After moving bricks and stones for a day, Li Tai's appetite became better. He just ate half a roast duck by himself.
Zhang Yang instructed: "Your Highness, King Wei, you are at the most critical age for your body growth. You need to eat more meat and don't overeat."
Li Tai wiped his mouth and said, "Just enough."
"How good is your understanding of geography recently?"
"I've been reading the topography about the Hexi Corridor recently." Li Tai sat cross-legged, "Since the Han Dynasty, there have been four counties in Hexi. Maybe others didn't notice it. After reading ancient books, I realized that Hexi is actually a very rich place. Zhang Da
When Su passed through the Hexi Corridor, he noticed a large number of war horses and sheep. It was not unreasonable for Huo Qubing to set up the largest horse breeding farm in history in the Hexi Corridor."
"Brother-in-law, actually I still have one thing that I don't understand." Li Tai drew a line on the ground, "The Hexi Corridor connects Longxi to the east, leads directly to Guanzhong, and connects Xizhou to the west and leads directly to the Western Regions. This has been a battleground for military strategists throughout the ages. The Central Plains
We have repeatedly won the Hexi Corridor, but lost it again and again, and the money required to rebuild the four counties in Hexi is even greater, and there is a risk of losing the Hexi Corridor again."
Li Tai's words began to become more intensive again.
Zhang Yang listened distressedly.
"This time to reset Xizhou and connect it to Gaochang, my father Wei Zheng repeatedly raised objections to this decision. I think it will put a lot of burden on the DPRK and China. If the Hexi Corridor is lost, all the efforts made by the DPRK and China will be in vain.
"
Thinking of the Hexi Corridor, Zhang Yang also thought of Jiayuguan, one of the three major passes in the Central Plains.
The construction of this pass began in the early Ming Dynasty, and it was also the most important part of the Ming Dynasty's construction of the Ming Great Wall.
Let’s not talk about whether Li Shimin will invest a lot of manpower and material resources in building such a pass.
But the completion of Jiayuguan has indeed given the Hexi Corridor long-term stability.
Zhang Yang drew a circle at the other end of the line, "You can try to build a pass in the Hexi Corridor. As long as such a pass exists, it can provide a good guarantee for the four counties in Hexi behind, whether it is farming or farming.
The deployment of troops can provide a lot of convenience."
Li Tai looked at this line and thought for a long time.
Zhang Yang added: "I call this pass Jiayuguan."
“Why Jiayuguan?”
"Because there is a mountain called Jiayu Mountain at the west end of the Hexi Corridor."
Li Tai raised his head and asked suddenly: "Brother-in-law, has he been to the Hexi Corridor?"
Zhang Yang smiled and said, "Just think that I have been there."
He left Lishan in the evening and walked into the gate of Chang'an City. Li Tai took a deep breath and said loudly: "Brother-in-law, don't worry, the geography is favorable for the country. I will compile it well and I will not let my brother-in-law down."
Listening to his rhetoric, losing weight is like three days of fishing and two days of netting for him.
Doing business is perseverance.
I don’t know if he can persevere in compiling geography.
The memorials written by Lu Dongzan were sent to the court. One was written in Tubo script, and the other was a translation written by the Foreign Affairs Academy.
Looking at the memorial in front of him, Li Shimin had some doubts. Lu Dongzan lowered his head to admit his mistake and even thanked the Ministry of Rites in such an abnormal way. He was probably forced by the situation.
Looking at Fang Xuanling again, Li Shimin said in a deep voice: "What do Xuanling think?"
"Since the Prime Minister of Tibet feels that there is nothing inappropriate in Zhang Yang's words and deeds, he can naturally recall him and let him continue to arrange negotiations."
Li Shimin looked at the night outside and said, "Let him come to the Li Zheng Palace tomorrow."
The queen admired Zhang Yang's son-in-law so much that some of the furniture in the palace was sent to her by Yue'er.
Tonight, Li Shimin hosted a banquet for members of the clan, and those consorts whom Li Yuan had appointed were also present.
Let the eunuch pour white sugar on everyone's dishes. The current emperor shared the wonderful use of this white sugar with everyone.
After everyone tasted it, they were amazed.
When someone asked where he was, Li Shimin avoided talking about it. This was an agreement with Zhang Yang. As for how the white sugar would appear in the market in the future, what was its origin?
Li Shimin believed that Zhang Yang could make up many stories about this.
Everyone in the clan here was talking about this white sugar. Some people dipped bitter herbs into some white sugar and ate it, and found that the flavor was even better.
They also heard that Zhang Yang would often bring out some strange things to present to His Majesty and the Queen.
There were also a lot of home-cooked food, and everyone was a prince-in-law. When these princes-in-law came to their senses, they unexpectedly found that they were about to be swept to death by Zhang Yang, the prince-in-law.
This is the first time that sugar has appeared in front of people, and many people at this banquet will be deeply impressed by it.
Li Shimin was very satisfied with the results this time.
It was said that he was banned for a month, but Zhang Yang did not interfere with the affairs of the court for two consecutive months.
Devote yourself wholeheartedly to the construction of your new home.
So much so that a wall in Li Yue's room was specially reserved for hanging drawings.
When he woke up early in the morning, Zhang Yang prepared breakfast, and Xiao Wu drank porridge and looked at the questions left yesterday.
Look again and see that my wife is still sleeping.
Xiao Wu whispered: "Teacher has become more and more sleepy recently."
Glancing inside the room, Li Yue had just woken up and was looking listless when she walked out after putting on her clothes.
After washing up and taking care of myself, I sat down and ate my meal slowly.
Xiao Wu ate the porridge in the bowl and washed the bowl himself.
Looking at Li Yue's complexion, Zhang Yang asked in a low voice: "Have you been feeling unwell lately?"
Li Yue whispered: "I haven't slept so late in the past two days. I usually go to bed very early."
The words were spoken so softly that only the couple could hear them.
Aunt Yang came in a hurry and said, "Li Shan Order, Her Royal Highness the Princess and the Queen said that there are some good peaches and melons in the palace."
Li Yue nodded and said: "I know, let's pack up and go see the queen mother."
He hadn't been to the palace for more than a month. Li Yuan was recuperating in the village. With the medical team and Sun Simiao from the hospital there, he didn't have to worry too much.
I mentioned the expansion of the medical center to my wife. The factory's income will soon enter a stable period, and the village's money income will gradually stabilize.
She refuted this several times.
Especially when she saw that after the expansion of the carriage business outside the city, the business was not as good as in previous years, this made her a little wary and she became more cautious about expansion.
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! After tidying up the house, the couple took Xiao Wu out of the house.
The palace maid led the way and continued: "The queen has stopped coughing recently. The medical officers of the Imperial Medical Office have also discovered the problem and have taken out all the incense burners in the palace."
As a luxury item, the incense burner is often used to calm the mind and calm the mind.
This kind of smoke often has the characteristics of incomplete combustion.
In order to make the aroma stronger, they will add things that are more resistant to burning to various incense.
For example, sulfur is one of them.
After not seeing his mother for a long time and hearing what the palace maid said again, Li Yue's pace quickened a bit.
With the palace maid leading the way, there was no obstacle to entering the court from Chengtian Gate.
When he arrived, he could still notice that the officials in various departments in the imperial city were looking at him. He had long been accustomed to this kind of look, and Zhang Yang knew that he was considered a different person in the eyes of many people in the court.
When you are awake enough, you will look at them as if you were a mortal.
It is important to understand right and wrong. Having seen a more prosperous world, as long as you are firm in your heart, you can confirm that your direction is correct, and you don't need to care about their opinions.
They discuss it because they don't know what will happen ahead, they are just curious about the unknown.
When I walked into the palace, my eyes became brighter. No one stopped in the wide open space in front of the Taiji Palace. After getting closer, I could see four or five guards standing in front of the palace.
Turn from Taiji Hall and walk all the way to Lizheng Hall.
Before he reached the front of the hall, he saw Li Zhi standing outside alone. The seven-year-old child was wearing overly long clothes and was stopping to look around.
When he saw the person, Li Zhi's eyes lit up and he ran over quickly, "Brother-in-law, brother-in-law, I have already counted the beans clearly. Brother Huang taught me."
I knew that Qing Que came to ask at that time to help his younger brother solve his problems.
The couple led Xiao Wu and kept walking.
Li Zhi quickly followed, "Brother-in-law, are there any other interesting topics?"
Walking to the front of the palace, Zhang Yang asked again: "How do you tell the weight of a war horse?"
Li Zhi asked again, "Do you need to cut the war horse into eight pieces to weigh it?"
"The premise is that you can't kill the horse. The specific method still depends on the wisdom of His Highness Prince Jin."
As he spoke, he walked into the Li Zheng Hall, where Li Shimin and the Queen were.
Li Yue first saluted and then walked to the queen's side.
Zhang Yang looked at Li Shimin. The monarch, minister and son-in-law looked at each other speechlessly for a long time.
"I've already done what you asked me to do."
Li Shimin spoke first.
Zhang Yang took out a small can of white sugar and said, "Your Majesty, please eat less of this on weekdays. I will give you this amount every month."
It was a thumb-sized jar. When I opened it, I saw that there was only half a jar of sugar inside.
After putting it down again, Li Shimin said helplessly: "This thing is too sweet and greasy, I don't like to eat it anymore."
Zhang Yang smiled and said, "It can be used to make some sweets for the children."
Hearing the word sweets, Gao Yang immediately came over and listened carefully.
In the Tang Dynasty, salt was valuable and sugar was even more valuable.
Li Shimin came up with a decree, "This is your decree to lift the ban. I won't let anyone send it away."
Zhang Yang took the decree and nodded, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
Li Shimin drank tea, "Whether it's this decree or the sugar, it's just a piece of cake for me. I still want to know how you will deal with Tubo."
"To be honest, I actually haven't thought about what to do, let alone any specific ideas."
Li Shimin put down the tea bowl, "Then what do you mean by treating the Tubo people like this?"
Taking the chair handed by the palace maid, Zhang Yang sat down beside him, "No one at the card table knows what the opponent's cards are, they can only cheat."
"You have no idea how much land Tubo can give you. You just want to test Tubo's bottom line?"
"Exactly."
Li Shimin smiled again, "It seems you are nothing more than that."
Zhang Yang said melancholy: "I am just an ordinary person, I am the same as everyone else."
There were whispers from the queen and daughter-in-law on the side.
Noticing that Zhang Yang was looking at the layout of the Li Zheng Palace, and finally his eyes fell on a piece of paperweight, Li Shimin closed his eyes and said, "I'll give it to you."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Zhang Yang put the gold-inlaid paperweight into his arms.
"The Queen's health has improved a lot because of your advice, and she no longer has asthma or coughing. It's best that you reminded me. I'll count it as your contribution."
Zhang Yang said: "Many people in the powerful clans are using this thing. It would be best if everyone could not use it."
"As long as I don't use it, I don't think they will use it either."
After discussing with Li Shimin for a long time and explaining everything to the emperor, the next thing will be much easier.
The next morning, Zhang Yang still did not go to court. He slept until dawn and came to the Foreign Affairs Academy early.
Xu Jingzong came forward and said, "Lu Dongzan comes to the Foreign Affairs Academy every day to ask when he can see Zhang Shangshu."
Xu Jingzong's ability is very good, and he can manage the Foreign Affairs Institute in an orderly manner.
There is also a memorial he asked Lu Dongzan to write. Even if Lu Dongzan is forced by the situation now, no matter what the officials in the court guess, telling them to shut up and stop impeachment is still a bad breath.
.
Sometimes I become the center of discussions among these officials, which is quite distressing.
Zhang Yang asked in surprise: "When does Lu Dongzan come every day?"
Xu Jingzong took the kettle from the stove and poured a bowl of hot water on it, "Does Zhang Shangshu plan to arrange negotiations now?"
Zhang Yang smiled and said, "We are not going to negotiate today. You and Lu Dongzan will agree on a date."
"Alright, this is a formal negotiation between Tubo and Tang Dynasty, so we need to be well prepared."
Looking at the current Diplomatic Academy, since the establishment of the Diplomatic Academy, all diplomatic matters with various countries have been conducted here.
There are many files on the bookshelves next to the wall, and there is also a backyard in the Diplomatic Academy.
The backyard seemed empty. It was originally a restaurant and had been vacant for a long time.
After buying it, it was transformed into the Diplomatic Academy.
There was also a large stove. Zhang Yang asked hesitantly: "Do all the civil servants in the Foreign Affairs Academy prepare three meals a day by themselves?"
"That's right, we never ask about food."
"Recruit a cook to cook three meals a day for our staff at the Diplomatic Corps. We will have food to eat every day. It doesn't cost much money and we can take care of a lot of people."
Xu Jingzong nodded and asked the clerk on the side to make arrangements.
After listening to Xu Jingzong's narration, I understood what is happening in Tubo now.
According to the military reports sent in these days, Xu Jingzong talked about the war situation in Tibet.
First, five thousand soldiers and horses led by Niu Jinda were besieged in Hehuang by Songtsen Gampo's people. The siege lasted for half a month, during which the Tibetan people were able to resist several attacks.
Su Dingfang and Li Daoyan went south from Tubo. After learning about the situation, they began to help General Niu get out of trouble.
It was impossible for a team of 300 people to fight against Songtsan Gampo's tens of thousands of troops. Su Dingfang asked his soldiers who had learned the Tubo dialect to sneak into the enemy camp and start spreading rumors.
Having already experienced the defeat at Songzhou, the Tibetan army was unsettled.
Songtsen Gampo divided his troops in various places, and it was difficult to tell whether the rumors were true or false for a while.
Many of them had no choice but to follow Songtsen Gampo to attack Datang.
After the Battle of Songzhou, some people had already lost the intention to fight again.
Rumors spread among the Tubo army, and General Niu Jinda had adapted to the plateau climate in the past half month, and Su Dingfang sent someone to contact General Niu's headquarters.