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

Inside the Imperial Study.

Li Shimin stood with his hands behind his back in front of the specially made world map that occupied most of the wall.

His eyes, which had been scrutinizing memorials for years, were now gleaming with an unprecedented sense of satisfaction, like a wealthy man guarding a mountain of gold, happily taking stock of his fortune.

On the map, those places that Li Chengqian once jokingly called "no man's land" are now covered with densely packed flags of vassal kings.

The dragon flag of the Tang Dynasty fluttered across every piece of land, following the shipping routes that spanned the oceans.

"Chengqian, come and see, this is the prosperous era that I have built... no, this is the prosperous era that my father and I have created."

Li Shimin pointed to the vast map of the Americas, his voice filled with emotion.

"That third brother of mine, back in Chang'an, I always felt that he had too much chivalry and was always causing trouble. But look at him now, not only has he established himself in South America, but he's even sent me that treasure called 'corn'."

"This thing has an incredibly high yield. If it were planted on a large scale, the people of the Tang Dynasty would probably never go hungry again."

Li Chengqian was sprawled on the soft couch specially provided in the imperial study, holding a book he had found somewhere and covering his face with it.

Upon hearing Li Shimin's boasting, he only responded with a muffled groan from under the book.

"That place has fertile soil and abundant water. As long as he doesn't get burned as a sacrifice by those local tribesmen painted in bright colors, isn't growing some food a basic feat?"

Li Shimin ignored his son's complaints and slid his finger towards distant Europe.

"And then there's Zhinu, he was the one I was most worried about. That child is gentle, and I was always afraid he would be bullied by those bearded barbarians."

"As a result, when this kid got to the British Isles, he actually learned to sow discord. Those so-called medieval kings are now lining up to pay their respects at his palace, and they even have to learn to speak Tang Dynasty Mandarin. This is simply... simply more efficient than when I pacified Guanzhong."

Li Shimin's finger moved towards North America, a rare hint of seriousness in his eyes.

"As for the fourth son, Tai'er, he really listens to you. In the telegrams he's sent back these past few months, all he says is that he's building furnaces and smelting steel over there. The molten iron from his steel plant is said to be enough to flatten the permafrost in North America."

"That child swore to build a steel city over there. Chengqian, do you think our Li family bloodline is naturally suited to rule this planet?"

Li Shimin became more and more excited as he spoke, putting his hands on his hips and taking a big step, almost as if he was about to jump up and down in the imperial study.

This is no longer a simple matter of all nations paying tribute.

In the past, those foreign tribes would simply send an envoy to kowtow and exchange some silk and tea for something to take back with them.

The current situation is that all nations are like the Tang Dynasty.

Looking around, the entire earth seemed to have become the Li family's private estate, with each son managing a plot of vegetable garden, and Li Shimin being the master of this estate.

Li Chengqian turned over, removed the book from his face, and revealed a lazy expression as if he had seen through the world.

"Alright, old man, that's typical parental mentality. Your sons are doing well, and you're certainly proud of them, but don't forget, you're now 'surrounded' by them."

Li Shimin's laughter stopped abruptly.

He stared blankly at the world map covered with telegraph lines.

That instant messaging ability truly gave him a godlike perspective and also brought him a terrifying power of control that was unimaginable in the feudal era.

But as this control expands to its extreme, an indescribable sense of emptiness surges into my heart like a tide.

He found himself with nothing left to do.

Domestic affairs were delegated to the clearly defined Secretariat and Department of State Affairs by Crown Prince Li Chengqian, making it difficult even for the emperor to find an excuse to revise memorials.

With the war abroad underway, the Great Snow Dragon Cavalry and the Embroidered Uniform Guard had already eliminated all potential threats, and his sons were doing their jobs well in their respective fiefdoms, so there was no need for him to personally lead the expedition.

The current Li Shimin, sitting on the dragon throne, looks more like a security guard sitting in the central control room.

Aside from staring blankly at the screen, he couldn't even find an opponent to discuss "how to pacify the world" with.

The sons have fought all the wars in the world.

Crown Prince Chengqian has explained all the principles of the world.

Li Shimin sighed deeply, sat back on the dragon throne with a somewhat dejected air, and unconsciously tapped his fingers on the imperial desk.

"I'm so lonely."

"Chengqian, I finally understand why you always wanted to be a nobody. If the world is too stable, being an emperor is really boring."

"I used to dream of immortality, but now I'm wondering, if I live to be a hundred, what am I supposed to do with the rest of my life just reading telegrams all day?"

Li Chengqian chuckled, his tone tinged with schadenfreude.

"This is called 'extreme emptiness.' Old man, you're just used to being busy, a typical workaholic. How about I arrange a job for you? How about you go to the royal farm in the eastern suburbs to experience life?"

Just as Li Shimin was about to glare and start cursing, the door to the imperial study was flung open by a series of hurried footsteps.

Tang Jian, the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial, looked like a disaster victim who had just escaped from a fire. His official hat was askew, and he rushed in, covered in sweat.

"Your Majesty! Great joy... no, something terrible has happened!"

Tang Jian, supporting himself on his knees, was breathing heavily, his old face turning purple from the effort.

Li Shimin frowned, and the emptiness that had just arisen in his heart was instantly dispelled.

"Tang Jian, calm down! If the sky falls, the Crown Prince will hold it up. What are you panicking for? Did Li Ke get boiled alive in South America?"

Tang Jian waved his hands repeatedly, swallowed hard, and then shouted in a hoarse voice, "Not the King of Wu! It's Rome! It's faraway Rome!"

"That pope, what's his name, Celestine... or whatever, anyway, he's the one who claims to be acting on behalf of Heaven."

"He personally led a large entourage, traversing mountains and valleys, and after traveling for more than half a year on a Tang Dynasty merchant ship, they have now entered Chang'an!"

Li Shimin was stunned and subconsciously glanced at Li Chengqian.

Rome?

Isn't that the leader of the Europa side where Li Zhi, the ninth brother, is located?

"What is he doing in Chang'an? Did the Ninth Prince demolish his house over there?" Li Shimin asked curiously.

Tang Jian was both amused and exasperated, wiping the sweat from his face.

"Your Majesty, according to the information I have gathered... it's because His Highness Prince Jin established some kind of 'Scientology' in the British Isles, and he has taken away all the people who originally believed in that Pope."

"That pope couldn't stay in Europe any longer and insisted on coming to the Tang Dynasty to see the sage and ask if miracles truly existed!"

Li Shimin's eyes lit up again, and he slammed his hand on the imperial desk, straightening up completely.

"Great! Interesting! Quickly, bring in the one with the hat!"

"Chengqian, wake up! Get up and greet the guests!"

Li Chengqian turned over, closed his eyes, and muttered something.

"What guests? That's the trouble that Ninth Brother caused. Let him send me a telegram explaining himself."

Li Shimin was not about to miss this opportunity to relieve his boredom. He quickly walked down the dragon steps, grabbed Li Chengqian's sleeve, and pulled him outside.

"Enough nonsense! I want to see who the true god is when he sees me, the Emperor of the Great Tang Dynasty, the Pope who makes all of Europe kneel in worship!"

Tang Jian stood to the side and cautiously added a sentence.

"Your Majesty, the Pope also brought a generous gift, saying it is their sacred treasure, and he wants to exchange it for a telegraph machine from the Tang Dynasty."

After listening, Li Shimin snorted coldly and looked at the black box not far away.

"Want a telegraph machine? Let him trade his Vatican for it!"

Li Chengqian was dragged around unsteadily and couldn't help but complain.

"Old man, your eating manners are truly appalling!"