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

Inside a side hall of the East Palace, the rhythmic clanging of the telegraph machine still echoed, its sound lingering in the air.

Li Shimin was walking back and forth in the bizarre "laboratory" that Li Chengqian had transformed, with his hands behind his back. He would touch the vacuum tube that was flashing an eerie blue light, and then stare blankly at the strange copper wires that were stretched all over the room.

"Chengqian, tell me honestly, how exactly does this thing transmit sound?"

Li Chengqian rolled his eyes, holding a screwdriver in his hand, disassembling a capacitor that had just burned out.

"Heavenly secrets? Old man, you need to change your feudal and superstitious thinking."

"I don't care if it's electric or a drum. All I know is that with this thing, I can slap your third brother across the face through this iron box the moment he even has the thought of slaughtering the natives!"

Li Shimin became more and more excited as he spoke, placing his hands on the table and staring intently at Li Chengqian.

"This must be rolled out across the entire Tang Dynasty! Even the most remote beacon towers on the border must be equipped with one! I want the entire Tang Dynasty to be speaking right next to my ear!"

Li Chengqian dropped the screwdriver, dusted off his hands, stood up, and gave a cold laugh.

"Spread it across the entire territory? Old man, do you know how much a foot of copper wire costs? Do you know how much rubber is needed to wrap the copper wire? Do you know how much effort it takes to train a radio operator who can understand this 'didi-da' rhythm?"

"Money? I have it! And rubber? Isn't the third prince exchanging it over there?" Li Shimin waved his sleeve with boundless pride. "As long as the Tang Dynasty lasts for thousands of generations, I'd sell the imperial treasury for it!"

Li Chengqian shook his head, looking at his father as if he were a fool.

"Your treasury? Forget it, it's not even enough to build a relay station between Southeast Asia and Chang'an for me. This is called 'technology is the primary productive force,' understand? Money alone is useless; you need an industrial chain."

Just as the father and son were arguing about the blueprint for "global infrastructure", Wu Zetian coughed softly.

"Your Highness, Your Majesty, Lord Wei Zheng is waiting at the entrance of the side hall again. He said... he said that since Your Highness can transmit messages over a thousand miles, could you please ask him if his youngest son, Wei Shuyu, who is studying in the Western Regions, will be returning for the New Year this year?"

Li Chengqian's lips twitched slightly.

"Get him out! This is the Great Tang Strategic Communications Center, not his mouthpiece!"

Li Shimin waved his hand and looked at Li Chengqian with a mischievous smile.

"Hey, Chengqian, don't be so heartless. Although old man Wei is stubborn, if he witnesses the power of this divine artifact, the voices impeaching you for 'neglecting your duties' in court will be quieter. Wang De, summon Wei Zheng!"

A moment later, Wei Zheng walked in with a solemn expression. His sharp eyes scanned the room and finally settled on the buzzing machine.

"Your Highness, this old minister has heard that this object can seize the power of heaven and earth, enabling the transmission of sound across vast distances?"

Li Chengqian pointed to the telegraph keys that were still blinking.

"The signal lines in the Western Regions aren't fully established yet, so getting a few fragmented signals is just luck. Besides, your son isn't my brother; he doesn't have a dedicated codebook, so what he sends is just a bunch of gibberish."

Wei Zheng paused for a moment, then his old face tightened: "Your Highness, this old minister is not concerned with personal matters. This old minister is thinking, if this thing were truly feasible, wouldn't military intelligence from the border regions, grain prices during famine years, and even corruption in various places be instantly presented to the Emperor?"

"That's right, so I plan to establish the 'Great Tang Royal Telegraph Bureau.' From now on, all official documents will be transmitted via telegraph, increasing efficiency ten thousandfold."

Li Shimin, listening nearby, was beaming with delight: "Excellent! What a great name! Let's call it the Great Tang Royal Telegraph Bureau! Chengqian, you'll be the Director-General, and I'll be the Honorary Director-General, how about that?"

Li Chengqian rolled his eyes again.

Wei Zheng, who was listening nearby, was alarmed and quickly advised, "Your Majesty, this is a vital instrument that will benefit the country and its people. It should be implemented step by step."

Li Chengqian waved his hand, interrupting their official conversation.

"Alright, alright, stop making declarations of determination here. Lord Wei, you want to see the divine artifact, right? Xu Xiao, go and send a signal to the third brother in South America, ask him how the weather is there today."

Xu Xiao walked over, looking completely bewildered: "Your Highness, how... how do I send this?"

"I'll teach you, at this frequency, beep, beep, tap."

Li Chengqian taught Xu Xiao how to operate the equipment step by step.

The rhythmic sound of a telegraph key rang out again inside the room.

After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, a faint but clear electrical sound suddenly came from the small speaker.

"Beep, tap, beep..."

The radio operator quickly transcribed the message, then looked up with a strange expression.

"Your Highness, the King of Wu has replied. He said that it's sunny in South America right now, and he's shirtless leading people to mine in the rainforest. He also said... he also said that the birdmen there dance quite beautifully, and asked if Your Highness would like to send you two dancers."

"puff--!"

Li Shimin sprayed the mouthful of tea he had just drunk all over Wei Zheng's robe.

Wei Zheng's face turned bright red, whether from anger or from being scolded, it was hard to tell.

Li Shimin wiped the tea stains from the corner of his mouth as he pointed at the telegraph machine and laughed and scolded.

"That unfilial son! I'll send a telegram later and give him a thorough dressing-down!"

But the undisguised kindness and pride in his eyes made it clear to everyone present.

The magic of the telegraph completely captivated the highest levels of power in the Tang Dynasty at this moment.

Looking at the copper wires that were still vibrating slightly, Li Chengqian felt an unprecedented sense of accomplishment.

He certainly didn't want to be the crown prince, but that didn't stop him from making the most of this era.

"Your Highness, we've received a signal from the west as well!" the radio operator suddenly exclaimed.

Li Chengqian frowned: "The west? Fourth Prince Li Tai? Isn't he in North America?"

"No, the signal relay station indicates it's heading towards the border of Tibet in the Western Regions!"

"Help...help! The Tibetan Grand Minister Gar Tongtsen has personally led 50,000 elite cavalry across the border and has already besieged our beacon towers!"

Li Shimin suddenly stood up and grabbed the edge of the telegraph machine. His knuckles turned white from the force he used.

"What did you say? Lu Dongzan dares to launch a military campaign on which day of the Lunar New Year?"

Li Chengqian's eyes narrowed slightly, and his previous nonchalant expression vanished instantly, replaced by a calm demeanor.

"Old man, stop standing there. This kind of real-time military intelligence is exactly what your Great Snow Dragon Riders need to show."

He turned to look at Xu Xiao.

"By my order, the Embroidered Uniform Guards are to stand by throughout the city, monitoring the movements of the Five Clans and Seven Noble Families. Also, send a telegram to the Fourth Prince, instructing him to halt the steak banquet in North America and to have his artisan team immediately develop a long-range fire support device."

Li Shimin took a deep breath, and a murderous aura surged in his eyes.

"Lu Dongzan... does he think my old sword is too weak to wield anymore, or does he think my sons have all gone far away, leaving me all alone in Chang'an?"

He looked at Li Chengqian, his tone calm and authoritative.

"Chengqian, send a telegram back to the beacon tower. Tell them to hold out for one hour, and my army will arrive shortly after!"

Li Chengqian shook his head, a cruel smile playing on his lips.

"Old man, replying is too slow. Just forward the telegram directly to Bai Qi's camp and let that 'god of slaughter' go and talk to Lu Dongzan about what a 'transcendent war' is."

Li Shimin was stunned for a moment, then clapped his hands and laughed.

"Okay! We'll do it your way!"

"Your Highness, about Lord Wei's son..." Xu Xiao whispered a reminder.

Li Chengqian glanced at Wei Zheng, who was standing guard to the side, and casually tapped the telegraph machine a few times.

"Send a casual message to the Western Regions: when you pass by Wei Shuyu's place, tell him that his father wants him to come back for dumplings as soon as possible, otherwise he won't get any next year."

Wei Zheng stood there, stunned, his eyes even slightly moist.

"This old minister... thanks Your Highness the Crown Prince."

Li Shimin couldn't wait to lead his men to the Ministry of War, determined to turn this newly acquired military intelligence into a nightmare for the Tibetans.

The entire Eastern Palace returned to a strange calm.

Only that metal box continued to tick away.

"Your Highness, are you really going to make this popular among the common people?" Wu Meiniang asked softly as she massaged Li Chengqian's shoulders.

Li Chengqian closed his eyes, feeling the pressure of his fingertips, and spoke in a leisurely tone.

"The common people? It's too early. After I've dealt with all those unruly troublemakers, I'll let the people of the Tang Dynasty experience what 'video calling' really means."

"Video call? What kind of miracle is that?"

"That's a technology... that allows you to see my handsome face even from thousands of miles away."

Wu Zetian chuckled, her eyes filled with admiration and tenderness.

Just then, the sound of rapid hoofbeats suddenly came from outside the window.

"Report! Urgent dispatch from Tibet! Must be delivered by express courier!"

Hearing the mournful shouts, Li Chengqian's lips curled into a mocking smile.

"Xu Xiao, go tell that courier to stop shouting, his throat hurts. Bai Qi has probably already finished the battle over there and called it a day."

"This is the information gap..."

Li Chengqian muttered to himself as he reached out and picked up the last popsicle on the table.

"Old man, don't blame me for not warning you. Once you know what real 'real-time strategy' is, you'll probably be even more unable to stop being the emperor."

Meanwhile, inside the imperial study, Li Shimin was frantically waving his fists at the empty wall.

"Strike! Strike them hard! Tell Bai Qi that I want to see Lu Dongzan's surrender document before dinner tonight!"

The telegraph operator looked troubled: "Your Majesty... that's a telegram. General Bai hasn't replied yet. Shouting at the wall won't do any good."

"I know! I'm rehearsing! Quickly, keep an eye on that box, and report to me immediately if there's any movement!"

The power center of the Tang Dynasty was in complete chaos that afternoon.

Yet, it has also been revitalized like never before.

"Your Majesty, General Bai Qi has replied!"

"What did you say?"

"He said... Lu Dongzan ran too fast and only caught his boots, asking if you wanted to take them back as a keepsake?"