Li Chengqian of the Tang Dynasty: Please say long live His Majesty

Chapter 95: My people are used in the west, which makes my father feel at ease (Fourth update)

On the seventeenth day of the first lunar month, the sky was bright.

After the princess got married, the entire Chang'an city quickly recovered from the New Year atmosphere and began to become quiet and orderly.

In the Eastern Palace, Li Chengqian sat behind the desk, looking at the secret report just delivered by the Military Affairs Department.

The Ministry of War's spies in Lhasa reported back last year that there were many people who opposed Songtsen Gampo's proposal to marry a Tang princess, even within Tubo, but Songtsen Gampo used his prestige to suppress the opposition.

Tubo grew and prospered under Songtsen Gampo, and even the founding of Tubo was his.

He has great prestige in Tubo.

However, after all, Songtsen Gampo's health had problems.

Although historical records show that he died about ten years later, the Tibetans were best at concealing the news of his death and not announcing the funeral.

Therefore, it is difficult to say exactly in which year Songtsen died.

Ten years was enough time for the Tibetans to grow food.

Ten years is enough for Li Chengqian to take power.

But we cannot wait until ten years later to do anything and make preparations, otherwise it will be too late. From now on, we need to place chess pieces within Tubo.

This time, more than 2,000 people accompanied Princess Wencheng to Tubo. Among them, there were countless spies from the Military Affairs Bureau, the Qianniu Guard, and the Baiqi Bureau. Their purpose was to thoroughly understand the power structure of Tubo under Songtsen, and then find the right position to dismember it.

Of course, this is a matter for the future. What is important now is how to completely destroy the prestige of the Tibetans in Tuyuhun, Dangxiang, Yangtong and Subi, and even in the Western Regions within the existing framework.

By the way, Su Bi is the prototype of the later Kingdom of Women...

A burst of hurried footsteps interrupted Li Chengqian's thoughts.

Li Anyan, dressed in a deep crimson official robe, quickly entered the Chongjiao Hall and bowed earnestly to Li Chengqian, saying, "Your Highness, the new Lanzhou Sima, Li Dejian, has arrived."

Li Dejian, the eldest son of Li Jing, Duke of Wei, was the only person in the world who could truly inherit Duke Wei's military tactics.

There are three people in the world who inherited Duke Wei's military strategy: Hou Junji, Su Dingfang, and Li Ji.

Hou Junji learned the least, followed by Su Dingfang. As for Li Ji, it was only after he integrated his own military tactics that he was finally comparable to Li Jing.

But none of these people mentioned Li Dejian.

He is the true inheritor of Li Jingwei's military tactics.

Unfortunately, in his previous life, because he got along very well with the Eastern Palace, even though he was not included in Li Chengqian's original rebellion plan, he was dismissed from all official positions and exiled to Lingnan because of this.

Later, Li Jing used his military merits in exchange for Li Dejian being exiled to Wujun, a place in the south of the Yangtze River, which was considered to be a better place.

"Let him in." Li Chengqian became serious, picked up the memorial in his hand, and then looked at Li Dejian who walked into the hall.

Li Dejian, dressed in a light crimson robe and a black phoenix hat, stood straight and handsome. He walked five steps in front of Li Chengqian and then bowed solemnly, saying, "Your Highness, I, Li Dejian, the Sima of Lanzhou, pay my respects to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

Li Chengqian looked at Li Dejian and nodded with satisfaction. "It's been three years since you were transferred from the Left Guard Commander of the Eastern Palace to the Commander of Songzhou, right?"

Three years ago, Songtsen Gampo sent an army of 200,000 to attack Songzhou, resulting in heavy casualties.

The imperial court originally sent a large army to fight, but before the army arrived, the vanguard Niu Jinda had already defeated Songtsen Gampo.

Officials later added that under such circumstances, Li Dejian was appointed Sima of Songzhou to guard against Tubo.

He was Li Jing's eldest son. Considering that he was the Sima of Songzhou, one can imagine how much importance the emperor attached to this matter.

"Yes!" Li Dejian bowed seriously, but was very frugal with his words.

Li Chengqian smiled, leaned back slightly, and asked, "Fang Er was transferred to Songzhou this time. Did you have any face with him?"

"Yes." Li Dejian nodded calmly.

Seeing Li Dejian's attitude, Li Chengqian was stunned for a moment, then immediately laughed and said, "He's in a mess, isn't he?"

Li Dejian nodded slightly and said nothing more.

Although he didn't say it, Li Chengqian could feel his relaxation.

In fact, Li Dejian has been in Songzhou for three years and has only been transferred to Lanzhou as the fifth-rank chief secretary, while Fang Yiai was demoted from Chang'an to the fifth-rank chief secretary of Songzhou. The difference here is clearly visible.

Of course, the reason for this is that Fang Xuanling was the Shangshu Zuo Pushe of the entire Tang Dynasty.

The emperor not only took special care of Fang Yiai, but also granted him marriage with a princess.

He should have been on the rise, but now he has fallen to the position of Chief Secretary of Songzhou.

They were in the same position, and Li Dejian was confident enough to surpass Fang Yiai in his official career.

This is what really relaxes him.

... "Okay, let's not talk about him anymore. The Ministry of War has told you the reason for your transfer to Lanzhou this time, right?" Li Chengqian looked serious.

"Yes, it's a Tubo matter." Li Dejian looked serious. Tuyuhun was defeated by the Tang Dynasty six years ago and was defeated by Tubo again three years ago. Now it is not a threat at all.

Although Tubo had just married a Tang princess, they were the Tang's biggest enemy on the western plateau.

Li Dejian, who had been in Songzhou for three years, was most clear about this point.

"Father's intention," Li Chengqian said, tapping the table lightly. "When the princess goes to marry into Tubo this time, the Tang Dynasty will dispatch 10,000 cavalry from Lanzhou and Shanzhou, and 20,000 Tuyuhun cavalry. They will set up a battle array on the Tuyuhun Plateau, with their backs to the Huan River, to demonstrate their power."

"Yes!" Li Dejian bowed seriously.

"The King of Jiangxia is in charge of the overall situation of this matter. What you need to pay attention to is how many soldiers in the army will get plateau malaria after going to the plateau. They need to recover in time. At the same time, after leaving the plateau and returning to Lanzhou, determine how many of them have contracted lowland malaria, and make clear statistics." Li Chengqian explained the matter of plateau malaria and lowland malaria in detail.

"I see." Li Dejian nodded solemnly and said, "This kind of situation also happens frequently in Songzhou."

Going up to Songzhou from Shuzhong is actually going up to the plateau.

"The Tang Dynasty's Upper Tuyuhun and Upper Dangxiang Plateaus both have plateau miasma, and the Tubo Lower Tuyuhun Plateau also has lowland miasma." Li Chengqian said seriously, "Your job is to ensure that the Tubo people are infected with lowland miasma and their army is slightly embarrassed, but you also don't let them know of the existence of lowland miasma."

Li Dejian understood in an instant that this secret would become the greatest weapon for the Tang Dynasty to attack Tubo in the future.

"That's one of them." Li Chengqian looked up and asked, "Have you heard what I once said about the Tibetan king's rare offspring?"

"Yes!" Li Dejian nodded immediately. The matter of offspring is related to the stability of the country. Once something goes wrong, it is very likely that he will die and the country will be destroyed.

"Very good." Li Chengqian nodded and said, "Two things. After you arrive in Lanzhou, first publicize the marriage between the Tang Dynasty and Tubo in the northwest. Not only should the Tuyuhun, Dangxiang, Yangtong, and Subi countries know about this, but also the Western Regions Turkic, Shiguo, Kangguo, Dashi and other countries should know about this."

"Yes!"

"Wait until this matter becomes a hot topic, and then release the details of Lu Dongzan's affairs in Chang'an bit by bit. People will be very concerned, and finally bring out the matter of my concern for the heir of the Tubo Zanpu." Li Chengqian easily instigated people's hearts and brought invisible heavy damage to Tubo.

"Yes!"

"Finally, let's talk about the internal affairs of Tubo." Li Chengqian's expression darkened, and then he said calmly, "In addition to the Military Department's Zhifang Division and Baiqi Division, you must arrange for your own personnel to enter Tubo. I need to know how various forces in Tubo will react after this news is known."

"Your Highness, what about His Majesty?" Li Dejian looked solemn and nervous.

"Use them in Tubo, only to gather information, not to take action. Infiltration is the primary focus, with intimacy as a secondary consideration." After a brief pause, Li Chengqian continued, "Later, many merchants will pass through Lanzhou on their way to Tubo. Send someone under the name of the Eastern Palace to join the Wugong Su family's caravan, and then enter Tubo. This can be reported to the court."

Li Dejian immediately understood that his real manpower could not go with the Wugong Su family's caravan.

"When someone goes to Tubo, there must naturally be both an open and a hidden side. As for the hidden side, I will not report it." Li Dejian bowed. After explaining to the court, things would be much easier.

"Nothing else." Li Chengqian looked at Li Dejian and said, "You came back a little late. Zhao Jie, Du He, Wang Jingzhi and the others just left yesterday."

Zhao Jie was the son of Li Chengqian's aunt, Princess Changguang.

Wang Jingzhi was the youngest son of the late Minister Wang Gui. Four years ago, he married Li Chengqian's third sister, Princess Nanping.

These were people who were very close to Li Chengqian. In their previous lives, they were all beheaded or exiled because of him.

"Then I will not disturb Your Highness." Li Dejian bowed and said, "I am in Lanzhou. If Your Highness has anything to say, please send a message directly."

"Yeah!" Li Chengqian nodded, and then he suddenly said, "Wait a minute."

"Your Highness." Li Dejian, who was about to leave, immediately turned around and looked at Li Chengqian in surprise.

Li Chengqian paused for a moment and said, "Be careful of Tuyuhun. The Tang and Tibetan armies are approaching. Some of them are loyal to the Tang, while others are loyal to the Tibetans. Be careful and keep a close eye on them. When you get the chance to attack, don't hesitate."

"Yes!" Li Dejian bowed seriously.

"Go."

……

After sending Li Dejian away, Li Anyan returned to Chongjiao Hall.

"Your Highness, although His Majesty has granted great power to the Eastern Palace, we have used so much strength now. Will His Majesty..." Li Anyan swallowed the last two words, but his words were full of distrust of the emperor.

This time, the Eastern Palace mobilized not only Li Dejian, but also people from several other parties, who were secretly helping.

Not to mention, the Wugong Su family's caravan was also exposed.

Li Chengqian raised his head, looked outside the hall, let out a long sigh, and then said quietly, "It would be more reassuring for the emperor to use our manpower in the west rather than in Chang'an."

Li Anyan was stunned for a moment, then he bowed and said, "Yes!"

"Also, we need to do a better job in the Tubo matter. After all, the Tang Dynasty was founded on military power. If I am capable in military affairs, I will be respected by the generals in the army. Then, as long as I don't cultivate my own personal personnel, my father will not care about anything." Li Chengqian smiled lightly. After all, his father was different from ordinary emperors.

Looking outside the hall, Li Chengqian's eyes flickered.

This time, he mobilized so much power not just for Tubo.

(End of this chapter)