Datang: What's wrong with my fief being a billion points larger?

Chapter 120: The war to destroy the country is decided, but the commander is vacant
After a while, Xie Shufang came in with Feng Ang.

"See you, Your Majesty."

Looking at Feng Ang, Li Yuanji's face immediately broke into smiles.

"Mingda is here, come and sit down. How come Mingda came so quickly this time? You probably haven't received the letter I sent you yet, but it's already here."

Li Yuanji expressed his doubts. It would take at least a month to go back and forth, even by water. It was impossible to even think about it. But the result was just a coincidence.

Feng Ang also laughed after hearing this.

"Your Majesty, I came here on my own initiative. I received your letter on the way and hurried here at full speed.

This time I came here mainly because of the pirates that appeared near Ryukyu. Pei Dianqian sent me a message before, and I went to the Panyu Navy in person to command the navy to fight against the pirates and find out the situation. This time I came here for this matter. "

After hearing this, Li Yuanji's expression also began to become serious.

"How's it going?"

This is something Li Yuanji is very concerned about. Nowadays, whether Lingnan is doing business within the Tang Dynasty or overseas, water routes are the best choice. Land routes are still difficult to travel and take longer, and the cost of transporting goods is much higher than that of water routes.

Whether in terms of manpower or material resources, the cost of land transportation is much higher than that of water transportation.

Feng Ang said solemnly: "Your Majesty, these pirates are composed of people from small countries such as Wa, Baekje, Silla, and Ryukyu. They are stationed in Ryukyu and surrounding islands and reefs, and often invade the coast, but they are almost always separated from each other unless they are surrounded and suppressed.

That is to say, when I led the navy to clear them out, these pirates would unite together, and there were thousands of them. I was incompetent and failed to eliminate these pirates. They also had large ships, and they were all desperate criminals with strong fighting power, and they were wandering around everywhere.

The Panyu navy of your humble general has eight thousand men, fifty large ships and hundreds of small boats. If these pirates escape, it will be difficult for you to pursue them.

However, we have also found out that these pirates are mainly recruited in Ryukyu. I have previously assembled the navies from Panyu and Yazhou to launch a cleanup operation. Although many pirates were wiped out, many also escaped. Those who are still active now should be those who escaped during the cleanup.

I am incompetent, please punish me, Your Majesty."

Li Yuanji was speechless. How could there be so many pirates in such a remote and poor place like Lingnan? There were no pirates in the Jiangnan Road. Could it be that no one in the Jiangnan Road reported it to the court?

Looking at Feng Ang apologizing, Li Yuanji immediately signaled Feng Ang to stand up.

"Mingda, hurry up. Mingda has done his best in this matter. Now we have no advantage in warships and manpower, so it is normal that it is difficult to pursue.

Also, let me ask you, are there no pirates invading the coastal areas of Jiangnan Road? And have you confirmed that the surrounding pirates have their supply points in Ryukyu?"

Li Yuanji really wanted to clarify these two questions, as they were related to his next decision.

Feng Ang nodded solemnly. "Your Majesty, Ryukyu is a supply point for pirates, I can guarantee that. As for Jiangnan Road, I don't know very clearly, but there are definitely pirate invasions, but the number is not large, and it was only relatively frequent during the previous war, but generally there are very few.

These pirates mainly operate in Baekje, Silla, and Goguryeo, and there are relatively few in Lingnan."

Li Yuanji was in deep thought. If they were isolated pirates, he believed they were real pirates. But once they formed a large scale, he would not believe it. At his level, he knew the ins and outs of it very well. After all, the phrase "raising the enemy to protect oneself" was not just talk.

He didn't know the specific situation of small countries like Silla and Baekje, but he was very clear that the conflicts between these small countries were becoming more and more obvious, especially between Baekje and Silla.

After thinking for a moment, Li Yuanji looked at Feng Ang.

"Mingda, when you go back, make some preparations. These pirates must be dealt with. This is related to the important trade channel between us and the rest of the Tang Dynasty. Ryukyu dared to allow these pirates to resupply. Whether it was Ryukyu's intention or not, they must be eliminated.

When you are ready, I will let Yuwen Bao lead the navy here to meet you, and then you can lead the army yourself to capture Ryukyu!

It's just a small country. If it dares to covet my fiefdom and provide a habitat for pirates, it should be destroyed!

After destroying Ryukyu, we will clean up the surrounding pirates and make sure they know the consequences of causing trouble here!"

Li Yuanji was truly filled with murderous intent. Ryukyu, a small country with not many people, actually dared to do this. He truly thought that the focus of the Tang Dynasty was not here and that it did not pay much attention to it, so he became so rampant.

Now Lingnan is his fiefdom, but it is still like this. If he doesn't destroy it quickly, will he keep Ryukyu for the New Year?

Feng Ang was also shocked when he heard Li Yuanji's murderous words. He was really shocked. He started to destroy the country without any agreement. The scale was not small at all. Besides, Feng Ang was full of worries.

"Your Majesty, if we want to destroy Ryukyu, we may not have enough navy. Moreover, my command of the naval battle may hinder Your Majesty's important plan. In addition, is it better to report this matter to the Saint first? Otherwise, if the Saint investigates it later, there may be someone in the court who will harm Your Majesty."

Feng Ang's other concerns were these two points. He himself did not dare to look at the command of the naval battle. He could fight against pirates because he had the advantage. He had confidence in fighting against Ryukyu on land, but he did not have much confidence in naval battle.

Feng Ang was especially worried about the imperial court. Although Ryukyu was small, it was a small country after all. Now Li Yuanji was aiming to destroy the country and incorporate Ryukyu into his fiefdom. If someone in the court framed him, Li Yuanji would probably not escape accountability.

Li Yuanji was a little dumbfounded when he heard Feng Ang's words. He had already decided to incorporate Ryukyu into his own fiefdom, and Feng Ang said that he was not good at naval battles?

This is what Li Yuanji is most concerned about. To destroy Ryukyu, he must first eliminate the Ryukyu navy and the pirates who are very likely to appear. But this is the result?
After thinking about it carefully, Li Yuanji could understand it a little bit. The Tang Dynasty did not pay much attention to the navy, especially now it was still the Wude period. Although the technology of tower ships was leading, it was not much ahead at present, and the tower ships in Lingnan were even worse.

But in any case, these are not reasons. What embarrassed Li Yuanji the most was that Feng Ang, the commander of the navy, was not good at naval battles himself. Where could he find someone who was good at it?
Yuwen Bao? Lin Quan?

Li Yuanji thought about it and gave up. These two men were already struggling to fight pirates, so how could they lead the navy to attack others? Should they just go ahead and do it?
If the casualties are too great, he himself will feel that it is not cost-effective. Besides, it is already difficult to conquer Ryukyu. Wouldn't other small countries become more rampant in the future?

Li Yuanji was in a state of great trouble. He couldn't just let it go like that. He couldn't even control Ryukyu. How could he survive here in the future?
(End of this chapter)