In the east hall of Taiji Hall, General Li Li was talking about the struggle for many scholars... and the Minister of the Shangshu gave a detailed explanation of his plan to formulate the Northern Expedition.

The Empress Dowager and the Emperor sat on the upper head and listened silently.

Before, the emperor dreamed that the late emperor said "Lanling, Lanling", and Li Li suggested that the emperor go to the former land of Lanling in Huaibei.

The prime ministers, led by Jiangxia King Xiao, strongly opposed this proposal.

So Li Li was straight to the point and said his true intention: while visiting Huaibei, the emperor personally led the army to regain the Qingzhou area.

The prime ministers, led by Jiangxia King Xiao, still strongly opposed it.

Li Li's answer was very direct: It was imperative for the imperial court to recover Qingzhou, but a second Liu Yu must not be released.

Therefore, the emperor must personally lead the army to take down this great contribution (first contribution).

This is a killing of multiple goals: the court recovered the Qingzhou area, completely took down the Henan flanks, and regained Henan in the future, and grasped even more.

The emperor personally led the expedition and recovered his hometown (although it was not the hometown of Liang State), and his reputation increased greatly.

Moreover, the emperor personally led the expedition, which was very helpful for stabilizing the hearts of the people in the two Huaihe areas. After the official army recovered the Qingzhou area, the newly affiliated officials, generals, local gentry and wealthy families were received by the emperor, which was more conducive to stabilizing the hearts of the people in the Qingzhou area.

As for this, Daqian Xiao and other prime ministers are not able to directly object.

After all, more than a hundred years ago, when Emperor Wu of Song Liu Yushang was a minister of Jin, he relied on his achievements in destroying the country in Nanyan (located in Qingzhou area), and his reputation increased greatly.

They couldn't say "I just doubt your intention to hold the emperor hostage", so they could only question Li Li's strategy of the Northern Expedition.

Question what Li Li said, "Qingzhou is within reach."

This counterattack hit Li Li's thoughts, because when it comes to war, he could say to the officials present, "You can't fight!"

"In summer and autumn, the water levels of Sishui and Yishui rose sharply, the ships were loaded and unobstructed. The food, grass and supplies of the Northern Expedition officials were transported by water, and there was no problem."

"However, soldiers are very fast. Our army will attack Qingzhou before Qi reacts, just in time for the autumn harvest and eat from the enemy."

"So the front army must advance lightly, attack separately, and attack from north to south..."

Li Li pointed to the map near the Yellow River in the northeast of Yanzhou.

On the front, the Northern Expedition Army crossed Daxian Mountain from the northeast of Huaidong region and entered the Qingzhou area through Muling Pass controlled by the government army. This march route was consistent with the route Li Li entered Qingzhou a few years ago.

This was also the way Liu Yu defeated Nanyan.

On the side, the Xuzhou army attacked from Yanzhou and went around to the northwest of Qingzhou, took down the Yellow River and asked for dust and dust, cutting off the connection between Qingzhou and Hebei.

The Xuzhou army, together with the main force of the Northern Expedition that crossed Daxian Mountain, formed a closed door and beat dogs against the Qi army in Qingzhou.

The Xuzhou army, which had taken down the cleaned cloth, must immediately build a base and prepare to welcome the Qi army's full-scale counterattack.

This counterattack will become more and more fierce after the Yellow River is frozen in winter.

"The Lord Qi will definitely lead the army to fight in person, which is related to the gains and losses of Qingzhou. I am afraid that the troops will not be less than 200,000. The cavalry roared over and covered the sky. If the response is not appropriate, the two Huaihe Rivers will easily turn into scorched earth."

Li Li did not wait for Daqian Xiao to say, "Once the battle situation worsens, the consequences will be serious", so he took the initiative to tell how serious the consequences would be.

Then the topic changed: "The key to regaining Qingzhou is not how to capture the important places in Qingzhou, but how to stop the Qi army from attacking in the future."

"The clean and clean is the key. Xuzhou army built a base here to block the only passage for the Qi army to counterattack Qingzhou."

"As long as it is blocked, the South Road official army can calmly recruit surrender and rebel, annihilate the remaining Qingzhou Qi army, and completely eat up the Qingzhou area."

"The Qi army will not only attack the clean areas, but will definitely divide its troops to attack Xuzhou. Xuzhou military and civilians will use the military fortress group to block the opponent's offensive and ensure the safety of the Northern Expedition's official army's retreat."

"Even if the imperial guards enter Qingzhou, there will be no concern that the retreat will be cut off. The official army will use catapults to attack the city, so it will be impossible for the Qingzhou cities to resist for a long time."

"Prevent, shortly after the defending, reinforcements will not come. The civil and military officials of Qi from various cities learned that His Majesty was here in person, and there was no other way but to surrender."

"The Qi army cannot break the shackles, cannot attack Xuzhou, and cannot save Qingzhou. No matter how many troops there are, there is no way out. In the end, the troops will inevitably be withdrawn."

"The imperial court took Qingzhou, and then, as long as the cleaned area continues to defend the cleaned area, there will be no fear that the Qi army will enter Qingzhou, and the situation in Qingzhou will be settled."

This is Li Li's strategy for the northern expedition to Qingzhou. There are four key points:

First, the South Road official army quickly crossed Daxian Mountain, and the main force entered the Qingzhou area to launch an offensive, rather than being blocked in the Daxian Mountain area and unable to perform.

Second, the Northern Road Official Army (mainly the Xuzhou Army) attacked quickly, captured the Yellow River key point in northeastern Yanzhou - the shaved cloth, and immediately built a base and laid a defense.

Third, the guards of the Qi army in Hebei blocked the counterattack. As long as the Qi army was not lost, the main force of the Qi army could not take a shortcut to the Qingzhou area.

Fourth, Xuzhou must block the attack on the Qi army and ensure that the official army entering Qingzhou will not be detoured by the Qi cavalry and cut off the rear route.

All these four points must be achieved to ensure the success of the Northern Expedition to Qingzhou.

Daqian Xiao and other prime ministers had to question these four points, but when faced with Li Li, they could not speak at all.

The first point is that Li Li did it a few years ago.

The second point is that Li Li, who was good at attacking, had no city that he could not win, and no field battles that he lost. Xiao Daqian led his army to recover Jingxiang, but benefited from Li Li's rapid siege.

Besides, Li Li did even raids for thousands of miles and attacked Yecheng, so who could still question it?

Third, fourth point, when it comes to defense, Li Li is also good at defense. He won both victory whether he defends Hanshan or resists the Qi army's repeated attacks on Xuzhou.

Li Li himself faced Qizhu in person twice, and whether he was defending the city or fighting in the field, he successfully defended his defense, and no one could question his ability.

Therefore, Xiao Daqian and others were unable to raise effective questions about Li Li's strategy of the Northern Expedition, but Xiao Daqian still did not want Li Li to succeed.

Because he suspected that Li Li had ulterior motives and intended to hold the emperor hostage.

Other prime ministers also had this doubt, but it was difficult to say it out on the surface.

Now, Li Li is very polite about the Northern Expedition, indicating that there is no danger in the imperial army's personal expedition, and the emperor can really comfortably win the first merit and establish prestige.

Moreover, when using troops to Qingzhou, the Taishan Goat family members who were officials in the court would definitely take on important tasks. After the war, these people were indispensable to appease the various parts of Qingzhou, so Li Li could help him.

What should I do if the prime ministers don’t have to object directly?

I hope that in the Empress Dowager, because the Empress Dowager can decide the emperor's "decision".

In the past few days, Xiao Daqian and other prime ministers have asked for the Empress Dowager to meet with him, and expressed their opposition to the Empress Dowager in person on Li Li's proposal.

And expressed his concern in a tactful manner: Huaibei is newly established and the emperor may have an accident when he goes to Huaibei.

Although it was not pointed out directly, the meaning was already expressed very clearly, but the Queen Mother didn't know what was going on and pretended not to understand it.

Now, the Empress Dowager, who has been listening silently, looked at Daqian Xiao and the other prime ministers: "Your Highness, Gong Pengcheng's strategy for the Northern Expedition is indeed thorough, but there are still questions?"

Xiao Daqian couldn't ask anything. Li Li's great military achievements proved that he and the Xuzhou army could attack and defend, which was not something they could question.

The emperor was in charge of the army, and Li Li was with him, responsible for actual military affairs and coordinated the wars of the various troops. No problem could occur.

Moreover, soldiers are very fast. If things are settled, the troops must move immediately, instead of waiting for the imperial guards to pass the Huai River before starting to take action.

The empress dowager looked around everyone and saw that no one questioned Li Li's strategy of the Northern Expedition, so she looked at her son.

Seeing her son looking at her with a blank look on her face, she asked in a low voice: "Since that's the case, Your Majesty will lead the army to go to Huaibei for a walk?"

"I just follow my mother's arrangements." Xiao Xun replied. He didn't understand any major national affairs. Anyway, whatever his mother said would be.

Seeing this, Daqian Xiao was anxious. He looked at the prime ministers and saw helplessness in the prime minister's eyes.

As far as war is concerned, they can't argue with Li Li at all. Li Li has even attacked Yecheng, so who can question Li Li's ability?

Li Li said clearly that if he wanted to give the emperor a great contribution and establish his authority, and let the court recover Qingzhou, who could refute the positive refutation?

But, would you really let the emperor leave Jiankang and go to Huaibei?

"Since all the ministers have no doubts, then let's settle the matter." The empress dowager made the decision, and Daqian Xiao still didn't say it.

Looking at the empress dowager who looked as usual and the ignorant emperor nephew, he sighed in his heart.

What are you thinking? Is it because there is a handle in Li Li's hands, or is it threatened by him?

Don’t take the emperor’s safety seriously. When something happens, you will bear the consequences yourself!

......

In the afternoon, in Zhulin Hall, Emperor Xiao Xun was teaching Empress Li Ping'an to write. Although Li Ping'an could write, he did not learn Wang Xizhi's calligraphy, so Xiao Xun needed to teach him step by step.

In fact, Xiao Xun's calligraphy has not been practiced. His mother always urged him to practice calligraphy. However, Li Ping'an was "study hard and asked questions", so he taught him seriously.

It feels really good to be a husband. Xiao Xun likes his "student" very much, and likes it in various senses.

Because only in front of Li Ping'an is he not the timid student, but the energetic gentleman.

Whenever he "teaches" and shows off his knowledge, Li Ping'an always looks at him with respect, which gave Xiao Xun great satisfaction.

Only with the queen did he feel that he was a man, without needing to be submissive or concealing what he thought.

He likes reading, but he doesn't like reading "Laozi", but he likes to read novels of strange stories. However, his mother is very strict and he is not allowed to read.

He likes to ask questions, and the questions he asks are all kinds of strange, such as why a chicken has wings but cannot fly high, but always fails to get answers.

Fortunately, with the queen, the queen would tell many strange stories, which fascinated him. The recent "Lanling Anecdotes" that Xiao Xun was fascinated by her.

So much so that I dreamed that my father said to him "Lanling".

The queen also knows many things, and the queen can give the answer to Xiao Xun’s doubts about the wonderful world outside the palace.

Is the answer right? I don’t know, but at least there is, it sounds very reasonable.

Therefore, the queen is his good student and his good gentleman. Xiao Xun would say a lot of things to the queen every day and study a lot of problems together.

Being with the queen made Xiao Xun feel relaxed. His mother always said that he did something wrong and that was not good, but the queen was different.
To be continued...