Fu Shanhe

Chapter 450 On the eve of the war
The Marquis of Hanshui's Residence.

Looking at the intelligence report in his hand, Li Mu frowned.

First his father-in-law and uncle were assassinated, then the emperor personally led an expedition; the world was changing so fast that he couldn't keep up with the times.

"Husband, has something happened in the capital again?"

Jing Yaqing asked with concern.

The Indochina Peninsula was like the garden of the Marquis of Hanshui's mansion; just hearing the name Li Mu was enough to make the rulers of various countries tremble.

Occasionally, some unrest would occur, but before the news could reach back, it would be suppressed by the local garrison.

With the implementation of a series of policies, the Marquis's rule in the area has become stable.

In terms of local security, it is even more stable than the inland areas of the Great Yu Dynasty.

At the very least, the mountain bandits and outlaws within the Protectorate would hardly survive a month; if they showed themselves, they would immediately be suppressed by government troops.

Apart from the fact that the government's finances are still in deficit, there are basically no shortcomings.

On his own turf, there were few things that could cause Li Mu any worry.

"Madam is truly intelligent; she guessed it right away."

Your Majesty, I don't know who instigated you, is determined to personally lead an expedition to fight a decisive battle against the Northern barbarians.

Li Mu spread his hands and said.

If it weren't for the constraints of loyalty between the emperor and his subjects, he would have loved to curse Emperor Yongning's ancestors for eighteen generations.

Da Yu had just been pulled back from the brink of death, and still had a host of health problems that needed to be addressed.

At such a critical moment, instead of addressing internal issues, the emperor actually followed the example of his ancestors and personally led a military campaign.

This is no longer the era of the early days of the founding of the nation, when there were many brilliant generals. There are almost no generals in the court who can command large-scale military operations.

Even Li Yuan and Jing Guoliang, who had the most experience in leading troops, had never commanded a battle with more than 200,000 troops.

Their performance in suppressing the White Lotus Rebellion was merely average, far from impressive.

With the troops reduced by half, appointing one of them as commander-in-chief and relying on the city for defensive warfare, there shouldn't be any problems.

It would be a miracle if they could coordinate a force of 500,000 men with a battle line stretching for hundreds of miles.

Add to that the emperor who caused trouble in the past, and it's practically a hellish start.

"My lord, His Majesty will be leading a large number of elite troops on his personal campaign."

"With the strength of our dynasty, after concentrating our main forces from all regions, defeating the Northern barbarians shouldn't be difficult, right?"

Jing Yaqing asked in confusion.

The great victory at Jinan shattered the myth of the Northern barbarians' invincibility.

Although the Yu army was completely wiped out in the Battle of Changping, it dispelled the fear of the northern barbarians among the people.

From the outside perspective, Yu's elite troops were fully capable of fighting the Northern barbarians and holding their own.

This shift in perception directly influenced people's assessment of the prospects of the war.

Emperor Yongning proposed to personally lead the expedition, which did not provoke strong opposition from the civil and military officials in the court, mainly because everyone believed that the Yu army would win.

Winning this war by personally leading the army would not only consolidate imperial power but also cover up the increasingly acute social contradictions within the country.

"Madam, you've misjudged this time."

The northern barbarians were mostly cavalry, while our dynasty was mostly infantry.

Two legs can't catch up with four legs. Unless the enemy is out of their mind, it will be very difficult for our dynasty to win this battle.

If we are greedy for quick success and rush into battle deep into the grasslands, we may suffer heavy losses.

Moreover, the outcome of a war is determined not only on the battlefield, but also on the logistical lines.

With over 500,000 troops fighting on the front lines, it's estimated that 1.5 million to 2 million civilians would need to be conscripted to ensure the army's logistical support.

"Do the math. With so many people and hundreds of thousands of livestock, how much grain do they need every day?"

Li Mu shook his head and said.

Different battlefields require vastly different logistical personnel.

Water transport could only reach Tongzhou at most; beyond that, it could only be transported by oxen and horses, and in some areas, it even required human labor to carry the goods on their shoulders and backs.

The Protectorate General relied on external defenses and chose to fight along the coastline in order to reduce logistical pressure.

The carrying capacity of a large ship is equivalent to that of tens of thousands of laborers.

Throughout history, the Central Plains dynasties have suffered from the difficulty of launching northern expeditions, primarily because of the excessive consumption of money and grain.

If a quick victory can be achieved, that's fine; but if it turns into a protracted war, then the nation's strength is being exhausted.

In the early stages of a dynasty, the court had strong mobilization capabilities and could withstand pressure.

In the later period of the dynasty, the bureaucratic system became corrupt, making mobilization difficult, and the northern nomadic peoples became a menace.

Of course, even with a corrupt bureaucratic system, only the Jin and Song dynasties were truly ravaged by nomadic peoples.

The Great Yu still has the ability to retaliate, but it's just that it's doing it in the wrong way.

"My lord, since you say so, you must already have a plan to defeat the enemy."

Jing Yaqing said with a smile.

She understood Li Mu; she only emphasized the difficulties but didn't say that victory was impossible. This meant that in this great battle, the chances of victory for the Great Yu were still quite high.

The existence of uncertainty is simply a matter of the application of strategies and tactics.

"The northern barbarians were divided into two groups, namely the Tatars and the Guifang, with the Tatars being the most powerful."

If Fu were in command, the main force of the Northern Barbarians would be held back on the front, while the cavalry would be sent by sea to invade Liaodong and directly destroy the foundation of the Tatars.

At the same time, he ordered the four northwestern towns to take the opportunity to enter the grasslands and massacre the Guifang tribe.

News of the attack on the rear will inevitably shake the morale of the troops at the front, and once the enemy is thrown into disarray, the time for a decisive battle will arrive.

Li Mu said without changing his expression.

The strategy of cutting off the fuel supply from under the enemy's base was indeed ruthless, but it was undeniably effective.

With the main force out on the move, the elderly and weak left behind were no match for Yu's cavalry.

By preemptively eliminating the younger generation of the Northern Barbarians, and lacking a reserve force to replenish them, every death of a Northern Barbarian is a loss.

No matter how capable they are, after a few attempts, they will find themselves in the awkward situation of having no successors.

If all goes well, one war can secure decades of peace, and the entire Yongning Dynasty will not need to worry about border troubles in the north.

"Now that we have a solution, my husband, you should submit your memorial directly. I believe His Majesty will take your opinion seriously."

Why are you still frowning?

Jing Yaqing asked curiously.

As the foremost general of the Great Yu Dynasty, Li Mu wielded considerable influence in military affairs.

With the nobility in control of the government, his proposed battle plan is very likely to be adopted as the final strategy.

"It is precisely because His Majesty would value this that I cannot submit this memorial."

Given Your Majesty's suspicious nature, you will surely bring my memorial to court for discussion after receiving it.

The officials all knew, and so did the northern barbarians.

For a strategy that is revealed in advance to succeed, it requires a very high level of execution.

I don't think any of the officials in the court have this kind of execution ability.

Even if Your Majesty strictly follows my plan, someone still needs to carry it out.

If the northern barbarians are prepared, frontline commanders who cannot adapt to changing circumstances are simply throwing their lives away.

According to the usual practice in our country, when a strategy fails due to execution problems, the person who initially proposed it will most likely take the blame.

Li Mu said with a helpless expression.

Not only were they forbidden from submitting memorials to the emperor, they were also forbidden from offering advice to their own uncles or fathers-in-law.

Human nature is complex.

If you offer a battle plan before the other person has even asked, you won't gain their favor; instead, you'll only annoy them.

Nobody likes being told what to do, not even by their own family.

In essence, Li Mu's battle plan was not particularly innovative; the key to success lay in its execution.

He could think of it, and so could others.

"My husband's current status is indeed not suitable for him to interfere."

With so many civil and military officials assisting His Majesty, it's clear that he has made thorough preparations for this personal campaign. Those not in a position should not concern themselves with its affairs.

We live in a remote area, why should we overthink things?

Jing Yaqing said with a smile.

The smooth development of the Annam Protectorate gave the Marquis of Hanshui the confidence to remain unaffected.

Even if the northern frontier suffers a major defeat and the world is thrown into turmoil again, the Marquis's mansion will remain invincible.

In a sense, the more chaotic the situation in the country, the faster the Protectorate developed.

Having overcome the initial difficulties, it has now embarked on a path of self-sufficiency.

The early immigrants are becoming the main force in creating social wealth.

Plots of fertile land were reclaimed, and factories sprang up one after another.

The seemingly unremarkable Protectorate has actually established a complete industrial chain.

From light industry to heavy industry, it forms a complete system.

In many fields, the technology has reached the forefront of the contemporary era.

Of course, the reason why the industrial chain could be established so quickly was not only due to the foundation left by the previous dynasty, but also mainly because of undermining the Great Yu dynasty.

Taking the shipbuilding industry as an example, all of the major shipyards in the Protectorate were relocated there by imperial decree.

The core craftsmen in mining and smelting were mostly "borrowed" from the Ministry of Works.

What Li Mu did was mainly to make demands of the craftsmen.

Specific technological innovations are still being explored by these people.

Their success was largely due to the ample financial and logistical support they received.

Having grown accustomed to hardship, the craftsmen were terrified of losing their good jobs and worked extremely hard.

The best among them even crossed over into the ranks of officials.

Although these technical officials are still doing the same work as before, their political status has been genuinely elevated.

"Madam is right, the affairs of the northern frontier have little to do with us."

Instead of wasting time worrying about this, why not take back the Old Port Pacification Commissioner's Office first?

Li Mu nodded and said.

It's good to be concerned about the country and its people, but one should not lose one's rationality because of it.

By the time he reached his position, he had countless families tied to him and the fate of tens of millions of people was intertwined with his.

Every decision made must be made with great care.

Expanding into Southeast Asia also requires skill.

Blindly sending troops will only invite united resistance from all sides.

There are no major military problems, but the Southeast Asian region involves foreign trade.

Customs duties are now a significant source of revenue for the Protectorate General and even the Great Yu Dynasty, so we must consider the economic implications.

Recapturing lost territory is undoubtedly the best point of intervention.

The Sultanate dared to defy the imperial authority and occupy the Old Port Pacification Commissioner's Office; it has already committed suicidal acts.

Although it was the Majapahit Kingdom that sent troops to seize the Old Port Pacification Commission back then, since the Sultanate inherited their legacy, it had to bear the corresponding political consequences.

The failure to send over the Old Port Pacification Commissioner immediately was the original sin.

While recovering lost territory, the Protectorate General also conveniently wiped them out, and no one could find fault with it.

Once all parties are stabilized in the early stages, the situation will be completely different once the Strait of Malacca is occupied.

The subsequent annexation of the Malay Peninsula and the capture of Borneo were all logical steps in the process.

Having gained the strategic initiative, turning around to fight the Franks for Luzon would undoubtedly be much easier.

"Husband, you decide what to do!"

Anyway, both sons, plus the one in my belly, are waiting for you to build up the family fortune.

Jing Yaqing joked.

The development of the Marquis of Hanshui to its present state is nothing short of a miracle.

If it weren't for the chaotic situation in the court and the fact that it was controlled by their own people, someone would have proposed breaking up this behemoth long ago.

The typical example of powerful regional military governors is something no monarch can tolerate; such a monster cannot exist.

However, now that things have developed to this point, it's not something the imperial court can simply split up at will.

Having grown to this point, even if Li Mu were willing to give up, his subordinates would not agree.

If the emperor is unhappy, then let him be unhappy; the imperial court is powerless to do anything to the Protectorate General.

The most rational approach is to issue a decree of grace.

Even if a well-intentioned plan is laid out, whether or not it is implemented depends on Li Mu's wishes.

"Ha ha……"

"Don't worry, Madam, the family business will not be lacking!"

Li Mu responded accordingly.

He chose to ignore the danger posed to the imperial court.

It wasn't that he looked down on Emperor Yongning; it was simply that the Great Yu Dynasty had too many internal problems.

Being able to maintain imperial power from collapsing is considered good luck.

If he continues to cause trouble like this, the Great Yu Dynasty will be destroyed sooner or later.

Leading an army in person is not something an ordinary emperor should do.

Even he, the Marquis of Hanshui, no longer personally led troops into battle after settling in a region.

On the one hand, his opponent was weak and not worth his personal intervention; on the other hand, it was more of a political necessity.

War is full of surprises; even great generals can be caught off guard and lose their lives.

Going to the battlefield is like going to a gambling table, where a game of human nature begins.

Besides, subordinates also need to make contributions. If you always lead the troops into battle yourself, how can your subordinates advance?

"A son of a thousand pieces of gold will not sit under a leaning roof; a son of a hundred pieces of gold will not ride on a crossbar; a wise ruler will not take advantage of danger to seek good fortune."

Yuan Ang's advice to Emperor Wen is equally applicable here.

……

The army marched out of the capital in a grand procession, and Emperor Yongning, who was leading the army for the first time, was very excited.

No wonder so many emperors loved to personally lead their armies into battle; the feeling of commanding thousands of troops was simply wonderful.

Unlike the constant bickering in the imperial court, the commander-in-chief in the army has the power to make arbitrary decisions.

All major military affairs required his personal approval and the affixing of the tiger tally to take effect.

In this process, the cabinet's power was greatly diminished.

Even Jing and Li, who wield immense power in the court, now have to consult him when they encounter problems.

It wasn't that the two men couldn't mobilize the army; the main problem was that issuing orders from multiple sources was a major taboo in military strategy, and there could only be one voice making decisions within the army.

Unless one intends to usurp the throne, for the sake of the greater good, one must relinquish power to the emperor, whether one likes it or not.

With power firmly in his grasp, Emperor Yongning was full of energy and seemed tireless.

"Your Majesty, we are approaching Xuanfu."

"Given the critical situation at the front, do you think it would be appropriate to establish a command post in Xuanfu to oversee the overall command?"

Jing Guoliang asked.

In fact, he had advised Emperor Yongning once when the army arrived at Juyong Pass.

The location of the command post is of paramount importance in war.

If you are too far forward, the enemy can easily take advantage of the situation.

Being too far back makes it difficult to maintain efficiency and adjust tactics in a timely manner.

However, for an emperor personally leading an expedition, safety is the top priority; a slight delay is acceptable.

If we win the war but lose the emperor, that would be a real disaster!
"No rush, we're still far from the enemy!"

(End of this chapter)