Destroyed outside, gold and jade inside

Chapter 342
Before the envoy of Yihe arrived in Beijing, the main combat faction aggressively threatened to kill the envoy of Yihe.

The Holy Majesty also felt that what General Xie and other generals said was very reasonable.Now is the time when Daliang is very powerful, and it is time to take advantage of this time to annihilate the vital forces of the Turks in one go, let the Turks know how powerful Daliang is, and they will not dare to invade the border of Daliang at will in the future!
So when King Qi persuaded him to think about this matter carefully, the little emperor shook his head again and again, "Don't need to say anything, uncle, I have already thought about it very clearly. The Turkic envoy must be killed. If he doesn't, the Turkic people think Daliang is afraid of him! Just to let them know how powerful Daliang is!"

"It's not the best policy to be fierce and brave..." King Qi hadn't finished speaking.

The little emperor looked at him and said, "Uncle, why has he become so cowardly now? It's very different from my uncle's swift and resolute actions when he just returned to the capital. Is uncle afraid that General Yu will not be able to defeat the Turks? Are you still worried about something? The Turks are nothing but barbarians, nomads, how can they compare to the leader of my great country? As soon as they sent envoys to discuss peace, we rushed to meet and discuss peace. Doesn’t it appear that I am very cowardly? Needless to say, uncle !"

King Qi nodded, he really didn't want to persuade him anymore.

The older the little emperor is now, the more he likes to act on his own initiative.He talked a lot, but it was easy for the little emperor to rebel.As a result, the relationship with him is alienated, and when the situation is critical in the future, it will be even more impossible for the Holy Majesty to listen to his advice, which is very bad.

"Uncle, if you have time, you can spend more time with Mrs. Shen. Mrs. Shen is pregnant and works very hard. When uncle sees something wrong with me, just mention me in time!" the little emperor said. Very polite.

But it's different from relying on him everywhere.

Fang Yan hurriedly bowed in response.The little emperor didn't listen to his advice, and deliberately kept him away from the core of power. He felt a little disappointed.It's as if the child I have been taking care of has grown up suddenly, and I no longer need him to walk by hand, no longer need to rely on his strength, but let him back away.Parents always feel a little lost in their hearts.

After Fang Yan left the palace, he quickly comforted himself with a smile and said that when a child grows up, parents should be happy. They can't hold the child in their arms all the time. Such so-called protection is an arbitrary decision that hinders the child's growth. , rather than really concerned.

It's just that the child has misbehavior, and letting him suffer and realize that he is wrong is more conducive to his growth than keeping him from the sidelines and not letting him make mistakes.

When the court and the court were still arguing endlessly about the master of the war and the two opinions, King Qi took leave of absence at home, and he didn't even go to the court very often.Intentionally avoid this matter.

Without King Qi's power, the little emperor preferred the opinions of General Xie and other generals, and the main battle faction completely suppressed the voices advocating peace with an overwhelming advantage.

The Turkic envoy had just arrived in the capital, and before he could even meet the emperor of Daliang, he was ordered to be beheaded by the little emperor.

At this point, the voice of peace talks has completely disappeared.Many ministers who advocated peace talks were heartbroken and lamented the livelihood of the people in the frontier.But even this lament and sad emotion can't be brought out on the face.I heard a censor admonishing the Holy Majesty, this move was too arbitrary and a bit arrogant.Being annoyed by the Holy One, he resigned from his official position.

The envoys who negotiated the peace were all killed, and the principle of not beheading the envoys between the two parties in the war did not abide by it, which would greatly annoy the Turkic people.In the future, just bite the bullet and beat him to death.What more can I say?What's the point of persuading His Majesty now?It's just adding ups and downs to your future.

As a result, the voices of opposition, whether overtly or secretly, have disappeared.

The weather is getting warmer, and the ice and snow in the northwest are gradually melting.The places where Turks can nomad become more and more extensive.However, the Turks still had no intention of withdrawing their troops. Instead of withdrawing their troops, they became more aggressive because of sufficient food and grass.

The enemy Yu Miao faced was that when his army arrived, the Turks ran away if they couldn't beat them.When the army could not catch up with him, he turned around again, bypassed the forward of the army, and continued to fight. When the army was dispatched again, the Turks had already run away.

The Turks didn't kill many, but they exhausted their army.But the Northwest Army already has the strongest and best cavalry in Daliang, but it is nothing compared to the Turkic cavalry.

The Turks are nomadic people, with strong soldiers and strong horses, and they are best at attacking immediately.A Turkic cavalry has at least two war horses. If one is tired, he can transfer to the other for a rest.The horses are full of strength, and the breeds of the horses are all excellent, with good foot strength and fast running.

On the other hand, for the beam cavalry, each cavalry can have a horse, which is already very good. There are many people, but the horses are limited, and the breed is not as good as the horses of the Turkic nomads.

Under such conditions, the Turkic army marched very fast and was flexible. If they fought, they would fight hard, and if they couldn't beat them, they would run fast.The weather is warm and there are many places for grazing and resting.This way of fighting has become a real war of attrition for Daliang soldiers and horses.Daliang is mostly infantry, and has relatively cumbersome chariots.The cavalry is far from comparable to the Turks in terms of quantity and quality.Even though he didn't lose the battle, he really didn't take advantage of it.

To put it mildly, it is true that they have recaptured the city on the northwest border and drove the Turkic people away, but the Turkic cavalry seems to be lingering, everywhere, and cannot be completely wiped out.

In such a situation, Yu Miao's letter fully revealed her worries.King Qi was very worried.But the main side of the war in the court, blindly arrogant, blindly thinks that Daliang's soldiers and horses are strong, and they must not be subdued. Only by fighting tough battles can the country's majesty and majesty be displayed.

The little emperor was also instigated by the war faction to be very radical, and the words of King Qi and the concerns mentioned in General Yu's letter fell on deaf ears.

Fang Yan couldn't help feeling anxious.

Shen Xinniang's day of giving birth is getting closer.Now she is always lazy and doesn't want to move.

The midwives needed for childbirth have already been prepared and placed in the main courtyard so that they can deal with them at any time.Fang Yan wanted to stay at home more and spend more time with Shen Xinniang.More than one medical book mentioned that when a woman gave birth, it was like walking through the gate of hell.Not to mention the unbearable pain, there are many potential dangers, which are unpredictable.

Shen Xinniang was not very worried, or she didn't show her worry, except that her stomach was too big, and she was eating very little and sleeping peacefully, but she didn't have much reaction.

But as the day when Shen Xinniang was about to give birth, Turkic sent envoys to discuss peace for the second time.

Shen Xinniang saw the worry hidden in Fang Yan's slightly frowned brows, "You go to the court affairs, don't worry about me, I am fine at home, if there is anything, I can inform you in time. If you didn't do your best, wouldn't you regret it when you think about it in the future?"

Fang Yan held her hand instead, and focused his eyes on her fair and plump face, "I can't be by your side all the time, and I will regret it."

Shen Xinniang chuckled, "You are traveling to and from the palace, not going to the northwest, how much time can you delay? You can come home every day and be with your lovely wife, isn't it enough?"

Fang Yan was also amused by her relaxed tone, and nodded, "Satisfied, I should be contented."

Under Shen Xinniang's indifferent and warm eyes, King Qi finally ended his leave and returned to the center of the court.

This time, the Turkic people sent envoys to discuss peace for the second time, and the reaction of the court was no different from the last time. The voice still advocated fighting to the end was louder than the voice of negotiating peace.It seems that those who advocate fighting are loyal ministers who serve the country and the people, and those who advocate peace are cowards and treacherous people who are greedy for life and afraid of death.

The generals and civil servants who advocate peace are now holding their heads high in the court hall, and they look down on the courtiers who advocate peace.

The Holy Majesty's attitude was no different from last time. He firmly believed that the 40 army in the northwest could annihilate the Turkic invading army.Even if it can't be wiped out, it can suppress their aura and make them dare not attack easily.

I didn't realize the situation at all, and it was not like those generals advocated at all.

Fang Yan emphasized very seriously at the court meeting: "Has the Holy Majesty ever calculated an account? The 40 army in the northwest is now confronting the Turks. How much is the daily military consumption, food and grass supply?"

As soon as Fang Yan opened his mouth, the hall fell silent.

The little emperor frowned. Naturally, he hadn't calculated the account, he didn't need to calculate it himself, the Ministry of War had to worry about it.

Fang Yan's eyes fell on the Shangshu of the Ministry of War, and the Minister of the Ministry of War took a step forward, bowed and said, "Reporting to the Holy Majesty, the daily cost of logistics and transportation is [-] guan, and the daily military expenditure of [-] cavalry is nearly [-] guan."

The little emperor may have no idea about this number, but many ministers in the court are very clear about it.Immediately, the sound of inhalation became one piece.The little emperor couldn't help being a little stunned, "Do you need so much in a day?" He was quite suspicious.

The Minister of the Ministry of War did not argue, just bowed and explained: "As the saying goes, soldiers and horses do not move food and grass first. Food plays an important role in marching and fighting. Calculated by people's back, one person supplies one soldier, and one soldier carries it for five days. Dry food, one logistics person carries six buckets of rice, if one person supplies one soldier, it can last for fifteen days, plus the five days of dry food that comes with it, it can be active for 20 days. Counting the return trip, it can go forward for ten days. Ten days, three days a day Ten kilometers, forming a range of activities of up to 54 kilometers. For ten days, three buckets and logistics are consumed, and three buckets are used for soldiers. If two people supply one soldier, three people can eat six liters a day, and three people can eat 66 liters of food for nine days. Return. The remaining 30 liters of grain, one person supplies one soldier, two people eat for sixteen days, plus the soldier’s five days of dry food, the three journeys total [-] days, counting the return journey, you can advance for fifteen days. Consume seven buckets With civilian husbands, soldiers use five buckets. If three people supply one soldier..."

"Stop." The little emperor's brows were tightly frowned, a big knot formed between his brows, he was a little dizzy from the words of Minister of War.

King Qi turned around and glanced at the Minister of War, "Succinct and to the point."

"Yes." Minister of the Ministry of War bowed and said again, "From the rear to the front, since each person can only carry six buckets, the longer the distance, the higher the proportion of food consumed on the way. Transporting grain from Daliang to the northwest, a After the battle, the cost of transportation on the road alone cost 800 million guan in half a year. In addition to the loss of weapons, armor and equipment, as well as supplies of vehicles and horses, the war with the Turks cost 500 million guan in half a year, accounting for more than [-]% of the treasury revenue. "

"How long can Daliang sustain this consumption? If the treasury is empty and the battle is not over yet, should we continue to fight or negotiate a peace? If we want to continue fighting, we must levy the money needed for the war from the people. Orders from level to level are suppressed, and what is finally collected is not the people's fat and the people's ointment? And at each level, how many officials will fill their own pockets first, and then hand over the rest to the imperial court to fill their own pockets. How can the imperial court expropriate them? How much is the military salary?" Fang Yan said sharply.

Above the Chaohui hall, it was very quiet for a while, only his majestic voice echoed between the beams and pillars.

"In war, what is fought is by no means how brave the soldiers are, nor how good their command methods are. What is more important is food, military pay, and money!" Fang Yan said, "The soldiers on the front line throw their heads and blood , the people in the rear have to tighten their belts. In the long run, how long can Daliang withstand the consumption? Even if the Turks are successfully defeated, the treasury of Daliang has been emptied, and the people in Daliang have been impoverished. Is it a good thing for Daliang?"

(End of this chapter)