Establishing a thousand-year family from the nobles of the Western Han Dynasty
Chapter 160: Ruyin's Defeat, Liu Xiu's Plan
Chapter 160: Ruyin's Defeat, Liu Xiu's Plan
Wang Mang forced Ruzi Ying to abdicate in Chang'an and officially ascended the throne to become emperor through superstitious means of talismans. Naturally, the impact of this incident varied. Some expressed that they were very pleased, while others cursed him.
After all, the Liu family had been in power for 200 years and had accumulated countless heritage and reputation. In addition, Liu Xiang of Nanyang preserved the orthodoxy of the Han Dynasty in another way.
Therefore, there are still many supporters among the people. No matter how bad the Liu family is, they have produced several generations of wise rulers! You can curse Emperor Yuan, Emperor Li, and even Emperor Ai.
But who would dare not applaud when facing Emperor Wen, Emperor Jing, Emperor Kang, and Emperor Xuan, the greatest emperor of all time?
Among them, the largest number of opponents naturally came from Xiang Liuzhong.
.........
"Rebellion, rebellion... Wang Mang, this traitor! Traitor! Has he lost his temper? No, his true colors have been revealed! He is such an ambitious person."
"I had expected today's disaster."
In the handsome tent.
Grand Marshal Xu Min and Grand Tutor Xu Yuan sat on the ground, facing each other.
Wang Mang deployed tens of thousands of elite soldiers to the front line in Yanzhou. As his opponents, Liu Xiang or Xu Hua certainly could not sit idly by and wait for death.
The court immediately issued an edict, ordering Xu Yuan, the Grand Marshal of Liangzhou, to withdraw 30,000 troops from the Northwest Army to the front line for support, and then select a capable general to be in charge of supervising the army and put it under the command of Xu Min.
Xu Yuan was so bored that he volunteered to lead 40,000 troops to provide support.
But the rule that Xu Min would be the commander was of course invalid, as he was not convinced by anyone except his two brothers and His Majesty.
With the joining of this "Han God of War", the front line was indeed unstoppable, and they took back Dongjun and continued to expand their results. Although the overall situation was still tense, Liu Han had already gained the upper hand.
It has to be said that when it comes to fighting, Xu Min is far inferior to Xu Yuan. After years of experience in Yongliang, his ability to command troops has exceeded the limit.
At least around ninety.
"Calm down, my dear brother. Calm down. Anger can't solve the problem. Don't let it ruin everything."
Xu Min was quite calm and was still drinking tea leisurely.
"You are so careless. As the old saying goes, if the master is humiliated, the minister will die! The imperial seal is still in the hands of the reckless thieves. In other words, they are the legitimate dynasty, and our Han Dynasty is a decadent dynasty that does not know the destiny."
"Although this situation is not much different from the tyrannical Qin Dynasty of the past."
Xu Yuan glanced at the other person, but still couldn't calm down. There was nothing wrong with usurping the throne, since that boy Liu Ying was also established by a reckless thief anyway.
But the problem is that the imperial seal is in the hands of the other party! The orthodoxy is in Chang'an, and Wang Mang has gone through the abdication process, reasonably and legally, and perfectly took over the inheritance of the Han Dynasty, but he himself is a bit out of place.
"Hehe..." Xu Min smiled, as if he thought this brother of the clan was a little childish, and said lightly: "Isn't it just a piece of broken jade? Without it, it is no longer orthodox and has no destiny? That's not quite right."
"Land, food and soldiers are king. As long as we don't lose the land, we will always have the advantage!"
"Wasn't the Imperial Seal in the hands of Qin II Hu Hai back then? Did Qin at that time have the Mandate of Heaven? Didn't they lose the Battle of Julu and have the capital Xianyang directly captured by Emperor Gao?"
"It does not matter."
In fact, this is the truth. The so-called orthodoxy is also for the convenience of recruiting talents and governing the local area without encountering setbacks.
In essence, it has no practical use. If you tell Wang Mang now that he can be given a state of land in exchange for handing over the imperial seal, he will still hesitate.
If it were three states he would pay immediately.
So Xu Min doesn't care much about it, and I believe his cousin Xu Hua won't care either. At most he'll just be angry.
Of course, His Majesty is the most angry, but he will not lose his mind.
It was just a piece of jade. What's more, Wang Mang was no different from the real emperor. Now he was just tearing off the last veil of hypocrisy.
Everyone knows it, so why disrupt the plan?
Xu Yuan glanced at him, thinking that perhaps he had lost sight of the main point, and then changed the subject and stopped discussing the matter:
"According to my estimation, after the bandit Mang proclaimed himself emperor, he will certainly change his previous cowardly measures. The Northern Army is now qualified to engage in a head-on battle with our Northwestern Army, although we are still no match for them."
"But at least we don't have to be beaten anymore. We have the power to fight back."
Before this, Wang Mang was quite cautious in his external affairs. He focused on consolidating his rule over Guanzhong and Bashu, and was strictly guarding against his old rival, the Northwest Army.
It was precisely because of this that Xu Min's Hebei Army was able to win victory after victory on the front line. The reason for this was that the opponent's elite main force had not yet been dispatched, and they would be in trouble next.
Xu Min did not refute this time and nodded: "I plan to avoid the limelight for the time being and focus on consolidating my control over Xuzhou. I must not let the connection between Hebei and Wandu be cut off."
"You know, whether it's the common people or the powerful people in the Central Plains, they all lean towards the traitor Wang Mang. Although they can't shake our rule, they can still stop us."
The core area of the Liu surname is still in Hebei, Jingxiang, Huainan and Jiangdong regions.
These places are under the management of the Xu family, who have not completely lost confidence in the Liu family and still hold on to the dream that the next Emperor Kang and Emperor Xuan will emerge.
"It depends on the situation. Do you want to give up this beautiful land? It was cultivated by our Han soldiers who sacrificed their lives and shed their blood. I'm afraid it would be unfair to them if we just withdraw like this."
Xu Yuan, who had always been strong, did not refute, because he knew that what his cousin said was true, and it would be difficult for them to resist the Mang bandits who were fighting for Guanzhong with all their strength.
Unless all the elite troops of the Northwest Army, Jingzhou Army and others are transferred here, Wang Mang will also transfer all the troops stationed around Yongliang. At this point, a full-scale war no less than the Chu-Han War will begin!
The Central Plains will be devastated by the loss of lives, and the common people are always the victims of war.
All taxes in the world will be invested in the war. The saying "once a cannon is fired, it's worth a ton of gold" was applicable in ancient times. By then, people's livelihood in various places will collapse.
In recent years, natural disasters and man-made disasters have continued. If we want to support the war, we can only continue to increase taxes. If the people can't survive, they will rebel and the situation will get out of control.
Wang Mang was sure that the other side would not dare to launch an all-out war, so he sent more troops to fight for the Central Plains.
This is indeed the case. Xu Hua, the real leader of Xiang Han, does not dare to gamble with the people of the world!
"Alas... there is nothing we can do about it."
.........
Everything in the commander's tent is calm and peaceful, as if they were chatting at home, but as soon as these few people started talking, hundreds of thousands of soldiers on the front line would sacrifice their lives and shed their blood!
Thousands of cavalrymen holding flags with the word "New" immediately launched a charge, trampling on the local positions.
Countless soldiers were trampled into a pulp by the iron hooves, wailing everywhere.
Is that right? The cavalry holding the "Han" flag also fought back. After several rounds of charge, the new cavalry suffered heavy losses, while the Han cavalry took the upper hand.
At this time, the "new" army infantry also pressed forward, wearing heavy armor and looking very aggressive.
These heavy infantrymen were extremely brave. They cut off the heads of people above and the legs of horses below, and stopped the decline in a short period of time.
The two armies fought back and forth, and in the end, the new army had a slight advantage. The Han army's cavalry was brave, and the new army's infantry was elite. Under the pressure of numbers, the Han army was naturally defeated.
In the summer of the second year of the founding of the country, after a long confrontation between the two dynasties, Mang Xin's army attacked Ruyang, Runan was given the name "Xin" cavalry, and the entire Yuzhou fell.
This was Wang Mang's greatest victory since he became emperor! This battle was the Battle of Ruyin, where Wang Yi, the Grand Tutor of the Xin Dynasty, personally led an army of 100,000 and defeated the 130,000 troops of Li Yang, the Left General of the Han Dynasty and the Governor of Yuzhou, head-on, shocking the Central Plains.
The whole world was in an uproar.
The officials of the new dynasty were even more ecstatic because they could also directly threaten Nanyang Wandu.
In the past, Xinmang had to withdraw heavy troops to guard against Xu Yuan in Yongliang, but now they are using their own methods to treat him.
Xu Hua also had to be concerned about Wang Yi stationed in Runan. This was an elite army of 100,000 soldiers who had just won a victory!
"Your Majesty... our army was defeated and Yuzhou was lost."
General Xu Zhong reported the situation on the front line to the emperor with a heavy expression on his face.
This was the biggest defeat the Han Dynasty had experienced since the first year of its heyday. It directly exposed itself to the enemy and felt like a thorn in the back, unable to sleep well.
Liu Xiang also had a gloomy face, but he quickly recovered and said in a trembling voice: "Order Xu Min and Xu Yuan from Yanzhou to intensify the defense. Don't let this place be lost!"
"Also, it's up to you all to decide how to punish Li Yang."
After such a huge defeat, it would be difficult to convince the people if there was no punishment. This time, it can be said that all the troops of the Left General were lost, so he has no capital to bargain with the court.
In this world of great strife, the number of soldiers is crucial.
"I think we should remove him from his post as the Left General and demote him to be an instructor at the Imperial Academy."
Xu Hua suggested that since the prime minister had spoken, others would certainly not dare to have any opinions. As the head of the Xu family, he possessed almost absolute authority.
Even the emperor did not dare to disobey his decision. He was a well-deserved powerful official.
"Well... let's do as the prime minister says." Liu Xiang waved his hand and didn't say much.
In fact, Xu Hua was protecting Li Yang. If he didn't speak up, he would be demoted to the four counties in southern Jing, and he would never have a chance to make a name for himself again.
Most of the powerful generals nowadays have their own direct subordinates and troops. Sending Li Yang to the Imperial Academy actually gives him a chance to re-train his confidants.
Being an instructor at the Military Academy is definitely a good job. It is less difficult than getting a PhD, but the status is the same, and it is also linked to the most core military power!
"Your Majesty, I think we should increase the troops stationed in Xinye to prevent Wang Yi from sending troops south! This is crucial, as Runan is too close to Nanyang."
General Wei, with graying temples, stepped out and said that this was a great military defeat and he was very angry.
But they didn't dare to do anything to this defeated general, because the prime minister had already stated that he had to protect this man. Otherwise, after such a great defeat, at best he would be dismissed from office and never be employed again, at worst he would be beheaded!
Liu Xiang could also see that the prime minister did not seem to have lost confidence in this guy, so he did not say anything.
"That makes sense." The emperor nodded, agreeing very much.
Since his life was at stake, he could not afford to be careless in the slightest. This was why Wang Mang desperately stockpiled a large army around Yongliang.
The capital is always the top priority for a country!
The court meeting ended at Duke Jing’s mansion.
A young general who looked to be in his early thirties stood by with a bitter look on his face.
And the person sitting in front of him was the most powerful official, the prime minister Xu Hua!
Xu Hua's expression was relatively calm. He did not blame the other party for the defeat and even offered words of comfort.
"Prime Minister, I am incompetent and have failed the trust of your court, your majesty, and your expectations..."
Li Yang bowed and expressed his deep regret. He had also heard that the prime minister had tried his best to protect this matter in the court. Naturally, he was very moved and wanted to die for him immediately!
It seems like a simple task, but it actually involves considerable pressure.
If there is a defeat, someone must take the blame. Since Li Yang was picked up high and put down lightly, only Xu Hua can share the responsibility.
Of course, he could suppress it with his strong prestige, but for this general, it was undoubtedly a blessing in disguise!
"It's okay. You are someone I value. You have not yet fully developed your abilities. Never underestimate yourself." Xu Hua looked at him and said.
"You can go to the Imperial Academy to be an instructor, gain some experience, and find some good talents."
There is no such thing as a favor without a reason. As the helmsman of the Xu family, he could not possibly show mercy to a defeated general, mainly because his ancestors predicted that this man had great military potential.
If he is raised, he will become a famous general who is no less powerful than Xu Yuan, but if he is given up directly, he will become just like everyone else.
"Thank you, Prime Minister!" He was very excited.
.........
Imperial College, Military Academy.
The policy discussion class ended, and as the instructor said "get out of class dismissed", all the students suddenly became noisy.
Although everyone comes from all over the world, they all have a common dream, which is to protect the court as soon as possible, destroy the traitor Wang Mang who usurped the Han Dynasty, and restore the Han Dynasty!
So we gradually became familiar with each other.
"Uncle Wen, have you heard?" A man named Deng Yu approached Liu Xiu.
"Of course. I heard that General Li Yang is coming to the Lecture Hall to serve as an instructor." Liu Xiu certainly knew what it was about. This was the hot news in the Imperial Academy recently.
"Huh, Li Yang has the nerve to come back after losing the battle? He even lost such an important county as Runan, and he has no shame at all." The students next to him sneered at him.
"Yes, it seems that he has fallen from grace. The court asked him to come here for retirement, a position that cannot be any more idle. Duke Jing has done his best."
Many people agreed that in the Han Dynasty, where military merit was king, a defeated general would naturally not have a good reputation, and it was legal for the Imperial Academy to discuss court affairs.
Even though he was the descendant of Flying General Li Guang, he was one of the imperial guards who followed Xu Hua in his early years.
"Uncle Wen, what do you think?" Deng Yu ignored everyone else.
Liu Xiu laughed and said, "I don't care what happens to Li Yang, but I know that I am deeply impressed by you."
"Oh? What do you mean?" Deng Yu immediately became excited, as if he had finally found a normal person among a group of fools.
The two found a quiet corner.
"In my opinion, General Li is here to recruit soldiers. Behind him stands Duke Jing! As long as Duke Jing doesn't give up on him, he can always make a comeback."
"I think we can try our luck. General Li is in need of people right now. This is better than doing it step by step."
(End of this chapter)
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