Back to the prosperous Tang Dynasty to be the emperor

Chapter 748 Difficult Peace Agreement (5)

"Meiniang, do you think there is something wrong?"

Seeing Empress Wu's frowning, Gaozong couldn't help being taken aback, and hurriedly asked a question.

"Your Majesty clearly learned that I think that Xian'er's strategy is feasible, but Tubo is a land outside the culture, and it is easy to suppress and difficult to educate, and it is even more difficult to educate. If the cadres are not capable officials, it may be difficult to do it. Looking at the Hexi provinces today General, it may not be a problem to hunt down thieves, but it may be beyond their ability to supervise and educate, so we must act cautiously."

Empress Wu did not object to Li Xian's proposal, but she raised a detailed question from another angle, which meant that it was not as simple as it seemed on the surface, but was actually reminding Gaozong of one thing, that is, the Tubo Chaos may be a great opportunity for Chaotang to intervene in Hexi.

"Well, Mei Niang's words are very true, what does Pei Aiqing think?"

Although Gao Zong was not considered a wise emperor, he had been an emperor for many years, and he still had some ability to listen to words. He understood the hidden meaning in Empress Wu's words, and his heart couldn't help being moved. He adjusted his thoughts in Hexi's officialdom, but was also worried about Li Xian's backlash, so he didn't dare to make a decision right away, but threw the problem to Pei Xingjian, the chief minister.

"Your Majesty has learned from you, I think this matter should be more cautious."

Pei Xingjian was able to serve as the chief minister for so many years, so he was naturally not a dull person. He also heard the implication of Empress Wu's words, and of course understood Gaozong's intentions. He supported Empress Wu's opinion, not for anything else, but because Pei Xingjian was loyal to Li Xian between Empress Wu and Li Xian, but the person he was really loyal to was Gaozong, and he also didn't want to see Li Xian hold the power of a place After all, if the prince's power is too heavy, it is not a very good thing for the court, at least in Pei Xingjian's view.

"Well, I also think that Mei Niang's words are the way to seek the country, what does Xian'er think?"

With the support of Pei Xingjian, Gaozong obviously had a lot of confidence, and he also had the support to dare to face Li Xian. He was afraid that he would force Li Xian to express his attitude on the spot under the night of Changmeng.

Damn old thief, it's really worrying!
Although when the Tubo plan was launched, Li Xian had already expected that Empress Wu would use it to make trouble, but when it came to Empress Wu's attack, Li Xian's anger still surged up uncontrollably, but it did not bring it to his face. He bowed towards Emperor Gaozong with vigor and said: "Father, Emperor Shengming, I have no objection, but now the war is at stake, and it will not be too late to make plans after the rest of the dust settles. Otherwise, once Corruption on the front line, the consequences are dire."

"Your Majesty, this concubine thinks it's too much to worry about. It's not an exaggeration to have the black-toothed general around. According to my concubine, it will be settled within half a year. Your Majesty, what do you think?" ?”

Since Empress Wu was looking for trouble, she would not give up just because of Li Xian's frivolous words. Before anyone else could speak, she had unceremoniously set a time limit for the fight against chaos in Tubo.

"Well, I think it's okay. Tubo is no longer what it used to be, but there are only four grassroots bandits. It should not be difficult to make peace. Half a year should be enough. I will pass on my order. No matter what the black-toothed general needs, each department must do its best. Cooperate and make no mistakes!"

Regarding the dismemberment of the forces in Hexi, Gaozong and Empress Wu had the same intentions, no matter what Li Xian thought, he quickly came to a conclusion.

"promise!"

Now that Gao Zong has said everything to this point, even if all the people present feel that it is wrong, they can no longer raise objections, they can only bow down and keep their promises.

"Well, Xian'er said earlier that suppression and appeasement should be used together. I think so. Since suppression is no longer a problem, this "appropriation" should be carefully considered. Mei Niang has presided over the court for many years, and when it comes to government affairs, it should be If you are familiar with it, this matter will be handled together.”

As the emperor, Gaozong was able to strike while the iron was hot. Seeing that everyone had agreed, he immediately handed over the task of dismembering Hexi to Empress Wu, without leaving Li Xian the slightest chance to express his objection.

"Your Majesty is wise, and my concubines should do it with all their heart."

Gao Zong's words were obviously what Empress Wu had been expecting for a long time, so how could there be any objection? Even if he expressed his attitude, the couple sang and sang together, and they cooperated so well that there was no room for others to intervene. .

"Well, Mei Niang is doing things, I am very relieved, Xian'er, you have presided over the peace discussion for several days, how is the progress today?"

Gaozong dug a corner of Li Xian's wall, and he couldn't help but worry that Li Xian would rebound. If Li Xian became impatient and took a risk, the consequences would not be what Gaozong wanted, and he was thinking quickly After a while, he thought about finding a balance for Li Xian in the peace negotiation.

"Returning to the emperor's words, there are quite a lot of disputes. I am afraid that there will be no results in a short period of time. Moreover, there is chaos in Tubo now, and it is difficult for reinforcements to leave Congling. Lin Chengbin's troops are hanging outside Congling. The minister thought that the peace talks had to be stepped up. In addition, as far as the minister knew, Ashina Daozhen was sick and the time was not long. There might be chaos in the Western Regions. Hexi, I thought it was guarding, and I asked my father to enlighten me."

Gaozong's desire to make amends was too obvious, how could Li Xian not see it, in this case, Li Xian would not be polite, and immediately proposed to withdraw all of Lin Chengbin's troops back to Hexi, as a response to the situation use.

"This one……"

Gaozong exhausted his mind to dispatch the main force of the Hexi Army to Persia, which was far away from the imperial court. He was reluctant to see the main force of the Hexi Army return again. When He refused, he couldn't help being at a loss for words.

"Your Majesty, this matter is inappropriate. Once our army withdraws, if Dashi invades Persia again, all previous efforts will be wasted. If we want to send troops to conquer the land again, it will take a lot of time and effort. I am afraid that if Dashi is prepared, it will be in vain. I am afraid that merit is not the blessing of the country? Therefore, the ministers and concubines thought that in order to stabilize the west of the river, they could transfer troops from the pass. Fifty thousand is not enough, and one hundred thousand should be enough. Why should we look far away? "

Gaozong couldn't think of a reason for his refusal, but Empress Wu was very eloquent and eloquent. After some specious remarks, Li Xian's request to withdraw the army was blocked.

"My mother's words are wrong. The so-called soldiers and horses have not moved, and the food and grass have gone first. Now that Tubo has changed, the army in Hexi can only be used to counter the rebellion. There is no spare power to take care of the Persian army. Where will the lack of army food come from?" Come on, if we use the grain from the south of the Yangtze River to transport it to Persia for a stone of rice, there is only one bushel left, how should we deal with it? Do we really want to sit back and watch the Persian army be exhausted? This, I dare not agree with!"

It was now the time when the bayonet saw its red light, Li Xian naturally refused to back down even the slightest bit, and before Gao Zong could speak, he pushed back with an incomparably strong voice.

"Xian'er is exaggerating. The Tang Dynasty has always been based on the military system of the government. Reclamation is nothing more than an ordinary matter. The imperial court does its best. It is so difficult to protect the Persian army for a year. Now that there are good seeds from overseas, why not Is it useful in Persia?"

Li Xian was unwilling to back down, and Empress Wu was also unwilling to back down, because as long as this deployment was successful, Li Xian's biggest reliance would be in vain. In the next court situation, Empress Wu would naturally have ways to deal with Li Xian. Naturally, he refused to let Li Xian go as he wished in this matter.

"Does my mother know the geography of Persia? There are thousands of miles of desert, and there is no more than one hundred arable land, and all of them have owners. How will the tens of thousands of soldiers of my Tang Dynasty cultivate it? Could it be that they hope to grow food and fodder in the vast desert? What a big joke!"

Li Xian unceremoniously pointed out the biggest problem in Empress Wu's words. His words were sharp and did not save Empress Wu the slightest bit of face.

"That's enough, let's make a fuss, I'm not dead yet!"

Seeing the mother and son arguing in public, Gaozong couldn't hold back his face, and at the same time, he was worried that if he forced Li Xian to go too far, it would be a big disadvantage to the balance of the court, so he shouted angrily and interrupted the mother and son. This is a battle of words between the two.

"Your Majesty calm down, my concubine is rude."

"Father and emperor calm down, son and minister are convicted."

When Emperor Gaozong had such an outburst, the mother and son did not dare to argue any more, and each bowed down and apologized endlessly.

"That's all, that's it for now. The peace talks should be carried out urgently. If the peace talks are settled, the Persian armies should withdraw as soon as they should. Let's all retreat."

After Gaozong got angry, he really didn't want to see Empress Wu and Li Xian arguing endlessly, so he decided without any explanation.

"The minister waits to obey the order, and the minister waits to retire."

Now that Emperor Gaozong had issued an order to expel guests, all the people dared not stay any longer, they could only leave with their bows, but their destinations were different - Li Xian left the palace without stopping. He turned back to Taiji Palace by himself, while Pei and Liu returned to the duty office of the Zhengshitang to draft the imperial edict for the various decisions made today. He didn't go to critique the papers anymore, but paced back and forth in the study with his face sinking like water, the chills on his body burst out one after another, only to be frightened that all the eunuchs, big and small, who were accompanying the room fell silent, He didn't dare to take a breath at will.

"Cheng Denggao!"

After Wu Empress paced back and forth in the study for a while, she suddenly paused, suddenly raised her head, and yelled loudly.

"Ah, the old slave is here, the old slave is here."

Although Cheng Denggao was the most useful person around Empress Wu, he didn't have the guts to bear Empress Wu's anger. He was worrying at the sidelines at the moment. When he suddenly heard Empress Wu's summons, how could he be negligent? He rushed out in a hurry and bowed. body, hurriedly replied.

"Go, Xuanyuan Wanqing will see you immediately!"

Empress Wu glanced at Cheng Denggao coldly, and spoke in an indisputable tone.

"Ah, yes, servant girl is going now."

As Empress Wu's confidant, Cheng Denggao knew that Yuan Wanqing was still busy with peace negotiations at the East Palace, and he wanted to remind Empress Wu, but when the words came to his lips, he didn't have the guts to say it, so he could only respond in a hurry. After making the promise, he ran out of the study as if fleeing, and never mentioned it since he went to the East Palace to announce the decree.

(End of this chapter)