"Come, come, let's eat and talk over these years. I know you've suffered a lot. It wasn't my intention to leave you there. Our Tang Dynasty needs someone to guard it. Although Tubo is now divided into three, based on what you know there, they are still a big threat."
While Li Xiang and the other person were chatting, a table of food and wine had already been set. After Yuchi Baolin took off his armor, his skin was tanned. It seemed that the ultraviolet rays on the plateau were really strong.
"This is why I came back this time. I often write letters to officials in the Ministry of War. From what they say, I can understand that not many people think Tubo is a threat anymore. They always think that since we have occupied one-third of the power on the plateau, we can control Songtsen Gampo and his people. If the whole of Chang'an thinks like this, then we are really in danger."
Yuchi Baolin said earnestly that he could have asked someone else to go back to Chang'an to report on his work this time, but after repeated consideration, Yuchi Baolin still felt that he should come back by himself.
One reason is that I haven't seen my family for a long time. I want to see my family and keep in touch with other people to avoid being disconnected from Chang'an City because I am on the plateau. Otherwise, no matter how many contributions I have made, they may not be credited to me in the end.
Fortunately, he was appointed as the General of Tiance Mansion. He also knew that Li Xiang had not forgotten. Although he did not become the left and right generals, Yuchi Baolin also understood that his qualifications were still far behind those of the two generals. It was not easy for him to become one of the eight deputy generals.
"What you said does exist. It's not just the military officials who have this idea. Some other Tang generals as well. We've sent back a lot of gains from the plateau over the years, and they think the plateau is the same as Goguryeo. It's actually completely different."
Speaking of this matter, Li Xiang also expressed his agreement. In the eyes of many people in the Tang Dynasty, are Tubo and Goguryeo different?
"In my previous letters, I have already explained the specific situation in Tubo. The Tusi still have 70,000 troops, and Songtsen still has nearly 90,000 troops. This is already exploiting them to the limit. If the exploitation continues, it may arouse their desire to fight."
Li Xiang also left some proposals before leaving, and they all acted according to these suggestions, which was that in addition to launching wars, they tried their best to weaken the chieftains and Songtsen cadres.
The results so far have been quite good, but they have already reached their limit. Even if this continues, the weakening of both sides will be extremely limited. Furthermore, the chieftains seem to have figured it out, and some have even privately contacted the Holy City.
"We're both not outsiders. Tell me the truth, if the two of them were to unite, what would you make of the plateau?"
There are not many Tang Dynasty troops on the plateau now, only about 9,000 people in total. This is mainly because logistics are difficult to supply, and many soldiers are not able to adapt. After such a long time, only more than 9,000 people can adapt.
"The area I control now accounts for about one-third of the plateau, and it is the production and grain area on the plateau. If a three-way melee breaks out, the area I control will shrink by at least one-third."
Yuchi Baolin had calculated this kind of thing many times, so when Li Xiang asked this question, Yuchi Baolin did not delay at all and directly gave the answer he had calculated many times before.
This number is already not small. Among the three forces, Yuchi Baolin can be said to be the weakest. Once another 1/3 is lost, the strength of the other two parties will be strengthened. The most important thing is that they will get a batch of grain-producing areas, which is the biggest strengthening for them. Food is the most lacking thing on the plateau.
"Besides reporting these things, do you want me to change my strategy this time and not mobilize troops against the two southern countries first, but deal with those people like Songtsan first?"
Li Xiang suddenly thought of this matter. Yuchi Baolin had been traveling at lightning speed all the way, and he must have had the same idea. After all, the threat from Tubo was there. Although the policies of these years had been effective, the Tubo people were not fools, and they had already begun to change.
"If possible, I would certainly like Your Highness to change his mind, but I know that Your Highness is a man of his own opinion."
When Yuchi Baolin said this, it meant that he could control the situation on the plateau. 9,000 people would lose the area he was defending. If more troops were added, then some things would be different.
"I have a bold idea. Isn't the relationship between the two families very good now? Then we can just throw them some firewood. Of course, it won't be the same way as before. They've already learned that way. Since we are going to give up this one-third of the grain-producing area, why not give it up on our own initiative?"
Yuchi Baolin knew that Li Xiang had a way, but he didn't expect that Li Xiang's method was so bold. If we voluntarily give up this 1/3 of the grain-producing area, then no matter whether it is the chieftain or the Songtsen cadre, they will fight to the death to occupy this 1/3 of the grain-producing area. After all, whoever gets this grain-producing area may become the most powerful force on the plateau.
Even though they are almost cooperating now, if this 1/3 of the grain-producing area really is left there, maybe the two sides will fight immediately, and it will be a life-and-death fight. In the face of real interests, things like ancestors are all nonsense.
"Of course, this is just a hypothesis. After all, I've been away from the plateau for a long time. If what I say is wrong, you can directly refute it. Let's stick with the old way. If you have anything to say, just say it directly. The more objections you raise, the more likely this thing will pass in the end."
Li Xiang frowned when he saw Yuchi Baolin, and thought that his method should have some drawbacks. After all, it was a bit presumptuous. If the other party wanted half of each, then some things would be hard to say. At that time, we would be the one who suffered the most, and we would lose both the wife and the army.
"This is feasible, but we still need to do some action..."
Yuchi Baolin thought for a long time and said solemnly.
