He glanced at the crowd and said slowly, "Dear ministers, what do you think we should do with these spies?"
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone frowned. They looked at each other and pretended to be mute.
Wei Zheng, who was standing at the front, turned his head and glanced at the crowd with disdain in his heart.
He thought to himself, "You guys are usually the ones who quarrel the most. Why aren't you talking now?
Why are you all pretending to be mute? "
After a cold snort, Wei Zheng took a step forward with the white jade tablet in his hand. "Your Majesty, I suggest that we release all these spies."
Li Shimin looked at Wei Zheng in surprise. "Dear minister, why do you suggest that we release these spies?"
"Yes, why do you want to release these spies, Lord Wei?"
"Don't you know what kind of harm it will cause to the Tang Dynasty if we release these spies?"
Everyone looked at Wei Zheng with a puzzled expression.
"Let's not talk about what kind of loss it will cause to the Tang Dynasty. Even if we kill them, there will be spies who will continue to sneak into the Tang Dynasty. There are thousands of spies. Can you kill them all? If we release these spies, it will be different. "
Wei Zheng smiled faintly and said slowly.
A Grand Scribe walked out and asked curiously, "What's the difference?"
Wei Zheng glanced at the Grand Scribe and said, "If we release these spies, we can numb these countries and make them relax their vigilance. It will be more convenient for the Tang Dynasty to do things."
"How can we do that? If we release these spies, they will think that the Tang Dynasty is afraid of them."
The Grand Scribe waved his sleeve and was very dissatisfied. Then, he looked at Li Shimin and said, "Your Majesty, please give the order. I am willing to lead the army to immediately attack Tubo, Zhenla, and other countries. I only need 200,000 soldiers."
As soon as he finished speaking, a row of generals stood up as if they had been injected with chicken blood.
"Your Majesty, I only need 150,000 soldiers to immediately attack Tuyuhun and show the imperial power of the Tang Dynasty."
"Your Majesty, I only need 100,000 soldiers to attack the Wokou pirates."
Everyone presented their memorials one after another, expressing their determination to establish their careers.
"Nonsense."
Zhangsun Wuji immediately stood up and scolded, "The Battle of Qiuci is getting more and more intense. How can we attack other countries? Moreover, Lord Wei is right. Releasing these spies is undoubtedly the best choice for the Tang Dynasty. "
Zhangsun Wuji ignored the Grand Scribe and turned to Li Shimin. He cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, this subject suggests that we release these spies."
As soon as he finished speaking, the other civil officials exchanged glances with one another before stepping forward one after another, "Your subjects agree."
"This subject agrees."
…
Seeing this, Li Shimin narrowed his eyes. He didn't say anything, but his mind was racing.
According to Wei Zheng, releasing the spies and continuing to maintain a good relationship with Zhenla, Tubo, and Tuyuhun would also numb the enemy and make them think that the Tang Dynasty was afraid of them.
At most, they would lose some face. In this way, it would be more beneficial for the future development of the Tang Dynasty.
However, if they started a war with these countries, the Battle of Qiuci would definitely be affected. Once they became angry and joined forces with the Turks, India, and other countries, the Tang Dynasty would definitely not be able to stop them.
At that time, it wouldn't be a matter of a few spies, but a matter of several countries.
Forget it, it's better to release these spies.
After making up his mind, Li Shimin glanced at the crowd and said in a deep voice, "I have decided to release the spies."
As soon as he finished speaking, the faces of the generals changed. They hurriedly cupped their hands and said, "Your Majesty, you can't. If you let these people go, what will happen to the imperial prestige of the Tang Dynasty?"
"Yes, Your Majesty, you can't let these people go."
Li Shimin narrowed his eyes and waved his sleeves. "I have already decided on this matter. There is no need to discuss it further. Yuchi Gong, release these spies immediately after the court is dismissed."
After that, Li Shimin walked out of the side hall without looking back.
Imperial Study.
Li Shimin sat on the dragon throne with a lit cigarette in his hand. He took a deep puff and exhaled smoke, looking like he was enjoying it.
After a while, a few heads popped out of the door.
Li Shimin took a closer look and found that it was Yuchi Gong and the others who were in the court just now.
"Come in."
Li Shimin took the cigarette and said lightly.
Hearing this, Yuchi Gong, Cheng Yaojin, Wei Zheng, Zhangsun Wuji, and the others walked into the imperial study together.
"Your Majesty."
Everyone bowed.
Li Shimin exhaled a mouthful of smoke and said slowly, "No need to be so courteous in the study. Let's talk about what happened in the court just now."
Although he agreed to release the spies just now, he still felt a little uncomfortable in his heart.
After all, these guys all had ulterior motives. He still needed to be on guard.
Wei Zheng stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, releasing the spies is not a big deal. This is also a step to ease the Tang Dynasty's Qiuci War. But, I'm afraid …"
Wei Zheng frowned at this point.
"Old Wei, what are you afraid of? Hurry up and say it. You're stuck at the crucial moment."
Cheng Yaojin said unhappily.
Wei Zheng glanced at Cheng Yaojin. Seeing that Li Shimin was also a little impatient, he said, "Your Majesty, do you remember when the Tang Dynasty borrowed food from Tubo and Tuyuhun?"
Hearing this, Li Shimin was stunned.
He clearly remembered that when Tubo and the Tutanghu Locust Calamity had caused a huge uproar, that brat Zhang Feng had schemed against them. That was how the matter of borrowing food came about.
One had to know that Tubo and Tuyuhun were poor and remote places. Their families did not have enough food to eat.
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