Zhutian: Starting from the Space-Time Merchant

Chapter 260 One Battle Destroys Three Kingdoms
"That's going too far."

Pointing to the cards in front of him, Lin Dao slowly said, "You split up four threes to feed me cards, it was too obvious."

"Uh...this..." Hou Junji, who was sparring with his partner for the first time, scratched his head awkwardly. "My...um..."

"Zihou, don't be angry."

Li Erfeng, who was sitting in the main seat, explained with a smile, "He hasn't played much before, so he was careless for a moment."

"Yes, yes, yes~" Hou Junji, sitting on the couch, nodded repeatedly to show his obedience. "Oh dear, my clumsy hands, how could I have separated the four threes? I was so careless, so careless, I was so careless."

Lin Dao didn't even bother to comment on what he said.

Hou Junji, ever since he captured the Goguryeo capital, has been playing cards with his friends every night, unless he's on night shift.
Listening to Cheng Zhijie's complaints, this kid is particularly good at playing games. Not only did Cheng Zhijie lose the reward, but he also lost more than a thousand bolts of silk to this kid. He was worried about how to account for it when he got home.

They went out and won a great victory in a war that annihilated a nation.

Not only did he receive no reward, but he also incurred a huge debt. How could his family not make a scene when he returned home?

Lin Dao's assessment of Cheng Zhijie was, "You're too calculating and scheming; it's a disadvantage in the end."

Unexpectedly, Hou Junji's performance when he was called in to accompany the guests was a huge disappointment.

"It's boring."

Lin Dao threw down his cards. "I miss Li Jing. It's more fun playing cards with him."

Li Jing had studied mathematics and could also count cards.

Even if it's a deliberate loss, it's still a regrettable defeat at the very last moment after a fierce battle.

That's what makes it fun to play.

"The pharmacist is busy preparing to attack Tuyuhun, and will set out in the spring."

Li Erfeng skillfully shuffled the cards, saying, "When he returns victorious, we'll have a good time all night long."

Hou Junji jumped off the bed and scolded the Goryeo queen, who was secretly shedding tears, "Useless thing, hurry up and come serve me!"

After the Tang army captured Wugu City, they advanced triumphantly all the way.

All the troops eventually gathered in the Goguryeo capital.

After the walls of the Goguryeo capital were destroyed, the Goguryeo king, holding the royal seal, led his civil and military officials and nobles to surrender.

The Goguryeo Kingdom, which lasted for nearly seven hundred years, was destroyed at the height of its power.

Although Goguryeo is not well-known in historical records, it was truly powerful.

It withstood three major expeditions of the Sui Dynasty, and also withstood the personal expedition of the most powerful carbon-based life form in the seventh century.

They ultimately fell not because they weren't strong enough, but because their opponents were too powerful.

They encountered the Tang Dynasty at its peak, and before they could unleash their full potential, they were crushed by the Tang Dynasty.

The Goryeo queen brought out several unopened cans of Red Bull and timidly stepped aside.

Lin Dao only glanced at it from beginning to end and then paid no more attention to it.

Li Erfeng, who was dealing the cards, already knew what was going on when she saw this scene.

'Even those with status look down on them~'

'Could it be that you dislike women?'

"That's true. Immortals seek the Great Dao, free from desires and wants; they probably don't even have the tools."

Li Erfeng had been trying to win over Lin Dao.

Sending a gift to a beautiful woman is a very practical and traditional way to do so.

All sorts of beauties have appeared before Lin Dao.

Ke Lindao's behavior was no different from that of a true immortal seeking the Great Dao, showing no interest in the beauties whatsoever.

Li Erfeng initially thought he had some unusual preferences.

This time, we'll use the Goguryeo queen, who has a special status, as an example.

Unexpectedly~
He really doesn't get close to beautiful women~
The game resumed, and Li Erfeng went straight to the point: "Brother Zihou, how many kilograms of raw silk do you think I should offer to collect those muskets used in Wugu City?"

A sniper rifle that can hit a target from a hundred paces away, an MG machine gun that can sweep across the battlefield like water from a distance of over a hundred feet, and even penetrate iron armor and shields.

These unprecedented new weapons and equipment deeply attracted Li Erfeng, the emperor who was on horseback.

The allure of this groundbreaking weapon was even stronger than that of his siblings.

"The original won't do."

"The original model is acceptable."

Lin Dao would never sell weapons that could threaten him.

Even if you offered gold, let alone raw silk, it wouldn't work.

Lin Dao also wanted a piece of the pie from the exorbitant profits in the arms industry.

His advanced technology made him difficult to sell, but the flintlock muskets from the Chongzhen era were a much better fit.

The first batch of flintlock muskets wouldn't be too expensive to exchange for their equivalent weight in gold, would they?

Lin Dao also uses the surplus labor force to do business in various times and spaces.

Especially in the production of various types of clothing, since labor costs are very cheap.

The problem is that the clothing industry in the modern world is too volatile.

In Africa, the clothes that are popular are mostly donated or second-hand resale items. No matter how cheap the labor is in Lindao, it can't compete with those in the industry.

As for selling to other markets, once you get in, you realize that the market has become so crazy.

Without brand recognition, it simply won't fetch a good price.

Now, Lin Dao could start an arms business here.

However, once this business starts, Lin Dao will reduce the time he spends in the public eye here.

A scene like this, where people are playing cards, will never happen again.

From now on, it'll all be about business.

“Silla and Baekje don’t need such advanced weapons.”

While playing cards, Lin Dao took a sip of Red Bull. "We can use it when we go on an expedition to the Western Regions."

The envoys from Silla and Baekje were waiting to be received outside the Goguryeo capital.

But Li Erfeng ignored them.

Having defeated Goguryeo, it was only natural to take down Silla and Baekje as well.

Although their territory was small, it was enough to establish several prefectures and counties.

"Women of Silla are suited to be maids, and men of Baekje are suited to be laborers."

“Relocate all their people and send a group of people from the Central Plains to establish prefectures and counties here. This place will remain as it has been since ancient times.”

Li Erfeng nodded repeatedly, "Brother Zihou is right. This place has always been the territory of the Central Plains."

He did not mention Japan, which is located across the sea.

Liu Heita and other remnants of Dou Jiande in Japan were sent there voluntarily by Lin Dao. It's best not to touch them for now.

The people and captives of Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla, stretching as far as the eye could see, were transported to various parts of China by both land and sea.

The men will go to work at various mine sites.

The women, on the other hand, mainly worked as servants.

Li Erfeng, who had conquered three kingdoms in one campaign, returned to his loyal city of Chang'an with the kings of the three kingdoms amidst cheers from the crowd.

Li Erfeng, who conquered new territories and was invincible in battle, reached the pinnacle of her prestige.

The people of Chang'an even went out of the city for thirty miles to form a welcoming procession.

This scene greatly satisfied Li Erfeng's desire to show off, as she was very concerned about saving face.

Wei Zheng, who was in charge of this matter, also received his praise.

"Thank you."

At the celebratory banquet, Wei Zheng bowed to Lin Dao, his face full of emotion, "His Majesty actually smiled at me, it's truly rare."

"Thank you for writing to inform me of this action."

Lin Dao patted his shoulder and instructed, "Try to control your temper a little."

"In public, one should give the emperor some face; only in this way can the relationship between the emperor and his ministers be harmonious."

Historically, this person's tomb was smashed, which was quite tragic.

Lin Dao helped him a little, so that his ending wouldn't be so tragic.

"Yes."

Wei Zheng nodded repeatedly, "I've got it."

The Wei Zheng before me seems somewhat different from the historical Wei Zheng who dared to speak out against the emperor and publicly confronted Li Erfeng.

It's right that they're different.

Historically, Wei Zheng switched his allegiance from being an official in Li Jiancheng's Eastern Palace to serving Li Erfeng.

He must establish a plausible public image for himself; otherwise, even if he is not purged, he will never have a chance to rise again.

Given his established persona, Wei Zheng was often powerless to change his fate.

If he can't hold on, he might not survive until he dies and then meet with bad luck.

Fortunately, Wei Zheng in the Wude era had the help of Lin Dao and had joined Li Erfeng's ranks long before Li Jiancheng recruited him.

In this way, they could barely be considered as veterans of the Qin Prince's Mansion.

When one's background changes, one's persona naturally changes as well.

Inside the main hall, stirring music filled the air, and a large number of dancers rushed into the hall to begin performing "The Qin King's Battle Song," a piece personally composed by Li Erfeng.

The dancers dispersed, and standing in the center were Khagan Jieli, the King of Goguryeo, the King of Silla, and the King of Baekje.

They had smiles on their faces, but their smiles looked uglier than tears.

His limbs were stiff as he danced, and compared to the professional dancers around him, he looked like a mere extra.

But they are the real protagonists.

No matter how beautifully or professionally the dancers around them performed, no one paid any attention to them.

All eyes in the hall were on the Khan and the kings.

The gazes of those inside the hall were filled with pride and scrutiny, their sense of superiority palpable.

The former powerful ruler of a rival state now performs a dance in the Tang Dynasty.

National identity and self-confidence immediately swelled.

Power can be addictive.

I stood there watching the commotion, my arms wrapped around the forest path.

Especially when Jieli Khan deliberately made a mistake and secretly checked Li Erfeng's reaction, he couldn't stop laughing.

So interesting.

As for the performance of the other three kings, it was somewhat disappointing.

They forced smiles, but their smiles looked worse than tears.

Not only were his hands and feet stiff, but his movements were also full of mistakes—real mistakes, not the kind of deliberate errors that Jieli Khan made.

There's nothing we can do; they're not truly passionate about learning to dance.

Unlike Jieli Khan, who was dedicated to learning everything.

"You still have to practice."

When the music ended, the kings, who were covered in sweat, finally calmed down.

Li Erfeng, sitting on the high platform, smiled with satisfaction.

He called out loudly, "Give me a reward!"

Khagan and the three kings knelt and bowed in thanks.

This scene brought Li Erfeng a sense of comfort.

Looking to the side, Empress Zhangsun beside him also became more and more beautiful.

It's time to have another child.

The next afternoon, Li Erfeng found Lin Dao.

"The dance is very good." Lin Dao first praised, then offered his opinion, "It's just that there are too few core dancers."

"Four people alone cannot capture the essence of this dance."

"I've heard there are dozens of kings in the Western Regions. Inviting them to join the Khan's dance troupe would surely make them even better."

Because she had stayed up late, Li Erfeng's eyes were a little red, and she looked at Lin Dao with slight surprise.

Why does he keep urging himself to fight?

However, war was a good thing for the Tang Dynasty.

It can not only expand territory and eliminate external threats.

Moreover, the captured supplies can be exchanged for a large number of good items at the forest road.

"There was a banquet last night."

Li Erfeng stroked his beard and pondered, "When the Great Elder of Tuyuhun entered the hall, he stepped in with his left foot first."

"Why should these shepherds go left first and then right? This is a disregard for the authority of the Tang Dynasty."

He looked at Fang Xuanling and instructed, "Summon Li Jing."

"I hereby appoint him as Grand General to lead the campaign against the Tuyuhun, who have disrespected the Tang Dynasty!"

(End of this chapter)