Northern Prefecture Rivers and Mountains

Chapter 437 Successor

After the army set off, the father and son finally had a chance to be alone together.

"So the Wang, Xie, and Yu families, those prestigious clans, were exiled to Lingnan and Nanzhong?" Liu Daogui wasn't surprised by his actions, but rather by the fact that these prominent families hadn't made a ripple at all.

It should be noted that these prominent families have considerable connections among the former subordinates of the Northern Prefecture.

The Xie family, in particular, supported the Liu family of Pengcheng, the He family of Donghai, the Zhuge family of Langya, the Gao family of Le'an, the Liu family of Dongping, and other Wuzong families.

Although some of these Wuzong emperors were in decline, they still held considerable influence in the army due to their deep roots in the Huai and Si regions.

To some extent, Liu Laozhi, Liu Yu, and Liu Daogui were all former subordinates of the Xie family.

Liu Yixing calmly said, "Sima Shangzhi, Xie Yu, Xie Hun, and Xi Sengshi colluded with Liu Yi to assassinate His Majesty and the Prince of Langya, trying to frame my father and imitate what Cao Mao did back then, thus putting my Liu family in an unjust position. I have already done more than enough by not eliminating them completely."

"He really hasn't given up his wicked intentions!"

If Sima Dezong and Sima Dewen were assassinated in Guanzhong, Liu Daogui would undoubtedly be unable to clear his name.

The righteousness and prestige brought by the successful Northern Expedition would be largely negated, and it would also arouse sympathy for the Sima clan among the people, greatly delaying Liu Daogui's process of replacing the Jin with the Han.

After Cao Mao's bloody death in the streets, Sima Zhao was never allowed to declare himself emperor for the rest of his life. Only after successfully conquering Shu was he granted the title of Prince of Jin.

Liu Yixing said, "Cao Pi compromised with the gentry for the sake of power and established the Nine-Rank System for Officials, which is the root cause of the decline of China since the Jin Dynasty. My family originated from humble beginnings and should be ranked alongside commoners. Otherwise, we will be continuing the chaos of the Wei and Jin Dynasties. To consolidate the Liu family's rule, we must suppress the powerful and weaken the gentry!"

On this point, the father and son were completely aligned in their political views. If they were to follow the old path of the Wei and Jin dynasties, it was hard to guarantee that another Sima Yi or Huan Wen would emerge within a few decades.

This is also why Liu Daogui painstakingly emulated the Han Dynasty.

Of all the dynasties, almost every emperor of the Han Dynasty suppressed powerful clans, and did so quite well.

The Liu family has produced wise rulers generation after generation.

"You did well. Your father did not choose the wrong successor." Liu Daogui was very pleased. With Liu Yixing having such insight, the new dynasty's rule for fifty years was secure.

Fifty years later, people's hearts will gradually settle down and they will automatically support the new Han Dynasty. As long as fools like Huhai and Sima Zhong do not emerge, the country can continue.

Of course, the most important factor in how long a dynasty can last is the civil and military achievements of the first and second generations.

Liu Daogui simply handed over the government affairs directly to him.

He was promoted to Chancellor of the Han State and given the title of General of the Cavalry. Liu Muzhi was appointed Prefect of the Han State. Feng Kai was appointed Attendant-in-Ordinary. Yin Zhongwen was appointed Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, and Yuan He was appointed Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. Wang Shang, the Chief Clerk of Yizhou, was promoted to Chief Clerk of the Cavalry. Yuan Bao was appointed Military Advisor of the Cavalry. Duan Hong was appointed Military Advisor of the Cavalry. Shen Qingzhi was appointed Military Advisor of the Central Cavalry.

This was tantamount to restructuring the official positions of the new dynasty and granting Liu Yixing some military power.

From then on, the government affairs were decided jointly by Liu Yixing, Liu Muzhi, and Feng Kai.

Liu Daogui was single-mindedly focused on external conquests.

In fact, during the six months or so since the capital was moved to Guanzhong, Liu Yixing single-handedly handled the government affairs and managed them in an orderly manner. No rebellion broke out among the Qiang, Di, Xianbei, and Xiongnu tribes in Guanzhong.

The irrigation canal north of the Wei River is also under construction.

Refugees from all over the country returned to their hometowns, and the people who migrated from Guandong were also properly settled. They also took the opportunity of Sima Shangzhi's assassination attempt on the emperor to severely weaken the aristocratic families.

Even if Liu Daogui were here, he wouldn't necessarily be much better than him.

All I can say is that the Liu family has exceptionally high talent.

"I wish to recommend two people to Father." Liu Yixing was very perceptive and knew that Liu Daogui was helping him build his team, so he took the opportunity to recommend his confidants.

"who?"

"Dunhuang Suo Miao once followed his uncle to quell the rebels and is now the Prefect of Huailing."

Liu Daogui had an impression of this person. He came from a northern gentry family, was skilled in both literature and martial arts, and was favored by Liu Yu, so he must have been quite capable.

"The other person is Han Mao, a native of Anwu County, Anding Commandery. He is exceptionally strong, skilled in riding and archery, and braver than anyone else in his time. He and his father, Han Qi, were originally generals under the Hu Xia. However, due to Helian Bobo's inhumanity and his father's northern expedition to Guanzhong, he joined us."

One of these two men came from the Suo family of Dunhuang, and the other was a former general of the Hu Xia dynasty; their relationship was very targeted.

Both of them are capable of leading the attack on Huxia and the recapture of Hexi in the future.

“Suo Miao is your uncle’s former subordinate, and thus a former general of my family. Promote him to General of the State, and Han Mao will be promoted to Commander of the Cavalry, under your command.”

Without a support base or power, the position of heir apparent is merely a formality.

"Thank you, Father!"

"Between father and son, what is there to thank? The General of the Cavalry's mansion can assemble five thousand elite troops to guard Lantian. In two years, when we launch the Northern Expedition, your troops will be in charge."

"Father, rest assured, although my martial arts skills are not good, my military strategy is not bad."

That's not wrong. A person who can strategize and arrange everything in an orderly manner from the rear is unlikely to be a weak commander. Zhuge Liang lived a secluded life in Nanyang and never fought any battles in his life. However, after Liu Bei's death, he was able to turn the tide, capture Meng Huo seven times, and launch six expeditions to Qishan. With the strength of a mere province, he suppressed the Wei Kingdom.

As a monarch, especially someone from the Liu family, one must be knowledgeable about military affairs.

Five days later, good news began to arrive from various places.

With the help of the local powerful clans of Huangfu, Hu, and Liang, Mao Dezhu, Fu Hongzhi, and Xiao Chengzhi successfully captured the cities of Anding. The Han, Qiang, and mixed Hu militia numbered as many as 20,000 and continued to advance westward.

Zhu Lingshi, Zhu Chaoshi, and Liu Yiwu's 7,000 elite cavalry achieved a resounding victory, bypassing important towns such as Fuping and Niyang, and directly raiding and annihilating the Hu Xia tribes. They beheaded 4,000, captured over 7,000, and seized more than 40,000 head of livestock, including cattle, sheep, horses, and camels. Liu Daogui was astonished; the Hu people of the north were far wealthier than the Han people of the Central Plains.

They've only conquered five tribes, yet they've already seized so many livestock.

However, Beidi Commandery, which connects to the Shuofang River bend, is the most prosperous land in the upper reaches of the Yellow River. It is rich in water and grass, and has herds of cattle and sheep. Its capital was named "Fuping", which shows how wealthy the area was.

During the Qin and Han dynasties, it was the most important breeding ground for the Yiqu and Xiongnu.

Compared to Wei Qing's capture of a million cattle and sheep in one fell swoop, the 40,000 livestock seized by Zhu Lingshi and Zhu Chaoshi were simply insignificant.

With these livestock, the soldiers can have a good year this winter.

In the autumn when the horses are fat and the sheep are plump, a sheep can yield 40 to 60 jin of meat, and a cow can yield 300 to 400 jin of meat. Sheep hides, cow horns, cow tendons, and cowhides are all important strategic resources.

This doesn't even include the captured warhorses and camels.

Liu Daogui couldn't help but sigh inwardly, "A horse won't get fat without night grass, and a person won't get rich without windfall gains. No wonder the grassland tribes love to plunder; it's incredibly profitable."

The Han people in the Central Plains could still hide in cities, but the nomadic peoples on the grasslands had no power to resist once they found their settlements.

Over the past eighty or ninety years, tribes on the grasslands have sprung up like weeds, one generation after another. If this pattern continues, perhaps there will be no need for a large-scale offensive like that of Emperor Wu of Han, who went bankrupt.

With the Tiger Guards and their warhorses, the entire grassland will become China's hunting ground.

"Report—General Shen slaughtered the cities of Gaonu and Qiyuan, beheading 20,000 barbarians without taking a single prisoner, and distributing all the loot to the soldiers..." The scout brought back the news from Shangjun.

"Fine, let him be." Liu Daogui said helplessly.

So many years have passed, but Shen Tianzi's personality remains unchanged.

Having been defeated by Helian Bobo last year, they now have the opportunity for revenge and will only become more ruthless.

"Is there any news about Helian Bobo?" Liu Yixing asked meticulously.

The scout bowed and said, "We have not yet detected the main force of the Xiongnu."

After Helian Bobo captured Yunyang, he built the Skull Altar to worship Heaven and changed his nature. He immediately withdrew his troops, and no one knew where he fled to.

Henan is connected to the Yellow River and the Yin Mountains, and its territory is even larger than that of Guanzhong. Tens of thousands of troops could enter it and no one could find them.

Even with 40,000 Han troops, it would be impossible to turn the entire Henan region upside down.

As long as Helian Bobo's 30,000 elite troops are not wiped out, killing more barbarians will be useless. Given his personality, he wouldn't care about their deaths.

"Helian Bobo is a fierce tiger in his military tactics and as cunning as a fox. He advances when there is an advantage and retreats when there is no advantage. He will never easily engage in a decisive battle with our army."

Knowing yourself and your enemy is the key to victory in every battle. Liu Daogui had privately studied this man's behavior.

He gained Yao Xing's trust by joining him, killed his father-in-law, Mo Yiyu, and annexed the Duolan tribe to start his rise to power. After that, he was invincible and defeated the Western Qin, Southern Liang, and Yao Qin in succession. He grew stronger with each battle and rose to prominence in the Northwest.

Liu Yixing said, "If my guess is correct, Helian Bobo should be waiting for the right time."

"Timing?"

"The Northwest is bitterly cold. It is now late September and winter is approaching. When the weather is freezing, the Tiger Guard Army's fighting strength will inevitably decline. Helian Bobo will launch a full-scale counterattack and has a great chance of winning."

The cold in the Northwest is different from that in the Central Plains.

The wind on the plateau is as cold as a knife; even wearing thick armor and fur cannot keep out the biting cold.

Most of the elite Tiger Guard troops were overseas Chinese from Jingkou, Guangling, Pengcheng, and Xiangyang, and they were already accustomed to the southern climate.

Helian Bobo's men and his troops had grown up on this land since childhood and were not afraid of the bitter cold.

Liu Daogui encouraged him, "Go on."

"I think that since we are unable to wipe out the Hu Xia, we should stop while we are ahead, abandon the northern region and Shangjun, and focus all our efforts on defending Andingjun. We can wait until the weather warms up tomorrow before launching another attack. Father has just pacified Guanzhong, and the people's hearts are not yet settled. We should prioritize stability."

"These are wise and insightful words for governing the country," Liu Daogui praised.

Helian Bobo has no capital city. If he delays for another half month, the heavy snow will fall, and he won't be able to leave even if he wants to.

The northern and upper counties are vast, and many cities remain unconquered, so the Tiger Guard's offensive is not as strong as before.

Liu Daogui adopted Liu Yixing's strategy and ordered all troops to retreat.

Only Mao Dezhu's troops were left to guard Anding.

The Zhu brothers and Shen Tianzi obeyed the order to retreat, but Wang Zhen'e's troops remained silent, and even the scouts could not be contacted; they had vanished without a trace.

The ten-day deadline has long passed, and there has been no movement from the west or north.

The Qin Chuan Plain, stretching for eight hundred li, connects Henan, Hexi, Longyou, Hehuang, and Hanzhong. With its winding mountains and rivers, you could hide in any of the valleys and not even a god could find you.

The civil and military officials in the court couldn't help but worry. The more than 14,000 men under his command were also a battle-hardened elite force. If something were to happen to them, it would damage the army's prestige.

"No news is good news. Wang Zhen'e is shrewd and experienced in warfare, so there's no need to worry," Liu Daogui reassured everyone.

(End of this chapter)