After returning to the palace, Liu Chengyou did not go back to the Chongzheng Hall, but went directly to the Privy Council to sort out military affairs with the Deputy Privy Envoy Zheng Renjie and Zhu Chengzhi and assistant officials. The Privy Council has always been the center of the Han Dynasty's military affairs, and after the troops were sent out, its importance became even greater. Importantly, all important military and political orders in the Central Plains and Hebei provinces related to military matters stem from this.
Information about the Khitan's military intelligence came one after another from the north. Border guards were stationed at the border and military intelligence detectives were sent to investigate and report accordingly. As the information increased, Liu Chengyou also had a more comprehensive understanding of the situation in Yan, thousands of miles away.
The Khitan military strength shrunk in an all-round way. There were very few Liao cavalry for fifty miles around Youzhou, and even less traces around the Han defense line in Yannan. The new Khitan emperor Yelujing accepted worship in Miyun, Tanzhou, and officially ascended the throne. His civil and military title was Tianshun. emperor.
Zhao Kuangzan sent his commander Zhao Siwan and his light cavalry to test the situation northward, but they passed Huairou and approached Miyun before being intercepted by the Khitan cavalry. After a fight, the Hu cavalry went crazy and struggled for more than ten miles. According to Zhao Kuangzan's report, although there were some gains Nearly two hundred, but he also lost hundreds of cavalry. You must know that the cavalry under Zhao Siwan is the most powerful army in the Yan army.
Although it was only a small part, it can be seen from it that the will of the Liao army did not seem to be completely dissolved. This strengthened Liu Chengyou's determination to go south.
That night, Liu Chengyou's spirit had been in a state of excitement. He took the time to go around the Third Division and called Fan Zhi, who was still in the political hall, to discuss the issue of money and food together. To fight a war is to fight for money and food, and to fight for national strength. This concept has been in Liu Chengyou's mind for a long time. At this time, it is not just the Privy Council and the Ministry of War who are forgetting to eat and sleep.
When Liu Chengyou returned to the Privy Council, he was surprised to find that Guo Wei, dressed in purple, had been reinstated and returned to the Yamen. Wei Renpu was also called to listen carefully and inquire about the details of military affairs...
Liu Chengyou was very grateful to his ministers for staying up late at night, and praised them from the bottom of his heart. He even prepared midnight snacks and drinks for them, and also joined in the discussion. The monarchs and ministers directly sketched the The specific matters of the Southern Expedition came. In the second half of the night, I couldn't stand it anymore, so I asked the ministers to go to rest. Liu Chengyou only took a nap in the privy room.
It was not until early in the morning when the sky was still hazy that Liu Chengyou returned to the Zhengdian Hall. He washed and ate briefly, put on his dragon robe, and then summoned his ministers to the Guangzheng Hall.
It was still the same people as yesterday. However, when the civil and military officials rushed to the court room one after another, they found that Guo Wei, who had not appeared in the temple for a long time, was already there. Many people looked surprised. After the civil servants were surprised, they suddenly realized and came forward to see the ceremony and congratulations. After that, Shang Hongqian, Wang Yin, and Du Hanhui happily talked about old times with Guo Wei in the court room.
After more than half a year of hiding, Guo Wei's reputation in the court does not seem to have been too weakened. This is the difference between people.
Privy Secretary Guo is being looked after, and your Majesty should take good precautions against him. This statement was made boldly and secretly by Wang Jingchong, the Deputy Military Envoy, and then Liu Chengyou calmly explained it to him and asked him to guard against him...
In the Guangzheng Hall, Liu Chengyou wore a emerald gold robe and ascended to the throne. After accepting the homage, he pointed at Guo Wei and explained: "Privy Secretary Guo has been recuperating for half a year. Now he has recovered and returned to take charge of the military affairs of the Privy Council!"
After saying that, he looked around, looked solemn, and said loudly: "After taking into consideration the opinions of the people and considering the situation in the north and south, I have decided to abandon the north for the south, turn the troops forward, attack the Puppet Tang Dynasty, and capture all the land north of the Yangtze River!"
"Your Majesty is wise!" The first one to stand up and shout was Wang Pu. He was very excited. He looked tired and his eyes were red. It was obvious that he had not slept well, but his expression was full of excitement.
"Don't be too busy singing praises!" After a pause, Liu Chengyou said in a deep voice, with an aura of contempt for all parties: "I have spoken at the front, and giving up the opportunity of the Northern Expedition is an extremely difficult decision for me. However, the plan has been decided, gentlemen. We should work together and strategize to conquer Huainan and drink from the Yangtze River!"
"As ordered!" After hearing this, all the civil and military personnel immediately responded in unison.
The strategy was determined, and Liu Chengyou immediately discussed the specific matters of the Southern Expedition with his ministers. The strategic change could not be implemented by Liu Chengyou with a slap on the head and an edict. It started from top to bottom and involved all aspects and departments of the imperial court. Fortunately, , Today, the Han Dynasty court is in a state of war, and various departments have been operating around the fight against the Khitan for some time.
After discussion, several orders were made, which were agreed upon in the palace and issued immediately.
First, he ordered the king of Yan, Zhao Kuangzan, and the army camp in northern Hebei Province to deploy He Fujin, continue to strengthen defense preparations for the Liao Dynasty, and closely monitor the movements of the Khitan troops in Tan and Ji.
Secondly, the imperial troops and garrison troops along the Yellow River line were returned to their original defenses, and the remaining states were temporarily suspended from mobilization. Under the leadership of Wang Jun and Murong Yanzhao, the Xiaodi Army, the Guardian Army, the Fengguo Army, and the bodyguards who went north first Long Jie's horse army turned around and headed south. It went to the nearest prefectures and counties, collected boats, recruited civilian ships, transported troops by water, and assembled in Suzhou. The entire Jingjiang Army also mobilized south.
Third, the transshipment of grain, fodder, ordnance to Hebei was stopped. The supplies that had already arrived were unloaded into warehouses, and those on the way were similarly turned around and transported southward. The grain and machinery subsequently raised by Tokyo were transported southward along the canal.
Fourth, the two capitals and the towns in Henan Province each set quotas to recruit 50,000 civilians to prepare for the needs of the large army. The Han army in Huaihe needs to explore the enemy's situation, increase its vigilance, and be prepared to welcome the central imperial army's move south.
Fifth, on the Hunan side, Lizhou defense envoy Cao Yin had to unite with Langzhou Wang Kui, Zhou Xingfeng and others to create some conflicts and troubles to involve the Tang army. Of course, this was a covert control.
Sixth, send envoys to Nanping, Wu and Yue to plan major events.
Seventh, the military and political command system for the Southern Expedition was determined, and the camp capital at Huainan Road was deployed. After deliberation, deputy commanders of the bodyguard Wang Jun and Murong Yanzhao were selected as the camp capitals, Yuhou. Wang Pu, Minister of the Ministry of Industry, was appointed as Huainan. The water and land transport envoy was responsible for the logistics supply of the army. The ministers were based in Tokyo and were responsible for the preparation of various supplies. Among them, Wei Renpu served as a part-time patrol inspector of the capital; Guo Wei, as the privy envoy, handled national military orders; in addition, the emperor's uncle Murong Yanchao, When Liu Chengyou promoted him to Kaifeng Prefecture, the old man Hou Yi had been working for too long, so he moved his position...
Generally speaking, these military and political orders still appear conservative, and Hebei retains the basis for resisting the Khitan at any time. It has to be conservative, and the Khitan's heavy troops on the Yanshan front line are also worthy of this vigilance. The early warning strength in the north is still Adjustments must be made based on the situation in Khitan.
This is also the reason why Liu Chengyou also announced his own expedition to Huainan, but temporarily used Wang Jun and Murong Yanzhao to lead the expedition on the front line. Until it was completely confirmed that the threat from the north was lifted, Liu Chengyou still planned to stay in Tokyo.
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Under the emperor's will, the Zhongshu Men, the Third Division, and the Privy Council were like clockwork machines, accelerating on the war channel. A series of military and political orders were transmitted from north to south. After making up his mind, Liu Chengyou Instead, he relaxed and began to devote himself wholeheartedly to the Huainan strategy.
Not long after, he received a report from the northern Hebei capital about the deployment of He Fujin. The Khitan emperor sent an envoy to the court, and he had sent soldiers to escort him to the capital.
In the afternoon of that day, the Liao envoy arrived in Beijing and was summoned to the palace by Liu Chengyou. Liu Chengyou had a hunch that the Liao envoy brought definitely good news.
Since the establishment of the Northern Han Dynasty in the twelfth year of Tianfu, in the past five years, the hatred between the Northern Han Dynasty and the Khitan has been as deep as the sea, and they have attacked each other. There has never been peace on the border. Liu Chengyou's foreign attitude It was also tough, tough to the end. After several years, this was the first time that envoys came and went, and it was the Khitan people who took the initiative to send envoys.
In the Chongzheng Hall, with Wei Renpu and Guo Wei as his companions, Liu Chengyou received the envoys, the Liao Zuo Ke Provincial Envoy, and Xiao Husi.
Xiao Husi was originally the censor Zhongcheng of the Liao Dynasty, the general secretary of the Qunmu Department, and one of the ministers of the Southern Expedition. Yelujing came to the throne, and because of his talents, he was moved to Zuoke Province as an envoy to Tokyo.
He was a middle-aged man with a hairy face and clear outlines, and a pair of bright eyes. After entering the palace, he looked around and faced the scrutiny of the Northern Han Dynasty monarchs and ministers. He was as calm as the wind.
When he arrived at the palace, he bowed and saluted with a loud voice: "Foreign Minister Xiao Husi, on the orders of Emperor Tianshun of Liao Dynasty, I send my greetings to the Emperor of Han Dynasty!"
From his attitude, we can see arrogance. I don't know whether it was the arrogance that the Khitan had cultivated towards the Central Plains Dynasty over the past ten years, or whether it was a deliberate act to avoid losing its prestige.
"No courtesy!" Liu Chengyou waved his hand, pretending not to know and asked: "Emperor Tianshun? If I remember correctly, you, the master of Khitan, were not given the honorary title Tianlu? When did it change so suddenly?"