At first, no one understood what the general meant, but soon everyone realized that if we attacked, both countries would surely fall into chaos. Although we could gain two pieces of land, there would be many local people who hated us, and many of them would most likely destroy the food and would never wait for us to take it.
But if we give them a chance to survive, for example, if we make them vassal states of the Tang Dynasty, then these two countries will offer food and money. In this way, we don't need to go back to the country to transport food, and we can save a lot of manpower and material resources in the process. It won't be too late to swallow them up after our rear is stabilized. Anyway, these two countries are meat on our lips, and we can eat them however we want.
Of course, if these two countries perform better, it would be fine to let them do the same as Tuyuhun. We have built some military camps in various places in Tuyuhun over the past two years. Now, even if Tuyuhun wants to rebel, many people within them are unwilling to do so, because they have already been in line with various institutions of the Tang Dynasty, and rebellion is not in their interests. Such policies can also be implemented in Silla and Baekje.
Of course, everything depends on whether these people are sensible or not?
If you are sensible, we will let you be a puppet government to help us rule the people on this land, so that everyone can live a better life. But if you are not sensible, we can attack you at any time.
Before the last war ended, Li Xiang wanted to take down these two countries directly, but after Goguryeo had been stable for such a long time, Li Xiang changed his mind. If we take them down directly, there will be too many sequelae. Take the current instability in Goguryeo as an example. It causes us casualties almost every day. If we support a puppet government, it may be much better than our current situation.
This is also one of the reasons why Li Xiang temporarily changed his policy. General Li Jing also strongly supported it. After careful consideration, the others finally made a decision. Of course, there are variables, and it depends on how the people of these two countries decide.
Early the next morning, General Li Jing returned with a large amount of gold, silver and treasures, as well as a number of wounded and sick soldiers. These people were slightly injured in the war. Now that a large number of young men from the court had arrived, there was no need for these slightly wounded soldiers to continue to persist. They had all gained their own glory and just needed to be well taken care of after returning home.
There were also some people who took off their armor directly. Their bodies were no longer suitable for staying in the army, but these people were allocated 200 acres of land locally. Ordinary people received 100 acres of land, and these soldiers received 200 acres of land. If their families came, they would be given an additional 100 acres of land. Anyway, all the land belonged to Goguryeo, and we were just being generous to others.
Moreover, Li Xiang was willing to let these soldiers settle down locally. Although they could not follow the regular troops to fight, Li Xiang would soon form a security force in the local area. These people were considered the best among the security forces. Moreover, they were all retired from the Tang Dynasty army, and their loyalty to the court was unquestionable. With them active in the local area, this land would not be in chaos.
After three cannon shots, General Li Jing led the team on the road. When leaving the military camp, General Li Jing was a little bit unbelievable. It has only been half a year. Have we solved the problem of Goguryeo?
You have to know that Goguryeo is not a simple enemy. It has troubled us Han dynasties for two generations. Even a million-strong army failed to take down this country. Instead, we suffered heavy losses. Li Shimin even retreated from Maicheng here. I didn't expect that in just half a year, we had already taken down their capital and arrested all the royal family members.
Among the accompanying team, General Li Jing brought many royal family members. They could not settle down in the local area to prevent them from causing more trouble, so they had to be taken back to Chang'an. As for how Li Shimin would deal with them, we don't care about that.
"Your Highness, tell me the truth, do you feel freer now?"
Qin Huaiyu had been standing next to Li Xiang. When he could no longer see General Li Jing's troops, Qin Huaiyu suddenly said this.
Qin Huaiyu had a reason to ask this. Just now, joy had overflowed from the corners of Li Xiang's eyes. It was no wonder. General Li Jing was indeed the mainstay of the country, but Li Xiang had to ask for instructions before doing anything. When Tuyuhun and Tubo were fighting, Li Xiang could make the decisions on everything. It was nothing like now when he had a rope tied behind him. Young people all understood the discomfort of this.
"What nonsense are you talking about? Hurry up and do your own thing. Go and inform the two southern countries that I want to meet with their kings in person. Give them five days. If they are unwilling to come, don't blame me for being rude."
Li Xiang looked to the south. The areas of the two countries were not large, at most equivalent to a state of the Tang Dynasty.
"I'll send someone to notify them immediately. They've actually been waiting for news these days. They're extremely nervous in the border area, but our spies have reported back that the leaders of both countries are also very scared."
Qin Huaiyu said disdainfully that although there was no chaos in the two countries, the people were still unsure and many of them had already fled to the seaside, hoping that when the Tang army arrived, they would be able to get on board and leave.
"Your Highness, the Dengzhou navy has arrived."
While the two were chatting, Li Wu came back from outside the camp. Li Wu went to convey Li Xiang's order, which was to let the Dengzhou navy rush to Goguryeo.
The last time Li Shimin attacked Goguryeo, the people of Dengzhou Navy accompanied him throughout the whole process. However, after Li Shimin was defeated, the Dengzhou Navy seemed to be forgotten. In recent years, due to lack of funds, the Dengzhou Navy began to decline. The sea transportation during the Tang Dynasty was not very good, and Li Xiang did not remember any shining points of the Dengzhou Navy in history.
When Li Xiang submitted a memorial to Li Shimin, saying that he wanted to rebuild the Dengzhou Navy, Li Shimin didn't even think about it and directly appointed Li Xiang as the commander-in-chief of the Dengzhou Navy. However, there was a prerequisite, which was that he must not spend the court's money and directly handed the navy over to Li Xiang.