Li Longji was very suspicious, like Cao Cao. But his methods were relatively less vicious than Cao Cao. Under his rule for forty years, the Tang Dynasty reached the pinnacle of Chinese history in terms of economy, culture, and freedom of speech. Only in military terms was it more powerful than in the Tang Dynasty.

In the early days of the founding of the Tang Dynasty, things were a bit worse. They were no longer as victorious as they were during the Taizong and Gaozong periods.

It is undeniable that this was Li Longji's achievement in his middle age. This achievement is one of the best in Chinese history. In the thousands of years of history, there was only one prosperous Tang Dynasty.

Li Longji's insanity mainly occurred in his later years.

He created the prosperous Tang Dynasty and had beautiful women in his arms. From then on, he did not think about progress and was greedy for comfort and enjoyment. Not only that, he transferred all his thoughts from governing the country to governing people. He arrogantly regarded every courtier in the court as his own pawn to play with the emperor.

The art of balancing can be described as perfect.

The energy of governing the country was used to recruit people. Back then, Li Linfu, Prince Li Heng, including today's Yang Guozhong and Gu Qing who was far away in Anxi, he considered them to be his pawns.

When a chess piece is placed in an inappropriate position on the chessboard, he will pick it up from the chessboard and drop it in another position.

The world is like a chess game, and all the chess pieces are in his hands.

"Have there been any changes in Tubo recently? How is Gu Qing's plan to pacify Tubo in Anxi?" Li Longji asked abruptly.

Gao Lishi thought for a while and said: "Prime Minister Yang reported last month that the plan to pacify Tubo was successfully implemented. The imperial court has paid 400,000 yuan to Anxi in exchange for mountains of medicinal materials. These medicinal materials were transported back to the pass by caravans.

It was sold to pharmacies and medical clinics in various prefectures and counties at a reasonable price, and there was revenue and expenditure. Overall, the imperial court still suffered a slight loss."

Li Longji nodded: "There is always a price to pay for the country, and the Tang Dynasty can't afford to lose... So, Gu Qing's plan to pacify Tubo was implemented smoothly, so there is no need for him to take care of the matter in Anxi?"

Gao Lishi was startled, looked at Li Longji in astonishment, and then hurriedly said: "Yes, it seems that it is not necessary. Could it be that His Majesty means... to transfer Gu Qing back to Chang'an?"

Li Longji hummed and said: "Whether you have ambitions or get into trouble, it's just a matter of different opinions. The Anxi Army must not make any mistakes in guarding the western defense line of the Tang Dynasty, and the commander cannot be a person who often gets into trouble. Gu Qing has already

You are no longer suitable to sit in that position, so you should be transferred back to Chang'an. No matter how much trouble you get into under my nose, I will feel at ease."

The words were euphemistic, but Gao Lishi still heard it. Li Longji was suspicious again. Any disturbance in the army would make him feel uneasy, and he would immediately think about whether to make adjustments.

Military power has always been a very sensitive thing, especially since the Tang Dynasty had An Lushan, who was deeply feared by Li Longji and could not reduce his power. Naturally, he had to be more strict with other military governors to eliminate hidden dangers.

Having served Li Longji for many years, Gao Lishi immediately understood what he was thinking. This matter was related to the hidden dangers of the country that Li Longji valued most. Gao Lishi did not dare to speak for Gu Qing anymore, so he lowered his head and said: "Your Majesty is wise, will you call the bookstore?"

Are you planning to send an edict to Anxi?"

Li Longji pondered for a long time and said: "Let's draw up a decree and order Gu Qing to move to Chang'an. The post of Jiedushi Envoy to Anxi will be temporarily taken over by Pei Zhounan. He will select a commander to go to Anxi as Jiedushi Envoy at a later date. Gu Qing can be granted the title after returning to Chang'an...

…”

After hesitating for a moment, Li Longji said slowly: "Let's make him the right-guard general. Although Gu Qing is young, he has military merits and has offered me strategies to defeat Tubo. Don't let the hero's heart be chilled and stay in the court."

Practice for a few years to sharpen his spirit. When his temperament becomes mature and calm, I will release him to serve as an official."

Gao Lishi wrote them down one by one with awe.

Gu Qing's decision to transfer away from Anxi was made. Li Longji was still very heavy in his heart. He had been restless recently. Going to Huaqing Palace to escape the cold did not relieve his mood.

It was said that it was a symptom of yin deficiency and blood deficiency, so I prescribed several prescriptions that were neither painful nor itchy, but they did not seem to be any better.

Li Longji's uneasiness actually has nothing to do with his body, but he always feels that something big will happen. Now the only person who makes him uneasy is An Lushan.

"Has there been any movement in the three towns of Fanyang recently?" Li Longji asked.

Gao Lishi whispered: "According to the reports from the informants, the three towns of Fanyang are loose on the outside and tight on the inside. Although there is no sign of mobilization of troops and horses, the generals of the three towns frequently come in and out of the Anlu Mountain Festival Mansion. It seems... not good."

Li Longji's eyelids twitched, he thought for a long time, and gritted his teeth and said: "Last time Yang Guozhong went to the meeting with the ministers, considering that An Lushan was ill, he could appoint someone else to appoint the governor of Hedong Jiedu. Can An Lushan have anything to say?"

"An Lushan did not send any memorial to Chang'an. He seems to have no idea about it."

Li Longji sneered: "I don't know? He is just pretending to be confused..."

Gao Lishi hesitated for a moment and said: "Since he is pretending to be confused, why don't Your Majesty just go with the flow and appoint someone else as the governor of Hedong to make this matter a reality?"

Li Longji shook his head and sighed sadly: "It's too harsh to use the weapon that throws rats away. I'm afraid there will be big changes."

Gao Lishi added: "It's the end of the year again, and all the governors from all over the country have to go to Chang'an to pay their respects. If An Lushan comes to Chang'an..."

Before he finished speaking, Li Longji understood what he meant. He frowned and pondered for a long time, and said slowly: "It's also a way, and it's not abrupt. Generals come to Beijing to congratulate him every year. If An Lushan comes to Chang'an,

, let’s leave him in Chang’an. General Gao, please send an order to the governors of various places. They don’t need to bring gifts to greet you, they can’t be extravagant, and they’re not allowed to plunder the people’s fat and anointing. It’s enough to go to Chang’an to relieve my lovesickness..."

After a pause, Li Longji added: "I added a special sentence to An Lushan's imperial edict, saying that the imperial concubine is suffering from longing for her son. This year I made an agreement with him to dance the Huxuan, and the imperial concubine played the drums, as a good word for the emperor and his ministers."

…………

Fanyang City, Jiedu Envoy's Mansion.

An Lushan's fat face was as cold as frost, and his swollen eyes were like devouring wolves, staring fiercely at Shi Siming who was kneeling in front of him.

"My food and grass were burned for no apparent reason, and you still have the nerve to come see me?" An Lushan said in a cold tone.

Shi Siming knelt on the ground and did not dare to raise his head, and said in a trembling voice: "I will be punished by death, I will be undetected, and I don't know that there is a spy sneaking into Yingzhou City..."

"How much food was burned?"

"More than 80,000 stones..."

An Lushan snorted angrily and laughed angrily: "Eighty thousand shi was enough to feed Ping Lu's army for more than half a year, but it was burned to the ground. Shi Siming, do you think our righteousness is child's play? Without these 80,000 shi of food, what will you teach us?"

How do I raise an army?”

Shi Siming's body trembled and he cried out: "Commander, I am willing to make up for my merits and make up for the food as soon as possible."

"How fast is as soon as possible? Did you know that I originally planned to launch an attack next month, but it was completely delayed by your fire? The news has spread throughout the three towns. Now the military is in turmoil. If we launch an attack, we will definitely fail." Statue of An Lushan

The out-of-control beast roared angrily.

Shi Siming said in panic: "The general will find a way! There is a way to collect 50,000 stones of food and grass in one month!"

An Lushan said angrily: "You still dare to deceive me at this time. How capable are you? Can you raise 50,000 stones of food and grass in one month?"

"Jie Shuai, I really have a way! I know a big businessman. His family has been doing business for generations. He has connections in the Shannan Road and Henan Road officials, and he can easily raise food and grass..."

After An Lushan became angry for a while, his face turned red. He wondered if he had high blood pressure. After hearing this, he sat back with difficulty and gasped: "If we don't talk about this, will the person who set the fire ever get it?"

Shi Siming suddenly showed a look of shame, lowered his head and said: "The spy took a waist card that was exactly the same as the general's, and deceived the army into setting fire to it. The general initially thought it was the businessman who did it, but after a rigorous interrogation,

It was found that it was not him, the spy... is still being closely hunted."

An Lu said coldly: "It sounds grand, but it's actually incompetence. I haven't been able to get it yet. Shi Siming, you let me down, very disappointed!"

"The last general is guilty, please forgive me for once. The last general will definitely pay for his crime and perform meritorious service on the battlefield."

An Lushan said with a gloomy face: "Where did the businessman you mentioned come from? Have you found out?"

"After the grain store was burned, the general ordered that the businessman be put in jail for severe interrogation. At the same time, the general also sent people to Yizhou to visit his family and relatives. There will be a reply in about a month or two. If he is found

If what he said is untrue, he will be killed and sacrificed to the flag eventually."

An Lushan's face softened slightly and he said: "It's not stupid. Since the businessman is suspected, don't trust his words too much. You don't have to rely on him to raise food. Think of other ways. We can't make any mistakes again."

"Yes, but that businessman has a way to raise food. The general thought that he could be used appropriately. If he can really get things done..."

An Lushan said solemnly: "It's too late, I have decided to start the incident in advance..."

Shi Siming asked in shock: "Why?"

"Do you know how many spies sent by Chang'an have been caught in the three towns under my command in the past month? There are hundreds of them. I also received an imperial edict the day before yesterday. The foolish king of Chang'an asked me to enter Chang'an to congratulate him, saying that he would dance with me in the Hu

Xuan, and also said that the imperial concubine encouraged me to do it, adding a good story about the monarch and his ministers, haha..."

An Lushan sneered and said: "Do you know what these mean? That Hunjun's fear and suspicion of me have reached an extreme level. If I go to Chang'an to pay tribute, I'm afraid I will never be able to return to Sanzhen in this life, and I, Sanzhen,

The official position of Jiedushi will be completely cut off by him. From now on, I can only be the son of that foolish emperor. I will live in wealth and honor by flattering myself all my life. I, An Lushan, am also the commander on the battlefield, among tigers and wolves.

How can we live in the same cage as pigs and dogs?"

Shi Siming said anxiously: "Commander Jie, think twice. It may be too hasty to start an uprising at this time, especially when the Pinglu army's food has just been burned. It would be unwise to take risks when the army's morale is unstable..."

An Lushan glanced at him with a sinister look. If it weren't for the unlucky fate of killing a general before a battle, and when he was in need of help, Shi Siming had made such a big mistake, and he would have ordered him to kill him long ago.

"After the uprising, troops swept across Hedong, Henan, and Shannan. Are you still worried that you won't be able to collect food on the way?" An Lushan showed a ferocious look and said sternly: "The Hunjun's knife is about to fall on my neck. If you still hesitate, you can only
Chapter completed!