"Master, actually it doesn't matter who inherits the title. Anyway, they are all the master's heirs. The most important thing is the attitude of the court." Shen Xueyi said.
"The court's attitude?" Feng Ang looked at Shen Xueyi with some confusion.
Although one has to report to the court when inheriting a title, it is only a report and the court will not interfere.
Shen Xueyi said: "Master, do you think His Majesty can allow the future Duke Geng to be like you?"
Feng An was called the King of Lingnan, but it was not just a nickname.
In Lingnan, Feng An not only had high prestige, but more importantly, he had military power.
The reason why Li Shimin did not take action against Feng Ang was that, in addition to Feng Ang's very loyalty, the other reason was that he did not want to cause turmoil.
But it is certainly impossible for the imperial court to tolerate this kind of state within a state continuing to exist.
"What do you think should be done, sir?" Feng An asked.
"Then it depends on what the master thinks." Shen Xueyi said.
Feng Ang was silent for a while and said: "I have no intention of rebellion. I just want to continue the inheritance of the Feng family."
Shen Xueyi breathed a sigh of relief when he heard this. If Feng Ang thought that the Feng family had been controlling Lingnan or had the intention to rebel, he would have to find another way out.
It's not that he is disloyal to Feng Ang. In his opinion, these two choices are seeking death, and he does not want to be implicated.
"Since the master thinks so, then Erlang is the best candidate to inherit the title." Shen Xueyi said.
"I'd like to hear the details!" What Feng An values is family inheritance.
"First of all, the court is most concerned about my reputation in Lingnan. Even if the reputation of the Feng family in Lingnan has weakened a hundred years later, the court will still not be relieved. And Erlang has been holding hostage in Chang'an. If nothing happens, in a short time It is impossible to return to Lingnan. As a result, Erlang has been away from Lingnan for many years and has no foundation in Lingnan. In the eyes of the court, this is the best choice." Shen Xueyi said.
Feng An didn't have much military power, and what really worried the court was his prestige.
There are many ethnic minorities in Lingnan, and these ethnic minorities do not have a strong sense of belonging to the Tang Dynasty. If Feng An was a little tempted and raised an army of more than 100,000 people, there would be no problem at all.
As the eldest son, Feng Zhishen has lived in Lingnan for decades. Who would believe that he has never made friends with those ethnic minorities?
However, Feng Daizhi had been away from Lingnan for many years and had no prestige in Lingnan. Only by inheriting the title could the court rest assured.
Seeing Feng An deep in thought, Shen Xueyi continued: "In addition, Erlang is very talented and has the ability to continue the Feng family's legacy."
"I understand." Although Feng Ang did not express his position, he had already made a decision in his heart.
…
Imperial Palace, Ganlu Hall
"This is an urgent report from the border, please take a look." Li Shimin said with a gloomy face.
Originally, because Empress Changsun had recovered from her illness, and with the medicine, there would be no danger in the future. In addition, nothing major had happened in the past few days, Li Shimin was still in a good mood.
But when he saw the urgent report from the border, Li Shimin's good mood disappeared instantly.
Li Mu first handed the urgent report to Fang Xuanling.
After Fang Xuanling read it, he passed it on with no expression on his face.
Every minister who read the urgent report was either thoughtful or angry, but said nothing.
When Cheng Yaojin finished reading, he said angrily: "Those brats from the Western Turks and Xue Yantuo are simply seeking death. Your Majesty, I am willing to lead troops to deal with them."
Others who did not read the emergency report were almost clear about what Cheng Yaojin said.
Li Shimin ignored Cheng Yaojin, looked at Fang Xuanling and said, "Xuanling, what do you think?"
"Your Majesty, they robbed the people of the Tang Dynasty. What else is there to discuss? We must send troops to let them know how powerful the Tang Dynasty is." Cheng Yaojin said loudly.
Li Shimin glared at Cheng Yaojin fiercely.
Cheng Yaojin shrank his neck and said nothing more.
Although he is usually careless in front of Li Shimin, it does not mean that he does not understand propriety.
"Your Majesty, this kind of thing is not surprising. It happens every year, but now is not the right time to send troops," Fang Xuanling said.
Nomads have raided the Central Plains dynasties since ancient times.
In recent years, as the Tang Dynasty became stronger and stronger, although the nomads failed to break through the cities of the Tang Dynasty, the people outside the city would still be robbed.
In previous years, when winter comes, the imperial court will increase a certain amount of troops to the border, and at the same time move the people to the city to build strong walls and clear the fields.
This year, because of the tense situation in the grasslands, they would not go to the Tang Dynasty to plunder. In addition, in order to eliminate their scruples, they did not do so.
"Does the Prime Minister mean to just watch the people be harmed by aliens?" Yu Chigong said dissatisfied.
The value of generals can only be reflected on the battlefield. Not long after the founding of the Tang Dynasty, the generals in the DPRK and China were all veterans on the battlefield. They were not afraid of war at all.
It is nothing more than this when the country is great and the people are arrogant.
"It is definitely not possible to leave it alone. Now we should move all the people on the border into the city. Judging from the emergency report, the Western Turks and Xue Yantuo are invading in small groups and have no intention of attacking the city." Fang Xuanling said.
"What's the use of doing this now? The people have all been robbed." Cheng Yaojin muttered.
The nomads rob not only money and food, but also people. They will kill the older ones and take the others back as slaves.
For nomads, slaves are no different from cattle and sheep. Not only can they help them herd, they can even be used as food when food is scarce.
Although Cheng Yaojin muttered, with his voice, basically everyone could hear him clearly.
Fang Xuanling naturally heard it, but was not angry.
He was just talking about the matter. He was also very angry when the people were robbed. But a country is not a fight between two ordinary people. You punch me and I punch you.
Li Shimin looked at Changsun Wuji and said, "Auxiliary engine, what do you think?"
Although Changsun Wuji did not hold power, he would participate in the discussions. Hearing this, he said: "Your Majesty, now it is not a question of whether to fight, but a question of whether you have the ability to fight."
"Why can't we fight? Except for the use of troops against Gaochang this year, there has been no war in the Tang Dynasty for several years. The soldiers have been training for many years and have been waiting to go to the battlefield." Cheng Yaojin said.
"There are no problems with the soldiers, but what about the food and grass? How can we fight without food and grass?" Changsun Wuji asked.
"This..." Cheng Yaojin didn't know what to say.
In normal wars, the Ministry of Household Affairs is concerned about food and grass, so who cares about this?
Only then did he remember that the imperial court had exchanged grain for Western Turks and Xue Yantuo for a large number of war horses, and now there was no grain at all.
Many people may not understand that if there is no war, will the soldiers in the army not eat food?
The Tang Dynasty had a military system, which meant fighting during wartime and farming during leisure time.
Therefore, if there is no war, those soldiers really don't need to be raised by the court.
Things will be different once there is a war. In order for the soldiers to maintain sufficient physical strength, they need to provide not only three meals, but also ensure that they are well fed.
In addition, fighting requires the recruitment of civilians to transport food, which also requires a lot of food consumption.
Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty made three expeditions to Goguryeo, and mobilized more than one million people to transport food and weapons. The food for these more than one million people was provided by the imperial court.
Of course, the fact that the Tang Dynasty is short of food does not mean that there is no food.
But those grains are for emergencies.
Many people may think that the Tang Dynasty was so strong during the Zhenguan period, but now they are being bullied and they don't even dare to fight.
In fact, things are not that simple. When Western Turks and Xue Yantuo went to the Tang Dynasty to plunder, they sent only small troops.
What if we send troops now?
Is it possible that we can still reach the grassland?