xymnovel Chapter 105: Warlike and reckless, spouting such profound truths!
Chapter 105: Warlike and reckless, spouting such profound truths!
Chapter 105: Warlike and reckless, spouting such profound truths!
"Absolutely not!" Wei Zheng, the Secretary of the Imperial Secretariat, stepped forward, raising his official tablet. "Such militarism is a burden the Tang Dynasty cannot afford!"
A slight smile crept across Dou Fengjie's lips.
Wei Zheng was renowned for his remonstrances and had unique insights into government affairs and laws. However, his policies on diplomacy and military matters always contradicted those of the Tang Dynasty.
This is also why Wei Zheng never had any contact with military power.
"The Secretary-General probably doesn't know that the Tuanjie Army is stationed outside the borders at the request of the foreign states, and most of the expenses and provisions are borne by those foreign states," said Hou Junji, Minister of War, his voice slightly sarcastic. "I don't understand why the Tang Dynasty can't afford it."
Although the Secretariat is one of the six provinces, it is in charge of things like books, calendars, celestial phenomena, and epitaphs. What right does it have to talk about uniting the army?
"Although setting up the Unity Army outside the capital increases expenses, it serves as an early warning to the Tang Dynasty," Dou Fengjie said, trying to smooth things over. "Secretariat Director, some expenses cannot be saved."
When the war first broke out, it was most appropriate to keep it within the territory of the foreign states.
When Hou Junji, a cousin who was good at talking, spoke up, Dou Fengjie had no choice but to smooth things over.
Even if we don't consider Hou Junji's feelings, we have to consider Dou Niangzi's feelings!
Duke Cheng Yaojin of Su State gave Wei Zheng a disdainful look: "Old Taoist, I told you back in Wagang that if you don't understand warfare, you should stay out of it."
Liu Dewei, the Chief Justice of Dali, clicked his tongue and said, "Should I not get involved either?"
Laughter filled the court.
There was no other way; a considerable number of the middle-aged officials in the Taiji Hall were former bandits from Wagang.
Wagang was known for its bandits and its internal strife, with at least three or four factions within the imperial court.
It's true that it made the imperial court less wary, and it's also true that there was already discord between them.
In the imperial court, the rivalry between the various factions of Wagang was a source of amusement for the senior officials.
As for the extent of their discord, let's not delve into that.
Cheng Yaojin glared at Liu Dewei: "What are you doing, you fifty-year-old man causing trouble? You're a civil official! Mind your own business!"
""
As for the fact that Wei Zheng was older than Liu Dewei, Cheng Yaojin ignored it.
The issue of money and supplies is not a big deal; the real problem is whether the Unity soldiers stationed abroad will die a violent death.
Far from the Tang Dynasty, a prefecture with its troops stationed alone was inherently more likely to encounter trouble.
There was never a specific number of soldiers in a prefecture; the number generally hovered between one thousand and five thousand, and they were capable of some resistance in case of trouble.
"A merciful general cannot command an army. If the soldiers of the Great Tang Army die outside, the Tang army will naturally avenge them."
Changsun Wuji snorted.
In his view, this strategy of uniting the troops still needs to be improved. At the very least, a prefecture should be established on the southern slope of the Xianbei Mountains to completely block the Dahemo Association within the Xianbei Mountains.
Yang Fei, the Assistant Magistrate of Liucheng in Yingzhou who survived the ordeal and did not lose his integrity, was promoted to the position of Senior Assistant Magistrate of the Eastern Market Office of the Imperial Treasury, which can be considered a blessing in disguise.
"This means that the Tang Dynasty is effectively expanding its territory. Can the foreign states tolerate this?"
Guo Xingfang, the Vice Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, couldn't help but speak up.
My neighbor wants to build their woodshed into my yard. No matter how weak I am, I have to fight them, right?
"Therefore, the Unity Army is only stationed in countries that the Tang Dynasty can defeat."
"Unfortunately, there is no country that the Tang Dynasty cannot defeat."
Dou Fengjie choked back a couple of words.
Even Li Shimin couldn't help but laugh, pointing at Dou Fengjie and trembling.
Honestly, why are you spouting such obvious truths!
Minister of Agriculture Dou Jing raised an eyebrow: "Supplying provisions to these united troops would cost far more."
The areas of Baidaochuan, Lengshan, and Bailanghe only produce livestock, not grain, making the transport of grain much more troublesome.
Right Guard General Dou Dan shook his head slightly, signaling his elder brother to stop talking.
Isn't the process of escorting grain the perfect opportunity for the Tang Dynasty to flex its muscles to the outside world?
Any country or tribe that dares to rob our supplies should prepare to experience the might of the Tang Dynasty!
Are they after the grain supplies of the Tang Dynasty?
It's alright, the Tang Dynasty still covets their cattle and horses.
Even if we're so poor we don't have any cattle or horses, it doesn't matter. The Iwami Ginzan still needs miners, doesn't it?
Food, lodging, and even a funeral are all included.
Yu Shinan, the Junior Secretary, smiled and said, "The Duke of Zanguo is right. It is better to keep the enemy out of the country than to let foreign enemies invade."
Wei Zheng gave Yu Shinan a deep look and silently shut his mouth.
There was no way to suppress Yu Shinan. Although he was the Secretary of the Imperial Secretariat, Yu Shinan was a man of great virtue, integrity, erudition, literary talent, and calligraphy. He was also one of the eighteen scholars of the Prince of Qin's mansion and was deeply respected by the emperor. Wei Zheng could not control Yu Shinan.
Fortunately, Yu Shinan rarely sought the limelight in his daily life.
Therefore, when Yu Shinan occasionally spoke up for Dou Fengjie, Wei Zheng had to give him some face.
Moreover, Dou Fengjie's words were not entirely without merit.
Just like the Kaiyuan Tongbao coin, it has two sides, obverse and reverse.
The debate ended with a half-joking remark from Liu Heng, the Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices: "The Liangyun Bureau is waiting for the soldiers to bring back grapes from the Western Regions to make wine."
Liu Heng had a close relationship with the emperor and the support of his father-in-law, Dou Dan. In addition, he rarely discussed politics, so his occasional words carried a lot of weight.
Grapes are just a pretext; even cows are more convincing.
"Your Majesty, the Chief Administrator of Tuyuhun, Suhegui, has sent a messenger to report that the Tubo Kingdom has sent people down the Tanggula Pass through Dongben Chidadun to reach Fusi City, intending to recruit Busabo Khan."
Cui Dunli raised his tablet to report.
The official positions of the Tuyuhun were a hybrid of those of the Central Plains dynasties, with ministers, vice ministers, and chief secretaries scattered everywhere. Whoever had the most troops under their command had the most say.
Suhegui's surname is Suhe, and he is a member of the Xianbei ethnic group.
However, his tribe was too weak, and his influence in Tuyuhun was not as great as that of the Qiang people, Liang Qucong.
When things are bad, people think of ways to change; change leads to success.
Su Hegui, who had made contact with the Ministry of War of the Tang Dynasty, said that he only hoped that the Tang Dynasty could allow his tribe to survive, and that he would be even better off if he could be promoted and made rich.
The Tuyuhun people were already in decline, so they naturally weren't afraid of letting Suhegui's name slip out.
"These are opportunists; when the Tang Dynasty was powerful, they could still be trusted."
Li Shimin glanced at Dou Fengjie, who could only step forward, raise his tablet, and give a brief description.
Dou Fengjie guarantees that not a single word is false.
It is rare to find someone like King Tianzhu who would remain loyal with his life and his tribe, especially when the country is in decline.
Well, according to Fei Tingdanji, Su Hegui was persuaded by Po Chou Meilang.
Dou Fengjie's nonchalant demeanor made people underestimate Su Hegui.
No one knows how much destruction an insignificant nobody can cause when disaster strikes.
In fact, Dou Fengjie already knew that the elite troops of Tuyuhun had been sent to Shanshan and Qiemo by Murong Paopao, so that the King could retain some of his remaining strength.
Murong Fuyun, the ruler of the kingdom, was a bad person, but as a father, he was a kind father, the complete opposite of his father, Kualü Khan.
Li Shimin gazed at Hou Junji, who nodded silently.
Besides the troops from the Liangzhou Governor's Office, the remaining 30,000 troops gradually converged on Qinzhou. Su Dingfang and Li Hai'an quietly went to command the troops.
The troops of the Dangxiang Qiang were also quietly gathering. The original plan was to mobilize 30,000 servants to join the army, but with the addition of the Snow Mountain Dangxiang, Bailan Qiang and other tribes, a total of 40,000 people were gathered.
And that doesn't even include the troops from Da Mo Men City, Shu Dun City, and Niu Xin Dui.