Chapter 33: Northern Border Uneasy, Pumpkin Grenade

Li Er also knew about this.

Li Er also knew the benefits of Qinghai horses and wanted to make the area around Qinghai the second pasture of the Great Tang. In this way, he could equip the Great Tang army with fine warhorses.

For now, he could only rely on Su Liang's business to exchange for them, and after taking Tuyuhun, this matter would be easier to handle.

The first year of Zhenguan, the tenth day of the second lunar month.

At this moment, in Furong Garden.

Su Liang lay on a self-made leather sofa, frowning.

Miss Ruyan, who was massaging Su Liang's head, saw this and smoothed Su Liang's slightly wrinkled forehead and asked softly: "Now everything is going according to your plan, husband, do you have any other worries?"

In Furong Garden, when it comes to taking care of people, Miss Ruyan is the best.

Su Liang then held Miss Ruyan's hand and smiled: "Nothing to worry about, it's just that there are too many crushed stones used for road construction, and I'm thinking about how to solve it."

"Husband is just for this? Nothing else?" Miss Ruyan asked.

"It's just this!" Su Liang said.

Miss Ruyan originally thought Su Liang was worried about Li Yuan moving into Furong Garden. Two days ago, Li Yuan had sent someone to say hello, and he would move in after Su Liang arranged the road construction.

After getting the answer from Su Liang, she thought slightly and knew the difficulty. The road built this time was a full twenty thousand li long.

Not only that, Su Liang also wanted to build all the streets in Changan City into asphalt roads.

Just the Zhu Que Street, which is 150 meters wide, needs a lot of crushed stones, which can be equivalent to the crushed stones needed for a road of more than a thousand kilometers.

Let alone the whole Changan City!

"Then did husband think of a way?" Miss Ruyan asked.

"Thought of it, it's just a bit... annoying..."

Su Liang yawned and said.

Asphalt is easy to get now, Changqing Oilfield around Changan has as much as you want, it's just that more crushed stones are needed.

Just when Su Liang was worried about the crushed stones needed for road construction, Li Er, who had just finished the morning court, came happily.

Today's morning court made Li Er feel very good. Currently, water conservancy, spring plowing, road construction, etc. are all proceeding in an orderly manner.

I don't know when it started, but every time Li Er finished the morning court, he liked to go to Su Liang's place.

Either showing off or asking for advice.

Miss Ruyan saw Li Er coming, and then asked someone to bring tea, leaving the space to the two.

"Good son-in-law, do you know what the Turks eat the most?"

Li Er smiled slightly and sold a pass.

Su Liang looked at Li Er quietly, not understanding what Li Er meant. Isn't this obvious, does he still need to ask.

Su Liang was having a headache, and didn't want to think too much, so he said immediately: "Of course beef and mutton, even a three-year-old child knows this question."

"What does Your Majesty mean by asking this?"

Li Er saw Su Liang ask directly, and didn't talk nonsense, then smiled and said: "Cough... it is already February, and this is the best time for them to graze."

"I want..."

Speaking of this, he closed his mouth.

Seeing Li Er stuttering, without a word for a long time.

Su Liang then smiled and said: "Now there are still many parts of the Eastern Turks that have not submitted, Your Majesty is not at ease?"

"Still good son-in-law understands my meaning. Now the envoys to Tang have returned to their countries one after another, and I don't know the specific attitude. According to the news from Yingzhou, it seems that Khitan and Kumoxi have actions."

"In recent days, they have been in closer contact."

"Sigh... I don't know the specific situation of Xiwei and Mohe yet." Li Er finished speaking, looking at Su Liang sincerely, wanting Su Liang to give an idea.

Hehe... Your Majesty wants to clear the hidden dangers of the Eastern Turks for the stability of the Great Tang, Su Liang thought to himself.

Then he began to think secretly...

Kumoxi and Khitan are of the same root and origin. During the Northern Wei Dynasty, Khitan broke away from Kumoxi and embarked on the road of self-improvement.

Later, the more powerful Khitan annexed Kumoxi, forming a unified Khitan tribe. The unified Khitan had always lived on the northern grasslands, chasing water and grass, and had wars and conflicts with the Xianbei, Turks, etc. at that time. At this time, the Khitan was weak and belonged to the object of bullying.

Time came to the Tang Dynasty. With Li Shimin's Zhenguan Rule, he created a prosperous dynasty.

The powerful Turks in the north were driven to the distant west by the army of the Li Tang Dynasty, and the nomadic peoples who were originally bullied, such as the Khitan, got a rare opportunity for development. On the one hand, they also submitted to the Li Tang Dynasty, using their cattle, sheep, and rare treasures to conduct economic exchanges with the common people in the Central Plains, and at the same time, expanded their power through a series of internal and external annexations.

During the Wu Zhou period, the Khitan power in the northern border became increasingly powerful, and the Great Tang sent troops to conquer the Khitan five times, all to no avail.

Since then, the Khitan has become a great trouble for the Great Tang.

After the An Lushan Rebellion, the northern region fell into chaos again.

At this time, the Khitan already had enough power to compete with the feudal towns under the jurisdiction of the Li Tang Dynasty, and the Khitan thus entered a brand new situation.

Later, they established the Liao Kingdom.

It was the Great Liao that invaded the Great Song.

Su Liang shook his head slightly after thinking carefully, and Li Er didn't disturb him when he saw this.

It must be said that Li Er's heart is too soft. Whether it is the Western Xia established by the Tuoba clan, the Great Liao established by the Khitan, the Great Jin established by the Jurchen; in addition to the unified dynasties established by ethnic minorities: Yuan Dynasty, Qing Dynasty.

Although the Great Tang destroyed more than thirty countries before and after, it was also a huge hidden danger left by Li Er.

Now that Li Er said this, Su Liang had to be cautious...

In history, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, in order to thoroughly resolve the Khitan issue, ordered Wang Zhongsi to lead 100,000 cavalry north out of Yanmen; the Kumoxi and Khitan nations had once formed an alliance, and at that time, they dispatched 200,000 troops to meet the battle.

When the two sides fought a decisive battle on the Sanggan River, the Great Tang army won three battles and three victories. The coalition of Kumoxi and Khitan was completely destroyed, and thirty-six tribes of Kumoxi and Khitan surrendered to the Great Tang. Since then, they did not dare to make trouble for decades.

But now this... this came too fast.

Currently, the two countries combined do not have thirty thousand households, and the army is at most one hundred thousand. They certainly don't have the courage.

Unless... unless someone is making trouble in the middle!!

Judging from the tribute this year, Xiwei and Mohe tribes have shown goodwill. As the second and third younger brothers of the Great Tang in history, they should not have this courage.

As for Bai Si, one of the fifteen Tie Le tribes, surrounded by mountains, it is even more impossible.

Then, the only one left... is Goguryeo!!

After thinking clearly, Su Liang looked at Li Er with a serious face and said: "It is normal for Kumoxi and Khitan to be of the same root and origin and have close contact."

"If they dare to call for troops against my Great Tang, just destroy them."

"I'm just afraid... there is Goguryeo's instigation behind it!!"

"Goguryeo... Goguryeo..." Li Er muttered to himself, his expression solemn.

After a long time, Li Er looked at Su Liang and asked: "If this is really the case, what do you think should be done, good son-in-law?"

"Currently, Goguryeo has more than three million people and more than seventy thousand households."

"Normally speaking, Goguryeo has at least fifteen thousand troops."

"If it is really Goguryeo instigating Kumoxi and Khitan behind the scenes, I am afraid that Goguryeo's army is now no less than twenty thousand!!"

Su Liang said in a deep voice.

Su Liang had also paid attention to the military strength of the Great Tang's neighboring countries when he was traveling, especially in the north!!

Su Liang was naturally very clear about this, but with the Great Tang's domineering declaration, the military strength of neighboring countries had only increased.

"Hiss..."

Li Er gasped when he heard what Su Liang said.

If things were really as Su Liang predicted, wouldn't the northern border of the Great Tang have thirty thousand fierce soldiers?

Su Liang killed the Japanese envoy, and I don't know what consequences it will bring, and now this...

Thinking carefully at this moment, Li Er couldn't help but feel his scalp numb...

Su Liang's words were naturally not alarmist.

Regardless of whether the matter is true or false, Su Liang must say it, so that Li Er can realize the seriousness of the problem.

To put it bluntly, this is Su Liang forcing Li Er to make up his mind to eliminate all hidden dangers around the Great Tang!!

Su Liang absolutely does not allow those things in the future to happen!

Life is only a few decades, even if Su Liang can live to the high age of one hundred and forty-four like Sun Simiao, he cannot stop what happens later. What Su Liang can do is to eliminate the current hidden dangers.

At this moment,

Everything, everything, requires time!!

Nowadays, not only must the gravel needed for road construction be resolved, but future hidden dangers must also be addressed.

At this moment, Su Liang also had an idea in his heart; he had to use gunpowder, which could not only be used to open mountains and crush rocks, but also to make pumpkin grenades.

Gunpowder originated from the alchemy of the Spring and Autumn period; during the Sui Dynasty, the ternary system of saltpeter, sulfur, and charcoal was born.

At this moment, black powder had not yet truly been born in the real sense, and people's application of gunpowder was not comprehensive.

As a third-generation military man, Su Liang was well-versed in this.

After thinking it through, Su Liang immediately looked at Li Er and said: "Your Majesty, rest assured. In two days, I will show you a good thing, which will surely be able to deter the northern frontier of our Great Tang."

"Isn't Your Majesty's visit today for the sake of the Eastern Turks?"

"Let's not talk about anything else today, let's just talk about the Eastern Turks."

As his voice fell, Li Er nodded heavily, watching Su Liang quietly, also very expectant of the "good thing" Su Liang spoke of.

However, since Su Liang said it could be seen in two days, it would naturally be seen then, and Li Er was not in a hurry about this.

Just two days, Li Er could afford to wait!

He then asked about the Eastern Turks: "What good advice does my virtuous son-in-law have regarding the Eastern Turks?"

"Then what does Your Majesty think?" Su Liang asked in return.

"I want to use the same method as dealing with the Tuyuhun, but the business is all in your hands, virtuous son-in-law, so I want you to produce more of it."

Li Er said awkwardly.

Although Li Er had a 30% stake in Su Liang's business, he had no decision-making power and it was not appropriate to interfere with the firm's business.

"That is possible, but Your Majesty needs to lend me some people," Su Liang said calmly.

"How many people does my virtuous son-in-law need?" Li Er immediately asked.

"There are already enough commoners building roads, and the 200,000 soldiers prepared earlier are no longer needed for road construction; Your Majesty can let them help build the workshops."

"With these people, most of the workshops in the north can be built."

Li Er immediately asked in confusion: "Then why doesn't my virtuous son-in-law transfer more people from the four million laborers to build the workshops? That way, more workshops could be built."

"It would also allow the 200,000 Great Tang soldiers to share joys and sorrows with the people; wouldn't that be better?"

Su Liang glared at Li Er and asked in return: "It is naturally a good thing for soldiers to share joys and sorrows with the people, but those laborers are all paid wages. Is Your Majesty trying to make me reward the three armies?"

Hearing this, Li Er pondered in silence, and only after thinking carefully did he feel he had been rash.

There is no precedent for a subject to reward the three armies on behalf of the Emperor; although Su Liang is now the General of Tiance, acting in such a way is even more inappropriate.

Su Liang had already warned Li Er last time...

Unless it is a particularly important matter, he will not participate.

To avoid gossip.

Not only that, many secrets of Su Liang's businesses cannot be known by the aristocratic families, at least not for now. Letting the soldiers be responsible for the construction of those workshops is naturally the most appropriate choice.

After Li Er thought it through, he looked at Su Liang again and asked: "Then what is your view on the Eastern Turks?"

Su Liang pondered for a moment and said: "Didn't Your Majesty previously intend to let the Eastern Turks engage in both herding and farming? On this basis, some conditions can be restricted..."

"The number of horses the Turks can raise can be restricted, while cattle and sheep are the more the better."

"Horses are enough for the Turks' domestic use; as for horses... let our Great Tang army raise them."

"What does Your Majesty think?"

"Hahaha... Good, good, good..." Li Er said upon hearing this, laughing loudly: "Virtuous son-in-law, this plan is excellent. In this way, the Turks will have no cavalry to use, and the hidden danger will naturally be eliminated."

"Hehe..." Su Liang chuckled.

"Without money and without horses, there will naturally be no hidden dangers."

Subsequently, Su Liang and Li Er looked at each other and smiled...

With this, the Eastern Turks were properly arranged to be laborers.

If they want to eat and drink well, they can.

Work for the Great Tang!!

After Li Er left, Su Liang immediately arranged the relevant matters...

That afternoon, Su Liang had Er Hu purchase all the materials needed to make gunpowder.

At the same time, Su Liang arranged for the shells and fuse devices of the pumpkin grenades to be made within the Taoyuan Villa; finally, the assembly of the grenades was carried out secretly on the lake island in the Furong Garden.

The lake island is surrounded by water on all sides, so if an accident occurs, nothing major will happen.

A more important point is that there will be no eyes and ears on the lake island!

This matter of making pumpkin grenades is truly too dangerous and must absolutely not be known by irrelevant people.

Just like brewing wine, making salt, and so on.

It sounds difficult, but once the principles are known, Su Liang believes that the craftsmen of the Great Tang can do no worse than himself.

The wisdom of the ancients is beyond doubt!

Therefore, Su Liang must find his own people to do these things on his own turf. He does not trust the Ministry of Works handed over to Li Er, as there are still many people from the Five Surnames and Seven Clans there.

Although the Five Surnames and Seven Clans are much more low-key now, they still cannot allow Su Liang to have even half a moment of relaxation!

With the surrender of the Turks, many aristocratic families have handles in Su Liang's hands, such as human trafficking, salt and iron smuggling, grain speculation, and so on.

Li Er wanted to severely punish the ringleaders, but was stopped by Su Liang.

In the end, Li Er only executed those who committed heinous crimes like human trafficking, which was only a few dozen people.

Among them, many were just scapegoats found by the aristocratic families.

Su Liang is actually quite weary of killing; after all, many people around the Great Tang are now descendants of Huaxia.

What Su Liang wants is to subdue the enemy without fighting.

Use economic strategies to completely disintegrate the opponent!

For the Five Surnames and Seven Clans, Su Liang is the same.

At noon two days later...

The time agreed upon by Su Liang and Li Er had arrived.