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

Li Chengqian gave a half-smile.

Looking at his younger brother, who had a fawning expression on his face, he raised an eyebrow.

"What? Zhi Nu, you also want to launch a western expedition? You don't need to tell me that. You should tell your father. The thing that keeps him sitting in the Qing Shu Palace in Chengdu and diligently handling state affairs every day is this western expedition."

"I wouldn't dare make any guarantees about something like this..."

He stood up, giving Li Zhi, that brat, no chance to fight back, and leisurely headed out of the hall.

"I will go to the Heavenly Crafts Bureau to investigate. You will then honestly finish handling these administrative matters."

After uttering just one sentence, Li Chengqian's figure vanished without a trace.

Li Zhi, the ninth son, was left behind, looking frustrated and exasperated.

"Ugh! When will this awful life end?! When will it ever end?!"

The eighth prince, Li Zhen, raised his head, but he didn't seem to think there was anything wrong with it.

Among the many princes, he was the one who liked to sit at his desk every day to look at the documents or study the laws, as long as he wasn't given specific tasks or required to complete a certain amount of work each day.

With a pot of tea, a pile of documents, and a few plates of snacks, he could sit there forever...

Li Zhi turned around, his gaze fixed on them: "...Mynah."

Holding a horseshoe pastry in one hand and a file in the other about a bloody incident in Shannan Province caused by a land dispute, which led to a vicious case involving collusion between officials and businessmen.

He left Li Zhi with only the back of his head in silence.

Li Zhi: "......"

"Education must start from childhood! Look at my life now, isn't it all because I spent so much effort educating my younger siblings? Brother-in-law, you should really pay attention!"

Outside Chang'an City, at the Imperial Workshop.

Li Chengqian, acting like a successful dad, was shamelessly imparting his successful experience to Xiao Rui, who had come with him today.

Amidst the clanging and clattering of machinery, Xiao Rui glanced at the improved steam forging hammer being tested not far away, while also having to deal with the eccentric prince's nagging.

He wanted to persuade the other party to stop using their supernatural powers, but seeing the other party's enthusiastic appearance, he was afraid that if he said those words, he would be granted a year without a break.

He could only force a smile and appear receptive to the lesson.

"Your Highness is absolutely right. I also feel today that Prince Xiangcheng is spoiling that rebellious son a bit too much. He spends all his time playing and having fun, which is neglecting his studies..."

however.

Upon hearing his reply, Li Chengqian's eyes shone even brighter.

"Hey, brother-in-law, that's not right of you. Interest is the best teacher for children. As parents, we shouldn't get angry and upset because our children are playful. Instead, we should think of ways to help them learn skills while playing. That's what we should be considering. Back in the day, that kid Qingque..."

Xiao Rui: "..."

At first, he could barely manage a smile, but when this prince, who was just as capable as him and had only recently become a father, came along...

Just moments ago, he said, "Spare the rod and spoil the child," but then he immediately contradicted himself, saying, "Children shouldn't be hit; they should be guided and educated."

Xiao Rui couldn't even manage a smile anymore; he could only nod unconsciously like a puppet.

Li Chengqian rambled on and on like a chatterbox.

Xiao Rui, however, was already lost in thought, and couldn't help but miss the scene of the Crown Prince in front of him back then, when he was busy like a grandson in Yangcheng Palace in Taiyuan Prefecture.

Even though I was so tired every day back then that I didn't want to live anymore.

But... at least we're all in the same boat.

Unlike now, when I have to listen to the idle words of the crown prince while still dealing with the remaining government affairs.

Xiao Rui: "I really want to die..."

"Huh? What did you say, brother-in-law?" Li Chengqian looked at him in confusion.

Coming to his senses, Xiao Rui shuddered and shook his head with a forced smile.

"Ahem, Your Highness, what I meant was that Your Highness's words have greatly benefited me. After I finish my duty and return home, I should discuss the matter of the children's education with Prince Xiangcheng..."

After speaking, he didn't even dare to linger. Seeing that his deputy had obtained the necessary information and documents from the Imperial Workshop, he hurriedly bowed to Li Chengqian.

"Your Highness, there are still many matters to attend to at the Department of Commerce, so I will take my leave for now."

Li Chengqian smiled and nodded, feeling pleased with himself.

"Brother-in-law, go quickly and take care of yourself. I'll visit your home in a few days."

Xiao Rui's eyes twitched. He bowed his head respectfully and then hurriedly led his deputy away as if fleeing.

Watching the other person's hurried back, Li Chengqian's smile grew even more satisfied.

"Hehe, as expected of the talented man who followed me from nothing to something and implemented the new policies to create a prosperous era. Brother-in-law's decisive style is somewhat similar to mine back then."

Wang Yuyan, who had witnessed the entire scene from beginning to end, pursed her lips.

This Crown Prince's personality is so changeable.

He acts one way when he's busy in the court, another way when he's plotting against someone, and yet, when he's out for a leisurely stroll outside the palace, he suddenly becomes the epitome of a spoiled young master.

Li Chengqian disagreed; he was extremely satisfied with his current life.

Leading Wang Yuyan into the interior of the Heavenly Crafts Bureau, which had been under construction for a year and had received a large investment of manpower and resources, it had been transformed into a respectable and impressive facility by his younger brother, the Prince of Wei.

Chemical Engineering Research Institute, Mechanical Engineering Research Institute, Ore Research Institute, Tiangong Institute...

Li Chengqian easily met his younger brother at the Tiangong Institute, which was Li Tai's private research institute. At that moment, this guy was leading a dozen or so people of different ages, all wearing white coats, researching a mechanical creation.

Li Chengqian recognized it at a glance; it was the power unit of the airship he had obtained earlier.

A rather large internal combustion engine.

Li Chengqian also noticed that there were many bottles and jars here, and there was a faint pungent smell in the air.

Is this... oil?

Li Chengqian was startled, and then quickly checked around. Seeing that there was only a lingering smell in the air and that the bottles and jars did not contain oil, he breathed a sigh of relief.

"Qingque, weren't you researching new gunpowder? What are you up to now?"

The commotion behind him startled Li Tai, who was intently studying a piston component. When he turned around and saw that it was his elder brother, he didn't react much.

He gave a faint reply and then looked down again to examine the mechanical parts in front of him.

"I've already figured out the ingredients for the new gunpowder. All I need to do is conduct repeated mixing experiments to find the most powerful and stable finished product, and then I can hand it over to the gunpowder research institute to develop..."

This kid is getting more and more impressive.

In Chang'an and the Tang Dynasty, the imperial court was peaceful and the various departments were implementing the policies set forth by Li Chengqian in an orderly manner.

The people are also working hard, striving for a better life.

however.

This world, which can now be described as bizarre and fantastical, is beginning to transform in a completely new direction under the influence of the Tang Dynasty.

Indian Peninsula.

Goa, a coastal town in the western part of the peninsula, now has a new name.

Guo'a Prefecture of the Great Tang Dynasty.

With the unanimous agreement of King Puroksha II of the Kingdom of Chalukya, King Harsha, and the leaders of the various tribes of the plateau, this place became a true legal enclave of the Tang Dynasty in India.

It was also the headquarters of the Tang Dynasty's Indian Provincial Administration Commission.