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

Li Zhi said bitterly, "Gentlemen, what else could it be? I, the Crown Prince, am deeply worried about my father's personal expedition against Goguryeo."

"Firstly, there's the matter of Father's health. Military campaigns are too arduous, and I, the Crown Prince, am worried about whether he can handle it."

Upon hearing this, everyone shouted, "The Crown Prince is loyal and filial; we admire him!"

Even Li Yuanchang couldn't help but nod in approval. Li Zhi's eyes didn't have the same performative desire as Li Tai's; he was indeed filial.

He was also the most unique and the most affectionate of all the princes during the Zhenguan era!

Why?

Because he was raised by Li Shimin and Empress Zhangsun from a young age, he truly experienced the love of his parents. Even after Empress Zhangsun's death, Li Shimin, out of guilt, continued to keep him by his side and did not allow him to leave the palace.

Moreover, Li Zhi was basically not allowed to do things that were inappropriate for his age; he was simply allowed to play freely, giving him a complete childhood.

In contrast, Li Chengqian and Li Tai, the two older brothers, started their lives under immense pressure from a young age. Ultimately, they were blinded by power, their minds were disrupted by the pressure, and their core was distorted by loneliness.

Therefore, compared to the Four Books and Five Classics, the best way to teach a child is through companionship and love.

This is true in both ancient times and the 21st century!

Li Zhi continued, "Besides worrying about Father Emperor, I, the Crown Prince, am also concerned about logistics."

logistics?

Li Yuanchang raised an eyebrow.

"When my father passed away, he entrusted Chang'an to me, the Crown Prince, for supervision and to be in charge of logistics in the rear. At first, I thought that with the strength of the Tang Dynasty, it would be more than enough to support us."

"But unexpectedly, logistical arrangements became so difficult once the troops set out."

"The enormous financial burden requires a balance between war and the national treasury; otherwise, the people will suffer, which is something Father Emperor does not want to see."

"Then there's Liaodong, where there are thousands of miles of uninhabited areas. Now it's the dead of winter with heavy snow, the grass is withered and the water is frozen, and there's a shortage of horse feed."

"Non-combat casualties are exceptionally high."

"Everything needs to be coordinated from the Central Plains, and transportation is an extremely big problem."

"Ugh."

As he spoke, Li Zhi sighed, looking worried and distressed, giving the impression of a young man facing a difficult problem and feeling helpless.

He feared that he would be blamed by Li Shimin for failing in his duties as regent, but he didn't know how to resolve the situation.

Li Yuanchang was well aware that Li Shimin's first personal expedition against Goguryeo in history was forced to retreat due to weather and logistical issues.

The two subsequent attacks were far smaller in scale than this one, and were mostly harassment. Goguryeo was not destroyed until Li Zhi fully ascended the throne.

The curtain was drawn down on the centuries-long campaign of the Sui and Tang dynasties against Goguryeo.

At this moment, the officials put down their wine cups and began to ponder, thinking of a solution.

"Your Highness, how about adding more laborers?"

"Or perhaps we could have the various prefectures along the route release some prisoners to serve as laborers transporting supplies?"

"To alleviate the urgent logistical transportation crisis?"

"..."

Li Yuanchang listened to their discussion without interrupting; he was an outsider here.

Moreover, he knew that these methods were completely useless.

The transportation problem cannot be completely solved by simply hiring more people.

The terrain, weather, and battle lines of Goguryeo were second only to Tibet in terms of their ruthlessness.

If he hadn't gone overseas and had stayed in the Ministry of War, he would definitely have advised Li Shimin against sending troops.

Because this military expedition was historically controversial and caused great losses, even Li Shimin himself later regretted it.

After a stick of incense had burned, they discussed it for a long time but still couldn't come to any conclusion.

All the officials, including Li Zhi, looked worried and eventually turned their attention to the only two people present who could solve the problem!

One was Li Yuanchang, and the other was Changsun Wuji.

One was the Minister of War, and the other was the Prime Minister and Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince.

"Uncle, Seventh Uncle, what do you think?" Li Zhi asked tentatively.

Li Yuanchang remained silent, instead looking at Changsun Wuji.

As expected, Changsun Wuji, who had been silent all along, finally spoke up. He first cupped his hands and then said, "Your Highness, the logistical problem cannot be completely solved overnight; it can only be alleviated gradually."

One sentence is enough to show that Changsun Wuji was capable. Powerful ministers are indeed bad, but Changsun Wuji was the most capable among them.

Otherwise, Li Shimin wouldn't have used him and listened to him for his entire life.

Immediately afterwards, Changsun Wuji changed the subject.

"However, this old minister does have a way to alleviate the logistical problems at the front as much as possible."

"Oh?" Li Zhi's eyes lit up immediately, and he said eagerly, "Uncle, please tell me!"

Changsun Wuji suddenly glanced at Li Yuanchang.

In that instant, Li Yuanchang knew that the other party was about to start shirking responsibility.

"The logistical needs mainly consist of food, fodder, clothing, salt, and medicine. If all of these items are paid out by the national treasury in one lump sum, it will inevitably hinder other budgetary items in the national treasury, thereby affecting people's livelihoods."

"A phased, gradual approach is the best strategy."

"But war waits for no one. Soldiers on the front lines cannot skip a meal and wait until next year to eat, nor can they wait until next year to treat their wounds."

"Therefore, this old minister believes that we can use water from the east to the west, prioritizing secondment."

"What does 'East Water to the West Irrigation' mean? What does 'priority secondment' mean?" Li Zhi asked, puzzled.

"Your Highness, it's a portion of the national treasury expenditure, but the reserves must be guaranteed to a safe level. If it's insufficient, priority should be given to borrowing from other places."

"No!"

Without a second thought, Li Zhi refused outright, his expression serious: "When Father Emperor left, he repeatedly ordered that I, the Crown Prince, be strictly forbidden from deducting from local finances or increasing taxes."

"If this is done, I might as well give up my position as crown prince."

He was extremely resolute and brooked no discussion; this was clearly a red line drawn for him by Li Shimin.

Changsun Wuji smiled and said, "Your Highness, the temporary transfer I mentioned is not from various prefectures or from the people."

"What is it? Uncle, things are urgent, just tell me directly, stop beating around the bush." ​​Li Zhi was a little anxious.

Changsun Wuji, however, still drew out his words: "It's just..."

As he spoke, his gaze fell upon Li Yuanchang.

Li Yuanchang kept his eyes down, pretending not to see anything, and refused to respond to Changsun Wuji's words.

Li Yuanchang wasn't that stupid. He wanted him to pay, and he even wanted him to step forward and offer his advice, with credit going to Changsun Wuji.

If someone asks you for money, just let them ask.

Li Zhi was also a bit of a simpleton; he looked at it for a long time but still couldn't understand what Changsun Wuji meant.

Changsun Wuji had no choice but to speak directly: "Your Highness, there are countless merchants in the Tang Dynasty, but everyone knows that in the past five years, the largest has been the Northern Song and Southern Qin."

"These two businesses have operations throughout the entire Tang Dynasty and even beyond. It is said that the goods they have piled up could fill ten cities."

Upon hearing this, Li Yuanchang frowned. This old fox was trying to flatter him to death again.

People are afraid of becoming famous, just as pigs are afraid of getting fat. If he keeps talking like this, the two families might become the Shen Wansan of the Ming Dynasty.

"Lord Changsun, you are mistaken."

"You can't believe the rumor that ten cities wouldn't be enough to fill them. It defies common sense. As far as I know, all the workers and tenants in the Northern Song and Southern Qin dynasties combined couldn't even fill one city. How could the goods they produced be enough to fill ten cities?"