I have already established my power and prestige, so how did Li Shimin come back to life?

Li Chengqian knew very well the key to this battle, and that the use of firearms would be the magic weapon to achieve a surprise victory.

"Convey my intention to the generals who are marching on the battlefield. This is my first battle since taking office. The Xueyantuo tribe must be completely annihilated in one fell swoop. Leave no one alive, young or old, male or female. Exterminate them all!"

A fierce look flashed in Li Chengqian's eyes. He wanted to let all the forces coveting the Tang Dynasty know that the consequences of invading the Tang Dynasty would be a catastrophe.

"Also, all the expenses and military pay for this expedition will come from my own private treasury. There's no need to bother the Ministry of Revenue with coordination. The pace is too slow. I want to launch a surprise attack on the Xueyantuo!"

Li Chengqian's decision surprised everyone present.

"Grand Master Qi, you taking charge of this matter will serve as an example to all the gentlemen in the room, so that they won't procrastinate in the future and must act decisively."

Li Chengqian looked at Mr. Qian with eyes full of trust.

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Mr. Qi bowed slightly with a natural expression, and was already thinking about how to complete the task quickly and efficiently.

But Fang Xuanling and Ma Zhou's faces were full of shock!

All the troops are funded by your Majesty's own private treasury, without going through the court. What does this mean?

This is to tell the original officials of the court that His Majesty can get things done even without them.

In the past, they had only heard of ministers subverting the emperor, but this was the first time they encountered the emperor subverting the ministers.

Moreover, Your Majesty has done so many earth-shaking and expensive things at once. Is Your Majesty's private treasury really inexhaustible?

Of course, Ma Zhou and Fang Xuanling would not be so boring as to ask Li Chengqian: "Your Majesty, how much money do you have in your private treasury?"

This is really disrespectful.

But this did not prevent them from imagining how much money Li Chengqian had.

Since the war did not need to go through the court, Fang Xuanling and Ma Zhou naturally did not have to worry about it.

They were both curious and expectant, and it was a good opportunity for them to see the strength of His Majesty's subordinates.

"Your Majesty! I have one more matter to ask Your Majesty for your judgment."

Ma Zhou bowed slightly, breaking the brief silence.

"Go ahead."

Li Chengqian looked at Ma Zhou with a questioning look in his eyes.

"Your Majesty, I want to talk about Princess Wencheng's entry into Tibet!"

Ma Zhou looked solemn, as this matter also concerned the interests and stability of the Tang Dynasty.

"Princess Wencheng went to Tibet?" Li Chengqian raised his lips with an ambiguous smile.

The atmosphere in the hall froze instantly. Fang Xuanling and Ma Zhou looked at each other, and saw shock and worry in each other's eyes.

"I don't agree!" Li Chengqian's voice exploded like thunder in the silent hall.

Fang Xuanling and Ma Zhou's faces were instantly filled with horror. Ma Zhou stood up suddenly and walked quickly to the center of the hall.

He knelt on the ground with a plop and said anxiously, "Your Majesty! This is what the late emperor agreed to."

"Last year, our Tang Dynasty meticulously prepared for this marriage, conducting six trials for the marriage envoys. This matter has already spread widely and become a legendary story. If Your Majesty were to go back on your word now, how would the world view our Tang Dynasty?"

Fang Xuanling also knelt down immediately, with his head lowered and brows furrowed, hoping that this would make the emperor change his mind.

Li Chengqian sneered, "A good story? Humph, Songtsen Gampo is indeed a Tibetan leader of great talent and strategy."

"In the eighth year of the Zhenguan reign, he sent an envoy to the Tang Dynasty to propose marriage. The envoy brought with him a staggeringly generous gift, but my father did not agree at the time. But what happened next?"

Li Chengqian's voice gradually became louder, and anger flashed in his eyes.

"After Songtsen Gampo's marriage proposal was rejected, he used the excuse that Tuyuhun was obstructing him and brazenly sent troops to attack Tuyuhun."

"Tuyuhun was no match for the Tibetans. His army was quickly defeated by the powerful Tibetan offensive and retreated like a tide. The Tibetan army pursued the Tuyuhun army, and Tuyuhun was defeated without any chance to fight back. He was forced to retreat north of Qinghai Lake."