I Can Control My Ancestors

Chapter 511 - 43: Li Shimin’s Wrath—The Imperial Campaign!

But this idea ultimately couldn’t spark much.

The Great Tang was too strong.

The flourishing cultural growth destined the people of Kyushu to have stronger confidence; they trusted the court and also believed in Li Shimin.

Even though—Li Shimin had now grown old.

One by one, great works about expeditions emerged and were collected in the "Yunshao Pavilion."

The whole world changed under this atmosphere.

...

Although he had not personally led troops for many years, Li Shimin’s capabilities remained unchanged.

Just as the world was abuzz with discussion, he had already crafted a detailed plan using the geographical map of Liaodong.

This expedition was divided into three main armies:

——The central army, led by himself.

Including the central Forbidden Army, Guanlong Palace troops, Henan, Hebei Palace troops, and deferential foreign soldiers, totaling a hundred thousand, entering the Liaoxi Corridor via Youzhou State.

Several ten thousand soldiers of the northern army led by Zhang Jian, Li Daozong, and other commanders, advanced towards Liaodong City, serving as the flanking detachment.

These two armies were not the key; the core was the navy.

——Yes, it was the navy.

Li Shimin had long started planning for the future Maritime Silk Road, training soldiers and horses.

Although the number wasn’t large, they were completely adapted to the surging near sea.

Moreover, Li Shimin also drew some naval forces.

He organized them into one route, led by Zhang Liang, to launch a sea attack on Beisha City from Donglai.

The strategic goal was to launch a pincer attack.

Ultimately, they could join forces with the land army under Pyongyang City.

It was a very risky move.

Even though in recent years more and more envoys came from all directions, and with Li Shimin starting to build large ships, the ministers were no longer as fearful of the sea as before; rather, they had some faint anticipation.

Yet, this move still filled everyone with fear.

There’s no way around it; this was the constraint of the times.

Although it was also a near sea voyage, the uncertainties were many; any mishap would leave these men without a chance of survival.

But Li Shimin was not irrational.

First of all.

The sea route for landing directly from Donglai was already very clear; the people of Donglai could take advantage of the slight lull in stormy waves to go forth.

The round trip was less than two hundred li.

Second, since the decision to build large ships was made in past years, he started gradually improving and testing warships.

As long as they could seize the moment, the risks wouldn’t be too great.

Li Shimin was a man of great courage.

Traveling by sea to the Liaodong Peninsula could save the Great Tang endless money and provisions, and from a tactical standpoint, it was the best tactic to completely clear Liaodong.

Someone who dared to defend the city with so few troops in front of Hulao Pass, how could he hesitate?

Gu Yi was also silently watching all of this, equally anticipating this battle in his heart.

In the original history, although Li Shimin won this battle, he still couldn’t achieve complete success, and it wasn’t until the era of Emperor Gaozong Li Zhi that Goguryeo was thoroughly destroyed.

There were many factors involved.

Back then, Li Shimin also deployed the navy, but the difference was that the navy feared the sea; various historical records clearly noted that when boarding the ships, the soldiers felt fearful.

Although they eventually landed successfully, it greatly affected the combat effectiveness of the Tang Army.

Moreover, the supply line was too long, and winter was approaching.

Eventually, they had no choice but to retreat.

But now it’s different; the maritime industry of the Great Tang had begun to sprout, far surpassing the original history.

This could shorten the Great Tang’s supply lines significantly.

It could influence the war situation and demonstrate to the world the feasibility of maritime trade!

This was definitely a critical point!

The entire court, all directions mobilized.

The sons of the Gu Clan were equally unwilling to miss this opportunity.

In the world today, the family most longing for the maritime industry was undoubtedly the Gu Clan, with each Gu Clan son eager to try their hand at this battle.

The nineteenth generation of offspring had already started to emerge.

This war was an opportunity for all of them.

Of course, it was impossible for everyone to take the risk.

Even if participating in the war, they followed the central army, with only Gu Jing choosing to join the naval expedition.

In fact, logically speaking, it shouldn’t have been him.

He is indeed the legitimate eldest son of the Gu Clan, Gu Quan.

Not only did the elders within the Gu Clan hesitate to consent, but even Li Shimin was reluctant to let Gu Jing risk such danger.

He had long recognized Gu Jing’s talents.

This was what he wished to leave to the emperors of the Great Tang’s future generations.

Yet, Gu Jing’s resolve was unfaltering. He personally went to see Li Shimin and recounted the events of his past collaboration with Gu Quan.

He did not wish to bring shame to Gu Quan.

Even if he were truly to inherit the Gu Clan and stand upon the court of the Great Tang, he desired to earn his own merits.

——He refused to be a tree without roots!

Only by earning his own accolades would he earn the conviction of everyone.

Li Shimin remained silent for a long while, and eventually agreed to it.

...

The twentieth year of Zhenguan, the first month.

The night at Daming Palace.

The moonlight washed over, stars dazzling the heavens.

Within the hall, candle flames flickered, casting shadows of Li Chengqian’s slowly approaching figure. As he entered the hall, he lowered his head and moved forward, stopping beneath the imperial seat, making a deep bow:

"Your son pays respects to Father Emperor."

In the vast emptiness of the hall, there remained only the two, the silence such that the faint crackle of the candlewick could be heard.

Li Shimin’s gaze remained fixed upon this son, from the top of his head to the soles of his feet, finally resting heavily on Li Chengqian’s slightly lame leg.

The emperor closed his eyes, his Adam’s apple moved slightly as if swallowing something.

After a moment of silence, he spoke gravely: "Chengqian, I intend to lead an expedition personally."

"Upon my departure from the capital... the power to oversee the state will be entrusted to you."

——The power to oversee the state!

This was nothing like the political consultations he had participated in before. Previously, even when allowed to listen to governmental affairs, he was only tasked with minor matters. But overseeing the state...

A sudden flicker of brilliance emerged in Li Chengqian’s eyes, his chest rising and falling deeply as he suppressed the surge in his heart.

Without hesitation, he knelt down in thanks, though due to his foot ailment, his movements appeared particularly difficult and unsteady.

"Your son profoundly thanks Father Emperor’s generous favor!" He stabilized himself, his voice deliberately held steady, yet resonant with firmness, "Your son will certainly not betray Father Emperor’s heavy trust."

"I shall govern with diligence day and night, tending to state affairs, and await Father Emperor’s triumphant return!"

Li Shimin’s gaze grew yet more profound.

He stared at this eldest son, upon whom so many hopes were pinned, for a long time before breaking the silence again: "This expedition is one to distant lands."

"Should..." He paused, as though even a sovereign like him found the word difficult to voice.

But after a moment’s hesitation, he continued, "Should any unforeseen events occur to me, you must succeed immediately to ensure the stability of the nation."

Even though Li Shimin held confidence in his chances, time spared no one, and having to venture into peril, he had to leave behind a complete strategy for this vast country.

As the words fell, Li Chengqian’s body trembled violently, his head lifting suddenly, his eyes reflecting a mixture of surprise and expectation, extremely complex.

But ultimately, it all converged into one sentence:

"Father Emperor shall surely achieve victory with the first battle and return triumphantly!!!"

Li Shimin had all along been watching Li Chengqian, clearly perceiving the complexity in his eyes.

He sighed gently, an involuntary sensation of sourness rising as he thought of himself and Li Yuan.

But he said nothing further, merely motioning with his hand for Li Chengqian to exit.

Li Chengqian bowed again and then rose.

His movements remained slow.

Li Shimin sat there watching him, his face bearing no sorrow nor joy.

In the large hall, only he was left. ...

——————

"In the spring of the twentieth year of Zhenguan, the first month, the Goguryeo Mo Lizhi, Quer Gye Su Mun, assassinated his king, inflicted cruelty upon the people, coerced Silla, and severed its tribute route.

The ministers advised: "In the past, when Emperor Yang of Sui conducted three campaigns against Liaodong, the world was overturned, not due to lack of military sharpness, but because he lost the way and had little support."

"Now that Your Majesty inherits the grandeur of the Grand Ancestor and the divine presence of the Celestial Khan, with the old lands of Liaodong unrestored and the shame of nine generations unavenged, how shall you offer success at the ancestral tomb? According to the great principle of the Spring and Autumn Annals, assassinating the king and imprisoning the sovereign is an unforgivable crime;"

"The Book of Rites instructs that those in officialdom who kill must be put to death without pardon."

"If leniency is shown and no retaliation pursued, how shall the barbarian tribes be cowed, and the kingly authority respected? Silla cries for help, faced with ruin and continuation, upholding the responsibility of kings and statesmen."

Others further stated: "Goguryeo possesses a well-trained army of two hundred thousand, controls the strategic ground of Liaodong, allies externally with the Turkic and Baekje, holding a critical stance akin to hanging by a thread."

"As Jia Yi once discussed the Xiongnu threat, he remarked on the state of the world’s sickness with a great tumor; the Han Book also notes: ’Without repelling the barbarians, China cannot safely sleep.’"

"We must emulate Emperor Wu of Han who broke the right arm of the Xiongnu and secured four directions with illustrious actions; in one decisive move, eliminate threats permanently."

The emperor profoundly agreed with this proposal and thus decreed to lead the expedition personally."

——The Book of Tang. Taizong Annals