Deposed? I couldn't be happier! I wouldn't even be a dog to the crown prince.

East Palace, War Room.

This place was originally where Li Shimin taught his crown prince military strategy, but now it is as quiet as a tomb.

The huge sheepskin map on the wall has been hung up again.

Unlike previous maps of the North, this map focuses on the west.

Yellow sand fills the sky, and the Gobi Desert stretches endlessly.

The Silk Road is like a winding blood vessel, passing through the Jade Gate Pass of the Tang Dynasty and extending all the way to the vital passage called "Gaochang". Further south lies the awe-inspiring snow-covered plateau.

Li Chengqian stood with his hands behind his back in front of the map.

He was thin and dressed in light clothing, but in the candlelight, his shadow was stretched extremely long, like a giant beast that wanted to devour the heavens and the earth.

Qinglong stood at the door, his hand on his embroidered spring knife, his breathing deliberately slowed.

He knew that His Highness was looking at a map.

But he knew even better that His Highness wasn't looking at mountains and rivers.

He's watching—

Cemetery.

"This piece of land is quite fertile."

Li Chengqian suddenly spoke up.

He extended a finger and gently traced the area representing the Kingdom of Gaochang, his fingertip making a soft rustling sound on the parchment.

"Controlling the vital Silk Road, they siphon money from one hand to the other, collecting profits without lifting a finger."

"That old bastard Ju Wentai is living a more comfortable life than I am."

Qinglong lowered his head: "Your Highness, that was before. Now, he has seized our goods and cut off our source of income."

"Yes, cutting off someone's livelihood is like killing their parents."

Li Chengqian's lips curled slightly, and that smile appeared particularly chilling in the flickering candlelight.

"Wouldn't it be better if everyone could get rich together?"

"I sell my sweaters, he collects his toll, we keep to ourselves."

But he was never satisfied.

"The human heart cannot be overfed. Once it's full, it thinks it's capable and can even bare its teeth at the person who fed it."

"Snapped!"

Li Chengqian's finger slammed heavily onto the red dot that read "Gaochang Royal City".

The force was so great that it even pierced through the tough parchment and became embedded in the wooden board behind it.

"Since they're in such a hurry to be reincarnated."

"Then I will do a good deed and grant their wish."

"So that they won't suffer in this world."

In that instant of resolute killing intent...

"bite--!"

The familiar, cold, mechanical system notification arrived as scheduled, exploding deep within his mind.

【warn!warn! 】

[The host has been detected facing "provocation from the Western Regions," severely undermining the prestige of the Tang Dynasty!]

[Triggering the main quest of Volume 4 - "No matter how far, we will pursue them!"]

[Mission Description: The thirty-six kingdoms of the Western Regions are caught in a dilemma; the Tibetan Plateau is watching with predatory eyes. As the Crown Prince of the Tang Dynasty, the future Heavenly Khan, you have a duty to show the world who the true ruler is!]

[Mission Objective: Conquer Gaochang, intimidate Tibet, reopen the Silk Road, and let the banners of the Tang Dynasty fly over every corner of the Western Regions!]

[Mission Reward: ??? (Depending on completion level, rumored to include core components of a steam engine~)]

【Is it accepted? 】

Li Chengqian raised an eyebrow.

Steam engine?

This is great stuff!

With that thing, we can increase our efficiency several times over, whether it's mining or weaving!

This is hardly a war.

This is clearly a trip to the Western Regions to buy goods and upgrade the technology tree on the side!

"catch!"

Why didn't you answer?

Li Chengqian silently recited a sentence in his heart, then suddenly turned around, waved his sleeves, and brought up a sharp gust of wind.

"Azure Dragon!"

"Your subordinate is here!"

"Issue my decree to oversee the country!"

Li Chengqian's voice was no longer languid, but rather carried a chilling, warlike quality.

"First, send a message to the Northern Protectorate via express courier!"

"Tell Huo Qubing to stop eating roasted whole lamb with Li Tai every day; he's going to turn into a pig!"

"Make him wipe his mouth clean, and take his eight hundred Great Snow Dragon Riders south immediately!"

"Tell him he won't get lost this time."

"I'll show him a clear path—head straight to Gaochang!"

"Tell him I want to see the city gates of Gaochang reduced to ashes within the time it takes to drink a cup of tea!"

Azure Dragon shuddered, and a fanatical light burst forth from his eyes.

The Marquis of Champions is heading south!

That means the nightmare in the Western Regions is about to begin!

"second!"

Li Chengqian walked to the desk, grabbed a token, and casually tossed it to Qinglong.

"Go to the arsenal and find Mo Ju."

"Make him open the door to that warehouse."

"Those ten newly built 'red cannons' that haven't even had a chance to be test-fired yet..."

Li Chengqian narrowed his eyes and made a downward chopping motion with his palm.

"Pull them all out!"

"It's polished! And oiled!"

"Didn't Ju Wentai complain that the Tang Dynasty was too far away? Didn't he say we couldn't get there?"

"Then I'll show him what I'm made of..."

"What do you mean by 'truth lies only within range'!"

What does it mean to send a warm greeting from the East?

"promise--!!!"

Azure Dragon roared, its voice trembling slightly with extreme excitement.

Red-coated cannon!

That's the "national annihilation weapon" that His Highness spoke of!

It is said that one shot could flatten a mountain!

This time, the Kingdom of Gaochang might even have its foundation destroyed!

Qinglong accepted the order and left, his footsteps hurried and heavy, as if he were going to a grand banquet of death.

In the operations room, only Li Chengqian remained.

He looked at the vast Western Regions on the map, at the Gaochang Kingdom that was about to be swallowed up by war, without the slightest pity on his face.

"Don't blame me."

"You chose it yourselves."

"In this dog-eat-dog world, only those with the strongest fists have the right to reason."

He reached out to take the teacup from the table.

Just then.

"Bang--!"

The heavy nanmu wood door of the operations room was violently smashed open from the outside.

A sudden gust of wind swept in.

Immediately following, a bright yellow figure, like a burning flame, rushed to the sand table.

"Chengqian! Chengqian!"

Li Shimin was panting heavily from running, and his dragon crown was slightly askew, but he didn't bother to fix it.

Those dragon eyes were fixed on the map of the Western Regions on the sand table, which already had several command flags planted on it, and the light in their eyes was frighteningly bright.

That is……

The old lecher saw a stunning beauty, and the hungry wolf saw the brilliance of a little lamb!

"You want to attack Gaochang?!"

Li Shimin grabbed Li Chengqian's shoulder, so excited that he spat out words.

"I've heard about it! I've heard everything!"

"That Ju Wentai from Gaochang dared to seize my caravan! Dared to extort money from me!"

"Can we tolerate this? Absolutely not!"

Li Chengqian wiped the drool off his face in disgust and pushed his father's hand away.

"Father, please calm down."

"Isn't that what I'm arranging? Huo Qubing is already on his way, and the cannons have been brought out."

"Destroying Gaochang is just a matter of minutes."

"No! Not enough!"

Li Shimin was so anxious that he paced back and forth, like a lion locked in a cage.

"How can we manage to send only Huo Qubing?"

"That kid fights too fast! Before I could even react, he was done!"

"This time, I..."

Li Shimin suddenly stopped and moved closer to Li Chengqian, a fawning, even somewhat humble, smile plastered on his face.

He rubbed his hands together and asked cautiously:

"What a big son!"

"Look... at this western expedition..."

"Isn't it... time for me... to personally lead the army?"

"Last time at Longmen Mountain, that was...that was a mistake! An accident!"

"This time, I guarantee it!"

Li Shimin patted his chest, making a loud thud as he patted his golden armor.

"I will proceed with caution and prudence! I will absolutely not be reckless!"

"I want to personally twist that old bastard Ju Wentai's head off and use it as a football!"

"Give me this chance, okay? Huh?"

"I beg you!"

The mighty Emperor of the Tang Dynasty, General of the Heavenly Strategy.

At this moment, for the sake of a spot to lead troops into battle, he humbled himself before his eight-year-old son, showing no restraint whatsoever.

If the court attendant outside saw this, he'd be so frightened he'd break his pen.

Li Chengqian's lips twitched slightly as he looked at his father's "satisfied" expression.

This old man...

They really do forget how they were taught a lesson.

Haven't they suffered enough at Longmen Mountain?

They've only been peaceful for a few days, and now they want to go out and have fun again?

"Father."

Li Chengqian sighed, speaking earnestly.

"You are the emperor, a person of immense value, and it is only right for you to remain in Chang'an."

"Besides, the Western Regions are so far away, all sand, and with your old arms and legs..."

"I am not old!"

Li Shimin panicked and jumped up, exclaiming, "I can still draw a five-stone bow! I can still eat three bowls of rice!"

"I don't care! I must go this time!"

"If you don't let me go, I will... I will..."

After holding it in for a long time, Li Shimin finally blurted out a harsh remark.

"I'm going to stay in your Eastern Palace and never leave!"

"I'll eat your food, drink your water, and sleep in your bed!"

"Until you agree!"

After saying this, this emperor, who was considered one of the greatest emperors in history, actually sat down on the carpet like a rogue, hugged the table leg, and adopted a "dead pig is not afraid of boiling water" attitude.

Li Chengqian: "..."

Looking at his father throwing a tantrum, he felt the veins on his forehead throbbing.

This is...

Who is actually eight years old?!