Tiantang Splendid

Chapter 2846
The hall is as warm as spring.

There is a table on the floor mat by the window, and there are several exquisite dishes on the table, including seafood transported from the East China Sea, and vegetables produced in the greenhouse. Simple dishes are placed in this season. On the dining table, it reveals a low-key luxury.

His Majesty Li Er sat in the middle, the two princesses Changle and Jinyang lined up on the left and right, and the father and daughter were enjoying their meal happily.

There was even a small pot of rice wine on the table, and there were small white porcelain wine glasses in front of Changle and Jinyang, and the faces of the two girls were also stained with a layer of blush...

Fang Jun was surprised in his heart, wondering if the two princesses were advising His Majesty Li Er not to continue taking the elixir, he hurriedly stepped forward and bowed to the ground: "I have seen Your Majesty, and I have seen your Highnesses."

His Majesty Li Er was obviously still angry with Fang Junyu, he didn't lift his eyelids, he just hummed, took a sip of rice wine from his glass, and chewed a mouthful of vegetables, turning a blind eye.

Princess Changle smiled and said, "Duke Yue doesn't need to be too polite."

Then he looked at His Majesty Li Er, but glanced at Princess Jinyang at the end of his eyes.

Princess Jinyang is extremely intelligent and smart. Upon receiving her sister's signal, she immediately stood up, jumped up and pulled Fang Jun's sleeve, and said happily: "Brother-in-law hasn't eaten yet, right? Let's go together. Huating Town sent a few today. Stone head fish, stewed by the imperial chef with green onion and ginger, served with rice wine, it tastes delicious, come and taste it! What are you doing in a daze, quickly add a pair of bowls and chopsticks to brother-in-law!"

The latter sentence was addressed to the maid at the side.

The palace maid didn't dare to neglect, she hurriedly brought a spare pair of bowls and chopsticks and put them on the table, Fang Jun was also pulled by Princess Jinyang to sit beside him.

Fang Jun was a little apprehensive when he saw His Majesty Li Er's gloomy expression, but Princess Jinyang forced him into the table, and His Majesty Li Er just put on a bad face but didn't scold him, so he had no choice but to push the boat along sit down.

As soon as she sat down, Princess Jinyang thoughtfully served a bowl of rice and poured another glass of wine...

His Majesty Li Er is a little worried, mother, this little padded jacket is leaking...

However, Fang Jun has already attended the table, and in front of the two daughters and all the court ladies, even if the anger towards Fang Jun is still lingering in his heart, it is not good to cut Fang Jun's face too harshly, so he has to endure the dissatisfaction in his heart , Said expressionlessly: "You can try it too."

After finishing speaking, he realized that this fish was originally sent by Fang Jun from Huating Town to Beijing to make up his son's body. The face of "I will give you a royal meal" is really a bit cheeky.

Feeling more and more depressed, he glared at Fang Jun, and added: "Don't talk when you eat, don't talk when you sleep, eat quickly."

Fang Jun said with a bitter face, "Here!"

Pick up the rice bowl obediently, and eat in small bites, not too fast, lest it would be impolite to leave the table early, but also not too slow, otherwise it would be even more impolite if you haven't put down your chopsticks when the father and daughter finish eating , I didn’t dare to stretch out my chopsticks to pick up my favorite dishes, so I picked up a piece of green vegetables on the nearest plate of Qing Dynasty cabbage in front of me, and took a bite of rice without even daring to lift my head, which was embarrassing and awkward.

Fortunately, my sister-in-law knew that she felt sorry for her brother-in-law, so she knelt down and didn't eat it herself. She picked up fish and put it in a bowl for Fang Jun, and at the same time kept pouring wine. Jealousy, stuffy heart...

Simply put down the rice bowl, drain the rice wine in the glass in one gulp, and said in a muffled voice, "I'm full."

Fang Jun quickly put the rice in the bowl into his mouth, and swallowed it hard. Some choked and didn't dare to say it, so he quickly put down the bowl and chopsticks, stepped back a little, and said: "My minister is full, thank you for your majesty meal."

Princess Changle raised her eyes and glanced at Fang Jun, took a bite of rice and put down the bowls and chopsticks, and said to the maid beside her, "Hurry up and make a pot of tea."

"Here!"

The maid at the side hurried forward to clear away the dishes and tableware, wiped the table clean, and poured a pot of tea.

Princess Changle lowered her eyebrows and looked calm, but her hands were swift. She poured out the tea to rinse the teacups, and then poured boiling water into the teapot again. In front of several people, he said in a clear voice, "Please drink tea."

Fang Jun said: "Thank you, Your Highness."

He didn't dare to wait for His Majesty Li Er to take the cup first, so he picked up the teacup and sipped it, finally smoothing down the food that was choking on the esophagus.

Although His Majesty Li Er wanted to look at Fang Jun's choked and embarrassed appearance very much as a prank, he could see his daughter's swift and smooth tea pouring technique, what else could he say?

Girls are extroverted, all of them turn their elbows outward...

Picking up the teacup in front of him and taking a sip, His Majesty Li Er asked, "Why are you rushing into the palace to have an audience?"

Fang Jun quickly put down his teacup, took out the letterhead written by Hussein for help from his arms, and handed it to His Majesty Li Er with both hands, and then explained the cause and effect.

Seeing His Majesty Li Er took the letter and read it silently, Fang Jun said: "Due to the civil strife broke out in the Great Food Kingdom due to the caliphate, it seems that it will not be able to expand externally in a short time, but the customs of its clan are completely different from ours. Tell the internal contradictions to the outside, in order to enhance your prestige and strength, and intimidate the opponent in turn. Therefore, I implore your majesty to increase troops to the Western Regions to prevent Damascus from sending troops to invade the country again."

His Majesty Li Er carefully read the letter in his hand, silent.

Princess Jinyang gently lifted the teapot and refilled Fang Jun's cup with tea. Fang Jun gave him a thankful look, and the little princess pursed her lips and smiled sweetly...

After a while, His Majesty Li Er raised his head, still holding the letter in his hand, looked at Fang Jun and asked, "Are you sure that Damascus will definitely send troops to the Western Regions? After all, Pan Namu'awiyah led an army to attack the Western Regions, and you beat him hard Returning from defeat has already damaged his strength and prestige, coupled with the change of his domestic regime and the instability of people's hearts, it may not be possible to make a comeback in such a short period of time."

This is indeed in line with the situation in the Great Food Kingdom, but in the final analysis, His Majesty Li Er may not have the fluke mentality of "covering his ears and stealing the bell". The increase in troops will inevitably affect the strength of the Eastern Expedition.

For His Majesty Li Er, who was determined to go to Goguryeo after a war, any mistakes in the Eastern Expedition would never be allowed to exist.

Fang Jun naturally has this point, but he does not intend to compromise on this, but expresses his worries: "Your Majesty, under normal circumstances, Damascus will indeed not invade the Western Regions in a short time, but if the other party finds out that the Western Regions are now only The Anxi army is left to garrison, and the troops are empty?"

His Majesty Li Er frowned.

Hu people are the best at taking risks, and they don't know the art of war of "cooperating with justice and winning with surprises", so they often have unimaginable results in battles.

The huge profits of the Silk Road are coveted by all countries and tribes. No matter the Turks or the big cannibals, they all dream of cutting off this trade route and taking all the wealth for themselves. The Western Regions are where all parties struggle. Whoever controls the Western Regions will occupy most of the wealth of the Silk Road.

With Hu people's disposition of ignoring morality and valuing interests, if they really know that the Anxi Army's strength is empty and it is impossible to get support, and they want to take the opportunity to increase their prestige and plunder the Western Regions to increase their strength, it is indeed very important to launch an attack brazenly. possible.

"However, if it is to reinforce the Anxi Army, either the defenders in Guanzhong will be transferred, resulting in weak troops in Guanzhong and instability in the capital; or an army will be transferred from the Eastern Expeditionary Army to advance westward, which will affect the overall situation of the Eastern Expedition. In case the Eastern Expedition is frustrated , who can take this responsibility?"

His Majesty Li Er said in a deep voice, very irritable.

Fang Jun couldn't help being a little speechless.

He has always been resistant to gathering an army of nearly one million to conquer Goguryeo. Goguryeo is a bitterly cold place with a lot of people and little money and food. If you want to fight a war, you will not rely on the crushing of the overwhelming army, but a more perfect plan. , A more targeted strategy to defeat the strong mountain fortresses that Koguryo built on top of the mountains.

If you can't cut off the connection between Goguryeo's mountain cities all over Liaodong, what's the use of more troops?Anyway, it is absolutely impossible for Goguryeo to fight the Tang army on a large scale on the plains. With the cavalry and Modao soldiers who are rampant in the Tang Dynasty, plus the new firearms, Goguryeo has not enough people.

Of course, he could also understand the prudence of His Majesty Li Er and the civil and military forces of the Manchu Dynasty. After all, Emperor Sui Yang's lessons were not far away. Back then, hundreds of thousands of soldiers from all over the world went to Liaodong, and the soldiers were numerous, but they ended up in a crushing defeat.

It is natural to be cautious to avoid repeating the same mistakes.

However, in Fang Jun's view, the destruction of Goguryeo can certainly solve the biggest hidden danger in the northeast of the empire and greatly expand the territory of the Tang Dynasty, but the Western Regions cannot be lost either.

(End of this chapter)