Two major strategic directions must be managed at the same time. It is understandable that the pressure on Datang is great, and the difficulty and complexity of the operation are no joke.
Fortunately, the internal governance of the Tang Dynasty was quite successful, so it was actually able to withstand it. However, after all, the situation of struggle was before us, so of course it was not easy.
At this stage...
Needless to say, in the northwest direction of the Tang Dynasty, Li Jing was guarding the Anxi Protectorate in the forward position. In the more forward area, Cheng Yaojin was cultivating in Jingluejun Town, planning the eastern part of Europe, and he was in charge of Chang'an - this
The city, together with Shanxi and Sichuan, is the strategic center of gravity and hinterland in the northwest direction. Needless to say, I personally guard it on a regular basis.
However... because it is recently rumored that the Romans somehow obtained information about the Tang Dynasty, even things like martial arts colleges and military research institutes, the same institutions have been set up in Rome... The news came from General Cheng Zhijie
Answer, there is no mistake at all.
... Of course, what military skills the Romans had was not Li Er's concern - the Tang Dynasty had many wise ministers and brave generals, and no matter how brave the Romans were, there would be no shortage of people in China to compete with them. But...
This is about the martial arts school and the Military Research Institute. What Li Er is worried about is...if the Romans know about the Military Research Institute, will they also know about the Weapons Research Institute?
The Ordnance Research Institute is different from the Military Research Institute.
The Military Academy, in the final analysis, studies how to use power - including human power and weapon power.
Now that Li Er is so concerned about rugby, it is certainly not because Li Er suddenly became childish and wanted to play with the ball - Li Er went straight out to ride a horse and draw a bow and hunt if he wanted to keep fit, so there was no need for an extra rugby ball.
But Li Er wants to use this rugby ball to improve the quality of Datang's soldiers... This is the most important and core demand.
In addition to the human aspect, the other aspect is of course the weapons - the boys are strong and handsome, which is good, so... as the king's father, of course he has to arrange the most powerful and handsome equipment for them.
To put it more bluntly, artillery is the most powerful killing weapon in the Tang Dynasty. It is far more important than grenades and is a real strategic weapon!
The reason is very simple, artillery is too special. There is a flash of light from the muzzle...
So far, all the cities and all the heavily armored knights in the world, no matter how solid these cities are and how ferocious and beast-like those knights are, it has no meaning.
A cannonball fell down and turned into ashes - this kind of divine power was definitely not something that the martial virtues of the past could compete with.
...Or to be honest, Li Er didn't even know if he had the courage to charge in armor with the power of the artillery.
What is such a weapon called a strategic weapon?
And now... Not only Li Er himself, but also Wei Zheng, Du Ruhui, Fang Xuanling, and Li Ji and other senior generals who are currently in Chang'an, after Li Er held a meeting with everyone to discuss the matter... they all feel that this Rome
A group of jackals belongs to the real wolf ambition - and also has the teeth and muscles of the wolf, sooner or later...
There will also be artillery!
If something like that happened... things would be very scary.
It's not that Li Er can't cast artillery from Chang'an, Lingzhou... and wait for the big northwest city to send it to the front line for Cheng Yaojin to use, but... in China, the geographical barriers on all sides are too outrageous. The northwest plateau and the east
The vast seas are equally astonishing.
It is not easy to replenish troops and supplies to Cheng Yaojin's place, let alone transport artillery there?
But Rome is different. From Rome to Eastern Europe, it is basically a flat plain. Even if there are many mountain passes after investigation, there are still many flat areas for transporting supplies, replenishing soldiers, and the most dangerous artillery...
Too easy.
Much easier than Datang!
What's more... even if Cheng Yaojin's brave and unparalleled combat power breaks through the sky and cuts off the Romans' supply lines, the Romans are the leading snakes in Europe after all. By then, Cheng Yaojin will be in the face of Rome - as the saying goes.
A strong dragon will not overwhelm a local snake. I won’t say whether this statement is true or universal, but at that time...
Cheng Yaojin is too far away from the Tang Dynasty, and the supply line is so long...
Anyone who knows nothing about military affairs can instinctively feel the terrifying pressure that makes a person's head grow infinitely.
And the Romans were not fools for nothing. The quality of their army and soldiers were also of the highest quality - there were vast hectares of fertile land in northern Africa, and the men in the country were all well-nourished and tall, and they were even more fierce in battle.
To say that war can be won without bravery is absolutely nonsense from scumbag scholars; but to say that victory in war can be won only by bravery is absolutely irresponsible.
...Then the conclusion is obvious.
It is impossible for the Tang Dynasty not to pass through the northwest. Does the Tang Dynasty not want to set up people?
...But it is basically impossible to send troops from the northwest to capture the powerful enemy of Rome - even if it is possible, the cost will definitely be extremely high, and world dominance... From a literal point of view, we also know that it cannot happen overnight.
The result is not something that can be achieved overnight but something that requires foresight, which means...of course the cost-effectiveness must be calculated.
Therefore, the inner court finally discussed it and decided to take a two-pronged approach.
The allusion of double-barreled refers to "two brushes writing at the same time", and one of these... First of all, of course, the military power of the northwest needs to be continuously enriched. Whether you want to send troops from the northwest to capture Rome, you need to do this——
Because if Rome cannot be conquered from the northwest, it means that Rome already has the same level of military potential as the Tang Dynasty, and the Romans... as we all know, are of course jackals.
Such a group of jackals have mastered powerful military power, how can they not be on guard against it?
And the other one is of course diplomatic means...or to summarize, means other than military. In addition to diplomacy, there are also trade, economics, etc.
The specific direction is to start from the South China Sea, take the Persian Gulf route through Central Asia, and at the same time strengthen Datang's presence in southern Africa - then again, with the Tang's settlement in southern Africa in the past two years, with further
During the development, a lot of information was reported to Datang, and Li Eryi read through the analysis and held a meeting to discuss and brainstorm...
...I also discovered that this African fruit is a geomantic treasure land with extremely rich mineral resources. It is also a fertile land with abundant sunshine and rain, and it is also a fertile farmland!
Although there are many wild beasts and poisonous insects, it is not easy to live in, but the rich products are real. Such a good place is just behind the rear of the Romans - that is, northern Africa...
