First Minister of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 501 Garrison at Jimen Pass

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Youzhou, Jixian County, Youzhou Governor's Mansion.

Li Yuan has already returned to Beijing, and now the position of governor of Youzhou is vacant, no one present dared to sit in this seat.

No. 1 on the left is Li Xiyu, the governor of Youzhou Metropolitan Government, and Li Xiyu, Duke of Ankang County.

No. 1 on the right is the dethroning emissary of Eastern Shaanxi Province, Gaochong, the Duke of Bohai County.

Li Xiyu came from the Li family in Longxi. He was honest and upright, and he was quite prestigious as early as the former Sui Dynasty.

When Li Yuan was stationed in Guanzhong, Li Xiyu was in Chang'an at that time. He asked Yin Shishi to lead his troops to seize Yongfeng warehouse, take out all the grain and grass in the warehouse and reward the soldiers, and help the refugees with grain and grass, so as to encourage the army and the people to fight the rebellion.

It’s just that Yin Shishi was stubborn and insisted on defending the city. Li Xiyu knew that he would be defeated, so he asked to go out of the city and went to the states in the south of the mountain to recruit troops to serve as the king. After Yin Shishi agreed, Li Xiyu went directly to Hanzhong and refused the city. Self-defense.

Later, Li Yuan occupied Yongfeng warehouse, obtained a large amount of grain and grass reserves, recruited more than [-] Guanzhong rebels, and successfully captured Chang'an.

After hearing Li Xiyu's plan to seize Yongfeng warehouse, Li Yuan couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat. If Yin Shishi really distributes the grain stored in Yongfeng warehouse, he will surely gather a large number of rout soldiers and refugees. Li Tang wants to capture Chang'an again It is not so easy.

Li Yuan immediately recruited Li Xiyu in the name of his brother from the same clan, called Li Xiyu into the court, appointed him as the young minister of the Taifu, and was named the Duke of Ankang County.

Later, when Li Shimin attacked Wang Shichong, the Turks changed. Li Yuan sent Li Xiyu to the Turks, successfully stabilized the Turks, and beheaded the envoy Wang Shichong sent to the Turks for help.

During his patrol in the south of the Yangtze River, Li Xiyu led the states to dredge the rivers, encouraged farming and mulberry, and was promoted to the post of Minister of the Taifu due to his meritorious service.

When Li Yuan went to serve as the governor of Youzhou, Li Xiyu was very familiar with the Turkic situation because of his experience as an envoy to Turks. Li Yuan transferred Li Xixi to be the governor of Youzhou to assist Li Yuan.

Li Xiyu was born simple and simple, and his family was simple. He had great prestige in the Li family in Longxi, because he often distributed his salary to poor relatives in the clan, and whenever he went to be an official, he asked the scribes in the government to copy the local books. Donate books to ethnology.

He said to his descendants: "I don't love property by nature, but I have left a lot of books. As long as you are diligent in your studies, you will not have to worry about making a living."

It is worth mentioning that Li Xiyu also had an older brother named Li Xizhi, who was appointed Minister of the Ministry of Industry and Governor of Guizhou after Xiao Xian proclaimed himself emperor.

On the original trajectory, after the Tang Dynasty destroyed Xiaoliang, Li Xizhi cooperated with Li Jing to instigate dozens of prefectures in south of the Five Ridges to surrender to the Tang Dynasty.

However, now that the Lingnan states are recruited by Gao Chong, Li Xizhi had to still serve as the governor of Guizhou, and was named the Duke of Shi'an County. Since then, he has been guarding Guizhou for 28 years. To be a good official, by the way, Li Xizhi's character is Chongguang, which is the same character as the empress of the Southern Tang Dynasty.

Originally, Gao Chong patrolled the sky on behalf of the sky and deposed the states, representing the imperial power, so he should sit at the head of the left.

In the Sui and Tang Dynasties, although Zuoqian was used as a proxy for demoting officials, in terms of etiquette, Zuo was still respected. However, Li Xiyu was over half a hundred years old and had a high prestige.

"Li Changshi, I heard that you are very familiar with the Turks. In the past, you sent Turks as envoys, planned strategies, and even killed the false Zheng envoys. Please analyze it. Where should the focus of this Youyan joint military exercise be best? "

After each sat down and greeted each other, Gao Chong asked Li Xiyu for his opinion first as a way of paying respects. After all, Li Xiyu, as the chief history of the governor's mansion in Youzhou, had the greatest power in the absence of a governor.

Li Xiyu twirled his beard and smiled kindly, "Ambassador Gao is too much, I only know a little about Turks."

First, be humble, and then look at Wang Shen, "Yanzhou, where Wang Shijun lives, is close to the Turkic Yazhang. Every autumn and winter, Yanzhou is the first to face the Turkic people. Therefore, in my humble opinion, the focus is on Yanzhou." .

Everyone nodded when they heard the words, and Wang Shen also sighed: "What Li Changshi said is very true. Every autumn and winter, our Yanzhou border defense is under great pressure. Those Turkic thieves broke up and invaded along the stretch of Yanshan Looting, never confronting them head-on, is really a headache."

After finishing speaking, he changed the subject and looked at Gao Chonggong, "But this year, Ambassador Gao proposed this joint military exercise to mobilize the troops of various states in advance, which will definitely relieve the pressure on the border defense."

Gao Chong nodded and smiled. Although this Wang Shen has an irresistible relationship with Li Yuan, he is not a mediocre person. Wang Shen, who was born in the Wang family of Taiyuan, is a scribe and also rides and shoots. He is remarkable in the defense of Yanzhou. Otherwise, Li Yuan It is also impossible to order him to guard Yanzhou.

Wang Junkuo glanced at Wang Shen, and hummed unceremoniously: "I heard that the eastern Turkic people are in charge of the Tuli boy, who is only in his early twenties, and he is not popular with everyone. Although I have just arrived in Youzhou, I am confident to deal with that Tuli children, it's a no-brainer."

Wang Shen's face changed when he heard the words, he moved his head aside, and snorted coldly, "Wang Shijun is so courageous, but don't underestimate the enemy."

Wang Junkuo had a clear mind, and his political vision was very keen. At the end of the Sui Dynasty, when there was chaos at the end of the Sui Dynasty, he took the lead in gathering people as bandits and occupying Taihang Mountain to fight against the Sui Dynasty.

Later, when Li Mi became powerful, he defected to Wagang. Seeing that Li Mi was self-willed and didn't want to see him as a thief, he angrily defected to Li Yuan.

Now that Li Yuan has returned to Beijing, and there is no possibility of turning over, Wang Junkuo has given up his idea of ​​"fishing and law enforcement". If Wang Shen is on good terms with Li Yuan, then he will naturally play against Wang Shen. After all, the buttocks cannot be crooked, and the political stance must be firm.

Seeing this, Gao Chong just smiled and said nothing.

Li Xiyu pretended not to know, but said: "Yanzhou is close to Tuli Yazhang. Although Tuli is young, he has a character of vengeance. He is extremely strict with his tribe and taxed excessively. The Khitan, Mohe and other tribes have suffered for a long time. , it is precisely because of his excessive levies in the east that the Khitan and other tribes lived in poverty, so he repeatedly violated our borders and robbed our border people."

"Since the Khitan and other tribes have been suffering for a long time, we can incite them to rebel." Cheng Ji, the governor of Tanzhou, clapped his hands excitedly and said: "We funded the Khitan and other tribes to raise troops to resist Tuli and cause civil strife. Isn't it beautiful?"

The place name Tanzhou appeared relatively late. In the 16th year of Emperor Kaihuang of Sui Dynasty, Yang Jian felt that Youzhou was too large, so he divided Youzhou into two counties and set up Tanzhou. , and its jurisdictional area is not even as large as that of a county in other states.

As soon as the governor of Tanzhou said this, Li Xiyu, Wang Junkuo, Liu Hongji, Wang Shen and others all ignored it, only Gao Chong insisted on forming a good relationship, and said with a warm smile: "Cheng Shijun's idea is very good, It's just a little unrealistic."

Cheng Ji was startled when he heard the words, "What does Ambassador Gao say?"

Liu Hongji rolled his eyes, and before he could speak, Wang Junkuo reprimanded him: "I think you are not only unrealistic, but also whimsical, you really think those tribal chiefs of Khitan are stupid.

The Turkic soldiers are strong and strong, and they control millions of strings. How dare a tribe with a population of less than [-] dare to resist? You really think that you are the eldest grand general of the year, and it is not so easy to divide the Turks.”

Wang Junkuo's merciless reprimand made Cheng Ji blush and kept silent.

Gao Chong waved his hands and said with a smile: "Don't be angry, Jun Kuo, let's brainstorm."

Wang Junkuo also refers to the current situation in Turkic. Although the position of Turkic Khan has changed frequently in recent years, this has not affected the national power of Turkic at all. At that time, Turkic refers to Eastern Turkic.

When the Tang Dynasty was founded, the Eastern Turkic Khan at that time was Shibi Khan, the one who besieged Yang Guang in Yanmen.

In the second year of Wude, Shibi Khan died of illness. Shibi Khan's son, Ashina Shibobi, was only 16 years old, and Shibi Khan's second brother, Ashina Tulifer, succeeded him as Khan. Khan.

Chuluo Khan appointed Ashinash Bobi as Nibushi to drive his tribe to the east.

In the fourth year of Wude, Chu Luo Khan, who had been on the throne for only two years, died of illness. At this time, Ashina Shibobi was already dead. I thought he could inherit the position of Khan now. After all, he is Qimin Khan The eldest grandson of Shibi Khan.

Unexpectedly, the Turks didn't pay attention to that kind of thing. The third brother of Shibi Khan, that is, the younger brother of Chuluo Khan, Ashina Duobi, was supported by everyone and successfully succeeded to the throne as Jieli Khan.

After Jieli Khan came to the throne, he gave his nephew Ashinash Bobi a very favorable treatment, and named him a small Khan, known as Tuli Khan, who was in charge of Khitan, Mohe and other tribes, and set up his tooth tent in the northern part of Youzhou. .

Ashina Shibobi is so angry. His grandfather, Qimin Khan, is located in his father, Shibi Khan. When Shibi Khan died, he was already 16 years old. His second uncle, Luo Khan, said you were too young. , can't convince the crowd, let me come.

Finally, the second uncle Chuluo Khan was boiled to death, and the Ashinashi bowl was full, but the third uncle Jieli Khan came again and said that you are too young to convince the crowd, let me come.

The good Khan is now a little Khan, but Ashinash Bobi has no courage to rebel against his third uncle Jieli Khan, so he has to fiddle around in his own territory, extorting violently, and the tribes in the east deserve it .

Poor Khitan and other eastern tribes were enfeoffed by Jieli Khan to Tuli Khan because of their weak strength. Every winter, it is like entering the gate of hell, and many tribesmen will freeze to death and starve to death.

Now when Tuli Khan came to harm them again, the Khitan, Mohe and other tribes had the same thoughts as Tuli Khan, and hated them very much, but they dared not resist, so they had to go south to plunder the Han people for the winter.

On the original trajectory, until Li Shimin succeeded to the throne and the national power of the Tang Dynasty was restored, the Khitan and other tribes couldn't bear the exploitation of Tuli and requested to move south to the interior.

Jieli Khan ordered the Turkic Khan to send troops to attack them, but the Turkic Khan was not as good at fighting as his father Shibi Khan and his two uncles, and returned in a big defeat.

Jieli Khan was overwhelmed, so he imprisoned and whipped Tuli Khan, and then Tuli Khan was overwhelmed, and directly led the eastern tribes to surrender to the Tang Dynasty.

This move greatly weakened the strength of the Eastern Turks, and made great contributions to the destruction of the Eastern Turks in the Tang Dynasty. Li Shimin promoted him to the rank of the general of the right guard, and the rank of the king of Beiping County. It's just that Tuli doesn't live long. Died before thirty.

Back to reality, the current situation is that the Eastern Turks are in full swing, controlling millions of strings, and dominating northern Xinjiang, while the Tang Dynasty is in a period of power alternation, and the separatist forces in various places have not long been settled down. We cannot openly oppose the East Turks.

Although there are many small-scale conflicts in various places every year, there has never been a national war.

"According to Li Changshi, how should it be arranged?" Gao Chong looked at Li Xiyu and asked sincerely,
Gao Chong is very much in favor of brainstorming. After all, these people are rich in experience, not to mention that he proposed the joint military exercise. If it succeeds in the end, the first credit should go to Gao Chong.

Li Xiyu was very helpful, got up and pointed to the map of Youyan hanging on the screen, "Jimen Pass".

The corners of Gao Chong's mouth rose slightly, waiting for Li Xiyu's words.

"Jimen Pass guards the northwest gate of Youyan. Less than [-] miles north of Jimen Pass is the Tuli Yazhang." Li Xiyu continued: "We stationed heavy troops at Jimen Pass, and then went out to practice. Can deter barbarians."

Jimen Pass is Juyong Pass. "Huainanzi" said: "There are nine fortresses in the world, and Juyong is one of them." As early as the early Han Dynasty, Jimen Pass was quite large, and it was a fortress against the invasion of Youzhou by the Huns.

What Li Xiyu said was exactly what Gao Chong wanted. The purpose of his joint military exercise was to deter the Turks from going south. He did not intend to annihilate the Turks who went south. concept of merit.

The current Datang can no longer fight, and if you can't fight, don't fight. It doesn't mean that the current national strength does not allow it, but Li Shimin's prestige does not allow it, and it is absolutely not feasible.

If Li Shimin had just taken power, the Turks immediately invaded the south and a large-scale war broke out, which would be extremely detrimental to Li Shimin's reputation. Whether he wins or loses, it will be a blow. After all, as soon as you take power, others will fight. Do you have a problem?
What is needed most now is peace. During Li Shimin's power, the world was peaceful, and the people rested, making the people stable. Thousands of words, after all, are just "stability".

It seems that Li Xiyu understood Li Shimin's thoughts, so he used the word shock and awe.

Wang Junkuo rolled his eyes and saw the corners of Gao Chong's mouth curled up. He understood Gao Chong's intentions, and immediately clapped his hands and praised: "Li Changshi's plan is very good. It deters the barbarians so that they don't dare to go south. Only then can we show ourselves." Datang Guowei".

Liu Hongji also nodded and echoed: "If you can't do it, you can't do it. This is the best."

"Okay," Gao Chong made the case and finalized it, "Since you all think so, then it's decided. Except for the soldiers in the sixteen prefectures of Youyan, the rest of the military mansions will gather at Jimen Pass, and it is scheduled to be held in October. One day, go out for military exercises, Li Changshi, give the order."

Li Xiyu nodded in response when he heard the words, and then the Governor's Office of Youzhou immediately issued an order, and all the military offices moved quickly and went straight to Jimen Pass.

After Gao Chong and others arrived at Jimen Pass, the Turkic tooth tent more than [-] miles north of Jimen Pass also received the news.

In the towering tent of teeth, Tuli Khan, who is only 23 years old, is embracing left and right, and is having a banquet.

After listening to his subordinate's report, Tuli Khan was stunned, pushed the two beauties away, and asked in astonishment: "What are they going to do? Is Li Yuan crazy? Does he have the guts?"

After asking three times in a row, the subordinate was a little speechless, and bowed his head and replied: "Little Khan, Li Yuan is no longer in Youzhou, and I have reported this matter to you earlier."

Tuli Khan was stunned, and then said angrily: "Then who is in charge of Youzhou now? Heavy troops gathered in Jimen, what are they going to do, are they coming to attack my tooth tent?"

"I don't know about this for now," the subordinate replied truthfully.

Gao Chong attaches great importance to intelligence work, and has already spread all the prestige guards in Youzhou to seal the news of Youzhou.

Even so, the news of Li Yuan's resignation was still spread. From this, it can be seen that the penetration of the Eastern Turks into the Tang Dynasty is so deep that there are not many secrets between the two parties.

Moreover, among the Turkic people, not all are reckless men with well-developed limbs and simple minds, but there are also many resourceful people, otherwise the Turkic national power would not be so powerful.

(End of this chapter)