Hearing Changsun Wuji's question, Li Xiang also put down the chopsticks in his hand. After seeing this scene, Li Tai was very angry. He had just delivered such a long speech, but you didn't listen carefully, but instead ate with your mouth full of grease.
Li Xiang hasn't eaten since he came out this morning and is very hungry now. How can he have the time to listen to Li Tai's nonsense? What's more, what you say is of no use at all.
According to the course of history, Tuyuhun never sincerely submitted to the Tang Dynasty. Although they were granted marriage, they still fought in the end. Instead of this, why not fight from the beginning?
What's more, in Li Xiang's mind, the only flaw of the Tang Dynasty is the many marriages of foreign princesses. We couldn't do anything about it before, but now that we have traveled here, there will be no such thing as marriages of foreign princesses in the Tang Dynasty in the future.
Of course, if the neighboring countries are willing to marry their princesses, then we can still allow it. But letting our women go to your place is impossible...
Li Xiang has always been a man of many opinions when it comes to women. What's yours can come to us, and what's ours can't go to you. This is our philosophy. If you don't agree, come and fight.
"Uncle, I only understand one thing: those who are not of my race must have different hearts."
Li Xiang wiped his mouth and uttered these words. The expression on Changsun Wuji's face also changed drastically. Although Li Xiang did not say much, these few words also expressed his attitude.
In the early years of Zhenguan, the Tang Dynasty was relatively weak, especially with the Turkic army pressing in from the north. Even though Li Shimin was a great leader, he had no way to realize his ambitions, and had to suffer the Shame of Weishui.
As for other neighboring countries, the Tang Dynasty also adopted a conciliatory policy, trying to stabilize them with the policy of marriage alliance. However, now that the Dong Turks have been destroyed and the national strength of the Tang Dynasty has soared, it is indeed a bit unrealistic to continue with the policy of marriage alliance.
"You're talking nonsense, kid. If you say so, then we'll have to conquer all the surrounding areas. Don't forget, even if a country is great, it will perish if it is warlike!"
Li Tai immediately seized on Li Xiang's words.
"Second Uncle, don't forget that even if the world is peaceful, forgetting war will lead to danger. Are Tuyuhun and our Tang Dynasty on the same page? Although we have sent the crown prince to Chang'an to study in recent years, has the friction in the border areas decreased? You are counting on him to resist the Tubo army, aren't you afraid that he will ally with Tubo in the future?"
Li Xiang did not retreat at all. He knew that Zhangsun Wuji was an important official in the court. The period of Li Shimin was the time when the national strength of the Tang Dynasty grew the fastest. If the national policy of the Tang Dynasty was changed at this time, a stable southwestern border would definitely be left for future generations. Tubo would not have invaded the border of the Tang Dynasty during the period of Emperor Dezong of Tang, massacred the four border states, and even threatened the safety of Chang'an at one time.
This kid is indeed not an ordinary person!
This is Changsun Wuji's evaluation of Li Xiang. Although the strategy to pacify Goguryeo may have come up with in a short time, his analysis of Tubo was definitely a stroke of genius.
Changsun Wuji once heard from a military general that Tubo was not a small country. It had hundreds of thousands of soldiers and had always been rebellious against the Tang Dynasty. However, they lived high in the mountains, and even if the Tang Dynasty wanted to conquer them, it would be extremely difficult.
After all, Changsun Wuji was an old minister who had followed Li Shimin in his campaigns all over the country, and he didn't want to leave this hidden danger to future generations, so at this moment he was inclined to Li Xiang's side.
"So we must win over Tuyuhun and have them guard the southwest gate for us. Implementing the marriage policy is imperative. If he becomes the son-in-law of the Tang Dynasty, will he still have any rebellious intentions?"
After hearing Li Tai's words, Changsun Wuji and Li Xiang both frowned, but Changsun Chong listened with great interest. After all, the policy of marriage alliances also helped a lot in the early years of the Tang Dynasty.
Although Changsun Pingting, who was standing by, didn't know about the border affairs, she felt a little uncomfortable at the thought of a girl marrying far away.
Moreover, in Changsun Pingting's view, the affairs between countries are the business of you men, so why bother involving women? Besides, can marriage really bring peace?
If the two countries go to war again, the women who are married off to foreign countries may be sent to the guillotine at any time. This kind of thing has happened in history. How many women who were married off to foreign countries in the Han Dynasty had a good ending?
"A son-in-law is half a son, do you understand?"
Seeing that Li Xiang didn't say anything, Li Tai became more excited.
"Second uncle always says the first half of a sentence. Why do you forget the second half? Hasn't your second uncle ever heard that a son-in-law's crying is like a donkey farting?"
Li Xiang's words made Changsun Chong laugh. Changsun Pingting frowned. This kid was too outspoken in his words, but his words were blunt but his logic was sound.
Although the son-in-law is also considered a member of the family, as long as he is not involved in core events, his interests can be protected. However, if there is a conflict with the core interests of the family, the son-in-law can be abandoned at any time. This is not a secret in a large family.
The same is true between countries. If you are powerful, your son-in-law will treat you as his father-in-law, but if you are not powerful, people may come to eat you.
"Xiang'er, do you mean to fight?"
Changsun Wuji was too lazy to watch the quarrel between the uncle and nephew and continued to ask his own questions. In the past, Changsun Wuji was also inclined to marry a foreign princess, but after listening to Li Xiang's words today, and considering some recent moves of Li Shimin, Changsun Wuji felt that he might need to consider it carefully.
When Changsun Wuji asked this question, Li Tai and Changsun Chong looked disdainful, thinking that this might be Changsun Wuji mocking Li Xiang because this went against the national policy of the early Tang Dynasty.
But Changsun Pingting felt that Li Xiang had already won. You two uncles and nephews, one said you wanted to fight, and the other said you wanted to fight. Changsun Wuji did not ask Li Tai, but asked Li Xiang. Doesn't this mean that the balance has begun to tilt for Changsun Wuji?
"Xiang'er, I'd like to ask you a question. In the Tuyuhun land, which one would allow you to sleep better? Zakerte leading the troops or General Li Jing leading the troops?"
Li Xiang did not answer Changsun Wuji's question, but instead asked another question.
"You're just being unreasonable, kid. Uncle asked if we wanted to fight or make peace, so what's the point of asking about sleeping? You're such an idiot..."
Li Tai started to curse immediately, but he was also a smart man. Before he finished speaking, he had already understood Li Xiang's answer and quickly shut his mouth to prevent the whole family from seeing how stupid he was.
But he was too slow to respond. From Changsun Pingting's expression, Li Tai already knew what his cousin was thinking.
It's all because of this damned brat. He made me look bad. I can't keep him around. He's just a nuisance...