Chapter 3 Obsession

It was a coincidence that Zhang Wulang's memorial arrived in Chang'an, and it was a very timely time.

The interview envoy of Hebei Dao, Yang Sidao, also reported his views on the military, government and people's sentiments in Hebei, and suggested that the court postpone the time of the major project to stabilize public opinion.

Yang Sidao was a civil servant, with a similar name to Yang Sixu, a popular eunuch in the palace, but not a family member. Yang Sixu should not have a surname. People who entered the palace to be eunuchs believed that it was a disgrace to their ancestors, so they usually had to change their names, just like the eunuch Gao Lishi of the previous dynasty was originally surnamed Feng.

The interview made Yang Sidao's memorial tone coincide with the political views of the prime ministers of the Political Affairs Hall, and Zhang Wulang, a person in the Northern Ya system, also had the same opinion, so the prime ministers had something to say.

In the court, the ministers of the Southern Yaya supported Zhang Wulang's proposal to appoint Hu people as officials to govern Hu, improve relations with various ethnic groups in the Northeast, and expand the establishment of the Andong Governor's Office; at the same time, in order to solve the urgent problem, the Zhengshitang's solution was to adopt Yang Sidao's suggestion to postpone the expedition of Ding to repair the Great Wall.

But there was no response in the palace, without the emperor's approval, all the claims were in vain, and the court had no right to issue political orders.

Princess Hezhong was reading the memorial and saw so many people talking about the matter in the Northeast in a hurry and serious manner. She couldn't help but say in front of Xue Chongxun: The world is the world of brothers, and the ministers are also loyal.

Xue Chongxun refused to comment, looked unhurried at all, and said with a smile: This memorial is not a homework. Some can be approved immediately, and some will be sent back to the Zhengshi Hall to re-written. Of course, some can be put in the palace and there is no need to do anything.

Princess Hezhong looked at Xue Chongxun in confusion for a while, raised her mouth slightly, and said helplessly with a hint of coquettish tone: Brother is the emperor, you can do whatever you say.

Xue Chongxun sat for a while and went out to watch the snow. After a while, Yao Wan, who was in the study of the greenhouse hall, also walked out.He looked at Xuehua without looking back and said: Do you have the same view as Princess in the River?

Yao Wan said: It’s your own reason for memorials to be shelved. I believe you must have a better solution.

After hearing this, Xue Chongxun felt relieved and couldn't help but turn his head to look at Yao Wan. She hurriedly lowered her head and dared not look at her. The weather was cold and the skin on her face and neck seemed to be whiter.

Xue Chongxun's relaxed expression suddenly changed and said in a deep voice: Among the people involved in political affairs, I will only tell you the truth.I may not have a better way, and the ministers' claims may be a wise move... However, Hebei defense strategy was decided at the beginning of the year. Now, if you encounter some difficulties, you should postpone the changes at will?I must stick to the same way to find a solution, this is authority!

Yao Wan was slightly moved and looked up at Xue Chongxun's face. She saw that he had regained his initial indifference. Among the snowflakes gently drifting in the yard, the heroic spirit between his eyebrows was more restrained than before, and he seemed much quieter.

Yao Wan couldn't help but say in an admirational tone: As long as you have a husband here, you don't have to worry about anything.

As soon as I said this, a burst of rapid footsteps destroyed the quiet and calm atmosphere.

Xue Chongxun looked back and saw the eunuch Yu Liben walking from the other end of the corridor. He stood there from a distance and bent down and said, "Your Majesty, the border is urgent."Cheng Xianggong saw it and said it was very urgent. I dare not neglect it, so I quickly went to the palace to disturb you.

Xue Chongxun's eyes swept across Yu Liben's face, and after observing his expression, he asked: What happened?

Yu Liben said: In the northwest Tubo, the Tubo in the Mo family suffered a great defeat and reported to the court from a distance. It was probably nearly a month ago.Then the Mo family really didn't help the emperor. Most of the population and livestock were lost, and a lot of the food and armor we sent were taken away. If the weather hadn't suddenly changed and the wind and snow had blocked the road, let the Lushe City temporarily quit, and if the battle continued, the Mo family's tribes would have been completely wiped out!God did them a favor, but as soon as the climate becomes better in spring and Tubo fights again in the north and south, the Mo family may no longer be able to resist it, and the destruction is in front of them.

Where did this news come from?Xue Chongxun asked.

Yu Liben hurriedly replied: Report to the emperor, Shanzhou, he received official documents from the Jin Dynasty officials sent to Tubo.

Xue Chongxun's eyes suddenly dimmed a little: So it wasn't that Mo's intentionally exclaimed in order to move inward.

Yes, the emperor.

Yu Liben bent down very low. Although there was no sign of Xue Chongxun's abnormal mood, Yu Liben was still very nervous. He was just blamed for his bad luck and was on duty today. He just didn't report the good news and even reported a big worry.

At this time, I heard Xue Chongxun say that I understand. Yu Liben dared not say a word, and did not ask anything else, so he hurriedly took the favor and said he was leaving.

At this time, the ministers from the Political Affairs Hall and the Cabinet were all staying in the yamen, all absent, waiting for the emperor's summons at any time, but there was no movement.

All six people from the Political Affairs Hall sat in Zhang Shuo's study and were drinking tea while talking about things. Zhang Shuo sat on the upper head, and the others sat on chairs on both sides.

The specific matters of the frontier are beyond the reach of these decision-making ministers far away in Chang'an. All we can do is to adjust our strategies from a big perspective. Even if there is a fast horse that travels hundreds of miles a day, the communication is still very slow at this time, and it will take time for the government to take effect. It is expected that the collapse of the Mo family and the collapse of the Tubo strategy will be after the beginning of next spring, but now it is really a critical moment to come up with a solution. If we wait until the war starts next year before we find a solution, then no solution will work.

Zhang Shuo spoke with a serious expression: To this day, the military soldiers in the palace are in name only, and the military equipment mainly focuses on strong soldiers is the main force of the country.The strong soldiers must be covered with armor, weapons, food, horses, and military pay. These are all burdens of the national treasury. The advantage lies in the fact that they cannot increase too much troops for the time being, and the treasury cannot afford it.Once the restraint of the Mo family collapses, the threat of Tubo may rekindle. The Western Regions, Helong and Liuzhao must increase their troops to maintain our Great Jin's advantage over the barbarian tribe.

Cheng Qianli said: We cannot go deep into the Tubo Plateau. As long as there is no opportunity to exploit it within Tubo, it will be a major threat to the Central Plains after all. The repeated Khitan and Xi in the northeast occupy only a large area of ​​several states and have a small population, so they have no strength to pose a fundamental threat to the Central Plains.The right way is to focus on the west and neglect the east.

Cheng Xiang is familiar with military affairs and has the same views as me.

Zhang Shuo hurriedly won over Cheng Qianli. He was silent for a while and then said that in order to stabilize Hebei, the troops of the two towns of Youzhou in Hedong must be transferred back to Hedong; to protect Yingzhou, the only way is to let the Andong Governor's Office increase its troops.The Northeast has too much power, and there are too many healthy soldiers stationed in Yingzhou.

Dou Huaizhen said: There are mostly Hu people outside Yu Pass, so why do we have to move so many people over and station so many strong soldiers?In my opinion, Du Xian made a contribution to the capture of Yingzhou, and he just sealed a border general and recruited the border army.

If the method that Dou Xianggong said worked, why did Yingzhou change hands many times, and why did the Hu people who depended on him be capricious?Zhang said angrily.

In the view of the Zhengshi Hall, the burden of capturing Yingzhou is obviously greater than the benefits obtained. In the words of merchants, it is a loss-making business.

However, Du Xian, who captured this place, was promoted, and this military operation was recognized by the emperor. Now, overturning the case will be both obstacles and great resistance, and it is difficult to deal with anyway.

Of course, the court officials did not think that there was anything wrong with opening up the territory. However, in the past, the enterprising efforts in the Northeast were mainly to buy and surrender the Hu tribes, and directly mobilize troops to station as a supplement, and use political and diplomatic methods to reduce costs.

Since last year, Xue Chongxun and a group of ministers from military generals have tried their best to expand in the Northeast. After occupying Yingzhou, they have divided the prefectures and counties to migrate the people to station soldiers. This expansion is completely different from the previous practices.

It happened that Tubo was in civil turmoil, and the Turks were driven to the north of the desert. The military pressure on the periphery of the Jin Dynasty suddenly decreased, so there was no sign of any problem in the series of actions in Yingzhou; at this moment, the situation in Tubo in the west changed slightly, and the problem was exposed at once.

If there is a very straightforward solution to the current problem according to the political views of the Zhengshitang, it is normal for the Jianbing to give up Yingzhou directly. If the local soldiers can defend, they will defend and lose them. After all, the most active part of the place is the Hu people, and they have not yet been in the Chinese language.

The fall of Yingzhou will bring great sacrifices. Once the Han people who migrated and were exiled outside the pass lost their Yingzhou stronghold, the situation is not optimistic. However, it is easy for the Jin army to return to the Youzhou area in Hebei. It is the land that the Han people already have, with convenient water and land transportation, and the cost of guarding is several times smaller.

On the other hand, people found that the climate in Liaodong was cold, but the land there could be nomadic or farmed, which was very valuable to the Han people; but due to the military changes in the west of the Jin Dynasty, it was difficult to digest the territory.

The pros and cons are obvious, and the problem lies with Emperor Xue Chongxun. It is difficult for the ministers to understand why he is so persistent in the Land of the Wanyun.

People will have some psychological obsessions. Xue Chongxun was implied by the Anshi Rebellion and the knowledge of the Song Dynasty and developed a very stubborn consciousness; and he was also an emperor and dictator with real power, and his personal opinions had a great impact on the direction of the entire empire.

However, reality is in front of us, making concessions in the northeast seems to be the wisest way, and sacrificing some people for the overall situation is always an acceptable concept.

If Yingzhou's strategy really wants to change, what will happen to those exiled Han people and migrant people?

Du Xian's cavalry slaughtered Hu people in Yingzhou for tens of thousands of tents, and the bloodiness after the feng shui took turns is self-evident.