In the first month of Mengchun (January), the thirty-third year of the First Emperor of Qin, Li You, the governor of Sanchuan County, was told by the emperor to return to Xianyang for ten days because his father Li Si's seventy-year-old birthday was approaching. However, he hurriedly returned to the capital from Luoyang and met his father.
Before the brothers and sisters could say a few words, they were summoned to the palace by the emperor.
Although Li You married the eldest daughter of Qin Shihuang and was regarded as a relative of the emperor, he did not dare to regard the emperor as his "wife". He was strict in etiquette and was far away from her.
Today Qin Shihuang summoned him alone, and an unsealed memorial was delivered to Li You by the visitor.
"Let's see."
Since the emperor asked him to read it, he had no choice but to read it. After Li You opened it, he saw that it began with "I, my dear husband, pay my respects again..."
This name was so familiar that Li You raised his head and smiled: "Your Majesty, this is..."
"This is Jiaodong Shou's suggestion for the Southern Expedition. What do you think?"
There was no emotion or anger in Qin Shihuang's voice, so Li You could only read the memorial in a cursory manner.
Obviously, this was the emperor's order to discuss the "Southern Expedition of Baiyue". Heifu's reply. Speaking of which, Li You also received the emperor's inquiry and wrote a memorial to Xianyang, which was even better than Heifu's.
Earlier.
After all, he once conquered Hubei, captured Changsha and Cangwu, and served as the governor of Changsha for several years. He even quelled the Yue rebellion in Dongting County next door. He is as familiar with the south as Heifu.
Li You undoubtedly has some say in this matter.
His father Li Si had given him hints, and the emperor's attitude was clear. Of course, Li You could not object to this matter. In the end, all the civil and military officials in the Manchu Dynasty, except for the young master Fusu who held a different opinion and believed that the southern expedition should not be carried out, believed that Baiyue could be conquered, and they conquered it.
Must win!
Hei Fu, Li You's former subordinate, has now climbed higher and faster than him, and is more trusted by the emperor than his son-in-law. Li You really wants to know how he will reply.
"If I speak out against it, I'm afraid I will offend His Majesty..."
Based on Li You's understanding of Heifu, this slippery guy with deep officialdom would definitely not be so stupid.
Sure enough, at the beginning of this memorial, Heifu expressed his opinion.
"The government of the Three Dynasties did not go beyond Kyushu, but His Majesty's far-sightedness was not limited to Kyushu. He defeated the Xiongnu and built the Great Wall in the north. He also drove away the Yuezhi and built the Jade Gate in the west. Now he wants to conquer Baiyue and expand the southern border and the south.
It is vast and rich in products. In time, we can add a state to Qin, which is an unprecedented achievement!"
"As the proverb goes, the ancestors planted trees, and the descendants will enjoy the shade. Planting mulberry trees and paulownia trees will have endless descendants. Therefore, I believe that the southern expedition is actually a contribution to the present and will benefit future generations!"
After just reading this paragraph, Li You was already scolding him in his heart. This guy is still so good at talking. Even his father and son can't match his ability to flatter him. No wonder he has been promoted repeatedly and is only one step away from becoming a marquis.
In short, Heifu praised Qin Shihuang's strategy of conquering Baiyue in the south to the heavens. However, unlike ordinary ministers, a turning point came after he boasted so fiercely.
"However, if we want to attack Baiyue, our army has three disadvantages..."
One is the climate. The land of Baiyue is hot and humid. People in the Central Plains cannot resist the high temperature in summer. There are many poisons such as smog, water poison, snakes and insects. The sun is exposed to the sun and the night is dew, and diseases are often prevalent.
Secondly, it is geographically advantageous. The junction of Yue and the Central Plains is restricted by high mountains. It is inaccessible and has no roads. There are few plains and wilderness inside, with many rivers and mountains and forests. Trails are intermittent. It is very difficult for the army to move. If you rush deep into the territory without knowing the dangers of the terrain, the consequences will be disastrous.
.
The third is harmony. Unlike the annihilation of the six kingdoms, the Yue people and the Qin people cannot understand each other. The Qin army is completely fighting in a foreign country. Logistics is very important. If 200,000 troops are sent, 300,000 must be transported for them. Moreover.
The Yue people had almost no city walls. They lived in valleys and bamboo forests. They were familiar with water warfare and used boats. They could gather and disperse easily. Therefore, the method of warfare changed from attacking cities and towns to protracted sieges in mountains and forests. This is
What the Qin army, who was used to fighting in formations, was not good at.
"The Art of War says that if the weather, the right location, and the harmony of people are not the best, even if you win, there will be disaster."
In short, Heifu's opinion is that attacking Baiyue is a good idea. It doesn't mean that it cannot be fought, but it can only be difficult to fight...
If this is the only way to stop it, then there are still other ways to dissuade him. How could Qin Shihuang not see it?
But at the end, Heifu also attached his ideas for solving these "three disadvantages".
First of all, this southern expedition will take several years to prepare and solve the problems of "the right time, the right place and the right people" one by one.
In terms of weather conditions, there is no good way. We can only use more soldiers from the south who are familiar with water and accustomed to the heat. Since we can't change it, we can only avoid the hot summer and use troops in the opposite season from the north. We must not use troops in spring and summer.
Send troops in autumn, because that is the "rainy season" in the south, and the rainforest will turn into a green cemetery. It is best to march in winter, which is the "dry season" in the Baiyue region.
In terms of location, a lot of effort must be expended.
Heifu suggested that an official and business group controlled by the imperial court should be established immediately, which could be called "Southern Trading Company" or "Baiyue Trading Company" to uniformly manage the merchants engaged in Qinyue trade, and let them follow the example of Wu Shiyan and Chen Ping who went to the Xiongnu to spy on the enemy.
Using his identity as a businessman as a cover, he went south to the Five Ridges to explore transportation and geography. The merchants often brought silk, sweets, and fine goods from the Central Plains, and bribed the chiefs, big and small. Within a year or two, they knew exactly what was true and what was true in Baiyue.
While understanding the enemy's situation, the transportation in Yuzhang and Changsha needs to be improved. Heifu suggested that the Chi Road from Nanjun to Nanchang be extended to Limensai. At the same time, in Cangwu County, Changsha, try to see if a canal can be dug, so
Only then can logistics be guaranteed.
Two years have passed since the favorable location was secured. In terms of human relations, on the one hand, the soldiers going south should be trained quickly to get used to fighting in the mountains and forests. On the other hand, caravans must also be used to drive a wedge between the Baiyue tribes and not unite them...
"I heard that Jiaodong Lieutenant Ren Hao said that although Dongou and Minyue are both descendants of Goujian, their ancestors have enmity and have been attacking for generations. Dongou is weak and Minyue is strong, and they are often bullied. Your Majesty can send envoys to appease Dongou.
Enter the court and serve as a minister, prefecture, county and other areas."
After the roads and canals were completed, the land army was stationed in Changsha. On the occasion of Yuzhang, Kuaiji dispatched the boat division, with Dong Ou as the support, to first sail to Fujian and Vietnam. Then the sea transportation from Kuaiji to South Vietnam was opened. In this way, the land division captured
After South Vietnam, even if they were stationed for a long time, they could still provide food and clothing through the sea route, so that they would not become alone...
A whole set of ideas and a clear train of thought, thanks to Xiao Tao telling Hei Fu everything about what he saw and heard in Li Mensai.
Moreover, Heifu guessed Qin Shihuang's thoughts and knew that given the emperor's impatience, it was impossible to wait too long, so he set the time for the use of troops as "two to four years."
It took two years to improve transportation, collect intelligence, and capture Dong Ou, three years to seize Fujian and Yue and pacify Nanyue, and four years to conquer Xi Ou and Luo Yue, realizing Qin Shihuang's dream of "extending all the northern territories from the south to the north".
This is a more realistic plan, and it is probably the limit that Qin Shihuang can tolerate?
After reading it, Li You closed the memorial and felt very complicated.
He once led his army across the Yangtze River to Changsha and captured the last territory of the Chu people.
He served as the county guard in Changsha County for five full years, and visited the Cangwu area adjacent to Xiou many times!
However, when Qin Shihuang asked Li You what he thought of the Southern Expedition, in addition to approving it with both hands, Li You's suggestions were not as detailed and solid as Heifu's.
Li You could see clearly that Heifu explained the strategy in such detail, and his intention was self-evident.
Every major conquest must have a leader. Although Heifu did not recommend him even a single word in his memorial, he could only share the emperor's worries and offer advice and suggestions.
But in fact, the whole article is a brilliant self-recommendation!
After all, Heifu couldn't let go of Yuzhang's old troops in the south. Since he knew that Qin Shihuang was becoming more and more arrogant and it was difficult to change his decisions, he had no choice but to find a way to take over the job himself...
At least, if he is a general, fewer people will die, the old troops can be preserved, and even bad things can be turned into good things.
Brilliant, so brilliant!
He was so clever that Li You, a not-so-narrow-minded person, felt jealous and fearful...
"Li You, what do you think of Heifu's plan?"
Qin Shihuang's voice sounded again, pulling Li You out of his thoughts.
He immediately bowed and said:
"I think... County Sheriff Wei's policy is really based on experience! I have never doubted his talent!"
Yes, after all, Li You is Heifu's "Bo Le". It's true that Heifu is capable, but if it weren't for his preference and trust and his many promotions, Heifu, who was born in the capital of Guizhou, wouldn't be where he is today, right?
This is the embarrassing part. Many years ago, Hei Fu was just a pawn under Li You. But now, Li You, who is in his forties, is just a great man, while Hei Fu, who is thirty years old, has become a concubine.
!
Not only in terms of title, reputation, and achievements, Li You was completely inferior to Li You. Last year in Linzi, Heifu had dared to argue with his father Li Si in court!
The relationship between the two parties was completely broken at that moment!
The relationship between the initiator and the initiator is the relationship between the benefactor and the beneficiary, second only to the monarch and his ministers.
In Li You's view, Hei Fu undoubtedly betrayed their father and son. He had long forgotten how he came to the court, but now, together with Ye Teng, he has become the political enemy of the Li family!
Either he was jealous of his old tribe's potential for becoming a marquis, or he was worried about Ye Teng and Hei Fu's son-in-law's growing power. Li You would never sit back and let Hei Fu succeed easily.
After first praising Hei Fu and expressing his admiration and appreciation for Hei Fu, Li You paid his respects again:
"But I think that although Heifu's idea is good, it is still too timid and takes too long!"
