Chapter 428: The Current Situation of the Tang Dynasty

"There really is a silver mine!"

Du Ruhui, Fang Xuanling, and Cheng Yaojin, the ones Li Shimin summoned in the middle of the night, gathered around the silver ore that Hu Jin had brought back, eyeing each other.

"So... the Duke of Wei saying that it's a massive silver mine is true?" Du Ruhui asked, puzzled.

Li Shimin gave a slight nod. "Based on the prospectors we sent, it's likely that beneath lies an unprecedentedly huge silver mine."

"Zi An didn't lie!"

When those words were spoken, the few men were stunned, then each grew more excited than the last.

"Then what are we waiting for?" Yuchi Gong shouted. "Your Majesty, I propose we raise troops at once and march over, crush that so‑called Wa Kingdom, and seize this silver mine!"

"I second that!" Cheng Yaojin stepped forward immediately. "Moreover, I volunteer to be the vanguard; Your Majesty need only give me fifty thousand troops, and by this time next year I will have taken the Wa Kingdom!"

"Hey! You Cheng Laohei, what are you trying to do?" Yuchi Gong glared, "Clearly I was the one who came first; if we go, it's still me!"

He turned and said, "Your Majesty, don't listen to him. I only need forty‑five thousand soldiers; I'll definitely take the Wa Kingdom and bring the silver mine to you!"

"You damn it!" Cheng Yaojin retorted, "I only need forty thousand!"

"I'll take thirty‑five thousand!"

"Then I'll take thirty thousand!"

"Enough fighting!" Li Jing interrupted them, stepping forward. "Your Majesty, I am confident that twenty thousand troops can take the Wa Kingdom; provided we avoid a sea storm, I will issue a military decree, and by early next year a victory report will reach Chang'an!"

"What are you blabbering about?" Cheng Yaojin fumed, "Why is everyone arguing with me?"

Damn that scroll!

"The Wa Kingdom is overseas, not far away! If you send twenty thousand troops by ship, regardless of how the soldiers land, even if they don't get seasick and keep combat ready, a force of twenty thousand is formidable and will surely provoke the Wa Kingdom's full retaliation. Without any supplies and with no knowledge of terrain or local conditions, won't that twenty‑thousand be doomed?"

"To attack the Wa Kingdom, we need at least thirty thousand, and they must be adept at sea!"

"Your damn fart!" Li Jing shouted, "To take a tiny Wa Kingdom you're demanding thirty thousand, while when I fought the Eastern Göktürks and captured their khan I didn't even need ten thousand!"

"Twenty thousand is fine in my hands!"

"Hey! I have something to say!" Yuchi Gong also stepped forward.

The three immediately began arguing, spitting furiously, each refusing to yield.

But neither Li Shimin nor Du Ruhui and the others showed any particular emotion about it.

Because they were already accustomed to it.

Whenever war is mentioned, these men are just that kind of sort.

Among the generals, only Qin Qiong performed a bit better, but from his eager demeanor it was clear he also wanted a chance to fight!

Li Shimin rubbed his temples. "Alright, alright! Stop arguing; do you think this is your home?"

Hearing that, the few stopped, yet their faces remained defiant.

Li Shimin twitched his mouth; if he didn't intervene, he had no doubt the men could argue all night.

He said calmly, "The Wa Kingdom will certainly be attacked, but not now!"

When he finished, Yuchi Gong instantly grew urgent. "Your Majesty, think again—how can such a massive silver mine sit on another's territory? Only by taking it can it truly belong to our Tang Dynasty!"

"How could we not attack?"

Cheng Yaojin and Li Jing wore equally puzzled expressions, but they weren't as impatient as Yuchi Gong, waiting for Li Shimin's reply.

"Fight, fight, fight—you only know how to fight!"

Li Shimin shouted angrily, "Do you see the current situation of the Tang Dynasty? Last year's tributes from myriad nations made you all complacent, right?"

"Do you know how many foreign powers around us are eyeing the Tang Dynasty? And do you know how long we've been waiting for this chance to recuperate?"

"In recent years we suffered endless natural and man‑made disasters; this year we finally can ease. Yet all you think about is war. War without money? Without grain? Sending tens of thousands off to battle—who pays the wages? Where does the food come from?"

"And where do the soldiers come from?"

"The borders left unattended?"

Li Shimin spat in anger, having scolded them to the point of losing his temper, then slumped and sat down.

Qin Qiong wore an honest‑looking expression, secretly glad he hadn't just leapt forward.

Only Du Ruhui and Fang Xuanling had nothing to do but watch the spectacle.

Li Shimin waved his hand. "Ke Ming, you first brief them on the current state of the Tang Dynasty."

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Du Ruhui smiled and nodded, addressing Cheng Yaojin and the others: "Gentlemen, the Tang Dynasty truly should not wage war on the distant overseas Wa Kingdom at present."

"On the surface, the Tang Dynasty's situation appears flourishing, heading toward a strong beginning, yet upon closer thought the inconsistencies become evident."

"Tuyuhun is a nomadic state, abundant in meat, but its foundation is extremely fragile, just like the Eastern Göktürks in the third year of Zhen Guan; once..."

"To compensate losses and obtain essential provisions, the most direct method is to plunder neighboring prosperous nations—namely, our Tang Dynasty!"

"In recent years, Tuyuhun has frequently harassed and plundered Tang's Liangzhou. While Your Majesty has experienced tributes from myriad nations and the Tang is about to become strong, we have not yet fully recovered from past disasters. If you were the Tuyuhun khan, would you just watch the Tang grow strong and then be forced to bow, with no chance to loot its resources?"

That speech completely convinced the three.

At that moment, they suddenly awoke; the Wa Kingdom was indeed not the primary issue.

Du Ruhui, seeing they had taken his words to heart, continued: "After Tuyuhun, let's talk about the small Western Regions states like Gaochang Kingdom; you may not know, but these small states have begun blocking the Xiyu trade routes, which is more than provocation—it suggests they may hinder Tang's development, a considerable hidden risk."

"Tubo Empire Empire's Songtsen Gampo has also begun unifying the plateau; barring accidents, success is likely. If these small states fragment like the Western Göktürks and fall into civil war, they pose no threat."

"But if they unify, their ambitions are uncertain!"

The final sentence completely extinguished Cheng Yaojin and the others' desire to mobilize troops against the overseas Wa Kingdom.

Cheng Yaojin, dejected, said, "Then what do you propose? Should we just stare at that silver mine and do nothing?"

"Of course not," Du Ruhui shook his head, but said no more.

Li Shimin said at this point, "Enough. The silver‑mine matter was originally reported to me by your good big nephew; given his temperament, do you think he would let it go?"

"I summoned you today precisely for this!"

"Your good big nephew, under my orders, secretly formed an 800‑strong heavy cavalry with Niu Jinda; now the silver mine's existence is confirmed, so you too should contribute."

"......"