Li Zhi, don't be a coward

Chapter 498
In the first year of Yonghui, Songtsen Gampo died, and his grandson Mangsong Mangtsan came to the throne at the age of 13.

Of course, a 13-year-old child can't decide anything, so the prime minister Lu Dongzan is regent.

For more than ten years, the real power in Tubo has been firmly in the hands of Lu Dongzan. From internal affairs to military affairs, all decisions have been made by Lu Dongzan alone.

There was a honeymoon period between Tang Dynasty and Tubo, which is the famous story of Songtsan Gampo and Princess Wencheng.

And those years were also a period of particularly sweet relations between the Tang Dynasty and Tubo. Tsangampo himself knew that he couldn't get a bargain.

It wasn't until Songtsen Gampo's death that the country's national policy finally began to change.

Grand Minister Lu Dongzan's regent needs to make political achievements, or the Tibetans need to expand their territory, in short, they are ready to move again.

Since the unification of the tribes and the founding of the country in Tibet, there has been an unavoidable problem. Their living environment is harsh. Throughout the ages, they have longed to go down from the plateau and become a real farming nation, instead of staying in this hopeless bitter cold land for generations.

It can only be said that it is the nature of the Tubo people to start a war. Even if Lu Dongzan did not appear, the war would still be inevitable.

However, the Tibetans made a mistake in choosing who to attack.

They can attack the Western Regions to the north and Tianzhu to the west. In short, attacking Tuyuhun is a huge mistake.

Tuyuhun is forbidden by the Tang Dynasty and cannot be touched.

The reason is very simple. The country of Tuyuhun just happened to hold the throat of the Silk Road. It is absolutely impossible for the Tang Dynasty to hand over the Silk Road. The government, the biggest purpose is to protect the Silk Road.

If Tuyuhun is destroyed by Tubo, what is the meaning of the existence of Anxi Protectorate?
From the perspective of the territory, if Tuyuhun is under the control of Tubo, then the Tang Dynasty will be divided into two parts.

The commercial routes were cut off, the strategic position was lost, and the dignity of the country was seriously challenged. The Western Regions have been isolated from outside the territory.

These are all the disadvantages brought to Datang after the loss of Tuyuhun, a vassal state.

I can't bear it anymore, no matter how poor I am, I can't bear it anymore.

At such a severe moment, if Li Zhi made a slight compromise, the people of the Tang Dynasty would never be able to surpass Emperor Taizong's evaluation of him.

"war!"

In the Tai Chi Hall, the generals shouted loudly and asked for a fight.

Li Zhi sat in the hall, his gloomy eyes peeped out from the gaps between the twelve crowns, looking extremely terrifying.

After receiving the news of Tubo's invasion of Tuyuhun, the courtiers in Chang'an immediately gathered in the Taiji Hall, and even Li Ji, who had not been in court for a long time, came in person.

"The veteran is willing to lead the troops out of Liangzhou, enter Tuyuhun, and drive out the Tubo thieves." Li Ji stood up from the court and bowed to ask for a fight.

Li Zhi was slightly startled, and hurriedly said: "The old general is too old to lead the army, he just needs to sit firmly in Chang'an and plan with each other from afar."

Li Ji said expressionlessly: "This old minister is about [-] this year, but he can still eat three times of solar eclipse, eat five catties of meat, have sharp eyes and ears, and dance with a forty catty horse with ease. How can he be so old? Your Majesty, this old minister invites you to fight."

Su Dingfang came out at this time, and said with a smile: "Yinggong should rest at home. The old minister is a few years younger than Yinggong. If the veteran leads the army, he will definitely not teach the Tubo thieves to succeed. Your Majesty, please send the old minister to lead the army to fight with the Tubo thieves." If you fight, you will not disgrace your mission."

Li Ji was furious, but still maintained a refined demeanor, he stroked his beard and glanced at Su Dingfang coldly, and said, "Old man Su is not convinced, this old man is willing to compete with you, it is up to you to choose whether to form an army or catch and fight. Is the old man really old, dare to fight?"

Li Ji's prestige in the army is still very high. After saying these words, Su Dingfang immediately smiled embarrassingly: "Don't misunderstand, Mr. Ying, the old man is just worried about your body..."

Veterans asked for a fight one after another, and Li Zhi was sitting in the hall with his blood boiling, and when his chest was full of passion, a discordant voice came out from the hall.

"Your Majesty, I think that my Tang Dynasty is not allowed to fight!"

There was a sudden silence in the hall, and everyone looked around in astonishment, only to see Liu Rengui standing up with a blank expression.

After the veterans froze for a moment, they immediately pointed at Liu Rengui's nose and cursed, hats such as "national thief", "sycophant", and "wrong country" were thrown on Liu Rengui's head one after another.

Even Li Ji, who has always been mild-tempered, narrowed his eyes, and there was a cold light in his eyes.

Facing the abuse from the veterans, Liu Rengui remained unmoved. After the scolding stopped for a while, he slowly opened his mouth and said: "Generals lead the army, and the ministers don't say anything. The premise is, can you run thousands of miles without food Baggage?"

The veterans were stunned again, and Su Dingfang scolded angrily: "How can there be no reason for the army to go out without food? What nonsense are you talking about!"

Liu Rengui said coldly: "Because the treasury has no food."

The main hall became quiet again, and the faces of the veterans became uglier and uglier. After looking at each other, no one said anything.

Going out without food?The God of War, Li Jing, might not be able to lead an army if he is reborn. If he leaves Chang'an less than fifty miles away, the army will mutiny.

Li Zhi's face also became ugly.

No one knows the situation of the state treasury better than him. Liu Rengui is telling the truth, there is indeed no food.

This year was already a disaster year. There was a severe drought in the northern regions. The grain had already been transferred to the north to help the people. This year's autumn grain harvest was almost negligible.

It has to be said that Tubo chose to launch a war against Tuyuhun at this juncture, probably after careful consideration. They calculated that Datang was extremely short of food this year and did not dare to send troops, so they beat Tuyuhun recklessly.

In this era, when countries fight each other, what they fight is their own food and population background. If there is no food, why fight?

Li Zhi, who was originally full of pride, suddenly became heroic and short of breath, scratching his head and sighing sadly like a down-and-out man who is about to be forced by his wife to divorce and divide his property.

"According to what Liu Zhongshu saw, if the Great Tang didn't send troops, what should we do?" Li Zhi asked.

Liu Rengui rolled his eyes: "I don't know."

The monarchs and ministers in the hall suddenly felt a surge of rebellion in their chests, and after a short silence, there was another burst of curses.

Liu Rengui said expressionlessly: "I can't make a correct decision, but I know what a wrong decision is."

"It was a wrong decision for Datang to send troops."

It's the truth, but it's also nonsense, Li Zhi feels very tired.

(End of this chapter)