Chapter 136: Li Xiang intends to get involved in military power (asking for monthly tickets)
It's a good thing to want to make progress. Anyone who has been standing still for more than ten years will definitely become anxious.

The reason for Su Dingfang's failure was not just his own fault. After all, the veteran generals in the army at that time were actually in their prime, and it would definitely not be his turn to occupy the position.

When Li Xiang heard Su Dingfang's words, he said without comment: "Go on."

"This time when we are going to attack Goguryeo, could you please speak a few words for me in front of the Saint so that I can also go with the army..."

Su Dingfang took a deep breath and waited for Li Xiang's decision.

Li Xiang certainly knew that the old Su in front of him would also shine brightly on the Liaodong battlefield in the future.

In the fifth year of Xianqing, Baekje was conquered by Su Dingfang, and the Baekje king Buyeo Uiji was captured.

"Old Su, are you my friend?" Li Xiang asked this instead of answering Su Dingfang.

Su Dingfang was stunned. He heard a different meaning in Li Xiang's words.

Friends are fake. The hidden meaning of this sentence is - are you willing to join me?

Su Dingfang, who was eager to make progress, would certainly not refuse. Moreover, Li Xiang was now the most popular grandson of the emperor. He quickly took advantage of the situation and said, "The status of the prince is too noble to be described. How dare I call him my friend? If the prince has any orders, I will go through fire and water and die without hesitation!"

This sentence shows that Su Dingfang has become Li Xiang's disciple.

"Okay, then, this matter is settled." Li Xiang smiled.

Su Dingfang felt like he was hit by a heavy hammer. After so many years of longing, is this the last time he will finally be able to make a comeback?
"Thank you, Your Highness. Thank you, Your Highness!" he said repeatedly.

Pei Renjian was also standing by, and he couldn't help but said, "Prince, I feel the same way."

"Don't worry." Li Xiang tapped the table with his fingers. "Look at you two. This isn't a formal occasion. Why are you being so polite? Let's eat and chat."

"Okay." Su Dingfang replied.

Pei Xingjian was secretly cheering himself up in his heart, and at the same time thinking about how he could repay the prince for his kindness.

Li Xiang picked up a piece of sheep tail fat and threw it into the pot, asking, "Lao Su, what do you think of this expedition to Liaodong?"

After all, Pei Xingjian is still learning from Su Dingfang, so he does have some superficial views, but they are not profound.

Su Dingfang said, "I think we must fight Goguryeo, but we must be very careful. The war to destroy a country is not something that can be done overnight, but is a continuous process."

"Goguryeo has occupied the peninsula for hundreds of years. It is very powerful and difficult to swallow in one go. The best way is to concentrate our strength and scare them first and hurt them."

This point actually coincides with Li Xiang's idea.

Li Xiang also nodded, agreeing with Su Dingfang's point of view.

There is another point that Li Xiang did not mention before. The purpose of crippling Goguryeo first was to eliminate the court officials' overestimation of Goguryeo and to erase the ideological imprint of the Yang Guang era.

"After hurting Goguryeo, we will station troops in Liaodong and take turns to consume Goguryeo's strength. We can fight a battle today and another one tomorrow. It will be just like when the Huns went south to plunder the valleys, and consume Goguryeo's strength bit by bit." Su Dingfang said again.

"It would be best to form a navy that can set out from the sea and destroy Baekje. In this way, Goguryeo will be isolated in Liaodong, with the Tang Dynasty in front and Silla behind, and it will be difficult for it to succeed!"

Li Xiang nodded and said, "Lao Su's plan coincides with my idea."

"I also suggested to the Saint last time that we must have a strong navy that can conduct ocean-going operations. The Saint also accepted my suggestion and is now ordering Yan Lide to supervise the construction of warships."

"There are so many famous generals in the Tang Dynasty nowadays, so there is no hope on land. If you two are interested, you can join the navy."

"The navy is also fine. As long as they can be loyal to the country and make achievements, even the navy is fine!" Su Dingfang answered without hesitation.

"The same goes for me!" Pei Xingjian followed.

Li Xiang smiled and nodded, "Okay, I understand. Let's eat."

After finishing the serious business, both Su Dingfang and Pei Xingjian felt relieved.

The promotion problem that had plagued Su Dingfang for a long time was finally solved today. Old Su was really happy, and Pei Xingjian was also happy for his master, and the two of them got a little tipsy without realizing it.

Just as I was feeling happy, I suddenly heard a voice coming from next door.

"Have you heard? Something big happened in the court!"

"What's the big deal?" another voice asked.

"Well, you don't even know this. Goguryeo's powerful minister Yeon Gaesomun killed King Go Geonmu!" said the voice.

"Ah?!" Several more gasps were heard.

"How did you know about such a big thing?"

"Oh, of course. My aunt's daughter-in-law's brother's brother-in-law is a clerk in the court. I heard what he said about this matter."

"Since this is news from the court, it must be correct. You said that Yeon Gaesomun murdered the King of Goguryeo. As the Celestial Empire, the Tang Dynasty must send troops, right?"

"Of course, this concerns the reputation of our Tang Dynasty! Hey, our Tang Dynasty is the Celestial Empire. How can we stand idly by when foreign vassals are in trouble?"

After the voice in this room was spoken, it was heard from another room.

He first recounted Li Xiang's analysis in the court, and then said with disdain: "This Prince of Hengshan is just a young boy's opinion, how can we take it seriously? The saint is also confused, actually believing in a child who is still wet behind the ears!"

After hearing this, Su Dingfang became drunk and was about to walk out with the jar in his hand.

"Lao Su." Li Xiang whispered, "Listen to what they say."

Su Dingfang then sat down reluctantly.

The voice continued: "The saint is now like the First Emperor of the Former Qin Dynasty, hehe, haha..."

This is not the future. Saying that the current emperor is like Qin Shi Huang or Emperor Wu of Han is not a good thing...

If you analyze it conservatively, it's just finding different ways to scold the emperor for being cruel and inhumane; if you analyze it boldly, it's just pointing at the emperor's nose and threatening him with death and the destruction of his country, which would be laughed at by the world.

The next one is even more heavyweight.

"I think the current sage is indeed a relative of Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty. They are exactly the same in their warmongering. Moreover, they believe the words of a child and even assert that 'Goguryeo will attack Silla'. It is really ridiculous!"

"Yeon Gaesomun of Goguryeo just killed his king and is too busy calming down the chaos in the country to attack Silla. It's really a fantasy! He may be a fool, but he is not reliable in doing things!"

"That's right. If Emperor Yang of Sui couldn't do it, how could he... the current saint accomplish it? The saint expelled my Shandong gentry from the court, which is really a way to bring disaster! There are already signs of old age and dementia!" Li Xiang made a note in his mind, Shandong gentry, ha.

"Be careful with your words, Brother Cui, be careful with your words!" The person next to him said immediately, "You must know that walls have ears. Besides, this restaurant was opened by the Prince of Hengshan County."

After hearing this, the people in the next room stopped talking and never mentioned Goguryeo again.

In Li Xiang's room, Su Dingfang said angrily: "Da Lang, they are really going too far!"

"When a strong wind blows down a phoenix tree, there will always be people who will judge its merits." Li Xiang still had a lukewarm attitude: "The mouth is on someone else's body, so what's the harm in saying a few words?"

Su Dingfang wanted to say more, but seeing that Li Xiang didn't care, he could only endure it silently.

After dinner, the three of them went downstairs.

As soon as I reached the stairs, I heard someone shouting downstairs.

"Go to the damn Goguryeo, during the pre-Sui Dynasty, how many of my Han Chinese men were killed!" A big man with a curly beard slammed the table and cursed, "They even built a memorial with the heads of my Han Chinese men. This is intolerable! I think the saint is right! He should have sent troops!"

"Well, there is also the problem of Emperor Yang of Sui, not just Goguryeo..." A middle-aged man nearby said, "If Emperor Yang of Sui had not been a spendthrift, how could he have suffered such a great defeat in Goguryeo?"

"But..." A scholar in a blue shirt said hesitantly, "I heard from a member of the Wang family that Goguryeo is too powerful to be underestimated. The saint is pursuing war and following in Yang Guang's footsteps. He also said that this is the opinion of the Prince of Hengshan..."

When they heard the Shandong gentry make such a conclusion, everyone around them fell silent.

The same bearded man cursed loudly, "What do they know? Emperor Yang of Sui could not conquer Goguryeo because he was not good enough! Now the saint is conquering Goguryeo, in accordance with the will of heaven and the will of the people. How can we not conquer it? How can this be considered as warmongering?"

"You still dare to talk about the Prince of Hengshan? At the age of only twelve, the Prince of Hengshan dared to face all the ministers in the court and express his opinions. He is really a man of great character! If the saint recruits soldiers in Chang'an, I, Song Kang, will be the first to sign up!"

These words immediately awakened the people around.

"Yes, we will join the army too!" The middle-aged man also shouted, "Why do you say that the saints are warmongers? As if our Tang Dynasty is not good enough! Goguryeo has three heads and seven or eight arms? I don't think so! Our Tang Dynasty is invincible and has conquered every battle. What is there to be afraid of? Goguryeo is just a mere Goguryeo!"

"Yes! Well done!" The scholar also cheered, "Why can't we fight just because they say we can't? I think we must fight this battle! We must let them know that the Tang Dynasty is not to be trifled with!"

The people around echoed the voice one after another, and some even secretly cursed the Shandong gentry for being cowards.

Li Xiang led the two of them through the crowd and out of the restaurant.

After getting on the carriage, Li Xiang asked Su Dingfang with a smile, "Old Su, did you see anything?"

"The people's hearts can be used." Su Dingfang said with emotion.

"Is that all?" Li Xiang laughed.

Su Dingfang shook his head in astonishment. Li Xiang turned to look at Pei Xingjian, but Pei Xingjian didn't know what Li Xiang meant either.

Li Xiang said: "See? The Shandong nobles have been separated from the people. Their ideas are inconsistent with the people. This is very dangerous."

"Common people?" The two looked at each other, and Su Dingfang asked in confusion: "The Shandong gentry are already separated from the common people, right?"

What Su Dingfang meant was that the aristocratic families were above the common people, so there was no question of them breaking away from it.

Li Xiang smiled: "Do you know what the aristocratic families rely on?"

"Please give us some advice, Dalang." The two men said with their hands crossed.

"On this point, Shouyue, you really have forgotten your roots." Li Xiang stretched out his hand and pointed at Pei Xingjian with a smile: "Let's talk about something more distant first. What is an aristocratic family? Why do aristocratic families occupy such a strong force in society?"

"During the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, the aristocratic families constantly absorbed refugees and annexed land, and controlled a large number of people. These people turned into private soldiers to protect the aristocratic families. For example, the Wang family of Langya and the Xie family of Chenjun each controlled 30,000 to 50,000 private soldiers. Why do they say 'Wang and Ma share the world'? Do you really think that half of the court members are surnamed Wang, so they share the world? Wrong, it's because of these private soldiers!"

"And the Xue family and the Liu family in Hedong, as well as your Pei family who kept their promises, and the Wang family in Bingzhou, each of them has tens of thousands of men hidden. These families withstood the attack of the Murong clan, and even left Fu Jian of the Former Qin helpless."

"Even the Shen family, a third-class noble family in the Southern Dynasty, can gather 3,000 cavalrymen. You can imagine how many private soldiers other noble families have."

"And these are the foundations for the family to stand firm."

"After hundreds of years of operation, the aristocratic family has acquired military power and culture, and naturally gained fame."

At this point, Li Xiang smiled and said, "When Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty unified the country, he searched for household registration all over the country and took the population back from the hands of the aristocratic families. From then on, the backbone of the aristocratic families was completely broken, and they could no longer influence the rise and fall of dynasties."

"After the military power was taken away, the aristocratic family was left with only culture and reputation."

"Reputation, what is the reputation of the aristocratic family among whom?" Li Xiang pointed at Pei Xingjian and asked.

"Of course it's the people." Pei Xingjian replied, feeling as if he had grasped something.

Li Xiang clapped his hands and laughed: "That's right, now people don't believe in their stuff anymore, the sacred halo around them has disappeared, what do you think..."

"Ah... this..." Pei Xingjian understood it immediately, and so did Su Dingfang.

The two looked at each other and saw the admiration for Li Xiang in each other's eyes.

The Prince of Hengshan is only twelve years old...the two of them really don't dare to imagine how high he will grow in the future.

Li Xiang smiled indifferently and said, "Go ahead and learn. There are so many things worth learning in this world."

After returning to the palace, Li Xiang first wrote down Su Dingfang's ideas on paper, and then slipped into the Lizheng Hall to find Li Shimin.

Old Li was peeling an orange. When he saw Li Xiang coming, he gave him half.

"Tell me, what's the matter?" Li Shimin saw the piece of paper in his hand.

Li Xiang chuckled and handed the paper to Lao Li.

Li Shimin took the paper, glanced at it, looked up at Li Xiang, then lowered his head again and read it carefully.

He established a navy to destroy Baekje by water and recommended Su Dingfang, the General of the Left Guard.

Of course Old Li understood what he meant. He wanted to get his hands on military power.

Thinking of this, Li Shimin suddenly felt torn.

If Li Xiang's request was agreed, it would be tantamount to tacitly approving Li Xiang's involvement in military power; if Li Xiang's request was not agreed, it would dampen his enthusiasm.

What should we do?
Old Li looked at Li Xiang with an uncertain expression.

(Please give me a monthly ticket! I’m crying, I’m begging you wuwuwuwuwuwuwuwu)
(End of this chapter)