Chapter 549 Caressing the Clothes

Late at night, Qin Mubai, who had just been newly married, locked himself in the study and sat with a candle. I held the pen in my hand, but I hesitated again and didn't know how to write.

He is writing a report for Emperor Li Shimin. After returning from the Western Expedition, he will report on the details of the conquest of the Western Regions, the diplomacy with the Dazhao Wu Kingdom, and a series of military and people's livelihood issues that need to be solved after the pacified of the Western Regions.

He doesn't know how many copies of such a chapter he has written. Only today, I can't move the pen.

Putting down the pen, Qin Mubai sat back with his hands on his lower abdomen, closed his eyes and sighed for a long time.

"Flying birds are exhausted, good bows are hidden; cunning rabbits die, running dogs cook... He is treating me as a thief, but I am still worried about the aftermath of the Western Regions. Am I loyal or cheap? Thinking of this, Qin Mubai's heart fell inch by inch, and it was cold.

He reached out his hand and pressed it on the bridge of his nose between his eyes to refresh his mind. He still picked up the pen and decided to finish the play.

"This may be the last thing I, Qin Mubai, can do for the Tang Dynasty!"

He wrote down the memorial. He described in detail the current pattern and problems faced in the Western Regions. He suggested that the court divide a reasonable state and county pattern in the Western Regions as soon as possible, and appointed a number of effective feudal officials to govern. In addition, diplomacy with the Great Zhaowu Kingdom is very important. In the next few decades and hundreds of years, the two hegemons of the East and the West, the Tang Dynasty and Dushi, will definitely have a clear or dark confrontation.

The existence of the Great Zhaowu Kingdom can not only ensure that the Tang Dynasty can obtain stable and huge commercial profits from the Silk Road, but also be the first military defense line of the Tang Dynasty to the West and the intersection of political, cultural and economic.

Geographically, Zhaowu is located between the Tang Dynasty and Daging, and is an important military buffer zone and strategic ally for both countries. Therefore, the Tang Dynasty must try its best to protect and fight for Zhaowu. Otherwise, between one loss and one gain and one loss is a major change in the comparison of strength.

For the small countries and tribes in the Western Regions that have been subjugated, Qin Mubai suggested that the court should adopt the national assimilation strategy of "boiling frogs in warm water" under the premise of respect and equality. Don't use the previous policy of taking care of the afterthus of the Turks and implement any measures of "large-scale relocation". Instead, it is to let the political culture of the Tang Dynasty slowly penetrate into these tribes and gradually assimilate them with time. In less than 50 years, by the handover of two or three generations, the whole land of the Western Regions will be fully integrated into the Chinese nation. At that time, the grand plan of "conquering the Western Regions" will be truly completed!

Only in the Tang Dynasty can we truly become the hegemon of the East!

......

The night was deeper, and a copy of Qin Mubai wrote a thick stack. But he felt that there were still many things that had not been said.

There are hundreds of thousands of generals and soldiers under the command of the three armies, and tens of millions of miles under the jurisdiction of the officials of Xinjiang. How can it be said? Over the years, Li Shi has thrown the Qin family and his son into Lanzhou, and he has not intervened much in the west. It can be said that from that day on, the Helong and Tubo of the Tang Dynasty and the whole land of the Western Regions were all controlled by Qin Mubai.

Now, it's finally time to hand over the shift. Qin Mubai feels like sending a child he has raised for many years back to his biological parents.

It is reasonable to do this, but in my heart, I am a little reluctant to give up. After all, there are many years of painstaking efforts and feelings between me and my father.

"I hope that the emperor and the imperial court can treat the Kansai Army, these soldiers who have made national contributions, and the people of all ethnic groups who have been poisoned by the war..." Putting down his pen, Qin Mubai sorted out the paper manuscripts he wrote page by page.

At this moment, the door was knocked, "Mu Bai, haven't you slept yet?"

It's Xuelian.

"Come in!"

Xuelian pushed the door and entered, holding a cup of soup in her hand. She went to Qin Mubai and put down the soup cup and said, "Are you tired? Why don't you go to bed so late... Well, are you writing a memorial to the court?"

"Hmm." Qin Mubai took the soup cup, which was a bowl of warm red bean porridge, which was best used to relieve his stomach in the middle of the night.

Qin Mubai drank porridge. Xuelian walked behind him, gently rubbed his temples and ears for him, was silent for a long time, and suddenly said, "Mubai, you resign and go back to hermit!" Shall we go to the grassland together?

Qin Mubai was stunned and said, "Why did you suddenly say this?"

"I'm too tired to see you." Xuelian said, "I overheard your conversation with Pang Fei yesterday... Oh, I didn't expect it!"

Qin Mubai waved his hand to interrupt her words. He smiled indifferently and said, "Don't mention this. Xuelian, I'm indeed already handing off military and political affairs, and I'm ready to resign. I have chosen a place to settle in the future, but unfortunately, it is not a grassland. Do you mind?"

"Where is that?"

"The capital of the State of Zhaowu, Samu built the city."

Xue Lian was slightly stunned, and then nodded, "If you have a heart, you will be home everywhere. As long as our family is together, it will be the same everywhere. I said to go to the grassland because there are not so many battles between fame and fortune in the Central Plains. But since you already have a more ideal place in your heart, I have no problem. Anyway, don't be an official anymore. Whether you go on an expedition or come home, there is no peace of life. You are tired, not to mention that our family should also worry about you and worry about you all day long.

Qin Mubai smiled, handed the sorted out memorial to Xuelian, and said, "You can have a look."

Xue Lian took it curiously and looked at it for a while and said in surprise, "You let Pang Fei lead 300,000 Kansai's main army back to Chang'an?"

"That's right." Qin Mubai smiled and said, "Since the court is afraid of the army and power of someone in Qin, I will dispel their concerns. The army, I don't want it, it's all returned to the court; official, I won't do it either. When Pang Fei leaves, I will ask him to take my handsome seal officer with the military charm.

Xuelian frowned deeply and said worriedly, "Mu Bai, are you self-abandoned or are you protesting silently?"

"Neither." Qin Mubai smiled indifferently and said, "In fact, the current situation is like chess, and all the people in the game are addicted to it and think that they can turn the tide. But in fact, the overall situation has been decided, and no one can change it.

"It can't be changed, including His Majesty the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty?"

"If he can change and decide everything because he is the emperor of the Tang Dynasty, why does the current situation have to evolve into today's situation?" Qin Mubai said, "All the hidden political dangers of the Tang Dynasty originated from the dispute over the East Palace. To this day, it has long exceeded the scope of the emperor's own ability. Only through continuous attempts, temptations, and even ruthlessly trying to make up for the sores can he avoid causing the Tang Dynasty to fall into endless internal strife and chaos.

"Try? Test? Scoop out the meat to make up for the sores?" Xuelian looked confused, "I don't understand!"

Qin Mubai took her hand and put it on her shoulder, motioned her to press it for herself, and then said without hurry: "The future candidate of the Tang Dynasty has always given the emperor a headache. Once, he tried his best to cultivate his eldest son Li Chengqian. In fact, Li Chengqian performed very well at the beginning. It can be said that his qualifications are actually very outstanding, and he has also tried his best to be a good prince and a good emperor. But under the heavy pressure, it is actually unbearable. With such an excellent father as the emperor, Li Chengqian will always live in the shadow of his father. In particular, those old ministers who followed the emperor all the way always compare him with the emperor. This is called 'incongruity', and Li Chengqian will never satisfy them. Coupled with the emperor's strength and eagerness and excessive harsh requirements for the prince, Li Chengqian's self-abandonment finally collapsed.

"I know this." While massaging Qin Mubai, Xuelian said, "Li Chengqian was finally demoted because of his involvement in Li Yuanchang, the king of Han..."

"Yes! That incident hit the emperor hard. From then on, he changed his mind and felt that the king of the Tang Dynasty in the future did not have to be so excellent. He could keep it with the help of a group of powerful ministers. Qin Mubai said, "So, Li Zhi, the young king of Jin, was pushed to the table by his mother's uncle's eldest grandson Wuji and became the prince of the country. Although on the surface, it seemed that Changsun Wuji was the king of Jin who stood up alone, in fact, it was not difficult to pay attention to it. In secret, there must be the emperor's consent or even instructions. At that time, the emperor ignored the government on the grounds of recuperation and completely handed over the government to the king of Jin and Changsun Wuji. He just wants to have a look. In case he controls the funeral, can his uncle and nephews govern the Tang Dynasty?

"What's the result?"

Qin Mubai smiled and said, "As a result, the king of Jin sat on the dragon chair and was scared and panicked all day, and almost peed his pants. He even came to beg me for help because he was afraid that he would provoke the king of Wei. At the same time, Changsun Wuji monopolize the court, and the court of the Tang Dynasty became his word. Together with Fang Xuanling, Chu Suiliang and Wei Zheng, who were Zaifu, they could only stand aside. But it was at this time that Changsun Wuji made a mistake, that is, he violated the emperor's original intention and decided to make peace. At that time, the emperor also saw that if this pair of uncles and nephews were allowed to take over the country of the Tang Dynasty, then the future of the emperor himself for the Tang Dynasty would have to change, and it would become what his eldest grandson Wuji wanted. To put it more explicit, once the emperor dies, it is difficult to say whether the Tang Dynasty's surname is Li or Changsun.

Xuelian nodded with deep approval, "In this case, the emperor will definitely veto the king of Jin?"

"That's right. Since then, the king of Jin can be said to have been abandoned by his majesty and faded out of the struggle for the throne. Qin Mubai said, "Then, the emperor has only one legitimate son left, and that is the King of Wei!"

"Everyone says that the king of Wei is most likely to become a prince?" Xuelian said, "I heard that he is very scheming and has always been deeply loved by the emperor. As early as when Li Chengqian was the crown prince, there were rumors that the emperor of the Tang Dynasty was going to abolish the crown prince and establish the king of Wei as the crown prince, right?

"Yes." Qin Mubai nodded and said, "In a fair way, the mind, city, knowledge and origin of the king of Wei are the best candidates for the prince. However, he made a big taboo!"

"What's the taboo?"

"The mind is not right, and the brothers are not harmonious!" Qin Mubai narrowed his eyes and said, "This is actually a major taboo in the depths of the emperor's heart! ...The change of Xuanwumen, do you know?"

"Of course..."

Qin Mubai breathed a sigh of relief, "What the emperor is most worried about is that his sons, like him, fight for the throne. This worry has nothing to do with his status as emperor, just out of the selfishness of a father. However, the emperor is also a man, and his selfishness is also a national event!"

"What kind of things did the king of Wei do that violated the taboo in the emperor's heart?" Xuelian asked.

"A lot." Qin Mubai smiled and said, "Over the years, the king of Wei has never given up secretly hurting and slandering the former prince Li Chengqian and the king of Wu Li Ke. Although what he has done is secretive enough, I believe it can't be hidden from the emperor's eyes at all. Once or twice, the emperor can continue to observe without hiding; three or four times... The future of the King of Wei has been ruined in this way! But I think it must be the assassination of the King of Wu this time!"

"Didn't you say that the other day that the case of the King of Wu must not be done by the King of Wei and Changsun Wuji?" Xuelian was puzzled and said, "Why did you... break the King of Wei now?"

"Yes, I said that. But this does not mean that the King of Wei has nothing to do with this case. Qin Mubai smiled and said, "Actually, I confirmed through reverse push that the emperor had given up the king of Wei!"

"Reverse push? What do you mean? The more I listened, the more confused I became!" Xuelian Road.

Qin Mubai smiled and said, "It was because of the sudden arrival of the housekeeper Lu and the various performances of Pang Fei, which helped me confirm that the emperor had a predetermined idea in his heart to abandon the king of Wei and establish the king of Wu. Therefore, I infer that the reason why the emperor did this must be because he learned about the assassination of the king of Wei and the king of Wu, which was quite related, thus breaking his last fantasy about the king of Wei. Moreover, Li Ke must still live in the world, which gives the emperor a choice. That is to say, now the position of the East Palace is no longer the King of Wu, and there is no need for anyone to fight for him! Because all his opponents have been abandoned by His Majesty. That's what I just said - scooping meat to make up for sores."

"How did you know?" Xuelian asked in surprise.

Qin Mubai smiled and replied, "Think about it, as the dark line of the emperor, Pang Fei dares not make his own ideas to stimulate me. Otherwise, if I really do the opposite, can he afford to be guilty? So I speculated that he must have received the emperor's secret decree to test my loyalty. Have you ever thought about why the emperor wanted to spy on me everywhere and test my loyalty at this critical moment?

"I don't understand..." Xuelian shook her head confusedly, "To be honest, the Han people's mind is too delicate and strange, and I really can't figure it out at all. What I have to say may be that the emperor is worried that you will rise up to avenge Li Ke after hearing the news of his assassination?

"Of course not!" Qin Mubai smiled and said, "Even if Li Ke is really assassinated, in what name should I set up to avenge him? Even if the army rises, who am I going to fight? Beat the emperor, the court or the king of Wei? This is all aimless and nameless! The prince is killed by his own emperor and the law, and it is not my turn to act beyond authority. Moreover, the emperor has the ability to know people. He knows that I, Qin Mubai, am not a brain-to-bone person. Therefore, even if there are rumors circulating all over the world that I want to rebel, he will turn a deaf ear to it. This is the so-called rumors stop at the wise!"

Xuelian said anly, "Then he also frequently tests you and stimulates you? - Mr. Hun!"

Qin Mubai smiled and said, "In fact, the emperor called King Wu back to Beijing at the beginning, and it is very likely that he would make him the crown prince. It's just that I didn't expect that something went wrong halfway. But later, the emperor must have known that the King of Wu was safe and sound. So he made a plan to stimulate me by setting up a posture of fire prevention, theft and thieves in Chang'an, and let Pang Fei keep provoking and testing me at this time. He just wants to know whether I, Qin Mubai, am loyal enough and calm enough to be competent to assist the new king Li Ke in the future?

"My God, how can there be such a calculating person in the world?" After hearing this, Xue Lian was stunned and shook her head and said, "Mu Bai, if you don't investigate and make a little strange move, or say a few wrong words in front of Pang Fei, isn't it a big disaster? Since you are so powerful and not loyal enough, the emperor will definitely get rid of you and get rid of the future troubles?!"

"Almost! Therefore, accompanying you is like accompanying a tiger, which is not just a saying. Qin Mubai smiled indifferently, "No, in order to completely reassure him, I, Qin, completely let go!" You also read the memorial. I handed over the military and political affairs, handed over the military power and returned the soldiers and horses, and then resigned from the office to seclusion! - Touch my clothes and hide my body and name!"

"Smart move, I support you!" Xuelian nodded seriously, "Mubai, seriously... I'm really not worth it for you! You made a world-honored honor for the birth and death of the Tang Dynasty, but in the end, you suffered such suspicion and the danger of killing yourself! Even if, even if you really rebel, it's just right!"

"Ha ha, what's the pain?" Qin Mubai smiled easily, "In fact, the emperor just wanted to entrust me with heavy responsibilities in the future, so he frequently monitored and tested me. This is just out of caution, or the king has such a skill. Although the means seem to be despicable and a little villain, his starting point is still valued by me. Unfortunately, Qin is tired of playing! The Tang Dynasty has never lacked talents. Without me, Qin, the sky will not fall. Those fame, fortune and power, let them fight for their heads and bloodshed. Qin is not rare, so he won't accompany him - to this day, I, Qin Mubai, don't owe anything to the Tang Dynasty. If I want to go, I have to stay. I know it clearly, and the name is right. Even if His Majesty the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty governs the people all over the world and can decide the life and death of anyone, he can't change the will of the people after all!"

"Go, go resolutely!" Xuelian said firmly, "If you stay again, who can guarantee that similar things will not happen again? Who can guarantee that one day, you, who are invincible, will die under the knife of your own people?

Qin Mubai scooped up the last spoonful of porridge in the soup and drank it. He nodded and smiled, and then said four words--

"Madam is wise!"