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

Chapter 318 A man should do what a man should do! [Seeking monthly votes]

"Your Highness, we..."

Gao Yanshou and Li Siyuan exchanged a glance, hesitating to speak.

Although they had a premonition from the day they were detained in the Tang Dynasty that they would one day become traitors to the Tang Dynasty's attack on Goguryeo, they never thought it would happen so soon.

Because a war that destroys a nation does not rely on strong military strength, but on strong logistical support.

No matter how strong a military is, without robust logistical support, even the most powerful army will fail if a war becomes stalemate.

This was also the main reason why the Sui Dynasty's four campaigns against Goguryeo failed.

It should be noted that the 300,000-strong army that the Sui Dynasty used in its first campaign against Goguryeo was the elite force that helped the Sui Dynasty unify the country.

Even if the army that Emperor Yang of Sui led in his three campaigns against Goguryeo was not entirely composed of elite troops, it still numbered in the millions.

Even with such a large army, Goguryeo could not be conquered, which shows that Goguryeo was indeed a very difficult place to conquer.

Not only is the terrain complex and natural disasters frequent, but Goguryeo also has a strong sense of identity as descendants of the Buyeo people.

It can be said that the Sui Dynasty was not in a position of favorable timing, geographical advantage, or popular support.

Moreover, a large army also requires a large logistics system.

It is obvious that the Sui Dynasty's national strength in its campaigns against Goguryeo was absolutely insufficient to meet the logistical demands of a million-strong army.

Therefore, based on past lessons, neither Gao Yanshou nor Li Siyuan believed that the current national strength of the Tang Dynasty could support a war of annihilation.

Li Chengqian seemed to have seen through their thoughts and said calmly, "You think my Great Tang Dynasty will fail like the Sui Dynasty, right?"

"This one……"

Gao Yanshou and Li Siyuan exchanged another glance, but Li Siyuan spoke first: "With His Highness's strategy and vision, it is not difficult for him to see the difficulties involved. Even if we all acknowledge the power of His Highness's firearms, how easy is it to destroy a country!"

“Yes, Your Highness, even if we were willing to help you, we could only provide you with the geographical environment of Goguryeo and the domestic situation. These cannot help destroy the country!” Gao Yanshou echoed with a complicated expression.

"Whether or not a country can be destroyed is not up to you to decide. I just want to tell you that my Great Tang is not the Sui Dynasty. What the Sui Dynasty could not destroy, my Great Tang can destroy. What Emperor Yang of Sui could not accomplish, I can accomplish. In short, my Great Tang is not what it used to be. Those who submit to me will prosper, and those who oppose me will perish."

Li Chengqian said calmly and indifferently, "From today onwards, I want you to join the Embroidered Uniform Guard and train Goguryeo spies. Within six months, at least 80% of them will be infiltrated into Goguryeo."

"Their only goal was to sow discord between the King of Goguryeo and Yeon Gaesomun, forcing Yeon Gaesomun to commit regicide!"

"Ah? This..."

Gao Yanshou and Li Siyuan were startled upon hearing this, thinking, "How could this be?!"
Even if Yeon Gaesomun had the greatest courage, he wouldn't dare to commit regicide!
But Li Siyuan hurriedly said, "Your Highness, we acknowledge Yeon Gaesomun's strength, but it will be very difficult to force him to commit regicide!"

“Yes, Your Highness, Yeon Gaesomun is now the ‘Dae-dui-ro’ of Goguryeo, which is equivalent to the prime minister of your Central Plains dynasty. He is second only to the emperor and above all others. There is no need for him to bear the infamy of regicide!” Gao Yanshou said, also not quite understanding.

Li Chengqian looked at them with amusement and said mockingly, "Even trash like you dare to plot against the King of Goguryeo and want to replace him. This shows that the Goguryeo royal power has long since declined to its lowest point. So what makes you think that Yeon Gaesomun wouldn't dare to commit regicide?"

"Or perhaps you've underestimated the allure of power?"

"This one……"

Upon hearing this, Gao Yanshou and Li Siyuan lowered their heads in embarrassment.

But Li Chengqian said calmly, "If you read more about the history of the Central Plains, you will understand a fact: once a subject's power reaches its peak, even if you don't want to go any further, your subordinates will push you up."

"This is also why the rulers of the Central Plains were most afraid of those whose merits overshadowed their own!"

“Yeon Gaesomun had already experienced the allure of power when his father, Yeon Taejo, was the ‘Daede-ro.’ Now that he possesses even greater power, a conflict between him and the King of Goguryeo is inevitable. If the King of Goguryeo decides to kill him first, he will surely retaliate and assassinate the king!”

"And once he murders the king, I can use the power of public opinion to turn Goguryeo into a battlefield where heroes vie for power, and then defeat them one by one!"

"This……"

Gao Yanshou and Li Siyuan were stunned after hearing Li Chengqian's strategy.

But Li Chengqian had not finished speaking.

He looked at the two of them with a half-smile and said leisurely, "Yeon Gaesomun controls the most powerful Sunnu tribe in Goguryeo, but Goguryeo has five tribes. If our Great Tang, as the suzerain state, were to enfeoff the leaders of the five tribes as kings, do you think they would still support Yeon Gaesomun?"

"This, this, this..."

Gao Yanshou and Li Siyuan were utterly shocked, feeling as if their minds couldn't process what they were seeing.

Li Chengqian had no intention of continuing the conversation with them. He simply said, "A man should do what a man should do. You're plotting to seize the throne, aren't you just after wealth and glory? Can't I give you that?"

"Have you not heard that kings, nobles, generals, and ministers are not born with a special destiny?"

"This……"

Upon hearing this, Gao Yanshou and his companion were greatly moved.

But Li Chengqian's figure gradually faded into the distance, because he knew that for people like Gao Yanshou and his ilk, patriotism was pure nonsense; what truly moved them was only self-interest.

Otherwise, they wouldn't have colluded with the Tuyuhun, Tibet, and even the Turks to plot a coup.

"His Royal Highness!"

As soon as Xie Yan saw Li Chengqian come out, he immediately went to greet him.

But then Li Chengqian laughed and said, "Deputy Chief Steward Xie, you did a good job. You are indeed a talented person!"

"Hehe, Your Highness, you flatter me. This is all within my duty!"

Xie Yan smiled and bowed to Li Chengqian, then tentatively asked, "I wonder what Your Highness's plans are next?"

"This……"

Li Chengqian hesitated for a moment, just as he was about to think about it, when he suddenly felt that Xie Yan's question was a bit abrupt.

Since Xie Yan was new to the area, he should only need to do his job.

Given Xie Yan's intelligence, he couldn't possibly be unaware of when to conceal his abilities and when to showcase them, unless he was very confident about what was to come, or even certain that he would be given an important position. Otherwise, such an abrupt display of his abilities would only backfire.

Thinking of this, Li Chengqian became somewhat curious about Xie Yan, but on the surface he asked casually, "What brilliant ideas does Deputy Chief Steward Xie have?"

"Uh, this..."

Xie Yan opened his mouth, about to say something modest, but Li Chengqian waved his hand to interrupt him: "In the Crown Prince's residence, say whatever you want. Whether you are an official of the Eastern Palace or a servant of the Crown Prince's residence, I will treat you all equally. As long as you are talented, I will make good use of you!"

"His Royal Highness is wise!"

Xie Yan quickly bowed, then mustered his courage and said to Li Chengqian, "To be honest, Your Highness, I think it's best not to put all your eggs in one basket!"

"Oh?"

Li Chengqian raised an eyebrow: "What do you mean?"

"Your Highness, your previous plan was to use the weapons and equipment that our Great Tang Dynasty had phased out to incite them to kill each other, thereby plotting to seize Japan's mineral resources!"

"Later, when the war with Goguryeo broke out, you added another condition: that they help our Great Tang establish a military base."

"But I believe that those who are not of our kind will surely have different intentions. We cannot completely entrust the establishment of the military base to Inugami Odenkuchi and his men!"

"Hmm, please tell me in detail!"

Upon hearing Xie Yan's reply, Li Chengqian nodded thoughtfully and then gestured to Xie Yan.

But Xie Yan continued, "Therefore, I believe that Your Highness should summon Soga Shizuka and tell her your plan in its entirety."

"And promised her the same terms."

"If the Soga clan cooperates with the Tang Dynasty in building a military base, then the Tang Dynasty will continue to support the Soga clan. If the Soga clan does not cooperate, then the Tang Dynasty will support Prince Shuming."

"In this way, both Shu Ming and the Soga clan will spare no effort to help the Tang Dynasty establish military bases, and may even compete to do so!"

“But if Soga knows that Shuming wants to kill him, wouldn’t he strike first?” Li Chengqian asked, frowning.

Xie Yan smiled and shook his head, saying, "No, if he knew that His Highness the Crown Prince told him this news, he would never get rid of Shu Ming. On the contrary, he would keep him alive. Because the most feared enemy is not the known enemy, but the unknown enemy."

"Well, that makes sense."

Li Chengqian nodded in agreement and then asked, "How can you guarantee that they will all be vying to establish military bases for our Great Tang?"

"This one……"

Xie Yan was momentarily embarrassed, then said somewhat strangely, "Please forgive me, Your Highness, it's not that I'm being rude, but I feel that the Japanese are actually quite despicable. The more I belittle them, the more obedient they become, so..."

"Hahaha!"

Upon hearing this, Li Chengqian couldn't help but laugh out loud. Xie Yan, who was standing beside him, also laughed for a while before saying, "Therefore, this humble subject believes that as long as we don't treat them as normal people, we can control them very well!"

"Heh, it seems you know quite a bit about the Japanese!"

"To be honest, Your Highness, I have specifically studied Japanese culture at the Hongwen Academy!"

"I see!"

Li Chengqian suddenly realized what was going on, and then said with a smile, "You can go to Soga Shizuka's side for me. I believe you can handle this matter well!"

"But Your Highness, I could only..."

"Hey, I've said it before, I'll make good use of anyone who's talented, and you are indeed a talented person, so I have no reason not to make good use of you!"

Li Chengqian smiled and waved his hand to interrupt Xie Yan, then said seriously, "From today onwards, you will be the head of the household in my Eastern Palace. Do a good job!"

"I am willing to serve His Highness the Crown Prince with utmost loyalty!"

Xie Yan was overjoyed and immediately knelt down to pay his respects.

Don't underestimate the position of the Imperial Household Department; it is an official position specifically in charge of the Crown Prince's finances, storage, and food.

Equivalent to the prince's retainers.

Once the crown prince becomes emperor, his future will be limitless.

But then Li Chengqian said seriously, "No matter what, I want to see Japan's military base in six months!"

"Your Highness, rest assured, I will certainly urge those Japanese to build a good military base for you!"

"Well, you go down first!"

Li Chengqian nodded in satisfaction and watched Xie Yan leave.

At this moment, Gao Yanshou and Li Siyuan also came to Li Chengqian's side, knelt down and said, "Your Highness, we are willing to serve you like dogs and horses!"

"Good! Starting today, Gao Yanshou, you will be the head of the Liaodong Intelligence Section, and Li Siyuan will be the deputy head, both in charge of intelligence work in Liaodong!"

"As ordered!"

Gao Yanshou and the other man kowtowed in unison, and breathed a sigh of relief.

Sometimes, making a decision is incredibly difficult, but once you've made a decision, everything becomes very simple.

But Gao Yanshou chuckled and said, "Your Highness, I forgot to introduce myself earlier. Besides being an envoy from Goguryeo to the Tang Dynasty, I am also the cousin of Gao Huizhen, the leader of the Juannu tribe. If Your Highness intends to split Goguryeo, I can find a way to persuade the Juannu tribe to surrender!"

"Oh?"

Li Chengqian raised an eyebrow, vaguely remembering Gao Huizhen as a general who had fought a major battle against the Tang Dynasty. He was surprised to find that Gao Huizhen had this kind of relationship with Gao Yanshou.

He smiled and said, "I didn't expect Section Chief Gao to have such connections. It's not so difficult to do intelligence work in Liaodong after all!"

"No, actually, it's not just my subordinates who have connections, Deputy Section Chief Li also has connections. His wife is the youngest daughter of Eulji Mundeok, a famous general of Goguryeo!" Gao Yanshou said with a smile and a shake of his head.

Upon hearing this, Li Chengqian was immediately astonished: "Eulji Mundeok? Could it be the same Eulji Mundeok who wiped out 300,000 Sui Dynasty troops in one battle?!"

"Yes!"

Is he still alive?

"To be honest, Your Highness, my father-in-law passed away last year!"

Li Siyuan sighed sadly, then said with a hint of dejection, "If my father-in-law hadn't known that Yeon Gaesomun was ambitious, he wouldn't have helped us plan to strike first!"

"Now Yeon Gaesomun has seized power in Goguryeo, and I estimate that most of the followers left by my father-in-law have been eliminated by him."

"However," he added, changing the subject, "I can still contact those hidden followers to serve His Highness the Crown Prince!"

"Hmm, not bad. You all have connections, which puts my mind at ease." Li Chengqian nodded with a smile.

But then Li Siyuan asked curiously, "May I ask Your Highness, why is it His Majesty who is leading the expedition in person, and not you? If we obtain important intelligence, do we need to report it to His Majesty?"

"Yes, Your Highness, why isn't it you who leads the expedition?"

Gao Yanshou also asked in confusion.

"What? You all want me to go to the front lines and die?"

"Don't dare!"

Gao Yanshou and his companion's expressions changed.

Li Chengqian smiled faintly: "Before the military base is built, the Tang Dynasty cannot destroy Goguryeo, not even my father could."

Li Chengqian was not talking nonsense. In the history of Li Shimin's personal expedition against Goguryeo, Li Shimin made the same mistake as Emperor Yang of Sui.

That is, over-reliance on land supply lines.

Therefore, when the question of whether to take a detour a few times during the war arose, Li Shimin's biggest worry was that Goguryeo would cut off his logistical supplies.

However, if the Tang Dynasty had a powerful navy, it could have caught Goguryeo completely off guard by supplying itself with supplies from Japan or by attacking Goguryeo directly from the Bohai Sea.

And the facts proved this strategy. Emperor Gaozong of Tang, Li Zhi, trained a powerful navy, which enabled him to destroy Goguryeo, and even Silla and Baekje.

"So, what are Your Highness's plans next?" Gao Yanshou couldn't help but ask again.

Li Chengqian glanced at him and said calmly, "Do what a man should do!"

"Uh,"

Gao Yanshou's lips twitched, and he couldn't help but turn to look at Li Siyuan.

Clearly, they did not yet have access to such core secrets, so the two immediately and tactfully took their leave.

"Your Highness, our map of Goguryeo is almost finished. We plan to go to Liaodong after we complete it!"

"Okay, you can go ahead!"

Li Chengqian smiled faintly and nodded, then watched them leave.

Shortly after they left, Li Chengqian loudly ordered, "Someone, summon the commanders and deputy commanders of the Six Guards of the Eastern Palace to a meeting at the Martial Arts Hall!"

……

On the other side, the imperial palace, Lizheng Hall.

While helping Li Shimin undress, Empress Zhangsun said with reluctance, "When Your Majesty was the Prince of Qin, you fought on the battlefield for the sake of the world. Now that Your Majesty has the world at your feet, why do you still need to fight on the battlefield?"

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin smiled, then looked down at Empress Zhangsun's slightly fragrant hair and said calmly, "I once had a long talk with my ministers about whether it is more difficult to conquer the world or to rule it. Some ministers said it is more difficult to rule the world, while others said it is more difficult to conquer the world. But I think it is difficult to conquer the world and to rule the world!"

"Because without conquering the world, one cannot know how difficult it is to conquer it; without ruling the world, one cannot know how difficult it is to rule it. And I, I have both conquered the world and ruled it!"

"Although the country is currently at peace, the borders are engulfed in war. How can I possibly maintain my rule over this empire?"

"But doesn't the Tang Dynasty have many generals? Why must His Majesty personally lead the expedition?" Empress Zhangsun still nestled reluctantly against Li Shimin's chest.

Li Shimin smiled and put one arm around him, saying, "It's not that I insist on leading the expedition in person, but Chengqian suggested that I do so!"

"what?!"

Upon hearing this, Empress Zhangsun abruptly broke free from Li Shimin's embrace, staring at him in astonishment: "Your Majesty, are you saying that Chengqian sent you to the battlefield?!"

"Yes, Chengqian said that if I personally lead the expedition, I can divide Goguryeo and make them fall into disarray, thus destroying Goguryeo in one fell swoop."

"After thinking about it, I think it makes sense. Liaodong is our Chinese land. The Sui Dynasty conquered it four times but failed. Now, I am launching an eastern expedition. First, I can avenge the humiliation of the Chinese people. Second, I can wipe away the shame of the emperor and father. Third, I can promote the right path of the Tang Dynasty to replace the Sui Dynasty. Why not do it?"

"Besides, hmph, isn't that rebellious son supposed to be capable? Why doesn't he dare go to Liaodong? It's because he knows his own limitations. Without me, he wouldn't even be the crown prince!"

"Only I can destroy Goguryeo! He still has some self-awareness!"

As Li Shimin spoke, his confidence grew stronger, and he even fabricated five reasons for Empress Zhangsun that Goguryeo would surely be destroyed.

They talk about using the strong to attack the weak, using the obedient to quell the rebellious, using order to take advantage of chaos, using ease to wait for the enemy to tire themselves out, and using joy to quell resentment...

Empress Zhangsun's eyelids twitched violently, and her pretty face grew paler and paler, because she suddenly thought of a terrible scene.

That means if Emperor Taizong were to meet with misfortune on the battlefield in Goguryeo, wouldn't Li Chengqian and his grandson be...?

impossible!
Absolutely impossible!
That's his father, the Emperor!

(End of this chapter)