In the middle of the night, in the study of Yao Chong's mansion, Li Tao was standing face to face with Yao Chong.

Yao Chong looked at Li Tao, who was wearing a black night suit, and said with a smile: "King Lantian, you are also an important minister of the imperial family, and you actually entered my mansion in such a way?" ”

Li Tao sat down with a big grin and said with a smile: "Old Yao, it's an eventful time now, I don't want to make trouble for you, so I have to make this decision as a last resort, and you are not uncommon and strange." ”

After Yao Chong also sat down, Li Tao asked directly: "Old Yao, you haven't had a good time lately, right?" ”

Yao Chong sighed and said, "It's not just that it's not good, it's sad. ”

On the surface, Yao Chong occupies the position of leader in the political hall, and Zhang Shuo and Liu Youqiu have no indication of competing with him. However, without the cooperation of all the prime ministers, no matter how capable Yao Chong is, and the emperor's support for him is a few more points, his power can only be manifested in the political hall, but not throughout the country.

The crux of the matter is that Liu Youqiu is Li Longji's great hero, and Zhang said that he entered the political hall much earlier than Yao Chong, and it was not an easy thing to get the two of them out of the political hall. But it's not that they didn't give Yao Chong such an opportunity, the key is whether Yao Chong does it or not.

It is easier to deal with Liu Youqiu, because this person has no ability and experience in handling political affairs, which in itself is a good reason.

The crux of the matter lies in Zhang. Expelling Zhang from Beijing, although it would appear that Yao Chong was narrow-minded, was very important to Yao Chong and the emperor.

Li Tao smiled when he heard this: "Actually, things are not as difficult as you think. ”

As soon as Yao Chong heard it, he knew that Li Tao had a way, and he was about to open his mouth excitedly. But Li Tao suddenly changed the topic again: "Lao Yao, what are you going to do in Yingzhou?" ”

Hearing this, Yao Chong was a little discouraged and put down the silver-inlaid wooden chopsticks in his hand. "The emperor has made a big decision on the affairs of Yingzhou. If you insist on it again, I am afraid that it will hurt the emperor's self-esteem. ”

Yingzhou is located in the Tang Dynasty and Xi, Khitan three borders junction, the original Tang Dynasty has Yingzhou Governor Zhen Fu Xi and Khitan, then the Emperor of the Heavens, Yingzhou Governor Zhao Wenhui ruled the border and lost power, Yingzhou was captured by Xi and Khitan. Since then, Yingzhou has nominally been under the administration of Yuyang County under the Governor's Mansion of Youzhou, but in fact it has become a ruined city. Only occasionally some horse thieves in the desert use the ruins as a temporary den.

At the end of last year, there were rumors that Xi, Mo Hao and other border tribes could not bear the bullying of the Khitan and wanted to surrender to the Tang Dynasty. It's just that because the Tang Dynasty refused to rebuild Yingzhou and arranged the army as a barrier between them and the Khitan, they didn't dare to make rash moves. The person who supported this statement the most was Xue Ne, who was now highly appreciated by the emperor, and he wrote to the imperial court. Request to attack the Khitan. Reset the camp state.

Li Longji has been a little impatient with the power he has given to Yao Chong in the past few months, and he will never let go of this kind of heavenly opportunity. What's more, the Tang Dynasty lost troops in the first battle of Lengjing, and this account has not been properly calculated with the rude and rude Khitans.

However, Yao Chong knew very well that Yingzhou was located in a desert, with little water and no grass, so he put tens of thousands of troops in that place. The transshipment of baggage alone is quite a heavy burden.

"Lantian King, what do you think?" Yao Chong wanted to hear Li Tao's thoughts.

Li Tao said with a smile: "The affairs of Yingzhou are of course important. But Lao Yao, if you want to do a lot, you must win the maximum support of Your Majesty! ”

Yao Chong frowned and said, "Could it be that if I oppose the relocation of Yingzhou, Your Majesty will not support me?" ”

"Lao Yao, after decades of domestication, the Tang Dynasty finally has a wise lord, and it is your primary responsibility to help the emperor establish his prestige. Whether it is necessary to rebuild Yingzhou is a year or two later, but it is a fact that the Khitans have been invading the border of the Tang Dynasty recently. ”

"Then Lantian King thinks that at this time, how many chances can he win when he sends troops to the Khitan?" Yao Chong stared at Li Tao stubbornly.

"This battle will be lost!" Li Tao was very sure, so he said: "In my opinion, internal affairs are more important than external troubles, I heard that there have been many rumors outside recently, and you should not underestimate it!" If the monarch and the minister lose harmony, it is really not a blessing for the country. ”

"Lantian King, I understand what you mean, let me think about it!" It seems that Li Tao's words have touched Yao Chongda.

Recently, Yao Chong has been busy dealing with all kinds of messy affairs, but he has neglected to pay attention to Li Longji. Although Li Longji is currently fully supporting Yao Chong's various propositions as always, he seems to have undeserved estrangement emotionally. There is an important point implicit in Li Tao's words, which he may not have been aware of himself. That is to say, Li Long's basic talent is the greatest driving force for promoting the reform of the DPRK and government, and without him, he would not be able to do anything. To establish the prestige of the emperor and shape him into the image of a real lord of Zhongxing, it will naturally block the rumors that Yao Chong is in power that is flourishing in Beijing and set up the emperor.

"King Lantian, I will go to see Your Majesty tomorrow and agree to send troops against the Khitan." Yao Chong pondered for a long time.

Li Tao patted Yao Chong's shoulder and said: "Old Yao, I will go with you tomorrow, since you have made concessions, I can't let you go home empty-handed, look at it, I will surprise you!" ”

……

Yao Chong was not taken aback, and Li Longji was taken aback first.

When Li Longji listened to Li Tao's words, his eyes couldn't help but widen: "What? Yao Ge Lao agreed? ”

In Li Longji's view, it was impossible for Yao Chong to agree to his intention to send troops, and he finally invited Yao Chong out of the mountain, not wanting to use forced methods to force Yao Chong to agree to his idea. These days, Li Longji has been sullen about this matter. Today, he suddenly heard Li Tao tell him that Yao Chong agreed to send troops, which made him a little unconvinced of his ears.

"How could I lie to the third uncle, I don't believe you asked Lao Yao!" Li Tao said and pointed to Yao Chong on the side.

Li Longji looked at Yao Chong, Yao Chong nodded: "Wei Chen thought twice and agreed that His Majesty would send troops!" ”

When Li Longji heard Yao Chong's words, he felt like he had taken a reassuring pill, and he was eager to try Li Tao: "Tao'er, you are a person who understands soldiers. Yao Ge said that this time the troops will fail, what do you think? ”

Li Tao poured a basin of cold water on Li Longji without hesitation: "There is no doubt about defeat!" ”

"Huh?" Li Longji was stunned on the spot, and it took him a long time before he was stunned and said, "Even if this is the case, you still ...... it."

Li Tao glanced at Yao Chong.

Yao Chong understood, and he said to Li Longji: "Your Majesty, the Tang army has reached the point where it is impossible not to rectify, and to rectify the army, we must find out its shortcomings, and to really find out how to make the army strong, we must find it in actual combat, which is the price we must pay." Since sooner or later you have to pay this price, it is better to put it on this time. (To be continued......)