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

More than half a year has passed since the Tang Dynasty began its war with King Goguryeo, Go Geonmu, and started the "arms trade".

Today, the entire Youzhou Pass of the Great Tang Dynasty, as well as the army stationed in Chang'an to protect the country, have completely changed their appearance.

The old armor was replaced by fine iron armor and weapons produced in Bingzhou.

So much so that even now, those two scoundrels, Cheng Yaojin and Yuchi Jingde, dare to openly shout in the imperial court.

"Your Majesty, Gao Jianwu is shameless. Half a year has passed since we warned him to arrest those traitors who fled to Goguryeo. Look at what this fellow has to say to our Great Tang!"

"A few lackeys from the Zhao County Li clan and the Fanyang Lu clan whose names aren't even in the family genealogy?"

"Your Majesty, these Goguryeo bastards are just trying every trick in the book to exploit our Great Tang Dynasty!"

"Yes, Your Majesty! I, Cheng Yaojin, am willing to lead an army to conquer Goguryeo!"

Chang'an, Taiji Hall, the scene of the court assembly.

As soon as the court assembly began, Cheng Yaojin and Yuchi Jingde started shouting loudly.

As soon as he finished speaking, several officials stepped forward.

"Your Majesty, you must not! Our Great Tang is currently gradually implementing new policies, and this is a crucial time when we need to be vigilant internally and enhance our national strength. Starting a war at this time would be detrimental to the country!"

"Your Majesty, the Duke of Lu and the Duke of Wu are requesting to fight at this moment. They may seem loyal and brave, but in reality, they are harming the country!"

"Your Majesty, I oppose war! The previous dynasty's three campaigns against Goguryeo all ended in defeat. Now our dynasty has just been established, and the country is not yet fully stable. Many people are still starving. To start a war at this time would be tantamount to suicide!"

Immediately, the military officers and civil officials in the Taiji Hall were arguing again.

Li Shimin frowned.

His gaze, however, fell upon Changsun Wuji, who stood silently in his seat, his brows furrowed even deeper than Changsun's, his expression displeased.

"Auxiliary Machine, you tell me, can Goguryeo be conquered?"

Immediately, everyone's eyes fell on Changsun Wuji.

Changsun Wuji, who was frowning and troubled by the affairs of the Wei family of Jingzhao and the Buddhist sect, and anxious about why there was still no news from Yuexi County, was suddenly asked this question.

This was clearly somewhat unexpected.

He has now been stripped of his title as Duke of Zhao, and his identity is practically out in the open; from now on, he will be following the Crown Prince.

Unexpectedly, his brother-in-law, the emperor, would ask for his opinion.

"Ahem, Your Majesty, apart from having food and recruiting workers in Goguryeo, His Highness the Crown Prince has not had any intention of launching a campaign in the past year or two. At present, the situation in Zhenbeidao and Tuyuhun still needs some time to settle down."

"If Your Majesty wishes, you may send troops to conquer it."

Li Shimin, Cheng Yaojin, and Yuchi Jingde: "..."

All the officials looked at Changsun Wuji with strange expressions.

Even Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui were looking at each other in bewilderment.

Is this guy really that old fox, Changsun?

This guy used to be quite tactful and pleasant to talk to, didn't he?

He looks exactly like a sycophant.

Why do people speak so harshly these days?

What does it mean that His Highness the Crown Prince has no intention of launching a campaign, but His Majesty may send troops to attack if he so desires?

It makes it seem like we officials and His Majesty are only fit to follow behind the Crown Prince, picking up the scraps he leaves behind...

"Ahem! Governor Changsun, does His Highness the Crown Prince believe that a campaign against Goguryeo would be detrimental to the country?"

Wei Zheng cleared his throat and asked.

Changsun Wuji immediately cupped his hands and took two steps back.

"Neither I nor His Highness the Crown Prince said so, but Bingzhou Province truly has no intention of launching any external campaigns at present."

Everyone: "..."

Are you serious about that action of yoursing as if you're avoiding a plague?

Wei Zheng frowned: "Doesn't Your Highness worry that the remnants of the Cui family of Qinghe, the Lu family of Fanyang, and the Li family of Zhaojun might make a comeback in Goguryeo?"

Changsun Wuji sneered inwardly.

A comeback?

Given the terrifying strength of Bingzhou Road now, would it really make a comeback?

These days, those guys from Goguryeo are all thinking about strengthening their city defenses, buying large quantities of weapons, and stockpiling grain, looking like they're preparing for a major war with the Tang Dynasty.

If one has not witnessed the fighting style of the Bingzhou New Army, nor seen the terrifying firearms being researched by the Taiyuan Prefecture Military Factory and Firearms Bureau, then one will not understand the nature of the fighting style.

Changsun Wuji might still have some concerns.

However, nowadays...

If only King Go Geonmu of Goguryeo had been willing to increase trade volume, those Goguryeo slaves would have been far more docile than those wicked Buddhist monks...

"Your Majesty, have you received any reports from His Highness the Crown Prince in the past two days?"

Li Shimin looked at his personal eunuch Fan Qi, who hurriedly ordered someone to go out and inquire quickly. Soon, a document that had not yet been registered by the Six Ministries was rushed over by the eunuch.

Li Shimin quickly flipped it open.

Each of his own crown prince's official reports was a thick volume, as if he had written a book.

Every stroke on it is written in Li Chengqian's own handwriting in the Slender Gold style.

As soon as Li Shimin turned to the first page, he saw the familiar table of contents.

"1. Overview of the work in Bingzhou Circuit during the first half of the Zhenguan era – 1-19"

2. Work Plan for the Second Half of the First Year of Zhenguan in Bingzhou Province – 20-147

"—1. Fully implement the construction of basic schools throughout the entire Bingzhou Road region and down to each village, and implement a certification system for private school teachers. 20–38"

"—2. The entire Bingzhou Prefecture will improve its winter wheat planting promotion efforts to ensure that grain prices remain stable at nine to thirteen wen per dou. 39-60"

"—3. Improve winter heating in Bingzhou Road and ensure the price of honeycomb briquettes in villages and towns of various prefectures, counties, and towns. 60-69"

"—4. Establish a high-speed official road for commercial use from Taiyuan Prefecture to Chang'an, increasing land transport routes for goods and expanding commodity circulation. 70–85"

"—5. The Great Tang Royal Bank was formally established, along with the Great Tang Construction Bank and the Great Tang Agricultural Bank. Loan investments were encouraged in various prefectures and counties of Bingzhou to accelerate infrastructure development. (85–119)"

"—6. Initial trials of the new-style coins of the Tang Dynasty were conducted, and business savings account services were launched. (119-125)"

"—7. Training of physicians throughout Bingzhou Circuit, improvement of the compilation and promotion of gynecological and childbirth precautions, and establishment of a reward system for successful deliveries by midwives in various regions. 126-147"

3. Work Plan for the Second Half of the First Year of Zhenguan in Zhenbei Circuit – 148–255

"..."

"4. Work plan for the second half of the first year of Zhenguan (1231-1245) in Qinghai City, Chishui City concessions, and Liangzhou, Lingzhou, and Shanzhou in Longyou Circuit – pp. 256-407"

Li Shimin: "Hiss!!!"

I only glanced at the table of contents.

Looking at the densely packed table of contents, which spanned four or five pages, and the brief descriptions of each item, I realized that these were definitely tasks that would be difficult to accomplish.

Li Shimin, who had been idle for too long, felt a chill run down his spine.

With a "click," the document was closed directly.

He gestured to his personal eunuch, Fan Qi, to deliver it to Fang Xuanling and the others.

Li Shimin sat up straighter and subtly placed one hand on his lower back.

Suddenly I understood.

Why is it that even now, with his high position, his own prince remains so virtuous and keeps a respectful distance from matters of the heart...?

With this level of workload, imagine adding a harem to it.

Even the strongest body will eventually break down.

"Sun Yi, what is the current state of Bingzhou Road?"

Sun Yi, who was supposed to wash up and wait until the Six Ministries had finished registering the Crown Prince's report documents before presenting them to the Emperor, was hurriedly summoned and looked travel-worn.

Upon hearing the question, the little eunuch seemed to straighten his back a bit.

"Your Majesty, I have only been sent to the Eastern Palace for a little over three months, but Bingzhou has already undergone tremendous changes since I first arrived. It is no exaggeration to say that it has been completely transformed."

"Taiyuan Prefecture is currently preparing to build its outer city. According to His Highness the Crown Prince, Taiyuan Prefecture will be even larger than Chang'an in the future..."

Sun Yi's words were somewhat treasonous.

Just as he finished speaking, Fang Xuanling beside him suddenly exclaimed in surprise.

"Eighty-seven million dan!?"

All eyes turned to him.

Fang Xuanling's old face was flushed red as he held the Crown Prince's report document, and he seemed to be on the verge of madness.

"Xuanling? What's wrong?"

Fang Xuanling held up the document in his hand with an excited expression, opened his mouth, and then spoke again after a long pause.

"Your Majesty, the winter wheat yield statistics for Bingzhou Province have been released!"

"Eighty-seven million dan! Eighty-seven million dan! And that's just for one piece of land!"

Everyone was instantly stunned.

Li Shimin stared wide-eyed in disbelief.

He hurriedly rose from the throne, stepped down the steps, and came to Fang Xuanling. He saw the document in Fang Xuanling's hand, which he had not yet opened, containing the contents of his report on his duties in the first half of the year.

Description of the amount of grain produced in Bingzhou Road.

The gleaming black and white text on the paper, showing a production volume of 87 million dan, made Li Shimin's breathing become heavy.

He suddenly turned his head and looked at Sun Yi beside him.

"How could such an important matter be mentioned in a performance review document...?"

"Does Bingzhou really produce so much grain? Why doesn't the Crown Prince submit a separate memorial requesting credit?"

Sun Yi: "..."

Your Majesty, you're asking me? Who should I ask?

The Crown Prince is now both the Crown Prince and the General of the Heavenly Strategy...

In Bingzhou, Li Chengqian looked at the blind Yuan Tiangang with a strange expression.

"Master Yuan, are you blind? How can you recommend talented people to me?"