First Minister of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 241 Cao Dan's Choice

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Hearing Cao Dan's words, Cao Zhan murmured silently, just as Cao Dan said, Dou Jiande had no children, so he adopted his adopted son. Now the adopted son is only six or seven years old, and he is not yet sensible, how can he inherit the great position.

Cao Zhan was also a little cautious. Once the young master succeeded, his Cao family would be able to control the government of Xia Kingdom as a foreign relative. At that time, Cao Zhan would kick out Pei Ju, Qi Shanxing and others and take charge of the government alone.

However, Cao Dan proceeded from the reality, and it was not suitable for the young master to succeed to the throne during the turmoil, but Dou Jiande also had no brothers, so Cao Dan was at a loss for a while.

Seeing that the atmosphere was tense, Pei Ju said, "If you don't want the queen to be regent for the time being, it won't be too late to discuss when there is a better way in the future."

Cao Dan and others nodded in response when they heard the words.

After everyone retreated, Pei Ju went straight to Li Gongyan, the chief historian, "What does Li Changshi think about the current situation in the world?"

Hearing the words, Li Gongyan saw that there was no one around, and couldn't help sighing: "Hongda and I have known each other for several years, and now you are testing me with this word?"

Pei Ju smiled when he heard the words, and said straightly: "Don't be upset, Gong Yan, you are trusted by Cao Shangshu. I don't know Cao Shangshu's intentions, so I dare not speak nonsense."

Li Gongyan shook his head when he heard the words, and said bluntly: "The king is defeated this time, and the destiny is in Tang. No matter how hard Cao Shangshu works hard to maintain it, he will not escape defeat."

"Then what do you mean, Gongyan?" Pei Ju asked.

"Hongda don't want to try it out," Li Gongyan flicked his sleeves and said angrily, "If you have any ideas, go and discuss with Cao Shangshu. After all, Dou Cao is a family." After all, he walked away.

Pei Ju twirled his beard on the spot without saying a word, with a smile on his face.

Although Li Gongyan didn't say anything, he said everything. Li Gongyan asked him to discuss with Cao Dan, and he had already explained everything.

The next day, to Pei Ju's surprise, Shangshu Zuopu shot Qi Shanxing to take the lead.

"Queen, Cao Shangshu, and Pei Xianggong, the king was captured in the first battle. It can be seen that the destiny is in the Tang Dynasty. We are all leaderless, and it is futile to resist outside. It is better to return the states and counties to the Tang Dynasty. First, save the king's life and wealth. Save the people of Hebei from the suffering of war," Qi Shanxing said with his head held high.

As soon as the words fell, Pei Ju was puzzled. Seeing Cao Zhan was furious, he came out angrily, "Qi Shanxing, Your Majesty treats you well. Why do you abandon Daxia's foundation when His Majesty is in trouble today?"

Pei Ju looked at Cao Dan and Cao Shi again. They looked calm and didn't seem to overreact. Pei Ju secretly praised Qi Shan for his good deeds, and immediately retorted without hesitation: "Returning to Li Tang is for the king's consideration, and now the king lost the Tang camp. If we resist stubbornly in the corner, the king will be in danger. If we dedicate the land to surrender for the sake of the king and the livelihood of the people of Daxia, then the king will be rich and honored for life, and the people of Daxia will definitely remember the kindness of the king."

Sure enough, Pei Ju guessed it right. As soon as this remark came out, Cao Shi and Cao Dangu both nodded slowly. Cao Shi looked at Pei Ju with satisfaction and nodded: "What Mr. Pei said is very true, for the king's plan, For the sake of the common people of Great Xia, descend to the Tang Dynasty."

Cao Zhan was shocked and furious when he heard the words, "Sister, you are... confused, how can you dedicate the land of several states in Daxia to Li Tang, brother, just say something."

Cao Dan sighed, "The foundation of Daxia is maintained by the king alone. Now that the king is in trouble, the only way to protect the king is to surrender the land."

Cao slapped the case directly and scolded: "Second brother, don't talk about it again. Brother, Qi Xianggong, Pei Xianggong, the surrender of Li Tang will be fully up to you three people to decide."

Cao Zhan was indignant and silent when he heard the words, and the others agreed with them.

The next day, Cao Dan sorted out the map of the Xia Kingdom and the eight seals of the King of Xia, and sent his envoys to the Tang Dynasty.

Outside Hulao Pass, Li Shimin gathered Xia's army and defeated as many as [-] soldiers. Faced with so many surrenders, Gao Chong's original intention was to select the elite, and the rest would either be dismissed or brought back to Guanzhong for labor reform.

After all, it is impossible to accept all [-] soldiers. The food, grass and equipment of [-] soldiers alone is an astronomical figure. What's more, the Tang army at Hulao Pass at this time and the Yizhou soldiers brought by Dou Gui are only [-]. In the early days, it is impossible for the army to drop more soldiers than its own troops.

After Gao Chong finished explaining the meaning of labor reform, Li Shimin shook his head and said: "Youzhi's idea is very good, but since this surrender has already surrendered to our Tang Dynasty, it is the people of Datang, so it is inappropriate to send envoys to labor without reason. There is a loss of popular support."

Hearing the words, Gao Chong immediately understood that the Great Tang was still fighting for hegemony at this time. If the people were captured and sent to labor, it would definitely damage their reputation. Afterwards, many people were reformed through labor."

Hearing this, Li Shimin responded with a big laugh, leaned over and lowered his head and said, "I'm still waiting for Youzhi to catch Hu Chief to perform the dance."

"Your Majesty will wait and see," Gao Chong raised his eyebrows and smiled.

At this time, Yuchi Jingde, who was chasing the defeated army, came to report: "Meng Haigong led more than a thousand remnant troops to flee eastward and into the old city of Luoyang."

The old city of Luoyang is the former site of Luoyang City in Han Dynasty. After hundreds of years, although it is a little bankrupt and less than one-tenth of the newly built Luoyang City, it is also very strong and tall compared to ordinary counties.

Hearing that Meng Haigong hid in the old city of Luoyang, Li Shimin couldn't help but frowned, a little troublesome, but Gao Chong's eyes lit up, and the opportunity to make meritorious service came again.

"Your Majesty, let me go, I will definitely persuade him to surrender."Gao Chong took the initiative to ask for his life.

Li Shimin was stunned, and asked directly: "The old guard of Luoyang City is that bastard Wang Deren, unfaithful and unjust, how sure are you?"

"More than [-]%", Gao Chong said firmly: "It is precisely because the guard is Wang Deren that I am [-]% sure that this thief Wang Deren definitely has no courage to fight against the heavenly soldiers alone."

For Wang Deren, Gao Chong still has some understanding. Wang Deren was originally a small force, and he started his army very early. As early as the tenth year of Daye, Wang Deren occupied Lin Lushan, gathered tens of thousands of people, and called himself a hero.

At that time, Li Mi was the number one vassal in the world. He sent the chief shi Fang Yanzao to Dou Jiande. Fang Yanzao fulfilled his mission and succeeded in persuading Dou Jiande to join Li Mi, which greatly increased the momentum of Wagang. Contribute to Li Mi.

At this time, Wang Deren, who was at ease in Lin Lushan, was in a daze, jealous of Fang Yanzao's belongings, and actually intercepted and killed him.

Li Mi was furious and sent Xu Shiji to lead the crusade. Xu Shiji, who was he, pressed Wang Deren on the ground and rubbed him. Wang Deren knelt down and begged for mercy.

At that time, Li Yuan had not yet proclaimed himself emperor and had not changed the county to a state, so he appointed Wang Deren as the prefect of Ye County.

Li Yuan said that after the emperor changed the prefecture to the prefecture, and changed Ye County to Xiangzhou, he promoted Lu Min as the governor of Xiangzhou, and Wang Deren as the governor of Yanzhou. Yanzhou is mountainous and slightly barren compared to Xiangzhou. Wang Deren was dissatisfied. He actually trapped and killed Yu Wenda, the pacifying ambassador who was the governor of Shandong, and then rebelled against Tang Dynasty and joined Wang Shichong.

(End of this chapter)