After hearing this, Li Yuan nodded in agreement and said with approval, "What the emperor said is indeed good advice. I'll leave this matter to you."
Seeing that Li Jiancheng's suggestions were adopted by Li Yuan one after another, Li Shimin couldn't sit still. He stepped out and said, "Father, the morale of our Tang army is low at the moment. I think we should find a way to restore their morale as soon as possible."
"Your Majesty, do you have any ideas?"
Li Yuan glanced at Li Shimin lightly, but felt a little unhappy in his heart, secretly thinking that if it weren't for your defeat in Luoyang, the morale of the Tang army would be so low.
Li Shimin had already thought of a countermeasure before saying this, and immediately bowed and said, "Father, I think the best way to build up morale is to win a battle."
Li Jiancheng frowned slightly and said displeasedly, "Is it possible that my second brother still wants to start a war with the Sui army again?"
Li Shimin shook his head with a smile and said, "Although I am unwilling to lose to the Sui army, I also want to find an opportunity to avenge Yang Gao. But I know very well that there is absolutely no gain in fighting the Sui army at this time. One mistake will make the morale of the army even worse. What I mean is to find a soft persimmon to squeeze."
"What the second brother means?" Li Jiancheng had already guessed Li Shimin's intention.
"Yes, what I mean is to attack Master Liang who is currently entrenched in Diaoyin County."
Li Shimin nodded solemnly, turned to Li Yuan and said, "Father, since the separatist forces such as Xue Ju and Li Gui were wiped out by our Tang Dynasty, although Liang Shidu was lucky enough to rely on the blessing of the Turks, the soldiers and civilians under his rule have alienated him. . His generals Xin Li'er, Li Zhengbao, Feng Duan and others have turned against us and surrendered to the Tang Dynasty. According to what I know, Liang Division now has no more than 20,000 soldiers under his command, and no more than ten generals, who can be destroyed with a flip of a hand."
"No!"
Li Jiancheng immediately stopped him and said, "Father, I have just said that the people of the Tang Dynasty are tired of war and the morale of the army is weakened. It is okay to let Chai Rong and Li Guangbi organize a small elite force to assist Temujin Khan in attacking Yelu Abaoji, but If they want to send out troops to annihilate all the princes on their own, it may be difficult for the imperial court to support them.
In addition, according to Erchen's knowledge, Liang Shidu has now taken refuge with Temujin. If we send troops to annihilate Liangshidu at this time, I am afraid that it will arouse the anger of Temujin Khan, which will not be conducive to our joint resistance to the Sui Dynasty. "
"Liang Shidu is now at the end of his treacherous path as everyone has rebelled against his relatives. To destroy him, we don't need to dispatch many troops at all."
Li Shimin said loudly, "Father, I only need 10,000 elite soldiers to annihilate the Liang division in one month.
As for Temujin, he should be very clear in his heart that Master Liang's so-called submission was just out of helplessness and not sincere. As long as we can annihilate Liangshidu with a thunderous force, will Temujin still fall out with us because of Liangshidu after he understands the strength of the Tang Dynasty? "
"These are just your own speculations and cannot be taken seriously. If you fail to destroy Liang Master this time, have you thought about the consequences?"
Li Jiancheng criticized Li Shimin mercilessly, and then turned to Li Yuan and said, "Father, the Tang Dynasty can no longer take risks, and I do not recommend sending troops to annihilate the Liang division at this time."
Li Yuan looked up at the two brothers who were quarreling red, frowned slightly, waved towards Li Shimin and said, "That's it, Erlang, Dalang is right. We, the Tang Dynasty, really can't take risks at the moment. We should think of other strategies to unite the military's morale." !”
"Father, I promise"
Li Shimin still seemed a little unwilling, and wanted to continue to persuade Li Yuan. But Li Yuan glared at him fiercely and said coldly, "I have made up my mind, there is no need to say anything else!"
Looking at Li Yuan's cold eyes, Li Shimin felt his heart tremble, and then suddenly remembered that it was because of his sworn guarantee that Li Yuan made up his mind to send troops to Luoyang, but now not only Luoyang has not been captured, but also the important territory of Bashu has been lost. , even the capital Chang'an was captured by the Sui army. How could Li Yuan still believe his promise now?
Li Shimin, who understood, immediately did not dare to persist anymore, because he knew that with his father's character, if he continued to be stubborn, he was afraid that Li Yuan would settle all the old and new debts with him, so he immediately retreated. .
Seeing Li Shimin retreating with knowledge, Li Yuan's inner anger calmed down and he continued, "My dear friends, do you have any other suggestions? Just keep speaking out."
"His Majesty!"
Dugu Zhen took two steps forward and said in a deep voice, "After the Sui army captured Chang'an, they not only looted all our mansions, but also burned the title deeds of the houses and divided up all the fields and manors in our names. The old minister originally wanted to take back these belongings." The land was divided, but those unruly people refused to acknowledge it."
"Oh? Is this happening?" Li Yuan's brows jumped slightly.
"That's absolutely true, Your Majesty."
Dugu Zhen nodded, with a look of sadness and indignation on his face. "Yesterday, the old minister sent a steward to Chencun Village in the north of the city to take back the one thousand acres of land that originally belonged to the Dugu family. Who would have expected that those unruly people would gather to make trouble and beat the old minister's steward. The old minister begged me Your Majesty makes the decision for the veteran."
"Master Dugu, isn't that right? I've never heard that the Dugu family has land in Chen Township!"
Li Shimin sneered, stared at Dugu Zhen and said. It can be said that the person who hated the aristocratic family the most in the entire Tang Dynasty was Li Shimin. It was precisely because of the damn patriarchal system of the aristocratic family that his eldest brother Li Jiancheng, whose talents were inferior to his, took the position of prince.
In addition, he was quite dissatisfied with the employment rules of the aristocratic families. Whether in the military or in the court, many people with mediocre abilities took advantage of their status as Guanlong nobles to seize high positions. And the truly capable people under him, such as Du Ruhui, Gao Xianzhi, Yu Chigong and others, have followed him and fought desperately on the battlefield for many years, but they are just a small general or long history under his Tiance Mansion. Basically, No countertops allowed.
Li Shimin already knew the ins and outs of the Chencun Village incident. It was clear that the Dugu family wanted to take advantage of the destruction of the land deed, but unexpectedly they were resisted by the villagers who shared the same hatred and drove away the steward who came to seize the land.
Originally, Li Shimin just secretly mocked the Dugu family's greed in his heart and did not want to ask about it. But now Dugu Zhen actually wants to use his father's power to gain personal power for him. How could this be possible? If the father agreed to this and sent troops to seize the land for the Guanlong nobles, this would inevitably cause the Tang Dynasty to lose the support of the people in Guanzhong.
After Dugu Zhen heard Li Shimin's words, he couldn't help but curse Li Shimin secretly in his heart. He knelt down on the ground, with tears streaming down his face, and choked up and said, "Your Majesty, I do have land in Chenxiang, but now the land deed has been destroyed." There is no proof of death. The old minister is incompetent and cannot keep the family fortune left by his ancestors. The old minister feels ashamed and really has no intention of serving His Majesty anymore."
