Fighting Goryeo anytime is not good. Spring and Summer is when people cannot be separated from the fields, and a large-scale conquest will make food scarce. There is no season that is suitable for fighting. War is disastrous, and it all costs money.

To save money, the best way is to not fight. But Goryeo has been repeatedly provoking Tang like a fly on the tail of a cow. It’s not a big threat but it’s annoying. If you don’t defeat them, why would the other vassal states respect and pay tribute to you?

The Emperor didn’t  want to give up and he continued fighting with Wei Zheng and others.

Li Yuanying waited and waited for orders to leave but nothing came. He then ran to the Emperor to give him more ideas. Geoyeo is a weak state so a sudden army appearing at their doorstep would scare them to death. Let’s send the Royal Envoys out again to give a stern warning.

Last time,the third Prince led the team, so now it should be the fourth Prince’s turn. Warn Goryeo that if they don’t stop, we will attack this time next year, not a day earlier or later! You’ve occupied 40 cities in Silla, so you have to give up 80 cities now. 40 cities will be returned to Silla, and the remaining 40 cities will be taken care of by Tang Empire. Get a taste of the pain of having 40 cities occupied by others! Also charge them the overall military expenditure of Tang for this expedition and  make them pay us back. Pay in installments if they can’t pay it back immediately.

In order to leave to his fiefdom, Yuanying worked hard calculating the military budget with exaggeration. Li Er was shocked by his shamelessness. He actually included the losses caused by no one. Why didn’t he also include things like “if this person raises a pig at home and can sell a big pig during the New Year”?!

Yuanying felt that he was doing the right thing. Aren’t these all losses caused by fighting Goryeo? Since we have to fight, let’s put all the blame on the other party and make them pay big time!

“I heard from Old man Li that Goryeo is shameless too. They would surrender at a whim but still continue doing bad things at the back. We have to make things clear, let them know the price of losing, and fight a clear battle!”

Li Er thinks the most shameless person in the universe is Li Yuanying, but he dares call others shameless?! He accepted the document Yuanying wrote and told him to leave first.

As soon as he left, the Emperor summoned his ministers to discuss about this topic.

In order to get a conclusion soon, Yuanying put in a lot of effort. In the past few days, he and his friends have been collecting information and calculating data. Although some of the amounts seem quite shameless, after careful consideration, it seems that Goryeo should pay.

If they were asked to pay so much and give up so many cities for no reason, it would be offensive. But if they sent an envoy to send them choices, wouldn’t that be justified? The decision is in their hands!

Wei Zheng read Li Yuanying’s detailed and well-documented “military budget” with a poker face. If Li Yuanying had such a  thorough understanding of the harm of war, why didn’t he persuade His Majesty not to fight, but told him to fight the following year? What a bastard!

The group had a discussion and felt that Yuanying’s suggestions were good ones. Since they had to fight, they couldn’t fight in vain. If it’s Goryeo’s fault, let Goryeo pay for it!

As for the 40 cities, naturally the Tang Empire will sent people to manage them. If they behave well, we can consider returning the cities.

As for the selection of the envoy leader, the ministers think that Li Tai is not suitable. After all, Li Tai is the Emperor’s and Zhangsun family’s biological son. What if Goryeo suddenly attacked Li Tai?

Although he is now confined at his fiefdom after losing favor, if something were to really happen to him, the Emperor will find fault with them for ill advising him.

Zhangsun Wuji suggested: “In my opinion, whoever came up with the idea should go.”

Wei Zheng moved his mouth again and again, but didn’t say anything.

He couldn’t object to this. If he objected, it’ll be used as confirmation that Li Yuanying is deliberately messing with Li Tai. But he knows that’s not true. If the Emperor were to really send Yuanying to Goryeo, Yuanying will be so happy that he will jump into the sky!

Li Er saw that no one had objected and felt that his youngest brother was really unpopular in court. No one is willing to speak up for him. He’s future grandfather-in-law is Wei Zheng, who is always frowning and fierce!

Li Er made the decision: “Let Qingque be the chief envoy and Ma Zhou be the deputy. They will set off to Goryeo on a chosen day.”

After the decision was made, he asked Cen Wenben and Chu Suiliang to draft a letter following Yuanying’s draft but to make it more tactful and better written. In short, it should sound more respectable, but in fact is still shameless.

The expressions on Cen Wenben and Chu Suiliang’s faces were hard to describe.

Anyway, the tug-of-war finally came to an end. Yuanying learned from Wei Zheng that Zhangsun Wuji had proposed him as a candidate to Goryeo so he ran to the Emperor. Why had he not agreed? He would have nominated himself!

Li Er raised his eyebrows: “You still dare go to Goryeo?” If anyone leaks out the originator of this idea, you will never make it back back. Goryeo may think that they will lose to Tang anyway, so they might as well kill him first!

“Why not? If they don’t do bad things, why would we attack them? My royal brother, you have said that our Tang has a benevolent and righteous army! I will settle accounts with them. Will they still dare to attack me? Don’t they see who’s my brother!”

Li Er was pleased but still glared at him: “Don’t even think about the mission.”

Li Yuanying has the ability to come up with bad ideas as soon as he opens his mouth. The Emperor is worried that he’ll end up dead if he’s not careful.

Yuanying knew he won’t get his way so he secretly brought up the issue of going to his fiefdom.

Since coming back from Taiyuan, he has been finding many ways to bring up this topic. Li Er heard it again and was indifferent. He didn’t say yes or no, but to just go home to rest.

After some time, Yuanying received grapes and Changchu sent from Hu County. He taught peopl how to grow grapes and some of it have borne fruit. Now it’s time for tasting!

In fact, when the watermelons were ripe, someone also sent him some but he was away at Taiyuan.

Changchu was originally a wild fruit found in Zhongnan Mountain. People found it delicious, so they started growing it. The system informed him that this thing is actually a kiwi fruit, rich in nutrition. Eating some in season is good for the body so Yuanying tasted it. Sweet and sour tasting quite good, so he took it to mother as a gift.

The weather was hot these days, so Lady Lui made Changchu yogurt for him according to the method of cherry yogurt. She poured some maltose juice and fresh goat milk on the cut Changchu pulp, and then put it in ice to freeze it. It tasted great so she send some to Yuanying to satisfy his craving.

Yuanying ate it and felt refreshed. Life is extremely beautiful.

At this same time, Li Tai returned to Chang’an. This is his first time returning and along the way he felt anger. He wanted to confront Li Yuanying: What should I go? I won’t call you young uncle anymore, can I call you my old ancestor?!

But when he arrived, Li Tai’s anger suddenly disappeared.

If father didn’t want him to go, whatever Yuanying say will be useless. It is father’s intention and will. It was pointless to hate Li Yuanying. As for father, he’s not someone he could hate.

Li Tai received the order and made preparations in a proper manner. Except for important occasions, he made no contact with anyone. His Majesty hadn’t seen his son for two years and felt that he had lost weight and looked depressed. He felt heartbroken but father and son were no longer as close as before.

Li Chengqian was worried when he heard that Li Tai had returned. When he heard that father had kept Li Tai with him, he was even more worried that father will favor him again. Because of Li Tai’s behaviour, he had experienced this many times before, and couldn’t help thinking about it.

Just when Chengqian was feeling uneasy, Helan Chushi came and inform that Hou Junji wanted to meet.

Chengqian has had little contact with Hou Junji, but Helan Chushi who is Hou’s son-in-law is someone close to him. After thinking, he invited Hou Junji to the East Palace.

Hou Junji came to sell his loyalty to Li Chengqian. In fact, he is oppressed, so he wanted to try his luck at the East Palace. Although he is listed on the Lingyan Pavilion, he is actually just a rich and idle person without real power. Why would he live such a life willingly?

Hou Junji raised his hands: “Your Highness, do you think I can still use these hands? If Your Highness can use them, I will use them at your command!”

Chengqian’s heart skipped a beat. He calmed down and say that the Court would win over Goryeo and these hands would definitely be useful.

Hou Junji was a little disappointed when Chengqian only mentioned the court and nothing else. If it’s not for desperation, why would he come to serve Li Chengqian? When he followed His Majesty to conquer the world, Chengqian was just a young boy, and now he is no better!

He thought that since the Eastern Palace had no great generals in the army, Chengqian would be enthusiastic when he expressed his intention to serve. Unexpectedly, Chengqian didn’t make any gesture to win him over.

Hou Junji couldn’t say anything else, thinking of Li Tai’s return to the capital, he said: “I heard that Prince Wei didn’t visit Your Highness after returning? He doesn’t respect his brother!”

“Qingque returned for an important matter. Since we have met, there is no need to pay another visit.”

“This ‘important matter’ was requested by Prince Teng for him.”

Hou Junji couldn’t see through Li Yuanying, but since he had visited him at prison previously, he started paying more attention to him. After several years of observation, Hou Junji discovered that whether it’s with intention or just good luck, Li Yuanying carries himself acting like he follows no rules  but in fact has always stepped on the safety line very cleverly.

Since he failed to join the East Palace fraction, Hou Junji wanted to plant a thorn in Chengqian’s heart, so that he would be alert about the evil guy Li Yuanying.

This kid is always playing around, and everything he does looks like playing. His Majesty spoils him, and Chengqian is close to him. It’s really annoying!

Chengqian politely sent Hou Junji away. Thinking that he mentioned Yuanying at the end, his mood surprisingly calmed down.

Yes, this matter is proposed by Yuanying and he would never harm him. What should he be worried about? Besides, Qingque is no longer the Qingque of the past. Even if he still has ideas, no one will bet heavily on him anymore.

Chengqian suddenly became enlightened and followed after the Emperor diligently every day to learn to handle government affairs. He even managed to act like a good brother to Li Tai, asking about his nephews and his studies. If he needs a good teacher, he can transfer someone from Hongwen Academy. Young uncle said that a good teacher is important and the right person will enlighten the nephews.

Li Tai was disgusted by Li Chengqian’s  act. He just wanted to go on the diplomatic mission as soon as possible!

Could it be this guy is learning from Li Yuanying?!

Otherwise, why would he care about his son!

Li Er was satisfied and felt that Chengqian is finally acting like a brother. Even if there were some grudges between them, they didn’t have to continue to the next generation. When the children were allowed to get together, the relationship will continue and develop into a harmonious one.

Li Er was happy and finally drafter a decree for Li Yuanying.

However, as soon as it was sent to the Secretariat, Fang Xuanling and others were furious and they  raise objections!

Notes from the Author:

Hou Junji: Your Highness, it was Prince Teng who came up with the idea of letting Li Tai return!

Nephew: Yes, it was young uncle who came up with it, I feel relieved.

Hou Junji: ? ? ? ? ?

Some people say that the story ends when he goes to his fiefdom! Why does it end when he goes to his fiefdom! Impossible! The little prince is only fourteen years old! He hasn’t been to many places, how can it end! Does it look like it’s going to end? Tiantianchun was frightened, and everyone needs to water her with nutrients to calm her down! (Hey)

Note: Hou Junji did say to Cheng Qian, “This is a good hand, and we should use it,” and then the two of them conspired to rebel. The things recorded by the ancients are really interesting. For example, when Emperor Yang of Sui fled, he looked at himself in the mirror and sighed painfully, “I don’t know who will chop off my good head in the future!” (Good head, who should chop it off?) It’s really sad and a little narcissistic!