The Prodigal Son of Zhenguan

After the laughter, Li Shimin looked at the three people around him, restrained his expression, and became serious.

"It just so happens that you three are here today. Let's take advantage of this free time to discuss other things." Li Shimin said.

"Your Majesty, have you encountered any difficulties again?" Changsun Wuji asked.

Li Shimin shook his head, and then he temporarily asked the eunuch to leave the hall.

"The first year of Zhenguan has passed. This whole year, I have governed the country and you have assisted me in the administration. How do you feel?" Li Shimin asked.

"Although many things have happened in this year, big and small, they can all be solved smoothly. The court's discussion and implementation of the policy of governing the country are also smoother than at the beginning." Changsun Wuji said.

"Especially after the rebellion of King Yi'an, the old officials of Wude in the court are now humble and submissive, much better than before." Fang Xuanling said: "This is one aspect, and on the other hand, the new dynasty's new policies have also achieved good results. At least from now on, the response is still very good."

"What Fang Xiang said is right, everything is developing in a better direction." Changsun Wuji said.

"We have some things to say and say in private." Li Shimin said, "Now if the Turks go south again, the Tang Dynasty is more confident that it can withstand it."

"According to the current preparations, it is better than the ninth year of Wude." Du Ruhui said, "If we were 30% sure in the ninth year of Wude, now we are 50% sure."

"It's only 20% more in a year?" Li Shimin frowned slightly, "Isn't it a bit slow? The Turks on the northern grasslands are always a hidden danger for the Tang Dynasty if they are not completely resolved."

"It's only been a year. During the Han Dynasty, the northern Xiongnu went south to plunder the people of the Central Plains, and the Central Plains fought back. However, it took the accumulation of the two dynasties of Emperor Wen and Emperor Jing of Han, and finally in the period of Emperor Wu of Han, they were able to raise their heads and face the same situation. The Tang Dynasty can't be impatient." Fang Xuanling said.

"Three generations of emperors? Too long, it can't be delayed for so long. If it is true, the people in the north will have to live in fear for many more years!" Li Shimin looked resolute and said firmly: "What do you think, if there is a new weapon, how sure can we be to counterattack the grassland?"

"What kind of weapon is your majesty talking about?" Du Ruhui asked.

"I have a workshop." Li Shimin said slowly: "In the mountains, the thing produced is called gunpowder. When the Turks went south, Yuchi Gong and Li Fu blocked Jie Li's vanguard troops in Jingyang County and wiped out their front troops. What they used was gunpowder."

After the battle, Yuchi Gong and his lieutenants carefully described the scene of using gunpowder to the four people present. It was so shocking.

"I think there is no need to say more about the role of gunpowder in war. The vanguard troops who fought against Jie Li last time have already seen it." Li Shimin said: "So, I ordered people to build a workshop to produce gunpowder with all their strength."

Speaking of this, Fang Xuanling was thinking.

If your majesty secretly does this, it will require a lot of manpower and money.

However, no money was transferred from the national treasury.

That can only be... the inner court.

Recalling the several times that the Jingyang King sent money to the palace in a mighty convoy, Fang Xuanling understood everything.

So that's it, so that's it.

No wonder, several officials of the Ministry of Works were not seen returning to Chang'an during the holidays. It turned out that they were sent by your majesty to build a gunpowder workshop.

Such a big thing was kept secret.

Even people like me only knew about it after your majesty told them.

"If we add gunpowder, how long will it take for our army to fight back against the grassland?" Li Shimin looked at Du Ruhui seriously, his eyes full of sharpness.

"It will take at least two years." Du Ruhui said: "Gunpowder used in the army should have a miraculous effect, but it cannot be completely relied on, so the army's own strength must be strengthened. In addition, there are problems with the army's logistics, which cannot be avoided. Money and food."

"Last autumn, the flood in Guanzhong caused a reduction in farmland production, and the national treasury allocated grain for disaster relief, which made the already poor national treasury granary even worse. This is the fundamental problem." Fang Xuanling said.

No matter how small the population of the Tang Dynasty is now, the government soldiers gathered together, there are still more than 100,000 people, no less than the people on the grassland.

The most important thing in war is logistics and reserves.

"Your Majesty, if you want to wash away the shame of the Weishui Alliance, you still have to wait." Changsun Wuji said: "Give the court another year! Just one year!"

"That's right, within a year, accumulate money and food." Fang Xuanling also said: "Next, we have to wait for the opportunity, no matter when it is.It must not be this year."

"Your Majesty knows how to fight better than us. The right time, right place, and right people are all essential." Du Ruhui said with a bow.

They all heard that the emergence of gunpowder, coupled with the huge profits made in the tea business, gave His Majesty great confidence, and His Majesty's mind became active.

It was guessed long ago that the tea business was so big that it would not be done by King Jingyang himself, and there must be some handiwork in the palace.

Li Shimin nodded.

"Okay! Then, wait another year! "

After Li Fu left Liangyi Hall, he was walking in the palace. He was in a hurry to go out of the palace and get close to Li Ji, the Duke of England.

Suddenly, Li Fu stopped.

He hurriedly took out the account book in his arms...

Turn around and head straight to Da'an Palace.

Li Erfeng used a fake account book to fool him, so don't blame him for being dishonest.

Which good family's lanterns cost five cents each, and they were made in batches by the craftsman supervisor, and most of them were cleaned up and reused.

Not to mention, an emperor, three prime ministers, four people together, can't even think of a decent solution.

Perfunctory, naked perfunctory!

Too much!

Inside Da'an Palace.

Li Yuan was listening to a little song quietly, and suddenly heard a scream, which scared him directly.

"Uncle!!!"

Li Fu came in directly from outside the hall.

"What's wrong? "Li Yuan hurriedly supported Li Fu and asked him to sit next to him: "What are you doing?"

"My nephew, my nephew is going bankrupt." Li Fu curled his lips, took out the account book from his arms and handed it to Li Yuan.

"Bankrupt? Haha? Are you kidding? Your tea shop makes a lot of money every day. With it, how can you go bankrupt?" Li Yuan smiled and said, "If the mansion is really in a tight spot, there are still some old copper coins piled up in my warehouse, just take them and use them."

"You should take a look at the account book first." Li Fu said, "You have lived in the palace for so long, my nephew believes that you can understand it."