Tibet.

Chapter 1479: Conferring the Son as King
At the same time when the Guo family was attacked and destroyed, a strange thing happened in the Mekong Delta. A fleet from the Chola Kingdom arrived in the delta.

There were patrol ships on the sea outside the delta, and three Tang army patrol ships discovered the fleet in the distance.

"Captain, it doesn't look like a cargo ship!"

Captain Zhang Qi recognized this wide and flat ship. Wasn't it the Chola warship that they sank last year?

He snorted coldly, "These bastards are here again, report back immediately!"

The patrol boat turned around and returned to the delta to report the latest findings to Zheng Guangning, the commander of Angu City. Last year, the Chola army performed so poorly and was vulnerable that it left a deep impression on the Tang army.

The Tang army looked down on them from the bottom of their hearts. Zheng Guangping immediately discussed countermeasures with Du Huan. Du Huan slowly said: "The Zhu Luo Kingdom must be here to rob food and property. Although the Zhu Luo Kingdom is relatively weak, the Tang army still cannot be careless. I suggest that you immediately ask for help from the Jiaozhou navy."

Zheng Guangping hesitated for a moment and said, "I am worried that the Jiaozhou navy will arrive, and we may not be able to make it in time."

Du Huan smiled slightly, "The navy is only responsible for naval battles, and we still have to rely on ourselves on the road. We have powerful firearms, and three thousand soldiers are not afraid of anyone!"

Zheng Guangping nodded, "I know what to do now!"

Zheng Guangping made deployments on the only way from the harbor to the ancient city of An.

Three thousand troops were ambushed in the woods not far away.

An hour later, the Chola fleet arrived at the harbor and 20,000 soldiers began to disembark and assemble.

Only half of the 10,000 Chola troops had been assembled, but they were already impatient and turned around to attack Angu City.

Angu City is only one mile away from the seaport terminal and is connected by a wide and flat dirt road. Ten thousand Chola soldiers are galloping on the dirt road and will soon approach the city.

Suddenly, several Tang soldiers stood up from the trench dozens of steps away, drew their bows and arrows, and shot several rockets at the enemy's feet.

No one expected that the muddy and smelly dirt road would suddenly catch fire, catching the Chola soldiers off guard. Thousands of them were instantly engulfed in flames.

The Zhu Luo soldiers shouted in fear, and the soldiers behind them turned around and ran. At this moment, fifty iron fire mines buried in the ground exploded. These were explosives, and they blew the Zhu Luo soldiers to pieces, leaving blood and flesh flying everywhere, with casualties everywhere.

"Woo——"

The Tang army's horns sounded, and three thousand troops rushed out of the woods. The surviving Chola soldiers were defeated, and the Tang army was chasing them from behind.

The soldiers who had just got off the boat scrambled to get back on board. The Chola soldiers were like poultry and livestock being chased, running for their lives in panic.

Without waiting for all the soldiers to board, the large ships turned around and fled into the sea.

The remaining 3,000 soldiers had no way to escape, so they knelt down and surrendered. The Tang army also needed prisoners of war to cultivate official fields, so Zheng Guangping ordered to accept the surrender of the Chola soldiers.

In this battle, more than 4,000 Chola soldiers were burned to death, bombed to death, or killed, and 3,500 surrendered.

On that day, the 3,500 prisoners of war were driven by the Tang army to the fields to plant rice.

It felt very good to use prisoners of war. These Chola soldiers bullied the weak and feared the strong. They were very obedient and easy to manage. Three hundred Tang soldiers were able to subdue 3,500 people.

What happened in the Mekong Delta was sent to Chang'an via Eagle Mail, which was transferred from one station to another. A few days later, Du Huan's report was placed on the desk of Emperor Li Ye.

Li Ye paced back and forth in the room with his hands behind his back. According to his plan, he should start attacking the Chola Kingdom next year or later. The iron content of the Chola Kingdom's iron ore is generally above 60%, and the high-quality iron ore even reaches 70%.

This is the reason that most attracted Li Ye. The iron content of the iron ore in the Tang Dynasty was only more than 20%, and the grade was too low.

The Australia they seized was a treasure trove of high-grade iron ore, but that was a matter for the future. Far water could not quench immediate thirst. Li Ye needed a large amount of pig iron, otherwise the steam engine would not be able to achieve its maximum effect.

With enough pig iron, steam locomotives appeared, and land could be plowed, coal could be mined, and cargo could be unloaded at docks. Iron ships also appeared, and even high-strength cutting tools could be made. Primitive machine tools also appeared, screws and nuts were invented, and railroad steel could be made.

Only then will the Iron Age of the Tang Dynasty truly arrive.

Li Ye finally made up his mind that from now on, he would prepare to conquer the Chola Kingdom. Back in the harem study, Li Ye sent a maid to invite the queen.

Soon, Dugu Xinyue hurried to the study.

Just half a month ago, Dugu Xinyue finally received a piece of news that made her heartbroken. Her father Dugu Lie unfortunately died on Dugu Island and was buried on Dugu Island.

Emperor Li Ye posthumously conferred the title of King Ping on Dugu Lie, and gave him the posthumous title of Zhongyong, and granted him a burial with royal rites.

Dugu Xinyue had been in grief for half a month, and it was only in the past two days that she finally came out of her grief.

"My husband, do you have something to ask me?"

Li Ye nodded, "Sit down first!"

Dugu Xinyue sat down, and Li Ye said slowly: "I have decided to attack Zhu Luo Kingdom, which is the place where Kunlun slaves were produced. There are all little black people there. I will station troops there and appoint a prince. I want Li Fang to be the king of Zhu Luo Kingdom."

Li Fang is the son of Jin Shanling and the eldest son of Li Ye. He is eighteen years old this year.

Dugu Xinyue nodded, "I have no objection, my husband should still seek his opinion. Zhu Luo Kingdom should be in a very far place!"

"Yes! It is indeed far away, but Chola is easy to control and the people are easy to submit. Once you make the general governor, anyone will establish a country and become an emperor there. I have been thinking about this since last year. I must make my son the ruler of Chola."

"Since you have thought it over carefully, my husband, let's give it a try!"

Li Ye immediately sent eunuchs to find King Li Fang of Shu.

It has been almost a year since Li Fang came to Chang'an. After careful training by his grandfather, Li Fang has changed a lot and become more confident. The shy girlish temperament he had before has gradually disappeared from him.

He is still very quiet, but on the other side of his quietness is rationality and tenacity, which are the qualities passed down to him by his father Li Ye's blood, and they finally show up.

"Your son, Li Fang, pays respects to the Emperor!"

Li Fang knelt down and kowtowed to his father respectfully.

"Get up!"

Li Fang stood up, and Li Ye looked at his son carefully. His eyes and eyebrows showed a stronger heroic temperament, and he no longer had the girlish shyness he had when he first met him. This made Li Ye very satisfied. After all, no father wants his son to be sissy.

"Do you have any ideas about your future?" Li Ye asked with a smile.

"Grandfather wants me to be in charge of education in the Tang Dynasty in the future!"

Li Ye shook his head. "That's your grandfather's idea. I want to know what you think?"

Li Fang lowered his head and said, "I dare not say it!"

Li Ye's face darkened. "What is there to be afraid of? Doesn't my son even have the courage to stand up straight?"

Li Fang gritted his teeth and said, "I want to go to the Western Regions to be the king!"

Li Ye smiled and nodded, "That's right! What's there to be afraid of? Daddy does want you to be a king outside, but not in the Western Regions. Daddy wants you to be the king of the Chola Kingdom!"

"Zhu Luo Kingdom?" Li Fang was stunned. He had never heard of this place.

"The Chola Kingdom is located in the south of Tubo. It has a vast territory and a population of tens of millions. People here pursue happiness in the afterlife, believing that the more suffering they endure in this life, the happier they will be in the afterlife. That's why the Chola Kingdom has lasted for a thousand years, and no people have risen up in rebellion. If you become the king of the Chola Kingdom, your descendants will rule the Chola Kingdom in peace. But it's different in the Western Regions. Your descendants will easily be massacred and destroyed by foreign races."

Li Fang asked in confusion: "Father, you have established governorships in various places, why don't you consider establishing a Chola governorship as well?"

Li Ye shook his head and said earnestly: "Any governor would want to establish a country and become emperor there, so this only chance to become king, Daddy will leave it to you. You will be in charge of the 10,000 Tang garrisons, and the throne of the king there will be yours."

(End of this chapter)