After hearing his father's reply, Li Chengqian could only smile bitterly.

Alas! In the final analysis, the mentality of those who become emperors will definitely change.

Impossible? One thing, even if the probability of happening is very low, is it really ignored?

Now he finally understood why the Turks were really able to break through the siege and reach the Weishui border, threatening Chang'an.

The reason is the underestimation of the opponent.

Probably, the emperor thought that the Turks were just plundering south as usual, and returned to the steppe after getting something.

With a sigh, Li Chengqian put down his chopsticks. Although the grass carp was stewed extremely delicious, it was really difficult for him to swallow at this time.

Yu Tai didn't have so many worries, the fish soup was soaked in rice, and he ate it very heartily.

Seeing that he was eating so happily, Li Chengqian put most of his fish in front of Yu Tai. Yu Tai did not dislike it, but replied gratefully, "Thank Your Highness for the reward", and then continued to eat.

Li Gang saw Li Chengqian's absent-mindedness, and sighed: "It's already an expected result, what else do you have to regret?" Don't you have a plan? Even if the Turks did not arrive here, in the eyes of the old man, you have done something positively, and no one can accuse you. Prevention is also a credit. ”

Li Chengqian arched his hand to show that he was taught, but he still had no appetite, put down his job and left the room.

Although he was not the one in command, since he had called the craftsmen, he had to show up on the construction site.

Chang'an - Xiande Palace

Because the Taiji Palace was occupied by the Emperor Li Yuan, Li Shimin, as the emperor, could only use the Xiande Hall as a place for court meetings.

At this time, there was a huge border map on the main hall, and a group of generals sat on the ground, listening to the emperor's explanation.

The bamboo pole was pointed at Gaoling, and Li Shimin said in a deep voice: "The news of the concentration of Turkic troops has been confirmed, and it is estimated that they will definitely take action today and tomorrow." And they want to go south, Gaoling is the first line of defense, ladies and gentlemen, who do you think I should send to defend Gaoling? ”

Cheng Yanjin and Yu Chigong came out of the queue almost at the same time, and said in a deep voice: "The last general is willing to go!" ”

Li Shimin glanced at the two of them and nodded with satisfaction.

With his accession to the throne, these old generals were also able to soar to the sky, and each of them received the title of duke. I thought that the sudden wealth would kill their courage, but I didn't expect them to stand up at this time.

Gaoling is the first pass, and if the defense is successful, it will become famous, and if it is broken, it will be stinking for 10,000 years. It can be said that this is both a place of credit and a region full of crises.

"Okay, then Zhijie, I will order you to go to Gaoling, even if you can't defend it, don't die on it. Jingde, I named you the head of the Jingzhou Road march. Jingzhou's troops are far superior to Gaoling, if Gaoling can't resist it, then let the Turks in and defeat them in Jingyang! ”

Cheng Yanjin and Wei Chigong received the order at the same time, and immediately walked out of the palace gate.

Looking at those whispering generals, Li Shimin smiled slightly, opportunities are never given, but grasped by themselves.

Nowadays, many people have become high-ranking princes and marquises, and the idea of safe and enjoyable pleasure occupies their minds. As everyone knows, it is easy to get a knight and it is difficult to keep a knighthood, how can you do the follow-up credit that you haven't seen?

Gaoling and Jingyang have sent generals, and they can almost rest assured. As for the prince's statement that the Turkic forces are driving straight into Chang'an, it is impossible for this kind of thing to happen.

Just when he breathed a sigh of relief, a long-bearded military general in the front row of the generals spoke: "Your Majesty, Weichen thinks, do you want to mobilize Chang'an's troops to Jingyang again?" Jingzhou's army is only 30,000, and it may be difficult to resist the Turkic attack. ”

Li Shimin was slightly angry, but after seeing the person who spoke, he loosened his brows.

In this world, I am afraid that Li Jing is the only one who can guide Li Shimin on the march, but will not be angered. Although he was angry at Li Jing's vacillation in front of the Xuanwu Gate, Li Shimin also admired him from the bottom of his heart in terms of the art of war.

"No, in my opinion, the Turks should also be raiding southward as usual this time. In the past, the Turks plundered the Jingyang area and went back satisfied. This time, I'm afraid it's still the case. Although I may be very sorry for the people of Gaoling and Jingzhou when I say this, but now that the treasury is empty and cannot withstand a big war, we can not go to war, so we should not go to war. ”

Listening to the emperor's words, the generals all bowed their heads.

The two most powerless words in the world are probably "no money", as long as people have no money, they have no confidence, this is true for civilians, and the same is true for the country. Although it has the top army in the world, but now that the treasury is empty, there is no food and grass for the empty army, and there is no way to go to war.

The enemy provokes in front of him but cannot return fire, for the generals, there is nothing more shameful than this.

Seeing the thoughts of the generals, Li Shimin sat down, sighed and said, "I don't know what you think, I also came out of the army, and I am also full of resentment at this time. However, Datang's national strength does not allow it. I promise you that I will go to war with the rest of the world for as little as three years and as much as five years! ”

Liu Hongji, the Duke of Kui Guo, knelt down on one knee: "My emperor is mighty!" ”

Qiu Xinggong, Li Jing, Zhang Gongjin and others also knelt on one knee together: "My emperor is mighty!" ”

Li Shimin nodded with satisfaction and instructed the palace maid to prepare the banquet.

Now that the Turkic invaders are on the horizon, the generals need to stay in the palace and be ready to go to war at any time. Even he, the emperor, could only sleep in the Hall of Virtue at this time, ready to receive news at any time.

After the discussion of the battle situation ended, the generals no longer knelt down, but sat together in twos and threes and chatted.

In the past, Li Jing, who was a lonely person, was absolutely ignored. But at this time, there were more people surrounding him.

Zhang Liang, the Duke of Yunguo, asked Li Jing while drinking tea: "It's not once or twice that the Turks have invaded the border, even when the world was in turmoil at the end of the Sui Dynasty, they didn't stop looting, why did you react so much this time?" ”

Li Jing sighed: "It's not that the reaction is big, in the face of the enemy, the old man is used to imagining them difficult to deal with, cunning as a fox." On the line from Gaoling to Chang'an, the troops are not abundant, to be honest, the old man has wanted to strengthen the troops several times, but..."

Li Jing's words were not finished, but everyone had already understood what he meant.

As the Duke of Wei Guo and the top title among the generals, Li Jing can be described as infinitely beautiful. But because of the attribute of "wall grass", he is in an extremely embarrassing position in the new dynasty.

Hehe, with a smile, Liu Hongji said: "Li Jing, you are used to thinking about things so complicated, where are there so many conspiracies and tricks in the world, the two armies are fighting, isn't it still the number of people and combat power?" ”

With Liu Hongji's words, the surrounding generals all laughed.

In the midst of laughter, Li Jing could only smile bitterly.