My father, Li Shimin, please call me Crown Prince

Chapter 221: Is Your Majesty looking for the Prince’s Thunderbolt?
Li Shimin suddenly felt that he was a very incompetent father.

Ever since Guanyin left.

As for the prince, he didn't seem to care that much.

Perhaps more of his thoughts were on the court or on the King of Wei.

Li Shimin was very disappointed with the incident with his male favorite.

Although keeping a male favorite may not seem like a big deal in the eyes of many aristocratic families, in the prince's heart, it shouldn't be like this.

It was also that time, after a few whippings, that the prince came to his senses.

But a gap opened up between the father and his son because of the fallen horsewhip.

"Your Majesty, but we need to go to the ice cellar and have a look."

Zhang Ananda's voice brought Li Shimin back to his senses.

"Have a look."

Temple Secretary Yang Qifan led the way to the cellar where ice was once made.

Unlike the previous martial law, there is no one here anymore, it is completely empty.

"When the prince left, he gave all the utensils used to make ice here to Changsun Situ."

Yang Qifan explained.

Li Shimin nodded and glanced at Zhang Ananda.

Zhang Ananda understood what he meant and asked, "It is said that the prince kept two Taoists as his retainers. One of them could condense water into ice, and the other could generate five thunderbolts."

"After they died, the two disciples presented the secret to the prince."

"This is where the ice is made, so where is the place where the lightning gathers?"

Hearing this, Yang Qifan smiled bitterly and said, "There is indeed such a place, called Wu Lei Tang."

"It's just that the Five Thunder Hall has always been directly managed by the Crown Prince, and the Jialing Temple has never been involved."

Li Shimin ordered: "Lead the way."

Yang Qifan didn't dare to say more, and bowed and said, "Yes, Your Majesty."

The location of Wu Lei Hall in the backyard of the East Palace is very secretive, and not many people know about it.

And it just so happens that Yang Qifan is one of them.

He is responsible for delivering materials and meals to Wu Lei Tang.

But I have never been in there before. Once the things are delivered to the guards at the door, I will not be allowed to go in again.

The Wu Lei Hall is not next to the East Palace’s workshop, but behind a rockery.

Previously, every road here was guarded by guards, but now they are gone.

After passing the rockery, there is a winding path leading to a secluded place.

There is a separate courtyard at the end of the path.

This is the Five Thunder Hall of the Eastern Palace.

However, when Li Shimin and others arrived, the building was empty.

As soon as you get close, you can smell a strong smell of sulfur.

Li Shimin walked around inside twice but couldn't see any clues.

"Eunuch Wen, what is going on?"

"Go and ask some of the craftsmen who have worked here to talk about it."

“How do they build things here?”

Li Shimin was somewhat moved.

The prince conquered Liaodong City in half a day, which was probably the secret of the Five Thunder Hall.

The prince had no intention of hiding the hydraulic forging hammer as a machine.

The ice making method is now also widely spread.

Only the Five Thunder Hall is hidden so deeply.

If we can get the secret of the prince's conquering the city, it will surely make the Tang Dynasty's military more powerful.

Li Shimin also wanted to have such equipment in his own hands.

But he also knew that the prince probably would not give it to him.

Wen Zhong bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I don't know."

"The Five Thunder Hall has always been under the direct supervision of the Crown Prince, and the patrol and monitoring guards are also the responsibility of the Royal Guards."

"I know this place, but I've never been here. Every time the prince comes here, I wait outside the rockery. This is the first time I come here."

"All the craftsmen of the Five Thunder Hall followed the crown prince on his eastern expedition."

Li Shimin asked in a deep voice: "Not even one apprentice was left behind, and what about the patrolling guards? Didn't any of them stay behind?"

Wen Zhong nodded and said, "Yes, they all went with the prince."

Li Shimin murmured, "The prince is on guard against me."

Wen Zhong was speechless.

I complained in my heart.

Isn't it at this time that we are on guard against Your Majesty?

Facts have proved that the prince's defense was correct.

Wen Zhong actually knew a little about the Thunderbolt, having heard a few words about it.

But just as he said, every time the prince came to Wu Lei Hall, he did not bring him in.

As a servant, he certainly had no right to say what the prince thought.

But now it seems that this is obviously still protecting him.

Wen Zhong also heard the news that the prince summoned thunder from the sky and broke through Liaodong City in half a day. Almost everyone in Chang'an City knew about this.

A lot of people are talking about it.

The prince is a true saint.

It is normal for Your Majesty to have some taboos.

Li Shimin didn't say much.

By now, the situation has become very clear.

The thunder and fire equipment that the prince used to break into the city had been secretly manufactured in the East Palace.

No wonder they wanted to attack Goryeo so much, it turned out they had already been confident of their success.

Now is the time to shine.

After Li Shimin left.

Wen Zhong returned to the front yard to meet the Crown Princess.

"Your Majesty, do you want to see the prince's thunderbolt that breaks through the city?"

Su Yuer asked.

She didn't know about this thing before. She only knew that the prince hired many craftsmen in the backyard and made many things.

The news that the prince had broken into the city spread throughout Chang'an City, and the Crown Princess naturally also knew about it.

Just ask Wen Zhong.

Wen Zhong also honestly confessed the matter of the Thunderbolt Fire.

Su Yuer felt at ease immediately.

With the help of thunder and fire, the prince's expedition to Goryeo was no longer dangerous and had a smooth journey.

His Majesty came to the East Palace suddenly, and Crown Princess Su Yuer also realized the possibility.

"Yes, Your Majesty is asking about Thunderbolt."

"But in the East Palace, all those who were involved in making Thunderbolt have gone with the Crown Prince to the East."

Wen Zhong then went on to tell His Majesty in detail what happened in Wu Lei Hall.

Su Yuer nodded.

"It seems that His Majesty also wants this thing. Fortunately, the prince has already made a plan."
-
Tai Chi Palace.

Zhang Ananda hesitated and said, "Your Majesty, perhaps someone in the East Palace knows something about this Thunderbolt Fire."

"The Crown Prince's eunuch Wen Zhong must be hiding something."

Li Shimin said: "I know, but even if I know something, given the prince's caution, he will not tell Wen Zhong the manufacturing method."

"Since the prince got this method of creating thunder and fire from two Taoists, I believe other Taoists should also know it."

"I order you to quickly investigate the origins of the Taoist priests who were killed, trace the source, and summon Taoist priests and alchemists from all over the world to develop this thunder and fire method."

"Once this kind of thunder and fire method is created, it will be able to ignore the high walls and strong cities, and make the soldiers of the Tang Dynasty walk on flat ground."

Zhang Ananda replied respectfully, "Yes, Your Majesty."

He did not ask why His Majesty wanted to go far away and develop it himself when the prince clearly had the method to make thunder.

It is obvious that in the current situation, a deep gap has already appeared between His Majesty and the Crown Prince.

No one knows what the prince, who is now leading the troops outside, is thinking.

This time when he went to the East Palace, the prince had already made a backup plan and took away all the people who were related to the Five Thunder Technique.

The prince is doing this to protect Your Majesty.

The Eastern Palace is a place where, besides His Majesty, who else would come here?
-
Central India. The capital of the Harsha Empire, Kusumapura.

Wang Xuance finally led the delegation here.

King Harsha held a grand welcoming ceremony, and the entire capital was cheering for the arrival of the Tang envoy.

King Harsha, Holisha, had learned about the power of the Tang Dynasty from Master Xuanzang a long time ago.

India also has records of the prosperity of the Central Plains dynasties.

Compared with the Tang Dynasty, Central India is more than just weaker.

However, in Helisha's view, there was no direct conflict between the Tang Dynasty and Central India, because there were Nepal and Tubo between them.

Why was Helisha so enthusiastic towards the Tang Dynasty envoys?

In fact, a big reason lies in the Silk Road.

The trade along the Silk Road made all the countries along this road rich.

Horisa hoped that the Harsha Empire could establish friendly diplomatic relations with the Tang Empire and open a trade route from the Tang Empire to India.

This will make the Harsha Empire richer and more powerful.

Horisha was also a very ambitious man.

Without ambition, he would not have been able to completely unify northern India.

In the palace.

King Harsha smiled and clapped his hands: "Tang envoys who have come from afar, this is my gift to you."

Under the arrangement of the servant, a man dressed luxuriously walked out from the side door.

Wang Xuance asked with some confusion: "Your Highness King Harsha, who is this?"

King Harsha laughed out loud.

"I heard that you spread the news that the Crown Prince of the Tang Dynasty wanted to provide asylum to the Sultan of Persia."

"This is the Persian Sultan you are looking for, Yazdegerd III."

Wang Xuance sincerely thanked him, "Thank you for your help, His Royal Highness King Harsha."

Yazdegerd III also came over, touched his chest and bowed his head: "Thank you for your protection, the Tang envoy who came from afar."

Only he himself knows how difficult this journey has been.

Many people wanted to kill Yazdegerd III for the bounty.

There are also many people helping him.

After stumbling and falling, they finally arrived at the border of the Harsha Empire from the Multan area.

The city lord, who had received the order from King Harsha, immediately dispatched troops to escort Yazdegerd III to the royal capital, Kusumu City.

King Harsha is now at the peak of his prestige. Although the huge Harsha Empire is composed of various vassal states, King Harsha is more like the suzerain of these vassal states rather than a centralized authority.

But King Harsha's ruling power is still extremely strong.

Even though he failed on the way to the south, he was unable to complete the unification.

But the conquests on both the east and west sides went smoothly, and the territory of the Harsha Empire continued to expand.

"Your Majesty the Sultan, you should not thank me, but rather thank our Crown Prince."

"It was his order that provided you with shelter."

Wang Xuance said calmly.

Yazdegerd III bowed slightly and saluted respectfully towards the east: "Thank you, His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince of the Tang Dynasty."

Then he said: "If I could thank His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of the Tang Dynasty in person, it would definitely be my greatest honor."

A king of a fallen country has no dignity at all.

Being able to obtain political asylum is already the biggest surprise.

At this point, no matter how great the ambition is, it has already been completely lost in the twists and turns along the way.

Of course, if the Tang Dynasty is willing to help him restore his country.

Forget dignity, I'd even have no problem being a dog for the Crown Prince of the Tang Dynasty.
-
Liaodong City.

This is probably the most focused area.

Almost all the surrounding tribes and countries have turned their attention.

At first, no one believed the news that the city was conquered by thunder and fire.

Not to mention the tribes of other countries, even the Tang Dynasty itself didn't really believe it.

But as time went on, the details of how the Tang prince broke into the city were constantly confirmed through eyewitness reports.

The most important thing is that the gateway to Goryeo and the eastern capital of Liaodong City had actually been conquered by the Crown Prince of the Tang Dynasty. This is an ironclad fact.

The prince's attack on Liaodong City only took half a day.

September 8th, the seventeenth year of Zhenguan.

After several days of reorganization, the prototype of the Liaodong City legion has been completed.

A total of 85,000 troops are divided into eight legions.

After discussion.

Li Chengqian arranged for Su Dingfang, Chen Yunchao and Li Dejian.

Each of them led an army of 10,000 men and 5,000 auxiliary troops.

The army was divided into three groups and attacked Pyongyang, the capital of Goryeo.

All the cities along the way were conquered.

This time, Li Chengqian also distributed the Thunderbolt Fire to them.

There were three armies, and each army was given three thousand kilograms of thunder fire.

With such a magical weapon, in this era, city defenses have no defense against explosive packs.

Especially in some small towns, where the defenders are no more than two or three thousand, they can be easily conquered without using explosive packs.

The news of the troop dispatch from Liaodong City soon reached Pyongyang, the capital of Goryeo.

At this time, Yeon Gaesomun really wanted to see for himself how powerful the thunder and fire of the Tang Dynasty were.

This will also allow us to be fully prepared for the subsequent resistance.

However, as soon as he put forward this idea, it was immediately opposed by almost all his subordinates.

Da Molizhi is their backbone.

Anyone can get into trouble except Da Molizhi.

External troubles are one thing, internal worries are another.

Originally, internal troubles were nothing. The current King of Goryeo was just a puppet and no one took him seriously.

But if something happens to Da Molishi, the situation in the royal capital will be unpredictable.

Speaking of which, the King of Goryeo is the legitimate one.

Da Molizhi is a rebel.

The bloodline of the Gao Dynasty includes a large number of royal families in the royal capital.

Faced with this situation, Yeon Gaesomun hesitated and gave up the idea of ​​going there in person.

Finally, several thousand cavalry envoys were sent to observe the Tang army's siege warfare.
-
Cavalry is much faster than infantry.

In order to obtain first-hand information and to verify the truthfulness of Yuan Junyue's words.

The appointed Goryeo general rode at full speed and arrived at the battlefield before the Tang army attacked the first city.

This was just a small city in Goryeo, with a total garrison of no more than 3,000 troops.

Under normal circumstances, three thousand to fifteen thousand can last for a period of time.

The Goryeo general gave orders to the generals in the city.

We must defend to the death.

He wanted to see what the Tang army’s thunder and fire looked like.

I originally thought this was just the Tang army's trump card.

However, unexpectedly, the Tang army pushed up the crossbows as soon as they attacked the city.

Boom boom boom! ! !

A huge noise echoed among the mountains.

The earth shook and the mountains trembled; the war horses neighed in fear.

The frightened Goryeo general fell off his horse.

The pain made him react.

Even if it is thousands of steps away.

Even though they knew that the Tang army in front of them only had a few hundred cavalry.

The Goryeo general got up, jumped on his horse, turned around and fled, not caring about anything else.

After just one round of bombing, the morale of the defenders was completely drained and they surrendered immediately.

It was so simple and easy for Su Dingfang to take the city.

Attacking a city became an extremely simple matter.

(End of this chapter)