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

"I suddenly feel an unbearable abdominal pain and want to go to the back to find a toilet to relieve myself."

Looking at Li Chengqian's ambiguous smile, Lu Dongzan was so frightened that his legs trembled and his tongue was tied in knots. All he could think about now was getting as far away from this eight-year-old devil as possible.

Li Chengqian slowly finished the remaining grape wine in his cup, then casually tossed the glass to the maid beside him, his tone so gentle it sent chills down one's spine.

"The Grand Chancellor has come from afar, how could I let you find a latrine in this desolate wilderness? That would be too impolite. Old Xu, the Grand Chancellor says he wants to watch a play. Find a sturdy rope and tie him up to the tallest flagpole in the central army. The view is expansive, and he can also enjoy the cool breeze from the Western Regions to clear his head."

"This old servant obeys." Xu Xiao smiled sinisterly, his withered fingers grabbing Lu Dongzan by the back of his collar. This dignified Tibetan Grand Minister was like a fat duck whose fate was being squeezed by the scruff of its neck, without even a chance to struggle, and was dragged out of the tent by force.

Outside the tent, the cold wind of early winter in the Western Regions, mixed with the pungent smell of gunpowder, howled across the ruins of Gaochang, which were littered with debris.

As dawn broke, the ruins were already a dark, dense sea of ​​steel.

One hundred thousand Tang Dynasty troops marched in formation before them, without a single sound of disorder. The suffocating heavy infantry formation of the Beiwei Army was like an insurmountable black iron wall. The warhorses of the Great Snow Dragon Cavalry did not even snort, and a chilling killing intent spread wildly across the Gobi Desert.

At the forefront of the position, ten red-coated cannons, their barrels freshly wiped clean, stood in a row, their dark muzzles pointing straight to the sky. The once invincible King Ju Wentai of Gaochang was now nothing but a mangled head, hanging forlornly on the ruined city gate tower, swaying forlornly in the cold wind.

For the first time ever, Li Chengqian did not ride in his iron-eating beast palanquin, but instead donned an exquisite dark gold soft armor. He walked step by step across the broken city bricks to the highest point of the ruins of Gaochang City.

The eight-year-old prince, who was usually lazy, sleepy, and only wanted to retire and be a salted fish, was now exuding a terrifying sense of oppression that could change the color of the sky and earth.

He looked down at the 100,000 pairs of fanatical eyes below, the cold wind making his dark red cloak flutter.

"I'm actually a very lazy person, as you all know. My biggest wish every day is to be able to take a peaceful afternoon nap." Li Chengqian's clear, childlike voice, amplified by his inner strength, resonated throughout the entire battlefield. His tone was initially casual, as if he were having a casual chat.

"But there are always some fools who insist on making a ruckus outside while I'm sleeping. They rob our Tang Dynasty's caravans, seize our salt and iron, and even expect us to send gold, silver, and silk to beg for peace!"

At this point, Li Chengqian's eyes suddenly became incredibly sharp, and the domineering aura that emanated from his very bones was released without reservation.

"Several hundred years ago, Chen Tang of the mighty Han Dynasty once said, 'Those who offend the mighty Han, though far away, shall be punished.' Today, I deliver those words verbatim to the barbarians of the thirty-six kingdoms of the Western Regions! Whether it is the Han or the Tang Dynasty, as long as they dare to touch the people of my Tang Dynasty, dare to steal a single penny of my Tang Dynasty, even if they are hiding in the desert a hundred and eight thousand miles away, I will dig up their ancestral graves and blow them to smithereens with explosives!"

"Kill! Kill! Kill!"

The blood of 100,000 soldiers boiled at that moment. Huo Qubing raised his plum blossom spear high, roared to the sky, and the three thousand Great Snow Dragon Cavalry drew their hundred-reinforced Tang horizontal swords in unison, the backs of the blades striking their breastplates with a deafening metallic roar.

Lord Wu'an, Bai Qi, licked his parched lips, his eyes filled with bloodthirsty madness: "Your Highness is right! Slaughter them all! Dig a big pit, bury them all together, it'll save trouble!"

Looking at the excited soldiers below, Li Chengqian gestured for silence. Suddenly, a sly smile appeared on his lips, and his tone abruptly changed.

"However, our Great Tang is a land of etiquette, and we cannot only know how to fight and kill. I brought you out this time not only to conquer, but also to educate! What is education? It means letting them wear wool sweaters spun by us, eat potatoes grown by us, and use glass bowls from our Chang'an!"

Li Chengqian waved his hand, pointing to the vast Western Desert: "Conquer their cities, empty their mines, and let them herd sheep and shear wool for our Great Tang for generations to come! Wherever the sun and moon shine, wherever rivers flow, all belongs to the Great Tang! Those who resist, we'll use our cannons; those who submit, they'll obediently become our laborers!"

Standing in the corner below the stage, Wu Zetian's eyes shone brightly as she listened, her little golden abacus clattering rapidly in her hands. This was the perfect master she had always admired—not only did he take lives, but he also ruthlessly exploited everyone!

"May the Great Tang Dynasty prosper! May His Highness the Crown Prince be victorious!"

The rousing war horns pierced the sky, causing another large chunk of rammed earth to fall from the remaining walls of Gaochang. Tiested to a high flagpole, Lu Dongzan watched this army, which moved like a war machine, with utter despair, and closed his eyes. He knew that from this day forward, the entire Western Regions, and even the Tibet behind him, would face an unprecedented cataclysmic destruction.

At this moment, Li Shimin, standing beside the cannon formation, looked at his son, who shone brightly atop the ruins, and felt a mix of emotions.

He touched the stubble that had just grown on his chin, his eyes welling up with tears. This kid Chengqian, although usually talkative and cunning, when it really came down to it, his domineering imperial mind was even more shrewd and ruthless than his own back then.

"It seems I really am getting old..." Li Shimin sighed silently to himself, feeling a sense of relief. Since this brat has managed the army and the empire so well, can I really abdicate in peace, return to the Taiji Palace in Chang'an to grow flowers, raise birds, and comfortably enjoy my retirement as the Retired Emperor?

The more he thought about it, the more reliable it seemed. He was about to go up and pat his son on the shoulder to discuss the important matter of returning to the capital and succeeding to the throne.

Just then, Li Shimin's hand inadvertently touched the barrel of the red-coated cannon next to him, which hadn't completely cooled down yet. The cold, raw iron texture, along with the lingering smell of gunpowder smoke, instantly seeped into the top of his head through his fingertips.

Li Shimin's eyes, which had already shown signs of weariness, suddenly blazed with a fervent light that surpassed even that of the younger generals.

Bullshit! Retire what? I just found the best toy of my life! The thirty-six kingdoms of the Western Regions haven't even been pacified yet. Going back to play with birds now would be worse than killing him!

As soon as the oath-taking ceremony ended, Li Chengqian strolled down from the ruins, rubbing his slightly sore throat, and was about to go back to his palanquin for a nap.

Li Shimin rushed forward and blocked Li Chengqian's path, slapping his son hard on the shoulder.

"Chengqian! What you just said was damn inspiring! I've made my decision!"

Li Chengqian winced as he was slapped, rubbing his shoulder and taking two steps back warily: "What have you decided? Don't tell me you're going to back out again and don't want to be the Grand Commander of the Divine Machine Battalion anymore? Let me tell you, the Crown Prince's Palace doesn't support idlers."

"What are you thinking!" Li Shimin glared at him, pulled Li Chengqian around the neck, pointed to the vast desert to the west, and chuckled.

"Didn't you just say you wanted to wipe out all thirty-six kingdoms in the Western Regions? I've made up my mind. When the army sets off, I'll lead the Divine Machine Battalion! I won't return to Chang'an, even if it means dying, until all ninety of these explosive shells are fired!"