"Don't worry, Your Highness, as long as the Tang Dynasty uses troops against Goguryeo, most of the soldiers and horses around Chang'an will be transferred away. If there are no reinforcements then, it will be a matter of time to break through the palace gate." Han Wen said with a smile.
"What you are talking about is that if the Tang Dynasty will launch troops against Goguryeo, what if my father never sends troops? Should we keep waiting?" Li Tai said angrily.
"What if Goguryeo sends troops to the Tang Dynasty?" Han Wen said with a smile.
"How could Goguryeo send troops to the Tang Dynasty?" Li Tai said in disbelief.
Although Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty failed in his three expeditions to Goguryeo, it also greatly damaged Goguryeo's vitality. He has been very honest in these years.
The king of Goguryeo even wanted to send his daughter to Li Shimin as his concubine.
But he was rejected by Li Shimin.
"Of course the current King of Goguryeo doesn't dare, but what if Goguryeo changes its king?" Han Wen said.
Li Tai looked at Han Wen with some doubts. The King of Goguryeo seems to be in his forties now, and I heard that he is in good health. He shouldn't die in a short time, right?
"The Cui family's business in Goguryeo is in partnership with Yeon Gaesumun, the son of Yuan Taizuo, Molizhi, Goguryeo. Yeon Gaesumun is very ambitious and has always wanted to invade the Central Plains. However, he is not in power now, but his father His health is not good and he probably won't live long. Once Yuan Taizu dies, Yuan Gaisuwen will be able to control the troops of the Yuan family. Your Highness should know what the Yuan family represents in Goguryeo, right?" Han Wen said with a smile.
Li Tai naturally knew what the Yuan family represented in Goguryeo.
The Yuan family controlled half of Goguryeo's troops and horses, and could be said to be stronger than the King of Goguryeo.
Although the King of Goguryeo also controlled half of the troops, although those generals supported him, it did not mean that they were all loyal to the King of Goguryeo.
In fact, this is easy to understand. Those generals who did not want to join the Yuan family could only support the King of Goguryeo in order to maintain balance.
"Even if Yeon Gae So-moon rebels after taking power, who knows how long it will take for him to stabilize the situation," Li Tai said.
"Your Highness should know that Goguryeo is not far from the grassland, and the Tang Dynasty's invasion of the grassland made Yuan Gaisuwen feel threatened. He wanted to send troops to aid the Western Turks, but was rejected by the King of Goguryeo and Yuan Taizuo. But he did not I am willing to contact the Cui family to find out if the Tang Dynasty plans to launch troops against Goguryeo. If the Cui family reveals that the Tang Dynasty is ready to launch troops against Goguryeo after conquering the grasslands, does your highness think the King of Goguryeo will send troops to assist the Western Turks?"
"According to His Majesty's temperament, Goguryeo intervened in the grassland war. How can you let Goguryeo go when Your Majesty frees up his hands?" Han Wen said with a smile.
Li Tai's eyes lit up. If it was true as the Korean said, Goguryeo suddenly sent troops when the Tang Dynasty was fighting with the Western Turks, and it was possible that the Tang army was caught off guard.
When Li Shimin frees up his hands, he will definitely send troops to Goguryeo.
Li Tai said bitterly: "Tell the family, the sooner this matter is done, the better. If it can be explained that Goguryeo intercepted and killed the prince, I will promise Goguryeo that when I succeed to the throne, I will allocate the land of the three states to Goguryeo." .”
The prefectures in the Tang Dynasty were different from the prefectures in the Han Dynasty. Seriously, they were almost the same as the counties in the Han Dynasty. Those Shangzhous were even larger than the counties in the Han Dynasty.
"Yes! However, His Highness the Crown Prince is going to be escorted by 10,000 soldiers and horses, and there are hundreds of thousands of troops in front of him. It is probably difficult for Goguryeo to get around, so Your Highness should not have too much hope." Han Wen said.
Although he said this, Han Wen knew that it was impossible for the Cui family to really let Goguryeo intercept and kill Li Chengqian.
For the Cui family, they simply did not want Li Tai to inherit the throne through normal means.
Only by seizing the throne through mutiny, Li Tai would purge the civil servants and generals in the court, and the Cui family could take the opportunity to install people from the Cui family in power.
…
"My son, please give your regards to your mother!" Li Chengqian bowed and saluted.
Although Li Chengqian was a little resentful towards Li Shimin, he respected Empress Changsun very much and would come to greet her every morning and evening, never missing her.
"Gao Ming is here, sit down quickly." Empress Changsun said with a smile.
She knew that Li Shimin sent Li Chengqian to reward the army and what it meant, so she was in a very good mood.
"Thank you, Queen Mother." Li Chengqian sat down under Queen Changsun.
"Mother, my father has sent his sons to reward the army. We will set off tomorrow. I can't pay my respects to my mother. I also ask my mother to forgive me." Li Chengqian said.
"Of course we have to take state affairs as our top priority. The queen is doing well and there is no need to ask for greetings every day." Empress Changsun paused and said, "Gao Ming, you don't know much about military affairs. After you go, be sure to read more and talk less."
"My dear sir, please remember this!" Li Chengqian responded.
"You are not young anymore. When the war on the grassland is over, it will be almost time for you to get married later." Empress Changsun said with a smile.
…
Early on the next morning, Li Chengqian did not go to attend the morning court. Instead, he wore armor and left Chang'an City under the protection of guards.
Outside Chang'an City, Zhang Liang led 10,000 cavalry and waited for Li Chengqian's arrival.
After receiving the news that Li Chengqian was about to arrive, he quickly dismounted his horse, waited for Li Chengqian to approach, bowed and saluted, and said: "Your Majesty, Zhang Liang, greets His Highness the Crown Prince."
Li Chengqian dismounted and helped Zhang Liang up, and said with a smile: "You don't need to be polite to Duke Yun. I have to rely on Duke Yun all the way."
"I don't dare. It is my duty to protect His Highness the Crown Prince." Zhang Liang said.
"It's getting late, let's go first." Li Chengqian said.
"yes!"
…
Two hours later, the army had marched dozens of miles and it was already noon.
Zhang Liang rode up to Li Chengqian and said, "Your Highness, it's already noon. There is a county town not far ahead. Please come to the city to have a meal and rest."
It's summer now and the weather is very hot, not to mention wearing armor.
What Zhang Liang admired very much was that although Li Chengqian was sweating profusely, he did not complain or ask for a break along the way.
He was originally worried that Li Chengqian would not be able to endure the hardship and would delay his trip.
However, if Li Chengqian didn't mention rest, he couldn't let Li Chengqian keep rushing like this. Otherwise, Li Chengqian would suffer, and neither would the soldiers.
Li Chengqian saw a mountain forest not far away and said: "The entry of the army into the city is too disturbing to the people, so why not just rest there and use some dry food."
"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince loves the people like his own son, which is really a blessing to the Tang Dynasty." Zhang Liang said with admiration.
Zhang Liang's words came from the bottom of his heart and were not meant to be flattering.
Zhang Liang served as governor in many places before he was transferred back to Chang'an to serve as Guanglu Qing.
During his tenure, he often secretly sent his subordinates to detect the good and evil under his rule, restrained the strong and powerful, and provided care for the poor and weak, so he was praised.
Zhang Liang was born into poverty, so Li Chengqian's actions naturally made him favor him.
"Gong Yun has been over-honored. As a prince, he is considerate of the people. This is what he should do." Li Chengqian said.
After eating dry food and resting for an hour, the army continued to set off.
Zhang Liang originally thought that Li Chengqian wouldn't be able to hold on for long, but he didn't expect that Li Chengqian didn't complain for several days, which made him even more impressed.