Tang Dynasty: A Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls for Li Er at the Start

Chapter 122 I have something I need to entrust to you.

Wen He rushed to the gunpowder manufacturing workshop, only to find it in complete chaos.

He quickly ordered the Xuanjia Guards to help him off his horse.

"Minister Yan, where is Minister Yan?"

If a dignified fourth-rank vice minister were to fall here, those censors would probably tear him apart.

"I'm here, Young Master Wen, don't worry, I'm fine."

From afar, Wen He saw Yan Lide waving at him.

Seeing that he was neatly dressed, but his face was a little pale, Wen He immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

He then turned to look at the gunpowder manufacturing workshop, which didn't seem to be seriously damaged; only one earthen wall had collapsed.

"What happened? Was there a mistake in the operation?"

Wen He had repeatedly warned him to be extremely careful.

However, judging from Yan Lide's appearance, it didn't seem like anything had happened to him.

"It's nothing, it's just that a leader wanted to test it out. I thought the gunpowder wouldn't be too powerful, but I didn't expect that just a fist-sized amount would..."

He pointed to the collapsed earthen wall and smiled helplessly.

The explosion had startled him.

Fortunately, the workshop was located in the Forbidden Garden, a secluded place. If it had been in Chang'an City, there would probably have been a major disaster.

Yan Lide still hasn't forgotten that when the gunpowder exploded, his mind seemed to go completely blank.

Only at that moment did he realize that there were things in this world that were like thunder.

"I didn't expect it to succeed so quickly. It seems I can report to His Highness tomorrow."

Yan Lide nodded in satisfaction and stroked his beautiful beard.

"Success?" Wen He smiled and shook his head: "This is just the beginning. Powdered gunpowder is just the most basic kind of gunpowder. What we need to show His Highness is granular gunpowder."

"And porcelain bottle grenades."

Wen He had considered using pottery, but pottery is too soft and might affect the results of the experiment.

So he plans to try porcelain first, and then ceramics.

"Why make it so complicated?" Yan Lide thought he could finish his task immediately.

"Let's hurry, we don't know when the Turks will suddenly attack."

Wen He was previously confident that the Turks would come when Li Shimin ascended the throne.

After all, it would take at least a month to get the message from Chang'an to the Turks.

Then Jieli also needs to integrate the teams of the various tribes.

Unlike the Tang Dynasty, they couldn't mobilize tens of thousands of soldiers at any time.

Although Jieli appeared to be the Khan of the Turks, few of them truly obeyed his orders wholeheartedly.

He can only motivate them by offering benefits that make them envious.

This gave Li Shimin just the right amount of time.

As the time for Li Shimin to ascend the throne drew ever closer.

Even ordinary people and commoners who were unaware of the changes in Chang'an City noticed them.

What they didn't know was that while the high-ranking officials were looking forward to the new emperor's ascension to the throne...

A urgent report from Jingzhou enraged Li Shimin, who was immersed in joy.

"Summon the Left and Right Vice Ministers, the Chancellor, the Attendant-in-Ordinary, the Minister of Rites, the Minister of War, the Left Vice Minister of the Crown Prince, and the Generals of the various Guards..." Li Shimin rattled off a string of names of important officials of the Tang Dynasty, among whom even the lowest-ranking officials were Attendants-in-Ordinary and Ministers of various ministries.

All of them were officials of the third rank or above.

But as he finished speaking, he paused for a moment and suddenly uttered a name that surprised Gao Yue.

"And Gaoyang County."

Gao Yue knew that something big must have happened, otherwise His Highness the Crown Prince would not have summoned so many important officials at once.

But why would they call that young Wen He over for such an important matter?

Soon after Wen He arrived, everyone else had already gathered.

He wasn't taken to the main hall, but to a side hall. "Your Highness, what brings you here? I have a lot of things to attend to."

Gunpowder has begun mass production.

The crossbow has been inspected and accepted; Li Shimin is waiting for him to have time to inspect it.

In addition, there were telescopes, of which he only made ten during this period.

He's been so busy lately, working non-stop every day.

She also needs to find time to teach the three little ones and spend time with Wenrou.

He only has five hours a day to eat and sleep... He's so busy.

Gao Yue, standing to the side, gave a dry laugh but said nothing.

Wen He knew that he certainly didn't know either.

"Fine, then let's listen."

When he entered the side hall, Changsun Wuji was speaking in the main hall.

"The Turks sent envoys for two reasons: first, to investigate our Great Tang, and second, certainly to lull us into a false sense of security. If Your Highness does not agree to the Turkic envoys coming to Chang'an, they will surely think that Your Highness is afraid of the Turks."

"What the Left Vice Minister said makes sense, but given the current situation, if the Turkic envoys were to come rashly, they might try to find out our strength and weaknesses. If they find out that... Li Yi is not in Jingzhou, would they send troops south?"

Wen He didn't recognize the person speaking, but he could tell from his voice that he wasn't one of Li Shimin's key figures.

Because he only knew that Li Yi had returned to Chang'an, but he did not know that Li Jing had gone to Jingzhou.

“There’s no need to worry about this. I just want them to know,” Li Shimin interrupted the man.

He is not afraid of the Turks coming, but rather afraid that the Turks will not come.

Li Jing and Li Shiji had been laying out plans in Jingzhou and Youzhou for so long, just waiting for the Turks to come crashing into them.

Although this battle could not completely wipe out the Turks, it should at least prevent them from harassing the Tang Dynasty for three or four years.

In this way, we can defeat them in one battle in the future.

This would give the Tang Dynasty more military strength and time to focus its attention on the Western Turks.

In the future, there will be no need to distinguish between the Eastern Turks and the Western Turks; that vast territory will only belong to the Tang Dynasty.

The minister who had spoken returned to his post in silence.

Li Shimin looked at Tang Jian: "In that case, the Ministry of Rites shall make arrangements for the reception. I have only one condition: Jingzhou must be calm and peaceful before the ninth day of the eighth month."

What he meant was that peace must be guaranteed with the Turks before that point in time.

All this pressure fell on Tang Jian.

"I accept the decree."

"But if the Turks threaten war, the Tang Dynasty must not back down an inch, nor allow the Turks to become complacent."

Li Shimin then added.

His meaning was clear: if Jieli launched an attack ahead of schedule, he would postpone his ascension to the throne and also wage war against the Turks.

He absolutely will not allow the historical Wei River Alliance to happen again.

Tang Jian immediately understood Li Shimin's determination and solemnly bowed to him, saying, "Your subject will certainly do his utmost."

"Well then, gentlemen, you may disperse."

Many people in the Lizheng Hall looked worried, but seeing Li Shimin's expression, they could only take their leave.

After everyone had left, Li Shimin went to the side hall.

As soon as I came in, I saw Wen He sitting there, yawning with her chin resting on her hand.

"You little rascal, you're certainly living a carefree life."

Upon hearing this, Wen He quickly stood up and bowed to him.

"No need." Li Shimin raised his hand, gesturing for him to stand up, and then had him sit down beside him.

After Wen He sat down, Li Shimin spoke solemnly.
"I have something I wish to entrust to you..."

Before he could finish speaking, Wen He said in a panic, "Your Highness, please don't make me lead troops into battle! I've only read Romance of the Three Kingdoms, I haven't read any military books. Our Tang Dynasty has so many fierce generals, how could it be my turn to go on the battlefield?"

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(End of this chapter)