"What do you think?" Yang Guozhong stared at Wang Yuan with blazing eyes and asked.

Wang Yuan thought for a while and said, "I can't hide it, I told everyone to keep silent and not to publicize this matter." Wang Zhongsi tried me many times, but I didn't let go, because I didn't know what this matter would cause, so I wanted to tell Zuo Xiang to listen to Zuo Xiang's decision. But in my personal opinion, what can I think of a man who almost killed himself? ”

Yang Guozhong smiled and said: "Erlang, I understand what you mean, An Lushan wants to kill you in Fanyang, and you will hate him to the core." You must think that you want to expose this matter, put An Lushan to death, and avenge this arrow. ”

Wang Yuan frowned and said, "Zuo Xiang, this is not a personal grudge. This is a major plan related to the safety of my Datang border town. How can a general who colludes with foreigners but is responsible for guarding the border towns make the Tang Dynasty stable? ”

"I understand, I understand, you are actually worried that An Lushan has bad intentions. But if I had known about this matter a few days ago, perhaps even if there was no conclusive evidence, I would have taken the lead in asking Your Majesty to investigate the matter thoroughly. But now we know that the time has passed. Thankfully you didn't make a big deal about it, otherwise things would have gotten into trouble. Yang Guozhong waved his hand.

"What do you mean by that?" Wang Yuan was surprised.

Yang Guozhong said: "I only understand now that the purpose of An Lushan's visit to Beijing this time turned out that he was afraid that you would make a fuss about this matter after you returned to the capital, so he arrived in the capital five days ago." Moreover, he has proposed a side policy to His Majesty against the Xi people, which has been supported by Li Linfu, and His Majesty has already agreed. ”

Wang Yuan frowned and said, "What strategy?" ”

Yang Guozhong said: "The day before yesterday, His Majesty summoned me and Li Linfu into the palace and told us one thing, that is, An Lushan proposed a series of policies to appease the Xi people. An Lushan said that Li Lusu, the leader of the Xi nationality, has the intention of reconciling with our Tang Dynasty, so An Lushan hopes that through this series of policies, the Xi people will submit to our Datang and ensure the peace of our Datang border. ”

Wang Yuan was stunned, and quickly thought about An Lushan's intention to propose this strategy.

An Lushan said that this was an excellent opportunity to stabilize the border towns, and An Lushan stated three reasons. One is that the northern border of our Tang Dynasty is now dealing with the three major Hu tribes of Khitan, Xi and Turkic at the same time, and wars are frequent and wars are continuous. Although my Tang soldiers have enough food, it takes a lot of energy and financial resources to deal with them, and the military expenditure also puts a lot of burden on the imperial court. Second, because of the frequent wars, the border areas in the north have almost become barren land, and the people dare not live in peace, causing a large number of displaced people to go south, bringing great pressure to other state capitals. Blind people can also cause uncontrollable riots. Third, if the Xi people can surrender to our Tang Dynasty, from the perspective of the northern border pattern, they can not only reduce the pressure of one place, but also use the Xi people as a buffer zone to become a force leading the Turks and the Khitans, which can support each other in wartime and greatly deter the Turks and the Khitan Hu people, which is an undesirable thing. ”

Wang Yuan has gradually understood An Lushan's intentions in his heart, and An Lushan's trick is called 'It's not too late to make amends'. As soon as this plan was promoted, it was logical to have contacts with the Xi people.

Yang Guozhong continued: "Your Majesty thinks that these three reasons are very sufficient, my Tang border has Turkic, Xi, and Khitan in the north, Tubo in the west, and Nanzhao in the south. Although it is not a strong enemy, it needs to be heavily defended everywhere, and it is indeed a great burden for the imperial court. At the beginning, Taizong sent the lesbian Tubo prince Songtsen Gampo and his relatives, in fact, he also thought that peace was precious, and he could not afford to fight. So Your Majesty thinks this is feasible, but would like to ask my opinion. Li Linfu immediately agreed with this matter, saying that An Lushan's proposal was very good, and it was definitely beneficial to my Datang, and His Majesty was very happy. Although I had some doubts, I actually agreed to An Lushan's proposal in my heart, and Li Linfu also agreed, so I didn't object. ”

Wang Yuan said: "Now Zuo Xiang should understand An Lushan's intentions." “

Yang Guozhong nodded and said, "Of course I understand, when you told me those things just now, I suddenly understood An Lushan's intention to propose this policy." ”

Wang Yuan laughed coldly: "Let me guess the so-called submission conditions proposed by the Xi people, among which there must be the hope that our Datang will provide them with some armor and blades." ”

Yang Guozhong nodded and said, "Indeed." Several conditions include the canonization of Li Lusu as the king of Raole County, the general of the right Jinwu Yuanwai, and the ambassador of the Baosai army; Princess Gu'an of the clan was given peace with him; appropriation of armaments, weapons, materials and other items; Giving gold, silver, utensils, cloth, etc. ”

Wang Yuan said with a smile: "Sure enough, An Lushan's brain is indeed flexible, so it is logical for him to deliver weapons and materials to the Xi people." Although before the imperial court agreed to this proposal, An Lushan can be said to have shown sincerity in order to actively facilitate this matter, and it was this sincerity that contributed to the willingness of the Xi people to submit. ”

Yang Guozhong nodded and said: "That's right, with An Lushan's shrewdness, I'm afraid that he would have confessed to His Majesty about giving the Xi people some weapons and armor before the agreement was reached." With that mouth, His Majesty must no longer care about it. That's why I told you just now, fortunately you didn't publicize it, otherwise if you want to use this matter against An Lushan, it will be completely useless, and you will suffer from his counterattack. ”

Wang Yuan didn't know whether to laugh or cry, An Lushan was really a big mountain, and he was speculating about how An Lushan should resolve this matter on the way back to Beijing.

Fortunately, Wang Yuan had already been mentally prepared, and he didn't have much expectation of bringing down An Lushan, otherwise he would have been disappointed by now. It is no wonder that in the real historical process, the signs of An Lushan's rebellion have been repeatedly exposed, and Xuanzong never believed that he would rebel, precisely because An Lushan's methods were clever. Now that I have seen it with my own eyes, I have to admire him.

Seeing that Wang Yuan's expression was a little depressed, Yang Guozhong said in a deep voice: "Erlang, don't be unhappy about this matter. You should be glad that your caution has avoided a storm. In addition, even if I didn't have An Lushan's hand, I wouldn't agree to use this handle to bring down An Lushan, not only because of the lack of evidence, but because of the current situation. ”

Wang Yuan cheered up and said, "What's wrong with Zuo Xiang?" What's wrong with the situation? ”

Yang Guozhong's face became gloomy, he sat down on the chair and poured wine, and sighed: "I don't know where to start, I can only say that I regret not listening to your advice at the beginning, but following the advice of others to send troops to attack what Nanzhao Kingdom." Regret me. ”

Xian Yu Zhongtong and Zhang Qiu Jianqiong on the side heard this topic, and they all looked ashamed and bowed their heads silently.

Wang Yuan frowned and said, "Could it be that the rumored news is true?" ”

Yang Guozhong was stunned and said, "What rumors? ”

Wang Yuan said: "I heard Li Guangbi in Yunzhou I don't know whether intentionally or unintentionally mentioned the battle launched by Zuo Xiang to defeat Nanzhaoguo, and he said that this battle was ...... The battle was lost, Yaozhou was lost, and Zhang Qiantuo, the Taishou of Yunnan, died. I don't know if it's true or not? ”

Yang Guozhong and Zhang Qiu and Qiong Xian Yu Zhongtong changed color at the same time, Yang Guozhong's face turned pale and said: "Even he knows about this matter?" The news has spread to Yunzhou? This...... How good is that? ”

Wang Yuan said: "So is this matter true?" ”

Yang Guozhong glanced at Xian Yu Zhongtong, Xian Yu Zhongtong lowered his head, his face flushed.

"Didn't you just ask why Jiannan Jiedu made General Xianyu in the capital? I'll tell you right now that he came to the capital to beg me to help him out of his predicament. He was defeated again and again, and nearly 80,000 troops were now beaten by the soldiers and horses of Luo Feng of Nanzhao Guoge, shame, shame. In vain I trusted him so much, gave him the best weapons and armor, the best war horses, and the finest grain and grass, and now the people who beat him came to me and begged me to wipe his ass. Yang Guozhong's fingers tapped on the table, and his face was flushed with anger.

Xian Yu Zhongtong rolled to the ground and kowtowed repeatedly: "Zuo Xiang is angry, he is incompetent, and Zuo Xiang is not going to be angry." ”

Yang Guozhong gritted his teeth and said: "If it weren't for the kindness you gave me back then, and recommended me to join the command of Brother Zhangqiu, so that I have a future, I would have slashed you with a sword." ”

Zhang Qiu and Qiong hurriedly said: "Zuo Xiang is angry, Brother Xian Yu didn't mean to be defeated, hey!" This matter is angry and angry, and it is better to find a way to solve it. ”

Yang Guozhong turned his head to look at Wang Yuan and said: "When you persuaded me not to launch a crusade against Nanzhao, I regret that I shouldn't have insisted on going my own way, just to be in the middle of the court, and not to let the old thief incite others to say that I am not suitable to be the left minister." It's good now, this battle is a mess, it's a mess, do you think my situation can be good? Unexpectedly, now that the news is known even to Li Guangbi in Yunzhou, this matter is even more tricky. Ay! How is it good? ”

Yang Guozhong poured another glass of bitter wine and shook his head slowly, obviously regretting it.