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

"What should we do then? My imperial decree has already been issued."

"Am I to recall the imperial edict now? To tell the world that my crown prince is a coward?"

Li Shimin paced back and forth restlessly.

Li Ji spoke softly:

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger. What Duke Wei just said was a situation personally directed by His Highness the Crown Prince."

Li Ji looked at Li Jing, and the two exchanged a glance.

"If His Highness the Crown Prince is merely holding the title of commander-in-chief and sitting in the central army to stabilize morale."

Instead, the actual command of the operation was handed over to an experienced deputy general.

In this way, the outcome of the battle can be guaranteed to be foolproof.

Li Shimin's eyes lit up upon hearing this.

Yes.

Let Li Chengqian be the mascot.

The matter of fighting should be left to professionals.

"A deputy general? Yes! We must choose a reliable deputy general."

Li Shimin's gaze then swept back and forth between Li Jing and Li Ji.

"Pharmacist, Maogong, which of you will go?"

Li Jing gave a wry smile:

"Your Majesty, my illness has worsened recently, making even riding a horse difficult. I am truly powerless to help."

Li Ji also looked troubled:

"Your Majesty, the Turks in Bingzhou have been making frequent disturbances lately, and I must return to guard the area; I simply cannot leave."

Li Shimin was in a dilemma again.

If neither Li Jing nor Li Ji can go, then which of the court generals can take on this important task?

Surely the emperor couldn't personally lead the expedition, could he?

"Your Majesty! I'll go."

Just then, Cheng Yaojin jumped out.

"Although I, Lao Cheng, don't know anything about military strategy, I'm not someone to be trifled with."

His Majesty has appointed me as his deputy general, and I guarantee I will serve His Highness the Crown Prince with utmost care and comfort.

"I'll personally lead the troops into battle and bring that old bastard Gao Jianwu's head back to Chang'an to be used as a chamber pot."

Li Shimin was furious when he saw Cheng Yaojin's face.

"You go? Get out of my way."

I want you to be my deputy general? I think you just want to corrupt the Crown Prince.

"You bastard, you'll definitely drag Gao Ming to the brothels of Goguryeo to inspect the people's conditions."

Cheng Yaojin said with a wronged expression:

"Your Majesty, I, Old Cheng, have long since reformed. Now I rarely even go to Pingkang Ward..."

"You dare to talk back?"

A few days ago at Da'an Palace, you partnered with the Emperor Emeritus to open a gambling den, using my private affairs for betting. I haven't even settled accounts with you yet.

"Do you still want to go to Liaodong and wreak havoc on the army?"

Cheng Yaojin was so frightened that he immediately returned to the ranks, keeping his eyes down and pretending he hadn't heard anything.

He apologized to Empress Zhangsun for what happened last time, but completely ignored Li Shimin.

He thought Li Shimin had forgotten about this matter.

Who knew this grandson was so petty, still holding a grudge now.

Li Jing suppressed a laugh and said:

"Your Majesty, although Zhijie is brave, he is indeed not suitable for such an important task."

"I believe the candidate for deputy general must be a composed and experienced veteran who commands respect from His Highness the Crown Prince."

Li Shimin nodded.

He began to rapidly go through the names of the military generals in the court in his mind.

In the end, Li Shimin tragically discovered that there was no suitable candidate.

......

Da'an Palace.

"What brings you here, you little brat?"

"Did you cause trouble at court again? Are you hiding here with your father?"

Li Yuan looked at Li Chengqian as he entered and asked him in an annoyed tone.

"No, things have been quite harmonious in the court these past two days."

It was about Cui Mingan getting into a fight with his uncle, and then Cheng Yaojin cracking open Wang Gui's skull.

Li Chengqian picked up a pear from the table, took a bite, and said...

"So lively? I should have gone to the Taiji Hall these past few days."

Did that old bastard Wang Gui bleed?

Li Yuan slapped his thigh in frustration.

"It leaked. But it's a minor thing."

My grandson has come today to say goodbye to you.

Li Yuan was stunned.

"Saying goodbye? Where are you going? Has your father finally had enough of you? Is he going to send you to Lingnan to eat lychees?"

"It's not Lingnan."

Li Chengqian tossed the pear core into the copper basin beside him and clapped his hands.

"It's going to Liaodong. My grandson just volunteered in court to lead the expedition against Goguryeo."

Li Yuan stared at Li Chengqian in shock for the duration of half an incense stick burning.

Suddenly, Li Yuan slammed his hand on the table next to him.

"Fight! We must fight."

Those savages from Goguryeo should have been dealt with long ago. Back then, that spendthrift Emperor Yang Guang led over a million men to Liaodong, launching three campaigns against Goguryeo, only to return in disgrace, and in doing so, he ruined the Sui Dynasty's empire.

If you can conquer Goguryeo and then kick that old bastard Gao Jianwu's head like a ball, you will be a hero of the Tang Dynasty.

This achievement is even greater than your father's when he conquered the world.

Li Chengqian quickly stood up and pressed Li Yuan, who was so excited he was about to jump up, back down.

"Grandpa, please don't get agitated."

"I'm not excited."

Li Yuan shoved Li Chengqian aside and shouted towards the door.

"Xiao Anzi, go and drag that black box out from under my bed."

Not long after, Xiao Anzi came in dragging a box.

Li Yuan walked over and kicked open the box lid.

He then searched inside for a long time before finally standing up, grabbing a horizontal sword still in its scabbard.

The lacquer on the scabbard had long since peeled off, revealing the blackened wood grain inside, and the hemp rope wrapped around the handle had rotted into a mushy state.

Li Yuan walked up to Li Chengqian with the sword in hand, his expression unusually solemn.

"Grandson, here you go."

Li Chengqian took a half step back in disgust, pointing at the knife and saying:

"Grandpa, where did you pick this up? The handle is covered in mud."

"fart."

Li Yuan then launched into a tirade against Li Chengqian.

"This is the sword that Lao Tzu carried with him when he raised an army in Jinyang."

This knife has chopped off the heads of Turks and also Wang Shichong's soldiers.

This is a weapon that has actually seen blood.

Li Yuan shoved the knife into Li Chengqian's arms.

"I'm giving this to you now. Take it to Liaodong and chop off the heads of the Goguryeo people to bring them some good luck. With my knife protecting you, let's see which wandering ghosts dare to approach you."

Li Chengqian, holding the sword, was both amused and exasperated, and could only nod in agreement:

"Alright, thank you for the reward, Your Majesty. When I return from Liaodong, I'll use Gao Jianwu's head as a chamber pot for you."

Li Yuan smiled and patted Li Chengqian's head.

"Go in peace. I will take care of Chang'an for you."

I want to see which fool dares to jump out.

After leaving Da'an Palace, Li Chengqian was preparing to return to the East Palace to discuss the expedition with Qin Qiong and Du Ruhui.

As a result, they were stopped halfway by Qiuyue, the personal maid of Empress Zhangsun.

"Your Highness, Her Majesty the Empress requests your presence at the Lizheng Hall."

Li Chengqian had no choice but to follow Qiuyue to the Lizheng Hall first.

"Your subject greets Your Majesty."

As soon as Li Chengqian entered, he went straight to Empress Zhangsun and bowed.

"Gao Ming, come here and sit next to your mother."

Empress Zhangsun waved to Li Chengqian.

Li Chengqian walked over and sat down next to his mother.

Empress Zhangsun reached out and touched Li Chengqian's cheek.

"I have heard about what happened in the court today."

Your uncle's alliance with powerful families to recommend you for the leadership position has gone too far this time.

He's determined to kill you. He's willing to gamble with his own nephew's life for a completely uncertain chance of becoming the emperor's right-hand man.

From this day forward, I have no elder brother, and the life or death of the Changsun family is no longer my concern.