Ashina Association was missing, and tens of thousands of troops pursued it for a long time among the forests in Guanzhong, but never found its trace.

After many investigations, the tracking masters sent by the Criminal Department and the Military Department gave the inference that Ashina's association rate may have escaped from Xiaoguan into the northwest along the Jing River.

When the news was fed back to Chengqing Palace, Li Shimin's face was gloomy and he was silent for a long time.

The eldest grandson Wuji, Fang Xuanling and the others who were waiting on the side also had heavy faces, they all knew that if this was the case, it would really not be simple.

The conflict between Dugu Cheng and Ashina in Xiuchun Lou has been ascertained, and it is reasonable to say that this is to induce the dissatisfaction of the Turkic kings and grandsons, and then impulsively assassinate.

But after all, it is a little thin, and some of it is hard for the deep-thinking bigwigs in the court to believe.

Now Ashina's unprovoked disappearance seems to verify this conjecture, just imagine, it is obviously impossible for a person who is alone without supplies to escape from the pursuit without foreign aid.

So it's almost certain that someone must have helped Ashina to form a society, and the ability and strength of this group are not small.

What's more important is the motive and consequence, Jiucheng Palace's assassination is too child's play, more of a farce, the possibility of success is extremely small, and the other party can't be unaware.

However, it still happened, so what is the intention of the other party to arrange all this? Where was the Ashina association rate taken? What will happen next is a worry.

The stakes are very high, and it is related to the tranquility of tens of millions of Turkic people, as well as the entire northern frontier, so the Tang monarchs and ministers dare not be negligent, and can only consider the bad consequences first.

"What about Cheng Zhijie? Are you sure that Ashina escaped from Xiao Pass? After a moment of silence, Li Shimin asked.

"Back to Your Majesty, the tracking masters of the Criminal Department and the Military Department are all speculating like this...... Although it is speculation, it is ten*. Cheng Zhijie said: "Once out of Xiao Pass." It's not easy to round up, and the minister has already notified the Lingzhou Assassin and the garrison, but it is estimated that there is little hope of capture...... The minister is incompetent. I beg your Majesty's forgiveness. ”

At the end, Cheng Chu paused. Whisper guilt. Although it is no wonder that he came up on his head, but under the emperor's anger, he still has to have the posture he should have.

"I don't blame you!" Li Shimin waved his hand and said, "Let's talk about it, what should I do now?" ”

At the mention of this matter, everyone looked at each other, and they were careful not to speak first, not because they did not understand what the emperor meant. It's because the stakes are high, and you have to be careful with what you say and do.

"What? Don't you speak? Li Shimin sighed: "Let's ignore Ashina's association rate, let's talk about what to do with Tuli's son?" ”

Fang Xuanling said in a low voice: "Your Majesty, He Luohu claimed to have been abducted by the Ashina Association, and now he is still crying out for injustice?" ”

"He's really wronged?" Li Shimin frowned, as if he didn't believe it.

"It's hard to conclude whether he was wronged or not, but it's true that he was held hostage......" Fang Xuanling said carefully; After all, His Majesty treats him quite kindly, and he has no reason...... And there is also evidence that Ashina has a grudge against Tuliduo and has kidnapped. ”

Li Shimin asked, "So to speak." Xuan Ling means to deal with He Luohu lightly? ”

"Your Majesty, it happened suddenly, and it is of course heinous for Ashina to lead the assassination. But not many Turks have a heart of disobedience, and now the Turks who are close to Chang'an and far away in the steppe are panicked because of this incident. ”

Fang Xuanling said: "At this time, if it is severely punished, the Turks will definitely be even more panicked, and it will be easy to cause chaos if they are uneasy!" In particular, Turki had a lot of prestige among the Turks, and if his son was ...... Turkic people will inevitably have the feeling of rabbits dying and dogs cooking, and when the time comes, they will ...... Your Majesty, please think again. ”

"Auxiliary, what do you think?"

"There is a lot of truth in what Fang Xiang said. Your Majesty, please think again. When the eldest grandson Wuji heard Li Shimin's inquiry, he immediately agreed.

The wisest. The two most trusted ministers spoke the same language, and Li Shimin had nothing to hesitate. nodded lightly and said: "It makes sense, but after all, Tuli was credited to the Tang Dynasty back then, and his son didn't intentionally assassinate, so he should deal with it lightly!" ”

After pondering for a moment, Li Shimin continued: "The death penalty can be avoided, but the living crime cannot be escaped, so let's send Lingnan!" ”

This......

Fang Xuanling and the eldest grandson Wuji sighed in their hearts, but they didn't say anything, Lingnan in the Sui and Tang dynasties was mostly a land of smoke and miasma, and being assigned there was a punishment second only to asking and beheading, and it could be regarded as a heavy punishment.

But in any case, at least he saved his life, and he was worthy of the Turki Khan, but what the Turks would think, it's really hard to say......

"What? Do you think it's wrong? Li Shimin seemed to see the hesitation of the two important ministers.

"No, Your Majesty's disposition is very proper, but ......"

A turning point completely betrayed the mind of the eldest grandson Wuji, Li Shimin rolled his eyes and asked, "But what?" ”

"Your Majesty, the minister thinks that this Turkic assassination is a heinous crime, but it also needs to be cautious when dealing with it, and it cannot be blindly suppressed, and it needs to be treated with grace and power."

"Tell me, what's the Enweifa?"

"Punish some people heavily, but also reward some people, this may be more appropriate, after all, the northern prefectures and counties have been established for a long time, and the Turks have not yet been naturalized, so it is difficult to return to the Tang Dynasty in a short time."

The eldest grandson Wuji said: "Therefore, the court must rely on some Turkic tribal leaders to control the herdsmen. ”

Li Shimin nodded and said: "That's natural, otherwise how could I be willing to marry my sister to the stubborn mind?" ”

Fang Xuanling said: "Your Majesty, this move is also to guard against Xue Yantuo, Zhenzhu Khan Yi Nan is a peaceful person, taking advantage of the defeat of Jieli, taking the opportunity to invade many Turkic hometowns, and now the strength is strong, I have to guard against it!" ”

"Yi Nan...... All of them are wolf ambitions. At the mention of this person, Li Shimin seemed a little annoyed.

"Yes, but Your Majesty...... After the decisive battle of the Turks in the east, I lost money for many years, and fought a war with Tuyuhun in the west, so Xue Yantuo had to focus on Huairou. ”

Fang Xuanling said: "Although my Tang border army also has defense, it costs a lot of money...... However, in fact...... If the Turks are still there, there is still a barrier between Xue Yantuo and the Tang Dynasty, and the border defense will be much easier. ”

"What does Xuan Ling mean to let the Turks sit big again?" Li Shimin understood it, but he was a little unconvinced, or curious.

"Growing up under the care of Datang, you only need to play a role involving Xue Yantuo, you can't threaten Datang, and we won't do anything about raising tigers."

Fang Xuanling said: "After all, there are so many Turkic people on the grassland, it is really not cost-effective to let them idle for nothing, wouldn't it be good to use them as a buffer for my Datang frontier?"

To a certain extent, the sandpiper and the clam compete, and it is the fisherman who gains after all, and this sandpiper will be happy if it has meat to eat! (To be continued) >