There is a table on the floor by the window. There are several exquisite dishes placed on the table, including seafood transported from the East China Sea, and vegetables produced in the greenhouse. Simple dishes are placed in this season. When served on the dining table, it reveals low-key luxury.
His Majesty Li Er sat in the middle, the two princesses Changle and Jinyang were on the left and right, and the father and daughter were eating their meals happily.
There was even a small pot of rice wine on the table, and both Changle and Jinyang had small white porcelain wine glasses in front of them. The two women's faces were also stained with a layer of blush...
Fang Jun was surprised in his heart. He wondered if the two princesses were trying to persuade His Majesty Li Er not to continue taking the elixir. He quickly stepped forward and bowed to the ground: "I have an audience with Your Majesty and have met your two Highnesses."
His Majesty Li Er was obviously still angry at Fang Jun. He didn't even raise his eyelids. He just hummed, picked up the wine glass, took a sip of rice wine, picked up a mouthful of vegetables, put it in his mouth and chewed it, turning a blind eye.
Princess Changle smiled and said: "The Duke of Yue does not need to be polite."
Then he looked at His Majesty Li Er, and glanced at Princess Jinyang with the end of his eyes.
Princess Jinyang was extremely smart. After receiving the signal from her sister, she immediately stood up. She stood up happily and pulled Fang Jun's sleeves. She said happily: "Brother-in-law hasn't eaten yet? We just want to come together. Today, Huating Town sent a few messages." The kingfish is stewed by the imperial chef with green onion and ginger, and is served with rice wine. It is delicious. Come and try it! What are you doing in a daze? Get a pair of bowls and chopsticks for your brother-in-law!"
The latter words were spoken to the maid on the side.
The palace maid did not dare to neglect, and hurriedly got a spare pair of bowls and chopsticks and put them on the table. Fang Jun was also pulled by Princess Jinyang to sit next to him.
Fang Jun was initially frightened when he saw His Majesty Li Er's gloomy expression, but Princess Jinyang forced him to sit down at the table. His Majesty Li Er just put on a bad face but didn't scold him, so he had no choice but to go with the flow. sit down.
As soon as she sat down, Princess Jinyang thoughtfully served a bowl of rice and poured a glass of wine...
His Majesty Li Er is a little worried, mother, this little cotton-padded jacket is leaking...
However, Fang Jun had already sat down at the table, and in front of his two daughters and all the maids, even if he was still angry with Fang Jun in his heart, he couldn't be too harsh and hurt Fang Jun's face, so he had to endure the dissatisfaction in his heart. , said expressionlessly: "You should try it too."
After saying that, he realized that this fish was originally sent by Fang Jun all the way from Huating Town to the capital to recuperate Si Zi. Not only did he openly take advantage of his daughter, but he also treated her in front of Fang Jun. The face of "I will give you a royal meal" is really a bit shameless.
Feeling more and more depressed, he glared at Fang Jun and added: "You can't say anything when you eat or sleep. Eat quickly."
Fang Jun grimaced: "Here!"
Obediently pick up the rice bowl and eat in small bites. Don't dare to go too fast, lest it be rude to leave the table early, but don't dare to go too slowly, otherwise it will be even more impolite for you to not put down your chopsticks after the three of you have finished eating. , I didn’t dare to stretch out my chopsticks to pick up my favorite dishes, so I picked up a piece of green cabbage from the nearest plate of Qing Dynasty cabbage in front of me, and took a mouthful of rice without even daring to raise my head. It was embarrassing and awkward.
Fortunately, my sister-in-law knew that she felt sorry for her brother-in-law, so she knelt down and refused to eat. While picking up fish and putting it into a bowl for Fang Jun, she kept pouring wine. Her attentive and cheerful appearance made His Majesty Li Er burst into laughter. Jealousy, heartbroken...
Simply put down the rice bowl, drain the rice wine in the cup in one gulp, and said in a muffled voice: "I'm full."
Fang Jun quickly put the rice in the bowl into his mouth and swallowed it hard. He was choking and did not dare to say anything. He quickly put down the bowl and chopsticks, stepped back a little, and said: "Wei Chen is also full. Thank you for the gift, Your Majesty."
meal."
Princess Changle raised her eyes and glanced at Fang Jun. She took a mouthful of rice, put down her bowl and chopsticks, and said to the maid beside her: "Get out quickly and make a pot of tea."
"Here!"
The maid on the side hurried forward to clear away the dishes and tableware, wiped the table clean, and made a pot of tea.
Princess Changle lowered her eyebrows and looked calm, but she was very deft with her hands. She poured out the tea water to rinse the teacups, and then poured boiling water into the teapot again. After a few seconds, she filled several cups with more than half a cup of tea and pushed them into each cup.
He walked in front of a few people and said in a clear voice: "Please drink tea."
Fang Jun said: "Thank you, Your Highness."
He didn't dare to be humble and wait for His Majesty Li Er to take the cup first. He picked up the tea cup and sipped it, finally swallowing the food that was choking his esophagus.
Even though His Majesty Li Er wanted to see Fang Jun choked and embarrassed in a very mischievous manner, what else could he say after seeing his daughter pouring tea with such smooth and fluid skills?
Girls are outgoing, all their elbows are turned outward...
Picking up the tea cup in front of him and taking a sip, His Majesty Li Er asked: "Why are you in such a hurry to come to the palace to see me?"
Fang Jun quickly put down the teacup, took out the letter written by little Hussein to ask for help, presented it to His Majesty Li Er with both hands, and then explained the cause and effect.
Seeing His Majesty Li Er taking the letter and reading it silently, Fang Jun said: "Dashi Country broke out in civil strife due to the caliphate, and it seems that it will be unable to expand outside in a short period of time, but its customs are completely different from ours.
By exposing the internal contradictions to the outside world, we can enhance our prestige and strength, and in turn intimidate our opponents. Therefore, I sincerely request your Majesty to send more troops to the Western Regions to prevent Damascus from sending troops to invade the country again."
His Majesty Li Er read the letter in his hand carefully and remained silent.
Princess Jinyang gently lifted the teapot and refilled Fang Jun's teacup. Fang Jun looked at him with gratitude, and the little princess pursed her lips and smiled sweetly...
After a long while, His Majesty Li Er raised his head, still holding the letter in his hand, and looked at Fang Jun and asked: "Are you sure that Damascus will definitely send troops to the Western Regions? After all, the former Namu'awiya led an army to conquer the Western Regions, and you were severely beaten.
Returning in defeat has damaged his strength and prestige. Coupled with the change of domestic regime and unstable public sentiment, he may not be able to make a comeback in such a short period of time."
This is indeed in line with the situation of the food country, but in the final analysis, His Majesty Li Er may not be lucky enough to "cover his ears and steal the bell". After all, after the spring, the imperial commander's personal expedition will take away most of the troops stationed in Guanzhong, resulting in a weak military force in Guanzhong. If he goes to the Western Regions
The increase in troops will inevitably affect the strength of the Eastern Expedition.
For His Majesty Li Er, who was determined to win the battle against Goguryeo, he would never allow any mistakes in the Eastern Campaign.
Fang Jun understood this, but he did not intend to compromise on this, but expressed his worries: "Your Majesty knows clearly that under normal circumstances, Damascus will indeed not invade the Western Regions in a short time, but if the other party detects that the Western Regions are now only
What if the Anxi Army is left to garrison and its troops are empty?"
His Majesty Li Er frowned.
The Hu people are the best at taking risks and do not understand the military art of "using the right combination to win by the unexpected", so they often have incredible results.
The huge profits of the Silk Road are coveted by all countries and tribes. Whether it is Turks or cannibals, they all dream of cutting off this trade route and taking all the wealth for themselves. The Western Region is where all parties compete.
Whoever controls the Western Regions will occupy most of the wealth of the Silk Road.
With the temperament of the Hu people who despise morality and value interests, if they really knew that the Anxi army was empty of troops and could not get support at all, and they wanted to take the opportunity to enhance their prestige and plunder the Western Region to increase their strength, it would be very risky to launch an attack brazenly.
possible.
"But if we reinforce the Anxi Army, we will either transfer the garrison in Guanzhong, which will lead to a weak force in Guanzhong and instability in the capital; or we will transfer an army from the Eastern Expedition army to march westward, which will affect the overall situation of the Eastern Expedition. If the Eastern Expedition is frustrated,
, who can afford this responsibility?”
His Majesty Li Er said in a deep voice, very irritated.
Fang Jun couldn't help but be speechless.
He has always been resistant to gathering nearly one million troops to conquer Goguryeo. Goguryeo is a bitter cold land with many people and little money and food. If he wants to win a battle, he does not rely on the overwhelming army to crush him, but on a more complete plan.
, a more targeted strategy to defeat those solid mountain fortresses built by Goguryeo on top of the mountains.
If we can't cut off the connection between Goguryeo's mountain cities all over Liaodong, what's the use of having more troops? Anyway, it is absolutely impossible for Goguryeo to fight the Tang army on a large scale on the plains. The cavalry and Mo Dao soldiers of the Tang Dynasty were rampant all over the world.
, coupled with the new firearms, the number of people in Goguryeo was not enough.
Of course, he could also understand the caution of His Majesty Li Er and the civil and military forces of the Manchu Dynasty. After all, Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty was not far away from the warning. Back then, he had warned that hundreds of thousands of soldiers from all over the world would march to Liaodong. The soldiers were so numerous that they made a thunderous attack, but in the end they ended up in a complete defeat.
It is only right to be cautious and avoid making the same mistakes again.
However, in Fang Jun's view, although the destruction of Goguryeo would solve the empire's biggest hidden danger in the northeast and greatly expand the territory of the Tang Dynasty, the Western Regions could not be lost either.