Late at night, in the mansion of Wei Guogong Li Jing.
Li Shimin and Li Jing sat opposite each other, with an antique tea tray placed between them, and the fragrance of tea was gentle. Under the illumination of the oil lamp, the expressions of both the monarch and the minister looked a little solemn.
"Pharmacist, what do you think you should do now?" Li Shimin asked with a worried look, "It's not that I don't want you to enjoy your old age in peace, but it's just that it's really hard for me to make a decision on this matter."
"Hou Junji..." Li Jing sighed, stroking his beard and shaking his head, "A sword has two edges, and it can also hurt oneself. The old minister asserted seven years ago that this person would sooner or later embark on a crooked path. Therefore, the old minister He had reservations when teaching him the art of war, so he still felt resentful and cut off contact with his old ministers. "
"Now that the matter has come to this, what can we do?" Li Shimin also sighed and said, "I have not announced this news to the public yet, but I believe that it will not be long before the whole country knows it. By then, the people of the world will not let Xi The resentment of the Xinjiang rebellion is all blamed on Hou Junji? That means Qin Mubai is also blamed!"
Li Jing's snow-white brows wrinkled slightly and thought to himself: Listening to His Majesty's words, it is obvious that he wants to protect or protect Qin Mubai. It's not surprising that Qin Mubai is young and promising, and he has just made great achievements and is in the limelight. If he is allowed to suffer a serious crime at this time, it will really go against His Majesty's original intention. After all, it is not easy to cultivate a young talent and a rising star; it is quite easy to destroy one's reputation. But for such a big mistake, someone must take responsibility. In this case, Hou Junji is indeed destined to die! Presumably, Hou Junji also figured this out before he made a desperate move. This is indeed in line with his character!
"Your Majesty, I think what we have to do now is how to make military decisions and responses." Li Jing said, "Regardless of all causes and benefits, Hou Junji has led 50,000 troops to kill on the plateau. Regardless of him Regardless of victory or defeat, there will definitely be a bloody storm on the plateau, with countless lives lost. From the moment Hou Junji slaughtered the prisoners with his sword, the relationship between Tang Dynasty and Tubo was completely broken, and there was no longer any possibility of peace. . Therefore, it was actually Hou Junji who became the master of the Tang Dynasty for once, completely cutting off the possibility of an alliance. "
"It was not Hou Junji who cut off this retreat, but Garqinling! Hou Junji only caused this situation by accident, but Garqinling, a wild man who advocates hegemony, did it deliberately!" Li Shimin frowned, with a piercing glint in his eyes, and said, "He dared to massacre the city in Taozhou, just because he was in the first year of junior high school, and Hou Junji was only in the fifteenth year. From that time on, I felt that the two countries The time for the decisive battle has arrived. However, Hou Junji may not have known about the massacre of the Garqin Mausoleum, and happened to massacre the prisoners for other purposes. This will also mark the complete break between the Tang Dynasty and Tubo sooner or later. We have to fight for our lives. I just don’t know if it’s really time for a decisive battle; if so, how should I fight this battle?”
Li Jing hurriedly bent down and bowed, "I don't dare!"
"It's okay for the pharmacist to speak his mind."
"Your Majesty, are you considering whether to go on a personal expedition?" Li Jing asked.
"Exactly." Li Shimin nodded, "But I have already gone back on my word once. If I bring up the old matter again now, I might make people laugh. But for such a huge national war, who should I appoint? - Qin Mubai, he After all, he is still young. From the appointment of Hou Junji, I can see that he is still a bit young and frivolous. Not to mention Hou Junji's temperament and ability, just looking at his resume and background, Qin Mubai. You shouldn’t use him at this time, it’s a big risk!”
"Indeed..." Li Jing's heart tightened, and he could only follow the emperor's wishes and said, "Mubai, after all, you are still a little tender."
Neither the monarch nor the minister said it clearly, but the implication was that Hou Junji was suspected of rebellion in the East Palace and was expelled from the court. On the surface, Changsun Wuji was manipulating this matter, but without the emperor's acquiescence behind the scenes, how could Changsun Wuji dare to act arbitrarily? —Isn’t this going against the emperor
If Qin Mubai had not had a clear background and a clear stance, and was deeply trusted by the emperor, the mere act of enabling Hou Junji would have been enough for his political opponents to seize him and beat him to death.
There is no clear line between recruiting, surrendering and accepting rebels. Such behavior is quite dangerous in the political situation of the court.
Now, Hou Junji has made another big mistake. Even if the emperor intends to favor Qin Mubai, he may not be able to hide it from everyone. At this time, if the command of the "national war" was to be handed over to Qin Mubai, Li Shimin was worried about how to convince the public - after all, Qin Mubai was not the only general available in the court!
Li Jing chewed every word of Li Shimin's words, and his heart was as clear as a mirror. After pondering for a moment, he said: "Your Majesty, let me go!"
"No, no!" Li Shimin waved his hands quickly, "You are old and in poor health, how can I still let you work so hard on the expedition? - Medicine Master, don't get me wrong, I'm not here to ask you to come out. Let me tell you clearly, I want to I ask you to recommend a commander. This candidate can be anyone in the imperial army, including me."
Li Jing frowned slightly and looked deeply, pondering for a long time before shaking his head: "There is no suitable candidate."
"No one?" Li Shimin was a little surprised, "Including me?"
"No." Li Jing shook his head.
"Why?" Li Shimin asked unwillingly.
"Being suspicious and timid is the way to defeat. Even His Majesty was so hesitant and hesitant before the war, and worried about gains and losses. Who else dares to take on this responsibility?" After Li Jing said this, he quickly bent down and handed over his hands, "Old minister I offend Long Yan by speaking outright, I hope your majesty will forgive me!"
"The pharmacist is not guilty." Li Shimin felt a little like a dream. He slapped his forehead twice and sighed, "I have really thought too much this time! I think about the decisive battle with the Turkic Khanate. How determined and persistent I was. After so many years, have I become timid and cowardly?"
"No. Your Majesty is still the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty and the Khan of Tianhe who had great ambitions and conquered the world." Li Jing cupped his hands and said, "What makes His Majesty hesitate and hesitate is not all the war."
Li Shimin's brows twitched slightly and he nodded in acquiescence.
Li Jing's words hit the nail on the head and pierced Li Shimin's heart.
When he fought against the Turkic Khanate in his early years, Li Shimin had just ascended the throne. At that time, he was an emperor who had killed his brother to force his father, and his ascension to the throne was not very glorious. Internally, he wanted to win over people's hearts, consolidate the throne, and eliminate the followers of the hidden prince; externally, he wanted to fight against the powerful Turkic cavalry, and he was working hard and thinking very hard at night.
But these are actually just external difficulties, which can eventually be solved as long as we work hard. And all these difficulties combined are not as much as the hidden dangers inside the court today.
This hidden danger is related to the future of the Tang Dynasty - the battle for the prince.
And this hidden danger cannot be solved by hard work. After the Prince's case was deposed, the East Palace has been vacant. Even Li Shimin himself can't decide who will take over his empire in the future - to be more clear, what route will Datang follow in the future, and which political group will decide the fate of Datang? !
Should we continue to forge ahead and expand the glory of the Tang Dynasty? Or should we remain conservative and continue the legacy of Zhenguan? -Based on the literal choice, there is no doubt that I should choose the former. However, the former is more than a hundred times more difficult than the latter.
What's more important is that in Li Shimin's vision, there is no such successor and no such auxiliary political group!
In the final analysis, deep in Li Shimin's heart, the launch of the Western Region plan was not just for the sake of dominating the territory or seeking commercial profits on the Silk Road. Otherwise, it is simply not cost-effective to pay such a heavy war price. Li Shimin, out of the mentality of an emperor, clearly realized that the civil servant group in the court now completely controlled the mouthpiece and had power over the government and the public. It's pretty good that I'm in charge. Once he passes away and leaves the country to his son, who can control this completely one-sided court
When the time comes, will his son be the emperor, or will those civil servants be the emperor
An important reason for the launch of the Western Region Plan is to enhance the military's strength in the DPRK, in the hope of achieving a civil-military balance to restrain each other, so that his successor can flexibly control it in the future.
This starting point is not wrong, and it has always been the case for kings throughout history. Many people are aware of the emperor's intention.
However, something unexpected by Li Shimin has occurred now - if the war with Tubo continues, the Tang Dynasty may be inseparable from war in the next few years. Not to mention how long the battle with Tubo lasted, even if Zanpu Qizong Nongzan, who captured Tubo alive as before, due to geography, weather and many other reasons, it would be far more difficult to completely pacify the plateau than it was to clean up the grasslands.
What's more, how long has it passed before the grassland that had just been pacified rebelled again
There is another important reason that Li Shimin had to consider. Tubo was also a powerful country, surrounded by many small foreign countries and military allies. In other words, when launching the final decisive battle against Tubo, it also launched wars against many countries such as Tianzhu, Nanzhao, and Western Turks!
Once this war begins, the next ten, twenty or even longer years of the Tang Dynasty will definitely be war-themed!
Could Datang really be able to fight such a war? If we fight, will Li Shimin see the outcome of this war in his lifetime
Even if we win in the end, is it really a good deal to exchange an empty treasury, poor people's livelihood, countless corpses and blood for a barren and barren plateau
…
This is no longer as simple as a war. In Li Shimin's view, this will determine the fate of the Tang Dynasty and the pattern and direction of the Tang Dynasty in the next hundred years. It is directly related to what kind of national policy he should choose, what kind of route he should choose for his descendants to follow, and what kind of political group he should choose to assist his successor!
This was far more difficult than when he made up his mind to fight the Turks. Because at that time, the conflict between the Tang Dynasty and the Turks was sharp and simple. It had to be resolved, but it was easy to resolve. At that time, Li Shimin was only thirty, so there was no need to worry about his successor in a hurry! Having just become emperor, he was ambitious and wanted to do something big to convince his people to consolidate the throne - and he did it.
But now, Li Shimin, who is nearly fifty years old, is making decisions about things that he will never see in the future. How can he not be hesitant and hesitant
…
Li Shimin could only discuss such matters with Li Jing, who had retired, and did not dare to talk to people like Changsun Wuji and Fang Xuanling. Because they are also fans of the authorities with their own thoughts.
Li Jing clearly felt depressed and heavy. His Majesty the Emperor carries an invisible burden of ten thousand kilograms, which is even more painful and torturous than when he had to fight the Turks. No wonder, he repeatedly said that he wanted to personally conquer the war. It was not because he did not trust his ministers and generals, but because His Majesty the Emperor wanted to witness it with his own eyes before making a final decision.
"Pharmacist, why are you silent?" Li Shimin frowned slightly and said slowly, "I have always regarded the pharmacist as my confidant. The pharmacist must be well aware of the contradictions and concerns in my heart at the moment. Today, I regard the pharmacist as my friend and brother. How about asking Brother Jing the truth?"
Li Jing felt strangely startled, and calmly raised his hand, "Your Majesty, please speak."
"I know that the pharmacist has always been able to discern people. I just want to ask, is the pharmacist's close disciple Qin Mubai worthy of being the king's assistant?" Li Shimin asked.
Li Jing's expression suddenly changed.
However, Li Shimin laughed and said, "Don't be nervous, Medicine Master. I told you, and I'm just asking as a friend and brother. Medicine Master, you don't have to say anything."
"Then the old minister must have nothing to say." Li Jing smiled bitterly, "Your Majesty, no one can answer such a question. Your Majesty praised the old minister for his ability to discern people, but the old minister's clumsy eyes are not as good as yours. Ju Huiyan? Even His Majesty can't understand, how can I be so virtuous?"
"Okay, just pretend I didn't say anything!" Li Shimin smiled helplessly, stood up with his hands on his knees, and paced slowly back and forth in the room with his hands on his back.
Li Jing secretly wiped his hands with cold sweat! - He has never done anything like this before. Even if he goes to the battlefield and is surrounded by the light of swords and shadows, he can still be as calm as a mountain.
Only the question that the emperor just asked no one dared to answer. On the surface, the emperor was just asking him what he thought of Qin Mubai's talents; in fact, the emperor was asking him what path the Tang Dynasty should take in the future, what kind of century-old national policy should be implemented, and what kind of people should be chosen to form the team. The political group that governs the country and assists in government, what kind of prince should be chosen—the country that will succeed him!
I'm afraid Li Shimin's father, great ancestor Li Yuan, might not dare to answer such a question even when he was still alive! ! !
"How should I make a decision?" Li Shimin walked to the steps, looked up at the dark night sky without any stars and moon, and murmured, "I'm afraid this is the most difficult thing I have ever encountered in my life. !”
Li Jing wanted to remain silent. But since the emperor came today, he first valued his opinion as a retired veteran, and secondly expressed his deepest trust in him, Li Jing.
After thinking about it for a long time, Li Jing stood up and walked to Li Shimin's side. He cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, when it comes to military affairs, I have a compromise."
"Oh? Speak quickly!"
"The facts are before us, and the issue of war and peace can no longer be considered." Li Jing said, "Therefore, the top priority is to concentrate on using troops first. Only after victory or defeat is under control, will your Majesty be able to think and decide other matters with ease."
After hearing what Li Jing said, Li Shimin was startled.
Li Jing was also startled, "Your Majesty, I made a mistake."
"No, the pharmacist revealed the secret and made me wake up like a dream." Li Shimin blinked a few times, "It turns out that the authorities are obsessed with it. It seems that I really think too much! What the pharmacist saw is very true, no matter what Anyway, the war is inevitable, and the Tang Dynasty must not lose! Otherwise, all my thoughts will be unfounded! - Well, I have already prepared the left and right Longwu Guards, and it is time to go to Lanzhou!"