Zhenguan Xiaoxian Wang Li Shen Li Shimin

Li Shen, Wang Xuance and Di Renjie overseas had been planning the Japanese plan for a long time.

Although Japan is not a large country, it will take time to conquer it.

Because it was overseas, it was very troublesome for the court to send troops.

If he were inland, the ground would have been leveled long ago, so there would be no need to go through so much trouble.

Li Shen's plan was to first establish a garrison in a reasonable and legal manner, and then occupy Hizen bit by bit, starting from the Tang Dynasty's City That Never Sleeps.

"This is not a problem, and no one in the court should object. As long as we give them some rewards, they should agree.

However, I am afraid that the imperial garrison will not agree. The Tang Dynasty is so powerful that I would not agree to it either."

After thinking about it, Li Shimin felt that this was not a problem, as the Japanese envoys had been in the Tang Dynasty for many years.

Since the Wude period, they have sent envoys to the Tang Dynasty to study, batch after batch.

Li Shimin knew that Japan was short of resources and its people were poor, so as long as he gave them something, they would probably agree to give him a place.

But the Tang Dynasty garrison might not agree. Isn't this just inviting a wolf into the house?

After hearing this, Li Shen said:

"Aye, I have already thought about this. I will station there in the name of Prince Ji's Mansion.

Aye, please look."

Li Shen said as he walked to the desk, opened the map again, and then drew a long strip on the map with a pen.

"Aye, this is Japan. There are many small islands around it, and the main land is just a long strip.

Their capital is probably in this place.”

Li Shen randomly pointed at a few dots on the map with a pen, representing islands, but he didn't remember their exact locations.

The information he knew was the map sent back by Di Renjie.

"Is Japan so small? I've heard that Japan is not big, but I never thought it would be this small.

This is not even as big as our province, just two states, right?"

Li Chengqian stared at the map. He had heard that Japan was not big, but he had no idea.

When compared with the one drawn by Li Shen today, it turned out to be a long and narrow island.

It's not even as good as a single Dao in the Tang Dynasty.

"Brother, Japan is not a very big country, and the resources are scarce, so many people rely on fishing for a living.

Moreover, there are often earth dragons turning over in their area, as well as volcanic eruptions and the wrath of the sea god.

In my opinion, this place is a place cursed by God."

Li Shen had a fairly good understanding of the geography of Japan, having learned some of it in geography class.

Earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis and typhoons occur frequently here. It is no exaggeration to say that it is a cursed place.

"Tenth brother, if that's the case, what use is there for us in the Tang Dynasty?"

"Brother, didn't I just say that the location of this place is very important? It is our gateway to the East China Sea.

We need to have a long-term vision and not just focus on the present.

We should also think about future generations." Li Shen explained.

They don't know what this place will do to China in the future.

"Old Ten is right. We really need to plan for the long term. It would be good to have an enclave overseas." Li Shimin nodded.

"Aye, big brother, as the shipbuilding technology of countries around the world gets better and better, one day we will enter a brand new era.

By then, many people from other countries will visit our Tang Dynasty, and we cannot fall behind them.

Although we are strong in both military and military power now, we must still be prepared for danger.

We should be one step ahead of them, explore the ocean, develop maritime transportation, encourage merchants to explore other countries, and let them bring back things that we in the Tang Dynasty do not have.

Earn the wealth of other countries."

"Do you mean that the court should encourage merchants to transport goods by sea?" Li Shimin asked after hearing this.

"Yes, if we allow civilians to manufacture ships, they will then continue to study how to make ships faster and carry more cargo.

We just need to wait for them to submit the blueprints after their research is successful, which is also the condition for the court to allow them to privately build ships."

In the past, ships were built by the imperial court itself, which dispatched craftsmen from the Ministry of Works and conscripted corvée laborers.

Li Shen wants to transfer the company to private ownership.

In fact, only the big families have the ability to build ships, and Li Shen feels no guilt at all for robbing the fruits of their labor.

"Well, go on." Li Shimin thought for a moment and let Li Shen continue.

Li Chengqian was already recording at the side.

"Aye actually understands better than my son that the truth lies in the feet of the cavalry. We cannot just put our swords in storage and let our horses go to the mountains just because we are strong now.

On the contrary, we must continue to arm ourselves and let craftsmen continue to research more powerful weapons.

The sword is sharper, the armor is stronger, and the bow and arrow can shoot farther.

There is also the development of some new secret weapons and so on.

The enemy is getting stronger, and we must also become stronger.

Only when we are strong will others say that our tolerance is kindness, otherwise it is cowardice.

One day, the enemy's sword is sharper than ours, the enemy's armor is stronger than ours, and the enemy's bows and crossbows can shoot farther than ours.

At that time, we will only be bullied, our people will be slaughtered at will by the enemy, our wealth will be robbed, and our people will be enslaved.

They burned, killed, looted and acted recklessly on our land.

Then we will be sinners for all eternity and will let down our future generations.

So we must become stronger, eliminate all hidden dangers, and destroy them if they don’t surrender.”

Li Shen became more and more excited as he spoke. He slammed the table hard, which scared Li Chengqian.

Li Shimin looked at the emotional Li Shen, feeling deeply moved. His son was thinking about more than just the century-long plan.

He was thinking about the people of the Tang Dynasty. Even he didn't have such a broad mind.

With the current strength of the Tang Dynasty, there will be absolutely no problem within a hundred years, and it should be invincible.

But Li Shen is still talking about being prepared for danger in times of peace, which means he may be considering the long term.

Li Chengqian was also a little stunned. His usually unreliable brother actually had such a strong murderous intention.

Those who do not submit will be destroyed, and those who pose a threat will be eliminated.

"So what are you going to do?" Li Shimin asked solemnly.

"I don't know. I don't understand national affairs. I can only do some small things.

For example, conquering Japan is only one of them. The second part is here... Ryukyu, this must be the territory of our Tang Dynasty.

I will erect a huge steel stele to let everyone know that this place belongs to our Tang Dynasty.

There is also an archipelago here, not far from Ryukyu, and here are Java, Borneo, Srivijaya, and we will take this area into our arms.”

Li Shen used his pen to draw a big circle around Malacca in the South China Sea.

He was not a military strategist or a counselor. He just knew that this place would be very important during the great voyages of discovery.

It can be said to be a gateway into the Tang Dynasty waters.

Since it's the door, you can't let others guard it. You have to watch the door yourself.

(Whether the view is right or wrong, it represents Li Shen’s opinion and has nothing to do with the author.)