Li Longji personally pulled Bai Yuxian into the pavilion and sat down. Then he personally ordered the imperial kitchen to bring good wine and food to entertain Bai Yuxian to eat together. He also personally poured Bai Yuxian a glass of wine.
To be honest, Li Longji's enthusiastic performance made Bai Yuxian a little embarrassed, and even made Bai Yuxian feel a little confused, worried that Li Longji might have other thoughts about him.
Fortunately, what Bai Yuxian was worried about did not happen.
As the food and wine arrived, Li Longji began to curiously ask about the details of the entire Xiangzhou battle.
Bai Yuxian also told Li Longji everything he knew in detail. Many times, Li Longji couldn't help but speak loudly and clap his hands when he heard Bai Yuxian lead the troops in formation and predict the enemy's opportunities. Applauding, I couldn't help but feel happy and amazed in my heart, and I couldn't help but value Bai Yuxian more and more.
"I wonder if Yuxian has plans for the development of Tiance Army in the future."
After finally asking about the battle at Hongqingshan in Xiangzhou, Li Longji couldn't help but look at Bai Yuxian and said, looking at Bai Yuxian with burning eyes.
Bai Yuxian's heart moved when he heard this, and he immediately said: "Yuxian is also planning to ask your Majesty for instructions on this matter. After the battle of Xiangzhou, Tiance Army has been completely built. Yuxian plans to increase the number of Tiance Army so that The Tiance army has reached 30,000 troops, which is equivalent to the Yulin and Yulin armies. I don’t know what your majesty thinks.”
"No." When Li Longji heard this, he raised his hand and directly rejected Bai Yuxian's proposal: "Thirty thousand is not enough. Next, I want you to expand the Tiance Army to fifty thousand."
"fifty thousand."
Bai Yuxian was slightly shocked when he heard this.
Originally, his idea was to expand the Tiance Army to 30,000, but unexpectedly, Li Longji planned to expand the Tiance Army to 50,000.
You must know that the most powerful of the three imperial armies, Yulin, Yulin, and Longwu, the Longwu Forbidden Army only has 50,000 people.
But who is the leader of the Longwu Forbidden Army? It is Li Longji's confidant general Chen Xuanli.
When Li Longji ascended the throne in the past, Chen Xuanli followed Li Longji and raised troops to help him eradicate Empress Wei, Princess Anle and others, and played a role in supporting Li Longji's ascension to the throne.
It can be said that Chen Xuanli is definitely one of the people Li Longji trusts most in the current court.
This is also the reason why among the original three forbidden armies of Beiya, the Yulin and Yulin armies only had 30,000 soldiers, while the Longwu Forbidden Army had 50,000 people.
Because Chen Xuanli, the chief general of the three forbidden armies, was Li Longji's confidant general.
Originally, Bai Yuxian thought that although he was valued by Li Longji, his status in Li Longji's heart was definitely not as good as Chen Xuanli's, so his next goal was to expand the Tiance Army to 30,000 troops. Unexpectedly, the result Instead, Li Longji asked him to expand the Tiance army to 50,000.
"Does Yuxian know how many soldiers and horses there are in the ten major military towns of the Tang Dynasty?"
Seeming to see Bai Yuxian's surprise, Li Longji spoke again.
"As far as I know, the total strength of the ten major military towns in our Tang Dynasty should be close to 500,000." Bai Yuxian said.
"Yes, according to the latest statistics, the number of soldiers and horses in the top ten military towns outside the Tang Dynasty has reached 500,000. However, these 500,000 soldiers and horses are not under the direct jurisdiction of the imperial court. Our capital originally had Yulin and Yulin. The combined strength of the three imperial armies of , Long and Wu is only 110,000."
"Now even if we add Tiance's army, it's only 130,000."
Li Longji didn't say anything else.
But Bai Yuxian has understood that the military strength of the ten major military towns of the Tang Dynasty has reached as high as 500,000. In other words, if those Jiedushi are united, they will have a total of 500,000 soldiers and horses. However, the capital of the Tang Dynasty currently has 500,000 troops. Even if the Tiance Army is included, the strength of the four forbidden armies is only 130,000.
Five hundred thousand versus one hundred and thirty thousand.
With such a huge disparity in military strength, how could Li Longji feel at ease?
As the emperor, it is definitely a very dangerous thing if the troops under his command are not enough to frighten the world.
"I understand."
Bai Yuxian immediately raised his hand solemnly.
Li Longji immediately nodded with satisfaction. He liked Bai Yuxian who was not only loyal but also smart and capable.
As long as Tiance's army expands to 50,000 in the future.
The four imperial armies of Yu Lin, Yu Lin, Long Wu, and Tian Ce totaled 160,000 troops, so Li Longji felt that it should be almost safe.
Bai Yuxian then told Li Longji about Qin Yuniang, Li Sanlang, Sun Wuzhou and other Hongqingshan rebels who had returned from Tiance's army.
In response, Li Longji waved his hand very generously, indicating that Bai Yuxian could make his own decision, and he could directly pardon these people's crimes.
In Li Longji's view, the Hongqingshan Mountains have now been completely pacified, and the bandit leader Zhao Wenyuan and other major personnel have not escaped the net. If Bai Yuxian, Qin Yuniang, Li Sanlang, Sun Wuzhou and others under him want it, then give it to Bai Yuxian. .
Now Li Longji can be said to have absolute trust in Bai Yuxian.
Finally, Bai Yuxian reported to Li Longji one by one the merits of his soldiers in the battle of Hongqingshan.
At the same time, the things about Liu Hongxiu and Li Shishi were also told.
Regarding the matter of Liu Hongxiu and Li Shishi, Li Longji was also very generous and directly asked someone to write two edicts and handed them to Bai Yuxian. After all, they just promoted the two concubines to wives. For Li Longji, it was just a sentence It's not a big deal at all.
As for the merits and rewards of other officers and soldiers of Tiance Army, it will be left to the Ministry of War for review and decision later. After all, there are so many people.
At sunset, Bai Yuxian left the palace and left the palace gate.
At the same time in the palace, Li Longji looked at Concubine Yu beside him and said.
"I heard that Mingyue went to Yuzhen's place recently."
"Ming Yue must have been in love for the first time and has fallen in love with General Bai. However, General Bai is both civil and military, loyal and patriotic. If Mingyue can really get married to General Bai, I think it will be a good thing, but I don't know His Majesty's intention. How about next."
Concubine Yu heard the words and said, and she immediately understood that Li Longji must have known about her daughter Li Mingyue's thoughts and actions.
But she was not surprised. After all, as the emperor, there were many things that he could hide.
Things that even she knew, let alone Li Longji.
Li Longji also nodded slightly when he heard this.
Regarding the situation with Li Mingyue, he had indeed already received news that his daughter might have fallen in love with Bai Yuxian for the first time, and he really had no objection in his heart.
Judging from Bai Yuxian's current talents, if this marriage can really come true, Li Longji will naturally be happy to make Bai Yuxian his son-in-law, so that he will feel more at ease in appointing Bai Yuxian in the future.
But the only thing that made him hesitate was that Bai Yuxian already had five wives.
If Bai Yuxian is not married yet, then Li Longji will definitely choose to marry him without any hesitation.
But now Bai Yuxian is married and has a five-bedroom wife.
Although he valued Bai Yuxian very much, Li Longji was still a little reluctant to let his daughter, the majestic princess, be married to another woman.
"Let's just wait and see what happens."
After finally pondering for a while, Li Longji spoke.
He decided to continue taking another look at the matter.
Looking at the development of the situation, if his daughter really likes Bai Yuxian and they are both interesting, and Bai Yuxian's subsequent performance can always satisfy him or even more, then he may also consider agreeing to the marriage. .
When Concubine Yu heard this, she immediately understood what Li Longji meant, and immediately said no more.
However, Concubine Yu herself was very willing to promote this marriage.
Because if this marriage is really going to happen, Bai Yuxian will be a huge help to her, after all, she is her son-in-law.
Even though she is now favored by Li Longji, Concubine Yu knows that she can never tell when she will fall out of favor, and the fight in the harem is also extremely dangerous. If she does not have enough power, she will be in the harem at any time. Life is in danger.
——
The sun sets over the western mountains and the clouds spread over thousands of miles.
Basking in the afterglow of the setting sun, Bai Yuxian returned to Tiance Mansion.
"General."
"General."
"."
Bai Yuxian returned home amidst the respectful sounds from everyone in the mansion.
At this time, most of the guests in the mansion had left, leaving only Old Taijun Bai and others in the Wuhou Mansion still in the inner mansion.
"Brother Xian is back." Seeing Bai Yuxian's return, Mrs. Bai immediately looked over with a smile.
"Old lady."
Bai Yuxian also saluted, then handed the edicts in his hands to Liu Hongxiu and Li Shishi respectively with a smile.
"I requested from Your Majesty earlier in the palace, and His Majesty was gracious and gave you these two edicts. From now on, you are my real wife, Bai Yuxian, and are no longer concubines, both internally and externally."
(End of chapter)
