Tang Dynasty: Consort Wu? Your Majesty, please address her as the Crown Prince's Consort.

"Oh?"

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin became somewhat interested.

"If that's the case, what's the best course of action?"

Seeing his father asking, Li Chengqian did not hide anything and immediately replied:

"The best strategy is actually quite simple. As the art of war says, conquering cities is the inferior strategy; conquering hearts and minds is the superior one. If we want to completely bring the grasslands into our territory, we must first win the hearts and minds of the grassland people, making them feel from the bottom of their hearts that the Tang Dynasty is good and that they belong to the Tang Dynasty!"

However, no sooner had he finished speaking than Li Tai, who had been silent for a long time, couldn't help but sneer and say:

"Brother, you speak so lightly. Those who are not of our kind are bound to have different intentions. If you want them to side with the Tang Dynasty, you might as well kill them!"

Li Tai's words instantly won the approval of the entire court, especially the military officers!

"Yes! These barbarians from the grasslands are just bastards. They don't know the pain unless you beat them. You can't treat them well; if you don't discipline them for three days, they'll be climbing on the roof and tearing off the tiles!"

"Exactly! I think Your Highness's middle strategy is quite good; just kill them all!"

In an instant, the military officers began to stir up trouble, believing that killing was the simplest method!

At that moment, Li Shimin slammed his hand on the dragon throne and shouted:

"Shut up, all of you!"

An imperial aura unique to Li Shimin silenced the previously aggressive military general instantly.

Seeing this scene, Li Chengqian couldn't help but sigh, "Truly worthy of being Li Shimin, only he can keep these murderers in check!"

Seeing that the area below had finally quieted down, Li Shimin turned to Li Chengqian and said:

"Go on!"

Li Chengqian nodded, then smiled slightly at everyone and began to speak:

"When I said I wanted to win over the hearts of the grassland people, I didn't mean I was targeting the nobility! What do you all think is the most abundant thing on the grasslands?"

Upon hearing Li Chengqian's question, Fang Xuanling, who was standing nearby, immediately and instinctively spoke up:

"They were ordinary herders, and slaves!"

"That's right, they are ordinary herdsmen and slaves!"

Although the Eastern Turkic Khaganate was destroyed, large and small tribes still existed. Within these tribes, there were still commoners and nobles. The nobles oppressed and exploited ordinary herders and slaves. As far as I know, the amount of taxes that ordinary herders had to pay to the nobles exceeded 80% of their annual herding income.

In other words, in good years, they could barely make ends meet by herding livestock all year round, but if they encountered snow disasters or plagues, they would starve to death.

If someone were to tell them at this time that becoming citizens of the Tang Dynasty would grant them tax exemptions, not only would all their annual income belong to them, but the Tang Dynasty would also provide them with weapons and provisions, help them resist the nobles, and divide the nobles' estates among them after their downfall, with the Tang Dynasty taking not a single penny!

At this point, Li Chengqian's lips curled into a slight, wicked smile as he spoke in a low voice:

"What do you think will happen on the grasslands? Think about how the Sui Dynasty fell. Where there is oppression, there is resistance."

What the Tang Dynasty needs to do is support these rebels and then hand them a knife!

"Are kings and nobles born with a special destiny? This is the most exhilarating sentence I've ever heard!!!"

Li Chengqian's words were like the whispers of a demon, sending a shiver down the spines of everyone present.

No?

Do you know that the person you're stepping on is the Crown Prince?

Prince and general, would you rather have a kind?

Is it right for you to say that?

Even Li Shimin, sitting on the dragon throne, couldn't help but frown when he heard his rebellious son's words.

This kid has a rebellious streak; making him the crown prince is a complete waste of his talent.

This isn't a prince, this is a born traitor!

【Ding! 】

[Li Shimin's anger detected; reward: Rebellious Son Achievement Point +1]

Li Chengqian was stunned to see that he had only gained one achievement point for his rebellious son. What was this little achievement point?

My old man got angry... in a fit of anger?

At this moment, Li Shimin sighed helplessly, looked at him, and said in a tone of disappointment:

"Alas! The Crown Prince's suggestion is good, but unrealistic. I feel you still have much to learn!"

Unrealistic?

What's unrealistic about it?

Seeing the Crown Prince's puzzled expression, Fang Xuanling patiently explained to him:

"Your Highness! Your method is indeed too idealistic. If we follow Your Highness's method, the final result will be to restore stability to the originally chaotic grasslands and give birth to a new overlord, and this overlord will be one that our Great Tang has personally fostered."

After hearing Fang Xuanling's explanation, Li Chengqian couldn't help but be slightly taken aback.

Ah this...

It seems that this is indeed the case; those slaves who rise up in rebellion will become the new aristocracy, and they will continue to oppress the lower-level herders and slaves in order to maintain their status.

Moreover, once they have achieved unification, their sights will once again be set on the Tang Dynasty!

Human desires are like a boulder rolling down a mountain; once they start, they can never be stopped!

You help them gain their freedom and overthrow the old aristocracy, and then what?

They would want to become the new nobles, and once they become the new nobles, they would want to have more resources, so they would start to oppress the common people.

When the common people in their own territory can no longer satisfy them, they will turn their attention back to the Tang Dynasty.

hiss~

Thinking of this, Li Chengqian couldn't help but gasp.

Only then did he realize his problem: his supposedly superior strategy was actually a foolish and inferior one!

Li Chengqian immediately bowed to Fang Xuanling, who was standing to the side, and looked at him sincerely, saying:

"Thank you for your guidance, Prime Minister Fang. I have learned a great deal!"

Upon seeing this, Fang Xuanling couldn't help but show a look of surprise.

He hadn't expected that Crown Prince Li Chengqian would actually bow to him; the Crown Prince's magnanimity was just like His Majesty's.

Upon seeing this scene, Li Shimin, seated on the dragon throne, also showed a barely perceptible hint of satisfaction in his eyes.

Of course, he wouldn't admit it. He immediately snorted coldly and said in an annoyed tone:

"Hmph! The best option is unrealistic, the middle option is against the will of Heaven and has too many side effects. In my opinion, we should establish a Protectorate General. It's just a bit more troublesome!"

Seeing that their emperor had made the decision directly, all the ministers cheered.

"Your Majesty is wise!"

……

Although Li Chengqian didn't show it on his face when he returned to the group, he was still somewhat disappointed.

He had underestimated the people of ancient times; he had always harbored a sense of superiority as a time traveler.

Only today did I realize that the ancients were not stupid; on the contrary, they were very clever.

Moreover, some policies that seem flawed in hindsight may be the optimal solution in the current context!

Indeed, we should not underestimate these ancient people. How many of those who have made their mark on history were fools?

No, I must make good use of the system to farm achievement points. Only by strengthening myself can I have the confidence to do so in the future.

You unfilial father! Are you... ready? Hehehe!

At this moment, Li Shimin was on the dragon throne.

Ok?

Why does it feel so cold?

No redemption! There's a problem, there's something dirty inside.