"What is the most important thing to pay attention to when attacking Tuguhun? Does Your Highness understand?" Gao Qiao asked.
Yang Ming knew that Gao Jun had a lofty vision and that, like Yang Su, he was a commander-in-chief who had overall overall control, so he humbly asked for advice:
"Please Gao Gong clarify my doubts."
Gao Jiong smiled and took out a book from the bookshelf. There was a picture in the book, which roughly mapped some superficial geographical conditions in the direction west of the Sui Dynasty. It was not as detailed as Pei Ju's map of the Western Regions, but it was still rare. Yes.
"The reason why Tie Le was persuaded by Pei Ju to join forces with me during the Great Sui Dynasty to attack Tuguhun is because Tie Le's current position is very embarrassing."
As he spoke, Gao Qiao pointed at the picture and said:
"Tiele is sandwiched between the Western Turks and Tuguhun, and is weak on the left and right, so it must surrender to the Sui Dynasty in order to gain living space. We are plotting against others, and others are plotting against us."
"Since the Sui Dynasty intends to use troops against Tuguhun, Tiele is naturally happy to see the result, because without Tuguhun, the biggest threat to the south of Tiele will be gone. We only need to be careful of the Western Turks in the north. Does your Highness see any problem? ?”
When Yang Ming heard this, he nodded: "What do you mean, Mr. Gao, after we destroy Tuguhun, Tiele will also go to grab the territory?"
"Your Highness is indeed very smart," Gao Yan said with a smile: "For Tiele, there is a big difference between whether the trouble in the south is Tuguhun or the Sui Dynasty. After destroying Tuguhun, the Sui Dynasty sent troops to station. For them, it is The gains outweigh the losses, so Jie Shi will inevitably turn against each other and fight for territory, so what does Your Highness think of the solution to this problem?"
After Yang Ming pondered for a moment, he said: "Contain Tiele with the Western Turks."
Gao Jiong was stunned for a moment, then shook his head and smiled bitterly:
"No wonder Pei Ju once said that His Highness is the master of heaven's strategy. Yes, the strategy of the Western Regions is actually the strategy of the Western Turks, Tiele, and Tuguhun. All the small countries in the Western Regions are dependent on these three kingdoms. They are the first to conquer Tuguhun. The important thing is to contain the other two companies.”
"Xiang Shi, the mother of the Luo Khan of the Western Turks, is from our Central Plains. She is currently in Daxing. Pei Ju is very cunning and has ordered Cui Junsu to take Xiang's family letter and go to the Western Turks Khan's tent to express his condolences. This move is to convince the Chuluo Khan. Luo, holding Tiele hostage from the side, Western Turks and Tiele are feuding, and Chu Luo almost died at the hands of Tiele Khan Qibige Leng back then."
Yang Ming smiled and said: "Pei Ju seems to have calculated everything."
"But the battlefield situation is turbulent and can change at any time," Gao Jiong said: "As long as your Highness knows what our purpose is and what we need to pay attention to, we will be able to advance and retreat in this battle and be in an invincible position."
"I understand," Yang Ming nodded.
This is called pulling the trigger and affecting the whole body. Da Sui tolerated Tuguhun for so long just to keep his reputation in order to prevent other forces from getting involved and causing a mess in the end.
Pei Ju must have known that Tiele would turn against him at that time, so he started to manage Western Turks early, but it was unpredictable whether he could make sense and how effective it would be.
Once changes occur, Yang Ming needs to respond on the spot, and Gao Jiong's reminder is actually telling Yang Ming to focus on the overall situation and take into account the reactions of Western Turks and Tiele. If the situation changes, it is time to take a step back. , you have to take a step back. Once you fall into a three-party siege, it will be a situation where the entire army will be annihilated.
The Sui Dynasty wanted to invade them, but they didn’t want to invade the Sui Dynasty?
The current peace is just an expedient measure based on taking into account one's own interests.
Next, Gao Jiong pointed at the map and said:
"The purpose of our strategy in the Western Regions during the Sui Dynasty was to open up the Western Region Corridor during the Han Dynasty, promote exchanges with foreign countries, and facilitate trade. And our Central Plains has three westward passages."
"The first one is the North Road, which starts from Dunhuang, passes through Yinshan Mountain and Yanshan Mountain, and then leaves from the north road of Zheluoman Mountain (Tianshan Mountain)."
"The second is the middle road, which starts from Dunhuang and ends at Gaochang. It passes through the South Road of Luoman Mountain and reaches Persia."
"The third route, the lower road, starts from Dunhuang, passes through Tuguhun, and exits from Kunlun Mountain to enter Tianzhu."
.......
Of course Yang Ming can understand it, it is actually the Silk Road.
Gao Yan meant that the purpose of the Sui Dynasty was to try to ensure smooth trade in these three channels. Of course, the worst result would be to open one of them.
This is actually a very difficult matter. The upper, middle and lower roads are all plucked by Yan Guo. Only by reaching agreements with these countries through various means can we ensure that Sui's goods can make sufficient profits.
Otherwise, if you hold me back, you deduct some from me, and he robs me a little more, there is no profit left.
While attacking Tuguhun, you must also pay attention to the attitude of the Western Turks and Tiele. This is undoubtedly a more difficult battle, because you cannot be at odds with these two families, otherwise you will not be able to open the passage to the west, and Tuguhun will be wiped out. .
This matter still depends on Pei Ju. Yang Ming is the tough one, while Pei Ju is the underhanded one.
Gao Jiong opposed both the construction of Luoyang and the construction of the canal, but he fully supported Tuguhun because he knew what opening the westward passage would mean to the Sui Dynasty.
After leaving Gaofu, Yang Ming really didn't know how to settle Xue Chi. To be honest, what little freshness he had about Xue Chi was gone.
But he couldn't send him away. After all, his original intention was to keep Xue Daoheng.
"Come back to your home with me. You can stay here as long as you like," Yang Ming said helplessly in the carriage.
Xue Chi raised his eyebrows and asked curiously: "My grandpa's intention of letting me meet you is that you want me to marry you, right?"
Yang Ming shook his head: "I already have the princess, concubine, concubine, and concubine, so how can I get married?"
"Isn't it? You want me to be your concubine?" Xue Chi suddenly looked dissatisfied: "You think so."
Xue Daoheng was born in the Xue family in Hedong, one of the three wealthy families in Hedong County. It is really unreasonable for his legitimate daughter to be a concubine. Even though Yang Ming is a prince, she is still not willing to be a concubine to the prince.
Yang Ming couldn't help but smile and said: "You don't have to be a concubine, but you have to live in the palace. This is for your grandfather's benefit."
"Why?" Xue Chi said blankly.
Yang Ming moved his gaze to the window: "Don't ask too much, just do as you are told."
"You are too domineering," Xue Chi also turned his head to the other side: "But I won't refute you this time, because I also feel that my grandpa is very strange and worried recently, and he won't tell me if I ask him. "
It's okay not to tell you. The most taboo thing for a wealthy family is to let their children know something they shouldn't know when their minds are still immature.
This is very scary, and the consequences are also very serious. For example, a granddaughter said that her grandfather’s savings were nine figures. Now, okay, something happened?
"Then why should I live in your palace?" Xue Chi said.
Yang Ming said calmly: "Concubine."
Xue Chi was stunned: "Then isn't my reputation completely ruined? How will I get married in the future?"
"How you marry is your business," Yang Ming deliberately teased her: "A widow can still remarry."
"You...you..." Xue Chi's face turned red with anger, but he was speechless.
.......
Jiangdu Palace,
Yang Guang had already received Pei Ju's report, including the self-recommendation letter sent by Yang Ming as an urgent request, so he immediately summoned the ministers to discuss the matter.
"The time for the Western Expedition has arrived and there is no need to delay. I think the King of Qin can be the marching marshal and take on this important task," Su Wei said.
Who else could be there besides King Qin? The only marshal candidate available for the capital was Yang Ming.
Yang Guang nodded and said, "What do you think of the list of generals listed in King Qin's memorial?"
"I think it's inappropriate," Yu Wenshu said first:
"Xiao Mohe is an old general of the Chen Dynasty. His heart is disloyal and he is not suitable to lead the army. Yang Xuanting has no experience in commanding troops and cannot be entrusted with important tasks. Zhou Fashang is not disciplined and is not suitable to join the army in the Western Expedition."
When Niu Hong heard this, he immediately retorted:
"Xiao Mohe has been a staff member of the King of Qin for a long time. He also made great achievements in attacking Yang Liang from the north. Why can't he use it? Today, our Sui Dynasty has unified the north and south. There has long been no distinction between north and south. The generals of the old Chen are now our generals of the Sui Dynasty. , Why does Xu Guogong make such a distinction?"
Yu Wenshu said in a deep voice: "Did Mr. Niu forget? Xiao Shilue, Xiao Mohe's son, rebelled in Jiangnan."
"Emperor Gaozu has made a final decision about Xiao Shilue, and it has nothing to do with Xiao Mohe," Niu Hong frowned and said, "Is Xu Guogong planning to overthrow Emperor Gaozu's old news?"
"You are just messing around," Yu Wenshu snorted coldly, looked at the emperor and said, "Your Majesty, for the great undertaking of the Western Expedition, you must choose the right people. I think that Xiao Mohe has not returned to his original intention and is not worthy of the important task."
Yang Guang nodded: "Aiqing, keep talking."
Yu Wenshu continued: "Although Xuanting has been fighting with the Duke of Chu all the year round, he is just a member of the army and has no experience in commanding troops. Now he is the first general of the right guard and has little experience. He still needs more experience before he can be entrusted to him. Heavy responsibility.”
"It's a joke," Su Wei came out directly and said: "How many of you here have not served under the Duke of Chu? Is it possible that you are also embarrassed by your big job? Xuanting is just a tribe in the name, but he is actually a pioneer, following the Duke of Chu. After more than ten years of fighting in the north and south, I have a lot of experience, so why do I need experience?"
Then, Su Wei looked at Yang Guang and said: "I believe that the selection of generals should be left to the King of Qin. Perhaps the King of Qin knows better who can and cannot be used."
Yang Guang also nodded: "My love for you is very reasonable."
At this time, Lai Huer also said:
"The eight generals listed by King Qin, except for the Mai Tiezhang, seem to be all familiar to King Qin. Perhaps what King Qin is considering is the question of who can use it conveniently. The generals are outside. The first priority is to carry out orders and prohibitions. Stop, I also think that when choosing generals, we should still consider the wishes of the King of Qin in order to be able to carry out the orders."
Yang Guang still nodded: "That makes sense."
At this moment, everyone was confused. What on earth was the emperor thinking?
Yang Guang glanced at everyone and felt that no one among His Highness could understand his thoughts. He felt somewhat helpless, so he reminded:
】
"I prefer to leave the selection of generals to the King of Qin, but the marshal has a long history and Pei Ju is not suitable."
Yang Ming was fighting in the front, and Pei Ju had to keep an eye on Dian Tiele and Xi Turk in the back and be responsible for negotiations. Otherwise, if the two families turned against each other, his son would be trapped in a tight siege. He didn't want another son to die.
Therefore, this battle must be foolproof.
Whether he took it or not, whether he went to Tuguhun or not, was secondary. He couldn't accept Yang Ming's death in battle.
Since the founding of the Sui Dynasty, whenever the prince personally conquered the position of marshal, he must be an outstanding commander with a strong strategic vision and the ability to coordinate the overall situation. Most of the time, the prince just used his name to calm the three armies.
Just like Yang Ming put down the rebellion of the Han Dynasty, the long history was Yang Su.
Therefore, it is best for Marshal Chang Shi to be at the level of Yang Su. It is enough for his son to have a name. Don't take too many risks.
Yang Ming also didn't expect that his father actually cared about his life.
