In the 20th year of Zhenguan, the founder of the Tang Dynasty, Emperor Li Yuan of the Tang Dynasty, after witnessing the development of the Tang Dynasty from its initial establishment to a prosperous age step by step.
He passed away in Lijiazhuang outside Chang'an City with a smile on his face at the age of eighty!
His temple name is Gaozu and his posthumous title is Emperor Taiwu.
In October of the same year, Emperor Gaozu was buried in Xianling, and Queen Taimu's nephew Dou was buried.
Emperor Li Shimin of the Tang Dynasty was so distraught that the whole country mourned.
However, fortunately, the Supreme Emperor has decreed that marriages across the country must not be delayed just because of him!
There was not much turmoil in the Tang Dynasty.
However, with the death of the Supreme Emperor, the King of Han Li Yuanchang was extremely frightened. After the Supreme Emperor was buried, he immediately ran back to his fiefdom and immediately fell ill. Several famous doctors went to treat him, but there was no improvement!
Upon hearing this, Li Chengqian, who had become the governor of Zhengzhou, simply smiled.
"Why is Uncle Wang so scared?"
Wang Xuance, the governor of Zhengzhou, smiled coldly, "I have offended my master and also offended the governor. The king of Han has been worried for so many years. Now that the emperor who can protect him has passed away, how can he not be afraid?"
"Hmph, the Supreme Emperor has just passed away, why is this governor so anxious? Uncle Han still wants to be so miserable!"
Li Chengqian smiled lightly, picked up the document in his hand and read it.
"Xuance, how long does it take to get from Zhengzhou to Haizhou Cement Avenue?"
"Back to the Governor, the cement road has been repaired outside Haizhou City. It will be repaired in two days!"
"Very good! In this way, our Datang Dynasty will build another shipyard in Haizhou, and our Datang Navy will save a few days of effort when going to Nanyang!"
"Qingzhou Shipyard now has 5,000 craftsmen and 26 docks. It is already a bit crowded. It is time to build another shipyard!"
"That's right, the big thief country turned out to be very aggressive towards me in the Tang Dynasty. Uncle Wang of Hejian led 20,000 navy troops and captured two big thief countries directly on the sea. This made the big thief country terrified all day long and had trouble sleeping and eating.
!”
Speaking of this, Li Chengqian, Wang Xuance, Fang Yizhi and others all looked proud.
With the rapid development of Datang in recent years, Datang caravans have also traveled all over the world.
Now, even ordinary people in the Tang Dynasty know that in the entire world, only the Dashi Country in the far west can be considered a big country.
But it is only a big country, and it does not pose any threat to the current Tang Dynasty.
At least, the great food country in the far west could not defeat the Tang Dynasty, but the Tang Dynasty could attack the great food country by sea and land.
Of course, Li Chengqian, Wang Xuance and others have now become the feudal officials of the Tang Dynasty!
As early as five years ago, Li Chengqian was granted the title of Grand Governor of Zhengzhou, overseeing the military affairs of Zheng, Bian, Xu, Shang, Song, Xu, Chen, Hai and other nine states. And Wang Xuance, Fang Yizhi, Changsun Chong, Du Gou and others,
He was named the governor of Zhengzhou, the governor of Haizhou, the governor of Xuzhou, and the governor of Chenzhou. He was regarded as Li Chengqian's team of civil servants.
Yuchi Baolin, Li Xiaogong, Xue Rengui, Cheng Chusi and others also began to lead their own troops.
Li Chengqian has worshiped his father since he was a child, so the situation of his team is similar to that of Li Shimin when he was the King of Qin.
However, compared with the troops, generals, and civil servants he controlled, Li Chengqian was like a housekeeper, while Li Shimin was the King of Qin who controlled half of the Tang Dynasty.
However, Li Chengqian's real situation is much better than Li Shimin's original situation.
At least, the current emperor Li Shimin of the Tang Dynasty, no matter how the other two legitimate sons behaved, his idea of letting the crown prince Li Chengqian succeed has never changed. Moreover, the Tang Dynasty fell from the top, and most of the civil servants and generals had no regard for Li Chengqian, the Tang Dynasty emperor.
The prince was also very satisfied.
As long as the current emperor of the Tang Dynasty, Li Shimin, dies, Li Chengqian can successfully succeed to the throne.
And Li Chengqian had no idea of usurping the throne in advance.
Just when Li Chengqian was chatting with Wang Xuance while handling the affairs of these states.
An internal servant trotted in from outside and said to Li Chengqian hastily.
"Your Majesty has issued an edict for the Governor of Zhengzhou, Li Chengqian, to return to Chang'an as soon as possible!"
"Your Majesty summoned this governor?"
Li Chengqian was shocked. He had seen the chamberlain in front of him several times. He was an chamberlain who served the saint in Liangyi Hall.
"Your Highness, Your Majesty asks you to put down your affairs and set off back as soon as possible!"
The chamberlain quickly saluted again and reported carefully.
"I just returned to Zhengzhou from Chang'an a month ago. Do you know why the saint is so anxious?" Li Chengqian asked curiously.
"Back to Your Highness, I really don't know, but it seems to be related to the Great Food Country!" the chamberlain quickly replied.
"Big food?"
Li Chengqian pondered for a moment, then turned around and gave instructions to the chamberlain beside him.
"You go down and rest for a while. I will give you instructions before I go with you."
Hearing this, the waiter quickly left.
"Let you handle these matters for me first. I will go to Chang'an today!" Li Chengqian ordered Wang Xuance.
"Don't worry, Commander-in-Chief!"
Wang Xuance slightly bowed his hands.
Li Chengqian nodded with confidence, "I think this time, the Tang Dynasty may be conquering Dashi again. This time I will definitely compete for the position of general manager of the army!"
"In this case, Xuance will first congratulate the governor for getting his wish!"
Wang Xuance was also overjoyed. He had not faced a large army for many years.
If Li Chengqian becomes the general manager of the army that conquers the Great Food, he will definitely be able to accompany the army on the expedition.
"However, on the way back this time, I also ask the Governor to bring along the Musketeers Battalion and 300 personal guards!"
"The saint ordered me to go back this time, so I don't need to bring so many personal guards, right?" Li Chengqian said hesitantly.
"Your Highness, if you are not afraid of ten thousand, you are afraid of the worst. Cheng Chusi, Chang Sun Chong and others have entrusted your Highness's safety to me, and we will never let any accident happen to Your Highness!"
Wang Xuance looked solemn.
"That's it, I'll take it with me!"
Li Chengqian sighed softly and shouted toward the door: "Li Fu, order the Musketeers Battalion and personal guards to assemble and follow me back to Chang'an!"
"Yes, Grand Governor!"
There was a reply from outside the door, and immediately there was a commotion in the entire Zhengzhou Governor's Mansion.
A quarter of an hour later.
Li Chengqian sat on a carriage, escorted by 300 personal guards and 500 musket battalion soldiers, and quickly headed to Chang'an.
The journey was uneventful.
Three days later.
Li Chengqian hurriedly walked into Liangyi Hall,
"My son, please see your father!"
"Gao Ming is back? Get up quickly!"
Li Shimin was obviously very happy to see Li Chengqian.
Hearing this, Li Chengqian straightened up and asked Li Shimin.
"I wonder what the important thing is for Aye to recall his son and ministers like this?"
"I have decided to personally conquer Dashi and let you supervise the country!"
Li Shimin said directly.
"Father wants to conquer in person?"
Li Chengqian was shocked and a little unbelievable. This was completely contrary to what he thought!
"Father, I wonder what evil deeds that great thief country has done to make my father so furious?"
"The great thieves country dared not listen to the truce edict of the Great Tang Dynasty and brought a large army to occupy the Persian capital of Ctesiphon! Moreover, it dared not to pay tribute to the Great Tang Dynasty. As a country that refuses to accept the civilized barbarians, the only choice is to beat it severely.
A good meal will make it obedient!"
Seeing Li Shimin's angry expression, Li Chengqian felt helpless for a while.
After working together in the officialdom for so many years, he could tell at a glance that his father had no anger at all. He even suspected that his father was addicted to war and wanted to lead an army to fight!
However, seeing that there was only one big country like Dashi left in the world that could compete with the Tang Dynasty, he, the prince of the Tang Dynasty, also wanted to lead troops to fight!
"It's just a small barbarian country that is eating a lot. How can it be worth it that my father, the Khan of Heaven, personally leads an army to conquer it? Please ask my father to give me an army of 50,000, so that I can teach the king who eats a lot to come to the Tang Dynasty in person and fight against it.
Father, please forgive me!"
Um?
Li Shimin seemed to feel something. After staring at Li Chengqian for a while, he glared with an angry expression.
"You rebellious son, do you think your Eastern Palace is powerful enough to resist me? I have reached the age of knowing my destiny, and I will not be able to move for a few years. I just want to take advantage of the Tang Dynasty's strong soldiers and strong horses, the prosperity of the country and the prosperity of the people, and lead me again
I, the King of the Tang Dynasty, have fought for my Tang Dynasty, why do you still want to fight with me?"
"Father makes atonement. Cheng Qian is just worried about his body! Whether it's through the Western Regions or the sea, it's tens of thousands of miles away from the Tang Dynasty. It's just a small barbarian country, why do you have to suffer like this?
?”
Li Chengqian quickly said with a smile on his face.
"Fart, did you know that I haven't led troops to fight in more than 20 years?"
This time, Li Shimin was not prepared to reason with Li Chengqian, but said directly: "I just want to inform you that an edict will be issued to the East Palace tomorrow!"
"this?"
Hearing this, Li Chengqian was startled.
Then, thinking of something, he quickly said again: "Father, if you want to lead a military expedition in person, none of the civil and military officials in the DPRK will agree to such a major event!"
"Why don't you agree?"
Li Shimin was furious again, "Now that the Tang Dynasty is so powerful, I just go out with an army of 100,000 people. Who among them dares to disagree?"
Li Chengqian: "..."
He found that facing his somewhat unreasonable father, he, the prince of the Tang Dynasty and the governor of Zhengzhou, had nothing to do.
"Okay, you just came back to Chang'an, so go down and rest first!"
Li Shimin didn't give Li Chengqian a chance to react, so he kicked him out!
"My son, go and pay your respects to your mother!"
Li Chengqian responded helplessly, and after walking out of Liangyi Hall, he quickly walked to Lizheng Hall.
Under the careful care of Divine Doctor Sun, although Empress Changsun's qi disease was not cured, it did not get worse, nor did she die.
When Li Chengqian arrived at the Li Zheng Hall, Empress Changsun was sitting on the sofa, holding several smooth wooden sticks with bright yellow yarns wrapped around them, knitting a sweater for Li Shimin.
"My son, please give my regards to your mother!"
"Gao Ming, are you back?"
Seeing her eldest son, Queen Changsun's eyes showed obvious joy.
"Xi'er, give the prince a glass of the bottle of honey brought from Bazhou!"
"Yes, Queen!"
Soon, a maid held a cup of fragrant and sweet golden honey and placed it in front of Li Chengqian.
"Thank you, grandma!"
Li Chengqian quickly thanked him.
Suddenly, Queen Changsun stopped what she was doing, looked at Li Chengqian and asked: "Gao Ming, I see you don't look good, but what happened?"
"Auntie, my father wants to conquer Dashi personally!"
Li Chengqian didn't hide anything and said it directly. Now in the Tang Dynasty, if there is anyone who can persuade his father, apart from the wife of Lijiazhuang, he is the only one who can persuade his mother.
It's a pity that the wife in Lijiazhuang never likes to talk to his father, so this matter can only be dealt with by his mother!
Sure enough, Queen Changsun frowned slightly, and after thinking for a moment, she slowly said: "I heard that the great food is in the far west, tens of thousands of miles away from the Tang Dynasty!"
"Aniang is wise!"
"With such a long distance, why would Your Majesty want to conquer it personally?"
"Nowadays, our Tang Dynasty has strong soldiers and strong horses, which is the scene of the prosperous age. And you, the prince who is known as a wise man among the officials of the Tang Dynasty, are here. If Your Majesty really wants to lead the expedition in person, the civil and military officials will not stop it so much!"
"well……"
As she spoke, Queen Changsun sighed softly.
Seeing this, Li Chengqian felt something was wrong.
"Auntie, what are you doing?"
Empress Changsun explained helplessly: "Your Majesty usually likes to lead troops to fight, but since he became the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty, he has completely stopped planning to lead military expeditions in person.
You, Aye, have endured it for twenty years, and no one can stop him this time!"
"But such a long distance, my father's body"
"It doesn't matter, the medical school where Divine Doctor Sun works has trained thousands of doctors for our Datang. Our Datang has no shortage of doctors and medicinal materials. When the time comes, bring more doctors and medicinal materials with you!"
"..."
Li Chengqian also didn't expect that even his mother-in-law couldn't advise his father on this matter!
He could only pray in his heart that all the civil and military officials in the court could persuade his father.
Unfortunately, at the court meeting the next day, when they heard that they were going to attack the Great Thieves Kingdom, all the generals screamed excitedly, not caring that His Majesty was going to personally conquer the country, or the danger involved.
And among the civil servants.
Fang Xuanling, Changsun Wuji, Du Ruhui, Wei Zheng and others were all old and had been greeted by Li Shimin in advance. In addition, they also understood Li Shimin's thoughts, so they had no objection at all.
The remaining newly promoted officials, although aware that there was something wrong with this, saw that none of their immediate superiors had any objections.
Therefore, it became a foregone conclusion that the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty would personally conquer Dashi. Li Chengqian was the only one standing below with a bitter look on his face.
I hope that the great thieves' country can become stronger and not be easily destroyed by my father.
The Tang Dynasty has been stable for more than ten years. Many soldiers who are eager to make military exploits and obtain more fertile land and money have long been either making babies or beating them up all day long!
As the edicts were issued one after another, Datang, the largest super overlord in the world today, began to operate quickly and orderly.
An army of 50,000 people gathered in Liangzhou, and then led by the British Duke Li Ji, headed to the Western Regions to prevent Da Shi from counterattacking the Tang Dynasty from land.
In addition, there are large carriages, or various types of firearms and bombs, heading towards Haizhou.
The strong soldiers of Zhechong Prefecture, under the orders of the cavalry messengers, gathered in an orderly manner from various prefectures and cities, and then headed to the nearest city near the sea.
There are also giant steel ships departing from Qingzhou Port and heading to Haizhou!