When Li Xiang spoke just now, many ministers in the court were embarrassed. What they liked to brag about the most in the past was the Heavenly Khan, but now this fig leaf has been removed. What you boasted about is useless. You still thought that the countries in the Western Regions were sincerely surrendering, but you didn't know that it was just a compliment given to you by others.
Li Shimin also understood this point. As an emperor with great talent and strategy, he certainly knew that this slogan was useless. However, the national strength of the Tang Dynasty was relatively weak at that time. If you were to lift this layer of cloth, there would be countless wars in the north. It would be better to just mix with those people first.
Now that the national strength of the Tang Dynasty is rising sharply and there are no enemies around, we must take this opportunity to clean up what needs to be done and spread the influence of the Tang Dynasty far and wide. Li Shimin once said to Li Xiang that since we believe that the whole world belongs to the king, then we must plant the flag of the Tang Dynasty wherever we see it.
"Even so, someone come and deliver the order..."
In front of everyone in the court, Li Shimin immediately conveyed his order to Su Dingfang, asking him to stabilize the war situation as quickly as possible, force Gaochang to surrender to the Tang Dynasty, and then defeat the Western Regions coalition forces. As for what to do after defeating the Western Regions coalition forces, the decision would be made after Li Xiang arrived.
Li Xiang originally thought that he could stay in Chang'an for a while, but now it seems impossible. Li Shimin then found the officials of the Imperial Observatory and asked them to find an auspicious day in the next few days to marry Li Xiang.
The original date had been chosen, but due to the war situation in the northwest, it had to be moved forward. Anyway, the royal family had already made preparations and did not need Li Xiang and others to arrange it.
However, Li You and Xiao Shougui had to leave Chang'an early. Although these two people had little influence on the war situation, they still represented the court, so Li Shimin ordered them to take 3,000 elite soldiers to support Su Dingfang.
Li Xiang wanted to say something about Li Shimin's arrangement. He must make the command of these 3,000 people clear. If the command was not clear, there would probably be a quarrel after arriving in the northwest. These people were only brought over by Li You and were not his subordinates.
Of course, Li Xiang no longer needs to show up himself now. Someone immediately stood up to talk about this matter. The younger generations in their family also want to go to the battlefield to gain credit. Commanding three thousand people is not a big deal, but for the younger generations in their family, this is also an experience of leading troops alone.
Li Xiang saw that Niu Jinda was eager to try. He had promised this guy at the beginning and wanted to take him with him when he went on the eastern expedition to Fuso. But now things have changed, and he has to focus on the northwest first, so Li Xiang asked the emperor for permission, hoping to let General Niu Jinda lead the team.
Some other generals still wanted to let their younger generations train, but now that Li Xiang had stepped forward, they all retreated. It wasn't that they didn't want to compete with Li Xiang, but most of the military power was in his hands. If they offended him over this matter, it would be of no benefit to them. How could their younger generations still train in the army in the future? I'm afraid that before you even enter, they will have already decided your life or death.
Li Shimin was reluctant to let Li Xiang take over the hilltop, but now the small hilltop had become a big mountain. Moreover, Su Dingfang and Niu Jinda cooperated very well and did a lot for the Tang Dynasty in the north. It was completely reasonable for them to ask for an expedition now.
"I remember General Niu's contribution last time. I will give it to you after I return from the northwest this time."
In order to suppress Li Xiang, the contributions of many generals were not counted. Niu Jinda no longer cared about this. He also saw the situation of the court clearly. Although Li Shimin was still in charge, if a few more battles were fought, it would be hard to say. As long as Li Xiang remembered our contributions in his heart, it didn't matter whether he was given a title or not.
"Thank you, Your Majesty. I, Old Niu, will definitely help Your Majesty pacify the Western Regions."
Niu Jinda's words were a bit like Cheng Yaojin's, but Cheng Yaojin knew that it was impossible for him to lead the troops to war. Because of Li Xiang, Cheng Yaojin could only live a leisurely life in Chang'an in the future. If Cheng Yaojin led the troops again, Li Shimin would probably not be able to sleep at night.
Although Cheng Yaojin was Li Shimin's favorite general, everyone would think about his future. If this guy took risks for the happiness of his next generation and joined forces with Li Xiang to stage the Xuanwu Gate Incident, Li Shimin would be crying.
After the court was dismissed, Li You was the most depressed one. He had originally thought that he had half a month to say goodbye to his friends. The time had already been arranged. In the next ten days or so, he would attend banquets at various houses.
Now, how could they be asked to leave Chang'an tomorrow morning? But he didn't dare to tell Li Shimin, so he could only look at Li Xiang angrily. He didn't dare to do anything to Li Xiang now. This was Chang'an City. If he did something excessive to Li Xiang, he would probably be beaten by many people.
Originally, he thought of taking revenge on Li Xiang after arriving in the northwest, but then he thought that the northwest was full of Li Xiang's people. If he took revenge on Li Xiang after arriving in the northwest, he didn't know what the outcome would be. Maybe the people in the northwest would kill him first. Killing someone in such a Gobi Desert is really unnoticed. Even though you are a prince, in Li Xiang's army, if you really make up your mind, even the prince can't escape.
This is what Li Xiang is most proud of. Although he has no intention of rebelling, he must have the strength to do so. If there is something that cannot be solved, Li Xiang can immediately rise up in rebellion. However, at this stage it is not good for the entire Tang Dynasty, and what Li Shimin did is not to that extent, so Li Xiang did not put it into practice.
Xiao Shougui didn't care about such things. He had already decided to go to the northwest, and it didn't matter to him whether it was a day earlier or later. It was just that he would not have the chance to attend Li Xiang's wedding, which was somewhat of a pity.
Just when he felt regretful, the court issued Li Xiang's speech to the world...
Li Xiang deeply felt that the times were difficult, so he decided to keep the Crown Prince's wedding simple, cutting out as many formalities as possible. Cheng Yaojin agreed. The common people had never encountered anything like this before. Even if the sky fell, the royal family's affairs must be handled with dignity. The Crown Prince was truly different from others...
