After listening to Li Shimin's words, King Wu Li Ke was a little confused. He originally thought that Fusang was his final destination, but now hearing what his father said, this might also be an opportunity.
"But... Father... This time there are two great generals serving as deputy commanders. If I go there, I will just be a benchmark. Can I really command the army?"
When Li Shimin heard Prince Wu Li Ke calling him father, a rare smile appeared on his face. Before, these people all called him father. Although it was a high standard, it inevitably lacked some family affection. Prince Wu Li Ke was really in trouble now. At this time, the two of them were not a monarch and a minister, but a real father and son.
"Those two old fellows are simply too exhausted to stay in the capital. Do you think this military achievement will be of any use to them? They've already reached the pinnacle of their official positions. They both know it's impossible to advance any further. They're just going out to evacuate. If you can demonstrate sufficient talent, who would compete with you? Furthermore, this time we're going to Fusang to fight, we're relying on our navy. Those two townsmen know that they're both landlubbers."
Many people did not understand Li Shimin's arrangements. Even Li Chengqian and Li Xiang, father and son, had to go back and think carefully for a while. Not to mention Prince Wu Li Ke. Although he had a mother in the palace, he could not enter the palace often.
As for the counselors under his command, they are okay at reciting some romantic poems, but when it comes to real national affairs, those guys will probably have to be put at the back of the list, as they are simply not cut out for it.
"But I am not good at water battles..."
King Wu Li Ge still had a face full of question marks. At this time, he felt his own incompetence. In the past, he had laughed at his elder and second brothers, always feeling that they were far inferior to him. But now when he saw Li Shimin, he realized that he was just a little kid and there were too many things he didn't understand.
"The Goguryeo Navy was detached from the Dengzhou Navy. All of them were trained by your good nephew, and the generals there are all capable. You only need to assign them tasks in your tent. Do you really need to lead them into battle yourself? When have you ever seen a prince charge into battle? If that were the case, then our Tang Dynasty would be in danger."
Li Shimin said in a bad mood, and Wu Wang Li Ke also had an epiphany. Li Xiang was only the commander of the Tuyuhun battlefield at the beginning, but later he was always in the rear to make plans. Wu Wang Li Ke also thought this matter wrongly, always thinking that the commander-in-chief should lead the troops to charge forward.
"Go back and prepare well. I've sent you some information about the navy's current situation. Go back and study it carefully. Don't dream of controlling this army. Just make sure it's of use to you for the time being."
When Prince Wu Li Ke came to his senses, Li Shimin had left these few words and had already gone to the harem.
The young eunuch next to him was waiting here. After Prince Wu Li Ke came to his senses, the young eunuch would send Prince Wu out. The rules in the palace were very strict. Even if it was the emperor's son, there must be a record if he entered the harem, and there must be a special person to send him out.
When passing by the East Palace, King Wu Li Ke glanced in that direction and quickly retracted his gaze. If he looked for too long, he would inevitably be seen by others, and these people would have all kinds of speculations.
Li Xiang is going to Cheng Yaojin's house to drink tonight. This was decided long ago. Normally, he should go to Changsun Wuji's place first, but Changsun Wuji has something to do tonight, so he went to Cheng Yaojin's place first.
The Cheng Chumo brothers were also very depressed. They thought they could go to the Goguryeo front this time, but Cheng Yaojin went there alone, so the two brothers could not go.
Among the younger generation of generals, the one brought this time was Li Daozon’s son Li Jingren.
Li Daozon was a general of the royal family. He had made great military achievements in his youth and had even escorted Princess Wencheng into Tubo in history.
He is now recuperating in Chang'an City due to health reasons, but he still dragged his sick body to see Li Shimin, hoping to give his second son a chance.
"Li Jingren is so weak. If you take him to fight in Goguryeo, you won't even have enough money to pay for his medical treatment and medicine."
Speaking of this matter, Cheng Chuliang was full of dissatisfaction. There were too many people like him staying in Chang'an City, not to mention going to the battlefield in Fusang. None of the two brothers went, so the two of them were very angry.
"Shut up! Even though this is just a family dinner, you can't be so reckless. Li Dao Zong was a powerful general back then. Even if his son is useless, he's still much better than the others. I won't tolerate you two talking nonsense here."
Cheng Yaojin had seen Li Daozon's abilities. If there was anyone who could make Cheng Yaojin admire him, then the military god Li Jing was one of them, and the second one was naturally Li Xiaogong.
Of course, in addition to these two, there is another half, and that half is the royal family prince Li Daozon.
When Li Shimin launched his last eastern expedition to Goryeo, Li Daozon still followed the army, but he did not carry out any important tasks. After returning, he caught a cold and most of the time he didn't even attend the morning court. Fortunately, Chang'an City had no shortage of various medicinal materials, so he was able to persevere.
Because Li Daozon had left the center of power early on, although he still had the title of a prince, Chang'an City was not short of such princes. If they were the emperor's sons and grandsons, they would still have a chance to show up, but if they were the emperor's cousins, it would be a good thing if they had power, or they would fade out of people's sight early if they didn't.
Li Daozon no longer has much influence, let alone Li Jingren. Take the Cheng Chuliang brothers for example, their reputation in Chang'an City is much better than Li Jingren.
"Has Li Jingren never served in the military?"
Li Xiang said with some surprise that even if Li Shimin wanted to promote Li Daozon, he could not send a scholar to the army. If that were the case, it would be a bit too much.
"He has never been in the army for a day, but his own martial arts skills are quite good. He has always wanted to enter the court as a civilian, but unfortunately there are not many opportunities."
Cheng Chumo was also forced to study for a while back then, and was a classmate of Li Jingren, so he knew Li Jingren quite well. Unfortunately, he couldn't sit still and was expelled from the academy early...
