The prime ministers and officials of the Bureau of Military Personnel came up with a strategy to defend against the Tufan invasion in the Maozhou region. The royal court immediately issued an order for the troops of the various provinces of Jiannan to be on guard against the Tufan invasion. At the same time, a second line of defense was set up to prevent the Tufan army from entering the Maozhou region after the Jiannan region was breached.
Even though their strategy was conservative, it was still a relatively safe one at the moment. Firstly, the capital had just been shifted back to Chang 'an, and there was no room for mistakes. If the Tufan army were to invade the Maozhou region, the emperor would have to shift the capital back to Luoyang. Even if it was only temporary, the prestige of the empire would be tarnished.
Furthermore, it was currently winter and the roads were blocked by snow, making it inconvenient to move around. Furthermore, the Tufan army was on the offensive, and they had already grasped the initiative. At the same time, the Tufan army was moving around the Kang, Ning, Sichuan, and Shaanxi regions, making it difficult to determine the direction of their attack. If they were to take the initiative to attack, it would be easy for the enemy to take advantage of the situation.
Thus, the best strategy was to station troops in the provinces bordering the Tufan army. As for Maozhou's Governor Chen Daci, the scope of the battle was still within Maozhou. Furthermore, he was only dealing with the first wave of Tufan army that had invaded Jiannan. Even if he were to fail, it wouldn't have a negative impact on the overall situation. If he were to win, it would even raise the morale of the Great Zhou army. At the moment, they could only let the situation play out. This could be considered as attacking while defending.
With regards to the current military operations of the Tubo Empire, the strategy of the Great Zhou Dynasty's ministers was commendable. Wu Zetian also agreed with their opinion and immediately issued a decree. However, the officials were unable to come to a consensus on how to deal with the joint operation of the Tufan and Turks. Wei Yuanzhong once again brought up the old suggestion of agreeing to the Tufan peace treaty, but King Liang's faction was adamant.
Both sides had their own arguments, and Wu Zetian couldn't agree to it either. She could make the final decision on internal affairs, but when it came to military affairs, especially specific strategies and tactics, Wu Zetian knew her own shortcomings, so she wouldn't express her opinion rashly.
At this moment, Liang Province's Governor Tang Xiujing arrived at the Longevity Courtyard.
Tang Xiujing had intended to return to Liang Province in the near future, but due to the heavy snowfall, his journey was delayed. However, Tang Xiujing was not surprised to suddenly receive Wu Zetian's edict. This was because there had already been guests who had come to visit him and revealed the news in advance, helping him analyze the situation in the Western Region.
Tang Xiujing was the same as Guo Yuanzhen. As a vassal who guarded the Western Region, he had to manage the military, political, and economic affairs. Therefore, he could not do without the support of the local tyrants. Most of the local tyrants had inextricable ties with the Succession Hall, and some were even members of the Hidden Sect. Therefore, it was very easy for Shen Mu to establish a close relationship with Tang Xiujing through these connections and exert a certain amount of influence on him.
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After Wan 'er finished, Wu Zetian asked: "Subject Tang has lived in the West for a long time and is familiar with the situation of Tubo and Tubo. Now that our court is fighting on two fronts, it is inevitable that we will be stretched. Does Subject Tang have a good plan to get us out of our current predicament?"
Tang Xiujing already had a plan in mind, but it wasn't good to say it out loud. He pretended to ponder for a moment, and all the officials stopped arguing and looked at him in silence. Tang Xiujing frowned and pondered for a moment. He bowed to Wu Zetian and said: "Your Majesty, this subject thinks that to break the deadlock, we can only destroy the alliance between Tubo and Tubo."
Wu Zetian nodded: "All the Chancellors have the same idea. However, if Tubo and Tubo are really in cahoots, advancing and retreating at the same time, forming an alliance. What should I do to break their alliance? "
Tang Xiujing said: "This subject thinks that the court can borrow the power of Tubo to restrain Moche. Once Moche retreats, the alliance between the two countries will naturally be broken."
Wu Zetian was silent for a moment and hesitantly asked: "If I issue an edict, will the Tubo send out their troops?"
Regarding this, Wu Zetian really has no confidence. "Perhaps the Tubo will not openly defy the edict, but as long as they carry it out passively and do not put in any effort, the court will be helpless. If we place all our hopes on the Tubo and the Tubo refuse to send out their troops, it will instead delay the battle."
Tang Xiujing confidently said: "This subject thinks that this plan is feasible. Although the Eastern and Western Tubo share the same ancestry, they have long been enemies. Moreover, the Eastern and Western Tubo's roots are in the grasslands, and the grasslands are the foundation of their survival. Now that Moche has occupied the most fertile area of the Tubo, just based on this fact, the Eastern and Western Tubo have become irreconcilable enemies.
Now that Moche's troops are out to attack the Central Plains, the country has no military power. For the Tubo, this is a rare opportunity. If Your Majesty can promise them some benefits, the Tubo will definitely become Your Majesty's elite troops and receive the edict to attack the heart of the Tubo and relieve the court of its danger. "
Wu Zetian immediately grasped the crux of the matter. The key to getting the Tubo to send out their troops is to offer conditions that can move them. Wu Zetian immediately asked: "In Subject's opinion, what conditions should We offer for the Tubo to send out their troops?"
Tang Xiujing sighed: "The most important thing is to first offer them a righteous cause!"
Wu Zetian's eyes slightly flashed as she asked: "A righteous cause?"
Tang Xiujing affirmed: "That's right! Your Majesty, the leader of the Tubo's Ten Families is His Majesty's Successor Khan, Ashina Huseruo. However, Huseruo has long since become a figurehead. For many years, Huseruo had left the tribe and lived in the capital. The Ten Families have always been managed by Mohedagan (a Turkic official name).
This Mohedagan's name was Wuzhile, and he was the leader of the Ten Families Tribe's most powerful Touqishi tribe. He was able to appease his soldiers and had great prestige. The Hu of the Western Regions all fought to submit to him, and now he had twenty military governors under his command, each of whom had seven thousand elite cavalry under their command. In addition to the sixty thousand elite soldiers under his command, Wuzhile had two hundred thousand soldiers who could control the bowstrings. This was enough to compete with Mohedagan.
At present, Wushele had set up a large tent in Suiye City and a small tent in Crescent City. All of Huseruo's former territory belonged to him. However, our court still only recognizes Huseruo as the ruler of the Ten Families. Huseruo had a name but no reality, and Wushele had a reality but no name.
If Your Majesty recognizes Wushele as the Khan of the Ten Families, Wushele will definitely be grateful for the grace of the heavens and will definitely be willing to serve the court. Once he is recognized by the court as the ruler of the Ten Families, he will be able to legitimately order the tribes under his command to send out their soldiers. As for the Ten Families Chiefs, the court does not need to bestow them with money. You must know that once the Turks cause chaos in the Central Plains and the trade routes to the Western Regions are cut off, the Ten Families Tribes will be the first to bear the brunt of the attack and will definitely suffer. As long as we send an emissary to warn them of the dangers, and with Wushele commanding the other tribes, they will definitely send out their soldiers! "
Wu Zetian was overjoyed. "Good! If We order you to bring Our imperial edict to the Ten Tribes and bestow the title of Prince Huaide, Chief of the Tuqishi Tribe, Tuqishi Khan, and order him to lead an army to attack the Turks, would you be willing to share Our burden? "
Tang Xiujing bowed. "This subject will go to Suiye and not disappoint Your Majesty's expectations."
Wu Zetian was overjoyed and repeatedly nodded her head. Wan 'er, on the other hand, was swiftly drafting up the edict for Wushele.
Tang Xiujing continued, "Your Majesty, this subject believes that we can use the same method to repel the Turks!"
Wu Zetian had originally thought that as long as the Turks retreated, the court would have enough troops to deal with the Turks' invasion. Hearing that Tang Xiujing also had a suggestion for the Turks, she became even more excited. She hurriedly said, "Subject Tang, please tell me quickly what brilliant plan you have."
Tang Xiujing said, "Your Majesty, the Turks have always been in internal strife. It was not until Songzan Gampo put down the rebellion and swallowed the other tribes that the Turks overtook Zhangzhung and became the most powerful country on the plateau. However, Songzan Gampo died young. Fortunately, the father and son, Lu Dongzan and Lun Trinling, were outstanding talents of the present age. Of these two, one was good at internal affairs, the other was good at military affairs. With these two as prime ministers, the Turks were able to maintain their peace for several decades.
However, the internal and external troubles of the Turks had never been eliminated. They could only be suppressed by Lu Dongzan and Lun Trinling. Now the Lun Trinling family has been eradicated by the Turks' King in one fell swoop, the Turks have lost all their good generals. Not only their military strength has been damaged, both inside and outside the country have been oppressed for a long time, and now they are somewhat restless.
The Nanzhao states were originally vassal states of our Central Plains. Later on, they were forced by the Turks to become our vassal states. However, our Central Plains has always used virtue to win people's hearts, we treated the Nanzhao states with preferential treatment. On the other hand, the Turks were harsh and harsh. Comparing the two, the Nanzhao states naturally sided with the Central Plains and became the enemy of the Turks.
These last few years, the Nanzhao states and the Turks have repeatedly waged war against each other. Sometimes they surrendered, sometimes they rebelled, sometimes they surrendered. Now that the Turks are attacking the Zhou, they will certainly extort the Nanzhao army's provisions and provisions. If Your Majesty issues an imperial edict to the Nanzhao princes, accepting them as our vassal states, the Nanzhao princes will certainly respond to the imperial court. At that time, the Turks will face the dilemma of being attacked from two sides. Naturally they will not dare to send troops to our Central Plains! "
Without the Great Zhou's support, the Nanzhao states would rebel from time to time. Now that they are being extorted by the Turks, with the Great Zhou's support in weapons, armors, money and provisions, it would be strange if they did not rebel against the Turks. What Tang Xiujing said was reasonable and it sounded very feasible. It was such a difficult problem, but he put the solution outside of the imperial court and unexpectedly solved it easily.
Listening to him, Wu Zetian's countenance was very pleased. She recalled the last time the Turks' envoy talked about Misa, he said that this person was brave and brave, he once defeated the Turks and made the Great Zhou proud. The more she looked at him, the more she liked him. If she had used this kind of talent early on, and fully utilized his talents, the Great Zhou would not be like it is now, being bullied and humiliated by the barbarians!
Wu Zetian gladly said, "Tang Xiujing, listen to my appointment!"
Tang Xiujing quickly stood still and respectfully said, "Your subject is here!"
Wu Zetian said, "I order you to be Xia's Minister Shangshu, Liangzhou's Military Governor, the same rank as the Phoenix Pavilion's Luantai third rank!"
Tang Xiujing was startled, he did not expect that with just a prelude to the Emperor, he would be promoted to the current imperial court's Prime Minister. He hastily expressed his gratitude and said, "Your subject's virtue is shallow, how can I take on such a heavy responsibility!"
Wu Zetian glanced at the officials in the hall with dissatisfaction and said to Tang Xiujing in a serious tone, "Your subject is the country's talent, you can share Zhen's worries. It is already Zhen's regret that you have been promoted too late! "
When the officials heard this, they all felt that their faces had lost some light.
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