Chapter 160: The truth is revealed, the causes and consequences
The moon is bright, the stars are sparse, and the night is long.
The ministers left the palace.
The civil servants gathered together to discuss the current changes in the situation and come up with strategies to deal with the emperor. Then they came to a courtyard in Chang'an late at night.
Dong Zhongshu settled here.
After entering the house, Dong Zhongshu took out a chessboard from the wooden shelf.
Liubo chess board.
Since the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, Liubo chess has gradually become a favorite entertainment activity for people, and it was called gambling at that time.
By the Qin and Han Dynasties, gambling became more popular.
The word "博" in the word "game" comes from Liubo chess, and "祇" refers to Go.
Liubo is related to astronomy, elephants, and mathematics.
Throwing chopsticks first, then playing chess, a battle of wits and skill, with astronomical divination and military implications.
Dong Zhongshu took out the chessboard, not to play chess, but to sort out his thoughts through the game on the chessboard.
The room was quiet, with slightly dim lamps swaying.
Fan Xie, Zhou Ping and two other civil servants were sitting beside him.
Dong Zhongshu's disciples Sima Qian and Bai Yu were also there.
Several people watched him throw 'chops', which are bamboo dice, on the chessboard and move the chess piece step by step.
After a long time, Dong Zhongshu put down the chess pieces, and Zhou Ping asked: "Master, what do you think the champion's chances of winning this time are when he attacks the rebels?"
Dong Zhongshu was silent for a moment and said: "I can't see clearly."
Fan Xi and Zhou Pingping, civil servants, were surprised and said: "So, Master, you think it is possible for Huainan to withstand the champion's attack?"
A few shallow wrinkles appeared in the corners of Dong Zhongshu's eyes:
"A month ago, Huainan suddenly launched a rebellion, and there were signs of rebellion. At that time, you must have thought, like me, that Huainan's rebellion was nothing to worry about.
Now I know that the Huainan uprising was just their first step, a way to combine with the Xiongnu and create turmoil.
This shows that the other party has a very detailed and careful plan. In this case, if they are not sure, they will never take action again at this moment."
Zhou Ping said: "Having said that, why do they think they can deal with the soldiers and horses of my big man to suppress the rebellion, and the soldiers of the champion?"
Although they have different political opinions, both Zhou Ping, Fan Zhongshu and Dong Zhongshu must admit that Huo Qubing has actually become one of the representatives of military strategists with outstanding military talents.
The Liubo chess piece in Dong Zhongshu's hand was spinning unconsciously: "I still can't figure out what the opponent's methods are.
But this battle will never be that simple. The opponent must be sure, prepared, and aware that he can withstand my big man's offensive before he dares to take action."
There is no doubt that the other party is plotting secretly and has exploded at this moment, hiding a huge trump card.
Therefore, Dong Zhongshu said that the outcome of Huo Qubing's attack was unpredictable.
"The other party's plan is to cede territory and govern themselves."
Dong Zhongshu Qingjun's face showed confusion:
"But our country, the Han Dynasty, is at its peak. Even if they occupy a few cities, they can fight on the land of our country. In terms of supplies, supplies, people's hearts, and national luck, our Han army has the upper hand.
After all, it is difficult for them to achieve great things. The other party cannot fail to think of this. So where does their confidence come from if they dare to take action?
Unless..."
"Unless what?"
"Unless they can cut off part of my country's destiny!" Dong Zhongshu said worriedly.
"This is impossible!" Several civil servants said in unison.
The national destiny is the public sentiment of the people. It is a spirit cultivated by the good weather and the long years of peace and prosperity for the country and the people. It is impossible to shake the national destiny.
Dong Zhongshu analyzed: "This is exactly what I can't figure out.
However, King Huainan is also from the clan, which may provide them with a possibility..."
————
Dark clouds covered the moonlight.
Three thousand elites left Chang'an late at night and were hundreds of miles away by dawn.
Huo Qubing slightly slowed down the promotion of the magical marching method, and the team's marching speed slowed down slightly.
Wearing armor, Zhang Cigong approached and asked, "How is Lang Zhongling planning to fight this battle?"
On the other side of Huo Qubing is General Tong Xuan, the right middle man of the Wei Army.
On his bronze face, his slender eyes were shining with light, and he and Zhang Cigong were watching Huo Qubing on the horse.
Dong Zhongshu and others can see that the opponent has been preparing for a long time and must have many trump cards. This battle is not easy to win.
Generals such as Huo Qubing can naturally think of it.
Therefore, how to fight to defeat the enemy and suppress the opponent is a question that the leading general must consider.
Tong Xuan and Zhang Cigong were thinking about ways to defeat the enemy all the way, but they had no good strategy.
The pass at the junction of Shanggu County and Yuyang County was built over hundreds of years to resist foreigners.
The Great Wall has a majestic pass, and the walls are high and thick.
The opponent has already made the first move. If they occupy the strong city, they rush over to defeat it and quickly establish their advantage, but it is impossible.
Otherwise, the Xiongnu and other foreign tribes would not have fought hard for many years to no avail.
"The border city in Shanggu and Yuyang counties was built on the basis of the city built in the Yanzhao period. It was reinforced again in the Qin period, and then came into the hands of our Han Dynasty. Hundreds of thousands of laborers were mobilized for years to build it.
With the current scale.
There are also the defensive arrays deployed by the Mohist and military strategists to provide layer upon layer protection.
If we really fall into the enemy's hands, it will be impossible to defeat them in a short time." Tong Xuan looked sad.
Zhang Cigong also had the same opinion.
It is precisely because the city is strong and the walls are thick that Huainan wants to use it as a foundation to resist the counterattack of the Han Dynasty and cede territory for independence.
Zhang Cigong and Tong Xuan thought about it so hard that they still had no solution, and both of them felt heavy in their hearts.
Huo Qubing said: "They have been preparing for a long time and are fully conscious. The first thing we have to do is to attack them quickly and attack them unprepared."
There is a saying in the art of war: The emotion of a soldier is the key to speed, taking advantage of others' inadequacy and attacking the enemy's unpreparedness.
It means that soldiers are quick and quick, and taking the initiative in a war is an unbreakable truth.
After Huo Qubing said this, he promoted his magical marching method, and his speed increased rapidly. He crossed mountains and rivers and approached Beiguan.
As the sky gets brighter, the team speeds up and goes straight to the destination.
The scorching sun rises into the sky, and the time soon arrives in the afternoon.
Outside Weiyang Palace in Chang'an, officials gathered again at the emperor's order.
Dong Zhongshu got off the carriage, and the carriage of Prime Minister Gongsun Hong happened to arrive at the palace gate.
Gongsun Hong was old and no longer visited the court every day. The power of the prime minister was gradually transferred to Li Cai.
If there was no important matter, he would not even come to Weiyang Palace every day.
But this is obviously an exception right now.
Dong Zhongshu and Gongsun Hong met at the palace gate and walked into the palace together.
"Didn't you sleep last night?" Gongsun Hong glanced at Dong Zhongshu.
"Well, I have been studying the terrain around Shanggu and Yuyang. I pride myself on knowing a bit about military affairs, but I can't see that Champion Hou Bensheng has a chance of winning. The opponent is waiting for work in this battle. If the border city is captured, its solidity will be
It is absolutely difficult for our army to defeat the enemy by running attacks."
Dong Zhongshu said slowly: "What do you think, Prime Minister?"
Gongsun Hong said frankly: "Like you, I also stared at the border maps of Shanggu County and Yuyang County all night."
Dong Zhongshu said: "I have calculated the outcome of both sides several times, and I always feel that the other side must have some tricks that we don't know, so they dare to launch at this time and invade Shanggu, an important town at the junction of Yuyang and Yuyang counties."
"Your Majesty, the champion princes also have their own considerations and arrangements. It is useless to think too much. After all, we are not military strategists, and there may be some oversights."
"I actually wanted to remind Your Majesty yesterday that General Wei and Champion Hou should go together. Their cooperation may increase the hope of defeating the enemy." Dong Zhongshu was obviously not optimistic about the current situation and sighed.
"If this battle becomes involved and we cannot quickly establish an advantage, we must prepare in advance." Gongsun Hong said solemnly.
The two of them walked and talked, and soon entered the emperor's study.
Wei Qing, dressed in military uniform, sat at the head of the military commanders.
Next to him is Ru Bohu, who is wearing a reddish-brown embroidered official robe.
The emperor asked the ministers to come to watch the battle together, so as to know the situation in Beiguan and Huainan's plan in time, so as to deal with it.
On the borders of the Han Dynasty, the emperor could divide the fate of the country and observe the location of the war situation at any time.
After the ministers came in, the emperor extended his hand to hold it up, and a bronze mirror rose up and hung in the air.
There was a fleeting light in the mirror, and thousands of miles of mountains and rivers passed by in a flash.
In the end, the picture stabilized, showing the scene of a majestic pass, visible to everyone.
That is the pass city at the junction of Dahan Beiguan, Shanggu County and Yuyang County.
At this time, the city was shrouded in a foggy atmosphere, and it was hazy, and only the general scene could be seen.
This shows that the city has indeed fallen into the hands of the opponent, and the opponent has used means to cover up the reality in the city.
Liu Che stretched out his hand to brush his hand, and the purple energy of the country's fortune rose.
The scene in the mirror began to become clearer, forcibly breaking through the other party's obstacles.
Looking through the mirror, one can see that the city gate at the pass is closed, and the atmosphere is solemn.
The opponent is obviously ready for battle.
Time passes and the scorching sun moves westward.
The emperor had previously judged that Huo Qubing would arrive at his destination this afternoon and launch an offensive against the enemy.
But until evening, there was actually no movement inside or outside the city.
"The champion should have arrived, but the city gate is difficult to attack. He did not launch an offensive, but was dormant somewhere looking for opportunities?"
"Could it be that the opponent sent troops to obstruct it, and the champion had already fought with the opponent elsewhere before approaching this city?"
The officials guessed.
Sunset and evening light.
It was still quiet inside and outside the city.
Obviously, even the emperor's judgment was wrong.
The team led by the champion did not arrive at the destination at the fixed time.
Dong Zhongshu and others frowned slightly, feeling more and more that the situation was not good.
Was there an accident, or did Huo Qubing have other plans?
"Your Majesty, look in another direction!" Wei Qing thought for a while and suddenly suggested.
The emperor asked: "Where does Wei Qing think Qu Bing is?"
While asking, he took out an ancient scroll and wrote the three characters Huo Qubing.
In the study, a dragon-like voice could be heard faintly. The emperor had obviously used more powerful means to find traces of Huo Qubing.
I saw the scene in the mirror change, and slowly traced back the traces of a team, which turned out to be the three thousand elites led by Huo Qubing.
And they are fighting with others. The battle is extremely fierce and affects people's hearts.
Prime Minister Gongsun Hong and others observed for a moment, but they slowly revealed expressions of surprise: "So that's it! We caught him unawares."
Boom!
In that scene, Huo Qubing led his team into a city like a whirlwind.
Ps: Regarding Huainan and the secret forces, whether there is a chance to control several counties in the northeast corner of the Han Dynasty, but the emperor is unaware of it, there will be a reasonable explanation later.