Li Shimin looked around at everyone. None of them had a solution for the time being. Li Shimin's mood was even heavier. Li Shimin thought for a moment and said, "Make the arrangements to retreat to Chang 'an."
Wei Shuyu advised, "Your Majesty, I don't think it's appropriate to retreat."
Li Shimin asked, "Why?"
Wei Shuyu said, "The reason is very simple. If we retreat now, Du Qi's army will be unstoppable and kill their way to Chang 'an. After all, after passing Anrong Pass, there will be no power to stop Du Qi along the way. "
"The most important thing is that the major clans in the pass have long been related to Du Qi. The major clans have sent their disciples to Xia Xia, and so have the major clans in the pass. Now that Du Qi is here, the major clans will definitely support him. "
"It will be very easy for Du Qi to take over the place. Therefore, I don't think we can retreat now! "
Wei Shuyu looked worried and said, "Once we retreat now, there will be no more chance."
Li Shimin said, "But how can we resist?"
Wei Shuyu was speechless.
This was a dead end. The current Tang dynasty did not have enough troops to resist Xia Xia. If they had enough troops and power, they would not retreat.
Wei Shuyu thought for a while and suddenly said, "Your Majesty, can we find another way? Since we can't defeat Du Qi head-on. Then we can start with the people around Du Qi. Li Xiaogong, Du Ruhui, and Li Jing were all once ministers of the Tang dynasty. Now they are serving under Du Qi. Your Majesty can arrange for someone to inform the spies in Xia Xia's Imperial Capital to send a letter to Du Ruhui and ask him to personally dissuade Du Qi to seek a chance of survival. "
Wei Shuyu said, "Du Ruhui is Du Qi's father after all. If he comes forward, there might be a chance of survival."
"Difficult! Difficult! "
Li Shimin shook his head.
He did not think that asking Du Ruhui to come forward could accomplish the task.
Du Qi was not a simple person.
He was not threatened.
Besides, as the ruler of Xia Xia, Du Qi would not change his decision because of personal feelings.
Fang Xuanling took a deep breath and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, it's a matter of life and death now. I believe that there is nothing that cannot be done. Therefore, I believe that there should be another arrangement. Perhaps there is a chance of survival. "
Li Shimin asked, "What arrangement?"
Fang Xuanling replied, "The Tang dynasty submitted to Du Qi. Even after Du Ruhui appeared, His Majesty personally brought gifts to Du Qi and asked for peace. Coupled with Du Ruhui's persuasion and His Majesty going personally, there might be a chance of survival. I can't think of any other way. "
When Li Shimin heard this, his expression changed abruptly. His eyes were filled with ferocity, as if he wanted to devour someone. Even Li Shimin's heart was filled with murderous intent. That murderous intent landed on Fang Xuanling's body, sending chills down her spine.
Li Shimin stared at Fang Xuanling and said, "Fang Xuanling, do you know what you are talking about?"
Fang Xuanling raised his head and said loudly, "I know that what I said is treacherous. But I know that my loyalty to His Majesty is unquestionable. I have been following His Majesty for more than twenty years, and I have never changed. If His Majesty wants to kill me because of what I said, I will accept it. "
Li Shimin flicked his sleeves and snorted, but he did not speak anymore. He knew that Fang Xuanling was loyal to him, so he was just saying it. However, he was silent in his heart.
Wei Zheng and the others did not speak for the time being.
The atmosphere was extremely silent.
It was even depressing.
Li Shimin was now at the end of his rope. Even the years of war had caused the country to be short of supplies and the people to live a difficult life. Under these conditions, it was unrealistic for Li Shimin to compete with Du Qi again.
Now, he could only ask Du Ruhui for help.
Only then would there be a chance.
Li Shimin was not an indecisive person. Even if he was helpless and unwilling to accept Fang Xuanling's suggestion. But in the end, Li Shimin accepted reality and approved Fang Xuanling's suggestion.
Right now, survival was the most important thing.
Everything else could be ignored for the time being.
Li Shimin said word by word, "Fang Xuanling, you take a group of soldiers and disguise yourselves. Go to the Imperial Capital of Xia Xia and persuade Du Ruhui to come forward. When Du Ruhui arrives at Du Qi's army at the front line, I will personally go to the front line and ask for peace from Du Qi. The Tang dynasty is willing to become a vassal state of Xia Xia. I, Li Shimin, will respect Du Qi as my lord. "
When these words came out of Li Shimin's mouth, it was extremely slow, but with each word, Li Shimin's face turned uglier. He even widened his eyes, which were filled with endless fury.
At this moment, Li Shimin was full of gloominess.
It was extremely depressing.
Fang Xuanling was silent for a moment. He lifted his robe and knelt on the ground, saying solemnly, "I will complete the task Your Majesty entrusted to me. If I can't complete the task, I will take my head to see you. "
Li Shimin said, "Fang Xuanling, I will first defend Anrong Pass. Once I can't hold on, I will withdraw from Anrong Pass. But I won't withdraw my troops and will fight Du Qi nearby to buy time. I'll be waiting for your return. Of course, I will also arrange for people to go to Du Qi to ask for peace and try to delay Du Qi to buy time for your operation. "
"As you command!"
Fang Xuanling turned around and went down after receiving the order.
Li Shimin was still standing on the city gate tower. But at this moment, his temperament gradually changed. He was no longer as bright and beautiful as before, but more gloomy and cold, giving people a gloomy and cold feeling.
Wei Zheng, Wei Shuyu, and the rest were all aware that Li Shimin's heart had suffered a blow. Otherwise, Li Shimin wouldn't have asked for peace from Du Qi.
Everyone was silent.
Each and every one of them looked solemn.
Li Shimin was silent for a long time. Suddenly, he ordered again, "Wei Zheng, you arrange for people to go to Du Qi and express my intention to ask for peace. No matter what, all the current actions are to stabilize Du Qi and stall for time until Fang Xuanling returns. "
Wei Zheng said, "Your Majesty, this subject will go there personally. Since Fang Xuanling can go to Xia Xia without fear of death, this subject can also go there without fear of death. In short, this subject will do my best. "
Li Shimin said, "In times of crisis, the board will recognize the loyal subject. Fang Xuanling is loyal and righteous, I know that. You take a team and go there. I'll be waiting for you at Anrong Pass. "
Wei Zheng said, "This subject obeys."
Li Shimin said, "You go to Du Qi to ask for peace. If necessary, you can also say that I'm willing to submit to Du Qi. This is the condition for Du Qi. In addition, you can also promise to pay tribute every year. You can even open the trade route and give many other conditions. In short, you are fully responsible for stabilizing Du Qi. If you can stabilize Du Qi and make Du Qi withdraw before Fang Xuanling returns, that will be the best result. "
Wei Zheng said, "This subject will do my best."
Li Shimin waved his hand. Wei Zheng turned around and withdrew.
After Wei Zheng and Fang Xuanling withdrew one after another, Li Shimin went straight to the room on the gate tower to rest. Originally, there were soldiers to serve him, but they were arranged by Li Shimin. He sat alone in the room to rest.
At this moment, Li Shimin was sitting cross-legged on the bed. His eyes were low and deep, and there was a cold and solemn expression on his face. At the thought of asking Du Qi for peace, and even submitting to Du Qi, Li Shimin's heart seemed to be gnawed by countless ants. He only felt pain in the bottom of his heart.
He clenched his fists so tightly that his fingernails dug into his palms. Under the pressure, his fingernails pierced into his skin and blood flowed out without him noticing. His mood had sunk into the lowest possible mood.
At this moment, Li Shimin thought of the dead Li Yuan, the dead Zhangsun Wuji, the dead Li Ji, Duan Zhixuan, Hou Junji, and the others … When he thought of these dead people, Li Shimin clenched his fists even tighter.
"I will definitely take revenge."
"I will take back everything that you've done. Du Qi, I will not let this matter rest. "
Li Shimin muttered to himself.
This was the only consolation he could give himself. Only by doing so could he slightly calm the anger in his heart.
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