Early Tang Dynasty: forge ahead

Chapter 164
Chang'an, Tai Chi Palace.

Li Zhi was looking at the battle report from the west and was in a good mood.

Su Dingfang, a late bloomer, went into battle for the first time as the commander-in-chief of the three armies. He was like a long-repressed tiger, rampaging across the Western Regions.In the first battle, the Mukun tribe of the Western Turks was defeated. The leader of the tribe, Qi Jin, Lan Dulu, led more than 1 soldiers to surrender.

Su Dingfang continued to advance after being appeased.

At this time, the Tang army had not yet been integrated, and Su Dingfang only had the Tang army and the Uighur cavalry to be recruited, totaling more than [-] men.

After hearing the news, Ashina Helu led an army of [-] people to fight.

Su Dingfang commanded well. He used infantry to resist the cavalry charge, and personally led the powerful cavalry to attack. They fought fiercely for thirty miles, killing tens of thousands of Turks and horses, and killed 200 of their chiefs, such as Duda Gan. One to ten, they defeated the Western Turks.

Huluwu and other five crossbows were lost, and all the people came to surrender. Western Turkic Khan Helu alone and Chu Mukun, Qulu Chuu, led hundreds of horses to escape westward.

Su Dingfang also sent a private letter. The letter stated that if the Western Turks are dead and do not freeze, if they are not destroyed, they will become a disaster in ten years. The Western Turks will never give up until they are destroyed.

Although Li Zhi did not understand military affairs, he also knew that the general was outside and making his own decisions. If he interfered too deeply, he would ruin the state affairs. He trusted Su Dingfang's judgment and let him continue to pursue the Western Turks until they were destroyed.

To despise the Tang Dynasty is to destroy the country.

Li Zhi felt happy that the Western Region was stable, and then it was Haidong's turn.

When Li Zhi thought of Haidong, he naturally thought of Chen Qingsi.

At first it was just Chen Qingsi's judgment, and then there were scattered pieces of evidence that seemed to be missing.

By now, Cheng Mingzhen, the governor of Yingzhou on the front line, Dongyi Governor, paid special attention to Silla's situation and had determined that Silla had been crying and pretending to be cowardly.

Faced with Goguryeo's constant attacks, and Baekje's occasional attempts to take advantage of others' dangers, Silla would rather lose some land than resist with all its strength. It is obvious what its intention was.

They were waiting for the Tang Dynasty to send troops to attract the main force of Goguryeo to the Liaodong front line, and then seize Goguryeo's territory from the rear.

If you plan to wait, wait a little longer.

Li Zhi was in a happy mood. Compared with the previous difficulties, he now felt that everything was under control.

"Your Majesty, Mr. Li wants to see you!"

When Li Zhi heard the news that Li Yifu came to see him, he couldn't help but frowned and felt a little disappointed.

He could tolerate Li Yifu's petty problems of greed for money and lust, but in order to protect himself, forcing Dali Cheng Bi Zhengyi to death was too much.

If Li Yifu hadn't been able to deal with the nobles of Guanxi, it would be of great use. Li Yifu would not have been able to pass Liu Rengui's test.

"Let him in!"

Li Zhi watched Li Yifu enter, and thought for a moment that Changsun Wuji still needed the other party to deal with, and then gave Li Yifu a seat.

After Li Yi sat down in the mansion, he said respectfully: "Your Majesty, I have been thinking about why the five surnames in Guanxi are so difficult to deal with recently. I was reading a book today and saw the Zonglianheng book written by Su Qin and Zhang Yi during the Warring States Period, and I suddenly felt something in my heart. Li Yi from Longxi The five surnames, the Li family in Zhaojun, the Cui family in Boling, the Cui family in Qinghe, the Lu family in Fanyang, the Zheng family in Xingyang, and the Wang family in Taiyuan are collectively called the five surnames and Qiwang. They claim to be famous and think highly of themselves. Don't say they are from a poor family like us. , even the nobles and nobles may not be in their eyes."

"It is extremely difficult to catch them all in one fell swoop. The only way is to divide them and defeat them one by one."

Li Zhi became interested.

The prestige and power accumulated by the Five Surnames and Seven Hopes over thousands of years is indeed a bit scary. Even a wise and great emperor like his father still has to weigh the pros and cons and raise the nobility of Guanxi to deal with it.

Li Zhi has started from many aspects, but has achieved little results so far.

If Li Yifu really had a solution, that would be great. "Ai Qing, tell me quickly, what is the method of differentiation?"

Li Zhi suddenly changed his expression, showing the attitude of a monarch and his ministers getting along well with each other.

Li Zhi never hesitates to show favor to useful chess pieces.

Li Yifu said in admiration: "The five surnames of Cui, Li, Lu, King Zheng are so prosperous today because they are inseparable from each other. They are like a big tree, with intertwined roots and branches, but at critical moments, they can be connected together. , extremely difficult to deal with.”

Li Zhi couldn't help but nod. This is also the most difficult place for the Kanto nobles to deal with.

Even though they usually fight fiercely, when they really need to unite, they work together better than anyone else.

Sometimes, Li Zhi even considered uprooting them all.

But he just thought about it, it was not that he didn't have the strength, but if he did it, it would shake the country's foundation and cause damage to the country, so he chose to endure it.

Li Yifu said: "In fact, this matter is not difficult. As long as your majesty issues a decree and strictly prohibits marriages between the five surnames, they are not allowed to marry for themselves, nor are they allowed to receive family wealth. We will start from the root and cut off their path to marriage."

That's it?

Li Zhi was a little confused, but when he thought about it carefully, it made sense.

The five surnames coexist through mutual marriage resources and are connected by the same spirit. If their marriage path is interrupted and they are forced to intermarry with other surnames, the internal connection between the five surnames will no longer exist, and their superior status externally will gradually disappear.

The more he thought about it, the more Li Zhi felt that this matter was somewhat feasible.

"I also feel that the "Clan Chronicle" compiled by the late emperor is still too conservative for the five surnames. I sincerely request that the "Clan Chronicle" be revised so that people in the world know that only those who are devoted to His Majesty and to the court can be qualified to be ranked high. "

Li Yifu talked eloquently.

Li Zhi did not make up his mind immediately, but he also knew that Li Yifu thought about what he thought and thought about what he thought, so he praised Li Yifu a few words.

Li Yifu was immediately elated with joy. Since he couldn't take action against Chen Qingsi, he would let Li Zhi know that he, Li Yifu, was enough to deal with the Guandong nobles.

Why slowly cultivate Chen Qingsi, who has no hair at all?
"In addition, I have a trick that I don't know how to do. It's a bit hard to talk about..."

Li Zhi said: "Between you and me, the monarch and my ministers, is there anything worth hiding?"

Li Yifu bowed and said: "This matter is an exception. I come from a humble background, and I am what I am today because of your majesty's respect. I don't expect a strange thing to happen recently. In this matter, Li Chongde was born in the Li family of Zhao County. In order to please my subordinates, he actually betrayed his family tree. I hope With my blessing, I, a poor boy, became a member of the Li family in Zhao County and became his uncle. This is the most ridiculous thing in the world..."

He said this with a look of mockery.

With his appearance, no one would have guessed that he took the initiative to ask for the identity of the Zhaojun Li family.

Li Yifu originally didn't want to tell Li Zhi about the matter and kept it secret. Now that he feels the pressure from Chen Qingsi, he doesn't dare to hide it.

Li Zhi was also dumbfounded and said: "This Li family in Zhao County is nothing more than this."

Li Yifu said: "I originally planned to refuse sternly, but after thinking about it carefully, I agreed. The identity of the Li family in Zhao County was obtained so easily. If the news spread, it would also be a blow to the five surnames."

Li Zhi nodded and acquiesced.

Li Zhi thought about the two tricks that Li Yifu came up with. The more he thought about it, the more feasible it became.

"Chronicles of the Clan" still places the five surnames in Guandong too high, and they can be suppressed. The prohibition of marriage does have the wonderful effect of removing fuel from the bottom of the cauldron.

(End of this chapter)