Datang: Just been appointed as the crown prince, the counterattack system is here

Chapter 305 Li Chengqian: Li Er is too weak, I am the chosen one! [Seeking monthly votes]

About half an hour later, a table full of sumptuous food and wine was brought out by Meng's men.

As Li Chengqian tasted the food, he praised Meng Shi, saying, "Aunt's cooking skills are in no way inferior to my mother's!"

"Your Highness, you're too kind. I'm far from being as good as the Empress. Please eat more if you like!" Madam Meng said with a radiant smile.

Changsun Wuji glanced at his wife, then at Li Chengqian, feeling a strange unease. He coughed lightly to interrupt their familiar conversation and changed the subject, saying, "I wonder what kind of business Your Highness mentioned earlier?"

"Oh, I almost forgot if my uncle hadn't mentioned it."

Li Chengqian feigned sudden realization and put down his chopsticks, then looked around at them and said, "To be honest, Uncle and Aunt, I want to do something in the Turkic lands. But I need someone I can trust to go!"

"What is it?" Changsun Chong couldn't help but ask first.

Li Chengqian looked at him with a smile and said meaningfully, "Enclose land, raise sheep, and then collect the wool in the name of the imperial court!"

"Collecting wool?"

The entire Changsun family was stunned.

But then Changsun Pingting said thoughtfully, "Does the Crown Prince mean to have those Turks raise sheep for our Great Tang?"

"Correct!"

"But why collect wool in the name of the imperial court?"

"Because by acting in the name of the imperial court, the north can be completely stabilized without the need to station a large number of troops. In this way, the imperial court can use these troops to do other things!"

Li Chengqian laughed and said, "And you uncles can both make money and earn merit!"

The Changsun family was once again baffled by Li Chengqian's thought process.

Changsun Wuji took a long time to react, and then solemnly cupped his hands and said, "Your Highness, I would like to hear the details."

"Hehe, Uncle, you're too kind."

Li Chengqian smiled and waved his hand, then began to speak eloquently:
"Uncle should know that ever since I showed those two military uniforms at the court assembly, you have developed a strong interest in cotton-padded clothing. This year, cotton planting is being promoted throughout Guanzhong, with the aim of ensuring that everyone in our Great Tang can afford cotton-padded clothing!"

"However, it is impossible to achieve this in the short term."

"Then, let's look at the consumption structure of my Great Tang Dynasty. Putting everything else aside, just take clothing as an example. Nobles generally wear silk, while commoners mostly wear hemp clothing. Wool products are rarely popular in the Central Plains, and are mostly popular among nomadic peoples."

"Why is that? Don't we people from the Central Plains know that wool is warm? No, it's because unbleached wool has too strong a smell, and we people from the Central Plains aren't used to wearing it!"

"but me."

He paused, glanced at Changsun Wuji and the others, and smiled, "There just happens to be a technology for degreasing wool that can make wool products as warm and odorless as cotton clothing!"

"Really, Chengqian?!"

Upon hearing Li Chengqian's words, Meng's eyes lit up, and she couldn't help but ask, "Do you really have such skill?"

"Don't worry, Auntie, if I say it, it's definitely true!"

Li Chengqian smiled and nodded.

He knew that as long as the Meng family was interested, the deal was already halfway to success.

But Changsun Wuji was concerned with more than just business; he was concerned with maintaining stability, as Li Chengqian had mentioned.

But he feigned ignorance and said, "Chengqian, Uncle, I still don't understand what you mean!"

"Yes, Your Highness, what does this wool trade have to do with stabilizing the Turks?" Changsun Chong really didn't understand: "Does it mean that if we let the Turks raise sheep, they will stop resisting our Great Tang?"

"That can't be right," Changsun Pingting said, also finding it hard to believe.

Li Chengqian glanced at them, then at Changsun Wuji, and laughed, "Do you know why our Great Tang attacked the Turks when they were experiencing heavy snowfall? It's because once the snow melts, it becomes a vast grassland, perfect for grazing sheep."

"By then, they will have ample supplies and excellent warhorses, making it much more difficult for us to fight them again."

"So now that we have defeated them, we must make good use of their grasslands, exchange their most scarce resources for their wool, and gradually make them dependent on our resources. Then, driven by profit, we can persuade them to give up raising warhorses and forging weapons, and turn to sheep herding!"

"By then, they'll have nothing but wool and sheep. How will they resist our Great Tang?"

"This"

Upon hearing this, the eldest grandson's family's pupils constricted sharply.

Even Changsun Wuji couldn't help but tremble, as if struck by lightning.

What did they just hear?!

That's an absolutely brilliant idea!
Even if he racked his brains, he couldn't come up with such a solution.

Because he has a natural, ingrained belief that such a simple method could not possibly be achieved.

But he seemed to have forgotten a very important fact: the Turks had now been defeated by the Tang Dynasty, and even the Khagan of the Turks had been captured alive.

In a situation where there is no leader, can those Turks outmaneuver the Tang Dynasty's schemes?
As long as the Tang Dynasty can consistently purchase wool and allow them to exchange it for anything they want, would they still want to fight? Only a fool would want to fight!
As Li Chengqian said, they would definitely give up making weapons and raising warhorses, and all of them would switch to herding sheep.

Thinking of this, Changsun Wuji wished he could rush into the palace immediately and tell Li Shimin about this plan.

This method would be entirely beneficial to the Tang Dynasty.

First, with the promotion of sweet potatoes in Jiangling, grain production in various parts of the Tang Dynasty gradually recovered, and the population would inevitably grow rapidly.

With the population growing, there's absolutely no need to worry about the sales of wool products.

Secondly, once the Turks started raising sheep, the threat they posed to the Tang Dynasty would diminish, and the Tang Dynasty would no longer need to deploy a large number of troops to defend against them.

Finally, just as Li Chengqian said, the Tang Dynasty could use these troops for other purposes.

It truly achieves multiple benefits in one fell swoop.

"However, I still have a question: how can the Crown Prince guarantee that those Turks won't outwardly comply but inwardly defy him?"

Just as Changsun Wuji was very pleased with Li Chengqian's method, Changsun Pingting suddenly raised her own question.

Upon hearing his daughter's question, Changsun Wuji quickly calmed down.

Because the Tang Dynasty was too far from the Turkic territory, even if the Turks outwardly complied but inwardly defied them, the Tang Dynasty was powerless to intervene.

But then Li Chengqian laughed and said, "Cousin Pingting is indeed intelligent. That's right, this is a problem we must consider. How can we prevent the Turks from being outwardly compliant but inwardly defiant?"

"To achieve such a plan, it will take at least ten years of gradual and subtle influence."

"Therefore, my opinion is to establish the Anbei Protectorate, first forcing them to raise sheep, and once they have tasted the benefits and are willing to raise them voluntarily, then loosen the restrictions!"

"This solved their problem of outwardly complying while inwardly resisting."

"Because as long as we don't allow new rulers to emerge on the grasslands, they won't be able to outwardly comply but inwardly defy us."

"This is equivalent to saying that the Tang Dynasty has always kept a thorn in the side of the Turks, do you understand?"

“However, the Turks’ territory is vast. Even if a Protectorate is established, it will be impossible to fully control the entire Turkic territory!” Changsun Wuji pondered.

Li Chengqian glanced at him and chuckled, "Uncle, sometimes you shouldn't be so rigid in your thinking. Why do you always think that managing foreigners must be done by ourselves? Haven't you ever thought about cultivating traitors?"

"Traitor?"

Upon hearing this, Changsun Wuji's family exchanged bewildered glances.

But Li Chengqian said with amusement, "The Turks nowadays are leaderless and live in fear. Many of them want to join our Great Tang. Why don't we use them to control the entire Turkic Khaganate?"

"This"

The Changsun Wuji family was speechless.

The reason they don't understand the concept of 'traitor' is because they haven't experienced the humiliating years that followed.

Li Chengqian was well aware of the actions of those 'traitors'.

For their own benefit, they would abandon not only their country, but even their humanity.

Therefore, Li Chengqian was very confident in his methods. By using the Protectorate General to cultivate a large number of "traitors" and combining this with the wool trade, he believed he could definitely control the entire Turkic Khaganate.

Moreover, he already had a suitable candidate in mind.

It would be laughable if someone who could bring about the downfall of the Turkic Khaganate couldn't control the entire Turkic Khaganate.

However, besides this person, he also needs to persuade someone else to go.

As long as this person goes there, neither he nor Li Lizhi will be disturbed for a short period of time.

But then he continued speaking eloquently: "Don't underestimate the Protectorate just because it seems insignificant compared to the entire Turkic Khaganate. Once it is established, coupled with the might of our Great Tang in destroying the Turks, almost no one will dare to act rashly."

"Because its existence is like a pair of eyes floating behind the Turks, letting all the Turks know that our Great Tang is always watching them, which will make them feel afraid!"

"This"

Upon hearing this, Changsun Wuji's family involuntarily shrank back, as if a pair of floating eyes were watching them from behind.

"Your Highness, is what you're saying true?" Changsun Chong asked, his mouth dry.

It wasn't that he didn't believe Li Chengqian's words, but rather that they were simply too outrageous. "Hahaha!"

Upon hearing this, Li Chengqian couldn't help but laugh out loud, then jokingly said to Changsun Chong, "My dear cousin! Of course it's true!"

"Have you forgotten how we defeated the Turks? Have you forgotten how our firearms intimidated those foreign lands on the day of the military exercises?"

"Behind you lies a vast empire with a million soldiers!"

"Even if you stay alone in the Protectorate, no one will dare to touch you, because you represent the entire Tang Dynasty!"

"If anyone dares to touch you, they will be making an enemy of the entire Tang Dynasty. Are you still afraid?"

"will not!"

Upon hearing this, Changsun Chong was so excited that he slammed his fist on the table and stood up, completely unaware that he had been drawn into Li Chengqian's words.

Changsun Pingting was also shocked by this aura, and stood there stunned, as if she had a mental breakdown.

This is a classic case of those involved being confused, while bystanders see things clearly.

Li Chengqian then turned his gaze to Changsun Wuji and said solemnly, "To be honest, Uncle, the main reason I cooperated with the Changsun family is that no one else can help me get the benefits I want."

"Ok?"

Changsun Wuji frowned slightly and couldn't help but ask, "What do you mean by that, Your Highness?"

"Uncle, don't you understand? Given the conflict between me and my father, if I send my people to establish a Protectorate, do you think my father would agree?"

"This"

Changsun Wuji hesitated for a moment and said, "So what you mean is? You want my Changsun family to help you establish the Protectorate?"

"That's right!"

Li Chengqian bluntly admitted, "Only the Changsun family aligns with the interests of me and my father!"

"Whom does the Crown Prince intend to send?"

"Of course it's for my cousin!"

"what?"

The eldest grandson's family looked on in astonishment.

But Li Chengqian quickly interjected, "Cousin Chong is already sixteen. According to the current system of the Tang Dynasty, it's really difficult to rise to a high position. But if he goes to the Protectorate General's Office, he'll start as a Chief Secretary. After a few years, he can be transferred back, and he'll be at least a third-rank official. It's much better than staying in Chang'an."

"in addition."

At this point, he turned his gaze to Meng Shi and said solemnly, "With Cousin Chong in the Protectorate, the Changsun family's wool business is almost a monopoly. It can be said to be the best of both worlds. It's even more profitable than selling salt."

"this."

Meng opened her mouth, but hesitated to speak.

To be honest, she was very tempted after hearing Li Chengqian's words.

Because the Meng family's salt business was not a monopoly, and with Li Chengqian's involvement, the Changsun family's income was not very high.

But the thought of her son going to the grasslands to suffer made her reluctant to let him go.

At this moment, Changsun Wuji seemed to remember something and frowned, saying, "I wonder what benefits His Highness the Crown Prince wants to obtain from us or the Protectorate?"

"Hehe, I understand what you mean, Uncle. As the saying goes, no one gets up early without a reason, so I certainly won't give you all the benefits; I won't take anything for myself!"

Li Chengqian smiled, then said seriously, "To be honest, Uncle, I want to trade all the minerals within the Turkic territory!"

"Ore trading?"

Changsun Wuji was taken aback, seemingly not quite understanding.

But Li Chengqian laughed and explained, "Actually, my men have discovered many iron, copper, coal, and gold mines within the Turkic territory. But the most important mine is not these, it's oil!"

"oil?"

"Yes! It's plaster water. This kind of stuff will be a huge business in the future, and I'm not going to let you have it!"

"This"

The eldest grandson's family looked at each other, speechless.

Although they still didn't understand how important these benefits of Li Chengqian were, as long as they knew that Li Chengqian could profit from them, their hearts were involuntarily at ease.

But then Meng said with a smile, "Come, come, eat! We've been talking for so long, the food's almost cold!"

Then, he looked at Li Chengqian and said, "How about I make another table?"

"No need, Aunt. I don't eat much. I'm already very happy to have come to see you today, so I won't stay any longer."

Before he could finish speaking, Li Chengqian stood up from his seat.

Seeing this, Changsun Wuji's family also stood up.

"Chengqian, you haven't eaten much yet, why are you leaving already?"

"Yes, Chengqian, stay a little longer and chat with your cousin Pingting and your cousin Chong!"

"Uncle, Aunt, it's not that I don't want to stay a little longer, it's just that I have other things to do, and my royal grandfather is waiting for me!"

Li Chengqian politely declined Changsun Wuji and Meng Shi's invitations, then smiled and patted Changsun Chong on the shoulder, saying, "Cousin Chong, think it over carefully. Whether you're male or female, you should have your own career. Look at Lizhi, even she went to medical school to study medicine. You should work hard too! I have high hopes for you!"

"Your Highness, it's me."

Changsun Chong opened his mouth, but hesitated to speak.

To be honest, he was genuinely tempted.

Because Li Chengqian's last words were a sure-fire killer move.

Imagine your future wife is working hard to become stronger. As her future husband, shouldn't you also strive to do the same?
I'm afraid any man would want to work hard!

Therefore, everything is understood without words.

Li Chengqian simply smiled faintly, then took Laifu and left the Changsun family.

"Your Highness, where do we go next?"

After getting into the carriage, Laifu asked Li Chengqian a question first.

Li Chengqian thought for a moment, and was about to speak when he suddenly heard a familiar 'poof' sound coming from the side of the carriage.

He immediately frowned and said to Laifu, "Drive the carriage to the nearest alleyway!"

"promise!"

Lai Fu agreed and soon drove the carriage to the nearest alleyway.

Two Imperial Guards were already standing at the alley entrance, waiting for Li Chengqian.

But then Pei Xingjian said, "Your Highness, we have received intelligence that His Majesty is currently in the Ganlu Hall meeting with the physiognomist Yuan Tiangang and the official of the Imperial Observatory, Li Chunfeng, to deduce the fate of our Great Tang Dynasty."

"Ok?"

Li Chengqian was slightly taken aback, thinking to himself, "What on earth is Li Er doing? Why is he suddenly making predictions about the fate of the nation?!"

Do you know what happened?

"Your Highness, according to news from the palace, it seems that Li Chunfeng of the Imperial Observatory observed the celestial phenomena last night and discovered that Chang'an has recently developed an aura of imperial power, suspecting that someone is plotting to destabilize the country. Therefore, His Majesty personally went to the Da'an Palace and borrowed Yuan Tiangang from the Retired Emperor to jointly deduce the general trend of the world!"

"absurd!"

Upon hearing this, Li Chengqian immediately scoffed: "A monarch who is obsessed with celestial phenomena, divination, and prophecies is not only absurd but also a sign of moral decay."

"Looking back further, weren't the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors destined by Heaven and universally praised as sage rulers? But what was the result? Emperor Shun imprisoned Emperor Yao and seized power, and Yu the Great imprisoned Emperor Shun and seized power. Where was the Mandate of Heaven? Looking closer, what about Yang Jian? He listened to the words of a fortune teller and thought that Yang Guang had the appearance of a ruler, so he deposed Yang Yong, and the dynasty died after only two generations!"

"Therefore, in my opinion, the celestial signs and destiny never show mercy to the weak; they are always the halo of the strong!"

"This"

Upon hearing this, Pei Xingjian felt a chill run down his spine and immediately bowed respectfully: "Your Highness's words are insightful and to the point; I will remember them forever."

Li Chengqian drew back the curtains, looked at him meaningfully, and said slowly and deliberately, "Shouyue! You must remember, we only have one goal, which is to dominate the world. Don't let these trivial matters cloud your judgment and lead you astray, understand?"

"My subordinate understands!"

"Alright, let's leave this matter alone and let my father and the others handle it. I have something else to tell you, so come closer!"

"Yes!"

Upon hearing this, Pei Xingjian immediately leaned in to listen.

Soon, his eyes widened in disbelief.

(End of this chapter)