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

"Quickly muster 10,000 troops, and lead 500 gunpowder experts as the vanguard, cross the sea, and attack Asuka-kyo, the capital of Japan."

"I will write to the entire Ōtomo clan to cooperate with you and provide you with logistical and manpower support."

The so-called "gunpowder handlers" refer to teams equipped with Hanlei (a type of explosives) and possessing certain explosives knowledge.

This army was formed several months ago, and all its members were selected from the soldiers of Liangzhou. All the Han Lei (a type of firearm) that were put into or taken out of the warehouse were strictly recorded, and not a single one was allowed to be lost.

"yes!"

"Su Gui!"

"Your subordinate is here." Su Gui, dressed in a gray robe, walked in, exuding a gentle and refined air, like a spring breeze.

Over the years, he and Wang Hongzhi have been the two most beautiful women by Li Yuanchang's side.

They never appeared on the battlefield, but their significant role was in no way inferior to that of a victorious general.

The reason why the entire Han army was able to resist the imperial court was because of their strategic planning and command behind the scenes.

The two were like the pairing of Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui back in the day.

"Immediately draft a proclamation to denounce the traitors for me."

"The Japanese Emperor's assassination attempt and repeated provocations, along with their coveting of the Tang Dynasty's overseas interests, are intolerable. I, Your Majesty, hereby command the new Emperor to punish Japan and quell the overseas rebellion!"

Su Gui was taken aback: "The new emperor's mandate?"

"Yes!" Li Yuanchang blurted out.

"Japan is a vassal state of the Tang Dynasty. If I want to destroy it, I must take into account the thoughts of other vassal states and the face of the imperial court."

"This is good for everyone, especially the Crown Prince and His Majesty."

Su Gui understood instantly.

"Yes, Your Highness is wise and thoughtful. I will take care of it immediately."

……

Just one day after the order was issued, the Central Government issued a proclamation to quell the rebellion, in the name of the new emperor of the Tang Dynasty.

In just three days, Xue Rengui's troops officially set off!

More than 10,000 people set off, traveling along the post road to the west coast of the peninsula. They would then board ships and land at the port of Taiyuan in Japan, where they would launch a northern expedition to formally eliminate the remaining forces of the Japanese emperor.

Li Yuanchang had wanted to do this for a long time, but the imperial army was always there, and he was unable to spare the time.

This time, he wanted to get rid of the Emperor before the imperial court could intervene.

This was a strategic decision, and also Li Yuanchang's way of eliminating future troubles.

A thousand years later, the pain this island nation inflicted on the Central Plains was immense. Now that he had the opportunity, he might as well physically eliminate it once and for all.

Let the Emperor and the militarists disappear completely from the annals of history.

With the army's departure, the battlefield completely shifted from Goguryeo to Japan, and Goguryeo ushered in a period of peace and tranquility.

The confrontation with the imperial court also vanished without a trace, as if nothing had ever happened.

The situation in Chang'an is currently unknown, but Li Yuanchang has launched another round of land reform, reclamation, and land reclamation.

Thanks to its excellent system and strong capital, Goguryeo entered a period of rapid development, with the number of tenant farmers alone increasing by 200,000!

By mid-October, Xue Rengui should have arrived in Japan, but he probably hadn't launched a formal attack yet, given the long distance.

On this day, the Prince of Han's palace welcomed another newborn.

Yin Yao gave birth. Although she was stunningly beautiful and looked young, she was 37 years old, which was considered advanced age. However, she successfully gave birth to a son for Li Yuanchang, named Li Si.

Therefore, Li Yuanchang originally planned to hold a grand celebration, but Yin Yao dissuaded him, saying that she would not allow it to happen under any circumstances.

She worried that it would bring criticism to Li Yuanchang, or even infamy in historical records.

She and Li Yuanchang were in love, but others wouldn't think so.

In the end, Li Yuanchang agreed to hold only a family dinner.

By November, the depths of winter brought heavy snow, and the entire Goguryeo kingdom seemed to have entered an absolute world of ice and snow.

cold!

it's too cold!

Many livestock froze to death, causing enormous losses to the people of Goguryeo.

While it has advantages during wartime, the terrain and weather also present a constraint when there is no war.

Li Yuanchang had no choice but to allocate resources to provide disaster relief and rescue the people.

Every day, supplies leaving Chubu Prefecture flow out in a continuous stream, resulting in huge expenditures.

Su Gui and Wang Hongzhi had reminded Li Yuanchang more than once that if things continued like this, the breakfast supply would eventually run out.

Because of the loss of the Central Plains, the largest market, the Han Prince's income was effectively cut off. The profits from doing business in Goguryeo were far less than one-twentieth of those from the Central Plains.

They have the technology to brew wine, make paper, make soap, etc., but no market.

Moreover, even before Li Shimin died, knowing that a large number of people and supplies had fled overseas, he ordered the blockade of the sea outlets, making it difficult for any supplies to reach Goguryeo.

Even Wu Zetian's Northern Song Dynasty was unable to provide support.

In other words, Goguryeo's enormous daily expenditures were all living off its savings, including the savings of the Han King's Palace and the Goguryeo royal family.

In response, Li Yuanchang also reduced spending, but turning a blind eye to someone in distress is by no means something a leader should do.

He still ordered disaster relief, while secretly sending a decree to the front lines: while destroying Japan, control of Japan's national treasury must be seized!

"..."

November 27th.

Heavy snow fell, and the Liao River froze.

After several months of peace, another imperial army appeared on the border between the Tang Dynasty and Goguryeo.

There were only one hundred of them, trudging through the frigid, desolate wilderness with heavy steps. Each of them was covered in snow, their steps faltering, their faces covered in frostbite, as if they were about to be buried forever by this extreme cold.

But they persevered, crossing not only the frozen Liao River but also wading through extremely dangerous no-man's-land, finally reaching the heart of Goguryeo.

As soon as they entered, they were immediately discovered and locked onto by the army.

Rumble!

The sound of horses' hooves grew closer, snowflakes flew everywhere, and the sound came from all directions.

"It's the Tang army!"

"Take them down!!"

The hundred people's expressions changed drastically, their faces filled with panic. They huddled together, constantly looking left and right.

"We are special envoys of the imperial court, sent to pay our respects to the Prince of Han!"

"Don't do anything reckless!"

"Whoa!!"

"Bullshit! You're all sneaking around trying to infiltrate Goguryeo."

"Guards, arrest him!"

"yes!"

A large number of cavalry will besiege them.

From the Tang army came a burly man with large, round eyes who stepped forward and roared, "My name is Cheng Chuliang, and Li Yuanchang is my elder brother! Who dares to touch me?!"

The sound was deafening, like thunder.

All the patrolling cavalry from Anshi City were shocked, their ears echoing with the words, "Li Yuanchang is my elder brother."

They were intimidated, but their eyes didn't believe it.

The name Cheng Chuliang was familiar in the Tang Dynasty, but it was completely unknown to the allied forces of Goguryeo.