"Moke invaded the Spiritual State?"
Yang Fan thought for a while and asked curiously, "What does Moke's invasion of the Spiritual State have to do with Brother Luo and Master Xue …"
Before Yang Fan could finish his sentence, he remembered that the Imperial Court appointed Xue Huaiyi as the commander-in-chief and Prime Minister Li Zhaode as the vice-commander-in-chief during the last Moke invasion. Did the Imperial Court send Xue Huaiyi this time?
At this thought, Yang Fan couldn't help but frown.
Seeing his frown, Huselo nodded and said, "Yes! This time, Her Majesty still wants Master Xue to be the commander-in-chief! "
Yang Fan was rather dissatisfied with the Empress's plan.
In order to ascend to the throne, she had brutally slaughtered members of Li Tang's royal family. It could be said that anyone who didn't have the qualifications to become an Empress but wanted to do so.
She supported ruthless officials with the intention of attacking her political enemies who stood in the way of her ascension to the throne. However, after she ascended to the throne, she stayed in the Imperial Palace and was deceived by the ruthless officials, creating a series of unjust, false, and wrong cases. As a result, the Imperial Court became unstable, which could be explained by the fact that the people didn't approve of her ascension to the throne as a woman, which was why she was overly cautious and panicked.
However, what other reason could there be for her to treat military affairs like child's play?
Who didn't know how capable Master Xue was? To begin with, he was just a person who brandished his spear and baton and sold medicine in the city square. Even though it was said that there were no true heroes in the wilderness, other than being majestic in bed, did this Master Xue really have the qualifications to lead an army?
Anything could be faked, but leading an army to war couldn't be faked. Once a war was lost, not only hundreds of thousands of soldiers would be sacrificed, but hundreds of thousands of families would also be torn apart. It would also affect the rise and fall of the nation and the fate of countless people.
However, the Empress who had been in the palace since she was 14 didn't seem to realize this. Or perhaps, in her eyes, tens of thousands of casualties were just insignificant numbers. She could actually make rash decisions time and time again, appointing a gigolo who had never been a soldier or fought in a war to be the commander-in-chief of the three armies.
Of course, for the sake of safety, every time Wu Zetian sent Xue Huaiyi out to battle, she would send some generals who were good at fighting and some experienced and prudent civil officials to form a team of advisors to assist Xue Huaiyi. But with Xue Huaiyi's personality, if he wanted to do things his own way, these advisors were just decorations.
On the battlefield, even an incompetent and arbitrary supervisor could make a wise commander feel at a loss, let alone Xue Huaiyi, who was the commander of the three armies. If he made a rash decision, the life and death of hundreds of thousands of soldiers, the key to the rise and fall of the country, would be destroyed.
Military and national affairs were like child's play! Which wise lord would do such a thing?
Last time, Mo had feared the strength of the Great Tang army and the instability of the internal politics of the Turkic Khaganate, so he had chosen to avoid battle. Xue Huaiyi had only needed to wave his saber at the air for a while to achieve victory. Would he be so lucky this time?
Seeing him in deep thought, Husello couldn't help but bitterly smile. "The Emperor has already decided that Master Xue will be the commander-in-chief. Erlang is worried for your master, and this is the relationship between master and disciple. But once the Emperor has made up his mind, no one can change it. "
Yang Fan laughed bitterly and went along with his words. "If there's anything, I'll do it for you. Although Yang Fan isn't a famous general who is proficient in military strategy, I'm very willing to accompany Master Xue into battle. However, Yang Fan is currently a Minister of the Ministry of Justice. There's no reason for the royal court to send a judge into battle …"
Yang Fan paused, then said, "But Brother Luo's visit … could it be … that Brother Luo is also going to war?"
Husello also bitterly smiled. "Yes! This is Master Xue's suggestion, and the Imperial Court has not yet responded. But, ahem, Erlang should also understand that the Imperial Court will rarely refuse Master Xue's requests. "
Yang Fan's eyebrows rose. "Then, Brother Luo … does not want to go?"
Husello fell silent.
Who would be willing to go with Xue Huaiyi as the commander-in-chief? Yang Fan's question was an unnecessary one.
Husello was silent for a few moments before slowly saying, "Although I am the Great General of the Right Guard, it is only an empty title. In reality, I am the ruler of the Turks, and my title is Khan. If I were to join the army, I would have to summon the warriors of my tribe to accompany me. But my ten tribes are weak, and those who follow me into the pass are all old, weak, women, and children. I truly have no soldiers … "
Husello's words were an excuse, and the most fundamental reason was that going to war with Xue Huaiyi was a gamble, but he was also speaking the truth.
Yang Fan thought for a moment, and then he suddenly had an idea. He probed, "Brother Luo was once the ruler of the ten tribes of the Turks, so you do have some elite soldiers. They are currently stationed at Dunhuang and Yangguan, very close to Spirit Province. This is probably why Master Xue wants to use Brother Luo. If Brother Luo can mobilize them, and if we succeed in this battle … "
Husello said, "Wuzhile is currently in command of all the tribes, and he is compassionate toward the tribes. All the tribes near and far have submitted to him, and his strength is gradually rising. He truly is a useful army. However, my tribe was originally stationed near the Four Garrisons of Rest, but now it is difficult for us to return home. It seems that the Imperial Court wants my ten tribes to rest and build up strength so that we can be of assistance when the Imperial Court reclaims the Four Garrisons of Rest. In addition, they are currently resisting the attack from the Tufan Empire, so this can be considered a relief for the Imperial Court's army. It is best not to use them in the siege of Spirit Province. "
Yang Fan gently sighed and said with a smile, "What Brother Luo said makes sense. Since that's the case, this little brother will accompany you to see Master Xue. "
After hearing Huthro's reply, the trace of guilt in Yang Fan's heart finally dissipated.
Husello's words, whether intentional or not, had already revealed his intentions. He was well aware that Wuzhile had tried to win over the hearts of the tribes and that more than half of the Western Turkic Khaganate had abandoned him. Even if he hadn't known before, how could he not have heard about this in the last two years?
And his reaction had been to let nature take its course.
It seemed that Husello, who had inherited the position of Khagan from a young age and had led his people through the cracks between the Tufan Empire and the Eastern Turkic Khaganate, had long ago become exhausted. He had no desire to do anything about Wuzhile's usurpation of power, nor did he have any desire to regain it.
Since he had made this choice, Yang Fan had nothing to feel guilty about. Or perhaps he could continue to be a high-ranking official and enjoy riches and riches. He could live in a world of sensual pleasures and live in peace. There was no need for him to lead his people into battle, rushing through the wind and snow over the wastelands. This was the life that Husello yearned for. Not everyone was passionate about power.
Husello was overjoyed by Yang Fan's agreement. He hurriedly said, "If Erlang is willing to help, I trust that Master Xue will definitely agree. But I already feel bad about having Erlang do me a favor. If I go with Erlang to the White Horse Monastery, it will seem like I am lacking in sincerity. Why don't I invite Master Xue to my residence for a banquet? Wouldn't it be better to mention this matter during the banquet? "
Yang Fan smiled. "The last time I drank with Brother Luo and Master Xue was just yesterday. This little brother would naturally wish for nothing more than for the two of us to drink together. Since this is the case, I will go see Master Xue and invite him to your residence for a banquet. "
Husello cheerfully said, "Since this is the case, this Luo will immediately go and make arrangements. This Luo will be waiting for Master Xue and Erlang at the front of my residence! "
… …
Because of Husello's visit, Yang Fan's trip to the Ministry of Justice was delayed. By the time he reached the Ministry of Justice, the various departments had already begun their work. Yang Fan walked around the Ministry of Justice. Chen Dong was handling files. Seeing Yang Fan's arrival, Chen Dong hurriedly put down his things and called for the person who had come to handle the matter to wait outside. He chatted in detail with Yang Fan.
Chen Dong had lost to Yang Fan and was destined to pack up and leave. However, Yang Fan persuaded him to stay. He knew that Yang Fan's target was not just the Ministry of Justice. His cooperation with Yang Fan could be said to be close and seamless. Currently, Yang Fan was handling the pressure and restraints from above. Chen Dong was concentrating on the various affairs of the Ministry of Justice. The two of them could be said to be a perfect match, complementing each other.
Yang Fan sat in the detention room for a while and then left. With Chen Dong in the Ministry of Justice, everything was handled flawlessly. It was a hundred times better than if Yang Fan handled it himself. Chen Dong was, after all, a professional and had been immersed in the judicial system for many years. It was not that the Supreme Court and Assistant Minister Cui did not want to cause trouble for the Ministry of Justice. It was just that they could not find him.
When he left the detention room, the people waiting outside to handle the matter and the people from the Ministry of Justice and the yamen who saw Yang Fan were very polite and respectful. Everyone knew that although Yang Langzhong did not seem to do much, he was the number one person with real power in the Ministry of Justice. Even in the entire Ministry of Justice, he was the number one person with real power.
Yang Fan did not report to Assistant Minister Cui. He only went to sit with Sun Yuxuan and Yan Xiaojun. He chatted with Manager Feng and Monitor Yuan, who rushed over after hearing the news, and then left the yamen of the Ministry of Justice.
After Yang Fan left the yamen of the Ministry of Justice, he rushed in the direction of the White Horse Temple. When he galloped on the Tianjin Bridge, he suddenly saw a carriage coming towards him. There were seven or eight strong men dressed in bright clothes and riding on horses to protect the carriage. They were waving the horsewhips in their hands. They chased the passers-by along the way. It was truly awe-inspiring.
The carriage was very gorgeous. It was decorated with gold and inlaid with jade. The curtains fluttered in the wind. It was a gorgeous open carriage. Through the curtains that were gently fluttering in the wind, one could clearly see the person sitting in the carriage.
There was a young man in the carriage. He was wearing a large robe with wide sleeves in the ancient style of the Han and Jin Dynasties. He did not wear a headscarf on his head. He only wore a scarf on his head. His lips were red, his teeth were white, and his complexion was like jade.
Because the layer of gauze had a slightly hazy effect, many passers-by were talking about the handsome young man sitting in the carriage. They did not know which family's noble daughter was wearing men's clothing when she went out. She was so ostentatious.
The person in the carriage was as beautiful as a blooming lotus. She was exceptionally enchanting and charming. How many people would believe that such a beautiful woman was actually a man?
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