Chapter 151 The Emperor's Personal Expedition (asking for monthly tickets)

If I had said this before, no one would have believed it.

But Li Xiang always anticipated the enemy's moves, and people could not help but believe him.

Besides, his analysis does make sense. After all, Silla has a history of breaking alliances.

As the saying goes, once there is a first, there will be a second, and once there is a second, there will be a third. It's like whether your roommate stops stealing after he steals once is one thing, but whether he will still leave his computer in the dormitory and go out to play after you know about it is another matter.

No one can guarantee that Silla will not relapse and attack the Tang Dynasty again.

"What the Prince of Hengshan said makes a lot of sense." Changsun Wuji was the first to express his agreement.

Chu Suiliang also nodded, agreeing with Li Xiang's statement.

None of the ministers raised any objection. After all, no one would joke about the lives of the Tang Dynasty soldiers.

The classical era is completely different from the modern era. Now that we have nuclear weapons, we naturally cannot start a war lightly.

But in ancient times, if you didn't defeat them and let them do whatever they wanted until they became strong, they would come and attack you.

Instead of letting a big daddy run wild, it is better to smash his head during the laning phase so that he will never be able to turn over.

What's more, in this era, as long as the financial stability is guaranteed and the military merit system does not collapse, the people's support for the war will still be very high.

Why?

Damn, the first one to go up and die is Tang Xiejun...

"In that case, let's prepare for war first. I have already ordered Li Ji to go to Youzhou." Li Shimin looked around and said, "I now appoint Wei Ting, the Minister of Rites, as the transport envoy, and all the prefectures in Hebei will be under his command. Xiao Rui, the Junior Minister of the Imperial Household, will transport grain from all prefectures in the south of the canal to the sea. Zhang Liang will be the general manager of the Pyongyang Road, and he will assist the Prince of Hengshan in supervising the navy!"

Zhang Liang came out of the class, crossed his arms and said, "Yes!"

Li Xiang tilted his head and looked at Zhang Liang, but didn't say anything.

"I will set off for Luoyang soon to prepare for war and personally lead the expedition to Goguryeo! The Crown Prince will be the regent at court, and the Minister of the Right Fang Xuanling will assist in the administration! All affairs will be handled by the Crown Prince!" Li Shimin said again.

I thought Li Shimin was going to send some troops to deal with Goguryeo, but I didn't expect that he would lead the army himself.

Chu Suiliang immediately stood up and objected, "To conquer Goguryeo, all the generals need to obey orders. Your Majesty is a valuable person, how can you move lightly? I hope Your Majesty will withdraw your order!"

Xiao Yu also came out to express his opposition: "Doctor Chu is right, I hope Your Majesty will take back your order!"

"I have made up my mind. There is no need to advise me anymore!" Li Shimin flicked his sleeves. Now that Wei Zheng was no longer in the court, who could stop him?
In fact, the ministers were not simply opposed. After all, with the example of Yang Guang, there was always a sense of déjà vu about the emperor personally leading the expedition to Goguryeo.

But Lao Li thought differently. He just wanted to break this curse and prove that Yang Guang was a waste, and I was not!

News from the court will naturally spread to the people.

It wasn't like we were discussing any secrets, so we didn't try to keep it confidential.

When the news that Li Shimin had decided to lead the army in person came out, the whole city of Chang'an was in an uproar.

All the good family men in Chang'an City ran to the headquarters of the Sixteen Guards to see if there was anything there. It was not for any military title that could be passed on to his son after his death in battle, nor for those dozens of acres of fragrant land. They just wanted to follow the Heavenly Khan to fight against the rebels.

How dare the tiny nation of Goguryeo ignore the majesty of the great Tang Empire?

This is no longer just ordinary rebellion, we must strike hard!
Some of them were more creative and even went to the restaurant to see if they could get in touch with the prince so that they could get everyone to join the army to fight Goguryeo, serve the country and bring honor to their family.

Yes, it does bring honor to the family. After all, fighting on the battlefield is much easier than taking the imperial examination.

Even after the reform of the imperial examination system, most people still believed that the imperial examination was the exclusive domain of aristocratic families.

Ordinary people like them, with no educated people in their families, have been working hard in the fields for generations. How can they compete with those noble masters?
It would be better to go to the battlefield. After all, we all have one head on two shoulders, so there is no need for so many things like the imperial examination. It would be better to go to the battlefield and use your life to gain a future.

When Li Xiang arrived at the restaurant, he was immediately surrounded by people.

"Prince, could you please talk to the generals and recruit us to join the army and go to Liaodong to fight Goguryeo?"

"Yes, Prince, we also want to join the army!"

"Even if I don't join the army, it would be good to help transport food for the army!"

"Prince, why not choose me? My cooking is not bad!"

Everyone laughed when they heard the last sentence.

What's the reason? Cooking isn't bad?
But these days...it is indeed rare to find a good family member who can cook delicious food.

This is the kind of talent the Fire Department needs.

"Everyone," Li Xiang said to the crowd, "I know you all want to join the army and serve your country, but I'm not very familiar with the generals of the various guards."

As he was talking, he suddenly thought of Su Dingfang, and said with a smile: "I do know a man, his surname is Su and his name is Lie. The saint has sent him to the navy. I think the navy is just starting out and must be in great need of manpower. If you want to join the army and serve the country, you might as well go find General Su."

"Thank you, Prince!" Everyone asked in a flurry, "Then where can we find General Su?"

"Don't worry, everyone. I'll ask someone to invite General Su here." Li Xiang said with a smile.

Afterwards, he sent someone to Su Dingfang's house to invite someone.

These are all high-quality soldiers, and Li Xiang doesn't want to miss them.

As for whether it can adapt to naval warfare... the newly established navy is not used for naval warfare, but is more like the Marine Corps.

The navy only plays a transportation role, such as transporting food and soldiers. In fact, it still depends on the transported soldiers to land and fight.

Looking at the enthusiastic people of Chang'an, Li Xiang felt that the people's hearts could be used.

After all, during the Zhenguan period, we, the men of the Zhenguan period, never knew what defeat was.

Perhaps in a major war, local battles may be fought back and forth, but overall, we have never lost.

Li Xiang did not stay outside the restaurant for long. He came here just to talk to Li Shu about something.

As for the people wanting to join the army...let's leave this matter to Old Su to deal with.

Li Su, Li Lizhi and Pei Xueqing were all in the backyard today.

Li Xiang was very surprised. He didn't expect Pei Xueqing to be here. It seemed that his aunt valued her very much.

At the beginning, Li Shu was simply trying to help Li Xiang win over Pei Xingjian and Su Dingfang. However, after spending such a long time together, Li Shu felt that Pei Xueqing was also very capable, so he absorbed her into his small circle with Li Lizhi.

Recently, quite a few people, after hearing that Pei Xingjian was accepted by the Prince of Hengshan, wanted to go to the Pei Mansion to propose marriage, wanting to invest in this favorite person in front of the Holy Grandson. However, after Li Su asked Pei Xueqing, she rejected them one by one.

After hearing that the person who rejected the proposal was Princess Gaoyang, the man who proposed marriage wanted to slap himself in the face.

Damn, the person the prince likes must be so greedy that he would even think of proposing marriage. Everyone was wondering in their hearts whether Pei Xingjian would be the next Zhao Guogong Changsun Wuji.

After this incident spread, no one went to Pei's house to propose marriage anymore.

"Aunt." Li Xiang, Li Su and Li Lizhi greeted each other.

"I only see your two aunts, but not your sister Pei?" Li Shu asked with a smile, holding Pei Xueqing's arm.

In order to stop Li Shu from continuing to speak and to prevent Li Xiang from looking bad, Pei Xueqing greeted him first: "Meet the Prince."

"Sister Pei." Li Xiang was in a good mood. It was naturally pleasing to have beautiful women around.

It’s not that Li Lizhi and Li Su are not good-looking, it’s just that they are both Li Xiang’s aunts, and Xiao Xiang has never appreciated them from the perspective of women.

A very sensible little elephant.

After saying hello, Li Xiang pulled a stool and sat next to Li Shu.

"Aunt, there is something I need you to do for me."

Li Shu naturally would not refuse. After all, the title of "An Guo" was right in front of her, like a carrot on a stick, making her greedy.

"Tell me, what's the matter?" Li Shu asked with a smile.

If there is something I want her to do, I'm afraid I'll ask her to do nothing.

If she has something to do and can do it well, it means that there is credit waiting for her.

"Sugarcane is needed to make white sugar. The climate in Jiangnan and Lingnan is suitable for growing sugarcane, so I want my aunt to get some people to go there to plant sugarcane." Li Xiang said with a smile.

Jiangnan and Lingnan had not been fully developed at that time, and were not large-scale grain production bases, so the situation of "changing rice to mulberry" would naturally not occur.

Besides, growing sugarcane is a national policy. It benefits the country and you...

"Is that all?" Li Su looked at him suspiciously, then nodded and said, "I understand. When March comes, I will send people to Jiangnan to try planting sugarcane."

"I feel at ease with my aunt doing the job." Li Xiang nodded.

"The wool workshop has officially started, and it is expected that large quantities of wool yarn will be available for sale next month. The goods purchased recently have also been transferred to Chang'an. Li Jingren will also lead the caravan to the grassland for trade in a few days." Li Shu began to report to Li Xiang: "Regarding how wool can be woven into sweaters, you must come up with a rule. Clothes made of wool yarn are much more expensive than the same amount of wool yarn, after all, labor costs must be taken into account."

"If people can buy wool directly and weave clothes themselves, they can save a lot of money."

Li Shu's consideration was very thorough. Li Xiang had also thought about this problem before. After all, he was like this when he was a child, knitting sweaters while sitting on the kang with his family.

Speaking of kang...oh, yes, it's a heated kang.

The kangs of that time were very different from the kangs of later Northeast China, and they really needed to be improved.

But this winter is over... Li Xiang decided to draw a sketch first, and then make it together with the sweater, and then promote it in the capital area around Chang'an.

"Aunt, you are very thoughtful." Li Xiang nodded to Li Su and said, "I will have people teach the wool weaving technique to the eunuchs and palace maids. Then we will set up several training places in the wool workshop and let them teach the knitters, and then the knitters will teach the neighbors."

"Good idea." Li Su nodded.

"In addition, once the wool business expands nationwide, we can also use this method to expand to all parts of the country." Li Xiang said with a smile.

After a few more brief words, Li Xiang planned to leave.

"Just leaving like that?" Li Shu asked with a smile.

"Hmm?" Li Xiang didn't know what his aunt meant, and he hummed in confusion.

"Xueqing has something to give you." Li Shu raised his long eyebrows and glanced at Pei Xueqing to the side.

Pei Xueqing took out a small package embroidered with plum blossoms from the side and handed it to Li Xiang.

"What is this?" Li Xiang asked with a smile. Could it be a gift from Pei Xueqing?
"I heard that the prince will go to war with the saint, and will also train the navy with my brother, so I knitted some wool socks for the prince." Pei Xueqing said gently, "Dengzhou is in the north, and the weather is cold. I hope the prince takes care of himself."

Li Xiang took a deep look at Pei Xueqing. This woman... is very capable.

The hat was replaced by Li Shu's fabric; the gloves were knitted by Li Lizhi, and the scarf and sweater were knitted by Li Mingda.

Look, she didn't fight with anyone, she just picked the most inconspicuous sock and knitted it quietly...

He weighed them and estimated that there were at least twenty pairs.

Li Xiang nodded and said, "Sister Pei is thoughtful."

"I would also like to thank the prince for taking care of my brother." Pei Xueqing said again.

Li Xiang smiled: "I take care of Shouyue because he is so capable. You don't have to worry about him."

After saying goodbye to the three women, Li Xiang returned to the palace.

Since Li Shimin was going to take Li Xiang with him, although it was not the first time for him to go on a long journey, Li Chengqian always felt empty inside.

For the first time, he was not even allowed to go to the Lizheng Palace. Instead, he held on to him and asked him about his well-being, just like an old hen protecting her chicks.

"Look, big brother is like a woman." Li Tai, with the ball under his feet, commented on his big brother with Li Zhirui.

Although Li Zhi had become closer to his elder and second brothers, he still found it difficult to complain about Li Chengqian.

It wasn't because of anything else, but mainly because he followed Li Tai's teasing last time and couldn't help but blurt out "a cripple with a peg in his hand". As a result, he was reported on the spot by Li Tai, and Li Chengqian pinned him to the ground and hit his butt several times with the peg.

A peg is a short wooden stake. That day, Li Chengqian felt that the goal was a little crooked, so he planned to use the peg to hit the goal.

This taught him a lesson.

"What is Fubao carrying?" Li Tai immediately noticed the small package embroidered with plum blossoms, and his intuition told him... it was not simple!
Li Zhi also noticed the small package. He thought about it for a moment and shook his head, saying, "It looks like this was sent by a woman. But Sister Changle loves orchids, and Sister Gaoyang loves peonies. This thing..."

The two looked at each other, their gossip spirits burning.

"Yes, spring is here." Li Tai sighed as if he had realized something.

Of course, the ancients also knew that spring is the season when all things come back to life, and it is also the season when various small animals begin to germinate.

Li Zhi was also happy. He couldn't tease Li Chengqian, but Li Xiang...

It is impossible for the nephew to turn against Tiangang and beat him up.

"Yes, our eldest nephew has grown up..."

(Ask for monthly ticket)

(End of this chapter)