Li Zhi, don't be a coward

Chapter 202 Should Punish or Reward?

Datang Chang'an City.

He galloped into Beijing on a fast horse and went straight to Tai Chi Palace.

Half an hour later, Li Zhi received a military report from Baekje, and after glancing at the military report, his expression changed.

The general's newspaper was slapped on the table, and Li Zhi said angrily: "Nonsense!"

Empress Wu who was next to her naturally picked up the military newspaper and looked at it, and then her expression changed.

"The sailor lost his way at sea and landed on the main island of the Japanese kingdom by mistake?" Empress Wu said in surprise.

Li Zhi said angrily: "This is the military report sent by Li Qinzai. Queen, do you believe that the navy lost its way and landed on Wa Island by mistake?"

Empress Wu shook her head and said with a wry smile: "Baekje to Dengzhou in Tang Dynasty has been a fixed route for many years. Even if the sea is blocked by thick fog, it is absolutely impossible for sailors to get lost."

Li Zhi's face was ashen, and he snorted coldly: "Li Jingchu is so brave, he dared to disobey the military order. When did Sun Renshi, the commander of the Naval Division, give the military order for him to attack Wa Island? More than [-] soldiers followed him and crashed into Wa Island , with no support in front and behind, and a lonely army going deep, does he think he is Huo Qubing?"

The more Li Zhi spoke, the more angry he became, and he said loudly: "Lawless! If I don't rule him, sooner or later he will be proud of favors, which is not the blessing of the country!"

"Come here, cut off Li Qinzai's county prince, remove..."

Before he finished speaking, Empress Wu suddenly interrupted him, and said softly: "Your Majesty, Li Jingchu is the grandson of Duke Ying after all, you see..."

Li Zhi was stunned for a moment, gritted his teeth, and said, "The grandson of Duke Ying is just... Huh! Someone, announce the Duke of England to enter the palace for an audience."

Half an hour later, Li Ji hurried into the palace.

After entering the palace, Li Ji found that Empress Wu was silent, Li Zhi's face was ashen, Li Ji's heart sank, and he still bowed to see him calmly.

With anger, Li Zhi handed the general report to Li Ji.

Li Ji took a quick glance, and immediately became angry: "Zhuzi has caused a lot of trouble! You are an asshole!"

Li Zhi tried his best to calm down, and said in a low voice: "Old general, I have always admired you, but Lingsun is really...too daring. The military report has arrived in Chang'an, and the news cannot be hidden from people. If I don't investigate, it will be difficult to convince the public. The old general's first life reputation is also damaged."

Li Ji bowed resolutely: "Old minister, Your Majesty asks your Majesty to punish this Zhuzi severely, even if he beheads, he will have no resentment."

Li Zhi nodded, and said again: "Beheading... is not possible, but it must be severely punished, otherwise I will not be able to hide my long-winded words. I hope the old general will understand my difficulties."

After a pause, Li Zhi comforted him again: "Jingchu's youthful spirit is unavoidable to be impulsive. This time I will teach him a lesson. It is not a bad thing for him. With Jingchu's great talent, I will make new achievements for me in the future. It will still be used again and entrusted with important tasks."

Li Ji shook his head and said: "Zhuzi is useless, I beg your majesty to deprive him of his title, dismiss him from his post, let him wear white clothes all his life, and just be a mediocre farmer."

Li Zhi froze for a moment. He was very angry at first, but Li Ji was even more angry than him, and his tone was more intense. He seemed to get rid of his own grandson and then quickly.

After such a comparison, Li Zhi suddenly felt that he was not so angry.

"Don't be excited, old general, haha, it's not a big deal, it won't happen, it won't happen." Li Zhi comforted Li Ji instead.

Li Ji said calmly: "The old minister is not excited, but this son of Jing Chu acted recklessly and disobeyed the military order, so he must be severely punished. The old minister's family is unfortunate, and he has done this to harm the country and the emperor. The old minister is incapable of governing the family. I cannot escape the blame. Please, Your Majesty." Condemnation."

Li Zhi hurriedly said: "The more the old general said, the more serious it became. Don't blame yourself. Jing Chu is still very measured. He has made a lot of contributions in the past, and he can't hide his merits. Apart from this, Jing Chu is still my senior. Don't be too harsh on Tang Sheji's great talent and national weapon."

Li Ji sighed for a long time, bowed and said: "The old minister will let His Majesty deal with you, and will never complain."

Li Zhi said cautiously: "Then... will I be punished a little?"

"Your Majesty, please punish me severely!"

Li Zhi hesitated again and again. When he was angry just now, he wanted to cut Li Qinzai's county prince, but after the anger passed, he thought about the whole thing carefully.

Well, the nonsense about getting lost at sea and landing on Wajima by mistake is of course unbelievable. Violating orders is indeed violating orders, but they are neither rebellious nor surrendering to the enemy.

Therefore, this matter can be big or small, depending on how it is understood.

After all, after the meritorious deeds of the three dynasties, his grandfather was still the mainstay of the country at the level of a nuclear bomb. If the punishment was too severe, it would inevitably hurt the hearts of loyal ministers.If the punishment is too light, the courtiers will not let him go.

It is not easy to be the emperor of the Tang Dynasty.

"Cough, fine, fine... a year's salary?" Li Zhi asked hesitantly.

Not only Li Ji frowned, but Empress Wu couldn't stand it any longer, and tugged at his sleeve without a trace.

Li Ji said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, don't play tricks. This son must be severely punished. How can such a mild punishment like a salary be used as an example to imitate others, and why should it be concealed from the public?"

Li Zhi sighed, he doted on Li Qinzai very much, he also deeply loved his talent and personality, even his own two sons were sent to study by his side without hesitation, which shows how much Li Zhi valued his talent.

Severe punishment... I really can't be cruel.

At this moment, hurried footsteps came from outside the hall, and an eunuch knelt outside the hall door, panting and said, "Your Majesty, an urgent report from eight hundred miles away from the main island of Wa Kingdom!"

Li Zhi was startled, and hurriedly said: "Submit it quickly!"

The eunuch hurried into the palace, and the general reported it to Li Zhi.

Unfolding the yellowed military newspaper, Li Zhi took a quick glance, then gasped: "This..."

Empress Wu took a look at the military newspaper from his hand, and said in surprise: "Li Qinzai Cheng Boxian led six thousand sailors to sweep across the Wa Kingdom, occupying half of the country. The soldiers continued to advance eastward, and the vanguard had already reached outside Asuka City, the capital of Japan..."

Li Ji in the hall was also taken aback, his expression changed immediately.

More than 6000 people landed in the enemy's country, and accidentally occupied half of the country?This is a posture to destroy the country.

The three monarchs and ministers in the hall looked at each other in shock.

Then Li Zhi showed a wry smile on his face, and looked at Li Ji helplessly: "Old General, what should I do? Should I severely punish him, or give him a promotion?"

Li Ji tried his best to calm down his emotions, his expression remained calm, and he snorted coldly: "Before the order is violated, the teacher is born without a name. No matter how much credit this evil animal has made, the old minister thinks that he must be severely punished."

Li Zhi shook his head, and said slowly: "Old General, this military report is beyond my expectation. I never thought that Jingchu would be able to do such a great thing. If the country of Wa is really controlled by our Tang Dynasty, it will be very powerful to my Tang Dynasty, and to the people of the whole world." The deterrence of the two countries of Jixinluo and the restraint of Goguryeo are both beneficial and harmless."

Empress Wu was also an intelligent woman, her eyes lit up when she heard the words, and she said: "If I, the Tang Dynasty, controls the Wa Kingdom, then I will be able to attack Goguryeo from east to west, as well as Liaocheng in the north of the Tang Dynasty, and Baekje and Xingu in the south. Luo Guo and Goguryeo are already surrounded by our Tang Dynasty!"

Empress Wu pointed it out, and the eyes of Li Zhi and Li Ji lit up.

Since the year of Zhenguan, the emperors of the two dynasties of the Tang Dynasty have been thinking about Goguryeo?
If the country of Wa has been controlled by the Tang Dynasty, and Goguryeo is surrounded on all sides, is it still far from extinction?

There is almost no need to adopt any strategy and tactics. As long as the neighboring countries around Goguryeo are fortified and cleared, and the land and sea routes are strangled, Goguryeo will surely be in chaos.

It was not that no one had thought of this strategic intention before, but that at that time the Wa Kingdom and Datang were friendly neighbors, and since Gan Fan was a vassal state, they sent a large number of Tang envoys to study every year. The humble and dog-licking gesture was too sincere, and Datang was really embarrassed to accept it. It starts.

Now that Tang and Wo were belligerent countries, Li Qinzai disobeyed the military orders, but took half of the territory of Wa by surprise. Looking at the map to the east of Tang Dynasty, the whole game of chess came to life immediately, and the initiative had completely fallen into the hands of Datang.

Leaving aside the fact that Li Qinzai disobeyed and violated orders, the landing of more than [-] soldiers in the Wa Kingdom did more good than harm to the Tang Dynasty. More importantly, Li Qinzai's timing was accurate and ruthless.

In the Battle of Baijiangkou, the entire Japanese navy was wiped out, and more than [-] troops were wiped out across the ocean. The middle school was empty.

Li Qinzai took the opportunity to land, and it can be said that the wind and clouds were overwhelming, and there were few invincible soldiers in the territory of the Wa Kingdom. At this time, it was the right time, place and people to occupy the Wa Kingdom.

Violation is indeed a violation, but... well done!
So here comes the question, should Li Qinzai be punished or rewarded?

Both Li Zhi and Empress Wu's eyes fell on Li Ji, and Li Ji was an old fox of the three dynasties after all. At this time, his thoughts changed, and he stroked his beard and said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, the old minister still feels that Li Qinzai must be severely punished!"

"Don't cover up your faults, but you can't cover up your faults. Li Qinzai disobeyed orders without authorization. This trend can't last long. Otherwise, how can the army gain prestige? Capital crimes may be avoided, but living crimes cannot be escaped. Whether it's exile or detention in Dali Temple, In any case, it must be severely punished.”

Li Ji spoke righteously. From his standpoint and position, this is the only thing he can say at this moment, and it must be said.

As long as Li Ji showed any words of pleading for Li Qinzai, it would be a violent storm to welcome the Li family.

Li Zhi dotes on Li Qinzai, but the courtiers don't dote on him.

Seeing that Li Zhi was hesitant and Li Ji's tone was firm, Empress Wu blinked and said with a smile: "Your Majesty, it's too early to punish or reward. The most important thing right now is to maintain the war situation. Since the Wa Kingdom is already in half, we must reinforce it." Li Qinzai, don't let him really become a lone army."

Li Zhi was shocked when he heard the words, and hurriedly said: "That's right, maintaining the battle situation is the most important thing, and put aside other trivial matters."

"Send people quickly to Baekje State, and call Sun Renshi's navy to march eastward urgently, and land in Nagasaki, Japan. Liu Rengui's troops on land dispatched half of the elite soldiers, and they also went with Sun Renshi's navy on the same ship. Soldiers and horses, with enough food, grass and military equipment, rushed to the aid of Li Qinzai's troops in the Japanese kingdom."

Li Qinzai's act of disobedience inadvertently mobilized the power of the Tang army on the entire eastern front of the Tang Dynasty, and people from all walks of life rushed to the Japanese country to help Li Qinzai's troops.

Li Qinzai finally imagined the joy of Li Yunlong's attack on Ping'an Gele.

Seeing Li Zhi's decree, Li Ji in the palace stroked his beard and remained silent, his face still angry, but a smile suddenly flashed in his eyes, which deeply betrayed his current mood.

(End of this chapter)