The film and television world begins with the battle for the throne in Kowloon

Chapter 831: Conspiracy with the Turks for Goguryeo

Fang Xuanling had a look of planning a strategy: "Originally, the emperor wanted to wait until the Tang Dynasty stabilized before putting the Goguryeo issue on the agenda, but the opportunity is rare. This time the Turks went south, and the Goguryeo prince personally asked us to send troops to intervene."

"Using this excuse, we can openly lead our troops across the Liao River and into Liaodong. It's easy for us to cross, but it will be difficult to retreat."

Tang Jian and Hou Junji's expressions tensed and they looked at Li Shimin with excitement.

"It's just that the timing must be right, not too early, not too late."

Fang Xuanling reminded: "It's too early. Goguryeo's strength has not suffered a huge loss. It will be more difficult for us to conquer in the future. It will also easily lead to the disaster moving south and fighting with the Turks in advance."

"It's too late. Once the Turks withdraw, we won't have a good excuse. So we have to strike the right balance."

"Your Majesty did not send a large army, not because there were no troops to send, but because he did not want to alert the enemy and make Jie Li withdraw early. There are heavy troops stationed in Hedong Road and Yunzhong, even a hundred thousand or two hundred thousand, but they cannot be moved now."

"When the Turks are ready to withdraw, these soldiers will naturally appear in Yingzhou. Then you can lead them to Liaodong and make great achievements."

Hou Junji listened with great passion and clapped his hands in applause. He originally thought that the emperor really had no intention of taking any action, but he did not expect that the court had already discussed it and wanted to take the opportunity to directly resolve the Goguryeo issue. Now he felt relieved.

Thinking of this, Hou Junji had a strong and impulsive idea in his mind: "Your Majesty, if this is the case, why don't we mobilize the troops of Ashina Yun in the south of the desert to cooperate with us in attacking from the grassland, directly cut off Jie Li's retreat, and kill this old guy as well."

"Then the army will march north and take this opportunity to pacify the northern grasslands. Isn't that killing two birds with one stone?"

"No."

Before Li Shimin could speak, Fang Xuanling's face suddenly changed, and he said seriously: "Jun Ji, the Tang Dynasty has not mobilized troops since the Battle of Dingxiang in the fourth year of Zhenguan. It is not because there are no enemies outside the Tang Dynasty, but because it cannot move."

"The area of ​​the Western Regions, the south of the desert, and the western part of the grasslands alone exceeds that of the Tang Dynasty itself."

"Look at what the Tang Dynasty has been doing in the past five years. It has been digesting these territories. Coupled with the internal reforms, it really can't withstand any greater turmoil. In this war between the Turks and Goguryeo, the emperor just wants to recover the Liaodong area."

"Pushing the boundary between the Tang Dynasty and Goguryeo to the Yashui River is just to lay a foundation for the future conquest of Goguryeo."

"The Tang Dynasty has worked hard to govern the country in recent years and has been doing well. It has expanded its territory thousands of miles to the north and west. But you have to eat one bite at a time and take one step at a time. If you are too greedy, you may end up losing control."

"At present, we can't even swallow Goguryeo, let alone Jie Li. In the short term, the Tang Dynasty has no plans to use military force against the eastern grasslands."

"The Emperor called you here because he wanted to tell you something. He wanted to ally with the Turks and plot against Goguryeo. This is the court's national policy towards Liaodong. You must control the situation and not escalate the war. Do you understand?"

Tang Jian nodded in understanding: "I see. Now that we know about this mission, what should we do?"

Hou Junji also had a bitter smile on his face. In the past, the country’s strength was insufficient and it could not defeat the enemy.

But now, because there is too much territories and it cannot be digested, the fat meat in front of it cannot be eaten. It is such a pity.

Now the military force and national strength of the Tang Dynasty even surpassed those of the Qin and Han Dynasties. Hou Junji felt proud and thought to himself that as long as the emperor allowed him to preside over the military affairs this time, he would definitely be better than him in the future when he went to war against Goguryeo.

Cheng Heizi gained a great advantage in the last Battle of Dingxiang, and it’s his turn this time.

So he clasped his fists with a firm expression and said, "Your Majesty, rest assured. I will cooperate with Master Tang and will never act rashly."

Li Shimin nodded in satisfaction, and finally emphasized: "Tang Jian will go and talk first, and report the situation to me. I will decide whether to send troops next. Without my order, not a single soldier will cross the Liao River."

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Hou Junji and Tang Jian both responded confidently.

After the two left, Li Shimin smiled bitterly and shook his head, and said to Fang Xuanling on the side: "Xuanling, since the establishment of the Tang Dynasty, Jie Li has invaded the border almost every year. In the sixth year of Wude, the late emperor was almost forced to move the capital to the south to avoid disaster."

"In the ninth year of Wude, I had just ascended the throne when Jie Li's army of 200,000 men approached the Wei River."

"With Luo Yi, the Prince of Lujiang, the Prince of Yi'an, the Prince of Changle and others rebelling one after another, Chang'an is empty. I am so anxious that I have no choice but to go to Bianqiao with you to repel the enemy."

"At that time, I watched the arrogant Jie Li and his 200,000 bandits wantonly trampling on the territory of our Great Tang and killing our people. I really wished that the heavens would send down a divine thunderbolt to turn them all into ashes."

"From now on, I will always think about destroying this beast."

"But I never thought that there would be a day when I would hope that Jie Li would not die, and even deliberately protect him. What do you think of this?"

At this point, Li Shimin showed an expression of helplessness and pride on his face, and his words revealed a sense of evil taste of taking advantage of others.

Fang Xuanling was touched by Li Shimin's words, and there was a hint of reminiscence in his eyes. "Of course I remember it. As the old saying goes, things change over time. But I never thought that under the emperor's governance, the Tang Dynasty would rise so quickly and have the capital to look down on the grassland and the world so quickly."

Fang Xuanling then revealed a cautious look: "However, the current situation is delicate. Jie Li, who is in a corner, does play an irreplaceable role in stabilizing the grassland situation."

"The Yi people are constantly expanding in the western part of the grassland, recruiting soldiers and horses, and their rebellious intentions are obvious."

"The Mobei tribe is in league with the Yi people. They rely on their remote location to obey orders from the Tang Dynasty but not its decrees. Sooner or later, they will rebel."

"And these two, one in the north and the other in the west, are eyeing the southeast, ready to make a move."

"The reason why they are still using the banner of the Tang Dynasty and have not rebelled is not because they are afraid of the Tang Dynasty. It is well known that the Tang Dynasty is now completely unable to take care of them, and it is impossible for it to send a large-scale army to quell the rebellion."

"What these two have in common is only Jie Lier!"

"Jie Li was the Great Khan of the entire grassland, and now he is the monarch of the Eastern Turkic Khanate. These two were once Jie Li's subjects, and they betrayed Jie Li at a critical moment. They have an irreconcilable hatred with Jie Li."

"As long as Jie Li lives, they will not dare to openly abandon the banner of the Tang Dynasty."

"Otherwise, these two people will betray Jie Li and will not be tolerated by our Tang Dynasty. Although the world is big, there is no place for them."

"Once the protection of the Tang Dynasty is gone, Jie Li can attack them without any scruples, relying on Jie Li's appeal and influence on the grassland."

"It is fair and just to use the ruler to attack the subjects. These two people will never be a match for Jie Li."

"Whether Jie Li reunites them or they eliminate Jie Li, the grassland will lose its current balance, which is disadvantageous to our Tang Dynasty. It is very wise to leave the aging Jie Li to restrain Yi Nan and Bi Heli."

At this point, Fang Xuanling also had a worried look on his face: "This time, Jie Li went south and gave the 150,000 troops to Shi Luodie to lead the attack on Goguryeo, while he and the Right Xian King stayed on the north bank of the Liao River."

"If I am not mistaken, Jie Li is trying to build momentum for his son and accumulate merits for him to inherit the Khan's position."

"In this situation, if we, the Tang Dynasty, send troops to attack their rear, we can indeed deal a fatal blow to Jie Li, but we can only break up the newly-formed New Turkic Khanate, but we cannot wipe out all its people."

"After this defeat, neither Jie Li nor Shi Luo Die have the possibility to rule the eastern grasslands, so the shrewd, courageous and ruthless Right Wise King will have nothing to worry about."

At this point, Fang Xuanling seemed to have thought of something, and glanced at Li Shimin with a strange expression: "Your Majesty also knows that in such a chaotic world with no leader, young and powerful factions like Dalang Taosha are the easiest to gain everyone's support and rise."

"Rather than facing the Right Wise King, who we know nothing about but is rising in power, it is better to let Jie Li, a corrupt and decadent stubborn person, continue to rule."

"So whether it is to restrict the Right Wise King internally or to restrain Yi Nan and Fu Bi He Li externally, Jie Li has the value and significance of his existence."

Li Shimin saw that Fang Xuanling's eyes were not right, frowned, thought for a moment, and suddenly realized.

Fang Xuanling was alluding to his own growth experience, which was very similar to the current New Turkic Khanate. At that time, the Tang Dynasty also had an elderly emperor and a mediocre hidden crown prince, and he himself was the powerful person who conquered the world.

He is the second son again. Isn’t his situation similar to that of the Right Wise King now?

He was brave enough to resist, overthrew the previous emperor, eliminated Crown Prince Yin and King Qi, and ascended the throne.

Only in just three years did they prepare their troops and defeat the arrogant Jie Li, bringing the Tang Dynasty to an undisputed dominant position.

If he were to hold Jie Li back now, it would be equivalent to lifting the restrictions on the Right Wise King with his own hands.

Judging from the talent shown by this Right Wise King, it is almost as good as his own, and he is still very young. If he is allowed to roam the desert for a few years, he may be able to pacify the East and West grasslands and become a hidden danger to the Central Plains again.

When he thought of this, Li Shimin became even more determined not to send troops. He would not let the Right Wise King take the lead no matter what.

After Tang Jian and Hou Junji knew Li Shimin's true thoughts, they were no longer anxious.

The two of them prepared for three days, completing the formalities for the mission and packing their luggage.

Then he drove the carriage slowly towards Hebei.

Chang'an is four thousand miles away from Yingzhou. The two of them traveled along the way, enjoying the scenery. By the time they arrived in Yingzhou, nearly a month had passed.

(End of this chapter)