Chapter 50: Do You Want to Learn from Jing Ke?

"Crown Prince, please look, this is..."

Before he could finish speaking, Li Chengqian directly stood up and retreated:

"What are you doing? Do you want to learn from Jing Ke and reveal a dagger at the end of the map?"

"No, no, no!"

Kim Chunchu was so frightened his face turned pale, shaking his head repeatedly:

"This subordinate just wanted to show Your Highness the Crown Prince our country's history books, which clearly record that we are all people of the Xia."

"What nonsense are you spouting? What does Silla have to do with the Xia?"

Li Chengqian took the book, placed it on the desk, and slowly spread it out. As he read more, his brows tightened further:

"Jizi, the uncle of Shang Zhou Wang? No way! Is this real or fake?"

Li Chengqian looked at Zhangsun Wuji with suspicious eyes:

"Uncle, you read a lot. Was Jizi of the Yin-Shang once enfeoffed as the Marquis of Joseon by Zhou Wu Wang? Was his fief the three countries of Goguryeo, Silla, and Baekje today?"

"Yes! It is written like that in the history books!"

"Shut up! I didn't ask you. Who knows when your history books were written? I see this ink looks like it was from yesterday."

Kim Chunchu looked at Zhangsun Wuji with pleading eyes, his face full of supplication.

Zhangsun Wuji ignored him and looked at Li Chengqian to answer:

"This subordinate is shallow in learning and has not..."

Before he could finish, he saw Li Chengqian's resentful expression and immediately changed his phrasing:

"This subordinate has not seen this matter in history books, but in a conversation with Libationer Kong, I learned that Jizi took over five thousand people and headed east, where he civilized the local savages.

If there is no other place in the east, that should be where Silla and the other countries are located. It is only natural to say they are people of the Xia."

Kim Chunchu quickly turned his head: "Your Highness the Crown Prince, to the east is the sea. We truly are people of the Xia."

"Fine then!"

Li Chengqian looked listless: "The path one chooses, even if one has to crawl, one must finish it.

Since I have already made a big boast, it wouldn't be right not to help you."

After saying this, Li Chengqian stood up and bowed respectfully to Li Shimin:

"Father, this son requests that you issue an edict to rebuke the King of Goguryeo and order him to cease his troops!"

"Useless! Yeon Gaesomun is in power now!"

"No matter!"

Li Chengqian's gaze sharpened: "Occupying the land of the Xia, slaughtering the people of the Xia, and refusing to listen to the Great Tang's edicts—this is rebellion."

"Very well!"

"Many thanks to the Emperor of Great Tang! Many thanks to the Crown Prince of Great Tang!"

The sorrow between Kim Chunchu's brows vanished instantly, and his gaze toward Li Chengqian became increasingly kind.

Li Chengqian also grinned: "Envoy, as the saying goes, governing by virtue is like the North Star; it stays in its place while all the stars revolve around it.

What is virtue? Only actions that make people submit willingly are called virtue. We all know the people of Silla are also people of the Xia, but the soldiers don't know, the ten thousand people of the world don't know, and the populace of Silla doesn't know.

If the soldiers of the eastern expedition fall in battle, Silla needs to provide compensation, and Silla needs to build a temple specifically for sacrificing to the fallen soldiers of Great Tang."

"Of course!"

Kim Chunchu agreed without even thinking: "Please rest assured, Your Highness the Crown Prince. All soldiers who attack Goguryeo will forever enjoy the incense of the ten thousand people of Silla."

"Good! The Xia are close and intimate; truly, it does not deceive me!"

Li Chengqian praised loudly: "Envoy, after this matter, Great Tang will help Silla civilize its people.

When you return, take the 'Qieyun' back with you and let the populace of Silla learn the official language of Great Tang. In the future, if you encounter danger, you can also seek help from the soldiers of Great Tang."

"Many thanks, Your Highness the Crown Prince. Silla will certainly not fail Great Tang and will never be an enemy of Great Tang!"

"That is excellent! Envoy, rest at ease. Goguryeo won't be able to jump around for much longer!"

After Kim Chunchu left, bursts of coughing sounded in the hall. Yu Zhining, who had always been unconvinced by Li Chengqian, sprayed again:

"How can Your Highness the Crown Prince deceive a neighboring country?"

"What did I deceive?"

"The matter of soldier compensation is for the imperial court; why is it needed from another country?

The Master said: Treat them generously when they come and thinly when they go, so as to cherish the feudal lords!"

Li Chengqian looked disdainful: "If you have money, you pay the compensation. 'Treat them generously when they come and thinly when they go' indeed.

The 'Doctrine of the Mean' also says to continue broken lineages and restore abolished states. Do you want to create a fief for the Former Sui?"

"If the knife doesn't cut into your own body, it doesn't hurt, right? It's already good enough that I didn't ask Silla for grain and fodder."

"But Great Tang has clearly prepared to send troops!"

"Who said that?"

Li Chengqian put on a look of surprise: "Why didn't I receive an edict?

What? Am I no longer the Crown Prince? Do they have to hide such a big matter from me?"

Hou Junji also echoed: "I didn't receive an edict either. Where did Doctor Yu hear such rumors?"

"I didn't hear it either!"

"..."

Hearing a group of military generals speak in support, Yu Zhining retreated with a dark face.

Seeing this scene, Li Shimin spoke indifferently:

"Crown Prince, the populace of Silla are not the ten thousand people of Great Tang; they cannot be treated equally."

"What does Father mean?"

Li Chengqian looked solemn: "The people of Silla are the people of Great Tang; this matter can never change.

The land of the Xia must be recovered, and the people of the Xia must return. This matter will not change."

"Is recuperating not good? Why must there be conquest?"

Li Chengqian knew Li Shimin was testing him, but he still had to state his position, even if the civil and military officials all knew he hadn't given up:

"The land of the ancestors cannot be given to others! No matter what Father thinks, as long as this son is alive, this land must return.

The six directions share the same customs, and the nine provinces are connected. Does Father not even have this ambition?"

Li Shimin sighed inwardly, *I am truly doing something superfluous. This brat hasn't changed at all; he just thinks about conquering a vast expanse of land. *

"Enough! Everyone retire. Qingque and Zhinu, stay!"

"We retire!"

Li Zhi watched Li Chengqian's departing back, his eyes filled with confusion:

*'What is going on with Eldest Brother? Why are there so many interpretations of ruling by virtue?

Also, how did he know that soldier compensation is my responsibility? Did he arrange people by my side?

Impossible, only I, Uncle, and Li Shiji know about this.'*

Li Shimin did not let him continue thinking. After everyone left, he slowly stood up and walked toward the map:

"Qingque, do you know why Gaoming must exterminate Goguryeo?"

"This son does not know! Eldest Brother always has his own ideas."

*'Still too young, and it's my fault for not teaching him military affairs!'*

Li Shimin sighed to himself, then picked up a brush and drew a circle in the northeast region:

"Qingque, this place has a vast plain, surrounded by mountains on three sides and facing the sea on one, equivalent to another Guanzhong Plain.

Occupying this land means, just like the State of Qin, possessing the qualifications to contend for the world.

Moreover, this place is bitterly cold, and the folk customs are as fierce as the people of Bingzhou.

The two emperors of the Former Sui were not fools; it was just that Emperor Yang of Sui was fond of grandeur and sought quick success, which led to failure."

Li Tai and the other came behind Li Shimin, their eyes focused on the map:

"Father, can Eldest Brother be considered fond of grandeur and seeking quick success?"

"Not really!"

"Why do you say that?"

"'Qieyun'!"

"'Qieyun'?"

Li Tai spoke with a blank look: "Isn't this a book for learning the official language? Does it have anything to do with conquest?"

"Standardizing writing, standardizing wheel tracks, standardizing language—this is great unification."

Li Shimin returned to his seat, picked up a scroll of books from the desk, and threw it to Li Tai:

"This is the 'Book of Lord Shang'. Go back and read it carefully. Once you finish, you will understand why we must change customs and why we must standardize language."

Li Zhi also asked with confusion at this time: "Is letting the people of Silla sacrifice to the fallen soldiers also to recover Silla?" ===== CHAPTER 51 =====