"On the way here, we met a convoy of family members of General Li Daozong, the governor of Lingzhou. However, some of them were sick and stayed where they were for the time being. It is estimated that it will take two or three days to arrive." Yang Anning told Li Ke For a moment.
Li Daozong? Li Ke was slightly stunned. Li Daozong's family members came to Tuyuhun? This is simply impossible under normal conditions. After all, this was once a war zone. If his family members are coming soon, it means that there is only one reason. Li Shimin issued an edict.
Li Ke thought about it and guessed the reason. Is Li Daozong the next Protector of Xizhou?
The Protectorate of Xizhou is different from other positions. This position requires a relatively stable and trustworthy Protector. If this is the case, it means that once he takes office, it may last for several years, or even more than ten years, and then the family members will be happy to come. Excuse me.
Li Daozong was a member of the Tang clan. Li Daozong's grandfather and Li Yuan's father were brothers. Li Daozong was Li Yuan's cousin. Li Daozong was a famous border guard general in the Tang Dynasty. He had been guarding the border in Lingzhou (later Wuzhong City, Ningxia) before he went to Tuyuhun. From the fifth year of Wude to the eighth year of Zhenguan before his expedition to Tuyuhun, Li Daozong's family had always been in Lingzhou.
I just didn't expect that he would be transferred to Xizhou again. It is impossible for Li Ke to serve as the next protector of Xizhou. After Xizhou is stabilized this year, Li Ke will definitely return to Chang'an.
Speaking of Li Daozong, Li Ke became interested because Li Daozong was also closely related to a famous person in history, that is Princess Wencheng.
There is no record of Princess Wencheng's natal family, birthplace, date of birth, etc. in the history books. However, later generations speculated based on some clues that she was the daughter of Jiangxia County Prince Li Daozong. Li Daozong has not yet named Jiangxia County Prince. It is said that Li Daozong was born in 600. He is only nineteen years older than Li Ke. He is just thirty-six years old this year and is in his prime.
As for whether she is his daughter or not, Li Ke has no way of verifying what didn't happen. And now that he is here, does Songtsen Gampo want to marry the Princess of Tang Dynasty? Just dream.
"Go and ask General Li Daozong, the governor of Lingzhou, to come." Li Ke thought for a while and gave the order.
"Yes!" A guard outside the door quickly turned and left.
Li Daozong rushed over quickly.
"I have met His Highness." Li Daozong came in and saluted Li Ke first.
"General Li is polite, after all, you are still my uncle." Li Ke said with a smile, "That's right, General Li, I heard that your family is on the way to Xizhou?"
"Yes, Your Highness." Li Daozong could not see any emotion or anger, but said calmly.
"So, you should be the next Protector of Xizhou." Li Ke never likes to be secretive, so it's better to make this kind of thing clear.
"I dare not presume on the holy will." Li Daozong cupped his hand.
"To be honest, I don't agree with my father's decision." Li Ke shook his head.
Li Daozong: "..." Silent, mainly because he didn't understand what Li Ke wanted to say. Li Daozhong didn't understand Li Ke. He was stationed in Lingzhou all year round and heard about some of Li Ke's actions. On the contrary, what happened after Li Ke came to Xizhou A series of behaviors are the most detailed for Li Daozong.
After understanding it, Li Daozong could only think of two words: admire!
Although he didn't know if all this was a strategy planned for Li Ke, he felt that it probably wasn't the case. If there were similar capable people in the court, Datang would have implemented a similar strategy long ago and would not have waited until today.
But he had never dealt with Li Ke, so he just kept silent. As for what Li Ke said, Li Daozong listened, and he couldn't say it anyway.
Glancing at Li Daozong, Li Ke sighed slightly in his heart. From his reaction, Li Ke could tell that people like Li Daozong were difficult to deal with! It's not like people like Cheng Yaojin, Yuchi Jingde, or even Li Jing who are easy to handle.
"It's not that I don't believe in General Li's ability, but General Li has been guarding the border for the Tang Dynasty for thirteen years, and now he has been transferred to Xizhou. Compared with Lingzhou, the conditions here are more difficult, and General Li has to continue to endure hardships and harvest wool. You can't catch a sheep and pluck it up." Li Ke sighed deliberately.
The corner of Li Daozong's mouth twitched, "How dare I be that sheep?" Seeing his expression, Li Ke's mouth curved, OK, just say it if you have mood swings.
"Your Highness is serious. As a general of the Tang Dynasty, it is your duty to guard the borders for the Tang Dynasty." Li Daozong said seriously.
Well, I don't want to complain.
"General Li, although I don't agree with my father's decision, I can understand my father's embarrassment, because in the future, only you can be qualified for the position of Protector of Xizhou!" Li Ke's tone suddenly became serious.
Li Daozong was stunned for a moment. Only he can do it? Why? Speaking of which, although he is not bad among the generals of the Tang Dynasty, he is not in the forefront. Not to mention older famous generals like Li Jing, those who are about the same age as him, such as Hou Junji, are not worse than him.
Looking at his expression, Li Ke snickered in his heart, but said with a serious face: "It's very simple, Xizhou's plan is related to the Tang Dynasty's future strategy for the entire Western Region and Tubo! It seems that the Tang Dynasty's powerful general There are quite a few, but General Li is the only one who has rich experience in border defense, is excellent in both civil and military affairs, and is able to work hard and dedicate himself to the task."
"And the reason why my father sent me here is to be honest with General Li. I am doing all the planning in Xizhou. Before leaving, I told my father and asked him to help me find a person who can fight as fast as the wind. He is as slow as a forest, as plundering as fire, as motionless as a mountain, as unpredictable as the shadows, and as moving as a thunderous general, and his military and political governance must be protected by the style of a Marquis of Wu. Now that I see it, my father really has a sharp vision."
"Your Highness, you are so flattering! I really don't deserve it." Li Daozong blushed a little at the praise.
"General Li, I am not giving you a high hat, but this is indeed what I think. Looking at General Li's past achievements, it does meet my requirements. General Li must have heard about my character, so I will not spare the circle. , I'll just say it straight. General Li, my next goal in the Tang Dynasty is Tubo and the Western Regions!" Li Ke said with a serious face.
Li Daozong was a little shocked, but before his shock could subside, Li Ke continued to press forward: "The key to being able to do this is General Li! General Li has been guarding the border for a long time. It should be clear that like the Tang Dynasty The current way of dealing with nomadic peoples like the Eastern Turks is actually equivalent to raising a pack of wolves in captivity, which is difficult to raise, and the best way is to completely assimilate them!"
"The best way to assimilate is culture! And there is only one basis for cultural assimilation: knowing the etiquette if you have enough food and clothing, and knowing honor and disgrace if you have enough food and clothing. Without etiquette and honor and disgrace, it is impossible to implement culture. In layman's terms, you can't even eat. If you don’t have enough to eat, you will starve to death. It is impossible for you to expect him to learn etiquette and honor.”
"So, if we must say that generals such as Li Jing and Cheng Yaojin are the Wei Qing of the Tang Dynasty and the champion princes of the Tang Dynasty, General Li, what you are going to do now is the Wu Hou of the Tang Dynasty! Wen Chengwu Zhi is indispensable! You are doing it for The Tang Dynasty laid the foundation for the expansion of the territory and laid the foundation for a peaceful and prosperous age for the people of the Tang Dynasty. If one day, the Tang Dynasty can do what rivers do, and all the sun and the moon shine on are Tang soil, then what you do, General Li, will be the result of rivers The source of it, the radiance of the sun and the moon.”
"I will live up to the trust of Your Majesty and His Highness!" Li Daozong was a little excited and knelt down on one knee and said.
Li Ke stepped forward to help Li Daozong up, and then said in a slower tone: "But as the saying goes, everything is difficult at the beginning, difficult in the middle, and even harder at the end!"
Li Daozong was stunned for a moment before he could realize whether this saying was correct or not, when he heard Li Ke continue: "So, although the current situation in Xizhou is good, we must not slack off, and the conditions in Xizhou are difficult, so here, I can only thank General Li on behalf of the tens of millions of people in the Tang Dynasty."
After saying that, Li Ke also bent down and saluted Li Daozong.
"Your Highness, you must not do it." Li Daozong was a little excited and hurriedly supported Li Ke, "Your Highness, you can come here in such a difficult period to lay the foundation for us and others to follow. Your Highness, you are the hardest worker."
"General Li, let's not say this. I will only be here for a few months, or at most a year, but once General Li is stationed here, he will be stationed here for several years, or even ten years, and General Li's family will follow you to eat this." Bitter. General Li deserves this gift!" Li Ke shook his head slightly and said softly.
"Your Highness, minister..." Li Daozong wanted to say something more, but Li Ke stopped him and said directly: "General Li, there is no need to say more. My father sees your suffering, and so do I. In my eyes, for the sake of the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty and the safety of the people, I can only choose the most suitable people to garrison here. If everything goes well in the future, I will definitely use the "Datang Weekly" to let General Li serve for the security of the country and garrison the border for ten years. The deeds of several years have been spread throughout the world! Let the people of the world know who they are so peaceful because of!"
"Chen...chen..." Li Daozong stuttered a little. Of course he knew what the "Datang Weekly" Li Ke said was about. Although he didn't know the details, Li Daozong and the others were certainly paying attention to such important matters.
"Okay, General Li, if there is no need for me, I won't be a mother-in-law. In this way, you can immediately lead three thousand horses to pick up your family, wife and daughter. I heard that they are sick. As the prince, I cannot let Datang The soldiers worked hard but were heartbroken! This is an order!" Li Ke said seriously.
"Yes!" Li Daozong took a deep breath, and then said loudly. After speaking, he immediately turned and left. They all said that His Highness the King of Qin was reckless, but they didn't know that His Highness the King of Qin only knew the hearts of our Tang soldiers.
After Li Daozong left, Li Ke waved over Yang Anning.
"Your Highness."
"Go and ask Lu Hai to confirm Li Daozong's whereabouts and notify me in advance when he picks up the people and is about to arrive." Li Ke said.
"Yes!" Yang Anning saluted and turned to leave.
Staring at Li Daozong is naturally not because he doesn't believe him, but when Li Daozong comes back, Li Ke will lead all the garrison troops to welcome Li Daozong's family with the highest courtesy and pay tribute to these military relatives!
By the way, it will pave the way for the next step.
