The eyes of all the ministers in the hall shifted to Liu Ye, and Liu Ye's calm demeanor when he spoke made it seem as if he had never left the emperor's side.
Cao Rui pointed his finger and said, "Tell me, what does Liu Qing think?"
Liu Qing bowed and said, "I'd like to go to the front of the map and talk about it."
"allow."
Liu Ye walked forward slowly and bowed slightly to Man Chong: "I just heard what General Man said, and I have some understanding from below."
The emperor was right behind him and his colleagues were watching. Man Chong was not able to show his dissatisfaction, so he smiled slightly and took two steps to the side, leaving the seat to Liu Ye.
Liu Ye pointed to the route of Lulong Road and said, "Your Majesty, from Lulong Road, go north and then east, pass Pinggang and then east to Liucheng, and then to Changli."
"The total length of the Lulong Road is 800 miles, and a light cavalry can reach it in 15 days."
Liu Ye then pointed to the route of the Banghai Road: "If you start from Tuyin and take the Banghai Road, you can reach Bintu in the same 800 miles."
Cao Rui interrupted Liu Ye and said, "Let me ask you, how far is Changli from Bintu?"
Liu Ye said: "One hundred and twenty miles, and all to the west of Yiwulv Mountain."
Cao Rui asked again: "Whether going east from Changli or Bintu, we have to cross Yiwulv Mountain and reach Wuliu City west of Liaoshui before we can start our journey?"
"That's right." Liu Ye nodded with certainty.
Before Cao Rui could continue to ask, Sima Yi asked the question Cao Rui wanted to ask: "General Liu, I remember that Changli and Bintu are both located on the east bank of the Yu River, and there is a plain between the north and the south without any obstacles."
"They are both 800 li apart, and the two cities are quite close to each other. Why do we have to split our forces into two groups?"
Liu Ye took a deep breath and looked at everyone: "Do you know Liaoze?"
Liaoze?
Man Chong continued, "General Liu has been in Youzhou for a long time, so he must know about it. But the Privy Council is in charge of the military affairs of the whole country. How could the Privy Council not know about the natural barrier of Liaodong like Liaoze?"
"Your Majesty, please look," Man Chong walked around to the other side of the map, pointed to the vast area between Yiwulü Mountain and Liaoshui River and said, "The so-called Liaoze is a large marsh formed by various swamps, rivers and lakes between Yiwulü Mountain and Liaoshui River."
"The swamp is difficult to navigate. It is about 200 miles wide and can only be bypassed. It is extremely difficult to pass through."
Cao Rui nodded: "The so-called natural barrier of Liaodong is firstly the long distance and secondly the Liaoze Lake?"
Man Chong continued, "Your Majesty is absolutely right."
Cao Rui chuckled: "I understand what you two mean."
"General Man said that the imperial army must travel 800 miles along the coastal road, then cross the Liaoze from the south of Wuliu City and reach Liaosui City on the Liaoshui River."
"And Liu Qing wants to bypass Liaoze from the north via Lulong Road?"
Cao Rui looked at Liu Ye and asked, "Liu Qing, do you want to attack Xiangping from the north, or do you want to go to Goguryeo?"
The so-called Goguryeo can refer to the Goguryeo Kingdom further east than Liaodong, or it can refer to Goguryeo County, the former site of Xuantu County.
The name of Goguryeo City comes from the Goguryeo tribe, but it does not belong to them.
Liu Ye saluted and said, "Your Majesty is very wise. I just want to send troops to Goguryeo City in Xuantu County!"
"Based on the geography of Liaodong, Gongsun Yuan's army must have defended Liaosui and Xiangping along the Liao River, just as they must defend Hefei to defend Xu and Yang. There is no way around it."
"And this special force I mentioned can bypass Gongsun Yuan's army to the northeast and invade the rear, and can also contact Goguryeo to send troops together!"
Man Chong frowned and said, "The Gongsun family has been in Liaodong for three generations. As early as the time of Gongsun Du, Goguryeo was subdued by the Gongsun family."
"How can these remote barbarians, who do not know the king's rule, respond to the call of the Great Wei and join the attack?"
Liu Ye calmly replied: "Your Majesty, I have indeed been to Xuantu County, and I sent Gongsun Gong's men to deliver a letter to the King of Goguryeo."
"At the end of last year, I sent someone to deliver a letter to King You Weiju of Goguryeo via the northern part of Xuantu. At the end of last month, when the spring weather got a little warmer, I received a reply from You Weiju!"
Sima Yi's eyes lit up: "General Liu, are you saying that Goguryeo is willing to join Wei in conquering the Gongsun clan?"
"That's right!" Liu Ye nodded in response: "As long as the Gongsun family oppresses Liaodong, the Goguryeo and Buyeo tribes will be disgusted with the Gongsun family. If you force them with force without kindness and education, even the barbarians will not be able to convert."
"You Weiju has made it clear. If the Wei army can send troops to Xuantu County, You Weiju will naturally raise an army to respond!"
Sima Yi nodded slightly and said no more.
Just when Man Chong proposed to take the Banghai Road, Liu Ye jumped out and said that he wanted to divide the troops. Sima Yi felt something was wrong at that time.
Man Chong's military strategy opinions were not just his own.
From a logistical perspective, the counties of Jizhou dredged canals to transport grain northwards and requisitioned a large number of seagoing vessels from Qingzhou. These were important measures to ensure logistics for marching along the sea route.
In terms of material preparation, rain gear, tools, medicines, boats, locks, ropes...all kinds of materials requisitioned from all over Hebei were almost all preparations for dealing with rainy rivers in Binhaidao.
In other words, the march from Banghai Road was the result of the concerted efforts of the Privy Council, the Secretariat, and officials from all over Hebei.
I have been preparing for more than half a year, how can I change it just like that?
Unless the emperor himself issued an edict to expressly oppose it, the sea route had become a trend and would be difficult to change.
Liu Ye's military strategy of taking the Lulong Road was obviously the result of his three years of hard work in Youzhou. When meeting His Majesty outside Changping City, Liu Ye said that he had walked the Lulong Road twice and the Banghai Road twice. When he proposed to divide the troops along the Lulong Road, his credibility was directly higher than anyone else's.
If anyone doubted him, Liu Ye could even ask directly: Have you walked along Banghai Road? Have you walked along Lulong Road? I have walked along both roads twice!
No one can resist such questioning.
Cao Rui sat on the honorable seat in the hall and sighed softly: "Although Goguryeo is dissatisfied with Gongsun clan, it still wants to see the Wei army before it is willing to send troops."
"Let's not talk about anything else. From what I know, Goguryeo was repeatedly pulled by Gongsun clan, and lost troops, territory, and soldiers. If the Wei army really reaches Xuantu, even if Goguryeo does not come, it will definitely not serve Gongsun Yuan as a dog."
"I believe what Mr. Liu said."
Liu Ye seized the opportunity when Man Chong and Sima Yi were silent, and immediately turned around and bowed to the emperor:
"Your Majesty has appointed me as the General Du Liao. I have been in Youzhou for three years and I am familiar with the geography and customs. I am willing to lead a small group of troops to march along the Lulong Road for Your Majesty, attack Xuantu from the north of Liaoze, and provide flank support for the main army!"
Liu Ye's voice was passionate and sincere, but Cao Rui was much calmer.
After nodding slightly, Cao Rui looked at everyone in the hall: "West Pavilion, East Pavilion, what do you two say?"
"Can you send a special division out?"
In front of these important ministers, the emperor never concealed his inclinations and ideas, and there was almost no communication cost on national affairs.
Now the emperor did not say no, but just asked the two whether it was feasible or not, which clearly meant that he agreed.
After realizing this, Man Chong immediately cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, I think this is feasible! Select light cavalry to march along Lulong Road and set out on a date!"
Sima Yi also cupped his hands and said, "I second the motion."
Cao Rui looked around at everyone in the hall again and asked, "What do you have to say? If you have any, please speak up quickly."
Several attendants expressed that they had no objection, and Xiahou Xian, who had been with Liu Ye for a long time, naturally agreed.
Only General Tian Yu, who was protecting Wuhuan, bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I have something to say."
"General Tian, come on!" Cao Rui pointed with his finger.
Tian Yu bowed and said, "Your Majesty, the areas north of Lulong Pass, including Liucheng and Changli, are all the old places where the Wuhuan tribes lived. During the Jian'an period, the people whom Emperor Wu defeated in Liucheng were the Wuhuan people, not the Xianbei."
"Among the three tribes that the imperial court has called up, namely Wuhuan, Xianbei, and Xiongnu, Wuhuan has always been the most respectful, responded to the most calls, and relied the most on Wei."
"I think if we choose light cavalry to go from the north, we should choose the Wuhuan light cavalry instead of the Xianbei and Xiongnu."
Cao Rui nodded: "General Tian's words make sense."
After that, Cao Rui looked at Liu Ye and said, "Mr. Liu, you have asked me to lead your troops to fight. How many cavalrymen are you willing to lead to take the Lulong Road?"
Liu Ye bowed and said, "Your Majesty, please give me 3,000 Central Army Light Cavalry and 5,000 Wuhuan Light Cavalry! I do not need heavy cavalry or infantry."
Cao Rui asked again: "If eight thousand light cavalry set out from Lulong Pass, how many days will it take Liu Qing to reach the Goguryeo city in Xuantu County?"
Liu Ye said: "It takes fifteen days to get to Lulong, and another fifteen days to get to Xuantu County. I can reach the city of Goguryeo from Lulong Pass in thirty days!"
Cao Rui said calmly: "Thirty days? What will you do when you arrive at Goguryeo City?"
Liu Ye became more and more excited: "One is to harass Gongsun Yuan's flank, and the other is to contact Goguryeo to send troops."
"I am only willing to do these two things for Your Majesty!"
"I agree." Cao Rui nodded gently: "Thirty days is not enough, I will give you another ten days. You can reach Xuantu in the fortieth day. Can Liu Qing do it?"
"Yes!" Liu Ye answered firmly.
Cao Rui raised his eyes and glanced at the ministers in the hall: "Do you have any objections?"
Sima Yi answered first: "I will obey your majesty's order."
Man Chong and others also echoed his words.
Cao Rui placed his hands on the table and said loudly: "General Liu Ye of Du Liao, listen to my orders!"
Liu Ye immediately knelt down and bowed respectfully: "Your servant Liu Ye obeys your order!"
Cao Rui said, "I order you to lead the troops of Cao Zhao, the Cavalry Captain of the Central Army, Duan Zhao, the Infantry Captain, Zhen Xiang, and the Wuhuan troops, with 5,000 light cavalry. A total of 8,000 light cavalry will march north from Lulong Road another day!"
"The vast Liaoze Lake separates the north and the south. I will not give you any specific instructions. I only ask you to act according to your circumstances."
"Liu Qing," Cao Rui stared into Liu Ye's eyes, "Liu Qing has been by my side as a minister for one year, and as an envoy and governor for a total of three years. With four years of experience, I hope Liu Qing will make new contributions for me and the Great Wei."
"I have always been a generous emperor. What rewards you can get and how much of my heart you can win depends on how you act."
Liu Ye kowtowed and said, "Your Majesty, I, Liu Ye, accept your order! I will do my best for your Majesty and the Great Wei, and exterminate the Gongsun Zhuchou who usurped Liaodong as soon as possible, in order to repay your Majesty's great grace!"
Cao Rui waved his hand and said, "Stand up."
"I am not here in Changping to have fun or to watch a show. Time is precious and we need to work hard." Cao Rui looked at his ministers and said, "My lords, we will set out for Jixian County early tomorrow morning. Three days later, the army will set out for Youbeiping Tuyin, and Liu Ye's troops will set out for Lulongsai!"
Everyone bowed and responded. (End of this chapter)
