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

Seeing that Li Gang was still acting like this even at this point, Kong Yingda pointed at his nose and roared:

"You're talking without understanding the situation. Liaodong is bitterly cold, and with the powerful families sabotaging us behind our backs, if something were to happen to the Crown Prince, could you bear the responsibility?"

"I can certainly take responsibility for this."

Li Gang looked at Kong Yingda with an arrogant expression.

"If the Crown Prince goes on a campaign, I am willing to accompany him as his military supervisor. Even if I die, I will die before the Crown Prince."

Unlike some people who only talk the talk, I'm not like that old man.

Li Chengqian sat there watching the two old men argue, and felt a warm feeling in his heart.

Both of them genuinely wanted what was best for him.

When Li Gang heard that he was going to join the army, Li Tai's eyes lit up instantly.

If Li Gang went to Liaodong, that godforsaken place, wouldn't he be free?

Li Tai's mind was already filled with fantasies about his wonderful future.

"Hehehe..."

Li Tai couldn't help but let out a series of suppressed laughs.

The sound wasn't loud, but it seemed particularly out of place in the study.

The argument between Li Gang and Kong Yingda has stopped.

Li Gang turned to look at Li Tai, who was secretly laughing behind him.

"Your Highness, what are you laughing at?"

Li Tai was so frightened that he trembled all over and began to shake his head frantically.

"No... I wasn't laughing at anything. I just think the Grand Tutor is a man of great integrity, willing to go to war with my brother. I will pray for the Grand Tutor day and night in Chang'an, wishing him a triumphant return soon."

Li Gang stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly let out a cold laugh:

"I appreciate Your Highness's kindness. However, there's no need for prayers."

Li Tai's heart skipped a beat; he felt that Li Gang's words had a hidden meaning.

Li Gang then pointed at Li Tai and announced:

"Your Highness will also go."

"What?"

Li Tai rolled his eyes and almost fainted from excitement.

"Grand Tutor, are you kidding me?"

Li Tai rushed forward and hugged Li Gang's leg, crying out loudly,

"That's Liaodong, people will freeze to death there. I can't even ride a horse up there, what can I do there?"

After Li Gang disdainfully kicked Li Tai away, he said with a serious expression:

"Reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles. Your Highness indulges in wine and meat all day long, and is lazy and ignorant of the five grains. This is a good opportunity to go to Liaodong to temper your mind and will."

This old minister will continue to supervise Your Highness's memorization while in the army. If you don't finish memorizing it in a day, you'll be punished with a military rod.

Li Tai was speechless; this old guy was determined to drag him down even in death.

He quickly looked at Li Chengqian, who was watching the show from the sidelines.

"Brother! Dear brother! Please help me persuade the Grand Tutor. I don't want to go to Liaodong. I'll only cause you trouble if I go."

Li Chengqian smiled and patted Li Tai's chubby face, saying with a look of heartache:

"Qingque, the Grand Tutor is right."

Your physique will be incredibly useful in Liaodong. When the army charges, you can stand at the front, and all the Goguryeo arrows will be aimed at you. You'll be the Tang Dynasty's strongest human shield.

Li Tai pointed at Li Chengqian in shock, never expecting his elder brother to say such a thing.

Kong Yingda shook his head helplessly as he watched this farce unfold.

"Your Highness, are you truly certain?"

Li Chengqian stood up and said in a serious tone:

"Grand Tutor, Grand Preceptor. I know the road ahead is fraught with danger. But the powerful families have already put a knife to my throat, so I have no reason to back down."

They wanted to cripple him with logistics and kill him with the sword of Goguryeo.

Then I took this opportunity to firmly grasp military power.

"At the morning court tomorrow, I will not only lead the army, but I will also make them return all the money and provisions they have taken from me."

......

The next morning, at the Taiji Hall.

"If you have something to report, do so now; if you have nothing to report, leave the court."

Wang De's voice had just rang out.

Changsun Wuji stepped out from the queue.

"Your Majesty, I have a memorial to present."

When Li Shimin saw Changsun Wuji, he snorted coldly in his heart.

That old fox pretended to faint yesterday and was carried back home, but he ran out as soon as court started today. He's definitely up to no good.

"The auxiliary engineer is unwell; is there anything else you wish to report?"

Changsun Wuji shouted:

"Your Majesty! Yesterday, the Goguryeo envoy arrogantly shouted in the Taiji Hall, demanding the Liaodong territory of our Great Tang Dynasty. This is a great disgrace."

Our Tang soldiers are united in their hatred of the enemy and all wish to drink from the Liao River and crush Goguryeo.

However, every army that goes on a campaign must have a commander-in-chief.

Your Majesty, I believe, Your Highness the Crown Prince is valiant and decisive. Yesterday, your scathing rebuke of the barbarians in court greatly enhanced the prestige of our Great Tang Dynasty. If Your Highness were to lead the expedition, the entire army would surely fight bravely, and our might would be displayed beyond the borders.”

Upon hearing this, all the officials in the Taiji Hall looked at Changsun Wuji in shock.

Is this old fox tired of living?

Isn't this pushing the crown prince to his death?

The veins on the back of Li Shimin's hand, which was gripping the armrest of the dragon throne, were bulging.

He never expected that Changsun Wuji would dare to attack Li Chengqian.

What kind of place is Liaodong?

That was a battlefield where even Emperor Yang of Sui's million-strong army was utterly defeated and sunk to the ground.

Now you want Li Chengqian, someone who has never been on the battlefield, to be the commander-in-chief over there?

If even the slightest mishap occurs, it will lead to certain death.

Before Li Shimin could even get angry, a whole bunch of aristocratic officials had already stepped forward.

Cui Mingan loudly echoed:

"Your Majesty! What the Duke of Qi said is absolutely right."

His Highness the Crown Prince is exceptionally intelligent; yesterday, he effortlessly manipulated the Goguryeo envoy with just a few words. Such strategic acumen is perfectly suited for leading an expedition.

Wang Gui also chimed in:

"I second that opinion! The Crown Prince is the heir apparent to the throne and should share Your Majesty's burdens."

"If I can personally pacify Liaodong, it will not only demonstrate the might of the Tang Dynasty, but also win the hearts of the people."

"We, your humble servants, jointly recommend His Highness the Crown Prince to lead the army."

A dozen or so officials from powerful families shouted in unison.

A murderous glint had already appeared in Li Shimin's eyes.

This is like forcibly kidnapping one's own son to Liaodong to die.

"absurd!"

Wei Zheng, his face dark, stepped forward from the ranks, pointed at Changsun Wuji, and cursed:

"Changsun Wuji, what are you up to?"

The crown prince has never commanded troops in battle, and he's barely even read any military books. You want him to lead a large army to fight Goguryeo? That's child's play."

Wei Zheng turned to look at Li Shimin.

"Your Majesty, the most important matters of state are sacrifice and war."

The selection of the commander-in-chief is a matter of life and death for the soldiers, and even the fate of the Tang Dynasty. How can we allow them to act so recklessly?

Changsun Wuji calmly looked at Wei Zheng and said:

"Lord Wei, you are mistaken."

I recall that a few days ago Lord Wei submitted a memorial impeaching the Crown Prince, saying that the Crown Prince was unruly and unambitious.

Why is it that today, when I recommended the Crown Prince to serve in the army and earn merit for the country, Lord Wei is protecting him instead?

Wei Zheng was momentarily speechless, but then retorted:

"One thing at a time."

The Crown Prince's unruly behavior is a family matter of the Eastern Palace, and should be strictly disciplined by the Grand Tutor and Grand Preceptor. However, leading troops into battle is a matter of state; the slightest carelessness can result in countless deaths. You are threatening to destroy the very foundation of the Tang Dynasty.”

Changsun Wuji sneered:

"I don't like hearing what Lord Wei said."

Since the Crown Prince is the heir apparent, he will inherit the throne and rule the world. If he doesn't even have the courage to go to war, how will he deter the surrounding foreign states?

"Are we supposed to make the soldiers of the Tang Dynasty loyal to a spineless coward who only knows how to hide in Chang'an and enjoy himself?" Cheng Yaojin, standing in the ranks of generals, scratched his head as he listened.

He glanced at Changsun Wuji, then at Wei Zheng, and finally at Li Chengqian, who was dozing off.

Cheng Yaojin's eyes lit up; he saw this as an opportunity to flatter the Crown Prince.

It was also a good opportunity to promote myself to Liaodong.

So he jumped out.