Sun Xiangfu has never opposed the expansion of the Tang Dynasty, but he hopes that it will be an expansion that is planned, methodical, and in line with the pace of development, and the consequence of blind occupation is often that the reign is not long, and then there is a rebellion, and then it returns to the original state.

In history, the Tang Dynasty was not strong enough because the internal development was not strong enough, resulting in unprecedented prosperity was just a flash in the pan.

Sun Xiangfu knows that it is more difficult to defend than to develop, so he is trying his best to develop Datang's economy, infrastructure, etc., in his opinion, without these things to build a foundation, even if Datang gets more territory, it will be lost quickly.

"Fang Xiang, Your Majesty won't be unaware of the danger of an uncontrolled person like Wang Hao!"

"How can I not know, but, what Wang Hao did, although it was a bit extreme, but in His Majesty's opinion, his original intention was not to harm the Tang Dynasty itself, if a person like him wants to be prosperous and rich, it is at his fingertips, but on the contrary, he wants to do things, and His Majesty just takes a fancy to him."

"He doesn't want to do things, he wants to do things, this time we can resolve the crisis of Dingxiang, to put it bluntly, it's luck, once he succeeds, what kind of consequences will it be, you know!"

Hearing this, Fang Xuanling also frowned, Wang Hao's ability is beyond doubt, but he has never been loyal to his own ideas, and even wants the emperor to follow his will, which is very important, but no matter how much he talks to Sun Xiangfu now, it is useless, the key depends on what Li Shimin thinks.

More than half an hour passed, and Li Shimin walked out of the tent where Wang Hao was held with a complicated expression.

Sun Xiangfu was about to step forward to speak, but was stopped by Li Shimin.

"Wang Hao's matter, don't be in a hurry to say it for the time being, have all the preparations in the city been made?"

"Everything is ready."

"Well, the current priority is to hold this sports conference, as for Wang Hao's life and death, let's discuss it after the sports conference."

"That, Your Majesty······"

"I heard that the mission and the delegations of the countries of the Western Regions will enter the city before noon today?"

"Yes."

"It's not too early then, so hurry up and arrange something to greet you! Tang Qing has been going for three years, he has worked hard and made great contributions, and all the people in the mission have made great contributions to the country, and after the sports conference is over, I will have my own reward, so you can comfort me first. ”

"Obey."

Li Shimin didn't want Sun Xiangfu to talk more, and Sun Xiangfu didn't want to pester him and said, anyway, Wang Hao is locked up now, in addition to being guarded by Qianniu, there are also his own secret guards who are closely monitored with binoculars, and he is not afraid that he will escape, so let's do this for the time being!

After looking at the time, Sun Xiangfu hurriedly straightened out the guard of honor and went to the West City Gate, and after Li Shimin returned to the camp of the meeting, he immediately summoned Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, Li Jing and others to discuss the matter.

"Wang Hao, this person, has done a lot of evil, and he should be punished for his crimes, but the court's public invitation, I have to take care of it, what do you think, how to deal with it?"

With Li Shimin's authority now, when he thinks of doing things, where do he need to care about the opinions of the courtiers, and when it comes to the people who should be killed, he came to ask a few important ministers whether they should be killed, which means that he doesn't want to kill.

"Your Majesty, Wang Hao is too dangerous, the minister thinks that he must be punished, and Zhengming's thoughts, Your Majesty should also know that if you forcibly pardon him, I am afraid that Zhengming will kill him if he fights against the decree, for the sake of a Wang Hao, it is not worth losing a Zhengming." Through some communication with Sun Xiangfu, Fang Xuanling can be regarded as agreeing with Sun Xiangfu's proposition and taking the lead in speaking.

However, Li Shimin listened to Fang Xuanling's words, but did not rush to express his position, but turned his head to look at Li Jing and Du Ruhui, obviously, Fang Xuanling's proposition was not what he thought in his heart.

"Your Majesty, the minister thinks that Wang Hao should be punished, and not being punished is not enough to calm the anger in the hearts of the soldiers of the three armies." Li Jing said after Fang Xuanling.

The Battle of Yanjin has passed less than two years, the cause and effect of the incident, the hundreds of thousands of soldiers of the Eastern Expedition, but they all know, and then there is the Battle of Yunnan, Shelong and the Yunnan delegation, now they are in the camp! Because of Wang Hao's plan, the number of dead and wounded young people in Mengshezhao was as high as more than 30,000, and the losses of all the departments in Yunnan added up, more than 100,000 people.

After Li Jing, Du Ruhui spoke again, "Your Majesty, if Wang Hao dies, the Tang Dynasty will be Haiqing Heyan, no matter how worry-free, as long as you follow the current pace and concentrate on development, after five or ten years, Datang will be strong enough to crown the world, what else do you have to consider?" ”

Seeing that the three humerus were in agreement, Li Shimin's face was a little gloomy and said, "I also know that once Wang Hao dies, the development of my Datang will no longer be hindered, I just feel a little pity."

In the past, Mencius once said that if you enter, you will not be able to fight at home, and if you go out, you will be invincible to foreign patients, and the country will perish, and then you will be born in sorrow and die in peace!

Zhengming, as well as all Aiqing, are all wise men who assist me, however, without the trouble of abroad, it is still possible for our Datang to die in a comfortable life.

So, I don't want to stop and enjoy my comfort, can you understand my intentions? ”

You make your mind so clear, who can not understand?

However, Fang Xuanling spoke again, "Your Majesty, a gentleman loves money, and he must take it in a proper way, and the same is true for the country. Even if it succeeds, it is difficult to convince people, and after that, I am afraid that there will be continuous rebellions.

Moreover, the land of the Western Regions is thousands of miles away from my Tang Dynasty proper, and it is easy to fight down, but it is even more difficult to defend and govern the land. ”

After Fang Xuanling finished speaking, Du Ruhui took over and said, "The minister seconded the proposal, the existing talents of my Datang Dynasty are still insufficient to govern the existing states and counties and the four borders, and blind expansion is harmful and unprofitable.

Moreover, among the Western countries, the stronger countries are all countries with a long heritage, a large population, and not a country that dies quickly, once they fall into that quagmire, it will disrupt the rhythm of our Datang's own development, which is really unwise, Your Majesty should think twice. ”

After Du Ruhui finished speaking, Li Jing was not idle, and took over the words, "Your Majesty, the land of the Western Regions is thousands of miles away from my Tang Dynasty, if you start a big war in such a far place, you must be fully prepared, otherwise, once you lose, you will be vulnerable to backlash." ”

Li Shimin nodded while listening to the suggestions of the three of them, and when Li Jing finished speaking, he smiled and said, "What the three of you said, I have already considered it, it is really because of the dignified entry into the Western Regions, the price we have to pay is too great, and I will feel that it is a pity to kill Wang Hao like this." ”

Hearing this, Fang Xuanling and the three of them were stunned, but they secretly regretted it in their hearts.

Wang Hao must have taken advantage of Li Shimin's psychology of wanting to take a shortcut to persuade Li Shimin.

Sure enough, Li Shimin said, "Zhengming has always advocated that the means of developing the people's livelihood and economy should naturally absorb the surrounding ethnic minorities and countries, which I agree with, and the facts have also proved that the method he advocated is correct, otherwise there would be no Dingxiang today, the prosperity of Shanyang, and there would not be a situation where Xue Yantuo, Yunnan, and the northeastern provinces are close to my Tang family."

However, this is too slow, for the land near the Central Plains, it is acceptable, but for the distant countries of the Western Regions, it is difficult to work, how to make the people of the countries of the Western Regions also lean towards me like them?

This requires some planning.

Today, Wang Hao told me a whole set of plans, using the different religious beliefs and different interests of the countries in the Western Regions, gathering the troops of small countries to attack the big countries, from beginning to end, my Datang is just the border of Chen Bing, developing the economy of the border areas, gathering the people of the small countries who are avoiding wars or have no intention of fighting for hegemony, and use the most labor-saving method to bring the territories and people of the Western Regions countries into the rule of our Tang Dynasty. ”

"Your Majesty, the people of the Western Regions are not all fools, and even if they want to do these things, they should not be let Wang Hao, an uncontrolled person, do it, there are still many wise and resourceful people in the court." As soon as Li Shimin finished speaking, Fang Xuanling retorted.

These words made Li Shimin silent for a while before he said, "Although Wang Hao is acting in an extreme way, it is only because his ideological ideas are different from my current concept of governing the country, and he is still loyal to our Han nation."

Moreover, he has two armies of men and horses at sea, one of about 500 people, in the waters of the Wa Kingdom, to help him collect money and population, and a brigade of 5,000 people, which is led by hundreds of Han people, leading more than 4,000 young and strong men of the Wa Kingdom, as early as the beginning of the year, he has already set off by sea to the Persian seas······"

In the conversation for about two hours, Wang Hao almost told Li Shimin about his forces and plans in the Western Regions, he was going to the Western Regions to do things, and he couldn't do it without troops and manpower, so he stretched out his hand to the Wa Kingdom.

At this time, the state of Wu was the country with the highest level of Chinese proficiency in overseas Zhuyi, and it was easiest to train into an army with the young strong captured from the state of Wu, so this army with the young and strong of the country as the main body would be the main force of Wang Hao in the Western Regions, and from beginning to end, it would carry the banner of the state of Wu, and in terms of reputation, it would not damage the Tang Dynasty.

After that, Wang Hao took into account almost all the problems that Li Shimin was worried about, as long as Datang could help them with some food, ordnance and equipment at sea, they could basically sit and wait for the land to be collected.

Even, these grain and ordnance, they can use a large amount of gold and silver from the Western Regions to buy from the imperial court, whether they succeed or not, they will not let the imperial court suffer.

A plan that basically does not require investment, but has huge benefits, how can Li Shimin not be tempted!

Fang Xuanling and the others originally wanted to persuade Li Shimin, but they were almost persuaded by Li Shimin, almost, that is, no.

After thinking about it again and again, Fang Xuanling still suggested to Li Shimin, "The heart of Zhengming is not cold, and the heart of the soldiers of the three armies is even more cold, and Wang Hao is not credible, Your Majesty, the benefits of killing Wang Hao are much greater than the thousands of miscellaneous troops who support him." ”