The Eastern Expedition was originally regarded as a feast of military achievements. Yuchi Gong thought to himself that if he never made any achievements, wouldn't he lose his face?
After returning to Beijing, I won't get any benefits if I reward my merits...
It's better to accept the order and fight this tough battle. What's wrong if there is no gunpowder? In the past thousands of years, there was no gunpowder, so we still attacked cities and plundered territories?
The more difficult the war, the greater the credit. As for preserving strength, that is completely unnecessary. If nothing happens, after this Eastern Expedition, these meritorious ministers will gradually hand over their military power, gradually stay away from the court, and give up the position of the core of power.
If you still hold on to the military power at this time, won't it make the emperor more suspicious of you?
Yuchi Gong is dark and looks like a bear, but he is not stupid at all...
His Majesty Li Er clicked his tongue, frowned, looked to the left and right and asked, "Dear ladies, what do you think?"
From the bottom of his heart, he was unwilling to fight such a head-on battle, relying entirely on human lives. These were the elites of the Tang Dynasty. In the future, they would all be strong men when they returned to their fields. Although most of the soldiers may not fight anymore from now on, the people's livelihood is still alive. These people are needed for construction. How big a loss would it be if they all died in Liaodong?
Population means everything.
But if we don’t fight, who knows when the heavy rain will stop? If we continue to delay like this, if the Eastern Expedition fails to achieve its goal and fails to destroy Goguryeo, then we will be in big trouble.
For this national war in the Eastern Expedition, the entire Tang Dynasty had been preparing for two years, recruiting the most elite troops, countless supplies of food and supplies, and the treasuries of many states and counties were emptied. Next time you want to conquer Goguryeo, you need to save up your family wealth. Don’t even think about it in ten or eight years...
In another ten years, he will also be entering his last years, exhausted of energy and declining in physical strength. No emperor will go to war at the end of his reign. It will only make the government unstable and will not bring any benefit at all.
Therefore, if this Eastern Expedition is not fully successful, then he will never have the chance to overthrow Goguryeo in his life, and the so-called great cause can only end with hatred.
How could an emperor who had great ambitions to surpass the Qin Emperor and the Han Dynasty be willing to accept this?
Since Li Ji came to Liaodong, he has been much better than the previous "keep silent" style in the court. When he heard His Majesty Li Er's question, he stood up and said: "I thought that the words of the Duke of E It can be considered. The reason why the former Sui Dynasty soldiers and horses were strong and strong, but they have never been able to conquer Goguryeo, is because of factors such as the right time and location. The current battle situation is almost the same as that of the Sui Dynasty. They started the war to go straight in, and then were dragged down by various reasons. , delayed the offensive, and eventually autumn and winter came, and they had to return in defeat. One more day of delay would increase the disadvantage of the battle. The morale of the defenders of Anshi City would definitely increase, and the support from Pingrang City would definitely continue to flow. Come here, the advantage we gained in the early stage will disappear bit by bit."
He knew what His Majesty Li Er was worried about why he was unwilling to attack Anshi City. But at this time, as long as Anshi City can be captured quickly, sweep across the entire Liaodong, and then the army goes south to capture Pingrang City, this is the right thing to do. strategy.
How can we tolerate the kindness of women in the battle formation?
In order to achieve this strategic goal, no matter how many sacrifices are made, it is worth it.
His Majesty Li Er stroked his beard, pondered for a moment, looked at the others, and asked, "Do you have any different opinions?"
Everyone said in unison: "Your Majesty, please give the order to attack Anshi City. We are willing to die for it!"
His Majesty Li Er nodded and sighed in his heart. Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly heard Zhang Jian say again: "Your Majesty, why don't you ask the navy to go upstream along the Yalu River, block the river with warships, and block the front of Pingrang City? The incoming support will make Anshi City isolated and helpless, which will definitely dampen its morale. It can even cause the navy to go straight up to Pingrang City along the Xishui River, launch an intrusive attack, and involve Pingrang City's troops, and there will be no more land in Liaodong. Goguryeo’s reinforcements will get twice the result with half the effort!”
There was a sudden silence in the tent...
His Majesty Li Er looked at Zhang Jian and couldn't help but feel a headache.
Who doesn't know that the containment of the navy can greatly disperse Goguryeo's military strength, leaving it no time to worry about the battle situation in the Liaodong region? But among all the ministers in the room, I am the only one to point this out. Why don’t you understand the reason behind this?
There are only so many meritorious deeds. Because the navy had traveled across the seven seas, continuously attacked Annan, Silla, and the Japanese country, and even completely subdued the entire Southeast Asian countries, the navy had long been full of merit, so it was unanimously excluded from this Eastern Expedition. In addition, this was also tacitly approved by him as the emperor.
Even as an emperor, if you want to make your soldiers and generals fight to the death, you must have a bowl of water leveled and distribute the benefits to everyone.
Otherwise, if people are dissatisfied, big trouble will happen...
Zhou Daowu coughed dryly and said: "Now the navy is responsible for the army's supplies, and the task is extremely heavy. After all, the winds and waves are high on the sea, and the boat can capsize if you are not careful. If the navy is allowed to separate the ships and block the troops, Yalushui, or even attack Pingrang City, I am afraid that they will not be able to do it, but will miss the important event. Furthermore, the strategic purpose of the Eastern Expedition is not only to capture the city, but also to eliminate Goguryeo's troops. Otherwise, wait until the army When the troops return to the court, the remaining troops of Goguryeo stir up trouble and capture the city, and the entire Liaodong will fall into a bitter battle, which will inevitably greatly affect the energy of the empire."
Li Ji, Cheng Yaojin, Zhang Liang and others were silent.
They all stand with Fang Jun on the prince's side, and are considered allies. Even if they don't want the navy to participate in it and share the merits, they should try not to say such words from their own mouths, otherwise it will spread to Fang Jun. In the ears, if you can't say it, you will plant a gap.
Since Zhou Daowu has come forward to be the "evil person", everyone should just shut up...
Zhang Jian was senior and could be regarded as a relative of the emperor, so he would not look down upon Zhou Daowu just because he was his consort. He snorted and said in a low voice: "Hitting his dirty thoughts with grand words, how vulgar is Zhou Daowu's consort? It is human nature to want meritorious deeds, but if His Majesty’s great cause of the Eastern Expedition becomes your ladder to seek meritorious deeds, may I ask whether Zhou’s consort has ever put his family, country, and world in his heart?”
Zhou Daowu's face turned blood red.
This is something that everyone has already acquiesced to. I just said it, so why bother staring at me?
Although Zhang Jian was a hero in the founding of the country, Zhou Daowu couldn't bear to be reprimanded in front of so many people, and said angrily: "Why is Wancheng County Duke so violent? I don't need you to worry about my loyalty. The Eastern Expedition Strategy was formulated At the beginning, the task given to the navy was to transport supplies and supplies. It could occasionally assist the army in fighting, but it could never delay its own mission. Now, Wancheng County officials keep bringing the navy out to make excuses. After all, is he dissatisfied with Dong? The formulation of the conquest strategy, or is it deliberately disrupting the overall plan so that Goguryeo can take advantage of it?"
This is heartbreaking.
Zhang Jian said angrily: "Your Majesty is a hero, a role model for the world, an emperor, but I give birth to a son like you who has ulterior motives and confuses right and wrong. I deeply regret it!"
Zhou Daowu is almost going crazy. He just talks about things. What are you doing to bring this about my father? And calling me a "dog son" is intolerable!
"Don't rely on your old age to show off. Do you really think I don't dare to hit you?!"
After shouting, he rushed forward and beat Zhang Jian.
Xue Wanche and Ashina Simo beside him quickly grabbed him. Although they couldn't stand Zhou Daowu acting like a playboy all day long, this was a Chinese army tent after all. How could they allow Zhou Daowu to beat him in front of the emperor? Zhang Jian?
Zhou Daowu struggled to himself and shouted: "Let go quickly, I will beat this barking and biting old dog today!"
Zhang Jian was so angry that he rolled up his sleeves and stepped forward, scolding: "How dare you, kid! When I fought alongside your father, you didn't know where to feed me! Come on, come on, I will teach your father a lesson today, you are an incompetent bastard!"
Li Ji and Cheng Yaojin quickly grabbed him again...
"boom!"
His Majesty Li Er couldn't bear it any longer. He slapped the table hard and cursed angrily: "You bastard! Do you think I'm dead?"
The two were so frightened that they stopped quickly, but still stared at each other angrily, like fighting cocks.
His Majesty Li Er has a headache. These two are so audacious. Could it be that they all learned from Fang Jun's stick, hitting them and pulling them at will?
Pointing at Zhou Daowu, he cursed: "Back then, your father had an irreconcilable relationship with the Wancheng County Bus. If you had saved your father's life in the army, as a son of man, you would treat your father's savior like this!"
Zhou Daowu naturally did not dare to challenge His Majesty Li Er. He cupped his fists and bowed, saying, "I know I was wrong."
His Majesty Li Er looked at Zhang Jian again, his tone was calmer, and he reprimanded: "You are so old, why do you still have the same bad temper? After all, we are old friends, and you don't look at the monk's face to see the Buddha's face, you humiliate him like this , does it show that you are very capable?"
Zhang Jian's face was as dark as water and he was silent.
The reason why he got angry was not entirely at Zhou Daowu, but because he was dissatisfied with His Majesty Li Er's way of playing balance...
