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

After everyone had left, Li Chengqian was just about to review tomorrow's marching route.

Qin Qiong and Du Ruhui then walked in.

Qin Qiong's square face, which was originally imposing even without anger, was now filled with smiles.

"Your Highness, is everything arranged?"

Qin Qiong walked up to Li Chengqian and asked with a smile.

Li Chengqian looked at the two with a half-smile and asked:

"What brings you two here? Didn't you tell me we shouldn't see each other often?"

Qin Qiong quickly said:

"Your Highness, these words were spoken by Kemin, not by me."

"Look, even that bastard Lao Cheng dared to lead three thousand men to attack Silla. I'm just sitting around doing nothing anyway, so why don't I go and help His Highness take down Baekje?"

"puff!"

Li Chengqian spat out the tea he had just drunk.

He coughed, looked up at Qin Qiong, and asked:

"No, Uncle Qin, why are you getting involved? You're a dead man now."

Du Ruhui then sat down next to Li Chengqian and slowly began to speak:

"Your Highness may not know this, but these days, the Duke of Yi has been watching the army conquer cities and seize strongholds, and seeing that old man Cheng Zhijie reaping military merits every day. He's almost going crazy with frustration."

"Your Highness, please let him go and fight Baekje. Otherwise, I'm truly afraid that Duke Yi will become ill from holding back his anger, and then his feigned death might turn into a sudden one."

Qin Qiong glared at Du Ruhui:

"Kemin, stop talking nonsense. How could a mere civil official like you understand the backbone of a military general?"

I've fought battles my whole life, and now I'm like a rat in a ditch, hiding in the shadows, watching that old bastard Cheng Zhijie swagger around outside. I wish I could rush out and give him a good beating.

Cheng Zhijie knows absolutely nothing about warfare. All he does is lead his men in reckless charging and hacking around.

Your Highness, look at what he did today! He was supposed to lure the enemy, but he ended up getting surrounded by tens of thousands of Silla troops.

This is utterly disgraceful to our Tang Dynasty generals! If it were an old minister like myself, we would have already captured the Silla capital. How could we allow them to be so arrogant?

Li Chengqian listened to Qin Qiong's complaints and smiled helplessly.

In the entire Tang Dynasty, the only people who could belittle Cheng Yaojin like this were the one in front of us and Li Jing, who had just left.

"Uncle Qin, it's not that I don't want you to make a name for yourself, but you're a dead man now. Even the Emperor in Chang'an goes to your Duke's mansion every few days to offer incense and pay his respects."

If you accidentally expose your identity when you lead your troops to attack Baekje.

That's a crime of deceiving the emperor, something my frail shoulders can't bear.

Upon hearing this, Qin Qiong patted his chest and assured him:

"Your Highness, please rest assured. This old minister will absolutely not reveal his identity."

The old minister has already made up his mind. This time, when leading troops to attack Baekje, the old minister will wear a black-winged mask and will not utter a word during the battle, relying entirely on hand gestures.

If anyone asks who attacked Baekje, just say it was the old minister's son, Hwai-do, who led the troops.

Du Ruhui burst out laughing.

"Duke Yi, you're quite the schemer! Are you trying to give your son credit for the destruction of a kingdom?"

Qin Qiong said confidently:

"What's wrong with my military achievements going to my son?"

Li Chengqian looked at Qin Qiong but did not immediately agree.

Instead, she quietly watched him, considering whether or not to let him go.

Du Ruhui then stopped joking and said seriously:

"Your Highness, jokes aside. In fact, Duke Yi's attack on Baekje was a brilliant move to catch them off guard."

Li Chengqian raised an eyebrow and asked:

"Oh? What do you mean?"

"Your Highness led an army of 50,000 straight to Silla, causing too much of a commotion. Baekje will definitely hear about it."

Although Baekje and Silla had been fighting each other for years, they wished they could strangle each other.

However, "if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold." If Baekje sees that the Tang Dynasty has truly destroyed Silla, they will definitely be on guard and stab us in the back.

Du Ruhui walked to the map and drew a circle around Baekje with his finger.

"The main force of Silla is now entirely focused on besieging Cheng Zhijie at Luoying Mountain, while most of Baekje's troops are also stationed on the border between the two countries, guarding against a counterattack from Silla."

They currently have very few troops in their country, especially near the capital.

If we split our forces into three groups, Your Highness can send one group to rescue Cheng Zhijie, another group to sweep away Silla with lightning speed, and the Duke of Yi can lead a cavalry force to strike directly at the capital of Baekje with lightning speed.

With developments on three fronts, the entire peninsula will be completely incorporated into the Tang Dynasty's territory.

By then, the die will have been cast, and even if Chang'an has objections, they'll have no choice but to accept it.

Qin Qiong chimed in from the side:

"Yes, yes, yes. Kemin's mind works really well. This old minister will go and muster the troops right away, and will definitely not hold Your Highness back."

Li Chengqian remained silent for a moment.

He originally only wanted to take over Silla, and would plan to take over Baekje after he had finished fighting Silla.

But Du Ruhui's suggestion really appealed to him.

Using Qin Qiong's abilities to fight against Baekje would be like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

Then I will return to Chang'an with the might of having destroyed three kingdoms...

Li Chengqian was so excited he could hardly contain himself.

"Are 20,000 troops enough?"

Li Chengqian suddenly looked at Qin Qiong and asked.

Qin Qiong was taken aback at first, then overjoyed.

"That's enough. That's more than enough. It's more than enough to take down Baekje's 20,000-strong army. This old minister pledges to flatten their capital and capture the King of Baekje within three days."

Li Chengqian stood up, walked to Qin Qiong's side, and said:

"Alright, here are 20,000 troops for you. I'll also give you 100 extra-large palm-sized grenades. Uncle Du will accompany you, to advise you and oversee the overall situation."

Du Ruhui quickly stood up and said:

"Your humble servant will certainly not fail in his mission."

Looking at Qin Qiong with concern, Li Chengqian continued:

"But I have three conditions, which you must remember."

"Your Highness, please speak! Not to mention three, even thirty old ministers would agree."

"First, we must never reveal our identities."

You two are dead now. If someone recognizes you and the news gets back to Chang'an, that would be a huge mess.

Throughout the entire journey, masks must be worn. Whether one operates under the banner of acting on behalf of Heaven or as pirates, the Tang Dynasty's military flag must absolutely not be used.

Qin Qiong hurriedly said:

"Your Highness, rest assured! This old minister will go and tear off a few pieces of black cloth to use as military flags, and draw a skull on them."

Li Chengqian's lips twitched slightly, and he continued:

"Second, fight quickly and decisively, do not linger in battle."

When you encounter a tough opponent, don't use the lives of our Tang Dynasty soldiers to compensate; just blast them to death with palm grenades.

If one hundred isn't enough, I'll have someone bring you fifty more. Remember, if something can be solved with gunpowder, don't draw your sword.

Third, and most importantly, bring the orphan back alive.

"If you really surrender in Baekje, I'll never need to return to Chang'an for the rest of my life. I can immediately start my quest for supremacy in Liaodong."

Qin Qiong laughed loudly:

"Your Highness, rest assured! Little Baekje cannot take this old minister's life. This old minister's bones can still support the Tang Dynasty for several more decades of peace."

Li Chengqian waved his hand:

"Go and prepare. Tomorrow at dawn, you and I will split up and act separately."

Remember, you're going there to be ruthless bandits. Don't talk to the barbarians about chivalry. Just rob anything of value and take whatever granaries you see.

"The treasury of Baekje is so vast that even a rat that goes in will have to leave with tears in its eyes."

Du Ruhui smiled and cupped his hands in greeting, saying:

"Your Highness's method of using war to sustain war is already thoroughly familiar to me."

"As for confiscating property, I, your humble servant, will certainly handle it better than that little brat Fang Yi'ai."

Qin Qiong and Du Ruhui turned and left.

Watching the two figures disappear into the distance, Li Chengqian fell into deep thought.

There shouldn't be any problems, right?

However, the thought that Du Ruhui had also gone with them put Li Chengqian's worries at ease.

But accidents can happen anywhere.

This time, the amusement Qin Qiong found for Li Chengqian almost sent the Tang Dynasty crown prince away prematurely.

......

The next morning.

Liaodong Camp.

Li Chengqian stood in the central command tent, with Li Jing, Wei Zheng, Cheng Chumo, and others standing below him.

"Gentlemen, the barbarians of Silla are ignorant of their own limitations, daring to besiege the Duke of my Great Tang. Today, I will show them what the wrath of the Celestial Empire is."

Li Chengqian shouted:

"Advance from two directions, and execute a swift decapitation."

"Keep silent."

"Your subordinate is here."

Cheng Chumo came out.

"I'm allocating 10,000 iron cavalry to you. Go to the logistics department and collect 50 palm-sized grenades. Use them to rescue your father."

Remember, don't talk to the Silla people about military tactics or formations. If you encounter any obstacles, just use your palm lightning to clear a path. If that still doesn't rescue your father, you can bring your own head to me.

"Your Highness, rest assured. I will definitely bring my father back safe and sound."

Cheng Chumo patted his chest and assured him.

Fang Yi'ai whispered from the side:

"Chu Mo, take it easy, don't blow up your dad too."

"Get out of here."

Cheng Chumo cursed angrily, then turned around and went out to make the arrangements.

"The rest of the men will follow me straight to the heart of the enemy."

The entire army advanced at full speed, heading straight for the Silla capital.

"Your Highness, what about Baekje...?"

Li Jing did not refute Li Chengqian's tactics, but was worried about the situation in Baekje.

"I have my own arrangements for Baekje, so Duke Wei need not worry."

Li Chengqian gave a perfunctory reply.

Just then, shouts came from outside the tent.

Report!

"Your Highness, this is an urgent secret letter from Chang'an, delivered by express courier."

A soldier rushed in from outside the tent.

Li Chengqian took the secret letter and glanced at it.

"You rebellious son! Now that Pyongyang has fallen, why have you not returned? A hundred thousand troops are stuck outside the border, supplies are being wasted, and the court and the public are in an uproar."

I hereby order you to immediately relinquish your military command, with Li Jing temporarily assuming command. You are to quickly return to Chang'an to plead guilty.

If you dare to disobey my decree and delay again, I will send another general to Liaodong to take command in your stead.

Li Chengqian scoffed:

"It seems the old man is really desperate."

He casually crumpled the secret letter into a ball and tossed it to Changsun Chong.

"Take it."

Changsun Chong instinctively reached out and caught it.

"Your Highness, what...what is this?"

Changsun Chong asked with a blank expression.

"Use this to wipe your butt."

Li Chengqian waved his hand dismissively.

"This piece of paper seems quite soft; let's not waste it."

Changsun Chong looked down and caught sight of the large characters on it.

"I am deeply worried..."

He was so frightened that he almost sat down on the ground.

"Your Highness...Your Highness...

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty wouldn't dare. If Your Majesty were to find out, my entire family wouldn't be enough to spare."

"Look at your pathetic self."

Li Chengqian snorted coldly.

"If you really think about it, I'm part of your nine generations of relatives, so what are you afraid of?"

Li Chengqian ignored Changsun Chong, walked outside the tent, drew his sword, and pointed it straight at the sky.

"I hereby issue my orders."

Destination: Silla Golden Fortress. Let's go.