Chapter 208 The secret discussion between the monarch and his ministers
That night, Emperor Liu did not stay overnight in Kunming Hall. After having some dinner with Dafu, he returned to Chongzheng Hall. When the officials in Beijing learned that the emperor was back in Beijing, they couldn't wait to come to see him, but they were all rejected. Already.
However, no one else was there. Zhao Pu, the prime minister, had prepared a large number of memorials to be submitted to Emperor Liu. He worked overtime in the political hall, and was indeed notified of the summons by Emperor Liu.
"See your majesty! See your highness the prince!" In the Chongzheng Hall, Zhao Pu was greeted, and the prince Liu Yang was also called by Emperor Liu.
"Get back on your feet!" Emperor Liu had a peaceful look on his face, motioned for the two of them to sit down, and said to Zhao Pu: "During my absence in Beijing, Zhao Qing was in charge, and the government was running in an orderly manner, both internally and externally. Facts have proved that what I entrusted It’s a human being!”
Hearing this, Zhao Pu's eyebrows bloomed, he stood up, held his hands in his hands, and said humbly: "Thank you for your trust, Your Majesty!"
"Sit down, don't be so restrained!" Probably because he hadn't seen him for a long time, he was a little unfamiliar. Seeing his restraint, Emperor Liu's smile became gentler and said: "You haven't had dinner yet! Yantuo, tell the Shangshan Bureau, Prepare some hot food and drinks!”
"yes!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Zhao Pu felt honored. The emperor's care was rare in the court.
Zhao Pu, on the other hand, promptly reported on some important matters handled by the Zhengshitang during Emperor Liu's absence. Emperor Liu, on the other hand, was not picky and listened attentively.
In fact, Zhao Pu is the prime minister, and it is still difficult to find mistakes in the government affairs he handles. After a while, the servants put the prepared wine and food on the table, and the monarch and his ministers sat down.
Emperor Liu had already eaten and was just drinking. At the same time, he asked what he was really concerned about: "How is the preparation for the Northern Expedition going?"
Of course, Zhao Pu had already responded to this matter. When asked, he calmly answered: "Your Majesty, after receiving the imperial edict, I summoned my staff and relevant government agencies to make arrangements. So far, the Financial Secretary has allocated five million yuan. To purchase supplies such as quilts, tents, rain gear, etc., the Ministry of War has urgently arranged to build ordnance and dispatch it to the north from various arsenals. Military rations, fodder and other materials have also begun to transport..."
After listening to Zhao Pu's capable report, Emperor Liu felt relieved subconsciously. While nodding his head, he asked: "I know that the edict is a little hasty, so there are no problems or difficulties?"
When asked, Zhao Pu still smiled calmly and responded: "Of course there are still problems! The Privy Council has already started planning to send troops, but the scale of the Northern Expedition and the number of troops have not yet been decided. How much money the court needs to raise and dispatch Military supplies have not yet been clarified, and the current preparations mostly use internal and external official warehouse reserves.
In addition, to supply the army with the Northern Expedition and to transport grain and equipment, labor is indispensable. How many strong men will be recruited by various prefectures to serve as corvees needs to be carefully planned. In addition, it is spring plowing and recruiting a large number of strong men will definitely delay the farming season and cause instability among the people. , so we have not yet issued a decree to recruit people on a large scale..."
After hearing his explanation, Emperor Liu nodded and asked, "Isn't one month too hasty?"
Zhao Pu shook his head and said: "Your Majesty, as long as the troops are mobilized and large-scale conscription is inevitable, the impact on farming and civil affairs cannot be avoided, it is just a high or low cost. Thanks to the long-standing reserve system of the imperial court, ministers and planners can After careful planning, with the current warehouses and warehouses in the Han Dynasty, under the premise of meeting the normal consumption of the officials and the people, as long as it is properly dispatched, it can supply the consumption of an army of 300,000 for a year! Especially in the important towns of Youzhou, Taiyuan, and Datong, in the longer term, Maintaining a food reserve of millions of dan..."
Emperor Liu's eyes clearly lit up, and he showed a satisfied smile. He turned his head and said to Prince Liu Yang: "Without these family backgrounds, how could I have the confidence to launch the Northern Expedition!"
"This is also the result of your majesty's hard work!" Zhao Pu said.
"I heard that the Northern Expedition had quite some repercussions in the court!" Emperor Liu took another sip of wine and said leisurely: "Before I returned to the city, I received Song Qi's memorial. My attitude was very clear.
To prevent it, he believed that the situation in the Liao Kingdom was unclear, he was rushing the Northern Expedition, and he was not optimistic about the prospects of sending troops..."
"If people's hearts are unstable and their thoughts are not unified, things will definitely go wrong and chaos will easily occur when implementing rough plans. You are the prime minister who controls various ministries and departments and prefectures and counties. Many things depend on you to handle them. What are you?
view?"
Emperor Liu's tone was very calm, and there was no hint of joy or anger. Zhao Pu could not tell anything from his face, but he did not dare to neglect when facing inquiries, and just told his own thoughts:
"Your Majesty, Prime Minister Song's concerns can be said to be a mature plan for the country, but they are a bit too much. The current situation in the north is certainly not clear enough, but compared with this, is there any more favorable opportunity for the Han to send troops? Even if there is, it still needs to wait until
when?
Duke Xue Ji has a passage in "History of the Three Dynasties" that I still remember freshly: Respect wisdom, but it hides its shortcomings. It is like the way of heaven and the human heart, which is difficult to disobey. You must know that the opportunity cannot be missed, or the time will never come again.
Regarding the cost of sending troops, there is no need to avoid this. As long as the strategy of the Northern Expedition does not change, troops, horses, money, food, and corvees must be fully prepared at any time, and bloodshed and casualties are inevitable.
Preparing for war this spring will certainly affect farming, but it will also bring trouble to the Liao Kingdom, and their troubles and difficulties will be greater than those of the Han Dynasty!
At the time of the Northern Expedition, the north and the south were not yet unified, and the Han Dynasty could use their scornful power to defeat the Khitan and regain Guanshan. But now, the Han Dynasty has gained ten more years of life.
Although the troops were sent out in a hurry due to the changes in the Liao Kingdom, the preparations for the Liao war had been carried out for many years, and they were just waiting for a suitable opportunity. Therefore, the haste was only temporary!
Before the Han Dynasty, there was a cost of the Southern Expedition. The troops, horses, labor, money and food were mobilized, but they were only limited to the southwest and Huguang! In the past few years, the Liao Kingdom also suffered from the cost of the Western Expedition!
To sum up, I believe that when the Liao Kingdom changes its throne, no matter how the situation develops, it is a rare opportunity for the Han Dynasty to send troops!"
Looking at Zhao Pu who was talking eloquently, Emperor Liu's attitude became more and more amiable. It can be said that every word he said spoke to Emperor Liu's heart. Of course, the suspicion of deliberate pandering cannot be ruled out.
"Zhao Qing's insights are very popular with me!" Emperor Liu expressed his approval, but sighed: "It's a pity that there are still too few people in the court with such insights!"
Zhao Pu said: "Eleven years have passed since the last Northern Expedition. There has been peace for a long time. If we go to the Northern Expedition again, we will need to spend more time on expeditions. If we use too few troops, it will be difficult to defeat the enemy. If we use too many troops, we will suffer huge losses. The ministers have some ideas."
The concerns are understandable!”
"If I worry about everything and worry about risks every step of the way, I won't be able to get here today, and the great man will not be as prosperous as he is now!" Emperor Liu said coldly, making Liu Yang and Zhao Pu more careful, and they did not dare to move their chopsticks.
.
After pondering for a moment, Emperor Liu said: "On the way back to Beijing, I received the latest news. Over in the Liao Kingdom, a new emperor has been established and has won the support of most people. The new emperor of the Liao Kingdom seems to be quite capable.
He is very good at winning people's hearts. If the Han Dynasty continues to delay and gives him enough time to calm the hearts of the people and straighten out military and political affairs, then in the future, if he wants to make another northern expedition, the price he will pay will probably be even greater!"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Pu was obviously surprised: "So fast?"
"Therefore, we can't just take into account our own difficulties, we must also base ourselves on the overall situation and focus on the future!" Emperor Liu said with a sigh of relief: "It has only been a few years and we are already timid. If we wait another ten years, we will be even more timid."
No longer willing to carry out the Northern Expedition!"
"Your Majesty is very worried!" Zhao Pu said.
"In this way, let me inform you that at the court meeting tomorrow, the ministers of the third rank and above and the heads of various ministries and departments will come to the palace to discuss matters. I want to have a good talk with them!" Emperor Liu ordered.
Zhao Pu responded.
Emperor Liu looked at Liu Yang again and ordered: "Tomorrow, on my behalf, you will go to the Sanya Forbidden Army to inspect the officers and men and see how their morale is. Then ask on my behalf, after staying in the capital for a long time, do you still dare to leave?"
Do you dare to go to the battlefield, are you willing to risk your life for the great man, and do you have the ambition to make achievements?"