Traveling through Du He, Li Chengqian's rebellion begins

As Du He finished speaking, the silence in Liangyi Hall was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.

They were originally only planning wars with the countries in the Western Regions, but they didn't expect Du He's appetite to be so big that he even wanted to deal with the Eastern Turks, Tubo and other countries as well.

Li Chengqian was the first to react. He clapped his hands and said.

"Du He, this is a brilliant plan!"

"I also think that countries like the Eastern Turks, Xueyantuo, and Tubo still have some strength left, and they pose a great threat to our Tang Dynasty."

"Take this opportunity to weaken the strength of these countries first, and then eliminate them in one fell swoop. Then our Tang Dynasty will have no worries!"

Du He is worthy of being his core aide, and even his ideas are consistent with his inner thoughts.

After he ascends the throne, he will be able to handle state affairs much more easily with the assistance of important ministers like Du He who share similar ideas as him.

Zhang Sun Wuji suddenly said: "If Tubo, Eastern Turks and Xueyantuo are unwilling to send troops, won't this plan fail?"

"Although these countries are barbaric, they are not without smart people. They will definitely find ways to resist."

Hearing Changsun Wuji's worried words, Li Shimin, Li Ji and Li Ji and others all nodded in agreement.

These countries still have some strength, and if they are pushed into a corner, they will easily bite back.

Du He smiled and said, "If such countries do not obey the orders of the Tang Dynasty, it means that they have rebellious intentions, so we should deal with them first."

"After we deal with Tubo, Eastern Turks and Xueyantuo, we can deploy troops on the border and then take action against the Western Regions and the Indian countries."

Everyone's expressions changed slightly.

They knew that what Du He meant by "dealing with them" did not mean beating them into submission, but treating them without leaving any prisoners.

There was silence for a long time.

Li Shimin said in a hoarse voice: "I think Du He's suggestion is very good. After you go back, everyone should draw up a detailed battle plan."

"We will have another centralized discussion in half a month."

"After confirming the combat mission, we began to prepare for the war!"

Everyone stood up and saluted Li Shimin.

"As ordered!"

Li Shimin waved his hand, signaling everyone to go back and rest.

After everyone left Liangyi Hall, Cheng Yaojin put his hand on Du He's shoulder and said with a strange expression.

"Du He, are you really not afraid of divine punishment?"

Du He smiled and said, "Uncle Cheng, I was not the one who gave the order in the end, and I was not the one who took action either. What do I have to worry about?"

Li Ji, Hou Junji, Fang Xuanling, Changsun Wuji and others who were walking beside Du He staggered.

this...

Is this still human language?

Li Ji said with a dark face: "Minister Du, no wonder you advocate this vicious plan so much, so this is what you think in your mind."

"You're fine, but you're fighting against us!"

The others nodded, and they all agreed with what Li Ji said.

In the past, they thought that Du He was a decent-looking guy who did not do good things but did all kinds of bad things. Now it seems that they did not wrongly accuse Du He.

This kid has a very bad heart!

Du He curled his lips and said, "My dear uncles, although this action may hurt the heaven and not hurt me, I won't be able to achieve any military merit if I don't join the army to fight!"

"On the other hand, you alone destroyed more than 20 countries. How great is this military achievement?"

"Don't even mention that His Majesty may make you kings of different surnames. It's even possible that he may make you princes!"

suck~

When everyone heard what Du He said, they all took a deep breath.

Five words suddenly appeared in their minds.

Enfeoff the princes!

The 800 vassal states enfeoffed in the Western Zhou Dynasty were either the size of a state or a county, and their territories were so small that they could not even be called countries.

But if the Tang Dynasty conquered Tibet, Eastern Turks, the Western Regions and India, how large would that territory be?

When the time comes, I will suggest to Your Majesty that the vassal states be divided. The territories each person gets will be quite large!

Thinking of this, the way they looked at Du He softened.

"Hehe." Cheng Yaojin laughed evilly twice, then patted Du He on the shoulder and said, "Du He, I have watched you grow up since you were a child, and I have long known that you are a good child who knows how to consider us uncles."

Hou Junji, Fang Xuanling, Zhangsun Wuji, Li Jing and Li Ji also nodded and followed suit.

"Not bad!"

"As expected of a leader of the younger generation, you have a long-term vision!"

Du He ignored them, curled his lips, and strode away.

It didn't take long.

What Du He, Cheng Yaojin, Li Ji and others said reached Li Shimin's ears.

Li Shimin laughed and scolded: "Du He, this bastard, is also trying to divide the vassal states. He really has the guts to say anything."

Despite the scolding, Li Shimin thought about it calmly and felt that this was a feasible approach.

If another hundred countries were conquered, the territory of the Tang Dynasty would more than double. By then, the imperial court would not be able to control such a vast territory.

In remote areas, the local governor will definitely have his own troops and occupy the land as a king.

Instead of doing this, why not offer the reward of enfeoffment of vassal states as a motivation to stimulate them to fight bloody battles?

After a long time.

Li Shimin murmured in a low voice: "I don't know if Du He just said it casually or if he had this plan in mind!"

As the whispering sound faded away, Liangyi Hall also fell into silence.

...

The next day.

A meeting of hundreds of officials.

After the heads of each department reported on all matters major and minor in their department, Li Shimin also asked the eunuchs to announce an imperial edict.

"The Emperor of the Great Tang Dynasty has ordered the appointment of Minister of Works Du He as the chief official in translating the scriptures, and the Doctor of the Ministry of Enfeoffment Pei Xingjian as the deputy official, to fully cooperate with Master Xuanzang in translating the scriptures."

Du He and Pei Xingjian stood up and responded at the same time.

"I accept the decree!"

Li Shimin then gave Du He some instructions, asking him to keep an eye on Master Xuanzang and compile "A Record of the Western Regions of the Great Tang Dynasty" as soon as possible.

After the meeting.

Du He said to Pei Xingjian, "Keep your promise. Let's go to Hongfu Temple to find Master Xuanzang and see if he needs any help."

"promise."

Pei Xingjian nodded.

Half an hour later.

Du He and Pei Xingjian met Master Xuanzang at Hongfu Temple. After some conversation, the three of them reached a preliminary consensus.

Xuanzang currently has outstanding disciples such as Kuiji, Yuance, Puguang, Fabao, Shentai, etc. These disciples will be the main force to assist him in translating scriptures.

Du He just needs to find a dozen Buddhist masters who know Sanskrit to help them translate Buddhism.

As for assisting Xuanzang in compiling "The Great Tang Records on the Western Regions", he needed several great talents to assist him.

After leaving Hongfu Temple, Du He said to Pei Xingjian.

"Keep your promise. You will apply to the court for the money, writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone that Master Xuanzang and his team need to translate the sutras."

“Send someone to invite Lingrun, Faxiang, Daoxuan and other Buddhist masters to assist Master Xuanzang in translating Buddhism.”

"Then go to Huichang Temple to find Monk Bianji, and go to Hongwenguan to find two scholars, Shangguan Yi and Guo Zhengyi, and ask them to assist Xuanzang in compiling The Great Tang Records on the Western Regions."

The original history is that Bian Ji assisted Master Xuan Zang in compiling "A Record of the Western Regions of the Great Tang Dynasty".