In my dream of returning to the Tang Dynasty, I snatched Wu Zetian from my lap.

The handwriting is delicate, somewhat like a woman's brushstrokes, but the rise and fall also carries a sharp feeling. How... how come it looks a bit like her handwriting?

He suddenly sprang up.

Where are they?

"Where is she?" he shouted, grabbing Huo Sanniang so hard she winced in pain.

"Your Highness, they left a while ago, probably an hour or two ago."

Upon hearing this, Li Yuanchang rushed to the window of the flower boat and pulled it open. The shore was bustling with people, but no matter how he searched, he could not find any familiar figures.

He frowned and looked at the note in his hand again. The more he looked at it, the more it resembled Wu Zetian's handwriting!

"Was the person who paid this tall, with big eyes, a sharp and heroic air about them, and very fair skin? Did they look like a woman dressed as a man?"

Huo Sanniang nodded: "It seems there really is some truth to that."

His attendants called him Young Master Ling.

Li Yuanchang frowned. "Young Master Ling?"

"Your Highness, what's wrong?" Huo Sanniang asked, puzzled.

Li Yuanchang shook his head, his gaze somewhat complicated. He felt that he was either paranoid or delusional; Wu Meiniang couldn't possibly be in Chang'an.

Moreover, her participation in the Northern Expedition has not been fully disclosed; only people in the court probably know about it. Where did she get this information?

But who is this person?

"It's alright, it's alright."

"call."

He exhaled a breath of stale air.

Seeing Li Yuanchang's strange expression, Huo Sanniang suggested, "Your Highness, you had a hangover last night and must be feeling unwell. Why don't you take a bath to wash away your fatigue?"

"If you don't mind, Third Sister will accompany you personally."

Li Yuanchang took a deep breath and collected his scattered thoughts: "Okay."

"Your Highness, please follow Third Sister."

Huo Sanniang led him to another cabin on the pleasure boat. It wasn't big, but it had all the necessary internal organs, and hot water was already prepared.

Splash!

Li Yuanchang's tall, sculpted body gradually sank into the warm water, then he closed his eyes to rest, lost in thought.

So much so that he didn't pay much attention to Huo Sanniang, who had taken off her outer clothes and was only wearing a thin gauze to help him scrub her back.

This was the first time Huo Sanniang had ever met a man who wasn't interested in her. She wasn't there to entertain guests; she was just the owner. Despite her initiative, Li Yuanchang didn't even touch her hand.

"Your Highness, would you like any other services?" she asked softly, seemingly asking for permission but actually hinting.

"No need," Li Yuanchang blurted out, his mind still on the note.

A look of disappointment flashed across Huo San Niang's eyes.

I took the initiative the first time, and I was rejected.

"Your Highness, there are young and beautiful courtesans on the pleasure boat. They all admire you. If Your Highness does not like me, I can find someone for you."

Li Yuanchang sensed her ingratiating intention and laughed, "I don't like young people."

"What kind of girl does His Highness like?" Huo Sanniang asked curiously.

"I prefer other people's," Li Yuanchang joked.

"what?"

Upon hearing this, Huo San Niang's expression turned strange, then she was both amused and exasperated. What kind of quirk was this? And it was far too direct; it was as if they weren't treating her like an outsider!

"Then, shall I dress up for Your Highness?" she asked hesitantly, not wanting to give up.

Li Yuanchang raised an eyebrow: "Really?"

"I'll give it a try. I'm not a hostess, so please forgive me if I do anything inappropriate," Huo Sanniang said awkwardly.

"Of course, I only admire the King of Han. The King of Han does not need to give me money, if the King of Han is willing."

Li Yuanchang smiled upon hearing this, suddenly feeling embarrassed.

"..."

afternoon.

Li Yuanchang had just reached the shore when he returned to the Prince of Han's residence.

They had barely arrived when they received some truly historic news.

"Your Highness, you're finally back! The court sent people early this morning; His Majesty has officially issued the order to recruit soldiers and the order to launch a punitive expedition!"

"Li Ji is the commander-in-chief, Xue Wanche is the deputy commander-in-chief, and more than ten other generals including Ashina Sher, Zhang Jian, Li Daozong, Li Dali, and Zhishi Sili are also appointed!"

"We have assembled the central imperial guards, a portion of the elite troops from Chang'an, troops from over twenty prefectures along the border, and various armies from the Turkic, Tiele, and Khitan tribes who have submitted to us. With an army of 140,000, we march north, vowing to annihilate the Xueyantuo!"

boom!

Li Yuanchang was deeply shocked!

So fast?

Li Ji, Xue Wanche, Ashina, Li Dali... they were all famous generals, and there were several famous commanders as well.

After Li Shimin settled the Tibetans, he mobilized a whole host of famous generals, as if he wanted to shake the eggs in the Xueyantuo's stronghold!

He felt his blood boil with excitement. He had just witnessed a major historical event, which was akin to expanding territory. Moreover, being able to fight alongside top-tier warriors like Li Ji and Xue Wanche was a truly remarkable achievement.

"Your Highness, an official from the court has issued orders appointing you as the Military Warehouse Officer of Lantian Prefecture. You are to report to Lantian County immediately without fail!"

Upon hearing this, Li Yuanchang's face immediately fell.

They said they were to send him to the border army to atone for his crimes and become a sixth-rank quartermaster, but why was he demoted at the last minute?

They should at least give him a higher-ranking position. A prince being appointed as the Warehouse Commandant only has three hundred men under his command.

This isn't bandit suppression, it's a real war!

It's a bit embarrassing to say it out loud.

Guo Chao and the others looked embarrassed. How could they be so low? They were on the same level as him.

In the Tang Dynasty, the division of the army was strictly regulated.

By this calculation, Li Yuanchang didn't even join the central imperial guards; he joined the local militia around Chang'an, which, although elite, belonged to the second tier.

Moreover, within the framework of the elite Chang'an garrison, when it comes to logistics, the Cangcao Xiaowei (仓曹校尉) is not even in charge of anything.

The warehouse clerk was in charge of grain, fodder, and equipment. He was headed by the military advisor and had more than one captain under him, who were specifically responsible for escorting supplies.

To put it bluntly, they were the ones who put in the effort, not the ones who made the decisions.

Li Yuanchang cursed inwardly, strongly suspecting that he had been tricked by Li Shimin, who was definitely trying to appease the forces that had impeached him.

Otherwise, it would be impossible for him to be demoted on the spot and given such a low-ranking position with absolutely no decision-making power.

"Anything else?"

Did they say who their superior is?

"Your Highness, I don't know that. I only said that you should go and report for duty immediately. In addition, it was specifically instructed that, considering your noble status, the Ministry of War has approved Your Highness to bring one hundred personal guards after reporting to the Ministry."

"However, they must all be incorporated into the Fubing system and obey unified command."

Upon hearing this, Li Yuanchang was displeased, but military orders were absolute and no joke. Going to Li Shimin at this moment would be tactless.

"That's enough!"

"Guo Chao, quickly muster one hundred troops and rush to Lantian County!"

"Time is of the essence. Except for essential supplies, no one is allowed to bring their own, so as to avoid gossip."

"yes!!"

"After I leave for the campaign, the rest of you must keep a close watch on the Han Prince's residence in Chang'an. We don't know where the letters from Liangzhou have been sent. The replies from the Han Princess and the others will arrive in Chang'an first; remember to deliver them to the front lines promptly!"

"yes!!"

Amidst the shouts, the tense atmosphere of war finally spread to every corner of Chang'an.