Seeing Wang De come out, these people stopped their conversation and walked into the hall one after another. Li Shimin stood next to the sand table, and Li Xiang was also standing beside it. The grandfather and grandson must have been talking for quite some time. Calling these people here must mean that there will be major actions.
The sand table has only been around in the last six months. There was no such thing before. Even some of the maps that were drawn had huge discrepancies, and there was no way to find things accurately on them. But ever since Li Xiang made this sand table, everyone likes to talk about things next to the sand table. Talking while looking at the sand table gives them a feeling of dominating the world.
Li Shimin particularly liked this feeling. Now in many places in the imperial palace and the Ministry of War, Li Shimin ordered the construction of many sand tables. If there is no sand table where you are, then when you explain things, Li Shimin will feel very disgusted. Therefore, the officials below followed suit and they also knew the importance of sand tables. Now this thing is almost a must-have in all government offices of the Tang Dynasty.
"You're all here. I'm looking into things happening in the southwest. This guy will be visiting Nanzhao soon. You must have some knowledge of the situation there. I called you here today to discuss how we should continue our relationship with Nanzhao."
Without the ministers in the court, only these few confidants, so Li Shimin spoke more directly. "You have said so much, what else is there to discuss?" It is obvious that you have your eyes on their land. Since conquering Tuyuhun, the pace of the Tang Dynasty's conquest has not stopped.
"Then there's nothing more to say. We can just send our troops over there. According to what I've heard, their army isn't large, only a few tens of thousands at most, and they're spread across the country. If our army gets there, we won't have to exert any effort at all. It'll probably only take three to five months to force them to surrender."
Cheng Yaojin became excited when he heard this. Although he could not lead his troops out of the capital because of Li Xiang, he was still very interested in expanding the territory of the Tang Dynasty. After hearing what Cheng Yaojin said, Li Shimin was very happy. He also had the same idea, but he could not say it on the surface. If an emperor of a country was like a warmonger, it would damage his dignity if it got out.
Cheng Yaojin represented the military generals within the court. After Cheng Yaojin said this, Li Xiaogong, General Li Jing, and Yuchi Jingde and others did not say anything. Although Cheng Yaojin's words were a bit rude, they did represent their meaning.
"I think there is something wrong with this matter."
Fang Xuanling rarely expressed his ideas directly, and always said them in a more tactful way. But today, seeing so many people here, especially the military generals, and some of the most important generals in the country, if they really made the final decision, he would not have the chance to say these words, which would have a far-reaching impact on the entire Tang Dynasty.
Hearing Fang Xuanling's words, Cheng Yaojin and the others frowned. If they hadn't spent so much time together, they would have immediately cursed at each other. What's wrong with that? We are also fighting for living space for the entire Tang Dynasty. That's right, according to His Royal Highness, it's a fight for living space.
"I also think that this matter is inappropriate."
What surprised everyone was that although Changsun Wuji and Fang Xuanling were both civil officials, the civil officials were basically on Changsun Wuji's side. Changsun Wuji was considered the representative of the civil officials, and Fang Xuanling had always been outside the entire civil official group. But how could the two of them unite today?
Not only Cheng Yaojin and the others were surprised, but also Li Xiang and Li Shimin. They didn't quite understand the situation today. Although you two are both civil servants, the discord between you has been going on for many years. It is precisely because of the fighting between the two of you that Li Shimin is usually quite troubled.
One is the prime minister of the court, so his power is naturally needless to say. The other is his brother-in-law, who has surrendered to him since the rebellion and has helped him with many things. He is also the children's uncle. No matter who becomes the emperor, Changsun Wuji's power is likely to spread all over the world. This is the advantage of the emperor's uncle.
Li Shimin used to be worried that if the fight between these two people escalated, it would definitely not be good for the entire Tang Dynasty. But today, the two people actually had the same opinion. This was the first time in many years.
"My dear ministers, if you have anything to say, please speak frankly. In all the years we've been king and subject, this is the first time I've seen you two share the same opinion. Today, I'd like to hear what you have to say."
Li Shimin's words shocked the two people. Although Li Shimin was worried about the two people fighting each other, if he had to say what he was more worried about, it was definitely that the two people would collude. Once the two people colluded, the civil service group of the court would be invincible, and even if the military group wanted to fight with them, they would have to think twice.
When a dynasty is in danger, the status of military generals will rise sharply. After all, they have to guard the safety of the dynasty. But if the dynasty is in peace, the military generals group cannot be compared with the civil officials. Now, if it were not for Li Xiang's strong rise, my generals group would probably be even more desolate.
In addition, Li Shimin promoted the imperial examination, which further strengthened the voice of the civil service group. All new blood came from the imperial examination. Although there were also a few military candidates, in peacetime, Cheng Yaojin and others had such status. Who could look down on those military candidates?
"Master Changsun, please."
"Prime Minister, please."
If they had such a say in the past, the two would have wanted to fight each other, but now they were actually humble, which made the people around them even more confused. Did you two take the wrong medicine today?
In terms of official position, Fang Xuanling is naturally the number one civil official, because he is the prime minister of the Tang Dynasty. But in terms of influence, Changsun Wuji should be the number one. Many people have said that Changsun Wuji is the number one wealthy family in the Tang Dynasty court. Who can blame him for having innate advantages?
