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

The smell of gunpowder had not yet dissipated in the imperial study when Li Shimin stared blankly at the red circles on the Liaodong map.

His fingertips traced across those rugged mountain towns.

Anshi City, Jian'an City, Beishe City...

Behind every city lies the pile of bones of soldiers from the previous dynasty.

"Chengqian, do you really think we shouldn't advance without using our main force?"

Li Shimin turned his head, his eyes filled with deep confusion.

"If we don't go through the Liaoxi Corridor, how are we supposed to supply those hundreds of thousands of people by airdropping them from a few steam locomotives?"

Li Chengqian walked to the map, but did not look at the land passes that were highlighted.

His finger slowly moved down, finally stopping on the azure ocean to the east of the Tang Dynasty's map.

"Father, your thinking is still trapped by these towering mountains."

Li Chengqian casually picked up a black chess piece and slammed it heavily onto the sea.

"The journey to Liaodong by land is long and the roads are muddy."

"If Yeon Gaesomun can hold a few mountain passes, our Tang Dynasty soldiers will have to spend a year or two there."

"Haven't you learned your lesson from Emperor Yang of Sui?"

Li Shimin frowned, looking somewhat displeased.

"Of course I know that Emperor Yang of Sui was defeated because of logistics. But now we have trains, and our logistics are already half secured."

"Not enough, far from enough."

Li Chengqian shook his head, a playful smile curving his lips.

"The train can only be laid to the areas we can control."

"Once we reach Goguryeo territory, the railway tracks will be the best target for sabotage."

"If they bomb a section of the road, our supplies will be cut off for ten days."

Li Chengqian's voice was cold and clear, and every word he uttered precisely struck at Li Shimin's worries.

"So, according to you, we absolutely have to fly there?"

"Flying is too difficult, we can swim across."

Li Chengqian pointed to the long, narrow coastline of the Liaodong Peninsula, his eyes sharpening.

"All of Goguryeo's heavy troops were deployed on the western defense line."

"In their eyes, the sea to the east is a natural wall."

"They believed that no one could lead an army across the sea."

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin was first taken aback, then burst into laughter.

"Chengqian, you are still too young."

"The Tang Dynasty does indeed have a navy; I am aware of the hundreds of warships that Zhang Liang commands."

Li Shimin sighed and pointed out the window.

"But those boats are fine for just going around in circles on the river."

"When you get to the Bohai Sea or the Yellow Sea, those towering waves will knock over flat-bottomed multi-story ships like broken bowls."

"Not to mention that it also had to transport heavy iron contraptions like the Red Cannon; it would be strange if the ship didn't sink."

This was the biggest weakness of the Tang Dynasty at that time.

Shipbuilding technology was still at the level of inland waterway transportation and it did not have the capability for large-scale ocean operations at all.

Emperor Yang of Sui also sent a navy back then, but half of them perished at sea due to seasickness and rough seas before even reaching Pyongyang.

"If we don't have a boat, we can build one."

Li Chengqian replied indifferently.

"Build it? Start building it now? By the time the ship is finished, Yeon Gaesomun's grandsons will be running all over the place!"

Li Shimin thought his son was talking nonsense.

"Father, have you forgotten what I possess?"

Li Chengqian smiled mysteriously, ignored Li Shimin, and closed his eyes.

He coldly commanded in his mind: "System, activate the Ocean Overlord Edition Shop!"

[Ding! Host reputation points have exceeded three million; Ocean Overlord chapter activated!]

[Currently available redemption items: Ming Dynasty treasure ship blueprints, galleon model, naval tactics manual...]

[Ding! Hidden reward triggered: Due to the host's first activation of naval consciousness, a targeted summoning of god-level generals is now possible!]

Li Chengqian took a deep breath and silently recited a name in his mind.

He was the only man in Chinese history who truly conquered the ocean and made all nations dare not look at him with disdain.

"Exchange: Zheng He, the Three Treasures Eunuch!"

[Ding! Exchange successful! One million reputation points deducted!]

[A god-tier general: Zheng He (awakened), is on his way to the Eastern Palace as the "Chief Shipbuilder of the Tang Dynasty".]

[Bonus Rewards: Complete set of Ming Dynasty Treasure Ship blueprints! One set of nautical star charts! Three Divine Sailor Training Camps!]

A surge of information rushed into Li Chengqian's mind in an instant.

From laying the keel to constructing watertight compartments, from fine-tuning the compass to utilizing the monsoon.

At this moment, Li Chengqian had become the person in the world who understood the sea the most.

"Chengqian? Chengqian?"

Seeing his son standing there in a daze, Li Shimin waved his hand in front of his eyes.

"You silly child, have I confused you with what I said?"

"If we don't have ships, we'll attack by land. I'll lead my iron cavalry and push straight through..."

Li Chengqian suddenly opened his eyes, and the confidence in his eyes made Li Shimin's heart skip a beat.

"Father, there's no need for a direct assault."

"I just did a quick calculation, and it seems our Great Tang's 'God of Ships' is about to arrive at our doorstep."

Li Shimin was completely bewildered. "God of Ships? Who? Zhang Liang? That guy's only so-so."

Before he could finish speaking...

"Report—!"

Xu Xiao hurriedly walked in from outside, his face showing an undisguised astonishment.

"Your Highness, there is a man named Zheng He outside the door requesting an audience."

"He said... he came to serve his country with the blueprints for a divine ship capable of carrying mountains!"

Li Shimin suddenly stood up, his dragon robe sleeve sweeping over the teacups on the table.

"A divine ship? Blueprints?"

He looked at Li Chengqian suspiciously. Could this kid really be able to predict the future?

Li Chengqian straightened his clothes and strode outside.

"Let's go, Father. I'll show you what a real 'floating city on the sea' is."

The moment the hall door was pushed open.

A ray of golden sunlight shone directly onto the steps outside the door.

A burly man with piercing eyes stood silently in the shadows, holding a huge scroll.

On the exposed edge of the scroll, one can vaguely see extremely intricate and precise lines, as well as a grand concept that transcends this era.

The system notification sounded for the last time in Li Chengqian's ears.

[Ding! Congratulations, host, you have summoned the god-level general—Eunuch Zheng He!]

[Target Goguryeo! The Tang Dynasty's first navy is to be formed immediately!]

Li Chengqian looked at the man in front of him, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"Mr. Zheng, it's been a long time."

Zheng He raised his head, bowed slightly, and spoke in a steady and powerful voice:

"Your subject Zheng He is willing to sail the four seas for the Great Tang Dynasty!"