Li Shimin faked his death? Then I will be powerful enough to conquer the world!

The Longguan Road is like an ancient dragon, winding across the vast land.

This passage, which was built in the Han Dynasty, carries the vicissitudes of history and extends all the way to the Tang Dynasty.

On both sides of the road are rolling mountains. The vegetation on the mountains has shown varying shades of green under the baptism of time, like a mottled painting painted by nature.

Occasionally, a bird would fly across the mountains, chirping loudly, breaking the silence during the march.

Li Shimin rode on his horse, his eyes sweeping across the familiar yet unfamiliar scenery, with complex emotions surging in his heart.

This Longguan Road witnessed the rise and fall, glory and disgrace of the Tang Dynasty. Every stone and every plant seems to be telling stories of the past.

Li Shimin was well aware of the importance of this road to military operations and national exchanges. Every improvement of transportation facilities and post station equipment was like adding bricks and tiles to the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty.

Every decision he made carries his responsibility to the country and the people. He hopes that under his governance, the Tang Dynasty will be as tenacious and enduring as the Longguan Road, connecting the four directions and benefiting the people.

Today, the originally somewhat rudimentary transportation facilities and post station equipment have been completely renovated.

A sturdy bridge spans the gurgling stream, and the houses of the post station are neatly and solidly repaired, as if silently expressing welcome to passers-by.

Although the overall distance of the road has not changed much from the Han Dynasty, the convenience and safety of the journey have been greatly improved.

This makes it a favorite road in the hearts of literati and poets. They walk along this road, stop to appreciate the scenery, or recite poems to express their feelings, leaving behind countless famous works that will be passed down through the ages.

When Li Shimin thought of this, he couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in his heart. This was the welfare he created for the people of the Tang Dynasty, his achievement as an emperor, and the brocade of culture and prosperity he wove for the country.

At this time, the army was marching towards Liangzhou along the Longguan Road.

The scorching sun hung high in the sky, mercilessly burning the earth, and the air was filled with a hot breath.

The soldiers' armor gleamed with metallic luster in the sunlight, and sweat oozed from their foreheads, flowed down their cheeks, gathered into drops at their chins, and then dripped onto the dry ground.

Li Shimin was riding on horseback, his forehead covered with fine beads of sweat. He reached out to wipe it, and the sweat had soaked his cuffs.

He took out the kettle, tilted his head back and took two big gulps of water.

The water flowed down the throat, bringing a rare coolness. During this hot march, the water in the kettle seemed particularly clear and sweet, like a sweet rain in the desert.

Li Shimin secretly thanked the army for its adequate preparations before setting off, but at the same time he felt sorry for the soldiers who had to travel in such scorching heat.

He looked at the soldiers sweating profusely and felt as if his heart was being fried in oil.

He knew very well that these soldiers were the backbone of the Tang Dynasty, and it was their loyalty and bravery that defended the territory of the Tang Dynasty.

He kept thinking in his mind whether he should ask Li Ji to adjust the marching time to reduce the risk of heatstroke among the soldiers. He was also worried that such an adjustment would affect the marching plan and delay the battle, and he was very conflicted.

Every decision concerns the life and death of countless people and the destiny of the Tang Dynasty. He feels like he is walking on a tightrope and must be very careful.

"Li Ji, where are we now?" Li Shimin asked Li Ji, whose clothes were also soaked with sweat. His voice was a little hoarse and full of fatigue from the march.

He actually had a general understanding of the marching route in his mind, as he had walked this route no less than five times.

But he still wanted to hear Li Ji's confirmation. This was a cautious habit he had developed over the years as an emperor.

He knew that in war, any small negligence could lead to disastrous consequences, so every detail had to be confirmed repeatedly.

His eyes were fixed on Li Ji, revealing his expectation for the answer and his concentration on the march.

"Your Majesty, the army is almost at Qingshui. After crossing Qingshui, we will be out of Shaanxi Road."

Li Ji answered respectfully, his eyes looking firmly ahead, his eyes revealing his familiarity with the marching route.

Li Ji was well aware that this march was a heavy responsibility and that every step could not go wrong, so he remained vigilant at all times, determined to justify the huge military expenditure of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.

He silently recalled the marching route map in his mind, checking whether there was any missed link.

Every landmark and every stretch of the journey was crystal clear in his mind. He knew that he was carrying the trust of His Majesty and the lives of the soldiers, and he could not slack off in the slightest.

Li Shimin nodded slightly, but couldn't help feeling emotional in his heart.

During the twenty days of marching, he felt deeply that he was indeed not as good as he was in his youth.

Although his crotch was not worn out due to long hours of riding every day, he could see the inside of his thighs were red every time he took a break. The burning sensation was like being on fire.

He looked at his swollen thighs, feeling a little helpless. Time is merciless, and the tireless self who once fought all over the world seems to have gradually faded away.

He felt a sense of powerlessness spreading in his heart. He was an emperor, but he could not resist the erosion of time.

There were makeshift tents all around, swaying slightly in the wind. The campfire outside the tents was still emitting wisps of green smoke, which were traces left by the soldiers boiling water and cooking.

The ground was covered with a mess of footprints and horse hoof prints, showing the busy passage of the army.

He looked at all this and knew the hardships of war, but for the stability of the Tang Dynasty, he could not retreat in the slightest.

He told himself that even if his body was not as good as before, his will must be as strong as steel. For the people of the Tang Dynasty and for the dignity of the country, he must persevere.

Every pain is a test of his will, and he must overcome these physical discomforts as if they were enemies.

However, Li Chengqian was extremely well prepared for this expedition. Li Shimin was pleased with his son's attentiveness and was full of confidence in this expedition.

He knew that his son had made a lot of efforts in the rear for this expedition, which made him feel comforted that there was someone to carry on his legacy.

The army is equipped with a variety of novel medicines, which are neatly placed in the military doctors' medicine boxes, emitting a faint medicinal fragrance.

There was also a group of military doctors coming from Xianyang. Their tents were in a corner of the main camp, and the surroundings seemed exceptionally quiet.

Military doctors are usually taciturn. They are obsessed with studying medicines. The tables in the tents are filled with bottles, jars and various herbs, as if that is their whole world.

Li Shimin had had brief contact with them, and just from this brief exchange, he keenly realized that the medical skills of these military doctors might have surpassed those of the imperial doctors in the palace.

He had a plan in mind at that time. These military doctors were really capable, and Cheng Qian must make good use of them in the future to train more medical talents for the Tang Dynasty.

But after thinking about it, he felt that he was overthinking. Cheng Qian was so smart, and Xianyang Chen's medicine must have reached a new level.

The Tang Dynasty needs such talents who can save more soldiers' lives and make the Tang Dynasty's army stronger.

Outside the military doctor's tent, several unknown wild flowers swayed in the wind, as if adding a touch of vitality to these mysterious doctors.

Li Shimin looked at the wild flowers and felt that they were like the military doctors. Although inconspicuous, they had unique value.

After a full twenty days of marching, surprisingly, not a single soldier fell behind due to illness, which was unthinkable in the past.

Take Li Shimin himself for example. The inner thighs were red and swollen due to friction from riding horses. He thought this was a minor problem that was not a disease and he would just deal with it with some patience.

Unexpectedly, when Cheng Yaojin saw that Li Shimin was in pain, he secretly brought a military doctor from Xianyang to treat Li Shimin.

When Li Shimin saw Cheng Yaojin thinking about him, he felt warm in his heart. Cheng Yaojin was always so honest and lovely.

He knew that Cheng Yaojin truly cared about him, and this brotherly friendship was particularly precious during this brutal march.

The military doctor just took a look, took out a small box of cooling ointment from the medicine box and threw it to Li Shimin, then turned and left. His footsteps were hurried, making a slight rustling sound on the grass outside the tent.

After walking a few steps, he said, "Apply it three times a day and it will heal you."

Li Shimin was somewhat surprised by the military doctor's cold attitude, but he was more looking forward to the effect of the cooling ointment.

Perhaps these capable people all have their own tempers, and as long as they can cure diseases and save lives, attitude is not that important.

He looked at the cooling ointment in his hand, hoping it would work as miraculously as the military doctor said and relieve his pain.

Li Shimin was different from emperors of ancient and modern times. He had a strong tolerance and especially appreciated people who had both temper and ability.

A minister like Wei Zheng would have been confiscated and his family exterminated if he had stepped forward with his left foot first in other dynasties. However, Li Shimin tolerated and reused him.

He has always believed that for a country to prosper, it needs the joint efforts of people with different personalities and talents.

He knew very well that as an emperor, he could not be swayed by his own preferences and prejudices, but had to be good at discovering the shining points of each person and let them serve the country.

Li Shimin was like a wise boss who could make his subordinates follow him wholeheartedly.

Instead of being angry at this military doctor with a bad temper, he was full of curiosity about the effect of the medicine.

If this medicine works, it would be a blessing. If it doesn't, it's not my fault, after all, even doctors make mistakes.

All we need is some advice and encouragement to him not to be so rash in the future, to be humble and to keep up the good work.

He hopes to create an atmosphere of tolerance and encouragement of innovation in Datang so that talents can continue to emerge.

This is also the main reason why Li Shimin was able to win over the hearts of people of all ethnic groups. His magnanimity made people convinced.

Only with a broad mind can the Tang Dynasty become a truly prosperous country and make people of all ethnic groups willing to submit to it.

At this time, Li Shimin was in the army as Li Ji's personal soldier, not as His Majesty.

But he still admired the military doctor's decisive attitude.

The army needs such efficient and conscientious military doctors.

He smiled and opened the cooling ointment. A cool feeling rushed into his nose. The coolness seemed to carry the morning mist in the mountains, which made him feel refreshed instantly.

Some of the soldiers around were wiping their weapons, some were packing their bags, and occasionally a few whispered conversations could be heard, but Li Shimin's attention at the moment was all on the cooling ointment.

He was filled with surprise and hoped that the cooling ointment could relieve his pain as soon as possible so that he could continue his march better.

If this cooling ointment is effective, it must be promoted in the army so that more soldiers can benefit from it.

I just don't know how much it will cost?

When he looked at the cooling ointment, he felt as if he saw hope for alleviating the soldiers' pain and a guarantee for a smooth march.

"Yaojin, this medicine is good stuff!"

Li Shimin exclaimed sincerely that just by smelling the medicine, he felt it would definitely relieve the discomfort on the inside of his thigh.

He looked at Cheng Yaojin with admiration. If he had not called a military doctor, he might have had to endure the pain for a long time.

He knew very well that behind Cheng Yaojin's recklessness was his loyalty to him, and such loyalty was so rare in this complex palace and war environment.

He silently remembered Cheng Yaojin's friendship in his heart, thinking of asking Cheng Qian to repay him in the future.