Tibet

Chapter 223

Li Ye rested in Zhangye for two days and was about to set off again. This time, he was no longer just two people, but 300 of his subordinates were traveling with him. These [-] people were soldiers who followed Li Ye in battle, including two young captains, Pei Xiu and Li Ye. An Taixuan.

In addition, Hei Mao also got Pei Fang's help, re-registered him as a military officer under Ding Sheng's name, and appointed him as a captain. Li Ye asked the three of them to lead a hundred cavalry each.

The three hundred soldiers had their own horses, and there were also three hundred tall and strong camels in the team, and each soldier had a horse and a camel.

The horses were responsible for carrying the armor, and the soldiers rode on camels. The camels were loaded with dry food, water and fodder, and several camels were specially loaded with thousands of taels of gold. It is not Ye's private wealth, but the logistics wealth of this army.

Although Li Ye has the emperor's gold medal, not all places can get free supplies. On the contrary, most of the time they have to spend money to buy them, and gold is the best currency.

On a cool morning, Li Ye and Pei's family bid farewell, left Zhangye City with a long team, and continued to the far northwest.

In Chang'an City, the news that the Tang army in Ganzhou defeated the cavalry of the Xue tribe spread to the court, which aroused fierce debates inside and outside the court. .

And there is no shortage of opponents. The opponents have no objection to the recovery of Juyanhai. They mainly target the Tang army's invasion of the Xue tribe. Opponents believe that this will involve the imperial court in the grassland struggle and consume the national power of the Tang Dynasty.

At this time, Li Linfu resigned from the post of Shuofang Jiedushi, and the imperial court formally appointed An Sishun as Shuofang Jiedushi, so who will be the Hexi Jiedushi?
In this context, the battle of the Ganzhou Army to attack Xuebu became a bit complicated.

An Sishun recommended He Sinan, governor of Liangzhou, as Hexi Jiedu envoy, the Yang family strongly recommended Yang Kai, the son-in-law captain, as Hexi Jiedu envoy, and Li Linfu recommended Pei Fang, who had just made great contributions, as Hexi Jiedu envoy.

The emperor Li Longji was indecisive for a while, but at this moment, news came from Honglu Temple that Xue Yaoluo, the new chief of Xuebu, came to meet the emperor of Tang Dynasty with 200 million sheep.

In the Imperial Study Room of the Ziwei Palace, Li Longji was listening to the opinions of several ministers, and he had already obtained the upper form from Xue Bu sent by Honglu Temple.

Li Linfu bowed and said: "Your Majesty, the new chief has made it very clear in the above table that the former great chief colluded with the Ge Luolu people, betrayed Xue's interests, and invaded Juyanhai without authorization, which led to the Tang army's strong counterattack. They are supporting the Tang Army to enter the Xue Department to eradicate the culprit, and I believe that the Tang Army's entry into the Xue Department is not only to maintain the dignity of the Tang Dynasty, but also to prevent the Xue Department from being completely annexed by Ge Luolu, and Xue Department is also very clear about this."

Li Linfu and Yang Guozhong disagreed on whether the Tang army should enter the Xue Department. Yang Guozhong believed that the Tang army in Ganzhou invaded neighboring small countries without the approval of the court, which would affect the external image of the Tang Dynasty and cause other small countries to have resentment against the Tang Dynasty. Therefore, he believed that Pei Fang was not only useless, but also should be punished.

Li Linfu insisted that Tang Jun's entry into Xue Bu was to punish the culprit severely, and it was the inevitable result of Xue Bu's invasion of Juyanhai. Xue Bu could invade Datang at will, but Tang Jun dared not fight back. Wouldn't Tang Jun's destruction of Turks affect his own image?

In this matter, most of the courtiers supported Li Linfu and disapproved of Yang Guozhong's cowardly compromise idea, but now that Yang Zhongguo gained power, most of the courtiers did not support him and did not dare to say anything.

Of course, Yang Guozhong objected because Pei Fang was Li Linfu's in-laws, and he didn't want Pei Fang to serve as the governor of Hexi at this time and become Li Linfu's powerful foreign aid.

But now Xue Yaoluo's appearance came at the right time, and became Li Linfu's excellent assist. Even Xue's internal support for Tang Jun's intervention, what else is there to say?

"Wei Xiangguo, what do you think?" Li Longji glanced at Wei Jiansu and said.

Wei Jiansu said unhurriedly: "Reporting to Your Majesty, I have carefully read Dudu Pei's battle report. The Tang army defeated Xue Bu's cavalry in Juyanhai, and the vanguard chased Xue Bu back. The opponent's main force fought a decisive battle and defeated 6000 enemy troops with [-] cavalry. Not to mention the brilliant record, as far as the battle itself is concerned, Wei Chen believes that the battle of Juyanhai and the battle of Yantuoshui are actually a battle, but they are divided into two parts. The first half and the second half, so I agree with Li Xiangguo's opinion."

Wei Jiansu has a clear attitude and directly supports Li Linfu, and the reasons are very good and irrefutable. He is standing on a fair point of view.

"Where is Chen Xiangguo?"

It was Chen Xilie's turn again, and Chen Xilie said for a while, "I also feel that it is inappropriate for the Ganzhou Army to send troops to Xue Bu without the court's consent!"

Chen Xilie's attitude is also very clear, clearly supporting Yang Guozhong.

In the end it was Zhang Jun's turn. It seemed that the emperor was asking for everyone's opinions, but the emperor kept asking all the ministers in the political affairs hall to express their opinions. Everyone knew that it was actually the vote of the political affairs hall.

Now it is two to two, and the attitudes of both sides are clear-cut and unambiguous. Zhang Jun's statement is very important, it can be said that it is the key vote, and everyone's eyes are on him.

Zhang Jun felt Li Linfu's sharp gaze, he swallowed, and said cautiously: "The minister Xue Bu who sent troops thinks it's not a big problem, even the person involved Xue Bu himself agrees, but we think it's wrong, so it's a bit redundant. But when the appointment of Hexi Jiedu envoy is up, I believe that His Majesty needs to carefully consider all aspects to find a plan that everyone can accept."

Yang Guozhong's complexion suddenly turned ugly. He never expected that Zhang Jun would favor Li Linfu at the critical moment. Zhang Jun was recommended by the Yang family. How could he betray himself at the critical moment?

Li Longji nodded, "I understand the opinion of the Zhengshitang, all lovers, step down! I will think about it again."

The five prime ministers all resigned. Li Longji walked a few steps in the lobby with his hands behind his back, and asked Gao Lishi, "What do you think of Gao Aiqing?"

Gao Lishi knew the Son of Heaven too well, and the embarrassment for the Son of Heaven is not at all whether to send troops to Xuebu.

Now the embarrassment for the emperor is the appointment of Hexi Jiedushi.

Gao Lishi smiled slightly and said, "Hasn't Your Majesty noticed something very subtle and interesting in Pei Fang's battle report?"

"Where is it subtle and interesting?"

"At the very front, 'I see the letter from the Holy One, I will dispatch a thousand troops first, and my humble ministers will lead ten thousand people as backup', there is a person hidden in this sentence!"

Li Longji frowned, "When did I give him the letter?"

"Your Majesty did not send a letter to Pei Fang. If I guessed correctly, the letter here is the gold medal that Your Majesty gave to Li Ye. Li Ye led an army of one thousand to go first!"

"what!"

Only then did Li Longji realize, "Why didn't he say it clearly?"

"If he said clearly, Li Xiangguo will avoid suspicion. Moreover, His Majesty has just named Li Ye as General Mingyuan, and now he has made great contributions. How can His Majesty appoint him? My minister appreciates Pei Fang's foresight and thoughtfulness. , not only implying Li Ye's contribution to His Majesty, but ordinary ministers can't understand the meaning of the letter."

Only then did Li Longji suddenly realize, "So, the young general who attacked Juyanhai at night was Li Ye? He was also the chief general who led a thousand cavalry to defeat Xue's [-] enemy troops?"

"It should be him! Report the last 'carrying the order to the west, and make meritorious service for the country', saying that it is him!"

Li Longji laughed dumbly and said, "This stinky boy, why is there something about him everywhere?"

Gao Lishi said with a smile: "The Ge Luolu people want to exchange 300 million sheep for his head, and the Ministry of Xue offered a reward of [-] sheepskins for his life. It's all related to him. It's no wonder he doesn't go!"

Li Longji nodded, "His credit will be recorded in the account first, and we will consider it after Anxi has made meritorious service. It is not good for him to be promoted too soon!"

After a pause, Li Longji continued: "I'm considering letting Ge Shuhan serve as Hexi Jiedu Envoy concurrently, Pei Fang as Hexi Jiedu Envoy's Deputy Envoy, and continue to serve as Governor of Ganzhou. What does Ai Qing think?"

This plan is good, taking care of many aspects, Gao Lishi praised: "Your Majesty is wise!"

Li Longji immediately said to the Jixian Hall scholar on duty: "I will pass on my will again. The governor of Ganzhou, Pei Fang, will be loyal to his duties and have made great contributions to defending the land. He will be specially named the champion general, and he will be promoted to the deputy envoy of Hexi Jiedu." He is also the governor of Ganzhou, and the rest of the generals who participated in the war were promoted to a higher rank!"

As for the biggest hero Li Ye, Li Longji selectively ignored it.

(End of this chapter)