"The power in this world has always belonged to only one person, and that is Your Majesty." Zhang Daan picked up the teacup and drank it all.
Even though he was drinking tea, he felt like he was drinking wine.
He was drunk, with countless thoughts in his mind.
Looking at Li Xuan, who was sitting calmly across from him, Zhang Daan sneered and said: "In recent years, His Majesty's health has been very good, and there have been basically no problems. Once his life span exceeds that of the late Emperor, he will naturally pay homage to Emperor Gaozu." On par."
Li Shimin was fifty years old and Li Yuanian was seventy years old.
Now Li Zhi is fifty years old. As long as the end of this year passes, his life expectancy will exceed that of Li Shimin.
Surpassing Li Shimin and approaching Li Yuan.
In other words, Li Zhi will have the illusion that he still has twenty years left.
Once the concept of time changes, the views on many things will also change.
Power will not be so decentralized.
Li Xuan suddenly felt that once the emperor's birthday passed, Li Xian's position as crown prince might become even more difficult to secure.
However, once Li Xian is deposed as crown prince, Empress Wu may also be restrained for a period of time.
The emperor would step forward and take more power.
Even Empress Wu had to be suppressed for several years.
But when the time comes, Li Xuan won't be much better.
"As long as the prince acts calmly, does not make rash advances, and even delegates a little more power, he will be more stable. But if he really has other ideas, he may encounter something unexpected immediately."
Zhang Daan couldn't help but shook his head, looked at Li Xuan and said, "This is also the reason why the official is willing to come to Changzhou and work with the prince in Bianzhou."
Li Xuan picked up the teapot, put a piece of hot coal into it, calmly looked at the sparks that popped up, and said calmly: "The prince is not the kind of patient person, but I am, determined to Changzhou, occupying Tubo, and focusing on the Western Regions all my life. , stay away from the center, and you can live peacefully in this world."
"Xiaguan also hopes so." Zhang Da'an nodded and said sincerely: "So Xianguan came to Changzhou, hoping to avoid the turmoil in the court with the prince."
Although they said that, Li Xuan and Zhang Daan both knew that things were not that easy.
Turbulence in the center, especially when it comes to battles for succession or even changes in power, is most likely to affect everyone.
Everyone is just in the same boat, holding each other together to withstand the coming storm.
Zhang Daan's words finally completely broke the layer of window paper between the two of them.
After Li Xuan arrived in Changzhou, the people from the East Palace took control of them and even cut off their communication with Chang'an. The purpose was to use this to open up trust with Zhang Da'an.
Zhang Daan is now the chief historian of the Governor's Office in Changzhou, so he is likely to be the chief historian of the King of Nanchang in the future.
When Li Xuan was in Chang'an, he had already sensed the emperor's plan.
The emperor's attention was also mixed with temptation and control.
The concubine Zuo of Zhang Da'an's East Palace was only one step away from becoming the prime minister.
If Li Xuan really had any ambitions for such a person, he would never be able to win over him.
Even if Li Xuan really has other ideas, Zhang Daan will be the first person he needs to deal with.
The emperor is equivalent to placing a shield between Changzhou and Chang'an that can monitor, control, and even provide early warning.
Li Xuan took this shield.
…
Li Xuan and Zhang Da'an raised their teacups, touched them lightly, and then both drank at the same time.
Putting down their wine glasses, the two looked at each other and saw the relaxation in each other's eyes.
"Mr. Zhang, the prince wants to be quiet, but what needs to be solved most right now is the problem of Ming Chongyan." After a slight pause, Li Xuan looked up at Zhang Daan and asked, "Mr. Zhang, do you think he is really dead? ?”
Zhang Daan shook his head slightly and said: "If we look at it in the past, Ming Shiyin has never been missing for such a long time. It's hard to say that something happened to him."
"But..." Li Xuan heard the end of Zhang Daan's voice.
Zhang Daan nodded and said: "The current situation is sensitive. Since Pengcheng County Duke and Zhao Guogong entered the political hall, the conflict between the Queen and the Crown Prince has become more and more serious, even to the point of abolishing the throne.
If the Queen is really determined to depose the Prince, then she must be vigilant in all aspects, including the Prince. "
"So, if Ming Chongyan is not dead, he should be heading towards this king." Li Xuan nodded in agreement.
"Then from today onwards, the entire Changzhou, including all the Jizhou, will make people look for traces of Ming Chongyan." Zhang Daan looked at Li Xuan seriously.
Li Xuanming nodded and said, "It should be like this."
"Your Majesty is going to march into Supi this year, but he has already thought of a strategy to do so." Zhang Daan looked at Li Xuan seriously.
Li Xuan nodded, knocked on the table, and said: "Although there are few heavy rains on the plateau tonight, there are many more days of continuous drizzle than usual. When the rain reaches a certain level, it will overflow the original river channel. In this way, the water flow will be gentle, making it easier to cross the river, and the problem of Tongtian River will be solved."
Zhang Daan looked at Li Xuan calmly.
Li Xuan continued: "There are four large and small gold mines in Supi, but there are only two that are really worth paying attention to. One is the Jiangda Mine, which is four hundred miles down along the Tongtian River. Gezhou can be reached by crossing two hundred miles of mountains and rivers. ; The other place is the Nangqian Mine, crossing the Tongtian River, Yushu, Ziqu River, and finally reaching the Zaqu River."
Li Xuan simply drew the terrain of the two places on the table, and then said: "General Wang Xiaojie of the left guard will lead the way, and General Qiu Zhenmu of the right guard and Cheng Zhongzheng of Heyuan Prefecture will lead the way."
"What about the prince?" Zhang Daan's breathing became serious, and he knew that sending troops this time would not be that simple.
"Zhabala, the envoy of Tubo, had written a letter to inform Lun Qinling about the gold mine a few months ago. Lunqin Ling must have made preparations and laid a trap at this moment, so the two armies sent out troops first to test Lord." Li Xuan pressed her fingers on the Ziqu River, and then said seriously: "But at this time, I have led my army to Qamdo."
"Ziqu River?" Zhang Da'an looked at the simple graphics and said in disbelief: "The prince plans to kill directly from Ziqu River to Qamdo in the mountains?"
"If it were in the past, it would definitely not work. Regarding Qinling, there would definitely be a large number of interceptors along the way. But this year is different. There is a lot of rain this year, the river surface is high and the flow speed is fast." Li Xuan smiled softly and said: "If this king goes straight to Qamdo, Then Tubo will definitely be shaken and want to return to the army. When the time comes, it will be Wang Xiaojie and Qiu Zhenmu’s choice whether to ambush and intercept them or go straight to the critical point.”
"This plan sounds feasible, but there is only one problem. How will the prince return from Qamdo? I'm afraid this ship cannot be used a second time, right?" Zhang Daan shook his head slightly at Li Xuan. If this problem is not solved, he will He would not agree to Li Xuan sending troops.
"There are three ways back." Li Xuan looked at Zhang Daan's shocked expression, shook his head calmly, and said: "The most difficult way is to continue down the boat from Qamdo, enter the Canglan River, and finally land in Batang, and meet The Jiannan Dao army gathered together,"
"Then this journey has to go at least thousands of miles before the prince can come back again. What if Lun Qinling comes to Changzhou to kill him at this time?" Zhang Daan shook his head in disbelief.
"So, this road is a strategy for suspecting soldiers." Li Xuan looked toward the southeast of Qamdo and said softly: "After arriving in Qamdo, we will go around the northeast and go straight to the back of Jiangda Mine. Finally, we will meet up with Wang Xiaojie and return to Maduo."
"The mountain road is rugged and the risks increase." Zhang Daan still couldn't help but shake his head.
"What's left is the last road." Li Xuan's eyes fell on the west side of Qamdo and he said softly: "Go backward from Qamdo to the Tanggula Pass, then to the upper reaches of the Tongtian River, and the Tuotuo River back to Maduo."
"This road is also very far and full of dangers. If there is no support..." Zhang Daan suddenly raised his head, looked at Li Xuan and said, "The prince wants to capture Tanggula Mountain Pass."
"At least it's a threat." Li Xuan sighed softly and said, "If it weren't for the lack of troops, I would not have left after I reached Qamdo. This year I would have completely taken over Supi."
But there is no way, Tubo needs to recuperate, and Datang also needs to recuperate.
Even if Li Xuan could occupy Supi, he couldn't hold it.
Even if he gave up his plan to enter the gold mine, his retreat would still be cut off easily.
When the time comes, tens of thousands of troops will besiege him, and he will die in the vast mountains without logistics.
Of course, Li Xuan was not helpless, but the emperor wouldn't let him use it.
Why didn't Li Xuan understand the emperor's thoughts? The emperor was controlling him and not to rush too fast.
The emperor also needed to use Tubo to contain Li Xuan, so he could only do it step by step.
"After the armies set off, Xing Sima needs to lead his men and ships to the west. In the Yushu Changdu area, when the fighting is in full swing, they will fight to the Tanggula Pass, and then support the king's return." After a slight pause, Li Xuan said: " In fact, it doesn’t necessarily have to be which way, I will go according to the situation. Once I send out troops, everything in Changzhou will be entrusted to Duke Zhang."
Zhang Daan nodded seriously. He had a heavy responsibility on his shoulders.
"Originally, Xuan planned to use this hand to completely capture Qamdo next year, but His Majesty has given the order, and we will naturally obey." Li Xuan's face was solemn.
If the emperor had not suddenly said that he wanted to occupy the gold mines, this year in Changzhou should have been a year of rest and recuperation, not a year of marching and killing.
"There is another problem, the naval force is insufficient." Zhang Daan raised the final question.
"The right guard has transferred one thousand from the Yangzhou Guard to make up for it. In addition, the Changzhou Prefecture soldiers also need to temporarily second the Yangzhou Guard's one thousand, which is enough." Li Xuan replied softly.
All of a sudden, two thousand Yangzhou Guard sailors were sent to Changzhou, all within Li Xuan's authority.
…
Zhang Daan breathed a deep sigh of relief and said: "Since the prince has already thought it through, there is not much more for me to say. I just need to cooperate fully."
"Thank you so much, Mr. Zhang." Li Xuan raised the teacup and touched it lightly with Zhang Daan.
The two used tea as wine and drank the tea in one gulp.
The two of them are now the highest officials in Changzhou. They have concluded the matter, leaving no room for others to question it.
"One last thing, His Majesty's fiftieth birthday." Zhang Da'an looked up at Li Xuan and said, "Although the prince has made a good plan, in case he is unable to return from Supi by then... so he needs to prepare a gift for His Majesty in advance. , Your Majesty, has you thought clearly about what you need to prepare?"
Li Xuan nodded slightly and said: "Yes... first of all, a hundred fish from Tongtian River, a hundred fish from Baihai, and preferably all two hundred fish can be sent to Luoyang alive."
"Then you have to prepare at least four hundred fish before setting off." Zhang Daan was a little surprised at how generous Li Xuan was.
Two hundred river fish traveled two thousand miles and were sent to Chang'an alive. I'm afraid the whole of Chang'an would be boiling.
"In addition, prepare fifty boxes of various rare medicinal materials and send them all to Chang'an." Li Xuan was eloquent again.
"This is not difficult. One good medicinal plant can fit into a box." Zhang Daan knew how to operate.
Li Xuan smiled slightly, and then said: "Finally, it is the local Dangxiang tribe, His Majesty's fiftieth birthday, and these local leaders will also offer congratulatory gifts, especially since they have just returned from Chang'an and their sons are still studying in Chang'an. "
"Good." Zhang Da'an nodded and finally said: "Finally, the prince can write a congratulatory poem and send it to Luoyang."
"This is what it should be." After a slight pause, Li Xuan said cautiously: "Those fish cannot be manipulated by anyone. His Majesty's birthday this year is not that simple."
Zhang Daan nodded slightly: "Yes, it's not that simple."
(End of chapter)
