Zhenguan: I, Dou Fengjie, will not be the first cuckold.

Liangyi Hall.

Li Shimin drank the Tu Ju wine, his face showing difficulty: "Fuji, which of my two sons is better?"

In this clash at Taiji Hall, Li Chengqian displayed high fighting spirit, while Li Tai was more pragmatic.

It's not fair to say who's wrong; it's just a matter of different perspectives.

However, Li Shimin was already dissatisfied with Li Chengqian.

What's the deal with a ruler who's supposed to maintain the status quo only knowing to go on a campaign?

Unlike himself, who had military experience, Li Chengqian had never been on the battlefield. Even when Xue Wanche attacked the Prince of Qin's mansion, he never personally killed a single soldier.

Li Tai's steadiness, however, suited Li Shimin's taste better.

Changsun Wuji took a sip of wine and said leisurely, "Your Majesty, they're both my flesh and blood!"

Changsun Wuji opposed the Li family's practice of raising Gu poison, but his words had no effect.

Both the eldest and second nephews are nephews, and the tall table and short stool are both made of wood.

If he had to say, Changsun Wuji felt that as long as they were willing to accept the full support of their maternal uncle, they could all become qualified emperors.

Li Shimin had a headache.

He was an emperor who was raised by raising poisonous insects, so his mentality was extremely complex.

On the one hand, they hoped to cultivate the most suitable next-generation emperor through the practice of raising gu (a type of insect-like creature).

On the other hand, he hoped that the struggles between his sons would not be as intense as those between him and Prince Xiyin, Li Jiancheng.

It can be said that they want both.

Li Shimin finished the wine in the glass cup and looked at Changsun Wuji carefully: "Fuji, Gao Shilian has completed his term of office and returned to the capital. He is also getting old and it is not advisable for him to travel around."

"My uncle is more suitable than I to select officials, and he is better at recognizing and appointing people. The position of Minister of Personnel is more suitable for him." Understanding the implied meaning in the poem, Changsun Wuji made a decisive decision.

When he and his sister were driven out of the Changsun clan by Changsun Anye, only their uncle Gao Shilian took them in without hesitation. This kindness should be remembered.

Furthermore, what Changsun Wuji said was not exaggerated; Gao Shilian was indeed skilled in selecting officials.

As for official positions, Changsun Wuji didn't care.

As long as his younger sister remains the Empress, he will be highly sought after even if he is a commoner.

"This is what I think: you will be promoted to Minister of Works, Gao Shilian will succeed you as Minister of Personnel, and Yang Shidao will be promoted to Minister of Ceremonies..."

Yang Shidao was in tears.

Although I was promoted, my actual power has diminished considerably. That scoundrel Dou Fengjie has ruined me!

-----------------

Laughter filled the Honglu Temple.

Although he was quite carefree, Xiangli Xuanjiang suffered only limited pain and was not in any danger to his life.

This is nothing more than the Court of State Ceremonies showing its fangs to the Court of Agriculture.

Being too kind to others makes people think that the Court of State Ceremonial is a coward who can be easily bullied.

"Hey, Shangguan, who do you think is more reasonable, the Crown Prince or the Prince of Yue?"

While eating the tea soup without any flavor, Cheng Chumo asked Dou Fengjie in a low voice.

Cheng Chumo wasn't stupid; he was just too lazy to think. He simply kept his brain at 90% new at all times.

"The two statements together make the most sense."

Dou Fengjie's evaluation was fair and impartial, without showing any bias based on distance or personal relationship.

Prince Li Tai of Yue finally bared his teeth at the Crown Prince. Li Chengqian had not yet completely suppressed him and had actually already lost ground.

Du Chuke, Wei Ting, and others who supported Li Tai were beaming with joy, as if victory was in sight.

The momentum of the Yue King's faction is subtly overshadowing that of the Crown Prince.

"I think it would be safer to retrieve the remains of the Sui soldiers first."

Mother Zhancheng expressed her opinion cautiously.

When a million Sui soldiers went to war, most of them ended up as a pile of jing (a mound of corpses). Even after the dynasty changed, the people of the Central Plains still felt resentful.

We retrieved the remains and took the opportunity to inspect the terrain along the Liao River, which can be considered as preparation for future attacks on Liaodong.

The problem was that King Go Geonmu of Goguryeo, fearing retaliation from the Tang Dynasty, began constructing a thousand-mile-long Great Wall along the Liao River.

Dou Fengjie smiled at Cheng Chumo: "Fighting a war is not much different from fighting. If you stretch out both arms with all your might, you won't have much strength left to hit someone."

"If you pull your fist back, you can deliver a powerful blow."

Cheng Chumo replied in a muffled voice, "What you said is pretty much what my father said too."

Great minds think alike: even the most powerful dynasties must avoid fighting on two fronts.

When a pack of wolves attacks a tiger, even the strongest tiger is in danger.

Without completely eliminating the Tuyuhun, the Tang Dynasty could not wage war against Goguryeo and could only suffer the hardship of Xue Wanshu, the governor of Yingzhou.

Xue Wanshu, Xue Wanjun, Xue Wanche, and Xue Wanbei are all very capable brothers.

Zhao Dekai, the Chief of the Court of State Ceremonies, entered the Office of Foreign Affairs, sat down to sip tea, and casually asked, "If the Khan of Quehu Lüwugandou were to establish a separatist regime in Tuyuhun, where would be a suitable place to make his capital?"

"I know the answer to this problem! Mo Li Yi! It can be connected with Shu Dun City and Da Mo Men City!" The brilliant Cheng Chu Mo said excitedly.

Strictly speaking, Cheng Chumo's statement, while not groundbreaking, was quite prudent.

"In my humble opinion, Niuxindui is the best place to establish the capital."

Dou Fengjie's suggestion was unexpected.

Niuxindui was only used to garrison the troops of Tuyuhun; it was not a city.

That doesn't matter, anyway, the city of Tuyuhun was just an earthen wall, with part of the city made of earth and wood and part of it still made of tents.

This place is crucial; it can serve as the gateway to Shanzhou. As long as it is defended, it will no longer be harassed by Tuyuhun.

Another advantage of this location is that it makes it easy for Shanzhou to provide reinforcements.

"In that case, the troop strength of Suirong City in Shanzhou must also be increased, otherwise the Prince of Xiping will not be able to hold it."

Changsun Huan, who had strolled over, unusually joined the discussion.

In this way, the eastern and northeastern parts of the Western Sea were under their control, and the partition of Tuyuhun became a reality.

Dou Fengjie pointed out the situation: "If we really fight a war to destroy the country, we need to send more troops to the Shazhou direction to cut off the connection between Tuyuhun's homeland and Qiemo and Shanshan."

He knew that Murong Fuyun's son, Zunwang, had been stationed in Qiemo and Shanshan, but his influence was too far away to reach him.

Changsun Huan sighed, "It's a pity I'm a civil official."

Unable to participate in the grand plan to destroy Tuyuhun, Changsun Huan felt that his life was definitely incomplete.

Dou Fengjie smiled: "Your Excellency can request to be the military supervisor."

Only those with status and powerful connections can keep those arrogant and unruly soldiers in check when they serve as military supervisors.

Hou Junji was suppressed by Xu Yushi and didn't dare to tamper with the distribution of spoils.

Changsun Huan was tempted, but in the end he waved his hand.

He knew his own limitations; he was adept at being a funeral director, but that didn't mean he could keep up with the pace of a march.

"The northern route of the West Sea is easy to handle, but what about the southern route?" Zhao Dekai asked abruptly.

The southern route is mountainous and covered in snow and ice, and the cold is difficult for the Tang people to adapt to. Murong Fuyun could easily hide there.

"The Grand Master of Ceremonies has forgotten that the Duke of Zan has repeatedly tried to win over the various Qiang tribes for this very reason," Changsun Huan sighed.

Given time, Dou Fengjie's abilities will surely lead him to great heights, far surpassing someone like myself whose life is predictable.

However, it will probably be even more difficult for the Crown Prince, who has always been indifferent to Dou Fengjie!

Although King Li Tai of Yue failed to gain Dou Fengjie's loyalty, at least his relationship with him was passable.

Changsun Huan was too lazy to get involved in the struggle for the throne.

The two cousins ​​started fighting over the chair, and under their uncle's manipulation, they pecked at each other like fighting cocks.

When the snipe and the clam fight, who knows if the fisherman will benefit?