Chapter 261 Too much advantage and too much confidence
The original tour plan was for Emperor Liu to walk through Hebei and inspect Wuqing Port, then take a dragon boat south to Denglai and disembark, and then inspect the military, political and civilian conditions in Henan.
However, this plan came to an end after Wuqing. One reason was that after going to the sea and experiencing the sea scenery, Emperor Liu was unwilling to put himself at risk again.
The second is the major changes in the situation of the Northern Expedition. Liaodong was settled, and Emperor Liu's mind was completely focused on the war. Luan Jia stopped at Yanshan Road, wanting to be close to him for supervision and encouragement, and it was also more convenient to support the soldiers of the Northern Expedition.
Therefore, without delaying any longer at Wuqing Port, the camp set off and headed for Youzhou Prefecture. It seemed like a reincarnation, with several changes. In the end, just like twelve years ago, Emperor Liu was lucky enough to
Youzhou to supervise the Northern Expedition.
After driving some distance, we arrived at Youzhou City on August 15th. Although it was a struggle, we were able to spend the Mid-Autumn Festival with the people of Youzhou. Of course, the war also entered a period of relaxation, which also brought Liu
The emperor's mood and interest during the Mid-Autumn Festival.
But after all, it was wartime, so everything was kept simple and the meaning was in place. Emperor Liu just ordered the government to announce to the people of Youzhou to express the emperor's best wishes to the people of Yanshan, and at the same time relaxed the wartime curfew for one night.
As for the officials in Yanshan, such as Chu Zhaofu, Song Xiong and other major officials of the Chief Envoy, they had already met and talked with each other in Wuqing. As for the other officials in Youzhou, they were simply called together and given a lecture.
, let them see the emperor's face with their own eyes, that's all.
Speaking of which, Emperor Liu had been dreaming about Youzhou City for ten years, but this was the second time Emperor Liu had visited it in his life. Twelve years later, Youzhou City had naturally undergone tremendous changes, even if he was well-informed
Emperor Liu also felt refreshed.
The city is still the same city. The main changes are in the people, scholars, farmers, industry and commerce. Facts have proved that the development of the city depends on the Han people.
In the past, due to the wars and destruction caused by the early Han Dynasty, and later the confrontation between Han and Liao, the development of Youzhou City was greatly suppressed.
When Youzhou was still under the rule of Yan Fan, its population, including the army, was less than 100,000. However, after the success of the first Northern Expedition, it was officially returned to the imperial court, the surrounding defenses were consolidated, and the threat of border dangers was greatly reduced, and Youzhou seemed to be relieved of its burdens.
Like that invisible shackle, it has achieved leapfrog development.
As the capital of Yanshan, with the support of the imperial court, it became the undisputed political, military, and economic center of northern Xinjiang. Coupled with its geographical and transportation advantages, Youzhou became the basis for its rapid development.
Therefore, when Emperor Liu came to Youzhou again, he saw a prosperous scene with dense population, busy business and travel, and flourishing industries. Chu Zhaofu had previously reported that by the beginning of the eighth year of Kaibao, the permanent population of Youzhou had climbed to 2
With more than 110,000 people, this has returned to its original peak under the rule of the Liao Kingdom, and there is still huge room for growth.
Of course, because of the Northern Expedition, it was impossible for Youzhou to be unaffected at this time. On the contrary, it was the most affected. A large number of human, financial and material resources were tilted towards the war under the leadership of the government, and also
This resulted in a shortage of civilian supplies.
The most intuitive manifestation is that the rising prices of daily necessities such as grain, rice, oil, salt, noodles, meat, cloth, and firewood have made the lives of ordinary people a little difficult. Of course, every disadvantage has its advantages. The hunger of the market has stimulated more merchants to come.
With great enthusiasm, they tried their best to transport a large amount of supplies to Youzhou City with limited transportation capacity, meeting the living needs of the people of Youzhou.
Such prosperity is not what Chu Zhaofu and other officials in charge want to see. The people of the Han Dynasty are very tolerant, but after all, there is a limit. It can be done for half a year, barely for one year, and they will fall into depression in the second year.
If we wait a little longer, the people's livelihood will inevitably be difficult. If public dissatisfaction accumulates to a certain extent, there will be riots...
In order to support this massive Northern Expedition, the imperial court could not maintain the massive consumption of hundreds of thousands of troops on the front lines while ensuring a harmonious and stable life for the people in the rear.
Therefore, the officials in charge were not willing to see the Han Dynasty maintain a state of large-scale war for a long time. The closer they were to the battlefield, the more worried the officials became.
This is the case in Yanshan Road. Even in the past twenty years or so, the people of Youyan have faced turmoil in the current situation for nearly half of the time, and have suffered from the negative impacts of minor or severe wars.
However, the people have become accustomed to the good times in recent years. The people have become accustomed to it, their expectations for life have become higher, and their affordability has also dropped significantly compared to the past. If the war returns to the original turbulent days,
No one wants it, and if that happens, one must be mentally prepared for public dissatisfaction to boil over.
Regarding these concerns, Chu Zhaofu mentioned these concerns to Emperor Liu. From time to time, he had any objections to the Northern Expedition. He was just a careful reminder that if Emperor Liu really cared about the livelihood of the Han people in the war era, he would have to take these into consideration.
Chu Zhaofu and Zhao Pu were officials from the same shogunate. They were both recommended by Liu Ci, the late Marquis of Huayin (a posthumous gift in the first year of Kaibao), so they were naturally talented and knowledgeable.
However, it was precisely because of the record in Liaodong and the basic goal of the Northern Expedition that Chu Zhaofu dared to make similar suggestions to Emperor Liu.
Otherwise, if the battle ahead was raging and there was no breakthrough, Chu Zhaofu would not dare to make these "negative" suggestions to Emperor Liu, lest he would be given the impression of being weak and pedantic.
Emperor Liu, for the most part, was calm and rational. He had the experience of waging so many large-scale wars in the past, and also had a personal inspection this time, so he had a clearer understanding of the people's livelihood conditions. Chu Zhaofu's advice was also
It didn't make sense, but he listened.
Therefore, when Liaodong was initially settled, Emperor Liu still had the idea of continuing to march into the Northeast to completely destroy the rule of the Liao Kingdom. But from the bottom of his heart, he had no intention of giving up and ending the war.
, it’s just not obvious.
The Han-Liao war has reached the current level. The Han Dynasty has received frequent victories and taken advantage of it, while the Liao Kingdom is in a state of weakness and is in obvious decline. Even if Emperor Liu does not pursue and fight fiercely, will the Liao Kingdom be able to give up?
Ending the war does not depend on the unilateral will of the Han Dynasty. As far as the Liao Kingdom is concerned, Liaodong has been lost. The losses on each front will exceed 200,000. The population is even more numerous. The situation in the entire Northeast is also precarious.
Mobei, Monan, and the Western Regions were also affected by war.
If the war ends with the current situation, then the Liao Kingdom will lose the entire territory of the Northeast and Western Regions, and lose half of its population and army. Not to mention returning to before liberation, at least it will be beaten back to its original form as a nomadic empire. Such a big loss
How can one be ashamed and endure the humiliation?
From Yelvxian's point of view, he has been emperor for less than a year, and the originally powerful and huge Liao Empire has fallen into such a tragic and miserable situation. How can he swallow his anger? There is already a dispute over the succession of the throne.
Under such circumstances, how could his position be secure?
On the other hand, after the war is over, the Han Dynasty can rest for two or three years, collect food and train troops, digest the fruits of victory, and recover from the negative impact of the war. When the Northern Expedition begins again, it will probably be a real large-scale invasion.
Heading straight to Linhuang.
The situation between Han and Liao has developed to the current stage, and the future of the Liao Kingdom is destined to decline. This is the general trend. If there are no earth-shattering changes, the outcome of the Liao Kingdom will not be any surprise.
There is no way, past history has proven that when a unified Central Plains empire rises, coupled with a powerful emperor, it is destined to decline as a nomadic force. And Emperor Liu's Han Empire will continue to prove this historical law.
Of course, so far, ending the war was only a meager intention of Emperor Liu, and even this idea was just a casual thought.
No matter what, the big man is far from being unable to support it. The strong financial resources he has accumulated in the past give him enough capital to continue this war.
In comparison, if the common people of the Han Dynasty are under pressure to make a living, then how difficult it is for the herdsmen of the Liao Kingdom, who may be facing a survival crisis.
This point can already be seen through some intelligence. The time Emperor Liu chose to launch this war was too unfriendly to the Liao Kingdom. Its domestic agricultural and animal husbandry production was severely damaged. During autumn and winter, the northern grasslands of the Liao Kingdom were severely damaged.
It is almost foreseeable what kind of living conditions the tribesmen will have under the rule of the country.
As for the Han Dynasty, even though the entire north was affected by delays in production and farming due to this war, there was still the entire southeast, the two lakes, and Sichuan and Shu.