bastard seizes tang

Chapter 468
Since the spring of the eighth year of Zhenguan, Duan Zhixuan took command of the western expedition to Tuyuhun, and after repelling the incoming enemy Fuyun, after the autumn of the eighth year of Zhenguan, Tuyuhun was still determined to send a large army to attack the border to harass Liangzhou.

Li Shimin was furious when he heard about the inquiry, so he dispatched Li Jing, the old commander, as the general manager of the Xikaidao march, and took command of the expedition. The marching chief, Gao Zengsheng, was the chief marching officer of Yanze Road.

In July of the ninth year of Zhenguan, the Tang army successively won great victories in Mandu Mountain, Chishuiyuan, Wuhai, Xingsuchuan and other places, and finally fought in Bohai.In this battle, the Tang army won a great victory, forcing Tuyuhun king Fuyun to death, capturing his son Fushun, and taking more than [-] Tuyuhun miscellaneous animals. The western expedition was a big victory.

Chang'an City, Taiji Palace, Ganlu Palace.

Li Jing's victory report on the Western Expedition had just been delivered to Chang'an, and Li Shimin was holding the victory report in his hand and looking at it with a smile on his face. At this moment, Prince Li Chengqian entered the palace according to the order.

"I pay homage to my father." Li Chengqian stood in the hall, looked at Li Shimin who was sitting in the hall, who was in a good mood, and bowed down.

Hearing Li Chengqian's voice, Li Shimin put down the good news in his hand, and smiled at Li Chengqian: "My son is here, sit down quickly."

"Thank you, father." Li Chengqian thanked him, and sat down on the seat where Li Shimin took over.

"I don't know why the father and son have come here?" Li Chengqian looked at Li Shimin and asked.

Li Shimin raised the good news in his hand, and said to Li Chengqian: "The pharmacist won a great victory in the western expedition, and he will return to Beijing in triumph. As the prince, I want you to go out of the city in person to meet the triumphant army."

When Li Chengqian heard that the Western Expedition was victorious, his face also showed joy, and he asked, "But the Tuyuhun army was defeated?"

Li Shimin said with a smile: "Tuyuhun was more than a big defeat. In the battle of Bohai, we won a great victory in the Tang Dynasty. King Fuyun of Tuyuhun hanged himself, and Fuyun's son Fushun was captured alive. Go to a strong enemy."

Knowing that Tuyuhun was subjugated, for some reason, Li Chengqian felt a little more happy in his heart. Perhaps it was also related to Li Chengqian's broken leg.

If it wasn't for the wild and untamed Qinghai horse that Tuyuhun offered back then, Li Chengqian's leg would not have been broken.

Li Chengqian said: "Fu Yun dared to fight against our Tang Dynasty with a small group of people in Tuyuhun. It is tantamount to seeking death. Since Fu Yun led the people to attack Liangzhou, his death and the country's demise are already a foregone conclusion. gone."

Li Shimin asked Li Chengqian: "Tuyuhun has been defeated, and the rest of the people have been captured. What do I think should be done with the rest of Tuyuhun?"

Li Chengqian thought for a while, and replied: "Fu Yun is rebellious, and he seeks his own death. Death is not in vain, but the people of Tuyuhun are innocent, so they should not be implicated by Fu Yun."

Li Shimin asked, "What does my son mean?"

Li Chengqian replied: "I thought that my Tang Dynasty could be established as a country in the old place of Qinghai in Tuyuhun, with Fushun as the county king, Tuyuhun Khan, governing the tribes, and staying in Qinghai. It can be my Tang Dynasty Northwest Ping Fan, protect and shelter In the northwest, it can also show the benevolence of our Tang Dynasty and make the world submit."

Hearing Li Chengqian's words, Li Shimin thought for a moment, then nodded slowly, but did not say yes or no.

What Li Chengqian said is indeed safe, and it is also a common law, so that people can't find too many faults, but although this method demonstrates the so-called benevolence and righteousness, it is too conservative.Setting up a vassal state in the old place of Tuyuhun, although it can protect the northwest half, but also locks up the half of the northwest of the Tang Dynasty, making it difficult to expand the territory.

Li Shimin knew that Li Chengqian would think so, probably because those masters in the East Palace taught him.Cultivating benevolence and despising martial arts is not only the teacher's teaching, but also Li Chengqian's temperament.

Li Shimin also knew that if the person he asked today was Li Ke, I am afraid that Li Ke would not give this answer. Li Ke would definitely suggest that Li Shimin take the old place of Tuyuhun, set up a governor's mansion, and control the Tuyuhun tribe. , Keep Qinghai, advance and attack, and fight for the Western Regions.Perhaps this is the answer Li Shimin wanted most.

Li Chengqian watched Li Shimin ponder for a while, but did not speak, and was also worried in his heart, and asked: "Father seems to be undecided, but what I said is not right?"

Li Shimin looked at Li Chengqian's appearance, and worried that if he told the truth, Li Chengqian might have a knot in his heart. As the prince of the Tang Dynasty, if Li Chengqian had a knot in his heart because of this matter, the gain would outweigh the loss.

Li Shimin then smiled and said: "There is nothing wrong with what my son said. This matter can be discussed in the Political Affairs Hall after the pharmacist returns to Beijing. You can also go there at that time. If the prime ministers have no objections, then I will follow you." The meaning is decided."

"Promise." Li Chengqian clapped his hands and agreed.

Li Shimin put down the good news in his hand, and said to Li Chengqian: "The matter of Tuyuhun has been decided, and the rest should be Hedong."

Hearing this, Li Chengqian's face remained calm, but he couldn't help feeling worried, because Li Shimin took the matter of the Northern Expedition Xue Yantuo too seriously.

As Kun Gu said before, this Northern Expedition of the Tang Dynasty is a key battle for Li Ke to accumulate achievements. If Li Ke wins this station, he will have the power to destroy the country. , his position as the crown prince may be even more unstable.

Judging from the current situation in Mobei, Yi Nan and Dadu set up a two-phase killing, and Xue Yantuo's national strength is no longer what it used to be. If Li Ke's northern expedition is really true, Xue Yantuo alone is definitely not Li Ke's opponent.

Li Chengqian asked Li Shimin: "Listening to what your father said, is your father worried about Hedong and Xue Yantuo?"

Li Shimin shook his head and replied: "It's not really worrying. With your third brother in charge of Hedong, and Li Ji, Zhang Gongjin, Su Dingfang and other senior generals helping him, Hedong is naturally as stable as Mount Tai. As a father, I was just thinking about it." It will be the battle of the Northern Expedition of the Tang Dynasty in the future."

"As expected." Hearing Li Shimin's words, Li Chengqian sighed secretly in his heart.

Li Chengqian knew that Li Shimin had high hopes for Li Ke's Northern Expedition, but the more so, the less Li Chengqian hoped that Li Ke's Northern Expedition would win and endanger his reserve position.

Li Cheng pretended to be distressed, and said to Li Shimin: "The battle of Xue Yantuo is really important, but I have something to say, but I don't know if it should be said or not."

Li Shimin smiled and said: "You and my dear father and son, if there is anything that should be said, just say it."

Li Chengqian said: "My Great Tang expedition to the west, although I won a great victory, in recent years, my Tang Dynasty has had frequent foreign wars, and the national burden is too heavy. In addition, the land with abundant grain in the previous year and last year was flooded again and again, and the grain in the warehouse Insufficient, the common people suffer greatly, and hundreds of officials in the court also have a lot of complaints about it."

Li Shimin frowned slightly, and asked Li Chengqian: "Are you like Wei Zheng and Kong Yingda not advocating the Northern Expedition to Xue Yantuo?"

When Li Shimin was transferred to Li Ke as the governor of Bingzhou, there was no court discussion. Since then, many officials in the court have used this matter to admonish Li Shimin and asked Li Shimin to take it back. Fortunately, when Li Ke first arrived in Hedong, he made great contributions. The mouths of all the officials were silenced, but as far as the Northern Expedition was concerned, the resistance from the court had not been small.

Li Chengqian replied: "Although the military power of the Tang Dynasty is strong, it will not be disadvantageous in a hundred battles. However, Xue Yantuo is located far away from Mobei, thousands of miles away from Guanzhong, and there is no fertile land. The Tang Dynasty is nothing more than a weak point. Moreover, Xue Yantuo's military strength is not comparable to that of Tuyuhun. If he wants to move him, he may be too involved. Even if he wins, he may hurt his father's wisdom."

As Li Chengqian spoke, he paused, and finally added: "Although I don't know anything about military affairs, I do know a thing or two about state affairs. My minister thinks that it is inappropriate to attack the north. The most important thing is to make Xue Yantuo fear me. The Tang Dynasty is strong and prosperous, and it is important to follow my order from the Tang Dynasty."

What Li Chengqian said is indeed the truth. The Great Tang Northern Expedition to the Turks was victorious, but because the climate in the desert was unsuitable and farming was more difficult, so they were abandoned. Monan was given to the Turks, and Mobei was given to Xue Yantuo.

Now that Xue Yantuo is uneasy, Li Shimin has moved his thoughts on the Northern Expedition to Xue Yantuo, but even if the Tang army goes northward and puts Xue Yantuo down in the future, so what, the Great Tang will probably not stick to Mobei, and will entrust Xue Yantuo's land to others.

Listening to Li Chengqian's words, Li Shimin also thought of something, and asked: "The envoy Xue Yantuo came to Beijing a few days ago, and mentioned the matter of marriage in his speech, what does my son think about this matter?"

Li Chengqian had talked so much before, and what he was waiting for was Li Shimin's words. Li Chengqian replied immediately: "Father, the emperor's Northern Expedition to the Turks, only achieved five years of peace in the northern border, and if Xue Yantuo's marriage agreement is approved, at least twenty years in the northern region can be preserved." Zai Anning, I think this proposal is feasible."

(End of this chapter)