Traveling through the early Tang Dynasty starts with hanging

Chapter 1374 The only choice

Although Li Yuan was very comfortable with this flattery, he quickly changed the topic back.

"Now Daozong is trapped in Bingzhou, and Zhang Zhongjian is far away in Lingzhou." Li Yuan sighed: "Sichang is appointed as the general manager of the Jingzhou Road March. All the generals in Hedong are under the command of Erlang, arrogant and powerful generals... Su Dingfang is too junior."

After a pause, Li Yuan looked at Li Shan, "Originally, it was suitable to act as Duke Li Yaoshi, but now his prestige has been greatly lost..."

The corner of Li Shan's mouth twitched. Indeed, if Li Jing was not humiliated this time, he should be the most suitable candidate.

"Who told him, Pharmacist Li, to stop doing human affairs..." Li Shan felt that he was a little unjust, "Since Yuanzhou went south, the generals did not dare to stop him, for fear that he would stop moving forward."

"Will it always be like this in the future?" Li Yuan was a little helpless, "I remember that you have a close relationship with your brothers Li Keshi and Li Qianyou, and your nephew Li Kai is still your best friend."

"Now the war in Hedong is still at a stalemate. Duke Qu Tutong of Chiang is lying ill and is already seventy years old." Li Yuan snorted, "Moreover, troops must be dispatched from within the pass, and Li Yaoshi is unable to suppress it."

It was indeed impossible to suppress him. Li Shimin's direct descendants, such as Yu Chigong, Cheng Yaojin, and Qin Qiong, all looked at how Li Jing was humiliated... Zhang Shigui, Duan Zhixuan, and other Li Shimin's direct descendants were even more displeased with Li Jing.

Li Daoxuan on the Hedong side was Li Shan's best friend, and Xue Wanche, Xue Wanjun, and Qin Wutong followed Li Shan to defeat the Turks and wiped out Li Jing's face.

Not to mention Liu Shirang and Li Shiji of Shuozhou... If Li Jing leads the army, everyone at the top and bottom will doubt whether Li Jing will just sit back and watch, and then choose the most favorable time for him to suddenly send troops. While achieving a great victory, he may also The Tang troops in Bingzhou and Shuozhou suffered huge losses.

"Last year in the Tai Chi Hall, Huairen took the initiative to ask for help, but now he has no courage anymore?"

Li Shan is as steady as an old dog, and only casts aggrieved eyes... Do you have the nerve to say that I have no courage?

Just ten days ago, I rushed into the Xuanwu Gate to rescue the cavalry. Just five days ago, I led my army to resist several times the Hu cavalry.

Li Yuan frowned, "Erlang is determined not to leave the capital. Now in the court, you are the only one who can convince the generals and solve the crisis in Hedong!"

Several people on the side were silent. Changsun was thinking in his heart that your majesty's words were really not an exaggeration. When Lang Jun was fighting in the south and north, the deputy generals used Yin Kaishan and Qu Tutong successively, but the former had been in Wude for five years. He died of illness, and the latter is now also ill and bedridden.

If you were to select a general from the lineage of the King of Qin, you would not be able to pick a person who could overwhelm everyone in terms of qualifications, military exploits, and reputation.

This is also the reason why Li Shan mentioned before that Li Shimin was so good at fighting that there was no commander-level figure in his direct lineage who could take charge of his own role.

From all angles, Li Shan is the most suitable candidate. First of all, although he is not very qualified, he has made great contributions to saving people three times and is a key figure in countering the rebellion. If not for his intervention, Li Shimin might have been killed. Buried.

Secondly, Li Shan's military exploits were impeccable. He defeated the Turks six times in Yanmen, Mayi, Gujizhen, Cangtouhe, Jingzhou, and Jingzhao. The three previous Khans suffered heavy losses at his hands. He was The commander with the most outstanding achievements against the Hu people outside the Great Wall.

Thirdly, Li Shan has a good relationship with most of the direct generals under Li Shimin. Only the generals who are still fighting in Jingzhao Nei today, Zhang Shigui, Duan Zhixuan, and Li Keshi are all his old troops, and Yuchi Gong, Qin Qiong, and Cheng Yaojin are also involved in this. As someone who suppressed rebellion in the field, he naturally had a good impression of Li Shan.

In the Tang army still in Jiangzhou, many of Li Shimin's direct generals also have good relations with Li Shan, such as Qian Jiulong and others from his old army during the Jingzhou War last year.

Finally, the Daizhou Army was defeated in Bingzhou and joined forces with the Bingzhou Army. However, Li Shan was the founder of the Daizhou Army, such as brothers Xue Wanche and Xue Wanjun, Liu Shirang who was far away in Shuozhou, and Li Daoxuan, the king of Huaiyang. Li Daozong, the king of Rencheng, also had a good relationship with his old department.

More importantly, Li Shan has a strong influence in Hedong... After Li Shan abandoned his army in Jiangxia County and fled, and stood up to defend Yanmen, the Turks could no longer break through and enter. The restoration of Daidi and even Hedong came from this.

No matter from any angle, Li Shan is the most suitable candidate, or even the only candidate.

"Your Majesty, it snowed in Beijing yesterday." Li Shan said cautiously: "It is estimated that heavy snow has fallen in Hedong, and Tuli Khan should have withdrawn his troops." "If it doesn't work, let the courier send a letter, Dubu Khan Defeated... Already trapped in Jingzhao, if you don't believe in his sudden victory, you won't retreat yet!"

"Even if he is not afraid of the Tang army's counterattack, he still has to rush back to Wuyuan County, right?"

Li Yuan looked at Li Shan coldly, and after a while he said, "What about Shuozhou?"

"I received a battle report from Shuozhou yesterday. The messenger traveled a long way across the mountains and ridges. He has been trapped for more than a month and is running out of food and grass."

"It is my duty to fight for the country!" Li Shan said with a bitter face: "It's just that the third sister didn't allow it, saying that great achievements are hard to reward. If I lead the army again, something unexpected may happen in the future..."

Li Yuan was completely speechless. Isn't it inappropriate to say this in front of me, the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty?

"Huairen is so spoiled!" Li Yuan snorted, "Then you can become a rich man in the future!"

"Originally, I planned to let you serve as Minister of War first, and then enter the three provinces after Erlang ascends the throne..."

"Thank you uncle." Li Shan was immediately overjoyed, "As a rich man, my nephew is already satisfied."

"Uncle, think about it. My nephew came to Chang'an from the south of Lingnan and in the north. In just a few years, he became famous all over the world. He is both civil and military. He has wonderful writing and military exploits. He will be described in detail in the history books of later generations. What else is there to be dissatisfied about?"

Li Yuan walked away angrily, and when he returned to Tai Chi Palace, he even scolded a few words. However, Concubine Wan Gui comforted her and said, "Your Majesty, it is understandable that King Wei Si is planning for the future."

"Of course I know, Pingyang has mentioned it several times in private." Li Yuan sighed: "But now it is necessary."

Glancing at Changsun on the side, Li Yuan explained: "Now we have Dubu Khan trapped on the side of the Jinghe River. If there is no accident, he will definitely be strangled."

"I discussed with Erlang last night that if Huairen can be sent to Hedong, Tuli Khan would have been defeated by him. Now that it is mid-October, snow will have fallen in Daizhou and Shuozhou, and the Turks will no longer have the will to fight... "

Concubine Wan Gui hasn't understood it yet, but Changsun has understood it. Li Yuan and Li Shimin hope to be able to accomplish this in one battle.

If Dubu Khan can be captured and killed, the Tang army can defeat Tuli Khan, or even capture and kill him... Then the Turks who have ruled the grasslands for more than a hundred years are likely to fall apart.

Not to mention the internal chaos, Xue Yantuo will definitely take advantage of it... For a long time, the grassland tribes will not have the intention or ability to go south.

As for the Western Turks... they have been experiencing frequent civil strife in recent years and have no energy to look eastward.

If we want to expel the Turkic forces entrenched in Hedong, although Qu Tutong is ill, Li Jing has no prestige, and Su Dingfang is too inexperienced, Chai Shao can hold his position.

But if they want to defeat the Turks, Li Yuan and Li Shimin's first choice can only be Li Shan, and this is also the only choice.

(End of this chapter)