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

Li Yuanchang spent five more days in Japan, "shamelessly" making arrangements before setting off again to officially return to the Tang Dynasty.

He left many valuable things for Chishima, taking only Akari with him.

But this does not mean the end of the relationship. Li Yuanchang’s support for the entire Daban clan will continue, and supplies and seeds will be continuously sent from the sea to Dayuan Port.

However, in order to prevent the tiger from becoming a threat and to prevent the Ōtomo clan from turning their backs on him in the future, Li Yuanchang also imposed certain restrictions.

Such a family could even be considered a regime, and the will of one person in Chishima could not guarantee the long-term will of everyone.

For example, supplies are not provided free of charge; instead, they require exchange with the Ōtomo clan, such as gold and copper ore!

Japan has many gold mines, and according to historical records, the Tang Dynasty imported gold from Japan every year.

Furthermore, Li Yuanchang also arranged for some of the Han Prince's trusted confidants to secretly remain in Japan, with a five-year term of office.

In addition to holding military positions and being responsible for training and command, they also had firm control over the most advanced weapons, such as repeating crossbows and various large tools.

If one day Ōtomo wants to break free and rebel against him, Lee Won-chang, these people can easily deal with them on the spot.

These are all strategic controls; everything else is about personal relationships.

Tanaka Chishima and her daughter were not simply Li Yuanchang's subordinates and secretary; the Ōtomo clan itself was well aware of this.

They wouldn't be foolish enough to betray Li Yuanchang.

The most reliable relationships are those where both interests and personal connections coexist.

……

Time flies, spring has passed and autumn has come, and a new year has arrived.

The seventh day of the first month of the nineteenth year of the Zhenguan era.

The fleet successfully returned to Minnesota and landed.

Due to the influence of monsoon currents, the return trip took more than four months, far exceeding the time taken on the way there.

The round trip by sea took more than a year in total.

The first news that came as soon as they landed shocked the entire division.

Faced with Goguryeo's continued provocations, Li Shimin was furious and personally led an army to fight against them!

The final personal campaign of the Heavenly Khan in history has officially begun.

This was an inevitable historical event, and Li Yuanchang was not surprised. He was just lamenting the fleeting nature of time, as another major historical turning point for the Tang Dynasty was about to arrive after Li Chengqian's coup.

Eager to return home, he did not choose to stop, nor did he accept the hospitality of the prefect of Mingzhou. After exchanging a large number of fast horses at the post station, he quickly headed towards Chang'an.

More than a year has passed. I wonder how Chang'an is doing, and how the Prince of Han's mansion is doing.

Being overseas and completely cut off from communication, even the Black Ice Station was unable to deliver accurate messages.

He now knows that only Li Shimin went to fight Goguryeo.

Li Shimin probably didn't know that Li Yuanchang would return in just over a year.

It wasn't until he left Mingzhou City and made contact with the Black Ice Guard that Li Yuanchang received more news along the way.

The most significant piece of news was that Song Sanlang of the Northern Song Dynasty entered the Eastern Palace and was appointed "Crown Prince's Guest".

The title of "Crown Prince's Guest" is not just an ordinary title, but a real official position, equivalent to a senior advisor to the Crown Prince.

In other words, Song Sanlang transformed into Li Zhi's confidant.

While the official owner of the Northern Song Dynasty was Emperor Gaozong (Li Zhi), in reality, it belonged to Wu Zetian. Now that the entire Northern Song Dynasty had become a supporter of Emperor Gaozong, what about Wu Zetian?

Upon hearing this news, Li Yuanchang became even more puzzled and anxious, and rushed to Chang'an at full speed.

In the end, he returned to Chang'an in less than half a month.

It was late January, and light snow was falling in Chang'an; the harsh winter had just arrived.

The homeland is adorned in silver, just as it always has been.

This was Li Yuanchang's ninth year in the Tang Dynasty. He was intimately familiar with every blade of grass, every tree, every city, and every road.

"Get out of the way!"

"Get out of the way!"

"The King of Han has returned! The King of Han has returned!!"

The guards at the front rushed frantically to the Prince of Han's residence to deliver the message.

Since Li Shimin personally led the expedition, Li Yuanchang did not need to report back first and could go directly home.

Soon, the Prince of Han's residence was in turmoil.

When Li Yuanchang saw the familiar gate and the familiar grand mansion, he couldn't help but feel excited.

"Your Highness!"

The women, including Situ Lan, who happened to arrive just in time, were excited.

boom!

Li Yuanchang dismounted and galloped away, giving Situ Lan a bear hug and pulling her soft body into his arms, almost melting her into his own, greedily inhaling her fragrance.

"Your Highness!"

Cui Wanqing and the others came out one after another. Li Yuanchang opened his arms and hugged everyone: "I'm back!"

"It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back!"

All the words I wanted to say were reduced to just this one sentence and two lines of hot tears.

Two hours later, the joy and excitement of returning home gradually subsided, and the Prince of Han's mansion began to slaughter fish and sheep, and the entire mansion of over a thousand people began to gather in celebration.

Besides the guards and servants, this thousand-person household also included the families of many trusted confidants, who lived in the Prince of Han's residence.

Li Yuanchang had just returned and had many things to deal with, but he postponed most of them, letting Su Gui handle them so he could focus on spending time with his family and children.

At this moment, he has taken a shower and is playing in the snow with the children.

Fang Weng suddenly rushed over, leaning on his cane: "Your Highness, the Crown Prince's men have arrived and request an audience with you."

Li Yuanchang's gaze quickly sharpened and turned serious.

His relationship with Li Zhi was actually quite good, although they weren't exactly on the same side. However, because of the intervention of Changsun Wuji, their relationship and stances remained delicate.

Moreover, Song Sanlang suddenly became Li Zhi's man, and Wu Meiniang's whereabouts were unknown, which made him increasingly resentful.

Without a second thought, Li Yuanchang handed the child over to Qin Keyu and the others and hurried off to greet them.

In the front courtyard of the Prince of Han's mansion, the snow kept coming and going, a vast expanse of white, like a painting. A group of imposing guards stood there quietly.

The leader, around forty years old, wore a purple official robe, had a square face and a mustache, and exuded an air of nobility.

"Your humble servant Liu Chaoyuan pays his respects to the Prince of Han!"

"We pay our respects to the King of Han."

Although he was a member of the Crown Prince's household, Li Yuanchang's status and seniority were such that no one dared to disrespect him.

Liu Chaoyuan?

Li Yuanchang had never heard of this person, but it seemed that he held a high position in Li Zhi's court.

"Please be polite, everyone."

"Since you are sent by the Crown Prince, there is no need for further formalities."

"Please come in."

"No, no, Your Highness, we are here to deliver a message. After delivering the message, we need to return to report. We won't disturb Your Highness and your family's happiness any longer," Liu Chaoyuan said with a smile, his attitude quite good.

"Very well, then may I ask what Your Highness's orders are?" Li Yuanchang asked.

"Your Highness, the Crown Prince was overjoyed to hear of your successful mission to the East Sea and your triumphant return. He sent me here to visit you."

"Secondly, Your Highness is invited to a banquet at the Eastern Palace tomorrow. The Crown Prince knows that Your Highness has not seen your family for over a year, so he has specially arranged the welcoming banquet for tomorrow."

"The Crown Prince also said that His Majesty is personally leading an expedition, and he is in charge of overseeing the country. It is his duty to take on this task, and he hopes that Your Highness can arrive."