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

The sea breeze on the deck carried a distinctive salty and fishy smell.

Li Chengqian waved his hand, and Xu Xiao immediately came up carrying a long, narrow wooden box.

The wooden box was opened.

Inside was a world map drawn on sheepskin, far exceeding the cognitive precision of this era. It was part of a nautical star chart that the system had previously included.

Li Chengqian spread the map out on the huge wooden crevice.

"Father, look."

He pointed heavily at the location of Goguryeo on the map with his long, slender fingers.

"This is Yeon Gaesomun's stronghold. Although Bai Qi's Iron Eagle Warriors can cut through the Liaoxi Corridor by land, their speed won't be too fast. After all, they're going to 'build a mound of capitals,' which is a delicate task."

Li Chengqian's finger slid along the coastline into the Bohai Sea, then across the Yellow Sea, drawing a perfect route.

"Our invincible fleet will depart directly from Dengzhou. Zheng He's treasure ships can ignore those shoals and reefs, bypass Goguryeo's heavily fortified defenses, and strike at the heart of the enemy, conducting an amphibious landing outside Pyongyang."

Li Shimin nodded repeatedly as he listened.

He had considered this tactic of launching a surprise attack across the sea before, but he had been hampered by the lack of large ships capable of withstanding the wind and waves, and could only sigh in vain. Now, with this massive fleet, Goguryeo's rear was like a completely undefended backyard.

"Excellent! With a combined attack by land and sea, Yeon Gaesomun has no chance of escape!"

Li Shimin slammed his fist excitedly on the railing. "I'm heading back to Chang'an now, waiting for your good news!"

"Father, don't rush off yet."

Li Chengqian's lips curled into a somewhat smug smile.

His finger didn't stop at Pyongyang, but continued sliding eastward. It crossed the vast Tsushima Strait and finally stopped on a long, narrow island shaped like a worm.

"Where am I?"

Li Shimin frowned and leaned closer to take a look.

That place was some distance from the Tang Dynasty's mainland, separated by a turbulent sea.

"This place is now called Wa (Japan), or Dongying (Japan)."

A barely perceptible glint of cold light flashed in Li Chengqian's eyes.

As a time traveler, he had an almost instinctive, physiological aversion to the people of that land.

Especially recently in Chang'an.

Inugami Mikawa, that short, stocky fellow, led a group of envoys to Tang China, like a bunch of rats hiding in a gutter, constantly prying into the secrets of the Tang Dynasty. His outwardly subservient but inwardly greedy and disgusting demeanor made Li Chengqian want to draw his sword at the mere sight of him.

"These shorty bastards aren't enjoying their sashimi on the island; instead, they've come to our Great Tang to steal our skills."

Li Chengqian casually fiddled with a jade pendant at his waist, speaking in a relaxed tone as if he were discussing tomorrow's breakfast.

"I heard that Inugami Odenkuchi pawned his underwear to buy our obsolete blueprints."

"I felt bad seeing how poor they were."

Li Shimin was completely confused.

"What does this have to do with our military intervention? Are you going to go and offer them aid?"

"Offering warmth? I'm not that generous."

Li Chengqian chuckled, rubbed his fingers together, and made a counting money gesture.

"I heard Shen Lian say during his interrogation of those spies that although their dilapidated island was poor, there was a huge silver vein buried underground."

"Building treasure ships and maintaining a navy is a money pit. That old man Dai Zhou rolls his eyes whenever he sees the bills lately."

"Since our fleet has already set sail, why not stop by their island for a 'friendly exchange' and borrow some money? It wouldn't be too much to ask, would it?"

These words were spoken with righteous indignation, and even carried a hint of grievance for the sake of the Tang Dynasty's national treasury.

Zheng He, who was standing nearby, twitched at the corner of his eye as he listened.

He had only been summoned recently. Although he had done similar things like collecting protection money at sea in his original timeline, none of it was as dignified as what this Crown Prince was saying.

This is clearly a "buy one get one free" deal. Not satisfied with just defeating Goguryeo, they also want to rob their neighbor along the way.

Li Shimin gasped in shock.

He looked at his eight-year-old son.

This kid has an insatiable appetite!

Goguryeo at least shared a border and had a long-standing feud. Japan, on the other hand, was separated by a vast sea and usually only sent a few envoys to pay their respects, posing absolutely no military threat.

Just because that island has silver mines, and because they don't like the envoy, they want to lead an invincible fleet to wipe them out.

"Chengqian, this cross-sea operation is no child's play. Opening up two battlefields simultaneously will disperse our forces; what if…?"

Li Shimin was interrupted by Li Chengqian before he could finish speaking.

"Father, you overestimate them."

Li Chengqian turned around and faced the thirty treasure ships that stood like a mountain of steel.

"This is not about diverting our forces. Fighting Goguryeo is the main course, while going to Japan is just dessert."

"Our ship-mounted cannons have a range ten times that of their arrows. Our treasure ships can sink their dilapidated rafts as easily as crushing a bug."

Li Chengqian held onto the railing with both hands, the sea breeze making his black cloak flutter.

His face, still bearing a hint of childishness, was etched with an arrogance and domineering nature that could shake the heavens and earth.

"Now that the Tang Dynasty's fleet has set sail, there can only be one voice in this sea area."

"Either kneel down and be a dog, or sink to the bottom of the sea and feed the turtles."

Li Shimin stood on the dock, listening to these bold words coming from the bow of the ship.

He looked at the enormous sails that blotted out the sky, and at the black cannon barrels that gleamed in the sunlight.

The Tang emperor, who had spent his life on the battlefield, couldn't help but have his eyelids twitch wildly.

He suddenly realized that he had always thought he was protecting his son.

In truth, the real behemoth of war has always been that lazy boy lying on the rocking chair in the Eastern Palace.

"You little brat..."

Li Shimin took a deep breath, which finally turned into a sigh filled with complex emotions.

"This is going to turn the entire East China Sea upside down!"

Li Chengqian stood atop the high watchtower and waved to his father below.

Then, he turned to look at Zheng He, his eyes instantly becoming as sharp as a knife.

"Zheng He, heed my command!"

"Your subject is here!" Zheng He knelt on one knee, his voice booming like a great bell.

"Full sails! Weigh anchor!"

Li Chengqian drew his sword from his waist and pointed it diagonally to the unknown sea in the east.

"First stop, outside Pyongyang, I will annihilate the Goguryeo navy!"

"Second stop, Asuka-kyo. I will have the Tang Dynasty's dragon flag planted above their emperor's bedside!"

"Ugh—!"

Accompanied by a steam whistle that shattered the clouds.

This invincible fleet, which was beyond the comprehension of its time, was like a group of awakened sea dragons, slowly sailing away from Dengzhou Port.

At this moment, the wheels of history completely veered off course.