Chapter 110 Li Shizhi dismissed from his post
In the battle for wheat, except for the escape of the Tubo main general, it can be said that the whole country won a great victory.

In general, in a field battle, if the commander does not want to die, it is difficult to capture him. Even if the whole army is annihilated, the commander can often escape.

From now on, if the Tibetans want to use the Jishi military settlement as the "Tibetan wheat farm", they must think carefully.

Li Xuan ordered the battlefield to be cleaned up.

Including chariots, scattered swords, spears and arrows of Tibetan soldiers.

The yaks and war horses that were shot dead were also placed on the carts. Their leather could be used to make armor, and their meat could be used to reward the soldiers who participated in the battle.

After everything was packed up, Li Xuan ordered his troops to return to Jishi.

After all, this is "nominally" the border of Tubo.

At midnight, the cavalry returned to Jishi City.

The battle outside Jishi City has also ended.

The Tang army's infantry surrounded the Tibetan cavalry. The Tibetan cavalry made several hopeless attacks and suffered casualties one after another. Finally, a thousand Tibetan soldiers surrendered.

No matter how strong your courage is, it cannot compare to the despair of being abandoned by your commander.

When Zana led his troops to flee, the besieged Tibetans were already heartbroken.

Early the next morning.

The aroma of horse meat and yak meat wafted through Jishi City.

Especially horse meat, the soldiers could not finish it in several days.

In hot weather, it will rot quickly.

It had been only a few years since the massacre of Dahua, and there were no civilians living nearby.

There was not enough time to send it to other armies.

The only thing they could do was to urge the soldiers to eat horse meat three times a day. Even the slaves in the Jishi Military City were allowed to eat horse meat.

"Zhang San, did you learn anything from this battle of Mo Dao?"

While eating yak meat, Li Xuan asked Zhang Xing.

Li Xuan saw Zhang Xingmo's sword fight yesterday.

Zhang Xing has both courage and bravery.

But in the end the formation was messed up.

Although victory had already been secured at that time, this really shouldn't have happened.

Of course, Li Xuan did not mean to blame Zhang Xing. This was Zhang Xing's first time leading the Mo Dao. Even if he went up, he might not necessarily do better than Zhang Xing.

He hoped that Zhang Xing could develop more practical Modao tactics.

In the future, he will be able to command a Modao army of 500 or even thousands of people.

Li Xuan had high hopes for this weapon.

"Wow... I think if there were more Mo Dao, we could definitely deal with a large number of cavalry. Our coordination in yesterday's battle was average. Moreover, most of the Mo Dao soldiers haven't found the technique to exert their strength. Also, I was too impulsive at the end, only thinking about charging forward by myself, ignoring other Mo Dao soldiers, causing the Mo Dao team to become scattered."

Zhang Xing held a large piece of yak meat, swallowed a few bites, and then answered Li Xuan.

He had the courage to admit his own shortcomings and to identify the shortcomings of the army and correct them later.

The improved Mo Dao was newly formed for the troops. At this time, Li Siye had just joined the army in Anxi and had not yet mastered the skills of using the Mo Dao.

For the first time, Li Xuan assigned the auxiliary Modao team to the main camp.

"In the future, each member of the Modao team will be equipped with four horses. We still need to practice riding skills."

Li Xuan nodded and reminded Zhang Xing.

"Everyone has four horses, aren't they scouts on a long journey?"

Zhang Xing was curious why infantry needed war horses.

"In the future, the Modao Army will follow the cavalry to fight, and sometimes they will have to fight alone. Among the four horses, one will be the mount, one will be the reserve horse, one will carry heavy armor and Modao, and one will carry food, grass, water and other marching supplies. In this way, they can travel thousands of miles, and when the scouts encounter the enemy, they will dismount and prepare for battle."

Li Xuan replied to Zhang Xing, so that Zhang Xing could be prepared.

He would also give priority to arranging horses for the Modao Army.

"General, your words have really opened my eyes. I will work hard to train with the Mo Dao and learn the art of fighting with the Mo Dao and horse."

Zhang Xing is looking forward to the future scale of Mo Dao.

"Nanba, I heard that you killed a captain who was also a nobleman. I will ask General Huangfu for credit for you!"

Li Xuan then began to praise Nan Jiyun.

Unlike the captains of ten thousand men, many of whom were Tibetan civil servants and nobles, the captains of a thousand men were more powerful than others.

In this battle, the Tang army killed six captains, two of whom were shot to death by crossbows because they rushed forward, and two infantrymen were besieged and killed. Li Xuan killed one, and Nan Jiyun killed another.

"I am ashamed to accept this honor. The general's courage is unrivaled in history!"

Nan Jiyun had competed with Li Xuan and was unable to take a single move from Li Xuan, so he was naturally humble.

Because of Li Xuan's natural supernatural power, when Li Xuan holds a gun or a spear, he can move quickly and give people a sense of oppression. Before they can react, the spear blade is already there.

"Don't say such things. We will be rich together in the future."

Li Xuan smiled.

Among the fierce generals of the Tang Dynasty, Wang Zhongsi was undoubtedly the leader, because Wang Zhongsi had been able to move freely among the crowds many times. But Li Xuan was reluctant to compete with Wang Zhongsi.

There is also Li Siye, who is known as the "general with supernatural powers".

Next came Geshu Han, Li Sheng, Wang Nandi, Hun Yu, Che Guangqian and others.

They all relied on their military prowess to change the outcome of battles on their own.

Li Xuan stopped asking questions and tasted the tender yak meat.

After filling his stomach, he ordered the soldiers to clean up the corpses in the territory.

Our soldiers were buried in a group of tombs along the Yellow River.

The bodies of the Tibetan soldiers were pulled to the border and buried.

A lot of wheat was wasted, but compared with the fruitful results of the war, it was nothing to mention.

The military achievements were quickly counted by the military commander.

He killed more than 6,000 enemy cavalry and captured 1,500.

Obtained 12,000 intact war horses.

Obtained four hundred and fifty yaks.

They obtained 550 chariots, thousands of weapons, bows and arrows, and armor.

The Tang army suffered less than 500 casualties and more than 400 injuries.

He sent the battle report to Huangfu Weiming, who should have submitted it to the emperor. He also wrote down the details of the battle recorded by Dianjun to Huangfu Weiming.

Li Xuan would not report his achievements to a higher level like Gao Xianzhi did, even if he had the ability to do so.

"Haha! Qilang is so brave!"

The express letter arrived at Huangshui City the next day.

Huangfu Weiming was overjoyed when he received the letter.

This battle wiped out his defeat in the Battle of Stone Castle.

Having obtained such rich spoils of war, he could confidently report the good news to the saint.

At the same time, you will feel more confident when you go to Chang'an.

Huangfu Weiming immediately copied down the battle report and results and sent them to Chang'an at full speed.

At the same time, he petitioned to dismiss the envoy of Jishi Army and the deputy envoy of Jishi Army.

Li Guangchen, deputy envoy of Heyuan Army, was both civil and military, and was recommended as the envoy of Jishi Army.

As for the deputy envoy's words, Huangfu Weiming took Li Xuan's identity into consideration and planned to promote Li Xuan to the deputy envoy of Jishi Army.

In addition, he ordered people to take 5,000 pieces of silk from the treasury as rewards for the soldiers who had made meritorious services.

……

Li Xuan kept his promise and gave all the gold, jade and jewels that Xu Kuo had hidden privately to the soldiers who had made contributions.

He also commended and promoted two yamen generals in public.

At the same time, Li Xuan would report Nan Jiyun and Zhang Xing and let them lead the soldiers of the imperial guards to show off their status.

Li Xuan also ordered Nan Jiyun to lead cavalry and carriages to Xu Kuo's manor in Huacheng County to search and confiscate it.

Sure enough, a large amount of silk money and some other valuables were found inside.

These silks and money, together with the silk rewarded by Huangfu Weiming, arrived in Jishi City.

As a reward to Huangfu Weiming, Li Xuan asked the military commander to sing in public and be rewarded!
Soldiers who have made contributions will be more determined to make contributions next time, while those who have not made any contributions will be full of fighting spirit.

The silk money found in Xu Kuo's manor was distributed to the soldiers of the Ji Shi Army according to the records of their merits.

Even for soldiers who had died in battle, Li Xuan strictly required that their families be released.

The soldiers were convinced by Li Xuan.

Seven days later, Li Guangchen arrived at Jishi Military City.

"Meet the General!"

Li Guangchen was the first to visit Li Xuan who was harvesting wheat.

He is not a military envoy yet, and the imperial edict has not yet been issued.

In this case, as long as Li Guangchen has enough qualifications and a record of military achievements, he will not be rejected.

The Ji Shi army has no general, so Li Guangchen must take charge, otherwise Li Xuan will not be able to return to Huangshui City.

"Jishi Army is an important town on the frontier. It can enter and exit Jiuqu at any time. It is the gateway second only to Shibao City in status. Morale is very important. Don't try it after Xu Kuo's previous experience."

Li Xuan put down the sickle and spoke slowly to Li Guangchen.

Li Guangchen was born in the first year of Xiantian. In the twenty-third year of Kaiyuan, he passed the imperial examination and became a very strategic general.

"Please remember this, general!"

Li Guangchen always looked down on generals like Xu Kuo and took them as a warning.

"The Tubo people were badly defeated in my Jishi City, and they may come here to seek revenge. The border defense is a big responsibility. If the enemy is small, we can attack. If the enemy is large, we should resist and ask for help. If the Tubo people are tempting us, we must be extremely cautious. I will leave a thousand war horses and order the Jishi Army to build a thousand cavalry for mobility!"

Before leaving, Li Xuan gave Li Guangchen a serious reminder.

"Thank you, General. I will do my duty and guard the border for the country."

Li Guangchen was very excited. An army without cavalry would be quite passive. Li Xuan, the herdsman of Longyou, approved him to form a thousand cavalry, which gave him a lot of room for maneuver.

In his heart, he admired Li Xuan for being a famous general with far-sightedness.

Many people would instinctively look down on Li Xuan after learning his age, but when they actually talk about him, they will feel that Li Xuan's conversation is meticulous and thoughtful, far superior to that of a military man or even a civil official.

The army crossed the Yellow River with their war horses.

Fifty yaks were left for the Jishi Army, and the rest were taken back to Huangshui City.

The soldiers of Ji Shi Army saw them off at the bank of the Yellow River, hoping that Li Xuan would come to Ji Shi Army again and lead them to win military exploits.

……

A few days later, Li Xuan returned to Huangshui City.

"I have read the battle reports. Qilang's bravery is untraceable even in the history books!"

Huangfu Weiming personally went to the gate of the government office and welcomed Li Xuan in.

"There are also those who are extremely brave in our dynasty. I have nothing to praise."

After Li Xuan sat down, he replied.

When the ambush was successful and the crossbowmen stood up and shouted, the Tibetan cavalry was doomed to be defeated.

The intensity of the battle was completely different from the one on the high slopes in the west of the Helan Mountains. In that battle, Li Xuan was exhausted and could not hold on for much longer.

"I have already reported this to His Majesty, and I will wait for the imperial edict from Chang'an to arrive. I want to congratulate a great general!"

Huangfu Weiming said this with a hint of meaning.

The general is of the third rank.

Li Xuan is now a third-rank official.

This half-level distance is like the difference between fourth rank and third rank.

Because the officials in the Tang Dynasty, even the prime minister, were only of the third rank.

In the Tang Dynasty, officials of the second and first ranks were all retired and did not have to go to court.

"I don't deserve it. General Huangfu is the governor. All the achievements in Longyou are due to you!"

When Li Xuan was talking to Huangfu Weiming, he thought of Li Shizhi's words in his mind.

When Li Xuan became a general, he resigned from his position as prime minister.

From the battle to destroy the Turkic Gaopo, to the capture of the two Khans, to the capture of the pirate Wu Lingguang, and then to today's battle of the Jieshi Army in the wheat field.

Although there were not many battles, they were all major battles and we won great victories.

He entered the officialdom through the influence of his family and was a general.

If Li Xuan was old enough, he could undoubtedly be appointed as a Jiedushi.

Li Xuan's age would cause Li Linfu and other court officials to prevent him from becoming a general.

Because they just need an excuse: they are not yet old enough.

But Li Xuan had painted a lot of big plans for Li Longji, which made Li Longji have a strong desire to use Huo Qubing as an example to remind court officials many times.

Although Li Xuan was far away in Longyou, he roughly knew what choice Li Shizhi would make.

"I am not a fool. Qilang is a genius, just like Wei Qing and Huo Qubing in ancient times. The saint promoted you to be the deputy envoy, and gave you such an important position, just waiting for you to make achievements and take over my position."

Huangfu Weiming said bluntly.

When many people mention Li Xuan, they define him as a fierce general who was proficient in swordsmanship on the battlefield.

Huangfu Weiming knew that this was definitely not the case.

Because when Li Xuan took office, the sage issued an edict to him, stating that Li Xuan had a plan for development and that he would listen to Li Xuan's opinions.

Li Xuan had already presented his military plan with Tubo to Li Longji in Xingqing Palace.

Huangfu Weiming thought that he and Li Xuan were in the same party, and he also knew that Li Xuan was trusted and favored by the saint, so he gave up the idea of ​​fighting with Li Xuan. Moreover, he had just lost the battle in Shibao City, and fighting would be even more disadvantageous to him.

His only worry was where he would be transferred to if Li Xuan became the governor of Longyou?

At present, there is no place for him in the Jiedushi position.

"If I can become a military governor, I will definitely ask my father to recommend General Huangfu as the Minister of War and Minister Wei as the Prime Minister!"

Li Xuan didn't hide anything either.

Although I am worried that Huangfu Weiming and Wei Jian are having an affair.

But now that things have come to this, we have to bring them together.

The main reason was that Li Shizhi and Wei Jian were too involved.

Moreover, a qualified politician must have a large number of "followers".

Just like the famous saying of later generations: Politics is about making more friends and fewer enemies.

If you offend others because of a momentary impulse and leave no room for temporary pleasure, you will not be able to take a single step in the court in the future.

"How can Shichiro tell such a joke?"

Huangfu Weiming thought Li Xuan was talking nonsense. It would be easier to recommend Wei Jianwei, adding a title of Tongzhongshumenxia Pingzhangshi, which means prime minister, and he could enter the Zhongshumenxia Hall.

But the Minister of War is now concurrently held by Li Shizhi. We can't ask Li Shizhi to give up the position of Minister of War to him, right?
"Huangfu Shuai can wait..."

Li Xuan did not say it explicitly. He had a hunch that Li Shizhi would feel that he had reached the peak of his power and would propose to resign from his position as prime minister.

Huangfu Weiming didn't ask too much, but his mind was full of endless thoughts.

"Huangfu Marshal, I will go to Anxiang County tomorrow. Please approve my visit!"

Li Xuan asked Huangfu Weiming again.

"Of course. But Shichiro won't take the 11,000 war horses he brought back with him?"

Huangfu Weiming knew that Li Xuan was going to officially take up the post of the Herdsman of Longyou, but he was unwilling to hand over the new war horses that Longyou had obtained.

"The 11,000 war horses captured from Tibet will all be assigned to the Lintao Army. I plan to transform the Lintao Army into cavalry to facilitate proactive attacks outside the Great Wall."

Li Xuan replied to Huangfu Weiming.

"Alright!"

Huangfu Weiming nodded, as long as the war horses could stay in Longyou, it would be fine.

……

Chang'an, the Left Prime Minister's Residence.

"Qi Lang has made great contributions again. The saint told me today that Qi Lang can be promoted to general... I should also resign as prime minister."

After Li Shi came back from court, he drank and said to his eldest son Li Qian.

"Father, Qilang is less than 18 years old and has already been promoted to general. This is a great honor for our family. Why do you want to resign?"

Li Qian asked in confusion.

"Everything that rises must fall, and so does a family. No matter how glorious our family is, when it falls, it will fall from grace. If I don't resign, our family will shine for three years at most, and then disaster will occur. If I resign, with Qilang's wisdom, our family can continue to shine for decades."

At this point, there was no need for him to hide it from his sons.

As long as Li Xuan was there, no one would dare to disrespect him even if the words "Left Prime Minister" on the plaque in front of the door were lost.

"The Saint will not agree to your dismissal."

Li Yu seemed to understand something. But Li Shizhi was now in his prime and was deeply trusted by Li Longji. If he suddenly proposed to dismiss him, Li Longji might not agree.

"It has been normal since ancient times to be dismissed from office due to illness."

Li Shizhi pretended to be sick and exhausted and unable to govern the country, and Li Longji would not disagree.

It is also possible that Li Xuan was promoted to general because Li Shizhi was dismissed from his position as prime minister.

"When will father write a letter?"

Li Qian asked Li Shizhi.

It was because Li Shizhi was the prime minister that they seemed noble. Li Qian was still a little uncomfortable with his father's resignation.

But he knew what his father said made sense.

Qillang is very capable, he will be able to establish himself again sooner or later.

"Wait for Shichiro's letter!"

Li Shizhi knew that Li Xuan had a keen sense of smell and would definitely send a letter at this time.

A few days later, Luo Xing rode four horses back to Chang'an and brought Li Xuan's letter and words to Li Shizhi.

Li Xuan told Li Shizhi that if he wanted to dismiss his position, the emperor would ask him for a recommendation, and at this time he could only recommend Wei Jian. Besides, Li Shizhi still owed Wei Jian a promise.

After the Guangyuntan event and the major case in the Ministry of Justice, Wei Jian's chances of becoming a prime minister were obvious. With Li Shizhi's recommendation, he had a 90% chance of becoming a prime minister.

There is also Huangfu Weiming. In fact, Wang Zhongsi's prestige is higher than Huangfu Weiming. But since Huangfu Weiming was transferred away for no reason, Li Longji must compensate him. Li Shizhi can promote Huangfu Weiming to the Minister of War with just a hint.

They are all mortal enemies of the Right Prime Minister, so let them continue to fight Li Linfu.

"Qilang said that if the ministers prevented Qilang from becoming a general because of his young age, please go to Gao Weng and tell him this... Gao Weng owes Qilang a favor!"

Luo Xing relayed a sentence to Li Shizhi.

"I understand!"

Li Shizhi admired his son's foresight, which made Gao Lishi owe him a favor.

That night, Li Shizhi did not sleep all night. He wanted to make himself look haggard so that he could meet Li Longji.

Waiting under the tearful candlelight, he wanted to drink, but just as he picked up the glass, he put it down again.

Wine is like his phase, who can resist the temptation?

After drinking for eight times, he finally managed to resist the urge to drink.

He recalled the glory days he had during this period.

He was appointed prime minister in the first year of Tianbao and resigned in the third year of Tianbao.

Although he didn't reach the top, how many people in life can be like him?
What made Li Shizhi most gratified was Qilinzi who helped him turn danger into safety. He was willing to give up all power in the world to pave the way for Qilinzi.

"Qi Lang's achievements are so great, will he be a threat to his master?"

Li Shizhi also considered this issue at one point.

Since ancient times, few people who have become too successful have had a good ending.

"I believe Qilang has his own considerations..."

In the end, Li Shizhi chose to believe that Li Xuan could fulfill his regrets and govern the country!

(End of this chapter)