"Ask people from the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Household Affairs, and the Ministry of Etiquette to come to a meeting!"
As soon as Li Shimin gave the order, the waiter hurriedly called for someone.
It was still office hours at this time, and all the yamen were working in the "big Internet cafe" in the palace. The chamberlain came in and shouted, and everyone in the department stopped what they were doing.
Cheng Zhijie, who was soloing with someone, also took off his headphones and looked at the waiter.
"Your Majesty called all senior officials from the Ministry of War, Ministry of Household Affairs and Ministry of Rites to attend a meeting?"
"Call the Ministry of War. Is this going to be a war?"
"Absolutely. If you call the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Husbandry, you will either need military reform or a war. But if you call someone from the Ministry of Rites, then it will definitely mean a war."
The reason for this judgment is that the Ministry of Rites was called, which means it is a foreign war, or it is known that the Tang army of the subordinate country is passing through, it is possible They will also be asked to contribute some people and efforts to form a coalition or something.
"Old Li, if you have any news, please come back later!" Cheng Zhijie is not working in these three departments now. At this time, he is no longer playing solo. He said directly to Li Jing, the Minister of the Ministry of War.
Li Jing nodded, walked out of the "Big Internet Cafe" with a large number of officials from these three departments, and turned around and entered the Xiande Hall.
A topographic map of Tianzhu at this time has been projected on a wall inside the Xiande Hall.
Seeing people coming in, Li Shimin didn't talk nonsense: "The Arab Empire's attack on Tianzhu originally had nothing to do with our Tang Dynasty, but now about 3,000 members of the Tang Dynasty's chamber of commerce have lost contact in Tianzhu, including a total of 500 Tang's trading companies. The entire human caravan was massacred by them, so these Tang subjects were probably killed."
Many people here only know that there was a war in Tianzhu, and Tang Ping rushed there to pick them up, but the specific situation is still unclear. Now I heard that almost three thousand Tang Dynasty subjects may have died in Tianzhu, and the Xiande Palace suddenly became Just like the vegetable market.
"Fight, we must fight back!" Wang Qingluan, the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, glanced at Tang Ping, and was the first to say sternly: "Our Ministry of Revenue can now use 300 million Tang Dynasty coins as the first batch of war funds. This year, a total of one billion will be added. The above Tang Dynasty coins are used as war funds."
This war expenditure is not a daily military expenditure, but an additional cost for launching a war such as supplies.
And because it was sudden
The preliminary preparations for the decided expedition, assembling troops, etc. will take almost two or three months, so the subsequent funds can completely match the ground.
"Actually, in terms of funding, I also have some ideas, but we can wait until later. As long as His Majesty authorizes it, I think I can solve a large part of military expenses or supplies." Tang Ping interrupted at this time.
Li Shimin nodded: "I can rest assured that you will make money. I will leave this matter to you, the young couple."
The originally tense atmosphere in the palace was somewhat relieved by Li Shimin's joke.
"It is indeed necessary to fight, but we don't know the Arab Empire's current military deployment in Tianzhu!" Li Jing said: "We need more detailed information to formulate a battle plan."
After hearing what Li Jing said, Tang Ping quickly said: "When we were evacuating, there were almost more than 400 scouts who stayed with the people of Raja Sri. Tianzhu, their main task is to find out the Arab Empire’s military deployment in Tianzhu and possible future trends.”
Li Jing nodded: "Then I will wait for Duke Ping's information."
Doulu Kuan, the Minister of Rites, asked: "I wonder if the troops sent to Tianzhu this time are going to go by land or by sea?"
If we take the land route, the tributary countries on the way south must be notified first. Otherwise, if hundreds of thousands of elite Tang troops enter the country, won't they be frightened to death?
Li Shimin discussed with Li Jing and said: "If we only take the land route, the road conditions are not good, the troop increase is too slow and the supply line is too long, so this time, our march route will be both sea and land."
Li Shimin pointed on the wall with a laser pointer: "The land route is taken from Nanzhao. First, we go straight to Latan City in northern Tianzhu. This is where the commander-in-chief of the Arab Imperial Army, Amru, is now located. There are about 200,000 troops. Gather here.”
This is also the only news about Arab forces that Tang Ping and the others know now.
"So before that, our navy will send other corps to Tianzhu from here, here and here, these seaports, and before the Arab Empire can concentrate its forces, we will break through the various Tianzhu cities they occupy and weaken their power. military force."
"At the same time, the main army of Amru of the Arab Empire is attracted to support in these directions, and the land expeditionary force can wait for opportunities to attack after its troops are divided."
Li Jing said at this time: "Your Majesty,
I suggest sending a naval gunboat into the Mediterranean at the same time to harass the Arab empire-occupied areas on the northern coast of the Mediterranean and approaching Damascus so that their local military forces have no time to move eastward for reinforcements. At the same time, they can also harass their caravans at sea and attack the other party's economy. "
Today's generals of the Tang Dynasty no longer only know how to conquer cities and territories like in the past. They also understand that war is about fighting the economy. A country that cannot sustain its economy may collapse no matter how strong its military power is.
"No problem!" Li Shimin nodded. Anyway, there would be no conflict between the troop transport ships and the gunboats. They could even borrow the ships of large caravans like Tang's Trading Company to transport troops.
After all, it is not an easy task for the Tang Dynasty to send hundreds of thousands of troops to the distant continent of Tianzhu.
"The enemy's is mainly heavy cavalry and heavy infantry. Do you want to bring back the tank corps?" Tang Ping asked.
Li Shimin thought for a while and said: "Now that the tank corps has moved north, and ten tanks do not have much tactical advantage, it is more practical to use steam locomotives to pull some light artillery."
Tang Ping knew that he was still a rookie when it came to fighting, so after hearing what Li Shimin said, he stopped talking.
Li Jing said: "However, we can bring the hot air balloon camp there. It will be very useful in reconnaissance, harassment or night raids."
Nowadays, hot air balloons have begun to develop in a direction similar to airships. Being able to control their own height, speed and direction is completely a battlefield weapon in this era.
"Your Majesty, please give us more signs of the coalition forces of the subordinate countries." Doulu Kuan blinked his small eyes and said: "Even if we contribute military expenses, at least one-third of the domestic military strength of each subordinate country must accompany me on the expedition of the Tang Dynasty!"
This place is full of thousand-year-old foxes. As soon as Doulu Kuan said it, everyone understood. The reason for bringing them was not to use them as cannon fodder, but because the Tang Dynasty mobilized hundreds of thousands of troops to go out and brought these coalition forces to use them in domestic military affairs. Your strength is weakened, don't go out and find yourself unhappy at this time.
Although the current military power of the Tang Dynasty prevents them from touching the tiger's beard easily, they must be on guard against others.
"Okay!" Li Shimin clapped his hands: "Then when everyone goes back, let their respective departments take action. This is our first large-scale overseas battle since the founding of the Tang Dynasty. This battle can only be won but not lost!"
