Datang: Just been appointed as the crown prince, the counterattack system is here

Chapter 135 Like son, like father! [Seeking monthly votes]

"Your Majesty! May the new year be blessed with good fortune! May the new year be blessed with good fortune!"

The New Year's Court Meeting had just concluded. Li Shimin was in Liangyi Hall discussing the direction of the new year's major policies with Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, Wei Zheng, and others when he was suddenly interrupted by a burst of shouting. He couldn't help but frown, "Who is making a noise outside?"

"Your Majesty, it's the Minister of Works, Duan Lun!"

"Minister of Industry?"

Li Shimin was slightly stunned, then glanced at Fang Xuanling and others and said, "The Minister of Works didn't attend the court meeting today?"

"It is said that he went to Nanyang to inspect the river channel. Last year's flood damaged many dams. The Ministry of Works is in charge of the country's water conservancy and has an obligation to do so!" Fang Xuanling replied.

Li Shimin nodded, then waved his hand toward the door: "Let him in!"

"promise!"

There was a response from outside the door, and soon, a middle-aged man in his forties walked in from outside with a beaming face: "Your Majesty! Da Furui!"

"What's Dafori?"

Li Shimin said with some amusement, "Could it be that Duan Qing discovered something rare while surveying the river?"

"No, no, no, it's not a rare treasure, it's a national weapon!"

Duan Lun said this without further ado. He immediately pulled out a blueprint from his pocket and handed it to Li Shimin, saying, "Your Majesty, this is something I accidentally discovered while surveying the river. Please take a look, Your Majesty!"

"Oh?"

The more Li Shimin listened, the more interesting he found it, so he asked Wushe to take the drawings from Duan Lun's hand.

Seeing that it was a sled, his face darkened: "Are you kidding me?"

"No, no, Your Majesty, please look carefully! What's different about this sled?"

"Sledge?"

Upon hearing this, Fang Xuanling and others looked at each other in surprise.

Li Shimin patiently frowned and examined it. After a moment, he couldn't help but exclaimed, "Why does this sled have a bent arm?"

"Yes, Your Majesty! This sled is called a curved plow. It can be adjusted to any depth, making farming much easier!"

Duan Lun introduced excitedly, "In the past, the straight plows of our Tang Dynasty required two oxen to pull the plow, but with this curved plow, one ox can pull it effortlessly!"

"And because of the changes to the disc plow, it's easier to penetrate the soil, and you can go as deep or shallow as you want!"

"Spring plowing is almost here. The soil in Guanzhong is compacted, making it difficult to dig into the soil and cultivate crops. But with this plow, cultivating ten acres a day is no problem!"

"What!?"

When Li Shimin heard Duan Lun's words, he stood up from his seat and said in disbelief, "Are you serious?!"

"It's absolutely true! I've personally operated this plow, and I'm not lying!"

Duan Lun said this in a decisive tone, his eyes seemed to be bloodshot.

Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui and Wei Zheng were all trembling with excitement.

There were too many wastelands in the capital area of ​​the Tang Dynasty, and the people's farming ability was too weak, resulting in most of the land being used by wealthy families to build manors.

As a result, a large portion of the Tang Dynasty's annual agricultural tax would be lost.

If this plow can really improve the farming capacity of the Tang Dynasty, then the economy of the Tang Dynasty will improve rapidly.

Why should Li Shimin have to swallow his anger because of the lack of food during the war?

Thinking of this, Li Shimin's eyes were filled with a burning light.

A cow!

Plow ten acres a day!
"Hahaha!"

Li Shimin couldn't help but throw his head back and laugh: "It's really auspicious! It's really auspicious! This is the first good news I've heard this year!"

As he spoke, he walked around the hall excitedly, then looked at Duan Lun: "Mr. Duan! I will reward you! I will reward you greatly!"

"No, no, no, Your Majesty, this cannot be done. I did not create this!"

Duan Lun waved his hands repeatedly, even saying with some embarrassment, "I have been in the Ministry of Works for all these years, but I haven't brought any good news to Your Majesty. Even this item is something I found by chance!"

"Oh?"

Li Shimin paused, then looked at Duan Lun with admiration and said with a smile, "My dear minister, there's no need to underestimate yourself. The fact that you were able to discover this item is already a great achievement!"

"but."

He then changed the subject and continued, "I'm very curious about who created this thing. I want to thank him personally on behalf of all the people in the world!"

"Uh, this."

Duan Lun was so embarrassed that he couldn't speak.

But then Li Shimin asked again, "Why, you don't even know who created this thing?"

"Your Majesty, although I don't know who created it, I know that it came from Jiangling!" Duan Lun answered with a stiff face.

"Jiang Ling?!"

The smile on Li Shimin's face suddenly froze, and his anger rose suddenly.

hateful! !
That rebellious son had such a magical weapon, and he even hid it from me!

What is he going to do! ?

Divide the world with me?

This is simply unreasonable!
It is obvious that the existence of the curved plow as a magical weapon in Jiangling must be related to Li Chengqian!

And Li Chengqian hid the matter of the curved plow from him. In his opinion, Li Chengqian was trying to compete with him in governing the country!
How could this not make him angry?!

Therefore, when he learned that the curved plow was made by Jiangling, his original excitement was immediately swept away, replaced by immense anger:
"Xuanling! Pass on my order! I want to take back the Crown Prince's authority in Jiangling! Have him return to Chang'an immediately!"

"what?"

Fang Xuanling was surprised for a moment and quickly tried to dissuade Li Shimin: "Your Majesty, absolutely not! You have already ordered His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to pray for rain. If you issue an order to take back the power now, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince will definitely make a scene!"

"What? Does he dare to rebel against me?!"

Li Shimin glanced at him coldly.

Fang Xuanling was suddenly shocked and speechless.

At this time, Wei Zheng stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty is wrong again!"

"Wei Zheng!"

Li Shimin's face darkened: "What do you want to say?"

"What I want to say is that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince did not intentionally hide this from Your Majesty. If he did, how could he have allowed Minister Duan to know so easily? Therefore, Your Majesty must have been too negligent in paying attention to the changes in Jiangling and was responsible for the oversight. How can the Crown Prince be blamed?"

"you!"

Li Shimin was speechless after being refuted by Wei Zheng. Come to think of it, if he had not been responsible for neglecting Jiang Ling, Jiang Ling would have come up with so many things, and he would not be the last one to know about it.

"Your Majesty, in my opinion, no matter who created this thing, it is ultimately good for our Tang Dynasty. Now that spring plowing is urgent, the court should forge a large number of this thing and promote it throughout the world!" Duan Lun, the Minister of Works, said cautiously.

Li Shimin frowned slightly, thinking about it and it made sense, so he decisively ordered: "Mr. Duan, I order the Ministry of Works to promote this product throughout the country before the spring plowing!"

"Sir, obey the order!"

"Besides, no matter what, since you discovered this item, I grant you five hundred pieces of silk and confer the title of Founding County Man!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Duan Lun was overjoyed and immediately bowed to Li Shimin.

"Okay, you go down first!"

Li Shimin waved his hand and watched him leave Liangyi Hall without any joy or anger.

Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui exchanged glances. Du Ruhui immediately understood and changed the subject, saying, "Your Majesty, compared to the matter of the curved plow, there is another thorny matter that requires your decision!"

"What's the matter?"

Li Shimin looked at Du Ruhui expressionlessly.

But then Du Ruhui said, "It was Tuli Khan who sent an envoy to ask for help from the Tang Dynasty!"

"Humph!" Li Shimin snorted coldly and said solemnly, "Where is the envoy?"

"Outside the palace!"

"Let him in!"

Following Li Shimin's order, a bearded strong man dressed in Turkic clothing slowly walked in from outside the hall.

"Your Majesty, the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty, is here to see you, Abatu, the envoy of Tuli Khan!"

As soon as the envoy of Tuli Khan came in, he knelt down and kowtowed to Li Shimin.

Li Shimin and his ministers couldn't help but smile when they saw this.

Who says that barbaric countries don’t understand etiquette? When it comes to asking for help, they know it better than anyone else.

"I wonder what brings your Excellency to our Tang Dynasty?" Li Shimin asked calmly.

"Your Majesty, this is what happened."

Abatu sincerely told Li Shimin and his ministers about the situation on the grassland in detail.

After listening to this, Li Shimin said with a complicated expression: "Although we have also suffered a disaster here, it is not as serious as yours at the moment."

Abatu sighed and said, "Your Majesty the Emperor of the Great Tang is very perceptive. Compared to your Central Plains, our grasslands are very simple in terms of survival. Grass is our only source of survival."

"Although winter has passed and the snow has gradually melted in some places, the exposed grassland is still not enough for our cattle and sheep to eat."

"And the cattle and sheep won't be able to find food and will starve to death."

Hearing this, Li Shimin couldn't help but look strange, but still asked with some doubt: "Don't you have any stored fodder?"

"Yes, but the winter on the grassland is too long, the snow is still falling, and the stored food and grass is only enough for two months. If we eat it now, the cattle and sheep will still starve to death in two months!"

"Oh, I see."

"In fact, not only that, many cattle and sheep have starved to death or frozen to death!"

Abatu said, "The grasslands are not like the Central Plains. In winter, we have no other food except cattle and sheep!"

"If this continues, our people will starve to death!"

"Ok!"

Li Shimin nodded sympathetically and said, "I didn't expect it to be so serious. How about this? You go down first. I will discuss it with the ministers and give you a reply later!"

"Yes!"

Abatu responded respectfully and retreated.

After watching him leave, Li Shimin looked around at Fang Xuanling and the other two and said, "Look, what should we do?"

"Ah!"

Fang Xuanling sneered and said, "I can't believe the Turks have the nerve to come and ask us for food. Why don't they mention the abduction of our people and the occupation of our land at this time?"

"It seems that he has been forced into a desperate situation!" Wei Zheng echoed.

Du Ruhui smiled and said, "God is really helping me!"

"Your Majesty, once the Turkic people's strength is exhausted, we can easily defeat them without fighting!"

"Yes, Your Majesty! This is the best opportunity for our Tang Dynasty. What do you think?" Fang Xuanling said excitedly.

Li Shimin thought for a moment, looked around at the three people again, then stood up from his seat and said calmly, "What if I agree to their request?"

"what?"

Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui were at a loss when they heard this.

Wei Zheng also looked at Li Shimin with some surprise.

"Your Majesty! This is absolutely impossible!"

Du Ruhui was the first to advise Li Shimin: "You are helping our enemies!"

"There are no eternal enemies in this world. If they no longer oppose us, I think we can agree to their request!"

"Your Majesty, do you know that if we help them now, we will lose the best opportunity to defeat them!" Fang Xuanling advised earnestly.

Du Ruhui echoed again, "Yes, Your Majesty, if we help the enemy now, once they recover and take up arms, they will harass the people of the Tang Dynasty again!"

"hehe."

Li Shimin laughed: "Aren't they holding up their weapons now? In the eyes of my Celestial Empire, they are victims facing a desperate situation!"

"His Majesty!"

Upon hearing this, Du Ruhui said with a look of deep sorrow, "Forgive me for speaking frankly. You have fought bravely and valiantly in battles all over the world. Why are you being so soft-hearted today?"

"His Majesty!"

Fang Xuanling was just about to advise Li Shimin again.

Then Wei Zheng spoke first, "Your Majesty, I agree with you!"

"Oh?"

Li Shimin looked at Wei Zheng in surprise and said with a smile, "Wei Zheng, did I hear you correctly? What did you just say? I didn't hear clearly!"

"I say, I agree with you!"

Wei Zheng stood up proudly.

Li Shimin suddenly threw his head back and laughed: "Hahaha!"

After laughing, he said with emotion: "Wei Zheng, you have really surprised me one after another recently! It's been a while since you mentioned the great principle that governing a country must start with self-discipline!"

"I work hard for the country, so I naturally don't care about gains or losses. I will say whatever I want!"

Wei Zheng said calmly: "If I think it is wrong, I will oppose it. If I think it is right, I will support it!"

"Okay! Well said!"

Li Shimin applauded.

Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui looked at a loss.

After a moment, Li Shimin smiled and explained, "Have you forgotten the rebellious son's speculation? Liang Shidu has a conflict with the Turks! What is the root of that conflict? I speculate that it may be the policies implemented by Jie Li Khan in the Turks that have greatly damaged Liang Shidu's interests!"

"Continuing to infer from this, if Jie Li treated Liang Shidu this way, how could he be any better to Tuli? Therefore, I surmise that Tuli's request for aid from the Tang Dynasty must be due to a conflict with Jie Li, perhaps even an irreconcilable one!"

"So, if I send food and supplies to Tuli, what do you think will happen?"

"hiss!"

Upon hearing this, Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui reacted instantly and couldn't help but gasp.

What a great trick of killing three warriors with two peaches!

It is true that like son, like father!
Your Majesty is as vicious as the prince!

"But Your Majesty, our grain is for the most severe period of drought. If we give the grain to Tuli, what will happen to the drought?"

"Yes, Your Majesty! We don't have any extra food!"

Although Fang and Du figured out Li Shimin's plan, they were still worried.

Li Shimin hesitated for a moment before making a decision: "The drought hasn't reached its worst point yet. Besides, we now have the curved plow, which can greatly improve farming. We can definitely save ourselves. But if we miss the opportunity to destroy the Turks, we'll miss it for good!"

"But Your Majesty."

"That's enough! Stop talking! Prepare food and support Tuli!"

Li Shimin waved his hand to interrupt Fang and Du, and ordered without question: "Set off when you are ready, don't delay!"

"Yes!"

Fang and Du looked at each other, their faces full of helplessness.

We can only hope that there will be no other disasters this year.

Otherwise, the consequences will be disastrous.

　[Seeking monthly tickets, recommendation tickets, follow-up subscriptions, full subscriptions]

　　
　
(End of this chapter)