People in the early Tang Dynasty: I compete with Wu Zhao for the throne

Chapter 1218: Your Majesty’s speech, Empress Wu is speechless

Under the golden steps of Zichen Palace, Li Xuan, dressed in purple robe, stood solemnly.

A chamberlain in green clothes quickly came out, stood on the steps and shouted loudly: "King Xuan Nanchang has an audience."

"Your Majesty, Wang Xuan of Nanchang, accepts the order." Li Xuan bowed seriously, and then stepped up the golden steps.

In the Zichen Hall, Empress Wu was wearing a black brocade robe with phoenix patterns, and she was sitting behind the imperial desk reviewing memorials.

Li Xuan walked into the palace, solemnly raised her hands and said: "I, Wang Xuan of Nanchang, pay my respects to the Queen of Heaven."

"Get back on your feet." Empress Wu relaxed her shoulders, put the gold pen in her hand aside, and then looked at Li Xuan and asked, "Has the Luo Xudao affairs been arranged?"

"Yes." Li Xuan bowed and said seriously: "A few days ago, I had discussions with General Youwuwei Qu Chongyu and Minister of Household Affairs Wang Dezhen... Yesterday, General Youwuwei Qu Chongyu left for Tuyuhun to carry out resettlement After that, the main camp will be moved to Qugou; I will set off tomorrow to go to the front of the army; Wang Shilang will go with the grain, grass and military equipment in half a month."

Empress Wu nodded slightly, looked at Li Xuan, and said, "You should know that the DPRK will not be able to support you much this year."

"Yes!" Li Xuan raised his hand and said: "This year, the grain collected from various places in Changzhou, and the people's cattle and sheep will be sent to the army first. After breaking through Tanggula Mountain, they will be captured by the army to make up for it. I have a memorial here. Please The Queen of Heaven watches over it."

Li Xuan took out a memorial from her sleeve and handed it over respectfully.

Empress Wu glanced aside.

Shangguan Wan'er, who had a delicate face but tried hard to look solemn, stepped forward to take the memorial from Li Xuan's hand, and then delivered it to Empress Wu's desk.

Empress Wu opened it and checked it briefly, then directly circled the word "quasi" with a gold pen.

Putting the memorial aside, Empress Wu looked at Li Xuan and asked seriously: "As for the Qinling Mausoleum, which has always been a harm to the Tang Dynasty, I know that you have always been good at attacking and defending cities. However, the terrain of Tanggula Mountain is dangerous and the checkpoints contain heavy troops. How to break it?"

"Queen of Heaven." Li Xuan cupped her hands and said: "Now, four checkpoints in the Tanggula Mountain Road have fallen into the hands of the Tang Dynasty. The fifth checkpoint, Wang Xiaojie has been attacking on the front line for several months, and he is very clear about its key points. , it won’t be difficult to win in this year’s battle, and then there will be the remaining four.”

Empress Wu nodded slowly, and Li Xuan came down from work to make arrangements early.

When he was attacking Qamdo last year, he had already sent people to sneak into the pass of Tanggula Mountain quietly.

In the end, I captured Qamdo, turned around to Tanggula Mountain, and captured three levels almost instantly.

Lun Qinling was so fast that he couldn't react at all.

After another ten days of hard work, I won the fourth level.

Just when he was about to move towards the fifth checkpoint, the government issued an order to transfer him back to Beijing.

Now half a year has passed, and although Li Xuan is no longer in front of the army, Empress Wu believes that the arrangements he made have never stopped.

After returning, as long as you take action, you can immediately win the fifth level.

"It is not easy to win the fifth level because it is at the highest point of the entire Tanggula Mountain. But it is precisely because of this that once you win, you will have a high point to take advantage of." Li Xuan Hand it over seriously.

"You mean water attack?" Empress Wu immediately thought of Li Xuan's best method.

Li Xuan cupped her hands and said seriously: "In summer, even the snow on the highest peak of Tanggula Mountain will melt. If we can guide it well, then the torrent can accumulate and pour down..."

Li Xuan waved slightly, her eyes cold, as if there was some obstacle, but he waved it away easily.

Empress Wu nodded slowly. This move was indeed difficult to defend against.

But in an instant, Empress Wu raised her head and asked, "Then why did Lun Qinling not use this move against you last year?"

"Because it was already the end of July or early autumn when I conquered Qamdo. In August, I had already led a surprise attack and captured three checkpoints. Before Qinling could react, the weather had already turned cold." Li Xuan said, handing over her hand. : "But even so, throughout the winter, on the high mountains, the scouts of the Luoxudao army and the scouts of the Tubo army were fighting non-stop."

"They are trying to dig water channels to flood you next year?" Empress Wu suddenly felt a surprising chill.

Li Xuan can use water attack to deal with Tubo, and Tubo can also use it to deal with Li Xuan.

Li Xuan nodded and said slightly relaxedly: "But because at that time, the Tubo people wanted to dig water channels, and the Luosudao army only did damage, so our army had a slight upper hand. Coupled with the severe cold in winter, the Tubo people could not build the water channels after all."

"But next year, if you have to build a waterway, even Qinling Mausoleum will be destroyed by scouts." Empress Wu directly pointed out the key point.

"The Holy Ming of the Queen of Heaven." Li Xuan handed over his hand and said: "This is where the real fight will take place next year. However, I have the right time. The weather will gradually get warmer next year. I only need you to win the fifth level first. Then the advantage will already be with me." .”

"The situation is difficult!" Empress Wu couldn't help but nodded and sighed.

It was not an easy task for the Tang Dynasty to attack Tubo. In addition, Qinling was also a top army commander, so it was even more difficult to win.

"But after all, the advantage lies with me, so the real key lies in Tubo's last pass in the Tanggula Mountains. There will probably be a bloody fight there. If we win, the army can directly enter the Tibetan territory. If we lose, the food road will be lengthened." , if Lun Qinling seizes the opportunity, the advantage will become worse." Li Xuan looked solemn.

Empress Wu nodded slightly and said with a smile: "The King of Nanchang is an expert in attacking and defending the city. I still believe that the King of Nanchang can break through. Then the next step is to enter Tubo territory."

"Tubo is a different country after all. For many years, even if business travelers have entered Tubo, the only roads they are familiar with are from Tanggula Mountain to Luose. The rest are in the west of Tubo, in the east of Tubo, especially in the southeast. No matter what the situation, it is unavoidable, and it is especially easy for people to be fooled. We must take advantage of it, so we must divide our forces when the time comes." Li Xuan bowed.

"As you said in your previous memorial, you will lead all the way to Luoxue, Heijichang will lead all the way to the northwest, and Wang Dezhen will lead all the way to the southeast, cutting off contact between Luoxue and the surrounding places, and finally besieging the isolated city." The corners of Empress Wu's mouth showed. Satisfied smile.

Let’s not talk about other things, but based on this strategic plan, Li Xuan does have something worthy of praise.

"I'm just asking for stability." Li Xuan cupped her hands and looked cautious. "Striving for stability is the quality that a military commander should have. Otherwise, if you take risks at will, once you encounter an opponent like Lun Qinling, you will immediately be seen through and exploited." Empress Wu couldn't help but advance Xue Rengui's past. , but after mentioning it, she stopped talking.

The defeat of Dafeichuan had been avenged, and it was Xue Rengui who personally avenged it. Although he relied on the plans of Li Xuan and Liu Shenli, it was Xue Rengui who defeated Lun Qinling with his own hands.

"Yes!" Li Xuan cupped her hands with a respectful expression.

Empress Wu raised her head and said in a deep voice: "After the army enters Tubo, you should be careful about everything. The army cannot act too casually."

"Please give me the Queen's orders." Li Xuan understood the subtext of Queen Wu's words.

"I will send someone to help with the investigation." Empress Wu raised her head and stared closely at the change in Li Xuan's expression.

Li Xuan immediately raised his hand and raised his head: "Can I ask who it is?"

"Yang Zhirou, Censor Yang Zhirou." Empress Wu immediately said Yang Zhirou's name.

Li Xuan's expression suddenly became overjoyed, and she cupped her hands and said, "Thank you, Queen Mother."

Empress Wu smiled and said, "You seem to admire Yang Zhirou very much."

"Di Huaiying has been at the Yushitai for many years and has always praised Yang Yushi." Li Xuan bowed and said: "The Queen of Heaven, once I enter Luosi Road, it will take a few years to pacify the entire Tubo. I don't know. Can Yang Yushi stay in Tubo for a few more years?"

Empress Wu was speechless for a moment, and then said helplessly: "I have heard that your King Nanchang is a man who has no way out. This was the case in Changzhou back then. You transferred so many people from Chang'an, but for many years, none of them came out. Yes, it’s not easy to find He Zhizhang, and His Majesty personally asked him to come out, and then he had to be sent back to Changzhou."

"Tianhou, Changzhou is difficult, but even so, it is still within the calculable range, but Tubo..." Li Xuan smiled bitterly and shook his head, saying: "Tubo is vast, and once I take control of it, no matter how it is governed in the future, Both the DPRK and China will mobilize a large number of talents..."

"This is not easy!" Empress Wu shook her head slightly. Although there were many people in the court who were not awarded officials every year and had to wait hard, but if they really wanted to be sent to Tubo, I am afraid that none of them would be willing, let alone It's still a talent.

The real talents were not enough for Empress Wu and the Emperor to use, so how could they send Luo Xiang to Li Xuan.

"Then the only choice is to use guilty ministers." Li Xuan smiled bitterly and cupped her hands, saying: "Please also ask the Queen of Heaven to send more people to patrol. There are many officials in the court who oppress the people, so why not send them all to Luo..."

"Let them bully the Tubo people." Empress Wu couldn't help but laugh.

It is true that there were many officials in the Tang Dynasty who were not worthy of death, but they oppressed the people and had to be severely punished. In this case, exile to Tibet was indeed a feasible option.

"Tubo is three thousand miles away from Chang'an, which is the same as Lingnan and Hainan. This is just within the scope of the law." Li Xuan bowed.

Empress Wu nodded slowly and fled three thousand miles to Tibet.

"I can rest assured that I will leave the affairs of Tubo to you. If your home is in Chang'an, I will take good care of it." Empress Wu solemnly promised.

"Thank you, Queen." Li Xuan gratefully handed over her hand.

"Prince of the East Palace, you have taught well during this period. Compared with half a year ago, Saburo has changed a lot. I am very pleased." Empress Wu sighed softly, and suddenly lost interest. She waved her hand and said, "Go and see His Majesty. , have a good chat with His Majesty."

"I accept the decree, and the Queen of Heaven is safe." Li Xuan cupped his hands, then immediately knelt on the ground, bowed his head, and then slowly exited the Zichen Palace.

……

After watching Li Xuan leave, Empress Wu raised her head and looked behind the curtain, her eyes calm: "What do you think of the King of Nanchang?"

The curtain was lifted, and Su Liangsi walked out respectfully: "The Queen of Heaven."

"Tell me about it. You have been with him for a few months. You should have an understanding of his character." Empress Wu looked at Su Liangsi, her eyes gradually becoming sharper.

"Here!" Su Liangsi deeply cupped his hands and said: "The King of Nanchang has some selfish motives, such as supporting old subordinates, arranging personal appointments, and has a sensitive personality. But he is extremely loyal. I believe that even if His Majesty and the Queen of Heaven issue an order today, he will be removed. If I am appointed as the commander-in-chief of the marching army at Luoche Road, he will gladly take up the post if the prince of the state is appointed to offer sacrifices to wine."

"That's a good thing." Empress Wu nodded slowly. Everything Li Xuan had done in the past few months appeared in her mind.

Li Xuan compiled "Qie Yun", wrote "Han Lun", wrote "Wandering Son's Song", and led "Complaint to Tubo". He was determined to work in the literary world, and he himself had plans to return to the court.

It was precisely because he foresaw that there would be various changes in the DPRK in the future.

"The King of Nanchang is extremely loyal and filial. After all, Princess Peng is a bit old. What if he is transferred back from Tubo in a few years?" Empress Wu raised her head and looked at Su Liangsi with a faint look.

Su Liangsi's mouth twitched slightly, but he held it back with force.

Now he finally understood that everything Li Xuan did was not unfounded, and Empress Wu did have the intention to bring him back.

But now that everything has been seen through, there are some bad moves.

Su Liangsi handed over his hand and said sincerely: "I suggest that it is better to transfer the King of Nanchang back to Nanchang as little as possible, or not at all."

"Why?" Empress Wu was surprised.

"Because he had such a profound influence on the prince." Su Liangsi lowered his head.

There was silence in the palace for a moment.

Only Shangguan Wan'er looked at everything calmly.

(End of this chapter)