Some people stood on the tower and watched the boats sailing towards Fenglingdu on the other side. The Yellow River was surging and the scenery was quite spectacular.
But no matter how spectacular the scenery is, you will still get tired of it after watching it for many days.
"Speaking of the Northern Expedition, it's been many days, and I'm still staying here."
"It's fun here too. Yesterday I heard Sister Yuan tell the story about Brother Li going to Fenglingdu to pick up Sister Wenjing.
"In terms of seniority, you should call Yuan Yan aunt."
"When I go out, I call after Sister Wen Jing."
"Also, rather than hearing you call him weird Brother Li, I would rather hear someone call him Your Majesty."
"I have to call it that. By the way, have you listened to the poem about Tongguan written by Brother Li? The peaks and mountains are like gatherings, and the waves are like anger...
..” “I’ve listened to it, I’ve listened to it eight hundred times.”
Zhao Jin sat down beside the railing angrily, a little worried for no reason.
Every time I turn my head to look,
Wherever you look, everyone has something to do. Even Han Qiaoer has a lot of confidential documents to deal with, but he processes them relatively quickly, so he seems idle.
She was the only one who really had nothing to do. She wanted to go out and see the scenery in the North and watch the Tang army recover the Central Plains. Li Xia's march was very slow. She hadn't moved since arriving at Tongguan, and she didn't know what she was doing every day.
What.
Han Qiaoer didn't have as many worries as Zhao Jin. He put his hands on the railing, raised his head and blew in the wind, smiling.
"In this Northern Expedition, Brother Li promised me that he would not go to the front line, but would sit in the rear and command all the armies, so don't be afraid of danger." Zhao Jin rolled his eyes at Han Qiaoer and said, "I'm not afraid of danger, I'm just bored.
ah.
"How can it be boring? I think it's very interesting. New news is sent from various places every day, and you can see the various developments of the situation, just like playing a big game of chess?"
"What news is there?"
"Ah? I don't know what I can tell you." Han Qiaoer's tone faded, "It's better not to say anything."
Zhao Jin curled his lips and muttered: "You also said that tolerating the world clearly means that I, the Zhao family, cannot be tolerated."
Having said that, she was actually quite free in Li Xia's place. Apart from chatting aimlessly with Han Qiaoer, she would sometimes go to Yuan Yan's female officials to watch them work.
Especially after the Northern Expedition began, the Tang court attached great importance to public opinion in the north. Yuan Yan, who was in charge of newspapers, publicity and other affairs, was extremely busy. This made Zhao Jin sometimes consider whether to become a female official.
But she didn't know how she could be accepted. She had never learned about this method. She was still thinking about whether she could get up early every day to answer the question.
The problem of getting up early to answer questions. As for Li Xia saying that she, the Zhao family, could not tolerate her, it was just talk. Although Li Xia had a nasty personality, he was magnanimous. She still believed this.
If you take your eyes away from these two sloppy women on Guancheng, you will see that the gate of Tongguan City is actually an extremely busy scene, with messengers from all sides coming in an endless stream, delivering battle reports or official documents from North Korea and China. On this day
, but a very embarrassed group of people came from the west, completely different from other messengers.
Couriers from the west either come from within the country to deliver official documents, or they come from Hetao to deliver battle reports. The furthest they come is from the Western Regions. Although they are still dusty, they are not so miserable.
This group of people's clothes were shabby and their hair was oily. They obviously came from farther away.
They rushed to the foot of Tongguan City. The leader immediately drove his horse forward and shouted at the top of his voice:
Come on, it looks very wild.
"My minister, Liu Yuanzhen, has been on a mission to Tibet for more than a year. Now he has fulfilled his mission and returned with great achievements!"
The voice echoed in the city gate and faintly reached the city tower. "Your Majesty Liu Yuanzhen...has returned with great achievements!"
On the top of the city, Zhao Jin couldn't help but glance at Han Qiao'er after hearing this, and said, "Unlike you, I can't say this or that. I want the whole world to know about his news.
Han Qiaoer felt a little embarrassed and said: "There will never be anyone as high-profile as Marshal Liu.
As soon as he finished speaking, he saw
Another group of cavalry came running on the official road to the east, blowing trumpets and shouting as they ran.
"Marshal Zhang Jue of the East Route Army has reported victory, great victory in Luoyang! Great victory in Luoyang!
In Zhao Jin's eyes, Li Xia didn't know what he was doing when he stopped in Tongguan. He looked very idle, but in fact he was very busy.
pay.
Not long after returning from the northwest, the accumulated state affairs finally needed to be dealt with, so he stopped in Tongguan to make arrangements for the Northern Expedition and to review government affairs.
In fact, neither the military situation nor the state affairs are easy. Just say that today, good news from the east and west directions are sent at the same time. Which one to deal with first is also a problem.
In the end, Li Xia met Liu Yuanzhen in person and asked several important ministers to meet the messenger sent by Zhang Jue.
There were many courtiers accompanying the army this time, and they all laughed and said, wishing that there would be so many good news every day that people would not know which one to deal with first.
After a while, Liu Yuanzhen strode into Tongguan Tower and saw Li
"Close class -
Xia then saluted, excited
Extremely worried, he said: "Greetings to Your Majesty, I... I have finally returned from that hellish place in Tubo!"
Li Xia was stunned for a moment and looked at it, quite surprised. In his impression, Liu Yuanzhen had always been a proud and arrogant person. Just now he heard him boasting about his achievements at the city gate from a distance, which was in line with his past temperament.
of.
Unexpectedly, when the person arrived in front of him, his tone was completely different from usual.
"Is Liu Qing...crying?" "Your Majesty!"
When Liu Yuanzhen raised his head again, his face was filled with tears. "I... I have been on such a difficult journey!" As he followed,
With this shout, he had completely changed his crying tone, and was no longer as high-spirited as before.
Li Xia was also surprised. He didn't understand what could make him so arrogant and arrogant.
He was complaining so much that he had no choice but to step forward and help him up in person. He smiled and said, "Liu Qing, please speak slowly."
"I'm not afraid of your majesty's jokes. I just arrived in Tubo, but I couldn't adapt to the climate." Liu Yuanzhen was frightened when he mentioned it. He patted his heart and said, "I have always been healthy, but this year I have been plagued by all kinds of diseases. I have shortness of breath, palpitations, headaches and nausea, and I have trouble sleeping at night.
He was sleepy, had no appetite, and almost died in Tubo." Li Xia looked around and saw that Liu Yuanzhen had lost weight by more than one circle. His eyes were swollen and his face was ugly. He was obviously suffering from severe altitude sickness.
"Liu Qing has suffered. I will remember your contribution and hard work for the country."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
After this experience, Liu Yuanzhen gained a lot of respect for the world and became more calm.
After complaining about his sufferings, he started talking about Tibet.
"I entered Tibet in May last year and traveled thousands of miles to the land of Sakya. Because the journey was dangerous, I did not reveal my identity rashly. Instead, I pretended to be a businessman and contacted Paklan King Chanadoji first. However, I accidentally
I learned that Chanadoji sent people along the Tang-Tibetan Road to ambush Phagpa. At that time, I was still confused and couldn't figure out why."
Li Xia smiled slightly and said, "You found out later?"
"Later I found out that Your Majesty is so wise that he sent Taoist Master Hao and Miss Yan to rob the real gold and Ba Si Ba..."
Young Master Liu Yuanzhen has a bad temper, and he still talks about Yan Yunyun in a frivolous tone, but in fact he admires and fears him in his heart.
He shook his head and added: "When I found out, I was really scared, thinking that they were so great. But I had to go through all the hardships to get to Tubo, but nothing could be done. So I took my trusted men and ambushed Chanadoji.
"The soldiers and horses. Then we joined Daochang Hao and his party, showed the banner of the Tang Dynasty, and combined our forces to defeat several tribes that opposed us." After saying that, Liu Yuanzhen handed over a battle report, which recorded the casualties in the army.
List of beheaded opponents.
Li Xia took a look and understood that the situation at that time was very intense, and it was not as simple as "defeating several opposing tribes".
"After that, we used Pasiba to hold a Qumi ceremony near Nathang Temple. More than 70,000 monks participated. We acted as benefactors in the name of His Majesty and appointed some officials. I thought that I was the most powerful person.
The Tang Dynasty controlled Tubo through the Sakya sect, which may be the beginning of our incorporating this territory into our territory. However, there are still many forces in Tubo that are dissatisfied with the Tang Dynasty. I will return to the dynasty this time
, I just hope that Your Majesty can send a large army into Tibet to suppress it.
At this point, Liu Yuanzhen's eyes were already burning, and he still had the aggrieved look of crying because he was not acclimatized just now.
The meritorious service of founding a country, opening up and expanding the territory, and incorporating a huge territory into the territory have been the greatest feats of men since ancient times.
Li Xia turned to look at the map hanging on the wall. He was stunned for a long time before he remembered and asked, "Do you have a detailed strategy?
"have."
Liu Yuanzhen couldn't wait and took out a map, pointed at it and talked for a while, and finally said: "If the king's troops enter Tibet to guard it, maybe 50,000 elite soldiers, or 100,000 officers and soldiers, and we will show the prestige of the Tang Dynasty, Tubo will be stable."
Li Xia rubbed his forehead and said, "Money and food for soldiers, horses, and money are really not enough."
Liu Yuanzhen said: "When I was in Tubo, I didn't know that your majesty had defeated Kublai Khan in Helan Mountain. I thought that your majesty wanted to conquer Tubo first and then plan the northern expedition." In this way, Li Xia's northern expedition was indeed a bit hasty and not properly considered.
to the place.
For example, if Liu Yuanzhen failed to stop Chanadoje in time and allowed Chanadoje to get rid of Hao Xiuyang and his party and send troops to support Kublai Khan, the entire situation might be lost.
The current situation is fortunate.
"That's good. We have stabilized the situation in Tibet and will not be attacked from both sides during the Northern Expedition. This is still good news."
Li Xia thought for a moment and decided to work hard to stabilize the situation in Tubo.
The Northern Expedition has just begun and may last for a long time. Kublai Khan may still stir up Tibet and cause chaos in his rear. But he will not give his opponents such a chance.
After Li Xia summoned his ministers to discuss, he ordered Gao Changshou to lead 50,000 troops to suppress Tibet.
Gao Changshou has led his troops to leave Chongqing and go north, and is stationed in the Hanzhong area. He is ready at any time to leave the Qishan Road to support the Gansu and Ningxia battlefields or to go down the Han River to attack Nanyang. Now he has changed his mind to marching westward.
In this way, the vast territory in the southwest on the map can almost be included in the territory. Sometimes Li Xia feels that it is too difficult to mobilize 50,000 troops, but when he looks at the territory again, he feels that it is worth it.
After dealing with the Tubo matter, Li Xia faced the officials and said, "Now let's talk about the second good news about the great victory of Luoyang."
"I congratulate Your Majesty!"
"Zhang Jue did not disappoint me. Next, the East Route Army will attack the next important town in Henan, Kaifeng, one of the three capitals, which is also the old capital of the Song Dynasty, Bianjing...