Fu Shanhe

Chapter 457 The Failed Personal Expedition

"Nonsense!"

“The enemy is cavalry. If we retreat now, wouldn’t we be giving them an opportunity?”

If we are not careful, our retreat could turn into a complete rout!
Your subject proposes that an imperial edict be issued immediately, ordering troops from across the land to come to the emperor's aid.

Minister of War Luo Wenbo immediately refuted this.

Retreat is a skill, especially in plains, where a large army abandoning its camp can easily give enemy cavalry an opportunity to take advantage.

Historically, there are too many cases of retreats being routed, and those who were able to retreat safely under the pressure of enemy cavalry are extremely rare.

"Minister Luo, I think your brain has been filled with water."

Don't you have any idea how much grain the army has stored up?
He even called for a loyal army to come to the emperor's aid; it was simply ridiculous.

Where are the troops of the Great Yu? Don't you, the Minister of War, know?

The enemy has deployed more than 300,000 troops in this southward advance.

Even if nearby troops wanted to come over, they would need the enemy's permission first.

Our withdrawal is risky, and the arrival of other troops also poses a risk.

Apart from the front-line troops, the only remaining elite forces of the dynasty were far away in Guangdong and Guangxi, and Annam.

Before the Marquis of Hanshui received the news, we were trapped and starved to death on the spot. The reinforcements arrived but couldn't even collect our bodies in time.

Oh, and there's Liaodong Town too; they're not far from us.

If they're willing to send troops, they should be able to make it in time!

Marquis Weiyuan immediately mocked.

He was naturally aware that retreating was risky.

There may be risks, but that doesn't mean the plan is wrong.

The army only had enough food for twenty days. If they didn't retreat quickly while the enemy's forces were still small, they would be unable to leave once the enemy reinforced their troops.

If it weren't for the emperor being in the army, he would have really risked fighting the northern barbarians.

With 100,000 troops facing 20,000 cavalry, aside from not being able to catch up with the enemy, there was actually no need to fear the enemy.

Even in the freezing cold, the northern barbarians still had to set up camp to keep warm.

Cavalry can move flexibly, but moving camps and transferring logistical supplies takes time.

No matter how mobile a vehicle is, it still needs to eat and start a fire.

If the enemy wants to besiege them, they can't put their camps too far away, otherwise the encirclement would be too large and they wouldn't be able to take care of everything.

There are only one or two suitable campsites nearby.

Once the enemy camp is located, the main force can form ranks and advance directly, which will give the northern barbarians a headache.

Destroy the enemy camp and burn their strategic materials, and the enemy will retreat on their own.

Besides, they only had fewer cavalry, not none at all.

In order to protect the emperor, there are also three thousand cavalrymen in the camp, who can play an important role in critical moments.

"you……"

Just as he was about to curse, Luo Wenbo swallowed the words back.

When it comes to military strategy and warfare, this Minister of War, who only talks about war on paper, is truly no match for these nobles.

To debate with someone in their area of ​​expertise is undoubtedly to invite humiliation.

Most importantly, he himself is in the army. If the solution he comes up with is wrong and leads to the annihilation of the entire army, he will also be doomed.

Judging from the reactions of the civil officials, it was clear that no one wanted to fight this losing battle.

Seizing dominance is easy; the difficulty lies in winning the war.

In addition, most of the main forces involved in the factional struggle remained in the capital, and the several senior civil officials did not come with them.

The officials accompanying the military were mostly from relevant government departments, and they were not very enthusiastic about factional struggles.

After all, if you're going to fight for power and profit, you should wait until you're in a position before making any moves.

The difference in their positions is too great. Even if they succeed in seizing power, it won't be their turn to be in charge. It's not worth risking the lives of their entire family.

"If we retreat now, what will happen to the other troops?"

Seeing that the situation was not good, Emperor Yongning frowned and asked.

The emperor personally led an expedition and suffered a crushing defeat. The spittle from the court and the public could drown him.

His intuition told him that the noble faction was preparing a major move.

If he were to slink back to Beijing like this, his authority would be severely undermined.

"Your Majesty, the best course of action now is to order all departments to preserve their strength!"

"The Marquis of Zhendong said in a deep voice."

The forces lost on the battlefield are all elite troops from the nobility faction.

Every defeat was a painful blow to them.

But there was nothing that could be done; the emperor was simply not cut out for leading troops.

The two powerful figures from the aristocratic faction who were able to take charge of the overall situation were either dead or seriously ill, making them completely incapable of managing affairs.

These military commanders possess military skills, but lack experience in commanding large-scale operations.

Moreover, he lacked sufficient prestige to command the respect of his officers and soldiers.

To rashly take over command would be irresponsible to oneself, one's family, and the entire aristocratic group.

It was precisely because no one was capable of cleaning up the mess that Emperor Yongning was able to continue to wield power.

If someone could clean up the mess, the noble faction would love to act immediately and sideline the emperor.

The fact that the Great Yu Dynasty did not have an emperor emeritus does not mean that it could not have one.

It's better to establish the crown prince as heir early than to let Emperor Yongning run amok on the throne.

"The Marquis of Zhendong makes it sound simple, but that's an army of hundreds of thousands!"

"Once we retreat, the morale of other troops will inevitably suffer a severe blow."

It's virtually impossible to escape unscathed.

During the retreat, the army inevitably suffered losses.

If the casualties are too high, how can we explain this to the court and the public?

Having received the emperor's signal, Xu Zhongen braced himself and spoke.

The last Battle of Changping triggered a chaotic melee between civil and military officials.

The Yu army suffered even greater losses in this battle, especially the power of the noble group, which was severely weakened.

If further losses occur in subsequent battles, it will exceed the limits of what can be tolerated.

Having suffered such a great loss, upon returning to the capital, those responsible will certainly be held accountable.

In the past, someone would take the blame, but this time the situation is different, and it will be difficult for Emperor Yongning to shirk responsibility.

Anyone with a modicum of political acumen knows that if the spearhead in a political struggle is turned against the emperor, something terrible is bound to happen.

If it were another emperor, perhaps he could have used political means to quell the conflict.

Emperor Yongning's situation was special. Although he was not a tyrant, his relationship with his officials was extremely poor.

Emperors with such poor interpersonal relationships are rare in human history.

“Eunuch Xu, these are words that strike at the heart.”

Since things have come to this point, I have nothing more to say.

Since you want to stay, then you can stay.

"Anyway, I can't find any other way to resolve this predicament except to retreat!"

Marquis Zhen Dong responded immediately.

He dared not take the blame for abandoning other units.

Although the retreat is for the sake of the greater good, those who lost their sons, brothers, and fathers certainly don't think that way.

He couldn't even manage things within the Guangxun faction.

We're all relatives. If the families of fallen generals come to our homes and cause trouble, then there will never be peace.

Either the emperor takes responsibility and orders a withdrawal, or the stalemate continues.

The situation subsequently deteriorated further, threatening the stability of the country, and the emperor suffered the greatest loss.

If the emperor can be indifferent to the fate of the country, why should his subjects care?
As soon as he finished speaking, he immediately drifted off into his own world.

The generals from the noble families followed suit and all became bystanders.

The military officers remained silent, and the civil officials, aware of the seriousness of the problem, also chose to keep quiet.

According to the principle of "whoever proposes it, is responsible for it".

Giving incorrect advice that leads to losses and casualties will result in accountability.

Unfortunately, given the current situation, any measure taken carries a very high risk. With everyone remaining silent, and only a few eunuchs echoing the sentiment, Emperor Yongning felt the pressure.

If he had a solution, he wouldn't have sought advice from his ministers.

He rejected the plan proposed by the military general, but there was no alternative plan, leaving him unable to step down.

……

"Alright, that concludes today's meeting."

After we come down, we need to reassure the troops.

"I will decide whether to retreat after consulting with the Marquis of Zhenyuan."

After a long pause, Emperor Yongning spoke slowly.

Marquis Zhenyuan is currently in a coma, and even if he were to wake up, no one could clean up his mess.

Asking for advice is just stalling for time.

Delaying is not a way to solve problems, but it is the best choice to save face.

"According to the order!"

Without the slightest hesitation, the ministers answered in unison.

It's better to leave such an awkward situation behind.

It's wrong to say more, but it's good not to say anything.

If the emperor specifically requests a plan, it could potentially jeopardize one's career.

When it comes to shirking responsibility, Dayu officials are all experts.

Officials who dared to take on responsibilities mostly fell at the starting point of their careers.

To reach a high position, one not only needs to be highly capable, but also needs to learn how to "not stick to the pan".

……

Before the top leadership has made a decision, rumors are already rampant in the military.

The cries of the wounded soldiers plunged morale to rock bottom.

Having witnessed the might of the Northern barbarian cavalry, the dream of achieving great deeds and establishing a career became nothing more than a fantasy.

Neither the military commanders nor the soldiers want to fight anymore.

Everyone was waiting for the order to retreat, eager to return to the capital immediately.

At the bedside.

"Brother, rumors are spreading throughout the camp. Although the generals have stepped forward to appease the people, it has had little effect."

If things continue like this, something terrible might happen.

Li Lai complained with a serious expression.

The three brothers had lived in the south and had seen what elite troops were like.

If the Northern cavalry had encountered the Annamite army in last night's battle, they would have been utterly humiliated.

"A night raid on the enemy camp" is always a high-risk operation, and success is only possible by catching them off guard.

Although Yu Jun repelled the enemy, he also made a series of mistakes during the battle.

When chaos broke out in the camp, everyone rushed to suppress it, neglecting the camp's defenses.

If not handled properly, the enemy cavalry would have been unable to penetrate the camp.

By relying on the strength of the camp for defense, muskets can inflict heavy losses on enemy cavalry, rather than engaging in brutal hand-to-hand combat.

"The sons of noble families in the capital are mostly pampered and spoiled, and even the soldiers below them are not as fierce as those on the border."

Although the equipment of the Beijing garrison was not bad, its training was still somewhat inferior to that of the border troops in other regions.

Considering the lack of practical experience, achieving this result is already quite good.

No matter what, a well-equipped army of 100,000 is not something those northern barbarians outside can easily defeat.

The heavy casualties last night were mainly due to the fact that many soldiers did not have time to put on their armor before they hurriedly picked up their weapons and went to the battlefield.

Otherwise, the casualty ratio would look much better.

Li Sen thought for a moment and then said.

However, the worry in his eyes betrayed his inner turmoil.

In the Twelfth Battalion of the Capital, there was a battalion headed by the Li family.

Last night's battle also resulted in significant losses.

"The enemy can't defeat us, but the morale of the troops is low, which is not a good solution."

The enemy cavalry is roaming around, and the camp doesn't have much food stored up. A prolonged stalemate would be disadvantageous for us.

Since the enemy dared to venture deep into enemy territory alone, the nearby government troops were most likely tied down.

Given the current situation, we either need to select our elite forces to launch a proactive attack, or we need to evacuate as soon as possible.

Those incompetent fools in the court, unable to grasp the situation, are all hoping for a miracle.

Li Long chimed in with his own complaints.

For some reason, after leaving the capital once and returning, he felt a sense of displeasure with the officials in the court.

His inefficiency in handling problems was particularly intolerable.

"It's not that they can't see clearly; on the contrary, they see it too clearly."

Having grasped the rules of officialdom, when they think about problems, their first thought is to absolve themselves of responsibility.

The emperor didn't want to take responsibility, and neither did the ministers, so efficiency was naturally low.

Let's wait and see. If things can't be delayed any longer, the court will make its own decision.

Li Sen said helplessly.

These lowly soldiers have no power to influence the court's decisions.

They received preferential treatment simply because they were the sons of the Marquis of Zhenyuan, not because their own abilities were recognized.

"Help me up..."

Upon hearing that familiar voice, the three brothers were overjoyed.

They hurriedly helped Li Yuan up from the bed and put pillows under his back.

"Father, please rest first. I'll call the doctor right away!"

Li Lai said excitedly.

"No need, I know my own body. I'm afraid I won't recover this time!"

"I heard everything you just said."

Tell His Majesty to immediately organize a large-scale retreat; any later and it will be too late…

Li Yuan used his last bit of strength to say it.

Now that things have come to this point, this is all he can do for the Great Yu Dynasty.

"Father, don't worry, we'll draft the memorial right away!"

Upon hearing Li Sen's answer, Li Yuan closed his eyes in satisfaction and instantly stopped breathing.

"father……"

As the cries rang out, another pillar of the Great Yu Dynasty collapsed.

A failed imperial campaign destroyed two pillars of the empire, plunging the Great Yu dynasty into turmoil once again.

After a brief period of grief, the three men, realizing the seriousness of the situation, immediately began drafting a memorial to the throne according to Li Yuan's last wishes.

……

Temporary palace.

The sound of weeping arrived along with the final melody, and Emperor Yongning's eyes also welled up with tears.

Having lost two pillars of the military, the war could no longer continue.

The grand imperial expedition ultimately ended in failure.

His reign as emperor will also face its most severe challenge yet.

From this day forward, there will be no more regents in the court who can dictate his actions, but there will also be no one to protect him from harm.

From now on, I'll have to walk this path on my own.

All the past conflicts vanished with the departure of Jing and Li.

"Issue the order: the entire army must pack its bags and withdraw from this place in two days!"

After the order to retreat was given, Emperor Yongning seemed to have been drained of all his strength, and he could no longer muster any energy.

Retreating at this point would be tantamount to announcing to the outside world that the imperial expedition had failed.

For the proud and arrogant Emperor Yongning, this blow was undoubtedly enormous.

(End of this chapter)