October is cold and light snow is falling.

In the Zichen Palace, Empress Wu was reviewing the chapters, and the emperor was reading the military newspaper from Luo Dao on the side.

A slight sound of footsteps sounded in front of the hall, and an attendant quickly stepped into the hall, lowered his body and whispered: "Your Majesty, the Queen of Heaven, the Hubu Shangshu Cui Zhiyi, the Hubu Shilang Dou Lu Qinwang, and the Hubu Duzhilang Zhongqian Taste Ask to See." ”

"Xuan!" Li Zhi immediately put down the military report, and Empress Wu also put down the golden pen, and her expression became solemn.

The three most important officials of the household department asked for a meeting, and no one had to take it seriously.

Immediately, Cui Zhiyi, who was wearing a dark purple official robe, Doulu Qinwang, who was wearing a dark crimson official robe, and Qian Wei, who was wearing a light crimson official robe, entered the hall one after another.

"Minister, the head of the household is Cui Zhiyi, the head of the household is Dou Lu Qinwang, the taste of the head of the household is your majesty, see the queen of heaven!" All three of them salute at the same time.

"Let's get flat!" Li Zhi waved his hand, leaned forward slightly, and then asked, "But this year's grain tax has been counted?" ”

"Yes!" Cui Zhiyi took out a playbook from his sleeve and respectfully held it, Wang Fulai walked down quickly, took the playbook, and then handed it to Li Zhi.

Li Zhi opened it and glanced at it, and then pushed it directly to Empress Wu.

Cui Zhiyi arched his hand and said: "Your Majesty, after two years of dew, the wind and rain are smooth, the world is ripe, and the land is harvested."

The amount of tax grain collected in various places is 30% more than in previous years, and now it is gradually being put into storage, and some have already been shipped to Chang'an. ”

"Thirty percent." Li Zhi's expression suddenly perked.

The number of 30% does not sound like much, but in fact, the extra 30% of the tax grain is enough to feed 30% of the soldiers in the world.

The number of soldiers inside and outside the Tang Dynasty is basically maintained at 500,000, and these 30% are the loss of military food for the 150,000 army in a year.

If you don't count the auxiliaries, Li Xuan's Luo Dao and Pei Xingjian's Dingxiang Dao, together they are only 150,000.

Li Zhi breathed a sigh of relief, the two major battles in Tibet and the grassland today, he was almost out of breath due to the pressure of logistics.

Now that there is a bumper harvest and a full grain warehouse, at least everything can be resolved stably this year, and everything can be put on the agenda next year.

……

"Zhuqing has worked hard, and there will be rewards in the palace after that." Li Zhi looked at Cui Zhiyi and said, "Tax and grain transportation, reduction and exemption in various places, and the household department will issue a list and report it." ”

"Yes!" Cui Zhiyi, Doulu Qinwang, and Qian Wei gave up at the same time.

"For the Turks, the consumption of the war in Tibet next year will also be prepared." Li Zhi continued to arrange.

Cui Zhiyi arched his hand and said: "Dare to ask Your Majesty, how will the war between Tibet and the Turks be going on next year?" ”

"This is the transcript that Logos has just sent back." Li Zhi handed the notebook forward, and Wang Fulai immediately transferred it to Cui Zhiyi.

Cui Zhiyi didn't open it immediately, but listened to the emperor say: "This year, after the defeat of Qinling, Zanxi Ruotun 50,000 soldiers in front of the army, trying to attack Nagqu is unfavorable, and sent 5,000 light troops to attack Amdo, but was defeated by the right Xiaowei, and finally only 300 people fled back to the south bank of the Nagqu River, and then the two armies were deadlocked. ”

Cui Zhiyi, Doulu Qinwang, and Qian Wei gave up their hands at the same time, and they could all feel the murderous intent that could not be seen in it.

The emperor continued: "The king of Nanchang, this winter, I am afraid that there will be another offensive, after all, the more winter, the more difficult the transportation of grain and grass, the Tubo royal family cannot let him sit on an army of 50,000 without moving at all, so after the Naqu River freezes in winter, there will be a wave of offensives, and the king of Nanchang will also try to take advantage of the situation to counterattack." ”

Cui Zhiyi, Doulu Qinwang, and Qian Wei subconsciously raised their heads at the same time and stared at Li Zhi deadly.

Li Zhi smiled and said: "If it goes well, Zanxiruo's army of 50,000 should have a big defeat, so that the army can completely stabilize both sides of the Naqu River, and then plant grain next year, which can support the grain and grass of the army for about a month." ”

Cui Zhiyi, Doulu Qinwang, and Qian Wei breathed a sigh of relief at the same time, tens of thousands of troops have a month's worth of grain and grass, which is not a small amount.

If you can top it at the beginning of July and autumn, then you don't know how much easier it will be.

Li Zhi continued: "Regardless of the success or failure of this battle, next year, the army will be slaughtered under the city of Luo, and the next thing is to attack the city. ”

"The minister heard that some cities are four feet high, and it is quite difficult to attack." Cui Zhiyi arched his hand with a solemn face.

Li Zhi nodded and said: "I am also worried that the army will be stalemate under the city of Luo for a long time, but the king of Nanchang has already calculated, and the secret guard has also arranged in the city of Luo, if it goes well, around the beginning of autumn next year, there should be a result." ”

Qian Wei raised his head instantly, and arched his hand: "Your Majesty, is the king of Nanchang planning to do it when there is a shortage of food in the early autumn of next year?" ”

"There is this plan, so they will go to Luo after the spring planting in Tibet." Li Zhi explained the calculation more thoroughly.

Every year before the autumn harvest, the people are the most difficult.

The old grain is exhausted, and the new grain is not harvested.

Starvation is common.

Whether it is the Tang Dynasty or Tibet, it is the same.

But as long as you survive this period and harvest the autumn grain, then you will naturally be able to relieve the difficulties.

But if there is still no new grain harvest after this period has passed, then the people will suddenly fall from the predicament into the abyss.

A truly good commander has always been able to seize this opportunity very keenly and completely destroy the enemy.

The same is true for Li Xuan now.

Cui Zhiyi, Doulu Qinwang, and Qian Wei secretly made eye contact, and they all showed a trace of solemnity to each other.

Because they all heard Li Xuan's more ruthless move, let the Tubo people finish the spring planting before they do it.

When the Tibetans finish planting in the spring, it means that when the harvest arrives in late summer and autumn, they not only do not have enough grain to survive the famine season, but they will even have a stronger desire for the Tubo people to send troops again to grab the grain back because of the food problem.

If the Tibetans sent troops, then it would be easy for them to fall into Li Xuanyan's army; If they do not send troops, then the contradictions will intensify between the two, and it will be easier to provoke them.

"The household department first made the grain and grass to be used in the war before the autumn harvest in Tibet next year, and then ...... If they succeed in taking the Logos, then the food near the Logos will probably be used to appease the people in the cities of the Logos, and the household will need to prepare more. Li Zhi's face became solemn.

"This is not a difficult matter, you only need to send the seizure of Luo Dao in Tubo back to Chang'an, and then sell some of it, which can naturally make up for the shortcomings." Cui Zhiyi raised his head and looked straight at Li Zhi.

"Cui Qing has something to say directly," Li Zhi couldn't help laughing, waved his hand, and said: "The seizure of Luo Dao in Naqu today is basically all used to reward officers and soldiers and appease the people, and all the copywriting is even done by Wang Qing himself, and the king of Nanchang did not even interfere. ”

"It's the minister's presumptuousness." Cui Zhiyi arched his hand, and then followed closely and said: "The matter of Tubo, the king of Nanchang can handle it well, but in the matter of the grassland, the minister wants to ask His Majesty for the time of the general retreat of the army in the battle of the grassland, and the army of more than 100,000 is consumed day and night, which is not a decimal. ”

Li Zhi immediately understood that Cui Zhiyi's real purpose was still on the grassland.

Pei Xingjian commanded more than 100,000 troops, and the daily consumption of military rations was extremely terrifying, and the pressure on the household was terrifying.

Although the long journey and the large loss of military rations also made the household feel heavy pressure, Li Xuan had Tubo in return.

Especially next year, he has already begun to calculate and use various ways to save military rations, and there is even such an ancient capital of Tibet.

Once the Luo Dynasty was captured, the wealth accumulated by the Tibetan Dynasty for hundreds of years would be transported back to Chang'an.

All kinds of ways can make up for the blood loss in the court.

But what about the Turks, even if the Turks take Ashina Wenfu, the final gain is very little.

It's no wonder that Cui Zhiyi mentioned this matter in a roundabout way.

Li Zhi's brows furrowed tightly, if someone else asked about this, he would have to reprimand him.

If the Turks are left alone, the damage to Datang is not only comparable to the loss of military food in the past two years.

This kind of courtier simply doesn't care about the overall situation.

But the one in front of him is the head of the household.

The book of the head of the household, who controls all the money bags of the entire Datang.

Li Zhi took a deep breath, looked at Cui Zhiyi and said: "The battle of the grassland, I won't mention it in the future, but the big war will end this winter, but the withdrawal of troops needs to look at the situation next year." ”

Cui Zhiyi breathed a sigh of relief and arched his hand: "Thank you, Your Majesty, it's not that the ministers are worried, but the grassland war, it's best not to continue until July next year." ”

Li Zhi suddenly became solemn.

In July next year, even Datang will have a food shortage.

Even if it is a bumper harvest this year, there will definitely be a food shortage before the autumn harvest next year, especially since the army of more than 100,000 is piled up in the north, and it will be very troublesome if something happens.

"Don't worry, next autumn, the grassland war should be over, and the rest is to govern everything." Li Zhi's brow furrowed again.

The Turkic people are already in turmoil, and it will not be so easy to regain complete control.

The DPRK and China are also arguing over various tactics.

Li Zhi still remembers that when Li Xuan resigned at the beginning of the year, he also proposed two strategies, but they were also inconclusive.

Now the same is true for the DPRK and China, and Li Zhi does not have too many thoughts in his heart now, and the key is to see the future situation of the grassland.

But in general, he is still groping in the direction originally designated by Li Xuan, such as Ashina Nishulu, which is like this.

But after all, it will adjust with the situation at any time.

A rush of footsteps came from outside the hall, but when they came to the front of the hall, the footsteps slowed down again, as if they saw so many people in the hall and were hesitating to come in.

Li Zhi sighed, looked up at the temple gate, and asked, "What happened again?" ”

A thirty-year-old Tsing Yi attendant walked in from outside the hall, stood a little back, and arched his hand to the emperor: "Your Majesty, Nanchang Wangfu reported Zongzheng Temple, Nanchang Wang Teng's concubine Liu Shubi gave birth to a son, the genealogy is registered, and Zongzuo continues." ”

Li Zhi was stunned, and then he suddenly came over.

Li Xuan has a concubine, the granddaughter of Prime Minister Liu Renliang, who was pregnant at the beginning of the year, and now it is exactly ten months away.

"Genealogy is registered, and Zongzuo continues." Li Zhi chanted softly, with a hint of joy on his face.

After all, Li Xuan is the grandson of Emperor Gaozu, the cousin of Li Zhi, and the son of Li Xuan, even if he is a concubine, is also the great-grandson of Emperor Gaozu, and he is also the blood of the clan.

"Today, it is rare for the household department to report a good harvest, so I will give it the son of Fengchang County." Li Zhi opened his mouth and had already given the title of a county prince.

"Your Majesty." Empress Wu finally spoke at this time and said: "The king of Nanchang has been working hard for several years, although he has not been rewarded because of the promise of the heir, but His Majesty should still express it. ”

Li Zhi suddenly came over, and then said with a smile: "After all, this year after all, he invaded Tubo, and broke through the 100,000 army of the Qinling, and now he has sent the remains of the Qinling Tomb to Chang'an......"

"And Her Royal Highness Princess Wen Chang." Empress Wu opened her mouth and said carefully: "You can't let people wait until next year. ”

"Yes." Li Zhi nodded, and then said: "Spread the decree, the fifth son of the king of Nanchang will be the uncle of Fengchang County, and his mother will be promoted to the sixth rank of Tengren." ”

After a slight pause, Li Zhi said: "Fengchang Fengchang, I hope that next year will also be able to produce abundant grain and prosperity." ”

"Your Majesty reads, everything goes smoothly, the Tang Dynasty is prosperous, and the world is determined." The ministers in the palace gave up their hands at the same time.

(End of chapter)

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