Chang'an, Zichen Palace.

General Li Zhi put the report on the imperial case, looked at the ministers in front of him and said: "The first battle of Wuhai has temporarily ended, I lost more than 1,000 soldiers, burned, night attack, and killed 18,000 Tubo cavalry head-on, including 8,000 Tubo cavalry and 10,000 Tuyuhun cavalry. ”

"Congratulations to Your Majesty, Fukuzawa Guangfu, Wuyun Changlong." Led by Liu Renliang and Hao Chujun, they all celebrated at the same time.

Li Zhi waved his hand indifferently and said: "Although it has been successful, except for the fire attack on the mountain road, it is just that Wang Xiaojie used a thousand cavalry selected to kill three thousand cavalry in Tubo, which is not much of a great feat. ”

The Tuyuhun cavalry is now less and less taken seriously by Li Zhi.

The 5,000 cavalry under Wang Xiaojie were originally the elite carefully selected from the tens of thousands of troops.

The strength is not worse than that of the Tubo Light Army, and it is not a big victory to break 15,000 with 5,000.

"On Qinling's mobilization of 20,000 Tibetan cavalry to participate in the battle, and the battle loss of 8,000 is already a great defeat." Liu Renliang looked up at the emperor.

"It's not a big defeat, he is in Baihai, and there are still 40,000 troops on the north bank of the Tongtian River behind, plus more than 20,000 people who retreated, and 60,000 troops, this battle still has to be fought."

Li Zhi saw the situation very clearly, now it is just a small victory, and there is still a lot to go before the end of the war.

"In addition, Xituyuhun is also fighting again, if it weren't for Lu Chongyu's timely arrival, I'm afraid Golmud would be lost again." Empress Wu couldn't help but shake her head, she was also very disappointed in the Murong family, obviously she seemed to be full of combat power, but why, she was always vulnerable when she fought.

"The Tibetans didn't use all their strength." Li Zhi sighed lightly and said, "Everyone is guarding the checkpoint, waiting for autumn to come. ”

"Only the king of Nanchang is advancing to the state of rail." Empress Wu laughed softly.

Li Zhi waved his hand and said: "Where is he going to Railzhou, he is obviously using Railzhou as a cover to attract the attention of Lun Qinling and cover for Wang Xiaoming's hand...... When Wang Xiaojie really made a move, he would immediately go east to Ruoergai, which was his real destination. ”

"Your Majesty, can you really kill it?" Empress Wu looked at Li Zhi with a concerned expression.

Li Zhi raised his head and looked at Liu Renliang: "Zuo Xiang, you say." ”

"Back to Your Majesty, the King of Nanchang thought of this strategy, not a sudden flash of inspiration, in fact, before the war last year, the King of Nanchang had already discussed with the old ministers." Liu Renliang took a deep breath and arched his hand: "At that time, he said: It makes no sense that Songtsen Gampo could fight back then, so we had to stop. ”

"Yes, Songtsen Gampo first attacked Songzhou, that is, after defeating Tuyuhun first, and then going against the Yellow River until Ruoergai, and then it was precisely because of this battle that Lu Dongzan began to contact the Dangxiang clan, and after Dafeichuan, he pulled them all over." Li Zhi sighed lightly, he remembered this incident vividly.

"Your Majesty, if the King of Nanchang succeeds this time, the affairs of these party clansmen also need to be considered." Empress Wu suggested in a low voice.

"Are you afraid that the king of Nanchang will kill all these party members?" Li Zhi couldn't help laughing, then shook his head and said, "I don't know if I killed them all, but killing all those party leaders is a bit like his style." ”

Li Zhi's voice became low, he raised his head, looked at Hao Chujun and asked, "Hao Xiang, what should I do?" ”

"Confer the title of Nanchang Wang Songzhou to pacify the envoy, and recruit the party leaders to return to the Tang Dynasty." Hao Chujun stepped forward and said: "Even if half of these party leaders are willing to submit, it is already extremely beneficial to the overall situation." ”

Halfway.

Hao Chujun deliberately skipped the other half of the party leaders, and those people naturally died under Li Xuan's butcher's knife.

And this is also what the emperor allows, or this itself is what the emperor wants to see.

If you betray Datang, you must accept the punishment of betrayal.

Li Zhi bowed his head lightly and asked, "When will the king of Nanchang arrive in Ruoergai?" ”

"It's estimated that it will take a month and a half." Gao Kan, the squire of the inspection school's military department, took a step forward and arched his hand: "Go against the Yellow River, although it is difficult along the way, there is a real road.

Tubo's attention is now on Wuhai, the king of Nanchang has an attack on Railzhou as a cover, even if Songzhou has some attention, but the army of Liangjun Gongjian Nandao is enough to be distracted. ”

After a slight pause, Gao Kan continued: "Eight hundred miles of long journey, by the way, more than half a month is enough, the real danger is in the Zedi of Ruoergai, which is a hundred miles in circumference...... Lakes, meadows, mud, mud and other crises will be delayed for at least nearly a month, and his logistics will have to keep up. ”

"With the Yellow River, there will be no problems with the logistics of the King of Nanchang." Li Zhi waved his hand slightly.

What Li Zhi is least worried about is Li Xuan's grain road.

The waterwheel transportation in Hezhou and Kuozhou has allowed Li Zhi to see Li Xuan's talent in water transportation.

Although the upper reaches of the Yellow River are still rugged, they are not as steep as the land of Hezhou and Kuozhou.

"In this case, we should arrive in Songzhou in early May." Gao Kan gave an affirmative answer.

Li Zhi nodded, sighed lightly, and said: "Open up Songzhou, and the grain and grass in Songzhou can be transported to Qinghai, and the grain and grass crisis can finally be alleviated." ”

"Although there is a small drought in Youzhou this year, it is much lighter than last year, but the king and prince of Nanchang expected it in advance, so the transportation of grain from the south to the north has begun for nearly two months."

Empress Wu turned her head to look at Li Xian, who was standing on the side, nodded with satisfaction and said, "Erlang has really done a good job in this matter. ”

"This is the right way." Li Zhi looked sideways at Li Xian and said, "In the future, sharing more worries for your father and emperor is what you, the prince, should do." ”

"It's Erlang who was stupid earlier." Li Xian bowed heavily.

In fact, in the East Palace, it is not that no one has suggested this approach.

Among them, it is especially based on the righteousness of the emperor, advocating that some heavy government affairs that take a long time and are not so quick to see the failure are used to share the emperor's worries.

However, Zhang Da'an, the son of the left, advocated repairing books to make a name for himself and win over the world's scholars.

It's easy to do and it's more solid.

After all, the position of the crown prince is Li Xian's basic plate, and if he is distracted, then someone will naturally do these things.

The hearts of the world's scholars will also be won over by those who have a heart.

This person with a heart, of course, is talking about Ming Chongyan and a bachelor from the North Gate.

"Spread the decree to Liang Jungong, and the states of Jiannan Province will offset a part of the tax grain against the military grain and transport it to Qinghai." Li Zhi turned his head to look at Li Jingxuan.

Li Jingxuan immediately surrendered his hand: "The minister's order." ”

"With Jiannan Province taking care of part of the transportation of military rations, it will always be easier for the northland." Empress Wu turned to look at Li Zhi.

Li Zhi nodded lightly, the grain and grass in the south no longer pass through Chang'an and transfer to Qinghai, and the loss in the middle can really save a lot.

"Once the king of Nanchang opens up Songzhou, then he will be able to enter the southeast of Tubo from Tangzhou, Weizhou, and Maozhou." Li Zhi's eyes flashed with a hint of ruthlessness.

There are two roads on Jiannan Road to Luo.

A road north walks the bitter sea, Wuhai, Baihai all the way, goes against the Yellow River, and leads to the Tianhe River.

All the way through Luding, Litang, Batang, and then attack to Nyingchi, and finally arrive at Luo.

"Songzhou is passed, even if Wuhai is lost again, our dynasty still has the possibility of regaining it." Liu Renliang bowed down and said: "Moreover, if the Qinling Tomb can't take the east, then it will immediately be like a thorn in the back, so that even if you kill Dafeichuan, you will be worried that someone will copy the back road." ”

"That's the matter of the king of Nanchang." Li Zhi smiled slightly and said: "Big and small Huashi Gorge, Rail, plus Songzhou, all roads are supported, and there is the king of Nanchang stationed, I can sit back and relax." ”

"Congratulations to Your Majesty!" The ministers once again bowed their hands in unison.

Li Zhi waved his hand again and said: "The front line is stable, but the drought in the territory is contacted again, and the prefectures are ordered to inspect all the provinces this autumn, so that they can do a good job of water conservancy and river embankments to ensure that the people can survive safely...... Those who hoard grain at high prices and do not sell it will be severely cracked down, and those who take the opportunity to annex the people's land and property, exceeding 50 mu, will be doubled and confiscated. ”

"Your Majesty." The ministers bowed their heads.

"Also, what's going on with the Western Turks?" Li Zhi asked about Pei Xingjian by the way.

"Returning to Your Majesty." Liu Renliang stepped forward and said: "Seven of the ten tribes of the Western Turks have returned to the Tang Dynasty, and the remaining three surnames have retreated to the south under the command of his brother Sizanruo of the Qinling Tomb. ”

"The key is still in Tuyuhun and Changzhou, especially Dafeichuan." Li Zhi's expression became solemn.

……

The ministers retreated, and in the Zichen Palace, only Empress Wu and Li Zhi remained.

"Your Majesty." Empress Wu called softly, Li Zhi turned sideways, and Empress Wu asked: "The king of Nanchang went to Songzhou, so what about the governance of Changzhou Prefecture?" ”

Li Zhi smiled and said, "Yao Yi is a capable minister. ”

Empress Wu was slightly stunned, and then glanced at Li Zhi helplessly, although he was already fifty years old, he still had charm.

However, between bowing her head, Empress Wu flashed a trace of gloom.

"The one who can be called a capable minister by Saburo seems to be a prime minister." Empress Wu shook her head and said with a wry smile: "Cheng Chubi, for his own selfishness, he has been delayed for so many years. ”

As soon as Empress Wu said this, Li Zhi didn't want to say anything, he waved his hand and said indifferently: "If it weren't for so many years of training in Jinwuwei, it would be difficult for ordinary people to have this talent, but Cheng Qing actually did a good job." ”

Empress Wu breathed a sigh of relief slightly, and then said, "Let Yao Qing be transferred back after a few years of training in Changzhou." ”

"No, you don't." Li Zhi waved his hand directly and said: "I want him to directly assassinate any state, and the king of Nanchang wants to directly bring Ruoergai and other places under the rule of the Tang Dynasty and set it as Panzhou, so I will let him be the history of Panzhou assassination, govern it well, experience two or three years, return to the household department to serve as a waiter, Shangshu, and further on, it will be a matter of the future." ”

Li Zhi had already planned for four or five years later, and by that time, Yao Yi already had the capital to write books.

As for the prime minister, that's the next emperor's business.

And getting involved in the battle for prime minister too early is not a good thing.

The foundation is unstable, and the earth is shaking, and the mountains are shaking.

"There are many party members in Panzhou, even if they can move the people over, I am afraid it will be difficult to achieve anything." There was a hint of worry in Empress Wu's eyes.

Li Zhi shook his head and said: "Tubo always has to be coerced, even if it defeats the Qinling, it is still difficult for the Tang Dynasty to govern Tubo, but it can be devoured step by step, starting from Panzhou and Changzhou, and being included in the rule step by step." ”

"This is the encroachment strategy of the king of Nanchang." Empress Wu was shocked.

Li Xuan's strategy two years ago seems to be working now.

"Yes, from Tuyuhun, Changzhou, to Tubo have to pass through Panzhou, and the convenience of business and trade brought by this is the opportunity for Panzhou to survive." Li Zhi thought about it and said.

Empress Wu couldn't help but shake her head and said: "In addition to the military situation in the past few years, Panzhou can still be useful, and after these few years, it will always be difficult for Panzhou to prosper." ”

"Panzhou, there is land." Li Zhi's last sentence made Empress Wu completely shut up.

Datang now has few Yongye fields, let alone mouth fields.

What Datang needs most now is land.

As for how to use it, that's Yao Yi's business.

If there is good development, then in the future, more southwestern states will be developed.

……

"By the way, what is the situation of Nanchang Palace?" Li Zhi turned his head, and there was a special interest in his eyes.

Empress Wu shook her head with a smile and said: "Let the side concubine be sent to the mansion for the concubine to train before she gets married, and the concubine is also admired by the king of Nanchang." ”

"A person who governs his family is always not bad." Li Zhi said softly, and Empress Wu lowered her head and pondered.

(End of chapter)