SWDnovel Chapter 25 Using barbarians to control barbarians, with the Fubing system as a continuation.
Chapter 25 Using barbarians to control barbarians, with the Fubing system as a continuation.
Niu Hong's questioning was like a red-hot iron clamp, tightly gripping Yang Su's throat.
A series of questions, each word dripping with blood, each sound like thunder.
Having spent his life on the battlefield, how could Yang Su not know the weight of the word "timing"?
Niu Hong placed his ruthless scheme of "forcibly requisitioning grain and fodder" under the bloody noose of "four months," instantly rendering all his vicious calculations a joke on paper.
Conquering cities and seizing strongholds is inherently the most time-consuming task.
Who can guarantee that Liaodong City can be captured within four months?
Once the war reaches a stalemate, and then the mountains are blocked by a massive snowstorm...
The consequences are self-evident.
Seeing that Yang Su remained silent, Niu Hong took another step forward.
He spent half his life on the battlefield, his sword killing countless people. How could he have ever been forced into such a corner by a mere civil official using facts as a weapon in the imperial court?
That frail body seemed to contain boundless power, forcing the powerful Duke of Yue to instinctively take a half-step back.
"Duke of Yue, can you resolve my old doubts?"
This is no longer a questioning, but an interrogation.
In front of the emperor and all the high-ranking officials, this leader of the pro-war faction was driven to the brink of despair.
Yang Su had never suffered such public humiliation before.
"snort!"
He suddenly flicked his wide purple robe sleeves, arrogantly turned his head to one side, and let out a cold snort.
"Warfare is based on deception! How can the strategies of the court possibly predict the changes on the battlefield? We must wait for the imperial army to march north and make a decisive decision on the spot, and then the outcome will be clear!"
These words were stern in appearance but weak in reality; which of the gentlemen in the hall did not hear them clearly?
Su Wei frowned slightly. Yuwen Shu opened his mouth, wanting to say a few words in defense of Yang Su, but found that everything Niu Hong said was an irrefutable fact, so he could only shut up in frustration.
Niu Hong frowned, a stubborn determination to speak up for the people welling up inside him, and he was about to speak again—
"Niu Qing".
A calm voice called out from the throne.
Yang Jian merely raised his hand, and his vast, unfathomable imperial majesty silently permeated the hall, quietly suppressing all the restless sharpness within.
He ran his fingertips along the cracks in the paperweight, his gaze calmly settling on Niu Hong.
"The Duke of Yue's concerns are about enhancing our national prestige and subduing the surrounding barbarians. Your words are about consolidating our national foundation and cherishing the strength of our people. These are both words of concern for the country, and I am very pleased."
With a single sentence, he deftly transformed the heated debate about right and wrong into a clash of perspectives. His tone then shifted slightly, his voice lowering to convey an undeniable resolve: "However, Gao Yuan's invasion of our borders and the killing of our soldiers is a national disgrace! Tonight, I summon you for an audience, not to discuss war or peace, but solely—how to fight and win!"
Behind the screen, Yang Yan was secretly astonished.
What a masterful display of imperial cunning!
This biased approach is so meticulous, it's truly flawless.
This imperial grandfather, with a casual remark, used "national humiliation" as a banner to block all avenues of retreat from "not fighting"; and with "how to win" as the guiding principle, he firmly controlled the topic.
He stands forever at the arbitral court, letting his subjects wear down each other's sharpness, while he sits atop them, reaping what he needs.
Yang Jian's gaze, like ripples on an ancient well, slowly swept across the scene before finally settling on the figure that remained as calm as a deep pool.
"Duke of Qi"
Yang Jian's voice echoed slowly in the main hall.
"You are known as a 'strategist,' yet you remain silent tonight. Do you already have a plan in mind? I wish to hear your insightful thoughts."
In an instant, all eyes in the hall, all unresolved disputes, and all undercurrents of expectation converged on one person.
The Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, Duke of Qi, Gao Jiong.
Yang Su glanced sideways, his hawk-like eyes filled with scrutiny and vigilance; Su Wei and Niu Hong, on the other hand, looked on with hope.
They all knew that the key to this debate in the imperial court, which concerned the fate of the nation, lay with this person.
Under immense, silent pressure, Gao Jiong finally made a move.
He stepped forward, first bowing to the throne, then greeting his colleagues with impeccable manners and composure. Afterward, he raised his head, his gaze clear and resolute, meeting the king's eyes with unwavering composure.
"His Majesty."
His voice was steady and clear, as if it carried a calming power.
"I have listened carefully to the opinions of all the gentlemen. The Duke of Yue's plan is too hasty; Su Nayan's plan is too cautious; General Yuwen's plan is too risky; and Minister Niu's words are to the root of the problem."
With just a few words, like a skilled butcher dissecting an ox, he sorted out the previous chaotic dispute clearly, demonstrating both fairness and a broad perspective.
"Therefore, I believe that the situation in Liaodong is not a matter of war or peace, but rather a matter of destruction and reconstruction. There are three calamities, like a great chasm blocking the way for the royal army: the difficulty of transporting supplies, the pressure of the weather, and the unrest of the people. If these three calamities are not eliminated, even with a million brave soldiers, we will be walking on thin ice, and our downfall is imminent."
"Three calamities?" Yang Jian leaned forward slightly, his eyes sharpening.
"Exactly." Gao Jiong turned around, facing the vast map of Liaodong on the wall, his sleeves fluttering even without wind.
"Your Majesty, I request that you devise three strategies to defeat them."
"One saying goes: 'Use barbarians to control barbarians, and disrupt their inner workings.'"
"Secondly: 'The local troops take turns guarding the borders, thus securing our defenses.'"
"Using barbarians to control barbarians? Rotating garrisons?" Yang Jian repeated in a low voice, his eyes growing brighter.
"Your Majesty, please look," Gao Jiong pointed to the mountains and rivers on the map, "north of Goguryeo lies the Mohe tribe. Among them, the Sumo Mohe and the Heishui Mohe are the most powerful."
"These two tribes have a long-standing grudge against Goguryeo. Last year, King Gowon forcibly conscripted young men from their tribes into soldiers, which had already caused them to harbor resentment."
"Your Majesty need only send an eloquent envoy, carrying silk, ironware, and salt from our Great Sui Dynasty, to their tribe."
"Then, in the name of the Emperor, we will bestow upon their leader the titles of Grand General and Prince, granting him autonomy. All we require is one promise: to help our Great Sui Dynasty contain Goguryeo. After the war, all the former territories occupied by Goguryeo will belong to them."
"The Mohe people are fierce by nature and driven by profit. With such substantial gains, they will surely become a sharp dagger for our Great Sui Dynasty to pierce the heart of Goguryeo! Before our army even moves, we can throw their rear into chaos and keep them constantly on the move!"
This suggestion immediately caught the attention of everyone in the hall.
This plan did not cost the Sui Dynasty a single soldier, yet it created a huge problem for Goguryeo out of thin air.
Gao Jiong did not pause and immediately put forward his second strategy.
"Secondly, it is called 'rotational garrisoning by local soldiers'!"
The phrase "troops rotated for garrison duty?" left everyone completely baffled.
Gao Jiong explained, "Your Majesty, Minister Niu is absolutely right. A large-scale military expedition will deplete the nation's resources and further demoralize the people. In that case, why should we launch such a massive expedition?"
He turned around and pointed his finger heavily at the location of the Liaoxi Corridor on the map.
"Your Majesty, I request that you issue a decree to establish places for awarding ranks based on military merit in Yingzhou and Youzhou."
"All the powerful local magnates, soldiers, and even ordinary people in the border regions of our Great Sui Dynasty may go there."
"Anyone who slays a Goguryeo soldier will be rewarded with one hundred strings of cash and ten bolts of cloth!"
"Any leader who can lead his private troops to capture a small fortress in Goguryeo will be granted the rank of Lieutenant General, and his troops will all be converted into regular soldiers and receive state rations!"
"Any family member who has committed crimes such as harboring accomplices or evading taxes can have their entire family pardoned if they earn enough military merits!"