In front of everyone's eyes, Du He pointed to Gaochang with great pride, and he had the courage to point out the country: "The so-called towering city walls are nothing more than that thing. The best strategy is to encircle the point and send reinforcements, follow the example of His Majesty's accident in breaking Luoyang in the past, besiege but not attack, eliminate the Western Turkic reinforcements, remove the only force that Gaochang relied on, and trap them in the city, so as not to worry that they will not surrender. In addition, as far as I know, Gaochang has backward technology, and the catapult used is just a thunderbolt car invented by Liu Ye left over from the Han Dynasty, with a short range and weak power. Our Datang new stone thrower is far above the thunderbolt in terms of range, accuracy and power, and our army also has the upper hand in the bow and crossbow. Just in case, before the expedition, you can prepare enough craftsmen, and the city under the nesting car, the wheel, the stone thrower, the rushing car, the ladder, the long and other sharp weapons, the wartime stone thrower, crossbow arrow suppression, in the rush car to break it, take the city is as easy as a hand. The old city, there is nothing to be afraid of! ”

"It is true that more than 10,000 soldiers in Gaochang are brave and good at fighting, but how can my Tang soldiers and horses be decorations? Let's not talk about my outnumbered enemies, and say that I am a fierce general, how can my Tang Dynasty's tiger and wolf army be comparable to Gaochang? What's more, the people know that Ko Wentai has committed a crime, the people's hearts are lost, and the people have no intention of fighting to the death, so how can they come to fight to the death! In this way, it is difficult for soldiers to compare with my Tang Dynasty. ”

"Gaochang is rich, but after besieging for months, in the face of the strength of the stone thrower, in the face of my Tang elite, what is the use of sufficient wealth and food, and how long will it last? In the end, I'm afraid that they will all fall into the hands of my Datang. As for foreign aid, there is no need to be afraid. The Western Turks have always been attached to the strong and bullied, and their words and deeds are all concerned with their selfish interests, and it can be concluded that when the war really starts, the Western Turks will wait and see Gaochang and advance and retreat: if Gaochang is worthy of my Datang, the Tang Dynasty soldiers and horses are not as unstoppable as the legend, then they will send troops to help; If Gaochang is defeated, the ** of the ten will withdraw to the west. Even if the Western Turkic Khan really had the courage to attack, our army could divide its forces to defend it. What about money and aid? ”

"As for the Dao, going 400 miles deep into Gaochang is indeed considered a dangerous place, but so what? and did not listen to Zhenguan for nine years, and destroyed Tuguhun in a battle. At that time, our army won a great victory, and Tuyuhun was about to be destroyed, so we resorted to the tactics of clearing the wilderness. Lord Hou Junji and Lord Li Daozong led the Tang army to march more than 2,000 miles in the uninhabited area, passing through the Poluo Zhen Valley, which had no water and no grass, and was extremely difficult. But our Tang army persevered, fought all the way, and caught up with Fuyun Khan in Wuhai in May, and broke the crowd. In this battle, my Tang army traveled two thousand miles of waste, frost fell in midsummer, people drank ice, horses looked at snow, and stabbed horses drank blood to quench hunger and thirst. In such a harsh environment, our Tang army can still overcome it, let alone the four hundred miles of Gaochang Road? ”

Du He looked at Wei Zheng with both eyes, waved his hand, and said in a loud voice: "So Gao Changguo can dominate the five biggest advantages in the Western Regions, once he meets my Datang, it will not be of any use, it can only be a mantis arm as a car, quicksand blocking the waves, vulnerable, within half a year, it will definitely be broken!" ”

Li Shimin smiled.

Wei Zheng, Chu Suiliang, Kong Yingda and others looked at each other, their eyes were as big as copper bells, and they didn't know how to stop them when they wanted to stand up and speak several times, and several important ministers puffed up their lungs.

Du Ruhui, Fang Xuanling, eldest grandson Wuji and other old ministers knew that the emperor's determination had been made, and it was useless to say more.

There was silence in the court, Li Shimin stood up on the spot, and his voice echoed throughout the hall, "I have decided to open the Western Regions and cut down Gaochang!" ”

The ministers were awe-inspiring, and the tone of Li Shimin's words was so intolerable that others could not question them, Wei Zheng and Chu Suiliang glanced at each other and smiled silently.

I have to admit that they were defeated by Du He, and in the face of Du He, who knows everything about Gaochang, they have no way to refute it.

At this time, Hou Junji strode out eagerly and said in a loud voice: "Your Majesty, the minister is willing to personally lead the army to conquer and swear to destroy Gaochang in order to raise the prestige of my Tang Army." "Li Jing retired, he was the secretary of the military department, and he was the first person in the Tang Dynasty military, but after the peace of the world, there have been few meritorious contributions. At this moment, what he needs most is a hearty victory, which has consolidated his position as the number one person in the military.

At the same time, he has been in the DPRK for many years, has deep connections, and is challenging the phase, if he can return to the DPRK with a big victory, Li Shimin will be impressed, and the phase is only in the bag. Therefore, at this moment, he did not wait for Li Shimin to finish speaking, let alone wait for him to choose generals in public, and actively expressed his willingness to lead the army.

"Reconsideration!" The eldest grandson Wuji saw that Hou Junji was out of the queue to ask for his life, and immediately expressed his support.

In the Tang Dynasty, there were only two generals who could really take on one side alone, Hou Junji and Li Ji, and the rest of the famous generals such as Su Dingfang and Xue Wanche were either unformed or inferior. This battle is about whether Datang can gain a foothold in the Western Regions, so it must be these two people.

Hou Junji and the crown prince Li Chengqian are very close, but Li Ji is Du He's boss, and the eldest grandson Wuji naturally puts his selfishness on Hou Junji, hoping that he can lead the troops to the expedition and not give Du He a chance to develop.

Li Chengqian's heart is the same as what the eldest grandson Wuji thinks, and it is no exception.

Li Ji did not take the initiative to ask Ying, he is the kind of old slippery type of character, and no one can be offended in the court. Let him fight, he will fight with his heart, do not let him lead the troops, and do not force it, he can eat the most and mix the best!

Li Shimin looked back and forth at Hou Junji and Li Ji, compared the strengths of the two slightly, nodded in response, and added: "The loyal general Du He knows Gaochang well, and the five thousand flying horses under his command are also rare elites. With him by his side, he will definitely be able to help Hou Aiqing. During this expedition, the flight rider was temporarily transferred to Hou Aiqing's dispatch! ”

Du He received the order, but he wondered in his heart why Li Shimin didn't use Li Ji, who was more outstanding in military strategy, to use Hou Junji.

Hou Junji also nodded and smiled: "General Du is young and promising, wise and brave, and it is better to be able to get his help." He remembered the power of Du He alone, turned the tide in the court, and contributed to the military attack on Gaochang, and he also admired him very much.

Seeing that the eldest grandson Wuji could not avoid Du He's meritorious service, a trace of anxiety flashed in his eyes, but then he thought about it, looked at Hou Junji, and then looked at Du He, and suddenly showed a meaningful smile.

After the court, Du He asked Li Shimin to call Chengqing Palace.

Li Shimin sat on the top and looked at Du He with that kind gaze, and said with emotion: "Your kid really didn't disappoint me. Today, your performance is near-perfect, far beyond my expectations. ”

Du He was also faintly complacent, but he still showed a modest appearance, and he was not surprised.

Li Shimin nodded with satisfaction, "Virtuous son-in-law, when I gave the order, I saw a trace of doubt in your eyes, but I felt strange that I didn't use General Li Ji and used Hou Shangshu?" ”

"Not bad!" Du He saw that Li Shimin saw it, and he didn't hide it, this matter really made him feel a little strange.

Li Shimin said with a smile: "As an emperor, if he doesn't understand the specialties of his courtiers, he is definitely not a good emperor and an excellent emperor." I also knew that General Li Ji was indeed superior to Hou Shangshu in terms of military strategy, but Hou Shangshu had to go to Gaochang. The reason lies in the purpose of this battle, this battle is not only for me to win, but also to play the power of my Tang Dynasty, and I want to let all the tribes in the Western Regions know and understand who is the overlord of the Western Regions. General Li Ji reconspired with his troops, if he was to command this battle, he would be able to win easily and beautifully, but it was far from achieving the effect I expected. But Hou Shangshu is different, Hou Shangshu is good at fighting tough battles, destroying the enemy, and being invincible. As the commander of the three armies, he will definitely be able to win freely, and he will be able to play the majesty of my Datang and the momentum of my Datang. ”

Du He didn't expect that there was such knowledge in it, and he was also impressed by Li Shimin's idea.

Li Shimin said meaningfully: "This is the case for the king, and the same is true for the general." Only by knowing the abilities of your subordinates can you make the most correct choice when you need to. ”

Du He knew that Li Shimin was teaching him the way of being a general, and he also understood it and said that he understood.

"Come, I'll introduce you to someone!" Li Shimin laughed and gave the eunuch at the door a look.

A short time later, a scribe in his thirties walked in.

Du He looked at it curiously, slightly stunned, he knew the person who came, it was the famous first person to resist the Japanese in later generations, Liu Renliang who was both wise and brave. During the competition of the braves, he saw through Xiao Yue's sinister intention of stealing Chinese culture and technology, and was rewarded by Li Shimin and promoted to Xin'an Ling.

"Could it be that he was promoted?" Du He muttered in his heart, his face showing a strange color.

"You've all known each other, and I won't introduce much here. Virtuous son-in-law, Luo Tong, Fang Yiai, and Wang Dezheng are all martial artists, and there is only one long history missing, a civil official who handles official documents. Didn't you complain to me earlier that you didn't have a deputy? This Liu Renliang not only governs the world well, but also has great achievements in military strategy, I transferred him to your account to listen to it, and I have fulfilled your wishes, don't treat him badly! ”

Li Shimin smiled.

"This ......" Du He did say that there was a long history missing from the five thousand flying horses he commanded when chatting with Li Shimin, but there was an idea that Li Shimin would transfer a talented person with prime minister talent to him as his deputy.

Isn't that too petty?

"What, not satisfied?" Li Shimin asked with a smile.

"How can you not be satisfied!" Du He smiled bitterly: "It's just too much of a fuss, father-in-law, don't tell your son-in-law that you don't see Liu Renliang's talent." Such an excellent talent is a bit extravagant to give his son-in-law a long history. ”

He couldn't understand Li Shimin's intentions in doing this, if he was a figure like Li Jing and Hou Junji, he might be able to say that he sent a henchman to monitor, but now he is just a young general with 5,000 soldiers and horses, what's the point of doing this? What's more, if he really had the intention to monitor, he wouldn't have given him to himself so openly.

Li Shimin said with a smile: "I have arranged the usefulness of me since I was a child, and you will know it when the time comes, anyway, the person is handed over to you, you use it well first, and you should help me hone my talents." He had an unfathomable expression that made it impossible to see through what he was thinking.

Du He didn't care, anyway, this matter was beneficial to him, with a deputy of the prime minister, what else could he say, but he was curious in his heart, and he didn't know what Li Shimin's purpose was in this arrangement.

(To be continued)