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

Chapter 563: Preparations for the War to Destroy Goguryeo Begin (Part )

The rain is pouring.

Li Chengqian sat on the imperial couch slightly sideways.

Changsun Wuji raised his head slightly and looked at Li Chengqian, who was calm and steady on the imperial couch, and felt more and more that he had the demeanor of the late emperor.

Li Chengqian pondered and looked at Su Xu, raising his right index finger slightly: "The court's grand strategy for Andong focuses on the Goguryeo Jiangbei Protectorate."

"Yes!" Su Xu bowed seriously and listened to the emperor's teachings.

"Now that the Jiangbei Protectorate is gradually stabilizing, my dear minister, after you return to Liaodong, please tell Duke Ying to ask Quan Shangjin to write a memorial in the name of Goguryeo King Gao Baozang, requesting the Tang Dynasty to send troops to help Gao Baozang suppress the Quan Gaisuwen rebellion." Li Chengqian raised his hand slightly.

"Yes!" Su Xu first bowed, then asked, "Your Majesty, didn't Quan Shangjin bring a handwritten letter from Gao Baozang when he last came to Chang'an?"

"That was just his personal letter. It's not enough." Li Chengqian shook his head and said, "This time when you return to Liaodong, please bring the newly forged seal of the Goguryeo king with you."

"Your Majesty, do you want Quan Shangjin to stamp the document with the king's seal?" Su Xu understood a little.

"The royal seal of the Goguryeo king has always been made by the Tang Dynasty. Gao Baozang's royal seal has now fallen into the hands of Quan Gaisuwen. It is normal for the Tang Dynasty to make another one for him. Moreover, this is the authentic seal. The one in Quan Gaisuwen's hands is a fake one." Li Chengqian knocked on the table lightly.

"Yes!" Su Xu looked at Li Chengqian seriously, waiting for his next words.

Li Chengqian took a deep breath and said, "When the Tang Dynasty sent troops before, many procedures were not complete. This time, we must complete them all."

"Yes!"

"Goguryeo has requested the Tang Dynasty to send troops. We are willing to use half of the Jiangbei Protectorate's annual tax revenue to finance the Tang military deployment, until the cost of the war is fully covered." After a brief pause, Li Chengqian continued, "That's one reason. Secondly, Goguryeo's mineral resources, fisheries, and even some of its land will be fully opened to the Tang Dynasty."

If you want to do something, you must do it in a legitimate way.

"Of course, with this agreement, Goguryeo in Jiangnan should believe that the Tang Dynasty has no intention of completely destroying Goguryeo. This is a supplementary point." Li Chengqian's expression became serious. "Also, because the Jiangbei Protectorate is not well-organized, Quan Shangjin will submit a petition on Gao Baozang's behalf, requesting that the Tang Dynasty issue Goguryeo copper coins on his behalf."

"Copper coins?" Changsun Wuji couldn't help but step forward and said, "Your Majesty, we don't even have enough copper for our own use in the Tang Dynasty."

"Uncle, wait until Goguryeo is completely annexed by the Tang Dynasty. That way, the copper will still be within Tang territory." Li Chengqian smiled and said, "If you're still worried, then if we find copper mines in Goguryeo in the future, we'll send the corresponding copper coins to Goguryeo based on how much copper we transport back to Chang'an each year."

Only then did Changsun Wuji realize that Goguryeo also had copper mines.

"Finally, the copper coins that the Tang Dynasty sends to Goguryeo do not need to be too exquisite or in sufficient quantity. I heard that there are many inferior Kaiyuan Tongbao coins on the market. I believe that these inferior Goguryeo copper coins are enough to satisfy the Goguryeo people." Li Chengqian's eyes turned cold. He wanted to plunder Goguryeo's wealth through these inferior copper coins.

Not only Goguryeo, he can also use the same method on Baekje and Silla in the future.

Li Chengqian raised his head, looked at Su Xu, and said, "All of this must be done by Quan Shangjin in front of everyone, with his seal personally affixed. Then the memorial will be sent to Chang'an, and then announced to the world to form a formal agreement."

"Fan Qi?" The ministers couldn't help but look up.

"Yes, it's a contract." Li Chengqian looked at the ministers and nodded, saying, "The Honglu Temple has some other articles that regulate the powers and restrictions of the Tang Dynasty's various Andong Protectorates. Let's add all of these together to form a contract. After we conquer Goguryeo, Northern Goguryeo will be ceded to the Tang Dynasty, while Southern Goguryeo will follow the contract."

The Tang Dynasty will station troops in Southern Goguryeo in the future.

For relevant provisions, please refer to North Goguryeo.

"In the future, when we conquer Silla and Baekje, and even other countries, we'll do it this way: station troops there first to win over the people, and then annex them. This way, the pressure on the court will be reduced, and the front lines will proceed more smoothly." Li Chengqian looked at Su Xu and said, "You must pay more attention to this when you're on the front lines."

"Yes!" Su Xu immediately bowed.

Li Chengqian's expression relaxed, and he waved to everyone, "Everyone, sit down."

"Yes!" The ministers bowed and then sat down in their respective seats.

Li Chengqian looked up at Su Xu and said, "Finally, I will appoint you as the Chief Secretary of the Liao Palace, in charge of all Liao Palace affairs in Liaodong. In particular, some talented local people can be transferred to the Liao Palace to appease the people. This way, local governance will be smoother."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Su Xu stood up again and bowed solemnly.

"It would be best if we could select some young scholars from the local area." Li Chengqian looked at Su Xu and said, "They don't have to be from Liaodong. They can be the children of officials transferred from Hebei or other parts of the Tang Dynasty. As long as they apply for the exam under the name of Liaodong, I can promise that if you need it, I can immediately give you a place in the Jinshi exam!"

Use Jinshi to stabilize the people's hearts in Liaodong.

It doesn't take much, just one Jinshi can completely stabilize the people's hearts in Liaodong.

This is definitely a good deal.

The ministers in the palace were not pedantic and immediately understood the benefits of this.

Of course, they also had the idea of ​​sending some of the less promising children in their families to Liaodong for a while.

After all, even they have a few illegitimate children in their family, and their future prospects are full of troubles.

But if you take Jinshi as the starting point of your official career, everything will be much easier.

"I understand." Su Xu bowed solemnly.

Li Chengqian smiled and nodded, then turned to look at Liu Rengui, Wei Daijia and Yan Xuansui and said, "The three of them will be transferred to Andong before the war begins." Liu Rengui, Wei Daijia and Yan Xuansui bowed calmly.

The other people in the hall looked at the three people with a little surprise.

These three people were undoubtedly the emperor's confidants. The fact that the emperor was willing to let them go to Liaodong showed that he had some grand ambitions.

"Before the Battle of Andong begins," Li Chengqian's gaze fell on Liu Rengui, and he spoke directly, "Mr. Liu, you are the Secretary of the Central Secretariat. From today on, you will be responsible for compiling statistics on the status of all food, fodder, weapons, soldiers, and other preparations needed for the war. Wherever there are problems, I and the other ministers will work together to resolve them."

"Yes!" Liu Rengui bowed seriously.

Li Chengqian looked at Wei Daijia and said, "Wei Qing, you should rest for a while in the court. After the anniversary of the sacrifice to our father, you can go to the local areas to check the grain reserves in Hebei, Qilu, and Jiangnan. Send a message to Liu Qing at any time."

"Yes!" Wei Daijia bowed solemnly.

"When you go out, transfer more people from the Qianniu Guards. In addition, you can also transfer people from the Zhechoufu in various places. If the matter is of great importance, I allow you the power to seal up the local county government offices and treasuries. If anyone obstructs you, you can execute them first and report to me later." Li Chengqian's eyes turned cold.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Wei Daijia bowed with some gratitude, then stepped back.

None of the ministers in the palace said that Li Chengqian gave Wei Daijia too much power.

The grain reserves in local treasuries will determine the outcome of the military campaign at critical moments.

At this time, finding out your own financial situation will be more important than anything else.

"Minister Yan, in your capacity as Junior Minister of the Imperial Household, will be collaborating with the Chief of Works to design and improve warships." Li Chengqian's expression grew serious as he spoke earnestly, "The Tang Dynasty's eastern expedition to Goguryeo will be slow and arduous. Since you've been to Baekje and Silla, you should be well-versed in all matters, both internal and external."

"Yes!" Yan Xuansui bowed seriously. Before he went to Silla this time, his task was to observe all factors related to naval battles such as rivers and wind direction in addition to announcing the imperial edict. It was reasonable to transfer him into this matter now.

Once the war breaks out in the future, Yan Xuansui will also be transferred to Liaodong.

Li Chengqian finally looked at Su Xu and said softly, "My dear, when you return to Liaodong, please transfer the Duke of Langya back first. He has been in Liaodong for many years, and it is time for him to return to Chang'an to recuperate."

"Yes!" Su Xu bowed seriously.

"Three months after the Duke of Langya returns, I will have Xue Wanche return to Liaodong. At the same time, I will transfer Liu Demin back to give him a break." Li Chengqian looked at Zhangsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling, and the others and said, "Next year, it's time to transfer Su Dingfang back as well and give him a break."

"Your Majesty, do you want all the generals in the army to have a rest before the battle of Andong?" Changsun Wuji immediately understood Li Chengqian's idea.

"Not just the generals, but also the veterans." Li Chengqian looked at Cui Dunli and said, "We need to find a way to transfer the veterans back to rest for six months... Let's do this in the second half of next year, and transfer a group of people at the same time. That way, if a war breaks out, the veterans and the newly recruited soldiers can fight together in the army."

"Yes!" Cui Dunli bowed, and the Ministry of War had to make corresponding plans.

"Your Majesty, are you planning to launch an attack on Goguryeo next year?" Zhang Sun Wuji asked, and all the ministers looked up and stared at Li Chengqian.

"After the autumn of the fourth year of Yongwei, conscription began. Some soldiers arrived in Liaodong in advance, and some stayed in Hebei. In March of the fifth year of Yongwei, all of them crossed the Taedong River and attacked Pingrang City." Li Chengqian couldn't help but clench his fists.

"Yes!" All the ministers bowed solemnly. From this moment on, the Tang Dynasty's war against Goguryeo officially entered the stage of war preparation.

No one doubted the timetable proposed by Li Chengqian.

It is only April of the second year of Yongwei, and there are still more than two years until the autumn of the fourth year of Yongwei.

This time was similar to the war preparations against Goguryeo during the previous emperor's period.

Not to mention, Li Chengqian had already started various provocations and dismemberments against Goguryeo.

……

"After Liu Demin returns to Chang'an, he will discuss improvements to the warships with the Ministry of Works and the Chief of Works." Li Chengqian looked at the heavy rain still falling outside the palace, then looked at Su Xu and said, "When you leave the capital, I will have the Crown Prince and Prince Ji see you off. You can take the boat. It's raining heavily, and the Wei River is swollen, so it will be easy to get through Sanmenxia."

"Yes!" Su Xu bowed solemnly to Li Chengqian. It would take at least a few years for him to leave Chang'an and come back.

Li Chengqian nodded gently, turned to look at Changsun Wuji, and said, "Uncle, the heavy rain this year will inevitably affect the autumn harvest. While urging all places to strengthen flood control, we must also prepare in advance for what will happen after this autumn."

Zhangsun Wuji stepped forward and saluted, saying, "Last year, Your Majesty issued an edict exempting all people from land rent. This year's autumn taxes may be lower, but it will actually make disaster relief easier."

"We still need to be prepared for tax reductions." Li Chengqian smiled slightly. Last year, he noticed that the weather was a little unusual, so he issued an imperial decree in advance to exempt the people of the world from land rent for two years. Last year, he received gratitude from the people, and this year, because of this, the people can live a lot longer.

At the same time, the court actually did not suffer much loss.

"It has rained a lot in recent years. The Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Agriculture should make corresponding preparations. You may as well build more small boats and then sell them to the people at low prices." Li Chengqian reminded again.

"Your Majesty is benevolent." The ministers bowed again.

"Also, next month will be the anniversary of our father's sacrifice. Let's have the princes set off early." Li Chengqian's expression calmed down and he said, "Go to the capital as soon as possible and return to the local areas as soon as possible. Don't delay farming."

"Here!"

(End of this chapter)