In the evening, after having a vegetarian dinner with the great monks in the palace, burning incense and adding candles and doing some official business, Qin Mubai mounted his horse and left the palace, preparing to go home to rest.
After leaving the palace, he thought about something. It's been two days since I returned to Chang'an, so I should pay a visit to Li Jing's house. Although there is no master-disciple relationship with the old man, there is actually a master-disciple relationship. Moreover, there are many things that you don't understand about the art of war. Do you want to ask him for advice
So Qin Mubai returned home, where his mother and girls were waiting for him to have dinner together. However, he took the "Jade Account Sutra" and one of his notebooks, let them eat by themselves, and rode out of the house without stopping for a moment.
Mrs. Liu shook her head lovingly and smiled: "This kid never stops all day long and is always busy with things. I just don't see him doing anything serious."
"Mom, what I do is all business!" Shuang'er muttered from the side.
"Nonsense!" Mr. Liu said with a straight face, "You are such an adult, and you are not in a hurry to get a wife. You are a princess or a businesswoman, so just marry one as soon as possible. Your father and I are still in a hurry to have grandchildren. Where is my son!”
Shuang'er giggled: "Is this what you mean by business?"
"Of course!" Ms. Liu said sternly, "There are three types of unfilial piety, the worst is not having an heir! You will be twenty-two this year! Your two eldest brothers, at this age, could have children all over the yard. Run away! This kid Liang'er is so useless, can I not be in a hurry?"
Shuang'er curled her lips and said, "Mom, don't worry. You never know when seven or eight children will jump out and call you grandma. In fact, my brother... he may have done it, but he likes to be sneaky."
Mrs. Liu was so angry that she came up and pinched her ears: "You girl, you have such a bad mouth, no wonder you can't get married! Where did you learn these unruly things?" Words? See if I don’t deal with you!”
Qin Mubai, who was riding on the horse, sneezed suddenly, rubbed his nose and said to himself: Who is thinking of me
Duke Wei's Mansion has arrived.
He stepped forward to knock on the door, and it was still the same old man who opened the door. He looked at Qin Mubai for a long time, turned his dim eyes, and muttered: "Little baby, who are you looking for?"
This old man has a bad memory. Qin Mubai smiled: "My Excellency, Qin Mubai, came specially to visit Duke Wei."
"Qin Mubai... this name is so familiar!" The old man rolled his eyes and refused to let Qin Mubai in. "You should leave quickly. It's inconvenient for the house today, so don't come in."
"What's wrong?" Qin Mubai was startled, "I am... a student of Duke Wei. You don't recognize me anymore? Is there something big going on in the house?"
"Stop asking, let's go, let's go!" The old man was about to kick Qin Mubai out and hurriedly closed the door.
"What's the fuss about?" At this moment, a person walked into the courtyard.
He is a man, in his early forties, quite tall, with a strong body, walking like the wind, with big eyes, thick eyebrows, and a half-foot-long black beard under his chin. He wears a green brocade robe with a black collar. Shirt head.
Perhaps it was because "people in the same profession attract each other". Qin Mubai took one look and instinctively felt that the person in front of him was probably a soldier with a martial arts background.
When the old man saw the man coming over, he fisted his fist and shouted, "General Su, I told you that there are no guests in the house today, so this stupid boy insists on coming in."
"You go and have a rest, leave it to me." The man smiled slightly, and the old man cupped his hands and left with a grumble.
The man turned to look at Qin Mubai, with a smile and soft eyes. He looked him up and down, cupped his fists and said, "Your Excellency... Qin Mubai, General Qin?"
"That's right." Qin Mubai saw his clasped fists, showing an out-and-out military posture, which once again confirmed his suspicion. So he bowed and replied: "I wonder what you call the general?"
The man smiled slightly and said, "I'm Zuo Wuhou, Zhonglang General Su Lie. I've heard about General Qin's name for a long time. I'm glad to meet you."
"Su... Lie? Su Dingfang?" Qin Mubai was slightly surprised.
"Oh? General Qin actually knows the name of a certain family? That's right. Su is accustomed to using characters to determine the direction." Su Lie smiled, clasped his fists and said, "Come in quickly! This old servant is stubborn, please don't pay attention."
Qin Mubai walked in, and Su Dingfang closed the door himself.
The Su Dingfang in front of him is certainly not the villain who killed Luo Cheng in novels such as "The Romance of the Sui and Tang Dynasties" (of course, there was no such figure as Luo Cheng in history). In the era of strife at the end of the Sui Dynasty, he first revolted with his father, fighting bravely and often taking the lead. Later he did play for Liu Heitai. After Liu Heitai's defeat, Su Ding conveniently returned to the countryside and lived a secluded life. In the early years of Zhenguan, Li Shimin heard about Su Dingfang's name and intended to recruit this talented person with outstanding military and military skills. So Su Dingfang once again became an official in the Tang Dynasty.
Previously, Su Dingfang followed Li Jing, Li Ji and others to conquer the Turkic Kingdom in the north. Due to his outstanding performance, he was worshiped by Zuo Wuhou Zhonglang General and was ranked fourth rank. From then on, he became Li Jing's public direct disciple and learned the art of war from him.
The real Su Dingfang in history made outstanding achievements in his life of war. He conquered the Turks twice and conquered Baekje in the east, and put down the Congling Rebellion. Most of the wars he fought in his life were foreign wars, and he was an upright and forthright man, far from the vilified image in the novel. It is no exaggeration to call him a national hero.
However, most of Su Dingfang's achievements in history were achieved by Gaozong. Now, although he is not unknown, he still lives under the halo of Li Jing and others. Outsiders know him as a "disciple of Li Jing". No wonder Su Dingfang was wondering why Qin Mubai actually knew his name.
After entering the door, Su Dingfang said: "General Qin is busy with official duties. Why did he come to Duke Wei's residence today?"
"To be honest, General Su, I came here specifically to visit Duke Wei." Qin Mubai replied, "To ask for some advice on the art of war."
Su Dingfang nodded and smiled: "I heard from a tutor that he passed down half of General Qin's "Jade Account Sutra", which is the essence of his life's military skills. Only a man with the talent of General Qin is qualified to do so. You are so jealous, Su!"
"Haha, General Su is joking." Qin Mubai said with a smile, "Duke Wei even disdained to accept me as his disciple, so I feel aggrieved! When it comes to envy, I should say I envy General Su."
"Haha!" Su Dingfang laughed, "Although he does not have the name of master and apprentice, he is actually a master and apprentice. Master has always been indifferent to things like fame and fortune, so why should General Qin care?"
"Yes." Qin Mubai smiled, "So, Qin and General Su are from the same sect, so we should call General Su 'senior brother'!"
"Dare, dare!" Su Dingfang clasped his fists and said with a smile, "General Qin is a noble and noble general, but Su is so reckless that he dares to cling to him?"
"Well, we are all military people, so we don't need to imitate the literati and be so polite." Qin Mubai said with a smile, "By the way, the old gentleman just said that it is not convenient to welcome guests in the mansion today, but why?"
"It's nothing special, just... His Majesty the Emperor is here." Su Dingfang said.
"Oh?" Qin Mubai was startled, "The emperor is here?"
"Yes." Su Dingfang said, "His Majesty the Emperor and Duke Wei have always had a deep relationship. They often call each other brothers and sisters in private and have many interactions. However, General Qin is not an outsider. Since he is here, please come in. There is nothing to avoid. of."
"That's fine. People in the Ming Dynasty don't do secret things. Since you are here, why leave again? Please ask General Su to pass the news on your behalf." Qin Mubai said.
"There is no need to pass the message. His Majesty the Emperor and Duke Wei are playing chess in the hall. It doesn't hurt that we go together to find out the information." Su Dingfang said, "Please!"
"please!"
The two of them entered the mansion together and came to the front hall.
It seemed that Li Shimin traveled in a very low-key manner, without any ostentation. He only had several hundred riders accompanying him, and he only wore casual clothes. At this time, he and Li Jing were sitting in the main hall playing chess. Li Jing's white hair is particularly eye-catching.
The two of them walked in quietly without making any noise, and stood around the chessboard watching the game.
Li Shimin was so focused on playing chess that he didn't even glance at them sideways. He waved his hand to the side and said, "Sit down, don't stand. You're blocking the light."
The two of them sat on both sides of the chess table as instructed, watching the game between them in silence.
Li Shimin looked serious and focused, while Li Jing smiled and looked calm. On the chessboard, it was Li Jing who had the advantage.
Li Shimin's chess skills were originally superb, but compared with Li Jing, he really became a bad chess player. Moreover, Li Jing didn't seem to have the slightest intention to let go. He took advantage of the opportunity to gain the upper hand and killed Li Shimin until he lost his armor.
"No more! Losing three games in a row, it's really disappointing!" Li Shimin threw away the chess pieces in his hand, patted his thigh and said angrily.
"Haha!" Li Jing smiled, "Why is your Majesty so restless today?"
"Hey! Why don't we let those unsatisfactory children make trouble!... Well, Qin Mubai, when did you come?" Li Shimin was surprised when he saw Qin Mubai beside him.
Qin Mubai held back his laughter, cupped his hands and said, "I have been here for a long time, and this is the seat given by Your Majesty."
"Oh? Haha!" Li Shimin patted his thigh and laughed, "I was so absorbed in playing chess that I didn't even pay attention. So, did you hear what I just said?"
"Yes, I did hear them all." Qin Mubai replied with a smile.
"How dare you eavesdrop on the secret conversation between me and Duke Wei!" Li Shimin said with a straight face, "You will be punished to make tea for us. Go quickly!"
"Yes." Qin Mubai put down the baggage with a smile and stood up to make tea.
Su Dingfang removed the chessboard and placed it on the coffee table. Li Shimin said thoughtfully: "Brother Jing, your chess skills are better! I have no one to practice in the palace, so I lose to you even more. Among the disciples, only Tai'er and Ke Ke'er's chess skills are pretty good, but Tai'er is too cautious in playing chess, and it's very boring to play with him; Ke'er is more aggressive than fine, and often loses the whole game with one careless move, and he is not good enough to fight. Brother Jing’s game was more enjoyable, but he lost so miserably.”
"Haha!" Li Jing stroked his beard and smiled, "Your Majesty condescended to come to the old minister's house, isn't it just to find a loser? How dare the old minister not win?"
"You old fox!" Li Shimin clapped his hands and laughed, and Li Jing and Su Dingfang also laughed.
At this time, Li Shimin picked up the baggage Qin Mubai put down, took a look at it, and joked: "Qin Mubai came to your house sneakily and brought such a bag with him. Could it be that he came to bribe you?" Didn’t he bring a lot of good things from Xiangzhou and he didn’t come to honor me? I have to take a look!”
Li Shimin opened the bag and couldn't help but smile: "Ha! "The Jade Account Sutra" and his reading notes!"
After that, Li Shimin opened the records and took a look. After reading a few lines, a look of surprise appeared on his face. Gradually I became fascinated and read several pages in a row.
At this time Qin Mubai came with tea, and Li Jing gestured to him to silence. So Qin Mubai carefully sat aside and quietly filled them with tea.
After reading more than ten pages in a row, Li Shimin nodded and praised: "Not bad!... Mu Bai, you still have some understanding!"
"Oh? Your Majesty, did you notice Wei Chen this time?" Qin Mubai said with a smile.
"Do you think I am really stupid?" Li Shimin smiled, put the letter and the military book together in his bag and handed them back to Qin Mubai, saying, "Brother Jing, you worked so hard to put down Tuyuhun. A few years later, the place was in chaos again. After the Tuyuhun pacification, the Tibetan tribes led by Songtsen Gampo felt timid and asked me to grant them a marriage. Unexpectedly, after the envoy returned, Songtsan Gampo and others said that it was Murong Shun, the king of Xiping County, the leader of Tuyuhun whom I bestowed, who was causing trouble. Songtsan Gampo took advantage of the situation and raised 200,000 troops in two groups. They marched southward to invade Songzhou, and invaded Songzhou along the way. Leaving Dafeichuan in the east, they attacked Lanzhou."
At this point, Li Shimin paused for a moment, looked at Qin Mubai and said, "It's Lanzhou, the strategic point in the Western Region guarded by your father."
"Yes." Qin Mubai nodded, thinking: How did the emperor think of coming to Li Jing's house to discuss military and state affairs
At this time, Li Jing's reaction was calm. He said calmly: "The Tufan people have always been wild and untamed, and their hearts are not convinced. Their leader Songtsen Gampo can also be called a heroic figure. He unified all the Tubo tribes and their national power became stronger and stronger. They This kind of conflict with me, the Tang Dynasty, is expected."
"Yes!" Li Shimin nodded and said, "In the many years since I came to the throne, I have pacified the Turkic Khanate in the north, and since then all the barbarians have been submissive. Only Tubo has always been convinced. They rely on their plateau and dangerous terrain to defend it. The wolves have ambitions to attack the Central Plains, and they often invade Western Shu and Hetao. The reason why I worked so hard to capture Tuyuhun is to prevent them from being captured. This time, Songtsen Ganzan took advantage of the situation and led the army to invade. Brother Jing thought, what should I do? ?”
Li Jing frowned slightly and said, "Does Your Majesty mean to send troops to resist, or to make peace and grant marriage?"
"Yes." Li Shimin did not deny it, and nodded sharply.
Li Jing took a breath and let it out slowly, and said: "Your Majesty should discuss this matter with Fang Wei Changsun and others."
Just now, Li Shimin had an expectant expression of "just wait for the next chapter". At this time, he shook his head several times in great disappointment: "Who knows more about military and national affairs than Brother Jing? The reason why I came here is not to expect Brother Jing to give me some advice first. A strategy so that I can have a clear idea?"
Li Jing laughed long and silently.
"Why, Brother Jing refuses to say anything when there are others around?" Li Shimin looked at Qin Mubai and Su Dingfang, "These two are not outsiders. One will be my son-in-law soon, and the other is Brother Jing's disciple."
"That's not the case." Li Jing said, "Actually, Your Majesty has already made a decision in his mind, so why bother to ask the old minister? The old minister has retreated to the court for many days and does not care about military affairs. Now I am talking in vain, and I am afraid that there will be something inappropriate. I have misled Your Majesty. Therefore, it is better to keep silent."
"Well, Brother Jing is so cautious, so I won't force you." Li Shimin nodded and said, "Then I will tell you what I think. How about asking Brother Jing to help you with the details?"
Li Jing nodded: "Okay."
Li Shimin then said: "I have two thoughts in my mind. One is to counterattack with force and I will not marry you; the other is to counterattack with force and I will grant you a marriage."
Qin Mubai and Su Dingfang both frowned: Isn't this similar? It's the difference between being allowed to marry and not being allowed to get married.
"Hmm..." Li Jing gave a meaningful hum and nodded. Judging from his expression, he admired these two decisions of the emperor very much.
"What do you think, Brother Jing?" Li Shimin asked.
"As your Majesty said, whether you grant a marriage or not, the battle will definitely be fought." Li Jing said, "Old minister, I think so too. Since your Majesty came to the throne, the Tang Dynasty has become increasingly powerful, and its military has become sharp and its people's customs have been vigorous. , no matter what the reason is, if the Tubo people dare to invade, we, the Tang Dynasty, must give them a strong counterattack. Whether we grant them marriage or not is another matter. Marriage is about fighting for a long-term plan, and the battle must be fought with some measure; if it is not given, the battle is another way of fighting, and the evil must be eliminated once and for all. However, it is obviously quite difficult to do so. The Tibetans were not as easy to pacify as the Turks."
When Qin Mubai heard this, he had a great talk!
This is the vision and strategy of a military master. The military is an extension of politics and serves politics. When fighting, you can't just kill the enemy with your head in a dull mood. I'm afraid this is the difference between a good general and a commander-in-chief!
"Brother Jing, great talk!" Li Shimin praised him repeatedly, "That's why I must visit you and ask what you mean. In fact, in my heart, I really want to clean up the Tubo Plateau like the Turkic grasslands back then. But I also Obviously, this is not very realistic. After the Turkic Khanate was pacified, it took several years just to resettle the Turkic tribes. The treasury was emptied and the people worked hard for it. There are still unfinished matters. The aftermath is uneven. Tubo is located on a plateau, which is one of the disadvantages for our army's operations. The plateau extends from Bashu to Congling in the Western Regions and even to Tianzhu, so the surrounding situation is complicated. Easier said than done? Therefore, I have been thinking about how to solve the problem of Tibet in a way that can permanently eliminate border troubles. Now that Tibet has invaded, I would like to take advantage of this opportunity to fight a big war. "
"Big battle?" Li Jing frowned.
"Yes." Li Shimin's expression was relatively firm. He held a few chess pieces, squeezed a handful in his hand, and said, "I am a martial artist in the Tang Dynasty, but for many years, I have hidden soldiers and armor to build a school. The country is ruled by benevolent government. Now that the world has been in peace for a long time, the soldiers will inevitably become dusty, and the soldiers will feel lazy. How long has Tuyuhun been peaceful? If they don't give a strong counterattack, there will be Tubo attacks today. If there is a rebellion tomorrow, all the countries in the Western Regions will dare to rebel, even Goguryeo, and even the old Turks who are still alive. Today's Tubo rebellion is a scabies disease, but I plan to fight on two fronts. , went south to Songzhou, drove the enemy invaders to ensure the peace of Western Shu; the second group of troops went out to meet the enemy, and dealt with the Tubo people in Dafeichuan, Lanzhou and other Tuyuhun's hometown, firstly to help Tuyuhun regain the lost territory, and secondly, to protect the Western Region and Hetao Peace on the trade route.”
"The troops are divided into two groups. Their troops are few and their power is weak. It is difficult to provide food and grass, and the national power of the Republic of China has suffered huge losses. Your Majesty, this is really a big battle and a test of our national strength in the Tang Dynasty." Li Jing said.
"Yes!" Li Shimin frowned in embarrassment, "Fang Xuanling will definitely object. He has never liked fighting, for fear of wasting money and food and damaging the country's strength. I'm really worried that I can't convince him."
"Haha, if it weren't for Mr. Fang to advise His Majesty, how could we be in this prosperous world today?" Li Qing said with a smile.
"That's right!" Li Shimin said with a smile, "If this court is a family, I am the head of the family, and Fang Xuanling is a calculating and loyal little daughter-in-law. She is good at managing the house and raising her husband, so that I have no worries. But To achieve great success in external affairs, I need someone like Brother Jing to assist me!”
"Haha!" Li Jing laughed heartily, "Your Majesty is really good at joking! In fact, Your Majesty, you don't have to worry too much. Tubo has sent troops to attack us, and the main battle is in Songzhou, Western Sichuan. The trouble caused by the trouble is not small. Your Majesty wants to send troops to resist, this It is a matter of course, and Fang Xuanling and others will definitely support it. However, if His Majesty wants to take the initiative to go west to Lanzhou, it will be a laborious expedition. On the one hand, it will be difficult to supply and waste money, and on the other hand, he will go deep alone. Therefore, he must do it. Your Majesty, please focus on Western Shu, and take care of Lanzhou. Fang Xuanling and others will not say much."
"Very good!" Li Shimin clapped his hands on the table, "Brother Jing is still smarter! Isn't Lanzhou Qin Shubao my general Wei Huo? However, Lanzhou is located at the strategic point of the Western Region, but the land is vast, the people are limited, and the resources are limited, so the military strength is insufficient. It's very strong. A single move here can affect the whole body. I'm really afraid to let him go to conquer other places. After listening to Brother Jing's good advice, I plan to build a governor's palace in Lanzhou, establish farming, manage military towns, and maintain the health of the people. Give it three to five years to make the Lanzhou army self-sufficient and eliminate the need for supplies. Then, using this as a basis, we can achieve great things by moving westward and northward."
"Your Majesty is wise." Li Jing praised him concisely and concisely.
"Okay, okay, okay." Li Shimin said three good words in a row. Looking at his expression, he seemed to have cleared up the clouds and saw the blue sky, but felt that something big was coming to an end.
At this time, he looked at Qin Mubai again and said, "Mubai, what do you think after listening to it for so long?"
Qin Mubai looked serious and handed over his hand: "I have benefited a lot from this humble minister, which I can't express in words at the moment."
Li Shimin smiled a little unpredictably. He dipped some tea in his hand and made a few random strokes on the table. He drew a rough map of the Western Frontier of the Tang Dynasty. He drew a circle on the boundary of Lanzhou, and then tapped the place three times with his finger. Next: "Lanzhou! Lanzhou! Lanzhou!! If the Tang Dynasty conquers the Western Regions and subdues Tuyuhun and Tubo, Lanzhou will be crucial. The so-called intermarriage is actually a last resort. If you can defeat him with force, why give your daughter away to be abused? Mubai, you may have heard of it. Tubo was so unreasonable that he wanted to marry my Princess Gaoyang. How could I marry my daughter to such an uncivilized barbarian? They used this as an excuse to invade. Do you have any ideas?"
When Qin Mubai heard this, he couldn't understand it more clearly - isn't this just asking me to go out to fight? Li Ji had already spoken to me before, which shows that the emperor had discussed it with Li Ji before.
"The Tubo are rude to invade my territory and kill my people, and they also humiliate the princess that the royal family covets. They are both public and private, so they must fight to the death!" Qin Mubai looked serious and clasped his fists heavily, "Your Majesty, please I will transfer my ministers to the Western Regions to assist my father, improve Lanzhou and rectify the army, and plan for the future!"
"Well -" Li Shimin prolonged his voice in a serious manner, pointed at Qin Mubai's long smile, and said to Li Jing, "This boy is not bad! I am relieved to give my daughter to him. Brother Jing, what do you think? What? Your two disciples are both here. Just because Qin Mubai is my son-in-law, you can't be particularly fond of him. Ding Fang is deeply influenced by Yu Rongwu. He is upright and cautious, so he is a suitable candidate. I would like to hear your opinion on the best candidate to assist Shu Bao in Lanzhou?"
Li Jing glanced at Qin Mubai and Su Dingfang, his face expressionless, but there was an occasional flash of scheming light in his eyes.
"Mu Bai, go!" Li Jing said.
"Oh, why?" Li Shimin seemed to like to get to the bottom of things today and insisted that Li Jing explain clearly.
Li Jing laughed bitterly a few times and didn't know how to answer. Suddenly he smiled strangely: "Songtsan Gampo didn't ask Dingfang's wife to marry him, so Mubai is naturally suitable."
"Haha!" Everyone laughed.
"You old fox, how disrespectful are you!" Li Shimin laughed and clapped his hands on his thighs, "Okay, let's go to Mu Bai! We will discuss this matter in detail in a few days. Don’t disclose it to anyone yet.”
"Yes, Your Majesty." The three of them agreed together.
Li Shimin left later. As he walked, his steps were light and his face glowed, and he was obviously in a much happier mood.
Qin Mubai listened to Li Jing and Li Shimin's "storytelling" for a long time today. He felt that these military gods and emperors were really clever and had a tacit understanding.
Li Shimin had already deliberately transferred me to Lanzhou, and Li Jing naturally knew it. Just like this game of chess, Li Shimin came to seek defeat, and Li Jing would never let him lose, and he would win with all his strength.
Officials all flatter themselves, and of course Li Jing flatters them too. But he took the photos without revealing any trace, as if he had mastered the art.
"Learn from him! I will never be able to learn enough from this old fox in my lifetime!" Qin Mubai said to himself.
Not long after Li Shimin left, Qin Mubai came to ask Li Jing for advice on the art of war. Li Jing did not ask Su Dingfang to evade, and the three of them sat together to discuss in detail and communicate together.
In terms of theoretical knowledge, Qin Mubai, a top student at the National University of Defense Technology, was not far behind them; but his combat experience on this cold weapon battlefield was far behind. The three of them consulted for a while. Most of the time, Qin Mubai was discussing and communicating with Su Dingfang, and Li Jing would give a few words of advice from time to time. In this way, an hour or two passed before I knew it, and the night was getting late.
Qin Mubai said goodbye and was about to leave. Li Jing called him to the study alone and gave him a book - the second part of "The Jade Account Sutra"!
"It's finally done, take it!" Li Jing said with a bright smile, "I saw you, and I've almost finished the upper part. Maybe you will go to Lanzhou soon. I hope this military book will be helpful to you. "
"Thank you Duke Wei!" Qin Mubai took the military book and kowtowed unequivocally, as a master and disciple.
This time, Li Jing did not refuse, but accepted with a smile. He said: "In terms of talent, you are better than Su Dingfang and Hou Junji. However, your future achievements may not necessarily be greater than them. Do you know why?"
Qin Mubai raised his hands in surprise and asked, "Please give me some advice from Duke Wei."
"Haha!" Li Jing smiled while stroking his beard, "Ding Fang is calm and capable, dedicated and meticulous; Jun Ji is obsessed with military strategist as his profession. Do you understand?"
"Yes, I understand!"
Qin Mubai suddenly realized: Li Jing is teaching me to be focused and persistent!