Chapter 96
To be honest, from the perspective of a father, when Li Shimin saw Jieli's letter, Li Shimin's heart was really moved.

To exchange an outsider with Tuli for his own parent and son, and to welcome Li Ke back to Chang'an, with the affection of whole father and son, seems to be the right thing for a father.

But Li Shimin is not only Li Ke's biological father, but also the emperor of the entire Tang Dynasty. He has to answer to himself, to his officials, to the people of the world, and to the Supreme Emperor who still occupies the Taiji Palace.

This matter is not something he can do arbitrarily at his own will.

On the one hand, Li Shimin ordered people to place Ashina Simo in Honglu Temple, and on the other hand, he sent people to send the ministers of the court to the palace to discuss matters.

"Your Majesty, I think that although Tuli is a surrender, he is a small Turkic khan. The Tang Dynasty's attitude towards him is related to the hearts of all ethnic groups and tribes. Tuli must not be returned." Donggong Chongwendian In the middle, the ministers had just learned about Ashina Simo's intentions from Li Shimin's mouth, and the admonishing doctor Su Shichang came out to speak.

Although Su Shichang was a civil servant, he was also one of the "Eighteen Scholars" under Li Shimin's command.

Su Shichang's words were naturally based on the strong relationship between the Tang Dynasty and the Turks, but just as Su Shichang's words fell, Liu Zhenghui, Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, stepped forward.

Liu Zhenghui said: "Your Majesty, it is feasible to exchange Tuli for the king of Shu. Our [-] troops from the Tang Dynasty set out to march, and we just won Shuofang. Now it is time to recuperate and rectify the frontier defense. If we exchange Tuli at this time, Returning to the king of Shu, one can welcome the king of Shu to return to the country, and the whole country can be unified, and second, we can temporarily make peace with the Turks to ensure the peace of the border."

Others don't know, but Liu Zhenghui, who is the secretary of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, knows very well how much money, money, food and grass will be consumed in the two countries' conquest.Not to mention, the battle of Shuofang just happened not long ago. This battle consumed the tax and grain paid by Huainan's affluent land for half a year. If the two countries go to war again, the Ministry of Civil Affairs may not be able to bear the loss. .

Liu Zhenghui is a veteran of the Tang Dynasty, a hero of Yuanmou in Taiyuan, and has a high status in the court. Naturally, ordinary people would not embarrass him face to face, but Su Shichang was an exception.

Chief Su Shi paid homage to admonishing doctors, and has always been famous for admonishing. When Li Yuan was in power, Su Shichang often made Yan Zhizhi admonitions. He didn't even give Li Yuan face, so how could he be timid in front of Liu Zhenghui.

After listening to Liu Zhenghui's words, Su Shichang immediately retorted: "Liu Shangshu's words are wrong. In the past, the Turks were strong, but our Tang Dynasty was weak. The Tang Dynasty should show the enemy to make peace. But now our Tang Dynasty has regained Shuofang. Stronger than the Turks, there is an opportunity to conquer the Turks, but how can we return the Turks who came to serve, and break the old Turks' desire to surrender."

At present, Turkic descending to the Tang Dynasty is an excellent example for the Turkic ministries. If the Tang Dynasty treats Tuli well, then the Turkic ministries will naturally see the sincerity of the Tang Dynasty and surrender one after another. But if the Tang Dynasty returns Tuli Turks, that undoubtedly blocked the way for the Turkic tribes to descend to Tang.

When Li Shimin heard Su Shichang's words, his face suddenly became serious. Su Shichang's words were what worried him the most.

In the early years of Li Yuan's reign, when the Tang Dynasty formed an alliance with the Turks, Li Shimin and the Turks became brothers of the opposite sex.Now that Tuli and Xieli have turned against each other and came to surrender to Tang, if Li Shimin handed Tuli to Xieli for his beloved son, how would those tribes in the grassland who have not surrendered yet feel?

Li Shimin is a father, an emperor, and an ambitious emperor.

He not only wants to be the emperor, but also has meritorious deeds and demerits of the three emperors, the eternal emperor who is famous over the five emperors, and if he wants to be the eternal emperor, Turkic is a big rock in front of him, Li Shimin must move this big rock away .

After hearing what the two said, Li Shimin thought for a moment, and said to his ministers, "Jieli is an ambitious man. Right now, his asking for Tuli for peace is just an expedient measure, and it can't be taken seriously. There is no need to talk about peace again." carry."

Li Shimin's words were almost concluding the dispute between Su Shichang and Liu Zhengdao, Tuli, he would never return Xieli.

Li Shimin's words echoed the thoughts of all the generals in the palace.

Since the ninth year of Wude, Jieli's Northern Expedition forced the emperors and ministers of the Tang Dynasty to form an alliance under the city to seek peace with the Weishui River. Everyone in the Tang military felt ashamed and wanted to defeat the Turks and use the blood of the Turks to wash away the humiliation they had suffered.

As soon as Li Shimin's words fell, Hou Jun, the general of the left guard, came out and said: "Your Majesty, now that the Turks are weak, and our Tang Dynasty has newly acquired the land of Shuofang, the general thought that it is time to take advantage of the situation and raise troops to attack the Turks in the north. To wash away the shame of the Wei River, and to build up my great achievements in the Tang Dynasty."

Last year's heavy snow, the Turkic vitality was seriously injured, and the strength was not enough. After the spring of this year, the Turkic was defeated by Qibei and Shuofang, and the strength was no longer what it used to be.

At this time, Turkic was facing internal and external troubles, and when it was exhausted, if it was the Northern Expedition at this time, the current situation of Turkic might not necessarily be the opponent of Datang, and it was indeed a good opportunity.

Pacifying the Turks was also Li Shimin's goal all along. When he heard these words from Hou Junji, his heart was suddenly agitated.

Li Shimin's throne was not right, he still lives in the East Palace, he needs a big victory to justify his name, and the Northern Expedition to the Turks is his best chance.

However, Li Shimin joined the army as a young man and was born in the army. He has a keen sense of smell and observation ability for war. Although Li Shimin wants this unrivaled achievement, he is by no means arrogant and arrogant like Jieli.

Li Shimin looked at Li Jing who was sitting next to him, and asked, "What does the pharmacist think of the Junji's words?"

Li Jing heard Li Shimin's question, stood up, thought for a moment, and replied: "I think it's not a good opportunity right now."

Regarding Li Jing's answer, Li Shimin had already expected it, otherwise he would not have just asked Li Jing's meaning.Li Jingzhi's talent is far above that of Hou Junji, there are few people in the world who can match him, that's why Li Shimin wanted to consult him during this battle.

However, Hou Junji was only thirty years old, he was in his prime, and he was eager to make achievements. After listening to Li Jing's words, Hou Junji asked unwillingly: "At present, the Turks are weak, and the Tang Dynasty is strong. This is a good opportunity for the Northern Expedition." , What does Li Shangshu's words mean?"

Li Jing looked at Hou Junji's appearance, and naturally knew what Hou Junji meant. Li Jing replied, "It is true that the Turks are tired right now, but our Tang Dynasty is still recuperating even after being hit by war. Even if the Great Tang wins the Turks, it will be a tragic victory, so what good will it do for the country and the people?"

In the ninth year of Wude, the Turks invaded the south, and the states in the northwest of Guanzhong, which had been ravaged by the Turks' cavalry, had just recovered. And just a month ago, the Shuofang War had just ended, and the army's surplus food was not very sufficient. States and counties compulsorily collected.

If he is in a hurry to fight the Northern Expedition at this time, even if he wins the Turks, Datang will lose his vitality, and the gains outweigh the losses.

Li Shimin nodded after listening to Li Jing's words, and said to all the officials in the hall: "The medicine master's words are exactly what I think. If you talk about the Northern Expedition at this time, it is not a good opportunity."

(End of this chapter)

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