At dawn, the bell and drum tower of Taichu Palace had just finished beating the last drum, and Xue Shao walked into the Vientiane Divine Palace in a formal suit and went straight to Wu Zetian's imperial study.

Since Shangguan Wan'er had already reported that she had entered the palace first, Wu Zetian had already prepared in advance, so she planned to do nothing today, and discuss with Xue Shao here about the Turkic peace alliance and the expedition to the Western Regions.

As soon as Xue Shao entered, Wu Zetian asked him, "Chengyu came so early, did you have breakfast?" ”

"Not yet." Xue Shao told the truth.

"I know." Wu Zetian smiled and said, "You go to the dining hall for some breakfast first, and we'll talk about it later." ”

"It's fine." Xue Shao was not polite, and went with a smile.

Shangguan Wan'er changed her clothes and returned to Wu Zetian's side, and the empress said to her: "Today's conversation between me and Xue Gong will be very important. Don't miss the main points. ”

"Wan'er obeys."

Wu Zetian smiled and nodded, "You also go to the dining hall, let's use some breakfast first!" ”

"Yes." Shangguan Wan'er obediently answered the promise and came to the dining hall, and saw Xue Shao sitting in front of a large food table, devouring more than a dozen exquisite palace delicacies. The two eunuchs who were waiting from the side were secretly laughing.

"You eat slowly, no one will rob you." Shangguan Wan'er hurriedly walked over and scolded the two eunuchs, "Get out!" ”

The eunuch hurriedly retreated.

Xue Shao swallowed a mouthful full of food, and said with a smile: "Marching and fighting and eating is like fighting a fire, and you have a bad habit, and you can't change it for a while." ”

"I'm afraid you'll choke and hurt your stomach." Shangguan Wan'er took the dishes herself and sat down opposite Xue Shao and served a bowl of porridge.

"I've eaten all these dirty, can you ask someone to prepare another one for you?" Xue Shao said.

"How dirty can it be?" Shangguan Wan'er smiled slightly, her face flushed.

Xue Shao smiled, yes, it's not a matter at all compared to kissing.

"Stop giggling. After eating, hurry up and go to the imperial study, Your Majesty is waiting! Shangguan Wan'er took a piece of tender venison and put it in Xue Shao's dish, and said, "This one that nourishes the spleen and warms the kidneys, eat more." ”

Xue Shao couldn't help but turn his eyes, even Wan'er could see that I needed to make up for it recently, did I have dark circles under my eyes?

After the meal, Xue Shao and Shangguan Wan'er went back to the imperial study, and Wu Zetian had already asked the palace maid who was proficient in tea art to cook the tea and present it one by one. Wu Zetian has a good memory, and specially instructed that Xue Gong's tea does not need to add any condiments, and the original flavor is enough.

Seeing this palace maid Xue Shao, she couldn't help but think of Yu Hongye, and said in her heart that when the weather warmed up in February, the road was easy, and it was time to summon her back to Beijing.

"Chengyu, let's get straight to the point." Wu Zetian spread out the Turkic letter and said, "What do you think about the Turkic peace?" ”

"Your Majesty, the minister must declare it in advance." Xue Shao arched his hand and said, "It is a matter of diplomatic relations and national defense tranquility between the two countries. The minister's opinion only represents one's own opinion, one-sided words, and cannot be fully believed. ”

Wu Zetian smiled and nodded, "You have said this kind of thing many times, I can recite it." ”

Xue Shao smiled, this is like "smoking is harmful to health", although it is nonsense, it cannot be omitted!

"Say it!"

Xue Shao nodded and said, "Generally speaking, the minister is Zancheng's peace alliance this time. The two countries have been at war for many years, the people have suffered, the soldiers are tired, the military budget remains high, and the treasury is becoming empty, which is by no means a good thing. The situation in the Turkic Khanate is not much better than ours. At this time, a truce is the common aspiration of the two countries and the inevitability of the situation. ”

"Hmm." Wu Zetian nodded, "Go to the army to fight, then to fight, then to fight." War is always the last choice that has no choice. Now that the Turks are able to take the initiative to ask for peace, and to settle the dispute between the two countries in a diplomatic situation, I believe that this is a good thing to do. But before the diplomatic negotiations begin, I'd love to hear what you want to do. ”

"Anticipate the enemy's opportunity. If the enemy does not move, I will move first. Xue Shao replied.

Wu Zetian's face straightened, "Please explain." ”

Xue Shao said: "Once the Turks succeed in their peace alliance with the Tang Dynasty, for them, the biggest military threat from the south will be temporarily eliminated. With their wolf nature of being keen on aggression, they will inevitably turn the direction of military expansion to the east, west, and north. From the point of view of the ministers, the biggest opponents in the Turkic north are none other than Xue Yantuo and the Hui Ministry. Among them, the Hui have long been attached to the Turks, and although they have different intentions, they are generally unharmed. Xue Yantuo had a deep grudge with the Turks, but after repeated defeats, it was difficult to pose a major threat to the Turks in a short period of time. In other words, the Turkic North has already been decided. The only route of their expansion was east and west. ”

Wu Zetian said: "In their east, it is the residence of the Khitan and Xi people. I remember you said earlier that there is a good chance that the Turks will go to war with the Khitans? ”

"Yes. Now the minister thinks the same way. Xue Shao said, "After the First World War of Nuozhenshui, the Turks retreated north in a hurry, and there was chaos for a while. But after more than half a year of recuperation, it's almost time to get started. According to their habits, they are born in spring and raised in summer, and return in autumn and winter. This fall, it's time for them to get their hands dirty. ”

"In this way, there is still about half a year to go." Wu Zetian said, "During this time, it is just enough for Gu Lulu to negotiate peace with Da Zhou." time, set very tightly. ”

Xue Shao nodded and said, "This half year will also be very important for us. In addition to negotiating peace with the Turks, we must make other military preparations in advance. ”

"Please explain."

Xue Shao said: "With my Great Zhou here, the Turks will not be able to destroy the Khitan, or Gu Lulu will not really plan to destroy the Khitan at all." Their war against the Khitan was just to avenge their defeat. The minister believes that the focus of the expansion and plunder of the Turkic Khanate will be the West! ”

"Their west is the Western Turks with the surname of Turgish." Wu Zetian said, "After withdrawing troops from the Anxi Tiger Division to Gongyue City, Tubo suppressed and captured Gongyue City with a large army, and successively took away the four towns of Anxi. Today, Tibet's influence in the Western Regions can be said to be the largest. Once the Turks went on to attack Turgish with all their might, they would be very difficult to resist. If there are any more Tibetans taking advantage of the fire to rob, the ten Western Turkic tribes will be in danger of extinction. At that time, the Tibetans will dominate the Western Regions, and the Turks will annex many tribes. These two countries were originally the fierce enemies of the Great Zhou, and if they were allowed to grow like this, the Great Zhou would be in danger! ”

"So, we have to be precautionary." Xue Shao said, "Although it is extremely unfavorable for our DPRK to start a war now, for long-term consideration, we have to fight." The minister suggested that the 1st Tibetan Division train in Xijing and secretly prepare for an expedition to the Western Regions. We must recover Gongyue City and the four towns of Anxi before the Turks conquer the Turks, and completely eliminate the Tibetan forces from the Western Regions. Later, he united with the ten Western Turks and secretly assisted the Turks to resist the Turkic invasion. ”

Wu Zetian nodded, "Although the ten Western Turkic tribes are also difficult to control from time to time, they are after all the native inhabitants of the Western Regions, and the wealth brought by the Silk Road is inseparable from their great contributions. In addition, they were also a buffer for the war between the Great Zhou and the Turks and Tibet. If they are destroyed, we will lose a huge amount of stable tax wealth. If they were completely conquered by the Tibetans or the Turks, the Great Zhou would be surrounded by two military powers, and it would be difficult for them to get ahead. Therefore, I agree with your strategy, and Da Zhou must send troops in advance to recover Gongyue City and recover the four towns of Anxi! ”

"Your Majesty is wise!" Xue Shao bowed his hand, feeling very relieved in his heart.

He knew in his heart that in order to take the initiative to send troops to the Western Regions under the current national conditions, he actually needed foresight and courage. Because Wu Zetian was still just a newly enthroned emperor, there were still many people inside and outside the court who cared about Li Tang's heart. Moreover, there is a cruel fact in front of us, since the founding of the Tang Dynasty, the Central Plains has always lost more than won the war against Tibet, and even Xue Rengui was once defeated in Dafeichuan. Now it is the strong opponent of Tubo that dominates the Western Regions, and it is not reckless for Wu Zetian to dare to work thousands of miles to fight this battle with Tubo at this time. She really showed courage that is extremely rare in a male emperor.

"Who's in charge?" When Wu Zetian asked this, he looked at Xue Shao.

Xue Shao understood what she meant, in her mind, to fight such a difficult and important battle, the first choice must be me Xue Shao himself. But now, I must not leave the court. Otherwise, when he comes back from this battle, it is very likely that Wu Chengji will have already entered the East Palace, and the gods will be changed to the world. Moreover, from a military point of view, he is not the best candidate for an expedition to the Western Regions, and someone is more suitable than himself.

So Xue Shao said: "Your Majesty, the candidate for the expedition has been planned in the minister's heart, but it is not completely certain. Please give the minister three days to think clearly, and then come back to your majesty. ”

"Good. Then in three days, we'll talk about the expedition. Wu Zetian also agreed simply, and said: "What needs to be determined now is that the Turkic mission can be released into the customs?" ”

"Yes." Xue Shao nodded and said, "The minister is sure that they can't repeat their old tricks and seize the Dadu Protectorate like they did when they invaded Lingzhou. After the Turkic mission entered the customs, he ordered Xue Ne to send a team of elite men and horses to escort them all the way to the capital. It is necessary not only to ensure their safety, but also to prevent them from stealing our military aircraft. ”

"Okay." Wu Zetian nodded in agreement, "Wan'er, you immediately draft your will." 600 miles expedited, issued in the capital of the palace. ”

"Wan'er obeys!"

Xue Shao talked with Wu Zetian about many details of the peace alliance and the expedition, and left the palace. At this time, it was already past noon, and Xue Shao returned to the Xia official office.

Yao Yuanchong had already returned from his annual leave, and he was busy with Su Wei dealing with martial arts. These two squires in charge of daily work are very capable, and Xiao Zhizhong, who is in charge of martial arts, is also conscientious. This saved Xue Shao a lot of energy, allowing him to concentrate on planning important military affairs.

After returning to the official office and sitting down, Xue Shao called Yao Yuanchong and said to him: "I want you to go to Zuowei in person, and ask the general Wang Xiaojie and Changshi Ashina Zhongjie to come to see me." ”

Yao Yuanchong was stunned for a moment, "How could Shang Shu suddenly remember to see that donkey?" ”

Xue Shao smiled, "Even you know that he is a donkey?" ”

Yao Yuanchong nodded, "That's still the same donkey, hating Xia Guan and the right guard to death." ”

"You just say it directly, isn't it over if he hates me Xue to death?" Xue Shao smiled and said, "Go and call someone." No matter how much they hate, Xia Guanshang has a call, and they dare not come. ”

Yao Yuanchong stood up, looking reluctant, "Do you have to send me, the squire, to run errands?" Can't you write a book? ”

"Are you responsible for the order if it comes back as a cripple?" Xue Shao sneered, "The squire is amazing now?" Even my Shangshu asked you to run an errand, but you can't call it anymore? ”

"No, I'll just go." Yao Yuanchong smiled bitterly and hurriedly slipped away.

Xue Shao sat on the big chair and took a long breath, and said in his heart, it's time to subdue Wang Xiaojie's donkey!