Inheriting a Taoist temple, the story begins with Wu Zetian offering incense.

Chapter 74 The Champion Marquis is going to war, and I, Li Shimin, must lend a hand! [Seeking monthly votes]

Chen Tang turned off the laser spotlight and handed it to Gan Yanshou:
"This bastard acted like he was going to die rather than submit. I thought he was a tough nut to crack, but I didn't expect him to be such a coward."

The temperature of the solar cooker was rising rapidly, and the bandit leader was screaming in pain from the heat. Before Chen Tang could even ask, he spilled the beans:
"The King of Kangju sent us here with the aim of killing the Kangju prince and demanding compensation from the Han Dynasty."

No sooner had these words been spoken than the Kangju people accompanying him began to curse, and the Kangju prince, the temporary interpreter, turned pale and then red. He had come today specifically to eat melons from Wusun, so he was jumping around happily.

Unexpectedly, while watching the play, he found himself on the stage, where he, the translator, had become the protagonist of the story.

But Chen Tang, being the sharp-tongued fellow he was, blurted out to the Prince of Kangju:
"Go ahead and cry if you want to, we promise we won't laugh out loud."

The Han dynasty did not request a hostage, but the King of Kangju was impatient to send his son to Chang'an. Before the son had even reached the halfway point, the King sent men to intercept and kill him, attempting to set a trap.

It's tough for anyone to keep that up.

The Kangju prince's eyes reddened. Noticing the Wusun people watching him, he forced back his tears and nonchalantly started playing with the pebbles on the riverbank.

Gan Yanshou looked at Chen Tang, asking with his eyes whether he wanted to use this opportunity to elaborate.

Chen Tang thought for a moment, then shook his head slightly, feeling that there was no need to make a fuss now. He decided to take the Kangju prince to Chang'an first, and then petition His Majesty to bestow upon the Kangju prince the title of King of Kangju once they arrived in Chang'an.

Then the newly appointed "King of Kangju" could cry to the court, complaining that his homeland had been occupied and requesting His Majesty to uphold justice.

After some maneuvering, the Han Dynasty sent a large army to help the new King of Kangju recover his lost territory, drive out the treacherous officials, and restore peace and order to the people of Kangju... However, the King of Kangju had no interest in governing and surrendered the land to the Han Dynasty, content to live a life of debauchery as a subject of the Han Dynasty in Chang'an.

This is the public domain script for the Han Dynasty's conquest of the Western Regions; it can be directly copied with slight modifications.

Chen Tang had long planned this, and now that the King of Kangju has actually provided assistance, he will be able to operate more smoothly after returning to Chang'an.

In addition, this time when he goes back, Tom Cruise also needs to build a good relationship with the future Emperor Cheng of Han, Liu Ao, cultivate Wang Mang, and fiercely fight against Shi Xian, the Grand Secretary who controls the court.

Shi Xian was a eunuch who controlled the inner court during the reign of Emperor Xuan of Han. When Emperor Yuan ascended the throne, no one could suppress him, and he became even more lawless.

People like Chancellor Kuang Heng and Imperial Censor Fan Yanshou needed to curry favor with Shi Xian to maintain their position in the court.

The remaining interrogations went exceptionally smoothly; the ringleader even learned to answer questions quickly, and the other bandits also voluntarily revealed some details.

Chen Tang released the leader's hand, placed a large pot on the solar cooker's support, poured in the water the soldiers had brought, and after boiling it, sprinkled in the spicy soup seasoning packet that Zhou Yi had given him.

Soon, a large pot of fragrant and spicy soup was ready.

Chen Tang held up an enamel mug, soaked the hard wheat cakes in the soup, and ate them with great relish.

Gan Yanshou walked over with a bowl in his hand and asked in a low voice:
"Young Master, once we arrive in Chang'an, shouldn't we eliminate Kuang Heng as soon as possible?"

Chen Tang shook his head and rejected the idea:

“That won’t do. Old Gan, you’re from the Imperial Guard. You don’t know what scholars pursue. They want to be remembered for eternity. If you kill him, you’ll be helping them fulfill their dreams… The best way is to ruin his reputation, make it utterly infamous. He’ll suffer every day he lives. The master said that controlling public opinion and having the power to speak is more important than killing a group of great scholars.”

Although the Han Dynasty is currently in a precarious state, it is not beyond saving. For example, there are upright people in the court such as General of Chariots and Cavalry Xu Jia, General of the Right Wang Shang, and the great Confucian scholar Liu Xiang.

Although Wang Feng is a powerful minister, he can still be used. The enemies we face now are the eunuch group led by Shi Xian and the corrupt Confucian group led by Kuang Heng. These two are the main targets for our attack.

As a scholar, Chen Tang was very clear about the ins and outs of this matter. However, interestingly, because of his poor background, Chen Tang was disliked by the Confucian scholars and usually hung out with military officers.

Gan Yanshou, who came from the Imperial Guard, was polite, knew how to advance and retreat, and his personal image was closer to that of a scholar-general.

After eating and drinking their fill, everyone continued on their journey, aiming to reach Wensu City as soon as possible to rest. As for the foreign bandits, they would be left behind to repair the road between Wensu and the Western Regions Protectorate, facilitating the army's westward advance.

Well, although we are still thousands of miles away from Chang'an, we must start planning to seize Kangju now, so as not to affect the army's progress.

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Chen Tang and the others headed towards Wensu, while Zhou Yi drove back to Hunyuan Palace.

As soon as he parked his car, he returned to his room, flipped through his black notebook, and checked his accumulated merits. [Merit: Two taels and one mace]

After just a few days, the price has skyrocketed by five coins – what a pleasant surprise!
He quickly scrolled down, and lines of notes appeared:
[Stop spreading panic about life-extending techniques, merit +1]

[Change the fortune of the flour mill, merit +1]

Burning foreign religious artifacts saves lives, merit +2

[Chen Tang, assessing the situation, prepares a plan to destroy Kangju, merit +1]

The first four points are all closely related to the Book of Changes: the longevity crisis, the use of apotropaic magic to change the situation, and the exorcising of evil spirits for Nan Nan today. Gaining merit is to be expected.

But the last one suddenly appearing is quite interesting.

Having just detained the Wusun prince in the camp, Chen Tang has already set his sights on Kangju. He's really never idle.

On the day we have hot pot, we should ask Chen Tang what plans he's working on.

Perhaps Tom Cruise, as a junior, can offer some constructive advice to Zhang Qian on Huo Qubing's side.

Chen Tang lived in the late Western Han Dynasty and had a better understanding of how to manage the Western Regions, unlike Zhang Qian, who was simply feeling his way across the river by trial and error.

When Ban Chao of the Eastern Han Dynasty appeared, he was the one who brought it all together. He was a chief secretary with thirty-six followers and a total of thirty-seven spears. Yet, in nineteen years, he successively destroyed more than fifty small kingdoms in the Western Regions.

Without costing the imperial court a single soldier, it expanded its vast territory, a true miracle in diplomatic history.

After reviewing his merits, Zhou Yi checked the calendar and added a note to his phone's memo app:
"Instruct Huo Qubing to pay homage to the Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun at the Jiuku Temple before leaving the border, and pray for good health."

Although there are still six years until the untimely death of the Great Han Military God, it is better to pay respects in advance.

Huo Qubing came from the Hall of Longevity. If he were to pray to the Heavenly Venerable of Salvation for health, the Emperor of Longevity would likely feel a little pressure, and that would create involution.

If there's no involution, then create it. Mobilize the enthusiasm of the gods. Isn't that more meaningful than giving away eggs to rob believers?
In addition to this memorandum, Zhou Yi also listed equipment suitable for cavalry, such as horseshoes and high-bridged saddles, and told Huo Qubing to find someone to replicate them, which would greatly improve the combat effectiveness of the cavalry.

While Zhou Yi, the master of the I Ching, was concerned about Huo Qubing, Li Shimin, during the Zhenguan era of the Tang Dynasty, was also considering what he could do to help the Marquis of Champion.

"Ancient texts record that the Han Dynasty's armor was incomplete, and many people were not even equipped with leather armor. As the commander of the cavalry, I will send the Marquis of Champion five hundred sets of light cavalry armor to him. I hope that the Marquis of Champion will fight bravely and capture the Xiongnu Chanyu in one fell swoop!"

Supporting the entire Han Dynasty would be difficult, but providing Huo Qubing with 500 sets of light armor would be no problem. Once Huo Qubing equipped his troops with the armor, they would have an invincible elite force.

At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, Zhang Liao, with his eight hundred troops, routed Sun Quan's army of one hundred thousand.

The Marquis of Champion's troops were equipped with light armor, and when facing the Xiongnu, they were even more formidable than Zhang Liao in defeating Sun Quan's 100,000 men... It's unimaginable what kind of great achievements they could create!
While waiting for the Arsenal to report the number of light armors, Li Shimin went to the Hall of One Yuan, first bowing to the huge Tai Chi diagram in the main hall, and then said to Wu Meiniang:

"When you go to Hunyuan Palace this time, ask the immortal master if it is possible to make a rubbing of the portrait of the Marquis of Champion on paper. If it can be done, I am willing to exchange it for the national seal of Gaochang."

Wu Zetian wrote this request down in her notebook:

"The immortal can print out the photo, enlarge it, or put it in a frame to protect it from the elements... Why does His Majesty want the portrait of the Marquis of Champion?"

Li Shimin did not hide anything:
"Have someone deliver this to Brother Yaoshi by fast horse, and use the title of Champion Marquis to encourage this old general!"

Wu Zetian: ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
To force Li Weigong to unleash his full potential, His Majesty has truly gone to great lengths... But which man throughout Chinese history has not admired the heroic and outstanding Marquis of Champion?

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First update delivered, please vote with monthly tickets, brothers!

(End of this chapter)