Everyone was dizzy after drinking. When they got up from bed the next day, Li Xiang had already headed south with his entourage. If it weren't for the many new troops he had trained during his time here, Li Xiang would never have been able to lead 3,000 troops south.
In order to protect Li Xiang's safety, in addition to these 3,000 troops, Li Shimin also allocated some other troops, with a total of nearly 5,000 people. He also told Li Xiang in words that this time you are mainly going to form an alliance, and you must not cause any trouble in Nanzhao. Although the troops under your command are all fierce and powerful, if you are surrounded, you may not be able to fight against four hands with two fists, and you may not be able to come back.
"Are you really going back to Chang'an? Aren't you going to accompany me to Nanzhao?"
Looking at Changsun Pingting in front of him, Li Xiang felt really reluctant to leave. During the time in Sichuan, it was other people who were busy or had things to do. Li Xiang spent most of his time traveling around with Changsun Pingting, and the relationship between the two deepened further.
"You're going to get married, and you still want me to follow you. If I get jealous, not only will you not get married, but I might even grab your new wife's face and make her look ugly. If this affects the relationship between the two countries, His Royal Highness will definitely bring me to justice."
While helping Li Xiang tidy up his clothes, Changsun Pingting jokingly mentioned this issue. Although Changsun Pingting said it jokingly, she was very resistant to this matter in her heart. No matter how magnanimous Changsun Pingting was, she did not want to see Li Xiang get married in Nanzhao. This was too cruel for a woman.
If Changsun Pingting had given any other reason, Li Xiang would have definitely forced her to stay. But when she said this, Li Xiang knew he couldn't keep her. Every woman has a jealous streak, but some are better at hiding it. Now that Changsun Pingting was unwilling to hide it, did Li Xiang have to see her lose her composure? This was not the behavior of a gentleman.
"I just can't bear to leave you."
There was no one else around, so Li Xiang hugged Changsun Pingting and the two stood in the wilderness, inseparable.
"Your words are enough. What else can I expect? Besides, I've been away from Chang'an for too long. There are some things I need to deal with when I get back. If I continue to let them pile up, I'm afraid it will lead to big mistakes."
What Changsun Pingting said was true. Changsun Pingting had a great mind in business. Li Xiang had already handed over his business empire to Changsun Pingting. This was also a kind of compensation to Changsun Pingting. Others might not know how big this business empire was, but Changsun Pingting herself knew it. Although the few people under her were reliable, if the hostess did not check the accounts, these people would inevitably become slack. Once they took that step, the losses would be huge.
No matter how inseparable the two were, Changsun Pingting and Li Xiang eventually parted ways. After they separated, Li Xiang did feel a little lost. Changsun Pingting had been with him all this time, and suddenly the carriage became empty. Li Xiang was indeed a little sad.
Su Dingfang was riding a tall horse at this moment, right next to Li Xiang's carriage.
Although he wanted to comfort Li Xiang, he didn't know how to say it. After all, Li Xiang and Changsun Pingting were together, which was a secret after all. Although Su Dingfang knew about this, she could never tell it out.
"While we're on the road, we should spare a day or two to have them conduct actual combat drills. No matter when we arrive, since they are an army, they are not just a showpiece. They must have at least two days of actual combat drills every month. This absolutely cannot be wasted."
Li Xiang's voice was heard from the tent. Su Dingfang thought he had misheard. He had fallen so low, but he was still thinking about the army's actual combat drills. He was really more dedicated than the rest of us. No wonder the army under Li Xiang was so powerful.
"Please rest assured, Your Highness. They will be conducting actual combat drills in three days. These troops have been joined by over 800 new recruits, and the primary target of the drills will be these 800 recruits. I have already prepared the drill schedule, but as Your Highness said, there are no plans for the second half."
If the imperial army wants to organize a drill, it is basically a written script, and the various troops just need to cooperate with each other. But Li Xiang's actual combat drill is different. The first half is similar to other armies, but there is no plan in the second half. It is just the mutual attack and defense between the various troops. You use all your abilities. Sometimes the new recruits can also defeat the veteran troops. If this situation really happens, then the rewards for the new recruits will come.
After Su Dingfang finished his report, no other words came back from the tent, so Su Dingfang closed his mouth, and then gave a few instructions to the cavalrymen around him, and went to the front of the team. That kind of silence was indeed a bit uncomfortable, after all, Li Xiang was usually a chatterbox.
Nanzhao also received documents from the Lifanyuan of the Tang Dynasty. Although Li Xiang postponed the wedding date again and again, when they received the documents from the Lifanyuan, Nanzhao still carefully began their rehearsals.
According to Nanzhao's idea, Li Xiang must feel at home. Nanzhao is a vassal state of the Tang Dynasty, so although Li Xiang is His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, his rank is much higher than that of the King of Nanzhao. Nanzhao has formulated a series of policies to let Li Xiang see their sincerity.
After the convoy had been traveling for about fifteen days, they had arrived at the border of Nanzhao. Li Xiang's order had also been issued. All soldiers had to be vigilant and write down everything they saw and encountered along the way, as it might be useful in the future.
At this moment, Nanzhao had no intention of rebelling. When the common people on both sides saw the Tang army, they were all very envious and even brought food and drink from their homes. Li Xiang frowned when he saw this scene. This might be a way for Nanzhao to win people's hearts, but Li Xiang would never let his heart soften. In a few decades, this place would become the vanguard against the Tang Dynasty. However, the enthusiasm of the common people was real, so he would try his best to recover this place without going to war.
