Chapter 3 Killing the chicken and scaring the monkey

Changsun Wuji, who had just been granted the title of Sikong by Li Shimin a few days ago, stepped forward, picked up the military newspaper from the ground, opened it and looked at it.

These are military newspapers that the border guards rushed to Chang'an for 600 miles. The military newspaper said that most border prefectures and counties such as Lanzhou, Shanzhou, Hezhou, Liangzhou, Yaozhou and other border counties that border Tuyuhun were successively attacked by Tuyuhun people.

Although our border army defended the strong city and repelled the Tuyuhun people's invasion, the losses were also great. In addition to many border troops who died in battle, more border residents were captured or killed by Tuyuhun people, and countless robbed property were burned by Tuyuhun people. Many houses were burned by Tuyuhun people. While strictly preventing Tuyuhun from attacking again, officials in Zhucheng, border prefectures also had to distribute personnel to resettle these pitiful refugees who had lost their homes due to the Tuyuhun people's invasion and could not survive the cold winter.

Changsun Wuji looked silent and left the general's newspaper to Fang Xuanling, the left Pushe next to him. Fang Xuanling didn't say anything after reading it, and then handed it to Li Jing, the right Pushe who stood on the other side of the general train.

Li Jing read it but did not pass it down. Instead, he held the stack of military newspapers tightly, took a big step forward, and said in his majestic and bright voice: "Your Majesty, the Tuyuhun people attacked everywhere, and many borders of our Tang Dynasty were attacked. I think that our Tang Dynasty must respond effectively..."

Li Jing's words made Li Shimin overjoyed and asked, "Li Aiqing thinks, what kind of response should we make?"

"Your Majesty, I think that a large army should be raised to attack the Tuyuhun people who invaded our Tang border, and give them a painful attack and annihilate most of their troops so that our Tang border can be peaceful," Li Jing said, and handed the military newspaper back to Li Shimin, and then politely said: "Your Majesty, I am willing to lead the army to fight and eliminate the border troubles in the northwest for Your Majesty..."

Li Jing's words made Li Shimin feel relieved. His face was ashen and his cruel smile just now also eased, but before he could speak, Wei Zheng, who had just been transferred to the position of the minister, stood up quickly and said with a tribute: "Your Majesty, I think we should not easily speak up now. In the past year, our Tang Dynasty suffered disasters everywhere, and the food was poor, and the people in the world were floating. At this time, the main focus of the court should be on disaster relief and self-rescue and stabilize the people in the world. How can we use military weapons? If we use military weapons, it will be an act against the will of heaven! I think the Tuyuhun people violated our border because

Because of the same disaster in Tuyuhun, I heard that after the winter, heavy snow fell in Tuyuhun, countless people, horses, cattle and sheep were frozen to death. They offended my border and robbed my property. This was a forced and helpless act. I think that the court should send envoys to denounce it unrighteously, make them repent, and use military power to show their power, and provide certain material assistance. The great righteousness of our side, coupled with the threat of military affairs, will surely be ashamed and afraid. When my envoy arrives in Tuyuhun, it is time for them to retreat. When the weather improves next year and the grass is resurrected, Tuyuhun's livelihood will be guaranteed and will not offend my Tang army again!"

Wei Zheng said it was not without reason. The weather in the seventh year of Zhenguan was very abnormal. The disasters suffered in the Tang Dynasty can be said to be a century-long experience, many times better than the early years of Zhenguan. Floods, droughts and locust plagues came continuously. These disasters just passed, and the snow disaster continued. Almost since October, there were blizzards in the northwest and northern deserts, and countless cattle and sheep were frozen to death. The tribes on the grassland were also affected by disasters. Many tribes were threatened. Some unsupported tribes went south to support them or surrendered to the Tang Dynasty.

In September, the chief of the Turkic Qiebu tribe, Qiebu Heli, and his mother, his younger brother, had more than 6,000 households in the tribe, totaling more than 32,000 people, and asked our Tang Dynasty to attach. Li Shimin accepted the request of the Qiebu tribe and ordered the Qiebu tribe to be placed between Ganzhou and Liangzhou, and appointed Qiebu Heli as the left-leading general and went to Beijing to serve. Qiebu Heli's mother was also awarded the title of Guzang Lady, and his younger brother, Samuel Cialis, was appointed as the governor of Helanzhou.

Some smaller Qiang tribes such as Dangxiang and Di were unable to survive on the grassland due to their harsh climate. They submitted a letter requesting to resign inward, in order to receive funding from the Tang Dynasty. So far, there are more than 30 tribes of all sizes and sizes coming to join, with a total of more than 300,000 speakers.

Most of the court officials in the hall knew about these situations. Therefore, after Wei Zheng's words, many people came out to express their support, including heavyweight ministers such as Wen Yanbo, Minister of Civil Affairs Dai Zhou.

Li Jing, who had not yet been listed, seemed indifferent to what Wei Zheng said. He glanced at Wei Zheng, Wen Yanbo, Dai Zhou and others standing beside him, and then made a polite remark: "Your Majesty, I have just seen the military information reported in various places. From this, we can see that the Tuyuhun people used troops a large scale during this period, and there were tens of thousands of siegemen, not like they were plundering and leaving. I thought that the Tuyuhun people might have a larger-scale attack operation in the future.

Your Majesty should urgently order the border guards in all places to be on guard to prevent the possible attacks of the Tuyuhun people! To prevent the city from falling, but these are passive moves. No matter how good the defense is, it is better to take the initiative. As the saying goes, attack is the best defense. I think that in order to eliminate the border troubles in the northwest of our Tang Dynasty, consolidate the rule of the Hetao area, and avoid the loss of border prefectures under the attack of the Tuyuhun army, a large army should be launched to attack the Tuyuhun people..."

After Li Jing finished speaking, he bowed and returned to the train. When the last time the court discussed whether to send troops to attack the Turks, Li Jing had a fierce debate with Wei Zheng, who opposed the troops. The ministers in the hall thought that there would be another dispute between the two of them today, but unexpectedly, after finishing talking, Li Jing immediately returned to the train, indicating that he did not want to argue with Wei Zheng.

Wei Zheng, who originally wanted to argue with Li Jing again, was a little discouraged when he saw Li Jing retreating, but he still expressed his opposition very strongly. "Your Majesty, I oppose Li Pushe's proposal. The last time the imperial court launched a large army to attack the Turks was only a few years ago, and the people have not yet received enough time to recuperate. In addition, it has encountered a disaster that was once a century ago. I feel that discussing whether to send troops to conquer at this time is a move that does not take into account the livelihood of the people, and I will definitely be opposed by the people of the world. I firmly oppose sending troops in the year of the disaster!"

After Wei Zheng finished speaking, he quickly returned to the train. Wen Yanbo, Dai Zhou and others expressed their opinions again, and also retreated.

Cheng Zhijie, who had just expired from the post of the Luzhou Governor, and was renamed the General of the Left Leader Guard, Cheng Yaojin heard so many people objecting in the train. He couldn't help but curse and jumped to the hall after a few steps. After saluting, he said loudly: "Your Majesty, what else should I discuss? Of course, I have to fight. Let me lead a large army to teach the bird Tuyuhun people a lesson. If I don't cut them all into pieces, I will not be surnamed Cheng. Why are there so many ministers in the court who are afraid of war? It's still the same after a few years. If anyone dares to oppose sending troops, I will never end up with him!"

He just thought that if Li Jing said this, no one would come out to fight the war, but he didn't expect that so many people would stand up to oppose the troops, which made Cheng Zhijie furious and rushed out to curse.

The last time he discussed whether to go to the Turks, Cheng Zhijie also stood up as he said just now. He was an extremely warrior and spoke the most vulgar among all the ministers, but he was very popular with Li Shimin. Even if he insulted other court officials in the palace, he would not have punished him.

Cheng Zhijie also went to the war against the Turks with Li Jing. As the deputy general manager of the Heng'an Road marching, but in that war, this man played the least role and did not receive any reward after returning to the court. This made Cheng Zhijie feel angry and had not gained a big battle for many years, which made him itchy. He complained to Li Shimin when he first returned to Beijing, asking the emperor to be the head coach in the future. Today he was not the first to jump out to ask for battle, which surprised Li Shimin.

"Your Majesty, don't pay attention to the opposition of those timid people. Let me decide to send troops and let me lead the troops. I, Cheng Cheng, will lead the troops to deal with those Tuyuhun people..." Cheng Zhijie continued to roar in front of the hall.

Cheng Zhijie's slutty match made many ministers in the court very angry, but everyone understood that this old man was not afraid of heaven or earth. Someone would fight you one by one if someone fought against him, and even was humiliated by him in person. After such crazy words, no one dared to stand up and refute him.

Most people in the court were afraid of him and afraid of being bullied with him. Even people like Changsun Wuji and Fang Xuanling who were highly favored by the emperor were the same. Only a few very upright ministers such as Wei Zheng and Xiao Yu dared to argue with Cheng Zhijie in person, and were not even afraid of Cheng Zhijie's threatening to fight.

"Cheng Aiqing, today is the matter of the court discussing whether to send troops. How can we say this and retreat!" Li Shimin shouted angrily.

It is quite satisfying to say this without the process of knowing the truth. Such crazy words can just block some oppositions.

After being scolded by Li Shimin, Cheng Zhijie didn't feel embarrassed at all and still cursed, "Your Majesty, someone invaded my Tang Dynasty border, how can he not fight? If someone dares to say no, I, Cheng, and him will never finish..." But he immediately retreated to the train.

After Cheng Zhijie retreated, the Minister of Justice and Rencheng King Li Daozong quickly stood out and made a tribute to him: "Your Majesty, Tuyuhun people are a wolf-man ambitions. Since the founding of the Tang Dynasty, our country has never stopped military affairs since the founding of the Tang Dynasty. Moreover, Tuyuhun King Miao looked at my Emperor of Tang. The last time all the barbarians and elders came to Chang'an to pay tribute, Tuyuhun King Murong Fuyun had never come to Chang'an. Such an arrogant country has now invaded our border again and again. How can we let it go? I think that we must launch a large army to attack," Li Daozong faced Li Shimin's admiring gaze, straightened his body, and loudly asked to report: "I am willing to lead troops to fight and eliminate border troubles for Your Majesty."

As soon as Li Daozong finished speaking, Hou Junji, the Minister of War, immediately followed and said in a louder tone: "Your Majesty, I think I should have raised troops to teach Tuyuhun a lesson in the early years. In so many years, Tuyuhun people invaded the border countless times. I have prepared a lot of troops at the border. The states bordering Tuyuhun are all heavily deployed to defend but not attack, which is only exhausted. I think it is better to raise heavy troops to calm Tuyuhun in one battle and eliminate future troubles. Now the Tuyuhun people invaded our border one after another, and the Tuyuhun territory was damaged, and their strength was damaged. In addition, the attack on our border was half unsuccessful and morale was damaged. It is the best time for our Tang Dynasty to declare war on it. I am willing to lead troops to fight and sweep the Qinghai area!"

"Your Majesty, I am against sending troops!" Chen Shuda, the newly appointed Minister of Rites, made a comment: "Your Majesty, I agree with the report of Wei Shizhong. Now that our Tang Dynasty has suffered a great disaster, it is not advisable to act rashly, otherwise it will be opposed by the people of the world. I think that during this period, we should comfort and comfort the people and restore people's livelihood! Furthermore, what is the use of such a poor land in Tuyuhun? I think that we can defend the border states. If we come to attack, drive them with troops and return, and cherish them with virtue, we can be able to conquer the people of Tuyuhun!"

Immediately after Chen Shuda, Changsun Wuji also made a comment: "Your Majesty, I have agreed that the floods in our Tang Dynasty this year are severe this year, and the north has suffered snow disasters and countless livestock have frozen to death. In such a major disaster, it is against the will of heaven. I think that even if we need to use troops, we should wait until the people are stable in the coming year. Moreover, if the cold land is frozen today, it is really not appropriate to raise troops to attack."

What surprised Changsun Wuji was that his son-in-law, Wang Yi, who was increasingly appreciated by him, stood up and sang a stage play with him after he made a speech.

Wang Yi saw so many important officials standing up against the troops, and the company chief Sun Wuji was like this. He was a little anxious. After Changsun Wuji was ranked, he immediately stood up, "Your Majesty, I am against it. I feel that Tuyuhun has repeatedly invaded my borders, and I must raise troops to fight back..."

Wang Yi glanced at Changsun Wuji, who was angry on his face, expressed an apology, and continued: "In the fourth year of Zhenguan, our Tang army destroyed the Eastern Turkic Khanate. Since then, the barbarians have honestly listened to our Tang Dynasty and dared not make any abnormal movements. However, this year, our Tang Dynasty encountered a major disaster, and many barbarian tribes were ready to move and planned to cause trouble, and Tuyuhun was even more so. If they let it go and do not fight back with the thunder, the barbarians would definitely think that our Tang Dynasty was unable to raise military affairs after the disaster. They would take the Tuyuhun people as an example to fight against our Tang Dynasty and no longer obey our Tang Dynasty. Now there is this trend, and chaos is everywhere... If the barbarians no longer obey the orders of our Tang Dynasty, then my Tang Dynasty borders would inevitably have crises, and no one would want to see it..."

Wang Yi took a breath, raised his tone, and said loudly: "Your Majesty, therefore I think that our Tang Dynasty must launch a large army to attack the Tuyuhun people, especially in the years of great disasters, and we cannot let it go. If our Tang Dynasty is capable of launching a large army to attack the Tuyuhun people after the great disasters, then the barbarians will definitely think that although our Tang Dynasty has encountered a major disaster, it has little impact on the national strength, and will definitely be afraid and dare not rebel openly. On the contrary, there will be greater chaos. We can attack Tuyuhun and kill chickens and monkeys. If our Tang Dynasty sends troops quickly to counterattack the invasion of the Tuyuhun people, it will definitely shock the barbarians and prevent them from rebeling our Tang Dynasty!"

"What I said is reasonable, I agree very much. Killing chickens and scaring monkeys. I cannot tolerate Tuyuhun's arrogance, nor do I want to see the barbarians follow Tuyuhun to rebel against our Tang Dynasty, and let the Tang Dynasty border cause another major chaos," Li Shimin praised Wang Yi's proposal and ordered him majesticly: "You guys don't have to report again. I decided to launch a large army to attack Tuyuhun..."...

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