After retiring from the maidservant, Yang Guozhong also chewed a piece of osmanthus lotus paste cake, took a sip of tea, and said, "Brother Wang, you should know something about the recent things in the court. ”

Wang Yuan shook his head and said: "How do I know, I don't know anything about the affairs of the imperial court when I fight in the barren mountains and wilderness of Tubo every day. ”

Yang Guozhong said with a smile: "Also, I wanted to write to inform you, considering that you are leading the army and can't divide your gods, so I didn't tell you." Then it's not too late to tell. It's not a big deal, and it doesn't have much to do with us. It's just that it may affect us, so we have to discuss it. ”

Wang Yuan said: "Zuo Xiang said that's it. ”

Yang Guozhong said: "The first thing is the matter of this peace conference. His Majesty originally wanted to completely solve the problem of Tibet. But the four of you played together, and Your Majesty was also helpless. In addition, the Turks are ready to move, and Your Majesty has agreed to your request for peace for the sake of safety. But in fact, His Majesty still has some regrets in his heart. What you said today, Your Majesty will definitely not listen to you. I'm also reminding you. ”

Wang Yuan frowned and said: "The premise of our peace conference is that the imperial court can send more than ten or two hundred thousand soldiers and horses to help. Otherwise, there is no other way but to negotiate peace. We didn't force His Majesty to make any decisions, we just chose one or the other. The imperial court can't send troops, so it can only retreat to the second, isn't it natural? ”

Yang Guozhong shook his head and said, "You, you don't understand anything." The truth is this truth, but in His Majesty's heart, it is inevitable that there is a sense of persecution. How could the imperial court send so many soldiers and horses? The premise of sending troops does not exist, and the choice of one of the two can only be selected and this article, which in my opinion also carries some persecution. ”

Wang Yuan smacked his lips and said: "I don't understand this, except for Hexi Longyoujian Nananxi, the imperial court still has seven or eight hundred thousand soldiers and horses in the border towns, why can't you mobilize two hundred thousand soldiers and horses to help?" Let me put it bluntly, An Lushan has four towns of soldiers and horses in his hands, and the total number is probably more than 350,000. Can't get a hundred thousand soldiers out of him? In a little closer, 150,000 soldiers and horses are extremely easy. It's not that we don't want to exterminate Tibet, but this matter of mobilizing soldiers and horses is the responsibility of the imperial court, and we can't move An Lushan's soldiers and horses. ”

Yang Guozhong frowned and said: "The prime minister is also in charge of the military department, and the transfer of soldiers and horses is the responsibility of the prime minister, do you mean that it is my responsibility?" ”

Wang Yuan shook his head and said, "I didn't say that, and this is not Zuo Xiang's business alone." I think that the left minister may not be able to move An Lushan's soldiers and horses. That's the problem. ”

Yang Guozhong said in a low voice: "Do you also know that An Lushan's soldiers and horses do not obey orders? ”

Wang Yuan said: "I have heard of it. ”

Yang Guozhong scolded in a low voice: "It's so angry to say. The Turks captured the surrendered city under the jurisdiction of Shuofang. Shuo Fang Jiedu made Zhang Qiqiu anxiously ask for help from the imperial court. The imperial court could only mobilize troops and horses from Hedong Road, which was under the jurisdiction of An Lushan, to rescue. Unexpectedly, An Lushan did not agree, and said that the border under his jurisdiction was also attacked by the Khitans and Turks. What else did Zhang Qiqiu say that he had no ability, and more than 50,000 soldiers and horses couldn't defend a surrendered city. If Zhang Qiqiu is not competent, he can recommend Shi Siming, the soldier and horse envoy of the Pinglu Jiedu, to be the envoy of Shuofang Jiedu, and with 30,000 soldiers and horses, he can resist the enemy. Tell me, what is this called? ”

When Wang Yuan heard Shi Siming's name, his face froze. This is the first time he has heard Shi Siming's name, and before that, he focused on An Lushan, and Dao ignored this person. In fact, the Anshi Rebellion in history has Shi Siming's share. His name is juxtaposed with An Lushan, which shows that he is also one of the culprits.

Wang Yuan said in a low voice with a sneer: "It's a big joke, the soldiers and horses of the imperial court can't be adjusted, and the soldiers raised by the imperial court are like An Lushan's private soldiers, isn't it a bit ridiculous that Zuo Xiang doesn't realize it?" ”

Yang Guozhong spread his hands and said: "Of course I think it's ridiculous, but Your Majesty is coaxing An Lushan, what can I do?" As long as I say a few words in Your Majesty's ear, Your Majesty will immediately reprimand me for not living the belly of a gentleman with the heart of a villain. said that except for An Lushan, no one could guard the northeast border of the Tang Dynasty. What do you think I can do? ”

Wang Yuan said: "I know you can't help it, but then how did An Lushan agree to transfer troops?" ”

Yang Guozhong said: "You still say that you don't know anything, don't you know everything?" Later, Li Linfu wrote a letter to him, and An Lushan mobilized troops to relieve the siege. What An Lushan is most afraid of is Li Linfu, the wicked have their own wicked grinding. The wheel is cunning and insidious, Li Linfu is ten times stronger than An Lushan, so he is afraid of Li Linfu. For honest people like us who don't have a city government, An Lushan doesn't take it seriously. ”

Wang Yuan almost squirted out a mouthful of hot tea in his mouth, Yang Guozhong called himself an honest person, this is the funniest joke he has ever heard, if he is honest, there will be no honest person in the world.

On the issue of An Lushan, Wang Yuan didn't want to say much, he didn't know what means An Lushan used to make Xuanzong trust him so much. An Lushan, who is being favored, can't rashly tell the secret of his imminent rebellion, otherwise he will suffer backlash. And in today's situation, it is useless to mention it. Even if the imperial court believed that An Lushan was about to rebel, the removal of An Lushan's four towns as the envoy of the festival was also the beginning of the rebellion. That's the worst of all, because I'm not ready. But Wang Yuan still hoped to remind Yang Guozhong that the imperial court could no longer allow An Lushan to take it and expand its strength. Otherwise, it will be out of control in the future.

"Prime Minister Zuo, I'll say a few words in private, and you don't have to take it to heart. You are in charge of the military department, and you should restrain An Lushan. At least in terms of materials, weapons, grain and grass, you can't let the lion of An Lushan open his mouth. The Xiongwu City he built has hoarded a large amount of grain, grass, war horses and equipment, Khitan and Dong. Are the Turks so difficult to deal with? Need to deal with it with such fanfare, three or four hundred thousand soldiers and horses to deal with it? Has Zuo Xiang ever thought about the hidden worries in this? ”

Yang Guozhong was stunned and said, "What do you mean?" ”

Wang Yuan shook his head and said, "I didn't mean anything, I just said it casually." ”

Yang Guozhong frowned deeply and said: "There are some things that can't be arbitrary, but since you said it, it reminded me." Looks like I need to limit him somewhat. Anyway, a few days ago, he went to the recital and asked His Majesty to equip his soldiers and horses with something. ”

Wang Yuan said: "What is equipped?" ”

Yang Guozhong looked at Wang Yuan and said, "I heard that you made a thunderbolt divine cannon, and the souls of the Tubo people were scattered." What the hell is that? ”

Wang Yuan was stunned for a moment, and thought: I didn't expect this news to spread so quickly, and it has already reached An Lushan. Needless to say, what An Lushan wants is Shenwei cannons and thunderbolts.

"It's a long-range siege machine that I spent a lot of money making. The imperial court ordered me to lead an army to attack Tibet, and I could not help but be prepared. The Shenwei cannon is a trebuchet, which was used during the expedition to the Southern Zhao, and the thunderbolt is the ammunition equipped with the Shenwei cannon, which is similar to the boulder originally projected. Wang Yuan said in a low voice.

Yang Guozhong was surprised: "It seems that there is really such a thing, is it very fierce?" That's what An Lushan wants. ”

Wang Yuan smiled and said: "This An Lushan is not stupid, he immediately asked the court for the sharp weapon I made." He thinks about beauty, he doesn't want to have a fight in this life. ”

Yang Guozhong bit his lower lip and thought, "Wang Yuan, don't blame me for not reminding you. I'm afraid that your thunderbolt will be handed over to the imperial court, and the imperial court will unify the production of equipment. It's fine that you made this thing to use in the military, but if you don't hand it over and keep it private, you're probably going to be attacked. Li Linfu will mention this matter tomorrow, and I will give you a reminder first. ”

Wang Yuan laughed and said, "I knew it would be like this." I spent millions of yuan to develop this cannon, and this attack on Tibet consumed hundreds of thousands of thunderbolts worth hundreds of thousands of yuan, and I took on a lot of debts. I didn't have anywhere to ask for the money. Tomorrow, the court wants me to make a thunderbolt, and I finally have a source for this money. Whoever mentions it tomorrow, I will ask him for money. 1.5 million before and after, nothing less. ”

Yang Guozhong was stunned: "One and a half million? Spent so much money? ”

Wang Yuan sneered: "This is still the cost of research and development. The cost of making a thunderbolt, manpower, raw materials, and storage costs 50 yuan per piece. The imperial court is equipped with soldiers and horses from all over the world, and a Shenwei cannon must be equipped with at least white-haired thunderbolts. An army must be equipped with at least thirty or fifty Shenwei cannons to be effective, that is, an army needs at least three or five thousand thunderbolts. How much does it cost? ”

"Fifteen to two hundred and fifty thousand." Yang Guozhong is worthy of being born in Duzhilang, and he reported the amount of money in one bite.

"Yes, it's just an army. The ten major festival armies, plus more than a dozen forbidden armies in the north and south of the capital. Zuo Xiang will do the math again. ”

"That'...... That's ...... The cost of four or five million yuan. Yang Guozhong's mouth was so open that he could see the pituitary gland in his throat.

Wang Yuan said: "Yes, and these things will be gone when they are beaten." One fifty times, after hitting the ground, fifty times will be thrown into the water. It's very fast to consume. I'm afraid I have to replenish a round every year. Excuse me, is the consumption of the imperial court? In order to defeat the Tibetans, I had to smash pots and sell iron to make this thing, and now I regret it to death. The entire wealthy businessmen in Jiannan have been borrowed by me, and they don't say anything, they must be scolding me behind their backs. It's okay to say when I can pay back this money, but if I can't pay it back, I'm afraid they will sue the court. ”

Yang Guozhong opened his mouth and waved his hand again and again: "How can this thing be made?" The imperial court's annual tax is only 10 million yuan, and the imperial court can't do anything just by building this. ”