The Flourishing Tang Dynasty: Beginning with Marrying Yang Yuhuan

Chapter 288: Different Deployments
Tubo, Lhasa City.

The Jokhang Temple is magnificent and the Buddha statues are solemn. The Tibetan king Trisong Detsen stood in front of the Buddha statues, holding a rosary in his hand and muttering to himself.

Enlan Dazalugong stood outside the temple, looking at the devout Trisong Detsen inside, thoughtfully.

After a while, Trisong Detsen finished chanting the Buddha's name and respectfully invited Enlan Dazalu into the hall.

Tridezuk praised: "When Princess Jincheng died, many ministers said that this was the retribution for Princess Jincheng's summoning of Buddhist monks, and they also put the blame for the loss of Shibao City on Princess Jincheng. I couldn't get over it, so I drove all the monks Princess Jincheng invited to the west. But now, Shibao City has been lost again, who should they put the blame on?"

Enlan Dazalugong knew that the reason why Trisong Detsen said this was that he wanted to carry out a large-scale purge, but Enlan Dazalugong felt that the Tang army was very strong under the leadership of Li Heng, and it was not suitable to carry out a large-scale purge now, so he said: "Reply to the Zamp, the loss of Shibao City was mainly due to the Tang Shou Wang being too cunning and launching an unexpected surprise attack. Our top priority is to mobilize troops for defense as soon as possible to prevent the Tang army from further encroaching on Tubo land."

Tridezu praised: "Do you think the Tang army will further invade Tibet?"

Enlan Dazalu said respectfully: "The Tang Dynasty's Shou Wang controls the four towns and has great ambitions to annex Tubo. Attacking Shibao City is just the beginning."

"Then what do you think we should do?" Chi De Zu praised.

Enlan Dazalu said respectfully: "I have four steps."

"Which four steps?" asked Chide Zuzan.

Enlan Dazhalu said respectfully: "The first step is to send more troops to Dafeichuan and Mohuanchuan. Although Shibao City has been lost, the terrain of Dafeichuan and Mohuanchuan is steep. It is not so easy for the Tang army to cross these two places. If we can set up defenses in advance, we will be able to stop the enemy here and even defeat the Tang army. Back then, the Tang general Xue Rengui was defeated in Dafeichuan."

Enlan Dazalugong's move sounded reasonable, but the implication was that he tacitly agreed that Tubo would switch from offense to defense, give up on retaking Shibao City, and just wait for the enemy to tire themselves out in Dafeichuan and Mohuanchuan.

This was undoubtedly a sting to the ambitious Trisong Detsen.

But Chide Zuzan did not lose his temper. He suppressed his emotions and said calmly, "What about the second step?"

"The second step is to seek peace." Enlan Dazha Lugong secretly glanced at Chide Zuzan, carefully considered his words, and said, "Prince Shou controls the four towns and has great power. If we can seek peace and avoid his attack, it won't take long for the Tang Emperor to withdraw him. At that time, we only need to wait for the opportunity to retake Shibao City again."

"What about the third step?" Chi De Zu praised.

"We should unite all the states." Enlan Dazhalugong thought, "The Tang Dynasty is so powerful that the surrounding countries must be afraid of it. At this time, we should unite all the allies we can, such as Nanzhao, Huihe, Karluk, Turgesh, and the countries in the Western Regions."

After hearing this, Tride Zuzan finally looked Enlan Dazha Lugong in the face and asked, "What about the fourth step?"

"Increase surveillance and control over Tuyuhun and other tribes." Enlan Dazhalugong looked worried. "Now that the Tang Dynasty has taken over Shibao City, Tuyuhun and other tribes will inevitably be afraid of the Tang Dynasty's power and leave Tubo. They are likely to rebel."

Chide Zuzan pondered for a moment and said, "You are talking about the country. Tomorrow at the court meeting, you should explain these words in front of everyone. In addition, Sao Xilong is still in need of a teacher. You can be his teacher in the future."

Sosirlong was later known as Trisong Detsen.

Enlan Dazha Lugong was very happy and said, "I will obey your orders."

……

Chang'an, Xingqing Palace.

When Li Longji received the battle report, he immediately held a banquet to celebrate.

Li Linfu said, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty has won a great victory in the battle and recaptured Shibao City. Should we allow Your Majesty to return to the capital so that Your Majesty can personally reward you and hold a banquet after Your Majesty returns to the capital?"

Li Linfu's words sounded like good words, but in fact, he was hinting to Li Longji to take back Li Heng's power in time. "Not for now." Li Longji immediately rejected Li Linfu's suggestion and said, "Although Shibao City has been recaptured, the Tubo military strength has not been reduced much. If Shibalang is allowed to return to Beijing at this time, Tubo is very likely to make a comeback. There is no rush to celebrate Shibalang's success in person. Let him build a defense line and guard Shibao City without any mistakes before letting him return to Beijing."

"Yes." Li Linfu did not persuade him any more and immediately prepared a feast according to Li Longji's wishes.

Li Longji and Gao Lishi walked towards Wu Huifei's palace together.

On the way, Li Longji said, "Li Shi, your name was given by Empress Zetian. Logically, you should be closer to Shiba Lang than the Crown Prince. Why did you recommend the Crown Prince instead of Shiba Lang when you recommended the Lord of the Eastern Palace?"

"I have followed the Saint since the Jinglong period. The only person I am close to is the Saint. It's just..." Gao Lishi paused.

Li Longji asked, "Just what?"

Gao Lishi said, "But recently my illness has become more and more serious. I am afraid that I can no longer serve the Saint well. Please allow me to return home."

"Do you want to go back to Panzhou?" Li Longji stopped and looked at Gao Lishi. "When the Right Prime Minister was in charge of the government, you retreated to advance and advised me that the power of the country should not be delegated to others. Now you are talking about returning home. Do you have anything to say?"

"I deserve to die. I have absolutely no intention of threatening you." Gao Lishi quickly bowed and apologized.

Li Longji said: "I don't blame you. You don't need to mention returning home. Just say whatever you want to say."

"Yes." Gao Lishi replied respectfully, "Now the court has the Right Prime Minister in the court and the Prince of Shou outside. The Right Prime Minister and the Prince of Shou are naturally talented and loyal to the country, but after all, they have sharp weapons in their hands and murderous intentions will arise. Should we take precautions in advance?"

Li Longji asked: "How to prevent it specifically?"

Gao Lishi said, "This servant has no idea."

Li Longji thought for a moment and said, "Wang Yu is a man of good character and talent. I want to promote him to be the Minister of Revenue. Besides, Tian Renwan has been in Hedong for a long time and was the governor of Anxi before Shibalang. So I will transfer him to Helong and make him the grain and grass transport envoy of Helong."

Li Longji made such arrangements in order to promote Wang Yu to contain Li Linfu, and let Tian Renwan take control of the grain and grass in Helong to contain Li Heng.

However, it was not Li Longji's sudden decision to let Tian Renwan come to restrain Li Heng, but was recommended by An Lushan.

Currently, the two places with the strongest military power in the Tang Dynasty are the northwest and the northeast. Therefore, Li Longji has the habit of mobilizing the northwest army and the northeast army to check and balance each other. This is also the reason why Li Longji asked his husband Meng Lingcha to go to the northeast.

An Lushan took advantage of Li Longji's habit and recommended the current governor of Hedong to contain Li Heng so that he could have the opportunity to control Hedong.

Gao Lishi said: "If Tian Renwan is transferred to Helong, who will be in charge of Hedong?"

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

Gao Lishi thought for a moment and said, "Han Xiulin can be appointed."

"Okay, then let's do as you say. You spread the word and let others recommend. " Although Li Longji had decided on the candidate, he still used the tactic of "political decisions are not up to me".

"Yes." Gao Lishi accepted the order.

Li Longji asked, "Should I approve what Shiba Lang requested in his memorial?"

(End of this chapter)