Li Su came to Datang, and every step was to cross the river by feeling the stones. From the very beginning, he just wanted to be a Tang idler who was waiting for death, and was forced to embark on the road of competing for the throne step by step, and finally became the emperor of the Tang Dynasty. There was no clear plan in advance.

In formulating a national development strategy, any country is constantly adjusting itself in accordance with the development and changes in the international and domestic situation.

In Li Su's personal feelings, he originally believed that defeating the Arab Empire, opening the way to the west, and finally occupying Europe was the ultimate ideal.

This ideal now seems to be unrealizable for the time being, the Tang Dynasty has passed Li Yuan and Li Shimin to him, and it is already the third generation, from the divided war situation, to today, it is not easy, if you directly start a war with the Arab Empire, it is very likely to make the achievements of several generations of hard work ruined.

The Tang Dynasty signed a peace agreement with the Arab Empire, which removed the greatest threat from the West, and was free to deal with internal hidden dangers, as well as the problems of Silla, Baekje, Tibet, Tuyuhun, Southeast Asia, and South Asia.

From this point of view, it has surpassed the Tang Dynasty in history.

If you can do this with the time and energy of your life, the territory of the empire can be expanded to at least more than 20 million square kilometers, and it can be regarded as a contribution to future generations.

Li Su decided to go steady, first to do this step. As for whether the Arab Empire can be destroyed in the future and then conquer Europe, if one's generation cannot do it, it will be left to the children and grandchildren.

Thinking of this, Li Su's heart suddenly brightened, no longer entangled, and decided to achieve the goals that can be achieved in front of him step by step.

As for the future, it will depend on the specific situation when the time comes.

Hearing Li Jing's question, Li Su said: "The Byzantine Empire is a powerful country, in addition to the Byzantine Empire, there are also some relatively powerful countries in Europe, and it is not easy for the Arab Empire to destroy these powerful enemies, and it is very likely to lose both."

Datang can use this period of time to calmly solve the internal hidden dangers, capture all the surrounding countries that can be captured, and gradually digest them, Datang's national strength will be further enhanced.

Even if Datang really goes to war with the Arab Empire in the future, by that time, Datang's strength should far exceed the strength of the current Datang, and we have one more chance of victory. ”

After the highest level of the Tang Dynasty unified its thinking, it was decided that Wei Zheng would take the lead in continuing to promote domestic economic construction, and the general Li Jing would take the lead in foreign expansion.

Soon, on behalf of the General Staff, Li Jing formulated a plan to attack Silla and Baekje, and then came to report to Li Su.

Tai Chi Hall, Li Su's office.

After reading Li Jing's war deployment, Li Su said: "General, your plan is very good, but you can take a look at this first." As he spoke, he handed him a copy of the recital.

Li Jing took it and saw that it was the recital of Wang Xuance, the envoy of the Japanese archipelago.

Wang Hyunce mentioned in the recital that although 500,000 young and strong Japanese men had been transferred from the Japanese archipelago, the population base was still very large, and he suggested that the war against Silla and Baekje should be used to consume some more Japanese slaves.

After Li Jing finished reading this recital, Li Su said, "Look at this again." ”

Li Jing took it and saw that this recital was submitted by Zhang Xuansu, the envoy of Goguryeo Xuanfu, and he also proposed that the base of Goguryeo people was too large and not conducive to immigration, so he also proposed to use the Goguryeo people to launch wars against Silla and Baekje.

Li Jing smiled: "It seems that everyone wants to go together." ”

Li Su said: "This is a good way, and you will be fully responsible for this matter." ”

Li Jing said: "The minister obeys the order. ”

Li Jing returned to the General Staff, discussed with several deputy chiefs of staff, and decided to send Zhang Shigui, head of the Operations Department of the General Staff, to the Korean Peninsula to preside over the war against Silla and Baekje.

Zhang Shigui is one of the famous generals of the Tang Dynasty, who has made great contributions in the elimination of Xue Ju, Xue Rengao, and the Eastern Expedition to Goryeo.

After Zhang Shigui arrived in Pyongyang, he discussed with Zhang Xuansu, Wang Xuance, Niu Jinda and others, and decided to recruit 200,000 former Goguryeo people and 100,000 Japanese slaves, under the supervision of the Tang army, with the cooperation of the Tang Navy, to attack Baekje first.

In the early morning of September 12, 642, the Tang army entered the territory of Baekje without declaring war by land and water, and the king of Baekje surrendered after only three days of resistance.

After two months of fighting, Silla's army, although it won several victories, annihilated no less than 100,000 troops of the Goguryeo and Unu temporarily organized by the Tang army, but their own strength was also greatly depleted.

In the end, the Tang army dispatched the main force and defeated the Silla army, and the Silla queen committed suicide.

The Korean Peninsula issue was resolved, and the king of Buyeo took the initiative to merge Buyeo into the Tang Dynasty.

At this point, the northeast of Datang has been completely unified.

The eyes of the high-level leaders of Datang began to turn to the southwest region, and the first person to enter Datang's field of vision was Tuyuhun.

Spring Festival of 643.

Tugu Hun Nuo Hao Bo Khan received an invitation from the Tang Emperor Li Su to come to Chang'an for the Spring Festival.

Nuo Haobo Khan arrived in Chang'an on the 25th of the lunar calendar, and Li Su has basically been drinking and chatting with him these days. Ashina Qing is familiar with him and has always been with him.

During this period, they did not talk about a single official business, except for enjoying singing and dancing, that is, drinking, during which Li Xiaogong came forward to receive him, and then arranged for him to go to the Chang'an Great World, and enjoyed the love of the Japanese slaves and Goguryeo beauties.

Although the reception received by the Khan was extremely high and rich, he felt very uncomfortable.

In the past six months or so, the vassal states of the Tang Dynasty have basically been incorporated into the territory of the Tang Dynasty. The Khan knew that sooner or later Tuyuhun would have this day.

Tuyuhun is sandwiched between Tubo and Datang, there is no room for expansion, Tubo has always wanted to annex Tuyuhun, and Datang has the same idea.

Since Tuyuhun became a vassal state of the Tang Dynasty, the Tang Dynasty has been stationed in Tuyuhun with an elite cavalry division, not long ago, Tuyuhun's army of 20,000 people was transferred to the Persian Empire, and it was very easy for the Tang Dynasty to annex Tuyuhun.

Nuo Haobo Khan knew that Tuyuhun had no other way out, but he was really unwilling to let his inheritance fall into the hands of others.

That night, the Khan of Nohoba was in a sad mood, and after a conquest of a beautiful Japanese slave, he fell into a deep sleep.

At two o'clock in the morning, a dark shadow appeared on the roof of the house, and soon the black shadow hung a rope to the window of the Khan of Nohoba, pried open the window, and entered the room.