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

Chapter 882: If you don’t cure Wuhai, you’ll trap the Murong family.
In the Zichen Palace, Li Zhi gradually calmed down the joy on his face.

The ministers in the palace also calmed down at this time and were solemnly on standby.

Li Zhi looked solemnly at every minister in the palace, and said in a deep voice: "Although Tubo Zanpu is dead, no official news has been received, and the ministers are not allowed to spread it; especially in front of the army, if the army acts in a relaxed manner, , resulting in a huge defeat, I will never tolerate lenient treatment."

"I obey the order." Everyone present raised their hands at the same time and accepted the order solemnly.

What the emperor said was by no means a trivial matter.

Now that they know the secret that the Tubo people least want them to know, they will have a huge advantage whether strategically or tactically.

Once the Tubo people know that they know about the death of Tubo Zampu, their advantages will quickly dissipate, and they may even be reversed by others.

Seeing that the ministers had calmed down, Li Zhi said calmly: "After Mangsong Mangzan died, the situation in Tubo changed dramatically. First of all, it was in front of the army. Qinling must return to Luozou. Then, what should we do in front of the army? All my dear friends, please tell me what to do."

What happens in front of the army is nothing more than two words: advance and retreat.

Zhongshu ordered Hao Chujun, Zhongshu Zhang Wenguan, and Shangshu's right servant shot Dai Zhide. The three big officials in the court were all silent for a while.

Gao Kan, the assistant minister of the military department of the inspection school, stood up first, looked at Li Zhi, raised his hands and said: "Your Majesty, in terms of the art of war, capture the thief and capture the king. Now when it comes to returning to Luoche from Qinling, although it is not the same as being captured, the Tubo army is leaderless. It is a fact. I believe that we should choose the opportunity to attack Wuhai and gain a firm foothold on the Tubo Plateau."

"Pingyuan County Duke," Wu Chengsi stood up. He first bowed his hands to the emperor and Empress Wu, and then looked at Gao Kan and said: "The army has not moved, and the food and grass go first. Gao Gong is in the military department. How is the transfer of military food? Gao Kan The public knows it well.

The current situation is that once the army takes over Wuhai, it will inevitably waste military supplies.Winter is approaching, what's the use of occupying a city that will no longer be defended. "

"Occupying Wuhai is just the first step. After that, we will naturally continue to move forward, attack other places in Tubo, and establish a solid base on the plateau. In this way, in the coming year, the plateau miasma will have less and less impact on our army, and we will have a chance. Win on the plateau." Gao Kan put forward an irrefutable reason: plateau miasma.

Today, plateau miasma occurs frequently on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Even Li Xuan could only help the soldiers recover as quickly as possible after they got sick, but he could not completely solve the altitude sickness, let alone prevent the occurrence of altitude sickness.

This is the effect of plateau pressure on human organs that people from the plains must experience after coming to the plateau. No one can avoid it.

Only those with stronger bodies can resist more, while those with weaker bodies have lower resistance.

"If the war starts next year, we will still be under the Tubo Plateau. Not to mention whether Qinling will fight with us under the plateau. Even if the war starts, we will win. Next, we will still have to fight Plateau, the plateau miasma will still come next year. When Qinling returns, how can we win?" Gao Kan said one sentence, leaving everyone speechless.

Li Zhi's face darkened. It was inevitable to hit the plateau. Li Zhi had always been looking at Luo Zhi.

Although Qin Ling is not a veteran in war, he understands people's hearts well enough.

With him on the Tubo front line, the Tubo army was like a monolith, with no gaps to be found.

"He Jian?" Li Zhi looked at He Jian, the general of Zuo Qianniu Guards.

He Wei immediately took a step forward, cupped his hands and said: "Your Majesty, I feel that Lord Pingyuan County is justified. If we want to completely establish a foothold in Tuyuhun, Wuhai must be captured, and the best time to capture Wuhai is now. "

Li Zhi nodded seriously and did not express his position. Instead, he continued to look at Yuan Wanqing: "Yuan Qing!"

Yuan Wanqing took a step forward, cupped his hands and said: "Your Majesty, this year there is a drought that has spread to Shandong and the grain harvest is poor. The military rations on the front line have been supported by previous years' reserves. Next year's war should be supported by this year's income, but this year's income is insufficient. , next year we have to rely on the reserves from previous years; if there is another disaster next year, the food reserves from previous years will not be able to sustain it. If a war breaks out this winter and fails again, Your Majesty, there will be no next year."

Everyone present couldn't help but lower their heads at the same time, looking ugly.

What Yuan Wanqing said is indeed the biggest problem, as well as the biggest restriction and hidden danger.

Li Xuan's expression was solemn. It was not easy for the North Gate bachelor to become an important pillar for Empress Wu to gain power in the three central provinces. Her eyes were very serious.

"Hao Xiang?" Li Zhi turned to look at Zhongshu Ling Hao Chujun.

Hao Chujun raised his hands and said, "Your Majesty, Tubo Zampu is dead. In any case, Tubo will not be a threat to the Tang Dynasty for a long time in the future. I believe that appropriate actions can be taken this winter. As for next year, it remains to be seen. Next year, at least Datang will be able to support it next year."

As soon as Hao Chujun spoke, Li Zhi couldn't help but frown.

Hao Chujun's words sounded nice, but everyone present could hear clearly. What he said was that the Tang Dynasty's current food reserves could only support the war for one year.

Hao Chujun also made it very clear that if Datang wanted to do something, it would be best in this year.

"Prime Minister Zhang." Li Zhi turned to look at Zhang Wenguan.

Zhang Wenguan handed over his hand: "Your Majesty, the grain harvest is poor this year, and grain prices have generally risen in all states. Fortunately, the salt price has come down, so there won't be much of a problem for the time being. But if the salt price drops again, there will be a bottom line. If the grain price is not controlled, I'm afraid There will be an increase that exceeds the room for salt price reduction..."

"Why is Prime Minister Zhang concerned about the household affairs?" Li Zhi shook his head helplessly, and then looked at Dai Zhide: "Prime Minister Dai."

"Your Majesty." Dai Zhide took a deep breath, stepped forward, and said, "Whether we can fight and how to fight depends on the actual situation on the front line."

Li Xuan behind him suddenly felt a toothache. Dai Zhide was really an old fox.

Sure enough, Li Zhi had already spoken: "King of Nanchang!"

"I'm here!" Li Xuan stepped forward and held his hands solemnly. "Tell me, what's the situation on the front line now?" Li Zhi leaned back slightly and looked at Li Xuan with a half-smile.

In an instant, the eyes of everyone present fell on Li Xuan.

The reason why the emperor transferred Li Xuan from the front line back to Chang'an was for the present. He is the person who knows the battle situation on the front line best.

"Here!" Li Xuan cupped his hands, looked at everyone, and said seriously: "Now the army is in Qinghai, with the main force divided into three parts. On the eastern front, the left guard will lead the army and the Turks will attack Xinghai County on the east line of Tibet from both sides; in the middle, the main force of the left guard will be garrison at Dafeiling, assisted by the main force of [-] right Xiaowei; in the west, left Xiaowei and right Bao Taowei garrison troops to ambush Qicheng."

After a slight pause, Li Xuan continued: "Youwei, Youtunwei, is responsible for transporting grain and grass, and at the same time building Qugou New City."

"Qugou." Li Zhi nodded and said, "You said that whether to establish a new state in Qugou depends on whether we can win Xinghai. So can we win Xinghai this year?"

"It's difficult." Li Xuan earnestly handed over his hand and said: "Tubo has accumulated [-] main troops and [-] Tuyuhun soldiers on the eastern front. The mountainous terrain in the east is undulating, and the cavalry in the western plains are crisscrossed. Even the Turks are not willing to go deep. Too many, and the left back has to pay attention to Dafeichuan, making it difficult to make progress."

"I understand what you mean. If you can't defeat Xinghai, don't plot against Wuhai." Li Zhi's face was slightly gloomy, a little unhappy.

Xinghai and the left and right sides of Fuqi City can threaten the Tang Dynasty side at the same time. Li Xuan of Fuqi City has solved it, but there is still Xinghai.

"It's not completely impossible." Li Xuan shook her head calmly.

Li Zhi's eyes lit up and he asked curiously: "What can I do?"

Suddenly, everyone's eyes fell on Li Xuan.

"Your Majesty, it is difficult to launch the front line in Dafeichuan and Xinghai at the same time, simply because Wuhai and Xinghai can attack in two directions at the same time and support each other; but as long as Wuhai and Xinghai are completely blocked, then the army can use all its strength Target all the way." Li Xuan looked solemn.

"Where?" Li Zhi couldn't help but asked.

"Wuhai." Li Xuan took a deep breath and said seriously: "Your Majesty, Wuhai is dangerous and far away. The same is true for the Tang Dynasty and the same is true for Tibet.

Since Mangsong Mangzan died, the return of Lun Qin Ling has become inevitable. If we can pave the road with water on the Wuhai Mountain Road after Lun Qin Ling returns, the weather will be cold in winter and it will inevitably freeze. From the top of Maji Snow Mountain The [-]-mile narrow mountain road to the mountains is paved with ice, and the Tubo road down the mountain is blocked. "

There is another road in Xinghai, but it is a long way round and the mountain road is more difficult.

Therefore, it would be difficult to pave the icy mountain road in Maji Snow Mountain between Wuhai and Dafeichuan in the north for the Tubo cavalry to go north.

"This... I'm afraid this will cost a lot of manpower." Wu Chengsi looked at Li Xuan with an ugly expression. He had a feeling that Li Xuan's strategy was very feasible.

"Not only that, fighting in winter is difficult. If we do this, I'm afraid the forwards will have to fight to the bottom of Wuhai City. How to deal with the food, grass, and plateau miasma." Yuan Wanqing turned around and looked at Li Xuan seriously.

Above, Empress Wu also looked at Li Xuan solemnly.

"Our government has no plans to control Wuhai. The food and grass problem is actually not difficult to solve. As for the plateau miasma, we can just use the right Xiaowei Tuyuhun soldiers. Since it is not a war, it should not be difficult to get water from the river." Li Xuan calmly raised his head and looked towards Yuan Wanqing said: "Anyway, once Qin Ling is gone, the Tubo people will definitely focus on defending it. They would like us to fight under the Wuhai Sea, so why not."

"It is indeed feasible to use only the Tuyuhun soldiers of the Right Xiaowei without increasing the amount of food and fodder." Empress Wu took a deep look at Li Xuan, and she agreed with a rare comment: "The soldiers of the Tuyuhun of the Right Xiaowei guard Dafeichuan on the ice road. It is indeed feasible for the left guard to turn around and attack Xinghai from the east, attacking from three sides."

"The Empress is wise!" Li Xuan immediately handed over his hand. It was obvious that Empress Wu understood the true meaning of Li Xuan's words and decided not to cure Wu Hai.

"It works!" Hao Chujun suddenly said, nodding in agreement.

"It's feasible!" Zhang Wenguan, Dai Zhide, and Gao Kan nodded in agreement at the same time.
Wu Chengsi was slightly stunned. He turned sideways and looked to his side. Yuan Wanqing and Fan Lubing nodded in agreement one after another.

"Okay, that's it." Li Zhi nodded and said: "Qingdong and Qingnan have been decided like this, then the next step is Tuyuhun in Qingxi. The King of Nanchang suggested that Murong go west. The day before yesterday, Murong Nuohebo had already replied. , it’s feasible, but it requires the court’s grain and grass support, King Nanchang, what do you say?”

"You can provide one month of food and grass first. If they can join the Ganliang Dao army after one month, they will provide the rest. If they cannot take it, or delay it deliberately, then they will take Fuqi City as a crime of deceiving the emperor." Li Xuan said There was a hint of cruelty in his expression.

Tuyuhun planned to provide food and salary support from the Tang Dynasty, but Li Quexuan had already set his sights on Fuqi City.

The Tang Dynasty did not have a proper excuse to annex Fuqi City, but now that Murong Nuohebo had given him an excuse, they were no longer welcome.

"If they really do it..."

"Then the food and grass for the Ganliang Dao army can be transported by two routes, and the food and grass for the Tuyuhun army can also be transported from Ganliang Road." Li Xuan solemnly handed over.

"If we can capture the Qingxi Basin, our court will be able to obtain more things and transport them back to the court to stabilize food prices." Empress Wu turned to look at Li Zhi. With Li Xuan's strategy, they would not lose money no matter what. .

Empress Wu smiled softly and said: "Anyway, there won't be much trouble with the army before winter. If it doesn't work, just use Tuyuhun to train the army."

"The Queen of Heaven is wise!" All the ministers present raised their hands at the same time.

Empress Wu, who has always been shrewd in calculations, said this, and the ministers present were even more meaningless.

"Okay, let's do it like this." Li Zhi nodded, and then said solemnly: "Next, it's a matter of logic..."

(End of this chapter)