The two of them traveled through the Tang Dynasty to open a supermarket, and the little Sizi was sup

Chapter 280 Li Shimin Distributes Benefits!

"I don't feel cold at all!" Empress Xiao wasn't even wearing a down jacket.

“Grandmother, it’s because it’s not cold at home. It’s the same outside as in the Tang Dynasty. It’s warm here because there’s heating.” Princess Yuzhang said a lot.

It's cold outside now, and it's cold in the Tang Dynasty too. Unless there's something urgent, nobody wants to go out.

Construction of Taipingfang has slowed down considerably due to weather conditions.

There were excavators and bulldozers involved in the demolition.

However, these tools were not available when the building was constructed.

Li Shimin also had to consider the workers' situation; he couldn't force them to work.

The greenhouses by the river were almost ready, but because it was too late, nothing was planted there.

I'd like to wait until next year to discuss it. Right now, I'm either delivering the goods or checking out the greenhouse at Lizheng Hall.

Otherwise, we wouldn't go to Datang at all; the villa is warm and cozy.

The little princess doesn't want to go outside anymore.

Li Chengqian presided over the court assembly. When it was almost over and they were about to leave, Li Shimin arrived.

Li Chengqian and the civil and military officials quickly bowed.

"My dear ministers, you may rise!" Li Shimin stepped to the front. "It has been some time since we last met. The Crown Prince has done very well during this time."

"The Crown Prince's success is inseparable from the dedicated efforts of all my beloved ministers."

"My dear ministers, you have also worked hard."

One minister quickly said, "This is a subject's duty; I am paid by the emperor and should share his burdens."

"It's very cold this year too. How are the people doing?"

Fang Xuanling said, "Your Majesty, although it is very cold after the start of winter, the court is well prepared this year, and the national treasury is also rich, with more supplies to deal with emergencies. His Highness the Crown Prince is far-sighted and has made many preparations well in advance. The court is also able to handle various problems with ease."

Li Shimin nodded, "That's good, that's good."

"Your Majesty, the high-yield crops that Young Master Xiao Ran prepared before have not been mentioned again. I wonder if the people will be able to plant them next year?" Ma Zhou was very concerned about this issue.

"Although we can't plant a lot at once, we will plant quite a bit near Chang'an. These things can't be rushed; we have to promote them gradually. People are unfamiliar with potatoes and corn, and they may not know how to grow them, and they may not believe it either. But once people near Chang'an have successfully grown them next year, they will see the yield and naturally be willing to plant them. This is much more effective than any amount of talk from the court. Compared to seeing it for themselves, no amount of flowery words can make a difference!"

Hearing Li Shimin say this, many people were relieved.

"Now that you're going to court every morning and it's cold, I've prepared some supplies for you," Li Shimin said, looking at Zhang Anan.

Zhang Anan had someone bring over all the thermal underwear, down jackets, and military overcoats that Li Shimin had prepared.

The Taiji Hall was piled up like a mountain.

Because Xiao Ran's supermarket sells thermal underwear, which is well-known to many people.

Princess Xiao Ruoying, also known as Li Lizhi, opened a clothing store, but it only sold winter clothes.

The business is the same as a supermarket; people line up to grab it, and there are limits on the quantity.

Items from special channels seem to be very popular.

Now, when I see something through special channels, even if I don't know about it, I want to buy it and take a look.

The supermarket was still doing brisk business, and the line in front of the milk tea shop was just as long; nodding didn't stop people from drinking their milk tea.

The money exchange branches that Li Shimin had previously planned to establish also opened in the Western Regions.

If there are any problems, you can send a telegram back to Chang'an immediately.

Therefore, even when faced with difficult problems, they can be solved.

Li Shimin's telegraph department has also been established, but he has not yet fully handed it over to Li Chengqian.

The telegrams were sent to Li Shimin first, and then to Li Chengqian. This time, Li Shimin was very generous, preparing not only thermal underwear and down jackets, but also thermos flasks and other such items.

"Everyone is in line, and each person gets one, though the sizes are slightly different."

Li Shimin personally distributed the down jackets.

The queuing was also very particular; those with high official ranks were given priority, such as Fang Xuanling and Li Jing.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Fang Xuanling said hurriedly as he accepted the gifts.

Li Shimin prepared extra, fearing the models might not be suitable.

They were all quite burly, and most of them wore large sizes.

After the items were distributed, the others left one after another.

Li Shimin kept Fang Xuanling, Li Jing, Ma Zhou, and Wei Zheng, his most key associates.

"Eldest son, you should go back first. I'll have a casual chat with Fang Xuanling and the others."

"Yes, Father!" Li Chengqian bowed slightly and left the Taiji Hall.

Li Shimin took out the gift that Xiao Ruoying had given him earlier, saying, "The future Tang Dynasty should be like this."

Fang Xuanling, Li Jing, and others did not know what Earth was or what the land was like.

He looked completely bewildered when Li Shimin said this.

Li Shimin looked at the group and said, "Come closer!"

Several people moved closer to Li Shimin.

Li Shimin pointed, "This is Chang'an, this is Luoyang, and this is the Western Regions."

The globe wasn't big, but it was still barely discernible.

"Your Majesty, what is this?" Li Jing couldn't help but ask.

"This is what our land looks like in its entirety."

The others were even more confused.

"I don't know how to explain why this is the case. You just need to know that this land is pretty much like this."

"I'm showing you this so you can understand how vast the world truly is."

Li Jing stared at the globe. "The Tang Dynasty is a bit too small."

Upon hearing Li Jing's words, Li Shimin nodded approvingly, "That's right, that's exactly what I mean. The Tang Dynasty is too small now, and I want true unification of the four seas."

Li Shimin pointed to the globe and said, "I want the whole world. Do you all understand?"

The group was shocked. "Your Majesty, although we now have telegraph machines and the situation in the Western Regions can be reported back quickly, it is still very troublesome for the court to provide military support. We can only say that the court knows the situation immediately, but it is still very slow for the army to get there. If it is like this in the Western Regions, it is even more difficult in other places. Unifying the whole area is too difficult."

"The Tang army will sweep everything away. There will be no more Tibet, Turks, or Goguryeo. Everything will belong to the Tang Dynasty." Li Shimin said very seriously. "We haven't taken any action yet because we are accumulating national strength and waiting for the high-level grain promotion so that the Tang Dynasty can become rich."

"Once the Tang Dynasty is wealthy enough, we can begin. We will simply trample over any iron cavalry that resists. The Tang army will be different in the future; it will be truly invincible."

The others were unaware of firearms, but Li Shimin did not mention it.

Li Shimin definitely needed to prepare these things; he wanted to build a modern army.

With firearms, it is possible to sweep through other countries with minimal casualties.

Li Shimin's goal was a bit too ambitious, leaving everyone else completely bewildered.

Even Wei Zheng fell silent, unsure where to begin criticizing Li Shimin or how to do it appropriately.

(End of this chapter)