This made Li Shimin anxious, and he wanted to trade one for one with me.

In an instant, everyone's eyes turned to Wei Zheng.

Wen Yanbo was surprised that Wei Zheng would stand up and oppose him, and frowned, saying:

"Lord Wei, in your opinion, how should we treat the Turks who will later submit to our Great Tang?"

Wei Zheng said calmly, "I believe that we should neither implement the policy of assimilation nor your so-called policy of using the Turks as a northern bulwark for our Great Tang!"

Wen Yanbo asked, "What are your thoughts, Lord Wei?"

Wei Zheng said in a deep voice, "I think we should not accept these Turks!"

"The Turks are unreliable, and the idea of ​​using them as a northern bulwark for the Tang Dynasty is utterly absurd!"

Having said that, ignoring Wen Yanbo's darkening expression, he looked at the middle-aged and elderly courtier in red robes who had proposed the "assimilation strategy," and continued:

"It is not good to place the Turks on the border of our Great Tang, and it is even worse to spread them throughout our Great Tang territory!"

"Both of them will bring endless trouble to our Great Tang Dynasty!"

Wei Zheng bluntly stated: "The Turks have human faces but also the hearts of beasts. They will only submit to our Great Tang when they are weak."

“Once they become powerful, they will inevitably rebel. The reason why the four barbarians are the four barbarians is precisely because they will never consider what is grace or morality!”

"In my opinion, once our Great Tang has pacified the Turks, we should immediately establish a Protectorate and Protectorate General's Office to strictly control the Turks. In this way, the Turks will live far from the heartland of the Tang Dynasty, and at the same time, they will not be able to unite internally, so they will not pose a threat to our Great Tang."

Before he could finish speaking, Wen Yanbo retorted without any politeness:

"According to your logic, what I just said is completely useless. However, historical records show that Emperor Guangwu of the Eastern Han Dynasty placed the Southern Xiongnu within the northern border!"

"Throughout the Eastern Han Dynasty, the Southern Xiongnu remained a bulwark for the Eastern Han, and this bulwark never wavered!"

Wei Zheng retorted upon hearing this:

"During the Western Jin Dynasty, a large number of non-Han peoples migrated south. What was the result? It led to the tragic chaos of the Five Barbarian Invasions. Aren't these lessons profound enough?"

Yan Shigu, who had been silent, stepped forward and said, "What Lord Wei said is absolutely right, I agree!"

Liu Xiangdao snorted coldly, stood up and said, "I think Doctor Wen is absolutely right!"

At this moment, several more ministers stood up and said, "We think that the 'assimilation strategy' is the most suitable!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he was immediately refuted by the minister beside him:

"No, I think Dr. Wen is right!"

"Nonsense! It was clearly Lord Wei who said it best!"

"Duke Wei uses the example of the Jin Dynasty to explain the national policies of my Tang Dynasty. This is tantamount to using the sword of the previous dynasty to execute the officials of my current dynasty. Is this right?"

"Wen Gong even used the example of the Han Dynasty as a national policy for our Great Tang Dynasty, is that correct?"

"You're talking nonsense!"

"You're talking nonsense!"

Inside the Hall of Justice, the officials were divided into three factions and began arguing.

The students at the gate stared in disbelief. When they came to their senses, they were both nervous and excited. This was the court assembly!

Cheng Jun also watched the officials arguing incessantly. When he saw someone raise their hand to push and another immediately shove back, he secretly clicked his tongue. "No wonder they're ministers who lived through the Wude era," he thought, "their martial spirit is truly abundant..."

At this moment, Li Shimin looked on in bewilderment at the arguing officials.

Didn't we agree to come to a lecture? How did this turn into a court session?!

Li Shimin stood up and said in an unquestionable tone, "My dear ministers, stop! Say no more!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the civil and military officials calmed down and returned to their respective positions.

Li Shimin pointed to Cheng Jun and reminded everyone:

"Today, he's giving a lecture. He's asking you what your opinions are. Just share them. It's not a court meeting, so why are you arguing?"

Fang Xuanling cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty is right."

The officials immediately bowed and agreed.

Li Shimin pressed his hands down, gesturing for everyone to sit down, then looked at Cheng Jun and said:

"Minister Cheng, your questions have already been answered by the other ministers. Now it's your turn. What are your thoughts?"

Cheng Jun sat up straight and pondered, "Someone just said that we should implement an 'assimilation strategy,' and I think the direction is right, but there are some flaws in its specific implementation."

He turned to look at Wen Yanbo and said seriously:

"Dr. Wen just pointed out the difficulty: the customs of the Tang people and the Turks are different."

"Doctor Wen's insights were excellent and insightful, but Lord Wei also pointed out the key point."

"When our Great Tang Dynasty was strong, the Turks dared not make any moves. But once our Great Tang Dynasty weakened, this barrier against the outside world would probably become a sharp knife against the inside."

This is how the regional military governors (Jiedushi) came to be at the end of the Tang Dynasty...

Cheng Jun thought to himself, while saying aloud to Wei Zheng:

“What Lord Wei said is very good. Listening to Lord Wei’s words is better than reading books for ten years.”

"However, there are some flaws in this. If the strength of our Great Tang Dynasty were to decline one day, would the Protectorate and Protectorate Prefecture still be able to play a role?"

Upon hearing this, Wen Yanbo, Wei Zheng, and the ministers who had just been arguing all turned pale.

It has to be you again. Your words have offended three parties... Li Shimin clicked his tongue inwardly, staring at Cheng Jun, and said:

“Minister Cheng, don’t just criticize others. Share your own perspective.”

Cheng Jun held up three fingers and said seriously:

"My approach to dealing with the Turks has three points: first, to implement a policy of assimilation; second, to regard them as a bulwark for our northern border; and third, to establish protectorates and protectorates to divide their people!"

Upon hearing this, Wen Yanbo, Wei Zheng, and the other officials simultaneously looked up and glared at Cheng Jun. "Isn't this our poem?"

Li Shimin couldn't help but widen his eyes and said, "Minister Cheng, aren't you just repeating what Minister Wen and Minister Wei said?"

Cheng Jun explained, "I am not repeating what I have said; this is my own opinion."

"In my opinion, we should use all three strategies!"

"As I just said, the strategy of assimilation is on the right track. Since there are no problems, it should be implemented."

"As for how to implement this policy, it is to establish protectorates and protectorates, and use the role of protectorates and protectorates to assimilate the Turks."

The middle-aged minister in red robes retorted, "Imperial Censor Cheng, you make it sound so easy. Do you think you can assimilate the Turks just by talking?"

Cheng Jun laughed and said, "Of course not."

"So, this is what we need."

As he spoke, Cheng Jun unwrapped the red cloth, revealing what was inside.

Everyone stood up and craned their necks to look over.

The students even stood on tiptoe, trying to get a clear view, but because there were so many people in front of them, their view was completely blocked. They could only strain their ears to hear what was being said inside the hall.

Meanwhile, in the Hall of Justice, Li Shimin, who was closest to Cheng Jun, stood up and leaned over for a look. Upon seeing the sweater and long trousers, he raised an eyebrow and said:

"Clothes? What do you mean?"