Chapter 528
Cui Hong went to the front line, and after returning, he believed more and more in his own judgment: Jingcheng and Hangu Pass could not hold out this winter, and if they wanted to block the tide of enemy forces, they had to find another way.
He personally went to visit Pojun Hou Fan Zangshan, hoping to win the support of this person.
Fan Zangshan's injury was more serious than expected. He persisted all the way, and fell down when he reached Hangu Pass. After careful treatment by the imperial doctor, he was able to sit up to eat, but he was unable to mount a horse to participate in the battle. If you have a task, stand up and order your followers to put on a full set of armor and go out to greet you.
In the living room, the two exchanged a few words, and Fan Chongshan asked, "Is there going to be another war? I've been so busy these days that I've been in a panic, and I just moved my hands and feet."
Cui Hong saw that Fan Zangshan's injuries had not healed, and said with a smile: "It's okay for now, when the war starts depends on the enemy's movements."
Fan Zangshan frowned, "The enemy army is only a few more people. I'm afraid of what he will do? Give me ten thousand people and drive them all into the desert."
Fan Zangshan is a fierce general, but he is not a general.
Cui Hong said: "General Fan is right, the enemy army is too many."
"That's not to be afraid of. It's a big deal. Let's go in and out a few times."
"Hehe, General Fan is a fierce general in the world, and the world admires him. Your Majesty never wants to let the general take risks again."
"Why, you raised me like this?" Fan Zangshan waved his fist, touching the wound, with a painful expression on his face, and he immediately covered it up.
"Of course not. There are many enemy soldiers, and the Chu army has to increase its troops. As long as the number is the same, or a little less, and there is a general like a general, the Chu army does not have to wait for the battle, and can attack directly and recover. Beijing."
"Then increase the troops." Fan Zangshan thought it was a good idea no matter how many.
"The soldiers are all outside the fortress, and there are not many people left to guard even a big city like Luoyang. How can we increase our troops?"
Fan Zangshan nodded in agreement, "Yeah, this is quite difficult."
"The only solution now is conscription."
"conscription?"
"Well, the men from the counties and counties east of Hangu Pass and west of Luoyang are more than men. The Ministry of War estimates that 100,000 men or more can be recruited within half a month."
"That's right, we have a vast territory and a large population, and we can still have fewer people than the enemy's army?" Fan Zangshan is not stupid after all, and he finally came to his senses when he heard this, "The deployment and recruitment of troops are all decided by Your Majesty and the Ministry of War. The matter, the grandfather specifically asked me to tell me this?"
Cui Hong said with a smile: "The Ministry of War has made preparations long ago, but His Majesty refused to agree."
"Why? Is the number of soldiers bad?"
"Your Majesty thinks long-term. After the enemy army conquers a country, it often drives the country's strong men into soldiers, which not only strengthens its momentum, but also prevents domestic rebellion. However, if things go on like this, the country will inevitably weaken and the people will be weak. This is the method of killing chickens to get eggs. "
"Your Majesty is right. I know that a hundred soldiers who have trained for one year are better than thousands of ordinary people, and a soldier who participates in an actual battle is better than a soldier who has been trained for three or five years."
"That being said, at this critical moment of life and death, we can only solve the immediate problem first, and then discuss the long-term plan. The enemy's army uses warfare to support its troops, and Da Chu can follow suit. Gradually expand to other counties, and at least 500,000 troops can be added within three months.”
"500,000!" Fan Chongshan was taken aback, "This is really a lot, but you haven't trained, can you go to the battlefield?"
"The enemy troops are not all well-trained soldiers. General Fan also said just now that soldiers who have fought in World War I are better than soldiers who have been trained for several years. This is the so-called battle to raise soldiers. Five hundred thousand Chu troops take turns to go into battle. In the end, the remaining 100,000 people must be elite soldiers."
Fan Zangshan was silent. He understood why the emperor hesitated. To support soldiers in battle was to kill soldiers. This was using the lives of the people of Great Chu as a city wall.
"This is by no means a clever plan. Afterwards, it may take more than ten years for Da Chu to restore its national strength, but this is the only feasible way at the moment. It is better than sitting still."
"Master Taifu wants me to persuade Your Majesty?"
Cui Hong nodded.
Fan Zangshan lowered his head and thought for a while, "To be honest, I also think that we should recruit troops, there is no way to do it, but I'm a rude person, let me charge into battle, nothing else, let me persuade Your Majesty, this... It's really powerless. Ah, your Majesty doesn't take anything I said."
"General Fan only needs to ask His Majesty for troops, and you don't need to say anything else."
Fan Zangshan scratched his head, "His Majesty has treated me with such great kindness as a mountain. I was just named a marquis, and I'm a little embarrassed to ask for more."
Cui Hong said with a smile: "The soldiers are not for the general himself, but for the protection of His Majesty."
Fan Zangshan thought for a while, "Okay, I'm going to ask your majesty for troops."
Cui Hong left with satisfaction, returned to his residence, and sent someone to invite Zhao Ruosu.
Zhao Ruosu came late and stood at the door, "Isn't Master Taifu afraid of causing trouble?"
Zhao Ruosu has a special identity, and is the person who was personally bestowed by the emperor to "add sin to sin". Usually, no one even gives him a second look, let alone invites him to the door.
"The big disaster is ahead, and the small disaster doesn't matter. If you want to guard the gate, you can only recruit soldiers. Men over fifteen and under sixty years old, as long as they are not disabled, can be soldiers."
"Okay." Zhao Ruosu said.
Cui Hong was stunned, "I haven't finished speaking yet."
"I will try my best to persuade Your Majesty." Zhao Ruosu handed over and said goodbye.
Cui Hong was stunned again, and couldn't help but said to the entourage beside him: "Zhao Ruosu used to be a normal person, but since he was 'convicted' by His Majesty, he has become more and more weird."
The next afternoon, Fan Zangshan asked to see the emperor, and was immediately received.
The emperor was always busy. There were already several people in the study, including King Donghai, Cui Teng and others. As soon as Fan Zangshan came in, everyone bowed their hands to him. Some people even bowed and saluted, and the emperor greeted him with a smile. .
Fan Zangshan was extremely uncomfortable and wanted to kneel, but was supported by the eunuch.
"This minister is a reckless general, and I can't afford to treat you so politely."
Cui Teng smiled and said: "You are not a reckless general, you are a fierce general and a famous general. In the first battle in the capital, the general has become famous all over the world. My servant said that he went out to buy things. People heard that he had seen General Fan and gave it directly to him. Got a discount, haha."
Fan Zangshan blushed. He has been recovering from his injuries. This is the first time he has gone out. He still doesn't know how famous he is.
Han Ruzi smiled and said, "General Fan's injury is better?"
"Okay, as long as I give an order, I will rush into the capital." Fan hit the mountain like a bell, trying to straighten his body, no matter how painful the wound is, his face does not show.
"The general rests urgently and continues to recuperate."
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your concern. Actually, I have something to say."
"Please say."
Fan Zangshan's reputation is too great. If he wants to say something, no one else will open his mouth. They look at him with reverence, as if they are looking at a goddess.
Fan Chongshan was even more embarrassed. Only then did he understand why Cui Hong asked himself for help. He coughed a few times and said boldly, "There are too few soldiers at Hangu Pass, so Your Majesty should recruit more soldiers."
Fan Zangshan didn't beat around the bush, and spoke directly.
Han Ruzi smiled and did not speak to Fan Chongshan, but turned to Cui Teng: "Your father found a good helper."
It was Cui Teng's turn to blush, "I don't know... General Fan, did my father find you?"
Fan Zangshan didn't dare to lie, and nodded awkwardly.
"My father is also kind." Cui Teng said hurriedly.
Han Ruzi said: "Of course, and this is not the suggestion of Cui Taifu alone. The military departments of Jincheng, Luoyang, and Hanguguan, as well as generals and ministers, all have the same idea."
"Then why is Your Majesty hesitating?" Cui Teng asked.
"I can't bear to see Da Chu's years of hard work being destroyed in one fell swoop."
Everyone was silent. Since the emperor took the throne for the second time, he has been working hard to improve the strength of Da Chu, reducing rent, relocating refugees, reclaiming land, releasing private slaves, etc., all for this reason, large-scale military recruitment will destroy most of the previous efforts.
"Today, we should focus on defending the country." Donghai King interjected, and everyone else nodded.
Seeing that everyone had the same idea, Fan Chongshan also said, "Although I'm not afraid of the enemy's army, it's always a good thing for us to have more soldiers, maybe we can go all the way to the west and take over the nest of gods and ghosts. "
Everyone laughed, Han Ruzi laughed too, looked at the person in the corner, and asked, "What's your opinion?"
Zhao Ruosu never took the initiative to speak, and when asked, she did not hide it, "This is the only plan. Although Your Majesty has a benevolent heart, if you hesitate, it is a woman's benevolence."
Only Zhao Ruosu dared to say such a thing, and it was in front of outsiders. The emperor was not angry, but nodded. Everyone else felt strange, but did not dare to ask.
"It's time to recruit troops, but it can't be all recruited without distinction. The only son in the family can't recruit, the father died early, and the Xu Liu brothers...let Mrs. Cui draw up a plan." When the general can get up, please help Taifu to go to various places to recruit troops."
"Ah? I'm not good at recruiting, I prefer to go to the battlefield, and I can fight." Fan Zangshan raised his fist and slapped his chest twice, and couldn't help coughing a few times.
"In times of war, generals are bound to be reused, and now the time has not come. The generals are famous all over the world, and they should be spread everywhere, and if the generals come forward, it will be easier to recruit troops."
Fan Zangshan's face turned red again, and he murmured a few words.
Everyone chatted for a while, seeing that the emperor had nothing important to do, and one by one, one by one, some people went to see Cui Hong, convey the emperor's decision, and turn it into a practical will as soon as possible.
The King of Donghai wanted to leave, but the emperor signaled him to stay for a while. No one noticed. Only Cui Teng saw it and did not say goodbye. In the end, only the two of them and Zhao Ruosu were left.
Zhao Ruosu had formed a habit of coming when the emperor asked him to come, and he would leave only when he let him go.
"The hasty conscription is still not enough to stop the enemy army." Han Ruzi said, but did not drive Cui Teng away.
King Donghai learned to be obedient, and without saying a word, Cui Teng said, "That's better than nothing."
"I have another idea."
"It turns out that His Majesty has a plan, no wonder he agreed to recruit." Cui Teng laughed.
Han Ruzi nodded with a smile, still looking at the King of the East Sea, "I have decided to send an envoy to the gods and ghosts to ask for peace."
"What?" Cui Teng was shocked and almost jumped up, "This, this..."
Han Ruzi waved his hand, "Don't worry, I haven't finished speaking yet. If the gods and ghosts are willing to retreat, even if he puts forward some harsh conditions, I can accept them."
Cui Teng couldn't help but interject: "He will never retreat."
"If you don't retreat, the messenger will send a message to the gods and ghosts, Da Chanyu and his soldiers. No, it's two messages: one Chu army has entered the enemy's rear from the Western Regions, and the other Chu army is attacking by sea, and it is coming soon. .Remind the enemy to be careful."
Cui Teng said in surprise: "Deng Cui and Huang Pugong? These two Chu troops...haven't heard from them for a long time?"
"I'm sure that the two Chu troops are still there." Han Ruzi said, as if he had a special channel for information.
The King of the East Sea raised his head with a wry smile, "If Your Majesty doesn't have a more suitable candidate - then let me be the messenger and send a message to the enemy."
Zhao Ruosu didn't say anything, knowing that he had been selected.