sovbooks Chapter 16 The Debate on Military Supplies: The Beginning of Strategic Planning
Chapter 16 The Debate on Military Supplies: The Beginning of Strategic Planning
Yang Yan did not give Yang Jian time to think deeply, and immediately posed the second question.
"Our Great Sui Dynasty is now at the height of its power, having pacified the Chen Kingdom in the south and subdued the Turks in the north, with all under heaven submitting. Goguryeo is nothing but a tiny, barren country in the cold and desolate land of Liaodong, with impoverished people."
"Grandson dares to ask, if we were to send troops to attack Gao, what would be the ultimate goal of our Great Sui Dynasty?"
"Is the aim to completely conquer their country, incorporate their territory into our domain, and establish prefectures and counties?"
"Or is it to punish their disloyalty, to completely subdue them, to force them to relinquish their imperial title, strip them of their royal rank, and make them a vassal state forever?"
This problem is even more fatal than the previous one.
It directly shifted the war from an emotional "revenge" to a cold "political" level.
The strategic deployment, troop deployment, and logistical costs required to conquer a country and to subjugate it are vastly different.
Surprisingly, Yang Jian did not get angry upon hearing these two questions.
He stretched out his calloused fingers and gently stroked the cold lamp base, his voice deep and resonant, as if carrying the weight of time: "The two must be related, but Goguryeo must also be fought, not because I am warlike or fond of glory."
Yang Jian did not turn around; his voice echoed in the hall.
"First, the rites of the imperial clan."
Yang Jian held up one finger.
"Since the Qin and Han dynasties, Liaodong has been part of the Central Plains and has been under the rule of our king."
"After I destroyed Chen and unified the world, the neighboring Baekje and Silla all became vassals and paid tribute, recognizing the Sui Dynasty as the legitimate dynasty."
"Only Gowon of Goguryeo outwardly submitted to me and accepted my title, but secretly he disobeyed me and even obstructed other foreign states from paying tribute!"
"This is disrespectful to the emperor and a trampling of the majesty of the Sui Dynasty! This trend must not be allowed to continue!"
"Second, the threat from the border regions."
Yang Jian's voice suddenly turned cold, filled with a chilling murderous intent.
"This spring, Goguryeo dared to join forces with Mohe cavalry to harass the border of Yingzhou, killing more than three hundred of our garrison soldiers!"
"That's bad enough, but what's even more infuriating is that my special envoy actually saw a secret envoy from Goguryeo in person at the Turkic camp!"
Yang Jian turned around abruptly, his gaze sharp as lightning.
"What are they trying to do?"
"They want to unite with the Turks and then coerce the Khitans to encircle our Great Sui Dynasty from the east and north!"
"This is an attempt to create a pincer movement against me!"
"If we tolerate this today, it will surely become a major threat in the future! My Great Sui Dynasty will never allow a tiger to sleep soundly beside my bed!"
At this point, Yang Jian became emotional.
He strode up to the huge "Great Sui Dynasty Unification Map" hanging on the wall.
The large hand slammed down hard on the Liaodong region.
"Thirdly, the responsibility to one's homeland!"
Yang Jian raised his head, looking at that territory, his eyes flashing with an almost fanatical light.
"In the past, when Wei Man entered Liaodong, although he declared himself king, he always regarded the Central Plains as his ancestral home."
"Those were the four commanderies of Xuantu and Lelang of the Han Dynasty! They were the ancient lands of China!"
"Now that Goguryeo has amassed military strength and resources, and moved its capital to Pyongyang, it's clear they intend to carve up their territory and establish their own independent state!"
"As the Emperor of the Great Sui Dynasty, having received the Mandate of Heaven, if I cannot recover the lost territories of Qin and Han, how will I face the First Emperor in the afterlife? How will I face Emperor Wu of Han?"
These words were powerful and resounding.
It vividly portrays the ambition and domineering spirit of a founding emperor.
Looking at the old man before him, Yang Yan couldn't help but feel a sense of respect.
Although Yang Jian made many blunders in his later years, his unwavering commitment to maintaining the unity of China truly earns him the title of "Emperor of the Ages".
But respect is one thing, reality is another.
Yang Yan knew very well that with the current logistical conditions and climate, trying to take on Goguryeo head-on would only break the Sui Dynasty's teeth.
He astutely grasped the core logic in Yang Jian's words.
Dignity, safety, and the rule of law.
In other words, Yang Jian's primary goal now is actually to "subdue" rather than "annex".
This gave Yang Yan room to maneuver.
Yang Yan took a deep breath and nodded thoughtfully.
Then he posed that crucial, guiding question.
"Thank you for your teachings, Your Majesty. I understand."
"Everything you have done is to uphold the legal principle of national unity and to ensure long-term peace and stability on the frontier."
"This surprise attack by Goguryeo on western Liaoning is the perfect and legitimate reason."
He paused, then looked up at Yang Jian with clear eyes.
"So, can the grandson understand it this way?"
"Grandfather's ultimate goal was to make Go Won of Goguryeo obediently relinquish his imperial title, submit to our Great Sui Dynasty, pay tribute, cease his ties with the Turks and Khitans, and return to the tributary system?"
"Instead of necessarily occupying his land now and appointing officials to govern it?"
Yang Jian was taken aback upon hearing this.
His gaze fell on his grandson again, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"What...do you mean by that?"
"Grandfather Rongbing."
Yang Yan did not hesitate at all and bowed deeply once again.
His posture was extremely respectful.
Yet that clear voice sounded exceptionally resolute in the oppressive atmosphere of the hall.
"In my humble opinion, after listening to the analysis of my imperial grandfather, I have some basic ideas."
"This plan concerns the national treasury and human lives. I dare to tell it to my imperial grandfather. If there is anything inappropriate, I ask my imperial grandfather to correct me."
Yang Jian raised an eyebrow, signaling him to continue.
Yang Yan slowly raised his eyes.
"My grandfather's campaign against Gao Yuan was intended to force Gao Yuan to relinquish his imperial title, return to his ancestral domain, and sever all ties. Since my grandfather did not oppose this objective, it can be assumed that he acquiesced to it."
"Then, may I ask a question?"
"To achieve this goal, would it be most effective to use a massive military force to overwhelm Goguryeo, leaving them with no choice but to fight our Sui Dynasty to the death?"
"Or would it be more effective to use fewer elite troops to precisely strike his vitals, letting Gao Yuan see that our Great Sui has the strength to crush him with ease, thus making him back down?"
These words were like a sharp thorn, pointing directly to the core objective of the war.
Yang Jian's pupils contracted slightly, and he was momentarily speechless.
Dugu Jialuo, who had been silent all along, stopped patting Yang Jian's back.
Her phoenix eyes narrowed slightly.
The look in his eyes as he looked at Yang Yan held a hint of inquiry.
This child's thinking was unlike that of an ordinary teenager who would simply be driven by passion and shout "Many soldiers will surely win."
Without waiting for Yang Jian's reply, Yang Yan continued on his own.
He spoke extremely fast, as if afraid of being interrupted.
"In my humble opinion, if we can achieve a victory with fewer troops and make Gao Yuan understand that our Great Sui can easily defeat him, it will be more effective in subduing him than using a large army to wear him down."
"After all, Goguryeo was a barren land with an impoverished population. Once faced with the danger of national annihilation, it would surely have the courage to fight like a cornered beast."
He abruptly changed the subject, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes.
"However, if we can achieve victory with fewer troops and can reach their heartland at any time to kill their manpower, making them unable to defend themselves, then they will surely be terrified and have no will to resist."
"This is the difference between 'strategic maneuvering' and 'military conquest'!"
"Hmph! Empty talk is useless!"
Yang Jian snorted coldly, his face still bearing a stern expression.
This is clearly a test for teachers, or even a deliberate attempt to make things difficult.
However, this is precisely the problem that Yang Yan and others are concerned about.
"Although my grandson has never commanded an army, he has read 'A Study of Military Grain' in the Eastern Palace storeroom."
Yang Yan didn't pause at all; the dry numbers he uttered had a convincing rhythm.
"According to the military system of the Sui Dynasty, each regular soldier consumed two liters of millet per day, and each warhorse consumed one dou of millet per day."
"Taking an army of 300,000 as an example, there are 200,000 infantry and 100,000 cavalry. The cavalry here includes pack horses, and the consumption should not be underestimated."
"Two hundred thousand infantrymen, each consuming two liters, that's four thousand shi a day, and one hundred and twenty thousand shi a month!"
"With 100,000 cavalry horses, each horse producing one bushel, that's 10,000 bushels a day, and 300,000 bushels a month!"
"The cost of food for people and horses alone amounts to 420,000 shi (a unit of dry measure) per month!"
"This doesn't even include the miscellaneous labor for the army, nor the daily losses. Even if we estimate a minimum, the monthly grain consumption is close to 500,000 shi!"
"Is that all?" Yang Jian asked in a low voice, looking at the people below.