When I was worried that the fish in the fish pond were about to fly, I didn't expect that Gao Fu and Lao Geng, a group of old guys, came with a magical assist, and they managed it so muddle-headedly.
Really——
What an unexpected surprise.
The prince breathed a sigh of relief and slept particularly sweetly at night.
Li Shimin couldn't sleep.
It wasn't just because half of the son-in-law he got was taken away, but a more difficult problem was placed in front of him.
From Cheng Yaojin's house, he returned to the imperial study with a dark face. Before he could take a breath, he saw Li Daozong, the minister of Honglu Temple, circling around the door of his imperial study like an ant on a hot pot.
Seeing the anxious look on Li Daozong's face, Li Shimin couldn't help but feel a shiver in his heart, and immediately forgot about those little things about the love between children.
It was getting so late, and soon it would be time for the palace door to be locked. If my eldest brother came here to look for me, he must have encountered some special situation.
"His Majesty--"
As soon as Li Shimin came back, Li Daozong hurriedly came up to greet him and bowed to salute him. Li Shimin stepped forward and helped him up, deliberately sullen and scolding.
"There are no outsiders here. Why should we be so formal between you and my brothers——"
Li Daozong didn't care about politeness and couldn't help but look anxious as soon as he entered the imperial study room.
"Your Majesty, I don't know why. This afternoon, the envoys from Tubo and Tuyuhun suddenly changed their attitude. They have officially informed the reception officials that the opening of the market and the proposal to marry the Princess of Tang Dynasty must be held in court tomorrow morning. Give an answer, otherwise, they will return immediately, and Datang will be responsible for all consequences..."
After Li Shimin heard this, a look of anger suddenly appeared on his face.
"This group of uncivilized foreign barbarians actually took advantage of the situation and robbed them. It is really annoying and hateful. Sooner or later, I will make them look good -"
In fact, it is not to blame that Li Shimin lost his composure. The main reason was that the timing of the arrival of these two groups of envoys was really good. Almost as soon as the Turkic army pressed the border, their people arrived.
And put forward two incredible conditions.
First, ask Datang to open up the market and relax control over salt and iron.
Second, I want to marry the princess of the Tang Dynasty and marry the Qin and Jin Dynasties.
It is not impossible to open up the market and allow both parties to buy and sell conditionally. In fact, in recent years, bilateral private trade has been cut off from outside, but it is absolutely impossible to relax the control of salt and iron. He rejected the idea of marrying the Princess of Tang Dynasty on the grounds that the princess was too young to be married.
Is this a marriage proposal?
Is this a friendship?
This is obviously taking advantage of the Turkic army's pressure on the border to maliciously blackmail!
How could the Tang court agree to such an absurd request?
But the timing was too good. At this time, Datang was in trouble both internally and externally, and could not spare any time to deal with these two neighbors.
Therefore, facing this problem, Datang's basic strategy is to delay. As long as it can be delayed until the spring of next year, the disaster situation is alleviated, or good news comes from Mobei, these problems will be solved.
Therefore, regarding these two issues, the two sides have been talking back and forth for a long time. Unexpectedly, their faces suddenly changed this afternoon.
Looking at Li Shimin with an angry expression, Li Daozong couldn't help but reveal a wry smile, stepped forward and said.
"Your Majesty, their attitude suddenly changed this time. I am worried that there is a reason for this. Maybe they got some news..."
Having said this, Li Daozong suddenly took a deep breath, and a trace of worry flashed across his face.
"Maybe they got some news..."
When Li Shimin heard this, his heart suddenly trembled, and a glimmer of light flashed in his eyes.
"You mean Mobei——"
Li Daozong nodded slightly.
"Their attitude changed so suddenly, with almost no warning - other than that, Wei Chen can't think of why they suddenly became so confident..."
When Li Shimin heard this, he couldn't help but stand up silently, walked around the imperial study room a few times, and then gave instructions in a deep voice.
"It is said that Li Junxian came to see——"
After a while, Li Junxian arrived in a hurry and bowed to salute.
"His Majesty--"
"You immediately send someone to inquire about news about Mobei along the border at the border. If you have any news, report it immediately——"
Without saying a word, Li Junxian immediately went out to arrange manpower.
If there is any news at the border, there will naturally be a special communication channel. His Majesty specially arranged this matter, I am afraid something has happened!
"Immediately summon Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, and Changsun Wuji to the palace to see—"
No matter how we deal with this kind of thing tomorrow, we must come up with an idea in advance. Because of one careless handling, the court may face the terrible situation of war on three sides.
But today's Tang Dynasty can't afford it.
The disaster areas in Henan, Hebei, Shandong and northwest regions are still continuing, and the number of people affected by the disaster is still increasing. Memorials from various places asking for help from the imperial court are flying in like snowflakes.
If Li Shimin hadn't made a huge profit from the food war some time ago, he might have been unable to hold on long ago. Although we can still manage to survive now, we will never face another war.
The situation is serious.
The imperial study room was brightly lit all night, and the big bosses hardly slept a wink all night.
The palace confinement has been locked, although several people were placed in the side hall by Li Shimin to rest temporarily. But when they woke up the next day, they all had panda eyes and serious faces.
…
Early morning.
When Li Daozong told the ultimatum between Tuyuhun and Tubo, there was an explosion in the court hall.
"Fanbang boy, how dare you be so presumptuous? Your Majesty, please send troops - we must let them know the power of my Heavenly Soldiers of the Tang Dynasty!"
When Cheng Yaojin and others heard this, they jumped out with a grunt and patted their chests one by one to ask for a fight.
Li Shimin's eyes were deep, scanning the faces of the ministers one by one, and he asked in a deep voice.
"My dear friends, do you have any good ideas——"
"Your Majesty, the war in Mobei is urgent now, and various places have been severely affected. Most of the food that has just been stored in the warehouse a few days ago has been consumed. If there is another war, I am worried..."
Tang Jian couldn't help but look bitter.
I just said that my life at hand was getting better, but who knew that just a few days after Ansheng's birthday, he would encounter such a terrible thing.
The Minister of Civil Affairs is really helpless.
"Your Majesty, opening a market and letting go of the salt and iron matters is almost equivalent to subsidizing the enemy. This matter is absolutely impossible! If we comply at this time, there will be endless disasters. Wei Chen believes that no matter what, we cannot compromise. "
Wei Zheng frowned. He also knew the situation in the court, but there were some things that he really couldn't say anything about.
"Your Majesty, what Tang Shangshu and Secretary Wei said is reasonable, but the situation is here now. If we reject it outright, I'm afraid we will soon face the risk of fighting on three sides..."
Wang Gang, Shaoqing of Dali Temple, said in a deep voice without squinting his eyes.
"Wei Chen believes that being tough will not help the situation - the current plan is not to appease and win over for the time being, and then plan it slowly..."
Hearing this, Li Shimin couldn't help but his eyes lit up and he nodded slightly.
"Wang Aiqing, do you have any good ideas——"
"What they want is nothing more than three things: opening up the market, lifting restrictions on salt and iron, and marrying the princess. As Secretary Wei said, letting go of salt and iron is tantamount to endangering the enemy, which is definitely not feasible."
Having said this, Wang Gang paused and said slowly.
"But opening a market is not without merit for me, Datang. What's more, over the years, our private transactions with Tubo and Tuyuhun have never been cut off. Even if we agree, it is just a change from private to official. On the contrary, it is convenient If you can’t manage the imperial court, why not do it..."
The opening of a market has been controversial for a long time.
However, those who agree and those who oppose it hold different opinions and can't argue.
Most of the ministers from the Wang family, Zheng family and Changsun family were supportive. It is believed that the advantages of opening up a discussion forum and exchanging what is needed outweigh the disadvantages. In some cases, some salt and iron can even be released with restrictions in exchange for high benefits to fill the national treasury.
Of course, everyone knows very well that the families behind these people have huge transactions with Tubo and Tuyuhun every year. Once a formal discussion area is formed, it can be changed from light to dark, and the benefit is of course visible to the naked eye.
Those who opposed it believed that Tuyuhun and Tubo were both barren lands with poor products, and opening up the market would only benefit them and gradually grow stronger, while Datang would not get much benefit. As one goes down and the other goes up, there will inevitably be endless disasters.
But now the situation was sudden, and when Wang Gang raised this issue again, everyone couldn't help but fall into deep thought.
After all, comparatively speaking, this issue is not non-negotiable.
Immediately, many people agreed. This time, even Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, Wei Zheng and others could not help but remain silent.
In fact, they had already reached a consensus on this point last night. The situation is like this. If we don't give people a little sweetness, we won't be able to appease them at all.
"Since you all think so, I will leave it to the Minister of Honglu Temple and Wang Aiqing to assist in the matter -"
Wang Gang accepted the order in a deep voice, but did not retreat. Instead, he raised his head and looked at Li Shimin who was sitting in the Jinluan Hall.
"But Wei Chen believes that the key to these three items is not the market, not the salt and iron, but the one of marrying the princess. If we only agree to the market, it may be difficult to appease the other party——"
As soon as these words came out, Li Shimin's face was as dark as water, and there were a lot of discussions in the court. Wang Gang ignored him and bowed deeply to Li Shimin.
"If we, the Tang Dynasty, are willing to marry the princess and form a good relationship with Tuyuhun and Tubo between the Qin and Jin Dynasties, then there will be no danger of war between the two sides, the borders will be harmonious, and the people will be happy. We will also be able to breathe and avoid the risk of fighting on three sides - why? No?"
"Fuck your mother-in-law, Wang, you say so nicely, why don't you marry your daughter off!"
Before Li Shimin could say anything, Cheng Yaojin could not help but scream loudly.
"Is it possible that I, a man of the Tang Dynasty, must die and ask a girl to buy peace for us? Your Majesty, this matter must not be done. I am willing to raise 30,000 troops to quell the dispute!"
Unexpectedly, Wang Gang didn't even look at him. He raised his head and looked at Li Shimin on the dragon throne, his voice as calm as ever.
"If I marry a daughter from the Wang family, it will bring stability to the border, and the Wang family will be obliged to do so——"
Having said this, Wang Gang took a step forward and said in a deep voice.
"Your Majesty, I risk my life to speak frankly. I, the Princess of the Tang Dynasty, have been favored by the emperor. She is well-dressed and well-fed, so I should relieve the worries of the court. The border officers and soldiers can shed their lives and blood for the Tang Dynasty. Are you reluctant to marry for the Tang Dynasty? A princess?"
This is simply heartbreaking!
There was a sudden silence in the court, and Li Shimin's face was as gloomy as water.
At this point, there was no room for him to avoid this issue.
"Your Majesty, although Wang Shaoqing's words are reckless, they are not unreasonable. If the Turks had not caused chaos and the war continued, why would we be here? If Your Majesty does not agree, I am worried that once our Tang Dynasty falls into a three-sided war, The disaster on the banks of the Weishui River in the past is just around the corner - it is a shame that I am old and decrepit and cannot carry the three-foot sword to relieve Your Majesty from the dangers at the border..."
Lu Youzhi, the admonishing doctor, stood up from the train and bowed deeply.
"I risk my life to ask your majesty to marry the princess..."
There was no emotion or anger on Li Shimin's face, but his fists were clenching. He suppressed the anger in his heart and said calmly.
"For the sake of the Tang Dynasty, I will naturally not be reluctant to marry a princess, but my daughter is still young, so I am afraid it is not suitable to marry far away——"
"Your Majesty, the Tibetan envoy heard that Princess Yuzhang is dignified, beautiful, smart, and over 28 years old. Yesterday, she specially notified the old minister to report back to your majesty and say that she is willing to marry her——"
Wang Dian, the gray-haired young minister of Honglu Temple, came out of the procession and bowed.
Li Shimin now has only three biological daughters of the right age.
Princess Li Lizhi of Changle is said to be interested in marrying Zhangsun Chong, the eldest son of Changsun Wuji. Princess Li Liqing of Gaoyang is said to be interested in marrying Fang Xuanling's second son. The remaining one is Princess Li Yueming of Yuzhang.
Li Shimin was stabbed by this old thief and almost vomited blood.
But I don't know how to explain it.
Needless to say, from the bottom of his heart, he was not willing to marry his daughter far away and engage in such a humiliating marriage. Even if he is willing, Princess Yuzhang is not suitable. She just got married to Prince An yesterday.
It's a pity that this bitch Wang Zi'an is not in the court, otherwise there should be a way to deal with this bitch Wang, right?
However, except for Li Xiaogong, who handled the matter of marrying Prince An, he has not announced it to the outside world. If this matter is raised, I am afraid that it will be opposed by all the officials immediately.
How could a princess with a golden branch and jade leaves marry an ordinary commoner without any official status?
At this time, Li Shimin's intestines turned blue with regret. If I had known that there would be a situation like this, no matter what, I would give him a title first.
Just when the court suddenly fell into a terrible silence, rapid footsteps were suddenly heard from the door of the hall.
"Report - urgent report at the border, eight hundred miles urgent, great victory in Xiangcheng, capture Jieli alive -"
Before anyone could enter the main hall, the news of the great victory had already reached the main hall.
There was an uproar in the court hall.
Li Shimin jumped down from the dragon chair with a sound, showing a look of ecstasy.
(Please refresh after five minutes)
How could a princess with a golden branch and jade leaves marry an ordinary commoner without any official status?
At this time, Li Shimin's intestines turned blue with regret. If I had known that there would be a situation like this, no matter what, I would give him a title first.
Just when the court suddenly fell into a terrible silence, rapid footsteps were suddenly heard from the door of the hall.
"Report - urgent report at the border, eight hundred miles urgent, great victory in Xiangcheng, capture Jieli alive -"
Before anyone could enter the main hall, the news of the great victory had already reached the main hall.
There was an uproar in the court hall.
Li Shimin jumped down from the dragon chair with a sound, showing a look of ecstasy.
