Xue Shao knew very clearly that at this moment, the court would never send troops to war.

Now that the emperor has just passed away, the Tang Dynasty is facing a change of imperial power, stabilizing the court and ensuring the peace of the imperial capital is the top priority. In comparison, the rest of the matter is secondary, including the Turks' rebellion.

Even if the Tang Dynasty lost several border towns and some territory, it was just a disease of scabies in the eyes of the superiors like Tianhou and Pei Yan.

But since the queen asked, Xue Shao said bluntly. Because the responsibility lies in it, whether he or she says it depends on himself; whether he or she adopts it or not is the matter of the court.

"If you send troops, how many troops will be considered sufficient? Who can be in charge to be competent?" Wu Zetian did not rush to deny it and continued to ask.

Xue Shao replied: "Empress of the Heavenly Queen, the Turks are moving quickly and with cavalry as the main force, and their fighting style is also a place where they are wandering. Unless we know in advance where they want to attack, we can only lengthen the front line and guard it to the death. The northern border is a thousand miles away. If we want to prevent the Turkic cavalry from going south, we must at least defend the 700-mile Yellow River defense line in Fengzhou south of Yinshan."

"Fengzhou, the 700-mile Yellow River Defense Line?" Wu Zetian took a breath of cold air, "How many soldiers do you need to garrison? How much money and food do you need to support me?"

"I conservatively estimate that the 200,000 army is barely useful," Xue Shao said. "As for money and grain... we may have to ask the prime minister and the people from the Ministry of Revenue."

"Twenty-hundred thousand is barely enough to use..." Wu Zetian's expression became increasingly ugly. She simply didn't bother asking about another question about the candidate for the leader.

Looking at the Tang Dynasty and the army today, besides Cheng Wuting and Xue Shao, who else can lead an army of 200,000?

"Then, how about abandoning Fengzhou and occupying important towns in Shuozhou, Xiazhou and defending the enemy?" Wu Zetian asked.

Xue Shao shook his head, "Tianhou, the 700-mile Yellow River in Fengzhou is the only way for the Turks to go south after crossing Yinshan. Once this gap is opened, the Thousand-mile road from Fengzhou to Xiazhou, the Turkish cavalry will march straight into the defense and cannot be defended. At most, we can only resist in Xiazhou to prevent the Turks from breaking through the western border and inserting into the Guanzhong hinterland of the Tang Dynasty. If Fengzhou is abandoned, the Thousand-mile territory will be lost. The Turks' arrogance will continue to be high, and their strength will be greatly enhanced, and they will become the biggest border trouble of the Tang Dynasty from then on. This consequence is unimaginable!"

"This is not possible, that is not possible, what can I do?" Wu Zetian was very annoyed.

Xue Shao said carefully: "Empress, let me lead the soldiers of the Western Expedition Army of the Right Guard to guard Fengzhou?"

"No!" Wu Zetian suddenly raised his tone, "You are so injured, you can only rest in bed. I don't want to ruin the pillars of the Tang Dynasty for a hundred years because of temporary gains and losses!"

Xue Shao smiled bitterly, "Then... let the general of Evil lead the army, it's okay!"

"..." Wu Zetian was silent for a while, stood up, "Let me think twice."

"I, I respectfully send you to the Queen." Of course, Xue Shao would not have been pestering him and bowed his hands.

"Just just lie down and rest for a while. If there is any major military situation, I will come to discuss with you in person. Try to leave the trivial military affairs of the Right Guard Army to Li Duozuo and Xue Chuyu as much as possible, and you don't have to think about the rest." Wu Zetian reminded.

"I understand."

Wu Zetian left, Xue Shao let out a sigh of relief and lay on the bed.

The Prime Minister has the power to consulate in military and national affairs. But today Wu Zetian talked to Xue Shao about so many military and national affairs, which made Xue Shao feel that his role in the court had undergone some subtle changes.

Xue Shao, the former marginalist in the system, seems to have officially entered the court today and participated in the major military and political decisions of the Tang Dynasty. Although the idea he proposed may not be adopted and implemented, at least he can express his will directly to the court.

This is very important.

This conversation with Wu Zetian is of great significance to Xue Shao as a "mileage".

Pei Yan?

It was hard for Xue Shao not to think that this person was repeatedly suppressed, provoked and even humiliated by him since he returned from the Northern Expedition. For example, at Cheng Qizhi's wedding, such as when he wanted to report his demise to Pei Gong.

But today, can he still treat me like that?

Xue Shao thought repeatedly that Pei Yan was a major stumbling block in front of him. Sooner or later, he would fight with him and fight for life and death.

But definitely not now.

Now the Tang Dynasty is facing a major crisis, and all personal grievances should be left behind. The top priority is for everyone to work together to overcome the crisis. If the army commander and the ruling prime minister have conflicts at such a time, it will bring immeasurable and irreversible losses to the entire country and the court. In that case, both of them will be despised by the country and the nation, which is tantamount to digging their own graves.

Xue Shao firmly believed that Pei Yan also had such a bottom line and awareness in his heart. Even from the beginning, Xue Shao believed that the assassination case was definitely not what Pei Yan did. The stupid conspiracy that ignored the overall situation, harmed others and defeated the country but was not beneficial to oneself could not do it.

So for the moment, Xue Shao still plans to abandon his personal grudges and political disputes, unite with Pei Yan to overcome the crisis together.

So the next day, Xue Shao took the initiative to ask the queen to have a face-to-face conversation with Pei Yan and Pei Gong.

Wu Zetian felt very surprised, but she agreed.

Although Pei Yan was the prime minister, Xue Shao was a ward, so Pei Yan condescended to Xue Shao's ward.

"General, what's the matter with me?" Pei Yan took the initiative to speak, but he looked kind and looked at him.

"Grandpa Pei, don't tell lies in front of the real person, and don't have to take any turns." Xue Shao said, "This time, we may face a major military crisis."

"This Pavilion knows." Pei Yan nodded, "You discussed with the Queen yesterday, and the Queen has already told us about it afterwards. The General is still very insightful, and this Pavilion still admires the General's military talent."

"I don't need to admire you." Xue Shao smiled indifferently and said, "The most urgent thing is to come up with a solution. The incident in Mobei is still a secret of military and state affairs, and only you and I and the Queen of Heaven know about it. All of it must be the three of us who come to make the decision."

"Of course," Pei Yan said, "Now that Your Majesty has just passed away, the court is in danger and turmoil. For the sake of overall stability, this matter is temporarily unannounced. If you want to implement the solution, you must act secretly."

"Did Mr. Pei have ever had a way to deal with it?" Xue Shao asked.

Pei Yan frowned, his expression a little annoyed and a little embarrassed.

Xue Shao felt a little secretly, aren’t you the prime minister? All military and national affairs are under your control, so you can’t come up with a solution?…I know you are not good at military affairs, so I asked you this on purpose! If you dare to propose a stupid method like “killing Fu Nian” again, I won’t scold you on the spot!

——Others are afraid of you, Mr. Pei tolerate you, and even the queen protects you, I am not that easy to mess with!

Pei Yan thought for a while and said quietly, "Is it the General who wants to let our cabinet commit suicide to thank the world, and then send the head of our cabinet to the grassland to appease the grassland members?"

Xue Shao almost started to laugh.

Yes, this is the solution!

However, this method does not seem to have any practical value. It is true that Pei Yan was the mastermind behind the beheading of Fu Nian and others, but taking the prime minister's head to appease the Turks would not only not have any comforting effect, but would instead make the Turks more contented and unscrupulous.

"Grandpa Pei is joking." Xue Shao tried his best to say in a normal tone, "If the Tang Dynasty has fallen to the prime minister who killed himself to appease border troubles, it would be better to let the country lose its opponents!"

Pei Yan's face swelled and his beard trembled a few times.

Obviously, he was severely choked by Xue Shao's cold humor.

"What if it's the general's intention?" Pei Yan was a little more attentive, and he held back and asked in a normal tone.

Xue Shao said: "I think that even if the court does not send a large army to Fengzhou to garrison, at least it must be a strict precaution. The Turks must know that the Tang Dynasty has been alert and prevented. At least, they can be suspicious and fearful, and no longer be so fearless. As the saying goes, being a thief is guilty. If this method can delay the rebellion of the Turks and the looting of the south, it will be the biggest gain! Just wait for the court to overcome the current crisis and we will free up our hands to deal with them!"

Pei Yan's eyes lit up immediately!

Xue Shao read a message from his micro-expression - this method is very wonderful!

"Grandpa Pei, what do you think?"

"What the general implied was to make the Tang Dynasty build a big news in Fengzhou area and spread doubtful soldiers?" Pei Yan asked back.

Xue Shao nodded, "I am just a general, and I am discussing soldiers. I don't know very well whether it is feasible in actual operation. I only know that if the enemy attacks our army, our army is weak and irresistible, either I will either apply oil to the bottom of my feet and escape as soon as possible. Or I will use such a trick of suspicious soldiers to deceive the other party. Even if I don't scare him away, I can still buy time to wait for reinforcements."

Pei Yan said "wave", and a hint of surprise appeared in his eyes.

Xue Shao couldn't help but almost got happy. Obviously, Pei Yan, a traditional and old-fashioned Confucian official, felt both surprised and practical value of his "soldier" military tactics.

Of course, this is exactly the solution that Pei Yan can't think of even if he lives or dies!

"Since the general is already in mind, why didn't he tell the queen clearly last night?" Pei Yan asked.

Xue Shao smiled and said, "The Queen of Heaven coordinated the overall situation and asked about national policies and strategies. So I only told the Queen of Heaven about the general strategic proposal. Prince Pei is the prime minister and is responsible for the handling and arrangements of various military and national affairs. Therefore, I told Prince Pei about the specific tactical arrangements. Furthermore, this tactic is a little bit unfavorable, so how can it be said to Prince Pei in person?"

Pei Yanshen nodded with consent, and Xue Shao's words still made sense.

"If Mr. Pei feels it is feasible, he should arrange personnel to implement it as soon as possible. If he feels it is not feasible, he should come up with other ways to deal with it as soon as possible." Xue Shao said, "If it is not expected, the Turks will take action soon. Because of the assassination in Luoyang, they have already alarmed the snake. There is not much time left for them, and we have less time!"

"This pavilion knows." Pei Yan nodded, stood up and bowed to Xue Shao very formally, "Thank you for your advice, General, I will be taught."

"Your Majesty Pei, please be polite!" Xue Shao smiled and bowed his hand to return the gift, "Since you are a minister in the same palace, you should work together to go to the national crisis together!"

Pei Yan frowned slightly, looked at Xue Shao deeply, and nodded, "What the General said is very true. Work together to go to the national crisis together!"

Xue Shao smiled slightly and said, "A gentleman is harmonious but different, while a villain is the same but not harmonious."

Pei Yan is the enemy, but he is definitely not a villain.

【Tired, only one update today】
Chapter completed!