Lan Wuqing pondered for a moment, and finally said again: "Your Majesty, if Yongzhou uses leaflets to confuse people's hearts, it is a psychological war against the imperial court. If there is a confrontation between soldiers and horses, the imperial court has hundreds of thousands of troops and is invincible. But if you want to
Fighting psychological warfare does not rely on swords and guns. Although psychological warfare does not seem to be as bloody and cruel as battlefield warfare, sometimes, the effect of psychological warfare is far stronger than battlefield warfare, and it can even be fought without a single soldier.
Defeat the opponent."
A minister echoed: "Your Majesty, what the Prime Minister said is that since ancient times, we have planned first and then fought. If the plan is successful, there will be no need for soldiers and horses, and the enemy can be destroyed in an instant."
The little emperor frowned and said: "Nowadays, rumors are spreading all over the states, and the people's hearts are unstable. This is Yongzhou starting to plot against the imperial court... Does the Prime Minister mean that if we don't handle this matter properly, it is very likely that we will be defeated before we raise an army?"
"
It is taboo to declare defeat before fighting, but the matter is very important at this time. Lan Wuqing nodded and said: "What the Holy One said is true. King Mingyue has a reputation for benevolence and righteousness among the people. If he cannot eliminate the doubts in the hearts of the people,
, which is greatly detrimental to the imperial court."
Xue Poye finally said: "Prime Minister, do we also have to deal with Yongzhou's conspiracy starting from the human plan?"
Lan Wuqing said seriously: "If you don't know the rumors, your morale will be low."
The Minister of War said: "Prime Minister, now that rumors are spreading all over the states, should we order the states to ban the people's speech? Huzhou has just caused a civil uprising. If we rashly use force against the people, even if we can control the people's behavior and prohibit the people's speech, they will not be able to eliminate the people.
Doubts in my heart. When the army is mobilized to deal with Yongzhou, the camps in various states will be empty. If there is a rebellious party to deceive the people at that time, I am afraid there will be even greater chaos."
Then a minister echoed: "What Mr. Xi is saying is that your Majesty, Prime Minister, and soldiers on the front line are fighting bloody battles. If there is a problem in the rear, it will be a big trouble."
Xue Poye pondered for a moment, then suddenly raised his eyebrows and said, "Everyone, you have misunderstood the Prime Minister's meaning."
The loyal minister was stunned, then heard Xue Poye say with a smile: "The Prime Minister's intention is never to control the words and deeds of the people. As Mr. Xi Da said, if we really do this, not only will we not be able to stabilize the people's hearts, but it will create even greater troubles."
.”
Lan Wuqing stroked his beard, looked at Xue Poye with a smile, and asked: "Master Xue, do you understand what I mean?"
Xue Poye smiled and said: "Does the Prime Minister want to use the literati to come forward to fight a psychological war?"
Lan Wuqing laughed and said: "Master Xue is indeed smart. Yes, this is a battle without swords, so the literati will fight it with pens."
The little emperor asked urgently: "Prime Minister, you are a scholar, could it be that you are here to fight this battle?"
Lan Wuqing shook his head and said: "Your Majesty, this battle is a battle of literati, but not a battle of civil servants. The common people are beguiled by rumors and may not believe what the civil servants say, but prestigious literati everywhere are highly respected and respected by the common people.
I believe that only when they come forward to state Yongzhou's ambitions and spread the majesty of the imperial court will the doubts of the people be eliminated."
The courtiers were all talking to each other and talking about it.
"Then...the prime minister will pass on my decree and order the literati in each state to pick up their pens and work together with the imperial court to defeat Yongzhou." The little emperor seemed to be relieved and said seriously.
Lan Wuqing said respectfully: "Your Majesty, the literati can fight this battle, but whether they are willing to fight and whether they dare to fight is a big question."
The little emperor frowned and said coldly: "If they were born in the Chu Kingdom and don't be loyal to the country, are they still considered Chu people?"
Lan Wuqing said slowly: "Your Majesty, just because you don't dare to fight, just because you don't want him, doesn't mean that they don't care about Chu." After a pause, he said slowly: "After the founding of the Chu Kingdom, they always attached great importance to scholars, and they were also good at it.
In this way, the hearts of literati are ultimately towards the imperial court.
"In that case, why don't you dare? Why don't you want to?" the little emperor said calmly.
"Literati are knowledgeable, knowledgeable, and thoughtful, but they are timid. King Mingyue has not openly rebelled yet. If they want to condemn Yongzhou, they will think that this is causing trouble over nothing and insulting their purity." Lan Wuqing said slowly.
Xu said: "So they will not show off easily, they will just wait and see what happens."
The little emperor said anxiously: "Then...in the opinion of the Prime Minister, what should we do?"
The little emperor knew very well that at this critical moment, he must rely on the opinions of these veterans.
These people have experienced countless ups and downs. They can always think of things that others cannot fully think of, and they can always make the most careful arrangements. They have a lot of experience. At this time, although being smart is useful, it is more useful when facing difficulties.
experience.
"Actually, whether the literati can stand up, in the final analysis, it depends on the wishes of three people." Lan Wuqing looked solemn: "Every line of literati has its own, and among the literati today, they are Jiangnan Chen Yin and Hedong Li
There are three of us, Shao Shao and Xichuan Qiuying."
When Xue Poye heard "Chen Yin", he thought to himself: "It seems that the prime minister is thinking the same thing as me. I need my father-in-law to step forward. I don't know if my father-in-law has replied to Suzhen. What does he mean?"
"It goes without saying that these three people have great prestige among the literati. As long as they come forward and raise their arms, most of the literati can gather under them. At that time, the meaning of the three people will be the literati of the world.
Meaning, as long as they condemn Yongzhou, then the imperial court will win this war without weapons." Lan Wuqing stroked his beard and said: "And these three people have always been friends. Even though they may have different opinions in terms of knowledge, they face each other.
Regarding major issues of right and wrong, I think these three people can still reach a consensus."
"In this case, I will issue a decree for the three of them to gather literati to fight against rebellion!" the little emperor said excitedly.
Lan Wuqing sighed: "Your Majesty, these three people are all contemporary Confucian scholars who have great influence among the people, but their temperaments are also extraordinary. Your Majesty may not know that with the knowledge and talents of these three people, it will be easy for them to become officials in the court.
However, they have never entered the official career. They are only willing to do some learning, accept some disciples, and dare to complain about the injustice of the people. This has achieved their prestige among the people. It is also this that has developed their bad temper.
, even if the Holy Spirit issues an edict, it may be difficult for them to come forward if they do not voluntarily do so."
A military commander emerged from the row of military commanders and said in a rough voice: "Your Majesty, if they don't agree, I am willing to tie them to Kyoto."
Everyone looked and saw that it was Song Fei, the former military chief of the Privy Council.
…
In the early days of the founding of the Chu Kingdom, Dachu began to create a good environment for literati. After all, conquering the world requires generals, and ruling the world requires literati with strategies.
However, in the early days, after all, it was a large group of military generals who made great achievements, so the attitude towards military generals was relatively gentle. They were promoted to high positions, well-dressed and well-paid, and their remuneration was also extremely high.
However, the emperors of Chu State knew very well that it was a taboo for generals to control the army, and there was always a threat to the imperial power.
In a very orderly manner, with the stability of the government, Da Chu has planned to break down the huge military camps and reorganize them. From the group army model in the early days of the founding of the People's Republic of China to the state camp model, compared with the early group army's 70,000 to 80,000 soldiers
The camp army has been greatly reduced to about 20,000 people, and the power of the generals has become weaker and weaker. By the time of Emperor Yangwu, the power to dispatch the army was completely out of the hands of the generals. The generals' duty was only to train the army.
That's all. Even so, in order to prevent the generals from increasing their power due to long-term leadership, every two years, the generals in the camps in each state will be exchanged, so the generals will have to face new soldiers, and the generals will be eliminated to the greatest extent.
The rise in power also made the relationship between generals and soldiers extremely indifferent.
The real power to deploy the army has been controlled by the emperor through the Privy Council and the civil servants of the states. In terms of the military strength of the states alone, there is no threat to the imperial power.
Even the three founding royal families, who have just withdrawn from the stage of history, have secret connections with the three great garrisons, but on the surface, they have no control over them, let alone other generals.
By the time Emperor Deqing ascended the throne, except for the generals under the command of the border generals, almost all the military generals in the states within Dachu were inactive.
The generals had no worries about food and clothing, and although they lived a wealthy life, they had absolutely no power to mobilize troops.
Once troops are needed, the Privy Council and the Ministry of War will discuss suitable candidates for generals, and then the emperor will make the decision himself, bestow military talismans, and worship the generals as commanders.
As for the military commanders in the court, they did nothing. They were depressed all day long and had no use for them.
This time there were signs of rebellion in the northwest, and from the inside, the generals were a little excited.
Soldiers are supposed to fight on the battlefield, and they have no regrets even if they are wrapped in horse leather. They hate that their lives are spent in a dull state, because although the peaceful years are the dream of many people, the generals are unable to show their value in the peaceful years.
.
What they need is an iron horse and a bloody battlefield. Only in this way can they change the situation of being strong in civil society and weak in military for decades.
Although Sein Fei is in the Privy Council and serves as the former military commander of the Privy Council, his name has always been empty. The envoys to the Privy Council are all civilian officials. These generals can only sit in empty posts on weekdays.
In addition to General Tianwei, the three highest military general positions in Chu State are the Privy Council's Forward Army Siwei, Central Army Siwei and Rear Army Siwei.
Although Song Fei held a very high position and stood at the front of the court, the Chu State had always been peaceful and stable, and soldiers like them never had any say in the court.
After enduring for so many years, Sein Fei finally got the opportunity to make a great contribution. He was very excited. Hearing that several literati did not appreciate the praise, he became so excited that he started talking wildly.
"No!" Lan Wuqing said hurriedly: "Sir Song, that's absolutely impossible. If you really use force, the situation will be even worse, and you can't save it even if you want to."
The little emperor frowned: "Prime Minister, what should we do? Does the court still want to see their faces?"
Lan Wuqing said: "Your Majesty, we can only persuade these people, not force them. I think that we can send a few officials with outstanding intelligence and eloquence to visit the three of them to lobby for the benefits and persuasion.
If they come forward, the Holy One can also personally write three letters and provide more comfort. In this way, the three of them should be able to contribute to the court." Xiang Xue Poye smiled and said: "Mr. Xue Hou, that Mr. Chen Yin is your father-in-law.
, Lord Marquis can also go and repair the book, move it with emotion, understand it with reason, I think it will get twice the result with half the effort."
Xue Poye said: "To be honest with you, I asked my wife to write a letter home half a month ago."
Lan Wuqing's eyes showed admiration and said: "It turns out that Lord Xue has thought of this a long time ago." After a pause, he asked: "But I don't know if Mr. Chen Yin can reply to the letter?"
Xue Poye shook his head: "There is no reply yet. If necessary, I will write a letter in person later to persuade my father-in-law."
Lan Wuqing nodded and said, "That's very good."
The little emperor pondered for a moment and asked: "The Prime Minister just said that he would gather troops and horses in Taizhou, but he didn't know who would lead them?"
Although the little emperor asked lightly, everyone knew the weight of this question, and the courtiers immediately started whispering again.
This time the rebellion against Yongzhou seems to be based on one country and one corner, but everyone knows that in the atmosphere of Dachu that values civility over military affairs, the combat effectiveness of the soldiers is really weak. The Beizhen Army, which has the most combat effectiveness, is now stationed on the border to prevent
Beihu, you can't move it.
Yongzhou's one hundred thousand cavalry has always maintained strong training, and living in the northwest Yongzhou raised troops. They have experienced wind and sand, and their physical fitness is extremely strong. Their personal combat effectiveness is second to none in today's Chu. Although there are one hundred thousand cavalry, if
In terms of combat effectiveness, it is definitely not weaker than the imperial court's two to three hundred thousand troops.
Moreover, Yongzhou raised troops quickly and was led by brave generals, which boosted morale. In addition, there are many Gobi territories in the northwest, with harsh climate and windy sand. Some of the main defense areas are also Gobi sand dunes and are surrounded by several mountains. Regardless of geography,
The environmental and climatic conditions are great challenges for soldiers from other states in Dachu.
To deal with such an army, not any general can lead an army to deal with it.
Not only does it require rich experience, fearless determination, tenacious will, and inspiring fighting spirit, it also requires the ability to march and form formations, the courage to make decisive decisions, and most importantly, the charm to boost morale and the ability to coordinate soldiers.
After all, we need to gather soldiers from various states to form a counterinsurgency army. The army is composed of officers and soldiers from all over the country. Everyone has different accents, different living habits, and different personalities. If you want to twist this group of soldiers from all over the country into one,
Forming a fist with powerful fighting power is by no means an easy task.
In addition to these hard conditions, there is one point that must be taken into consideration for the court.
That's loyalty.
For a long time, Dachu's national policy has neglected military generals. The military generals must have some resentment in their hearts that they dare not show on the surface. However, Yongzhou's political strategy is just the opposite. Military men are highly respected there, so whether military generals will
Switching sides at the last minute is definitely something that needs to be taken into consideration.
Once a war begins, it is absolutely impossible for the two sides to just decide the outcome between swordsmen. Psychologically, the generals on both sides will also have to go through a brutal battle.
Since ancient times, due to local coercion, many generals have defected in battle.
This war is a civil war. If it is against Beihu, the possibility of defecting on the spot may be very low. However, the one we are going to crusade against now is King Mingyue, who has a high reputation and highly valued warriors. Who can guarantee that there will be no defection on the spot?
Phenomenon?
Song Fei glanced at the courtiers, and finally came out and knelt down: "Your Majesty, I am willing to lead the troops on the expedition. I will live up to the expectations of your Majesty and the court and pacify Yongzhou!"
There was silence for a moment in the court.
To be fair, if anyone in the DPRK is most suitable to lead troops on an expedition, it is Sein Fei.
Sein Fei is over fifty years old, has a violent temper, and is also a veteran on the battlefield. General Tianwei guards the north. If there is any rebellion in the country, Sein Fei leads the troops. Every time, the rebellion is easily put down. In terms of his ability to lead troops,
There are really few people in the court who can compare with him.
Of course, his own martial arts skills are not low, he is also proficient in marching formations, and his prestige is quite high in the hearts of the generals.
The little emperor said "Oh". Although Song Fei asked for a fight, the little emperor understood that he could not make such a big decision easily. He looked at Lan Wuqing and looked at him with a questioning expression.
Lan Wuqing glanced at Song Fei and said slowly: "Your Majesty, Sir Song's battlefield experience is unmatched by anyone, and he is extremely proficient in marching formations. If he is to lead the troops, it will be an excellent choice...!"
Hearing this, Song Fei had a look of pride on his face, but Lan Wuqing's words suddenly changed: "But I think that Lord Xue is the best candidate to put an end to the chaos this time!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the court was in an uproar, and even the little emperor and Xue Poye were startled.
It goes without saying that Xue Poye is now prosperous in the court, but marching and fighting is not a child's play. Not to mention whether this Marquis Xue has the ability to command an army of hundreds of thousands, his battlefield experience alone is beyond imagination.
.
Everyone knows that this Lord Xue has never been on the battlefield. To send Lord Xue to lead the troops in a war...isn't this child's play?
It's just that when everyone saw Lan Wuqing's solemn expression, it was definitely not a joke. They were extremely confused, not knowing that the prime minister was buying medicine from a gourd.
The little emperor was stunned for a while, and then said: "Prime Minister, you are... you mean... let Mr.
Xue Poye was also a little embarrassed and said sarcastically: "Your Majesty, Prime Minister, I... I'm afraid I'm not qualified for such an important task!"
Lan Wuqing said seriously: "I think that the Marquis is not only suitable for this task, but also must take it on!"
Xue Poye frowned, and suddenly saw Lan Wuqing give him a fleeting look. He immediately understood that there must be a reason for Lan Wuqing to do this, so he could only say: "I am loyal to the great Chu, and I am loyal to the emperor. Your Majesty."
But if there is an order, I must obey the imperial edict!"
At this moment, Song Fei was heard saying loudly: "Your Majesty, I... I do not submit!"
All eyes were on Seinfeld.
Seinfeld looked a little angry, with a pair of thick eyebrows furrowed and a look of dissatisfaction.
The little emperor frowned. This Song Fei seemed to have a bad temper and was a guy who could easily offend others. He asked calmly: "Song Aiqing, what are you dissatisfied with?"
Song Fei said loudly: "I beg your Majesty to allow me to ask three questions to Lord Xue!"
The little emperor frowned, but Xue Poye already smiled and said: "Master Song, if you have any questions, you should face them directly in front of the ministers, but there is no harm in asking. If I can answer, I will answer you."
"Okay!" Song Fei asked: "May I ask Mr. Xue, has he ever led troops on the battlefield before?"
Is not this nonsensical?
"I have never led an army on the battlefield!" Xue Poye said with a smile.
"Do you understand how to set up a marching formation?"
"It's just superficial!" Xue Poye kept smiling: "I almost don't understand."
"Have you ever been to the northwest to understand its climate, geography, customs and customs?"
“Never been there!”
Song Fei said seriously: "Your Majesty, Prime Minister, colleagues, it is true that Mr. Xuehou is wise and courageous, but this Northern Expedition is a war, not a child's play house... I think that Mr. Xue is not suitable for this task.
appoint!"
After three questions, most of the courtiers agreed with Song Fei's point of view, and many people couldn't help but nod their heads.dd