Datang: Just been appointed as the crown prince, the counterattack system is here

Chapter 261 Don't get me wrong, I'm not targeting you [asking for monthly votes]

The military exercise is over, but the scene just now is unforgettable.

Especially the envoys from various countries who were invited to attend.

Looking at the broken limbs and debris being cleared by the river, all they could hear were the roar of artillery and the screams of the foreign cavalry.

They knew that such tragic scenes were caused by firearms.

Before this, they had come into contact with firearms and had even seen the Musketeers execute prisoners with their own eyes.

But they were dismissive of the firing speed of the muskets.

Although the artillery now displayed by the Tang Dynasty is obviously more powerful than the musket, in terms of its category, it is still a firearm, just a larger firearm.

However, the shock brought by watching a musket is simply incomparable to the shock brought by watching a cannon.

This makes them feel as frightened as if they had fallen into an icy cave even in the clear and cool autumn season.

Even though the artillery fire was only aimed at prisoners captured by the Tang Dynasty, they couldn't help but imagine what the scene would be like if the Tang Dynasty aimed its artillery at their city?
And what are the chances of their cavalry winning when facing artillery attacks?
Moreover, the Tang Dynasty not only had artillery, but also had a crossbow cart that could launch "fire thunder arrows".

Thinking about it this way, Li Chengqian's purpose of inviting them to participate in the military exercise became very clear.

Two words: demonstration.

Ever since the Tang Dynasty conquered the Eastern Turks, its status as the Celestial Empire has been solidified.

This shows that the Tang Dynasty's army is already unmatched by other countries, not to mention that it now has weapons such as artillery and Vulcan crossbows.

It was a great boost for the Tang Dynasty.

If the Tang Dynasty only had firearms, envoys from various countries would not be so pessimistic. After all, firearms can stop hundreds or thousands of people, but they cannot stop millions of lions.

But in addition to firearms, the Tang Dynasty also had a million strong army. The firearms became the last straw that broke the camel's back, making their only hope of luck come to nothing.

They have clearly realized that wanting to form an alliance to deal with the Tang Dynasty is nothing but a pipe dream.

At least given the current situation, it is absolutely not feasible.

So, they have to think about some issues.

If they do not agree to the two conditions proposed by Li Chengqian, will the Tang Dynasty push these artillery and Vulcan crossbows to their city gates?
And once the Tang Dynasty really decides to use artillery and Vulcan crossbows against them, it will definitely be an unprecedented disaster for their country.

As for Tuyuhun and Goguryeo who have already sent troops, do they still dare to attack the Tang Dynasty?

Don’t think about it. Didn’t you see that the Tuyuhun prince was so scared that he peed his pants?
They are probably in a difficult situation now, so how could they dare to attack the Tang Dynasty!
After watching this military exercise, the minds of these foreign envoys were working at their maximum.

Although they were not as embarrassed and out of control as Murong Shun, and most of them could even sit upright, they were already feeling anxious in their hearts.

While the audience was cheering, Li Shimin looked at Li Chengqian with a complicated expression.

As Li Chengqian said before, times may really have changed.

Especially after watching this military exercise, Li Shimin finally realized where Li Chengqian got his confidence from.

If the Tang Dynasty had developed according to his plan, perhaps many years later, the Tang Dynasty might really dominate the world.

However, it was precisely because he realized the changes of the times that Li Shimin felt more unwilling.

I haven't done anything yet, but my era is about to end?
I paid a bloody price for today, but in the end I ended up making wedding dresses for others?

How could the proud Li Shimin accept this?
You know, ever since he started his army in Jinyang, he has always been facing the world as a favored child of heaven!

Now a young boy who is still wet behind the ears actually told him that his era is over and now belongs to me.

This, this, this.
This is really frustrating, okay?!
No!

I must never compromise on this!
I have not yet become a wise ruler of all ages, and I cannot end my era like this.

Li Shimin was also full of thoughts, but his unyielding character made him gradually calm down. He said calmly: "This firearm is indeed shocking, but I have fought for so many years and rarely faced an army of several hundred people."

"So, if your Highness has any more powerful firearms, you might as well bring them out. It would be best if they are truly lethal."

"Oh?"

Li Chengqian raised his eyebrows upon hearing this, and then said with a hint of amusement, "From what Father said, it seems that he is not satisfied with these firearms?"

"I'm not dissatisfied, I just feel like something is missing. As for what's missing, I'm not exactly sure. What do you think, Prince?"

"hehe."

Li Chengqian smiled noncommittally, then turned to look at the foreign envoys and said with a smile, "What I think is not important. What matters is what they think."

"This"

Li Shimin was stunned for a moment, then followed Li Chengqian's gaze. He then remembered the purpose of Li Chengqian's military exercise and frowned, "Do you think they will agree to your two conditions because they are afraid of the firearms of the Tang Dynasty?"

"Who knows?"

Li Chengqian shrugged, then glanced at the sky and said calmly, "It's getting late, so let's forget about today's court meeting. Let them go back and think it over. We'll hold another court meeting in three days. This will also allow them to inform the troops on the border whether to continue courting death or to obey the orders of the Tang Dynasty!"

"Well, that's fine too."

Li Shimin nodded in agreement, then suddenly remembered something and frowned, asking, "Will you attend the court meeting in three days?"

"If I don't participate, can they feel at ease? Or"

Having said this, Li Chengqian looked at Li Shimin with a half-smile and continued, "Father, are you at ease?"

"I"

Li Shimin's pupils shrank noticeably, and then he said angrily, "Why should I be uneasy? I am the Heavenly Khan, the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty, and you are just a mere prince!"

"Yes, I am just a prince, but I am also the heir apparent of a country! I have to put another chair next to your throne!"

"Rebel!"

When Li Shimin heard this, he was furious.

In fact, he had tried very hard to prevent Li Chengqian from taking power, but the result was contrary to his expectations.

It's not that he doesn't want to use the emperor's power to force Li Chengqian or threaten Li Chengqian, but Li Chengqian's strength has reached a point that he can no longer ignore.

Especially the development of Jiangling, he still couldn't figure out what incredible things they had come up with there.

Therefore, unless he wanted to break with Li Chengqian and his son, or directly start a civil war, he would not be able to stop Li Chengqian's rise.

Just when the father and son fell into silence again, Du Ruhui came up to them with a smile.

"Your Majesty, I have something I would like to ask the Crown Prince, but I don't know."

"Minister of War, please tell me what you have to say. I will tell you everything I can!"

Before Du Ruhui could finish his words, Li Chengqian interrupted him with a wave of his hand.

But he quickly interjected, "To be honest, Your Highness, the Ministry of War has also been researching firearms recently, but its progress is really not as good as Jiangling's."

At this point, he couldn't help but glance at Li Shimin awkwardly, then steeled himself and said shamelessly, "I wonder if His Royal Highness the Crown Prince would be willing to have the Ministry of War participate in the manufacture of muskets, cannons, and the crossbow."

"Oh, what's there to be willing about? Such a national treasure must be manufactured by the national arsenal!"

Li Chengqian smiled.

"Could it be that the Minister of War believes that Jiangling is capable of producing firearms on a large scale?"

"This"

Du Ruhui grinned awkwardly, not knowing how to answer for a moment.

Because he really thought so, Jiangling must be able to produce firearms on a large scale.

But he didn't dare to say so, because as Li Chengqian said, the country's important weapons must be manufactured by the national arsenal.

If it was manufactured in a "private weapons" workshop, it would be a serious crime of treason.

Li Chengqian then added, "In a while, the Tang Dynasty's first academy of science will be established. By then, a group of researchers from Jiangling will be assigned to the academy, and the Ministry of War can send people to study there. They'll even learn about the craftsmanship of making firearms!"

"Really? That's great!"

When Du Ruhui heard what Li Chengqian said, he was so excited that he almost jumped up.

But Li Chengqian's next words were like pouring a bucket of cold water on him, directly extinguishing his excitement.

Li Chengqian casually said, "Not everyone can enter the Academy. You must pass the Academy's basic assessment, the Jinyiwei background check, and sign a confidentiality manual. If you can't do these three things, forget it."

"what?"

Upon hearing this, Du Ruhui froze in place.

Li Shimin frowned. "Aren't you recruiting people from outside the Academy? Are you as strict with them as you are with the Ministry of War?"

“Is this considered harsh?”

Li Chengqian rolled his eyes speechlessly, then said with a straight face, "No matter what your Majesty thinks of me, I will not reveal the secrets of firearms to the public! Even if a member of the royal family goes to the Academy of Sciences, I will treat them all equally!"

"This"

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin and Du Ruhui looked at each other in silence.

At this time, Fang Xuanling, Zhangsun Wuji, Wei Zheng, and even ministers such as Cheng Yaojin, Yuchi Gong, Hou Junji, Qin Qiong, and Chang He came over.

"Your Highness, this cannon is so powerful! When can we use it?" Cheng Yaojin spoke first.

Yuchi Gong was no less enthusiastic and said, "Yes, Your Highness! I heard that Tuyuhun and Goguryeo have sent troops to our Tang Dynasty. I was just thinking of giving them a good fight."

As he spoke, he couldn't help but look at Murong Shun, Batu Wu and other Tuyuhun envoys, and laughed out loud: "If we have artillery, I promise to beat them to a pulp! Hahahaha!"

"."

Upon hearing this, envoys such as Murong Shun, Batou, Li Siyuan, and Gao Yanshou wished they could bury their heads in their crotches and dared not say a word.

Li Chengqian replied to Cheng Yaojin and the others with a smile, "It's not that I don't want to give it to you, it's just that our artillery is not yet complete and cannot be deployed on a large scale!"

"Huh? This isn't perfect?"

Yuchi Gong exclaimed, and everyone was attracted.

Especially those foreign envoys, their ears pricked up instantly.

Because this is a big news for them. But Changsun Wuji hurriedly said: "Cheng Qian, don't talk nonsense."

"Oh, uncle, it's nothing. They'll find out sooner or later anyway."

Li Chengqian sighed and waved his hand to interrupt Changsun Wuji, then continued to himself, "Actually, when we were making the cannons, I suggested to the craftsmen in Jiangling that they make more new shells, such as shotgun shells for close range and solid shells for long range. However, neither of these shells are the most powerful!"

"What is the most powerful artillery shell?" Hou Junji couldn't help but ask.

Li Chengqian glanced at him with a smile, then glanced at the foreign envoys. He stroked his beardless chin in a thoughtful manner. When everyone was eagerly waiting, he said thoughtfully, "I think the most powerful one should be the shrapnel bomb!"

"What is a shrapnel bomb?" Wei Zheng couldn't help but ask curiously.

Li Chengqian smiled and patiently explained, "Solid bullets use the impact of artillery to injure people. Shotgun shells work the same way, except they're just smaller. But shrapnel shells are different. They can use the impact of artillery to fire at designated targets and injure people, or they can be placed on the ground and the fuse lit to explode and injure people!"

"This"

Qin Qiong frowned, then suddenly seemed to remember something and said gravely, "Isn't this just like a fire bomb?"

"Shh!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the expressions of the ministers around him changed instantly.

Obviously, when they heard the fire thunder, they couldn't help but think of what happened that night.

However, Li Chengqian remained very calm.

He then calmly explained, "The principle behind fire bombs is similar to that behind shrapnel, but the lethality is vastly different!"

"For example, detonating a fire bomb can kill ten people, while detonating a shrapnel bomb can kill even a hundred people!"

"What!?"

Everyone was shocked when they heard Li Chengqian's words.

Including those foreign envoys.

They could never have imagined that the Tang Dynasty had developed to this point.

If one shrapnel bomb can kill a hundred people, then wouldn't it only take ten thousand shrapnel bombs to kill a million strong army?

What a god!
This Crown Prince of the Tang Dynasty is indeed a devil!

It’s so scary!

How could he create such a horrific killing weapon? !

Just when the envoys from various countries were so frightened that their scalps were numbing, Li Shimin's voice rang out.

But he said in a deep voice: "Such a powerful shrapnel bomb, it's probably not easy to make!"

"Your Majesty, Father is wise. It is indeed not easy to create!"

Li Chengqian nodded sincerely, then glanced at the envoys from various countries and changed the subject, saying, "However, if our Tang Dynasty faced a crisis, such as facing many foreign enemies at the same time, I believe that the Tang Dynasty's craftsmen should still be able to produce firearms under such pressure. Even more powerful firearms are not impossible!"

"This"

Upon hearing this, the envoys from various countries looked at each other in bewilderment.

Because what Li Chengqian said was absolutely flawless.

He neither said that the Tang Dynasty could produce shrapnel bombs, nor did he say that the Tang Dynasty could not produce shrapnel bombs.

It makes them feel both happy and scared.

However, they at least knew one fact: the Tang Dynasty still had the ability to manufacture more powerful firearms.

Li Shimin then sighed, "In that case, the failure to display the shrapnel shells is a major regret of today's military exercise!"

"hehe."

Li Chengqian smiled without comment, but said nothing more.

After all, in his opinion, shrapnel bombs are enough to scare people.

He deliberately exaggerated the power of the shrapnel bomb in order to make envoys from various countries associate it with something and make them unable to sleep or eat.

As for making shrapnel bombs, that is really not an easy task.

First, it was limited by its industrial level. Jiangling's current industrial level couldn't even reach the early stages of the Industrial Revolution, let alone the production of shrapnel shells. Even the production of these artillery pieces and shells took a tremendous amount of effort.

This still has the function of an encyclopedia.

Secondly, revealing your cards too early is not a good thing.

After all, the firearms on display now are beyond their imagination, so why should they expose all their cards at once?
Finally, with Li Shimin's keenness, the more he talked, the more flaws he would reveal. Li Chengqian didn't want to waste all his efforts before he even got to that position.

So in his opinion, being able to say so much is already very good.

Just as Li Chengqian smiled without saying anything, Empress Zhangsun came over at the right time, stroked her forehead and said, "Your Majesty, I am a little tired and want to go back to the palace to rest."

"This"

Li Shimin hesitated for a moment, then glanced at Li Chengqian. Knowing that this rebellious son would not reveal any more about firearms, he immediately made a decision: "Since the Queen is tired and the military exercises are over, let's go back to the palace!"

After saying this, he turned to Fang Xuanling and said, "Minister of the Central Secretariat, pass on my decree. A grand court meeting will be held in Taiji Palace in three days. All officials of the fifth rank and above in the capital, as well as envoys from various countries, must attend!"

"promise!"

Fang Xuanling nodded, then subconsciously glanced at the envoys from various countries, and smiled faintly with understanding.

However, just as Li Shimin was about to take Empress Changsun and all the civil and military officials back to Chang'an City, Soga Shizuka from the Japanese delegation suddenly knelt down and kowtowed:
"Respected Heavenly Khan, my country, Japan, is willing to submit to the Tang Dynasty and agree to the two conditions set by the Crown Prince. Please, in consideration of my country's sincere devotion to the Tang Dynasty, allow my Japanese envoy to observe the Tang Dynasty's sacred artifacts up close!"

Wow!
The whole place was in an uproar!

Almost everyone looked at the Japanese envoy named Soga Shizuka.

They never imagined that a criminal who colluded with the five surnames and seven noble families to harm the Crown Prince of the Tang Dynasty would dare to make such a request.

It is
I have never seen such a shameless person.

However, some foreign envoys were enlightened after hearing Soga Shizuka's words.

He immediately knelt and kowtowed to Li Shimin: "Your Majesty, the Emperor of the Great Tang, our Gaochang Kingdom is willing to agree to the Crown Prince's two conditions. Please allow us to see the Great Tang artifact up close!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the other foreign envoys who had already pledged allegiance to the Tang Dynasty looked at each other, knelt down and shouted, "We are willing to become vassal states of the Tang Dynasty and form an offensive and defensive alliance with the Tang Dynasty!"

"This"

Seeing this, Li Shimin was greatly moved, and then he looked at Li Chengqian calmly.

But Li Chengqian said nonchalantly: "Just look at it, just don't break it!"

After saying that, he left without saying anything else.

Because in his opinion, these firearms seem powerful, but in fact they have many defects and will definitely be eliminated in the future.

Moreover, it would be an insult to science if one could learn to make it just by looking at it.

So he didn't care if they watched.

Isn’t there a saying that goes like this: Before you practice Taoism, you see me like a frog in a well seeing the moon. Once you enter the Tao, you will see me like a mayfly seeing the blue sky.

However, just as Soga Shizuka and the other Japanese envoys excitedly got up from the ground and prepared to go to watch the artillery, Li Chengqian, who had just stepped onto the carriage, suddenly stopped and said abruptly: "Except for the envoys from Tuyuhun, Japan, Western Turks, and Goguryeo, all other envoys can watch!"

Boom!

As soon as these words were spoken, the four countries that had been hoping for a lucky break were suddenly struck by lightning.

The Tang Crown Prince is trying to completely divide them from the envoys from other countries! !
"Oh, by the way, the Tubo envoys are also not allowed to watch!" Li Chengqian added as if he remembered something.

"What!?"

Lu Dongzan, who was originally feeling lucky that he was not singled out by Li Chengqian, suddenly felt broken.

He never expected that Li Chengqian would target him at this time.

You know, before he came to visit this military exercise, he had never even met Li Chengqian.

Not to mention offending Li Chengqian.

Therefore, before Li Chengqian got into the carriage, he hurriedly explained to Li Chengqian: "Prince of the Tang Dynasty, my Tubo has long been subservient to the Tang Dynasty and is the most loyal vassal of the Tang Dynasty. How can you not let me..."

"Don't get me wrong, I'm not targeting you. I'm just annoyed with you and don't want you to see the firearms of the Tang Dynasty!"

"what?"

Lu Dongzan was confused.

Tang Jian, who was not far away, suddenly laughed out loud.

"Hahaha--!"

He had suffered a setback at the hands of Lu Dongzan before and thought it would be difficult to get back at him, but he didn't expect Li Chengqian to be so casual and avenge him on the spot.

In fact, what he didn't know was.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard had infiltrated him long ago, so how could Li Chengqian have hidden his every move in the Honglu Temple?

Li Chengqian knew everything clearly, including the conversation between Lu Dongzan and Murong Shun.

Still want to unite and put pressure on my Tang Dynasty?

I simply don’t know how to live or die!
Li Chengqian thought so, and then got into the carriage without saying a word, and drove away under the watchful eyes of the crowd.

"This rebellious son is becoming more and more unruly."

Li Shimin watched Li Chengqian's carriage leave and muttered something in dissatisfaction.

Empress Changsun beside him smiled but did not say anything.

Just like that, a highly purposeful military exercise came to a successful conclusion.

And tonight in Chang'an City, it is destined to make countless people sleepless.

Because they witnessed the arrival of an incredible era.

(End of this chapter)