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

Chapter 189 The sky of the Tang Dynasty may be changing [asking for monthly votes]

Flying into the sky and hiding underground has always been the dream of the Chinese nation.

Even an emperor like Li Shimin had fantasized about the day when he would soar into the sky.

But whether it is ancient legends or ancient books with written records, flying into the sky and hiding in the ground are all methods used by immortals.

And now, there was actually a mortal flying into the sky, which really opened Li Shimin's eyes.

However, Li Shimin knew Li Chengqian's temper. As long as he was unwilling, he would not obey even if you forced him to do so.

Therefore, after being ruthlessly rejected by Li Chengqian, Li Shimin turned around and left without saying a word, and even suppressed his curiosity about Li Chengqian's prayer for rain.

Anyway, we have to pray for rain in these two days, so it doesn’t make any difference whether we know it earlier or later.

As for Li You.

Li Shimin naturally would not let him stay in the Prince's Mansion any longer, because the information that Li Shimin could not get from Li Chengqian could be obtained from Li You.

Moreover, not every son dared to refuse Li Shimin like Li Chengqian.

For example, Li You at this time was sitting obediently in Li Shimin's carriage, listening to the holy teachings.

You know, if it were in the past, he would not have such an opportunity. The only ones who had such an opportunity, apart from Crown Prince Li Chengqian, were the fat boy Li Tai, and not even Li Ke.

So, at this moment, Li You was very excited.

But Li Shimin said nonchalantly: "You'er, how does it feel to be in heaven?"

"At the beginning, I was a little scared, and then I didn't dare to move." Li You answered cautiously.

"Why don't you dare to move?"

"Because my legs are weak."

Li Shimin's face darkened at that moment, and he suddenly wanted to hit someone. However, his strong curiosity stopped him from doing so. He asked in a friendly manner, "Did you see any gods when you flew to the sky?"

Li You was stunned.

"What?" Li Shimin frowned and couldn't help but continue to ask: "You didn't see it?"

"No, Father, there is nothing in the sky, only clouds."

"How could there be only clouds? Oh, I see. You must be flying too low, so you can't see the gods, right?"

"Yes, I think so."

Li You said vaguely.

Because he suddenly discovered that there was something wrong with the way Li Shimin looked at him.

And that look was one he had never seen before, as if it was not the father he knew, which made him feel a little scared.

But Li Shimin said thoughtfully: "In your opinion, how high can this hot air balloon fly?"

Li You thought for a moment and said, "According to the hot air balloon pilot, they were able to fly about two thousand meters during their training in Shuofang."

"Two thousand meters?"

"Oh, about seven hundred feet or so, that's what the pilot said!"

"Seven hundred feet?"

Li Shimin was surprised and asked, "How can it fly so high?"

"Father, this isn't that high. It's said that a good hot air balloon can fly about a thousand feet!"

"One thousand feet!?"

Li Shimin couldn't help but gasp and smacked his lips, "Can you see a god from a height of a thousand feet?"

"Uh, this, I don't know either."

Li You scratched his head awkwardly, then his eyes suddenly lit up. He said, "The hot air balloon was invented by my brother. No one should know more about the situation in the sky than him! Father can ask him!"

Li Shimin hummed when he heard this, thinking that since the boy was a disciple of a god, it was not surprising that he knew the situation in the sky. Maybe the method of making this hot air balloon was the method of ascension taught to him by the god teacher.

Thinking of this, Li Shimin narrowed his eyes slightly, as if he had seen through everything.

Li You, who was standing by, saw his state and shut up tactfully.

at the same time.

Fang Xuanling, Changsun Wuji, Wei Zheng, and Yunduan, who were following behind Li Shimin's carriage, were also discussing what had just happened.

Yunduan said with great interest, "Master Changsun, I heard that the Crown Prince also flew this kind of hot air balloon in Shuofang. I believe you should know something about it, right?"

"Ok?"

Fang Xuanling and Wei Zheng immediately set their sights on Changsun Wuji when they heard this.

They were also very interested in hot air balloons, but asking from the clouds was different from asking from them.

Because everyone knows that Yunduan is the head of Li Shimin's secret guards.

The questions asked by Yunduan are equivalent to the questions asked by Li Shimin.

Changsun Wuji could choose not to answer their questions, but he dared not not answer Li Shimin's questions.

Changsun Wuji frowned, glanced at Yunduan, then glanced at Fang Xuanling and Wei Zheng, and said calmly, "I do know something about hot air balloons, but not much more than Commander Yun."

This sentence is a subtle criticism of the Baiqi Division.

After all, the Baiqi Division had placed spies in Shuofang, making him feel like he was being monitored.

Moreover, it would be fine if you just monitored, but you didn't monitor in detail, which is really useless.

"hehe."

Yun Duan smiled noncommittally, not getting angry at all. He then said with a smile, "Then please, Lord Changsun, tell me what you know."

Zhang Sun Wuji snorted and said expressionlessly, "Everyone who has seen a hot air balloon should know how it works. It's similar to a Kongming lantern. A hot air balloon is just a larger Kongming lantern."

"Then did His Royal Highness make it to pray for rain?"

"I don't know anything about praying for rain, and His Royal Highness didn't tell me either. But he did tell me about the hot air balloon. It seemed like it was for a new battle method!"

"What new tactics?" Fang Xuanling couldn't help but ask curiously.

Changsun Wuji glanced at him, frowned, and said, "Fighting by land and air."

"Land and air combat?" Wei Zheng was also full of curiosity when he heard this.

But Yunduan said impatiently, "Master Changsun, please tell me what land-air combat is."

"The so-called land-air combat is a new tactic of coordinated operations involving ground forces and air support." Changsun Wuji explained slowly.

Wei Zheng said thoughtfully, "Master Changsun means that we should coordinate the air battle with the ground battle?"

"It's like archers working with infantry."

"Wonderful!"

Upon hearing this, Yun Duan couldn't help but applaud.

Although he is only the commander of the imperial guards now, he was once a personal guard who fought against Li Shimin. Even if Changsun Wuji made an inappropriate analogy, he could still find the beauty in it.

"If we face the enemy head-on, having air support on the ground is indeed a huge advantage!"

"but."

As he spoke, he changed the subject and asked Zhangsun Wuji with even greater curiosity: "What method does this air support use?"

"Do we have to send archers into the sky?" Fang Xuanling thought to himself, and suddenly he was filled with anticipation: "If we can form an air army, that would be amazing!"

"You think it's easy to build an air force?"

Wei Zheng said disapprovingly, "Warfare is not fun. A hot air balloon can't stay aloft forever. Once the fuel runs out, it's doomed!"

"This"

Fang Xuanling was speechless and then looked at Changsun Wuji with embarrassment.

Zhang Sun Wuji said calmly, "There are many ways to provide support. You don't have to stay on the battlefield all the time. It's enough to play an important role at the critical moment!"

As he spoke, he turned his head to look at Wei Zheng, and then said calmly: "It is not impossible to form an air force."

"what?"

Yunduan and Fang Xuanling looked at each other, and many imaginary scenes emerged in their minds.

Wei Zheng, however, was more sober. After a moment's silence, he added, "The idea of ​​forming an air force is a good one, but given the current situation of the Tang Dynasty, it's better not to think about it. As for the fact that hot air balloons can send people into the sky, that's indeed a great thing."

"As long as people go to the sky, there are many possibilities."

"Yes, Shangshu Youcheng is right. Now it depends on how Your Majesty communicates with the Crown Prince!"

Yunduan nodded in agreement, then looked around at everyone with a smile and said sheepishly, "Do you think His Royal Highness can successfully pray for rain?"

"Ah!"

Changsun Wuji snorted, then looked at him as if he were an idiot, and rode away without saying a word.

Fang Xuanling and Wei Zheng looked at each other and followed without saying a word.

Only Yunduan was left, confused and at a loss.

After a while, he called out, "Hey, three adults, please wait for me!"

Obviously, Yun Duan didn't know that now it was no longer a question of whether Li Chengqian could successfully pray for rain, but that he must succeed.

Otherwise, the situation in the Tang Dynasty might change.

On the other side, Guannei Road, Qizhou.

The scorching sun hangs high in the sky, like a burning golden ball, mercilessly scorching the earth.

Clouds were floating in the sky, but there was no sign of rain. The whole world seemed to be put into a huge steamer, so hot and stuffy that it was suffocating.

In a village less than twenty miles away from Chencang County, Zhang San stood beside his own cracked field, staring at the barren land with empty eyes.

Once upon a time, the farmland here was fertile, and every year when crops were planted, a good harvest could be obtained.

But now, this place has turned into a piece of cracked hard soil, with cracks crisscrossing each other, like the dry lips of the earth, silently shouting out its thirst.

The crops in the fields had long since withered and died, and the withered and yellow stalks drooped limply, making rustling sounds under the scorching sun.

"Oh my God—!"

Zhang San's cracked lips trembled and he let out a desperate cry: "What on earth do you want?!" His voice echoed in the silent air, but there was no response. Only the scorching sun shone on him even more fiercely.

Under the old locust tree in the village, a group of pale and skinny villagers gathered.

The children leaned listlessly against the tree trunk, their eyes filled with fear and confusion.

The adults sighed and talked about the terrible drought.

"Old Muramasa, the food at home is almost gone. How long can we hold out? Didn't the prince say he would pray for rain? When will the rain come?"

A pale and skinny villager, dragging his weak body, came to an old man with a cane and said with a sad face.

Upon hearing this, the other villagers echoed the sentiment, saying, "It hasn't rained for over three months. If this continues, how are we going to survive?"

"Yes, Old Muramasa, you have to think of a solution for us!"

"The village wells are almost empty. We can only get a tiny bit of muddy water every day. This is not enough to drink, let alone water the fields."

Hearing the villagers talking about the situation in the village one by one, the old villager's face, which was full of traces of time, was also full of worry.

He said tremblingly, "I've already sent someone to ask the village chief. I'm sure we'll get a reply soon. Don't worry. Even if you do, it's useless."

"But."

A young man answered, "I heard that people in the neighboring village have already starved to death. Our village won't be able to hold out for much longer."

Hearing this, the villagers couldn't help but reveal a look of helplessness and despair in their eyes.

A woman was holding a child and crying quietly. The child was crying with hunger in her arms, but she had no milk to feed him.

As the drought continued, the situation in the village became worse and worse.

People died of starvation every day, and their bodies were thrown randomly into the wasteland outside the village.

Wild dogs were roaming around, making creepy howls from time to time.

Zhang San's wife also fell ill. She lay in bed, breathing heavily weakly.

There was no food left at home. Zhang San looked everywhere but only found some wild vegetables and grass roots.

He cooked a bowl of wild vegetable soup and served it to his wife.

"Mother, please eat something." Zhang San said softly, his voice full of fatigue and concern.

The wife opened her eyes slightly, glanced at the bowl of wild vegetable soup, and shook her head: "Leave it to the child, I can't eat it."

Zhang San couldn't help but shed tears: "How can you not eat? You have to get better."

The wife used up her last bit of strength and held Zhang San's hand: "I'm afraid I can't make it anymore. You must take good care of the children."

After saying this, her hand slowly dropped down.

"The child's mother——!"

Zhang San was heartbroken. He hugged his wife's body and burst into tears.

The child also started crying.

Their cries sounded particularly sad in this quiet village.

The small river outside the village had long dried up, and the riverbed was exposed with large and small stones and cracked soil.

Occasionally you can see a few dead fish, dried out by the sun and emitting a foul odor.

The trees along the river have withered and lost all their leaves, leaving only bare branches, which look particularly desolate under the scorching sun.

But at this time, a group of officials came to the town and said they wanted to collect taxes.

When the villagers heard the news, they were immediately shocked.

"At this time, you're still collecting taxes. Aren't you trying to kill us?"

Zhang San clenched his fists in anger, his face flushed red and veins bulged on his forehead.

"Yes! We can't even afford to eat, how can we pay taxes with grain!" The villagers gathered around and protested loudly to the officials.

"This is outrageous, isn't it?!"

The leading officer roared, instantly intimidating the villagers, and said coldly: "This is an order from above. Anyone who dares to resist paying taxes will be arrested and imprisoned!"

The villagers looked at the officials helplessly, their hearts filled with anger and despair.

At this moment, Zhang San rushed towards an official like a madman, and asked angrily: "You said the order from above, I want to know whose order it was!"

"you you you"

The officer was frightened by Zhang San's actions and asked tremblingly: "What are you going to do?!"

"Hmph, what are you doing? Didn't the court say that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince would pray for rain? Why hasn't he prayed yet? Is he going to watch us die?!"

Zhang San snorted coldly, "And you, these dog officials, are you trying to force us to death?!"

"How dare you! Do you want to rebel?" The leading officer drew his sword in an instant and shouted angrily.

"Hahaha!"

Zhang San laughed out loud, then grabbed the officer in front of him by the neck and said with a sly grin, "If the court doesn't allow us to live, what good will it do if we rebel?"

After saying this, he twisted the officer's neck.

When the officials saw this, they were horrified and drew their swords.

The leading officer was furious: "Come here! Capture him!"

Wow!
At this moment, the sky was suddenly covered with dark clouds and strong winds blew.

When the villagers saw this scene, they all looked up at the sky with hope in their eyes.

"Is it going to rain?!" someone shouted excitedly.

However, the dark clouds only stayed for a short while before being blown away by the wind.

The sun once again shone on the dry land, as if it was God's mockery of them again.

Zhang San looked at the sky, and the last glimmer of hope in his eyes was shattered.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince has misled us!"

Zhang San let out a long roar towards the sky, then casually threw away the officer's body, picked up the officer's sword, and rushed towards the leading officer.

"Quick! Stop him!"

The leading officer was so scared that he kept backing away and shouting to his subordinates.

But the subordinates around him were also very scared. They wanted to stop him but did not dare to.

Soon, Zhang San rushed to the leading officer, shouted "Dog officer" ferociously, and raised the knife in his hand to chop at the other party.

However, at this moment, his movements suddenly stopped, and then a stream of scarlet blood slowly flowed from his forehead.

He opened his eyes wide, subconsciously reached out to touch the flowing blood, and then fell on the leading officer with an unwilling look on his face.

At this time, the surrounding villagers and officials did not react.

I saw a general wearing armor and with a cold face, holding a bow and arrow, riding his horse slowly towards me.

"Captain Lu! It's Captain Lu Ning!" An officer seemed to know the general and stepped forward excitedly to salute.

When the other officers heard Lu Ning's name, they rushed over to salute as if they had heard thunder.

But Lu Ning just gave them a cold look, then set his gaze on the leading officer on the ground, and said in a low voice, "Cousin, how long are you going to lie there? You can't even get some food when I ask you to, you're such a loser!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the leading official on the ground trembled all over. Without saying a word, he pushed Zhang San's body aside and crawled to Lu Ning's side, angrily shouting, "Cousin! These unruly people openly defied the tax and wanted to kill me! They are rebelling against the heavens!"

"Ah!"

Lu Ning sneered, then looked around at the villagers and said indifferently: "Since they are against the people, then kill them all!"

"what?"

The officials and villagers were shocked when they heard this.

Without saying a word, Lu Ning picked up the bow and arrow, aimed at a villager, and shot an arrow.

"what--!"

A scream was heard and the villagers fled in fear.

Seeing this, Lu Ning's eyes were full of excitement. He bent his bow and arrow again, ready to shoot the fleeing villagers.

At this moment, a shout suddenly came from a distance: "Stop!"

"Ok?"

Lu Ning frowned and looked in the direction of the voice. He then said with a serious face, "Liu Rengui! What are you doing here?"

"Lu Ning, you knew the law but broke it, and now you have killed villagers unjustly. I will bring you to justice!" Liu Rengui said coldly.

"Just you?"

Lu Ning sneered disdainfully: "Do you know who my father is?"

"The emperor breaks the law and is guilty just like any commoner. Capture him!"

As soon as these words were spoken, a group of officers and soldiers rushed out from behind Liu Rengui and directly captured Lu Ning and the officials who had just collected taxes.

"Liu Rengui! You're so bold! My father is a disciple of Pei Sikong! You're just a mere county lieutenant, and you dare to control me?!"

"I have warned you not to repeat your offense, but you remain violent and tyrannical. If I don't punish you severely today, the law of the country will not tolerate it!"

After saying this, Liu Rengui waved his hand and took Lu Ning and others away.

Those villagers who had not yet had time to escape looked at each other in confusion.

Finally, his gaze fell on Zhang San's body, and he shook his head and sighed.

After a while, someone whispered, "How about we leave the village?"

"Where are we going then?"

"Go to Chang'an and seek justice from His Royal Highness the Crown Prince! Why did you trick us into praying for rain?!"

The same situation is happening in other disaster areas.

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(End of this chapter)