Although Goguryeo is already recovering, Chang'an has no time to celebrate the elimination of Goguryeo for the time being, and it seems that everyone has forgotten that this time is, everyone is still arguing whether to start a war against Tibet, not only the imperial court, but even the people are discussing this matter.

Tubo's treachery has indeed caused many people not to hide it, especially at that time, even Chang'an was panicked, and now that it has eased up, of course it has to take revenge on Tubo.

At this time, Li Ji came back.

When the generalissimo returned, the people's hearts were more settled, knowing that Tibet would not be able to enter the pass, and the voice of war against Tibet was getting louder and louder.

Before Li Ji arrived in Chang'an, whether it was the main battle faction or the main peace faction, they all went to Li Ji, because they all knew that when Li Ji came back, Li Zhi would definitely ask for his opinion, and his opinion was likely to prompt Li Zhi to make up his mind, so both sides came to lobby Li Ji.

Li Ji, the old fox, coped with both sides and did not show his thoughts.

Sure enough, as soon as Li Ji arrived in Chang'an, Li Zhi immediately summoned him alone in the Liangyi Palace.

Inside the Liangyi Palace.

"Your Majesty, the old minister."

"Sikong, hurry up and excuse me."

Li Zhi personally stepped forward, helped Li Ji up, held Li Ji's hand, his eyes were moist, and said: "Sikong is fighting for me in the Tang Dynasty, expanding the territory, and now he has helped me eliminate Goguryeo, help my brother in the middle of the atom, and take revenge. ”

As he spoke, he bowed.

Today's etiquette, the emperor should have returned the courtesy to the prime minister, the gap between the two status is not so big, it was from the beginning of the Yuan Dynasty, the prime minister became the same as the emperor's house slave, because the rule of the Yuan Dynasty is a group of illiterate and hooligans, where do they know what etiquette, they are originally family rule, and the generals are all born as their house slaves, not to mention the prime minister, unfortunately, the Ming Dynasty inherited the Yuan system.

"How dare you, how dare you."

Li Jicheng was so frightened that he hit the ground and almost hit his head on the floor.

Li Zhi hurriedly helped Li Ji up again.

Li Ji said very modestly: "Your Majesty, in fact, you can destroy Goguryeo, the ministers dare not take credit, Han Shangshu and General Su are the ones who have made great contributions, if it weren't for them, it would be difficult to win this battle." ”

"Han Ye?" Li Zhi was only very surprised, Su Dingfang he could understand, but Han Yi was just the logistics manager, and asked, "How do you say this?" ”

Li Ji also told Li Zhi how Han Yi used tactics to break Pyongyang, and if Su Dingfang and Han Yi did not break through Pyongyang, then this expedition would definitely not achieve its goal.

He must make this clear, because Li Zhi asked him to retreat at that time, although he had enough reasons to go back to support Su Dingfang at that time, but this was very sensitive and could not be concealed and not reported.

Li Zhi didn't think about this at all, and he couldn't help laughing when he heard it, and said, "It seems that Sikong suggested that I let Han Yi serve as this pacification ambassador, which was a clever move!" But as he spoke, he suddenly sighed again, and said, "It's a pity that I didn't take care of my family, and I almost ruined this great opportunity, I am really ashamed to be a king!" ”

Li Ji hurriedly said: "Your Majesty must not say that, in fact, this matter is also to blame the old minister, the old minister should have reminded His Majesty at that time, because our army is exhausted, Tubo is very likely to take risks and make trouble in the northwest, but unfortunately the old minister is only concerned about attacking Goguryeo, but ignoring Tubo, the old minister is the crime that deserves death." ”

Li Zhi waved his hand and said, "I don't know, in fact, someone had expected it at that time." ”

Li Jidao: "Who? ”

"Cui Jiblade."

"Cui Jiblade?"

Li Ji was a little stunned.

Li Zhi nodded, and told Li Ji about Cui Ji's plan, and then sighed: "It's a pity that I didn't dare to send the Guanzhong defenders at that time, and I almost fainted and killed Pei Xingjian. ”

In fact, Li Jidu already knew, including the merchants who resisted the Tubo army, he also felt incredible, this was really a stroke of genius, but he could also understand Li Zhi, there was no commander in the court at that time, Li Zhi of course chose a conservative strategy, in case Chang'an was compensated, then this battle could not be described as bloodless.

Li Zhi asked again: "Sikong, now the DPRK and China are divided into two factions, Xu Shizhong and Lu Shangshu suggested that I negotiate with Tubo and suspend the army, but Wei Zhongcheng and they suggested sending troops to Tubo, I can't make up my mind for a while, I don't know what Sikong thinks?" ”

Li Ji immediately said: "Your Majesty, the old minister is a martial artist, if Your Majesty orders the old minister to attack Tubo, the old minister should lead the troops, but whether to send troops or not, it is not what the old minister is good at, Your Majesty should refer to Lu Shangshu and Wei Zhongcheng for their suggestions." ”

When Li Shimin was in power, he often shouted a few words, because he knew that there were Fang Xuanling, eldest grandson Wuji, and Wei Zheng at that time, and he shouted a few words, and Li Shimin might not listen to him, but now the situation is different, his status is too high, and if he wants to shout a few words, it is likely to affect Li Zhi's thoughts and the situation in the court.

Moreover, he just eliminated Goguryeo, and now he immediately suggested that Li Zhi send troops to Tubo, which means that this military power has always been in his hands, in case Tubo is destroyed, this is a great merit, Li Zhi really can't afford to be rewarded, the only way out is to add a yellow robe, so he even pushed down Han Yi and Su Dingfang for the credit of destroying Goguryeo, this credit actually doesn't have much meaning to him, he is already a very popular minister, he is really low-key, otherwise, how can Jingzong be arrogant over there, this can't go up, The destruction of Goguryeo was also just one of his dreams.

Li Zhi felt a little disappointed, he didn't expect it to be so long-term, he trusted Li Ji very much, and said: "I want to send Sikong to Tuyuhun to lead the army, I don't know what Sikong wants?" ”

Li Jidao: "Your Majesty, the old minister has just returned to the court, and he is far less clear about the situation of Tuyuhun than Wang Fangyi, since they are doing so well, why don't Your Majesty believe them once and let them deal with Lu Dongzan." Your Majesty, the old minister is very old, and I am afraid that he will not be able to accompany His Majesty all the time, and His Majesty should give these young generals some opportunities. ”

Li Zhi nodded, but there was a sadness in his heart.

After talking with Li Ji, Li Zhi returned to the dormitory with a heavy heart.

Wu Meiniang stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, how did Sikong say it?" ”

Li Zhi shook his head and sighed, and told Wu Meiniang what Li Ji meant.

After hearing this, Wu Meiniang groaned a little, and suddenly said: "Your Majesty, the concubine has some opinions on this matter. ”

Li Zhi was surprised: "I remember that I asked you about this before, but you said that this is a military matter, and you don't know much about it." ”

Wu Meiniang smiled bitterly: "The concubine said that before, it was because the concubine thought that this matter was very important, and she had to ask Sikong what she meant first, but now Sikong has not expressed her position, so the concubine dares to say her thoughts." But Your Majesty, the concubine has to speak first, the concubine's opinion, Your Majesty just listen, if you think it's inappropriate, then the concubine hasn't said it. ”

Li Zhi said: "You talk about it first. ”

Wu Meiniang said: "The reason why the situation in the northwest can be reversed is mainly because of the support of local businessmen and people, but why they want to do this is nothing more than that they are very satisfied with the rule of my Tang Dynasty, they like the northwest plan proposed by Han Yi very much, and they don't want to change it, but in the final analysis, they are still fighting for their own lives."

But now because the people and businessmen have gone to war, all the development of the northwest has come to a standstill, if the war continues, the order that we have worked so hard to establish in the northwest will be in vain, and the life of the people in the northwest will become very difficult, they are fighting for their own lives, and the result of the war is to ruin their own lives, then they will definitely fight for their own lives again, and at that time, I am afraid that the northwest will fall into chaos again.

They are so loyal to Your Majesty, why don't Your Majesty think about it for them, although they take the initiative to make peace with Tubo, although they lose face, but as long as the people of the Tang Dynasty live well, then even if Tubo is capricious in the future, they will be so helpless today. ”

Li Zhi nodded frequently when he heard this, "You are right, this battle cannot be continued to be fought, otherwise, the people's livelihood in the northwest will be dragged down, so what is the point of this battle?" Then he complained slightly: "If you had spoken out earlier, I would not have been troubled for many days." ”

In fact, when he saw Li Ji, he also felt that he should stop, because Li Ji was not young, and he couldn't fight in the east and west like he was young, and the same was true for soldiers.

Wu Meiniang said: "If there are other things, it's okay to say, but this matter, the concubine really doesn't dare to say anything." ”

Li Zhi smiled: "Don't be modest, your words can be described as hitting the nail on the head, and you must stop the army quickly." ”

Wu Meiniang asked again: "Then I don't know who I plan to send to negotiate with Lu Dongzan?" ”

Li Zhi frowned slightly, and said, "How about letting Lu Chengqing talk about it?" ”

Wu Meiniang shook her head and said: "I think Lu Chengqing may not be Lu Dongzan's opponent, this war was provoked by Tubo, but we took the initiative to make peace with Tubo, then Lu Dongzan will definitely be aggressive, asking for a price, I think there is only one person suitable for this task." ”

"Who?"

"Han Ye."

Wu Meiniang said: "Han Yi and Lu Dongzan have fought several times, they know the roots, and they have never lost the upper hand, so this matter can only let Han Yi negotiate with Lu Dongzan." ”

Li Zhi frowned and said: "But Han Yi is still in Goguryeo now, if Tubo intends to truce the army, then there is no need for Han Yi to rush back." ”

Wu Meiniang said: "Your Majesty, don't forget that the war in the northwest is an unconventional war, how to praise the businessmen in the northwest, how to make the northwest recover, this needs to be handled by Han Yi, and no one in the DPRK and China can do it." ”

The businessmen of the northwest not only donated money, but also personally led the troops to go, all the affairs of the northwest stopped, spent so much money, how can the businessmen recover, if the businessmen go bankrupt, everyone will be unemployed, then the northwest will be over, and the imperial court has to give them an explanation, although the people are active, but the imperial court must give a statement, in fact, the main thing is how to restore the development of the northwest.

These all need Han Yi, because the Northwest Plan is set by Han Yi.

Li Zhi sighed: "You can't make it up, this matter is really for Han Yi to deal with." ”