Tang Dynasty: Taking the Empress Dowager to a brothel, Father Emperor, what a coincidence!

"Father, save your energy. The city walls have all been leveled; who are you going to kill when you go in?"

Cheng Chumo pulled Cheng Yaojin, who was cursing and swearing, over.

Li Chengqian said, somewhat speechless:

"Uncle Cheng, stop scolding. These are all free laborers."

The emperor conveyed his military order to organize these several thousand men into a forced labor camp. The Tang Dynasty needed to build roads, fortifications, and dig pits in Liaodong, and they were worried about not having enough people to do the work.

"It's like livestock being delivered right to our doorstep."

No sooner had he finished speaking than a sharp shout came from the side.

"Your Highness, you mustn't."

Wei Zheng rode over on a thin horse, panting heavily.

After dismounting, he hadn't even caught his breath before pointing at Li Chengqian and launching into a tirade.

"The Great Tang is a land of propriety and etiquette. Wherever the royal army goes, it should win people over with benevolence and righteousness. Since these Goguryeo people have laid down their weapons and surrendered, they are now subjects of the Great Tang."

How could Your Highness treat them like livestock, banishing them to hard labor? If word gets out, wouldn't it chill the hearts of the people? Who would dare to surrender to the Tang Dynasty in the future?

Li Chengqian glanced at Wei Zheng with disdain.

"Lord Wei, why haven't you changed this habit even after arriving in Liaodong? Benevolence and righteousness? You're talking about benevolence and righteousness with these barbarians?"

Just a few days ago they were pulling down their pants and provoking us from across the Liao River, and now the city has fallen, and you're telling me they're citizens of the Tang Dynasty? Does the Tang Dynasty have an endless supply of rice? Are we going to support these useless fools for nothing?

Wei Zheng retorted:

"Your Highness is not going to support them for nothing. You can disperse them, distribute them to fields, teach them farming and sericulture, and educate them."

Within three years, they will be grateful for the Tang Dynasty's benevolence and become the most loyal border residents of our Great Tang. This is the true path to long-term stability and peace.

Li Chengqian rolled his eyes.

"Distribute land? Teach farming and sericulture? Lord Wei, do you think this is playing house on a farm outside Chang'an?"

This is Liaodong. What do you expect them to grow in this freezing weather? Snow?

Wei Zheng was momentarily speechless, but immediately continued:

"But we can't send them all out to build roads and cities. The hard labor and exhaustion will surely lead to heavy casualties. This is not the way of a benevolent ruler."

The two started arguing in the street.

The surrounding generals all fell silent.

There was nothing anyone could do; no one could get a word in edgewise.

Everyone in the Tang Dynasty knew the power of Wei Zheng's sharp tongue.

Fang Yi'ai muttered to himself from the side:

"Has this old man Wei gone mad from reading too much? Does he think he can just keep them as his godson and not let them work?"

Li Chengqian looked at Wei Zheng's stubborn face and suddenly smiled.

"Alright, since Lord Wei is so confident, let's ask them for their opinions."

Li Chengqian walked up to the group of surrendered Goguryeo soldiers kneeling on the ground.

"Raise your heads, everyone."

The surrendered soldiers trembled as they raised their heads, their faces filled with terror as they looked at the young Tang Dynasty crown prince.

Li Chengqian pointed at Wei Zheng and said:

"This is Lord Wei of the Tang Dynasty. He thinks you are all good people and wants to give you land, teach you how to grow crops, and make you obedient citizens of the Tang Dynasty."

I think you're all free labor, and I want you to build roads and cities.

Now I'm giving you a choice. Do you want to follow Lord Wei to farm or follow me to build roads? Tell me loudly!

The thousands of surrendered soldiers looked at each other, none daring to utter a sound.

The lieutenant who had been captured by Cheng Yaojin mustered his courage and asked:

"Are...are we really going to choose for ourselves?"

"I always keep my word."

Li Chengqian nodded.

The lieutenant suddenly turned around and shouted a Goguryeo phrase at the surrendered soldiers behind him.

The next second, thousands of surrendered soldiers shouted in unison:

"I want to go home."

Li Chengqian turned his head and spread his hands in front of Wei Zheng.

"Look, Lord Wei. They don't want to farm or build roads; they want to go home. What are you going to do?"

Wei Zheng's face turned bright red.

He pointed at the group of surrendered soldiers and cursed:

"Stubborn and unyielding! Truly barbarians."

Li Chengqian scoffed:

"Lord Wei, your Confucian doctrines might fool my father in Chang'an, but on the battlefield, they're worthless."

Wei Zheng looked at Li Chengqian with displeasure and said:

"Your Highness, do not be smug. It is only natural for them to want to go home. As long as our Great Tang bestows favors upon them and provides them with enough to eat and wear, they will naturally change their minds."

Wei Zheng shouted to his personal guards behind him:

"Men! Go to the logistics camp and summon the cooks. Give these surrendered soldiers their rations and let them have a good meal. Today, I will show Your Highness what a righteous army truly is."

Li Chengqian not only did not stop Wei Zheng, but instead took two steps back, crossed his arms, and adopted a posture of watching a good show.

"Alright, Lord Wei wishes to bestow a favor. I will absolutely not stop him. Changsun Chong."

"Your subject is here."

Changsun Chong quickly ran over.

"Go and cooperate with Lord Wei to bring out our military rations so that these Goguryeo brothers can have a good meal."

Li Chengqian deliberately emphasized the words "military rations".

Changsun Chong was stunned for a moment, then realized what he meant and said with a mischievous grin:

"I obey your decree."

Before long, more than a dozen large iron pots were carried out onto the street.

Changsun Chong directed the cooks to pour bags of yellowish-brown powder into a pot, then add cold water and stir it with a large wooden stick.

A wheat aroma began to fill the air.

The group of surrendered Goguryeo soldiers had been starving for most of the day, and when they smelled the delicious aroma, their eyes lit up with envy.

Wei Zheng frowned as he looked at the mushy mess in the pot and asked:

"Your Highness, is this all you're going to feed them? This stuff is dry and hard to swallow. Why not cook some hot porridge?"

Li Chengqian shrugged and said:

"Lord Wei, this is the rations for our Tang soldiers. If they can eat it, why can't these prisoners?"

Besides, cooking porridge now would be a dream come true.

Wei Zheng thought it made sense and said no more.

He began directing the cooks to distribute meals.

The surrendered soldiers rushed forward in a swarm.

They didn't even use a bowl; they just grabbed the porridge from the pot with their hands and stuffed it into their mouths.

"Eat slowly. There's plenty for everyone. The Tang Dynasty will not treat you unfairly."

Wei Zheng stood to the side, stroking his beard with a compassionate expression.

The lieutenant grabbed a handful of the paste, stuffed it into his mouth, chewed a few times, and immediately shouted:

"Delicious. So delicious!"

Goguryeo was a harsh and cold country, and the lower-ranking soldiers usually couldn't even get enough to eat, let alone stir-fried noodles with lard and salt.

Thousands of people frantically scrambled for food around a dozen large iron pots.

Changsun Chong had several bags of fried noodles poured in, this time without even adding water.

Some of the surrendered soldiers couldn't wait any longer and grabbed the dried powder and stuffed it into their mouths.

"Cough cough cough."

The dry powder got into my throat, causing a bout of coughing.

But no one stopped; after coughing, they continued to stuff more food into their mouths.

Wei Zheng, watching this scene, felt quite pleased with himself and turned to Li Chengqian to boast:

"Your Highness, you see. As long as we show them kindness, they will naturally be grateful to the Tang Dynasty..."

Before Wei Zheng could finish speaking, a sudden change occurred.