The clerk exited, and Li Xiaogong stood up and took two cups from the bookshelf on the side. At this time, Xue Rengui strode in and performed a military salute: "The last general will see you as the Protector!"
Li Xiaogong waved his hand casually and said: "How can there be so many rules in this place where rabbits don't poop? Look at how sweaty you are, sit down quickly."
While talking, he took out another bottle of wine from the copper cabinet, returned to the desk and sat down, waved his hand for Xue Rengui to sit in front of him, poured a glass of wine for Xue Rengui with his own hands, and said with a smile: "Take a sip of iced wine.
, to get rid of the heat.”
"Thank you, Protector!"
Xue Rengui had a rigorous character. He thanked me meticulously, then held the wine glass in both hands and drank it all in one gulp.
The cold, sour and sweet wine enters the throat, which is very comfortable.
Li Xiaogong also had a drink, and then asked: "How come you came back so quickly during this tour?"
The Anxi Protectorate has a vast territory, and now all the countries in the Western Region are under its jurisdiction. There are no less than dozens of places that need to be inspected. Generally speaking, each inspection will take at least several months. But this time Xue Rengui went on an inspection tour.
The days are less than two months, so how many places can we go?
Although all the countries in the Western Region are now surrendered, these guys have always been accustomed to doing their own thing. Suddenly being governed by the Tang Dynasty, they are inevitably dissatisfied. They may engage in some small actions in private, and even collude with the Turks. They must be monitored at all times to avoid mistakes.
.
At that time, Guo Xiaoke's negligence led to rebellion in all the Western Regions, and he was eventually killed in Qiuci. This lesson cannot be forgotten.
The Prince of Hejian County is still waiting for Tai Tai to guard the Western Regions peacefully. When he returns to Chang'an in a few years, he can ask Your Majesty to promote his title. He must not make any mistakes...
Xue Rengui put down his wine glass and said with a solemn expression: "This is the end of our tour. As soon as we arrived at Suiye Town, we learned from the merchants that there seemed to be some movement in Damascus. Armies from all walks of life gathered in Damascus, probably for a foreign war.
Muawiya had not been the caliph for a long time, and his assassination of the previous caliph was still causing a stir in the country. If you want to calm public opinion, the best way is to go to war abroad and win a big victory."
Domestic conflicts are then transferred to the outside world through war. This is a method used by rulers throughout the ages. Although it is common, it has been tried and tested.
Li Xiaogong's expression changed, and he lost his voice and said, "Isn't that bastard planning to go to the Western Regions again?"
The last time the Arab cavalry suddenly invaded the country, and although they were eventually repulsed, they frightened everyone in the Tang Dynasty into panic. If the domestic situation in Dashi had not changed, Mu'awiya would not have retreated easily, regardless of victory or defeat.
It will be a fierce battle.
How many days has passed now?
Coming again?
Mother!
It seems that I want to stay in this position of Anxi Protector for a few years, not seeking merit but seeking no faults. How come there are always those who are ignorant and oppose me?
Xue Rengui shook his head and said: "It is not known yet, but the Food Kingdom has been coveting the Silk Road for a long time. It has been eyeing the Western Regions. Occupying the Western Regions and controlling the Silk Road will not only skyrocket Muawiya's prestige, but also bring endless benefits to the Food Country.
Endless benefits, so the possibilities are very high.”
Li Xiaogong nodded in approval, but then asked: "Why not Constantinople?"
The relationship between the Great Food Kingdom and the Eastern Roman Empire was not only due to geopolitics, but also because of beliefs, interests and other reasons. It can be said that there is no room for two tigers in one mountain. Everyone wants to completely annex the other, and the big and small wars almost never stop.
Xue Rengui analyzed: "Although there is a feud between the two countries, they both want to massacre each other before giving up, but there have been few wars to fight recently. The country of Dashi now has the upper hand with strong troops and horses, but Constantinople is
If you want to capture the most fortified city in the West, you will inevitably lose countless soldiers. Muawiya has just come to power and his position has not yet been firmly established. How can he launch such a war that is destined to suffer heavy losses? It would be better to win, if
If we fail, I'm afraid that the situation in Dashi will be ups and downs, and the consequences will be disastrous."
Foreign wars are meant to divert conflicts, not to cause trouble for oneself.
Li Xiaogong said with a headache: "It seems that if the Dashi Kingdom really starts a war, the target may really be the Western Regions. Now that His Majesty is marching eastward, the domestic troops are empty and unable to support the Western Regions. This war will be difficult to fight. Oh, by the way, look.
Look at this."
Thinking of something, I reached out and rummaged through a large pile of official documents on the desk, found one and handed it to Xue Rengui.
Xue Rengui finally took a closer look and was immediately surprised: "Tuyuhun intends to rebel?"
Li Xiaogong nodded and sighed: "I'm afraid it's not 'intention', but that after planning for a long time, the arrow was on the string and had to be fired. King Fushun of Tuyuhun has died, and his son Nuohebo received the support of Tubo to take over the position of Khan, but it was difficult to convince the people, so he
If you can invade the west of Hexi and make some achievements to regain the lost territory, you can consolidate your position as khan. In my opinion, this battle must be fought."
Xue Rengui was speechless.
How come one or two of them are using this method to deflect conflicts? Are these barbarians full of fat in their minds? Is there no other way?
And why are everyone staring at Datang?
Especially at this time when the entire country of the Tang Dynasty is on an expedition...
He looked at the battle report again and said worriedly: "The Duke of Yue led half of the Youtun Guards to go out to control Hexi... I'm afraid there will be more misfortune than good."
Li Xiaogong also said: "Originally, I was thinking of mobilizing an elite force to rush to Hexi. We can't let the Tuyuhun people occupy Hexi and cut off our retreat, right? But now it seems that if the big food country is ready to make a move, we really don't dare to divide our troops.
"
The Anxi Army is indeed elite, but its numbers are not large.
Not to mention the strong soldiers and horses of the Dashi Kingdom, they can easily summon hundreds of thousands of troops to conquer the east and west. If the Anxi army divides its troops at this time, once the Dashi Nation really attacks the Western Regions, it will be difficult to resist, and something bad will happen.
Losing the Western Region is equivalent to handing over the Silk Road, and allowing the army of the Food Kingdom to reach Yumen Pass. If Hexi is lost again, Tuyuhun will not be able to stop the Arab heavy cavalry of the People's Eating Kingdom, and it is very likely that the Food Kingdom will reach Guanzhong.
But there is a danger of national subjugation...
Xue Rengui said helplessly: "We must not divide our troops. Even if Hexi is lost, as long as the Western Region is still there, we can mobilize troops from the Central Plains to counterattack Hexi. But once the Western Region is lost and the Arabs meet Hexi in Tuyuhun, no matter who wins or loses, it will be difficult to recover the power."
.Hexi can only rely on the Duke of Yue himself."
As he said this, he cursed fiercely: "Rat like Chai Zhewei, whose corpses are lying on bare food, who are afraid of the enemy and are too timid to fight, deserve to die!"
Although the battle report stated that Chai Zhewei "suddenly fell ill", who would believe it?
It is said that "no coincidence can make a book", things are too coincidental, and they can only be the plot of the book...
The majestic General Zuo Tunwei, with tens of thousands of elite soldiers under his command, did not dare to go out to control Hexi. Instead, he pretended to be sick to avoid the war. As a result, Fang Jun had to go out with half of the Right Tunwei, leaving half of his troops to defend Chai Zhewei. It was simply
Unbelievable.
Xue Rengui regarded Fang Jun as his "benefactor", so naturally while admiring Fang Jun's courage to face difficulties and face death, he was both contemptuous and angry at Chai Zhewei's actions.
If all the generals of the Tang Dynasty were so greedy for life and afraid of death, the country would be destroyed.
Li Xiaogong was also disgusted with Chai Zhewei's behavior. He waved his hands and said with a stern face: "Your Majesty will decide this matter. With your Majesty's wisdom and prowess, how can you let him go lightly? You can lead the army to support Suiye Town. Where to build it? The first line of defense is to pay close attention to the movements of Damascus. Once Muawiya really intends to conquer the Western Regions, send a message immediately, and I will immediately lead the army to reinforce. The Western Regions are too important to the empire and must not be lost. We will fight even if Even if you die, don’t let those inhumane beasts occupy an inch of land in the Western Region!”
Xue Rengui nodded and said: "Don't worry, I will protect the Western Region even if I die in the end!"
The two looked at each other, and both could see the solemnity and worry in the other's eyes.
There is no room for loss in the Western Regions, but once Hexi falls, the Western Regions will be cut off from Guanzhong, and their military resources and baggage cannot be replenished. Should the Western Regions be allowed to become an enclave?
What's more, although the Tang Dynasty seems to be united, but when Hexi falls and His Majesty is far away in Liaodong, can the prince control the Guanlong clan and all the forces?
Thinking more deeply, what if something goes wrong in the Eastern Expedition and the mistakes of the previous Sui Dynasty are repeated...
That situation is simply unimaginable.
Perhaps the Tang Empire, which was so prosperous and powerful at the moment, would fall apart and disintegrate in an instant.
How could things suddenly turn upside down like this? What was once prosperous and full of flowers suddenly turned into such a dangerous situation?