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

"Your Highness, the enemies in the north are mostly composed of loosely organized tribes, and many of them are Turks who were defeated and fled from the Eastern Turkic Khaganate. They already have many conflicts with the local Uyghur tribes."

"After investigating the locations of the largest tribes in the area, Grand Marshal Chai Shao ordered Duke Lu, Cheng Yaojin, and Duke E, Yuchi Jingde, to launch a swift attack."

"The three tribes of the Eastern Turkic remnants on the grasslands, along with the local Uyghur tribes, were suddenly attacked and killed by the iron cavalry of our Great Tang, and collapsed at the first contact."

"We are now resting and encamped on the southern shore of Lake Baikal in the North Sea... uh, the North Sea!"

Inside the city lord's mansion of Jiuyuan City.

Li Chengqian nodded repeatedly as he looked at Chai Shao's battle report and listened to the messenger's report.

The smile on his face was impossible to suppress.

"Hahaha, my uncle is quite decisive. He didn't even give them a chance to surrender and went straight for the kill. Hahaha, good! That's how it should be!"

Ashina She'er sighed.

In this way, the Northern Expeditionary Army would certainly not need their support.

At most, some supply trains will be dispatched later to deliver supplies.

"Your Highness, regarding the matter of expanding the army..."

He rubbed his hands together, his face showing both nervousness and embarrassment.

Yesterday, another letter arrived at his home, with the same content as before.

They all wanted to join the army and earn military merit.

There are too many wolves and not enough meat!

This is the situation the Tang army is currently facing.

If it were during the Wude era, it would be fine; earning military merits was indeed a good way to quickly rise above others. However, it could never compare to the Zhenguan era under the current Crown Prince.

With cannons attacking the city and explosives clearing the way, victory was as easy as bending down to pick something up.

"Your Highness...why not take action against Goguryeo?" Ashina She'er suggested.

Li Chengqian ignored the guy completely and looked at the messenger in front of him.

"I will have double the amount of winter supplies sent. In addition, the follow-up support from the Royal Military Post Office will be completed as soon as possible. I will write you a letter. Go back and tell your commander not to kill those Turks and Uyghurs easily. It is not easy to find people in that place."

"Build a city there as soon as possible, and create a bridgehead for our Great Tang in the north!"

"I will also send him the manpower that will follow."

As they were talking, Ashina Shedun suddenly noticed that the Crown Prince was looking at him with a half-smile.

"It's not impossible for them to join the army, but how about the Baikal Production and Construction Corps?"

......

"The Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps? What kind of corps is that?"

"Yes, with all my riding and archery skills, I can't just go and become a farmer, can I?"

"That's a really weird name..."

In Jiuyuan City, the Turkic cavalrymen who received the news were all discussing it animatedly.

Some people who had read the notice posted by the city lord's mansion today frowned and silently pondered something.

"Brother Peng Chi, are you going? The Production and Construction Corps can't possibly send us to be laborers, can it?"

A voice rang out from beside Peng Chi.

Upon hearing this, Peng Chi, having regained his senses, gently shook his head.

"Serving in the army is never easy, but since that's the name of the Production and Construction Corps, they must be doing things like herding and farming..."

"What?! Then all our skills have been wasted?"

"Sigh! If only I had worked a little harder back then and joined the Wolf Riders, I wouldn't have had to go through all this trouble."

Several young Turkic men living near Peng Chi's residence immediately sighed in despair.

Peng Chi shook his head: "Instead of sighing, you should first find out the recruitment conditions for the Production and Construction Corps. The Khan is so wise, he must understand that the scimitars of our Turkic warriors are more powerful than the whips used for herding cattle."

"This military unit isn't one we can just walk into."

As he spoke, Peng Chi, the former leader of a small Eastern Turkic tribe who was the fastest learner of Tang language and Central Plains characters among the group, reiterated the recruitment conditions that had been overlooked by everyone at the end of the previous proclamation.

Applicants must be between 16 and 23 years old, pass equestrian and archery tests, undergo a physical examination, and not be an only child.

After passing this level, there is also an assessment on speaking Tang language.

Upon hearing about the "Tang language" test, some young Turks who had initially been interested in the Production and Construction Corps couldn't help but sigh.

They joined the Tang Dynasty and became commoners, but it had only been less than two years.

I can speak some Tang language, but only a little.

However, the announcement regarding the establishment of the Baikal Production and Construction Corps was not only posted in Jiuyuan City.

With Crown Prince Li Chengqian concluding his inspection of Zhenbei Road and Yanmen Pass, he confirmed that the reception and integration of the Turkic people in the area was proceeding as smoothly as the reports he had received had indicated.

They set off to return to Taiyuan Prefecture.

This announcement was also circulated throughout Bingzhou.

Furthermore, it wasn't just Bingzhou, but also Longyou Road to the west, Hedong Road to the east, and even Guannei Road where Chang'an was located.

Everyone received this announcement.

Changan.

"The Production and Construction Corps? Where have they captured this time?!"

Before Chai Shao's news of victory in the Northern Expedition reached Chang'an, Li Chengqian's announcement of the establishment of the Production and Construction Corps had already reached the city.

This made Li Shimin quite angry.

He suddenly stood up and went to the sand table in the Ganlu Hall.

They reached out and began searching along the border of the Tang Dynasty.

"Nasongtsen Gampo of Tibet... Never mind, I doubt it will be my turn."

"Murong Fuyun of Tuyuhun... never mind, that old bastard probably doesn't have many years left to live, and it's not my turn anyway."

“Yanqi, Kucha…” Li Shimin’s fingers had just paused when Fan Qi whispered a reminder from the side.

"Your Majesty, General Li Jing has received orders from His Highness the Crown Prince that the lands of the Western Turks can be left unattended, but these two great powers in the Western Regions must be brought under the direct control of our Great Tang."

Li Shimin immediately cursed under his breath.

He gestured past the Western Turks, who were now just "leftovers" for his own father, shook his head, and then slowly pointed north of Zhenbei Road.

Seal the wolf to live in Xu, and drink the horse from Beihai.

Even he, the first General of the Heavenly Strategy, couldn't help but yearn for this great achievement. Now, looking at the "adaptation to long-term harsh cold environment" that the Production and Construction Corps emphasized in his hands, he was deeply moved.

A bad premonition made Li Shimin's already unpleasant expression even more grim.

"That guy Chai Shao, he's already reached Beihai so quickly?!"

"The Crown Prince intends to station troops in Beihai? What will I be able to do then?!"

His Majesty the Zhenguan Emperor, looking as if he had swallowed a fly, paced back and forth in the Ganlu Hall with a disgusted expression and an air of anger.

"Xuanling, what does the Crown Prince mean by this? What is he trying to do?!"

"It was agreed that the credit for the western expedition would go to that old bastard, the Emperor Emeritus, and that once he returned in triumph, it would be my turn to personally lead the expedition?"

"What other places can I attack? Huh?"

Fang Xuanling looked at Emperor Li Shimin, who was angrily waving the proclamation document in his hand.

His expression no longer showed the tension and trepidation he had shown when facing His Majesty the Emperor in this state.

With a calm expression, he bowed with his hands clasped in greeting.

"Your Majesty, residing in the capital region, already possesses such a vast and expansive territory. Your Majesty, I congratulate you!"

"Cough, cough, cough!"

Wei Zheng, who was coughing nervously, almost choked on his own breath when he saw the emperor's bloodshot eyes suddenly turn to look at him.

"Cough, cough, Your Majesty, your subject..."

"Wei Zheng, do you also think that the Crown Prince is untrustworthy?" Li Shimin narrowed his eyes, his expression full of threat.

Startled, Wei Zheng looked to Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui for help.

however.

Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui didn't even look at him. Their expressions were solemn, but their eyes were clearly wandering.

He looked completely lost in thought.

"Wei Zheng! I'm asking you a question!"

Li Shimin's roar made Wei Zheng tremble again.

"Your Majesty, I believe... the Crown Prince likely didn't want Your Majesty to take any risks; his intentions are good, and he is very filial..."

"Filial piety?! I am not old enough to need his filial piety! What I want is to lead the army myself! What I want is an opponent!"

"Now, look around my Great Tang Dynasty, who else can challenge me?!"

"My military achievements!"

Li Shimin's roar was like the howl of a tiger and the cry of a dragon, accompanied by a spray of spittle that landed all over Wei Zheng's face.

A high-ranking official who could advise the emperor should have been the first to reprimand him like a grandson.

Now, however, he was kneeling on the ground, facing the furious Li Shimin, and could only stammer and remain silent.

Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui exchanged a glance.

A knowing smile flashed in each other's eyes.

With their sons already successful and holding important positions on His Highness the Crown Prince's ship, there was absolutely no need for them to face the Emperor's wrath with the same caution and humility as before.

At worst, I can just resign and retire.

To be honest, they still haven't had a chance to see Taiyuan Prefecture as it is today...

Li Shimin glared angrily at these two old men who had betrayed their ideals and the aspirations of scholars and were now lying low.

Suddenly, his eyes turned to Wei Zheng, who was kneeling on the ground trembling, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

"Wei Zheng, I've heard that Shuyu is of school age now, isn't he?"

Wei Zheng's expression froze, and when he looked up, he saw the emperor's face full of a strange smile.

My heart skipped a beat.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I... I intend to send him to the top official school in Taiyuan Prefecture, but I've heard..."

"How can you believe what you hear?!" Li Shimin interrupted abruptly.

"I lived in Taiyuan Prefecture for half a year, so I know better than anyone what the First Official School is like! Compared to my Imperial Academy in Chang'an, the First Official School isn't even worthy of carrying my shoes!"

Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui secretly curled their lips in disapproval.

How could you be so sure that you sent all the princesses and princes there?

"You've helped me a lot during this time, so... let Shuyu study directly at the Imperial Academy!"

As he spoke, he didn't even give Wei Zheng a chance to refuse.

Li Shimin turned to He Ding, one of his personal eunuchs, and gave him instructions.

"Tomorrow you will personally go to the Wei residence and bring that child, Shuyu, to the Imperial Academy. Oh, by the way... Wei Zheng! I've heard that your family is poor, so I'd like to bestow upon you a house!"

"I will also reward you with gold!"

Li Shimin stroked his beard, his handsome face radiating generosity.

however.

With each utterance of "reward" from him, Wei Zheng's heart sank a little further.

"I've also heard that several of your relatives from the Wei family are serving as officials in local areas, and their performance seems to be quite good, hasn't it?"

Fang Xuanling, who was standing to the side, already realized what His Majesty the Emperor was about to do, chuckled softly.

"Your Majesty, this is indeed true. Two of them are currently serving in Bingzhou..."

"Transfer them to Guannei Circuit!" Li Shimin waved his hand.

"Fan Qi, when you go to the Crown Prince next month to ask for my salary, tell him that I will waive his salary for the month after next, and that he should send those two capable ministers from the Wei family back to me!"

Wei Zheng felt a chill run down his spine.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I have only rendered a meager service; how dare I accept such a promotion? Your Majesty, this is absolutely not right! Please rescind your decree!"

"Your Majesty..." Wei Zheng's hesitant manner drew a sigh of relief from Li Shimin, who had been wearing a generous smile just a moment ago.

His expression immediately darkened.

He slowly leaned down, staring at the other person with a blank expression.

"Minister Wei, you're asking me to retract my order. Is it because you feel your merits aren't enough, or... do you also want to get on the Crown Prince's side?"

"thump!"

Wei Zheng was so frightened that his face turned pale instantly, and he hurriedly tried to kowtow.

But Li Shimin reached out and grabbed him.

"I understand your desire to join the Crown Prince's crew. Isn't that why those two old scoundrels, Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui, can be so defiant these days?"

Li Shimin glanced sideways at the two people mentioned in the conversation, and seeing that they were only bowing with humble and calm hands, he snorted coldly again.

The hand gripping Wei Zheng's shoulder began to tighten slightly.

"I understand that you want to board the ship, but... your dock is not in Taiyuan Prefecture, it can only be in Chang'an!"

"Want to board the Crown Prince's ship? Fine... Issue my decree!"

"I order Wei Zheng to immediately depart for Taiyuan Prefecture and bring the Crown Prince back to Chang'an for me to ascend the throne! I will no longer be emperor!"

"I want to lead the army into battle!"