"Recruiting veterans? I didn't expect you to value those veterans so much!"
In the Qin Mansion, after Li Zexuan finished his long speech, Cheng Yaojin and Qin Qiong's eyes were slightly bright, while Li Er was silent for a long time, and then he looked at Li Zexuan lightly and said:
"What you said makes sense! I originally planned to send 300,000 troops to attack the Turks this time. These 300,000 troops were all allocated from the Twelve Guards of Chang'an, and elite soldiers from various states were recruited along the way. The army will be expanded to 400,000. At that time, the twelve guards in the capital will be the main force, and the elite soldiers from various states will play a supporting role!
But now that I hear what you say, it would be a waste to just ask the soldiers to assist the twelve guards and horses! In this case, I have decided to issue an order to announce to the world that I will select 150,000 elite soldiers from various states and rush to Chang'an within one month. At that time, I will send a few generals to personally command these soldiers! They will also become the main force when attacking the grassland! But if this happens, the national treasury will be tight! "
Although the imperial soldiers of the Tang Dynasty would prepare their own weapons and horses to go to the battlefield once they encountered a war, now Li Er changed his plan and decided to let the elite imperial soldiers selected from various places come to Chang'an City for training one month in advance. This decision Behind the scenes, the imperial court had to pay an extra 150,000 soldiers to consume food for a month!
This is not a small amount!
"Your Majesty, at this critical moment of national war, I believe that we must not be stingy with money and food. If the Tang Dynasty loses in this battle, it may never be able to make a comeback!"
When Li Zexuan heard this, he was secretly anxious. How long has it been? Are you still here worrying about money and food? Are all the emperors so stingy
When Li Er heard this, he glared at Li Zexuan angrily and said, "You don't know how expensive firewood and rice are when you are not a family man. Do you know how much food and armor the 150,000 soldiers and horses will lose in a month? This time the forty-five Attacking the grassland with tens of thousands of soldiers and horses must be a protracted war. The loss of military supplies and money and food on the road will be an astronomical figure. Although the treasury has saved some money due to the Shipping Department for more than a year, this time the locust plague, the court It has also damaged some vitality! In the battle on the grassland, if we cannot completely defeat the Turks within four months, the imperial court will most likely be dragged down by this war!"
Li Zexuan looked solemn and said: "Your Majesty, you have misunderstood me! I have said before that the whole country of the Tang Dynasty should be prepared for war. This includes not only the guards and horses of Chang'an, but also the six yamen, Civil and military officials, not only elite soldiers from various places, but also civilian nobles, businessmen and ordinary people!
This battle is related to the fate of our country for hundreds of years in the coming years of the Tang Dynasty. If we win, our Tang Dynasty will lose a powerful enemy, and the northern border will be stable for at least fifty years; if we lose, all the people of the Tang Dynasty will become slaves of the subjugated country and become Turks. Prisoner under the orders! The minister believes that as long as the interests and benefits are explained clearly to the people, they will definitely support the imperial court. The rich will contribute money and the powerful will contribute. This is how the whole country can be mobilized to prepare for the war against the Turks!
In this way, I do not believe that the imperial court will be overwhelmed by the long supply line, let alone that the Tang Dynasty will lose to the Turks! "
After Li Zexuan finished speaking, Cheng Yaojin and Qin Qiong couldn't help but feel excited and passionate. What does it mean to prepare a country for war? This is called preparing the whole country for war! If we can really unite the hearts of all the people of the Tang Dynasty, then there really will be no problem in defeating the powerful Turks!
It's just about uniting the people. This is easy to say, but not easy to do. When the two of them thought of this, their surging hearts gradually calmed down.
Why doesn't Li Er understand this? He frowned and said: "It's easy for you to say this, but it's probably harder to do it! Although the world has been peaceful for many years, people's lives are still very miserable. I can't do this kind of thing by asking them to pay. come out!"
As the emperor of a country, Li Er has the pride of Li Er. It is already very difficult for him to be an emperor competing for profits from the people. If he is asked to ask for money from the people, Li Er feels that it is better to subjugate the country!
As an emperor, he cannot afford to disgrace this person!
I have to say that our Majesty Li Er's views are still very upright, a bit too upright!
Li Zexuan was choked and paused for a moment. He held up his hands and said: "Your Majesty, although ordinary people are suffering from hardship, there are many wealthy businessmen and wealthy families among the people. This war is also related to their vital interests. They have the ability and obligation to support In this national war, what I want is for them to contribute some money and food to ensure that the imperial court’s attack on the Turks is completely flawless!”
Li Er narrowed his eyes and said meaningfully: "Do you know that asking those businessmen to pay money is as difficult as climbing to the sky?"
The richer people are, the stingier they are. Of course Li Er understands this truth! Regardless of those aristocratic families, all of them are worth millions, but if they are asked to voluntarily donate money to the national treasury, I believe no one will be willing to donate!
Li Zexuan insisted: "Your Majesty, I believe that there are still a few people who are stingy and can't see the overall situation. If your Majesty is worried, I can first ask the Yanhuang Chamber of Commerce to mobilize businessmen from all over the world to raise funds. All the money donated will be used For this war against the Turks! If the merchants all respond and gather together, how can those high-ranking nobles remain without a penny?"
Li Er was speechless for a long time. Although he was unwilling to compete with the people for profit, he knew in his heart that this war with the Turks would definitely be a hard battle, especially in the battle in the north half a month ago, the Turk wolves Qi's unparalleled combat power cast a shadow over his heart. In this case, it was obvious that the Tang Dynasty would not be able to defeat the Turks in a short period of time. In that case, the court would be dragged into the quagmire of war and fall into financial difficulties. Dilemma!
After all, this long supply line requires huge manpower, material and financial resources, which is completely different from the previous wars of the Tang Dynasty to suppress domestic rebellions!
"Okay! Let's do what you want! First let's see if the businessmen in this world will be as generous as you said!"
After a long silence, Li Er finally spoke.
"I obey the decree!"
Li Zexuan raised his hands in response, and then said: "Your Majesty! In addition to raising funds from the private sector and mobilizing the power of the whole country to support the national war, I believe that the court should not sit back and watch Jieli concentrate its superior forces to eliminate Tuli and unify the entire grassland during this period! Now! Jieli's troops are already huge, if we just sit back and watch him unify the grassland, the imperial army may have a harder time winning this battle!"
Hearing this, the three people's eyes lit up, and Li Er quickly asked: "Oh~? Then what's your plan? Tell me quickly!"
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