The Leisurely Life of the Prince of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 341 Not That Year
After hearing his father's order, Li Chengqian just nodded slightly, then led all the officials into the Qianyuan Hall of the Luoyang Palace, sat on the upper seat and let his uncle discuss matters with the ministers.

The officials of the Secretariat and the six ministries continued to perform their respective duties, and Zhangsun Wuji arranged accommodation for the ministers in Luoyang city.

Li Chengqian looked at Ma Zhou and the officials from various counties in Luoyang standing outside the palace, "Let the officials from each county hand in their respective memorials, and then let them go back. We will make arrangements for the rest later."

Cen Wenben walked out of the hall and gave a few instructions in a loud voice, and the county magistrates dispersed.

This time, 60% of the officials in the court came.

However, when Li Chengqian was giving instructions, a guard came hurriedly and said, "Your Highness, Duke Xu is here."

The voice stopped, and Li Chengqian hesitated and asked, "Why is my uncle here?"

After saying this, Li Chengqian asked everyone to disperse first, arrange accommodation for themselves and their families, and hurriedly left the Qianyuan Hall.

Next to the wall of the Luoyang Palace, my uncle and Gao Lin were sitting here, leaning on their crutches.

"Why did you come to Luoyang?"

Gao Shilian looked at the palace wall which was still somewhat mottled and old, "Your grandfather asked me to come here."

Li Chengqian walked over to sit next to his uncle and asked in confusion, "Why didn't I hear that your uncle was in the motorcade when you came here?"

"I was just following behind the motorcade. They were all relatives of the court officials, so I didn't ask about them. Your grandfather summoned me here, saying that the old man had someone he could talk to."

After he finished speaking, a eunuch came hurriedly and said, "Duke Xu, please come this way."

Seeing his uncle about to stand up with the help of a cane, Li Chengqian hurried over to support him.

Gao Shilian asked again: "I heard that your Majesty also put in a lot of effort in this expedition?"

Li Chengqian supported his uncle as he walked, "My grandson helped my father convince a few people."

"Hmm..." Gao Shilian nodded and said, "Do you know why the Sui Emperor launched an expedition to the east?"

Seeing his grandson remained silent, Gao Shilian explained, "Goguryeo wanted to surrender several times, but the Sui emperor still went to fight. Emperor Yang Guang of the Sui Dynasty was a very interesting person. Don't always look at whether others surrender or not. Even if they surrender, they are still the king there, and the land is always in the hands of others."

"Emperor Yang of Sui went to fight Goguryeo, not because he thought the enemy was too weak at that time. If they had always been so weak, the four counties of the Han Dynasty would have returned long ago."

Gao Lin followed along without saying a word.

Li Chengqian said solemnly: "Grandson, I will think about it more."

As we were talking, we arrived at a house next to the imperial palace, where my grandfather lived.

Li Yuan came out with a smile and said, "Old man, you are finally here."

Gao Shilian said, "I am only two hours late. With such a long convoy, and not traveling with Your Majesty, I am naturally a little late."

"Cheng Qian, I will live here with him, just to relax."

"As long as Grandpa feels comfortable."

Li Yuan led Gao Shilian into the courtyard.

Another eunuch came hurriedly and reported: "Your Highness, His Majesty is waiting in the camp outside the city."

Li Chengqian had no choice but to follow the eunuch out of the city.

The entire Luoyang city is still under martial law. Residents can walk in the city, but soldiers are standing on both sides of the main roads in Luoyang city, and they are lined up all the way to the city gate.

Therefore, there were no pedestrians or onlookers on the entire street. Only residents could be seen walking vaguely in the alleys on both sides.

And this situation will continue into the night.

All the way out of the city gate, Xue Wanbei was waiting here. He clasped his fists and said, "I am ordered to escort the prince to the camp."

Li Chengqian took the reins of the horse and asked, "Are you also in the expedition team this time?"

Xue Wanbei said: "I am from the same group as Qibi Heli."

The two men mounted their horses and headed for the camp outside the city. After walking about three miles, they could see the newly built camp on the open plain in the distance.

When he arrived at the gate of the camp, Li Chengqian met General Su Dingfang and Prince of Jiangxia.

Li Dao Zong said: "Your Highness will come with me."

Li Chengqian got off the horse and followed his uncle.

Inside the camp, many soldiers were training and many craftsmen were making weapons.

Following the emperor's uncle all the way to the tent, I could hear the conversation inside the tent. When I walked inside, I saw my father in military uniform.

It is rare to see my father wearing armor, but he seems to be full of vigor and vitality, like an old man who is still young and passionate.

The conversation in the tent continued, talking about Zhang Liang who had gone to Laizhou to build a ship half a month ago.

Li Ji said, "Your Majesty, I think Zhang Liang is not a good general and is not fit to shoulder this important responsibility."

Li Shimin said: "I have already sent him out. Let's not talk about whether he is a good general or not. We will discuss it later."

Zhang Shigui said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, I think that when the army arrives in Youzhou, if it continues to advance eastward, it will face a battle on the Liao River. Even if Zhang Liang's troops have built warships, they may not be able to grasp the timing to land in Goguryeo. I am sure that in the battle against Goguryeo, the main forces of the two armies will definitely be land routes, mainly infantry and cavalry."

Qibi Heli said in a loud voice: "That's great. Give me two thousand cavalrymen to capture the cities of Goguryeo for your majesty."

Li Chengqian looked at the generals in the camp, Duke Ying Li Ji, General Zhang Shigui, the emperor's uncle Li Daozon, Qibi Heli, Xue Wanjun, Liu Renyuan, Cheng Yaojin, and General Su Dingfang who was now preparing the army.

There are also Li Simo and Ashina She'er who are already heading to Liaodong. They will lead the Turkic cavalry to participate in the war.

There was also Zhang Jian, who commanded the troops of Youzhou and Yingzhou.

This time the emperor led the army in person, and most of the participants were veteran generals, forming a luxurious lineup for the expedition against Goguryeo.

Jin Chunqiu was also in the big tent, but he was as honest as he could be now.

A deputy general came to the front of the tent. It was Xue Rengui. He said in a loud voice: "Your Majesty, Mr. Zheng has arrived."

Li Shimin said sternly: "Please come in."

"Here!"

Xue Rengui's response was loud, but the man was wearing bright armor, which was very dazzling.

The person who came was an old man with white hair and beard, and he looked to be over 70 years old.

"Your Majesty, I am Zheng Yuanzhen, your servant. I pay my respects to you." He walked into the big tent and began to salute.

Seeing this, Li Daozon hurried forward to help.

During his long years as a scholar in the Secretariat and participating in government affairs, Li Chengqian had read the files from the Wude period. If he had not read those files, he would have really not known about Zheng Yuanzhen's deeds.

He made several diplomatic missions to the Turks and helped ease the conflict between the Tang and the Turks during the Wude period. He was a rare diplomatic talent.

The words left by this person in the file are still fresh in my memory.

"The rise and fall of the Turks is determined by their sheep and horses, but now their livestock are exhausted and their people are all pale. Within three years, they will be destroyed."

What the old gentleman said to my father was exactly right, and the Tang Dynasty did indeed destroy Jie Li.

This was the opportunity that the old gentleman had to find after several diplomatic missions and even stayed with Jie Li for several years. It was also during that year that he spoke these words to his father, making the court understand that the Turks were weak despite their seemingly strong appearance.

Thanks to the right time, right place and right people, the Tang army returned with a great victory.

When it comes to making a perfect plan and winning a battle from a thousand miles away, it is mostly unrealistic.

But there are always people who are thousands of miles away, leading the way, working hard for it, and looking for opportunities for victory.

Zheng Yuanjin followed Yang Guang to fight against Goguryeo, and he was well aware of the conditions for fighting on the Liao River.

"Your Majesty, please think twice about this expedition to the east."

Zheng Yuanzhen's first words were also meant to give advice.

The generals in the big tent were silent.

Li Shimin sighed: "Mr. Zheng, Goguryeo has invaded the Central Plains several times. If I don't send troops to conquer it, how will the world view me?"

Zheng Yuanzhen pursed his lips, lowered his eyes, bowed, and said no more.

After a moment of silence, Su Dingfang stood outside the camp and said in a loud voice: "Your Majesty, the whole army has been trained. Please inspect it."

"it is good."

Li Shimin responded heavily, stood up and led the generals out of the tent.

To the east of the camp, a large army gathered. Li Chengqian followed the generals, while old Mr. Zheng Yuanzhen followed behind his father.

It seemed that he was still talking to his father, but his voice was very low and it was unclear what he said.

The sound of drums came from afar and the neighing of war horses continued. In front of the camp, Li Chengqian saw teams of more than 20,000 people lined up in an orderly manner.

Standing on the platform with my father, I looked out and saw a huge army of Tang soldiers with flags flying and rustling.

"Command flag!" Su Dingfang shouted.

Wang Xuandu handed over the command flag.

Su Dingfang waved the command flag, the drums beat again, and the army began to move.

When the army below the stage stood still again, Su Dingfang read out aloud the names of the generals going to the expedition. Li Chengqian saw his father stand up and walk towards the stage, so he quickly followed.

In fact, there are many ways for the emperor to inspect the army.

But the current emperor chose to step down from the platform and look at the faces of the soldiers from close range.

Li Chengqian followed beside his father and walked into the rows of troops. After the army changed the Wei Mansion into the Zhechou Mansion, men under the age of 20 were not allowed to enter the Wei Mansion.

Therefore, when we look around now, most of them are soldiers between the ages of thirty and forty, and there are few with handsome faces and no beards.

Li Shimin walked up to a soldier and patted him on the shoulder heavily.

Walking to another soldier, Li Shimin tightened his armor, which was originally a little loose.

The emperor and the crown prince walked quietly in the army. Everyone in the army, from generals to soldiers, saw the current emperor and the current crown prince.

This expedition is led by Your Majesty personally, and the food and supplies for the soldiers will all rely on this prince.

Your Majesty is supreme.

To the vast majority of soldiers in the army, this prince was a mystery. Although there were many rumors about the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace, it was this prince who was in charge of the supply of food and fodder for the soldiers, whether it was the Western Expedition or the Northern Expedition, and he would never let the front army go hungry, nor would he delay paying their wages.

The Jingzhao Prefecture under the prince's command has always taken care of the lonely old soldiers and ordered all counties to provide for the old soldiers. Therefore, all the soldiers have great respect for the prince.

This is also because the fathers of many of the soldiers present were also old soldiers.

Li Chengqian followed his father to the rear of the army. Not far away, the excited people shouted loudly: "Your Majesty! Your Majesty!"

Their shouts were so loud that Li Shimin looked over, pushed aside the soldiers who were trying to stop him, and strode forward and asked, "What are you all doing here?"

A middle-aged civilian said loudly: "Your Majesty, please allow us to follow your Majesty to the east to conquer Goguryeo!"

Another civilian came forward and said, "Your Majesty, we do not ask for official positions or rewards, we only wish to die in Liaodong!"

"Yes, I only wish to die in Liaodong!"

Listening to everyone's words, Li Shimin's heart was filled with emotion. He clenched his fists and watched as more and more villagers spontaneously decided to march east. Militiamen from all directions were gathering here, and it seemed that the soldiers blocking the periphery could not stop them.

"Everyone, why is this happening?"

Hearing the emperor's question, someone said with red eyes: "Your Majesty! My father died in Liaodong. We only want to retrieve his body and avenge him."

Someone else stood up and said, "Your Majesty, we are not going to the war for money or military merit, but only to fight for Your Majesty and for the country."

"Your Majesty! My father died in Liaodong, and my mother died of depression. As a son, how can I survive in this world if I don't avenge her?"

"Your Majesty, we don't need to prepare food and fodder for us. We don't need to prepare weapons for us. We can charge into battle with sticks in hand."

Their speech was simple, perhaps even slurred or with a strong accent, but they all spoke the same words.

Li Shimin looked at everyone and was choked with sobs for a moment.

Li Chengqian stood aside, just watching his father turn his back, and left after giving Su Dingfang a few instructions.

Su Dingfang ordered people to record the militiamen from all over the country who came to sign up to join the war, and they were still treated as soldiers, with the same treatment as the soldiers in the army.

For several days in a row, Li Chengqian sat in the Qianyuan Hall of the Luoyang Palace and looked at the rosters. More and more people came forward to sign up to join the war.

Cen Wenben said: "Because His Royal Highness the Crown Prince called on villagers from all over the country to move to Luoyang, most of these people came from all over the country. According to Ma Zhou's reports over the years, the population of Luoyang has reached more than one million, most of whom are from Shandong and Hebei."

As a result, my father's troops have increased from the original 30,000 to nearly 60,000 after being recruited in these days.

Li Chengqian looked at the thick list in front of him and ordered, "Take out as much as you can, and inform Guanzhong to transport the grain and grass to the prefectures in Hebei first."

There was a spring rain in Luoyang. Li Shimin and Li Ji stood outside the camp and saw that there were still people who wanted to join the Eastern Expedition, and also saw children running in the fields.

The emperor took the paper that recorded the military roster, and there were still thousands or even tens of thousands of petitioners.

Li Shimin said in a deep voice: "We have enough soldiers. I will not allow the rest to march east."

The soldier who was recording the troops hurriedly said, "Yes!"

Zheng Yuanzhen was in a low mood these days. He sat down at the gate and started crying.

Seeing the old man crying, Li Shimin comforted him, "It's not necessary."

Zheng Yuanzhen would come to inquire almost every day, and every day he would come to see the militiamen who volunteered to participate in the Eastern Expedition. The old man looked up at the rain and said slowly: "Back then, when Yang Guang wanted to go on the Eastern Expedition, many young men would rather cut off their own hands and feet than accept the call."

The old man choked up and said, "Your Majesty is not Yang Guang, and the Tang Dynasty is not the former Sui Dynasty. It is the old ministers who are pedantic..."

Note: The historical document "Zizhi Tongjian" records: When Emperor Taizong went on the eastern expedition, the number of brave warriors who joined the army and donated siege equipment from various places was too numerous to count.

Later, there were many volunteers, but Emperor Taizong did not allow it because of the people's livelihood.

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(End of this chapter)