The Flourishing Tang Dynasty: Beginning with Marrying Yang Yuhuan

Chapter 193 Killing three birds with one stone

Li Siye didn't think too much and said, "With Your Highness here, how could Chang'an and Luoyang fall?"

Feng Changqing said: "I'm just making an analogy."

Li Siye thought for a moment and said, "To use an analogy, I think there are three routes of advance: one from Shuofang, one from Longyou, and one from Jiannan."

Zhang Guangsheng said: "The starting points of these three roads are not under your jurisdiction now, and they all need to control Guanzhong in the end."

Gao Xianzhi knew what Feng Changqing was thinking, so when he heard the discussion of the three people, he couldn't help but glance at Li Heng in the distance.

At this time, Li Ying and Aqisi were talking about something, just like the carefree people living their lives.

However, Gao Xianzhi saw the shadow of Li Shimin in Li Heng.

In the eleventh year of Daye, Yang Guang was surrounded by the Turks in Yanmen. Li Shimin led his troops to rescue him and became famous in one battle.

At that time, Li Shimin was sixteen years old.

After that, Li Shimin was either fighting a war or on his way to a war. By the age of 24, he had pacified the world.

Li Ying is already twenty-three years old.

Gao Xianzhi thought for a while, then said to the three people who were still discussing, "The most urgent task is to find a way to stabilize the Western Regions for His Highness. It is not appropriate to talk about hypothetical things."

Li Siye laughed when he heard this and said, "If you ask me about war, I can tell you a few words, but I don't know anything about politics."

Feng Changqing and Zhang Guangsheng showed the same expression as Li Siye.

Gao Xianzhi asked, "You have followed His Highness for so long, and you haven't learned anything?"

"Every profession has its own specialties." Li Siye shook his head, "Those are not my specialties."

"That's right." Gao Xianzhi replied and fell silent.

They chatted idly and waited for a long time before Li Heng and Aqisi returned.

Li Heng came up to the group and saw that they seemed to be thinking about something, so he asked, "What difficulties do you generals have?"

Gao Xianzhi replied: "Your Highness, General An has already reached Tiwei City. It won't be long before he can drive the Arabs back to Khorasan. How should we control these Western Regions countries that have returned to us?"

"So that's what it is." Li Heng smiled and said, "I think it can be divided into three steps. The first step is to stabilize the situation. This step will be completed when the Arabs retreat to Khorasan. The second step is to support pro-Tang forces. For example, in Shiguo, after a while, the Khan will still have to be Ina Tutun, and Bi Shitler will be the Deputy Khan. The third step is to deepen cooperation. As for how to deepen it, it will vary from time to time."

Gao Xianzhi said: "Your Highness has already had a plan."

"These things are difficult, but they are also feasible." Li Heng said as he walked, "There are several major principles in the relationship between countries. The first is interest. Interest is the eternal criterion for evaluating political behavior. We must always be prepared to become friends or enemies with any country..."

Li Heng discussed international relations with Gao Xianzhi and others along the way. Of course, Li Heng had no intention of making them understand him, as he just treated him as bragging.

After discussing all the way back to the tent, Li Heng sent two memorials to Li Longji, one was a battle report and the other was a letter of resignation.

After submitting the memorial, Li Heng set about arranging affairs for the countries in the Western Regions. He stayed in Bukhara for a month before returning home.

The Khan of Bukhara, officials, and some common people came to see Li Heng off.

Aqisi escorted Li Heng all the way a hundred miles away and said, "In another year or two, when the political situation in Bukhara is stable, I will go to find His Highness."

"Okay." Li Ying smiled at Aqisi and rode away in a cloud of dust.

Aqisi watched Li Heng walk away before turning back.

She returned to Kesakya and went to the palace to meet Ashita Khan.

"Are you really going to look for King Shou of the Tang Dynasty?" asked Asida.

"Yes." Aqisi nodded firmly. Ashida said: "Just because of friendship?"

"It's mainly because of friendship." Aqisi smiled and said, "Father, if I go to find Prince Shou, it will not only help my daughter, but also help our family."

Ashita understood what Ayis meant.

If Aqisi did not go to find Li Heng, but chose to stay in Bukhara for a long time, then Bukhara would have faced a situation similar to that of Li Longji and Princess Taiping during the time of Shenlong and Xiantian.

So Aqisi took the initiative to make concessions.

Asida looked at his daughter in front of him, couldn't help but sigh, and said: "I think the character of the Shou King is noble. If you really have feelings for him, you will have a good ending."

"Yeah." Aqisi nodded, smiled, and looked in the direction of the Tang Dynasty.

……

Chang'an, Zichen Palace.

Li Longji was very happy when he received Li Heng's report. He said, "Shiba Lang really lived up to my expectations. In less than a year, he drove the Arabs back to Khorasan and made the Western Regions submit again."

"Eighteenth brother is invincible and brave." Li Heng first praised Li Ying, then set a trap, saying: "Father, since Eighteenth brother has won all the way, he should pursue the victory, advance all the way west, capture Daqin, and approach the Byzantine Empire."

Li Longji was stunned when he heard this.

As an emperor who was fond of ostentation, Li Longji had this idea, but although he was greedy for merit, he was not crazy.

Li Longji pondered for a moment and said, "Shiba Lang wrote to me saying that he has been feeling weak recently and requested to resign from the post of Jiedushi."

This time it was Li Heng's turn to be surprised.

Li Heng thought, "My eighteenth brother is now claiming to be ill. Even if the emperor wants him to attack the Arab mainland, he will hold off for a while. I hope he is really getting tired. Otherwise, he is too cunning."

Li Heng thought to himself, sighed, and said: "Eighteenth brother is such a versatile person, but he is sick. If he resigns from the post of Jiedushi of Anxi Beiting now, who can stabilize the Western Regions?"

Li Heng's words were ostensibly a compliment to Li Heng, but in reality he was hinting to Li Longji that Li Heng's prestige was too great now and his power should be taken away as soon as possible.

Li Longji could understand Li Heng's hint, but now he didn't care about it at all. What he cared about was the stability of the Western Regions.

"You are right. The Western Regions have just been conquered, and Tibet is eyeing us covetously. Although the Turks in the north are seriously injured, the Karluk and Huihe have already become stronger. At this time, I can't let Shibalang rest even if I want to."

Li Longji responded to Li Heng's words and turned to Li Linfu and said, "Draft an edict to forbid Shiba Lang from resigning his post. Merge Anxi and Beiting to form the Jiedushi of Qixi, which will be led by Shiba Lang. The protectorates of the Western Regions will also be under the control of Shiba Lang. Since he is not feeling well, he should not rush back to Chang'an. He should recover in Anxi first before returning."

The Jiedushi of Qixi was established from 713 to 730. Later, due to changes in the situation in the Western Regions, it was abolished and divided into two towns.

Now Li Heng led the Anxi army. He first beat the Turks half to death, captured the city of Suiye, and then repelled the Arabs, forcing the countries in the Western Regions to surrender.

With such achievements, it is reasonable to merge Beiting and put it under the leadership of Li Heng.

Of course, in addition to achievements, Li Longji's arrangement was also intended to check and balance the enemy.

In terms of checks and balances, Wang Zhongsi and Li Lin belong to the faction close to Li Heng in Li Longji's mind. Now that Wang Zhongsi leads Shuofang and Hedong, he can directly threaten Guanzhong.

Li Lin went to Jiannan and did a great job, and seemed to have the intention of becoming a military governor. If he did not promote Li Heng, the threat from Li Heng would become too great.

In terms of defeating the enemy, it was to pave the way for dealing with the Qarluk and Uighur tribes.

As for whether Li Heng would become uncontrollable because of this, Li Longji was not worried.

Because Anxi Beiting is not only far away from Chang'an, but the combined number of soldiers in the two towns is less than that of one of the towns in Hexi and Longyou.

Therefore, Li Longji felt that his arrangement was a brilliant move that killed three birds with one stone.

(End of this chapter)