First Minister of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 235 Kong Shilang is a sensible person
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Hearing Dou Jiande's words, all the generals hurriedly bowed down and shouted: "Your Majesty is wise."

At this moment, Ling Jing, the son of the state, came late. Hearing the military order, he couldn't help being terrified, and hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, how can you change the order overnight?"

Dou Jiande also felt a little apologetic in his heart, and helped Ling Jing up from his seat, "Ling Qing, please stand up, it's not because of the change of the imperial order, it's just that the morale of the generals is high and they are eager to fight. Tang Jun, if you show the prestige of our Great Xia Army, Ling Qing's strategy cannot be followed."

Ling Jing was furious when he heard the words, and immediately threw away Dou Jiande's support, and yelled at him with his sleeves: "Your Majesty is so obedient and obedient, and changes his orders day and night, how can he win? Hulao Pass is guarded by one man, and no one can open it. If there is a strong attack, the army will be lost, and the overall situation will be lost." It is useless, and attacking Hedong is really a surefire strategy."

Seeing Ling Jing lose his composure, Dou Jiande was a little annoyed for a while, but he still tried to persuade him patiently, but Ling Jing was firm.

When the monarchs and ministers were in a stalemate, Kong Deshao, the Minister of Internal History, said quietly from the side: "Major affairs of the military and state are decided by the king and the generals. As scribes, it is better for us to perform our duties."

"Kong Shilang is a sensible person", and even a general said: "When is it the turn of the scholar to point fingers at the war?"

Ling Jing was furious when he pointed at Kong Deshao, both belonged to the literati, when Nayan Songzheng was still alive, Kong Deshao was respectful, but now he is stabbing in the back of the palace, how could Ling Jing not be angry.

Seeing Ling Jing glaring at him, Kong Deshao touched the East China Sea Orb in his sleeve as a gift from Wang Wan and closed his eyes without saying a word.

Dou Jiande's face was cloudy and uncertain, seeing Ling Jing was furious in the palace, he ordered the guards to carry him out.

That night, Ling Jing felt unwilling, so he bribed the palace guards and asked to see the Queen Cao.

Mrs. Cao is also a native of Beizhou. She is from the same hometown as Dou Jiande and Ling Jing, and they have known each other for many years. Dou Jiande was born recklessly. It was only thanks to Cao's intercession that he was able to preserve it.

Hearing Ling Jing's request for an audience, Cao has no reason not to see her. After Ling Jing's persuasive persuasion, Cao was finally moved by Ling Jing and agreed to speak for him.

Little did he know that it was precisely this action that put Ling Jing in a desperate situation.

After Dou Jiande went to bed, Mrs. Cao asked softly beside her pillow, "I heard that your majesty is going to storm Hulao Pass?"

Dou Jiande was a little surprised when he heard the words, but still nodded, and then asked: "Madam has never asked about military affairs, why did you ask about this today?"

Regarding Dou Jiande, the Cao family has never concealed it, and immediately said Ling Jing's words, admonishing him: "Your Majesty must listen to Ling Jing's words about offering wine. This concubine in Hulao has seen it before. It is so dangerous. If you want to attack by force, you may not suffer heavy losses. Since this road is blocked, it is better to change the direction and capture Hedong. This can not only expand the territory of Daxia, but also force the Tang army to return to the division. Wouldn’t the siege of Luoyang be solved? It’s better than here The stagnation in front of the Hulao Pass is a waste of financial resources.”

Dou Jiande's face gradually darkened when he heard this, "Ling Jing told you this?"

Cao's heart skipped a beat, and she didn't dare to lie, she hurriedly lowered her head, "Exactly, it's just that the concubine feels reasonable, so I just spoke to the king."

Dou Jiande nodded when he heard the words, but he didn't take it seriously, and said directly: "I came to rescue Zheng in response to the righteousness of the world. If I retreat here, I will be afraid of the Tang army's advance and betray my faith. I will be ridiculed by the heroes of the world. I must not do this." .

Cao's heart became anxious when she heard the words, "Your Majesty wants to be an emperor fighting for hegemony in the world, not a reckless hero running rampant in the countryside, why should you care about those?
Ling Jijiu and I are from the same hometown, and we have a deep friendship, and there is absolutely no reason to harm the king, as he said, the king is too concerned about the reputation in the world, so he will let the generals who lead the army become big, and I hope the king thinks twice."

"Enough", Dou Jiande was furious when he heard the words, "Military and national affairs are not something that a scholar can make decisions, let alone you, a woman who can understand. I will go to the side hall tonight, so you can do it yourself." get up and leave.

Cao was a little apprehensive.

As everyone knows, Dou Jiande has always cherished his reputation. Even if a beggar stops him and sings his praises, Dou Jiande will give him gold and silver.

A person who loves fame like this would never hear others say that he cares about false fame.

The next day, seeing that Dou Jiande was still unwilling to retreat and turned to Jingluehe River, Ling Jing knew that the Cao family's road would not work, and his heart was as dead ashes.

Seeing this, Kong Deshao took the opportunity to say: "Your Majesty, the morale of our army is high, the momentum is like a rainbow, and the power of the Great Xia is in full swing. However, Ling Jing, the son of the state, does not want to select talents for the country. Instead, he is dejected and ruins our army. It is a serious crime to seek military and state affairs, and I heard that last night, he even bribed the guards and sneaked into the palace, and I hope the king will see clearly."

Dou Jiande was silent when he heard the words, he ignored them, he still had scruples about the old friendship in his heart, so he didn't punish Ling Jing.

A few days later, Wang Wan presented Wang Shichong's personal letter, praising King Xia's kindness in his heart, and praised Dou Jiande in a high-praised manner.

Facing one impeachment after another, Dou Jiande had no choice but to dismiss Ling Jing and give him a house in Mingzhou to let him die.

Looking at the magnificent Banzhu Palace, Ling Jing's heart was ashamed, and he walked straight to the Hulao Pass dozens of miles away, and watched for a long time under the pass, then found a big tree at the side, took out a white silk, walked around the branches, and looked at it. Looking at the upright Xiongguan, Ling Jing sighed: "Let me watch Daxia's defeat here after I die", and then hanged himself outside Hulao Pass.

Hearing that Ling Jing hanged himself, Dou Jiande was greatly shocked. Despite being angry, he never forgot the old love.

What happened in Dou Jiande's Banzhu Palace, Hulao Pass, Li Shimin and others were completely unaware, because at this time the Tang army once again fell into the predicament when they conquered Liu Wuzhou, that is, the lack of food and grass.

Hulao Pass is an important pass, Li Shimin only led [-] Xuanjia troops here, they had enough food, but the Xuanjia troops had one man and two horses, all of them were high-quality war horses, and the fine forage they ate was not enough.

As a cavalryman, no matter how hard it is, Li Shimin hesitated for a long time to sit down on the horse, and finally gave the order, deciding to take the risk of letting the Xuanjia army go out to graze horses on the bank of the Yellow River. Horse, but the biggest danger is to beware of Dou Jiande's surprise attack.

Seeing that Li Shimin, who has always been bold in using troops, was uncharacteristically cautious, Gao Chong's heart moved, maybe the opportunity to win has come.

(End of this chapter)