Control your ancestors and create an immortal family starting from the Eastern Han Dynasty

Chapter 166 Li Shimin is enraged and personally leads the expedition! (Seeking monthly votes)
Changan.

An invisible, chilling atmosphere permeated the entire court. As Sangri Hyeonjang reported on the events that had occurred in Pyongyang, the expressions of the court officials completely changed.

Some were angry; others shook their heads, their expressions varied.

"Bang" sound.

Li Shimin slammed his hand on the large table in front of him, his eyes filled with anger.

"Be bold!"

"Does this traitor really think I don't have the guts to destroy Goguryeo?"

"Or does he think I'm like Emperor Yang of Sui, believing that even if my Great Tang were to mobilize its troops, it would be impossible for him to be destroyed?"

He hadn't been this angry in a long time.

As the Tang Dynasty grew stronger and stronger, and the surrounding vassal states bestowed upon him the title of "Heavenly Khan," Li Shimin's ambitions gradually changed.

That's just how people are.

Yeon Gaesomun's actions made Li Shimin feel unprecedented contempt!
How could he not be angry?
The hall fell silent, and the expressions of the assembled officials changed drastically.

Although their willingness to offer advice remained, they dared not do so now that things had come to this point.

Immediately, Changsun Wuji stood up, cupped his hands towards Li Shimin, and said, "Your Majesty, I request that you send troops to demonstrate the might of our Great Tang!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the ministers rose one after another.

The resounding clang echoed throughout the entire Taiji Hall.

"In the past, Emperor Yang of Sui launched three campaigns against Liaodong, which led to the collapse of the empire. This was not because his army was ineffective, but because he lost the support of the people and was isolated!"

"Now Your Majesty inherits the legacy of Emperor Gaozu and wields the might of the Heavenly Khan. If you do not restore the old territory of Liaodong and wipe away the shame of our nine provinces, how can you face Emperor Wen in the afterlife?"

"The Zuo Zhuan says: 'The great affairs of the state are sacrifice and war.' This is precisely the time to announce the raising of troops at the temple!"

"."

"The traitor murdered his ruler and imprisoned his master; this is what Dong Zhongshu called 'unacceptable according to the great principles of the Spring and Autumn Annals'!"

"The Book of Rites states: 'If a subject murders his ruler, all officials in office shall be executed without pardon!' Now, Goguryeo has overstepped human ethics. If we allow them to run rampant, who among the surrounding barbarians will still respect the king's rule?"

"In the past, when Duke Huan of Qi attacked Chu, he rebuked them for 'not bringing in bundles of thatch'; Your Majesty today is carrying out this punishment on behalf of Heaven, and your punishment is even more severe than that of Duke Huan!"

"."

"The new Luo Su, upholding the loyalty of a subject, tearfully pleaded for help; this is what Guan Zhong meant by 'the responsibility of a hegemon to preserve the nation from ruin and continue its lineage'!"

The Sima Fa states: "Killing someone to bring peace to the people is permissible; attacking a country while cherishing its people is also permissible."

"Now Goguryeo is oppressing the people of Silla and blocking the route of tribute. If Your Majesty does not save them, which of the vassal states in the Western Regions and the South China Sea would dare to entrust their lives to Tang?"

"."

"Now Goguryeo possesses 200,000 elite soldiers and occupies the strategically important Liaodong region. This is what Jia Yi described as the Xiongnu: 'The balance of power in the world is in jeopardy!'"

The Book of Han warns: "If we do not expel the barbarians, China can never sleep soundly."

"If we do not break their edge now, and they join forces with the Turks and Baekje, then the land of Youyan will never have a peaceful day."

"Your Majesty should emulate Emperor Wu of Han's act of severing the right arm of the Xiongnu and Emperor Zhaolie's pacification of the four directions, thus eliminating future troubles forever!"

"."

His words were like thunder in the ears.

This is the Tang Dynasty as it is today.

When the situation is beyond redemption, the ministers will be in perfect unison and, in a very short time, will have already listed out the reasons for Li Shimin to send troops.

Changsun Wuji was no longer as low-key as before. As soon as everyone finished speaking, he spoke in a resounding voice: "These four crimes are heinous and arouse the wrath of both gods and men!"

"To avenge our humiliation, punish the traitors, protect our alliance, and secure our borders—this war is not about warmongering, but about upholding the will of Heaven to punish the wicked and practicing benevolence to save the common people!"

"Your Majesty, I humbly request—"

"Send six armies to pacify Liaodong and lay the foundation for lasting peace!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Changsun Wuji immediately knelt down.

The officials in the hall immediately kowtowed and prostrated themselves, shouting, "We request permission to fight!"

"Your Majesty's divine might will surely prevail over the barbarian invaders!"

Li Shimin looked at his ministers, and the anger in his eyes gradually subsided, but the feeling he gave off was still terrifying.

He pondered for a moment, then slowly spoke: "Issue my imperial decree to mobilize the Guanzhong Prefecture troops and the Sixteen Imperial Guards."

"And the garrison troops of the various prefectures in Hedong."

"I will personally lead the army!"

—A personal expedition!
The two simple words instantly exploded in the ears of the assembled officials like a thunderclap.

Everyone's expression changed instantly, and they instinctively looked up at Li Shimin, whose hair had turned quite gray. For a moment, they were all stunned.

No one expected Li Shimin to make this decision.

Although the whole world knows that Li Shimin's military talent is unparalleled.

But Li Shimin was already quite old!

And he was the emperor!
How could the courtiers have imagined that Li Shimin would decide to personally lead the expedition?

Instantly, the courtiers wanted to speak up and dissuade them.

Not to mention the fact that Emperor Yang of Sui personally led the expedition, for Li Shimin at his age, to go to the battlefield again, especially on such a large-scale expedition, was a significant undertaking.

If even the slightest mishap were to occur, it could very well plunge the entire Tang Dynasty into internal strife.

They absolutely must dissuade them!

But before they could speak, Li Shimin had already sensed their thoughts and said with a faint smile, "What?"

"Do you all also think that I am too old to lift the bow and arrows of yesteryear?"

His tone remained calm.

But in an instant, all the ministers swallowed their words.

Li Shimin's attitude has already been made clear.

They couldn't persuade them any further.

Even if you wanted to offer advice, you couldn't do it at this time. After all, Li Shimin had already said such things, and if you were to offer any further advice, you would be accused of disrespecting the emperor.

The news spread like wildfire in all directions.

—The entire land was shaken!
The emperor's expedition against Goguryeo naturally reminded many people of old news from the past.

Everyone knows that although there were many reasons for the fall of the Sui Dynasty.

However, the fact that both expeditions against Goguryeo ended in major defeats is undoubtedly one of the most crucial factors.

The prospect of another expedition against Goguryeo is bound to cause much speculation.

But this idea ultimately couldn't lead to anything.

The Tang Dynasty was too powerful.

The flourishing of culture was destined to give the people of Kyushu greater self-confidence; they believed in the imperial court and in Li Shimin.

Even though Li Shimin is now old.

One masterpiece after another about expeditions was published and all of them were collected in "Yun Shao Pavilion".

The whole world changed under this atmosphere.

Although he had not personally led troops for many years, Li Shimin's abilities remained unchanged.

While the world was abuzz with discussion, he had already devised a detailed plan using geomantic maps of Liaodong.

This expedition was divided into three main groups:

—The central army was led by himself.

Together with the central imperial guards, Guanzhong Prefecture troops, Henan and Hebei Prefecture troops, and surrendered foreign troops, a total of 100,000 troops entered the Liaoxi Corridor via Youzhou.

The northern army, numbering in the tens of thousands, was led by generals such as Zhang Jian and Li Daozong. It advanced from Yingzhou towards Liaodong City, serving as a flanking force to contain the enemy.

These two armies are not the key; the core is the navy.

—That's right, it's the navy.

Li Shimin had already begun planning for the future Maritime Silk Road and training his troops.

Although the number of people was not large, they were completely adapted to the turbulence of the nearshore waters.

Furthermore, Li Shimin also mobilized the navy, organizing it into one force, commanded by Zhang Liangtong, to cross the sea from Donglai and attack Beisha City.

Their strategic goal is to attack from both sides.

Finally, they can join forces with the army at the gates of Pyongyang.

This is an extremely risky move.

Although the number of envoys from all directions has increased over the years, and Li Shimin has begun to build large ships, the ministers are no longer as afraid of the sea as before, but rather have some hidden expectations.

But this move still instilled fear in everyone.

There's nothing we can do; that's just the limitation of our times.

Although it is also a coastal voyage, there are many uncertainties involved. If any accident occurs, these people will have no chance of survival.

But Li Shimin did not lose his mind.

First of all...

The sea route from Dongnae to land directly is now very clear, and the people of Dongnae can now travel there when the wind and waves are slightly calmer.

The round trip was less than two hundred li.

Secondly, ever since the decision was made to build large ships, he has been continuously improving and testing the warships.

As long as you can seize the opportunity, the risks are not too great.

Li Shimin was a man of great courage.

Sailing to the Liaodong Peninsula would save the entire Tang Dynasty countless amounts of money and grain, and from a tactical perspective, it would also be the best tactic to completely wipe out Liaodong.

How could someone as courageous as him, leading such a small force to defend Hulao Pass, hesitate?
Gu Yi was also silently observing all of this, and he was also looking forward to this battle.

In the original history, although Li Shimin won this battle, he was not able to achieve complete success. It was not until the reign of Emperor Gaozong of Tang, Li Zhi, that Goguryeo was finally destroyed.

There are many factors involved.

Li Shimin also used a navy at that time, but the difference was that the navy was afraid of the sea. Various historical records clearly show that the soldiers felt fear when boarding the ships.

Although the landing was ultimately successful, it significantly impacted the Tang army's combat effectiveness.

In addition, the food supply lines were too long, and winter was approaching.

In the end, they had no choice but to retreat.

But things are different now. The maritime industry of the Tang Dynasty has begun to take shape, which is far beyond what was originally recorded in history.

This will significantly shorten the supply lines for the Tang Dynasty.

This will not only affect the course of the war, but also demonstrate the feasibility of maritime trade to the world!
This is absolutely a crucial juncture!

The entire court was in turmoil.

The Gu family members would not let this opportunity slip by either.

In today's world, the Gu family is undoubtedly the most ambitious family when it comes to the seafaring industry, and every member of the Gu family is eager to try their hand at this battle.

The nineteenth generation of descendants has been born one after another.

This great battle is an opportunity for all of them.

Of course, not everyone can take the risk.

Even if they were to participate in the war, they would follow the central army. In the end, only Gu Jing chose to go on the expedition with the navy.

Logically speaking, it shouldn't have been him.

He is Gu Quan's eldest son.

Not only were the elders in the Gu clan unwilling to agree, but even Li Shimin was unwilling to let Gu Jing go on the risk.

He had already recognized Gu Jing's talent.

This is what he wanted to leave for future emperors of the Tang Dynasty.

However, Gu Jing's attitude was very firm. He personally went to see Li Shimin and told him about his cooperation with Gu Quan in the past.

He didn't want to embarrass Gu Quan.

Even if he were to truly inherit the Gu family's legacy and make his own contributions in the Tang Dynasty's imperial court, he still wanted to achieve something significant.

He refused to be a tree without roots!
Only by making contributions can one gain the trust of everyone.

Li Shimin remained silent for a long time before finally agreeing.

January of the 20th year of Zhenguan.

That night, at Daming Palace.

The moonlight was as clear as if it had been washed, and the stars were dazzling.

The flickering candlelight inside the hall illuminated Li Chengqian's slow, deliberate entrance. Upon entering, he bowed deeply before the throne.
"My son, please pay homage to your father."

In the empty hall, only the father and son remained, so quiet that the faint crackling of the candle wick could be heard.

Li Shimin's gaze remained fixed on his son, from head to toe, and finally, his gaze fell heavily on Li Chengqian's slightly lame leg.

The emperor closed his eyes briefly, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly, as if he had swallowed something.

After a moment of silence, he spoke in a deep voice: "Chengqian, I am about to lead the army in person."

"Once I leave the capital... I will hand over the power of overseeing the country to you."

—The power of regent!
This was far beyond his previous role as a regent. While Li Shimin had previously allowed him to participate in government affairs, he had only assigned him minor tasks. But as regent…

A glint of light suddenly flashed in Li Chengqian's eyes, his chest heaving as he forcefully suppressed the turmoil in his heart.

He knelt down without hesitation, his movements appearing particularly difficult and unsteady due to his foot ailment.

"Your subject kowtows to thank Your Majesty for your great favor!" He steadied himself, his voice deliberately calm yet resolute, "Your subject will certainly live up to Your Majesty's trust."

"I will be just as diligent as my father was when he was in court, working day and night to govern the country and awaiting his triumphant return!"

Li Shimin's eyes grew increasingly deep.

He gazed at his eldest son, on whom he had placed such high hopes, for a long time before breaking the silence once more: "This journey is an expedition."

“If…” He paused, as if even an emperor like himself found it difficult to utter that word.

But after a moment's hesitation, he finally continued, "If anything happens to me, you should immediately ascend the throne to bring peace to the country."

Although Li Shimin was confident of victory, time waits for no one, and he was in a dangerous situation. He had no choice but to leave behind a foolproof plan for this vast country.

As soon as he finished speaking, Li Chengqian's body trembled violently. He suddenly raised his head, his eyes showing a mixture of surprise and astonishment, an extremely complex expression.

But in the end, it all boils down to one sentence:

"Father will surely achieve a resounding victory and return triumphant!"

Li Shimin had been watching Li Chengqian the whole time, and he clearly saw the complexity in Li Chengqian's eyes.

He sighed softly, and his thoughts involuntarily turned to Li Yuan, a strange sense of bitterness welling up inside him.

But he didn't say anything more and simply waved his hand, signaling Li Chengqian to leave.

Li Chengqian bowed again before rising.

His movements were still very slow.

Li Shimin just sat there watching him, his face expressionless, neither sad nor happy.

The vast hall was now empty except for him.
------

In the first month of spring in the twentieth year of Zhenguan, Goryeo's Moliji Jeon Gaesomun murdered his king, tyrannized his people, coerced Silla, and cut off its tribute route.

The ministers advised, "In the past, when Emperor Yang of Sui launched three campaigns against Liaodong, the empire was overthrown. It was not because his military equipment was not sharp, but because he lost the Way and had few supporters."

"Your Majesty, now inheriting the great achievements of Emperor Gaozu and receiving the divine power of the Khan, still finds the lost territories of Liaodong unrecovered and the shame of nine generations unavenged. How can you then pay homage at the Xianling Mausoleum and declare victory? According to the great principles of the Spring and Autumn Annals, murdering one's ruler and imprisoning one's sovereign is a crime deserving of death."

"The Book of Rites states that officials should be killed without mercy."

"If we indulge them without punishing them, how can we intimidate the barbarians and uphold the king's authority? Silla is in dire need of help; to save it from extinction and continue its lineage is the responsibility of a true king."

Another person said, "Goryeo has 200,000 elite troops, occupies the strategic location of Liaodong, and has allied with the Turks and Baekje. Their situation is like a precarious situation."

“In the past, Jia Yi discussed the threat of the Xiongnu, saying that the world was in dire straits; the Book of Han also said: ‘If we do not expel the barbarians, China cannot rest easy.’”

"We should emulate Emperor Wu of Han's action of cutting off the right arm of the Xiongnu and Emperor Zhaolie's pacification of the four directions, wipe them out in one fell swoop, and eliminate border troubles forever."

The emperor deeply agreed with his assessment and subsequently issued an edict for a personal expedition.

—From the Annals of Emperor Taizong of Tang (Book of Tang)

(End of this chapter)