My father, Li Shimin, please call me Crown Prince

Chapter 265: Zhangsun Wuji: Waiting for the Crown Prince to Conquer Baekje
In the magnificent palace of the Indian capital, Wang Xuance, dressed in Tang Dynasty costumes and with an upright figure, has spent more than a few months in this palace. At this moment, he is sitting opposite King Harsha and they are having a pleasant conversation.

King Harsha smiled and asked with concern, "My envoy, have you been living comfortably in the Indian capital these past few months?"

Of course, Horisha did not understand Chinese, so both of them had an interpreter with them.

Wang Xuance bowed and responded respectfully: "Your Majesty, I am grateful for your careful care, the prosperity of the capital, and the hospitality. I am deeply grateful. However, I will always bear in mind the important task entrusted by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, and I dare not slack off in the slightest."

King Harsha nodded slightly, and then changed the subject: "I heard that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of the Tang Dynasty is suffering from a leg disease. I wonder if he is getting better? This king has also been concerned about this matter. In the past few days, I have ordered people to search the capital and find many rare medicinal herbs, hoping that they can help His Royal Highness the Crown Prince relieve his pain."

Wang Xuance's eyes were filled with gratitude when he heard this. "Your Majesty, this kindness will be conveyed to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. Your Royal Highness has been worried about his leg disease. This disease is not only related to him personally, but also closely related to the future of the Tang Dynasty. If we can find a good prescription in Tianzhu this time, Your Royal Highness will definitely remember it for Your Majesty."

In fact, Wang Xuance has been searching hard for it during this period of time, but the so-called White Jade Ointment, as His Royal Highness the Crown Prince had expected, was completely fictitious.

There were doctors who treated leg diseases, but after hearing about the Crown Prince's condition, they all said they were powerless to help.

Fortunately, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince did not seem to really place his hope of curing his leg disease here, which relieved Wang Xuance of a lot of pressure.

King Harsha waved his hand and said, "Your Highness the Crown Prince is the crown prince of the Tang Dynasty and will be the ruler of the Tang Dynasty in the future. It is an honor for me to be able to do my best for Your Highness. I wonder how the war is going with Your Highness the Crown Prince leading the army to Liaodong this time?"

This was a question that was asked despite knowing the answer. Ever since the Tang Dynasty delegation came, Helisha had been trying to find out the situation in the Tang Dynasty from many sources.

Although the news of the Tang Dynasty's Eastern Expedition was delayed, the general situation was still known.

Wang Xuance's expression was full of pride. "To be honest with you, Your Majesty, the Crown Prince is extremely brave and has outstanding strategies. This time, he went to Liaodong and was invincible along the way. He has successfully conquered Goryeo and Silla. He will unify Liaodong soon."

Upon hearing this, King Harsha could not help but exclaimed: "Your Highness is so young, yet he has such outstanding military talent. This is truly admirable."

Wang Xuance smiled and nodded: "Your Highness has been obsessed with the art of war since he was young, diligent and studious, and has great ambitions. This expedition to Liaodong is also a good opportunity for Your Highness to show the power of the Tang Dynasty to the world. Now, under the leadership of Your Highness the Crown Prince, the Tang Dynasty is powerful and has attracted people from all over the world to come to pay tribute."

King Harsha's eyes flashed with yearning: "This king has always admired the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty. Now that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has won another great military victory, India hopes to establish a deeper friendship with the Tang Dynasty. If we can join hands with the Tang Dynasty and share what we have, it will surely bring benefits to the people of both countries."

Wang Xuance said solemnly: "Xuance will convey the king's intentions to His Royal Highness. The Tang Dynasty has always upheld the concept of friendly exchanges and will treat countries that are truly friendly with the Tang Dynasty with sincerity. The prince has seen and remembered the king's concern for His Royal Highness's leg disease and the protection of the Persian emperor. I believe that with the support of His Royal Highness, the diplomatic relations between the Tang Dynasty and India will surely go further."

King Harsha smiled with satisfaction: "That's great. I also look forward to more exchanges and cooperation with the Tang Dynasty to jointly promote the friendship between the two countries."

At this time, a guard hurried into the hall, looking panicked, and knelt on one knee to report: "Your Majesty, I just received a secret report that the Arab Empire has recently mobilized a large number of troops and seems to be planning to invade India. They also claimed that because we are protecting the Persian Emperor Yazdegerd III, they demand that Your Majesty hand him over."

The translator beside Wang Xuance informed him of the guard's words.

Upon hearing this, King Harsha threw his head back and laughed out loud. His laughter was so hearty that it made the whole hall buzz.

After a moment, he slammed the table, his eyes flashed with coldness, and he said loudly: "Hahahaha! The Arab Empire is so bold that it dares to threaten my India! They want me to hand over the Persian emperor. It's like an ant trying to shake a tree. They don't know their own abilities!"

He looked directly at Wang Xuance with a sharp gaze, and then said, "Emissary, I, India, have gone through many years of conquests. Now that the four seas have united, our strength should not be underestimated. Although the Arab Empire seems powerful, how can I be afraid of it? Over the years, I have fought in many battles in the south and the north, and I have many brave generals and elite soldiers under my command. The elephant soldiers of my India are even more invincible on the battlefield. Wherever they go, the enemy army is defeated."

King Harsha was a monarch with great personality and ability, and had a great influence on the history of India as a whole.

After years of wars, the unification of India was achieved.

After inheriting the throne, he conquered all directions with his capital Kusumapura as the center. After six years of war, he recovered many territories, established his dominant position in northern India, and continued to expand. Eventually, his sphere of influence extended to the Brahmaputra River in the east, the Indus River in the west, the snow-capped mountains in the north, and the Nabada River in the south. It became another regime that basically unified northern India after the Maurya Empire and the Gupta Empire.

He built a huge army to maintain the unity of the empire, and established a hierarchical bureaucracy with "extremely strict criminal and political policies" to assist in his rule. He attached importance to using religion for feudal rule, tended to favor Mahayana Buddhism, and adopted a policy of inclusiveness between Buddhism and Hinduism in order to consolidate his regime.

In fact, the rise of the Arab Empire was also a fear for King Harsha.

However, the first thing the Arab Empire had to face when marching towards India was the Hindu Kush Mountains, which were steep and had many towering peaks and steep valleys.

The complex terrain made large-scale military operations very difficult. The army had to cross mountains and ridges, and the logistical supply lines were difficult to maintain. It was difficult for the baggage troops to transport enough food, weapons and other supplies through the narrow mountain roads to support a large-scale and long-term war.

There are also differences in climate. The Arabian Peninsula is mainly tropical desert climate, and the Arab army has adapted to the dry and hot environment. Most of the Indian region has a tropical monsoon climate with distinct rainy and dry seasons.

Under such circumstances, King Harsha was fighting on his own land and naturally he was not afraid of the now powerful Arab Empire.

Wang Xuance looked solemn. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Your Majesty, the Arab Empire is obviously looking for trouble. Protecting the Persian emperor is just an excuse. They have coveted India for a long time. This time, they may want to take this opportunity to expand their power."

Wang Xuance naturally already knew the news that the Roman princess had moved into the Eastern Palace. Moreover, the prince's arrangements in Tubo also showed his ambitions beyond the Tang Dynasty.

The strength of the Arab Empire is not a good thing for the Tang Dynasty, especially for His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.

It is in the interests of the Tang Dynasty to make friends with India and jointly suppress the Arab Empire. King Harsha snorted coldly: "How could I not know their wolfish ambitions? The people of India live and work in peace and contentment, and the country is prosperous. How can we allow them to run wild here? If they really dare to invade, I will make sure they have no way back and let them know how powerful India is!"

King Harsha said with disdain, "So what if we have strong soldiers and horses? The bravery and tenacity of my Indian army are beyond their reach. Back then, I single-handedly pacified the various Indian forces, fought countless fierce battles, and never retreated. This time, facing the Arab Empire, I am even less afraid."

Wang Xuance's eyes flickered as he said, "Your Majesty, we might as well unite with the surrounding countries to jointly resist the Arab Empire. In the name of the Tang Dynasty, we will propose to the surrounding countries to form an alliance. I believe that the countries do not want to see the Arab Empire's power expand and threaten their own security."

King Harsha crossed his arms and said proudly, "Although this plan is brilliant, even if the surrounding countries do not take action, the power of India alone is enough to fight the Arab Empire. Not only will I protect every inch of India's territory, but I will also make them pay a heavy price for their arrogance."

Horisha had his own pride, and in a sense, he could be considered a founding monarch.

King Harsha thought of something else, his expression became stern, and he said, "Royal Envoy, there is one more thing. I heard that the Arab Empire has recently threatened to challenge the majesty of the Tang Dynasty. They seem to be dissatisfied with the victory of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince in Liaodong, and want to take this opportunity to test the strength of the Tang Dynasty."

Wang Xuance heard this and a trace of anger flashed in his eyes: "This Arab Empire is really arrogant! How can they challenge the military talent of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince? If they dare to act rashly, the Tang Dynasty will make them pay a heavy price."

King Harsha nodded in agreement: "Yes, the Tang Dynasty is strong and the Crown Prince is brave and powerful. They cannot easily provoke us. And I, India, will definitely stand shoulder to shoulder with the Tang Dynasty and let the Arab Empire know that the consequences of provoking us are unbearable for them."

Wang Xuance analyzed, "What the king said is very likely. So we must act as soon as possible to strengthen Tianzhu's defense. At the same time, we will send envoys to the surrounding countries to discuss the alliance. In addition, I will also write a letter to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, reporting the situation here in detail and begging for His Royal Highness' instructions."

King Harsha nodded with satisfaction: "With the help of the Tang Dynasty, the Arab Empire will definitely not dare to invade."
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At that time, Changsun Wuji was leading his team on the road to Liaodong. On this day, they arrived at a place called Qingping Town, which was bustling and bustling. Changsun Wuji looked at the scene and suddenly ordered: "Set up camp here and stay for a while."

Zhao Ping, the accompanying military officer, was shocked and stepped forward to dissuade them: "Situ Changsun, His Majesty has ordered us to hurry to Liaodong. Time is running out and we cannot afford to delay. If we stay here and delay important matters, His Majesty will blame us and we will not be able to bear the consequences!"

Zhang Sun Wuji raised his hand and stroked his beard, his eyes deep, and he said slowly: "General Zhao, don't rush. You see, the brothers are exhausted after traveling all the way, and the horses are thin and have no energy."

"Rest here for a while, not only can we recuperate, but also the horses can recover their strength. Besides, I heard that the road ahead is muddy and difficult to travel due to the heavy rain in recent days. If we wait until the road conditions are better before setting off, we can travel more smoothly. Isn't it killing two birds with one stone?"

Zhao Ping frowned, still feeling something was wrong, but he didn't dare to disobey Changsun Wuji's order, so he could only retreat helplessly.

A few days later, Zhao Ping could no longer suppress his anxiety, and took advantage of the night to come to Changsun Wuji's tent.

"Situ Changsun, I am General Zhao Ping, and I would like to see you for something." Although Zhao Ping's voice was soft, it was full of urgency.

Chang Sun Wuji's calm response came from inside the tent: "Come in."

Zhao Ping opened the curtain, strode into the tent, knelt on one knee, and said worriedly: "Changsun Situ, I am really unable to sleep or eat. We have been delayed here for many days. The situation in Liaodong is changing rapidly. The prince is acting decisively. If we can't get there in time, if something goes wrong, who can bear the responsibility?"

Changsun Wuji put down the book in his hand, stood up and walked to Zhao Ping's side, helped him up, and sighed: "General Zhao, I completely understand your concerns. But you don't know that the reason why I slowed down the journey actually has another deep meaning."

Zhao Ping looked puzzled and raised his head to look at Changsun Wuji: "Changsun Situ, please explain clearly."

Changsun Wuji paced slightly and said solemnly: "The Crown Prince is determined to conquer Baekje this time. I heard that the battle ahead is stalemate and the Crown Prince is attacking the Baekje capital with all his strength. I am waiting for the news that the Crown Prince has conquered the Baekje capital."

"Waiting for this news? Why, Changsun Situ?" Zhao Ping was even more confused.

Zhang Sun Wuji's eyes were firm as he explained, "Once the crown prince conquers the capital of Baekje, the outcome of this war will be decided. By then, I will go to Liaodong. On the one hand, I can use the name of congratulations to ease the atmosphere of our first meeting. On the other hand, I can also have a clearer understanding of the current situation and the crown prince's actual control over Baekje."

"In this way, when I talk to the Crown Prince, I will be able to be more targeted and convey your Majesty's intentions more appropriately. I will also be able to better coordinate the relationship between all parties and avoid unnecessary conflicts."

Zhao Ping suddenly realized, but he was still a little worried: "I admire Changsun Situ's foresight. But if we wait like this, won't we wait too long and miss the best opportunity?"

Changsun Wuji patted Zhao Ping on the shoulder and said comfortingly: "Don't worry, I have arranged spies to closely monitor the war in Liaodong. Once there is definite news, we will set off immediately."

"In the next few days, you should urge the brothers to rest well and sort out the list of supplies we are carrying. When we arrive in Liaodong, we will have a lot of things to do."

Zhao Ping's doubts were completely dispelled, and he clasped his hands and said, "I will follow the order of Changsun Situ, and I will do it!"

Changsun Wuji nodded slightly.

He had already learned that the imperial censors who went to the Shenwu Palace had not been able to meet His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, which had already made clear the Crown Prince's attitude.

Can he see her if he goes there?

The prince has now made up his mind to unify Liaodong, and this is not something he can control.

Instead of doing this, it would be better to wait until Baekje is defeated.

(End of this chapter)