After moving to Luoyang, after more than three months of adjustment and transition, the imperial court was finally completely stabilized, all work was carried out, and military affairs were managed in an orderly manner.
Although the location has been changed, the Zhengshitang is still the highest authority of the Han Dynasty. Since the beginning of autumn, the biggest and most important things the court has faced are only two things.
One is the disasters in Shaanxi, Huai, Shanxi, and Jiangzhou. In recent years, various disasters and famines have continued throughout the Han Dynasty. Last year, there was a rain disaster in the Central Plains, and in a few years, droughts occurred in different places. Obviously, it is difficult to stop it even in the peaceful age.
When natural disasters occur, the imperial court has sufficient experience in disaster relief and relief matters, and has a complete set of relief procedures. All it takes is to follow the regulations.
In addition, the frequency of disasters in Shanxi and Shaanxi areas has been very high in recent years. Previously, many officials had been severely punished due to poor relief or improper handling, and even took advantage of the opportunity to make profits.
Therefore, this time, in the first year after the imperial court moved westward to Luoyang, the bureaucrats in the disaster-stricken areas worked very hard. Whether it was for their own fame and fortune, or sincerely for the common people, they performed their duties to the letter.
The result is that although this drought affected several states, it did not cause large-scale famine. This is not only the strength of the officials, but also the completeness of the warehouses, which can control the relief in time. The local censors, inspectors, and the imperial court sent out
The officials who inspected all reported the same caliber. After the disaster was under control, the Political Affairs Hall issued special awards to commend several officials who were effective in disaster relief.
The second thing was naturally the crusade against Dali. After all, it was the largest military deployment by the imperial court in the Kaibao Year. On the surface, it was almost comparable to that of Pingnan.
Regarding this southern expedition, naturally there was no unified opinion within the imperial court, even with the decision of Emperor Liu and the management of the newly appointed prime minister Zhao Pu.
There was a lot of criticism from above and below. It was because of Dali's humble words of friendship. After all, they only paid tribute with heavy gifts to show their sincerity, but the big man turned around and invaded massively. It looked a bit ugly and was naked hegemony.
Of course, the main reason is that most people feel that it is not cost-effective for the imperial court to invest so much money, money and food to start such a war of annihilation in the southwest. Many people regard Tianbao as the reason for the conflict between Datang and Nanzhao at the end of the year.
The war between the two countries was used as an analogy to describe things, and many poems were even created that used ancient metaphors to describe the present...
Judging from Emperor Liu's actions over the years, he was very happy with his achievements and made great progress. These labels can also be attached to him. However, no matter how much talk there is in the underground, it cannot change the fact that the imperial soldiers marched south. Fighting at the front and supporting from the rear
, all work is carried out in an orderly manner.
Public opinion, for Emperor Liu, was of no importance and he basically ignored it. After all, nowadays, there are fewer and fewer officials who dare to criticize Yan Zhizhi, and some people who express their opinions through poetry can only wait for future generations.
People have to interpret it.
In comparison, there was only one person who was most affected and felt more pressure, Zhao Pu. He was not convinced by everyone when he became prime minister, but he was the most supportive of Emperor Liu's southern expedition, and was mainly responsible for assisting the prince in handling rear affairs during the southern expedition.
.
Naturally, it attracted a lot of envious, jealous and hateful eyes. If the Southern Expedition succeeds, that's all. If something goes wrong, or returns without success, suffers heavy losses, or even returns completely defeated, then the public opinion in the DPRK will be different.
Really explode.
Under normal circumstances, no one would dare to target the emperor, settle old scores against the emperor's decisions, and relegate him after the fact. But with Zhao Pu, it was different.
Zhao Pu is a mature and extremely shrewd politician. He also sees his own situation clearly, so he feels the pressure. If the Southern Expedition really fails, the government needs someone to take the blame, and he is the most suitable candidate.
, then he is very likely to become a minister who will be dismissed after less than a year...
Of course, such a crisis also represents what kind of opportunities there are. If the Southern Expedition is completed and successful, then he will have a firm position in the court, and his status as prime minister will be completely consolidated.
Zhao Pu has also weighed the pros and cons. The worst he can do is go home and be idle for another year or two, and there will definitely be a chance to make a comeback. Such a choice is not difficult for Zhao Pu to make.
It's September in Luoyang, and the weather is already very cold, and everyone's clothes are thicker. In the political hall, the person on duty today is Zhao Pu, who is working on the desk, immersed in writing official documents submitted by various ministries.
A map hangs on the side. Two figures, one tall, one short, one strong and one small, stand in front. They are the prince Liu Yang and the Duke of Rong, Zhao Kuangyin.
There is a natural map of Dali hanging on the wall. Judging from the map, it is a huge territory. Of course, compared to the map of the Daoist Prefectures of the Han Dynasty, which has been repaired and updated over the years and has become more and more detailed, this map is too rough.
Even the boundaries cannot be confirmed. There are only a few roads marked on it, as well as several major cities, mountains, and water flows in Dali. Not to mention that like the map of the Han Dynasty, a supporting Daozhou book has also been compiled.
The map can be used to browse and view the introduction at any time. The route taken by the West Route Army led by Wang Quanbin cannot be reflected at all on the map.
"It's been five days again, and I haven't received any battle reports from the south!" After staring at the map and thinking for a long time, Liu Yang finally spoke.
Zhao Kuangyin, who was standing next to him, heard this and said calmly: "It's far to the southwest from here, with high mountains and long roads, and the road is rugged and difficult to travel. Even if the military report is urgent, it will take about twenty days in the best case scenario. Come to think of it, the latest
Battle report, on the way!"
As for Liu Yang, it was not that he was not aware of the situation, but he was just concerned and anxious. He pondered for a moment and sighed: "I don't know how the progress is going. Whether Wang Renfan has captured the allongdong and advanced into the enemy's capital!"
Although the imperial court gave frontline generals great autonomy in terms of tactical strategies, Wang Quanbin still reported to the imperial court and explained how to act. Subsequent battle conditions were also reported regularly through military posts.
After hearing this, Zhao Kuangyin said: "The terrain is very restricted. If the Dali army insists on defending, even if our army has excellent weapons and weapons, it will take a certain amount of effort to break it. However, the East Route Army is well prepared, and Wang Renfan is also a good general."
Or, as long as the supply of military supplies is ensured and there is no danger of retreat, with sufficient manpower and frontal attack and defense, the Dali army should be unable to withstand it!"
Zhao Kuangyin's words are meant to comfort. However, the imperial court's control over the southwest battlefield thousands of miles away is naturally not strong, so it is unavoidable to worry.
On the matter of the conquest of Dali, Zhao Kuangyin sided with some civil servants and held opposing opinions. However, during this period, he still tried his best to assist Liu Yang, paying attention to and analyzing the southwest war, and all matters that the Ministry of War should handle.
He has been handed over to his deputy Murong Chengtai. As Minister of War, he is now more like a staff officer to the prince...
"Compared with the progress in the direction of Nongdong, I am still more worried about the safety of West Route Army Wang Quanbin!" Zhao Kuangyin said seriously.
"Yes!" Liu Yang answered: "After all, there has been no news for so long. There are more than 25,000 sergeants. If..."
"Wang Quanbin is still too risky!" Zhao Kuangyin said.
In this regard, Liu Yang couldn't help but ask questions: "Rong Gong, I remember that when Wang Shi defeated Shu, the army on the north route also sent out partial divisions to take the mountain path to bypass the Shu army's stronghold defenses and attack directly behind them. They attacked from both sides and were defeated.
Now that General Wang is adopting this kind of tactics, you don’t seem to be optimistic about it?”
"Your Highness, the two strategies are similar, but the situations are completely different!" Zhao Kuangyin shook his head: "The road Wang Quanbin took is longer and more dangerous. The losses of the march will be huge, and if we get lost in it, the army will be completely destroyed.
Moreover, even if he successfully crosses the dangers and breaks into Dali, whether he can successfully reach the city of Yangjume is also unpredictable. Wang Quanbin wants to destroy the city and the country in one fell swoop, which is commendable for his courage, but it is too risky to leave no way out...
..."
"In Duke Rong's opinion, isn't the West Route Army very dangerous?" Liu Yang frowned.
Zhao Kuangyin was silent for a moment, and then said in a comforting tone: "We have embarked on this dangerous road, and there is no possibility of turning back. Now, we can only wish Wang Quanbin and the soldiers of the West Route Army success!"
Zhao Kuangyin's words made Liu Yang frown even more tightly. Seeing this, he relaxed and said: "However, if it can be successful and unexpected, the effect that can be achieved must be significant. Even if it is just to enter the northwest of Dali, there is no way to directly
A surprise attack on the enemy's capital can also form a two-pronged attack. If the east and west armies cooperate, the advantage of the war will still be in the hands of our army!"
Perhaps Zhao Kuangyin's previous words had a profound impact on Liu Yang, and these words of enlightenment could not relieve his worries.