The Flourishing Tang Dynasty: Beginning with Marrying Yang Yuhuan

Chapter 204: Recruiting Troops
Li Linfu's words were exactly what Li Longji was thinking.

For Li Longji, the reason for failure and the accountability were not important. What was important was how to get back what was lost.

Since the founding of the Tang Dynasty, it has never stopped its external expansion. All of our ancestors have fought eagles for several lifetimes, but when it comes to Li Longji, he must not let an eagle peck his eyes.

The glorious Tang Dynasty was blessed by heaven to all nations. This honor was not only based on the prosperous culture, but also on the conquering cavalry.

Therefore, Li Longji did not ask whether he should fight or not, and directly said: "Shibalang took Shibao City, and Tubo sent envoys to report the death of Princess Jincheng, reiterated the relationship between uncle and nephew, and begged for peace. I was lenient and granted it. But they rebelled again and occupied all the land of Xili in the Tang Dynasty! As for Nanzhao, I assisted them in pacifying the Five Zhaos, and made Piluoge the king and Geluofeng the general. I showed them great favor, but they were not grateful, but repaid kindness with resentment. Tubo and Nanzhao acted like this, and I wanted to tolerate it, but God would not! I ordered the Longyou Army to prepare for war and prepare to march into Dayichuan. Recruit soldiers to go to Jiannan to attack Nanzhao and recover the territory."

Li Linfu echoed, "The sage is wise, but I don't know who should be the commander of Jiannan."

"What do you think?" Li Longji asked back.

In the opinion of most of Your Highness's officials, the most capable fighter in the Tang Dynasty is Li Heng, followed by Wang Zhongsi, and then An Lushan.

However, these three people are now in power, and Li Longji, who likes to weigh pros and cons, will never let them get involved in Jiannan again.

Therefore, everyone avoided these three people and chose to nominate others.

Some recommended Prince Rong Li Wan, some recommended Gao Xianzhi, and some recommended Geshu Han. Each official had his own recommendation.

Li Heng waited until everyone finished speaking before he said, "Father, I think that we need to select generals who are familiar with Jiannan and Nanzhao for this expedition. If they are transferred from other places, they may not be familiar with the enemy and will be at a disadvantage in the war."

"That makes sense." Li Longji nodded. "Who do you think is suitable?"

Li Heng said, "I recommend you, my sixteenth brother. You are both civil and military, and quite strategic. This failure was caused by external factors. With 10,000 soldiers, you have penetrated deep into the heartland of the Cuan clan. If it weren't for the rebellion of Nanzhao, you would have already razed eastern Yunnan. If your father could appoint you as the commander, you would have learned from your shame and then become brave."

After hearing this, Li Longji hesitated.

When it comes to familiarity with Jiannan and Nanzhao, Li Lin can indeed be ranked among the top now.

However, Li Lin lost the first major battle, which made Li Longji doubt Li Lin's ability to command troops.

Seeing that Li Longji was hesitant, Li Heng added, "Knowing shame leads to courage, knowing one's shortcomings leads to progress. I humbly ask the emperor to give my sixteenth brother a chance to atone for his sins."

"It is indeed not Shiliulang's fault for this failure." Li Longji was relieved and continued, "I approve your request and promote Shiliulang to the post of Jiedushi of Jiannan, and give him the title of Zhenyuan General to control the military and political affairs of Jiannan."

Li Longji still gave Li Lin real power.

However, he made this arrangement not only because of Li Heng's recommendation, but also because of his own considerations.

First of all, Li Lin had been doing a good job since he went to Jiannan. He not only rectified the local area, but also increased income for the court. Li Longji did not want to deny Li Lin because of a failure, so he was willing to give Li Lin this opportunity.

Second, it’s a matter of weighing the pros and cons.

Jiannan is located in a very important position. He needs to support a new force in this place to fight against other border troops. Li Lin is a good candidate.

Finally, there are strategic considerations.

Li Longji knew that the biggest threat to the Tang Dynasty was Tubo, and Nanzhao was just a second-rate thing in his mind, so he didn't want to use other elite troops to put out the fire. But even so, Li Longji still made other arrangements to remedy the situation.

Li Longji said: "Li Mi, the governor of Yunnan, has experienced many battles and is both brave and resourceful. He previously helped Geluofeng to pacify the Five Kingdoms. Li Longji knows Geluofeng very well, so he should be appointed as the military commander of Jiannan. He Fuguang, the governor of Guangfu, and Sa Daoxuanxun, the envoy, are both talented generals and can be deputy generals. Xianyu Zhongtong is quite strategic and has a good way of managing the army. Let him be the training commander of Jiannan to train the soldiers. As for Zhangchou Jianqiong, let's demote him to the position of governor."

Li Longji thoughtfully selected talents for Li Lin and made sufficient arrangements for the front, then turned to the rear and said, "Leave the recruitment of soldiers and the supply of food and grass to the right prime minister. If the right prime minister has any difficulties, he can raise them now."

"I accept your order." Li Linfu bowed to Li Longji, paused, and said, "Hebei, Henan, and Guannei have a large population, and refugees are fleeing. I suggest that you recruit soldiers from these three routes and send them to Jiannan. This will not only solve the refugee problem in the three routes, but also allow the people in the north to be educated by the kingly way."

Li Linfu's move of killing two birds with one stone was not a stupid one, but a well-thought-out one.

The idea of ​​relocating the Han people to assimilate ethnic minorities and develop remote areas began with Qin Shihuang.

Later dynasties gradually learned from this, and in the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang also moved people from the north to Yunnan to strengthen his rule over Yunnan.

Li Longji recognized Li Linfu's far-sighted thinking and said with a smile, "You are right. You can handle this matter with full authority."

"Yes." Li Linfu accepted the order.

The meeting dispersed.

The court decided on a strategy to send troops again. Li Linfu once again grasped Li Longji's mind. Li Heng let the defeated Li Lin take control of Jiannan as he wished. Although Zhang Chou Jianqiong, who took the blame, was demoted, he also escaped from that fire pit.

There seemed to be no losers in this defeat.

Except for the 10,000 soldiers who died in Jiannan, their lives remained forever on that plateau, and the high-ranking officials of the court never felt sad for them for a moment.

The imperial court issued a conscription order. When the soldiers from Hebei, Henan, Shandong and Shaanxi heard that Yunnan was a barren land with miasma, many of them chose to escape. However, most of them were landless refugees. Li Linfu then ordered compulsory conscription. Those who refused to obey were handcuffed and sent to the conscription station. They had nowhere to escape.

When Du Fu, who was traveling in Guanzhong with Li Bai, saw this scene, he was deeply moved and wrote "March of the Chariots" with a stroke of his pen.

"The rumbling of carts and the neighing of horses, the pedestrians all have bows and arrows on their waists, their parents and wives walk to see them off, the dust makes the Xianyang Bridge invisible. They hold their clothes, stamp their feet, and stop in the road crying, their cries reaching the sky. Passers-by on the road ask the pedestrians, and the pedestrians just say that they travel frequently. Some go north to defend the river at the age of fifteen, and some go west to camp at the age of forty. When they leave, the village headman gives them a head wrap, and when they return, they are white-haired and still guard the border..."

……

Jiannan.

When Li Mi received the imperial edict, he could not help but beat his feet and stamp his chest.

Recently, he has been vigorously investigating the sudden rebellion of Nanzhao.

Li Mi did this because he was familiar with Geluofeng and was unwilling to believe that Nanzhao would rebel without any reason, and also out of strategic considerations for the border.

Li Mi believed that the biggest threat to the Tang Dynasty was Tibet, and now it should win over other forces and deal with Tibet with all its strength.

Li Mi drank half a jar of wine on the day he received the imperial edict, and sighed, "The Nanzhao dynasty was enthroned by the holy dynasty, and it has paid tribute and never violated the rules. How could there be a sudden change?"

(End of this chapter)