After calming down a little, Liu Yang stood up subconsciously and bowed in front of Emperor Liu's slightly gratified gaze: "I have one more thing to discuss, I would like to report to Your Majesty!"
Liu Yang's solemn look attracted the attention of everyone in the hall. Emperor Liu also narrowed his eyes slightly and raised his hand to signal: "Speak!"
Liu Yang said in a deep voice: "In addition to General Guo who led the navy south to defeat the Goryeo navy, General Ma Renyu was ordered to lead his troops north to attack Liao Tongzhou and annihilate the remaining troops in response to Shi Wei and the Jurchen rebel army.
Duke Rong Guo planned to increase the number of troops to Ma Renyu to 100,000, and try his best to attack. Before winter, no matter what the outcome of the battle was, Tongzhou would be defeated, so he would withdraw his troops and make a truce.
After that, leave enough troops to garrison, gradually withdraw the army, and return to the pass. Wait until the next year or the next year, and then take action according to the development of the situation!"
After saying this, Liu Yang shut up, lowered his head slightly, and silently waited for Emperor Liu's response. If Liu Yang's decision-making on Korean affairs was based on observation, testing and expectation, then Liu Yang's advice at this time,
This made him feel a little surprised.
After such a long time, although the accompanying ministers, local officials and even the prime ministers in Xijing had the intention to dissuade Emperor Liu from withdrawing his troops, they directly raised the objection to Emperor Liu. This was the first time that Liu Yang did so.
"What do you mean, are you planning to withdraw the troops?" At this time, Emperor Liu seemed to be able to only see Liu Yang.
"Yes!" Liu Yang answered firmly.
"Is this your idea or the camp general's suggestion?" Emperor Liu's tone suddenly became a bit harsh.
A wave of pressure hit his face. Liu Yang froze for a moment, raised his head again, and said softly: "This is my proposal. Before returning, I discussed it with Rong Guogong and other generals. They have no objection!"
"No objection?" Emperor Liu murmured, thinking to himself that maybe he didn't want to object, and he didn't dare to support it.
After staring at Liu Yang for a while, Emperor Liu continued to lean back, changed to a more comfortable lying position, and said calmly: "Tell me your considerations!"
When asked, Liu Yang's expression did not relax. He took a breath and responded: "Firstly, the initial goal of this Northern Expedition was only to capture Liaodong. Now that Liaoyang has been conquered, it has exceeded expectations. If we see that it is good, we will stop.
Secondly, although the battle in Liaodong had twists and turns, it achieved a lot of gains. Most of the enemy forces in Liaodong were lost and their elite troops were severely reduced. In order to destroy the remaining enemy, there was no need to station hundreds of thousands of officers, soldiers and civilians to serve there. To pursue and suppress the remaining enemy, collect
In the Northeast, the deployment of troops and strategies can be arranged according to the actual local geographical, military, tribal and other conditions.
Thirdly, since the Northern Expedition, several armies from the west and the east have attacked across the board. The troops have been exhausted and the expenditure has been huge. This is actually the highest amount of wars since the founding of the Han Dynasty. I don’t know the details of the expenditure on warehouses and warehouses, but I can be sure that regardless of the amount of troops in front of the battle,
The soldiers in combat, as well as the officers and civilians feeding back to the rear, are all exhausted and need to recuperate;
Fourth, it has been more than half a year since the officers and soldiers went out to serve. They have fought hard for several months and fought more than fifty battles, large and small. There have been many casualties. The officers and soldiers are exhausted and their morale has been damaged. For most of the officers and soldiers, traveling thousands of miles to a foreign land makes them homesick.
Passionate and heartwarming.
Fifth, half of the soldiers and soldiers fighting in Liaodong came from the Central Plains troops and horses. They fought in the far northeast, and the water, soil and climate were not suitable for them. So far, tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians have been infected in and around Zhucheng. This is because of the full supply of medicine, and it has not been expanded.
.
I have carefully studied with some local officials and people. When winter comes, the climate will be harsh, and the harsh conditions will be several times worse than we originally imagined.
Last year, when I visited Hexi in the west, the winters were extremely cold. Your Majesty also experienced it personally. The situation in the northeast was no better than in the northwest! Even if there is enough firewood and uniforms, it is difficult to guarantee that the soldiers will not be injured without fighting.
The severe cold weather in winter will be the best defense support for the Liao army, which can barely maintain the army in Liaodong. Not to mention that grain and grass will be consumed by the transportation of firewood and other military supplies, and it will be difficult to deter the enemy.
Instead of doing this, it is better to withdraw the troops and horses and let the soldiers and civilians return to the country to recuperate in order to relieve the fatigue of the long march..."
Obviously, Liu Yang had said so much, but the most important consideration was the last one, the climate problem in the Northeast. The room suddenly became quiet, everyone was waiting for Emperor Liu's reaction.
The two brothers Liu Xu and Liu Xi were also thinking about it, but they couldn't help but cast sidelong glances at Liu Yang. They knew a lot about Emperor Liu, especially regarding the issue of troop withdrawal, which Emperor Liu had not done so far.
I have never shown my attitude to the outside world, this is also a kind of attitude.
After Liu Yang finished speaking, his face showed a touch of calmness, and his expression gradually calmed down, silently waiting for Emperor Liu's judgment, just like waiting for a sentence.
In the past, Prince Liu Yang's political affairs were mediocre and mediocre, and even gave people a mediocre feeling. Regarding military and state affairs, he was more like Emperor Liu's yes-man.
But this time, it was the first time that I expressed my views to Emperor Liu and made a different voice...
Emperor Liu was also lost in thought. Although his expression was indifferent, his slightly furrowed brows proved that he was indeed thinking. In the past, he often had an attitude of inspection and judgment regarding any of Liu Yang's suggestions and the handling of government affairs.
.
But this time, he seriously considered Liu Yang's opinion as a minister's military and political advice. And Liu Yang's words did give him some more serious thoughts.
One thing was a reminder to Emperor Liu, which he had previously ignored. That was the weather problem in the Northeast. For winter operations, Emperor Liu had always believed that sufficient logistical supplies and cold-proof supplies would be enough.
overcome.
This is what Emperor Liu considered based on past battles. Whether it was the southward expedition to Huainan in the fourth year of Qianyou's reign or the first northern expedition in the eleventh year of Qianyou's reign, they both spanned two years and three seasons. They survived the entire winter and always maintained
To suppress the enemy.
However, to put things into perspective, in the unfamiliar and extremely harsh climate and environmental conditions of the Northeast, the first two seem not to be completely comparable. Not to mention the price paid, how much of the effect can be achieved still needs to be worked out.
A question mark.
Especially Liu Yang's mention of last year's inspection of the northwest, which suddenly brought back Emperor Liu's memories. You must know that last year, the camp consisted of only 10,000 people, and it was not war time. They only traveled in the wind and cold, and were forced to freeze to death.
Suffering from frostbite, I had to stay in Liangzhou for the entire winter.
Today, there are 400,000 soldiers and civilians in the Northeast. The problems faced by so many people and the difficulties that need to be overcome cannot be simply multiplied by a number.
Thinking about last year's experience, Emperor Liu's legs couldn't help but tremble even if he sat on a hot kang under his buttocks. But what about the Northeast? He has never actually investigated the actual situation there. He has been avoiding memorials.
Shang Zhiguo, but this time, it seems that he is running the army based on battle reports and is just immersed in his own considerations.
As for the other reasons mentioned by Liu Yang, they are of course reasonable, and Emperor Liu was not untouched. Before that, he had the idea of withdrawing troops from Liaodong. The intention of withdrawing troops was not to strike, but to mobilize Liaodong troops to fill the gap in the west.
noodle.
With the changes in Goryeo, Emperor Liu temporarily gave up that idea and decided to continue to persist in Liaodong, attacking Khitan in the north and Goryeo in the south.
However, Liu Yang's advice to him at this time was to withdraw troops from Liaodong, which Emperor Liu had never imagined...
As he was thinking about it, Emperor Liu's expression also changed. It was very rich. After pondering for a long time, Emperor Liu finally turned his head, looked at the prince who had been standing for a while, and said calmly: "What if the troops are withdrawn and the Liaodong war situation changes?
What to do? If there is a mistake, we need to rescue the emergency and dispatch the generals and troops. The setbacks and troubles in the process are not small at all!"
Emperor Liu's words broke the solemn atmosphere in the air. Liu Yang felt a little relaxed. Even the two brothers Liu Xu and Liu Xi, who were a little restless, felt as if they had been relieved of their restraints. Their bodies relaxed slightly and looked at the prince.
Liu Yang cupped his hands and said: "I have discussed with the generals and left one hundred thousand troops and horses, enough to control the Khitans in the north and deny Goryeo in the south. The rest can be withdrawn for the time being!"
"Has a specific withdrawal plan been drawn up?" Emperor Liu asked.
When Emperor Liu asked about the specific plan, it proved that he was no longer so resistant to withdrawing troops, and might even accept the suggestion.
Liu Yang, of course, felt it too. After a little consideration, he reported: "According to the assumption, we still need to wait for the results of the progress of the north and south water and land armies, and the return army will also pass through the water and land routes! There is not a big problem on land. There are only water routes. As long as the generals will
Once the Goryeo navy is destroyed and the threats at sea are eliminated, we can return to the enemy by sea!"
After hearing what he said, Emperor Liu nodded lightly and acknowledged it. After thinking about it for a moment, Emperor Liu smiled at Liu Yang and said, "The real intention of sending Guo Tingwei south to attack the Goryeo Navy is also to prepare for the withdrawal of the troops at sea?"
Upon hearing the question, Liu Yang maintained a respectful posture, bowed his head, and responded: "Yes!"