Hongwen Hall

"Prime Minister, Prime Minister, Ma Yi has been captured and General Dugu Yanyun has been killed in the city." Before he could finish speaking, the soldier who delivered the message fainted.

"Ahem...quickly, send him for treatment," Du Ruhui ordered while coughing.

Li Chengqian, who heard that Mayi had been lost, hurried to Hongwen Palace, but when he was about to enter the palace, Wei Zheng and other ministers were quarreling with each other.

"Your Majesty, Jieli invaded my border and killed my people. We cannot allow this beast to continue to be arrogant."

"Wei Zheng, I see you are standing and talking without pain in your back. How can you beat me? The court has no money at all." Liu Zhenghui, the Minister of Household Affairs, immediately retorted after hearing Wei Zheng's words.

"No money, what's the matter with no money? How could we fight before? Didn't we still defeat Li Xiaochang and Liang Shidu some time ago?"

Xiao Yu's words were immediately approved by Wei Zheng: "That is, our great country relies on the righteousness of the king. Xie Li provokes provocations for no reason. If you don't fight, how will your Majesty face the people of the world."

Li Chengqian walked up to Changsun Wuji and quietly poked Changsun Wuji, signaling him to give him the battle report in his hand.

Mayi City fell in just five hours. The defender Dugu Yanyun was killed in battle. Fifty thousand people in the city were massacred and 30,000 people were plundered by the Turkic army. Li Chengqian gritted his teeth. This bastard Jieli was really ruthless.

"Okay, Keming, what do you think?" Li Shimin stopped Wei Zheng and others from arguing and asked Du Ruhui. Du Ruhui was in charge of the Ministry of War, so it was reasonable to ask him.

"Ahem... Your Majesty, judging from Li Ji's battle report, Jie Li is just harassing this time, with the purpose of plundering money and food. At present, our army in the Dingxiang area only has 60,000 troops, and most of them are infantry.

Far inferior to Jie Lijun. Ahem...".

Fang Xuanling handed the tea in his hand to Du Ruhui and asked him to drink it down his throat: "Your Majesty, one Hu cavalry often requires three of us soldiers to fight. Our army has just fought bloody battles with Liang Division for half a year. Li Xiaochang of Lizhou

It also consumes a lot of energy, so I thought we should find another way."

"You are the prime minister and assistant, and you are in the imperial palace. When the country is in crisis, you are sluggish and fearful of the enemy. I, Wei Zheng, disdain your company." Wei Zheng became more and more excited.

He turned to Li Shimin and said: "If your Majesty does not send troops to attack, I will commit suicide on the bridge tomorrow to comfort the soldiers of the Tang Dynasty who are sleeping there."

Li Shimin said warmly: "Xuancheng, what kind of dispute are you having? Let's discuss this matter with the ministers tomorrow morning." Li Shimin was not afraid of Wei Zheng. He knew that Wei Zheng was asking for life on behalf of the people, so he did not blame him.

The reason for the previous rudeness.

Chengqing Hall

"Keming, I know I haven't finished talking to Xuanling yet, so let's talk now."

Du Ruhui wiped the cold sweat from his forehead: "Your Majesty, I think this battle cannot be fought at the moment. Our army is exhausted, has low combat power, lacks equipment, and the number of cavalry is too small, so we cannot confront Jieli head-on."

"Your Majesty, we don't have much military rations, and the imperial court has settled a large number of refugees. We really can't afford the money and rations to fight the war, let alone fight a big war. If a war starts, it won't last long, and the Tang Dynasty is in danger of being destroyed."

After listening to Fang Mou Duduan, Li Shimin thought for a while and asked Li Chengqian: "I heard this from Hongwen Hall, tell me what you think."

Li Chengqian also wanted to fight, but he knew that Guanzhong had just settled down and the people did not have much food in their hands. This war required taxation. If there was no food, people would starve to death. When the time came, there would be no need to pay for the war. The people

His rage could burn the Tang Dynasty to ashes.

"Father, what you two adults said is right. I don't agree with a decisive battle with Jieli at this time. The imperial court has no money to fight. This money and food are the first difficulty.

Secondly, the powerful maneuverability of the Jieli cavalry is unmatched by us. During Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, he formed a large-scale cavalry force and finally defeated the Huns, so a large number of cavalry was a top priority.

There are also people who have just lived in peace for a few days, and their stomachs are not full. Now if they are left hungry to fight the enemy, I am afraid it will cause disaster."

Li Chengqian's answer made Li Shimin very satisfied. As a qualified prince, calmness and cool-headedness are necessary conditions when encountering difficulties. It is obvious that Li Chengqian has such a good character.

"This is the truth, but those who are fighting in the DPRK can agree. It will be difficult to suppress it." Changsun Wuji looked embarrassed.

"Cheng Qian, since you understand so well, then you should take care to suppress this matter. The country is currently weak and I cannot gamble with the country's land."

"I thought that as long as Wei Shizhong could make sense, it would be fine. Who doesn't know that the old Shizhong is a strong commander, and I am willing to persuade him."

Li Shimin thought for a while, it would be much easier if Wei Zheng could change his mind, and then said: "Okay, I'll leave this to you."

Chang'an Chongdefang Wei Mansion

"Shizhong Wei, I am here to ask for your help." Li Chengqian smiled and took Wei Zheng's hand, stopping Wei Zheng who was about to salute.

"Why did His Highness ask the old minister to help?" Wei Zheng couldn't understand. He usually didn't have much contact with the prince. Even if he had something to do, if he didn't go to Changsun Wuji, why would he come to him?

"I really admire what your servant said today in Hongwen Hall. Cheng Qian respects those who dare to ask for orders for the people. However, Cheng Qian has some doubts at the moment, and I hope you will give me some advice." Li Chengqian's words praised Wei Zheng very much.

high.

He is King Xi's counselor. Since he was appointed by Li Shimin, many people have said behind his back that he is the second minister who betrayed the master, and he is often poked in the back. Although he doesn't care about what he says on the face, in his heart this is a secret.

A thorn deeply rooted in his heart.

Li Chengqian's words showed that the prince understood him. He knew what it was to be a national scholar who asked for orders for the people, so it would be a lie to say that Wei Zheng was not moved.

"Your Highness, if you have any doubts, just ask. As long as I know, I will tell you everything."

Seeing Wei Zheng agreeing so happily, Li Chengqian knew that today's matter was already half successful.

"Right now, Jie Li is attacking the border. Our army has suffered heavy losses. Tens of thousands of civilians have been brutally murdered. The unrest on the border is not good for the country. Therefore, Cheng Qian deeply believes that the minister's words of taking charge of the battle today are correct."

Li Chengqian's words made Wei Zheng stroke his beard with satisfaction: "Your Highness is so smart, which is a blessing to the Tang Dynasty."

"Wei Shizhong, but the imperial court has just resettled the refugees in Hebei and Guanzhong. As Liu Shangshu said today, there is no money left in the treasury to fight the war. Secondly, Jieli's army is powerful and our army is fighting with exhausted troops. Is it possible?

Isn't it like hitting an egg against a stone?

Also, spring plowing is coming soon. If a war breaks out, the farming season will be delayed. Not only will the army be without food, but even the people will be without food. Even if Jieli cannot defeat them, the Tang Dynasty will be devastated by then.

The mountains and rivers of blood that my father and his ministers have built for more than ten years will also be on the verge of collapse. If this is the result, where should the Tang Dynasty go? Please teach me."

"Your Highness, this, this veteran didn't expect this, so according to Your Highness, what should we do?"
Chapter completed!