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

Chapter 337 Li Chengqian: I'm not pretending anymore, I'm laying my cards on the table! [Seeking monthly votes]

"Your subject is Su Dingfang!"

"Your subject is Xue Rengui!"

"Your subject wishes to set up a valley!"

"Pei Xuan! Liu Rengui! Cen Wenben! Sun Fujia."

"See His Highness the Crown Prince!"

When Li Chengqian's procession arrived outside Chang'an, almost all the officials of the Crown Prince's residence came to greet him.

Of course, in addition to the officials of the Crown Prince's Palace, there were also civil and military officials of the imperial court.

They had just seen off Emperor Li Er, and they didn't expect the Crown Prince to come out so soon.

So they followed the officials of the Crown Prince's residence and bowed to Li Chengqian.

"Gentlemen, you may dispense with the formalities!"

Li Chengqian smiled and gestured, then looked around at everyone present and loudly ordered, "Mount up! Let us see the fine men of our Great Tang!"

Wow!
Without any hesitation, all the officials of the Crown Prince's residence mounted their horses and followed Li Chengqian's procession to the drill ground ten miles outside the city.

"This"

The court officials present seemed to have never expected this situation, and they all looked at the two ministers, Fang Xuanling and Li Jing.

But then Li Jing said to himself, "Although I didn't go on the expedition this time, I can at least take a look at the soldiers of the Eastern Palace, can't I?"

“I think it’s a good idea, because I also want to go see it!” Wei Zheng was the first to speak.

The ministers looked puzzled, thinking to themselves, "You are practically a minister of the Crown Prince, so it's fine for you to see this, but we are different!"
We are His Majesty's subjects. Didn't you see His Majesty's attitude towards the Crown Prince just now?
If we go to see it, who knows how we'll be treated in the future!

After all, our Emperor is very vengeful!

Seemingly seeing through the ministers' thoughts, Fang Xuanling glanced helplessly at Wei Zheng and Li Jing, then at the ministers, hesitated for a moment, and then made a decision: "If we're going to go, then we'll all go together! If we're not going, then nobody will go!"

"I'm going!"

"I also need to go!"

In just a short while, the civil and military officials present reached a consensus.

So they quickly got into their respective carriages and chased after Li Chengqian and the others in the direction they had gone.

Because this was Li Chengqian's first official military campaign, all the soldiers of the Eastern Palace's six armies were dressed in military uniforms and awaited Li Chengqian's inspection.

The previously quiet Sixth Division suddenly became tense and imposing the moment Li Chengqian and his group entered the training ground.

"Kill! Kill! Kill!"

"Our Great Tang Dynasty is invincible!"

"My Great Tang Crown Prince is brave and invincible!"

The earth-shattering shouts made Li Chengqian's warhorse fidget and squirm uncomfortably.

This also made Li Chengqian, after witnessing the cold-bloodedness of the Xuanjia Army, feel his emotions boil again.

As far as the eye could see, there were endless battle flags and an encircling array of armored soldiers.

These formations are like towering mountains, standing between heaven and earth, unshakable by anything.

The summer sun was exceptionally intense, but it paled in comparison to the gleaming armor of the Tang Dynasty men.

Their armor, their weapons, their helmets reflected a chilling aura, yet also radiated a powerful fighting spirit.

That kind of brilliance is called sharpness.

These soldiers are like the sharpest swords standing on the land of China, each one exuding a murderous aura.

"Long live His Highness the Crown Prince! Long live the Crown Prince! Long live the Crown Prince!"

Amidst the cheers of countless soldiers on the training ground, Li Chengqian waved away Lai Fu, who was trying to help him dismount, jumped off his warhorse, and slowly walked onto the command platform.

Standing beside Li Chengqian, Su Dingfang, Xue Rengui, and other generals from the Eastern Palace's six guards instantly drew their long swords and shouted in unison, "Soldiers! Inspection, begin!"

"Kill! Kill! Kill!"

On the training ground, the shouts of tens of thousands of elite soldiers filled the sky and shook the earth.

As the shouts ended, the urgent war drums sounded again.

Compared to the war drums of Li Shimin's Xuanjia Army, the war drums of the Eastern Palace's Six Guards were more rhythmic.

Although it couldn't compare to the intensity of the Xuanjia Army's attacks, each strike felt like a blow to the heart, leaving everyone deeply shaken.

Boom boom boom!
The footsteps of the Tang Dynasty's elite warriors, accompanied by the rhythm of drums, produced a sound that shook the earth.

As Li Chengqian watched, he saw the flags on the command platform constantly changing, and the neat formations on the drill ground also began to change.

The first rank, a dark, mountain-like mass of infantrymen advancing slowly, was heavily armored.

Each of them wore meticulously crafted armor.

Under the sunlight, the armor shimmered with meticulously crafted ripples.

The most direct way to judge whether an army is capable of fighting is by its military appearance and morale.

In Li Chengqian's view, a dozen or so soldiers marched past in a row, each with a firm gaze and a robust physique.

This gave the entire formation an air of menace, clearly indicating that they were well-trained soldiers.

But Li Jing, who was watching from a distance, said with a sigh, "I had only heard about how powerful the soldiers of the Six Guards of the Eastern Palace were before. When the news of those battles in Shuofang reached me, I was still a little skeptical."

"Only now do I finally understand what's going on."

"Ah? May I ask, Right Minister, have you figured out what's going on?" Chang He, who had not accompanied Li Shimin on the expedition, asked with a face full of curiosity.

Although Li Shimin promoted him to the position of Grand General of the Gate, his own strength was not very strong; he only made great contributions on the day of Xuanwu Gate.

Upon hearing this, Li Jing chuckled and said, "The more Han Xin leads the troops, the better. I'm sure General Chang knows that, right?"

"Of course I know that. The Marquis of Huaiyin is a master of military strategy, far beyond the reach of ordinary people!"

"Then do you know why Han Xin was able to command a number of troops that others couldn't?"

"Why?"

Chang He looked bewildered and glanced around at the other civil and military officials present.

The other civil and military officials also looked at Li Jing with curiosity.

But then Li Jing laughed and said, "Because Han Xin can both lead troops and train them. No matter how many troops he has, he can train them into the troops he wants. Throughout history, there have been many famous generals who can win battles, but those who can train troops are few and far between!"

"So, the Left Minister thinks that the soldiers of the Eastern Palace are well-trained? That's why they were able to shine in those battles in Shuofang?" Chang He said thoughtfully.

Xu Jingzong, who was standing to the side, suddenly asked, "Which is more powerful, His Majesty's Xuanjia Army or the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace Six Guards?"

"This"

Upon hearing this, all the ministers present exchanged bewildered glances, wondering who would dare to answer.

They all turned to look at Li Jing.

Li Jing ignored their gazes and said to himself, "After the infantry, it should be the cavalry, right? I wonder if the artillery will come out; I've been looking forward to witnessing the prowess of the artillery!"

Upon hearing this, the ministers suddenly realized that this was the first time Li Jing had seen the firearms of the Tang Dynasty.

They had already seen firearms in the last military exercise.

I wonder if we'll see anything new this time.

Just as all the ministers were filled with anticipation, another rumbling sound rang out in the training ground.

Suddenly, the hoofbeats of countless warhorses thundered.

Even the ground of the drill ground began to shake.

Someone exclaimed, "It's a fully armed Iron Pagoda!"

At the forefront was a flag, a large banner held aloft, bearing the two powerful and vigorous characters "Buddha" inscribed on it.

Following closely behind, countless tall horses carried cavalrymen clad in heavy armor. The advancing cavalry and their horses were all heavily armored, like mobile fortresses.

Following the heavily armored cavalry were the black-armored guards wearing chainmail.

Their weapons were all the latest Tang swords, but each person's horse was also equipped with a scimitar, a bow and arrow, and a crossbow.

As the cavalry advanced, an arrogant air of disdain for heaven and earth swept over them, as if to say that as long as the Crown Prince gave the order, no matter who the enemy was, they would all be reduced to dust under their iron hooves.

What surprised the civil and military officials watching even more was the Wolf Fang Guard behind the Black Armor Guard.

Although they still had the appearance of non-Han people and looked tall and strong, their military bearing and discipline were no different from those of the Iron Pagoda and Black Armor Guards in front.

This was a tremendous discovery. In their minds, the Hu people were a group of barbaric warriors who fought without any strategy, relying purely on their bravery and savage strength.

As for military bearing and discipline, it's hard to see much of that reflected in them.

But the military bearing and discipline of the Wolf Fang Guard completely overturned their understanding.

"Left Minister, look at this."

"His Highness the Crown Prince is indeed no ordinary person!"

Before Chang He could finish speaking, Li Jing squinted and sighed, "If our Great Tang could continue to be so inclusive, it would become a powerful empire unparalleled in history!"

After saying this, a proud smile appeared on his face. He really hoped that he could command such an army in battle.

But the smile immediately froze on his face.

The troops following the Wolf Fang Guards deeply attracted his attention, and he took a few steps forward with some surprise, wanting to get a closer look at the approaching army.

"Artillery? Is this what artillery is?"

As he spoke, he turned back to look at the civil and military officials behind him.

Fang Xuanling hurriedly stepped forward to investigate, and exclaimed in astonishment, "How come there are so many cannons, and some even have wheels? I didn't see any of these cannons during the last military exercise!"

"No, look at their hands! I remember muskets have only one barrel, right? How come there are three, no, even seven barrels? What kind of weapons are these?!"

"Wow, that's amazing! You look incredibly skilled!"

Hearing these exclamations of surprise, Ma Zhou, the Minister of Revenue, who was the only one among the civil and military officials who had not accompanied Li Chengqian to the training ground, proudly introduced:

"That wheeled artillery is called a mountain gun, a light artillery piece specifically designed for rapid attacks on positions. That one with three barrels isn't a musket, it's called a three-barreled gun! And that one with seven barrels is called a 'family portrait'!"

"Family photo?"

All the civil and military officials were completely dumbfounded.

But then Ma Zhou laughed and explained, "To quote His Highness the Crown Prince, with this shot, the whole family is together again. What else would you call it but a family portrait?"

"Uh"

The civil and military officials' lips twitched, thinking to themselves, "Can you even name someone like that?"
However, on the battlefield, this would be a killing machine capable of taking down a whole group with a single shot.

"So this is the firearms of the Tang Dynasty!" Li Jing murmured to himself, as if he had discovered a new world.

Ma Zhou, standing to the side, chuckled and said, "General Li, you may not know this, but these are all standard firearms of the Musketeers. There are also many heavy firearms and secret firearms, some of which can even change the course of the battlefield in an instant. They are extremely powerful!"

"If General Li wishes to delve deeper into the study of firearms warfare, he can visit the Military Academy, where the Academy of Sciences provides a complete set of firearms equipment. Each set of firearms equipment represents a cutting-edge military technology meticulously developed by the Academy of Sciences."

Hearing Ma Zhou's spirited introduction of the core strength of the Tang Dynasty, Li Jing wished he could talk for three days and three nights.

But at that very moment, while they were speaking, the inspection had already ended.

Guided by the battle flag, the six guards of the Eastern Palace stood back in their original positions like nails.

A scorching mountain wind blew by, and the battle flags fluttered in the wind. Li Chengqian slowly walked to the simple megaphone on the command platform and said loudly, "I have been ordered by His Majesty to punish the rebellious bandits. You are all the bravest soldiers of my Great Tang. When I see you, it is as if I see the future of my Great Tang!"

"You are the pioneers of the future of our Great Tang Dynasty, and the eternal cornerstone of our Great Tang Dynasty. I am willing to work with you to create glory and expand our territory!"

Upon hearing this, countless soldiers' eyes lit up like flames.

They were the Six Guards of the Eastern Palace, and also the Crown Prince's guards. They understood better than anyone what it meant for them to follow the Crown Prince in expanding the territory.

That's really true, are kings and nobles born with a special destiny?

You should know that those generals who followed Li Shimin in expanding the territory all became very important figures with high positions!

Therefore, whether they were generals or soldiers, their blood boiled involuntarily the moment Li Chengqian finished speaking.

Are you willing to follow me through thick and thin?

Li Chengqian's voice rang out again, but it lacked the previous intensity.

But to the ministers below the stage, it sounded like a resounding bell, deafening and awakening.

"willing--"

Wow!
Countless soldiers knelt on one knee at this moment.

The surrounding civil and military officials all felt their eyelids twitch uncontrollably.

I thought to myself, what's the big deal?
His Highness the Crown Prince's tens of thousands of elite warriors?
Damn it!
Fortunately, His Majesty left quickly, otherwise he would have been driven mad!
His Highness the Crown Prince is too much of a show-off; who can stand it?

However, such a grand scene will eventually reach His Majesty's ears, and I wonder what kind of expression His Majesty will have when he finds out.

Seemingly understanding each other's thoughts, the civil and military officials present all lowered their heads in tacit agreement, pretending not to have seen or heard anything.

"very good!"

Li Chengqian surveyed the generals and soldiers below the platform, nodding with satisfaction, and said:
"I saw in your eyes the desire for victory, the spirit of not returning until Loulan is conquered! I also saw your loyalty to the Tang Dynasty!"

"I will tell Your Majesty that with you all here, the Tang Dynasty will forever be safe and sound!"

"The Great Tang! The Great Tang! The Great Tang!"

On the training ground, all the soldiers roared and shouted, as if a storm had suddenly arisen on the land.

As their shouts subsided, Li Chengqian drew his sword, his eyes blazing as he looked at the soldiers below the platform. He solemnly declared, "Brothers, without further ado, follow me to fight the enemy!"

If a general leads by example in front of his soldiers, it can boost their morale in battle.

What about that unparalleled crown prince? What effect would it have if he led from the front in front of the soldiers?

Before this, probably no one knew, but after Li Chengqian finished speaking...

In an instant, some soldiers were moved to tears.

At that moment, someone took the lead and a shout rang out between heaven and earth.

"Long live! Long live! Long live!"

Those three shouts of "Long live the Emperor!" caused everyone present to change their expressions.

Even Li Chengqian was momentarily stunned, but he reacted quickly and shouted back, "Long live the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the Tang Dynasty!"

"Long live the court officials who have devoted themselves wholeheartedly to their duties!"

"Long live the people of the Great Tang!"

"Long live the Emperor!"

In an instant, the training ground, which housed tens of thousands of people, and the area outside the training ground, fell completely silent.

But soon, a torrent of voices echoed in, unstoppable.

Long live the Great Tang Dynasty!

Looking at the soldiers on the training ground, their cheeks flushed with excitement, their eyes brimming with tears of emotion, and their voices hoarse from shouting with passion, Li Chengqian smiled slightly, then once again loudly ordered: "Move out—"

Boom boom boom!
As the war drums sounded, tens of thousands of troops marched in orderly formation toward the training ground.

After exchanging a knowing glance, Li Chengqian and his generals mounted their warhorses and rode straight out of the training ground.

Throughout the entire process, they did not communicate with any of the civil or military officials of the imperial court.

But the court's civil and military officials saw and heard everything they did and said.

Only when dust billowed and horses' hooves thundered did these civil and military officials, watching the departing figures of Li Chengqian and his soldiers, become lost in thought, speechless.

Although they had always been Li Shimin's staunchest supporters, at this moment, a bold idea that they shouldn't have had involuntarily popped into their minds.

If one day, His Highness the Crown Prince isn't so bad after all.
And the other side.

While the ministers were lost in thought, Li Chengqian, along with Su Dingfang, Xue Rengui, and other commanders of the Six Guards of the Eastern Palace, were riding side by side, chatting idly: "Well, you should all have seen His Majesty's Xuanjia Army, right? Do you have anything to say?"

"Uh, this."

Upon hearing this, the six guards of the Eastern Palace exchanged glances, and then Su Dingfang spoke first: "To be honest, seeing is believing. I have long heard that His Majesty's Xuanjia Army is extraordinary, and now that I have seen it, I can confirm that its reputation is well-deserved."

"but."

Then, he changed the subject and continued, "If given the chance to spar with the Xuanjia Army, I am quite confident!"

"Hahaha! Me too! If my Ironclad Cavalry were to fight the Xuanjia Army, I would never believe I would lose!" Xue Rengui laughed and echoed.

But then Yu Gushe said thoughtfully, "I actually fought against the Xuanjia Army. Although I didn't win, I think it's because I don't have the Wolf Fang Guards now!"

"You all seem very confident!" Pei Xuan couldn't help but chuckle, then looked at Li Chengqian and asked, "Does Your Highness think we can win?"

"Now that we've won, will you still call me Your Highness the Crown Prince?"

Li Chengqian asked in return with a half-smile.

Suddenly, all the generals' eyes widened and their bodies trembled.

Good grief! You're not even going to pretend anymore, are you?!
(End of this chapter)