"Your Majesty, we have purchased more than 300,000 shi of food so far," Fang Xuanling said.
"good!"
Li Shimin was very happy. 300,000 shi of grain was enough for a 100,000-strong army for a month.
With food, no matter what changes occur in the grassland situation, Datang will be able to respond in time.
"Can I still receive food?" Li Shimin asked.
Once the war starts, no one can guarantee when it will end. The more food, the better.
"Back to Your Majesty, some businessmen are still waiting to collect the grain in their hands, which is estimated to be around 500,000 dan." Fang Xuanling said.
"If it's not enough, continue to arrange for people to slowly purchase grain across the country." Li Shimin said.
This time he wanted to deal with the Western Turks and Xue Yantuo at once. If they had to retreat due to lack of food, he would give them time to recover.
…
"Your Highness, Lin Xuan left Chang'an, and your Highness's opportunity has come." Han Wen said with a smile.
"What should I do now? Sir, please teach me."
Li Tai knew that since Han Wen said this, there must be some solution.
These literati are just annoying. If they have any ideas, they just say it directly. They like to talk about it.
"Your Highness, hasn't a part of Kuo Di Zhi been repaired? Your Highness can send it to your Majesty for review. In addition, the Cui family has sent Wang Xizhi's "Preface to the Lanting Collection". Your Majesty has been looking for the "Preface to the Lanting Collection". If your Highness
If I dedicate this copybook to His Majesty, I will definitely gain His Majesty's approval." Han Wen said.
"What are you talking about! "The Preface to the Lanting Collection" is really in the hands of the Cui family?" Li Tai exclaimed.
Li Shimin loves calligraphy, and his favorite is Wang Xizhi's calligraphy. He not only likes to collect it, but also often copies it.
"Preface to the Lanting Collection" is so famous that Li Shimin has naturally been looking for it.
However, it was never found.
There are rumors outside that the "Preface to the Lanting Collection" should be in the hands of aristocratic families, otherwise Li Shimin would not have been able to find it.
As the number one family in the world, the Cui family is most likely to have it.
Li Tai had also searched for it before, and specifically asked the family for this purpose, but was denied.
"Exactly, the Cui family just got it and immediately decided to give it to King Wei, who will present it to His Majesty." Han Wen said.
Li Tai sneered in his heart, if he just got it, how could there be no news at all?
Obviously he was reluctant to take it out before, but now that he has lost power, he has to take it out.
However, he still has to rely on the family now, and it is not the time to break up with the family, so Li Tai said with a smile: "Sir, tell the Cui family on my behalf that the Cui family is very grateful for my help. I will wait for you."
When you become a prince, you will be rewarded generously."
"Your Highness, don't worry, I will definitely bring your Highness's words to you," Han Wen said.
Li Tai asked: "I wonder where the "Preface to the Lanting Collection" is now?"
"Your Highness, don't worry, it's already on its way." Han Wen said.
Li Tai showed a smile and imagined that after presenting the "Preface to the Lanting Collection", Li Shimin would praise him greatly and Li Chengqian would grit his teeth.
…
On the third day after Lin Xuan left Chang'an, Hou Junji returned to Chang'an after a long journey.
Hou Junji did not go home to bathe or change clothes, but went directly to the palace.
After being informed, he was taken to the Manna Hall.
"My lord, Junji, has been ordered to send an envoy to the Western Turks, Xue Yantuo, and I have come here to report back to your majesty." Hou Junji bowed and said.
"Thank you for your hard work. Sit down first and speak slowly."
After all, Hou Junji had been with Li Shimin for many years, and had made many contributions. When Li Shimin saw that he looked like a tired man, he was much thinner than when he left, and his anger was also reduced a lot.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Hou Junji thanked him and sat down.
"What is the current situation between Western Turks and Xue Yantuo?" Li Shimin asked.
"The two sides are currently very restrained and there has been no friction, but I estimate that a war between the two countries is not far away," Hou Junji said.
"Oh?" Li Shimin asked in surprise: "Why do you see that?"
Hou Junji told Li Shimin that both countries wanted to kill him and blame each other.
As the saying goes, a child who cries gets milk.
What Hou Junji said was, on the one hand, the basis for confirming his speculation.
On the other hand, it was to let Li Shimin know how much he had suffered during his trip, and even his life was in danger.
After hearing this, Li Shimin felt a little guilty in his heart, and said angrily: "I didn't expect Xi Tujue and Xue Yantuo to be so bold and want to murder you. Fortunately, you noticed it, otherwise I would have lost a good minister."
"It is the duty of a minister to share your Majesty's worries. Your Majesty does not need to be angry." Hou Junji said, "In addition, I also discovered a big secret."
Li Shimin was stunned and asked: "What secret?"
"Nui Shu may have a short life expectancy," Hou Junji said.
"What!"
Li Shimin stood up in shock and looked at Hou Junji in shock.
Nishuo is the Great Khan of the Western Turks. He has only been the Great Khan for a short time. Once he dies, the Western Turks are likely to fall apart.
"Your Majesty, although I am not a doctor, I have practiced martial arts for many years, so I still know a little bit about it. Ni Xiu's face is pale, he keeps coughing, and his voice is short of breath. He may have tuberculosis." Hou Junji said.
"No wonder, all signs show that the Western Turks are very likely to launch troops against Xue Yantuo in spring and summer. I couldn't figure it out before. Now it seems that Nishu knows that he is not going to die soon, and wants to unify the grassland before he dies." Li Shimin
murmured.
For nomadic people, cattle and sheep are their food.
Normally speaking, autumn is when cattle and sheep are fat, so it is common sense to mobilize troops at this time.
"Your Majesty is right, I think so too," Hou Junji said.
Li Shimin pondered for a while and said: "You personally went to Western Turks and Xue Yantuo. What do you think is the best thing to do now?"
"Your Majesty, no one knows when Nishu will die. If the two armies suddenly die suddenly during the battle, Xue Yantuo will probably annex the Western Turks in one fell swoop. Then the trouble will be big." Hou Junji said.
Although the Western Turks and Xueyantuo are two countries, they are actually Turks. Once the two armies fight and Nishu is dead, the Western Turks will definitely be in chaos. Facing Xue Yantuo's attack, those tribes are likely to surrender.
Once Xue Yantuo unified the grasslands, he could gather at least four to five million soldiers and horses, all of them cavalry. This would undoubtedly be a fatal threat to the Tang Dynasty.
Li Shimin nodded, agreed with Hou Junji's statement, and asked: "How do you think Datang should respond?"
"Your Majesty, I think that when the two countries are at war, I will send an elite army to lurk at the border secretly. The number of this army cannot be too large, otherwise it will definitely not be concealed. If Nishu suddenly dies suddenly, this elite army will attack
Xue Yantuo, we just need to be able to contain Xue Yantuo and prevent him from having the opportunity to annex the Western Turks." Hou Junji said.
He had already thought about this on the way back.
If the Tang Dynasty sent a large number of troops to the border, it would definitely not be able to hide it from the Western Turks and Xue Yantuo. In this way, the two families would not be able to fight at all, and the Tang Dynasty's idea of reaping the benefits would be in vain.
And if we don't send troops and horses there, once the grassland changes again, it may be too late.
The best way is to send an elite army there, and it was he who proposed this matter. If he asked for orders, Li Shimin would probably agree to let him lead the troops.
Li Shimin pondered for a long time and said: "Junji, you go back and rest first. I want to discuss this matter with the ministers."
"I made a mistake in fighting before, and I beg your Majesty to give me this opportunity to lead the army, so that I can make meritorious service for my crime." Hou Junji knelt down and said.
"What are you doing? Get up quickly, I will consider what you said." Li Shimin said.
"Thank you, Your Majesty. I will take my leave!" Hou Junji said with cupped hands.