The main force of Xu's army's western route left Pingzhou and passed through the Liaoxi Corridor with almost no resistance.
Guo Shao came to Longshan near Liaoxi Fort. Scouts reported that there was a Buddhist temple on Longshan. Because the Liao army had been active there for a long time, all the monks in the temple had fled, leaving only an old monk to guard the temple. Guo Shao decided to stay in the temple.
Lu Chengyong went to deal with the matter and promised the old monk to fund the construction of a new temple in the Lianshan forest in the northeast. The old monk gladly gave the property to Xu Jun. After all, the chaotic soldiers usually robbed and killed people when they arrived.
As Guo Shaosui climbed up the mountain along the mountain road, he truly felt the spring breeze that had permeated the entire north. The grass and trees were lush and green, and various wild flowers grew in the grass on the trees and roadsides. He didn't recognize most of the flowers and plants, but he believed that if Lu Lan was here, he would definitely be able to recognize most of the plants. At this time, the doctor was dealing with various herbs.
Guo Shao was so excited that he bent down and picked a yellow wild flower that was growing well. He couldn't stop once he started. Soon he picked a handful of flowers from the grass and branches on the roadside and held them in his left hand. The soldiers and attendants around him kept silent, happy that Guo Shao was in a good mood, and everyone was relieved.
Yang Shiliang, your physical strength is not very good. Guo Shao turned around and said casually.
The eunuch Yang Shiliang was panting and wiping his sweat with a handkerchief as he walked, while the warriors behind him, such as Lu Chengyong, were climbing the mountain wearing armor weighing dozens of kilograms, but they were still not as tired as him.
Yang Shiliang panted and said: Your Majesty is right, I am a little exhausted.
As soon as Guo Shao turned around, he saw tents and galloping horses at the foot of the mountain. A spectacular scene completely different from the mountains and forests came into view. Liaoxi Fort was lying on the ground, and several roads from north to south and east to west were in full view. This was also the reason why Guo Shao chose this hillside. He stopped to take a breath and admired Liaoxi Fort at his feet. Suddenly, he guessed: The Liao army had besieged Liaoxi Fort. If Xiao Siwen had inspected this place, he should have stood on the land under my feet.
Yang Shiliang echoed: Xiao Siwen was just a defeated general of Your Majesty. Now that the army is approaching, he must be trembling with fear.
Guo Shao did not comment.
The group continued to climb for a while before reaching the top of the hill, which was not very high to begin with. A dilapidated temple came into view, and the Xu Army sentry posts were everywhere. When Guo Shao walked into the mountain gate, a group of soldiers raised their spears in unison.
Guo Shao held a bunch of flowers in his hand and picked up a clay jar in the hallway and handed them all to Yang Shiliang.
When Guo Shao arrived at the main hall, the bunch of wild flowers was placed in a clay pot on a table. Yang Shiliang was tidying up the house with a few eunuchs and soldiers. They hung up the map that Guo Shao often used, and also pasted a sack of paper scraps on the wall that he liked.
The one with Xiao Siwen is posted on the top. Guo Shaodao.
Yang Shiliang hurriedly said: "As you wish."
Guo Shao added: There are no grudges between countries, only advantages and disadvantages, but conflicts and resentments between people are too easy to arise.
After a while, someone came in to report: Zhang Jiankui, the garrison commander of Liaoxi Fort, and Zheng Xianchun, the military supervisor, came to see the emperor by imperial order.
Yang Shiliang looked sideways and saw Guo Shao nod, so he waved to the guard who reported. After a while, Zhang Jiankui and the other two came in, fell to their knees, and said loudly: "I am honored to see your majesty, may your majesty live forever."
Guo Shao put down what he was holding, took two steps forward, and personally helped the two men up: You have defended Liaoxi Fort for several months and have lived up to my expectations.
Zhang Jiankui bowed and said: Your Majesty has entrusted me with such a heavy responsibility that I will never forget it for a single day.
Guo Shao was not familiar with Zheng Xianchun, a civil servant of the Privy Council. He saw that his face was darkened by the sea breeze. Zheng Xianchun said: Your Majesty, the people sent by the Military Department to Goryeo took a boat to Liaoxi Fort a while ago and delivered a message.
Oh Guo Shao turned around and sat down on a stool.
Zheng Xianchun bowed and presented the letter, saying: After the fall of Bohai, many Sumo Mohe Jurchens fled to Goryeo and were settled in Pyongyang. The Goryeo people used the remnants of Bohai to lobby many Jurchen tribes in the Yalu River and other places to unite and rebel against the Liao.
Guo Shao was stunned after hearing this, and turned to ask Yang Shiliang: The Goryeo envoy mentioned this matter in Tokyo
Yang Shiliang said: I have never heard of it.
Guo Shao asked Zheng Xianchun again: How could the Jurchen tribe be persuaded
Zheng Xianchun said: I heard that the Jurchen tribes wanted to pay all the pearls they collected, 70% of their crops and dried fish. The Koreans negotiated an alliance with them, and when the Koreans occupied the old land of Liaodong and Bohai, they would only collect 20% of the income from the Jurchens.
At this time, the guards clasped their fists outside the door and said: Your Majesty, Wei's Deputy Envoy Li Xianggong, Shi Guogong, Gao Guogong and others have arrived at the mountain gate.
Guo Shaodao: Let them in.
Zhang Jiankui immediately bowed and said: I'm leaving now.
Guo Shao turned around and said: You two stay here.
Zhang Jiankui and Zheng Xianchun both looked a little surprised and agreed: We will obey your order.
Guo Shao said calmly: Daxu has only been established for a few years. It will take time to verify who will rule this country and make rules and maintain order. Some people are not loyal enough, and some have limited abilities. However, once these people have firmly grasped power, they will definitely not be willing to give it up easily. At that time, it will be difficult to have ambitions. Don't underestimate yourselves now.
After hearing this, Zhang Jiankui and Zheng Xianchun blushed and became even more respectful.
Soon, Wei Renpu and other officials from the front camp military office and generals came in. Everyone looked at Zhang Jiankui and the other two with sidelong glances. This was the central meeting place of the central army, and a military commander and a minor official from the Privy Council standing here were obviously not of high enough status. But Guo Shao didn't say anything and no one mentioned it.
May Your Majesty live forever! Everyone ignored the clay statue of the Buddha and shouted in unison in the temple.
Guo Shao said directly: This place has a wide view and high terrain. We can build a granary in Longshan and build fortifications to form a corner with Liaoxi Fort; it can also prevent moisture and increase military food reserves.
Wei Renpu bowed and said: We can arrange the matters right away.
Guo Shao then sent the news reported by Zheng Xianchun to Wei Renpu and others for inspection. After reading it, Lu Duosun, who was with the army, said: "Goryeo has made such a fuss, but it has not informed the imperial court of Daxu. Should we send an envoy to Goryeo to question Wang?"
No need. Guo Shao said, since Goryeo does not want to explain to the court, why should I force him? In the future, I will naturally not have to explain to the King of Goryeo.
He stood up and walked to a map, paced a few steps, and said: In this case, the original strategy should be adjusted. Guo Shao pointed to the circle of Jinzhou and said: We can save steps and attack Jinzhou immediately to increase the pressure on Liao.
The next day, Guo Shao stood on the hillside outside the temple, looking at the vast camp below the mountain. The movement of people and horses was already obvious. Guo Shao's intention was to effectively control and mobilize the activities of tens of thousands of people through the specific deployment of the Qianying Military Office.
As the chief officer of the Qianying Military Office, Wei Renpu understood Guo Shao's intention and issued specific orders to each unit. Military officers above the rank of commander directly obeyed the military orders of the military office, and the military officers and military supervisors at all levels in the army jointly verified the military power of the battle commander. Gao Huaide served as the commander of this battle.
Countless men and horses gathered in the vast military camps, gradually forming square formations in the chaos. Some scattered horsemen took the lead and dispersed into the distance from the road. The whole earth seemed to be controlled by a pair of invisible hands.
Guo Shao, who was looking at the situation from the top of the hill, no longer had to lead the charge like before. But he had to constantly think about the rules of each level and verify the feasibility through actual situations.
The roar of horse hooves and human voices blended with the distant waves.
Guo Shao turned and walked into the temple, and walked around the military headquarters in the front camp. Wei Renpu and others stood up to pay their respects, but Guo Shao ignored them, picking up the seals with various characters and thinking with his head down. The characters on these military seals were changed regularly by drawing lots, and the messengers and military supervisors would recognize people to ensure the reliability of the military order system. Perhaps it could be further simplified.
In Guo Shao's mind, countless lines were extending from the strategy, battlefield tactics, and military system to deal with Xiao Siwen, all the way to the morale of the soldiers.
It was indeed a bit tiring, but he would not give in to the conspiracy of poisoning and assassination that time. He wanted to use his own way to make Xiao Siwen of Liao willing to admit defeat.