Chapter 340 Mistake

The two gentlemen drank a pot of tea and boiled it again. The night was getting deeper and deeper, and they also ate some nights, and the topic became more and more open. But the core is still around Lanzhou and Tubo.

"The rudeness and strange deeds of the Tubo messengers made me and the ministers have to prepare in advance, so there was a recent imperial meeting." Li Shimin said, "War is a disaster and loss for me, but it is an important way for nomadic people to increase profits and make profits. They are technological backward and poor, and many things need to be obtained from our Central Plains. After the Tubo messenger left without saying goodbye, I immediately responded. First of all, I closed and banned the tea horse trade on the border, and issued a spy to prepare for war.

Qin Mubai pondered for a moment and said, "Your Majesty closed the tea and horse market, which is very likely to lead to war. The Tubo people mainly eat meat, and tea is indispensable for a meal. Otherwise, the greasy smell is enough to make them sick. Although Tubo's horses have always been relatively cheap, although they are beneficial to us, the Tang Dynasty's horse farm in Helong has always been running well. To be honest, it is not much, not much. Therefore, the closure of mutual trade is more harmful to Tibet. It's just that those business travelers and people who walk on the tea and horse road will have to live a hard life.

"There's nothing we can do." Li Shimin said, "I sent out espionage in advance. Everything starts from the overall situation. Those tea and horse merchants naturally know in my heart that if there is really a problem, the court will not ignore it and will not sit back and watch their families die. However, if someone dares to take risks and sells tea horses, it will also betray the country with the enemy, and it will be severely punished.

Qin Mubai nodded. I think that the closure of the tea-horse market will also have a relatively large constraint on Lanzhou's economy. After moving to Lanzhou a few years ago, Lanzhou, which is located at the throat of the Silk Road, has developed rapidly. A large part of the profit is the sacrificial trade between tea silk in the mainland and the Tubo and the Western Regions. There are many immigrant people and military families who make a living here. Now that the imperial court has suddenly issued such a ban, I don't know whether the people of Lanzhou can adapt for a while. If there are some public grievances, it is really inappropriate. At that time, Qin Shubao, Xue Wanche and others, who are like fiery, don't know if they can deal with it properly...

Li Shimin drank tea and looked at Qin Mubai, as if to pierce his mind. He smiled and said, "I know what you are thinking. You get on the horse and gallop on the battlefield, get off the horse and take care of Shan Limin. At this moment, you are thinking about the livelihood of the people of the people in Lanzhou, right? Don't worry. While issuing the tea-horse ban, I have also issued a tax reduction and pension order for the military and the people of Lanzhou. There were a lot of taxes paid in Lanzhou last year. This year, I don't want Lanzhou to pay taxes. I believe that even if business travel is completely cut off in a short period of time, Lanzhou can survive this difficulty with its previous accumulation and family background. The point is that the governor's office should do a good job in the comfort of the military and civilians, and it should not be changed from the inside.

Qin Mubai nodded and said, "Economic sanctions are actually the practice of hurting the enemy a thousand and losing 800 yuan. However, my Tang family has a strong background, and the situation in Lanzhou is also good. We can gritt our teeth and survive, but Tubo people can't. They will trade with the Tang Dynasty every day. Otherwise, it is very likely that half of the people will starve to death on the snowy plateau.

Li Shimin gently picked up the corners of his mouth, smiled a little deviously, and said, "Mu Bai, you must figure out why I took such a measure?"

Qin Mubai thought for a moment and said, "In the whole dynasty, it is estimated that there are not many people who support the war with Tubo now. Although your majesty has the intention to control it, it is difficult to disobey everyone's will. Taking such measures is not difficult to force the Tubo people to take action first. At that time, I will attack with defense in the Tang Dynasty, and the division will be famous. It's not convenient for the people in the court to say more, and the world's comments are all about your majesty.

"Haha! Not bad!" Li Shimin laughed and said, "Although Songzan Gampo is also a hero for a while, he can only be obediently led by my nose this time. Since he wants to marry the daughter of my Li family, he has to honestly show a little sincerity of the proposed son-in-law. Isn't this the mountain king going down the mountain to grab relatives? Is it his turn for him to blow my beard and pick up three or four? Is it his turn to be wild to my uncle of Tang Dynasty? If he wants to go to war, I will accompany him; if he dares not go to war, it is best. I don't need a single soldier, and I will make him lose all the chaos of the country until he obediently kneels down and begs for mercy.

Qin Mubai nodded with relief and smiled, and said, "The Tang Dynasty has such strength and confidence. Your Majesty has such courage and courage. For the ministers and the people, raise your eyebrows and exhale! However, Weichen is now thinking that Tubo Zanpu Songzan Gampo is not an idle person, and there are also many capable and wise men in Tubo, who may also be able to see through the plots of the Tang Dynasty. At that time, they will also respond accordingly.

"It's to the point." Li Shimin nodded and praised, "You can be brave a hundred times, but never underestimate your enemy. This is the same whether it is governing the country or the army. Recently, I often think that if I were Songzan Gamble, how would I deal with it? Now, I will leave this question to you, Mu Bai. You can imagine that if you were Songzan Gampo, how would you deal with it when you fully understood my intentions?

"This..." Qin Mubai didn't expect Li Shimin to ask such a question, which was really a test.

Only when you know yourself and know the enemy can you be invincible. Although the political competition between states has not been seen, it is no worse than the tit-for-tat on the battlefield. In fact, the military is just an extension of politics and serves politics. Political contests and games are also more likely to produce intentional and purposeful wars.

After thinking for a while, Qin Mubai said, "I believe that the Tubo people are not really stupid. They know that if there is a large-scale war against the Tang Dynasty, they basically have no chance of winning. Even if you can make two sneak attacks with flexible combat methods, it won't take much advantage in the overall battle. Therefore, if I were Tubo Zanpu, I would never launch a full-scale war at this time.

"Go on." Li Shimin took a sip of tea and narrowed his eyes slightly, neither approving nor rebuting.

Qin Mubai said, "At the beginning of the competition, I will not fight in person at the first time. I will send a little brother to take the lead and try to react."

"Little brother? This is a little interesting." Li Shimin smiled and said, "Then who do you think you will send to take the lead?"

"There are dozens of small countries in the Western Regions, and any of them is possible." Qin Mubai said, "But from the perspective of geography, national strength and diplomatic relations, Weichen thinks that the Gaochang Congress is the first to be the brunt."

Li Shimin's hand holding the teacup paused slightly and smiled, "That is to say, if you are Songtzan Gampo, will you force Gao Changguo to turn against the Tang Dynasty first?"

"Yes."

Li Shimin smiled and said nothing. He got up and walked to the imperial table and handed it to Qin Mubai with a holy edict that had just been drafted and had not yet been sealed. Qin Mubai looked at it in surprise and immediately said, "It turned out that Your Majesty had expected it! This is an imperial edict to comfort the king of Gaochang, Koo Wentai!"

"Ha ha!" Li Shimin smiled and said, "So I said that you are a talent and my confidant. Gaochang is located on the key point of the thick road, guarding the throat of the Tang Dynasty to the border trade of dozens of countries in the Western Regions. Although more than 20 countries in the Western Regions have attached me to the Tang Dynasty and respected me as the heavenly Khan, over the years, the Tang Dynasty has not had strong control over the Western Regions, far less than the Turks (referring to the Western Turks, not the Eastern Turks that have been destroyed by Li Jing), and even less than the Tubo. There is a saying that the Shangao Emperor is far away. Even if Gu Wentai, the king of Gaochang, has no intention to turn against the Tang Dynasty, he can't resist the pressure of Tibet. In recent years, the Tang Dynasty has been booming, and Tubo and Turks and other departments have formed a secret alliance and work together to fight. The Turks have rarely made trouble because they are far away from the territory of the Tang Dynasty, but their strength in the Western Regions is quite strong. It is difficult for strong dragons to suppress the local snakes, and even the Tubo people do not dare to fight with them easily in the Western Regions. Therefore, if Gao Chang reverses, the throat of the Silk Road will form a trend of the three families. The Great Tang Dynasty, Tubo, Turks. In addition, as many as dozens of small countries in the Western Regions are inextricably close to each other, and good tigers are no match for wolves. Therefore, the situation in the Western Regions is quite complicated. Once Gaochang is really against it, it will be an unrivaled battle. Therefore, I didn't dare to take it lightly and held a royal meeting in the past few days to discuss good policies.

After listening to this, Qin Mubai suddenly opened his mind. At the same time, he couldn't help but be a little excited and said, "Your Majesty, doesn't this mean that your long-planned plan for the Western Regions is about to start?"

"Not bad." Li Shimin raised his eyebrows and was as heroic as a teenager. He said, "You said it well before. If we fight one more battle now, we can let our children and grandchildren fight ten or a hundred battles less. This is very cost-effective. Use troops in the Western Regions, that's a matter of time. I won't do it, and my son and grandson must do it. Instead of this, why don't I do it for them before I'm old? Of course, after all, if it hadn't been for the solid foundation for your business in the Western Regions, and the gods such as 'Iron Valley' and the 'Red Cannon', I wouldn't have thought of it in a short time. Therefore, on the surface, it is me who has made this major national policy, but in fact, it is the promotion that you have been actively working hard. If I can really achieve this great success, I can only get a little credit at most. For the remaining nine points, the score is with you Qin Mubai and other bloody and actively pioneering military and civilian people.

"Your Majesty is too modest." Qin Mubai arched his hand and punched him and said, "If it hadn't met a holy king like your majesty, even if Weichen was strong, there would be nowhere to use terror. A good bird chooses a tree and a loyal minister chooses the master, and Weichen and other subjects meet your majesty, which is also a great blessing in life!"

"Haha!" Li Shimin smiled cheerfully and said, "Mu Bai, do you know what I'm thinking?"

"Please make it clear."

"I'm thinking, if Qin Mubai has been in Lanzhou, will he be able to achieve such a situation?" Li Shimin said half jokingly and half seriously, "Do you use the power of the Tang Dynasty to fight against the top ten small states of Tibet, Turks and the Western Regions?"

"Your Majesty is joking." Qin Mubai smiled and said, "Isn't Lanzhou able to make small achievements thanks to the full support of His Majesty, the imperial court and the Central Plains?" How can Weichen He De be long and short of a hero like Songzan Gampo? It's better to leave such an opponent to your majesty.

"No, I just want you to compete with him." Li Shimin smiled, but he was not completely casual and joking, which was obviously a little serious.

Qin Mubai was faintly excited, but he still said, "Your Majesty is too highly regarded. Weichen has been an official for less than five years, and his talent is shallow and experience is shallow. Lanzhou's big plan is related to half of the country and the century-old plan in the west of the Tang Dynasty. Weichen's shoulders are still immature, and I'm afraid he can't take such a big burden. However, if your majesty plans properly, I will not hesitate to jump on the horse field!"

"Haha! Qin Sanlang, Qin Sanlang!" Li Shimin pointed to Qin Mubai and laughed, "Look at your untruthed attitude, I really learned from your father. It's good to be modest, but it's not necessarily good to be too modest. How much talent do you have? Why don't I know? You are young and have little experience in loose foundation, but no one in the world is born with a foundation and experience. When I joined the army at the age of 16, didn't I even take care of my saddle? To prepare for a rainy day, before Tubo and Gaochang have made a formal action, I have made three arrangements: First, send a letter of comfort to the king of Gaochang, which may not be really useful, but it can make the king of Gaochang throw a mouse taboo. I have been kind to comfort him, but he can't blame me. Second, the secret order for the Governor's Office of Lanzhou has gone ahead. Your father, with the assistance of Xue Wanche and others, will prepare for the battle earlier. If there is a change in Gaochang, the Lanzhou army will react as soon as possible. Use the attack to replace the defenders to send Gaochang, minimize the loss of the Silk Road, and extinguish Gaochang's rebellion as soon as possible, so as not to affect other countries. The third is for you.

Qin Mubai's expression changed slightly. He sat upright and hugged his fist and said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, please issue an order!"

"You are about to marry Linger." Li Shimin smiled and apologized, but more about expectation and appreciation, he said, "But the country is greater than home. If there is a need for the community, you must be ready at any time and go to Lanzhou or even open up the battlefield. What I left for you is not an imperial edict, but an agreement. I don't know when Gao Chang will turn against it. If it's after your wedding, it's easy to say. Qin's son-in-law, please take your princess and go to Lanzhou with you. What should you do? She married you, and she is your person. Even if she is my favorite daughter, I will let her stay with you. On the other hand, if Gao Chang turns his back before your wedding, your father and Xue Wanche and others will lead the army. At that time, Lanzhou will be empty and must have you in charge. So..."

"Your Majesty!" Qin Mubai clenched his fist and said, "Even if Weichen wants to go to Lanzhou at this moment, Weichen will leave in this imperial study!"

Li Shimin's expression was slightly sluggish and he nodded: "Okay. With your words, I feel at ease."

"Your Majesty, why do you worry so much?" Qin Mubai said, "Only when you have a country can you have a home. Such a simple truth is understood by children. Linger is not an unreasonable person, but whenever I decide what I want to do, as long as it is right and reasonable, she will certainly not stop me and will only support me behind my back. However, in any case, I won't take Linger to Lanzhou again this time. It's good to put it in Chang'an.

"You think so, but she doesn't necessarily." Li Shimin laughed and said, "My daughter knows it in her heart. First, what she decided was that even nine cows could not be pulled back. Now you two are husband and wife, not to mention Lanzhou, even the obvious bloody rivers and mountains, she will accompany you. This is her persistence and her pleasure. If she is left alone in Chang'an, it will be safe, but I estimate that she will be depressed. However, of course, I support you not to take her to Lanzhou. After all, everything can happen in the frontier, and sometimes not all things can be taken into account. If Linger is there, it will also distract you. But this is the matter of your young couple. I won't interrupt. You can do it yourself.

"Weichen has decided to cook properly. Your Majesty, don't worry." Qin Mubai arched his hand.

"Ha ha!" Li Shimin smiled and personally added a cup of tea to Qin Mubai. He said, "Above so many of my sons and daughters-in-law, you are the only one who can reassure me the most. After all, Ke'er has been in Goguryeo for a long time, and the good news has spread frequently, and I am very relieved. If it can be too smooth over there, it's time for me to call him back.

Qin Mubai drank tea in a muffled voice and said nothing.

"Why don't you talk?" Li Shimin asked with a smile, a little mysteriously.

"This is your majesty's family affairs, as well as private affairs and state affairs. I dare not interrupt." Qin Mubai said with a relaxed smile.

Li Shimin nodded without saying anything and said, "Let's take a look again!" The envoys of Goguryeo, Silla and Baekje are still in Chang'an. Perhaps, they also smelled some of the fishy smell left by the Tubo people, watching and muttering, and even guessing whether my Tang Dynasty still had the leisure to pay attention to the things on the Goryeo Peninsula. Goguryeo has never been honest and has never really paid attention to my Central Plains. The former Sui Yang Guang's failure to conquer Goguryeo made them raise their tails righteously. To be honest, compared with the Western Regions, I prefer to clean up Goguryeo first. It is directly bordered by Liaodong of the Tang Dynasty, and the provocation and threat are even more direct. However, fortunately, Ke'er has spared the troubles for me and won this precious time. However, no one can guarantee how long Ke'er can stand alone between the three countries with a pair of meaty mouths. Therefore, for a day in the Western Regions, Goguryeo will have more regrets and wolf ambitions, and there will be more pressure and danger. On the contrary, if Ke'er uses wisdom to get the law in the Three Kingdoms of Goryeo, the court can reduce the pressure and devote himself to the western line. This will directly affect the situation of Lanzhou and the Western Regions.

Qin Mubai's heart tightened slightly. After talking for a long time, Li Shimin's mind was revealed at this time. Qin Mubai in the Western Regions, Li Ke in Goryeo, and two young people seemed to be carrying a big stone box that was about to fall down together. Whoever falls first will be crushed into meat sauce. The two must work together to hold on and find a way to be free, and be more self-serving.

Qin Mubai did not expect that by the time he came back from his post in Xiangyang, he and Li Ke had already drawn a clear line, and the two of them got on the same boat by mistake. A loss is a loss, and a glory is a glory.

God's will?

Man-made?

Qin Mubai couldn't figure it out and couldn't figure it out. Maybe there is really a determination in the dark, and maybe everything is under Li Shimin's planning and overall control.

In a word, after a big circle, Qin Mubai and Li Ke were connected together.