Late at night, Wei Guogong Li Jing's house.

Li Shimin and Li Jing sat opposite, and there was an antique tea tray between the two, and the tea fragrance was quiet. Under the reflection of the oil lamp, the faces of both the monarchs and ministers looked a little solemn.

"Master Yao, what do you think is going to be now?" Li Shimin asked with a worried face, "It's not that I don't want you to enjoy your old age and be pure, but it's just that this matter is really difficult for me to decide." ”

"Hou Junji, ah......" Li Jing sighed, shook his head, and said, "The knife is double-edged, and killing people can also hurt yourself." Lao Chen asserted seven years ago that sooner or later this person would embark on a crooked path. Therefore, the old minister had reservations when he taught him the art of war, so he was still angry and cut off contact with the old minister. ”

"It's come to this, what can I do?" Li Shimin also sighed and said, "I haven't announced this news in public yet, but I believe it won't be long before the whole country will know about it." At that time, the people of the world still don't blame Hou Junji's resentment for the 1uan of Western Xinjiang? - That is also to blame on Qin Mubai! ”

Li Jing's snow-white brows twisted slightly, and he said in his heart: Listening to His Majesty's words, he obviously wants to protect or protect Qin Mubai. It is not surprising that Qin Mubai is young and promising, and he has just made great achievements in the limelight, and if he is allowed to suffer a great sin at this time, it is really contrary to His Majesty's original intention. After all, it's not easy to nurture a young talent up-and-comer; It's quite easy to ruin a person's reputation and reputation. But for such a big mistake, someone must come forward to take responsibility - in this way, Hou Junji is indeed certain to die! Presumably, Hou Junji also figured out this layer before he made the move of breaking the net, which is indeed in line with his xìng character!

"Your Majesty, what the old minister thinks we have to do now is how to make a decision and react militarily." Li Jing said, "Putting aside all the causal interests, Hou Junji has led 50,000 horses to kill the plateau. No matter how he wins or loses, there will definitely be a bloody storm on the plateau, which will kill countless lives. From the beginning of Hou Junji's killing of prisoners with a butcher's knife, there was a complete break between the Tang Dynasty and Tubo, and there was no possibility of peace. Therefore, in fact, it was Hou Junji who made the master for His Majesty and became the home of the Tang Dynasty once - completely cut off the back road of the peace alliance. ”

"This back road is not cut off by Hou Junji, but the Garqin Mausoleum! Hou Junji only caused this situation by accident, and Garqinling, a wild horseman who advocates hegemony, did it deliberately! Li Shimin's eyebrows twisted, a trace of cold light appeared in his eyes, and said, "He dared to slaughter the city in Taozhou, that is, he did the first year of junior high school, and Hou Junji only did fifteen." From that moment on, I sensed that the time had come for a decisive battle between the two countries. It's just that Hou Junji may not have known about the massacre of the city by Garqinling, and happened to slaughter the captives for other purposes. This also marks a complete break between my Tang Dynasty and Tubo, and sooner or later we will have to fight for survival. I just don't know if it's really Armageddon now; If so, how should this battle be fought? Please also ask Master Yao to give advice. ”

Li Jing hurriedly bent down and bowed, "The old minister doesn't dare!" ”

"It doesn't hurt for Master Yao to say bluntly. 【Leaf】【Yoyo】"

"Your Majesty, are you considering whether to do it in person?" Li Jing asked.

"Exactly." Li Shimin nodded, "But I have already gone back on my word once, and if the old matter is brought up again at this time, I am afraid that people will laugh at it." However, with such a huge national war, who should I appoint? - Qin Mubai, he is still young after all. From the fact that Hou Junji was activated, I could see that he still had a little bit of a young and frivolous mao. Not to mention Hou Junji's ability, just looking at his resume background, Qin Mubai shouldn't have used him at such a time, this is already a big risk! ”

"Indeed......" Li Jing's heart tightened, so he had to follow the emperor's meaning and said, "Mu Bai, after all, it's still a little tender." ”

Neither of them said the words, but the meaning was profound, in fact, it meant that Hou Junji was purged out of the court on suspicion of rebellion in the East Palace. On the surface, this matter is the eldest grandson Wuji in cao, but without the acquiescence of the emperor behind the scenes, how dare the eldest grandson Wuji act arbitrarily? - Isn't this against the emperor?

If it weren't for Qin Mubai's clear background and clear position, and he was deeply trusted by the emperor, the single matter of enabling Hou Junji would be enough for him to be seized by his political enemies and beaten to death.

Recruiting and betraying is not clear to draw a line, and such an act is quite dangerous in the political situation of the court.

Now, Hou Junji has stabbed the big basket again, even if the emperor has the intention to favor Qin Mubai, I am afraid it will be difficult to hide the mouths of everyone. At this time, if he wants to give Qin Mubai the commander of the "national war", Li Shimin is worried about how to convince the public - after all, Qin Mubai is not the only one available in the court!

Li Jing chewed every word of Li Shimin's words thoroughly, and his heart was like a mirror. After a moment, he said, "Your Majesty, let the old minister go!" ”

"No, no!" Li Shimin hurriedly waved his hand, "You are old and in poor health, how can I still let you work the expedition?" - Master Yao, don't get me wrong, I'm not here to ask you to go out of the mountain. Let's be clear, I want you to recommend a commander. This person can be anyone in the imperial army, including me. ”

Li Jing's white eyebrows frowned slightly, his eyes were deep, he was silent for a long time, and shook his head: "There is no suitable candidate." ”

"Not one?" Li Shimin was a little surprised, "Including me? ”

"Nope." Li Jing shook his head.

"Why?" Li Shimin asked unrelentingly.

"The general is suspicious and the army is timid, and the way to defeat is to lose. Even His Majesty was so hesitant and hesitant before the war, and suffered from gains and losses, who else would dare to shoulder this responsibility? Li Jing said, and hurriedly bent down and arched his hand, "The old minister is straightforward and disobedient to Longyan, and I hope Your Majesty will forgive you!" ”

"Master Yao is not guilty. [Leaf] [Yoyo]" Li Shimin felt a little like a dream, slapped his forehead twice, and sighed, "I really thought too much this time!" I think about how firm and persistent he was when he fought a decisive battle with the Turkic Khanate. After all these years, have I become timid and cowardly? ”

"It's not. His Majesty is still the ambitious Tang Dynasty Son of Heaven and Tianhe Khan. Li Jing arched his hand and said, "What makes Your Majesty hesitate and hesitate is not all war. ”

Li Shimin's brows jumped lightly, and he nodded in acquiescence.

Li Jing's words can be described as hitting the nail on the head and piercing Li Shimin's heart.

In his early years against the Turkic Khanate, he had just ascended the throne. At that time, he, the emperor who killed his brother and killed his brother and father and ascended the throne was not very honorable, and he wanted to buy people's hearts internally, consolidate the throne, and eliminate the hidden princelings; Externally, to confront the powerful Turkic iron cavalry, it can be described as a long time to sleep.

But these are actually just external difficulties, and as long as we work hard, we can eventually solve them. And all these difficulties add up, and they can't compare to the hidden dangers inside the court today.

This hidden danger is related to the future of Datang - the dispute between the princes.

And this hidden danger is not something that can be solved by hard work. After the prince's case was abolished, the East Palace has been vacant. Even Li Shimin himself can't decide who will take over his country in the future - to put it more clearly, in the future, what line Datang will follow, and which political group will decide the fate of Datang?!

It is to continue to forge ahead and enlarge the glory of the Tang Dynasty; Or is it a safe and stable success, continuing the legacy of Zhenguan? - If you take it literally, there is no doubt that you should choose the former. However, the former is more than 100 times more difficult than the latter.

More importantly, in Li Shimin's vision, there is no such successor or such an auxiliary political group!

In the final analysis, in the depths of Li Shimin's heart, the development of the Western Regions plan is not just to dominate the territory or seek commercial profits on the Silk Road. Otherwise, it is not cost-effective to pay such a heavy price for the war. Li Shimin, out of the mind of an emperor, clearly realized that now the civil official group above the court has completely taken charge of the mouthpiece, and the power is tilted towards the government and the opposition. It's not bad to be in office. Once he gives 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 Wenchen be the emperor?

An important reason for the development of the Western Regions plan is to improve the strength of the military in the court, in order to achieve a balance between civil and military, so that his successor can flexibly control it in the future.

There is nothing wrong with this point, and it has always been the same for kings, and many people are aware of the emperor's intentions.

It's just that there is now a situation that Li Shimin did not expect - if the war with Tubo continues, then the Tang Dynasty may not be able to do without war in the next few years. Not to mention how long the battle with Tubo lasted, even if the Zanpu abandoned the sect of Nongzan, who captured Tubo alive like back then, due to many reasons such as geography and weather, it is far more difficult to completely pacify the plateau than to clean up the grassland back then.

What's more, how long has it been since the grassland that had just been pacified rebelled again?

There is another important reason that Li Shimin has to consider. Tibet was also a powerful country, and there were many small states and military allies around him. In other words, at the same time as the final decisive battle against Tibet, it also moved the war against Tianzhu, Nanmarsh, Western Turks and many other countries!

As soon as this war starts, Datang will definitely have war as the theme in the next ten years, twenty years, or even longer!

Can Datang really afford such a war? If he fights, will he, Li Shimin, be able to see the end of this war in his lifetime?

Even if the battle is won in the end, is it really cost-effective to exchange empty treasury, withered people's livelihood, countless corpses and blood for a barren plateau?

……

It's not just a war. In Li Shimin's view, this will determine the fate of Datang and the pattern and direction of Datang in the next hundred years. It is also directly related to what kind of national policy he should choose, what route he should choose for his children and grandchildren 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 contradictions between the Tang Dynasty and the Turks were sharp and simple, and they could not be solved, but they were also easy to solve. At that time, Li Shimin was only thirty years old, so there was no need to rush to think about the successor! He had just become emperor, and he was ambitious to do something big to convince his people to consolidate the throne - and he did.

But now, Li Shimin, who is nearly half a hundred years old, is deciding what he can't see in the future, how can he not hesitate and hesitate?

……

For such a thing, Li Shimin could only discuss it with Li Jing, who had retired, and he didn't dare to talk to the eldest grandson Wuji and Fang Xuanling. Because they are also the ones who have their own minds about the authorities.

Li Jing clearly felt depressed and heavy. His Majesty the Emperor was carrying an invisible burden of 10,000 catties, which was even more painful and tormenting than when he had to fight against the Turks. No wonder, he repeatedly said that he wanted to drive the expedition in person, not because he couldn't trust his courtiers and generals, but because His Majesty the Emperor wanted to witness it all with his own eyes and decide all this again.

"Master Yao, why are you silent?" Li Shimin's thick eyebrows furrowed slightly, and he said slowly, "I have always used Master Yao as a confidant. The contradictions and concerns in my heart at this moment, I must be aware of them. Today, as a friend and brother, I will ask Brother Jing the truth, how about it? ”

Li Jing was taken aback in his heart, and arched his hand quietly, "Your Majesty, please speak." ”

"I know that Master Yao has always had the ability to know people. I just want to ask, Qin Mubai, the closed disciple of Master Yao, is he worthy of Wang Zuo's responsibility? Li Shimin asked.

Li Jing's face changed suddenly.

Li Shimin smiled straightly, "Master Yao doesn't have to be nervous, I said it, just ask as a friend and brother." Yao Shi, you can also not say it. ”

"That old minister must have nothing to say." Li Jing smiled bitterly, "Your Majesty, no one can answer such a question. Your Majesty falsely praised the old minister for his ability to read people, but how can the old minister's clumsy eyes compare to Your Majesty's torch eyes? Even His Majesty can't understand it, how can the old minister be virtuous? ”

"Okay, let's just leave it at that!" Li Shimin smiled helplessly, stood up with his hands clapped on his knees, and slowly paced back and forth in the room with his hands on his back.

Li Jing secretly wiped cold sweat! - He really hasn't done such a thing, even if he goes to the battlefield and is in the shadow of the sword and sword, he can still be as steady as Mount Tai.

Only the question that the emperor just asked, no one dared to answer. On the surface, the emperor was just asking what he thought of Qin Mubai's talents; In fact, the emperor is asking him what kind of path the Tang Dynasty should take in the future, what kind of century-old national policy should be implemented, what kind of people should be selected to form the political group of the town and the country, and what kind of prince should be chosen to succeed him!

I am afraid that Li Shimin's father, Emperor Li Yuan, may not dare to answer such a question when he is alive!!

"How do I decide?" Li Shimin walked to the side of the steps, looked up at the dark and starless night sky, and muttered, "I'm afraid this is the most difficult thing to decide in my life!" ”

Li Jing was tempted to remain silent. But since the emperor is here today, one is to value the opinions of him, a retired minister, and the other is to express the 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, and arched his hand: "Your Majesty, when it comes to military affairs alone, the old minister has a compromise method. ”

"Oh? Speak quickly! ”

"The facts are in front of us, and the question of war and peace can no longer be considered." Li Jing said, "Therefore, the top priority is to concentrate on the use of troops first." Only after the victory is in control can His Majesty think and decide other things with ease. ”

After hearing Li Jing's words, Li Shimin was stunned.

Li Jing was also stunned, "Your Majesty, the old minister has lost his words." ”

"No, Master Yao broke through the sky with one word, so that I woke up like a dream." Li Shimin blinked a few times, "Sure enough, it's the authorities, it seems that I'm really thinking too much!" What Yao Shi saw was that no matter what, war was inevitable, and Datang must not lose! Otherwise, all my thoughts are unfounded dreams! - Okay, I've already prepared the left and right dragon guards, it's time to go to Lanzhou! ”