Chapter 425: Taking the Water Route

Chen Yan silently watched for a while, then turned back: "Uncle Niu, two lords, summon Su Dingfang and Xue Li over; we'll find a place and discuss my arrangements for you."

"Fine!" Niu Jinda immediately agreed.

Several people came down from the high platform, and Niu Jinda sent someone to call Su Dingfang and Xue Li.

Everyone sat together inside the camp tent, and before them lay a huge feng shui map, specially provided by Li Shimin, created over several years by many talented and eccentric individuals, detailing the geography of the Tang Dynasty and neighboring countries.

Chen Yan personally petitioned Li Shimin and had a copy made.

In it, the spot representing Weinan County was marked with a red dot.

"Now that we're here, I won't waste words. I've already told you your missions; today we sit down to discuss our basic situation and the objectives we must achieve on the first expedition!" Chen Yan said, looking around.

Everyone nodded in understanding, then sat upright and listened attentively.

Chen Yan pointed to the location of Weinan County on the feng shui map:

"We are currently here. Because we need to act covertly, I have prepared nine large ships for you. These were built by countless shipwrights from across the realm, secretly funded by His Majesty, costing several hundred thousand strings, and are superior and larger than the best ships of the Tang Dynasty!"

"They are now moored on the Wei He, surrounded by men I sent, loaded with enough grain, fresh water, medicinal herbs, and other supplies."

Niu Jinda's eyes flashed with brilliance, recalling something.

Since last year, Chen Yan had been building an unnamed structure in a relatively hidden spot beside the Wei He, even recalling militia to surround it, and even when asked, Chen Yan remained mysteriously silent.

It turned out to be the construction of the new ships.

Su Dingfang clasped his hands and said, "Duke, are we to take the water route?"

"Yes! Exactly!" Chen Yan first affirmed Su Dingfang's question, then moved his finger to the name "Lin Yiguo."

"Lin Yiguo, you may have already heard of this place from my brief remarks; it is the land that produces Champa Rice."

"Eight hundred heavy cavalry—if done by ordinary means while staying covert, without alerting the court's mainstream opinion or local officials, is almost an impossible task!"

"Therefore the water route is the best choice: first, we have nine warships to carry grain, and after securing it we can transport the seed back."

"Second, we are at Weinan County, enjoying the innate advantage of proximity to the Wei He."

"Moreover, normally you could disguise yourselves as the merchant ships of the shipowner under my command; I and His Majesty can also discreetly smooth relations along the way, reducing exposure risk."

Niu Jinda thought, "In that case, the water route truly is the best option."

"However, from Weinan County to Lin Yiguo is far; we must discuss the marching route carefully."

Chen Yan fixed his gaze on Yuan Tiangang and Li Chunfeng: "National Teacher, Grand Historian, what do you think our marching route should be?"

The two met Chen Yan's eyes and instantly understood.

Chen Yan's move seemed to ask them, but actually he wanted them to show some general's bearing.

Yuan Tiangang pondered briefly, extended his finger, and traced a line eastward from Weinan County: "I think we should use the canal transport of Weinan County, head east, and first reach Jiangdu (present‑day Yangzhou)."

"This is where the Grand Canal meets the Yangtze, the Tang Dynasty's most important water‑land port; from Jiangdu or a more southerly port we go south, pass through the Qiongzhou Strait, and finally land in the sparsely populated coastal area of northern Lin Yiguo."

"This route saves horse power; most of the men, horses, and equipment are carried by ship, avoiding the huge loss of horses and gear that land marching would cause."

"Since Mr. Chen mentioned wanting Lin Yiguo's Champa Rice, I have specifically asked many foreign merchants and envoys about Lin Yiguo. Their neighboring small states are many, and their defenses are mainly land‑based; coastal defense is virtually nonexistent."

"If we land on the northern coast of Lin Yiguo, we can catch them completely off guard."

As his words ended, Niu Jinda, Su Dingfang, and the other veterans fell into thought.

After a while they gave a slight nod, agreeing with Yuan Tiangang's route.

Although Yuan Tiangang's description was rather general, merely a rough outline, many detailed matters still need to be settled, but overall the route is fine.

Then the group immediately began deliberations.

Sitting at the head, Chen Yan grew quiet.

He hadn't intended to intervene in this matter; after all, for marching and battle, Niu Jinda and Su Dingfang are the experts.

A professional does professional work, Chen Yan always kept that saying in mind.

It is also the life creed of countless later coal magnates.

However, Li Chunfeng grew more and more surprised as he listened.

Because unlike him, who never got a word in, Yuan Tiangang could even slam the table and argue with Niu Jinda and Su Dingfang, and apparently even persuaded the two.

Li Chunfeng was stunned at that moment.

"What the—bro?"

"Aren't we all fortune‑tellers?"

"How do you still know warfare?"

"You old kid, how many tricks are you still hiding?"

Yet Chen Yan had foreseen this and didn't mind their spit‑filled argument.

From the moment Yuan Tiangang told him he was good at fighting, Chen Yan realized Yuan Tiangang definitely concealed more than Li Chunfeng.

Later, after Yuan Tiangang rode alone into a foreign land and brought Li Chunfeng and Xue Li back, Chen Yan immediately proposed to Li Shimin that Yuan Tiangang and Li Chunfeng serve as commanders; this was essentially the final test.

Although Yuan Tiangang complained and whined, once he started his spiel, from his fiery gaze and eager demeanor Chen Yan knew this guy could definitely succeed.

If not for that, Chen Yan would have let Li Shimin pick someone else, or directly assign Su Dingfang or Niu Jinda.

In fact Chen Yan wasn't wrong; Li Chunfeng may indeed know little about warfare, but Yuan Tiangang, that old fellow, can!

Of course, like Li Chunfeng who can't get a word in, there's also the pitiful Xue Li.

He even seemed a bit uneasy.

Chen Yan patted his shoulder: "Xue Li, haven't you always wanted to join the army, charge into battle, and thus revive the Xue family?"

"Now the chance has come, so don't panic—just act!"

"Besides, you're at least a born divine‑strength person; first follow Uncle Niu, General Su, learn from them, go to the battlefield a few more times, earn some merit, and I'll speak to His Majesty to let you study under the Duke."

"Uncle Niu and the others are getting old; you'll become the Tang Dynasty's second‑generation general!"

Those words almost made Xue Li want to bow and kowtow to Chen Yan on the spot.

The big man at that moment seemed a little at a loss.

When he was still a farmer tilling the land, he brought him and his family to Chang'an, to provide himself with food, to find a master to study martial arts for himself, to find lodging for his own family, to find work, and to send his younger brothers and sisters to school.

Moreover, in front of His Majesty, he recommended himself, allowing himself to enter the Bannerless Cavalry.

Even the future road was paved for him.

How is this a noble person? Even the ancestors aren't as good as Chen Yan!

"......"