Li Shimin's will: Li Zhi, the throne belongs to your brother

"After arriving in the capital, after a short rest, you can reach Shanhaiguan through the river." Li Shimin planted a flag here in Shanhaiguan

Fang Xuanling at the side picked up the other flag and landed on Laizhou Road.

"Although Shanhaiguan is the most important pass in the world, you don't have to stop at Shanhaiguan when you go by sea, you can use Laizhou as your base!!"

"Laizhou???"

"That's right, Laiju is only about [-] miles across the sea from Baekje, and it takes three days to go back and forth. At the same time, it is only [-] kilometers away from Pyongyang in Goguryeo, and it only takes six days to go back and forth!

And Shanhaiguan still needs a longer distance. As the saying goes, soldiers are expensive, and it will be better to use Laizhou as a base than Shanhaiguan! ! "

Everyone watched and thought about it.

"Soldiers are expensive, and the weather at sea is unpredictable and unpredictable. In addition, the wind and waves are extremely strong, so it is dangerous to delay for a day. I feel that Laizhou is closer and should be based in Laizhou."

"But Shanhaiguan is the most important pass in the world. The troops, food, grass, etc. are the best supplies, and Laizhou is too close to Baekje, so it is easy to be attacked by Baekje."

After listening to Li Shimin, he analyzed it carefully and said: "Soldiers are expensive and fast. I think Laizhou should be used as a base. As for the sneak attack, we can recruit a group of people from the capital."

"Your Majesty Shengming!"

"Okay, continue!!"

"Use the Laizhou stronghold to transport soldiers and horses to the coast near Pyongyang City, and directly capture Pyongyang City!!"

Fang Xuanling lowered a flag in Goguryeo's Pyongyang City and said.

"After occupying Pyongyang City, Buyeo and Liaodong may lose ground to the north. Baekje can be attacked to the south. How should your majesty choose?"

Li Shimin looked at the lost land in Liaodong and said: "The lost land in Liaodong must be regained absolutely, not for the sons of the Han family who have suffered so much."

All the ministers looked at each other, Fang Xuanling stood up and asked, "What about Goguryeo?"

"The 4 horses were divided into two, all the way to the north to attack and recover Liaodong, and I personally led them into Pyongyang City."

As soon as this remark came out, I was stunned immediately. The [-] soldiers and horses were originally small, and they were divided into two.

"I'm afraid this is inappropriate! There are only [-] soldiers and horses..."

"What's wrong! I'm not afraid, what are you afraid of!!" Li Shimin said with a look of contempt.

Everyone is silent, but Li Tai is quite speechless, 60 soldiers and horses are fighting [-] Goguryeo soldiers, what if you play it off?

"Cough~" Li Tai couldn't stand it anymore, this Li Er was too flirtatious.

"Father, from Luoyang to Chang'an, all the way is a waterway, there must be some people who are not acclimatized and seasick...

The combat power is not as good as the Goguryeo soldiers who are waiting for work. If they are attacked at night, they may be in danger! "

"Well, indeed!!"

After such a reminder, Li Shimin also noticed such a weakness-it is easy to be attacked at night.

"Does the emperor have something to prevent night attacks?"

"Not yet... still need to wait for a while."

Li Tai thought about it, he had the white phosphorous, the glass, and the battery was not a problem, but what should he do with the enameled wire?Where do you get the tungsten filament for the bulb?

Completely unqualified to make light bulbs and generators! !

No, then there is no other way, Li Shimin can only give up his plan to divide the army into two groups.

If more troops are added, the burden on internal affairs will be heavier, and the cannon will be handed over to others, which makes Li Shimin a little worried.

"Hey, take Pyongyang first, and take back the lost land of Liaodong all the way north, and hit the royal city of Goguryeo."

"It's so good!!" Civil and military officials saluted one after another.

"Okay, that's how the plan is to personally conquer Goguryeo. Forty thousand troops will be recruited from Jiang, Huai, Ling, Kip and other places, and then gathered in Luoyang, from Luoyang all the way north to the capital, and from the capital all the way to Laizhou.

Using Laizhou as a base, it directly attacked Pyongyang. After occupying it, the troops were divided into two groups, all the way north to recover the lost land in Liaodong, and then went south to defeat Goguryeo.

Everyone thought about it in their hearts and felt that this plan was almost perfect.

Changsun Wuji got up and looked away at Li Shimin and Li Tai.

"The canal is about 2000 kilometers from Luoyang to the capital. If the ship is fully loaded with cargo, I don't know how fast it can travel and when it will be reached."

Following Changsun Wuji's opening, countless questions were raised.

"How much food and grass should be prepared?"

"I don't know how many ships Your Majesty has now!?"

"···"

Seeing everyone's questions, Li Shimin felt dizzy: "Until the spring plowing, there are only three ships at most..."

Even if the march on the road is slow, the soldiers can carry all the food, grass and other supplies on their backs, but it will take more than half a year to walk the thousands of kilometers.

Although ships are fast, people take up space, supplies and food also take up space, fuel also takes up space, and shells and gunpowder also take up a lot of space.

After a night of calculations, everyone came to an extremely depressing conclusion that it would take more than a month for a ship to go back and forth.

Relying on these three lines to transport food, soldiers, horses, and ammunition, I don't know when they will be transported.

In addition to this, there is an additional coal fuel for the ship on the way.

Although the consumption of food and grass is much less than that of the army, the time is not much less.

There must be at least ten ships, otherwise it is no different from the army...

This result made everyone feel extremely depressed.

"I will urge the National Council on the matter of the ship. As for the specific delivery, I may have to wait for a while. At worst, I will send some more people to build the ship."

Li Shimin also had a headache, rubbed his temples and said, "Continue to discuss other matters!!"

"If there are ten ships, it will take two round trips, which means at least two months of food and grass, plus the food and grass needed for the expedition, it may take three to four round trips.

That is to say, at least four months or more, and now it is February, so it will be at least after June, and the time for shipbuilding must be added. "

Chapter 154

"Fang Aiqing's prediction is correct. This will happen after June at least." Li Shimin looked at the location marked on the sand table and nodded.

"However, how should the money and food be distributed?" Dou Jing, who was the secretary of the household department, stood up.

"The construction of the battleship, the management of the soldiers, and the money and food that need to be brought with the war, the three major expenditures are a lot!"

The three major projects not only require money and food, but also train soldiers to maintain and maintain the warship, and at the same time, someone is needed to drive the warship! !

As they said that, everyone looked at Liu Rengui, who was one of the few naval generals in the Tang Dynasty, and their eyes glowed red.

There was a naval army in the Tang Dynasty, but they all existed as supporting roles and were little known.

And Liu Rengui was the admiral who fought for the first time between the Wa Kingdom and the Tang Dynasty, so he was known by others.

At this moment, due to the existence of the battleship, he has become the envy of countless people.

Li Shimin also cast his gaze and said with a smile.

"I am the commander of the navy, and Liu Rengui is the deputy commander, and I will also go out with me."

"Besides, warships will be included in the Ministry of War, and the supervision and construction of warships will be provided by the Ministry of War. As for the training and management, I will personally train it!!"

"Your Majesty is wise!!" All the officials saluted one after another, but they were slandering in their hearts. This is because they are worried about the cannon, so they train in person? ?

"Then what about the food expenses this time?" Fang Xuanling got up and asked.

Whether it is building warships or fighting wars, food and wages are needed.

Although the warships have been paid by the Ministry of War, they will ultimately be borne by the national treasury.

Li Shimin knew in his heart that as for the money, he didn't spend much. After all, there was a blast furnace for copper smelting that could be used to pay for it.

This time, what they consumed the most was food instead!

4 people need to eat and drink, and those who build warships also need to eat and drink... The food consumed during this period is no less than launching a small war.

If we want to continue to build the remaining ten ships, we need more food!

Although the Hanjiacang in Luoyang has stored grain, which can supply the world for five years, it cannot be moved.

Because the Tang Dynasty was a disaster-prone country, these stored grains were used for disaster relief and could not be used lightly unless it was absolutely necessary.

Otherwise, once there is a catastrophe, the people will rebel!

Money is cast in a blast furnace, this is not a problem, but food has become the biggest problem, and the longer the fight, the greater the consumption of food!

"Why don't you pay from the Chamber of Commerce?" Wei Zheng glanced at everyone, got up and said.

The civil and military officials raised their brows, and there was a look of horror in their eyes. Could it be that the ultimate goal of the Chamber of Commerce is to become the money bag of Datang's battle?

This sentence made all civil and military officials figure out what Li Tai and Li Shimin meant.

"I think it's feasible!!" Li Shimin also nodded, agreeing with this point of view.

"It's just that it's not good to just misappropriate it directly!"

"It's not just bad, I'm afraid the Chamber of Commerce will be disbanded!"

"I'm willing to donate some money, but..."

As the so-called soldiers and horses have not moved, food and grass go first, and the importance of food is self-evident.

Usually the solution to this problem is to levy taxes and collect a batch of food as the food and wages for this war.

If there is no taxation, the major families will have to contribute money and efforts.

The chamber of commerce gathered most of the wealthy people in Datang, so it took it for granted that the idea was directed at the chamber of commerce, which even saved the process of fooling them into making donations.

All eyes turned to Li Tai, asking what he meant.

"I don't think it's right!" Under the expectant eyes of everyone, Li Tai slowly refused.

Everyone looked at each other in blank dismay when they heard the words, very puzzled.

"The Tang Dynasty attacked Goguryeo and rescued the Han people. I believe that businessmen with conscience will agree."

"Yes, I wonder if the prince has any concerns?"

"As people of the Tang Dynasty, they should have the responsibility to protect their family and the country. They have enjoyed the glory and wealth, so they should take on more responsibilities."

This is correct. As a businessman of Datang, he should bear more responsibilities.

Li Tai stretched out his hand to look around and said solemnly.

"I believe that if they can earn money, they are far more sensible than ordinary people, and they also understand the responsibility of defending their families and the country.

In fact, I have no objection to asking the chamber of commerce to support it, but we must not bind the merchants with righteousness.

Otherwise, if they hold grudges in their hearts, they will lose their hearts! "

Everyone understands this truth!

In fact, the Chamber of Commerce is used as a money bag, and no one will empty it all at once, and all want to keep it flowing.

But once you start this, I'm afraid you won't be able to stop. After all, who doesn't like money?

In addition, they don't know when the war will end. From the first time they speak, there will be countless times. After a few more times, they will feel disgusted sooner or later.

Whether there is any benefit in donating without compensation, it can be foreseen that it is only a matter of time before people's hearts are scattered.

Looking at the crowd, Li Tai glanced sharply over a certain type of people and said, "Besides, I believe that all of you here have also bought a lot of shares in the chamber of commerce."

Some of the officials swept by Li Tai squinted, and some averted their eyes. Obviously, most of them bought a lot of shares in the chamber of commerce.

After all, Li Shimin took the lead in making money, and they naturally followed.

"You may think it's nothing, but have you ever thought about those big and small families who put all their belongings into the chamber of commerce?"

"This..." All civil and military officials looked at each other in blank dismay, and began to think.

Because of Li Shimin's leadership, although it was not made public, many people were willing to spend money to invest because of the reputation of Li Shimin and Li Tai. The purpose was to bind their family and Li Shimin together.

And investment requires a return, either to make money or to grow the family, and it is impossible to give it to the chamber of commerce for nothing.

If you invest for money, and you let him lose money, and you don't know how long you will lose, then I'm sorry!

Then for the reputation of the official position, if you let him lose money, you have to pay corresponding protection.

"The Chamber of Commerce is still not just a few big families such as the Wu family, but it is widely involved, and even most families in the entire Tang Dynasty are involved."

"Although I bought some, even if I dedicated them all to His Majesty, I don't have to worry about food and clothing, but those small families are different."