Love Affairs in Chang'an - Chapter 472

Chapter 472 A Bewilderment of the Locals
Late at night, in Duke Wei’s Li Jing’s mansion.

Li Shimin and Li Jing sat opposite each other. There was an ancient-colored tea tray between the two of them, and the fragrance of the tea was quiet. Under the illumination of the oil lamp, the faces of both the monarch and the subject looked a little solemn.

“Medicine Master, what do you think we should do now?” Li Shimin asked with a worried expression, “It’s not that I won’t let you live in peace in your old age, but it’s just that I can’t make a decision on this matter.”

‘”Hou Jun Ji” Li Jing sighed, stroked his beard and shook his head. “Killing can hurt oneself by cutting open two blades. Seven years ago, this old minister had already declared that this person would sooner or later embark on the evil path. Therefore, this old minister had some reservations when he taught him the art of war. Therefore, he still held it in mind and cut off his dealings with this old minister.”

“Things have already reached this point, what can we do?” Li Shimin also sighed and said, “I haven’t publicly announced this news yet, but I believe that it won’t be long before the entire country will know. At that time, the people of the world will not blame Hou Junji for the chaos in the Western Region? That is to say, Qin Mubai!”

Li Jing’s snow-white eyebrows knitted slightly as he thought to himself, Hearing His Majesty’s words, it was obvious that he wanted to protect or protect Qin Mubai. It was not surprising that Qin Mubai was young and had boundless prospects. He had just made great contributions and was in the limelight. If he were to suffer a great sin at this moment, it would be contrary to His Majesty’s original intention. After all, it was not an easy task to nurture a young talent. It was quite easy to destroy a person’s reputation. But for such a big mistake, someone had to take responsibility-in that case, Hou Junji was undoubtedly going to die! Presumably, Hou Junji had also figured out this level, so he had made a move that could kill a fish in a net. This was indeed in line with his character!

“Your Majesty, this old minister thinks that what we need to do now is to make a decision and react militarily.” Li Jing said, “Putting aside all the karma, Hou Junji has already led fifty thousand troops to the plateau.” Regardless of whether he won or lost, there would definitely be a bloody storm on the plateau, killing countless people. Ever since Hou Junji wielded his saber to kill the prisoners, there had been a complete break between the Great Tang and Tibet, and there was no possibility of peace. Therefore, it was Hou Junji who helped His Majesty become the head of the Great Tang once-completely cutting off the path of the alliance. ”

“Hou Junji didn’t break this path, but Gaer Qinling! Hou Junji only accidentally created this situation, and Gaer Qinling, a wild man who advocated hegemony, did it deliberately!” Li Shimin knitted his eyebrows, his eyes revealing a cold glint as he said, “He dared to massacre a city in Taozhou, but Hou Jun was unable to massacre a city for fifteen years.” Ever since then, I have sensed that the time has come for a final battle between the two countries. However, Hou Junji probably didn’t know about the massacre in Gaer Qinling, and happened to have slaughtered the prisoners for other purposes. This also signifies a complete break between our Great Tang and Tibet. Sooner or later, we will have to fight to the death. I just don’t know if it’s really time for a decisive battle. If so, how should we fight this battle? Medicine Master, please be generous with your advice. ”

Li Jing hurriedly bowed and bowed, “I don’t dare!”

“There’s no harm in Medicine Master speaking bluntly.”

“Your Majesty, are you considering whether to personally conquer?” Li Jing asked.

“Exactly.” Li Shimin nodded, “But I have already gone back on my word once. If this old matter is brought up again, I am afraid that it will cause others to laugh.” However, who should I appoint for such a vast country war? –Qin Mubai, after all, he is still young. From the matter of activating Hou Junji, I can tell that he is still a little frivolous. “Not to mention Hou Junji’s temperament and ability, just based on his background, Qin Mubai shouldn’t have used him at such a time. This was a huge risk!”

“Indeed” Li Jing’s heart tightened. He could only follow the Emperor’s instructions and say, “Mubai, after all, it’s still a bit tender.”

Neither the monarch nor the subject spoke clearly. The meaning behind their words was actually that Hou Junji was suspected of plotting against the Eastern Palace and was instead cleared out of the Imperial Court. On the surface, this matter seemed to be controlled by Eldest Sun Wuji, but without the Emperor’s acquiescence behind the scenes, how could Eldest Sun Wuji dare to act recklessly? Wasn’t this going against the emperor?

If it weren’t for Qin Mubai’s clear background and the Emperor’s trust, just activating the Hou Junji would have been enough for him to be caught by his political opponents and beaten to death.

There was no clear line between recruiting and accepting rebellion. Such an act was quite dangerous in the court politics.

Now that Hou Junji had caused a huge mess, even if the Emperor wanted to favor Qin Mubai, it would still be difficult to hide the mouths of the crowd. At a time like this, Li Shimin was worried about how to convince Qin Mubai if he had to hand over the command of the “country war” to him. After all, Qin Mubai wasn’t the only general in the court who could use it!

Li Jing had thoroughly chewed every word in Li Shimin’s words, and his heart was like a mirror. After pondering for a moment, he said, “Your Majesty, let this old official go!”

“No, no!” Li Shimin hurriedly waved his hand and said, “You are already tall and in poor health. How can I let you work so hard on the expedition? Don’t misunderstand, Pharmacist. I’m not here to invite you out of the mountains. Let’s be clear, I want you to recommend a commander. This person can be anyone in the Imperial Army, including me.”

Li Jing frowned and pondered for a long time before shaking his head, “There is no suitable candidate.”

“Not a single one?” Li Shimin was a little surprised, “Including me?”

“No.” Li Jing shook his head.

“Why?” Li Shimin asked unyieldingly.

“General is suspicious but timid. Even His Majesty was so hesitant and hesitant before the war. Furthermore, he was worried about the gains and losses. Who else would dare to shoulder this responsibility?” After Li Jing finished speaking, he hurriedly bowed and cupped his hands, “This old minister has directly offended the dragon’s beauty. I hope His Majesty will forgive me!”

“Medicine Master is not guilty.” Li Shimin felt as if he was dreaming. He patted his forehead twice and sighed, “I have indeed thought too much this time! Thinking back to how determined and persistent I was in the final battle with the Turkic Khaganate, have I become timid and cowardly after so many years?”

“No. His Majesty is still the ambitious Emperor of the Great Tang Empyrean Son of Heaven, Tianhe Khan.” Li Jing cupped his hands and said, “It is not all war that makes His Majesty hesitate and hesitate.”

Li Shimin’s eyebrows jumped and he nodded tacitly.

Li Jing’s words hit the nail on the head and pierced into Li Shimin’s heart.

When he fought against the Turkic Khaganate in his early years, he, Li Shimin, had just ascended to the throne. At that time, he, the emperor who killed his brother and forced his father to become king, was not very honorable. He wanted to buy people inside to consolidate the throne and clear the hidden crown prince’s faction. In the outside world, to fight against the powerful Turkic cavalry, it could be said that he had been sleeping all night.

However, these were actually only external difficulties. As long as they worked hard, they could be resolved in the end. Moreover, all of these difficulties combined were not comparable to the hidden dangers within the Imperial Court.

This hidden danger was related to the future of the Tang Empire-the struggle for the position of Monarch.

Moreover, this hidden danger was not something that could be solved by hard work. After the Crown Prince’s case was crippled, the Eastern Palace had always been vacant. Even Li Shimin himself was unable to decide who would take over his country in the future-to be more clear, what path the Great Tang would follow in the future, and which political group would decide the fate of the Great Tang? !

It was to continue to forge ahead and bring forth the glory of the Great Tang Dynasty in full bloom; Or was it safely guarded, continuing the legacy of chastity? There is no doubt that the choice between literal and non-literal should be the former. However, the former was more than a hundred times more difficult than the latter.

More importantly, in Li Shimin’s eyes, there was no such successor, no such auxiliary political group!

In the final analysis, deep down in Li Shimin’s heart, the Western Regions’ grand plan was not just to dominate the territory or seek commercial profits on the Silk Road. Otherwise, paying such a heavy price for the war would not be worth it. Li Shimin, because of an emperor’s mental skill, he clearly realized that the civil servant group in the court had already taken complete control of the mouthpiece, and their power was in the hands of the government and the public. His reign was quite good. Once he handed over the rivers and mountains to his son, who would be able to control this one-sided court?

At that time, would his son be the emperor, or would those civil servants be the emperor?

An important reason for the launch of the Western Regions Great Plan was to promote the strength of the military in the dynasty, hoping to achieve a civil-military balance and suppress each other, so that his successor would be able to control it flexibly in the future.

This point of departure was originally correct, and the Sovereign King had always been the same. Many people also realized the Emperor’s intentions.

However, something unexpected happened to Li Shimin-if the war with Tibet continued, the Great Tang would probably be inseparable from the war for years to come. Not to mention how long they had fought against Tibet, even Zan Pu Qizong Nongzan, who had captured Tibet alive like back then, would find it much harder to completely pacify the plateau due to geographic conditions and many other reasons than cleaning up the grasslands.

Moreover, how long had it only been before the grasslands that had just been quelled had rebelled again?

Another important reason was that Li Shimin had to consider it. Tibet was originally a powerful country, surrounded by many small countries and military allies. In other words, while launching the final battle against Tibet, it was also launching wars against India, Southern Marshes, Western Turks, and many other countries!

Once this battle started, the next ten, twenty, or even longer years of the Great Tang would definitely be dominated by war!

Could the Great Tang really afford such a war? If he fought, would Li Shimin be able to see the end of this war in his lifetime?

Even if they won in the end, would it really be worth it to use the empty treasury, the depressed livelihood of the people, and the countless corpses and blood to exchange for a barren and barren plateau?

…

This was no longer as simple as a war. From Li Shimin’s point of view, this would determine the fate of the Great Tang and the pattern and trend of the Great Tang in the next hundred years. It was also directly related to what kind of national policy he should choose, what kind of route he should choose for his descendants to follow, and what kind of political group he should choose to assist his successor!

This was far more difficult than when he had made up his mind to fight the Turks. At that time, the conflict between the Great Tang and the Turks was sharp and simple, and could not be left unresolved, but it was also easy to resolve. At that time, Li Shimin was only thirty years old, so there was no need to rush to consider the successor! He, who had just become emperor, was ambitious to do something big to persuade his subjects to consolidate the throne-and then he did it.

But now, Li Shimin, who was nearly half a hundred years old, was deciding what he would not see in the future. How could he not be hesitant and hesitant?

…

Li Shimin could only discuss this matter with Li Jing, who had retired from seclusion, and he didn’t dare to talk to Eldest Sun Wuji, Fang Xuanling, and the others. This was because they were also fascinated by the current situation with their own thoughts.

Li Jing clearly felt depressed and heavy. The Emperor carried an invisible burden of ten thousand jin, which was even more painful and torturous than when he fought against the Turks. No wonder he repeatedly said that he wanted to defend himself. That was not because he could not trust his own officials, but because the Emperor wanted to personally witness all of this before coming to a decision.

“Medicine Master, why are you silent?” Li Shimin frowned slightly and said slowly, “I have always taken the alchemist as my confidant. I believe that the alchemist is well aware of the contradictions and concerns in my heart. Today, I will ask Brother Jing the truth as a friend and brother. How about it?”

Li Jing was shocked and silently cupped his hands, “Your Majesty, please speak.”

“I know that Medicine Masters have always been knowledgeable. I just want to ask, is Medicine Master’s closed-door disciple Qin Mubai worthy of being called Wang Zuo?” Li Shimin asked.

Li Jing’s expression immediately changed.

However, Li Shimin chuckled, “Medicine Master, there’s no need to be nervous. I’ve already said it. I’m just asking as a friend and brother. Medicine Master, you don’t have to say anything.”

“Then this old minister definitely has nothing to say.” Li Jing smiled bitterly. “Your Majesty, no one can answer such a question. Your Majesty praises this old minister for his ability to be sensible, but how can this old minister’s clumsy eyes compare to Your Majesty’s? Even Your Majesty can’t understand it, how can this old minister be virtuous?”

“Alright, pretend that I didn’t say anything!” Li Shimin smiled helplessly. He patted his knees and stood up. He used his hands to cut his back and slowly paced back and forth in the room.

Li Jing secretly wiped away his cold sweat! He had never done such a thing before, and even if he went to the battlefield and was surrounded by saber-light and sword-shadows, his heart would still be as calm as Mount Tai.

Only the Emperor had just asked this question, and no one dared to answer it. On the surface, the Emperor only asked him what he thought of Qin Mubai’s talent. In fact, the emperor was asking him what path the Great Tang should take in the future, what kind of hundred-year national policy should be implemented, what kind of people should be chosen to form a political group to support the government, and what kind of prince should be chosen to succeed him!

Perhaps Li Shimin’s father, Emperor Li Yuan, might not dare to answer such a question! ! !

“Zhen, how should we decide?” Li Shimin walked to the side of the stairs and looked up at the pitch-black night sky without any stars or moons. He murmured, “This is probably the most difficult thing I have ever encountered in my life!”

Li Jing really wanted to remain silent. However, since the Emperor had come today, he valued the retired old minister’s opinion and expressed his deepest trust in Li Jing.

After thinking about it for a long time, Li Jing stood up and walked to Li Shimin’s side. He cupped his hands and said, “Your Majesty, in terms of military affairs alone, this old official has a way to compromise.”

“Oh? Hurry up and tell me!”

“The truth is right in front of us. The issue of war and peace is no longer worth considering.” Li Jing said, “Therefore, the most important thing now is to concentrate on the use of troops. Only after the victory and defeat are grasped will His Majesty be able to think and decide on other matters with ease.”

Hearing Li Jing’s words, Li Shimin was stunned.

Li Jing was also stunned, “Your Majesty, this old minister has made a mistake.”

“No, Medicine Master’s words shatter the mysteries of the heavens, awakening me like a dream.” Li Shimin blinked his eyes a few times and said, “Indeed, I am a fool of the situation. Looks like I have really thought too much! Medicine Master is right. No matter what, war is inevitable and the Great Tang must not lose! Otherwise, all of my thoughts will be unfounded fantasies!”-Alright, it is time for the Left and Right Dragon Martial Guards that I have prepared to leave for Lanzhou! “