Datang: Rebirth of Li Chengqian, the beginning of the treason interrogation

Chapter 223 The world should be like this, it shouldn't be like this
Although Li Shimin fell ill again, the Tang army's attack was still as fierce as fire, and they launched a siege and interception on the Xueyantuo army.

The war will not end in a short period of time.

When the Tang army was in a state of panic, the situation in Goguryeo was reversed.

Seeing that Xueyantuo launched a massive attack on Tang territory, Mohe, Wei Shi and Khitan also withdrew their troops and watched the clash between the two superpowers, Tang and Xueyantuo.

No matter who wins or loses, they all make a profit.

At the beginning, we march into the defeated countries and take a piece of the spoils.

This is much better than chewing on the stinky and hard bone of Goguryeo.

As a result, Goguryeo entered a stage of recuperation.

The situation in Baekje Province to the south was even worse.

On the banks of the Ungjin River, this year is very different from previous years. In the past, the land here was planted with golden rice and wheat, but now what comes into view is the endless green potato seedlings, which are like a green ocean, full of vitality, as if announcing to the world the new beginning of Baekje.

After a while, the calm river surface suddenly became noisy. Several brightly colored battle flags fluttered in the wind and slowly rose up.

Immediately afterwards, huge ships appeared in people's sight, and their majestic and magnificent figures were amazing.

"It's His Highness who has returned!"

Li Zhenyan in the crowd shouted with a smile on his face. He had received the relevant letter before and had made thorough preparations for the reception.

This war to annihilate the country lasted only half a year from the start to the triumphant return.

At this time, a noisy sound of bronze drums came from the shore, resounding through the sky like thunder.

The passionate and cheerful drumbeats were celebrating the victorious return of the army.

Li Chengqian stood on a high place, looking at the vast potato field, with an extremely gratified look on his face, because he knew very well that behind these seemingly ordinary potato seedlings, there was a great significance that would last for generations to come.

Since ancient times, the key factor limiting population growth has been low labor productivity.

However, with the introduction and widespread cultivation of potatoes and sweet potatoes, this constraint will be completely broken.

Not only are they easy to grow and have high yields, but they also provide rich nutrition, becoming an important source of food for people's survival.

In this way, the food problem will be effectively solved, the population will naturally grow, and the country will surely usher in a more prosperous tomorrow.

"Your Highness, the water is shallow at the riverside. Please take a small boat to the shore!"

Liu Rengui took a few steps forward and spoke softly.

After nearly a month's sailing, he returned to Baekje Province.

Everyone's face was filled with fatigue.

Compared with physical fatigue, there is more disgust from war.

"Your Highness Chitose!"

"Your Highness Chitose!"

……

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Li Chengqian boarded a boat and went ashore.

The people on the shore did not experience the bloody baptism of this battle. They only knew that their prince had returned victoriously, and from now on, they would no longer be robbed by Japanese pirates.

Advantages and disadvantages are relative.

Your arsenic is my candied fruit.

The murderous devil in the eyes of the Japanese pirates was a hero in the hearts of the Baekje people at that time.

Under Li Chengqian's series of policies and systems, he won the hearts of the people of Baekje in a short period of time.

"I wish your highness a victorious return and the elimination of the hidden dangers of the Japanese pirates."

Li Zhen came up with a group of officials, each of them with a smile on their face.

Some were sincere, but more were flattering smiles, trying to take this opportunity to show off in front of Li Chengqian.

Li Chengqian glanced past them and turned back to face the tens of thousands of soldiers.

"The suppression of the Japanese pirates was the result of the bravery of all the soldiers, not the work of this palace alone."

"Protecting the country is the primary duty of the military."

The soldiers in front shouted loudly, adding a solemn and murderous atmosphere to the entire army.

"My fellow soldiers, I have prepared a banquet in the city. Let the whole city celebrate together!"

Li Zhen then continued.

Gradually, the dead atmosphere faded away.

"Your Highness, what happened?"

After entering the city, Li Zhen asked the question in his mind. This state did not look like a victorious army.

"Maybe they all miss home. It's been several years since we went on the expedition, right?"

Li Chengqian said, even for someone like him who doesn't have too many worries.

I miss the short days in Chang'an.

Not to mention the soldiers who left their homes.

Although a group of them were released, most of the Tang army were still detained in this land.

“Four years!”

Li Zhen couldn't help but blurt out.

"It's time to go back!"

Li Chengqian said.

Subsequently, after the hidden dangers in his daily life were resolved, Li Chengqian no longer had any worries.

"What do you mean, Your Highness?"

Li Zhen was shocked. Is this moment finally coming?

Isn’t it about governing by transforming the land?
"What I mean is that those soldiers who want to go home should be released. They have already shed enough blood and sweat on this land."

Li Chengqian said that he was very afraid of mutiny in the army, and this sign had already appeared in the army's expedition against Japan.

"Tell the soldiers that after the banquet, anyone who wants to go back should report to the Military Affairs Office. After receiving the full amount of military pay, they will be arranged to return to their hometowns."

"As for the vacant military positions, we will recruit them locally. All the soldiers who can fight will be registered. When there is no war, they will engage in farming. When there is a war, they will be recruited by name."

Military strength must be maintained.

"Your Highness, our relationship with the Tang Dynasty is sensitive right now. Should we take other measures?"

Li Zhen didn't say it explicitly, but still reminded him secretly.

He has informed Li Chengqian of all the information he has collected about the Tang army.

"Now that your majesty has led the army north to fight a great battle with the Xueyantuo, what should we do?"

If Li Chengqian really wants to raise the flag, this is a rare opportunity.

This is also an opportunity to accomplish great things.

"What else can we do? Isn't it good to grow crops?"

"Moreover, in my opinion, news of Xueyantuo's defeat will come soon. We should take a rest and recuperate now while Chang'an has no chance to deal with us."

Li Chengqian talked as he walked.

His chance was to launch another campaign after Li Shimin's death in 649.

After all, how could he know what was going on in the mind of an ancient emperor?
The safest time is two years later, when the output of potatoes and sweet potatoes increases and there is no restriction on food and fodder, which is the backup condition for launching an attack.

Li Shimin was no longer around at that time.

Only then can you accomplish your goal in one go.

"Oh, Your Highness, are you so sure?"

Liu Rengui exclaimed. He did not doubt Li Chengqian's strategic vision, but was just surprised.

"Of course. Looking around the world, who can fight against Your Majesty?"

Li Chengqian smiled. He thought that the effect caused by his butterfly should be great enough to help Xueyantuo reverse his fate.

On the contrary, it greatly accelerated the process of Xueyantuo's demise.

Historically, it was the controversial Li Ji who led the army and destroyed the Xueyantuo.

The commander this time was Li Shimin, the commander of Li Ji.

The result is obviously predictable.

"Yes, Your Majesty, if you lead the army in person, you will be invincible. Xueyantuo will definitely be defeated."

Liu Rengui nodded. "However, we should still be on guard. If Your Majesty defeats Xueyantuo and comes with victory, how should we respond?"

This is very possible.

After all, before this, the Tang Dynasty had used the major vassal states to launch attacks on them.

The position could not be more obvious.

"The Tang Dynasty has experienced several major battles in succession. Even if the soldiers are willing, the Tang Dynasty's reserve military supplies are no longer sufficient to support them in the offensive."

Li Shimin seemed even calmer. Although he could change the direction of the situation, he could not change Li Shimin's fate.

The year 649 AD was the year of his death.

But he didn't know that his appearance had changed Li Shimin's fate.

This makes him more tired than before and he is reaching his limit faster.

Therefore, all his worries were unnecessary.

"Your Highness is right. But even so, if Your Majesty can win, the Tang Dynasty will be more powerful than before. With one order, the surrounding vassal states will flock to you again."

Liu Rengui couldn't help thinking that the Tang Dynasty was very good at using the strategy of driving away wolves and swallowing tigers.

"Announce the situation of the war to destroy Japan, and then send envoys to the vassal states that invaded our army before, and ask them to send envoys to Pyongyang to report to me. Otherwise, the fate of Japan will be theirs."

Li Chengqian's eyes were filled with murderous intent, and he said in a cold voice.

The awe-inspiring murderous aura makes people shudder.

Li Chengqian now has an increasingly powerful aura as a superior, and his every word and action displays the demeanor of an emperor.

"Is this the entire battle situation? This may damage your highness's reputation!"

Kings throughout history have always kept silent about the massacres. None of them were like Li Chengqian, who was afraid that others would not know about his cruelty.

"Reputation is always gained through killing, not from quarrels with enemies."

Li Chengqian replied forcefully.

History is written by the victor, who can make slight modifications on those few sheets of paper if he wishes.

Hundreds of years later, the truth has long been distorted.

What is left behind are only great achievements.

"Okay, I will make arrangements after the banquet. Your Highness has been accompanying the army during this expedition, so we will not discuss military affairs today."

Before they knew it, they had arrived in front of the mansion.

At the door, in addition to the guards standing upright, there was also an extremely beautiful girl standing by the side.

She looks pretty and her posture gives a sense of déjà vu.

Li Chengqian couldn't help but stay on her for a few more seconds.

"Are these all Japanese women?"

Liu Rengui was equally surprised. Although his appearance had changed, the thing in his bones remained unchanged.

"Yes, these were sent by General Daochen. After some training, these Japanese women are very good at serving people. I will keep a few of them and send the rest to other places."

Li Zhen's words were a little vague, but as the parties involved, they all knew what was going on.

Relatively speaking, this approach is already very lenient.

This is the fate of the people of a defeated country. The men are forced to work as conscripts until they die.

Women would be sold off and given to wealthy families as slaves, with their life and death at the hands of others.

These are the spoils of the victor, so there is no human rights to speak of.

What is even more cruel is the military rations.

Only when you travel through time to this era, you will realize that even the prosperous Tang Dynasty, which has always been praised by people, has filth that is hard to bear to look at.

"Your Highness, please take a seat!"

As Li Chengqian took his seat, the banquet began.

I don't know how much time had passed as we toasted and exchanged cups.

Perhaps he had been suppressed for a long time, or perhaps he was happy, but Li Chengqian drank a lot tonight and got drunk without knowing when.

When he woke up, he found himself leaning against a piece of snow-white jade.

"Your Highness is awake. I will go and prepare for His Highness to wash up."

The girl was startled and said with a blushing face.

"Drinking makes things worse!"

Li Chengqian looked at the strange beauty in front of him and couldn't help but slap his forehead heavily.

I have no idea what happened last night.

Done?

Still haven’t done it?

"No hurry, what's your name?"

Li Chengqian then looked at the girl and took a closer look. He found that her face was still youthful and innocent. This kind of beauty was completely different from the beauty of Su and Queen Deoksun.

"I have no name or surname, just call me slave."

The little girl said timidly.

"Okay, you go down first!"

Li Chengqian's mood was not as good as imagined.

He wakes up and holds the power of the world, but he lies drunk on the knees of a beautiful woman.

He has done it now.

However, he still couldn't be happy. Instead, an inexplicable sadness grew deep in his heart.

"Your Highness, I acted on my own initiative. Please forgive me."

Soon, Li Zhen's voice of apologizing was heard outside the room.

"What are you guilty of?"

Li Chengqian changed his clothes and walked out from the inner room.

Li Zhen raised his head and looked at Li Chengqian's expression.

"It is this world that is guilty. It shouldn't be like this, and it should be like this."

Li Chengqian said something very profound.

It is possible that after he overthrows the current aristocratic families of the Tang Dynasty, these meritorious officials around him will become a new group of aristocratic forces.

As for ordinary people, they can take whatever they want.

Even he himself had not realized before that he had already been immersed in it.

It was not until today that he suddenly realized that he was no different from other rulers.

"There are too many things that need to change in this world, and it may not be something that can be changed by just a few battles."

Li Chengqian knew very well that rule by man would change and it would be difficult for everyone to stick to their original intentions.

After tasting power, one will gradually lose oneself.

Isn't Li Chengqian the same? He uses the misfortune of others to satisfy his own selfish desires.

Perhaps with his promotion, material conditions may improve, but the people still cannot change their fate of being exploited.

Li Zhen widened his eyes, very confused.

He didn't even know what he had done that was too excessive.

In his view, anyone who was chosen to serve Li Chengqian was blessed by heaven.

Not only did he think so, but the chosen person also thought so.

"Rule by man is not the root cause of the problem. Rule by law is necessary."

Li Chengqian knew that legal advancement must be carried out on this great experimental base.

Otherwise, even if he created the foundation for eternity, he would be easily replaced.

After overthrowing the aristocratic families, what matters is how he governs the country.

It is easy to conquer the world, difficult to keep it, and even more difficult to govern the world.

(End of this chapter)