Li Chengqian of the Tang Dynasty: Please say long live His Majesty

Chapter 292: Chang'an, the Emperor's Feet and Throat (Part )
In February, spring comes and the frozen ground begins to melt.

A group of hundreds of riders quickly passed by the bank of the Liao River and then rushed to the distant military camp. A moment later, the camp was filled with cheers.

After inspecting the military camp, Li Shimin returned to Shencheng with Changsun Wuji and others. Wherever they went, the people prostrated themselves in worship.

This winter, the people of Liaodong felt completely different from before.

Under the rule of Goguryeo, they lived like dogs, and countless people starved to death in one winter.

After returning to the Tang Dynasty, the supply of various foodstuffs almost never stopped.

Even on the worst days, they still had food to eat, and they were all willing to prepare bedding, herbs and weapons for the army.

After one winter, the hearts of countless people in Liaodong had completely surrendered to the Tang Dynasty.

In just one winter, the entire Liaodong region was completely integrated into the Tang Dynasty.

The Andong Protectorate became a part of the Tang Dynasty.

Inside the hall of the Andong Protectorate, officials were busy running back and forth. When they saw the emperor, they would just pause for a moment, bow and make way for him, and then quickly go about their own business.

……

"...I was originally worried about the shortage of food and grass, but who would have thought that you, Tang Qing, would bring the food and grass here immediately. If someone didn't know, they would have thought that you had eavesdropped on my thoughts." Li Shimin took the memorial with a smile, praised Tang Jian, and then sat on the main couch in the middle hall.

Zhang Ananda on the side silently covered Li Shimin's legs with a blanket.

Tang Jian bowed slightly, then silently stepped back.

Changsun Wuji looked at Tang Jian in surprise.

Why does Tang Jian speak so little nowadays?
Turning around, Changsun Wuji's eyes fell on the memorial that the emperor was reading.

This time, Tang Jian rushed to Liaodong in advance with a large amount of food and military equipment, and also brought the prince's memorial.

Of course, there are his own as well.

The emperor is not in Chang'an now. The Qianniu Guards who remain in Chang'an, as well as high-ranking officials at all levels who have the authority to submit memorials, are not as capable as the emperor sending someone directly back to Chang'an to see more and more directly.

"Master Xuanzang has returned to the capital." Li Shimin nodded gently, then carefully read Li Chengqian's memorial. As he read, he sneered softly, "What a big commotion in Buddhism! Before he even arrived in Chang'an, the news had already spread throughout Chang'an and Luoyang. Hundreds of monks from all over the country rushed to Chang'an. On the day Xuanzang entered the city, the streets were deserted, and people crowded around to welcome him. That's Chang'an!"

Changsun Wuji bowed slightly with a solemn expression.

Chang'an City, at the feet of the emperor.

Similarly, Chang'an City is the place closest to the emperor's throat.

Buddhism can mobilize the people of the entire Chang'an city in an instant. Which emperor would not be afraid of such power?

"The prince's response is quite good." Li Shimin smiled lightly as he looked at the memorial, then looked up at Tang Jian.

Tang Jian bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I am here because I have an additional batch of civilian grain that was supposed to be transported to Chang'an in the first month of the year. Although this batch of grain will be supplemented by the original military rations after I leave, it will not arrive in Chang'an until February. The price of grain in Chang'an during the first month of the year is quite high."

Zhang Sun Wuji was slightly stunned standing aside, then frowned and looked at Tang Jian: "Is the Crown Prince deliberately trying to increase the price of grain in Chang'an?"

"Yes!" Tang Jian bowed and said, "Xuanzang entered Chang'an, and many people from all over the world flocked to Chang'an. With so many people, the price of food naturally went up. Of course, the people of Chang'an were not too panicked, because the powerful people in Chang'an, as well as the powerful people who flocked to Chang'an, spent a lot of money in the past month, and the people benefited a lot."

"But the common people are also feeling the pressure from so many people worshipping Buddhism. After all, they need to eat and drink." Li Shimin smiled softly and said, "Right now, the price of food in Chang'an City has probably dropped."

"Yes!" Tang Jian cupped his hands and said, "The Crown Prince has also sent people to focus on this year's spring planting in advance, and to ensure the supply of food and fodder in Liaodong in autumn and winter."

"This year is a little more difficult than last year." Li Shimin sighed.

Last year, most of the food and fodder used by the army and Liaodong were prepared in the previous years. Therefore, although Chang'an and Luoyang provided a large amount of food and fodder support to Liaodong, the burden was not heavy.

However, this year is different. The army is about to invade Goryeo. Not only will the loss of food and grass be greater than last year, but as the reserve food and grass from previous years is gradually consumed, the pressure on the court will become heavier. Therefore, Li Chengqian started to focus on spring planting early to ensure a good harvest this spring. Even Li Shimin had to admit that the prince's vision was indeed accurate.

"We sent a group of civilians back to Guanzhong last winter. When you go back this year, Mr. Tang, please take the remaining group with you." Li Shimin raised his head slightly towards Tang Jian.

Tang Jian immediately bowed and said, "Yes!"

Li Shimin lowered his head and looked at the memorial again, his expression gradually becoming solemn.

……

"Gao Chang, he and Qu Wentai are actually sworn brothers." Li Shimin looked up at Zhangsun Wuji and asked, "Wuji, where is Qu Zhizhan now?"

Changsun Wuji bowed and said, "Qu Zhisheng is currently in the army, and his brother Qu Zhizhan is serving as the Lieutenant General of the Right Guard, stationed at Tongguan."

"Transfer him back to Chang'an and let him meet Xuanzang." Li Shimin waved his hand slightly, and Changsun Wuji accepted the order.

Li Shimin continued to read the memorial with a calm expression. Gaochang had already been destroyed, so what else could he do.

Xuanzang was related to Gaochang and also to Li Jiancheng, so Li Shimin did not think that Li Chengqian had done anything excessive in Chang'an. Gaochang, the Western Regions...

Li Shimin looked more and more seriously.

Suddenly, his hand paused, and then he smiled softly, looked up at Changsun Wuji and said, "Wuji, Xuanzang said that there is a Buddha in Tianzhu!"

"Impossible!" Changsun Wuji shook his head decisively and said, "Not to mention the eminent monks who went to India in the early years, even in recent years, there have been people coming from India from time to time, and people who have been to India talk about India. If there really was a Buddha in India, then the news would have spread long ago, and India would not have been torn apart by the Western Turks."

Yes, Western Turkestan.

To be precise, it was the invasion of the White Turks that led to the division of India into pieces.

Although the Indians drove the White Turks out of India, their own strength was greatly reduced, and the central dynasty was unable to control the local areas, which led to its fragmentation.

"Xuanzang's teacher in India, Master Jiexian, the abbot of Nalanda Monastery, whom he called the Dharma Protector Bodhisattva, that is, the Buddha, is now 115 years old." Li Shimin put down the memorial in his hand and his face became solemn.

"Your Majesty, how can a hundred-year-old person be called a Buddha or a Bodhisattva? If so, wouldn't Buddhas and Bodhisattvas be everywhere in our Great Tang?" Changsun Wuji shook his head.

Not to mention what he knew, even in history books, there were many people who were over a hundred years old.

As long as a country is peaceful, people will live to be over a hundred years old.

Those people have no great power, no knowledge, all they have is a carefree family and a cheerful attitude, which is enough for them to live to be a hundred years old.

"Yes, if that Master Jiexian was truly a Buddha, why would India have been defeated by the Turks?" Li Shimin shook his head slightly, putting the matter aside for the time being. He then looked at Zhangsun Wuji and said, "In any case, India is vast, and we should still send someone to investigate."

"Xuan Zang's travelogue is not yet complete, but Your Majesty can already have the Crown Prince select officials and scholars to learn the Indian language." Zhang Sun Wuji raised his head and said seriously, "The Tang Dynasty has already reached the Western Regions. With the power of the Tang Dynasty, who dares to stop them from sending people there?"

It is much more convenient to go to India now than it was in Xuanzang's time.

Li Shimin smiled and raised his hand and said, "Okay!"

Zhang Sun Wuji bowed and said, "Your Majesty, the affairs of Chang'an are under the Crown Prince's care. I believe you can be assured of this. Let us focus on Goguryeo."

"Hmm!" Li Shimin's expression gradually calmed down. He was originally very concerned about everything in Chang'an, but Li Chengqian delivered the food and grass in advance this time. While solving the trouble in Chang'an, it also made Li Shimin more fully prepared to mobilize troops against Goguryeo. Everything was enough to prove Li Chengqian's selflessness.

"Tell me, what preparations has Gai Suwen made?"

"The soldiers attacking Silla in the south have all been recalled. Silla, after the combined attacks of Goguryeo and Baekje, no longer has the strength to support the Tang from behind." Changsun Wuji shook his head slightly and said, "As for Baekje, many of its soldiers have been transferred to Goguryeo to assist them in the battle, which gives them some fighting power."

Last year, in the battle of Anshi City, Li Shimin had defeated Goguryeo's main force of more than 100,000.

Although 40,000 to 50,000 people escaped in the end, their morale had already been broken.

"The current situation for Goguryeo is to focus on defending the city, relying on the mountainous terrain to defend the city, and then trying to delay the invasion until winter." Changsun Wuji shook his head slightly and said, "Goguryeo's eastern part is largely mountainous, and only a small area of ​​plains in the west can be directly attacked. The rest is easy to deal with, but my biggest worry is that they will hide in the mountains first and cut off our food supply."

"With Yan Lide's navy here, I'm not worried about that." Li Shimin waved his hand slightly, raised his head, and said softly, "What I'm most worried about is Pingrang City. Pingrang City is strong and it's not easy to break through. If the Goguryeo people store all their main forces in Pingrang, thinking they can hold on, can they capture Pingrang before winter comes?"

"Li Ji suggested sending the navy to attack first..."

"Without an army, the navy alone is useless. Wasn't Hu'er defeated at Pingrang City when he led 40,000 naval troops?" Li Shimin shook his head and said thoughtfully, "It still depends on three routes: one for the navy, one for the main force, and another for the main force coming up from the eastern mountains as a guard."

"Who will lead the troops?"

"Let's see who is best at fighting in the mountains?" Li Shimin lowered his head slightly.

"Niu Jinda!" Zhangsun Wuji directly called out his name, saying, "It was he who defeated Songtsen Gampo in Songzhou back then. He also participated in the battles against Gaochang, Tuyuhun, and the Turks earlier. Your Majesty, he can do it."

"Okay, let him be the general manager of the route." Li Shimin nodded, then looked at Tang Jian and said, "I can mobilize and arrange the matters of the front army, but the matter of food and grass for the rear army depends entirely on you."

"Your Majesty, I will do my utmost to transport food and grass, but I may not be able to take care of both the spring plowing and the autumn harvest, especially this autumn. I'm afraid the harvest will be difficult." Tang Jian bowed solemnly and said, "Actually, Your Majesty, it's nothing to worry about if you take Pingrang City. The real fear is that if Your Majesty takes Pingrang City, the entire Goguryeo will fall to the Tang Dynasty..."

"Ah!" Li Shimin was slightly stunned, then he couldn't help laughing: "Hahahaha...you are right. I have never thought about this before, but it is indeed something that needs serious consideration."

As he spoke, Li Shimin's expression became serious.

Goguryeo had a population of over three million.

If we really get it, it will be a huge trouble.

"Build ships and grow crops." Li Shimin looked at Zhangsun Wuji and said, "Send an order to the Crown Prince, giving him full control over shipbuilding and grain farming. Grant him the authority to act at his discretion. Any local governor who fails to cooperate can be dismissed immediately."

"Your Majesty!" Changsun Wuji looked at Li Shimin in surprise.

Li Shimin waved his hand and said, "It's okay. I have my own considerations."

"Yes!" Changsun Wuji lowered his head slightly. Sometimes, too much power is not a good thing.

(End of this chapter)