"Your Majesty, it is an indisputable fact that the Turks are at their peak. There is no need for the Great Tang to choose to knock against the hard rock that is the Turks. Only by preserving its strength and eliminating the Turks with minimal losses can the Great Tang become truly invincible!"
In Ganlu Palace, Li Er was frowning in thought. Li Zexuan had been waiting for a long time, but seeing no response from Li Er, he finally couldn't help but break the silence.
Li Er finally raised his head, his unfocused eyes focused. He stared at Li Zexuan and slowly said, "We understand the strength of the Turks better than anyone else. Ever since We ascended the throne, the spies We sent into the steppe have never stopped. We admit that the current strength of the Turkic army is truly thirty percent greater than that of my Great Tang, but yesterday, We issued a decree for the Six Bureaus of the Imperial Court to prepare for war. Three months later, an army of three hundred thousand soldiers will be dispatched from Chang 'an to the steppe!
We are the sovereign of a country, so how can we go back on our word? You said that at the end of the seventh month, the Turks would have a frost in midsummer. Although this matter is absurd, We believe you! But even so, what can we do? Since ancient times, a sovereign has never joked. Do you want Us to go back on our word and lose all our prestige? When that time comes, the Great Tang will definitely fall into chaos! "
Li Zexuan frowned and fell silent. Li Er's words were completely sincere. The problem now was not that Li Zexuan didn't believe him, but that the imperial decree to mobilize the Turks had already been issued. No matter how reasonable Li Zexuan's words were, Li Er couldn't possibly change his mind, right?
If all the officials in the court believed that the Turks would have a frost in the seventh month, then things would be much easier. At that time, even if Li Er wasn't willing to withdraw the imperial decree, the officials would still force him to do so. But the problem was that the officials couldn't just rely on Li Zexuan's one-sided words to believe in something as absurd as' midsummer frost '! Thus, Li Er was truly caught between a rock and a hard place!
"Your Majesty, this subject believes that the lives of the Great Tang's sons are the most important. If we can delay the attack on the Turks for a year, not only will our chances of victory be greater, our casualties will also be much lower! In comparison, this subject believes that the sovereign's words can also be taken lightly! "
After a long while, Li Zexuan once more spoke.
"Hmph! At this stage, do you still think that We are a tyrannical and fatuous sovereign who would rather push countless Great Tang into the abyss of death for the sake of face? "
Li Zexuan understood the hidden meaning in Li Zexuan's words. He slammed the table and stood up, his face full of anger.
"There is no turning back for an arrow that has been shot. The sacred decree of war has already been issued, and the six branches of the Imperial Court are making intensive preparations for this war. If We were to suddenly issue a decree at this time ordering the officials to stop preparing for war, the officials of the Imperial Court would definitely think that We are afraid of the Turks. There is no wall in this world that does not have a crack. If the officials were to spread this news to the common people, the common people of the world would definitely panic. Even if the Turks were to encounter a great snowstorm this year, even if Xieli's strength would be greatly damaged as a result, would the Great Tang at that time be able to organize another attack against the Turks?
As the saying goes, the first drum builds the spirit, the second will weaken, and the third will be exhausted! Rather than the morale of the army falling apart in the future, it would be better to gather the army now and attack the steppe in one go! Although the Turks are strong, our Great Tang does not necessarily have no chance of victory. We have wise and resourceful civil officials, valiant and brave generals, as well as the celestial lamp, telegraph, telescope, gunpowder, peerless divine weapons, and invincible armor. Why can't we fight the Turks fair and square?
Only by defeating the Turks when they are at their strongest will the Great Tang have the capital to be unrivaled in the world, and only then will the surrounding small countries not dare to provoke the Great Tang! Back then, you were still full of mettle, declaring that you would make the Great Tang unrivaled in the world. Now that you have gone to the north, why have you become so fearful? Could it be that your backbone and courage have been beaten up by the Turks' State Preceptor? "
Li Er's voice was like thunder, and his words were like a storm, hitting Li Zexuan's face. The entire Sweet Dew Hall reverberated with his angry roar. Zhao Song, who was standing in the corner of the hall, could not help but feel anxious. This was the first time he had seen Li Er so furious in front of an official. Although Li Er had often been angered by his officials in the past, Old Li would not directly vent his anger in front of his officials. He would only smash his cup after the officials had left. Thus, Zhao Song was somewhat worried about Li Zexuan's current situation.
"This official did not!"
Li Zexuan was not frightened by Li Er's thunderous anger. He looked straight at Li Er, his eyes red, and his voice hoarse as he retorted, "This official does not fear the Turks. This official's blood is still hot, and my heart is still red. This official loves the land beneath my feet, and even more so, I love the simple and brave people of the Great Tang! If the Great Tang were to send troops to the Turks now, this official would be willing to immediately join the army and be the vanguard, charging and breaking through enemy lines, killing the enemy and serving the country!
But this subject does not wish to see countless good men of the Great Tang die under the iron hooves of the Turks. This subject does not wish to experience the pain of separation between life and death, where one could be talking and laughing with his fellow soldiers one moment, and then be buried in the ground the next! Each of them represented a warm family behind them. They could be sons, husbands, or even fathers. When they were buried on the battlefield, their parents would lose their sons, their wives would lose their husbands, and their children would lose their fathers. Their warm family would instantly be shattered!
In the battle of Yonghe Pass, our Great Tang lost tens of thousands of soldiers. This means that tens of thousands of families were shattered because of this battle! This official was the one who brought them out of Bing Province, but this official did not bring them back! This official has let down their families!
Their bones are already on the dry sand, and their families are still in cold clothes. Based on Jun Mo's words, a general's success is built on the bones of ten thousand! This official does not wish to stand on these piles of bones to make a great contribution. Such a contribution is stained with blood, and this official will feel uneasy! If there is a battle, this official is willing to fight! However, this official does not wish to see more meaningless sacrifices! Your Majesty, please reconsider! "
Li Zexuan's eyes couldn't help but turn moist. He thought back to Xu Tingda and the other Bing Province soldiers who had accompanied him out of Bing Province. Just how high-spirited had they been when they had first left Bing Province? They had believed that they could seize the advantage by anticipating the enemy's moves, but who could have expected the Turks to invest so much capital, dispatching fifty thousand elite wolf cavalry. The defense lines at Yanmen Pass, Yonghe Pass, and Madou Pass had all been destroyed. Meanwhile, of the thirty thousand soldiers that Li Zexuan had brought out of Bing Province, only several thousand were left. Every time Li Zexuan thought about this gruesome battle, he felt like a knife was being twisted in his heart!
'Based on Jun Mo's words, a general's success is built on the bones of ten thousand!'
(From the late-Tang poet Cao Song's Six Years of Life)
Li Zexuan was taken aback by this poem. After a few moments of silence, he stood up, a complicated expression on his face, and walked up to Li Zexuan. Patting him on the shoulder, he sternly said,
"Brat, since ancient times, people have died in war. If not for those soldiers who risked their lives on the battlefield, how could my Great Tang have enjoyed its current peace? When We first stepped onto the battlefield, We were just like you. We also experienced the heart-wrenching pain of seeing one of our fellow soldiers leave us one by one! But We will not run away, nor will We be unable to recover from this setback. This is because We know that only by bringing peace to this country can We prevent even more people from bleeding on the battlefield!
"However, we can think of a way to reduce the number of deaths!"
Li Zexuan earnestly said.
"Think of a way? The way you speak of is to have Us order the officials of the Six Bureaus to stop preparing for the expedition? Is it to have the people of the Great Tang know that their sovereign is a cowardly sovereign who fears the Turks? Or is it that you have a way to have the people of the Great Tang believe that the Turks will suffer another snowstorm this year? "
Li Er coldly snorted and continued, "At this point, the best method is to make ample preparations for the expedition in the next three months. The soldiers of the Great Tang are not any weaker than the Turks. Moreover, the imperial treasury is abundant, and your workshop has advanced technology. It can provide the soldiers with even more provisions and even better weapons and armor. This way, we can reduce the number of casualties! Brat, you were high-spirited and fearless back then. Don't tell me that you don't even have the confidence to defeat the Turks now? "
Li Zexuan was rendered speechless by Li Er's' lecture '. Old Li's words were reasonable, and he had no way to refute them. Given the current situation of the Great Tang, changing the imperial edict would be too risky and costly. It was better to properly prepare for the expedition.
More importantly, although the Turks were stronger in this period, the Great Tang was also stronger than it had been in history. Its treasury was abundant, and its national strength was flourishing. The Great Tang's current industrial level was also more advanced than it had been in history. It could produce sharper weapons and sturdier armor, and it also had auxiliary tools like radio transmissions, celestial lanterns, and telescopes. In this situation, it was not impossible for the Great Tang to repeat that glorious victory in history!
Thinking of this, Li Zexuan's heart was once again filled with confidence. Since there was no way to change the matter of the expedition to the steppe, he had to think of a way to increase the Great Tang's chances of victory! Although three months was a short period of time, he could still do many things!
"Your Majesty's lecture is right. This subject was momentarily blinded. In the next three months, this subject will do his best to help the imperial court prepare for the Turks!"
Li Zexuan bowed deeply to Li Ershen and said with a firm expression.
Seeing this, Li Er's face finally revealed a smile of relief. He nodded and said heroically, "Good! This is the high-spirited immortal son! So what if the Turks are strong? As long as we work together, the destruction of the Turks is just around the corner! "
"Your Majesty's words are very true!"
Li Zexuan agreed with a smile.
After saying that, he suddenly remembered that he came to the imperial court today with a "mission", so he hurriedly cupped his hands towards Li Er and said, "Your Majesty, this subject's martial uncle from Mount Longhu wishes to have an audience with Your Majesty. He is currently waiting outside the palace, Your Majesty …"
Hearing this, Li Er's eyes lit up. He said in surprise, "Oh? You mean Daoist Xuan Qing is also in Chang 'an? Quick! Men! Quickly invite Daoist Xuan Qing over! "
Then, Li Er impatiently shouted to the eunuchs outside the hall.
"Yes!"
One of the eunuchs bowed and replied, then turned and left quickly.
In the Ganlu Hall, Li Er looked at Li Zexuan and asked thoughtfully, "Tell me honestly. Why did Daoist Xuan Qing come to the palace to see me this time?"
Longhu Mountain had always been a secluded sect and had never been enthusiastic about the secular imperial power. Therefore, when Daoist Xuan Qing took the initiative to come to the palace, Li Er immediately felt that something was wrong after the initial excitement. Therefore, he asked Li Zexuan.
In addition, this time when Li Zexuan was seriously injured at Longmen Pass and his life was hanging by a thread, Daoist Xuan Qing, who had been cultivating in Longhu Mountain, actually arrived in time. This kind of coincidence that shouldn't have happened happened. Old Li had been suspicious for a long time!
Hearing this, Li Zexuan thought for a moment and replied, "Your Majesty, Martial Uncle came down the mountain this time to carry out a mission given by Sect Leader. Unexpectedly, when he passed by Lantian County, he found out that I was already at Longmen Pass, so he rushed to Longmen County on a horse and happened to see Longmen Pass being besieged by the Turkic army. Your Majesty should have heard about what happened after that!"
"Hmm …!"
Li Er nodded and then asked, "You just said that Daoist Xuan Qing came down the mountain on the orders of Sect Leader Feng Lingzi. Can you tell me what the mission is?"
After the heart-to-heart conversation just now, the emperor and his minister were much closer to each other, so Li Zexuan didn't have much scruples about what he said. When Li Zexuan answered, he also didn't deliberately hide it.
"Your Majesty, to be honest, Sect Leader Feng Lingzi wants the disciples of Celestial Master Taoism to enter the secular world to cultivate. Most of those disciples are proficient in medicine. Sect Leader also heard that I have set up a medical school in Yunshan and set up many joint medical centers all over the Tang Empire. Therefore, he wants those disciples of Celestial Master Taoism with excellent medical skills to enter the medical centers and take the pulse of the people! For the people of Taoism, saving the dying and healing the injured, and curing the diseases of the people, is also a kind of cultivation! "
"I see!"
Li Er's eyes lit up. After a pause, he nodded and said, "Good! Good! Good! With the help of the people of Celestial Master Taoism, this joint medical center of the Tang Empire will definitely become bigger and bigger. The people of the Tang Empire will definitely have less illness and more happiness. This is a great thing! "
The Tang Empire respected Laozi as their ancestor and regarded Taoism as their national religion. They took measures to promote Taoism and raise the status of Taoist priests. Emperor Gaozu of the Tang Empire, Li Yuan, stipulated that "Taoism is great and Buddha is small, age first and then release later". After Li Er ascended the throne, he immediately reiterated that "My origin is from the pillar" and collected the hidden and secret Taoist books of the Jin and Wei Dynasties to spread the Taoism. As Taoism was beneficial to the orthodoxy and sanctity of the imperial power of the Tang Empire, Li Er had a very good impression of Taoism.
When he heard Li Zexuan say that the people of Celestial Master Taoism of Longhu Mountain were planning to enter the secular world to cultivate, Old Li was naturally overjoyed!
"Your Majesty, Taoist Master Xuan Qing is outside the hall!"
At this moment, a little eunuch ran in and bowed.
"Quick! Quickly invite Taoist Master Xuan Qing in! "
Li Er was shocked and said excitedly.
"Uh, Your Majesty, but Taoist Master Xuan Qing is unwilling to remove the sword case!"
The eunuch had a difficult expression.
Li Zexuan quickly went forward and explained, "Your Majesty, please forgive me! Little Martial Uncle is obsessed with swordsmanship and views swords as his life. He has never left his sword. Please forgive him, Your Majesty! I am willing to guarantee with my life that Little Martial Uncle definitely has no ill intentions towards Your Majesty! "
Li Er smiled indifferently and said, "Heh ~! It's fine, it's fine! I believe you! "
Then, he looked at the eunuch and said, "What are you waiting for? Quickly invite Taoist Master Xuan Qing in! "
"Yes, sir!"
…
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