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

Chapter 1233 Jiangnan, Shuzhong, Tubo

A group of right-guard cavalry in black clothes and black armor drove into Tanggula Town like the wind.

The originally deserted Tanggula town gradually became lively after the Tang army arrived.

The Tang Army did not prevent merchants from entering Tanggula Town to do business, but they prohibited them from approaching the military camp or the checkpoint.

As soon as they are discovered, they will be killed immediately.

The military camp is on the south side of the town, but the cavalry went past the military camp and went straight to the general manager's office in the southernmost part of Tanggula Town.

Wang Dezhen is here now.

In front of the general palace, Li Xuan stood up and dismounted.

A middle-aged man in green official clothes came out to welcome him. When he saw Li Xuan, he immediately raised his hands and said, "The last general, Lou Shide, has met the commander-in-chief."

"Why did Sima come to the army?" Li Xuan asked as he walked inside.

Today, Lou Shide serves as the censor in the palace and inspects the Heyuan Wei Sima.

The captain of the Heyuan Guard Zhechong was Cheng Zhongzheng, a member of the Cheng family and Empress Wu, while Lou Shide was a member of the emperor.

"Wang Shilang transferred Shide to the front of the army and served under the tent." Lou Shide explained briefly.

"That's right." Li Xuan nodded and said: "Previously, Youtun Guard and Heyuan Guard were responsible for the operation of military rations. When Wang Shilang arrived in front of the army, he naturally had to take charge of everything to make the food route smoother. This is a good thing."

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your understanding." Lou Shide couldn't help but breathed a sigh of relief.

After all, he was the Sima of the Heyuan Guard. The Heyuan Guard obeyed the orders of the Governor of Changzhou. Wang Dezhen transferred him directly beyond the Governor's Office of Changzhou. Although Zhang Da'an, the governor of Changzhou, directly approved it, Lou Shide was still a little worried about Li Xuan.

But Li Xuan's mind is broad enough.

In addition, it is said that Wang Dezhen and the King of Nanchang have a good relationship, which seems to be true.

"Where is Queen Subi now?" Li Xuan stopped.

"In the front hall." Lou Shide stopped in surprise and said, "The minister is accompanying me."

Although Queen Subi has no rights, she is still the biggest symbol of the Tang Dynasty in Subi. Even Wang Dezhen and Li Xuan have to give her some face.

Li Xuan pondered for a moment and said: "I will go to the back hall first. You go and call the Minister Wang first. I will wait for him in the back hall. As for Queen Subi, let her wait for a while."

"Here!" Although Lou Shide didn't know what Li Xuan was planning, he still accepted the order.

She is just a Queen Subi, and she really means nothing in front of Li Xuan.

……

"Commander!" Wang Dezhen walked quickly into the back hall and saw Li Xuan who was writing a memorial behind the desk. He was a little surprised and then immediately handed over his hand.

Li Xuan nodded and said, "Uncle, sit down first, and Xuan will finish writing this memorial first."

Wang Dezhen walked to the side and sat down. In this moment, Li Xuan had already written the memorial.

Seeing Li Xuan stop writing, Wang Dezhen asked curiously: "Commander, did something happen in front of the army?"

"The Tubo people are too quiet." Li Xuan said with a sneer at the corner of her mouth: "I originally thought that they were a little quiet just because of their previous defeat, but who would have thought that after so many days, even Su Pi I sent condolences, but it seems they don’t want to attack anymore.”

"No more attacking?" Wang Dezhen asked in disbelief: "Don't they want to take back Gradandong Pass?"

"I'm afraid that just like what happened before at Lun Qinling, they blocked the city gate with a stone. This not only blocked our quick attack strategy, but also killed some people's luck." Li Xuan couldn't bear it. The resident felt funny, but then he said with a solemn expression: "It seems that they are well prepared for the next water attack."

"Do they know the water attack strategy?" Wang Dezhen couldn't help but stood up.

"Chaozhong guessed it, and it's not unusual for Qinling to guess it." Li Xuan sighed softly and said, "Now Xuan is worried that in addition to some familiar methods of dealing with water attacks, Qinling has other methods. It’s a strange move, so I want someone from the Ministry of War’s Staff Division to inquire about it.”

"Someone from the Ministry of War's Staff Division happens to be in Qamdo right now." Wang Dezhen breathed a sigh of relief.

In addition to generals like Li Xuan, Luoxue Marching General Manager's Mansion was naturally accompanied by Yuanwailang from the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Household Affairs, the Ministry of Industry, and the Ministry of Personnel.

There are only Yuanwailang. The doctor is already the backbone of various ministries and it is impossible to transfer him.

The people from the Ministry of War's Military Affairs Division were in Qamdo precisely because they had their own spies in Tubo.

However, due to the confrontation between the two armies in Tanggula Mountain, it was difficult to transmit the news. However, in the direction of Qamdo, someone was able to send the news to Qamdo through northeastern Tubo.

Li Xuan now wants to hire someone from the Ministry of War's Staff Division.

"Xuan had one or two people in Luoshou in the early years, and later it was handed over to the secret guards. However, it was actually operated by people from the Ministry of War's Staff Division." After a slight pause, Li Xuan said: "Last year, during the Qamdo event, Xuan buried some chess pieces in the battle, but now that they are of no use, she naturally wants to try other methods."

"Now that Tibet is quiet in Tanggula Mountain, it is natural that it has ulterior motives. If you want to investigate, it is best to start with logic. The commander is in the right direction." Wang Dezhen nodded.

"In addition, there is another thing, which is the inner chamber of Qamdo." Li Xuan glanced at the dry paper, looked at Wang Dezhen and said: "At this time, we are trying to detect the movements of Tubo, and Tubo is naturally trying to detect us. There are movements, so it’s time to investigate.”

"Commander, you mean Queen Subi's side?" Wang Dezhen looked solemn.

Li Xuan had previously sent someone to Tanggula Town to pretend to be herself and meet with the Queen of Qamdo.

This news accurately reached the hands of Lun Qinling.

Although it did not play a very direct role, it finally made Lun Qinling feel lucky.

Now Li Xuan wants to pull out this nail.

"After Qamdo was recaptured last year, although some of the Subi nobles fled to Tubo, a considerable number of them stayed. Many of these people became the guards of Queen Subi, and among these guards, there were Tubo secretaries." Li Xuan said softly: "They are no longer needed now, so..."

Wang Dezhen nodded slightly and asked, "How to do it?"

"Xuan is going to see Queen Subi later. After a good discussion, she also asked her uncle to disarm all the others and take them out in batches. The Qianniu Guards will review them before sending them back. If anyone resists, they will be killed directly." Li Xuan's eyes were extremely cold. Wang Dezhen looked at Li Xuan, with a hint of doubt in his eyes, and asked, "Does the commander have no evidence in his hand?"

"There is one person's evidence, but in order to avoid other idle moves, we might as well move people's hearts." Li Xuan guessed at Qin Ling with the greatest degree of sinisterness.

Because if he was the one doing the scheming, he would definitely have someone watching next to the original room.

Either surveillance, protection, or... silencing.

"I obey the order." Wang Dezhen stood up and held his hands solemnly.

"Okay, let's go meet that Queen Subi." Li Xuan stood up. At this moment, Wang Dezhen raised his hand and said, "There is one more thing."

Li Xuan stopped and looked at Wang Dezhen in surprise.

Wang Dezhen held up his hands and said: "The official reward document from the Central Government regarding the battle on Tanggula Mountain has arrived, but this time the reward will all be filled with the Changzhou Gold Mine's own mining."

Li Xuan was stunned: "That money will be used in the autumn and winter of this year. If Tubo clears its walls and clears the country, it will be used to buy grain and grass. How about..."

"There may be some problems with the grain and grass transportation in the court." Wang Dezhen said very directly, and even he himself said with some doubts: "Although the quantity of grain and grass sent to Maduo, Qamdo and Tanggula Mountains these days is not a problem, the time is not. It’s generally a few days late, but there’s no rain or fog in the northwest these days!”

"Xuan believes in uncle's sensitivity. I'm afraid something really went wrong." Li Xuan frowned slightly, but nodded. He believed in Wang Dezhen.

As the Minister of Household Affairs, Wang Dezhen is more sensitive than anyone else on these matters.

"But this matter essentially has nothing to do with logic. It is very likely that we have suffered a disaster." Li Xuan shook his head slightly, looking thoughtful as if he had thought of something.

"My nephew is right. If it had something to do with Luozhe Dao, then the problem would not be like this." Wang Dezhen nodded in agreement, and he also understood the mystery behind it.

After a moment of silence, Wang Dezhen added: "But no matter what, there will be problems after all, so we still have to prepare in advance."

Seeing Wang Dezhen looking over, Li Xuan shook his head slightly and said: "The military policy on the front line cannot be modified, even if the soldiers are starved, the military policy cannot be modified. If it is changed, it is very likely that the initiative will be lost and the outcome of the battlefield will be changed. , handed over to Lun Qinling."

"Then where can we get food and grass?" Wang Dezhen said with a solemn expression: "Once we are unable to enter the Tibetan territory during the autumn harvest, then food and grass will become our fatal enemy."

"After the autumn harvest, the Lunqin Mausoleum will be strong and clear." Li Xuan sighed softly and said, "It was not easy to find this key node, but I didn't expect that I would be held back by my own people."

Strengthening the walls and clearing the country was the most worrying way for the Tang emperors and ministers to deal with Tubo.

Once this happens, it means that the army's food supply in Luoche Road will all depend on the input of backup, and after entering Tubo, the food road will be greatly lengthened.

And there was only one grain road behind them in Tanggula Mountain, which could easily be cut off, so Li Xuan stopped advancing after taking the Gradandong Pass.

Firstly, because they have already occupied sufficient geographical advantages, secondly because they need to dam up water, and thirdly, they want to avoid irritating Lun Qinling too much, so that he cannot strengthen the wall and clear the country now.

Amdo is the last pass of the Tanggula Mountains. On the vast land south of Anduo, a large amount of grain is grown and a large number of cattle and sheep are grazed.

If we strengthen the walls and clear the country now, it will mean that Tubo will suffer infinite losses, especially since Li Xuan's army of Luoshedao has not yet threatened Amdo Pass.

As far as Qinling is concerned, we can't just fortify the walls in advance just because we are worried that Li Xuan will break through the barrier in a few months.

If that was the case, Li Xuan would admit it.

At least that way, in a few months, the Tubo people themselves would start a fight with Lun Qinling due to food problems, and Li Xuan would have a chance.

But the best time is after the autumn harvest, before the grain is put into storage.

The army broke through the checkpoints and snatched the food as military supplies. This was Li Xuan's real wishful thinking.

……

Wang Dezhen stood in the room and looked at Li Xuan, his face full of helplessness.

They were fighting like gods, but the fish in the pond was in trouble.

Nowadays, in the court, the only one who can keep the emperor silent and affect Luoxie Road's military supplies is the grassland.

On the grassland, Pei Xingjian was drinking and drinking in front of him, but someone was behind his back, trying to get his hands on the army rations.

This person can only be Pei Yan.

But Pei Yan's methods were so clever that even ordinary people couldn't tell that he was doing anything.

Looking at Luoche Road, Luoche Road's military rations are also tight, but it is only delayed for a few days and does not have much impact.

The grassland is vast, and it is normal for something to happen.

But Pei Yan's calculation could not be that simple. He and Pei Xingjian were competing for the future position of prime minister.

Li Xuan took a deep breath and her face became serious.

After a long time, he finally said: "Uncle, let's think of a way to see if we can get food from Shu so we don't have to go through Chang'an."

"That's all we can do now." Wang Dezhen looked helpless.

Li Xuan nodded and walked out of the room.

……

The moment she walked out of the room, Li Xuan's expression turned gloomy.

In this way, the exchanges between Shu and the army will be legitimate.

(End of this chapter)