On one hand, it was the reputation of the Tang dynasty, and on the other hand, it was the blood feud of 3,000 soldiers. Li Jing was now in a dilemma. No matter what he did, he would be wrong.
"Why don't we report this to His Majesty and wait for the imperial court's order?" Hou Junji was also in a dilemma and proposed a delaying policy.
If the imperial court gave the order, they would naturally follow it. This was also a solution that was not a solution.
"No! There are many pedantic scholars in the imperial court who talk about benevolence, righteousness, and morality. Once we report this to the imperial court, they will definitely let Tuoba Chici go. Then the 3,000 soldiers of our army will die in vain. "Cheng Yaojin stared and said.
Many radical generals agreed. This place was 2,000 miles away from Chang 'an City. Even if they rode fast, it would take 10 days for them to go back and forth. 10 days was enough for the Tuoba tribe to escape. When the imperial court gave the order, it would be impossible to find the Tuoba tribe.
Li Jing's face also darkened. This was where he was in a dilemma.
Seeing the stalemate in the military tent again, Meton stepped out and said, "I have something to say, but I don't know if I should say it!"
When Li Jing saw Meton, his eyes lit up and he said, "Mo Jiu, please say what you want to say.
The generals could not help but look at Meton. Meton's talent could be said to be incisively and vividly displayed in this battle. Even if Meton's words were insignificant, they did not have the slightest contempt.
Meton took a deep breath and said, "This is an emergency. Whether we choose to protect the reputation of the Tang dynasty or avenge the 3,000 soldiers, there is nothing wrong with it. However, the most taboo is to leave it unresolved."
Everyone nodded in agreement. The longer this matter was delayed, the more troublesome it would be, and the greater the damage to the reputation of the Tang dynasty.
Meton suddenly changed the topic and said, "Now that we are in a dilemma, but if we look at this matter from another perspective, it may not be so difficult to choose."
"From another perspective?" The generals could not help but look at Meton in confusion.
"National interest!" Meton said word by word.
"National interest!" The generals were stunned. Although this was the first time they had heard of this phrase, it didn't stop them from understanding its meaning.
"That's right. The national interest is the interest of the entire Tang dynasty. If the Tang dynasty wants to gain a foothold in the northwest, we must first rely on the reputation of His Majesty and the Tang dynasty. Second, we must rely on the invincible generals and soldiers of the Tang dynasty. Although Tuoba Chici took advantage of Li Daoyan's treachery, the moment he pointed his sword at the Tang dynasty, he had already damaged the national interest of the Tang dynasty, "Meton said solemnly.
The generals sighed in their hearts. Sure enough, Mo Jiazi was inclined to start a war. They had long found that Mo Jiazi was like two extremes. To the Han people, Mo Jiazi was extremely generous. He invented various tools and publicized the secret skills of the Tang dynasty, which benefited countless people of the Tang dynasty. However, when it came to the alien race, Mo Jiazi was extremely radical. At that time, he was the one who was most determined to kill the Tuyuhun. Now, he was still the same toward the Dangxiang tribe. However, what Meton said was indeed reasonable, and the generals could not refute it. They all lowered their heads and pondered.
"If we let the Tuoba tribe go so easily, first, it will make the generals and soldiers of the Tang dynasty bitterly disappointed. Second, it will encourage the tribes in the Western Region to be arrogant. Today, the Tuoba tribe dares to wave their sword at the Tang dynasty. In the future, there will be a second Tuoba tribe, and a third Tuoba tribe, who will use force against the Tang dynasty. This is not in the interest of the Tang dynasty, nor is it conducive to the stability of the Tang dynasty's borders," Meton analyzed.
All the generals gasped. At this moment, almost all of them were convinced by Meton. Meton was right. The tribes in the Northwest had always been disobedient and had their own armed forces. They were like independent regimes. After the destruction of the Tuyuhun, it was the best time for the Tang dynasty to take control of the tribes in the Northwest. Everything was going smoothly, but the sudden appearance of the Tuoba tribe. If they were not careful, all their efforts to defeat the Tuyuhun would turn to ashes.
"But after all, the Tang dynasty was in the wrong first!" Duan Zhixuan frowned.
Meton shouted coldly, "The Tang dynasty was in the wrong first, but it is not the reason for Tuoba Chici to wave his sword at the Tang dynasty. General Li can hand over Director Li and Director Gao to His Majesty to deal with. Why can't Tuoba Chici submit a memorial to His Majesty?"
The Tang dynasty attached great importance to the tribes in the Northwest. With this organization in charge of these matters, Tuoba Chici had a way to submit a memorial to the imperial court. Moreover, Li Jing's army was about to return. Even if it was too late to report it to Chang 'an, they could wait until Li Jing returned!
"That's right!" Cheng Yaojin nodded indignantly.
Li Jing's face suddenly darkened. Tuoba Chici was already a criminal. He was only pardoned because he betrayed the Tuyuhun. Not only did he have no respect for the Tang dynasty, but he also attacked the Tang dynasty again. This had already crossed Li Jing's bottom line.
"If we send troops to the Tuoba tribe, it will almost completely destroy the imperial court's reputation. Isn't it the same as the tyrannical Sui Dynasty? I'm afraid we will be condemned when we return to the imperial court!" Duan Zhixuan said with a wry smile.
In this era, credibility was the most important thing. Keeping one's promise was also quite popular in the Tang dynasty. The generals were also well-known figures, so naturally, they paid special attention to their reputation. At the thought of betraying the Dangxiang tribes, they could not help but feel their faces burning.
Meton snorted coldly and said, "The mission of soldiers like us is to protect the interests of the country. It is His Majesty's business to forgive Tuoba Chici. Our mission is to send Tuoba Chici to see His Majesty."
"It is His Majesty's business to forgive Tuoba Chici. Our mission is to send Tuoba Chici to see His Majesty!" The generals' eyes lit up. The more they thought about this sentence, the more they praised it.
They all understood what Meton meant. They would be the scapegoats for betrayal, and His Majesty would be the good guy and forgive Tuoba Chici. Of course, they would send him to Chang 'an by force, and Tuoba Chici would not surrender and go to Chang' an.
In this way, they would take revenge for the death of 3,000 soldiers and once again shock the tribes in the Northwest. More importantly, they would be the good guy for His Majesty and successfully maintain the reputation of the Tang dynasty.
"Hahaha, you are so smart!" Cheng Yaojin laughed heartily and patted Modun's shoulder heavily. Modun's words, "Our mission is to send Tuoba Chici to see His Majesty," were simply to Cheng Yaojin's liking.
The generals also looked at Meton with appreciation. If they were alone, they naturally would not dare to destroy the reputation of the country. But they had no qualms about being the scapegoat for His Majesty.
In this way, the generals had perfectly solved the credibility problem of the Tang dynasty. The biggest obstacle for them to send troops had disappeared. Everyone could not help but look at Li Jing.
"What a good national interest!"
Li Jing's thoughts involuntarily flew to the battle against the Turks in the north four years ago. After the Wei River Alliance, Li Shimin and Xieli Khan had made an agreement that the two countries would be on good terms forever. However, only three or four years later, the Turks were weakened by the snow disaster, and an opportunity suddenly appeared.
However, there was still a problem in front of the emperor and courtiers of the Tang dynasty, and that was the Wei River Alliance.
Before the expedition, Li Shimin had also asked the courtiers whether this was a betrayal and a violation of the Wei River Alliance. But under the courtiers' persuasion, he resolutely sent troops and defeated the Eastern Turks in one fell swoop.
Even His Majesty had betrayed the alliance for the sake of national interest. Naturally, Li Jing could do the same.
"Immediately send troops to the Tuoba tribe!" Li Jing no longer hesitated and immediately ordered.
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