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

"Great Khan, what do you need all that junk for?"

After Shahrun left.

All the Turkic tribesmen surrounding Ashina Dili looked puzzled.

Ashina Dili looked in the direction of Sassanid Persia and sneered.

"They want to stand by and watch us die, but I, the Khan, will drag them down with me!"

He turned his gaze to the people who were still around him.

Now, he has only a pitiful four thousand men left who are still willing to follow him, and they are all in low spirits.

If this continues, these four thousand people will likely collapse very soon.

Ashina gritted his teeth.

"Now, with our current strength, it is impossible to reclaim our land from the Tang Dynasty and those traitors like Ashina Quli. In order to ensure the continuation of our tribe... we must go somewhere else!"

Ashina Dili's words left everyone looking at each other in bewilderment.

"Then why use Persian weapons?"

Ashina Dili's face was filled with malice when he heard this question.

"Tell me, if we wear Persian armor and use their weapons to kill those merchants traveling on the Western Regions trade routes of the Tang Dynasty, do you think the Tang people will let it go?"

Everyone stared at Ashina Die Li's sinister eyes.

Arrogant by nature and ruthless in his methods, he could no longer be arrogant towards this giant dragon of the East under the relentless pursuit of the Tang Dynasty, but his ruthlessness only grew stronger day by day.

"hiss......."

Everyone gasped in shock.

Ashina Dili: "Even if the fact that we are disguised Persian cavalry is exposed and the Tang people find out, do you think those crazy Li family members who are frantically expanding and occupying land will target us, who have even lost territory to them?"

"Or is it aimed at the next enemy after annexing the Turks, the Sassanid Persians?"

Ashina Dili's words left everyone looking at each other in bewilderment.

"Then, where will we go after we rob a caravan?"

Ashina Dili stood up, holding a map in his hand that was clearly many years old.

On the western side of that map, the depiction of various mountains and rivers was already very blurry, even hasty.

But when he thought of the terrifying firearms and bombs of the Tang Dynasty, as well as their impenetrable steel armor and cavalry, no matter how unwilling he was, he had to take a deep breath.

"Let's go further west! There will surely be a land suitable for us to thrive..."

With less work and more leisure time, it seems that time itself passes by faster.

In the blink of an eye.

The winter snow had already blanketed the land of Bingzhou in a vast expanse of white.

Cover up those green winter wheat seedlings.

At this moment, outside the city of Taiyuan.

The experimental greenhouses were allocated to the Imperial University's College of Agriculture for experimenting with and cultivating crop varieties.

Li Chengqian was chewing on a fragrant cucumber in one hand while following his fifth brother, Prince Chu, Li You, as they inspected the large experimental greenhouse.

"This year, Your Majesty sent a lot of new crops from Gaochang and the Western Regions, such as the Western Region apples, carrots, and onions you mentioned. They are all planted in different areas. In addition, I plan to use the newly built experimental greenhouse to improve watermelons..."

The cultivation of superior agricultural varieties is a very profound subject.

After all, besides the most basic things that need to be studied in botany and pathology, there are other aspects to consider.

Genetics itself is a profound subject that requires a long period of research.

However, Li Chengqian looked at the vibrant experimental greenhouses with a broad smile on his face.

The fifth brother's talent in this area is truly remarkable.

Li You walked in front.

"Soon, the tables of our people in the Great Tang Dynasty will be filled with many new vegetables and fruits..."

Li Chengqian nodded.

"Yes, if you count the days, it's only been less than three years." He was quite emotional.

Xiao Rui, who was following behind, spoke in a low voice.

"Your Highness, now that the price of grain is controlled by the Royal Reserves Bureau, and people are gradually starting to grow their own fruits and vegetables, the real shortage in the market right now is in spices."

"I heard from officials in Lingnan that there are many island nations in Southeast Asia with spice cultivation if you sail from Lin-yi or Jiaozhi..."

Li Chengqian immediately turned around and looked at the guy with a half-smile.

"What's wrong? My chief steward, are you short of money again lately?"

Xiao Rui scratched his head awkwardly: "Your Highness, the current new policies are indeed very expensive in all aspects, especially in terms of investment in various parts of Xizhou and Xiyu. Although manpower can be filled by slaves, it will take another year or two before the local areas can achieve a level of healthy tax payment."

Li Chengqian nodded slightly.

That's true. In order to further encourage the development of the Western Regions, Li Chengqian ordered a partial tax exemption for chambers of commerce that invest and build industries in the Western Regions.

He pondered.

The South Seas do indeed have many islands with high-value resources.

The "spice cultivation" mentioned by those merchants from Lingnan were mostly hearsay.

Those savages don't know anything about farming...

"Yes, the spice trade is indeed a lucrative business. Now that our Great Tang has taken control of the Western Regions, the cultivation and trade of spices such as pepper, rosemary, cardamom, and benzoin have taken shape."

"Furthermore, if I remember correctly, the Harsha Empire also seems to produce a considerable amount of spices..."

Li Chengqian suddenly paused slightly.

He then gave instructions to Wang De beside him.

"Go, let Princess Samaga of Tibet come to the palace to wait. I need to see her about something in a while."

Upon hearing Li Chengqian's instructions, Wang De quickly bowed and went to carry them out.

“Brother, you wouldn’t really want to take that Tibetan princess as a concubine, would you? She can’t even speak Tang language anymore…” Li You hesitated and spoke softly.

But Li Chengqian kicked him in the buttocks.

"Instead of meddling in these other people's business, you should think about yourself! Your mother has become a regular at Chang'an Railway Station lately! She's brought you so many young ladies, all from respectable families. You're my brother, after all; can't you at least dress yourself up a little when you meet people..."

Listening to his elder brother, who suddenly seemed to be possessed by his mother, he began to chatter incessantly.

Li You suddenly felt his head was about to explode.

He suddenly slapped his forehead.

"Oh dear! Brother, this is bad! I still have records for one greenhouse to complete, so I can't keep you company. You can wander around by yourself..."

He watched as Li You fled in disarray.

Xiao Rui, standing behind Li Chengqian, couldn't help but smirk.

The next moment, however, he suddenly felt a sharp gaze.

"Laugh? Is it that funny? My elder sister has agreed to marry you, and I have already prepared her dowry. But what about you, Lord Xiao? Have you taken enough leave for your wedding?"

Xiao Rui: "...Your Highness, isn't wedding leave supposed to be taken without needing to be adjusted? This...?"

Li Chengqian let out a cold laugh.

"Who can blame us when our Lord Xiao holds such a high position and wields power? The Commerce Department cannot do without you."

He casually slapped a document that had just been approved into the other person's arms.

"Aren't you going back to work overtime?! If my eldest sister's wedding day arrives and you haven't accumulated enough wedding leave, be careful, you'll be punished according to the Song family rules!"

.......

Samaga was clearly very unaccustomed to the culture of the Central Plains.

This was immediately apparent to Li Chengqian when he entered the Shougong Hall and saw the other party's current attire and clothing.

Before Li Chengqian returned, Qian Yingying was entertaining him.

Li Chengqian glanced at the other person's face and skin, which were noticeably fairer than when he first arrived in the Tang Dynasty, and had no agreement whatsoever with Songtsen Gampo's description of him as "the most dazzling pearl of Tibet."

He knew exactly what kind of person this Tibetan jewel was.

In the original history, the woman was supposed to marry into the Zhangzhung kingdom, another country on the Tibetan Plateau.

Later, precisely because of the collusion between this Tibetan princess and Songtsen Gampo, Zhangzhung was annexed by Tibet...

"Since your elder brother sent you to my Great Tang, and I have given him what he wanted, then from this day forward, you belong to me..."

His manner of speaking to Li Chengqian and the other beauties, such as Qian Yingying and Hou Qianya, was completely different from his usual manner.

Li Chengqian's attitude not only surprised Samaga, but also puzzled Qian Yingying who was standing next to him.

"Our Great Tang Dynasty doesn't support idlers. You are a princess of Tibet, so I need you to do a few things for me..."

Listening to the translator beside her, Samaga gripped the hem of her clothes tightly with nervousness.

She was worried that Li Chengqian wanted her to do something bad for Tibet.

However, it is clear that Tibet has no other choice but to act as a loyal dog to the Tang Dynasty in the short term.

Li Chengqian casually mentioned the matter of importing spices from the Harsha Dynasty.

He gazed intently at the conflicted Samaga.

Asking her to exert her efforts is, in a sense, asking Tibet to exert its efforts, which would undoubtedly divert some of Tibet's energy, given that Tibet is already embroiled in competition over the slave trade.

"Of the profits from the trade, I will allow you to keep 20% for yourself, and you can dispose of it as you see fit."

Upon hearing this, Samaga stood up and bowed to Li Chengqian.

"Your Majesty, I obey the decree..."

The Tibetan princess's stiff and obviously poorly learned Tang language further diminished Li Chengqian's interest in her, as she was certain to be loyal to Tibet but not to the Tang Dynasty.

"Your Majesty, is this a title you can use so casually these days?"

He waved his hand, indicating that the other party could leave.

"Does His Highness not like her?" Qian Yingying asked in confusion.

Li Chengqian rolled his eyes.

"Should I like her? A woman who is willing to sacrifice herself for Tibet and marry into the unfamiliar Tang Dynasty, a woman who has only been in my Tang Dynasty for a short time and is already trying to befriend the children of officials in Taiyuan Prefecture."

He shook his head dismissively: "Just a female version of Songtsen Gampo, we can keep her for now and use her casually."

He was just about to hold the even more fragrant and soft Qian Yingying and enjoy some tender moments with her.

Suddenly, the eunuch Sun Yi rushed over to report.

"Your Highness, the Duke of Lu has returned!"

Li Chengqian was taken aback.

Cheng Yaojin?

As Li Chengqian stood on the steps outside the Shougong Hall, he waited and waited, but Cheng Yaojin did not appear.

Just as I was about to send Sun Yi to check what was going on.

Lu Shiheng, who was in charge of guarding Yangcheng Palace, rushed over in a hurry.

"Your Highness, the Duke of Lu said he brought a gift for you, but... this humble general dares not allow it into the palace. Please make the decision."

Seeing Lü Shiheng's horrified expression, Li Chengqian seemed to have realized something.

They didn't even ask what gift that old scoundrel Fang Yaojin had brought back.

He immediately strode toward the palace gate.

From afar, one could already hear Cheng Yaojin's loud voice shouting.

"I'm telling you, this beast has already been beaten to a pulp by my old fists. Do you think His Highness can't handle this thing?!"

"Li Jing has already kept a fierce tiger as a pet, so why can't I, the Duke, send him such a gift?"

Li Chengqian: "......"

He stared blankly at the brown thing that Cheng Yaojin was holding by a chain beside him.

His lips twitched involuntarily twice.

Siberian brown bear?!