"Your Majesty, these small and small countries simply don't know how to live or die. In my opinion, it is best to destroy one country so that they will be honest." Cheng Yaojin said carelessly.
"No, Sun Tzu's Art of War says: Soldiers are important matters of the country, the place of life and death, and the way of survival. We must observe them. How can war be such a child's play?" Wei Zheng said.
What Wei Zheng said comes from "The Art of War: The First Plan" by Sun Tzu, which means: War is a major national event, a major issue related to many lives and deaths and the survival of the country, and must be treated with caution.
It's not that Wei Zheng was opposed to war. The Tang Dynasty had experienced countless wars, and everyone present had long been accustomed to it. No one was afraid of war.
But what Cheng Yaojin said was too childish. Didn't Yang Guang just act on a whim and rashly launch troops against Goguryeo, which led to the country's subjugation?
"What important matters of the country, life and death, are not as mysterious as you say. I, old Cheng, know that others will bully them to the point of being bullied. Only by beating them painfully will they be afraid." Cheng Yaojin said disdainfully.
"Your Majesty, I also think that troops should be mobilized. Only with authority can there be fear." Yuchi Gong spoke out in support of Cheng Yaojin.
As soon as Yuchi Gong finished speaking, most of the generals present began to speak out in support of sending troops.
The value of military commanders can only be reflected on the battlefield.
Although civil servants are promoted slowly, as long as they follow the steps and make no mistakes, they can always be promoted after a period of time.
But generals are different. As long as there is a war, it is very simple to upgrade several levels.
Of course, it is possible to lose on the battlefield, or to suffer a defeat or lose one's life.
But which of the generals present has not experienced hundreds of battles?
Li Shimin raised his hand to stop the generals from continuing, looked at Fang Xuanling and asked, "Xuanling, what do you think?"
Fang Xuanling had been thinking about it, and when he heard the words, he stood up and saluted, and said: "Your Majesty, even if there is a war, a decision cannot be made in a short time, but tomorrow is the meeting of the imperial court. We should first find a way to deal with the attacks from the envoys from various countries, otherwise
If it is not handled well, it will have a bad impact and it will be bad."
The Central Plains dynasty was generous to the surrounding small countries. On the one hand, it felt that it was a heavenly kingdom, and only by being generous can it show the style of a heavenly kingdom.
Another reason is to save face. Look, small countries all surrender to the Tang Dynasty and pay tribute every year. Doesn’t this mean that the Tang Dynasty is powerful and full of virtue?
Lin Xuan looked down upon these things. The so-called Wan Guo Lai Dynasty was purely a face-saving project of the ancient emperors who threw money around and only wanted to save face but not face.
During the Western Han Dynasty, the Western Regions were opened up. In order to maintain good relations with the Han Dynasty, all the countries in the Western Regions sent envoys to Chang'an to express friendship or surrender.
Lin Xuan feels that this is what the world calls coming to court. Others are afraid of you. This is called coming to court. You are here for benefits. It's just that others are cooperating with you in acting. What's the difference between being hired with money?
The current Tang Dynasty does not have such strength. The current Datang Dynasty only destroyed the Eastern Turks and Gaochang.
Destroying the Eastern Turks was still a trick. When the Eastern Turks disappeared, Xue Yantuo appeared, and his strength was not much worse than before.
As for Gaochang, it is not worth mentioning. It is just a small country with tens of thousands of people.
Historical records record that at the peak of the Zhenguan period, more than 300 countries came to worship, and various small tribes and political powers from the east, west, south, and north came. It was also at this time that Li Shimin was honored as the Khan of Heaven.
Fang Xuanling paused and said: "The top priority now is to resolve their alliance. I think we can implement a strategy of differentiation and co-optation. We can agree to some requests, but we must not change the rewards. The rewards for each country are already generous.
, if the reward increases, it will not be easy to decrease it in the future."
Lin Xuan's expression changed. Fang Xuanling meant that apart from increasing the reward, he could agree to all the other conditions.
And what are the conditions in those countries?
Fusang asked to continue sending Tang envoys to study in the Tang Dynasty, and Tubo asked for peace.
In addition, the rewards are increased.
Since you cannot agree to increase the reward, then if you send someone to study or marry, you must agree to the same thing, or agree to all.
Lin Xuan cannot accept either of these two points.
Just as Lin Xuan was about to stand up and retort, Changsun Wuji got up first.
"Your Majesty, I think what the Prime Minister said is reasonable. Fusang just wants to send some people to study in the Tang Dynasty. We have them before, so it's okay to agree. As for the marriage, it's easier. You can choose one from the clan and add the title of princess.
." Changsun Wuji said.
He met Li Shimin when Li Shimin was a teenager and knew Li Shimin very well.
Li Shimin was completely considered a good father. Although he did not treat his sons equally, he did not ignore the bastards like a wealthy family.
He treated his daughter even more favorably, and was naturally reluctant to let his biological daughter go, so he offered to choose a girl from the clan to be given the title of princess.
After all, it’s not easy for Li Shimin to take the initiative to bring up this kind of thing.
If Li Shimin opened his mouth, what would the clan think?
Before Changsun Wuji finished speaking, Li Daozong and the other clan members present had already glared at Changsun Wuji.
"Fart, why don't you let your own daughter be named a princess and marry her?"
Lin Xuan originally wanted to wait until Changsun Wuji finished speaking before getting up to talk, but after hearing Changsun Wuji's words, he could not hold back.
Changsun Wuji had never been scolded like this before, and he was still a young boy like Lin Xuan. He said with a gloomy face: "Lin Xuan, this is the Manna Palace, don't be too presumptuous."
"Haha, am I being presumptuous? You said you should choose one from the clan, why don't you let your daughter go?" Lin Xuan asked.
Changsun Wuji said sternly: "My daughter has no royal blood, how can I be given the title of princess? If possible, why not sacrifice my daughter for the sake of the Tang Dynasty?"
"Haha, what you said was quite upright. You probably said that because you knew your daughter couldn't get married, right?" Lin Xuan mocked.
In fact, Lin Xuan misunderstood Changsun Wuji. If his daughter could get married, he would really like it.
In this way, Li Shimin will definitely feel that he owes him something and will find a way to compensate him.
When Li Daozong and the others saw that Lin Xuan opposed Changsun Wuji's proposal, they looked at Lin Xuan gratefully.
Originally they wanted to agree with Lin Xuan and not let him fight alone. Now Changsun Wuji said that he could sacrifice his daughter for the Tang Dynasty. How could they object?
If they object, it will show that they are unwilling to sacrifice for the Tang Dynasty.
Changsun Wuji's face was so gloomy that he was about to bleed.
Although he has no real power, who dares to underestimate him?
Even Fang Xuanling, who always spoke politely to him, was now ridiculed by Lin Xuan in front of so many people. If he hadn't taken his face into consideration, he would have cursed.
"Okay! How can you, a prince of a country and a prince of a county, quarrel like a shrew?" Li Shimin scolded with a cold face.
"Your Majesty, forgive me."
Changsun Wuji and Lin Xuan quickly bowed to apologize.
Changsun Wuji lowered his head slightly, and no one saw the hatred in his eyes at this time.
Not only did he hate Lin Xuan, he also hated Li Shimin.
Li Shimin seemed fair and scolded both of them, but he was the one who was scolded.
Not only did Li Shimin not punish Lin Xuan, he also reprimanded him.
Changsun Wuji could clearly feel that Li Shimin no longer relied on him as much as before.
"Forget it this time. If you do it again, I will never give you mercy." Li Shimin said with a cold face.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" The two of them quickly thanked them.