Chapter 23: The Imperially Appointed General (Second Update)

  This matter should be discussed by the ministers, how can Li Changguo ask? Li Changguo was stunned.

  Li Longji was smiling and sizing up Li Changguo with piercing eyes that didn't blink for a moment.

  Gao Lishi followed Li Longji for decades and was very familiar with his thoughts. He knew that Li Longji was testing Li Changgui, giving him a difficult problem to solve.

  An emperor like Li Longji, although disgusted with politics and no longer diligent in government affairs, is still astute and will not do useless things. He wants to test Li Changguo to see if he really has talent.

  If he passed this level, Li Changguo's official career would be much smoother; if not, Li Changguo's position in Li Longji's mind would decline somewhat, although Li Changguo's words made him determined to send troops to attack Shigucheng.

  "This..."

  Li Changguo naturally understood this point, he knew that if he wanted to prevent the An Shi Rebellion from happening, he had to have a very heavy weight in Li Longji's mind. This is a test, and also an opportunity, if through Li Longji's test, the benefits do not need to be said, think about it.

  Li Longji didn't urge him either, sat back on his throne, sizing up Li Changgui with a rather leisurely air.

  "Hmm!" Li Changguo's mind turned around and he had an idea. He said: "Your Majesty, I have a plan, perhaps it can be tried."

  "Oh!"

  Li Longji's eyebrows rose, like a sharp sword, somewhat unexpectedly.

  In his opinion, Li Changguo was talented, but making him determined to attack Shibao City was a very difficult problem, which could be said to be not much simpler than ascending to heaven.

  It is necessary to know that Wang Zhongxi opposed sending troops to Shicheng City, not because he did not know the benefits of taking down Shicheng City, but because he was afraid of paying a high price. If there was a way to reduce casualties and not pay a high price, Wang Zhongxi would have sent troops long ago.

  Think about it, a famous general like Xiang Wang Zhongxi is at a loss for what to do, but Li Changguo has already come up with a plan in the blink of an eye, how astonishing is that?

  Although Li Longji had experienced many ups and downs in his life, he had met countless strange people, among whom there were no lack of talented and intelligent individuals. When he heard these words, he was also quite surprised.

  Wang Zhongxi was a famous general of his generation, but he was stopped in front of Shibao City and couldn't take it. If Li Changguo really had a way to do it, no praise would be excessive. Gao Lishi also found it hard to believe, with eyes wide open, staring at Li Changguo.

  "The Art of War says: Attack where they are unprepared, go against their lack of preparation. The Tang Dynasty can start from this."

  Li Changguo spoke slowly and carefully, choosing his words with caution.

  "Attack by surprise, strike where they are unprepared? The Art of War does say that, but how do you actually achieve it?" Li Longji, who had studied military texts since he was young and was well-versed in the ways of war, asked pointedly.

  Attack by surprise, attack where they are unprepared, it is clearly written in the Art of War, anyone who has read the Art of War knows this, the question is how to achieve this point? This is the most important thing.

  Li Longji saw things clearly and quickly, which was not ordinary. Li Changguo secretly praised him and said, "We can try a night raid."

  "Night raid?"

  Li Longji's eyebrows were tightly knitted, and he was silent for a long time, his eyes flashing with uncertainty.

  Li Changguo didn't say anything, he just waited.

  Gao Lishi's eyebrows were tightly knitted as he looked at Li Changgui and then at Li Longji.

  He followed Li Longji for decades and knew him better than anyone else. Li Changgui's few words made Li Longji hesitate, which was extremely rare in his decades-long imperial career, leaving him astonished once again.

  "Brush!"

  Li Longji suddenly stood up, his eyes bursting with a fierce light, like a heavenly sword breaking through the air, extremely frightening, emitting an aura of intimidation from head to toe, the whole person was like a sword piercing the sky.

  “……”

  Gao Lishi followed Li Longji for decades and rarely saw him act like this, so he was shocked that his chin almost hit the ground.

  However, what made him even more astonished was yet to come. Suddenly, Li Longji shouted at him: "Gao Lishi, Li Changgui has an order: Whatever Li Changgui says, must not be leaked out, not even a single word!"

  This sentence is no different from listing Li Changguo's proposal as the highest secret of the Tang Dynasty, which is also hard to believe. If Gao Lishi hadn't encountered too many unexpected things today, he would definitely be amazed again.

  "Haha!"

  Li Longji sized up Li Changguo, laughing heartily: "The night raid on Shiguo City may not necessarily succeed, but it is the only feasible strategy for the Great Tang at present!"

  A night raid is a good method, but for Shi Bo City, it may not be successful because the terrain of Shi Bo City is too special. In history, Geshu Han used the night raid method to take down Shi Bo City in one fell swoop, which was actually a lucky coincidence and was criticized by later generations.

  However, as long as it exists, there is reason!

  Gao Suhan was able to capture the Stone Fortress City in one move, and the night raid was successful, which was paved with the bodies of tens of thousands of soldiers. Tens of thousands of Tang troops died in front of the Stone Fortress City, making Tibet overconfident, thinking that the Stone Fortress City was impregnable and that the Tang Dynasty could not capture it. Who would have thought that Gao Suhan used a night raid tactic and succeeded in one move?

  As Li Longji said, using a night raid may not necessarily succeed, but this is the only method that can be used by the Tang Dynasty at present. Therefore, this method must not be leaked, and once it is leaked, Tubo will have a defense, and there will not even be a little opportunity.

  "Hmm!" Li Longji sized up Li Changguo, extremely pleased, nodded heavily and said: "If the night raid is successful, Tang will reduce a lot of casualties! This matter, I will have a good talk with Wang Zhongyi."

  The conversation reached this point, and the tone suddenly changed: "Pass on the imperial edict to recall Fu Mengling, promote Gao Xianzhi to be the Commander-in-chief of the Anxi Protectorate, and prepare for all matters related to war with Dashi!"

  Fu Longzhi was the governor of Anxi Protectorate, but he didn't take care of things. The core figure of Anxi Protectorate was Gao Xianzhi. After the victory of the Small Balur battle, it was expected that Gao Xianzhi would be promoted to the position of governor of Anxi Protectorate, and Li Changgong wasn't surprised at all.

  "As for you...” Li Longji looked at Li Changgui and said slowly, “There's no need to return to the Anxi Protectorate, just stay in Chang'an."

  This remark sounded like heavenly music in Li Changguo's ears and was exceptionally pleasant to hear!

  Li Changguo wanted to prevent the outbreak of the An Shi Rebellion, and it would be best if he could stay in Chang'an and think of a way. Successfully staying in Chang'an brought him one step closer to preventing the outbreak of the An Shi Rebellion.

  Thump! Thump!

  Li Changguo felt his heart racing wildly.

  If he had succeeded in preventing the outbreak of the An Shi Rebellion, then the Tang Dynasty would not have declined; if the Tang Dynasty did not decline, how long could the Arab Empire last?

  The course of world history will be changed!

  "You have the bravery of Qin Qiong and Wei Wuji, don't waste it, go to the Longwu Army!" Li Longji's eyes sparkled with spirit.

  "Dragon Martial Army?"

  Li Changguo was quite surprised.

  Longwu Army, that was the most elite army of the Tang Dynasty. Ordinary people couldn't join it easily. Even Li Changguo, who was brave and skilled in battle, wasn't necessarily selected.

  "You were originally a school lieutenant, and the military achievements you have made are enough to be promoted to general. Now, let's make you a close guard of the imperial family, a feathered forest official." Li Longji formally promoted Li Changguo to general.

  Xin Xun Yi Wei Yu Lin Lang Jiang, Zheng Wu Pin Shang, and does not count as a high-ranking official. However, this is the general appointed by Li Longji himself, which is different from others.