Chapter 193 The sense of worry among the upper echelons of the Liao Kingdom
After returning from a mission, the first thing he did was to meet the emperor. However, when he rushed to the imperial tent, he was not able to see Yelujing right away. However, he was not treated lightly and was received personally by Xiao Haili, the Prime Minister of the Beifu.
Xiao Haili has a tall appearance and a good image. He is from a noble family in the northern Khitan palace. He is upright and upright in government. He is fair and impartial in making decisions and is very popular among people. He is a very talented minister of the Liao Kingdom.
In his early years, he was slightly implicated because of the rebellion of Yelvcha, but as a relative of the emperor, he had no major problems and was talented. Yelujing appreciated his diligence and conscientiousness, and later promoted him to the prime minister of the Beifu, and he was very trustworthy. And Xiao Haili
Now he is only forty years old, but he already knows everything about the military and state affairs and assists in general affairs.
In recent years, the Liao clan kings have been quarreling and rebelling against each other. Compared with Xiao Husi, who blindly catered to Yelujing and never dissuaded him from admonishing him, Xiao Haili was just and unjust in his judgment of prison. Therefore, his reputation has always been very good and he has been praised by many people.
Even the senior ministers of the clan did not look down upon him just because he was "young".
Yelujing's reputation in official history is not good. He was a sleepy king and a coward, playful and unrestrained. However, upon closer inspection, it can be found that during his reign, a large number of people with the ability to govern the country emerged from the upper echelons of the Liao Kingdom.
of ministers.
As for why he is notorious, it is true that there are some crazy actions such as haphazard rewards and punishments, disregard for government affairs, and excessive bloodlust, especially in his later years. But more factors probably lie in the comments of later generations. Yelvxian of Jingzong after Yelujing, but Yelu
Ruan's son, the throne once again returned to the lineage of Dongdan King Yelvbei. As the legitimate son of Taizong, it is not incomprehensible that Yelujing would magnify some of his shortcomings in political life and smear him.
They were both important ministers in the official system of the northern part of the Liao Kingdom. One was the Prime Minister of the Northern Mansion and the other was the Secret Envoy of the Northern Privy Council. There was no great disparity in power and status between the two, and they communicated on an equal footing.
"Your Majesty is still hunting?" Xiao Husi asked as he took a seat in the tent.
"Exactly!" Xiao Haili's solemn face revealed a helpless expression and nodded.
Hearing this, Xiao Husi was not surprised and asked directly: "Why did your Majesty remember to go south to Yunzhou for hunting? Could it be that there are changes in Han affairs?"
Obviously, as a person with rich experience and high political sensitivity, Xiao Husi could not help but have speculations in his mind. Especially when Fang returned from an envoy to the north and had a secret meeting with Zhao Siwan, he couldn't help but make more assumptions. Especially, Yelujing
After being the emperor for more than seven years, this was the first time that he went south like a crowd and paid attention to the affairs in the south.
Xiao Haili shook his head and said: "Your Majesty's thoughts are not something we can guess. In the past few years, he has visited various regions. Maybe it was just a whim to come to the south to observe. After all, the states and counties in the south are also part of Daliao.
The land is important!”
As he spoke, Xiao Haili thought to Xiao Hu: "This time, the Northern Privy Council has been ordered to go to the Han Dynasty for nearly half a year, and it has only returned so far. I think I have gained a lot!"
Mentioning this, Xiao Husi couldn't help but look serious. He sighed slightly and said: "The Han Kingdom has only been established for twelve years, but now it has become a powerful enemy of Liao Dynasty. I must advise your majesty to take precautions in advance.
The trouble is already deep, if it is not controlled, it will definitely endanger Daliao in the future!"
Xiao Husi was usually a very cautious and prudent person. At this time, seeing him showing such an attitude and directly revealing his fears and worries about the Northern Han Dynasty, Xiao Haili also became serious.
In fact, with the internal stability of the Liao Kingdom and the gradual recovery of national power, many upper-level officials in the Liao Kingdom will inevitably turn their attention to the Han Dynasty in the south. After all, there are many knowledgeable people in the upper-level Liao Kingdom.
After three generations of laying the foundation, today's Liao Kingdom can no longer be regarded simply as a nomadic country. The conquest of Youyun and Liaodong areas, the integration of Han culture, and the establishment of the monarchy system have greatly strengthened the feudal attributes of the Liao Kingdom, and
This is almost an irreversible process. Although the in-depth reform process of Sinicization was hindered during Yelujing's reign, the upper echelons have been influenced by Han culture for a long time.
Taking history as a guide, it seems that aristocratic ministers such as Yelu Wuzhi also learned to read Han classics. There were also Han ministers in the Liao court, and they could all understand the huge threat to them from a unified and powerful Central Plains dynasty.
Therefore, when the two powerful forces stand side by side, after the internal conflicts have been alleviated, it is impossible not to focus on the big man in the south. Especially now that the big man has shown his sharpness and strong offensiveness, it is even more difficult.
This has caused concern among many people.
Even in the official history, Zhou Shizong worked hard to rule and conquered the east and west, but the Liao Kingdom never stopped its hindrance behavior, and the Hebei area was constantly intruded.
When Zhou's army attacked the Northern Han Dynasty, they also responded with a large army and tried their best to suppress it. Because of this, Chai Rong could not wait to launch the northern expedition shortly after capturing Huainan. He had great ambitions to regain Yanyan, attack the Liao Kingdom, and reverse the northern defense.
The passive situation was the main purpose, but the follow-up was weak, so it was difficult to achieve full success and he returned seriously ill. Even so, Ying, Mo, and Youzhou were recovered with troops, which laid the foundation for the subsequent construction of the three-pass defense line.
The reason why the Han Dynasty was able to maintain a better international environment and lighter border defense pressure than that of the later Zhou Dynasty was that in addition to the power changes and political turmoil in the Liao Kingdom similar to those in official history, the root cause was the Battle of Luancheng, which made its military stronger.
The national power was greatly damaged. The casualties of the army, the changes in the throne, and all the war gains could not make up for the losses at home. As a result, in the following years or even ten years, there was not enough strength to effectively suppress the rising Han Dynasty.
At that time, Yelu Ruan could be regarded as having foresight and determination to raise a heavy army in order to wrestle with the Han Dynasty. At that time, the Han Dynasty had only been really stable for two or three years, and its overall strength was not particularly strong. If Yelu Ruan succeeded,
If the Han-Liao War started, even if the Han Dynasty could not be destroyed, it would greatly weaken its national power and hinder its unification.
However, the Huoshen Lake Rebellion brought all of Yelu Ruan's plans to naught, and he even lost his life, and the emperor's throne was transferred. Taking advantage of this rare relaxed environment, the Han monarchs and ministers firmly seized the opportunity.
Reform to become stronger, conquer the south, seize land, cities, and population, and become stronger the more you fight.
In the side tent, listening to Xiao Husi's words, Xiao Haili showed a serious expression, looked at him and said: "In recent years, the Liao Dynasty has been committed to peace and security, and the Han Dynasty is aiming to unify, and its threat has grown. Although I don't feel it deeply, I still feel it.
It can also be observed. According to the opinion of the Northern Privy Council, it is possible to launch a Northern Expedition in the Han Kingdom today?"
After hearing the question, Xiao Hu thought for a moment and said firmly: "Based on my findings, the Han Dynasty already has the strength for the Northern Expedition, but its political power is still in the power of a small country in the south. When it is flattened and there is no worries in the south, it will definitely turn around and go north to fight with
Daliao is the enemy. The war between Liao and Han is inevitable after all!"
Xiao Husi said this, and Xiao Haili became more cautious and said: "Privacy Bei should explain the experience and knowledge of this mission to Your Majesty in detail!"
"That's what I meant!" Xiao Husi nodded.
"Prime Minister, the King of the Northern Court is here!" While the two were talking, the guards came to report.
"Please quickly!" Xiao Haili said.
The two stood up at the same time and prepared to go to greet him. Because of his contribution to the establishment, his erudition, outstanding political talents and certain military abilities, Yelu Wuzhi was named the King of the North Courtyard by Yelu Jing, the head of the official line in the northern part of the Liao Kingdom.
, manages the ministries of the Fifth North Academy.
In terms of status, there are many people in the Liao Kingdom who are more noble than Yelu Wu, but when it comes to political status and power, there are almost none who are equal to him. Therefore, for this aristocratic minister who twice stopped civil strife and preserved the strength of Khitan,
Xiao Haili and Xiao Husi both respected him and did not dare to neglect him.
However, before the two of them could leave the tent, Yelu's housekeeper had already opened the tent and entered.
"Meet your Majesty!" The two saluted.
Yelu Wuzhi was in the prime of life. He was calm and elegant, and his high position all year round gave him a sense of dignity. After waving his hand, Yelu Wuzhi looked directly at Xiao Husi and said straight to the point: "
I heard that Privy Councilor Bei has returned, so I came here specifically to say hello, and I also want to hear what you learned about your trip south!"
Obviously, Yelu Wuzhi is also concerned about this matter.