Chapter 3092 The situation is clear
Chapter 936: The situation is clear
Fang Jun rushed to the East Palace. There was already a chamberlain waiting at the door, so he led Fang Jun directly into the Li Zheng Hall without any need for communication.
In the hall, Xiao Yu, Li Daozong, Ma Zhou, Cen Wenwen and others were all present, as if there was a political hall meeting...
When Fang Jun entered, he first bowed to the ground to Prince Li Chengqian who was in the middle, and then bowed his hands to everyone.
After that, Cui Dunli, who was standing in the palace, bowed and saluted him: "I have seen the minister."
When Fang Jun saw that Cui Dunli's originally fair and plump face had become dark and thin, and his eyes were bloodshot, he knew that these days must have been difficult, so he nodded slightly and said in a deep voice: "It's good to come back. ”
Then he sat down on a chair nearby.
Cui Dunli felt a warm current in his heart. This brief greeting clearly showed Fang Jun's concern. Compared with others who were impatient to know the situation of Tuyuhun, Fang Jun's words were obviously more tender, which made him have some impulse of "a scholar will die for his confidant"...
People are all emotional. Even if they understand that in the face of national crisis, personal life and death, honor and disgrace have long been ignored, who can really be as ruthless as a machine?
A simple greeting and care is enough to touch your heart and make you feel warm.
Li Chengqian was not a cold-blooded person. Seeing Cui Dunli's haggard face, he said warmly: "You don't have to stand, Mr. Cui. Sit down and talk."
"Thank you, Your Highness."
Cui Dunli thanked him and sat on the last chair.
Fang Jun took a sip of tea and asked: "To delay it for so long without any news coming back?"
Before the mission, this mission was considered very dangerous, because if Tuyuhun decided to rebel, he would probably kill the Tang envoy and completely break his face. So Cui Dunli did not return for many days, and there was no news. Even Fang Jun thought that he was killed by Tuyuhun to sacrifice the flag...
However, now they have to return to Chang'an in full, which is a bit illogical.
Since Tuyuhun did not kill Cui Dunli, why did he prevent the news from spreading?
Cui Dunli said respectfully: "The lower official arrived at Tuyuhun Yazhang with a national martial arts. He met Tuyuhun King Fushun and asked him why he had evil intentions and wanted to rebel now that the entire clan was attached to him? At first, Fushun made many excuses, denied them in every possible way, and flatly denied them. . Later, Kaixiaguan accidentally saw Tibetan soldiers near his tent. He became suspicious, so he broke into a tent and saw the Tibetan Prime Minister Lu Dongzan. "
Everyone in the hall immediately looked serious.
Tuyuhun's tens of thousands of fine cavalry have already put Chang'an in danger. If it is true that he colluded with Tubo behind the scenes, the two countries do not even need to join forces. Tubo only needs to send an army to support Tuyuhun to cross the Qilian Mountains and attack the counties in Hexi. It will be difficult for the Tang Dynasty to hold on. .
Facing the powerful troops of both countries at the same time, Fang Jun's 20,000 right-hand guards have no chance of winning...
Cui Dunli continued: "...After Fushun learned about this, he wanted to kill the official and keep it secret. He probably wanted to completely block the news and make the Tang Dynasty unprepared. However, Lu Dongzan tried his best to dissuade him and ordered the official to be kept secret. He was preserved and released, and then he was able to return safely."
Having said this, he himself breathed out a sigh of relief, still feeling a lingering fear in his heart.
He was in the enemy camp at that time, and there were only dozens of soldiers guarding him. It was easy for Fushun to kill him. Being so close to death, and then escaping from death, it's hard to avoid feeling emotional.
Xiao Yu was stroking his beard at the side. When he heard this, he praised Fang Jun: "When Erlang came up with the 'highland barley wine', everyone in the government and the public thought it was just nonsense. However, it was later discovered that it was really a clever move. , without even using a single soldier, they pinned Tubo to the plateau and did not dare to move. It was really a clever plan!"
They are all big bosses who have been involved in intrigues and intrigues in the court for decades. Just from Cui Dunli's story, you can understand why Lu Dongzan saved his life.
As Fang Jun had speculated before, Tubo did not dare to go to war with the Tang Dynasty.
"Highland barley wine" has become the lifeblood of Tubo. While it has brought huge profits to the powerful Tubo nobles, it has also suffered an unprecedented impact on its internal political structure. The nobles and powerful people used highland barley wine to greedily grab profits. Whoever dared to cut off their financial resources would be the target of their overthrow. Under such circumstances, even Songtsen Gampo did not dare to act rashly.
Once Tubo and the Tang Dynasty went to war, the "Eastern Datang Company" would be cut off from trade with Tubo. Barley wine could not be sold and grain could not be transported in. Not only would the interests of those powerful nobles be greatly harmed, but they would even suffer from food shortages. Leading to a sharp decline in strength.
Under such circumstances, all the nobles and powerful people in Tubo turned into "peace advocates". Whoever dared to start a war with the Tang Dynasty would be their enemy!
Therefore, Lu Dongzan could not watch Fu Shun kill Cui Dunli, otherwise he would not be able to clear away the relationship, which would make Datang think that the two countries had formed an alliance.
With the tyranny of the Tang Dynasty, even if His Majesty Li Er was on an expedition to Liaodong at this moment, he would definitely start war on Tibet immediately and launch retaliatory actions.
How dare Lu Dongzan let that happen?
Tubo could secretly encourage Tuyuhun and even provide some support, but on the surface, there must not be a shred of evidence.
Li Daozong glanced at Fang Jun and admired him from the bottom of his heart. Who would have thought that a seemingly nonsense move would have such a far-reaching impact?
It's nothing more than pulling firewood out of the cauldron.
He nodded and said: "In other words, Tubo has scruples and will not participate in Tuyuhun's rebellion."
Although Tuyuhun has not rebelled until now, but since he has the intention to kill the envoys of the Celestial Dynasty, how is it different from rebellion?
It's just a matter of sooner or later. Rebellion is inevitable.
Naturally, it was not good news, and the little hope that the ruling and opposition parties had had was completely dashed, and a war was inevitable.
But if Tubo does not participate in it, it can be regarded as a great blessing among misfortunes.
Otherwise, the outcome would have been doomed before Fang Jun left the Hexi counties...
After Cui Dunli finished describing his experience in detail, Li Chengqian nodded and said: "Shilang Cui has worked hard on this trip, and the court will not treat him poorly for his achievements. However, the current situation is difficult, and I still need capable ministers and officials like Cui Shilang." auxiliary Zuo, so go home and take a rest, then go to the Ministry of War for duty tomorrow. You Tun Guard is about to go on an expedition, and the entire army is busy, and Cui Shilang has to take on more responsibilities."
Cui Dunli hurriedly stood up and said: "I am deeply favored by the emperor, so I should die to repay the favor. I don't dare to be praised by His Highness like this."
He knew that the dangers he had experienced this time were worth it. With Li Chengqian's words, his achievements were confirmed.
Waiting for Cui Dunli to say goodbye and leave, Li Chengqian looked around at everyone and asked: "Since Tubo will hardly participate in the Tuyuhun rebellion, what chance does the Youtun Guard have to guard the counties in Hexi?"
He was still worried about letting Fang Jun go to Hexi, but the situation was such that he couldn't be promoted unless Fang Jun, and he became increasingly worried.
This was his loyal minister and close friend. If it was broken in Hexi, wouldn't it be equivalent to losing one of his arms?
Before the others could speak, Fang Jun had already said decisively: "The counties in Hexi must not be lost! Therefore, regardless of whether Tubo participated in Tuyuhun's rebellion, Hexi is still a place to defend. Even if the blood of the ministers is spilled in Hexi, they will never be cut off by Tuyuhun. The road from Chang'an to the Western Regions will not allow Guanzhong to face Tuyuhun's army directly!"
No one expected that at the height of the Tang Dynasty, when the whole country was marching to Goguryeo, something like the Tuyuhun rebellion would happen.
However, no matter what, the martial arts of the Tang Dynasty was at its peak at this time, and they had always been the only ones to bully others. How could they allow the barbarian tribe to stir up trouble and make trouble in the heart of the Tang Dynasty?
Fang Jun knew better that only by defeating Tuyuhun and frightening Tubo could the Tang Dynasty develop rapidly, preventing the central government from declining and military power to fall apart like in history. He had to rely on warlords in feudal towns to maintain the corrupt situation, and finally became a separatist regime in feudal towns. disaster.
In the battle of Hexi, only victory is allowed, not defeat.
Li Daozong frowned and said: "Regardless of whether Tubo is involved or not, the battle in Hexi is full of hardships. We must fight the bandits with determination to the death. There is never any luck in the battle formation. If the Youtun Guards are defeated, I will ask for a fight; if I am a minor minister, I will fight." If the battle is defeated, please lead the Imperial Army to supervise the battle! Even if the Guanzhong disciples are stained with blood and corpses litter the fields, not a single trace of the land in Hexi will be lost.”
He was keenly aware of Li Chengqian's worries about gains and losses.
Fang Jun is the humerus that the prince relies on, so it is understandable that he does not want him to encounter any accidents in Hexi. However, when facing an enemy in a battle, if you always have the thought of "if you can't beat, run away to save yourself", how will you fight this battle? Even without Tubo's participation, Tuyuhun's tens of thousands of elite cavalry are no joke. We are outnumbered, strong and weak. If we don't have the will to die, we might as well just surrender and admit defeat.
The prince had never fought in a war, let alone been on the battlefield, so Li Daozong had to guide his luck.
When two armies meet, the brave one wins.
What is "brave"? Regard death as home, leave it to death and then live. (End of chapter)