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

Although the digging of canals and dredging of waterways in the Central Plains may seem like commonplace in history, only the Han people were capable of doing it during that period.

These small neighboring countries are struggling to feed themselves, let alone send tens or hundreds of thousands of people to dredge waterways—it's simply impossible!

"clear."

"But you don't need to worry. After this pasture is used for livestock, I will provide enough supplies for the people of Silla to get through the window of opportunity."

"Besides, land reclamation and farming are things the Far East Royal Palace is very familiar with. I will send people to provide guidance and provide seeds and tools until the people of Silla can be self-sufficient."

"What do you think of this?" Li Yuanchang said. He was not in a hurry to merge Silla into Silla immediately; it would take some time and preparation.

Once mutual understanding reaches a certain level, everything will fall into place naturally.

"That would be best."

"I thank the King of the Far East for his mercy." Queen Zhende smiled, and it was clear that she was genuinely worried about her people starving to death.

"You're exaggerating."

"Why don't we change horses? This peninsula's scenery and natural pastures are something I've never seen before. The last time I saw such a fine pasture was in the northern desert."

"Such a place, wouldn't it be a waste not to ride around it?" Li Yuanchang suddenly became interested and wanted to measure the exact size and vegetation of the pasture.

"Okay!" Kim Seung-man readily agreed.

"Let's take another gamble?"

"What are we betting on?" Jin Shengman asked. As she gradually became more familiar with Li Yuanchang, their former hostility and dislike had undergone a complete transformation.

"Let's see whose horse is faster!"

The loser will lead the other's horse!

"Okay!" Kim Seung-man readily agreed.

Without hesitation, the two stopped the carriage, switched to spirited horses, and galloped off towards the pasture.

The azure sky, the wind blowing across the wilderness, the ever-approaching plains, pastures, and rivers—the lush grass and soaring birds create an almost unreal beauty.

"Waaah!!"

Li Yuanchang shouted, unable to hide his excitement.

The reason he went through all that trouble was that he wanted to acquire this place peacefully.

If all goes well, he plans to build the largest livestock farm on the peninsula, not only to breed warhorses, but also to raise cattle, sheep and pigs to improve the diet of the Far East.

Even before that, he had already sent people to start large-scale fishing for shrimp and shellfish at the port.

In ancient times, meat was extremely scarce. Ordinary people could only eat meat when they hunted wild game; otherwise, they rarely had access to oil or fat.

Even most soldiers rarely get to eat meat unless they win a battle.

This leads to a severe protein deficiency per capita, resulting in a short lifespan, which in turn leads to a severe population shortage, creating a vicious cycle.

Shrimp and shellfish are practically the specialties of the peninsula, found all along the coast. But in ancient times, people thought shrimp were insects and would just throw them away if they caught them, thus missing out on nature's bounty.

But Li Yuanchang didn't know that shrimp and other seafood were top-quality high-protein foods, far superior to meat during the Tang Dynasty.

He planned to turn seafood into a production chain, so that any leftovers could be dried and added to the army's rations.

With the continuous development of animal husbandry, the dietary structure of the people of the Tang Dynasty changed within ten years, and significant problems such as consanguineous marriage were also controlled.

The entire Tang Dynasty, including the annexed Japan, will surely have a brand new look.

This is what Li Yuanchang wants to do: change this era, benefit the entire Chinese nation, and allow its civilization to continue to advance and stand at the pinnacle of the world.

This path meant he could only work alone. If he were to eat shrimp in Chang'an, a bunch of old-fashioned and conservative people would probably jump out to oppose Li Yuanchang.

"..."

On this trip, Li Yuanchang rode for over a hundred miles, but still couldn't cover the entire Hanhe Plain.

He inspected the ranch and discussed cooperation with Queen Zhende.

This place is so vast, with abundant fresh water and fertile vegetation. Due to the limitations of its own productivity, Silla has only developed less than one-tenth of it, and has only cultivated some land.

He was extremely excited; this would be a great treasure in the Far East!

After nightfall.

The three armies set up camp on the spot.

Clusters of bonfires rose, dispelling the cold.

The goats that were casually shot while patrolling the pasture were roasted and sizzled, sprinkled with salt and pepper, and the aroma was absolutely amazing.

Li Yuanchang ate a bite of meat and a sip of wine, enjoying a meal that felt like that of an immortal.

Watching his relaxed and contented demeanor, Kim Seung-man, who was eating slowly and deliberately, couldn't help but say, "Your Highness, there's something I'm not sure if I should ask."

"You can ask me after you've had a couple of drinks with me."

As he spoke, he raised an eyebrow.

Just half a month ago, Kim Seung-man had angrily denounced Lee Won-chang as a despicable villain, but she was amused, her eyebrows curving into crescents, her beauty as gentle as the moon over the peninsula.

Li Yuanchang was momentarily moved.

Jin Shengman took a sip of strong liquor, which was pure distilled spirit. She almost coughed up the liquor, and her cheeks quickly turned red.

Then she wanted to drink another glass.

"Just ask directly, no need for two drinks, one is enough," Li Yuanchang joked.

Jin Shengman gave him a grateful look, then asked earnestly, "Your Highness is negotiating peace with the court, but they are only superficially united, each with their own agendas. Why do I not see any anxiety on Your Highness's face?"

"What are you worried about? Are you worried that the imperial court will attack?" Li Yuanchang said with a smile.

Jin Shengman pondered for a moment, then smiled and said, "Indeed, if the imperial court could do anything to His Highness, it would have done so long ago."

"But in recent days, I have observed that Your Highness is not a usurper, but rather a minister who is dedicated to restoring the dynasty."

"But why does Your Highness do so many things in the Far East? Most of these things are taboo and even have the appearance of autonomy."

Li Yuanchang looked up at the starry sky and sighed, "Ultimately, it's a difference in philosophies."

"Look at what Goguryeo was like before, and what it's like now. Do you think the people of the Far East are living well?"

Kim Seung-man nodded repeatedly, "Of course!"

"That's the problem. Under my rule, almost no one starves or freezes to death. In fact, every household has land and wages, and there is something to look forward to every year. The population is also constantly increasing."

"With a large population, everything can be done, from farming to road construction, creating a virtuous cycle."

"But you have to understand that this model didn't come out of thin air. Ordinary people's land, food, and even the right to survive were all taken from others and divided equally."

"This greatly harms the interests of the nobility, it's tantamount to desecrating their ancestral graves, and many laws even challenge the existence of imperial power. Do you understand?"

Jin Shengman gazed at the fire thoughtfully, and it seemed to make sense.

Referring to Silla, a large amount of resources were in the hands of a few princes and nobles. The common people could not even have children, let alone have enough to eat or wear. They could not even raise their own children. With fewer people, there was less arable land. With less food, there was not enough to build an army. Over time, this created a vicious cycle.

This is indeed contrary to Li Yuanchang's ideas.