Hearing Li Shimin say that his Nine Dragon Jade Pendant was not worth it, Li Tai showed a smile on his face. He was about to go on stage and make a few sarcastic remarks, but when he saw the ruthlessness in Li Xiang's eyes, Li Tai was stunned for a moment. This kid's eyes are so scary!
Am I scared?
Li Tai couldn't believe this scene. He was obviously just a little bastard, why did he dare not speak? No, I'm not afraid of this kid, it's my father who is waiting to hear it. Let you go, kid. Li Tai immediately found an excuse for himself. This guy is none other than the Ah Q of the Tang Dynasty.
Li Xiang was talking in high spirits and certainly didn't want this guy to disturb him. Li Xiang moved to the side and saw the new Minister of Revenue, Tang Jian, standing in front of him.
This person does not have much fame in history, but he is also one of the twenty-four heroes in the Lingyan Pavilion. Being able to be listed among them, it can be imagined that he is not a fool.
"May I ask, Lord Tang, what percentage of the total grain production in Liaodong, our Great Tang?"
When Li Xiang asked this question, no one understood what was going on, including Li Shimin, who watched Li Xiang's performance with great interest. After all, this kid had just come up with a plan, and even if he couldn't add icing on the cake later, he could still pass today.
"In reply to Your Highness, the population of Liaodong is very small, only about tens of thousands, and the output is less than one percent of that of the Tang Dynasty."
The Minister of Revenue Tang Jian also did not participate in the dispute among the princes, but in the Tang Dynasty, when Li Xiang asked a question, the emperor was watching on the throne, so he had to answer honestly. What's more, he was curious and wanted to know how His Royal Highness the Grandson of the Emperor would pacify Goguryeo.
"If our cavalry were to cross the border and launch an attack, how much of Goguryeo's farmland would they be able to access?"
Li Xiang's words made everyone even more confused. This issue was not only about the Minister of Revenue, but also about the Ministry of War. For a moment, Tang Jian didn't know how to answer.
"Li Jing."
The emperor sitting on the throne spoke. Li Shimin was also extremely smart. Although he didn't know what his grandson was going to say, he seemed to have figured it out in his mind. At this moment, he wanted his subordinates to cooperate quickly and let him know Li Xiang's plan. He didn't know why he had so much confidence in his grandson.
After he finished speaking, a big man walked out from the side. This was Li Jing, the military god of the Tang Dynasty.
"If our cavalry launches a surprise attack, we can cross the border for two hundred miles. If we don't attack the city, we can cross the border for four hundred miles."
Li Jing spoke honestly and was very conservative in his words. If he were to lead the troops himself, the number would increase a lot.
Li Shimin looked at Tang Jian and said, "Now the data from the Ministry of War has been given to you, it's time for you to answer the questions."
"Your Highness, according to what Lord Li said, if we can reach 400 miles, we will occupy more than half of Goguryeo's arable land."
Minister of Revenue Tang Jian spoke honestly, but he still couldn't figure out what Li Xiang wanted to do.
"It's completely useless. Is this all you can say? By dragging all the gentlemen into this, are you trying to delay the abolition of your father's throne? Father..."
Li Tai's desire to perform came back again, but Li Xiang didn't need to refute him.
"Ha ha ha ha……"
The sound of Li Shimin's wild laughter was heard.
Others did not understand Li Xiang's plan, but Li Shimin already knew most of it.
"Let me guess. You're planning to send cavalry to harass their farmers during the spring plowing season next year, preventing them from planting on time. If they miss the farming season, half of the land will be left with no food. Is that the case?"
Li Shimin stood up directly from the throne. Now is the heyday of the agricultural dynasty. For any country, food is extremely important. If there is no food, the whole country will be in turmoil. Let alone attacking the border of the Tang Dynasty, whether your Goguryeo Dynasty can continue is another matter. This child is really talented. God bless our Tang Dynasty.
"Grandpa, you are wise. Compared to Goguryeo, our Tang Dynasty has the greatest advantage in our vast territory. Even if Liaodong produces no grain, our people there will not starve to death. Merchants can transport grain from other places. But if Goguryeo loses half its grain, hundreds of thousands of people will starve to death next year. If the Tang Dynasty launches an attack, Grandpa will surely crush Goguryeo. Your grandson is willing to serve as a vanguard and learn a thing or two from you on the Liaodong battlefield. In the future, I can also lead troops for the Tang Dynasty and unify the world."
Li Xiang knelt down immediately. Flattery didn't cost any money anyway, so on the one hand he told Li Shimin the whole plan, and on the other hand he had to make Li Shimin happy.
A grandson who only knows how to flatter is not important, and a grandson who only knows how to get things done but not how to flatter may not be likable, but Li Shimin only has one grandson who can both get things done and flatter, so how can he not like him?
"Hahahaha, well said. After all, he is my grandson. Making great achievements on the battlefield is the style of our Li family. Unlike your uncles, they can hardly ride a horse."
Li Shimin was very pleased. When Li Yuan evaluated the brothers, he always said that Crown Prince Li Jiancheng was knowledgeable and Prince of Qin Li Shimin understood military tactics. However, several of Li Shimin's children and grandchildren had given up military service to pursue literature. It was rare for a grandson to fight on the battlefield, and he was determined to inherit his legacy.
"Congratulations, Your Majesty, congratulations, Your Majesty, for this good plan."
When the ministers saw how happy the emperor was, they all knelt down immediately. Of course, some of them were genuinely happy. The small Goguryeo had caused the Tang Dynasty to lose its battle, which had already aroused public resentment.
His Royal Highness the Emperor's eldest grandson's method can not only effectively weaken Goguryeo, but most importantly, it is low-cost and does not require a large-scale war, otherwise they would have to go to the trouble of raising food and fodder.
To sow discord between the King of Goguryeo and his powerful ministers, one only needs to find a few eloquent people and some wealthy loyalists to increase the power of the King of Goguryeo. Would a powerful king be willing to be a puppet?
To harass Goguryeo's farming, we only need to dispatch the cavalry currently in Liaodong, and there is no need to transfer people from the inland. This will save a lot of manpower and material resources. We can bring down Goguryeo at the lowest cost. Within two or three years, Goguryeo will no longer be the little overlord of Liaodong, and even the Goguryeo Dynasty will be wiped off the map.
Li Xiang read these strategies from modern books. Emperor Yang Guang of the Sui Dynasty and Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty were much stronger than Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty. However, the two former emperors failed in Liaodong. Emperor Yang Guang even lost his country. Although Li Shimin's failure was not as serious, he also suffered heavy losses. However, Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty succeeded in this matter by using the methods mentioned by Li Xiang.
Especially when small groups of cavalry harass farmers, they don’t give you time to farm at all. Just wait for a famine!
If you want to retaliate, we will simply stop farming here and ship all the food from other parts of the country. Do you have such a large territory? This is just relying on the strength of our country to bully you.
"Everyone, please stand up. Come and reward..."
Li Shimin's voice came from the throne.