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

Prince Li Xiaogong of Hejian was ordered by the Crown Prince to be confined to his quarters and exiled to Baikal County to accompany that old scoundrel Wei Zheng.

When this news spread in Chang'an, it instantly caused those usually arrogant and domineering military generals to shrink back in fear.

Li Xiaogong tried every possible way to get help from Fang Xuanling or others to plead with the Crown Prince, but all his efforts were in vain.

The Crown Prince of this dynasty has absolute authority, especially Li Xiaogong, who has recently been the focus of Dai Zhou's (the Censorate's chief clerk) attention.

With countless pieces of dirt on him that could be used for impeachment, isn't the Crown Prince's decision, in a way, helping the other side?

After dealing with Li Xiaogong, the Ninth Prince, Prince Jin, became much more efficient in handling affairs as regent.

Li Xiaogong was no fool, and once he realized what was happening, he quickly invited his wife to the palace to plead with Empress Zhangsun.

Dismissal is no problem, being transferred to another post is no problem either.

But let me tell you, even if they were exiled to Hexi Circuit or Lingnan Circuit, it would be better than Nabaikal!

Although he hadn't been there in person, he had heard about it from Cheng Yaojin and the others who had returned a few times before. It was definitely not a place for humans to stay!

Princess Consort of Hejian entered the palace, and less than an hour later, she brought out a troop of imperial guards.

"By order of His Highness the Crown Prince, Prince Li Xiaogong of Hejian shall be flogged twenty times!"

There was no explanation, and no one dared to plead for Li Xiaogong at this time.

The guards in charge of administering caning were very skilled.

Twenty blows could make even a fierce general like Li Xiaogong scream in agony, but they wouldn't harm his body, thus delaying his departure for Baikal County in half a month.

After the execution, the Princess Consort of Hejian even smiled as she saw Wang De and his entourage, who were in charge of delivering the imperial decree, out of the palace gates.

Only then did she turn back with a pained expression, and seeing Li Xiaogong constantly groaning "Ouch, ouch," tears began to stream down her face.

"Look at you! I've given you the power to oversee the country, and you're already being intimidated by a few arrogant and fierce generals? It's only because of you that you're in charge. If it were the third or fourth prince, let alone Prince Li Xiaogong of Hejian, even if Father Emperor were to obstruct state affairs, he would be dragged out and given a beating!"

"Stand up!"

In the Taiji Hall, Li Chengqian was scolding his ninth brother, Li Zhi, in a bad mood.

The latter, however, stared at him with a strange look in his eyes.

Li Chengqian frowned: "What kind of look is that?"

Li Zhi snorted coldly: "Brother, don't try to fool me. You're telling me to tame some arrogant and unruly soldiers? I have no need to learn that skill. I'll just stay quietly in Taiyuan Prefecture from now on. You're teaching me all this just so that I'll end up like last year in Lingnan, abandoning all government affairs and going out with my sisters-in-law..."

Li Chengqian stared in astonishment, his mouth agape, and suddenly took a few quick steps toward Li Zhi.

The latter quickly leaped and hid behind a screen.

He was both panicked and defiant, shouting with a fierce but weak expression, "Hitting me won't do you any good! Your Majesty, I... I've handled so many affairs of state for you, I've done everything I could. In all the dynasties, no crown prince has ever treated his own younger brother like this!"

"I am your own brother, Your Majesty! Your own brother!"

Li Chengqian: "......"

His lips twitched, and his eyes swept around, but he couldn't find anything that was suitable.

Finally, he suddenly glanced sideways, took a step and slowly approached the screen where Li Zhi was, causing Li Zhi's expression to gradually turn panicked and pale.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, let's talk this out. There's no need for violence..."

"I, I... If you hurt me, you'll have to handle all the government affairs by yourself. Don't forget, Third Brother will be back soon, and then there will be a ton of government affairs to deal with."

Li Chengqian: "......"

Damn, this kid really fooled me!

Just as Li Zhi had said, half a month later, Li Xiaogong had just finished his period of self-reflection and was tearfully setting off for Baikal County.

Li Chengqian then received letters from Li Ke and Li You, delivered by golden eagles.

The gist of the sentence is that Li Ke is about to arrive at Guangzhou Port.

However, this time there were some unexpected people accompanying the fleet.

King of the Kingdom of Chalukya, Puroksha II.

This king from the Indian subcontinent, who held a position equal to that of the former King Harsha, actually came to the Tang Dynasty in person, which made Li Chengqian immediately sense something unusual about him.

July, the sixth year of the Zhenguan era.

Guangzhou, which had just experienced a rainfall, did not lose much of its heat; instead, the air became even more muggy and humid.

At that very moment, Guangzhou Port received the news early today.

The ships that were originally moored in the berths were all moved to Haiyang Wharf in Chaozhou two days in advance.

"Woo~~~"

A series of horn calls with a specific rhythm accompanied the sailors of the first few treasure ships to enter the harbor, who, in accordance with the instructions from the dock, began to slowly lower their sails and enter the harbor.

On the flagship Zhenhai.

The more than twenty-day sea voyage of Puraksha II caused even this king, who had enjoyed a life of luxury for several years, to feel somewhat uncomfortable.

However, compared to the physical contrast he felt at that moment, the enormous port before him, which was more than twice the size of their proud Mumbai port, was even more shocking to him.

The third prince, Simis, also came along. Perhaps because they were both young, he got along quite well with Li Ke.

These days, he even disregarded his status as the third prince of the Zhelouqi Kingdom and followed several Tang Dynasty naval officers in the fleet to learn about fleet command.

Although they were just imitating, they were able to gibberish a few commands that sounded very heroic.

But it gave him immense psychological satisfaction from this sea voyage.

"Your Highness, this place is very different from Chang'an, which I visited before!"

Simis stood on the deck, gazing into the interior of Guangzhou Port, and said curiously.

He ultimately lacked a concrete understanding of the vastness of the Tang Dynasty. The nautical charts and geomantic maps that Li Ke and his contemporaries relied on during that era were absolutely priceless treasures.

Without this map, even the Tang Dynasty's own understanding of the size of its territory might have been quite inaccurate.

Not to mention the Zhelouqi Kingdom, whose technology was still very backward.

Li Ke smiled and nodded, looking at the Tang Dynasty flag with its stars, sun, and moon fluttering in the harbor. A feeling of joy at returning home made his smile even more relaxed.

Cross your arms.

"Hehe, Simis, last time you traveled through the plateau, arriving in Chang'an with the Tibetan delegation, entering from the north of my Great Tang. But we are now on the southeastern coast of my Great Tang..."

As the fleet gradually docked.

A sizable welcoming team was already waiting at the port.

Prince Li You of Chu, Duke Feng Ang of Yue, and Prefect Song Jinglun of Guangzhou Prefecture were all present to greet them.

"Third Brother! Third Brother!"

Li You was very excited when he saw Li Ke. As soon as the latter disembarked and landed, he rushed towards him.

The two brothers hugged each other.

One was Li You, the Prince of Chu, who had been in Lingnan for almost a year and had not been able to return to Chang'an for the New Year holidays.

One was Li Ke, the Prince of Han, who had to command his fleet across the vast ocean to reach his destination.

The two may not have had such a strong brotherly bond before, but now, upon seeing each other, their eyes are filled with tears.

"Your subject Feng Ang pays his respects to Your Highness, the Prince of Han. I have heard that Your Highness has cleaved through the waves and led the Tang Dynasty's navy to glory on the sea frontier. I am deeply impressed!"

"Your subject, Song Jinglun, pays respects to Your Highness, the Prince of Han!"

"His Highness the Crown Prince sent a message to me early on, informing me to welcome His Highness the Prince of Han's fleet back to the country."

Everyone echoed and welcomed him. After Li Ke greeted them one by one, he looked at Pulaisha II, who was being helped down from the treasure ship by Simis.

Introduce it to everyone.

"This is His Majesty Pukrasaksa II, the ruler of a southern kingdom of the Harsha Dynasty. He has come to our Great Tang to discuss some important matters."

As Li Ke explained, Li You and Duke Feng Ang of Yue instantly understood.

Just like the old Arab nobles such as Sufyan who hindered the Arabs, and the Sassanid Persians.

This self-proclaimed king of the chicken coop, who has offered himself up, may very well be chosen by His Highness the Crown Prince in the future as a force to restrain the Harsha dynasty and its expansion.

The group members all showed just the right amount of respect and enthusiasm.

King Purokashyapa II looked at everyone dressed in silk official robes or brocade garments, his eyes filled with deep shock.

This Great Tang Dynasty in the East, how could it be so wealthy?!

The silk that Arabs bought and sold at the price of gold was worn by everyone...

However, Li You and Feng Ang, the Duke of Yue, were already quite adept at how to give these foreign barbarians a small shock from the Tang Dynasty.

That evening, the fleet was resupplying and resting at the port.

A welcoming banquet was held inside the Chu King's residence.

When plates of exquisite delicacies, seemingly imbued with the alluring power of Shiva, were placed before Purushasya II and Simhis, along with several other noble ministers of the Chalukya Kingdom who had accompanied him.

After all, Simis had been to the Tang Dynasty before. He had visited the Heaven on Earth in Taiyuan and eaten at famous restaurants in Taiyuan. So he was able to keep his composure to some extent.

But for King Puroksha II and others, the delicacies made from the ingredients and spices that were not considered valuable in their land were beyond their understanding of food.

If dishes like Dongpo pork, Longjing shrimp, beggar's chicken, and braised lion's head meatballs, which King Puroksha II had heard Simis mention, could at least give King Puroksha II and his entourage some mental preparation, then...

Then came a series of dishes made with fish as the main ingredient.

They managed to suppress their aversion to fish that they had developed from days of sea voyages.

I never imagined that someone could cook different parts of a fish into delicious dishes that are perfect in color, aroma, and taste.

Pulaiqishe II: "..."

At that moment, he suddenly seemed to understand why Li Ke seemed to have barely touched the dishes served at the Mengba Palace when he accepted their invitation to the banquet.

As a prince of the Tang Dynasty, the food he eats is far more precious and delicious than what is before us.

Honestly, looking at all this stuff in front of him and thinking back to how he entertained them, Prince Buluoqishe II suddenly realized that the princes of the Tang Dynasty were truly humble and classy.

Even so, they didn't throw the wine in the king's face on the spot...