Zhangjiaji.

The night was quiet, and a bonfire was rising in Zhang Xun's tent. He was wearing a cloak and his face was still pale. His body was getting worse and worse. Now he had to drink soup to fall asleep every day, otherwise he would cough violently in the middle of the night and wake up.

Behind Zhang Xun, there was a shadow standing, which was his most powerful killer, ghost.

Zhang Tianai didn't know about the existence of ghost shadow. Ghost shadow's outstanding light skills have never been discovered by Zhang Tianai.

"Ghost, is there any news about Li Mu?"

"Master, someone once saw someone who looked like Li Mu at the junction of Yanqi and Gaochang. But when his subordinates arrived, they no longer knew where they were going." After pausing, the ghost said again: "Master, my subordinates are not doing well, so please punish them."

"Ha, what are you punishing me?" Zhang Xun smiled and said, "I have been planning for so long, and finally waited for this day. You and my brothers have a fight. I saved your life. You have to call me master. I can understand, but in my heart, you are like my old brothers, but your elder brother is not long before long. Maybe it is just an obsession for this life."

He sighed again, and Zhang Xun said, "The Tang Dynasty has become a powerful force now, and our few people are unable to plan. Most of the small countries in the Western Regions are under the control of the Western Turks and are too far away from us. Now the only ones who can plan are Gaochang and Yanqi. When Li Mu goes to Yanqi, let's plan Gaochang. Tell me what I mean, Zhang Yi, the recorder under Hou Junji. He is also my old brother, and he knows what to do."

The ghost didn't ask anything else and responded, and the figure had disappeared in a vague way.

...

Liangyi Hall.

Compared with the lively events of the past, the talks at this time were terrible. News of urgent news at the border came one after another, and the barbarians seemed to have been in contact, causing trouble for the Tang Dynasty. Even if Li Shimin was the hero, he would be exhausted.

Now it is still time to plow spring, and it is a time when food and grass are not enough. At this time, the battles in all directions are damaged by the vitality of the Tang Dynasty. However, regardless of any one, it is a big hidden danger. After Li Shimin ascended the throne, he finally felt a little helpless after all these years of Li Shimin's ascension to the throne. Even when he fought against the Eastern Turks last year, he had never been so powerless.

"Why is no one talking?" Li Shimin looked at Wei Zheng and said, "Wei Zheng, can you say it? You are talking about it, what should I do now? What should I do in this Tang Dynasty?"

Wei Zheng knew that Li Shimin would definitely call him his name, and gritted his back teeth and stood up, saying, "Your Majesty, I am a civil servant and I don't understand martial arts. Those who don't know should not speak nonsense. My opinion is irrelevant. Please ask your Majesty more people. Cheng Yaojin, are you nothing to say?"

"Okay, you guys, you'll take me with you at this time!" Cheng Yaojin cursed, but smiled again: "But it doesn't matter this time. I'm trying to put on the battle! Your Majesty, please tell me, my old Cheng's axe is already unbearable!"

"Cheng Aiqing, you should stay in Jingji. If you leave, who will protect Chang'an City?"

Cheng Yaojin pointed at Li Xiaogong and said, "The Prince of Hejian is here, can he turn against the heavens? Besides, Your Majesty, you are also a general in battle, so why are you afraid? Your Majesty, you are not too much, I think it's no big deal. When the Tang Dynasty conquered the country, the conditions were much worse than now, so why didn't you win? There's no reason why we won't be able to do it after these years? What a big deal, let's search the guys and start doing it!"

When everyone heard this, they rolled their eyes. Such a rough man, how could it be no difference if they say such words? People are not young? When everyone is like you, a big live donkey! Take Qin Qiong for example. Qin Shubao was so scared by everyone back then, but now he is already hunched. He had the courage to be unworthy of thousands of men, but now a young man can probably kill him. Can this be compared?

Li Shimin sighed and said, "At this time, I hope Li Mu can be there. He is very smart and there must be a way. But this kid's life and death are uncertain, and I don't know what's going on now."

"Report"

An imperial guard ran in shouting, of course it was unruly, but now the situation is urgent, and nothing is more important than military information. Li Shimin specifically ordered that if there is any news, no matter what he is doing, he should be sent over immediately.

"Dingxiang Feige passed the letter!" The guard presented the letter to Eunuch Gao, who hurriedly handed it to Li Shimin. Li Shimin glanced at it, frowned, and wondered: "What is the name of Li Mu? Does anyone recognize it?"

Suddenly, Li Shimin saw Changsun Chong in the corner and said, "Chong'er, come and see, has your mentor taught you this?"

Changsun rushed up to take the letter, took it in his hand and looked it out, saying, "Your Majesty, this is called pinyin, it was invented by his mentor to teach children to read. This is what the children of the Sales Department are learning."

"You mean, three-year-old children recognize it?"

Changsun nodded, Li Shimin was a little embarrassed and said, "Okay, just say what it means! Li Mu is really, he is just making a fool of himself, what are you doing to do this!"

"My teacher should be for the sake of keeping the secret." Changsun Chong defended Li Mu. Seeing that Li Shimin's face looked a little ugly, he hurriedly explained: "My teacher means that he wants to go to Yanqi to talk to Nishu. The reason for finding Nishu is that the vanguard of the Western Turks was originally the Nishu tribe. They intend to rebel and want to join forces with the Tang Dynasty to defeat Siye Hu Khan and support Nishu as the Great Khan. If it can be achieved at this time, the plan for the Western Turks to advance east may stop."

As soon as these words were spoken, the ministers were upset!

Is this good news? Of course, it is! Now that the four barbarians are invading the border, if what Li Mu said can be truly implemented, then all the crises will be solved. To put it bluntly, they dare not challenge the Tang Dynasty alone, but the Western Turks are holding on, and they also want to drink it with a sip of soup. As long as the crisis of the Western Turks can be solved, other crises in the Tang Dynasty will be solved, whether it is Xue Yantuo or Tuyuhun, they may even send envoys to Chang'an to explain, and the crisis is not a crisis.

It’s just such a big thing that makes the ministers helpless, why is it Li Mu again?

"Oh, I haven't finished speaking yet." Changsun rushed to the back of the letter and said, "There are still words from General Li Ji. He said that the spies had returned. The pass at Camel Valley collapsed. Some people said that it was done by their mentors. Now the cavalry of the Western Turks cannot pass Camel Valley at all. If they want to come over, they will not be able to assemble within ten days, and at least ten more days will be delayed."

"Ten days!" Li Shimin's sensitivity to military affairs was beyond Li Jing's presence. He thought for a moment and understood. Yanqi was less than 700 miles away from Camel Valley and Gaochang, and it took him ten days to go back and forth. After Li Mu contacted him, he could not complete the assembly, and the Turks could not complete the assembly. The Tang Dynasty had time to prepare, so it was just enough to catch him off guard!

Li Mu, Li Mu, you didn’t disappoint me!

Li Shimin was overjoyed and was about to praise Li Mu, but when he thought about his affairs with Wang Ou, his face suddenly became ugly again.

"It's up to him to make up for his merits and demerits. He's all the trouble!" Li Shimin snorted and said, "Tell Li Ji and Hou Junji that in this battle with the Turks, they only allow victory but not defeat. If they lose, they don't have to come back to meet."

"Retreat!"

...

Hou Junji rushed to the scene and finally arrived in Dingxiang five days in advance. Although his rank was the same as Li Ji, he was also the Minister of War, holding the tiger talisman given by Li Shimin. Therefore, after Hou Junji arrived, he became the chief general of the Tang army, and Li Ji retreated to the deputy general. Just like when he fought against the Eastern Turks, Li Jing was the chief general and Li Ji was the deputy general.

Li Ji was not a person who was competing for merit. He wished that someone could stand in front of him and let him not take responsibility. The handover was very smooth. Hou Junji and Li Jing learned how to govern the army, but they were not completely brave but unscheming. After discussing with Li Ji and others, he decided to make a fool. He used a battalion of troops to act as Western Turkic cavalry crossing the mountain, pretending to fight against the Tang Dynasty, leaving behind the gap for Gaochang. If Gaochang sent troops to attack, he would cut off his retreat, so that the group of soldiers and horses could not take care of each other, and first annihilate Gaochang's only family background, and see if the tower gate dared to go to Qin and Chu.

This plan seemed simple, and seemed to be full of loopholes, but in fact there was nothing big problem. Li Ji thought about it for a while and agreed. That night, a battalion of troops pretended to leave the city early, and in the early morning of the next day, Hou Junji showed off a large flag and attacked Gaochang in a mighty manner.

The Ju family and his son stood on the city wall, looking at the situation below, their courage was already so scared that they were cracked. The people who were overwhelmed by the sky were like a torrent of steel. Wu Yangyang didn't know how many people were, and all the armored men in Gaochang might not be as small as others. If the city wall was not thick enough, it would be a matter of a drum.

"Son, when will this Western Turkic man come? In a few days, I'm afraid." Ju Wentai's voice became increasingly weak. He couldn't even sleep in the past few days. With fear, he was almost bedridden. But if he didn't see it with his own eyes, he was always worried, so such conversations were staged every day.

"Don't worry, my father, the child has promised a lot of money. Even if these Turks have no feelings, they will be willing to work hard just for money and food. After all, our place is not a good place. The Turks are nomadic peoples, and they look down on them and will not refuse to leave. If you serve them well, we will have a backer, and there is no need to be afraid of the Tang Dynasty in the future!"

"Is that right..." Ju Wentai was still untrue, but he was unable to change anything about the scene in front of him, so he had to sigh silently and was helped off the city gate by his son.

"Wait a minute!" Suddenly Ju Zhisheng called out to Ju Wentai who was about to walk down. He pointed to the smoke and dust in the distance and said, "Father, look, isn't this coming?"

"Come?" Ju Wentai was very excited and shouted: "If anyone doesn't come yet, I will be anxious if I don't come again. Open the city gate and let them in!"

"No!" Ju Zhisheng quickly stopped him and said, "Father, don't forget that the Western Turks are also a potential threat. Let's see them fight first. If there is almost anything, let's go to the troubled waters to take advantage of the situation."

"Okay!" Ju Wentai looked reluctantly. At this moment, the two teams had already started fighting.

The 'war situation' was very fierce, but the distance was still very far, and there was no way to see the acting. Suddenly, the 'Western Turkic Cavalry' played rode the horse and fled. The Tang Dynasty immediately chased after him, leaving his back.

"How about this?" Ju Wentai stomped his feet in a hurry and said, "If you don't rush to kill, wouldn't it be a mistake for God to give you the opportunity?"

"Father, the child is still a little worried."

"What are you worried about!" Ju Wentai ignored Ju Zhisheng's thoughts and gave an order. He drove the chariot himself, followed the only cavalry that left the station, and chased the Tang cavalry straight behind.

Fallen into the trap perfectly.

After running out for dozens of miles, he saw a whistle. The Tang army, who had been lying in ambush for a long time, came out together and surrounded Ju Wentai and his party. Ju Zhisheng, who stood on the city wall and saw the whole process, stomped his feet in annoyance, but he did not rush out. Now that he rushed out, the few people in Gaochang City alone could never resist, and would be immediately submerged in the iron wall of the Tang army.

Ju Wentai was captured!

...

The emperor may have a little bit of affection for the betrayer and can be separated from him. But in the hands of someone, Gao Chang betrayed the Tang Dynasty, especially at this time, everything should be quick and simple. Hou Junji and Li Ji's consensus was useless even if he kept it, it would be better to kill him.

Almost all the people who came out with Ju Wentai were cut down. Only one person was left to pass the message, and Ju Wentai himself. Hou Junji asked Ju Wentai to write a letter, asking the survivor who stayed to take the letter back, and declared that he would only give him one day to consider.

When the messenger left, Ju Wentai was detained. No one knew about the content of the letter except Hou Junji and Ju Wentai knew about it.

It seems like this, but in fact, someone knows it.

For example, Hou Junji's strategists.

Hou Junji was a bodyguard of Li Shimin. Even if he studied military tactics, he was not a brave and resourceful person. Especially after becoming the Minister of War, he was never good at dealing with copywriting, so he invited several recorders in the army to join the army, helping him with clerk work while helping him with the matter.

Today, his move was proposed by a record officer named Zhang Yi. He said that Gaochang is located in a key area in the Western Regions, with countless merchants coming and going. Gaochang has been established for hundreds of years and has accumulated a lot. If he does not blackmail, wouldn’t he lose?

Such a despicable word for blackmail is no longer so despicable in the context of the Tang Dynasty. I have to thank someone, that is Li Mu. It was he who set the precedent for blackmailing that he would have today’s situation.
Chapter completed!