Inheriting a Taoist temple, the story begins with Wu Zetian offering incense.

Chapter 275 Li Shimin: Reasoning is too tiring, striking with lightning is much easier! [Seeking monthly votes]

Upon hearing about the mission, Chen Tang immediately perked up:
"What mission? Murder or arson? Should I go to the Southern Xiongnu, kidnap two princes, and demand two golden statues for sacrificial rites to bury at the entrance of King Wucheng's palace?"

The world of Emperor Wu has been filled with carnage, and Tom Cruise is getting impatient as he watches the piles of merit points waiting to be generated by the Xiongnu.

The Book of Changes says:

"Put the killing of the Xiongnu aside for now. When we go out of the pass this time, don't kill all the prisoners. Take them to repair the entire Xiaoguan Road. Then go to the Yellow River and find a suitable place to build an iron chain bridge. If there is an opportunity in the future, build an iron chain bridge across the Yellow River to increase Chang'an's control over the Western Regions."

During the Han and Tang dynasties, the Silk Road always started from Chang'an, followed the Jing River Valley out of Xiaoguan, crossed the Yellow River, and arrived directly at Wuwei. It did not take the Longguan Road, nor did it detour through Jincheng, where Lanzhou is located.

However, modern sources, in order to prove the importance of Lanzhou, repeatedly emphasize that the Silk Road passed through Longguan and Lanzhou, but few people know about the real Xiaoguan Pass on the Silk Road.

While Chen Tang was away suppressing bandits, we retraced the route, built a bridge, and vigorously developed Liangzhou and the Western Regions.

As for the materials for building the bridge, Zhou Yi plans to buy some steel cables from Zhang Yuqiang's crane factory and use a combination of metaphysics and science, along with concrete and fossil talismans, to build a bridge spanning the Yellow River.

With bridges, communication between Chang'an and the Western Liang and Western Regions will become more frequent, effectively preventing the population from becoming assimilated into non-Han cultures.

Upon hearing that a bridge was being built over the Yellow River, Chen Tang's eyes widened like saucers:
"Immortal Master, the gap is so large, is it possible to complete the cultivation?"

The Book of Changes says:

"So I want you to find a suitable place to build a bridge. Wherever the bridge is built, build a county town there. There will be plenty of potato and corn seeds, plus sunflowers and other crops suitable for planting in the Northwest. It shouldn't be a problem to revitalize a county."

Xi Shi, her beautiful eyes sparkling, joined the conversation:

"Master, do you have enough materials to build the bridge across the river? The construction must be very difficult, right?"

Zhou Yi put down the bamboo slips and said with a smile:

"I saw this quote online the other day: If you want to go far away, then set off now. If you lack anything, you can figure it out along the way... Sometimes you have to be like a wheel. As long as you can turn and move, many worries may be easily resolved."

These words startled Xi Shi, who always sought stability, and she immediately bowed respectfully to Zhou Yi:
"I understand. Thank you for enlightening me, Immortal Master."

The Book of Changes: ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

No, I was just quoting some literary youths' sayings, how come you're suddenly enlightened?

Chen Tang, however, was quite optimistic:
"It's already the end of July. The preliminary surveys and visits are over, and this year is almost over. If we want to start next year, we'll have to wait until at least March when spring is in full bloom. Half a year of preparation time is enough."

He not only planned to survey the roads, but he also had a rough plan for capturing Xiongnu and Qiang people to build roads and bridges... Before the troops move, the labor force must be mobilized!
Zhou Yi, holding a map from the late Western Han Dynasty, said:
“At least two bridges need to be built over the Wei River in the north of Chang’an, one on the east side and one on the west side. We also need to find a way to build a bridge at Puban Ferry, which connects Guanzhong and Hedong County. Even if it’s a pontoon bridge, it has to be passable by vehicles.”

During the Zhenguan era, Emperor Taizong of Tang ordered the casting of several iron oxen weighing about sixty tons each, which were placed on both sides of Puban as anchor points for a semi-permanent pontoon bridge.

The Puban Floating Bridge was built in March and dismantled in October. In winter, people could drive directly on the ice, making it accessible almost year-round and continuously transporting supplies to the Guanzhong region.

With the involvement of modern society, the concept of a semi-permanent floating bridge is no longer relevant to Zhouyi (the Book of Changes).

In addition, he planned to develop Yuncheng Salt Lake into an economic focus, and a decent bridge would be essential... Regardless of the dynasty, the economy was of paramount importance, and salt was a crucial pillar for economic growth. Therefore, Zhou Yi planned to have Chen Tangteng take charge and try to produce salt using modern industrial methods.

Then, by cracking down on the private salt trade of powerful families through official salt administration, the central government's rule could be restored.

Chen Tang was eager to try it out:

"Hearing this makes me not want to go out and fight bandits anymore..."

The Book of Changes says:

"We definitely have to go to suppress the bandits. Only after this battle can the Imperial Guards be used by you... Fortunately, although Emperor Yuan and Emperor Cheng did not have high opinions of them, they did not like to point fingers at their court officials. You can go ahead and do it boldly."

Liu Shi was in power for more than a decade, and he occasionally tried to intervene, although he never really got to the point.

Emperor Cheng, Liu Ao, was quite something. His uncle liked to wield power? So he gave it all to him and didn't interfere in anything... When history evaluates him, Emperor Cheng doesn't have much of a bad reputation. Later generations can only criticize him through Zhao Feiyan's veiled remarks. On the contrary, Wang Feng became a synonym for maternal relatives and powerful ministers.

At noon, to cater to Xi Shi's taste, Zhou Yi made a pot of Guizhou spicy chicken with glutinous rice cake chili, and also cooked a lot of stewed noodles. Finally, he poured the spicy chicken, which was full of red oil, onto the stewed noodles.

The recipe for Guizhou spicy chicken, the way to eat Northwest big plate chicken, plus the unique braised noodles from the Central Plains region—Xi Shi ate without caring about her image, completely unable to resist this spicy delicacy.

Chen Tang preferred mutton, so he showed off two jin of mutton with dipping sauce, and also ate a small bowl of braised noodles covered in chili oil. Only after he was full did he ask:

"Why didn't Brother Li Bai and Miss Gongsun come? Didn't they return on the same day as me?"

The Book of Changes says:

"They're busy demolishing temples. They've demolished six or seven temples in the past few days. This morning they also received merit for destroying a Manichaean stronghold in the outer city of Chang'an. I don't think they'll be coming over anytime soon." Kaiyuan World has been carrying out religious reforms recently, eliminating many religious sites other than Buddhism and Taoism, and arresting a number of people. Some brainwashed believers were also arrested and sent to the mines for labor reform.

Chen Tang pointed to the mountain of potatoes outside and asked:

"Could we have some of those potatoes?"

Zhou Yi nodded:

"Sure, we'll send another truckload in a few days. When Xi Shi leaves, take some extra with you. Make a big fire, bury the potatoes in it, and they'll taste delicious when they're fully cooked. You and Zigong can try it."

Xi Shi said:

“Zigong might not be willing to eat it; he would probably take it back to Qufu.”

"We will send him more then, and try to promote it as much as possible so that people can find a way to fill their stomachs."

Given the current situation, we shouldn't even consider whether it will change the timeline. Every single person who goes hungry is a good deed.

After eating and drinking his fill, Chen Tang left Hunyuan Palace with dozens of bags of potatoes and various supplies to begin his work of suppressing bandits at Xiaoguan Pass.

Xi Shi sat in front of the computer for several hours to attend online classes before leaving near dusk.

She packed up all the leftover spicy chicken from lunch, planning to let Zigong try the taste of glutinous rice cake with chili noodles when she got back. She also brought a whole sack of potatoes, since Zigong had a horse-drawn carriage and could take as many as he wanted.

After the beautiful woman left, Zhou Yi returned to his room and saw that the merit had undergone another change:
Li Bai destroyed a Maitreya sect temple on the outskirts of Chang'an County, earning +8 merit points.

[Gongsun Da Niang summons protective divine thunder to eliminate the abbot of the Maitreya Sect, gaining +8 merit]

[Li Shimin experiences the cutting machine, greatly increasing the cohesion of the court officials and granting him +2 merit points]

Li Shimin used the Black Iron Token to summon divine thunder and eliminate the Tuyuhun nobles who had shown great disrespect to the Hunyuan Palace, earning him +10 merit points.

All four notes are from the Tang Dynasty.

Li Bai and Gongsun Da Niang have been demolishing temples lately, which is not surprising to Zhou Yi. However, it is Old Li who actually experienced a diesel-powered cutting machine firsthand and even used a black iron token to summon divine lightning to kill someone. This is quite novel.

It seems that ever since he gave up on following the path of Emperor Wen, Li Shimin has been increasingly looking up to Liu Che... That's good too. He was clearly the strongest carbon-based life form in the 7th century, but he insisted on taking the path of a gentleman and benevolence. Isn't this just the Tang Dynasty version of "I am clearly a global fighting champion, but I like to persuade people with reason"?

In the Zhenguan era, at the Vermilion Bird Gate, Li Shimin stared at the charred, smoking humanoid figure not far away, his eyes still burning with unabated rage:

"Arrest this man's entire family, including his three clans, and send them to mine in Nanshan. If they want to be Tang people, they'd better worship the gods of the Tang Dynasty. If anyone dares to speak disrespectfully again, their entire family will be exterminated!"

When the courtiers discovered for the first time that Li Shimin actually possessed a powerful weapon, they all knelt down to pay their respects.

During the last oath-taking ceremony in court, no one noticed the black iron token, nor did anyone discover that this thing could summon divine thunder.

But today, when that Tuyuhun nobleman spoke rudely, Li Shimin did not hesitate to take out his token and summon a thunderbolt.

Now things have changed. The Tuyuhun nobles who had surrendered earlier suddenly became obedient, all kneeling down to beg for mercy and offering to donate land and their own servants to the Tang Dynasty for road construction and other projects.

Some courtiers who often showed off by finding fault were now trembling with fear, especially those who had recently been jumping up and down opposing industrial development and advocating for farming and reading. They wished they could hide their heads in their crotches, afraid that Old Li would take the opportunity to give them another beating.

Fortunately, after the initial thunderclap, Old Li stopped and addressed the court officials who opposed industrial development:
"I know you all desperately want to emulate Wei Zheng and gain a reputation as a loyal minister, so you oppose everything and appear to be mavericks... Today I will tell you clearly that developing industry is the major direction for the Tang Dynasty for the next hundred years. This is not a request for your consent, but an order!"

After saying this, he turned and left. The remaining courtiers looked at each other, and no one dared to say anything disrespectful.

Previously, the Five Clans and Seven Noble Families could still overpower Li Shimin and even make him cry. But now, with the support of a deity and the power to summon divine thunder, if the Five Clans and Seven Noble Families have any other ideas, they'll have to carefully consider whether their descendants' heads are as hard as divine thunder.

Inside the Taiji Palace, upon hearing this news, Li Mingda anxiously sought advice from Wu Meiniang:

"Sister Meiniang, with Father so angry, won't those court officials secretly comply and try to pull some tricks?"

Wu Zetian said with a smile:

"No, your father has a token that can summon divine lightning, which is what aristocratic families fear most... No matter how powerful he is or how many private soldiers he has, he cannot stop the divine lightning in the slightest. On the contrary, he will be threatened with death day and night. The only thing we can do now is to obey His Majesty and treat the people well. Only in this way can we have a glimmer of hope."

In the past, if I argued with Lao Li, he would patiently reason with me, but now, he probably doesn't have that patience anymore... Time is precious, and I can't waste it on empty talk.

While Li Shimin gave up on reasoning, in the Later Zhou world, Guo Rong sat in his carriage, conceiving his speech for the battle... The morale was wavering; it was time to perform a miracle to stabilize the army!

(End of this chapter)