Datang: From exiled prince to eternal tyrant

Chapter 172
Just as he said, Li Ke immediately dispatched special forces to secretly investigate the Tibetan military situation, and then wrote to Li Shimin to report his idea of ​​​​conquering Tibet.

Before Li Shimin could reply, he had Ma Liuzhi, who was training in western Sichuan, ready to fight at any time.

As for himself, he personally led the guards and set off from Chengdu to west Sichuan.

He had discussed with Li Shimin a long time ago that he wanted to conquer Tubo, so this report was just a notification that he could send troops to attack the plateau at any time without waiting for Li Shimin's approval.

But this letter sent to Chang'an by the secret guard still caused a shock in the court.

Called by Li Shimin, Changsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, Li Jing and others rushed to Ganlu Palace.

"His Majesty!"

When everyone arrived, Li Shimin was already in the hall, holding a letter in his hand, frowning tightly.

"My lords, come here!"

Li Shimin ordered the palace servants to set up chairs in front of the desk, and ordered everyone to come over.

After everyone sat around the desk, Li Shimin unfolded the letter in his hand and said in a deep voice, "The king of Shu wants to conquer Tibet!"

"what?"

As soon as these words came out, everyone was stunned, Li Ke didn't tell them the truth, they didn't even know that Li Ke had such a plan.

The previous two battles, one in the battle of Weishui River, and one against the three heroes in the north, were all when the enemy attacked Datang, and Li Ke went out to fight in danger.

But this time, the Tubo people did not attack Tang at all, and have maintained a good relationship with Datang. Why did Li Ke want to use weapons rashly?
"What is the meaning of His Highness's move...?"

Fang Xuanling asked, he believed that Li Ke would not rashly send troops to the plateau.

Li Shimin frowned and said: "Ke'er...he has always said that the Tubo Plateau is a potential enemy of our Tang Dynasty, and we should kill it as soon as possible, otherwise it will definitely cause serious trouble..."

Fang Xuanling thought for a while, nodded and said: "Tubo has been rising in recent years, and it is indeed the overlord of the plateau. It's just...it's too early to fight against Tubo now!"

Du Ruhui next to him took a look at Fang Xuanling: "Then when do you think it's not too early?"

Fang Xuanling pondered for a moment, and said: "If Tubo wants to expand, it must first develop in the southwest direction and conquer a few small countries around it. After the rear is settled, we will move my Tang Dynasty..."

Before he finished speaking, Du Ruhui was already upset and said, "Do you want us to wait for him to settle down before fighting him?"

"Keming, listen to me!"

Fang Xuanling frowned and explained: "What I mean is that when the war between Tubo and neighboring small countries begins, it is best to wait until the war is in full swing, and then we can take action!"

Li Jing objected at this time: "Those small countries may not last long, and when you receive the news, they may have finished fighting there..."

Fang Xuanling said again: "It doesn't matter if he finishes defeating the small countries around him. Tubo is a plateau, and there is not enough food and grass. After the first battle, he always needs to spend time recuperating. Let's take advantage of him to finish these small countries. Use all your money for food and grass, and it won't be too late to fight!"

Everyone was silent, each thinking about Fang Xuanling's words.

After a while, Li Shimin said: "The Tubo has sent troops to the southwest, and they are attacking Niboluo on the southwest border. You should not know about this, right?"

"what?"

Everyone asked in surprise: "Is this really true?"

Li Shimin nodded: "Ke'er decided to conquer Tubo after hearing about it."

"What do I say!"

Du Ruhui slapped his thigh, and then looked at Fang Xuanling: "Now you should understand the intention of the King of Shu! Let's catch him off guard while the Tubo people divide their troops to the southwest!"

Fang Xuanling nodded, but still unwilling to say: "It would be better if you slow down..."

Naturally, they didn't know that Li Ke had previously planned to disrupt Tubo's internal affairs. At this time, Tubo was in a period of chaos. If they waited any longer, the internal strife in Tubo would have ended, and they would have missed the time when Tubo was at its weakest.

A group of people discussed again, and Li Shimin called for a map to analyze the marching route based on the situation at the border.

Li Jing had studied this the most, and he was the first to stand up.

"If you attack Tubo from Shu, the first place to take is this!"

Li Jing raised his hand and pointed, and everyone hurried forward to check it out. They saw that the place he pointed at was the arrow furnace.

This Dajian furnace is located in the easternmost part of Tubo, on the verge of Yazhou, Jiannan Road. It is the connecting zone between Shu and Tubo, and it is also an extremely important military center of Tubo.

"Not bad!"

Changsun Wuji stroked his beard and nodded: "If you don't get here, the food roads will be blocked, and there will be no way to conquer the plateau!"

But he immediately frowned: "But Tubo attaches great importance to this important military location, and the city is located in a mountainous area, surrounded by mountains on both sides, and has a dangerous Dadu River to defend. It's really..."

He sighed leisurely, frowned and said nothing.

His long sigh made the atmosphere in the hall even more solemn, and everyone frowned and remained silent.

This arrow furnace is the first stop, and it is so difficult to fight. Behind it is the deserted plateau desert, the extremely high-lying Luoxi city, and many important towns that are difficult to conquer...

Li Shimin sighed at this moment: "Ke'er wants to conquer the plateau, it's really..."

Just as he finished speaking, Changsun Wuji suddenly screamed, "What?"

He stood up from his seat again: "Your Majesty, how dangerous is that plateau? Ordinary soldiers struggle to breathe on it. How can His Highness personally lead the troops?"

"Sit down first!"

Fang, Du and others pulled him down one after another and advised him not to lose his composure.

"Why... what are you so anxious for, old man? The last time His Highness went deep into Goguryeo, shouldn't you be more motivated?"

Du Ruhui said leisurely.

Changsun Wuji looked around and saw no one else, so he shouted: "Now we are all members of the chamber of commerce, if something happens to your highness, the chamber of commerce will be over!"

"Besides...the daughter I worked so hard to raise...can I just watch her become a widow?"

Ever since Changsun Wuji married his daughter, he has placed more importance on Li Ke's personal safety than anyone else.

Du Ruhui smiled faintly, shook his head and said, "Don't worry! How heroic Your Highness is? How could something happen? The last time I went to Goguryeo, it was so dangerous, why don't you just take Anshi City?"

"That's not necessarily true!"

Li Jing said with a sullen face: "It is difficult for both humans and horses to hold on during the march on the plateau. In addition, Tubo has a vast territory. If we go deep into the country alone and suffer a defeat, we may not be able to escape even if we escape..."

These words caused everyone to pause again, and the scene fell into silence again.

Everyone looked at each other, and finally, Fang Xuanling plucked up the courage to say: "Your Majesty, how about... persuading the King of Shu?"

Li Shimin shook his head, and said bitterly: "Ke'er's temper, you should know it! Tubo is a great threat to my Tang Dynasty, he has already made arrangements for this matter, how can he listen to persuasion?"

He looked up at the sky again and sighed: "Now, we can only hope that Ke'er can successfully capture Tubo and open up territory for the Tang Dynasty..."

(End of this chapter)