Chapter 4723 There must be a battle
The father and son were relatively silent, and the sadness of the family's end condensed in the air. The fate of being crushed into powder even if it lingered in the cracks of the great powers made people chew their teeth and crack their eyes, but there was nothing they could do.
"Bang!" Zan Xiruo hammered the coffee table in front of him hard and said with red eyes: "Whatever big country or country of etiquette is just a group of jackals, tigers and leopards. They have to chew the meat and even the bones to pieces. It's not like Luo. How different are those treacherous beasts in the city? I wish I could have my hands peeled and cramped!”
Lu Dongzan frowned and scolded: "Being angry is the most incompetent sign. If you have such energy, it is better to think more about how to avoid danger. Although both Tubo and Tang Dynasty want us to die, there is no hope of redemption. ”
Zan Xiruo knew that his father was resourceful and resourceful, so he quickly asked: "How will the plan be drawn up?"
Lu Dongzan shook his head: "There is definitely no strategy. Any strategy is useless in the face of absolute power. The only thing that can be exploited is the situation."
Praise if you don't understand.
Lu Dongzan explained briefly: "If we and Tubo can only leave one person, who do you think Datang will keep?"
"Of course it's us. We are dependent on the Tang Dynasty. Our strength is far inferior to that of Luosucheng. We are no threat."
"If faced with the choice between pursuing national policy and destroying the country, which one would the Tang army choose?"
Zan Xiruo said: "That must be the result of the destruction of the country! The purpose of the Tang Dynasty is just to see us and Luoxe City lose both sides and restore regional stability. But if there is a chance to destroy Tubo, which general will let it go? ?”
Lu Dongzan's eyes flashed fiercely, and he said fiercely: "So we have to be steady, and some of us will obey the command of the Tang people, but at the critical moment, we have to pull the Tang people into this muddy water. Don't even think about standing on the shore and gesticulating and being alone. ! ”
*****
Chang'an in August is like a huge furnace. The dense and dense Guanzhong Eight Rivers are mighty but cannot take away much of the heat. The trees on both sides of Zhuque Street are wilted and listless, and the cicadas on the flower trees in the courtyard are all lazy. Weak.
The huge ice mirror is placed under the window, and a cool breeze blows into the house, which feels like a world away from the scorching heat outside.
Princess Gaoyang yawned lazily, stroked her temples, and managed to muster the energy to write on the gift list with a brush. Fang Jun beside her was holding a warehouse list and giving some suggestions from time to time.
After drinking a cup of tea, Fang Jun irritably threw the list on the table, leaned back on the chair, and said impatiently: "It's just an ordinary gift, why should we be so careful? Besides, Chang'an is thousands of miles away from Silla. It's so far away, so many boats and cars, so bumpy and bumpy, and I don't know how much the porcelain and glass are damaged. How about I just ask the navy to pick some rare things from the warehouse and send them to Li Ke? "
Princess Gaoyang frowned, a little displeased: "The most important thing about gift-giving is your heart. How can you mess with it carelessly? You need to choose carefully for a teacup and a mirror. You don't know what it means."
Among the princes and princesses, she had been close to Li Ke since childhood and admired this handsome, cheerful and talented brother. Li Ke cared deeply for her because she lost her mother when she was young, and the brother-sister relationship was very close.
Now that Li Ke is in Silla, thousands of miles away, Princess Gaoyang still arranges for people to send gifts twice a year in summer and winter.
Fang Jun was impatient with this and said helplessly: "You can give me whatever you want. Even if you empty the warehouse, I have nothing to say. Can you let me go? It's too hot. I plan to take a bath... How about we come together?" ”
Princess Gao Yang rolled her eyes at him and waved her little hand impatiently: "Let's go, let's go. The weather is probably cooler only in Furong Garden. You might as well go to find your Majesty the Queen, or go to Zhongnan Mountain. Beauty, My dear son, enjoy your family life. There is also a little princess in Zabuji’s palace. She has an everlasting love and a secret love. Maybe you can pick it up..."
There was too much jealousy in these words. Fang Jun smiled bitterly and shook his head, begging for forgiveness: "Your Highness, I forgive you for my inappropriate words. I have no place to regret myself. I will change my mind and be a new person in the future."
"Pfft!"
Princess Gao Yang was so amused by these fresh words that she waved her hands and said sweetly: "Go and take your bath quickly. I'm annoyed just by looking at you, huh."
"Thank you for your forgiveness, Your Highness. I am deeply grateful. How about I give you my blessing..."
After being kicked out, Fang Jun went to the side room to take a shower, but a servant brought in a letter from Pei Xingjian. He opened it and read it carefully. It turned out that Pei Xingjian had returned to Beijing and was in the palace for an audience. He thought that his majesty would summon him later. The ministers discussed the situation in Tibet, so they detailed the meeting and negotiation between him and Lu Dongzan in the letter, so that Fang Jun could have an idea.
After reading the letter, he took out the fire paper and lit it, watched the letter burn to ashes, took a shower, put on his purple official uniform, tied the goldfish bag, made a pot of tea and drank half of it, then a palace servant came to the door and read out His Majesty ordered to enter the palace to see him.
Fang Jun then Shi Shiran got up. It was too hot to ride a horse, otherwise he would be covered in sweat when he arrived at Tai Chi Palace, so he rushed to Tai Chi Palace in a carriage.
When they entered the Wude Hall, they saw several important ministers pointing and talking around a huge sand table. This sand table was made by the Ministry of War after spending huge manpower and material resources to obtain detailed intelligence and data. The palace There is a set inside, and there is another set by the Ministry of War, which are made separately in each region. They are filled with several side halls of Wude Hall. The terrain in front of you is the terrain from the south of Helan Mountain to Tubo.
Fang Jun first saluted Li Chengqian, then greeted each other with several colleagues, nodded slightly at Pei Xingjian and Cui Dunli who were reporting matters, and then stepped forward to stand behind Li Chengqian, Li Xiaogong, and Li Ji...
On the left side of Li Chengqian is the position of civil servants, only Liu Jie.
The situation in Tubo was under the control of the military and not under the jurisdiction of civilian officials. The reason why Liu Ji was present here was because once the situation changed and a war might break out, civilian officials were needed to give their opinions. Of course, the most important thing was to fully cooperate.
Liu Ji's face was calm, but his heart was quite depressed. Just looking at the people in the palace, you can see how severely the civil servants were suppressed. The military was arrogant and domineering, and a group of famous generals continued to expand outwards. There was nothing but war. How many days can't you stop?
As a civilian leader, Liu Ji is under great pressure...
Flags of various styles and colors were placed everywhere on the sand table. Cui Dunli introduced in detail the sphere of influence of the Gar family and the military arrangements of the various Tubo tribes. The mountains, ravines, rivers and lakes were all reflected in front of him, and they were as clear as looking at the palm prints. .
Li Xiaogong patted Fang Jun on the shoulder, pointed at the sand table and praised: "You have not been the Minister of the Ministry of War for a long time, but you have made outstanding achievements. Just this one thing can make you famous in history. It is amazing."
Fang Jun was very modest: "The prince is so complimentary. This sand table is a gathering of all the efforts of the army. Countless people have contributed their talents. Countless people are either climbing on the ice and lying in the snow, eating in the wind, drinking in the sand, or playing with snakes and insects." I lost my life in the smog and used my feet to measure the distance from north to south. How dare I take credit for this? ”
He knew the importance of maps better than anyone else, so when he first became Minister of the Ministry of War, he went against all objections and spent countless manpower and material resources to survey the mountains, rivers, and terrain across the country. He even relied on caravans and detailed work to conduct surveying and mapping of surrounding countries, such as Goguryeo, if the map of the country had not been mapped in advance, how could it have been possible for His Majesty Li Er to march straight in and conquer the enemy at the beginning of the war?
However, due to the traffic, communication and other conditions at this time, the price paid was extremely huge. The small sandbox in front of us condensed the efforts and even lives of countless people...
Li Chengqian affirmed this: "I heard that the Ministry of War has always done a good job in providing pensions and subsidies. Don't be negligent. Those who have made outstanding contributions, sweated and even sacrificed their lives for the empire, whether they are officials, officials, generals, Regardless of whether they are soldiers, they must be given the necessary care. Datang will not treat any meritorious service unfairly.”
"Your Majesty's benevolence and magnanimity are the blessings of the country, the blessings of your ministers, and the blessings of all people in the world!"
……
Li Chengqian pointed to the location of Luoche City on the sand table and asked Pei Xingjian: "Pei Qing thinks that once Lu Dongzan goes to war with Songtsan Gampo, what are the chances of winning with the full assistance of the Tang Dynasty?"
Pei Xingjian said respectfully: "Not a cent."
Liu Jieqi said: "Since there is no chance of winning, why waste countless grains, self-reliant weapons and armor to aid Lu Dongzan? Although the national treasury has been fuller in recent years, there are still countless people who are hungry and cold in the world. Every cent, every penny None should be wasted.”
This is the basic conflict between the military and civilian officials.
Civil servants need political achievements, and political achievements cannot be obtained for nothing. They require persistent and tireless investment. But when the national treasury is drained by the military, what can civilian officials do to strive for political achievements? How can one be promoted without political achievements?
The same is true for the military. If you want to ensure the interests of the military, it is definitely not possible to store swords and guns in the warehouse and release horses to Nanshan. Only continuous battles can gain more benefits. Titles, official positions, and wealth can only be obtained from the battlefield. Come.
The military wanted to rush forward with cavalry and plant the flag of the Tang Dynasty all over the world, while the civil servants insisted that the world was peaceful and the rivers were clear and the seas were flowing...
Pei Xingjian glanced at Liu Ji and said nothing. His current duty is to consult and discuss with His Majesty as the deputy governor and chief historian of the Anxi Protectorate. As for whether or how to fight this battle, it has nothing to do with him. Liu The problem has nothing to do with him.
Pei Xingjian's attitude made Liu Ji frown. Strictly speaking, Pei Xingjian was not a military commander. Although he had been in the military, he was a civilian. When he returned to the central government in the future, he would definitely become a member of the civil service. Now he couldn't wait to make profits for the military. He was simply confused. . Cui Dunli said calmly: "The Ministry of War has conducted predictions and deductions about the situation in Tibet more than ten times, and they unanimously believe that if Lu Dongzan is allowed to grow bigger and completely control the entire Qinghai Lake area, it will cause great hidden dangers to the Tang Dynasty, especially in the north of the Qilian Mountains. The four counties in Hexi are always under threat from its military fronts, and the Hexi Corridor connects the Western Regions. There cannot be any surprises, so this battle is imperative. The minimum goal is to exhaust the Gar family. If both it and Songtsen Gampo can be harmed, it will be the most perfect once the strategic goal is achieved. It takes at least twenty years to cultivate and gather together, and the national policy of the Tang Dynasty can naturally be adjusted easily.”