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

"Brother Fuji."

Since the Crown Prince is so difficult to deal with, what should we do now? We've already donated the money, and war has broken out; we can't just suffer this in silence.

Wang Gui's title has changed.

A look of resentment appeared on Changsun Wuji's face.

"A loss I can't swallow? I've never suffered such a loss in my entire life."

Changsun Wuji stood up and walked to the map of the Tang Dynasty's territory hanging on the wall.

"Since Li Chengqian likes to stir up trouble and fight, then I will grant his wish."

Cui Mingan frowned and asked, "What do you mean?"

Changsun Wuji turned around and said:

"Tomorrow at the morning court session, we will jointly submit a memorial recommending that Crown Prince Li Chengqian lead the army to conquer Goguryeo."

Upon hearing this, Cui Mingan and Wang Gui both gasped in shock.

"Let him be the commander-in-chief? Are you crazy? If the Crown Prince leads the troops into battle, he'll have military power. How will we deal with him then?"

Cui Mingan shook his head repeatedly.

"Yes, if he wins and returns to court in triumph, his position as crown prince will be absolutely secure."

Wang Gui echoed this sentiment.

Changsun Wuji looked at the two of them as if they were idiots, then sneered:

Do you think he can win?

What kind of place is Liaodong? A bitterly cold land. Back then, Emperor Yang of Sui launched three campaigns against Goguryeo, and his million-strong army was defeated and annihilated. What did he rely on? It wasn't because the Goguryeo people were particularly skilled in combat.

It's the weather, it's logistics.

Changsun Wuji held up three fingers and waved them in front of the two of them.

"First, the Tang Dynasty's treasury is currently an empty shell. Even with the money and grain we donated today, it's barely enough to sustain an army of 100,000 for the next month. What will the army eat after three months?"

Secondly, the logistics, including the transportation of provisions and supplies, and the prefectural and county offices along the way, are largely staffed by members of our aristocratic families. If there is even a slight delay of ten days or half a month on the road, the army at the front will go hungry.

Third, and most importantly, on the battlefield, swords and spears have no eyes. Goguryeo's 300,000 armored soldiers were no mere decorations.

"A pampered prince like the Crown Prince, if he were to go to the icy and snowy Liaodong, even the slightest mishap—catching a cold or something like that—would be displaced..."

Changsun Wuji did not continue speaking.

But the meaning behind it is already quite clear.

Wang Gui was overjoyed upon hearing this:

"Excellent. If the Crown Prince is defeated, he will not only lose his prestige, but he may even lose his life in Liaodong."

"Then the abolition of the crown prince will be a foregone conclusion. And won't the King of Yue then ascend the throne?"

Cui Mingan hesitated:

"But the Crown Prince is so shrewd, would he really agree to go to such a harsh and cold place as Liaodong?"

Changsun Wuji gave a disdainful snort:

"He won't agree? He was the one who beat up the Goguryeo envoy in the Taiji Hall today, and he was the one who made those harsh remarks. The entire court was watching."

If he doesn't agree, he's a coward who's afraid of the enemy and a spineless coward who only knows how to talk big.

The Tang Dynasty was founded on military strength, and His Majesty would not spare a crown prince who dared not go to the battlefield.

He could be drowned by the spittle of the people.

He has no choice but to go, whether he wants to or not.

Cui Mingan was completely convinced by Changsun Wuji.

The title of "the number one cunning old fox of the Tang Dynasty" is truly well-deserved.

"Okay! Let's do as Brother Fuji says."

Tomorrow morning at court, I will personally contact my colleagues to jointly recommend the Crown Prince for the position of commander-in-chief.

......

The secret chamber of the Eastern Palace.

"Your Highness! The Shadow Guards just reported that Cui Mingan and Wang Gui went to the Duke of Qi's residence after court."

Xiao Shunzi ran in, panting, and said...

Li Chengqian glanced at Xiao Shunzi and asked, "They're fighting again?"

"No. The Shadow Guard brothers sent back a message saying that the Duke of Qi gave those two old men a dirty trick."

"It is said that tomorrow morning at court, officials from powerful families will jointly recommend you to lead the expedition against Goguryeo."

"Snapped!"

Qin Qiong slammed his hand on the table.

"That old scoundrel Changsun Wuji! He's trying to kill His Highness. How could he be so cruel to his own nephew?"

Du Ruhui didn't speak, but frowned and looked at Li Chengqian.

Xiao Shunzi continued:

"The Duke of Qi also said that Liaodong is a bitterly cold place, and as long as His Highness goes there, the powerful families can tamper with the logistics and provisions."

Even a ten-day or fifteen-month delay would starve the army. Then, the army would collapse like a house of cards, and even if His Highness didn't die in the chaos, he would be deposed upon his return.

Qin Qiong suddenly stood up and roared:

"I've been to that wretched place, Liaodong. It starts snowing heavily in October, and even a piss will freeze into an icicle."

What happened to Emperor Yang of Sui's million-strong army during his three campaigns against Goguryeo? It wasn't that the Goguryeo people were particularly skilled fighters; they were frozen and starved to death.

Qin Qiong grew increasingly angry as he spoke, and wanted to go out and challenge Changsun Wuji to a duel.

"The army marched out, and the men and horses were fed. The powerful families controlled the local prefectures and counties, so it was incredibly easy for them to intercept supplies."

Today they say heavy rain washed away the bridge, tomorrow they say a landslide blocked the road. If the front lines run out of food for more than three days, the army will surely mutini. Changsun Wuji is pushing His Highness to the brink of destruction.

Du Ruhui then sighed and said:

"To praise someone to death. Changsun Wuji's move was indeed ruthless."

Tomorrow at the morning court session, they will try to put His Highness on a moral high ground. His Highness just beat up the Goguryeo envoy today and made some harsh remarks, which was witnessed by all the officials in the court.

If Your Highness declines to go tomorrow, it will be seen as cowardice and fear of the enemy. His Majesty will be the first to punish Your Highness.

But if we go, it will play right into their hands.

If he is defeated and killed, or deposed, the King of Yue can then legitimately ascend to the throne.

Du Ruhui looked at Li Chengqian.

"Your Highness, this is a scheme to kill someone using another's knife. This plan is difficult to break."

Qin Qiong roared anxiously:

"Old Du, you're smart enough to come up with a plan. If all else fails, I'll go to the Taiji Hall tomorrow and break that old bastard Changsun Wuji's legs. Let's see how he goes to court then."

"Nonsense."

Du Ruhui glared at Qin Qiong.

"Even if you break Changsun Wuji's legs, what about those aristocratic officials? Can you really break all of them?"

Qin Qiong was taken aback, then scratched his hair in frustration.

The two of them looked at Li Chengqian at the same time.

Li Chengqian calmly smiled and said:

"Uncle is setting a trap for me. Fine, since they want to play, I'll play along."

Seeing Li Chengqian's carefree attitude, Qin Qiong quickly spoke up:

"Your Highness! What time is it and you're still laughing? This is sending someone to their death in Liaodong."

Du Ruhui also spoke up to remind him:

"Your Highness, this matter is of utmost importance."

Changsun Wuji's calculations are flawless; the Tang Dynasty has no advantage in terms of timing, terrain, or popular support in Liaodong. You must not act rashly.

"Uncle Du, Uncle Qin, what's the rush?"

Li Chengqian waved his hand, gesturing for Qin Qiong to sit down.

"I know this is using someone else to do my dirty work. But think about it from another angle, what do I lack most right now?"

After pondering for a moment, Du Ruhui said, "Military power?"

"Oh, right."

Li Chengqian snapped his fingers.

"The Shadow Guards are useful, but they are, after all, a clandestine private army. As the Crown Prince, I don't even have a legitimate elite force under my command. All the guards in the Eastern Palace are spies sent by my father to keep an eye on me. I have no desire to use them at all."

I was just worrying about not having a suitable reason to expand my military equipment when my uncle delivered it to me directly.

A commander-in-chief must have his own personal guards when he goes on an expedition, right? I can use this title to openly recruit soldiers and build an iron army that belongs entirely to the Crown Prince.

"Can the Emperor stop it? Can the powerful families stop it?"

Du Ruhui looked at Li Chengqian with a complicated expression.

This prince's thought process is always different from others.

What others saw was a bottomless abyss, he saw only a ladder to descend into the well.

"But Your Highness..."

Du Ruhui still felt something was amiss.

"Military power is important, but what about the harsh winter and logistics in Liaodong?"

"If the aristocratic families run out of food, even if you have heavenly soldiers and generals at your command, you will starve to death."

"logistics?"

Li Chengqian snorted coldly.

"Who said I need to rely on aristocratic families to transport grain?"