"The Turks have attacked the Gaz, and we can't quench our thirst! But the Turks fought against the Turks, and the army of the North Court was close at hand, so why didn't they come to the rescue? Li Tao said the question in his heart.

Yao Chong explained: "As soon as the Turks raided, the Beiting garrison did not expect it first. Second, the Beiting garrison thought that the strength of the Turks was stronger than that of the Turks, so they did not send troops. Unexpectedly, it turned out to be such a result. ”

Li Tao stared at Yao Chong and said, "I'm afraid this is what the imperial court meant, right?" Even if Beiting was prepared and had the ability to send troops, without the will of the imperial court, he would not dare to act rashly. ”

Yao Chong sneered: "The original intention of the imperial court is to let them fight each other, and it is best to lose both, which is the most beneficial to the Tang Dynasty." ”

"Confused!" Li Tao took the case.

In the course of the entire battle, the Tang army did not come to the aid of the Turgish, which not only ruined the Turgish, but also ruined the image of the Tang Dynasty in the hearts of the countries of the Western Regions. It is difficult to imagine what kind of state of mind the defeated Tuqi Shi people had, and Li Tao even doubted that there would be anyone loyal to the Tang Dynasty like Suo Ge in the future?

Li Tao sighed, sat down again, and asked Li Longji: "Third uncle, now that the Turks have defeated the Turks and have entered the Western Regions, how is the imperial court going to deal with it?" ”

Li Longji said: "I have discussed with Yao Ge, what we mean is to send troops from Guannei Dao and Longyou Dao to reinforce Beiting, and we must drive the Turks out of the Western Regions, and we must not let them gain a foothold in the Western Regions." ”

"I knew that this was the result, and I should have fully supported the Turks in the first place and annihilated the Turkic army in one fell swoop." After Li Tao finished complaining. Waving his hand, he said, "Don't send troops from these places. The forces of the Guannai Province could not move, especially the three surrendered cities, which were the barrier to defend against the Tang Dynasty. Longyou's troops could not be moved. We must guard against the Tibetan people, if they take advantage of the situation and stab us in the back, then our life will not be easy. ”

Li Longji nodded.

Li Tao said again: "Besides, if this transfer of troops is less, it will not help, and it will be transferred more." The imperial court has to spend a lot of unjust money, and the gains outweigh the losses. ”

Yao Chong asked, "Then what do you say?" ”

Li Tao groaned: "I mean not to increase the army!" ”

"What? No troops? Li Longji and Yao Chong were taken aback when they heard this.

Anxi Jiedu Funing Western Regions, Tongqiuzi, Yanqi, Khotan, Shule four towns. Governing the city of Qiuzi, the army is 24,000. Beiting Jiedu defended the Tuqi Shi and Jiankun, unified the three armies of Hanhai, Tianshan and Yiwu, and the borders of Tunyi and Xierzhou. Governing the North Court Metropolitan Protectorate. 20,000 troops.

In other words, there are only 44,000 troops in the vast Western Regions, and there are very few troops that can be sent to fight except for garrisoning various places. If Li Tao did not send more troops, why did he expel the Turks?

"What I mean is that the troops of the Turgish and the various local subjects are still the mainstay, and the Anxi Court can also send some troops."

"Will this work?" Li Longji asked worriedly.

"The countries of the Western Regions still have their hearts set on the Tang Dynasty, and the Turks have no foundation in the Western Regions, as long as they plan properly. They won't be there for long! ”

Yao Chong understood: "In this way, the key is to re-appease Tuqishi. ”

"That's right. Although the Turks were defeated by the Turks, the Turkic army was alone, and their influence in the Western Regions and their ability to recover from attrition were far weaker than those of the Turks. Speaking of this, Li Tao asked, "When did Ashina Xian and Kang Lu go to the Western Regions?" ”

"Two months ago!"

"In other words, Suo Ge has just died, and they have arrived in the Western Regions?"

"The itinerary should be about the same!" Yao Chongdao.

"If I'm not wrong, Kang Lu is just in time to clean up the chaos of the Tuqishi, if he can appease Kang Lu, and then use the reputation of Ashina Xian, he can control the situation in the Western Regions. When the time comes, Anxi and Beiting will send troops to assist, which should be able to drive the Turks out of the Western Regions. ”

"Tao'er, Kang Lu has a very good relationship with you, what I mean with Yao Ge Lao is that I ask you to come forward and go to the Western Regions to solve this matter, I don't know what you think?" Li Longji consulted Li Tao's opinion.

"It is my duty to share the worries of the third uncle!" Li Tao nodded, he thought for a while and said, "It's no problem for me to go to the Western Regions, but I have three requests, and I hope the third uncle can agree." ”

"Tell me about it!"

"First, the matter of my going to the Western Regions is limited to the three of us, third uncle, you give me a secret decree, and after I arrive in the Western Regions, I will make a decision according to the specific situation."

"No problem!" Li Longji agreed very happily.

"King Lantian, it should be fair and honest to inspect as a messenger of the imperial court, why should you be so timid?" Yao Chong was puzzled.

"Lao Yao, you don't have a backache when you stand and talk!" Li Tao glanced at Yao Chong: "There are so few troops in the Western Regions, you let me be so swaggering, won't I become the target of everyone, and I still want to come back alive?" Besides, I'm also thinking about the third uncle. ”

"For my sake?" Li Longji didn't understand what Li Tao meant.

"If I don't hide my whereabouts, then A-Niang will know that you want someone to find the third uncle, how will you deal with it?"

Li Longji had a headache when he heard this, and hurriedly said: "Yes, yes, yes, Ah Tao, you better go quietly, you must not let my sister-in-law know, otherwise my life will not be easy!" ”

Li Tao said with a smile: "There is another layer, Ashina is on the bright side, I am in the dark, maybe I can become a surprise soldier at the critical moment!" ”

Yao Chong asked, "Lantian King, what is your second one?" ”

"I hope that the third uncle will allow me to take the Luzhou group training to the Western Regions!" Li Tao joked: "I don't have my own soldiers in my hands, I don't have a bottom in my heart, with them, I can still escape if I can't do it!" ”

Although Li Tao was joking, Li Longji's heart was heavy. The situation in the Western Regions is so erosive, it stands to reason that Li Tao can not go at all, but he has no excuses. Ashina Xian and Kang Lu must have a lot of dissatisfaction with the imperial court now, except for Li Tao, Li Longji really can't think of anyone else who can replace him to appease the two.

Thinking of this, Li Longji nodded and said, "No problem, the burden of Luzhou regimental training will be fully borne by the imperial court." I can also select some sergeants from the Yulin Army to accompany you. ”

Li Tao smiled and waved his hand and said, "The imperial court now has a lot of places to use money, so there is no need to spend money on it." I'll take care of the burden myself, although I'm not rich now, I still have a lot of money in my hand, and I have to spend it anyway, and I spend it everywhere. ”

Li Longji became more and more reluctant when he heard this: "Tao'er, the last time you went to Bianzhou to control locusts, you spent a lot of money for the imperial court, and this time you ...... again."

"Third uncle, my money is spent on our Li family's Datang, isn't this meat rotting in the pot? If the third uncle doesn't want to go, just return it to me when Datang has money. ”

"Return, must be returned!" Li Longji nodded. (To be continued......)