Destroy Jin and conquer Song, and carry the Northern Expedition through to the end

Chapter 853 The Four Directions Compete for Profit in Linhuang

Liu Huai was unaware of the undercurrents swirling in Bianliang for the time being.

For Liu Huai at this point, whether it was counter-espionage or surrender, it was just a secondary move.

When a person has the power to easily overpower an enemy, all of the enemy's actions can be seen as a cat-and-mouse game of cat and mouse.

It was simply that Liu Huai instructed the General Staff to have Liang Su cooperate with the Embroidered Uniform Guard to cause some trouble in Henan.

Liang Su didn't even take direct action on this matter; he simply dispatched two young military advisors as both a test and a training opportunity.

It was quite unexpected that the actions of these two military advisors and the Embroidered Uniform Guard, which followed past practices, made Xijin so nervous and terrified.

Returning to the Han army, in fact, Liu Huai did not want to send troops to fight this year.

Firstly, there were many casualties last year, and the stockpiled money and grain were consumed too much. With no grain in hand, people were very anxious. If every battle required walking a tightrope and scraping the bottom of the granary, Liu Huai was really worried that they would capsize in a ditch.

Secondly, the Han region is constantly developing, not only in agriculture, industry, and commerce, but also in science and philosophy, which are in a state of vigorous growth and flourishing.

In addition, the recent land allocation between Hebei and Central China for school construction has greatly liberated productivity and thinking.

It can be said that if everyone were to sit back and fight a war to see who could develop faster, neither the Song nor the Jin dynasties combined could possibly outpace Liu Huai.

Putting everything else aside, at the latest within three years, Liu Huai will be able to equip each army of 10,000 men with an artillery battalion!

Thirdly, and most importantly, the reorganization of the garrisons would inevitably lead to the punishment of a number of generals, which would also cause a decline in the combat strength of the Han army.

However, everyone knows that this is bound to be temporary.

Because those promoted officers were younger and more honest, more ambitious, and had received a complete medical education.

If given some time to allow these new officers to take control of the army, the Han army's combat strength could even be further enhanced.

Moreover, the military academy is already in the planning stages, and soon many promising young officers will enter the academy to study and become disciples of the King of Han.

After two or three years, with the new ships, cannons, and officers entering service, sweeping across the world will not be a problem.

In other words, now is the time for the Han army to cultivate its internal strength.

However, the tree may wish to remain still, but the wind will not cease. Whether it can truly recover and thrive ultimately depends on the reactions of all parties involved.

"The news from Youyan indicates that Wanyan Yong seems to want to form an alliance with the Mongol people outside the Great Wall."

Inside the staff headquarters, Liu Huai handed the document in his hand to the military advisor, General Liang Su.

After quickly reading through the text, Liang Su rubbed his temples and said, "The Mongols can form alliances? If we bring the Mongols in, what will happen to the Khitans?"

Wanyan Wushu settled the Khitans in Linhuang Prefecture for two reasons: firstly, to raise horses, and secondly, to keep the Khitans on guard against the Mongol steppe.

This plan was very successful before Wanyan Liang messed around with it. After decades of enthusiastic exchanges with the Mongols, the Khitans successfully turned into sworn enemies.

The reason why Wanyan Yong wanted to send Wanyan Fushou to the Tatar tribe to find reinforcements when he quelled the Khitan rebellion was also due to this.

Now that Wanyan Yong has successfully subdued the Khitans, he should not contact the Mongols again, otherwise what will happen to the Khitans?
Don't forget that even though Yelü Wowo was a complete waste of talent, and the Khitan light cavalry suffered a crushing defeat in the Battle of Damingfu, a large number of Khitans still became Meng'an Mouke households, filling the Jin army.

Can we really just abandon these Khitans?

In addition, there is a very real problem: what should Wanyan Yong use to win over the Mongols?

It must be understood that this is not simply a matter of making the Mongols submit. It is very likely that the Mongols would also have to guarantee that they would not attack the Jin Dynasty when all the Jin border troops had withdrawn to Hebei to fight the Han army.

Given the Mongols' reputation, even if an agreement is reached in the end, it's uncertain whether they will abide by it.

Even if Wanyan Yong was desperate and grasping at straws, he wouldn't be so irrational, would he?

Liang Su looked at the document in his hand again: "Whose information is this document from? Is it accurate?"

Liu Huai said, "It is Wen Dunqizhi, the general of the Dongjin Loyal and Filial Army."

After thinking for a moment, Liang Su said in surprise, "I remember that the Loyal and Filial Army is a newly established regular army of the Jin Kingdom. Does the Prince of Han also have a backup plan there?"

The General Staff and the Embroidered Uniform Guard were two parallel departments. They would regularly exchange military intelligence, but neither could reveal all their secrets.

Take Liu Yung-gu, who was in charge of the intelligence network in Yanjing, for example. Only Liu Huai and Shen Longzi knew his identity; it was a top secret.

Liu Huai shook his head and said, "Wendun Qizhi is one of the ten thousand households in Yidu Prefecture. His family has already pledged allegiance and sent letters to Wendun Qizhi."

However, this person already holds a certain position of power and influence, and it's difficult to win him over through kinship alone; the prevailing circumstances will also be necessary.

Liang Su nodded in agreement.

Neither of them mentioned threatening Wendun Qizhi with his family. This would be too offensive, but more importantly, the political reputation of the Han army had been built up over many years. If they said that after changing their names and customs to become Han people, they would be treated equally, and the same system would inevitably be applied. It would be too unworthy to make an exception for the sake of Wendun Qizhi.

Liu Huai continued, "The Loyal and Filial Army has always been near Linhuang Prefecture, both suppressing the Mongols and keeping an eye on the Khitans."

However, since being transferred to Yanjing last year, he hasn't returned to Linhuang Prefecture for a long time. Now, hearing that the other two troop units are also withdrawing, this rumor has spread throughout the Jin court.

Liang Su thought for a moment before saying, "No matter what, since there are such rumors, even if they are false, we must find a way to make them true. If we can get the Khitans to rebel again, we can achieve twice the result with half the effort."

Liu Huai nodded, stroking his short beard, and said, "Then let's send someone to Linhuang Prefecture. Who should we send?"

If we're talking about Sinicized Khitans in the Han army at this time, there are far too many. Not to mention Yelü Xingge, Xiao Pennu, Li Yizhenjin, and others who had followed Liu Huainan in his campaigns years earlier.
Not to mention Kuoli, Zhaba, and the old monk who came south to join them after the failure of the Khitan uprising.

When the Jin army broke out of Daming Prefecture, nearly three thousand Khitans were abandoned by Heshilie Zhining. Most of them did not escape the Hutuo River and were captured by the Han army.

The Khitans suffered such heavy casualties that, among the Khitan generals who participated in the battle, only Cao Zhuwo managed to escape with Yelü Wowo.

Xiao Liujin and Yelü Chenjia, who had discussed "staying or leaving with unwavering loyalty" on that day, were all captured by the Han army.

However, both men showed good remorse and performed meritorious service, so they are now serving as captains in the Embroidered Uniform Guard, which is considered a further evaluation before reappointment.

"Then let Liu Ba and Yelü Chenjia go. Give them a few dozen Khitan soldiers, and in the name of the General Staff, pick a few dozen clever ones from the Flying Tiger Army and send them back to Linhuang Prefecture to cause some trouble."

After Liu Huai made up his mind, Liang Su immediately wrote the document, affixed the official seal, and issued the transfer order.

After everything was finished, Liang Su asked Liu Huai curiously, "Isn't the eldest son placing a bit too much importance on the Mongols?" Liu Huai was somewhat taken aback: "Really?"

Liang Su nodded slightly: "Indeed, the eldest son always seems very nervous whenever he mentions the Mongols. I privately think that the eldest son values ​​the Mongols even more than the Song and Jin dynasties."

Liu Huai chuckled to himself.

For time travelers, with such a vast Mongol Empire as their foundation, they would never underestimate the rising Mongols.

Even though the Mongols had not yet finished their war of unification, Yesugei, the current Khan of the Qiyan tribe, was showing a strong tendency to unify the entire eastern Mongolia.

And so what if the Mongols didn't unify the country?
Wasn't Yesugei's own grandfather, Hebule, also the one who dared to pull Wanyan Wuqimai's beard to his face?
In the end, we didn't see Emperor Taizong do anything to Khabul, and he still reluctantly made Khabul the King of the Mongols.

Such a vibrant and energetic regime could not help but cause Liu Huai some concern.

Upon hearing this, Liang Su chuckled and said, "Young Master, you're getting stuck on a rut."

"Oh?"

"There will inevitably be nomadic tribes on the grasslands, and in the process of nomadism, they will inevitably become larger tribes through conquest and integration, which cannot be eradicated or killed off."

Liang Su counted on his fingers and said, "From the Xiongnu, to the Xianbei, Rouran, Tujue, Khitan, and now the Mongol tribes, it's all the same."

But, my lord, if these tribes only occupy the grasslands, they will never amount to anything.

Those non-Han ethnic groups that truly gained power were all those who, after occupying Han-controlled territories such as northern Shanxi, the Ordos region, and Liaodong, inherited Han systems and were thus able to achieve great things.

Liu Huai seemed to be deep in thought, and after a long while he said, "Mr. Liang means that if the Mongols are only on the grasslands, then there is no problem at all."

On the contrary, if they even harbor the intention to occupy Han territory, our army will overcome every obstacle and strike with overwhelming force.

Liang Su nodded: "That's right, my lord. Without a solid foundation for building cities, smelting iron, and farming, the grassland people can only rely on their military leaders and their troops to unite."

Whether it's an individual or a group, once they lose, they simply cannot maintain their position, and the grassland will immediately crumble.

Liu Huai pondered for a moment based on his limited historical knowledge, but after coming up with nothing, he did not refute it. Instead, he slowly nodded in response: "Even so, we cannot allow Mengwu to easily obtain the population and warhorses of Linhuang Prefecture."

Mr. Liang, ultimately, we cannot allow one problem to be solved while another arises; we must consider three steps ahead for each one we take.

Seeing that Liu Huai was still preoccupied with Mengwu, Liang Su felt somewhat helpless, but he was too lazy to go against his lord's wishes on such a trivial matter. He immediately nodded and said, "What you say is right, my lord. I will have the staff formulate a strategy as soon as possible."

We are still quite far from Linhuang Prefecture, so we should prepare for both alliances and counter-alliances.

After offering a few more words of encouragement, Liu Huai stood up and said, "Mr. Liang, then I'll trouble you to continue with your work. A-Jun seems to be pregnant; she keeps vomiting even at the slightest bit of oily food. I need to hurry back to the governor's mansion."

Liang Su had just drafted the first part of the document, his mind racing. Knowing that his lord disliked formalities, he nodded haphazardly and said, "Take care, young master."

Just as Liu Huai reached the entrance of the General Staff Headquarters, he suddenly heard a crash behind him, as if a table had been overturned. He immediately turned around to look.

Liu Huai quickly turned around and saw a grayish-white shadow rushing towards him like a gust of wind. Who else could it be but Liang Su?

“Young Master…” Liang Su’s lips trembled, and he held Liu Huai’s hands tightly as he said in a shaky voice, “Young Master just said that the Princess Consort of Han… is pregnant?”

Liu Huai said with some helplessness but still delight, "It should be there. I had the medical officer from the medical school take a look before I came..."

Before Liu Huai could finish speaking, Liang Su, with skills beyond his years, rushed out, completely disregarding his own lord.

"Quickly! Quickly! Quickly! Prepare horses for me! To the governor's mansion! Hurry!"

Khitans and Mongols, get out of here!

This is the most important thing now!
The fact that Liu Huai had no children was a huge worry for officials at all levels of the Han army, the kind of worry that would make them sigh and lament whenever the topic came up.

This is not just Liu Huai's problem. So many civil and military officials serve Liu Huai as their master, risking their lives to win titles and honors for their families. If Liu Huai has no heir, wouldn't that mean that the wealth and status of his descendants are not guaranteed, and even if a country is established, it will only last for two generations?

Moreover, Liu Huai is impetuous and reckless. In order to win battles quickly, he often leads his troops to charge. If something happens to him, wouldn't the current favorable situation vanish in an instant?

How did Sun Jian die?

How did Sun Ce die?

At least they had Sun Quan as their backer!

What did Liu Huai have?
Were they Wei Jiao and Wei Chang, brothers?

Are you kidding me? !

This is because Liu Huai was young; if he were over forty at this time, the Han army and its political and military organization would have collapsed immediately.

Take Zhu Qiyu and Zhu Qizhen, two unfortunate men, as examples. If you don't have a biological son, even if you are an emperor, when faced with a rebellion by your rivals for the throne, there are no loyal ministers who will stand up and fight to the death.

If it were an ordinary feudal lord, his ministers would have already risked their lives to remonstrate with Liu Huai, urging him to take a concubine as soon as possible, or at least have a few sons.

However, the Han army, a military and political group that brought together the armies of Jingnan, Zhongyi, Dongping, and Tianping, was too special.

Under the dual political system of Wei Sheng and Liu Huai, in order to ensure a smooth transition of military and political power, Liu Huai's first wife had to be Wei Rujun, and his first son had to be born to Wei Rujun.

Otherwise, not only would the old loyalists of the Loyal Army be in a state of panic, but even the newly recruited members would hesitate.

No one wants their lord to be a mean and ungrateful person.

After mounting his horse, Liang Su realized that it was not yet noon and no one except the military commander was allowed to ride on the streets. He immediately dismounted and galloped towards the governor's mansion.

Fortunately, the military governor's residence was not too far from the staff headquarters. Just a quarter of an hour later, Liang Su rushed into the gate, breathless, which startled He Boqiu, who had rushed over, who thought there was some urgent military news.

Liang Su waved his hand repeatedly at He Boqiu, which only made He Boqiu more anxious.

A moment later, Liang Su finally caught his breath and told He Boqiu that he was alright. Just then, he saw Professor Xu Erya from the medical school leading several medical officers out of the governor's mansion. He quickly stepped forward and stopped her: "Your Highness... Has Your Highness given birth?"

He Boqiu only then realized Liang Su's purpose, and upon hearing this, he was at a loss for words.

(End of this chapter)