"Please be patient, I will explain this matter in the future. Now, my dear ministers, just treat it as a rehearsal for disaster prevention and reduction. How is it?"
Li Shi Min spoke in a negotiating tone, meaning that he didn't want his subordinates to refute him.
After Zhangsun Wuji realized Li Shiming's firm attitude, he cupped his hands and returned to his seat, closing his mouth and listening.
Disaster reduction and prevention rehearsal?
This term sounded very novel. He wondered where His Majesty heard it from.
Zhangsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling, and Du Ruhui were all old foxes. Although this was the first time they had heard such a term, they quickly understood the meaning from the literal meaning.
" If there is indeed a severe drought and locust plague in the Guanzhong region in the spring, then before the autumn harvest, there will definitely be a shortage of food, soaring grain prices, and the people going into exile. The imperial court should let the granary Changping warehouse prepare food in advance to provide disaster relief and appease the people. At the same time, we should temporarily stop the military operations…" Fang Xuanling muttered as he turned to Du Ruhui.
He knew that Du Ruhui would most likely object.
"Temporarily stop the war? Your Majesty, you must not do this!"
As expected, Minister of War Du Ruhui immediately stepped forward and solemnly said,"Your Majesty, last year the Turks suffered a great white disaster (snow disaster). Countless sheep and horses froze to death, and countless soldiers starved to death.
The northern Turkic tribes of Tiele were also rebelling.
At the same time, Tuli Khagan had the intention of defecting to Tang.
This was the best time to wash away the shame of his past, annihilate the Turks, and kill the Jie Li Khan!”
The "shame" that Du Ruhui mentioned was the signing of the Weishui Alliance.
In the ninth year of Wude, the Tang Empire had just experienced the Xuanwu Gate rebellion. Li Shimin's position as emperor had not yet been secured. The Turkic Jieli Khan led 200,000 troops to invade the Tang Empire and attacked Jingyang, which was only 40 miles away from Chang 'an.
Tang Taizong Li Shimin set up a plan to confuse the soldiers. He personally led Gao Shilian, Fang Xuanling and several other cronies to talk to Jie Li Khan across the Wei River. He angrily rebuked Jie Li and Tuli Khan for breaking the agreement and killing White Horse to form an alliance with the Turkic Khan. Only then did the Turks withdraw their troops.
In the end, the Turks retreated. Not only did they take away a large number of captives, but they also took away Second Emperor Li's promise not to invade each other. The wealth in Chang 'an's treasury was emptied.
Li Shimin and the Great Tang generals had always viewed this matter as a great humiliation, and the annihilation of the Turks was naturally the most important mission of the Bureau of Military Personnel.
During the Zhenguan period, there was no obvious difference between civil officials and generals, only their duties.
Du Ruhui's opposition to Fang Xuanling wasn't for personal reasons.
" The Turks…" Li Shiming narrowed his eyes, a cold light flashing through them." The Turks must be destroyed, but we can't ignore the people's lives. The way to be a monarch must first save the people. Do a good job of disaster prevention according to Minister Fang's suggestion. As for the Ministry of War…"
Du Ruhui was a bit disappointed. He had done a lot of preparation work for the Turks, but it seemed like his plan was going to fail.
Li Shimin looked at Du Ruhui and said in a deep voice," I understand the difficulties of the Bureau of Military Personnel, but if the drought and locust plagues do break out on a large scale, not only will the people have a hard time, but there will also be problems with the army's food supply. We can't force it.”
"Your Majesty is wise." Du Ruhui replied in a low voice.
Li Shimin saw Du Ruhui's unwillingness and added,"Minister Du, don't forget that the person who wants to destroy the Turks the most is me."”
Du Ruhui's eyes lit up as he stared at Li Shimin. His tone was impassioned." The army will be waiting for His Majesty's orders to send troops to annihilate the Turks!”
Seeing that the meeting had come to an end and that all the work had been arranged, Zhangsun Wuji could not help but ask," How did His Majesty know that there would be a drought and locust plague in the Guanzhong region?”
Li Shimin was slightly stunned, and then hesitated. Should he say that it was Yang Qian's prophecy?
At this moment, Cheng Yaojin, who was standing at the side, could not help but interject,
"This is the prophecy that the Little Taoist of the Qingxu Temple has sent to His Majesty…"
As soon as he said this, Zhangsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui and the other old foxes looked at Li Shiming with a different expression.
For the prophecy of a charlatan, His Majesty had summoned so many important officials to discuss and even changed the national policy, delaying the plan to send troops to the Turks.
What if the prophecy did not come true?
Would His Majesty be embarrassed?
Li Shiming felt his face turn red from the looks of his subordinates, but he could not back down at this time. He said with certainty," We'll see in a month or two.”
……
When Li Shimin and several important ministers were having a meeting, Yang Qian was studying the various gifts that Li Shimin had sent.
The list of gifts clearly stated that the large amount of food and silk cloth given by the emperor was for the use of all the Taoists of Qingxu Temple. Yang Qian did not care about these things.
As for the Taoist robes bestowed by the emperor, he and Yuan Tiangang each had two sets.
The hundred-year-old peachwood struck by lightning, the top-grade cinnabar ink, and the top-grade turnip paper were also shared by Yang Qian and Yuan Tiangang.
Yang Qian originally wanted to hand it all over to Yuan Tiangang to handle.
However, Old Yuan said that these magic tools bestowed by the emperor were all good things. Not only were they full of spirituality, but they were also tainted with the fate of the country. He wanted to leave them for Yang Qian to make Heavenly Teacher Talismans in the future. Anyway, his lifespan was about to end, so he would not need these things.
Hearing Old Yuan's words, Yang Qian got someone to move a few boxes of magical artifacts to his room.
The hundred taels of gold and the land deed for the hundred mu of Yongye Field were also moved to the room.
This gold and land deed were all written clearly that it was only for Yang Qian!
Looking at the pure gold and the imperial family's Eternal Land Contract with the royal seal, Yang Qian was delighted.
If he was not careful, he would become a small rich man with 5,000 strings of money!
......
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