Regardless of whether they are wise kings or faint kings, they all have a common problem, that is, they like to patrol the territory.
Perhaps this is a way to satisfy their sense of personal accomplishment. The emperor goes on tour, and his guards and retinues are like clouds. What he has experienced along the way is that the loess has cleared the road, and his subjects have worshiped him.
In addition, China has a vast territory since ancient times, and the whole world is a royal territory. So during the inspection, the emperor's vanity was greatly satisfied.
As far away as Qin Shihuang, as close as Emperor Yang of Sui Dynasty, and more than a thousand years later, Qianlong, the braided emperor, are all representative figures.
Of course, Li Zhi is not exempt from vulgarity.
In Li Qinzai's eyes, although Li Zhi is an undisputed wise king, a wise king is by no means a saint.
Li Zhi also has many minor problems. He has greed, anger, and obsessions just like ordinary people. He has the same shortcomings that emperors and mortals should have.
For example, I once disregarded people's livelihood and wanted to be immortal. For example, last year I became superstitious about charlatans and sought immortality, etc.
Now I want to patrol east and west again, but I almost failed to persuade him.
This guy has a really down-to-earth personality, like parents who are troubled by money. They have so much money that they can be cheated but they don't listen to advice. They spend all their hard-earned money on health care products and are complacent in thinking that all kinds of diseases will be cured by eating it. remove.
If Li Zhi dies in the future, the historian will sum up his life in one sentence: "Your Majesty, please be more careful."
"Your Majesty, please be patient and don't be impatient. We should consider the matter of the eastward tour in the long run and don't rush it." Li Qinzai was like a neighbor coaxing a child, forcibly suppressing Li Zhi's intention to make the eastward tour.
"I have been to the battlefield of Haidong and know how chaotic Haidong is now. Although our officers and soldiers have conquered Haidong, there are still many forces in various places who are not convinced by the king. These local forces are like bandits and strong beams, each of which is divided into kings. If the king wants to It will take some time to suppress it."
"If Your Majesty ventures to patrol eastward next year, I am afraid that there will be unexpected changes on the road. With a body worth thousands of dollars, we cannot take risks lightly. It is better to wait for the soldiers to completely clear the Haidong Peninsula, and then Your Majesty will patrol east again. At that time, everyone will worship you. It is better to have thunderous cheers than to be assassinated in the middle of a patrol, which will make you look disgraced and greatly damage the majesty of the Tian family."
Empress Wu couldn't help but cast an approving look at Li Qinzai. This was a good reason. He deserved to be a man who had lived in Chang'an City. He could tell lies and lies without even typing a draft.
After presenting the facts, reasoning, and earnestly speaking, Li Zhi finally gave up his intention to patrol east, and sighed with regret, looking quite depressed.
He knew that Li Qinzai's words made sense. Since ancient times, whenever large armies conquered a land, they could not just use it. The cities and people on this land would need a long time to digest before they could slowly return to their hearts.
Unless you encounter a particularly cruel monarch, you will simply slaughter all your subjects after the conquest. You only want the land, not the people.
After calming down his thoughts about the eastward tour, Li Zhi calmed down a lot.
"Since Haidong is in my hands in the Tang Dynasty, Jingchu, time does not wait for me. It is time to prepare for navigation." Li Zhi said slowly.
Li Qinzai nodded and said: "Yes, I suggest that the Ministry of Industry dispatch craftsmen to build new ports east of Honshu Island and Silla Golden City. At the same time, Quanzhou and Dengzhou set up shipbuilding departments to start building large-scale ships with more than 5,000 materials. And recruit and expand the naval officers and soldiers, and work together with the three heads. Within three or two years, we can conduct trial navigation and exploration."
Empress Wu interjected: "Although it saves time to carry out the three-pronged strategy simultaneously, the Tang treasury may not be able to support it. In the two years of the Eastern Expedition, the treasury was almost exhausted. It required the recruitment of civilian labor, the expansion of the navy, and the construction of sea-going ships. Huge expenses…”
Li Qinzai thought for a while and said: "Now that sweet potatoes have been basically promoted in Guanzhong and Jiangnan, the people should generally not be short of food, and they can survive smoothly even in disaster years. As long as the Tang Dynasty does not use weapons rashly in the next three or two years, By implementing the policy of recuperation and recuperation, the national treasury should soon be full.”
Li Zhi sighed: "I originally planned to accumulate strength within three or two years, destroy Tubo first, so as to avoid the trouble of the Tang Dynasty, and then explore the oceanic continent eastward. Now it seems that it is a bit difficult."
Li Qinzai smiled and said: "Take your time, your Majesty and your ministers are both in their prime. We can afford it, and we should also give the people a little more time, so that they can relax and slowly save some money. In addition to the strength of the country, we should not forget the wealth of the people. Only then can we win the hearts of the world."
With the words of the monarch and his ministers, the strategy of the Tang Dynasty for the next few years has been decided.
After drinking a few glasses of wine, Empress Wu suddenly glanced at Li Qinzai, and then said with a smile: "Your Majesty, the east coast of the sea has been leveled, should we set up a governor's palace on the peninsula?"
Li Zhi said happily: "Yes, we will discuss this matter with the courtiers tomorrow. We must set up a governor's palace. Jincheng, the capital of Silla, was formerly called 'Jilinzhou'. Why not set up a 'Jilinzhou governor's palace' in Jincheng?" There are 20,000 soldiers stationed in the Tang army."
"At the same time, a port was built in Jincheng, and the Quanzhou Navy moved its defense and stationed at Jincheng Port, still under the command of Sun Renshi."
Empress Wu continued: "After the Governor's Palace was established, I thought it was time for the British Duke to return to the capital. The old man is old and dying, but he has lived up to your Majesty's expectations and brought peace to Haidong. Now there are only some fragmentary matters left in Haidong. Your Majesty is not as good as How about sending another good general to serve as the governor of Jilin Prefecture, and the British Duke returns to the capital to take care of himself?"
Li Qinzai's heart moved and he glanced at Empress Wu gratefully.
He knew very well that this was Empress Wu showing her kindness to his Li family, giving him a small favor, but this favor... he really had to accept it.
Yes, it is indeed time for the old man to come back. He lives in the open at a young age. Now that the last battle of his life has come to a perfect end, the next time will naturally be about taking care of his old age and enjoying the joy of having grandchildren.
Li Zhi also nodded happily after hearing the words: "I am hereby issuing an order to order eight hundred fast cavalry to be sent to Jincheng. Please invite Yinggong Fengfeng to return to the capital. I will welcome Yinggong thirty miles outside the city to show his unparalleled achievements in Haidong."
Li Qinzai stood up and paid homage: "On behalf of my grandfather, I would like to thank you for your kindness to me."
Li Zhi helped him up with a smile and said: "Both of you, your ancestors and your grandson, are important weapons of our Tang Dynasty. Thanks to you for this Eastern Expedition, our ancestors are already old and it is time for them to live a peaceful life."
"After Ying Gong returns to the capital, if there are no major changes in the Tang Dynasty, there will be no need to ask him to lead the army in the future. However, since I have pending political and military affairs, I should visit Ying Gong frequently to ask for advice."
Probably Li Zhi also thought about Li Ji's age and it was indeed inappropriate to lead troops in the future, but he didn't say anything.
As the number one person in the military of the Tang Dynasty, even if Li Ji did nothing and just retired peacefully in the Duke's Mansion, he was like a talisman to the Tang Dynasty, at the level of nuclear weapons.
With Li Ji here, Li Zhi's confidence is inexplicably stronger.
While the monarch and his ministers were chatting, they suddenly heard bursts of cheers coming from the direction of the Tai Chi Palace Gate. The waves were louder than the waves, neat and full of rhythm. One could vaguely hear the words "Great Tang Wansheng".
Li Zhi and Li Qinzai were startled. At this time, Wang Changfu hurriedly entered the palace and said: "Your Majesty, all the people of Chang'an gathered outside the palace gate to congratulate the Tang Dynasty for its victory over Haidong. The shouts and joyful words outside the palace gate were loud and thunderous."
Li Zhi looked outside the palace door silently, with an excited look gradually showing on his face.
Li Qinzai smiled and said: "Your Majesty, at this time, you are responsible for your duty. Please move to the drum tower of the palace gate and accept the worship of your people."
"Your Majesty can accept the merits of thousands of generations with peace of mind."
