A fast horse galloped into Beijing and went straight to Tai Chi Palace.
Half an hour later, Li Zhi received a military report from Baekje. After glancing at the military report, his expression suddenly changed.
The general slapped the newspaper on the table, and Li Zhi said angrily: "Nonsense!"
Queen Wu next to her naturally picked up the military newspaper and read it, and then her expression changed.
"The navy lost its way at sea and landed on the main island of Japan by mistake?" Empress Wu said in surprise.
Li Zhi said angrily: "This is a military report sent by Li Qinzai. Queen, do you believe that the navy got lost and landed on the Japanese island by mistake?"
Empress Wu shook her head and said with a wry smile: "The route from Baekje to Dengzhou in the Tang Dynasty has been fixed for many years. Even if the fog closes the sea, it is absolutely impossible for the navy to get lost."
Li Zhi's face was ashen and he snorted coldly: "Li Jingchu is so brave, he dares to disobey the military order. When did I and Sun Renshi, the naval commander, give the military order for him to attack the Japanese island? More than 6,000 soldiers followed him and ran into the Japanese island.
, without any support at the front or rear, and going deep alone, does he think he is Huo Qubing?"
The more Li Zhi talked, the angrier he became, and he said loudly: "Lawless! If I don't punish him, he will sooner or later become arrogant because of his favor, which is not a blessing to the country!"
"Come here, please remove Li Qinzai's county title and remove him..."
Before he finished speaking, Empress Wu suddenly interrupted him and said softly: "Your Majesty, after all, Li Jingchu is the grandson of the British Duke. You see..."
Li Zhi was stunned, gritted his teeth, and said: "How can the grandson of the British Duke... Huh! Someone is here to announce that the British Duke has come to the palace to pay homage..."
Half an hour later, Li Ji hurriedly entered the palace.
After entering the palace, Li Ji found that Empress Wu was silent and Li Zhi's face was ashen. Li Ji's heart sank, but he still bowed calmly.
Li Zhi was angry and handed the report to Li Ji.
Li Ji took a quick glance and immediately became angry: "Shuzi has caused such a big trouble! What a bastard!"
Li Zhi tried to calm down his emotions and said in a low voice: "Old general, I have always admired you, but Ling Sun is really... too bold and reckless. The military report has arrived in Chang'an. The news cannot be concealed from others. If I don't investigate, it will be difficult to convince the public.
The old general’s lifelong reputation has also been damaged.”
Li Ji saluted decisively: "I ask your majesty to severely punish this fool. Even if he is beheaded, there will be no resentment."
Li Zhi nodded and said: "Beheading... is not a big deal, but it must be severely punished, otherwise I will not be able to cover up the public. I hope the old general will understand my difficulties."
After a pause, Li Zhi comforted him again: "Jingchu is young and impulsive. I will teach him a lesson this time. It is not a bad thing for him. With Jingchu's great talent, he will make new contributions to me in the future. I
He will still be re-used and entrusted with important responsibilities."
Li Ji shook his head and said: "Zhuzi is no longer useful. I ask your Majesty to reduce his rank and remove him from his post. Let him live in white clothes for the rest of his life and be a mediocre farmer."
Li Zhi paused for a moment. He was originally very angry, but Li Ji was angrier than him, and his tone was more intense. He had the potential to get rid of his own grandson and then go to the hospital.
After such a comparison, Li Zhi suddenly felt that he was not so angry.
"Old General, don't be excited, haha, it's not a big deal, it won't happen, it won't happen." Li Zhi comforted Li Ji instead.
Li Ji said calmly: "I am not excited, but Jingchu, this son, acted wantonly and disobeyed military orders, so he must be severely punished. The old minister's family is unfortunate, and this evil beast who harmed the country and the emperor has appeared. The old minister has no way to manage the family, and it is difficult to absolve him of the blame. Please Your Majesty convicts you."
Li Zhi said hurriedly: "The old general is getting more and more serious. Don't blame yourself. Jingchu is still very measured. He has made a lot of achievements in the past and does not hide his faults. Apart from this matter, Jingchu is still my great leader." Tang Sheji’s great talents and state tools must not be criticized too harshly.”
Li Ji sighed deeply, bowed and said, "I will let your majesty do whatever you want without complaining."
Li Zhi said cautiously: "Then I...will give you a small punishment?"
"Your Majesty, please punish me severely!"
Li Zhi hesitated again and again. When he was angry just now, he wanted to deprive Li Qinzai of the county title, but after he was angry, he thought about the whole thing carefully.
Well, the nonsense about getting lost at sea and accidentally landing on a Japanese island is certainly not credible. It is true that he violated the order, but he was neither treason nor surrendering to the enemy. He also had a loyal and courageous heart to serve the country and landed in Japan to fight the enemy bravely.
Therefore, this matter can be big or small, depending on how you understand it.
After all, after three dynasties of meritorious deeds, his grandfather was still a nuclear-bomb-level pillar of the country. If the punishment was too severe, it would inevitably break the hearts of loyal ministers. If the punishment was too light, the courtiers would not let him go.
It’s not easy to be the emperor of the Tang Dynasty.
"Ahem, penalty, penalty... one year's salary?" Li Zhi said hesitantly.
Not only did Li Ji frown, but Empress Wu couldn't stand it anymore and tugged on his sleeve without leaving any trace.
Li Ji said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, please don't be trivial. This person must be severely punished. How can such a painless punishment as a fine and salary be used as a warning to others, and how can it cover up the public opinion?"
Li Zhi sighed. He doted on Li Qinzai very much. He also loved his talent and personality. He even sent his two biological sons to study with him without hesitation. This shows how much Li Zhi valued his talent.
Severe punishment... is really too harsh.
At this moment, the sound of rapid footsteps came from outside the palace. A eunuch knelt down outside the palace door and gasped: "Your Majesty, there is an urgent report from Japan's main island 800 miles away!"
Li Zhi was startled and said hurriedly: "Bring it over quickly!"
The eunuch hurriedly entered the palace and handed the general's newspaper to Li Zhi.
Unfolding the yellowed military report, Li Zhi took a quick glance, and then took a breath: "This..."
Empress Wu took the military report from him and took a look at it. She was also surprised and said: "Li Qinzai Cheng Boxian led 6000 navy soldiers to sweep across the Japanese country and occupied half of the country. The leader of the Japanese country sent envoys to sue for peace, but Li Qinzai severely refused. Wang Shi The soldiers continued to advance eastward, and the vanguard has arrived outside Asuka Castle in Kyoto, Japan..."
Li Ji in the palace was also shocked, and his expression changed immediately.
More than 6,000 people landed in the enemy's country and accidentally took over half of their country? This is a posture to destroy the country.
The three monarchs and ministers in the palace looked at each other in shock.
Then Li Zhi showed a bitter smile on his face and looked at Li Ji helplessly: "Old general, what should I do? Should I punish him severely, or give him a promotion?"
Li Ji tried his best to calm down his emotions, his expression remained calm, and he snorted coldly: "If you disobey the order first, the teacher will be unknown. No matter how great the achievements of this evil beast, I believe that he must be severely punished."
Li Zhi shook his head and said slowly: "Old General, this military report is beyond my expectation. I didn't expect Jingchu to be able to do such a big thing. If the Japanese country is really controlled by the Tang Dynasty, it will not only affect the prestige of the Tang Dynasty, but also affect hundreds of people." The deterrence of the two countries and the containment of Goguryeo are both beneficial and harmless."
Empress Wu was also a smart woman. When she heard this, her eyes lit up and she said: "If the Tang Dynasty takes control of the Japanese country, then it will be a pincer attack on Goguryeo from the east and west, as well as Liaocheng in the north of the Tang Dynasty, Baekje and Xinjiang in the south. The Luo Kingdom and Goguryeo are already surrounded by our Tang Dynasty!"
Empress Wu made the point, and both Li Zhi and Li Ji's eyes lit up.
Since the Zhenguan year, isn't it Goguryeo that the two emperors of the Tang Dynasty have been thinking about?
If the Japanese state had been controlled by the Tang Dynasty and Goguryeo was surrounded on all sides, would it still be far from destruction?
There is almost no need to adopt any strategy or tactics. As long as the neighboring countries around Goguryeo are fortified and the land and sea routes are strangled, Goguryeo will surely be in chaos.
It’s not that no one had thought of this strategic intention before, but at that time, the Japanese state and the Tang Dynasty were friendly neighbors, and they were tributary to Gansu. They sent a large number of envoys to the Tang Dynasty to study every year. Their humble and licking attitude was too sincere, and the Tang Dynasty was really embarrassed to treat them. It starts.
Now that Tang and Japan were at war, Li Qinzai disobeyed military orders and unexpectedly occupied half of Japan's territory. Now looking at the map to the east of the Tang Dynasty, the whole chess game suddenly came alive, and the initiative had completely fallen into the hands of the Tang Dynasty.
Putting aside the fact that Li Qinzai disobeyed orders, the landing of more than 6,000 soldiers in the Japanese country did more good than harm to the Tang Dynasty. More importantly, Li Qinzai's timing was accurate and ruthless.
In the Battle of Baijiangkou, the Japanese navy was completely wiped out, and more than 40,000 troops were lost across the ocean. The country was in a state of emptiness.
Li Qinzai took the opportunity to land. It can be said that the wind was blowing and the clouds were rolling, and there were almost no soldiers in the Japanese country. It was the right time, the right place, and the right people to occupy the Japanese country at this time.
It's true that you violated the order, but...well done!
So the question is, should Li Qinzai be punished or rewarded?
The eyes of both Li Zhi and Empress Wu fell on Li Ji, and after all, Li Ji was an old fox from three dynasties. At this moment, his mind was racing, he stroked his beard and said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, I still feel that Li Qinzai must be severely punished!"
"Faults cannot cover up merits, but merits cannot cover up faults. Li Qinzai disobeyed orders without authorization, and this trend cannot last. Otherwise, how can we establish authority in the army? The death penalty may be exempted, but the crime of living is hard to escape. It does not matter whether he is exiled or imprisoned in Dali Temple. In short, it must be severely punished.”
Li Ji said it with great justice. From his position and position, he could only say this at this moment, and it must be said.
Whenever Li Ji even showed the slightest hint of pleading for Li Qinzai, the Li family would be greeted by a violent storm.
Li Zhi doted on Li Qinzai, but the court officials would not dote on him.
Seeing Li Zhi's hesitation and Li Ji's firm tone, Empress Wu blinked and said with a smile: "Your Majesty, whether to punish or reward, it is too early. The most important thing now is to maintain the war situation. Since the Japanese country has fallen into half, we must Reinforce Li Qinzai, don't let him really become a lone army."
Li Zhi was perked up after hearing this and said hurriedly: "Yes, maintaining the war situation is the most important thing, and other trivial matters should be put aside for now."
"Send people and horses to the Baekje Kingdom, call on Sun Renshi's naval division to march eastward urgently, and land in the Japanese country of Nagasaki. On the land route, Liu Ingui's division will dispatch half of the elite troops, and they will also sail with Sun Renshi's navy, totaling 10,000 people in both land and water divisions. Soldiers and horses, bring enough food, grass and weapons to rush to the aid of Japanese Li Qinzai's troops."
Li Qinzai's act of disobedience inadvertently mobilized the Tang army's strength on the entire eastern front of the Tang Dynasty. People from all walks of life rushed to the Japanese country to assist Li Qinzai's troops.
Li Qinzai finally imagined the joy of Li Yunlong's attack on Pinangrad.
Seeing Li Zhi's decree, Li Ji in the palace stroked his beard and remained silent, the anger still lingering on his face. However, a smile suddenly flashed across his eyes, which deeply betrayed his mood at the moment.