Changsun Wuji sat under Li Ji with a sullen face, his eyes turned around on the faces of everyone in the tent, and then he turned back and said to Li Ji: "If the British government has any charter, you might as well take it out directly. We should unite at this time." Let’s work together to overcome the difficulties. If anyone acts against the will and spoils the great event of the Eastern Expedition, he will be punished according to the laws of the country!"
Everyone present nodded in agreement, but it was unclear what they were thinking.
Li Ji naturally knew it well and couldn't help but sigh secretly.
The army of the Tang Dynasty seemed to have millions of fierce tigers and commanded the world, but in fact it was internally divided into factions and had its own affairs, and internal strife was extremely serious. Otherwise, His Majesty would not have had to personally lead the Eastern Expedition...
With His Majesty here before, these people had to take the overall situation into consideration no matter what their plans were. But now that His Majesty is unconscious and unable to take charge of the overall situation, the suppressed selfish desires in these people's hearts will inevitably emerge, and it will be difficult to suppress them again.
But at this time, it is natural that he, the chief minister, should be in charge of the central army to stabilize the morale of the army.
Li Jidao: "The previous plan of the army was to rely on Chang Sun Chong to open the Seven Star Gate and welcome the army into the city. Although we don't know what happened to Chang Sun Chong at the moment, it is impossible to enter the city from the Seven Star Gate. We can only gather the army and attack Ping Ping. Rangcheng."
Xue Wanche interjected: "Chang Sun Chong had committed a major crime of treason before. His Majesty was magnanimous and allowed him to perform meritorious service for his crime. However, this time, the army fell into the city and suffered countless losses. It can be seen that he must be in the same spirit as Yuan Gaisu Wen. Complete surrender of Goguryeo should be announced to the world, and everyone will be able to kill him!"
He kept Cheng Yaojin's teachings in mind, he had to admit his own mistakes, but he had to pass the biggest mistake on to Changsun Chong, otherwise he would never be able to bear it.
For the sake of his wealth and life, he naturally did not care whether he would offend Changsun Wuji to the death...
Changsun Wuji's pale face turned red, and he said displeasedly: "It is true that something went wrong at the Seven Star Sect, but the details are not yet known. General Xue is so eager to blame his mistakes on others, which seems to be not honest enough."
Qiu Xiaozhong said from the side: "What Duke Zhao Guo said is reasonable. Although Changsun Chong failed to fulfill the trust and failed to complete the important tasks entrusted by His Majesty, is there another reason behind it? We don't know at the moment, so he forcefully pushed all the mistakes to the other side. It’s unfair on him.”
"Hey!"
Xue Wanche squinted at Qiu Xiaozhong and sneered: "In any case, the fact that the army fell into the city and suffered huge losses was due to Chang Sun Chong's mistake. Whether it was sincere or unintentional, what does that have to do with Mr. Xue? It's you. Did your uncle ever know that Qiu Xiaozhong was licking Zhao Guogong like this?"
Qiu Xiaozhong is Qiu Xinggong's nephew. Although he is not close by blood, he has been taken care of by Qiu Xinggong in recent years. But now that Qiu Xinggong and Changsun Wuji have turned against each other, it is a matter known to both the government and the public. Qiu Xiaozhong is so inclined to Changsun Wuji, and indeed his position is not very antagonistic...
These words were extremely unpleasant to hear. Qiu Xiaozhong blushed and became furious: "Fart! I only discuss matters, and I want you, a rough and tumbler, to make comments?"
How could Xue Wanche be afraid of him?
He immediately slammed the table and shouted angrily: "Mother! If you don't accept it, we will sign a life and death certificate and go out to fight outside the camp gate. Whether it is life or death, each of us will accept his fate!"
Qiu Xiaozhong also shouted: "Just go!"
Li Ji was both big and tall, and his anger rose in his heart. He shouted angrily: "You bastard, do you think I'm dead? Come on!"
"exist!"
Two soldiers outside the tent entered in response.
Li Ji pointed at Xue Wanche and Qiu Xiaozhong and said, "Drag these two people out and give them twenty military sticks each to serve as a warning to others!"
Mother!
He was also really angry. Do you really think that he, the head of the prime minister and the deputy commander of the army, is just a free man?
It’s so deceiving!
"Here!"
The soldier turned around and called another group of people in, then waited to come forward.
Xue Wanche shook his robe and strode outside the tent: "My right leg can walk on its own!"
Qiu Xiaozhong turned around and shouted to Li Ji: "This matter is caused by Xue Wanche being unreasonable. How can the British Lord be regarded as the same guilty? I don't accept it!"
Li Ji looked gloomy and said nothing.
A group of soldiers pounced on him like wolves and tigers, pushed Qiu Xiaozhong to the ground and carried him out. Qiu Xiaozhong struggled and defended loudly: "The British Lord is unfair, and I don't accept it!"
Li Ji said coldly: "The military order is like a mountain and cannot be refuted. Add twenty more military sticks!"
Qiu Xiaozhong saw that his efforts to defend himself only resulted in a higher degree of guilt. He knew that Li Ji was determined to punish him today, and he could withstand thirty military sticks, but his face would be lost in the future, so he hurriedly begged to Changsun Wuji. Said: "Please also ask Duke Zhao to uphold justice!"
Before Changsun Wuji could say anything, Li Ji had already shouted: "Qiu Xiaozhong ignored the military order and added twenty military sticks!"
Changsun Wuji's eyelids twitched suddenly, and the anger surged in his heart. He finally suppressed it, his face was gloomy, and he remained silent.
Cheng Yaojin and others secretly shook their heads. I don't know if Qiu Xiaozhong is really stupid or pretending to be stupid. Li Ji has made it clear that he wants to establish his authority, so as to establish his status as the number one person under His Majesty. He will not allow anyone to challenge his authority. You Instead, he went to ask for mercy from Changsun Wuji. Isn't this asking for trouble?
Under such circumstances, it’s useless even if you are Changsun Wuji’s biological son...
On the contrary, it was Xue Wanche who pointed out Chang Sun Chong's guilt in public and expressed his attitude. No one who mentioned this matter in the future could avoid Chang Sun Chong's guilt. The beating with the military stick was worth it.
When the soldiers dragged Qiu Xiaozhong away, Li Ji looked at Changsun Wuji and said warmly: "Your Majesty is still training and cannot come to the army in person. I can only temporarily act as commander-in-chief and give orders like mountains. This cannot be refuted. It is definitely not intentional." Regarding this, I hope Duke Zhao will be considerate."
Changsun Wuji squeezed out a smile, nodded and said: "The British Lord is too worried. It is said that there are no two days in the sky and no two masters of the people. Since His Majesty cannot personally handle military affairs, it is natural for the British Lord to do it for him. Whoever dares to disobey the British Lord is If you disobey Your Majesty, you should be beaten and punished, who dares to say no?"
No one in the tent dared to say a word.
These two are currently the two most powerful people in the Tang Dynasty. With such tit-for-tat confrontation, who dares to get involved?
Hearing Changsun Wuji actually say such words as "Heaven has two days, and the people have no two masters" to describe Li Ji, and even said "To disobey the British Duke is to disobey His Majesty", I felt a slight chill in my heart. The name "Changsun Yinren" is well-deserved, and as soon as he speaks out, he puts Li Ji in an extremely disadvantageous position.
As long as everything went well in the Eastern Expedition, if something went wrong again, rumors would spread that "Li Ji conspired to usurp the throne and was disobedient".
It’s really vicious and cruel...
Li Ji glanced at Changsun Wuji coldly, did not quarrel with him, and said to everyone present with a cold face: "You must all know the current situation. If we can successfully capture Pingrang City and overthrow Goguryeo, the Eastern Expedition will be a success. In the end, you are all heroes of the empire, and your names will go down in history. But if things go against your wishes, because the fighting between each other leads to a corruption of the war, and the best opportunity to overthrow Goguryeo is missed, and you have to return in vain, not only will your majesty's grand hegemony be in vain, I and you will also become the sinners of the empire, and we will be notorious and infamy for thousands of years!"
Everyone agreed.
There is no doubt about this. Everyone can see clearly that victory in the Eastern Expedition is the greatest benefit. Everyone shares it, and everyone gets the rain and dew. In the same way, once the Eastern Expedition failed and had to return in defeat like the Sui Dynasty before, then someone must stand up and take responsibility for the failure of this war that almost exhausted the empire's national power.
No one can bear this responsibility, so everyone must share it...
Of course, if you understand clearly, only God knows whether you can control your own selfish desires in private and truly unite and devote yourself to the war regardless of gains and losses.
But at least it can be consistent on the surface, and Li Ji is very satisfied.
He said: "The previous battle plan remains unchanged. All ministries continue to attack Pingrang City in one go. Goguryeo must not be given a chance to breathe."
Then he said to Cheng Yaojin: "The Seven Star Gate is located in the north of Pingrang City. The terrain outside the city is flat and easy for the army to attack. It is still the top priority. Your department is still responsible for storming the Seven Star Gate and must break the city within ten days. Enter, can you do it?”
Cheng Yaojin understood this in his heart and understood that Li Ji was giving him an opportunity to redeem his merits. As long as the Seven Star Gate was captured, the previous guilt would be greatly reduced, if not completely wiped out.
He immediately expressed his stance: "Don't worry, Mr. British, I have long wanted to retire as an official, so I regard this Seven Star Gate as the last battle in my life. If this gate is not broken, I swear not to return home!"
Xue Wanche also quickly echoed: "If this gate is not broken, the general will never return home!"
