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

Chapter 400 I Don’t Believe in Those Pills (First Update)
On the sixth day of May, the imperial carriage returned from Cuiwei Palace.

The prince personally went to Mount Zhongnan to welcome the emperor, and then led thousands of Jinwu Guards to escort the emperor back to Chang'an City from Mount Zhongnan.

The people of Chang'an lined the streets to welcome the emperor and kowtowed to him on both sides of Zhuque Street.

However, occasionally when someone looked up, they found two special figures appearing among them. One of them was the Buddhist Master Xuanzang, and the other was an Indian monk with a strange face.

Or to be more precise, he was an Indian sorcerer dressed as a monk.

The two men followed closely on both sides of the imperial carriage, one on the left and one on the right, and returned to the palace with the emperor.

Li Chengqian withdrew his gaze from the swaying curtains of the carriage, then looked at the emperor and asked directly, "Father, I heard that when you were in Cuiwei Palace, you often summoned Master Xuanzang and Naluo Ersabumei at the same time?"

"Yes." Li Shimin looked at Li Chengqian, then smiled and waved his hand slightly, saying, "I know what the Crown Prince is worried about. It's okay, I'm just having fun. That Luo Er Suo Bo Mei claims to be over two hundred years old and can refine the elixir of immortality. He said that as long as I give him a place and provide medicinal materials, he can refine it. He really thinks I'm a fool!"

Zhang Sun Wuji, standing by, looked at the emperor in surprise, then bowed and said, "Your Majesty is wise."

Li Chengqian also relaxed and said, "Your son and I have heard that the emperor often summons the Indian sorcerers, so we are worried."

"Are you worried about me taking the elixir?" Li Shimin shook his head and said, "I know it's not a good thing. I'd rather not take it if I can. That's why I called Master Xuanzang here. Master Xuanzang has been in India for many years and happened to be exchanging Dharma with Master Naluo Ersabomei. I can see that although Naluo Ersabomei didn't live to be two hundred years old, he still has some abilities."

Li Chengqian and Zhangsun Wuji looked at each other, and their hearts sank as they were surprised.

"By the way, Wencheng is coming back." The emperor looked at Li Chengqian, his face filled with joy from the bottom of his heart. "It's been seven years, and I finally see Wencheng again. I wonder how she has changed in these years. Has she gained weight or lost weight?"

"The imperial sister has been doing well in Tubo these years. Your son and his people can see the imperial sister every month. She is fine, but she has no children." Li Chengqian narrowed his eyes slightly, with a hint of hatred in his eyes.

The emperor glanced at Li Chengqian and took in his expression. He asked in a low voice, "Songtsen's son is dead. Is that confirmed?"

"Confirmed!" Li Chengqian nodded and said, "Each envoy from Tubo who has a little status wears chrysanthemums."

"That means Songtsen only has one one-year-old grandson now." The emperor narrowed his eyes slightly and looked at Li Chengqian directly and asked, "I seem to remember you once said that Songtsen's health was not very good?"

"Songtsen must have some health issues." Li Chengqian couldn't remember when he'd said this, but that didn't stop him from nodding his head now. "The plateau's climate is harsh. The fighting Songtsen has endured over the years to establish his kingdom is probably even more brutal than my father's, and even more brutal."

The emperor nodded. Tubo was not a civilized country at the beginning. It was only transformed little by little through years of fighting.

The one who paid the greatest price was Songtsen Gampo. Even so, the brutal fighting he experienced in his early years was terrifying.

And the fighting is even more close and brutal.

"He has no armor, no medical care, and even at his age, he's been fighting all year long." Li Chengqian shook his head slightly and looked at the emperor. "If he could be like my father, practicing the art of nourishment and preservation, he would naturally live longer. But now he's set his sights on India... So, it'll only take two or three years."

"That is to say, Wencheng can't have children." Li Shimin suddenly punched the wall of the car, and the atmosphere outside suddenly became suffocated.

"Keep going." The emperor's voice came out calmly, and the carriage continued to move forward.

"Damn Songtsen." Li Shimin looked up at Li Chengqian and asked, "Prince, do you think Songtsen knew in advance that he would not be able to have any more children?"

"That's unlikely." Li Chengqian shook his head and said, "Even I, your son, was just skeptical back then, and I've still held onto hope over the years. Not to mention Songtsen himself... No man would believe, no man would want to believe, that he couldn't have children. Even if there were any signs, he wouldn't want to believe it."

The emperor nodded, then shook his head and said, "This is even more abominable. Wencheng will not return until at least next year after coming to Chang'an this time.

Now, a year has passed since he came and went. Songtsen is probably in poor health, and he is isolated, so he is determined not to let Wencheng have his children.

"That's right." Li Chengqian's face darkened.

"Chengqian!" The emperor suddenly called Li Chengqian's name. Li Chengqian immediately bowed and said seriously, "Father!"

"Let me ask you!" The emperor stared at Li Chengqian and said, "If it were you, how long would it take you to destroy Tubo?"

Changsun Wuji, who was standing by, suddenly trembled all over, turned around, and looked at Li Chengqian seriously.

Li Chengqian took a deep breath and paused for a moment before speaking, "First, I will need three years of preparation. Then, I will stir up chaos in Eastern and Western Tuyuhun, drawing the main Tibetan forces down from the plateau. Then, I will completely defeat the Tibetan main forces in a single battle against Tuyuhun."

Don't be greedy, the main battlefield is in Tuyuhun.

Xue Rengui's defeat at Dafeichuan was caused by Lun Qinling luring the enemy deep into his territory, which has long been confirmed in history books.

"Be patient and negotiate with the Tibetans in Tuyuhun. They absolutely cannot afford the consequences of the Tang Dynasty completely annexing Tuyuhun." Li Chengqian took a deep breath and continued, "Two years, win the first battle, then spend another two years managing Tuyuhun, and finally march to the plateau to separate Subi and Yangtong from the Tibetans."

"The last ones left are the Tanggula and Hengduan Mountains." Li Chengqian looked up, contemplating Tubo's terrain. He said, "The mountains are high and the terrain is steep. A brute force attack isn't a good idea. The best approach is to completely cut off all Tubo's external communications and isolate it. At the same time, we should develop Yangtong and Subi. Although those two places are mostly barren, they are rich in medicinal herbs and minerals."

Western Tuyuhun has Kunshan jade, Eastern Tuyuhun has salt mines, and Subi and Yangtong have been desolate places since ancient times. Who knows how many good things are buried underground there.

"Actually, the best route to attack Tubo is from the Pamir Mountains in the Western Regions, through the Great Snow Mountain, and into Tubo from the west." After a brief pause, Li Chengqian said, "It would be best to launch an offensive at Subi and Yangtong to attract the Tubo people's attention. Then, the cavalry from the west will suddenly rush in, and attack from both sides of Tanggu Mountain, and finally destroy Tubo."

Changsun Wuji looked at Li Chengqian in surprise. Although he was a civil servant, he had served as the commander-in-chief to fight against Luo Yi, and had followed the emperor in campaigns and fought on the battlefields several times.

From his point of view, Li Chengqian's overall plan is highly feasible.

The most important thing is the two words that Li Chengqian emphasized the most: patience.

"Ten years, at least ten years." Li Chengqian shook his head at the emperor and said, "And to deal with Tubo, we must first deal with the Western Turks, and before dealing with the Western Turks, we must first deal with Goguryeo. All together, it will take at least twenty years."

"Twenty years is good. At least it's stable enough. Even if something goes wrong occasionally, there is enough power to turn it around." Li Shimin looked at Li Chengqian, feeling amused and a little emotional at the same time.

He taught Li Chengqian the art of war, but Li Chengqian did not learn all of his military strategies. Instead, he learned the most important one.

Build momentum.

Indeed, building up momentum is the most important thing. Once the momentum is built up, the final battle will be like a flood that breaks through a dam, pouring down and unstoppable.

However, there is a problem.

There is never a shortage of surprises on the battlefield.

If something unexpected happens, everything could be ruined.

These are what Li Shimin is best at, but Li Chengqian is not good at all.

What he is good at is more like a role that does strategic planning and provides military equipment and food supplies, more like a role of the Minister of War, the Minister of Revenue, and the Minister of Processing.

Of course, there are also the Ministry of Personnel, which employs personnel, the Ministry of Justice, which governs local areas, and the Ministry of Rites, which is in charge of etiquette.

If a prime minister who acts like a steward is added, it will be enough for an emperor.

The conquests on other battlefields are the responsibility of the generals in the army.

Li Shimin smiled gently. From ancient times to the present, how many people can be like him, Li Shimin, who is both civil and military, and his civil and military achievements are unparalleled in the world.

Prince, it would be great if you could have half of what I have.

"It's better to be more steady." The emperor nodded with a smile.

"Yes!" Li Chengqian bowed slightly.

"And as you said, Lu Dongzan came to Chang'an this time. I'm afraid he has ulterior motives!" Li Shimin narrowed his eyes slightly, and then said, "Send a message to the Hundred Cavalry Division to keep a close eye on them. Anyone who comes into contact with them will be tracked down for three generations."

"Here!"

……

In Ganlu Palace, the emperor and Zhangsun Wuji sat on a long couch by the window in the inner room.

Between them stood a low table with a pot of tea and three plates of cakes on it.

The emperor picked up the teapot and poured a cup for Zhangsun Wuji. Then he picked up his own cup, took a deep breath of the tea, and said, "Over the past two years, I have gradually come to like this taste. It is more comfortable than boiled tea."

Changsun Wuji calmly drank the tea in the cup, then looked at the emperor.

Li Shimin finally put down his teacup, looked at Zhangsun Wuji and asked, "What do you think of the Crown Prince's actions over the past two years?"

"Steady." Changsun Wuji looked at the emperor and shook his head slightly. "I originally thought the Crown Prince would act with some style this year, but the most he has done is threaten to cut the King of Kucha into pieces, send him to the Eunuchs for training, and finally make him perform the Kucha Dance for Your Majesty at the Grand Ceremony Banquet."

"Hahaha..." Li Shimin couldn't help laughing. The incident with Jie Li was the glory of his life.

"Besides that, the Crown Prince is most concerned about the spring and autumn harvests, criminal cases, and public security in various regions." Changsun Wuji's expression grew serious. He shook his head and said, "I feel that the Crown Prince relies too much on reports from local authorities. You must know that even if local authorities don't deliberately conceal or falsify information, they can still conceal the truth as long as they emphasize it."

"Are you afraid that he can't see the fundamental situation of the world?" Li Shimin raised his head slightly.

"Yes!" Changsun Wuji nodded and said, "This year, the wars on all sides have been under control, and most provincial governors have been well behaved. However, there are one or two who are restless and are trying to test the Crown Prince's abilities."

"Who?" Li Shimin narrowed his eyes slightly.

"There are some issues with the reports submitted by Jiang Hanyu, the Governor of Caozhou, and Lu Shanzong, the Governor of Huaizhou, but the Crown Prince hasn't been able to identify them at the moment." After a brief pause, Changsun Wuji added, "Perhaps the Crown Prince can see them, but we'll have to wait until after the autumn harvest. There are many obstacles, and remedying them will cost money and grain."

"After the ceremony, dismiss them completely." The emperor's expression turned cold.

"What's the reason?" Changsun Wuji looked at the emperor. What they were doing now was not enough to warrant dismissal.

"Don't give any reasons. I should still be qualified now." Li Shimin smiled calmly, then said, "Let people guess."

"Yes!" Zhang Sun Wuji nodded, then looked at the emperor and asked, "Your Majesty, why don't you take over the government?"

Li Shimin looked at Changsun Wuji and smiled gently. It turned out that the one who knew him best was Changsun Wuji.

In the current court, although Zhangsun Wuji only serves as the Shangshu You Pushe, with him in the Secretariat, the Secretariat is completely under the control of Li Shimin.

The Minister of the Central Secretariat, Chu Suiliang, was a man of Zhangsun Wuji.

Li Ji of the Ministry of Personnel is a fence-sitter.

Although Li Chengqian had two prime ministers, Yu Zhining and Ma Zhou, to be honest, he was still far from taking over the government.

Among the six ministers, Tang Jian and Yan Lide were his relatives, Liu Dewei and Li Daozon were people who had fought with him for many years, and Yang Shidao was actually his brother-in-law.

Only the Minister of War, Cui Dunli, could be considered half the prince's man.

Not to mention the three hundred states in the world, Li Chengqian can directly control no more than five of them.

Not to mention the military, people like Zheng Rentai, Xue Wanbei, and Su Dingfang are all all over the world.

In particular, Li Shimin specifically dismissed Li Anyan from his position as General of the Right Guard.

Li Chengqian's strength in the court was just so-so, and he could be considered a qualified crown prince at most.

That's it.

"Although my health has improved recently, if I overwork myself again, I'm bound to get sick again." Li Shimin shook his head and said, "Just like you said last year, I'll take a good two years to fully recover. It will be better for everyone if I live a few more years."

Changsun Wuji nodded. He had been with Li Chengqian long enough to decide that Li Chengqian had no intention of forcing the emperor to abdicate and become the emperor emeritus.

With this, everyone can be much more harmonious.

"By the way, where is Zhinu now?" the emperor suddenly asked.

"We should have passed Chengdu by now." Changsun Wuji looked at the emperor and said directly, "Memorials are sent to the Crown Prince every day, but the Crown Prince only ensures Zhinu's whereabouts and safety. As for other further actions, the Eastern Palace has not taken any further action."

Li Shimin nodded calmly: "That's good."

(End of this chapter)