Xue Shao hurriedly opened the chapter book and saw that this first book was a holy decree that had been prepared by the Zhongshu Province, and it was sent to the lower province to approve it, and then it was about to be issued. The content is that the imperial court is about to abandon the four towns of Anxi, and the Anxi Tiger Division, which guards Gongyue City, is about to be transferred back to the capital. At that time, the soldiers will be scattered in the palace, and some of the mercenaries will be assigned to the Luoshui battalion under the command of the right guard, and will be led by Xue Shao, the general of the right guard.

"Queen Mother, this is not appropriate!" After reading it, Xue Shao immediately said, "The four towns of Anxi are the four optimus jade pillars of the Tang Dynasty standing on half of the rivers and mountains in the Western Regions. The loss is incalculable. It will be much more difficult to get it back later. ”

"The reasons you mentioned have been raised many times in the court and in the cabinet." Wu Zetian said, "However, if it is not a last resort, how can this palace be willing to give up this thousand-mile land?" ”

Xue Shao frowned, "I don't know the Queen Mother, what do you think?" ”

Wu Zetian said: "In fact, in the past thirty or forty years, the main battlefield of the war between the Tang Dynasty and Tubo was in the Western Regions. The Tubo soldiers were strong and strong, and they took advantage of the geographical advantages, and our dynasty had many defeats and few victories in the battles with them, and at most they could only strangle their troops outside the Dafei River, and prevent them from stepping into the Helong boundary, thus threatening the hinterland of Guanzhong. ”

"In recent years, Tubo has become stronger and stronger, although it is impossible to break the Heyuan defense line of Helong Heiya Changzhi and Lou Shide to attack the Central Plains, but they are definitely determined to win the Western Regions. Nowadays, the major tribes in the Western Regions echo each other with the Tibetan secret passage, and the Tang Dynasty is a rebellion against the yang and yin. Although our DPRK has succeeded in countering the rebellion many times, it has repeatedly suppressed the rebellion. As a result of this fighting, our Korean troops are exhausted and have run out of food and grass, and our ability to control the Western Regions has become weaker and weaker, and even normal taxes are now difficult to collect. As a result, all the food, grass, and salaries needed by the army had to rely on the thousands of miles of transportation from the rear. You are the secretary of the military department, you must know that in order to feed the tens of thousands of soldiers of the Anxi Tiger Division guarding Gongyue City, our dynasty has requisitioned hundreds of thousands of people to travel thousands of miles, and has been transporting grain, grass and baggage to them for many years and months. Every year, thousands of people die on the road. ”

"Instead of such a hard support that does not outweigh the loss of labor and money, it is better to give up the land of chicken ribs in the Western Regions as soon as possible, shrink the defense line and concentrate forces, reduce the burden on the people, and raise the soldiers and soldiers. If not, not only will the four towns of Anxi fall sooner or later, but even the elite army of the Anxi Tiger Division will be wiped out and there will be no return! ”

Wu Zetian said a lot, and Xue Shao also listened very carefully, and was silent after listening.

From a military point of view alone, the four towns of Anxi will fight for the polar throat soldiers, and they absolutely cannot give up. However, from the objective analysis of the national fortune and people's livelihood, the current Western Regions is indeed a land of chicken ribs. Instead of holding on, it is better to give up early.

In the final analysis, the Tang Dynasty has fought too much war in recent years, and its military strength is too exhausted to form an effective impeachment and control over the Western Regions. As Wu Zetian said, this is not an overnight problem, but a problem accumulated over decades. Datang has been dragging on for so many years, and when it comes to Wu Zetian's hands, she must concentrate all the forces she can concentrate to pave the way for her change of dynasty. So she decided to bring back the "big tiger" of the Anxi Tiger Division, which devoured wealth, and temporarily brought it back and kept it in captivity in a cage. For half of the land in the Western Regions, which is unable to make ends meet, she also plans to give up for the time being.

It's like a patient who has been sick for many years and has finally made up his mind to have an "excisional operation".

"The minister has no objection to this bill. But the minister, reserved his opinion. Xue Shao said, "If the opportunity for the situation to improve in the future, our dynasty will still recover the Western Regions and reshape the four towns of Anxi." ”

"Yes." Wu Zetian smiled slightly and said, "I know that only you and this palace have the same heart in this Manchu Dynasty." Abandoning the four towns of Anxi now is definitely a last resort. It's like no one is really willing to cut off their internal organs in exchange for a glimmer of life. If there is an opportunity in the future, the Western Regions, it must be recovered! ”

"If there really is such a battle, I am willing to ask for my life!" Xue Shao hugged his fists.

"It's too early." Wu Zetian smiled slightly, "You can take a look at another one." ”

Xue Shao picked up another book and looked at it, this is a letter of state from the Turkic state to the Tang Dynasty suzerain, asking the Tang Dynasty to send troops to assist them in conquering the Khitan and Xi tribes who are "not subordinate and disturbing the border".

After Xue Shao finished reading it, he became angry on the spot, "Gu Lulu and Yuan Zhen, are we stupid?" ”

Wu Zetian smiled: "Don't be in a hurry to get angry first. Tell me, what do you think? ”

Xue Shao said: "The Turks, Khitans and Xi people in the north are all vassals of the Tang Dynasty. Whether the Khitan is not subordinate or whether it needs to be crusaded, this has to be said by us, when will it be the turn of the Turks to dictate? ——The purpose of the Turks is to annex the Khitan and Xi people to strengthen themselves, but they have played a banner to clear the door for the Tang Dynasty, so as to become famous. Once we agree to him, it will greatly breed their arrogance and arrogance, and we will lose the hearts and minds of those tribes who originally supported our dynasty, such as the Khitan and Xi people. ”

"What if you don't?" Wu Zetian asked.

"The Turks have never and never intended to respect our suzerain. The reason why I went to the book and asked first was to ask for some benefits as much as possible, otherwise it would be just an excuse to get a famous teacher. Therefore, if our court does not agree, the Turks will still send troops to conquer the Khitan. Xue Shao said, "The difference is that the hearts of the Khitan and Xi tribes will not be separated, and our fair image as the suzerainty will not fall." ”

"Well said." Wu Zetian said, "This reminds this palace of the three kingdoms on the Silla Peninsula back then. At that time, Goguryeo was the most powerful and Silla was the weakest, and Baekje vassal and Goguryeo jointly exerted pressure in a vain attempt to annex Silla. After receiving Silla's request for help, the Tang Dynasty decisively sent troops to rescue Silla, fought across the sea to destroy Baekje first, and then attacked Goguryeo inside and outside, and finally supported Silla to unify the peninsula. ”

"But time has passed, and now, it seems that we can't do that anymore." Xue Shao said.

Wu Zetian nodded with a deep expression, she knew better than anyone that Xue Shao was telling the truth. Now that the Western Regions have to take the initiative to give up, the Anxi Tiger Division is almost unable to raise it, what else can be used to help the Khitan fight against the Turks?

Xue Shao's brows also furrowed, now that the government and the opposition are turbulent and the country is restless, the army generals are withering and their combat strength is exhausted and overdrawn, these military affairs are really difficult to deal with, just like being poor!

"Tell me, how should this matter be distinguished?" Wu Zetian asked, "After receiving this letter of state, the palace announced that you would come to see it as soon as possible, and it was a secret discussion on the boat without ears. If it is brought to the court for public discussion, the quarrel will be boiling and there will be no result, and the government and the opposition will lose confidence in the combat strength of our army. That's not a good thing. ”

Xue Shao nodded, "Rong Chen thinks twice." ”

"Don't worry, give a reply to this palace within three days, how about it?"

"Okay."

At this time, Princess Taiping came back and changed into a beautiful court dress, which was radiant and extravagant.

Xue Shao looked at her and smiled, "Your Highness, you are so beautiful today." ”

"It means that I used to be a human being, and I couldn't get into your eyes?" Princess Taiping's words were very choked, and she rolled her hands and small white eyes that did not fit the image of a lady.

"How is that possible!" Xue Shao smiled and said unashamedly, "You will always be the goddess in my mind, the only one!" ”

The people on the boat laughed, and Wu Zetian waved his hand, "That's it, you two will flirt again when you go home!" - Order, dock! ”

As soon as his feet stepped on the solid ground, Xue Shao's heart inexplicably calmed down - he didn't ask me for a showdown and let me divorce!

"Xue Lang, what do you want?" Princess Taiping's face was red and simple, and she held Xue Shao's arm and whispered very affectionately and warmly, "Let's go home?" ”

Xue Shao looked at her snow-white and plump half-naked breasts, and couldn't help but swallow his saliva, and couldn't help but think: It's really a soldier for three years, and the sow is a sable cicada...... I have been nesting in the barracks for more than 20 days, and now I see how Princess Taiping looks so pleasing to the eye, how impulsive she looks!

Princess Taiping obviously understood the meaning of Xue Shao's fascinated expression, and with a red face, she hurriedly pulled him away, and kept shouting-"Go home, go home, go home!" ”

Xiao Biesheng is newly married, this night Xue Shao can be regarded as tired and beautiful.

Many conflicts between husband and wife can often be brought to naught by a fierce battle between the beds. After this night of warmth, Xue Shao and Princess Taiping seemed to have returned to the past, they were very happy with each other, and they both had a sense of great happiness of "lost and regained".

It was already late at night, and the couple hugged each other, but they did not sleep.

"Xue Lang, do you know everything?" Princess Taiping finally took the initiative to bring up this layer.

Xue Shao blinked, "What do you know?" ”

"Do you have to put garlic in it?"

"I really didn't pretend." Xue Shao said, "Xuan Yunzi said something to me, but I don't think she necessarily knows everything. ”

Princess Taiping was silent for a moment, and then said, "If—I just said if—you want to change your surname, you won't be able to accept it, right?" ”

Xue Shao frowned, he really didn't expect this, and Xuan Yunzi didn't know that he didn't tell me.

"How?"

Princess Taiping said: "A few days ago, you were training in the Luoshui camp, and my mother successively gave several ministers to change their surnames to martial arts, and they all accepted. Among them are the general you are familiar with, Zhang Qianxuan, and the imperial historian Lai Zixun who impeached you. ”

"Do you think I'll take it?" Xue Shao asked.

Princess Taiping looked at Xue Shao with a pitiful look and shook her head, "You can't even accept Feng Xiaobao's surname changed to Xue, how can you accept that you change your surname?" ”

Xue Shao sighed lightly and said, "Actually, if it's just me changing my surname, it's not a big problem." The name is just a title, and I don't really care. What really matters is the Xue family behind me. You can't force them to change their surnames with me, can they? Even if they are forced to change it together, the ancestors of the century-old Xue Clan's Wang clan who have left their names in history can't be changed! ”

"That's ......" Princess Taiping nodded lightly, "Then if you want to give up our marriage, it's even more impossible, right?" ”

Xue Shaodouran sat up and looked at Princess Taiping condescendingly, his eyes shining!