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

Chapter 1296: Your Majesty is wise and hard-hearted

Spring in March, birds chirping and flowers fragrant.

In the Zichen Hall, Empress Wu was concentrating on reviewing the memorial.

At this moment, familiar footsteps sounded.

Empress Wu subconsciously looked up and saw that the emperor had walked in from the side door.

"Your Majesty." Just as Empress Wu was about to stand up, the Emperor had already waved his hand, walked to sit next to her, and then asked: "How is the situation in front of the Luoche army?"

"The King of Nanchang has reported the detailed army plan." Empress Wu took out a memorial and put it in front of Li Zhi. Li Zhi did not read it and said directly: "Meiniang, please tell me."

"Yes!" Empress Wu nodded and said solemnly: "Brünzanren and Lungongren's uncle and nephew of the Gar family have accepted the canonization from the imperial court, but because the King of Nanchang will not enter the army until April, they have not made it public. In this matter, he accepted the title of state minister from the Tubo royal family."

"So, the Prime Minister of Tubo became the Right Guard General of the Tang Dynasty." Li Zhi felt a little funny for a while.

"Yes." Empress Wu nodded, glanced at the memorial, and said, "If someone else was in front of the army, I might still worry about a fraud, but since the King of Nanchang is in front of the army, there is no need to worry too much about this."

"He has always been good at manipulating people's hearts. There is really no need to worry too much about this matter." Li Zhi nodded.

The more contact you have with Li Xuan, the more likely you are to be influenced by him.

The more you are exposed to, the greater the impact.

"The right guard and the right leading army guard Li Duozuo will lead a large army to attack Linzhi from north to south; the left guard Tang Zhenxing and Lun Gongrenhui will lead an army to attack Shigatse; the king of Nanchang will personally lead the right guard and the right leading army The guard, the left Xiaowei, the right Xiaowei and the right Wuwei with Brenzan blade are more aggressive." Empress Wu flipped out a map of Tubo.

Pointing around Luoche, Empress Wu said: "The King of Nanchang will wait until the spring planting in April is over and the Tubo reinforcements gather together with Luoche, and then with the Brenzan Blades, completely defeat them, then completely surround Luoche, and finally attack Luoche again." Let Brenzanren and Shi Jinan go south to the south of the mountain, and Hei Te Changzhi will lead his army eastward and gather at Linzhi."

"Navy troops are reinforcing everywhere?" Li Zhi's hand has already moved to various locations in the Nu River and Yaruzanbo River water systems.

"Yes!" Empress Wu nodded and said, "Through the navy, Wang Dezhen and Yang Zhirou can go to all directions to monitor."

"When did Heyuanwei enter Tubo?"

"In May, we will escort a batch of grain and grass into Tubo. They will not participate in frontal combat, but the siege will be more detailed. They need to alternate with the right guard, left Xiaowei, and right armed guard." Empress Wu shook her head slightly.

Even Empress Wu couldn't find any flaws in Li Xuan's precise layout.

Li Zhi understood this, nodded and said, "Then when will they start digging dams to store water?"

The emperor asked the most critical point in one sentence.

If you want to break the logic point, you have to look at the water attack in the end.

"Just defeat Luo Xu's peripheral army." Empress Wu looked at the map and said, "The specific steps need to be designed by Wei Hongji himself, and he is also very good at this."

"It's a pity. Wei Hongji should have been transferred back." The emperor sighed softly, put the memorial aside, and then said: "In winter, the King of Nanchang said there would be less snow and there might be a drought this year. Unexpectedly, it turned out to be true. It’s come true.”

Empress Wu nodded and said, "I have read what King Nanchang said, and there is indeed some truth in the rotation of Taoism."

"The Ministry of Works, the General Supervisor, the Water Supervisor, and the Ministry of Household Affairs have already taken action at the beginning of the year, but even so, I still feel that I am just a drop in the bucket." Li Zhi couldn't help but feel a little depressed.

"It is indeed not easy to conquer nature with man." Empress Wu said this, and Li Zhi couldn't help but laugh.

Sitting upright, Li Zhi waved his hand slightly and said: "Fortunately, the food last year was enough. If Luo Xuedao can capture Tubo this autumn, he will not need to provide more supplies to the imperial court, and may even be able to supply the imperial court."

"The matter of enshrining Zen still needs to be temporarily suspended." Empress Wu warned carefully.

"Let's stop it for the time being. No amount of preparations will be in vain until the Taoist army moves forward." Li Zhi took a breath and asked, "By the way, what is Donggong busy with recently?"

"With the spread of looms in Yangzhou and the investigation of hidden fields in Huaizhou, the East Palace is ready to take over the affairs in Pei Yan's hands." Empress Wu looked at Li Zhi with some emotion.

"Their hands and feet are really fast, and their vision is really accurate." Li Zhi couldn't help but nodded.

At this time of the year, the best thing for Donggong to do is to take over from Pei Yan to conduct the Yin Tian inventory.

Even Li Zhi can only fully support this.

"Pei Yan didn't plan to advance so fast this year, but after the Lantern Festival in the East Palace, he forced him to move quickly. In Xuzhou and Huaizhou, Pei Yan's methods were fast and heavy, and the East Palace even fully supported it." Empress Wu was full of joy for a while. It's admiration.

"With Pei Yan being the villain in front, they will naturally push as hard as they can, so that when they take over, there will be much less resistance."

Li Zhi waved his hand and said: "Let the East Palace do it freely. If there is a drought this year, if more fields can be cleared, more people can be helped."

Empress Wu nodded seriously. Dong Gong had indeed seized a good time to check the fields. There was a drought this year. Even the stupidest person would not stop Dong Gong from strongly intervening at this time.

Of course, the really stupid people will directly become the ghosts of the sword, and they will not even have the slightest chance to intervene.

"By the way, how is Taiping?" Li Zhi suddenly asked his daughter with concern.

"What else can we do? Gradually the family feud begins." Empress Wu smiled and said: "Since Xue Shao started to be on duty in the East Palace, even Taiping could only meet after he was off duty.

But usually, Taiping is very close to Princess Nanchang, and she has a good relationship with the head of Fuchang County. "

"Yeah!" The emperor nodded and said, "Wait until..."

"Good news, good news, good news..." Clear shouts rang out in Chang'an City in the distance, and then quickly reached the Danfeng Gate with the sound. A Qianniu Guard quickly rushed to the door of Zichen Palace and knelt directly into the palace: "...Your Majesty, the Queen of Heaven, the great victory of Dingxiang Road, the Turkic Ashina Fu Nianzhi sent Ashina Wenfu, and the noble and generals of all sizes. Dozens of people will be escorted to Chang'an in the near future. The military situation is showing success. I sincerely wish your Majesty a long life."

"Okay." Li Zhi immediately clenched his fists and said, "The Wenxi County Government Office is beautiful. Okay, let's go down and receive the reward."

"Here!" The Qianniu Guards officers did not hear the direct reward. Although they were a little disappointed, they still respectfully withdrew.

At this time, Li Zhi finally breathed a sigh of relief and said: "The Battle of the Grassland is finally over, and the hundreds of thousands of troops can finally withdraw."

Empress Wu nodded and said happily: "It's half a month earlier than expected. The military rations saved in this way can be used as rewards for the soldiers."

"Let's withdraw the troops first." Li Zhi looked to the side and said, "Instruct the Ministry of War to immediately formulate a withdrawal strategy and try to maintain the situation on the grassland while withdrawing the troops as much as possible."

"Here!" One of the housekeepers had already stood up and handed over his hands, and then left quickly.

"Inform the officials, unite with the Ministry of War, and sort out the war merits and deeds of everyone on Dingxiang Road. Everyone must be accurate." Just after Li Zhi finished speaking, another one stood up, handed over his hands, and left quickly.

"Pass an order to order Wenxi County Duke Pei Xingjian to escort Ashina Funian and Ashina Wenfu to Zhaoling to offer sacrifices to the late emperor, and then escort them to the Ancestral Temple to offer sacrifices to their ancestors." Li Zhi's order came again, and another person Toneri stood up, handed over his hands, and left quickly.

"The edict was sent to Zhongshu Province, the edict was drafted, and Pei Xingjian, the Duke of Wenxi County, was made the Duke of Jiangguo; the edict was drafted, and Hao Chujun was promoted to the official position of Shangshu Youpushe; the edict was drafted, and Li Jingxuan, the Duke of Zhao, was promoted to Shangshu Youpushe; the edict was drafted, and he was promoted to Pengcheng County Duke Liu Shenli was appointed as Zhongshu Ling; he drafted the imperial edict and promoted Pei Xingjian, Minister of War, to serve as Zhongshu Ling." Li Zhi spoke a series of words directly and continuously.

Behind the curtain, the last person on duty stood up, handed over his hands and left quickly.

"Pass the message." Empress Wu spoke at this time. Qiu Huan, the chamberlain's eunuch, stood up and handed over his hands. Empress Wu said: "Summon Pei Yan, the Minister of Punishment, back to the capital."

"Work hard!" Qiu Huan bowed and left quickly.

Li Zhi looked at the clear sky outside the palace with a calm expression, and said softly: "Everything left now depends on how Pei Yan and Pei Xingjian fight. I just hope that the loser will have no resentment in his heart."

Empress Wu patted Li Zhi's arm comfortingly.

She knew that the emperor had actually prepared generous rewards for everyone, but not everyone had the chance to receive the rewards, especially Pei Xingjian.

Although Pei Yan has many opportunities, if he makes a mistake, there will be no one to help him. At that time, he will have to be the Minister of the Ministry of Justice for another ten years.

Maybe he couldn't even keep the Minister of Punishment.

But the final result has something to do with the emperor and themselves.

……

Prince Peng's Mansion, beside the flower pond in the backyard, the bamboo forest is green and the yellow chrysanthemums are fragrant.

Liu Jinyu hugged Zhao'er and sat on the short couch, looking down at a secret report. Xia'er stood in front of the desk beside her, writing seriously.

Li Bi quickly walked in from the door, walked up to Liu Jinyu, cupped his hands and said: "Princess, Her Royal Highness just sent someone to deliver a message. She will not come today. She and the consort went to Dongshan for a spring outing."

"Well, it's okay if you don't come, just to avoid the chaos in the court." Liu Jinyu sighed softly and looked at the secret report in his hand.

The secret report clearly stated: "Pei Yan, the Minister of the Ministry of Justice, reported to Pei Xingjian, the Minister of the Ministry of War, that the military report was wrong. Ashina Funian did not surrender on his own initiative, but because of the pressure of deputy generals Zhang Qianxu and Cheng Wuting. At the same time, Huihe, Xue Yantuo and other tribes came from Mobei. If you advance southward and surrender only when you are desperate, you should not reward the surrendered ministers, but punish the guilty ministers."

"Your Majesty asked Zhang Qianxu and Cheng Wuting what happened. They both said that what Pei Shangshu said was true." Liu Jinyu looked up at Li Bi and asked, "What do you think?"

Li Bi cautiously raised his hands and said: "Reporting to the princess, although it seems that he is questioning the court's handling of Ashina Funian and others, it is actually questioning the military merits of Wenxi County Duke, a valuable If there is doubt, then there is doubt in everything.”

"So who is right and who is wrong in this matter, and how will Your Majesty decide?" Liu Jinyu continued to ask.

"According to the court newspaper, Ashina Funian did surrender because he was besieged. Although Duke Wenxi allowed him to surrender for the sake of the overall situation, he did not change the fundamentals. At most, he would not be beheaded when he was found guilty."

"But what if it's beheaded?"

Li Bi suddenly fell silent, cupped his hands and said, "I'm afraid it will hurt people's hearts."

Liu Jinyu sighed softly and said: "But His Majesty has already issued a decree to Zhongshu Province and is going to make the Duke of Wenxi County the Duke of Jiang and serve on the Central Government. After all, Your Majesty will recognize the merits of the Duke of Wenxi County."

Li Bi shook his head and said bitterly: "The public of Wenxi County may not accept it."

"Then what?" Liu Jinyu looked at Li Bi calmly and said, "Your Majesty has given you a gift, so why don't you accept it? If he doesn't accept it, what will happen to the more soldiers below?"

Li Bi cupped his hands, lowered his head and said, "Given the temperament of the Duke of Wenxi County, he might thank you behind closed doors and say he is sick instead of going to court."

Liu Jinyu nodded lightly. She and Li Xuan had the same conclusion. If this was true, then Pei Xingjian would be dead.

The emperor would be dissatisfied with him.

But Pei Xingjian succeeded in the end, and his fate depended on the backup plan left by her husband.

　Historical records record: Because of Pei Yan's memorial, Ashina Funian was finally sentenced to death.

　　After learning the news of Ashina Funian's execution, Pei Xingjian said sadly: "Kill those who surrender, I'm afraid no one will surrender in the future!"

　　From then on, Pei Xingjian stopped going out on the pretext of illness.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)