Li Shimin pondered Li Jing's words for a long time.

In fact, the Tang Dynasty had always adopted a policy of appeasement towards the kingdoms of the Western Regions.

As for the reason, as Li Jing just said, the population of the Tang Dynasty was simply too small...

Who would have thought that the Tang Dynasty, with its vast territory, had a registered population of only eight million households, less than the population of a modern municipality...

Otherwise, given the strength of the Tang Dynasty's military, the entire Western Regions would have been brought under its rule!

"well!"

"What Duke Wei said is something I am well aware of."

"However, the Xueyantuo dared to provoke our Celestial Empire. If I do not inflict a heavy blow on them, will all the other kingdoms in the Western Regions follow suit?"

Li Jing smiled slightly upon hearing this.

"Your Majesty, I also suggest sending troops to attack Xueyantuo, but we should only subdue them and not attempt to destroy their country."

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin sighed somewhat unwillingly.

"All right!"

"As long as the Xueyantuo are obedient and sensible, I am not someone who necessarily has to kill them!"

"Didn't I do a good job in Liaodong? I didn't kill too many people."

Upon hearing this, Li Jing secretly felt contempt, thinking to himself, "You haven't killed many people yet, but you're almost wiping out the Mohe tribe!"

However, His Majesty is not lying about one thing: he really didn't kill that many Goguryeo people.

After all, Goguryeo was already a semi-agricultural country. If they were registered as citizens, they would be a reliable source of tax revenue. Who would be willing to kill them all?

In contrast, the Mohe were a completely different people; they were a nomadic tribe, and trying to collect taxes from them was simply wishful thinking.

Therefore, Li Shimin had no psychological burden when killing the Mohe people.

In fact, whether it was the Han Dynasty or the Tang Dynasty, their motivation for conquering the world was only one: to register all people as citizens.

Any country that cannot be registered as a common citizen and pay taxes to the Celestial Empire can be completely destroyed.

Therefore, the Xiongnu were driven away, eventually reaching Europe and Central Asia. The Turks were crippled, with only half of the Western Turkic Khaganate remaining, barely surviving.

As for the Xianbei and Rouran states that existed in history, they have long since become history.

The two talked for a while longer. Now that the general strategic direction had been set, the specific tactics became much simpler.

"Your Majesty, do you intend to use Shuozhou and Xiazhou as bait, or do you intend to use Shuozhou and Xiazhou as logistics hubs to extend two iron pincers and tightly strangle the Xueyantuo?"

Li Shimin laughed heartily upon hearing this.

"As expected, nothing can be hidden from Duke Wei!"

"I do indeed have the idea of ​​using Xia Prefecture and Shuo Prefecture as a base to launch a two-pronged attack on the Xueyantuo!"

Upon hearing this, Li Jing frowned immediately, then hesitated for a long time before finally speaking up.

"Your Majesty, please forgive my bluntness, but if Your Majesty wishes to divide the troops into two groups, please recall His Highness the Crown Prince!"

"oh?"

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin's eyes immediately became deep and sharp.

What does Duke Wei mean by this?

"Does Duke Wei perhaps think that His Highness the Crown Prince is unfit to lead troops?"

Upon hearing this, Li Jing didn't hold back against Li Shimin and nodded in agreement.

"yes!"

"His Highness the Crown Prince has never experienced battle. If he were to lead the troops, I fear the entire army in Shuozhou would be wiped out!"

Li Shimin was very displeased upon hearing this and snorted coldly.

"I have long ago appointed Xue Wanche as general, to do everything in his power to assist the Crown Prince..."

Upon hearing this, Li Jing interrupted without hesitation.

"Your Majesty, Xue Wanche was never a good general; at best, he was just a fierce one."

"Such a person would have a hard time leading troops on his own, yet His Majesty has entrusted him with assisting His Highness the Crown Prince?"

Li Shimin roared angrily upon hearing this.

"Li Jing, are you questioning my ability to judge character?"

Seeing that Li Shimin was angry, Li Jing quickly took a step back, bowed, and apologized.

"Your humble servant would not dare!"

"Your Majesty, I am acting in the best interests of the state. If I have offended you in any way, please forgive me..."

"snort!"

Seeing that Li Jing had yielded, Li Shimin's expression softened a bit, but he remained arrogant and refused to say a single conciliatory word.

"I know you are arrogant about your military achievements and look down on those who wage war!"

"But don't forget, I also fought my way to the top with swords and spears. It was the several major battles I led that laid the foundation for the Tang Dynasty!"

"Your Majesty is wise!"

"Fine, I'm not going to argue with you anymore..."

"Ananda, escort Duke Wei back!"

"promise!"

Seeing Li Shimin acting so childishly, Li Jing could only sigh inwardly before following Zhang Anan out of the Ganlu Palace.

Zhang Anan was afraid that Li Jing might have some ideas, so he kept trying to persuade and reassure him along the way.

"Duke of Wei, please don't take it to heart. His Majesty has been troubled by his eldest grandson these past few days, which is why he spoke to you like that."

"oh?"

Upon hearing that it concerned Li Jue, Li Jing immediately became interested.

"What trouble has my disciple caused His Majesty this time?"

"Duke of Wei, you may not know this, but ever since the eldest grandson of the legitimate wife took up residence in Xiazhou City, he has been leading his men out to fight every day, euphemistically calling it 'hunting for supplies'..."

"Now it's gotten even worse. Every day they're clamoring for Zhishi Sili to give them 10,000 troops so they can crush the Xueyantuo."

"What frustrates Zhishi Sili the most is that the garrison of Xiazhou City is completely swayed by this, and they all want to go out and make a name for themselves with their eldest grandson. Now, General Zhishi Sili is even losing control of the army in Xiazhou City..."

"ah?"

Upon hearing this, Li Jing was taken aback at first, then burst into laughter.

"Something a legitimate eldest grandson would do, hahaha!"

"Our eldest grandson, putting aside his military skills, just his ability to win people's hearts is comparable to His Majesty's!"

"He's only been in Xiazhou City for a few days, and he's already almost completely sidelined that scoundrel Zhishi Sili. If His Majesty dares to let his eldest grandson stay in Xiazhou City for a year, I bet he'll be able to turn Xiazhou City into an impregnable fortress, hahaha!"

Zhang Anan also burst into laughter upon hearing this.

"That's right!"

"That's what's troubling His Majesty!"

The two walked out of the palace chatting and laughing. Just as they reached the entrance of Taiji Palace, they saw a knight on horseback galloping towards them.

Li Jing could tell something was wrong at a glance.

"A 600-li urgent dispatch?"

"If there hadn't been trouble at the border, they would never have sent out a messenger of this rank!"

Zhang Anan was also a man of military knowledge, and upon seeing the feathers tucked into the messenger's body, he immediately realized the seriousness of the situation.

"Quickly, quickly, open the palace gates and let the messenger in!"

"promise!"

"Duke of Wei, please stay a little longer. Perhaps His Majesty will summon you soon?"

Li Jing nodded upon hearing this, then stood aside without moving, waiting for His Majesty's summons at any time.

The messenger rushed into the palace, followed by Imperial Guard knights who led him to the Ganlu Hall, where Li Shimin resided.

Li Shimin had already learned of this matter after being reminded by the eunuchs, and was waiting at the entrance of Ganlu Hall early on.

Upon seeing His Majesty the Emperor, the messenger immediately dismounted and presented the box he was carrying with both hands.

"Your Majesty, an urgent report from Shuozhou!"