Tang Dynasty: Father, if you don't rebel, I will!

Looking at the so-called speech draft in my hand right now.

Those words, so obsequious and nauseating that they were almost sickening to read, made Murong Shun's face turn extremely pale.

however.

Eunuch Gao smiled faintly.

“Your Highness, I don’t understand what you mean. My Crown Prince of the Great Tang Dynasty is of noble birth. It is no exaggeration to say that he is the most powerful Crown Prince in the world, or even in history.”

"Your Highness the Crown Prince is willing to give you a chance; that is an immense blessing for you."

"how?"

"Has the Prince of Da Ning been in Taiyuan for almost a month and still doesn't understand that doing business always requires capital, doesn't it?"

The eunuch Gao spoke politely, gently placing the Crown Prince's edict on the other person's table.

He waved to the two eunuchs who had accompanied him.

Just as he was about to step out the door, he paused slightly.

"By the way, Prince Ning, there's something you might not know?"

Looking at Murong Shun, who was holding the speech manuscript and whose expression was uncertain, Eunuch Gao's smile gradually became more amusing.

"The person your father, the Great Khan of Tuyuhun and King of Daning, sent to my Taiyuan Prefecture for peace talks this time is none other than your younger brother, the current Crown Prince of Tuyuhun."

"Murong Xiaojun..."

"what?!"

......

"Your Highness, everything is arranged. Although the Prince of Da Ning seems somewhat dissatisfied, he will likely cooperate obediently."

Outside Taiyuan City.

On the Fen River, at the Fenhe Bay Wharf, which has been cleaned up and renovated.

Standing behind Li Chengqian, Eunuch Gao reported in a low voice.

Upon hearing this, Li Chengqian nodded slightly.

They didn't take this matter to heart at all. Tuyuhun was now like fish on a chopping board or steak on a plate.

How to eat it, and when to eat it.

It all depends on his mood.

“Lord Pei, the work of the Canal Transport Office has been quite good recently, and it has not disgraced the Pei family of Hedong. However, the docks here seem to be a bit small. Inland waterway transport is ultimately much more economical than land transport.”

"The expansion of the dock should be put on the agenda as soon as possible."

"Not only the storage area, but also the cargo ship berths and loading/unloading areas need to be expanded as soon as possible. Next, the workshops in Taiyuan Prefecture will increase production, and the materials for various projects will be introduced into Bingzhou Road, which will also require a large amount of inland waterway transportation..."

Upon hearing this, Pei Ruocai dared not be negligent and hurriedly bowed in greeting.

"Your Highness, rest assured, I have already made a plan and will submit the budget application this month."

Li Chengqian nodded, then glanced at the Fenhe Bay Wharf.

Cargo ships come and go, with at least twenty or thirty arriving every day.

Since the Yellow River Shipyard has only been established for less than half a year, almost all the ships on the river are merchant ships built in the previous dynasty and before the Wude era.

Not only is the cargo capacity limited, but the boat itself also requires extremely experienced sailors to operate.

The Fenhe Bay Wharf has more than 30 berths, and they are always fully booked.

As a result, after unloading or loading is completed, the ships must leave the dock as soon as possible.

This was something that Li Chengqian was not entirely satisfied with.

"The shipyard's progress needs to be accelerated. At least in the first half of this year, we need to ensure that new inland river cargo ships are launched. If there is a shortage of manpower, we should directly apply for those convicts to do the heavy physical labor..."

"Snapped!"

Hequ County, Yanmen Prefecture, Xinzhou.

A scorching whip lashed mercilessly across the back of a monk who hadn't moved for a while.

With just one lash, the man's body, which was already exhausted and panting, instantly straightened and trembled.

His face turned deathly pale, and cold sweat suddenly broke out.

"Slacking off! It's you again, you damn slacker! Do you want to die?!" the foreman yelled.

Without giving the man any chance to explain, he lashed out with his whip again, striking him hard across the body.

"Ah! Ah! Your Majesty, please stop hitting me! Ah! Please stop hitting me! I... I'll never do it again! I... Ah!"

Curses, urging, and the crack of whips, accompanied by screams of agony, rose and fell across the construction site, which housed fifty to sixty thousand people.

These wicked Buddhist monks, who had plagued the region for years, amassed wealth by exploiting the people, yet managed to fatten themselves up.

Compared to making ordinary people perform corvée labor, these people are simply born to be slaves.

Changsun Wuji had only just taken over two groups of evil monks.

The total is 100,000, but in the past half month, three or four hundred fools have already been chopped up and sent to the surrounding wasteland for fertilization.

In this climate, spring has not yet officially arrived.

Although the land is not as hard as iron, it is by no means an easy task to start construction on a river channel.

however.

Changsun Wuji, however, didn't care about any of that.

After finalizing the construction plan with the personnel from the Imperial University of Architecture and Engineering and deciding on the first few river sections to be constructed, he immediately rushed to Yanmen County in Xinzhou.

Changsun Wuji, who was appointed by Li Chengqian as the "General Supervisor of the Yellow River" and was in charge of all matters related to the Yellow River water conservancy project, was standing on a hillside at this moment.

My gaze was fixed on the vast expanse below.

Tens of thousands of Buddhist laborers are digging soil and rocks to prepare for the construction of the dam and the diversion canal for the Yellow River.

However, there was no trace of satisfaction on his face.

"Governor, at this rate, it will be very difficult for us to complete the construction and reinforcement of this diversion channel within six months, let alone divert water from the Yellow River and close off the original section to build dams and reservoirs."

An engineer from the School of Civil Engineering looked solemn.

Upon hearing this, the veins on Changsun Wuji's forehead throbbed.

"If that's the case, then if we can't finish during the day, we'll do it at night! We'll work day and night!"

"If we don't have enough people, I'll go and ask for more. There are still many of these Buddhist monks detained all over the country. Hundreds of thousands of them, I refuse to believe that hundreds of thousands of people can't dig a river channel!"

As he spoke, he couldn't help but furrow his brow.

"Tsk, but this is only the first section of the river. Filling in hundreds of thousands of people is a small matter. If we can't complete the task assigned by His Highness the Crown Prince within the allotted time, and delay the overall coordination of Bingzhou and the surrounding areas, wouldn't I be punished for it...?"

Think of this.

Changsun Wuji immediately gritted his teeth.

"You all stay here and keep watch. I'm going to see the Crown Prince! It seems we'll have to take some risky measures now!"

......

Xiande Hall of Yangcheng Palace.

"Your Highness, the Crown Prince of Tuyuhun has requested an audience once again, and even slipped me some silver..."

Wang De walked over with a smile and gave his report.

As he spoke, he placed the two heavy silver ingots on Li Chengqian's table.

But Li Chengqian rolled his eyes at him.

"Take it as you see fit. My uncle from Tuyuhun must be ecstatic these days. Let Murong Xiaojun sit there for a few more days. If you're so inclined, I might allow you to extort a few coins from him."

Hear the words.

Wang De's old face immediately broke into a wide smile, like an old chrysanthemum, and he discreetly pocketed the silver.

He bowed respectfully to Li Chengqian.

"This servant thanks Your Highness for the reward!"

Just as Wang Degang left, a figure hurriedly walked in from the side hall.

He handed a document to Li Chengqian.

"Your Highness, news has come from the Imperial University that the Japanese who registered have arrived in Taiyuan Prefecture."

One sentence stopped Li Chengqian in his tracks as he was reviewing several documents approving the promotions of officials.

He paused abruptly.

"You're here?" His eyes lit up.

These days, all the gold and silver confiscated from the Buddhist community has been transported to Bingzhou Road.

The total amount is approximately 410 million strings of cash.

With the help of his father, Emperor Li Er, all the calligraphy, paintings, and antiques have been converted into cash.

The money plundered from the Buddhist community alone amounted to 650 million strings of cash.

This was an acquisition that would have caused a fierce battle among the six ministers in the imperial court, yet Li Shimin approved it all and sent it to Bingzhou.

but.

Even so.

Li Chengqian has been under a lot of pressure these days.

Poor!

The Yellow River water conservancy project has officially started.

In the early stages, there were Buddhist convicts who served as free labor.

However, the relocation of people's land along the way, the transportation of excavated soil and rocks, the construction of cement roads to support the river channels, and the procuring of materials such as grain, fodder, and engineering equipment were all necessary.

Each of these items represents a significant expense.

Otherwise, Li Chengqian wouldn't have taken advantage of Tuyuhun's blatant disrespect and turned the pretense into reality, transforming border intimidation into military coercion.

Did they pay them?

Li Chengqian anxiously asked the question that concerned him most.

Wang Yuyan smiled and turned to the next two pages of the document.

"Your Highness, the total amount is 127 million strings of cash, all of which has been deposited into the treasury."

"it is good!!!"

Li Chengqian immediately stood up excitedly, looking at Wang Yuyan's exquisite face that seemed to have no flaws.

His mind, however, was filled with images of the fish that had surged towards him from all directions after he had baited the spot.

It's here! It's about to be released!

Wang Yuyan blushed slightly under Li Chengqian's intense gaze.

But the next moment.

"Inform the people at the Imperial University that whatever they want to learn, let them learn it! Make sure to act as if we are open and honest with them, willing to teach them anything they need!"

"They can even be involved in some research projects!"

Li Chengqian stood with his hands on his hips, his face beaming with joy as if he had received some incredible gift.

This startled Wang Yuyan.

"What are you standing there for? These are all my precious darlings! Go and inform them now!"

Seeing Li Chengqian frown, Wang Yuyan felt a sudden pang of panic.

He hurriedly bowed and headed outside.

however.

The other party had just stepped out of Xiande Hall.

The smile on Li Chengqian's face was instantly replaced by solemnity.

“Yingying, your father has returned to Taiyuan Prefecture. Go and inform him that the Prince of Han will be going to Dengzhou in no more than half a month. He will be in full charge of the Northern Garrison.”

"Whether it's the surveillance and infiltration of countries like the Western Turks, Tuyuhun, and Gaochang, or these Japanese students now enrolled in the Imperial University, I've got them all under my watchful eye!"

"In Bingzhou Road, they can learn whatever they want, but..."

Li Chengqian turned his head slightly, his eyes filled with chilling killing intent.

"Regarding the technology, not even a single word is allowed to leave Bingzhou!"

Qian Yingying's expression turned solemn: "Yes!"

I glanced at the documents on the table that had been almost completely reviewed.

Li Chengqian made the rare decision to take a short break.

Strolling along, I slowly arrived at the Xiande Hall. The fishpond inside the hall, a masterpiece of nature, connected to the artificial stream outside, made me admire my great-uncle, Emperor Yang of Sui.

Even the imperial palace in Taiyuan Prefecture was built in such extravagance.

Thinking of the 1.2 million kan of Japanese wealth he had received that day, he gently sprinkled a handful of fish food into the fishpond.

Watching these fish scramble for food in the water.

A slight smile involuntarily appeared on his lips, and a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

Mouthing in his mouth.

"Eat up, eat a lot, get plump and healthy... then call all your family and friends over..."