My father, Li Shimin, please call me Crown Prince

Chapter 211 If this were true, wouldn't the prince become a god?

Li Daozon was a loyal fan and die-hard supporter of Li Shimin.

He started fighting with Li Shimin at the age of seventeen and has been fighting ever since.

It can be said that in Li Daozon's heart, Li Shimin is the person he admires most.

In fact, Li Daozon and Li Chengqian had a pretty good relationship.

After all, Li Chengqian was the crown prince, and Li Daozon was a famous general of the royal family.

However, in politics, Li Daozon adhered to his duties and never had much personal relationship with the prince.

At this time, Li Daozon was very angry.

He didn't expect the prince to act this way. He was trying to forcibly seize his military power.

It's not that he cares about military power, but he thinks the prince is ambitious and will suffer heavy losses if he attacks the city by force.

How many soldiers will die because of the prince's ambition.

Originally, Li Daozon thought that the prince would not give him an explanation.

Unexpectedly, the prince actually started to explain.

Li Chengqian said very seriously: "The secret of Thunderbolt Fire is the highest secret of our Tang Dynasty. It involves the safety and turmoil of the Tang Dynasty, and it is the key to this Eastern Expedition."

"If there is any leakage, and if it allows Goryeo to be on guard, it will cost more lives for our Tang soldiers."

"So when the uncle asked me why I wanted to force the attack on the city, he learned the secret of the Thunderbolt Fire and wanted to better attack Goryeo and break through Liaodong City."

"For now, I can only temporarily inconvenience my uncle for a few days."

"During this period of time, my uncle and the other generals will stay in my military camp."

"You can leave only after the Goryeo city is conquered."

Li Chengqian's words were all reasonable and he was full of confidence.

This made Li Daozon somewhat suspicious.

That Thunderbolt is really as important as the prince said.

Or is it just an excuse.

However, this reason may sound a bit ridiculous at the moment, but it is tenable.

Because the prince said that this was the top secret of the Tang Dynasty.

The prince's words are evidence.

Since they have already known the top secrets of the Tang Dynasty, it is normal to keep the person here to keep it confidential.

At this point, Li Daozon had nothing more to say.

Be it true or false.

He no longer had the ability to stop the prince.

He sighed, went back to the desk and started drinking.

A group of Zhechou Duwei also returned.

Li Chengqian waved his hand.

The guards also slowly left the tent.

Li Chengqian smiled and raised his glass, saying, "Uncle, just wait and see. I won't let you down."

Li Daozon also raised his glass, his face looking helpless.

Even at this point, he would not say that he wanted to turn against the prince. It was meaningless.

But he had already made up his mind that he would report the prince when he returned.

Li Chengqian drank with a smile.

Go back and complain?

Well, first of all, you have to be able to go back.

The banquet was almost over.

Su Dingfang is back.

Li Daozon naturally understood that his 20,000 infantry and cavalry already belonged to the prince.

The commanders didn't care.

Anyway, even if I don’t lead troops, I still hold the official position.

The prince has good food and drink here, and he doesn't have to fight for his life, so he can barely understand it.

I just feel a little bit depressed.

After the banquet.

Li Chengqian had already arranged a place for Li Daozon and others.

Apart from not being able to leave a certain range, there are not many restrictions.

Li Chengqian knew very well that Li Daozon and others would definitely not accept the defeat.

But once they saw the power of gunpowder, their thoughts naturally changed.

In Li Daozon’s tent.

More than a dozen captains were discussing the matter.

"General, are we just going to give in like this? Are we just going to hand over our military power like this?"

"Yes, the prince's move was too despicable. He tricked us into coming to the banquet, but ended up locking us all up."

"That guy Su Dingfang must have been sent by the crown prince to our military camp to seize power."

"Feinting an attack on Liaodong City, but your majesty, is it a bit too much for the prince to do this?"

"To attack Liaodong City by force, isn't this asking our brothers to die? If more than 20,000 people can take down Liaodong City, the prince will be famous all over the world. In the past, hundreds of thousands of people in the Sui Dynasty failed to take down the city."

"General, why don't you go and persuade the prince?"

"I think if the prince doesn't suffer a little, he will definitely not know how powerful he is."

"I don't know what your Majesty is thinking. Why is the Crown Prince making trouble on the battlefield instead of staying in Chang'an?"

The captains were all complaining, and some were even a little agitated.

Li Dao Zong said calmly: "Then tell me, what should we do, fight back?"

After this was said, everyone fell silent.

Whether we can fight or not is another matter. But let's look at the current situation. How can we fight the prince directly?

No matter how ridiculous the prince is, he is still the prince.

Only Your Majesty can reprimand and punish the Crown Prince.

What's the point of them making such a fuss?

"In my opinion, once the prince suffers a loss, he will definitely know the good of the general."

"Yes, this is the first time the prince goes to the battlefield, so it is inevitable that he is a little arrogant, which is understandable."

"I thought so too."

All of a sudden, the tone was reversed.

Li Daozon was too lazy to say anything more.

At this time, a captain said, "The thunderbolt fire that the prince mentioned, could it be real?"

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone burst into laughter.

The captain who was speaking also felt a little embarrassed.

This is clearly an excuse made up by the prince.

A captain laughed and said, "If the prince really has the ability to split mountains and break rocks, then he must have become a god."

Li Daozon didn't take it too seriously.

Naturally, he didn't believe it either.

"Okay, go and take a rest."

After dispersing the crowd, Li Daozon pondered alone for a long time.

Finally, he sighed helplessly.

"Your Majesty, I have failed to live up to your trust."

His Majesty asked him to keep an eye on the Crown Prince, and had said before that the Crown Prince might do something ridiculous.

Who would have thought that I would still fall into the trap.
-
The next day.

Li Chengqian rode on the Jade Lion of Zhaoye to Li Daozon's military camp for inspection.

Five thousand cavalrymen are very powerful, but they are also invincible in field battles.

When it comes to siege, cavalry can only watch helplessly, and infantry is the only way to do it.

Among the 20,000 infantry and cavalry led by Li Daozon, there are 18,000 infantrymen, all of whom are elite soldiers, and many of them are elite veterans.

This veteran does not mean he is old, but he has experienced many wars.

After Li Shimin ascended the throne, he launched many wars against foreign countries.

But it was not as big a move as the one used against Goryeo.

With tens of thousands of soldiers and horses, he can easily sweep through the surrounding small countries and tribes.

This review is still very necessary.

Most soldiers should be made aware that their immediate superior has been changed from Li Daozon to the Crown Prince.

Looking at the prince riding on a white horse, most soldiers did not feel any resistance.

They didn't understand the ins and outs of this, but they understood the basic principles. The crown prince must have a higher position than the general.

Below the saint, above everyone else.

Only a small number of military officers, such as the chief secretary and the military sergeant, knew that the prince had seized the military power.

Twenty thousand infantry and cavalry make up twenty Zhechoufu.

Su Dingfang brought 500 people and replaced the left and right Guoyi Duwei of the Zhechoufu, as well as officers at the rank of colonel.

This means that the twenty Zhechoufu are now under complete control.

Even if some people knew about it, they did not dare to contradict the prince and accepted it all silently.

Military Council.

Li Chengqian immediately gave the order to start building twenty crossbows to be used for dropping explosive packs.

Before this, there was no preparation to build a bed crossbow.

Generally speaking, bed crossbows are mainly used for defending cities. For example, there are a large number of bed crossbows on the Liaodong City.

When the Tang army used ladders and battering rams to attack the city, these crossbows could be used to destroy the attackers' equipment.

Crossbows are rarely built for siege purposes, unless the enemy is made of towers, that is, wooden structures, then they will be effective.

The walls of Liaodong City are similar to those of Chang'an, both of which are made up of large amounts of cemented earth, so the crossbows are of little use.

As soon as the news spread.

Li Daozon and other captains sighed.

"Your Highness is just messing around. You don't understand anything."

"I heard that the war chess in the Military Academy was designed by the prince. I thought it was very powerful, but I didn't expect it to be the same as Zhao Kuo, who was good at talking about war on paper."

"General, you should go and persuade the prince."

Li Daozon ignored it, but instead felt a little suspicious.

The prince understands military affairs.

Even if he didn't understand military affairs, he had Su Dingfang and others to help him.

Su Dingfang and Li Daozon also knew about it and captured Jie Li Khan alive.

Even if the prince doesn't understand, Su Dingfang doesn't understand either?

There is something fishy here.

Although he thought so, Li Daozon still couldn't think of the Thunderbolt Fire.

It’s not that his imagination is not rich enough, but matters like gunpowder are completely beyond his understanding.

It is just like the ancients could not understand how an iron bird could fly into the sky.

How can the iron cart run without eating grass and run faster than a horse?

This is the limitation of the times.

However, there was one thing Li Daozon did not know.

That is to say, it’s not that Su Dingfang didn’t try to persuade him, but that he couldn’t persuade him.

Li Chengqian never told anyone about his concealment of gunpowder.

Even the eunuch Wen Zhong, who followed him all day, didn't know what the explosive pack made by the Five Thunder Hall was.

The people who made it also followed the prince's requirements and strictly followed the process flow.

The only one who might know something is Xiang Ke, who is in the army.

However, even Xiang Ke didn't know how powerful the things he made according to the prince's instructions were.

He knew it was powerful, but he had no idea how powerful it was.

Maybe it’s stronger than the previous explosion of the alchemy furnace?
On the march.

Li Chengqian asked Xiang Ke to be responsible for the management of the explosive packs and asked him to accompany the army in the team transporting the explosive packs.

The journey was bumpy on the one hand, and mental tension on the other.

Even with the power of the pill furnace, so many explosions at the same time would be enough to blow him to pieces.

Therefore, be careful with your caregiver at all times.

This is not about taking care of a bomb, this is about taking care of your own life.

If anyone disobeyed the rules in the slightest, Xiang Ke would go up and start cursing. Except for the prince, no one else could come and they had to defend their little piece of land.

It was also because of Xiang Ke's care that no accidents occurred during the transportation of the explosive packs during the march of more than a month.

Of course, any accident that occurs will not be a small matter.

Li Chengqian also issued strict orders, prohibiting anyone from approaching this unique transport team.

"Your Highness, I'm afraid that building this bed crossbow will not be of much use."

"The walls of Liaodong City are high and thick, all made of cement. Even though the crossbows are good, how can they penetrate them?"

Su Dingfang tried to persuade the prince not to waste manpower and resources like this.

"Even you don't believe me?"

Li Chengqian asked with a smile.

"Of course I believe this, but this crossbow."

Su Dingfang didn't know how to answer.

Li Chengqian said confidently: "General Su, please watch carefully as I use the thunderbolt to blast open the gate of Liaodong City."

"At that time, you only need to lead the troops into the city."

After hearing this, Su Dingfang was a little confused.

Su Dingfang also heard about what happened at the banquet and knew that the thunderbolt fire that the prince mentioned was the top secret of the Tang Dynasty.

However, like most people, Su Dingfang felt that this was just an excuse for the prince to keep Li Daozon.

Now that you say this, is it true?

Is there really a Human Torch?
Shaking his head slightly, Su Dingfang felt that he was overthinking.

Cutting through mountains and breaking rocks is too ethereal, how could the prince have such magical means?

That's it.

Even if the prince wants to do it, there are only about twenty crossbows, so just let him do it.

The seventeenth year of Zhenguan.

August 18th.

Li Chengqian thought this was a good day and ordered the army to set off for Liaodong City.

It is still a long way from Yingzhou to the city of Liaodong, about three hundred miles.

This march was completely different from the previous ones.

There were 25,000 infantry and cavalry, and nearly 80,000 civilian laborers.

Strictly speaking, among the nearly 80,000 civilians, 30,000 are considered auxiliary troops.

Those who are strong will also have simple leather armor and spear-type weapons.

These people have undergone simple training and cannot compare with elite soldiers, but they also have the opportunity to make achievements.

The march of more than 100,000 people will have to pass through some mountainous sections.

Naturally, the speed was not fast. The daily march was about thirty miles, and it took ten days to reach the city of Liaodong.

Liaodong City was the most important city for Goryeo.

As the gateway to Goryeo, Liaodong City is located at the intersection of important transportation routes.

Located in the central part of the Liaodong Peninsula, it connects to the northern territory of Goguryeo to the north and to the southern tip of the Liaodong Peninsula and the Korean Peninsula to the south.

From the perspective of land transportation, it is the intersection of many roads in the Liaodong region. Whether it is the army coming from the inland or the troops marching from the coastal areas, they generally pass through this place.

This status as a transportation hub made Liaodong City a key node for Goguryeo's foreign relations and military defense.

Moreover, the land here is fertile and agriculture is developed, providing Goryeo with a large amount of food and other supplies.

At the same time, the local handicraft industry was also relatively prosperous and was capable of producing weapons, armor and other military equipment.

If Liaodong City was lost, Goryeo's economy and material supply would suffer a serious blow.

Therefore, Goryeo arranged a large number of garrisons in Liaodong City.

Historically, when Li Shimin personally led the army to attack Liaodong City, even though he had already conquered Gaimu City, he had concentrated almost all of his forces there.

After ten days of continuous fighting day and night, with the help of the south wind, Li Shimin selected elite soldiers to set fire to the city tower from the southwest corner of the city. The wind was strong and the fire quickly spread to the city.

Only then was Liaodong captured.

It sounds simple, but in fact it is relying on the wind. However, it takes a lot of manpower to transport large amounts of firewood and other combustible materials.

If the fire had not spread to Liaodong City, it would have cost Li Shimin a greater price to capture Liaodong City.

This time, with only 25,000 troops and some poorly trained civilians, they wanted to capture Liaodong City.

Everyone thought that the prince was daydreaming.

Even the prince's confidants, including Su Dingfang, Helan Chushi, Li Dejian, and Chen Yunchao, did not think they could capture Liaodong City.

They just thought that the prince was just making a feint attack.

　Book title: I was kept by a monster

　　Introduction:
　　On our wedding anniversary, my mom bought a cake and my dad brought flowers.

　　Loving parents and a happy family.

　　But why is it me on the plate?
　　
　
(End of this chapter)