Li Mu laughed dumbly and said: "Father, are you exaggerating a bit? How can there be a place for him to be a prince? With just the few people in Zhangjiazhai? I think it is impossible."
"Don't underestimate your father-in-law. He is not a simple person. If he had not gone astray back then, his achievements today would never be inferior to mine. In short, I have told you all the guesses in my mind. You yourself
Just be aware of it and don't let him get you involved."
Li Mu smiled and said: "Since he is my father-in-law, he is inseparable from it. Whether I know it or not, it is actually the same. But I still thank my adoptive father for reminding me. If necessary, I will talk to this
Let’s have a good chat with my father-in-law.”
…
Li Muchang sighed, still not thinking clearly about what Zhang Xun wanted to do. However, there was one thing in front of him, waiting for his decision.
The square of the palace was filled with kneeling detainees. Everyone had their hands tied behind their backs and was guarded by another soldier. They were kneeling in dense numbers on the square.
Li Mu stood on the steps of the palace, looking at the people below. Li Siwen came over, handed him a roster, and whispered: "Brother, these people are related to the Gaochang royal family, Ju Wentai's brothers, nephews, uncles
All the direct blood relatives are here."
Li Mu flipped through it casually and asked, "Where are the officials and others?"
"We can't fit it in here, it's all outside."
Li Mu threw the roster back to Li Siwen, stretched and said, "Forget it, I won't read it either, just kill them all."
"Kill?" Li Siwen's eyes widened. He swallowed and reminded carefully: "Brother, there must be thousands of people here. Kill them all?"
"Yes, kill them all."
Although Li Chongyi was a murderous person, he was on the battlefield and these people had no power to resist. Li Mu still wanted to kill. He couldn't accept it and couldn't help but said: "Brother, I don't understand. Didn't you tell me
Can I not kill if I don’t want to? How come you yourself-"
Li Mu sighed and said, "Come on, you two, listen carefully, I will tell you the rules about killing and not killing."
"On the battlefield, when two armies are fighting, killing the enemy is important, but defeating the enemy is more important than killing. What we have to do is to defeat the opponent first so that the opponent cannot form an effective counterattack. This way we will be safer and more
Save energy. If we waste a lot of energy in order to kill a few more people and let the enemy slow down before organizing an attack on us, our casualties will be greater in the end. Moreover, after defeating them, we can collect their remaining soldiers for my use, even if
It is used to feed the horses, and it also helps me, so I say I won’t kill them if I can.”
"As for the killing at this time, if you don't rush to this time, you don't have to kill. But now, you must kill, and you can't show mercy."
Li Siwen frowned and said, "Why is that?"
"It's very simple," Li Mu said seriously: "Because the enemy we are about to face is the Western Turks. The strength of the Western Turks is even greater than ours. We must resolve all hidden dangers and prepare for the war before fighting the Western Turks!"
"And now that the king of Gaochang, Ju Wentai, and his successor, Ju Zhisheng, are both dead, this is the best time for us in the Tang Dynasty to capture Gaochang. I will kill all the people who can succeed the king of Gaochang, and Gaochang will become a land without one.
It will belong to me, the Tang Dynasty!"
Seeing that Li Siwen still wanted to speak, Li Mu said coldly: "Don't think that only Ju Wentai and Ju Zhisheng in Gaochang are colluding with the Western Turks. None of these princes and ministers are innocent. They are all against the Tang Dynasty.
As people of the Tang Dynasty and generals of the Tang Dynasty, we put the interests of the Tang Dynasty first, you must understand this!"
Li Mu's voice slowed down: "I also learned from the investigation that after King Ju Wentai of Gaochang succeeded to the throne, in order to satisfy his own selfish desires, he levied exorbitant taxes and miscellaneous taxes on the people of Gaochang. The people were dissatisfied, but they had no choice. Some princes and nobles plundered the fiefdoms.
The people were not satisfied, so they forced them to sign deeds of sale, IOUs, etc., making them work to pay off the debts. The people were miserable. If the Tang Dynasty wanted to quickly gain the loyalty of the people, killing these nobles would be the fastest and most effective way.
way!"
"Brother——"
Li Siwen is kind-hearted. Although Li Mu's reasons are all valid, he still can't bear it. But Li Mu is no longer willing to listen. As the coach, he should make his own decision. If everyone's opinions are
Even if everyone obeys, he can't do anything.
Li Mu pulled out Shangfang's sword and said: "Ju Zhisheng killed his father to seize power and colluded with foreign tribes. His intentions and actions are worthy of punishment. When Master Wang came, he knew that his sin was serious and he had already committed suicide. You, the powerful and powerful people of Gaochang, committed crimes by aiding the tyranny of Zhou.
It is also unavoidable that, according to the order of the Marquis, the men on the list will be killed, the women will be made into armored slaves, and the family property will be confiscated. Tomorrow morning, all the people who have sincerely surrendered to the Tang Dynasty can receive a resettlement fee at various notice offices in the city to make up for it.
Gaochang’s powerful people have exploited the people for many years!”
"kill!"
Following Li Mu's order, the soldiers raised their swords and dropped their swords, and blood flowed into a river in the square!
…
The news of Li Mu's murder quickly reached the ears of Hou Junji and Li Ji. They rushed over, but it was too late. Thousands of heads fell to the ground and corpses were everywhere. But the strange thing was that no one dared to cry.
Because they were all scared out of their wits.
Since the Qin and Han Dynasties, killings have been rare. Even during the invasion of foreign tribes in the Northern and Southern Dynasties, as long as the Han people expressed their surrender, there were not many massacres. But today, something like this has happened again. Everyone in Gaochang is in danger of being afraid.
He cried out, and the next moment the butcher's knife was placed on his neck.
Li Mu was holding a burning torch in his hand. Opposite him, Li Chongyi was pouring buckets of kerosene on the corpses. On the walls and the palace, Hou Junji and Li Ji came in a hurry. Li Mu saw
He met them, greeted them with a smile, and threw them away. The fire instantly rose into the sky when it hit the kerosene, exuding a burnt smell.
"Li Mu, do you know that you have caused a big disaster?!" Li Ji was heartbroken and said, "Why didn't I see that you are such a cold-blooded person! How could you do this?"
"Father, what's wrong with me?" Li Mu said seriously: "I didn't kill the old, weak, women and children, I killed all adult men. They were all enemies who resisted our Tang Dynasty. If we keep them, there will be endless troubles. We and the Western Turks
With the war imminent, do you want to leave their backyard on fire?”
"Then you can't kill me without telling me!"
Li Mu pointed to his Shang Fang sword and said: "In fact, I have this power."
"But, at least you have to go to court and explain your guilt, so that you can be justified and set an example for the countries in the Western Region -"
"Father!" Li Mu interrupted Li Ji and said, "Mu believes that instead of pretending to be benevolent and righteous, it is better to go straight and do whatever you want. Why are you making excuses? I will shoulder all responsibilities, and my foster father and General Hou don't have to