The Great Tang General

Prince Yehu asked for an audience again and was approved by Li Xuan.

Li Xuan is currently discussing important military and political matters with the prime ministers in the Council of State.

Most of the work on rectifying the Taoist and Buddhist customs has been completed.

During this period, the imperial court banned the construction of new temples and Taoist temples, and the casting of Buddhist and Taoist statues.

Li Xuan treated everyone equally and even attacked Taoism, the state religion.

Since Taoism was the state religion, there were many "pseudo Taoists" throughout the Tang Dynasty, and "female priests" were one of them.

They took the imperial gifts for nothing and indulged in pleasure.

I have long forgotten the "Taoist Scriptures".

Moreover, Buddhism and Taoism encourage common people to be weak, which is very inconsistent with Li Xuan's pioneering spirit.

This era was an era of great strife started by Li Xuan. The people had to be self-reliant and could travel thousands of miles at the command of Li Xuan.

Rather than seeking Buddha or Tao.

Therefore, except for a few official Taoist temples in Chang'an and Luoyang, thousands of Taoist temples in the local areas have stopped granting clothing.

The land was distributed according to the number of people, and like the monks, everyone was self-reliant.

In the past, Wu Zetian protected monks and Li Longji protected Taoists, which led to the monks and Taoists committing evil deeds and annexing land.

The trend that is set by the top leaders is enough to destroy the foundation of a country.

Therefore, after clearing out Taoism and Buddhism, the country was able to release more than 560,000 "unregistered farmers".

The total population is over 2.88 million, distributed in counties and prefectures throughout the country.

More than 113,000 Taoists and monks were ordered to return to secular life or voluntarily returned to secular life.

It was ten times the crackdown on monks returning to secular life in the early Kaiyuan period.

The country has 32 million acres of newly registered arable land.

The imperial court will once again add a huge amount of tax revenue.

At the same time, Datang also made some personnel changes.

Taking advantage of the fact that the reform of the official system had not yet begun, Li Xuan ordered Fanyang Prefect Li Mi to end his term in June this year and serve as Vice Minister of the Ministry of War.

There were two assistant ministers of the Ministry of War. In addition to Zhang Xing, the original Cen Shen was appointed as the Grand Protector of Anxi, so the position remained vacant.

The position of Vice Minister is the foundation for becoming Prime Minister.

During the three or four years in Fan Yang, Li Mi reorganized government affairs, restored the safety of the common people, and pacified the Hu tribe, which enabled Fan Yang to overcome the decline caused by An Lushan's rebellion and become stable.

During the conquests of the Bohai Kingdom, the Heishui Mohe, and the Shiwei, the Hebei areas headed by Li Mi played a key role in the transportation of food and supplies.

Apart from being a Taoist priest, which caused complaints from many ministers, there was nothing to criticize about Li Mi in other aspects.

A pure Taoist priest who does not eat meat or have contact with women.

In history, Li Mi was forced to marry and have children, and his situation was similar to that of Kumarajiva.

When he was an official, it was even less likely that Li Mi would engage in corruption and bribery.

No one can criticize his political achievements.

Moreover, people all knew that Li Mi had followed Li Xuan in the fourth year of Tianbao and made suggestions for Li Xuan. He was a meritorious official who helped Li Xuan to "set things right".

After Li Mi left office, Li Xuan promoted Guan Bo, the Chief Clerk of Fanyang, to be the new prefect of Fanyang and continue Li Mi's policies in Fanyang.

"Now the nine ranks and eighteen grades of civil officials are about to be promulgated. I think military generals are not suitable for the civil official system. The military is an extension of politics. Throughout history, there are many cases of military generals ruining the country. Although it sounds good to be a general or a prime minister, the disaster it brings needs to be borne by the people of the world. We must do our utmost to prevent military generals from interfering in politics in the future, which can better reflect the identity of military generals and make the soldiers of the Tang Dynasty more pure."

"The reform of the Ministry of War is only the first step, and the establishment of the Tiance Mansion is the second step. The Ministry of War will be responsible for recruiting soldiers, training new soldiers, paying military salaries, and providing pensions. The Tiance Mansion will execute orders on conquest, logistics, and military armor. The army will escort the country's development and the stability of the people."

"The final step is to abolish the ranks of military officers and medals. All military ranks will be adopted, with military ranks used to indicate status. The composition of the army will be simpler."

"Ten men form a squad, with a squad leader; five squads form a team, with a captain, deputy captain, bugler, flag bearer, etc.; five teams form a battalion, with the battalion commander as the leader; four battalions form a regiment, with the regiment leader as the leader. Three to five regiments form an army, with the army commander as the leader. A governor's office is composed of several army commanders, which is a military officer position."

"In addition to being an official, he also has a title."

"From the lowest to the highest, they are divided into recruits, privates, privates, corporals, sergeants, staff sergeants, second lieutenants, lieutenants, captains, majors, lieutenant colonels, senior colonels, major generals, lieutenant generals, generals, generals, and marshals. They are decorated like Tibetan official documents and worn on their shoulders, which makes them clear at a glance."

"For example, a second lieutenant enjoys the treatment of an official of the ninth rank... a major enjoys the treatment of an official of the seventh rank... a senior colonel enjoys the treatment of an official of the fifth rank; a major general enjoys the treatment of an official of the third rank; a lieutenant general enjoys the treatment of an official of the second rank; a general enjoys the treatment of an official of the second rank; a great general enjoys the treatment of an official of the first rank; a marshal enjoys the treatment of an official of the first rank..."

It was already the fourth year of Qianyuan, and Li Xuan slowly told the prime ministers about the final step of the military reform.

As early as the Tianbao period, when Li Xuan was the governor of Longyou, he had the idea of ​​issuing military ranks.

Tubo relied on the system of official certificates to ensure that ordinary warriors knew the status of Tubo generals at a glance. When the army was scattered and divided, they had to obey the person with the highest official certificate.

The military rank system is the final upgraded version of the Tubo official system.

It clarifies the relationship between superiors and subordinates, has the benefit of enhancing officers' sense of responsibility and honor, and promoting command and management at critical moments.

Now that the reform is being completed step by step and the process of eliminating inferiority and moving towards goodness is becoming stable, the time is ripe.

Clarify the military system so that soldiers can accept the military rank system and separate civil and military officials.

Li Xuan did not completely block the path to becoming a prime minister through military merit.

The Minister of War is an opportunity to become a prime minister based on military merit.

"Your Majesty, the new military system has been revised, and the rank of generals who are being promoted for the first time is even more critical."

After everyone read the military rank system plan and thought and discussed it for a while, Shangshu Zuo Pushe Pei Zunqing expressed his thoughts.

When reorganizing the official system with nine ranks and eighteen levels, Li Xuan prohibited the classification of ranks for the governor-general, deputy governor-general, chief secretary of the governor's office, general, lieutenant general, and yamen general.

At that time, the prime ministers knew that the Supreme had other ideas in mind.

In fact, the generals were also very anxious.

The nine grades and eighteen levels are already known to everyone, and all that remains is to be implemented.

However, the nine ministers became officials of the first rank, and the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard also became an official of the first rank.

Even the assistant minister made a big leap and became the second rank.

If the governor is only a third-rank official, he will be suppressed by the civil officials.

In the past, the third rank was an absolute high position with high salary.

But there is no harm without comparison. If the gap between military generals and civil officials is too great, they will inevitably have other thoughts in their minds.

"I have considered that the governor-general should at least be given the rank of general. For example, Nan Jiyun, Wang Nande, Duan Xiushi, Li Zhushi, Li Guangbi, Guo Ziyi, Li Siye, Che Shensai, and Lai Zhen will be given the rank of general. The deputy governor-general will be given the rank of lieutenant general or major general."

"In addition, the military officials such as the assistant minister and minister of the Ministry of War were given the additional title of general."

Li Xuan understood Pei Zunqing's concerns.

In fact, in Li Xuan's mind, the governor of the Governor's Office could be just a major general or a lieutenant general.

But considering that it was the "merit of following the dragon" and that he had gone through the baptism of "getting rid of lowliness and becoming good".

The overall military rank of the first generation is higher than that of future generations, which is reasonable.

Moreover, some of the governors are very old. For example, Zhang Shouyu, an old subordinate of Li Xuan during the Longyou period, asked Li Xuan for his remains in February this year due to his old age, and planned to return to Luoyang to spend his remaining years.

Zhang Shouyu is already sixty-five years old. He has spent his whole life in military service and is no longer the same as he used to be.

However, Li Xuan still decided to let Zhang Shouyu work until next spring, just in time for him to retire when the rotation of the Governor's Office and his promotion to the Tian Ce Mansion was confirmed.

Next year, Tiance Mansion will officially start operating.

"Your Majesty is wise. We will fully support Your Majesty in changing the military system."

When the prime ministers saw that the Supreme Emperor promoted the ranks of the governors, they felt relieved.

Generally speaking, the governors were promoted and enjoyed better treatment.

Ordinary soldiers in the army will also have their ranks upgraded.

All the ministers present were far-sighted and could see the benefits that the military rank system brought to the army.

"Your Majesty, Crown Prince Yehu is waiting outside the government hall."

At this moment, Wei Yingwu reported to Li Xuan.

"My lords, please study the military reform carefully. Do not disperse. After I meet with Crown Prince Yehu, I may have something to discuss with you."

Li Xuan stood up and gave instructions to Li Xian, Pei Zunqing and others, then went to the imperial study in the Council of State Affairs Hall.

Let Wei Yingwu bring Prince Yehu to the imperial study.

"Greetings to the Khan, thank you for taking the time to summon me during your busy schedule."

As soon as Prince Yehu entered the palace, he bowed to Li Xuan.

"No need to be polite. Why are you here, Ye Hu?"

Li Xuan asked Prince Yehu.

The weak and powerless Prince Yehu in Chang'an was completely dominated by him.

"Yidijian disobeyed the order of Tian Khan and acted in a perverse way. I beg Tian Khan to send troops to attack Yidijian." Prince Yehu did not stand up and explained to Li Xuan the purpose of his visit.

"Ye Hu, military affairs are of great importance, how can we speak lightly? Every time we send troops, civilians lose their families, and the country spends billions of dollars. Besides, the Yidijian movement is also legitimate, how can the Tang Dynasty attack without any reason?"

Seeing that Prince Yehu was still not giving up, Li Xuan's face darkened.

"I do not care about the position of Great Khan. If the Tang soldiers use their lives to punish Yidijian, I support Tian Khan in establishing a Protectorate on the grassland to compensate for the Tang's losses. I only hope to bring my wife and children trapped in Shanyu City to Chang'an."

Prince Yehu no longer had any illusions and spoke with tears in his eyes.

After hearing what the Jinyiwei, who pretended to be a Uighur merchant, said, he believed that his wife and children were in dire straits in Shanyu City.

He has nothing now, and can only hope to use his identity and the power of the Tang Dynasty to avenge himself.

Jinyiwei's analysis was correct. After all, Yidijian had disobeyed Tian Khan, so how could Tian Khan not care at all?
"What name should I use?"

Li Xuan looked excited yet hesitant.

"Tian Khan can deny the so-called will. In my name, I will attack Yidijian and I will surely get some tribes to respond. After I capture the Shanyu City, I will lay down my arms in Chang'an."

Prince Yehu replied to Li Xuan.

The Imperial Guards told Prince Yehu how to "bribe" the Tang Dynasty.

With four governors asking for permission to conquer the grassland, Tian Khan must have been shaken.

Prince Yehu never thought that things would come to this.

He was born on the grassland and once became the Great Khan, but he advocated that the Heavenly Khan annex the grassland.

With the establishment of a new Grand Protectorate, the grasslands may become part of the Han Dynasty.

Maybe that's not a bad thing.

After all, the Xiongnu and Xianbei had long since merged with the Han people.

The end of the Uighur people will also be eternal.

"That's fine!"

"I was reluctant to use military force to fight at a time of great change. But I thought of the difficulties faced by Yehu, and the constant reports from the governors. I will now agree to Yehu's request, lead my troops to Shanyu City, and bring the rebellious Yidijian to Chang'an to be punished."

Li Xuan slammed the table and made this decision with difficulty.

"I thank God Khan."

"No one dares to disobey the might of the Heavenly Army."

Prince Yehu kowtowed to Li Xuan again with an excited look on his face.

He believed that it was his perseverance that moved the Khan and made him send troops to the grassland.

He prayed that his wife and children would be safe when the heavenly army arrived at Chanyu City.

After exchanging a few pleasantries with Crown Prince Yehu, Li Xuan asked him to leave.

Li Xuan promised Prince Yehu that he would protect his wife and children as much as possible.

And prepare to send troops next spring.

"My lords, just now, Crown Prince Yehu asked me to conquer Yidijian again. After the Shanyu City is destroyed, Crown Prince Yehu is willing to surrender himself and become a minister, and cooperate with the Tang Dynasty to establish a Protectorate on the Great Prairie."

Li Xuan returned to the Council of State and spoke to the five prime ministers.

"To your Excellency, the most beneficial way for the Tang Dynasty is to accept the tribute from Yidijian, so that the Huihe will pay homage as scheduled, and the Tang Dynasty can obtain horses and finances continuously. There are already eight protectorates, absorbing the grain and silk finances of the Central Plains. If we establish a protectorate in the prairie, it may be difficult to control."

Pei Zunqing advised Li Xuan.

The national strength of the Tang Dynasty is rising steadily. The Uighurs dare not provoke them easily, so there is no need to mobilize an army to attack them.

The three protectorates in the northeast have just been established, and the Snowland Protectorate and Yunnan Protectorate need to invest population.

Pei Zunqing was not worried about the conquest being unsuccessful, but was worried that it would be difficult to control the grassland and would damage the vitality of the Tang Dynasty.

"I understand Zuo Pushe's idea. This is the benefit of establishing a Protectorate. The Protectorate will manage the grassland tribes, replace the original Uighur royal court, and collect taxes. Maybe there will be losses at first, but after getting on the right track, the Tang Dynasty will definitely be able to make a profit on the grassland. Developing industry and commerce, the grassland is one of the most important treasures for the Tang Dynasty. My lords, please believe me, when the Central Plains and the grassland are combined into one, it will be the real Chinese Empire. The peak of our history will be the founding of our Tang Dynasty..."

Li Xuan didn't know how to explain to the prime ministers, so he could only reason with them and appeal to their emotions.

He knew that people like Li Xian, Liu Yan and Yan Zhenqing would definitely support him in destroying the Uighurs.

The harm that grasslands have caused to the Central Plains is obvious to all.

Pei Zunqing and Yang Wan were not unwilling to destroy the Huihe, but they believed that the Huihe would be of benefit to the Tang Dynasty for the time being. They could wait until the Tang Dynasty completed its reforms and became as stable as Mount Tai before separating and dismembering the Huihe alliance.

Li Xuan's vision sees into the future for more than a thousand years.

First, it was wishful thinking for the Tang Dynasty to control an unprecedented territory relying on agricultural civilization.

Even if he conquered the Mediterranean.

The day he died was the day the empire collapsed.

Only industrial and commercial reforms, bringing advanced technology and roads, can maintain the vast territory.

As the north is closest to the Central Plains, it is of paramount importance.

In addition to pastures, the area north of Lake Baikal, known as the bitter cold land, has most of the world's non-ferrous metals and energy.

On the Siberian plains there is an almost inexhaustible supply of wood.

During his lifetime, Li Xuan would definitely use boundary markers to circle Siberia and leave it to future generations.

To achieve this long-cherished wish, the most important thing is to take control of the former Xiongnu territory within ten to twenty years and make the various Hu tribes return to the Tang Dynasty.

"The Huihe have been sending horses to the Tang Dynasty every year. There are only a few military governors in the border areas, which can fight against the Huihe. If we can destroy the Huihe like autumn wind sweeping away fallen leaves, without changing the foundation of the Tang Dynasty, and continue the internal reform, it will be a good strategy."

Chief Prime Minister Li Xian came to smooth things over.

He had seen the foresight of the Supreme.

After a little thought, he felt that this was the best time to use Prince Yehu to conquer the Uighurs.

The Uighurs were destroyed.

There are no more big countries around the Tang Dynasty, so it can focus on developing "industry and commerce".

To this day, Li Xian has a strong interest in business and industry.

He also saw the benefits of business.

"To your majesty, Yidijian's disobedience to the Khan's order and Moyanchuo's suicide note show the hostility of the Huihe people towards the Tang Dynasty. This world can only have the Celestial Empire."

Yan Zhenqing and Li Xian had the same idea.

"I second the motion. When Your Majesty was suppressing An Lushan's rebellion, Mo Yanchuo gathered all the tribes at Yu Dujun Mountain and tried to take advantage of the situation. Fortunately, Your Majesty used a strategy to repel him. Now the Tang Dynasty is in great shape, with abundant warehouses, and the soldiers are eager to fight. We can use the excuse of Crown Prince Yehu to wipe out the Huihe. We can expand the territory to the North Sea and make the grassland a pasture for the Tang Dynasty."

Liu Yan also agreed.

The North Sea he mentioned was "Lake Baikal". Many literati in the Tang Dynasty called Lake Baikal the North Sea.

“Although it’s not the best time, we must not miss the opportunity.”

The political hall has always been a place where the minority obeys the majority, and the chief prime minister does not have the power of veto.

Seeing that the three prime ministers clearly supported sending troops, Yang Wan was no longer stubborn.

"This old minister fully supports the Supreme."

Pei Zunqing had no choice but to agree to send troops at this time.

"In ancient times, it was difficult to conquer the Xiongnu because the Hu people lived wherever there was water and grass. They lived in the vast grasslands and had no fixed place to stay. They could change their royal court at any time, which made them difficult to conquer."

"The Huihe people are now building Shanyu City and Fugui City on the grassland as their royal court. The Tang Dynasty can attack their capital directly and decide the outcome in one fell swoop."

"In order not to damage the national strength, we must be as swift as a hurricane and wipe out the barbarians who refuse to obey the king. That's right, I have decided to lead a part of the Divine Strategy Imperial Army, the Heavenly Strategy Imperial Army, the Flying Dragon Imperial Army, and the Dragon Warrior Army to personally lead the expedition!"

"Taiyuan Military Governorate and Fanyang Military Governorate, attack the easternmost part of the Huihe and wipe out the rebels. Lingwu Military Governorate, summon the subordinate tribes to attack the central part of the Huihe."

"Wuwei Military Governorate and Dunhuang Military Governorate will march northward from the Hexi Corridor to Baitinghai, where they will join my imperial army and engage in a decisive battle with the main force of the Huihe at Shanyu City on Yudujun Mountain."

"In the second month of next spring, announce to the world that we will begin the campaign to annihilate the Huihe in the north."

Li Xuan told his plan to the prime ministers.

The nomadic Hu people often only accounted for one percent of the population of the Central Plains. The reason why they could be enemies of the Central Plains was that they had no fixed place to live in their nomadic life, and they were engaged in hunting and martial arts. When they were strong, they would attack and plunder, and when they were weak, they would hide in the mountains and forests.

It is extremely difficult to find a tribe in the vast grasslands and deserts that stretch for thousands of miles. Even though there are many troops in the Central Plains, they are powerless.

If we build a city and live in it, we will be surrounded and annihilated if we fail.

It depends on whether the Uighurs will give up the Chanyu City that they have painstakingly built.

In this battle, Li Xuan mobilized five frontier military governorships and 70,000 cavalry, and also dispatched 30,000 frontier Hu cavalry to cooperate.

Together with the 40,000 imperial cavalry he had planned, a total of 140,000 cavalrymen were dispatched.

When dealing with nomadic people like the Uighurs, cavalry is the best strategy.

(End of this chapter)