Tang Dynasty, my wife Wu Zetian

Chapter 307: Tang Dynasty Hosts
In the Lizheng Hall, Empress Wu was having dinner with Li Xian and Li Xian, while Li Dan and Princess Taiping were also held in the arms of their tutors and standing by.

Suddenly, the eunuch came to report that the emperor was coming to Lizheng Hall.

Just as Wu Meiniang was about to take people out to welcome the emperor, Li Zhi walked in with big strides.

Li Zhi saw Wu Meiniang wanted to add more rice to his meal, so he raised his hand and said, "Meiniang, I just had some food in Chengqing Palace, you guys can eat now."

He walked aside, asked Li Xian and Li Xian a few questions about their homework, and teased Princess Taiping and Li Dan with his fingers.

After the meal and bath, Li Zhi leaned back on the couch and held Wu Meiniang in his arms. While playing with her hair, he asked, "Meiniang, how is the aftermath of the Changshou Village incident going?"

Wu Meiniang turned over, looked up at him, and said, "I have sent capable people to Shou County to rebuild the village and help the villagers recover their homes."

Li Zhi said, "Di Renjie reported that when the Sima of Shouzhou raided the Huainan Prince's palace, they confiscated tens of millions of yuan. The reconstruction of Changshou Village should be paid from this money."

Wu Meiniang said softly, "I'm afraid all this money came from selling Huangqi."

Li Zhi glanced at her and said, "Mei Niang, this incident has served as a wake-up call for you and me. As the queen, you must take the lead and rectify the moral standards of women throughout the world."

Wu Meiniang suddenly sat up and said, "Your Majesty, please wait a moment." She lifted the gauze curtain, got off the bed, and after a series of thumping sounds, she returned to the bed.

"Your Majesty, would you please take a look at this?" She handed over a document.

Li Zhi took it and saw that it was a memorial, which stipulated that women all over the world were not allowed to use medicinal materials when using dressing items.

Li Zhi pondered for a moment and said, "Mei Niang, it's good that you can consider this direction, but women's love of beauty is natural. Forcibly prohibiting it will often have the opposite effect."

Wu Meiniang's eyebrows flickered, and she said thoughtfully, "Your Majesty means that you are not forcibly prohibiting it, but deliberately guiding it."

Li Zhi smiled slightly and said, "That's right. You are the queen, and all the women in the world are proud to emulate you. As long as you take the lead, it will naturally become a trend, which is far better than outright prohibition."

Wu Meiniang looked thoughtful, her long eyelashes trembling slightly.

Li Zhi looked at her pretty appearance and suddenly felt sad. After forbidding her to use those anti-aging powders, he was afraid that her appearance would not be able to be maintained for long.

Wu Meiniang seemed to see through his thoughts and smiled, "Your Majesty, are you worried that I will soon grow old and lose my beauty, and will no longer be able to serve you?"

Li Zhi said: "Everyone will age. Even if you are old, you are still my queen and you are still beautiful in my eyes."

Wu Meiniang stared at him and said softly, "I understand Jiulang's thoughts, but I still want to serve him better, so I have thought of another way."

Li Zhi asked curiously, "What method?"

Wu Meiniang leaned her head on his shoulder and said with a smile, "I have asked Zhang Zhong for advice."

Li Zhi suddenly realized that Zhang Zhong must have his own secret to longevity to be able to live so long.

"What did he say?" Li Zhi asked expectantly.

Wu Meiniang said, "Zhang Zhong's method of longevity is different from that of Divine Doctor Sun. It was not developed by him personally, but a method passed down in the Longevity Village."

Li Zhi also asked about Sun Simiao's method of longevity. It was very complicated and involved a combination of multiple methods, not a specific one.

For example, pay attention to diet, strictly follow the work and rest schedule, learn fitness activities such as Ba Duan Jin and Wu Qin Xi, and also do some small body-rubbing activities, and then keep a calm mind and a good mood.

In short, Sun Simiao's method is difficult to learn.

Li Zhi asked, "What is the method that is popular in Changshou Village?"

Wu Meiniang blushed slightly and said, "It's a breathing method, and it also requires a strange posture."

Li Zhi hurriedly asked what posture it was, and Wu Meiniang took out a booklet and showed it to him.

There are four pictures of human bodies in it, and the poses are indeed strange, even a bit embarrassing.

One of them even requires one to turn upside down, which is somewhat similar to yoga in later generations.

Li Zhi was surprised and asked, "How did this method come down to us?"

Wu Meiniang said, "I heard Zhang Zhong mention that the first person to discover Changshou Village was a remarkable hermit from the Six Dynasties (Northern and Southern Dynasties). He lived in Changshou Village to escape the war. This secret was passed down by that remarkable hermit."

Li Zhi nodded.

Although this method is a bit strange, it is much simpler than Sun Simiao's method.

Wu Meiniang smiled and said, "Jiulang, let me try this method first. If there is no problem, you can try it again."

Li Zhi nodded and smiled, "Okay."

The next morning, Li Zhi was half asleep and reached out to hug someone beside him, but found nothing.
He opened his eyes and looked up, only to see Wu Meiniang sitting in front of the dressing table, combing her hair in front of a bronze mirror, with her long hair draped behind her head.

Li Zhi rubbed his cheeks, sat up, and asked, "Mei Niang, what time is it?"

Wu Meiniang turned around and said with a smile: "It's just past noon, and today is not the morning sun. Your Majesty can sleep a little longer."

Li Zhi shook his head and said, "I won't sleep anymore. Xue Rengui should have arrived in Chang'an last night. He will come to see the emperor early this morning. I want to go see him."

Wu Meiniang stood up and helped Li Zhi get dressed. She asked with concern, "Your Majesty, is there something going on in Kunzang?"

Li Zhi stretched out his hands and said, "Kunzang has gradually stabilized. It was the situation in Tianzhu that caused the trouble. At the end of November, the Arabs had already invaded Tianzhu."

Wu Mei Niang hesitated for a moment and said, "Your Majesty, if the Arabs occupy Tianzhu and then surround Kunming and Tibet, that would be disastrous."

After hearing this, Li Zhi smiled slightly.

Judging from the map alone, after occupying India, the Arabs could indeed attack Kunzang.

However, anyone who has been to the border between the two places will know that the Kunming-Tibet region has a greater geographical advantage over India than over the Tang Dynasty.

The Tang Dynasty had to go to great lengths to conquer Tubo.

Now, owning this vast area occupying the plateau also gives them an advantage over India and the Arabs.

As long as the Qiang people in the Kunming-Tibet region are pacified and internal strife is avoided, it will become the strongest fortress in the west of the Tang Dynasty.

But then again, it would also be beneficial for the Tang Dynasty to prevent India from being annexed by the Arabs.

Although the Tang Dynasty had signed a contract with the Arabs, it was not allowed to send troops to interfere when the other side used military force in India.

However, when the Arabs returned Kangguo, they played a lot of tricks in secret. If it weren't for Pei Xingjian's tricks, it might not be possible to help Kangguo recover.

Li Zhi naturally would not be polite to the Arabs. Although he could not violate the contract openly, he had to trip them up secretly.

"Mei Niang, after all, we have a contract with the Arabs. We can't openly violate the agreement, right?" Li Zhi said deliberately.

Wu Meiniang studied his expression, smiled knowingly, and said, "Your Majesty is right. That's why we can secretly help Tianzhu even if we don't openly break the contract."

Li Zhi said: "How can I help?"

Wu Mei Niang pondered for a moment and said, "We can station a large force on the border with the Little Bolor Kingdom. This will disperse the Arab forces and prevent them from attacking Tianzhu with all their might!"

Li Zhi smiled and said nothing.

After all, Wu Meiniang was not very familiar with the map of the Western Regions, and it was impossible to stop the invasion of India by the Arabs using this method.

Wu Meiniang said, "Your Majesty, am I wrong?"

Li Zhi said slowly, "Mei Niang, you can take a look at the map of the Western Regions when you have time. If the Arabs want to attack India, they can not only march by land, but also by sea!"

When Wu Meiniang asked in detail, Li Zhi ordered someone to bring paper and pen, and drew a simple map to explain it to her.

After the two chatted for a while and had breakfast together, Li Zhi left Lizheng Hall and returned to Ganlu Hall to prepare to meet Xue Rengui.

As expected, Xue Rengui came to see the emperor early in the morning, and Subilaya came with him.

After Li Zhi met with the two in Ganlu Hall, he ordered Lan Ya to pay a visit to Wu Meiniang and brought Xue Rengui to Shenlong Hall.

Xue Rengui had not been back to Chang'an for more than two years. He had become much darker and his face looked more resolute and calm.

The experience of attacking Tubo obviously made him grow a lot.

Li Zhi first asked Xue Rengui about the situation in Kunming and Tibet.

Xue Rengui replied, "Fortunately, Your Majesty assigned Wang Xuance to me, otherwise I would have been really overwhelmed."

Li Zhi smiled and said, "Can he help?"

Xue Rengui said solemnly, "When it comes to marching and fighting, I'm confident I'm no less capable than General Wang. However, when it comes to mediating conflicts between different ethnic groups, I can't even catch up with General Wang."

Wang Xuance is not only good at fighting, but also good at speaking.

As a diplomat, he was very good at dealing with foreign ethnic groups and had a talent for languages. Within two months, he had learned the general language of the Qiang people.

Since he was transferred to the Kunming-Tibet region, he has become a firefighter. Every time Xue Rengui breaks down in negotiations with others, he is the one who goes to appease them.

Xue Rengui initially thought that he was too weak, but after getting to know him for a long time, he discovered that when Wang Xuance was trying to appease the other party, he did not simply give in, but used reason and interests to persuade the other party, and did not harm the interests of the Tang Dynasty.

Wang Xuance's methods of dealing with foreign tribes are flexible and varied. When encountering a tribe that makes an inch of progress, he will also show his tough side.

The longer Xue Rengui spent with him, the more he admired his abilities, and he consulted him on almost all major matters.

"Your Majesty, I dare not take any credit for the gradual stabilization of the Kun-Tibet region. General Wang and Her Royal Highness Princess Wencheng should take the primary credit!"

Li Zhi smiled and said, "They have made contributions, so I will naturally reward them. You are humble and self-respecting, and you don't compete for credit with your subordinates. This is very good. I was not wrong about you!"

Xue Rengui bowed deeply and said, "Everything I have was bestowed upon me by Your Majesty. I only hope to complete the tasks Your Majesty has entrusted to me and repay your kindness." Li Zhi reached out and helped him up, saying, "Alright, tell me more about the situation in the Arab world and India."

Xue Rengui's expression turned serious and he said, "Your Majesty, the situation in India is critical."

Li Zhi hurriedly asked, "Tell me in detail, what is the current situation?"

Xue Rengui looked up at the large map hanging on the wall of the Shenlong Hall. Unfortunately, there was only Tibet on it, and India was not marked.

"Your Majesty, let me first tell you about the situation inside Tianzhu." Xue Rengui pulled out a smaller map from his sleeve and explained, "This is a map of Tianzhu that General Wang personally surveyed."

Li Zhi looked down and saw that Wang Xuan’s plan was good. It was indeed in the shape of an ice cream.

He also included the Caliphate to the west of India.

Xue Rengui drew three circles on the map and said, "Your Majesty, the Tianzhu region is currently divided into three factions. One is the northeastern region occupied by Qinling, adjacent to Kunming and Tibet. They have re-established their country, still named Tubo."

Li Zhi asked, "Who is the Zamp?"

Xue Rengui said, "It is still Mangsong Mangtsen, but this young Zamp has been completely sidelined, and power is controlled by Lu Dongtsen's three sons."

Li Zhi nodded and said, "Let's call it Hou Tubo from now on."

Xue Rengui responded and said, "Aside from the Later Tubo, there is also an Indian power in the northwest, headed by the Kingdom of Sindh, and many other small countries are vassalized by them."

Li Zhi stared at the direction Xue Rengui pointed.

This place should be the present-day Pakistan region, a group of countries born from the Indus River.

Sindh is close to the sea and faces the Arab Empire across the sea.

Xue Rengui said, "When Qinling first invaded Tianzhu, King Xinde submitted to Tubo. Later, when he saw that Tubo was defeated by the Tang Dynasty, he no longer cared about Tubo and became the leader of the alliance."

Li Zhi asked, "Didn't Qin Ling attack them?"

Xue Rengui said: "The majority of the Tibetan army is composed of Tibetan people. After fleeing to India, their morale is low. They are not even able to protect themselves, let alone take the initiative to attack."

"Over the past year, Later Tubo has been training its soldiers and restoring their morale. I'm thinking that if the Arabs don't attack now, Later Tubo will invade other parts of India next year."

Li Zhi's eyes flashed, and he said, "The Arabs must have seen this and chose to attack at this time!"

Xue Rengui said, "Your Majesty is absolutely right. As for the Indian states in the south, they are all small, fragmented, and insignificant."

Li Zhi looked at the northwest direction of the map and said, "If the Arabs want to attack India, they should choose to attack from Xinde, right?"

Xue Rengui said, "Yes, King Sinde highly values ​​a Persian named Inha and appointed him as prime minister."

Li Zhi was slightly stunned: "Persian?"

Xue Rengui said, "Yes, the Persians secretly trained many pirates who specialized in plundering the merchants of the Arab Kingdom at sea, and obtained a lot of wealth for the king."

Li Zhi pondered for a moment, then summoned Bilus and asked him, "My Lord, do you know a Persian named Inha?"

Bilus was stunned for a moment, then shook his head and said, "I have never heard of this person."

Li Zhi said slowly, "He is a Persian who serves as prime minister in a country called Sindh in India."

Bilus sighed and said, "That's not surprising. When our Persian Empire was destroyed, many Persians fled across the ocean to the northern part of India."

Li Zhi laughed and said, "If you send someone to look for him again, will he still recognize you as the prince?"

Bilus thought for a moment and said, "If he knew that I have the support of Your Majesty, he would definitely obey my orders."

Li Zhi nodded and said, "Very good." He turned to look at Xue Rengui and said, "Mr. Xue, please continue."

Xue Rengui said, "I have discussed with Generals Su and Wang that if the Arabs attack India by sea and land simultaneously, Sindh will surely be defeated. Then, using Sindh as a base, the Arabs can quickly seize all of India!"

Upon hearing this, Peruz was surprised and asked, "Your Majesty, are the Arabs preparing to attack India?"

Li Zhi said: "Yes."

Bilus said anxiously, "Your Majesty, we can't let them succeed, otherwise the Tang Dynasty will be surrounded by them!"

Li Zhi raised his hand and said, "Please be patient, Mr. Xue. Facing the current situation in Tianzhu, do you have any countermeasures?"

Xue Rengui said, "The biggest problem in India is internal division. If the three major forces in India can unite, they should be able to resist the Arabs."

Li Zhi's heart moved. This coincided with an idea that had just popped up in his mind.

Xue Rengui said, "What I mean is that the Tang Dynasty should act as host and invite the leaders of the three families to Kunzang to negotiate peace, put aside past grudges, and jointly resist the Arabs!"

Li Zhi asked, "How can we convince the three families?"

Xue Rengui said, "General Wang Xuance is very familiar with the kings of the small kingdoms in southern Tianzhu. He claims he is confident he can convince them."

Bilus hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, I am willing to go to Sinde, meet Inha, and ask him to persuade the King of Sinde to come to Kunzang to negotiate peace!"

Li Zhi nodded and said, "Thank you for your help. The only thing left is the Later Tubo."

Xue Rengui remained silent. He was not sure that he could convince Qin Ling and others to come to Kunzang for negotiations.

Li Zhi pondered for a moment, and with a plan in mind, he said to Xue Rengui, "Mr. Xue, you should go back and rest first. I will take care of the rest."

Xue Rengui bowed and took his leave.

Xue Rengui had kept Wang Xuance's map. Li Zhi handed it to Wang Fusheng and said, "Send it to the Imperial Academy. Have the Imperial Academy draw a full-scale map and hang it in the Shenlong Hall. Also, summon Zhangsun Quan to an audience."

There are only four days left until the end of the year, and tomorrow is the day off for officials.

Outside the gates of the mansions of the major dignitaries in Chang'an City, there was a prosperous atmosphere with a bustling crowd of people.

This is the residence of Princess Xincheng.

When Changsun Wuji arrived at the princess's mansion, he saw a constant stream of people and vehicles outside the gate, and a crowd of dignitaries, all of whom came to visit Changsun Quan.

This scene seemed familiar. The scene outside Duke Zhao's mansion back then was even more terrible than this.

Changsun Wuji felt both relieved and a little sad.

He went around to the back door of the princess's mansion and ordered the servants to knock on the door. It was Changsun Quan who opened the door.

"Brother, you're here." Chang Sunquan bowed and said, "I should have gone to your house to pay my respects, but thinking of your instructions..."

Changsun Wuji raised his hand and said, "This is better. You don't need to say more."

A month ago, Changsun Wuji told Changsun Quan not to go to the Changsun Mansion to see him in the future. If there was something he needed to see, just tell him and he would come to the Princess' Mansion to meet him.

Changsun Quan welcomed him into the study in his mansion and personally poured tea for Changsun Wuji.

Zhang Sun Wuji smiled and said, "I heard that the Ministry of Personnel has reported that His Majesty has drafted an edict to transfer you to Yongzhou Prefecture as Chief Secretary. It will be announced at the court meeting at the beginning of the year."

Chang Sunquan bowed and said, "This is all thanks to my elder brother."

Changsun Quan did a lot of great things this year. He helped Di Renjie uncover the Baekje spies and also offered several good suggestions for the post-war governance of Khitan, which were adopted by the emperor.

Many people guessed that he would be promoted at the beginning of the year, but they did not expect that he would be promoted so quickly, directly from the chief official of Wannian County to the deputy official of Yongzhou Prefecture.

Moreover, the power of this adjutant is equivalent to that of the chief officer, and is no different from the top leader. How can one not be enviable with such a fast promotion speed?

Zhang Sun Wuji said, "Tell me, what do you want from me?"

Chang Sunquan said, "His Majesty summoned me to the palace just now. On the surface, he was praising me for my good performance in this year's assessment, but in reality, he was talking to me about something."

"What's the matter?"

Changsun Quan said, "Your Majesty suddenly mentioned the situation in India to me..." He told Changsun Wuji about the impending attack of the Arabs on India.

"Your Majesty seems to want to unite the three families and negotiate in the Kunzang Protectorate to jointly resist the Arabs. It seems that two of them have been persuaded, and only the Tibetans remain."

"Later Tubo?"

"They are the remnants of the Tibetan people, including Qinling. They have re-established their country."

Changsun Wuji twirled his beard and said, "Your Majesty wants Lu Dongzan to persuade his sons, so he told me through you to go find Lu Dongzan."

Chang Sunquan said, "That should be the case."

Changsun Wuji waved his hand and said, "You can go by yourself. I won't go."

Chang Sunquan was stunned and said, "My little brother didn't convince Lu Dongzan."

Changsun Wuji smiled and said, "No need to convince me. This will also benefit the later Tubo. You just need to explain the situation to Lu Dongzan. He will take the initiative to propose it without your persuasion!"

Chang Sunquan said happily, "That's great. I'll go visit him right away."

Just as Changsun Wuji guessed, after Lu Dongzan learned about the current situation in Tianzhu, he immediately wrote a letter.

Li Zhi ordered Bilus to take the letter to the Kunzang Protectorate to prepare for the three-party alliance with Wang Xuance, Su Dingfang and others.

Although the war has never stopped, it is getting further and further away from the Tang Dynasty's homeland.

Chang'an City also spent the new year in peace.

(End of this chapter)