The high-level military meeting hastily dispersed.

In the end, Li Shimin still hasn't made up his mind, he needs to think.

Li Su was a little disappointed when he left the tent, anyway, he was doing his best, although he was pessimistic about the first battle of the Eastern Crusade, he still hoped that after his efforts, he could change the result, even if it was good.

It's a pity that Li Su's proposition has encountered a lot of resistance, and even Cheng Yanjin, who loves him the most, opposes it.

Walking out of the handsome tent, Li Su looked up at the gray sky, sighed softly, and the sadness between his eyebrows appeared.

was patted on the shoulder, Li Su turned around and saw Li Jizheng looking at him with a smile.

"Uncle......" Li Su bowed.

Li Ji pointed ahead and said, "Accompany the old man." ”

Saying that, Li Ji walked straight ahead, without asking what Li Su meant.

Li Su had no choice but to follow quickly.

It was already winter, the grass was bare, revealing black hard soil, and the bitter cold wind whistled through, pouring from the collar to the neck, making people shiver with cold.

Li Su shrunk his neck and put his hands into his sleeves to keep warm, but he still felt useless, the cold wind cut his skin inch by inch like a knife, not only cold, but also painful.

Li Ji didn't realize it, wearing iron armor and walking with his head held high in the cold wind, his black beard and long hair dancing with the cold wind, quite a bit of a general's demeanor.

In contrast, Li Su, who walked like a quail with his neck bent, suddenly felt that his current appearance was a little obscene......

After walking for a short while, Li Ji coughed twice and said in a deep voice: "What did you say in the handsome tent just now......

Before he finished speaking, Li Su suddenly grabbed his sleeve and said with a wry smile: "Uncle, forgive me, forgive my nephew for being rude, it's too cold outside, and my nephew is weak, let's ...... Can you go to my barracks and talk? There was a charcoal fire in the barracks, and there was a barbecue ......"

Lowering his voice, Li Su said sneakily: "If you are interested, your nephew still has spirits there, which can warm your body, in short, let's not blow the wind outside, I'm afraid I won't be able to withstand it if I blow it again......"

Li Ji frowned: "How can a young man in his twenties be so weak?" Spend more time on your body to get through the right way. ”

"Yes, yes, let's go back to the barracks first, and then how about asking you to reprimand you when we go back to the barracks?"

Li Ji's face softened slightly, and then he glanced at him unkindly: "Where did you get the wine?" Do you know what the crime of hiding alcohol in the army is privately? ”

"I know, I know, my nephew brings wine to make medicine, if the soldiers are wounded by knives and guns, rub the liquor on the wound, it can reduce inflammation and pus, and reduce fever, well, it is very useful......"

Li Ji scolded with a smile: "If you bring wine, you will bring wine, but you still make up these unpopular excuses to fool the old man, thinking that the old man can be bullied?" ”

Li Su sighed heavily, why do others always don't believe what he says? Don't you look untrustworthy?

Li Ji looked around left and right, coughed dryly twice with an uncomfortable expression, and said, "Where are you...... Is there really wine? ”

"Indeed, not much, before leaving, I asked my wife to fill me with a few skins, dozens of pounds......"

Li Ji's eyes lit up, and he suddenly said, "Then what are you waiting for, go to your barracks!" Remember ......"

Li Su comprehended and hurriedly continued: "Uncle don't worry, my nephew will never say to anyone, when my uncle is interested, just come to my nephew, the family doesn't talk to the family...... Uh, no, the fertilizer water doesn't flow into the fields of outsiders, cough, it doesn't seem right......"

"Hurry up, what a sour word!" Li Ji kicked him impatiently.

************************************************************************

Entering the barracks and sitting down, Li Su drove Fang Laowu, Zheng Xiaolou and other troops out, and only he and Li Ji were left in the barracks, so Li Su took out a ten-pound large leather bag from his luggage and handed it to Li Ji.

Just as he was about to turn around and find a lacquer ear cup for Li Ji, who knew that Li Ji couldn't wait to pull the stopper, and his big furry mouth was aimed at the mouth of the sac and poured a big sip of spirits.

Li Su's movements froze suddenly, and his mood was extremely depressed.

The most annoying thing about this kind of unhygienic person, you drink it alone, and others still drink it?

Li Su had a bitter face, thought about it, and took out another skin bag from his luggage, pulled out the stopper and took a sip gently.

After pouring a large sip of spirits, Li Ji's face flushed a little, bared his teeth for a long time, and finally breathed a sigh of relief and laughed: "Good wine!" I have been away from Beijing for two months, I haven't smelled alcohol for a long time, and today I am addicted to it, haha, good! ”

Li Su said diligently: "Uncle wait a minute, nephew will get you some dishes to drink......"

Saying that, Li Su took out a pair of barbecue tools from his luggage, the tools last time were taken by Li Shimin unreasonably, Li Su didn't dare to ask for it, so he had to find a blacksmith who repaired ordnance and swords with the army, and rebuilt a set of tools.

The frozen mutton was cut into slices, roasted on the fire, and then sprinkled with crushed dogwood, cumin, minced ginger and other seasonings, and a smell of meat suddenly filled the air in the barracks.

Li Ji snorted, then glanced at him, pointed at him and scolded with a smile: "Sure enough, he is a good-mouthed goods, he doesn't treat himself badly wherever he goes, and his life is worth it if he lives like you." ”

Li Su said with a smile: "I am really not used to eating food in the army, so I simply start a gang by myself, and my nephew's lazy problem will not be able to be changed for the rest of his life...... Uncle, try it, the meat is roasted to the fire, which is much stronger than the food in the army, and it is a rare delicacy to use it to satisfy the stomach. ”

Li Ji picked up a piece of mutton and stuffed it into his mouth, scalded it straight, then smiled, praised it, and poured a sip of wine after eating, with a beautiful face.

The two uncles and nephews sat facing each other, drinking wine and eating barbecue, a rare leisurely enjoyment.

was chatting about the short gossip of the parents, when he suddenly heard a rough voice outside and said loudly: "Huh? What tastes so good? It's meaty! Haha, and the smell of alcohol! The old man has come to the right place today! What about Li Su? Get out of here, old man! ”

Listening to the voice, Li Su's face froze, and then he was shocked, and hurriedly planned to hide the wine bag, but Li Ji slowly raised his neck and took a sip of wine, and said calmly: "What are you panicking about?" The old horseman smelled it, and it was useless to hide it. ”

Saying that, Li Ji suddenly turned his head and shouted outside the barracks door: "The old man is so noisy! If you want to drink and come in by yourself, you are not afraid of being beaten by His Majesty's military sticks? ”

The door curtain was opened, Cheng Biting Jin's burly body appeared in the barracks, his hairy face was full of joy, rubbing his hands, and at first glance he saw the skin bag on Li Su's hand.

"Donkey Day! This is called the day! Cheng Yanjin laughed, pointed at Li Su and said: "The little baby is not kind, if you have good things, you don't talk about filial piety to the old man, what is it to hide and hide?" I haven't seen you show your mouth after two months of marching, and the old man has been greedy for two months......"

Li Su couldn't help but smile bitterly as he watched the second skin bag fall into the wolf's mouth and tiger's den.

Today is by no means an auspicious day for the zodiac, and it is destined to break the fortune and hit the demon......

Sighing, Li Su resigned himself to taking out the third skin bag from his luggage......

So the three people in the barracks each held a leather bag in their hands, and they drank wine with barbecue, and the atmosphere was relatively harmonious for the time being.

After Li Ji and Cheng Yanjin poured half a catty of wine, their faces were a little ruddy, so they slowed down their rhythm and chatted while eating meat.

Cheng Yanjin turned his head to look at Li Su, bared his teeth and smiled: "Little baby, the old man refuted your idea in front of His Majesty today, isn't it very comfortable?" ”

Li Su hurriedly said: "Uncle Cheng is also a loyal and upright heart of the country, how can the kid hold a grudge for trivial things?" The kid didn't dare to be weak, in fact, I was also a public spirit, but I had a different idea from Uncle Cheng, but in the end, I went the same way, all for the Tang Dynasty to win this battle, and for the children of Guanzhong to have fewer casualties. ”

Cheng Yanjin glanced at Li Ji, and said with a smile: "Your nephew is really neat, he speaks calmly, and everything he says is pleasing to people." It's no wonder that the courtiers and generals in the court all think highly of him, even the eldest grandson Wuji, the old immortal, is about to become his enemy, and the people before and after him also praise and respect the baby, never slander, I don't know who taught him the ability to behave in the world, if the six little bastards in my family can learn his three points of skill, even if the old man dies now, the Cheng family has at least three generations of scenery, and death is blind. ”

With a flickering smile, Cheng Yanjin's face gradually became serious, and he said in a deep voice: "Actually, your method is not bad, the reason why the old man refutes your idea in front of His Majesty is not because your method is not good, but because you have not figured out Your Majesty's thoughts......"

Li Su frowned: "What does Your Majesty have in mind?" ”

Cheng Yanjin said slowly: "Have you ever wondered why Your Majesty launched this Eastern Crusade? ”

Li Sudao: "In order to win the hearts of the people in the world, in order to leave a name in history." ”

Cheng Yanjin nodded: "Yes, what the Sui Dynasty has not done several times, if it is done in the hands of His Majesty, this is equivalent to announcing to the people of the world that Li Tang Sheji is the destiny of heaven and the desire of the people, if this battle can destroy Goguryeo, it will not only expand the territory of the Tang Dynasty, but also make the world return to the heart, so that the various families and gate lords are jealous, so as to strive for more control for the Li imperial power, of course, leaving a name in history is also one of the purposes, in short, this is the original intention of His Majesty to decide the Eastern Crusade......"

Li Su said puzzledly: "What does this have to do with what is being discussed in today's handsome account?" ”

Cheng Yanjin sighed: "Of course it matters, Your Majesty will use the manpower and material resources of the country to launch this war of annihilation at any cost, gather 300,000 troops in a short time, and pounce on Goguryeo with the strength of a lion fighting a rabbit, what does he want?" What he wants is absolute control of the army, and the result he wants to achieve is that the 300,000 army will destroy Goguryeo under the sole command of His Majesty, and shine in the temple of the court with the merit of one person, and Zizheng you, but put forward the idea of dividing the troops, one is divided into three shares, and each of the three leads an army to attack Pyongyang from three directions, the method is really good, but have you thought about it, if after the division of troops, for various reasons, the person who finally broke through the capital of Goguryeo is not Your Majesty, but a general in the three armies, do you think Your Majesty can accept this result? ”

As soon as these words came out, Li Su suddenly understood a little, and even Li Ji, who was silent on the side, sat up straight, pondering something with a solemn expression.

The corners of Cheng Jin's mouth hooked up an unpredictable smile, and he lowered his voice and said: "Ping Gaoli is Your Majesty's lifelong wish, and it can even be said to be an obsession, the result of this battle is too important, and this credit is too important, so important that it is ...... No one can afford such a heavy contribution except Your Majesty, understand? If the credit for defeating Pyongyang is taken away by other generals, how can you make Your Majesty embarrassed? Those who traveled thousands of miles to eat and sleep in the open with the respect of ten thousand times, and ran all the way to Goguryeo, is it just to see the excitement, even if Goguryeo is extinguished, after returning to the division in the future, others ask who broke through the capital of Goryeo, and teach His Majesty how to answer? After the people of the world and the family of gate lords know about it, should this merit of destroying Goguryeo be counted on the head of His Majesty, or on the head of a certain general? If you think about it further, in Your Majesty's heart, what is the merit of the generals who attacked Pyongyang,...... Or guilty? ”

Li Su was shocked when he heard this, and a layer of cold sweat broke out behind him for no reason. looked at Cheng Yanjin in horror.

Cheng Yanjin's eyes flashed with a rare shrewd light, and he said leisurely: "Therefore, the strategy you said to divide the troops is not advisable, if Your Majesty really adopts your method, then in the end, even if Goguryeo is destroyed, our generals have merit on the surface, but in fact, they have buried disasters for themselves, and the end is uncertain, the reason why the old man opposes you is for this reason......

"There are a lot of famous generals in the Tang Dynasty, all of them are handsome people who have won all battles, Zhenguan four years ago, who was the most powerful general in the court? It's not the old man, it's not your uncle, it's Wei Gong Li Jing, Zhenguan four years, Li Jing was ordered to attack the Turks in the north, and the Eastern * Turks were brought to the bottom, captured and killed, and the strong neighbors who had dominated the grassland desert for hundreds of years were swept away by Li Jing, so that His Majesty was ashamed of the Weishui Covenant back then, what kind of merit is this? What a splash! The credit is so great that it is enough for His Majesty to be crowned king, but what happened to Li Jing as a result? ”

Cheng Biting Jin's voice became more and more inaudible, and he said like a mosquito: "...... The master of the meritorious master, His Majesty felt uneasy, and later Xiao Yu, the imperial historian, participated in Li Jing's book, saying that he was robbing the army, hehe, such a great achievement, what is it to grab something? But His Majesty really took it seriously, and after Li Jing returned to his master, His Majesty not only rewarded him, but reprimanded him severely, and finally only gave him the false title of Guanglu Doctor, and added 500 food estates, tsk......"

Li Ji, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly frowned, and said coldly: "Old man Cheng, you have drunk too much, be careful that the wall has ears!" ”

Cheng Yanjin was shocked, looked up to the sky and laughed: "I haven't drunk for two months, it's really easy to get drunk, haha, it's really a little upset......"

With a smile, Cheng Yanjin stared at Li Su and said slowly: "You keep in mind what the old man said just now, when you make suggestions in the future, don't always think about how to win, think more about Your Majesty's thoughts, and then speak when you have a thoughtful idea, understand?" Don't be as reckless as today, the old man just wanted to kick you out when he was in the tent, and let you get stuck! ”

Li Su was silent for a moment and said, "Uncle Cheng, if you don't consider Your Majesty's thoughts, if you just talk about the strategy of dividing the troops, does Uncle Cheng think it is feasible?" ”

Cheng Biting Jin patted him on the shoulder and said with a smile: "Of course it is feasible, to be honest, your idea is much better than that of the old man and your cheap uncle, the old man listened to the enlightenment at the time, and it was instantly transparent, haha, even if the troops are divided, there are almost 100,000 people per share, my Tang Dynasty soldiers have always been good at outnumbering the enemy, with 100,000 soldiers and horses, you can sweep the world, you said that the division of troops to the north to reject the Khitan, to take Liaodong Baiyan in the west, and to build an in the south of Ding'an City, this method is really clever, this time Your Majesty brought the old man these veterans of a hundred battles out, It is enough to take out any one person to lead an army, and even better is that you say that the generals of each army are not subordinate to each other, which is the essence of the art of war, although we old guys are not ambiguous in fighting, but everyone's tactics are different, if we belong to the same army, it is inevitable that it will not be able to be used, but if we lead an army alone, it is to make the best use of our old guys, and anyone has the confidence to lead the army to sweep Goguryeo......"

Shaking his head, Cheng Yanjin sighed: "It's a pity, although the idea is good, it doesn't have the heart of His Majesty, so the old man advises you to give up this idea, so as not to cause trouble." In fact, it is also a way to concentrate the main force and pour all your strength into a blow, but it may pay a lot of casualties, but this method is in line with Your Majesty's wishes, and we as courtiers can only echo it. ”

Li Su's face was a little gloomy, and he said in a low voice: "I'm afraid that what I will pay is not just casualties, but defeat......"

Cheng Yanjin and Li Ji were stunned: "What do you mean?" ”

Li Su shook his head, smiled in disguise, and then changed the topic: "Come, uncle, Uncle Cheng, and take a sip." Alcohol is not allowed in the army, out of the boy's barracks, you two don't show the stuffing, if His Majesty knows, the boy's twenty military sticks are inevitable ......"

Cheng Biting Jin squinted his eyes and smiled cheaply: "Afraid that the old man will sue?" Tell me, how many good treasures are still hidden in your barracks, take them out and let the old man share the profits, and the old man will not sue you if he gets the benefits. ”

Li Su was so angry that he wanted to flip the table.

It's really a meat bun beating a dog, just drank my wine, and you still want to coerce me, what about your face?

- Or, just strike first, and now go to the handsome account to complain, saying that Cheng Bites Jin steals wine and drinks, and the generals in the army will be spanked if they drink, right? I really want to see this old rascal rolling and wailing in pain......

Li Ji and Cheng Yanjin drank happily and left happily and satisfied.

Of course, the two of them were very polite, and took away all the remaining wine in their skins, and said that they would keep it for the younger generations, and it was estimated that it would be kept and evaporated within two days......

After being robbed, Li Su sat in the barracks for a while, just drank strong wine, and his brain was a little dizzy, so he got up and walked out of the barracks, planning to take a walk.

The mood is not very good, Li Su doesn't understand very much, it is Li Shimin's lifelong wish to destroy Goguryeo, and now hundreds of thousands of people are running desperately for his wishes, including Li Su, and they are also racking their brains to give him ideas, in order to let him go smoothly and smoothly to defeat Goguryeo, and from then on the world will return to his heart and leave a name in history.

Everything is so natural, why is it a good idea to reduce casualties and increase the probability of victory, but for the sake of the so-called trivial matter to which the merit belongs, and have to veto it, preferring to use a stupider stupid way to increase casualties, but also to keep the uniqueness of one's own merit, how can such a mentality win the battle?

No matter how wise and open-minded Li Shimin is in the history books, Li Su has to admit sadly after experiencing it that Li Shimin in this period has lost the sharpness of the year, and gradually changed from self-confidence to conceit, and he is self-righteous and self-serving, unable to listen to advice, and most importantly, his vision is not so far-sighted, and he began to embark on an old road that most wise monarchs will take in their old age,—— dim-hearted, vain.

Therefore, in the strategy of the Eastern Crusade, there is such a ridiculous scene now, not accepting good words, only taking foolish strategies, even if they pay greater casualties and increase the probability of defeat, they must maintain the majesty of their imperial power.