"This is both wine and meat, how can it not pollute the pure place of Buddhism?" In the evening, Emperor Liu said jokingly in the Zen courtyard, looking at the meat and vegetable meals on the table.
Yantuo was waiting at the side and bowed in response: "If the official family dines here, it is a blessing. Why should we take into account the precepts of a mere temple?"
"You are too overbearing when you say this!" Emperor Liu smiled like a spring breeze and said with a smile: "Don't you think that when you go to the countryside, do as the Romans do? The lunch at noon is quite delicious!"
Yantuo couldn't tell whether Emperor Liu was happy or angry in his words. The emperor was interested in talking, so he echoed: "If the official follows the custom, then he will be rewarded with a huge face! However, I also heard that this There are also carnivores in Buddhist temples!”
"Oh?" Emperor Liu smiled slightly and said, "That's right! They have warrior monks. They need to keep fit and exercise. Just eating vegetarian food is not enough!"
Emperor Liu moved his chopsticks very naturally, picked up a piece of meat, tasted it, and praised: "The venison is good, tender and refreshing, and full of flavor!"
"This deer was hunted by the guards in the mountains and carefully cooked by the imperial chef!" Yan Tuo replied.
"Look, this is a violation of the law of killing! I came to this temple, accompanied by swords and soldiers, full of evil spirits. I wonder how much of the Buddha's light and merit can be eliminated in the temple?" Emperor Liu joked, but the chopsticks did not stop, picking up another piece of meat, He also sipped the wine happily.
The setting sun was shining slantingly, the evening breeze was blowing slowly, and the courtyard was full of trees. Emperor Liu was enjoying the food and wine comfortably, which made him feel quite comfortable.
"Your Majesty!" Zhang Yong came to see him, holding a memorial in his hand.
"Zi Yong, come and sit down!" Emperor Liu stretched out his hand and pointed to the opposite side: "I am drinking alone in the wind and feel lonely. You are just in time to have two glasses of wine with me!"
Seeing that Emperor Liu was in a good mood, Zhang Yong did not refuse politely. He thanked him respectfully and sat down. He placed the memorial in his hand on the stone table while Yantuo called for others to add cups and plates.
Although Emperor Liu was not a good drinker, he inevitably developed the habit of drinking over the years, but he often drank only briefly and only for entertainment. After all, he still needed to take care of his health.
As a close minister who was accompanying the emperor, Zhang Yong drank with Emperor Liu more than once or twice. He was very accustomed to it. Of course, he always maintained his demeanor to avoid losing his etiquette in front of the emperor. Therefore, both the emperor and his ministers were very restrained.
"What's the matter?" After a few glasses of wine, Emperor Liu's eyes fell on the memorial brought by Zhang Yong and asked.
"A report came from Luoyang saying that Xiao Siwen, the privy envoy to southern Liaoning, was going south to show his respect to the capital. Prime Minister Zhao asked for instructions on how to receive him?" Zhang Yong replied eloquently.
Hearing this, Emperor Liu immediately became interested. When it comes to what matters he is most concerned about at the moment, Liao affairs are definitely at the forefront. He will show concern for all matters related to Liao. This is also the reason why Zhao Pu will still do this when Emperor Liu travels to Songshan. The reason for sending someone to report the matter.
"After more than half a year, it is rare that the Khitan has taken the initiative to envoy. Is this unbearable and is it coming to beg for peace?" Emperor Liu said in a playful way.
During the greater part of the ninth year of Kaibao, no matter how peaceful the country was, how the war on other fronts was suppressed, and how the imperial court sought to recuperate, it still maintained an offensive stance on Liao affairs and would never give up.
On the Shanyang front line, under Tian Renlang's deployment, Han cavalry frequently marched northward, invading and plundering. Although no big gains were made, the pressure on the Liao Kingdom was significant.
The Liao Kingdom also suffered the backlash of the Northern Expedition, and it was much more severe than that of the Han Dynasty. Countless tribes were separated from each other and resisted the rebels. After surviving the harsh winter, the situation in Mobei not only did not improve, but worsened. A situation that continues to worsen.
Gu Lu also had a tough attitude toward the Mobei tribes who resisted, and Yelv Xian, the leader of the Liao Dynasty, suppressed them all. However, with the size of Mobei and the number of ethnic groups, how could the Khitan, which had been severely damaged in the Han-Liao war, continue to be the same as before? Calm down so easily.
Therefore, in the past six months, fighting and chaos continued in the desert. Although the Liao Ting still had an advantage in strength compared to those centrifugal tribes, it had lost its absolute suppression ability.
With the assistance of Yelu Xianshi and other civil and military generals, the Liao Kingdom achieved some results in quelling the rebellion, but the overall situation was still worrying. Even the Khitan army was forced to carry out sustained military operations due to problems with food, grass, ordnance and other supplies. action.
The situation of many tribes under the rule of the Liao Kingdom, including the Khitan tribes, is equally bad, and their basic survival and livelihood are facing problems. If there is a relatively stable environment for them to recuperate, they may be able to recover over time, but this point , but it is extremely difficult.
The Han Dynasty would not give this opportunity, nor would the tribes of the Liao Kingdom give it this opportunity. The Han army did not need to go deep and only needed to maintain a posture of Chenbing, which could contain a lot of Khitan's energy.
As for the rebellious tribes in Mobei, even if they failed in the attack by the Khitan army, they still had the option of moving south and joining the Han. With this escape route, they would be more comfortable rebelling.
As far as the Liao Kingdom is concerned, the most dangerous people are always the Han people, not the rebellious tribes. Today, the once glorious Liao Dynasty is already crumbling and is in a state of turmoil. It seems that it is not far away from falling apart. Already.
In fact, even the Khitan people had a lot of resentment. Yelu Xian, the leader of the Liao Dynasty, was like sitting on a stove, being roasted by the fire every day and under great pressure.
The Han army was like tourists watching a play. When the fire was not enough, they added some firewood and oil. Over at Dading Prefecture, Dong Zunzhen was in charge of military affairs and led the Han-Xi coalition forces to the north several times. water.
Even if there was no decisive victory, the Khitans were shocked. This also made Linhuang Mansion in Liaojing always face the threat of the Han army. Even the capital was not safe. It is conceivable that the country would be turbulent and people's hearts would be in chaos. You know. In fact, among the tribes that came south to join the Han, there were many Khitans.
In contrast, the Xi tribesmen, who had surrendered to the Han Dynasty early under the leadership of Xi Wang Cunning, were much luckier. The past winter was equally difficult, but with the support of the Han Dynasty, they managed to get through it smoothly. The White Disaster did not cause any major losses.
Even if he had to recruit soldiers to cooperate with the Han army's military operations, he could still maintain an independent situation in the chaotic Liao Kingdom.
Speaking of the Xi clan, we have to mention that King Xi Cunning has been staying in Luoyang since he came south with him. Emperor Liu didn't mention it, so he didn't take the initiative to invite him back. After all, King Xi was sensible. As for the other Xi people, he didn't mention it.
Most of the nobles also lingered in Xijing, and the court treated them well.
At the same time, the imperial court was also proceeding with the digestion, annexation, and restructuring of the Xi tribe's territory, and the establishment of the Yanshan North Road was also on the agenda. Under the governance of the Liao Kingdom, Xi Di already had some foundations, and the Han Dynasty
If we take over and deepen it, then in a few years, the large area in the north of Yanshan will officially become the Daozhou prefecture and county of the Han Empire.
Compared with Shanyang, the Han army on the Yanshan front line did not attack and kept pressing, while the Liaodong side was the only place where actual combat operations were carried out.
After the Beginning of Xia, Ma Renyu sent his troops north to attack Huanglong Mansion. After nearly a year of turmoil, the situation in the entire Northeast region had already become clear. Within Liaodong, peace gradually returned, but outside Liaodong, chaos remained.
The vast area of northeastern China that was originally under Liao rule was basically lost, leaving only Huanglong Mansion, which was defended by Yelu Xiezhen, but it was only struggling to support it.
After the beginning of spring, Ma Renyu suppressed the situation for several months. When the Liaodong regime recovered a little and the Liao army's situation became increasingly dire, he requested an order to send troops.
And in response to Ma Renyu's request, the imperial court decisively surrendered and obeyed his request. Even if the Liao army that was left in Huanglong Mansion was not stuck in its throat, it was not pleasing to the eye and was bound to be pulled out.
Facing the Han army's strong march northward, the Liao army in Huanglong Prefecture did not have much to do. They had long been reduced to a lone army. The Liao court was too busy to take care of itself, let alone support it. Yelv Xiezhen would lead the army again, and in this case, he would be unable to return.
Tian, quickly fell into a tight siege. Ma Renyu was even more cautious. He had been besieging the city for nearly two months and was not impatient. The fall of Huanglong Mansion was only a matter of time.