People in the early Tang Dynasty: I compete with Wu Zhao for the throne

Chapter 1177: Defeat is defeat, what are the gains?

Among the swaying carriage, Li Xuan was wrapped in a black cloak and leaning inside the carriage, her eyes seemed to be closed or open.

Outside the curtain, Li Zhu's voice sounded in a low voice: "Your Majesty, today is the hour, the censor Zhongcheng has already set off for Hebei."

"Yeah!" Li Xuan responded softly.

Cui Mi, the censor Zhongcheng, was born in the Qinghe Dafang of the Cui family in Qinghe.

Qinghe and Zhaojun are only a hundred miles apart, and there have been countless intermarriages over the centuries.

This time the emperor asked Cui Mi, the censor Zhongcheng, to investigate the Li family in Zhao County, and he had the intention of letting him deal with it on his own.

The emperor was willing to let go, so Li Xuan asked Li Xian to intercede at that time.

However, all hidden dangers must be eliminated.

The Li family of Zhaojun, their affiliated families, and other related people must sort out their various responsibilities, even if they are internal, to prevent any future troubles.

In addition, it is the Fan Yang Lu family.

The Li family of Zhaojun, the Cui family of Qinghe, and the Lu family of Fanyang can sort everything out.

But Li Xuan hoped that the Fan Yang Lu family could share the news with Gao Kan, the Duke of Plateau County, as he wished.

In today's Hebei, there is Huo Wang Li Yuangui in Dingzhou, Pingyuan County Duke Gao Kan to the east, and Zhou Daowu, the governor of Yingzhou to the east. They are not easy people.

As long as you are sure, you might be able to take this opportunity to defeat the Turks.

The car curtain shook, and Li Xuan couldn't help but think of Di Renjie.

Di Renjie was sent to Hebei by the emperor after taking the imperial examination at the beginning of the year. After the Turks invaded, he was restricted and unable to leave.

Taking a breath, Li Xuan sighed slightly in her heart.

If Di Renjie knew about this matter now, he would probably cause a lot of trouble.

That's why Li Xuan didn't ask the Lu family to send him a message.

Moreover, his identity was not enough for the Lu family to send him a letter.

In fact, the only one the Lu family could choose was Gao Kan.

Unless they want to die and contact King Huo Li Yuangui, that is another matter.

Of course, they have something even more stupid, which is to do nothing and hide everything quietly.

But this way, the Lu family would put a cross in Li Xuan's heart.

If the Lu family handles this matter well, while Gao Kan will make great contributions, Lu Zhaolin and Lu Zangyong will also benefit.

Li Xuan wanted to see how the Lu family would handle this matter.

After withdrawing his thoughts, Li Xuan's thoughts turned to Pingyuan County Duke Gao Kan.

Gao Kan was Liu Rengui's old subordinate when he fought in Silla. In addition, he was also from the Bohai Gao family.

Li Xuan's eyes passed through the car curtain and fell on Chang'an City under the night outside, and whispered: "Gao Qi."

Although Gao Qi died and most of his father and brothers were demoted, this disaster was finally over.

Bohai Gao family was not seriously injured.

But the secrets about Gao Qi disappeared with his death.

But there are still people who care about these things.

The palace is also continuing to investigate.

However, the intensity of the investigation is gradually decreasing.

As long as one day this matter has no consequences, everyone will forget it.

Li Xuan lowered his head slightly, his expression cold.

……

"Come on, military report, urgent military report." A loud shout came from the front, and Li Xuan couldn't help but poke her head out of the carriage.

Then he saw a dusty Qianniu Guard walking quickly towards the palace along the galloping road.

Li Xuan's eyes flashed slightly, then turned to Li Zhu and said, "Let's go back to the palace."

"Here!" Li Zhu cupped his hands, then turned the horse's head and headed towards the palace.

Among the ranks of officials who were on duty, a dozen carriages turned around at the same time and headed against the current.

Nowadays, in the Tang Dynasty, there are three or five places, large and small, where wars are fought, but apart from Changzhou and the grassland, there are only grasslands.

And this military report is not a good report.

Li Xuan stood under the palace gate, looking at Liu Rengui, Li Jingxuan, Liu Shenli, Xue Yuanchao, Pei Yan, Xu Yushi, Xiao Dezhao and others in front of them, with calm expressions and standing with hands tied.

Now the palace door has just been closed, but everyone who smelled the smell is already waiting outside the palace.

From the direction of the East Palace, Li Xian and Yao Lingzhang were coming quickly.

Arriving under the palace gate, Li Xian solemnly raised his hands to the officials.

The ministers returned the courtesy, but no one spoke.

Standing in front of Li Xuan, Li Xian looked at Li Xuan worriedly.

Li Xuan shook her head slightly and looked calmly at the Danfeng Gate ahead.

……

With a "squeak" sound, the palace door opened wide. Qiu Huan stood in front of the palace door, waved his fly whisk at the ministers, and then moved out of the way.

Led by Liu Rengui, the ministers had already walked in slowly.

Li Xian walked through the palace gate and looked at Qiu Huan with doubts in his eyes.

The emperor did not summon him, but all the ministers had already arrived on their own initiative.

Qiu Huan even gave way to the call without naming him.

This may seem like a confusing scene, but there is a vague tacit understanding.

Qiu Huan smiled respectfully at Li Xian, but did not speak.

Li Xian glanced at the ministers with doubtful eyes. In the East Palace, Xue Yuanchao and Li Xuan had now arrived, indicating that they also knew something. But why didn't either of them tell him before.

Looking at the upward golden steps in front of him, Li Xian's mind slowly settled down.

The emperor had never said anything about this matter before.

During this period of time, Xue Yuanchao did almost nothing except teaching, but Li Xuan consulted a large amount of information in the East Palace...

Li Xian's heart skipped a beat. Could it be that Uncle Wang did those things on his own guess?

Li Xian subconsciously raised his head and saw that the gate of Zichen Palace had arrived in front of him.

……

Li Zhi was sitting in the palace, still reading the memorial with his head down.

Empress Wu sat aside, looking calm.

The ministers entered the palace, then cupped their hands and said, "I will see you, Your Majesty."

Li Zhi raised his head and cast a cold gaze on everyone. He glanced at Li Xian for the last time before Li Zhi said calmly: "The Chanyu Protectorate reported that Shi Xiaosiye, the governor of the Chanyu Governorate, personally led his soldiers to escort the grain and grass. When there was a heavy snowfall, , and then were besieged by the Turkic cavalry, and were severely defeated, with the loss of 3,000 people."

With one sentence, three thousand people were harmed, and all the officials in the palace raised their heads in surprise.

The same goes for Li Xuan. Although he predicted that there would be big trouble in the Shanyu Protectorate, he did not expect to lose so much.

"Your Majesty." Liu Rengui stepped forward and raised his hands: "Why did Xiao Changshi personally escort the grain and grass?"

"He was using the food escort as bait, trying to swallow up the Turks' cavalry who attacked the food and grass. However, he did not expect that there was a sudden heavy snowfall in the grassland, and he could not advance or retreat, so he was surrounded by the Turks." Li Zhi sighed softly and said: "Since the beginning of winter, The Turks have raided the Shanyu Protectorate's food and grass dozens of times, and Xiao Qing had to deal with it."

"Your Majesty!" Li Jingxuan stepped forward, raised his hands and asked, "Do you know how many enemy soldiers you killed?"

Li Zhi glanced at Li Jingxuan indifferently and said rudely: "A defeat is a defeat. How can we gain anything?"

When Li Xuan heard this, she couldn't help but lower her head.

Back then, Xue Rengui was defeated by the Tubo people in Dafeichuan. Although the Tubo people's casualties were several times higher than those of the Tang Dynasty, so what, a defeat was a defeat.

The Tang Dynasty lost the entire old land of Tuyuhun, and later even the entire Tuyuhun royal family was forced to move to Lingzhou with their trusted followers.

Defeat does not lie in gains, but in the failure of strategic objectives.

The same is true for Xiao Siye now. If he can withdraw before being surrounded by the Turks, then even if he does not gain much, he still retains the main force and still has the strength to fight. But now his defeat has caused Shan Yudu to The Protectorate lost three thousand soldiers, and as a result, the entire grassland situation became much more passive.

"Your Majesty." Liu Shenli came out and handed over his hands with confusion on his face: "Your Majesty, Xiao Changshi is a general in the army. He has been fighting for many years and has experience in weather changes. How could he be so easily hit by heavy snow and besieged by the Turks? , could this be a trap?"

Li Zhi turned to Li Xian and asked, "Prince, what do you think?"

"Report to my father." Li Xian stood up, stabilized his mind a little, and said with his hands: "Xiao Changshi has been fighting for a long time. Since he has a plan, he must be meticulous. How can he be defeated by others easily? The Turks can do great damage. The Tang Dynasty had three thousand soldiers, and the cavalry must have been mobilized in the tens of thousands. Xiao Changshi did not notice it. Although he was at fault, I think that apart from the shrewd opponent, I am afraid that the news in the army was leaked."

After Li Xian finished speaking, all the officials in the palace looked at him in surprise.

Although Li Xian's words are not completely accurate, they are infinitely close to the truth.

This is completely different from everyone’s impression of Li Xian.

The ministers subconsciously looked at Xue Yuanchao and Li Xuan, but they did not expect that there was a hint of surprise in their eyes.

Li Xian's ability to say these words really surprised them.

You know, these words, they have never spoken to Li Xian.

Yao Lingzhang stood behind Li Xian, with a hint of deep thought on his face.

The prince first questioned the inside story of the military report, and then secretly interceded for Xiao Siye.

……

With a smile on his face, Li Zhi nodded and said, "Yes, I can see that you have indeed made some progress."

"Thank you for the compliment, Father." After saying that, Li Xian stepped back and stood back.

Li Zhi looked at the memorial in his hand, looked at the ministers and said: "There are not many details in this memorial. It is difficult to find out the reason for it at the moment... Li Qing, what do you think is going on?"

Seeing Li Jingxuan bowing again, Li Xuan lowered his head slightly, a trace of pity flashed in his heart, but it disappeared in an instant.

"Your Majesty." Li Jingxuan solemnly held up his hands and said: "There is only certainty in this matter, but those who can detect the secrets of the army are far from ordinary people. I suggest that someone be sent to investigate immediately. In addition, Pingyang County Duke will be sent north. , to meet the army."

"Yes!" Li Zhi turned and looked aside, and the person beside him had already begun to quickly formulate a decree.

Li Zhi spoke slowly: "Tell Pingyang County Duke Xue Li to go north to the Shanyu Duhu Mansion to sit down and suppress it; transfer the Minister of Punishment Wei Daizi to go north to inspect the history of the Shanyu Duhu Mansion; transfer Qianniu Weilang General Zhou Qian to the left to lead A thousand right guard cavalry escorted him northward; Xiao Siye was relieved of his duties as governor of the Protectorate and returned to the capital to confess his crime."

The ministers in the palace couldn't help but be stunned, and then immediately handed over their hands: "I will wait for the order."

Xiao Siye was now dismissed from the post of Chief Shi of the Shanyu Protectorate?

Defeating and losing troops is a common occurrence for military strategists.

But the war situation on the front line is urgent, and it doesn't matter if you remove him from his post. If he stays in front of the army and serves a crime, what will happen if he is transferred back?

Changing generals in the middle of a battle is a taboo in the army.

Li Xian was a little confused, but around him, Liu Rengui, Li Jingxuan, Liu Shenli, Xue Yuanchao, Yao Lingzhang, Li Xuan and others all obeyed the leader's orders.

Is there anything else he doesn't know about?

"Do you have anything to add, sir?" Li Zhi looked at the ministers calmly.

The ministers were silent.

Li Xuan lowered his head deeply. There was no trace of fireworks in the fighting in the court.

"Okay, gentlemen, please step back." Li Zhi waved his hand.

"Here!" The ministers cupped their hands and then slowly retreated.

At this time, Qiu Huan quickly walked up from the side, came to the imperial case, lowered his hands and said something.

Empress Wu looked surprised, then looked at the emperor.

The emperor sighed softly, glanced ahead, waved his hands, then stood up and walked towards Penglai Hall.

Empress Wu glanced at the memorial on the table, then stood up, whispered an order, and walked towards the back hall.

Under the golden steps, Li Xian had just stood firm when he couldn't help but look at Xue Yuanchao and Li Xuan: "Mr. Xue, Uncle Wang, what is going on today?"

"This?" Xue Yuanchao hesitated slightly. At this moment, rapid footsteps came from above.

Turning around, Qiu Huan was already standing behind him, looking at Li Xian and Li Xuan, bowing and saying: "Your Highness, Your Majesty, the Queen has summoned you."

(End of this chapter)