourteen states of Youyun that once belonged to the Central Plains.
His Royal Highness's civil and military ministers were all stunned. The shock this time was greater than when Emperor Xuande proposed to attack Jin in the first month. After all, Jin was only a small country to the north of the Great Zhou Dynasty, like a small pigeon's egg, but the Liao Kingdom to the north was not. It is a big rock, and the vast grasslands of the Liao Kingdom are crowded with steed horses, and the cavalry is invincible. Da Zhou, can you beat others
Emperor Xuande didn't want to destroy the Liao Kingdom all at once, he just wanted to grab the Fourteen Youyun Prefectures first. Before the expedition against Jin, Emperor Xuande had no confidence in the northern expedition against Liao, but Han Da, Guo Xiao and other generals killed 30,000 Liao soldiers in one battle, which is enough to prove that Da Zhou soldiers did not lose to Liao, and Emperor Xuande had confidence. .
"All the ministers said, is Liao State capable of attacking?" Sitting on the dragon chair, Emperor Xuande asked the courtiers below, especially the military attache.
The ministers were headed by the prime minister, and the military attachés were the privy envoys. However, the privy envoy Cao Yu kept silent.
Behind Cao Yu, Guo Boyan, the commander of the front office, was also silent.
Emperor Xuande frowned, and at this moment, behind Guo Boyan, Cheng Han, the marquis of Yu Yu, who ranks second only to him, suddenly appeared, and said loudly: "Your Majesty Shengming, my Dazhou soldiers have just captured Jin, and my morale is high. Zhengsheng, at this time the northern expedition of the Liao Kingdom will be like a broken bamboo, and the land of Youyun will be recovered in one fell swoop."
As soon as he made a sound, most of the military attachés agreed.
Emperor Xuande stroked his beard and turned to Wenchen with a smile.
Prime Minister Xu Wei lowered his head. He did not agree with the last expedition against Jin. Although Emperor Xuande won a battle, this time the northern expedition against Liao was no trivial matter. He still did not support it. The emperor is arbitrary and autocratic. Once he decides something, he can no longer listen to the advice of others. Since he said that the emperor will not listen, why should he talk more to the emperor
The prime minister did not speak, and most of the civil servants bowed their heads and said nothing. The second prince, Prince Rui, looked back and said, "Father is wise, the Liao State sent troops to support the Jin State, which suffered a crushing defeat. , the enemy's morale is low and our army's morale is greatly lifted, which is the perfect time to send troops."
Emperor Xuande nodded.
Fan Ping, a member of Zhongshushe, also echoed: "King Rui said exactly what King Rui said. At this time, our army pursued the victory and attacked the Liaoning like searching for something."
"It's a good way to find things." Guo Boyan stood on the spot, turned his head sideways, smiled and said to Fan Ping: "The Liao Kingdom's iron cavalry can reach more than a dozen infantrymen in Dazhou, and Master Fan said it was so simple to attack the Liaoning, thinking that he was well-informed. There are good strategies for overcoming the enemy, and that being the case, can you tell me about it?”
Fan Ping just saw through Emperor Xuande's mind, and came out to say something to please the emperor. Now Guo Boyan, a fierce general, asked about the tactics, and he froze there immediately, his fair face turning red and blue for a while. When Guo Boyan saw it, he handed Fan Ping a general to despise him, and then he stood out and said with hands: "Your Majesty, the book business spirit is simple to say, but the battlefield is ever-changing. The emperor has a long-term plan."
Yes, Da Zhou won a battle, and the soldiers are happy, but they are happy that they can be rewarded by the court for their contributions. Now the emperor has not rewarded the three armies, but wants them to continue to attack the strong enemy Liao. Complaining, how can you have the momentum to resist the enemy? As Emperor Xuande's confidant, Guo Boyan knew what Emperor Xuande wanted to hear now, but he couldn't just watch the emperor make mistakes.
The smile on the corner of Emperor Xuande's mouth disappeared. If someone else came out to oppose him, he would not be as unhappy as he is now, but who is Guo Boyan? Guo Boyan was pulled out by him, how could he contradict him
"Since I have decided on the Northern Expedition, I have the confidence to win, Aiqing needn't worry too much." Emperor Xuande said calmly.
When Guo Boyan heard this, he silently returned to his place. He has done his duty as a loyal minister, and besides, he is stupid.
The military attachés supported him, and the civil servants all seemed to be dumb, but if they did not speak, they would acquiesce. In short, his calculation of the Northern Expedition was approved by the civil and military ministers. Emperor Xuande smiled and said, "Since you all agree, then..."
"Father, if you send troops, you will lose this battle."
A Qingyue voice suddenly came, and its words were sharp, like a sudden thunder on a midsummer night, deafening. Civil and military officials raised their heads in unison, wanting to see which prince was so bold and dared to say that the emperor would be defeated. Then they saw the third prince Zhao Heng standing in the hall, looking up at the emperor on the dragon chair, with a slender and straight back. , like a pine tree on top of Huangshan that is not afraid of wind and frost.
Everyone was shocked, and after they couldn't believe it, they all thought about it.
The King of Chu frowned and looked at his own younger brother. He didn't understand why his younger brother, who never asked about political affairs, said such ugly words as soon as he opened his mouth. In his opinion, this time, the father's decision to expedition to the north couldn't be wiser, and the younger brother cursed the father to defeat the war when he opened his mouth. , What should I do if the father is angry and punishes the younger brother? The King of Chu was anxious and worried, coughed, and winked at his younger brother frequently.
Prince Rui's face was expressionless, but his heart was full of joy. The third child and the elder brother were one body. Now the third child has offended the father emperor. Once the father emperor punished him, the elder brother would definitely come out to intercede. At that time, the father emperor could not take his anger out? Although a small unhappiness would not change anything, Prince Rui felt very happy to see the third child asking for trouble.
When the two princes were worried and gloated, Cao Yu, the privy envoy, Guo Boyan, the commander in front of the palace, Xu Wei, the prime minister, Lu Xun, the deputy prime minister, and others, all looked at the loner Shou Wang, who was usually a fairy. I wonder what Mr. Shou will say next.
"King Shou, why did you say this?"
The good mood was completely ruined by his own son's "sure defeat", Emperor Xuande's face sank, and he asked solemnly. The third stuttered, if possible, Emperor Xuande didn't want his son to humiliate himself, but in this situation, he had to ask clearly.
Zhao Heng looked at his father, and said slowly and firmly: "There are four reasons. First, the reward has not been issued, and the soldiers are dissatisfied."
Guo Boyan nodded, even if the two battles were fought in a row, the rewards for the frontier attacking Jin should be sent first, and the soldiers would be more willing to serve the court when they got the benefits. To put it in an ugly way, the common people order the cattle to farm the land, and after ploughing a piece of land, they have to be well fed. The cattle are honest, and they can make do with less feeding. The soldiers and soldiers are all human beings. , forced to go, and played with all his heart, the battlefield is no better than ploughing the field, and a negligence is a miserable death.
"Second, the journey is long, and the soldiers are tired after a long journey."
The privy envoy Cao Yu nodded slightly. In the northern expedition to Liao, to climb over a Taihang Mountain, the soldiers have been fighting for four months and are in urgent need of rest.
"Third, the hot summer season is not conducive to combat."
The prime minister Xu Wei expressed his approval. The two countries sent troops, and the right time, place, and people had to be considered. If they did not reward the soldiers and did not want to fight, it was a loss of people. The summer heat is the lack of time.
"Fourth..."
"Enough!" Emperor Xuande shouted suddenly, glaring at his stuttering son and said: "The Fourteenth State of Youyun is my land in the Central Plains, just like children are to their parents, everyone in Dazhou hopes that the court will recover the lost land as soon as possible, Youyun The people of Li have suffered from war and chaos, and their hearts are like arrows. It is the people's heart to attack Liaoning. When the fourteen states of Youyun are returned to the Central Plains, I will reward the three armies. King Shou has learned from others, and with this hesitant kung fu, it is better for me Write an essay about the Northern Expedition to Liao."
Hesitating...
All the ministers took a breath of air. No one knew that King Shou had a mouth problem, and so far dared not openly discuss it, but the emperor ruthlessly tore open the scar that King Shou had never healed in front of the civil and military people of the dynasty. King Shou opposed the attack on Liao, but the emperor asked King Shou to write an ode to attack Liao, which was tantamount to sprinkling a handful of salt on the wound.
The younger brother first offended the father and then was reprimanded by the father. The King of Chu couldn't blame the father, but he couldn't stand the humiliation of his younger brother's dynasty, and unknowingly clenched a pair of iron fists. Go ahead and pull his poor poor third child. Before Prince Rui approached, Zhao Heng turned around and returned to the ranks of the civil servants.
The emperor's own sons were all scolded, and all civil and military officials knew that the emperor had made up his mind, and no one dared to speak out against it.
After the dissolution of the dynasty, Emperor Xuande called Cao Yu, Guo Boyan and others to Chongzheng Hall to discuss the strategy of attacking Liao.
Zhao Heng went out together with the civil servants who had been neglected by Emperor Xuande for the time being.
"What the lord said today, every word is precious, and the ministers are ashamed." Prime Minister Xu Wei deliberately walked slowly, and the other ministers walked away, so he followed behind Zhao Heng, using what only the two of them could hear. the voice said. What King Shou was worried about was also his concern, but he did not have the courage and mind of King Shou, and dared to contradict the emperor for the court.
He lowered his head slightly, looked at the robe of King Shou in front of him, and then saw King Shou leave unhurriedly, without any reaction to his praise. Xu Wei slowly straightened his body and looked at King Shou who had gone far. He shook his head indistinctly. Heaven was jealous of Yingcai.
It's a pity that there is no if, Xu Wei sighed and went to Zhongshu Province.
The red sun was setting, Zhao Heng returned to Shouwangfu, without changing his clothes, he went straight to the study. Eunuch Fu has been following the prince. Although he did not go to court, he heard from others that the prince was swept away in public by the emperor. Knowing that the master was angry, he did not dare to say a word. Waiting outside the study.
In the backyard, Song Jianing heard that the prince had gone to the study. Guessing that there was a big event, he continued to sit under the begonia tree to enjoy the coolness, waiting for the prince to come over to eat after his work, but until night fell, there was no movement in the front yard. Song Jianing suddenly became uneasy. In the past, even if the prince was busy, he would send someone to inform her.
Song Jianing sent Liu Xi to take a look. Liu Xi came from the Shou Wang Mansion and was familiar with the eunuchs in the front yard.
Liu Xi went, but the front yard was empty and silent, and only the guard Zong Ze stood in front of the study. When he found Liu Xi, Zong Ze made a gesture from a distance. Liu Xi froze in his heart, and hurriedly went back to the princess, and whispered, "The princess should have dinner first. The prince has something to do tonight, so he probably won't come over."
Zong Ze's gesture was to say that the prince was angry, and Liu Xi remembered clearly that the last time the prince was angry, he fought with the naughty Fourth Highness when he was a child, because the fourth prince deliberately imitated him to stammer, and the young prince was angry. Well, locked yourself in the room and didn't go out for a whole month.