Although the emperor was worried about the rising wind from the north, it did not affect the normal operation of the Han Dynasty. On the contrary, due to top-down pressure, the execution efficiency of the government was greatly improved.
The spring plowing has basically ended, and the Han Dynasty's preparations for war are also accelerating. The rivers are still being dredged, and dozens of granaries along the canal are also quietly transferring and stocking up. The weapons workshops in Tokyo are also going all out to build military armor. Civilian textile workshops , under the instruction of the Ministry of War, began to make shoes, robes and quilts.
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The senior generals of the two imperial armies were also assigned special tasks. Hebei's Anti-Liao War was only given a topic. There was no limit on the subject matter or style, but those named needed to submit it to the Deputy Privy Councilor Zheng Renjie. An "answer sheet" that is insightful can be submitted to the imperial court for personal review by Liu Chengyou.
The imperial troops of the two divisions also strengthened their training, especially actual combat training, under the leadership of the generals and commanders of each army. In addition to honing their combat skills, marching, camping, and crossing were all included in the exercises.
The most important one is the Jingjiang Army of the Navy. Under the command of Xiang Xun, it was divided into several branches to train on the Yellow River and Bian River. Although the hydrological conditions of the Huainan waters are different from those in the Central Plains, Liu Chengyou's instructions to the Han Navy The requirements are not high, just cover the rear.
If there really was a war with the Khitan, Liu Chengyou would also need to use the naval force. The navy might be able to work wonders in blocking the river crossing and restricting the range of activities of the Khitan cavalry. Liu Chengyou's investment in the navy was also based on the idea of preparing for both sides.
However, after the emperor's strict orders and a large number of manpower invested in the relevant departments of the imperial court, the investigation and spying on the situation in Khitan finally yielded some results.
Based on the information from all aspects, we can make a bold judgment. In the Khitan, the conflict between Emperor Yelu Ruan and the clan and various nobles has become very acute. Although there has not been as big a rebellion as before in the past two years, small disturbances continue, and they are as quiet as It's like a gathering whirlwind, just waiting to explode one day.
Yelu Ruan may be inferior to Yelu Deguang, Taizong of the Liao Dynasty, but he is not a mediocre leader. He was probably aware of the undercurrents lurking in the country, so Yelu Ruan planned to use war to divert domestic conflicts and take the opportunity to stabilize his power. At the same time, Realizing his ambition of invading the south can be described as killing three birds with one stone.
And Yelu Ruan clamored that he wanted to unite his army south to attack the Han Dynasty, humiliate Xueluan City, and recapture Youyan, Hebei and even the Central Plains. Similar remarks have not been made for a day.
Since the end of autumn last year, Yelu Ruan has sent Yelu Antuan, his confidant who helped him seize the throne, to go south. The intensive harassment since this spring is the work of Yelu Antuan. This person can basically be confirmed as a substitute. Yelu Ruan, the Lord of Liao, came to attack those who were standing in front of him.
News from the north came one after another, and the emperors and ministers of the Northern Han Dynasty were constantly calculating their plans, and they also had a clearer understanding of the situation in the north.
Wang Pu even asserted that given the domestic situation of the Khitan, it would be in chaos without any external force. This was probably the vision of a strategist.
But precisely because of this, the possibility of Khitan invasion to the south was greatly enhanced. In the palace, Wang Pu reluctantly suggested to Liu Chengyou that the Huainan strategy must be suspended and active preparations be made for Hebei in order to deal with the Khitan invasion.
Even though he had been mentally prepared for this, Liu Chengyou still felt huge unwillingness in his heart and had no choice but to order a strategic shift. Of course, the shift in strategic direction did not affect the preparations below, but the focus was different.
Even so, Liu Chengyou still had some thoughts in his heart. He even rejected the preemptive plan proposed by some generals. Unlike the Huainan strategy, it was always hidden and limited to the relationship between a few high-ranking officials of the Han Dynasty and the emperor's ministers. It is said that the imperial preparations against the Khitan were known to both the government and the public.
When the Northern Han Dynasty had no choice but to take care of the north, there was also a sudden turmoil in the southern Han Dynasty.
Let's talk about Hunan first. After the pseudo-Chu king Ma Xi'e usurped the throne, he retained the last trace of his sense and professed his vassalship to the Southern Tang Dynasty.
He longed for old grudges, killed excessively, indulged in drinking and debauchery day and night, and entrusted all military and political matters in Hunan to his younger brother Ma Xichong. Ma Xichong was also a man of shallow talent and virtue. His administration and punishment were chaotic, and he employed people for selfish purposes. He sent troops to plunder people's wealth and use it for rewards. Despite the meritorious deeds, the officers and soldiers still resent the injustice.
In the spring of the fourth year of Qianyou's reign, the officers and soldiers of Langzhou who accompanied Ma Xi'e to the south gradually became disloyal. There was a domestic slave named Xie Yanyong, who was handsome and favored by Ma Xi'e. Being above the generals will make all generals feel ashamed.
Thanks to Ma Xi'e's old army, when he attacked Changsha last year, a fire destroyed the palace. Wang Kui, the envoy in Jingjiang of Langzhou, and his deputy Zhou Xingfeng, the deputy envoy, had more than a thousand soldiers to repair it, and they were on duty. They worked hard without reward, causing resentment and resentment among officers and soldiers, and people's hearts turbulent.
In a country that was about to perish, chaos arose. The Ma brothers had only been in Hunan for four months, but already the morale of the army and the people were completely lost.
On the 11th day of the third month in Renshen, Wang Kui and Zhou Xingfeng led their troops and fled back to Langzhou with soldiers and guns in hand. Ma Xihe only found out after he woke up from a hangover and immediately sent his commander Tang Shizhu to general Qian The remaining soldiers pursued him, and he was the king. On Tuesday, he was ambushed and defeated, and he only escaped with his body.
Wang Kui and Zhou Xingfeng occupied Langzhou, and appointed Ma Guanghui, a descendant of the Ma family, as the military envoy. They later sent people north to contact Lizhou and asked for submission to the Northern Han Dynasty. The defense envoy Cao Yin immediately reported to Tokyo, and Liu Chengyou issued an edict.
As for the situation in Hunan, with the defection of Wang Kui and Zhou Xingfeng, the fragile "tranquility" has come to an end.
Faced with such a dangerous situation, Ma Xi'e was basically late-minded and slow to react. Compared with starting a rebellion to seize the throne, governing the country, and dealing with complex situations, it was really too difficult for Ma Xi'e. .
His subordinates betrayed him, occupied his lair, and suffered a small defeat. Ma Xihe had no choice but to appeal to Southern Tang Dynasty, hoping that Li Jing could help deal with the rebellion. Of course, it was not that Ma Xihe was completely stupid, it was just because of his feelings for Changsha Chu. The control of the army has become dangerously fragile. If we forcefully send troops, I am afraid that the generals will turn against each other without going to Langzhou.
What Ma Xi'e didn't know was that the Southern Tang Dynasty he expected was already sharpening its sword for the land of Hunan. Liu Guangfu, the envoy he sent to Jinling to pay tribute, had already sold out the true situation between him and Hunan. He also urged Li Jing, the leader of the Tang Dynasty, to send troops to conquer Hunan.
The Southern Tang Dynasty monarchs and ministers' plan to annex Hunan has officially entered the implementation stage. Starting from the spring of Ji, a large amount of food, wages and military equipment from the Southern Tang Dynasty were transported to the west and south and stationed in Ezhou and Hongzhou. The same was true for troops and horses, which were secretly mobilized and stationed in the two areas. state.
In the north, the veteran general He Jingzhu was appointed as the military governor of Wuchang, stationed in Ezhou; in the south, Yuhou Bianhao, the governor of Yingtundu, was appointed as the governor of Xinzhou, stationed in Yuanzhou. The intention was obvious, both the north and the south were promoted simultaneously, and the potential was to make progress.
