In the evening at the Tokyo Imperial Palace, Guo Shao felt bored listening to Guo Zhang reciting the article he had just learned, so he told him to go and rest. Only Guo Zhang's mother Li Yuan'er was left with Guo Shao.
It is a rule that a good father will have a good son. Our youngest Duke Li Jilong has good talent. I heard Dong Zunhui say after the banquet that Li Jilong is very fast in marching and fighting, and he is quite methodical, which is very rare for a boy of this age. Guo Shao said casually.
Li Yuaner said: There are too many talented young people in the world. It is only because of your majesty's grace and trust that he has the opportunity to serve the country.
Li Yuan'er's rounder and more delicate face was submissive and gentle with a hint of smile. However, the most difficult thing to understand and force in this world is the human heart. Guo Shao could not guess how much of that smile came from the heart.
Guo Shao couldn't help but sigh, thinking of Li Yuan'er's sincerity back then. He reached out and held Li Yuan'er's small hand, with an apologetic look on his face, and said: I am also very sad about Lord Li's death.
Li Yuaner almost cried for a moment, but after a short silence, she said softly: "The Liao people had evil intentions, Your Majesty is wise and brave, and has avenged the hatred. My father's spirit in heaven should be comforted."
What she meant was that Zhongli, who poisoned Li Chuyun, was a spy from the Liao Kingdom, which was also the official statement of Daxu.
After hearing this, Guo Shao had no choice but to nod and said: I am very pleased that the imperial concubine can understand the general situation.
Li Yuan'er said softly: Your Majesty has been very kind to me and the Li family. I cannot repay you even if I work like a slave. My feelings for Your Majesty remain unchanged.
At this moment, Guo Shao felt an unspeakable distress in his heart. He actually wanted to have a sincere talk with the people close to him, but since they all had the three palaces and six courtyards through great power and rules, would Li Yuaner or anyone else dare to vent their deepest emotions to Guo Shao
And now Li Yuaner's behavior is very consistent with her identity and situation. Guo Shao thinks there is nothing wrong with her.
The days are still short and the nights are long in early spring. The next day, Guo Shao left the Imperial Concubine's Palace early and went to Jinxiang Palace before dawn.
He talked a lot with Li Yuaner last night. The harem has become a political issue, and almost none of his words came from the heart. However, Li Yuaner's unintentional words that she had not changed her original intention left a deep impression on Guo Shao.
Today was the three-days meeting of central ministers, so Guo Shao arrived at the council hall early.
He took a lamp from the eunuch Cao Tai and shone it on the wall behind the throne, where a large map was hung. With the lamp shining close to the wall, he could see every line on the map. It was difficult to make a map accurately, but the current map has changed the previous habit of drawing mountains, rivers and cities in a large and intuitive way, and now uses proportion as the concept and focuses on size; so this map has very few pictures, all lines and circles.
This was the territory he ruled.
Not long after, Guo Shao noticed from the corner of his eye that Cao Tai, who was standing next to him, raised his head and glanced at him, so he guessed that a minister had arrived early.
Guo Shao said without looking back: Since I ascended the throne, I have not only obtained wealth and power, but also must bear missions and responsibilities. Every dynasty has its mission. Some are to recuperate and restore the Han population, some are to expel foreign invaders to avoid national destruction, and some are to end division and unify the country. What do you think is the mission of Daxu
Cao Tai was stunned and didn't speak easily. The people behind him were probably also a little surprised, as if the emperor had eyes on his back.
The man said: In reply to Your Majesty, since the end of the Tang Dynasty, many countries have coexisted with divided territories. It is the general trend to recover the lost territories and unify the world.
Hearing the voice, Guo Shao realized that the person who had arrived early was Zuo You.
Guo Shao turned around and saw Zuo You standing in the middle of the empty Council Hall with his fists clasped and his body bowed. The two looked at each other from a distance. Guo Shao was really upset about the deaths of Luo Yanhuan and Li Chuyun, and even had an inexplicable feeling when he saw Zuo You. He almost killed Zuo You, his old friend who he had known for many years, in a moment of thought.
He continued to shine the light on the lines on the map, and said casually, "There are still places like the Jingnan Army of Dali Kingdom that have not surrendered, but the overall situation has been determined." He pondered for a moment and said, "My original intention is not limited to this."
Zuo You said: I would like to hear your majesty’s general plan.
Guo Shao put down the lamp holder, turned around, his eyes lit up: Clear away the haze of the world, establish a fair and clear institutional order, make the people prosperous, and make the country honorable; then let the country have a bright future.
Zuo You immediately bowed and said: Your Majesty is a man of great talent and strategy. We are willing to do our best to achieve your great ambitions.
At this time, Wang Pu, Wei Renpu and several others came. When they saw Guo Shao standing there, they also clasped their fists and bowed.
Perhaps at first glance, some ministers thought that Guo Shao was just talking big. But Guo Shao recalled his enthusiasm when he was younger, and he really thought so. This was indeed his ideal when he fought in the south and the north.
Now he wants to stick to his original intention, but he finds that he seemed to have taken it for granted; conspiracy and cruelty not only happened to others, but he himself also did a lot of it. After all, bright dreams are just imaginations.
Maybe it is not wrong, but everything requires a process, a long process that takes thousands of years.
Guo Shao was unwilling to doubt his ideals in the system. Just as he would not doubt that the advancement of production methods was the future direction, based on experience, the West dominated the world in the future with the help of the Industrial Revolution, although in this world, he would not see that day.
The sky outside the window gradually brightened, and more than twenty civil and military officials arrived one after another.
After the ceremony between the monarch and his subjects, Guo Shao put aside his morning thoughts and said clearly: Spring is coming, and the weather is gradually getting warmer. I want to lead the war against Liao in person.
The discussion in the Council Hall soon became heated. Prime Minister Li Gu clasped his fists and said: "The world has been in chaos for a long time. After Daxu unified the countries, he went to war for years. Our dynasty has just defeated the Liao army in Hedong. Now we are going to the north again. If the war lasts for a long time, the national treasury will not be able to make ends meet."
General Gao Huaide also said: Your Majesty has just recovered from his illness. If you want to conquer Liao, you only need to send one general.
Guo Shao said: I have been recuperating in the palace for too long, and I want to take advantage of this battle to return to the battlefield. His implication is that he has left the impression of being sickly for so long, and now he has to prove his martial arts again.
Guo Shao turned to look at Li Gu again: "Don't worry, Mr. Li. Except for the battle to recapture Youzhou, the Daxu Army has always fought quickly and decisively. This time is no exception. We are not going to fight the Liao Army in the northeast. The goal of this battle is to force the Liao Kingdom to seek peace."
Several prime ministers seemed relieved when they heard this, and Li Gu also changed his attitude and bowed, saying: Your Majesty sympathizes with the people, and the world is fortunate.
Guo Shao glanced sideways and gestured to Wei Renpu.
As usual, Wei Renpu, the deputy envoy of the Privy Council, walked to the head of the ministers and hung up a map of Liaodong. He bowed to the officials calmly and said: Ladies and Gentlemen, the previous national policy of the court in the north was to take Hexi, build a horse farm to open up the Western Regions, obtain enough war horses and cavalry, and then turn defense into offense to deal with the Liao Kingdom.
Everyone seconded the motion.
Wei Renpu said: However, the situation has changed. The old man and Envoy Wang all think that it is inappropriate to continue the national policy at this time. Last autumn, the Liao Kingdom lost more than 30,000 Khitan Xi troops in Hedong again. In the past five years, it has lost more than 80,000 troops. The military strength of the Liao Kingdom is no longer what it used to be. At this time, the internal troubles of the Liao Kingdom are even worse. It is strong on the outside but weak on the inside and can no longer pose a threat.
Our dynasty does not need to waste national strength to expand cavalry in large quantities. We only need to force the peace advocates of Liao to take power, and the two countries negotiate a peace treaty. Then, with the help of Liao, we can subdue the northern tribes and solve the border troubles in the north.
The civil and military officials were arguing so noisily that Wei Renpu kept raising his voice.
The civil officials obviously supported the change of national policy. Guo Shao was very familiar with the experience of classics and history followed by the civil officials over the years. At the beginning of the country, it was necessary to rest and recuperate, especially when the foreign invasion was not serious. The generals were not satisfied. Only war could bring them military merit.
Shi Yanchao simply shouted: We have fought so many battles with the Liao Kingdom, and so many brothers and civilians have died. Now we have to make peace again!
Wang Pudao: A month ago, Yang Ye wrote to the emperor that the Hutuo River was filled with corpses of Liao soldiers, the river was almost dry, and the valleys were littered with corpses. If we talk about blood debt, it's not just us who hate the Liao people.
Guo Shao said: General Shi, don't worry, there are still many battles to fight.
When everyone heard this, they looked at each other in surprise. The emperor seemed to have grasped Shi Yanchao's thoughts.
Guo Shao slammed the imperial desk, ignored the arguments of the crowd, and said directly: It's settled. Deputy Envoy Wei, continue to discuss the strategy.
Wei Renpu bowed and calmly pointed at the map with his palm: Liaoyang Prefecture is the old seat of the Eastern Dan Kingdom in Bohai. Daxu plans to divide his troops into three routes to threaten Liaoyang. The main force of infantry and cavalry will go out of Pingzhou, sweep Liaoxi, and besiege Jinzhou; Jiaolong Army will be transported by water in two routes to capture Tiezhou, Yingkou, Suzhou and Dalian.
Dongdan is an important territory of Liao, and the Liao court must not sit idly by. They may gather a large army to rescue Liaoyang and fight a war with our dynasty; if they do not want to fight, they can only accept peace talks.
Shi Yanchao asked: What if the Liao Kingdom does not surrender? We do not have enough cavalry. Should we build castles all the way to Liaoyang Prefecture like we did when we attacked Youzhou
Wei Renpu said: Marshal Shi asked a good question. If that is the case, we will withdraw our troops after retaking Jinzhou.
He looked around and saw that after Liao Taizu Yelu Abaoji destroyed Bohai State, the northeastern regions were under the jurisdiction of Liao. Xu's army attacked the territory under the jurisdiction of Liao, captured a city, and erected a stone tablet to record their achievements. Even if they retreated, they would not lose their momentum.
In Guo Shao's opinion, the Liao army would never set up a battle array in Jinzhou and fight head-on. The most likely thing would be to wait for Xu's army to get too deep and use cavalry to harass the grain route. Therefore, as long as they were determined not to advance straight ahead, they would be invincible in this battle. This was one of the reasons why Guo Shao wanted to lead the army in person. There was no need for him to risk his prestige at this time.
Wei Renpu added: "Of course, this is only the most unfavorable situation. Although the Daxu army can be called a victory, the gains from one city are not worth the cost of mobilizing a large army. The best result is to force the Liao Kingdom to give up its hostility to Daxu and come to seek peace."