Traveling through the Gaowu Tang Dynasty, Li Kuan and Li Shimin became the second sons of the Prince

"Your Majesty, in my opinion, Silla can't hold out for much longer. Now is the best time for us to send troops." Fang Xuanling did not participate in the quarrel between Du Ruhui and Zhangsun Wuji because he was always concerned about the overall situation: "Besides, regarding this matter, we can claim that it was Quan Gaisuwen who deceived Your Majesty and turned the mercy of the Heavenly Khan into indulgence of his wolfish ambitions." Fang Xuanling paused for a moment and said, "But, Your Majesty, this battle must be fought quickly and must not be dragged on until winter. Once the subsequent food and grass supply is insufficient, no matter how great the advantages we have accumulated in the past, we can only withdraw our troops - and as long as we withdraw our troops, the significance of this battle will be greatly reduced!"

"Xuanling, I must admit that you have made a very thorough analysis of the current situation." After listening to Fang Xuanling's speech, His Majesty Li II immediately suppressed his chaotic thoughts and returned his attention to the main topic: "So I plan to... lead the army in person!"

"Your Majesty, no!" As soon as Li Er said this, Wei Zheng was the first to object: "You are worth millions of gold, how can you personally take risks?"

"I went to the battlefield at the age of sixteen, so why can't I go?" Ever since Emperor Li II and Wei Zheng became in-laws, he has become more and more displeased with the other party.

"But now you are 42 years old, and you are the emperor, not just a general in the army!" Wei Zheng immediately retorted: "If you make any mistakes on the battlefield, the Tang Dynasty...will be stable, right?"

Wei Zheng said this, ignoring the expression on Emperor Li II's face, and turned to look at his colleagues: "Gentlemen, who among you wants to see the Crown Prince sitting on the Dragon Throne in the future, with the King of Chu standing next to him?"

"Uh..." It was obvious that Wei Zheng really didn't want His Majesty Li II to take such a risky move, so Duke Lu Cheng Yaojin suddenly interrupted: "Maybe... it's the other way around..."

The prince stood next to him, the King of Chu... the King of Chu...

"How dare you!" His Majesty Li Er's face darkened when he heard this: "Wei Zheng, can't you just hope for the best from me?!"

"Your Majesty, it is precisely because I hope for your best that I do not want you to do such an irrational thing." Wei Zheng could actually see that the reason why His Majesty Li II had to lead the army in person was that although Quan Gaisuwen's reaction was already expected by everyone, he was, after all, offending the Tang Dynasty's face. This move put the Tang Dynasty in a very embarrassing position in front of the surrounding countries - if Goguryeo could not be defeated quickly, the Tang Dynasty would be humiliated.

And His Majesty Li II's personal leadership of the army was the most effective way to boost the morale of the soldiers.

In addition, Emperor Li II's own ambitions and his long-standing warlike character also made him have an extraordinary obsession with expanding territory.

"I have made up my mind. You don't need to persuade me anymore." Seeing Wei Zheng's sincere words, Emperor Li II did not say anything more. But no matter what, he had to fight this battle.

He wants to tell everyone that no one can stop the will of the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty!

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Chang'an began to prepare for the long expedition.

In Qiongzhou, His Royal Highness the Prince of Chu was accompanying Princess Yu Lian'er in the backyard of his home, chatting about some intimate matters between the young couple.

"Your Highness, I really can't eat anymore..." After being fed a variety of preserved fruit snacks by His Highness the King of Chu, Yu Lian'er reached out to stop his attentiveness: "I don't know why these days, I always feel a little uneasy..."

"Uneasy?" Upon hearing this, His Royal Highness the Prince of Chu threw the preserved fruit that his wife didn't want to eat into his mouth, and then replied while chewing: "Hmm... Could it be that... something bad is going to happen to me recently?"

“Puh, puh, puh!” Yu Lian’er grabbed Li Kuan’s arm in anger and slapped him hard, “Stop talking nonsense!”

“Oh…” His Royal Highness the Prince of Chu, who had become accustomed to being pinched and beaten by his consorts every now and then, felt inexplicably melancholy at this moment: “Alas… When I was still a beautiful young man without a master, you all called me ‘Your Royal Highness the Prince of Chu, Brother Kuan’ sweeter than anyone else. Now… you have succeeded… and you don’t know how to cherish me…”

"Hehehe..." Yu Lian'er was amused by her shameless husband: "That's right, Your Highness the King of Chu has a kind nature."

"No, you know all this?" His Royal Highness the Prince of Chu scratched his head when he heard this: "Dou Shuer...Dou Shuer shouldn't..."

"What's the connection?" Yu Lian'er was confused by Li Kuan. "Didn't your retainer always say 'my prince is kind-hearted'? What does it have to do with Dou Shu'er?"

"The first person to comment on this was Dou Shu'er." His Royal Highness the King of Chu pursed his lips when he heard this: "Thinking back to the time when Yuwen Qing first met this king in Qianquan City—"

"—— Humph, and a well-known legend has been left since then?" Yu Lian'er blinked her beautiful big eyes and said in a faint tone: "Your Highness, don't talk about other things. These days... you have been accompanying us sisters and rarely go out. Is it because... you plan to go to Goguryeo soon?"

"Who told you this?" His Royal Highness the Prince of Chu was shocked when he heard this: "Okay, okay... I see which bastard can't hide the truth——"

"Alright..." Hearing this, Yu Lian'er stretched out her hand and pulled Li Kuan's cheek: "How could I not know you? You say you don't care about this or that, but you must fight against Goguryeo - after all, this is something you have been thinking about for many years. Am I right?"

"Uh..." His Royal Highness the Prince of Chu did not expect that his little thoughts could be seen through so easily by Lian'er.

So he was a little nervous: "Then... Lian'er... what do you think..."

“Don’t ask me.” Yu Lian’er shook her head after hearing that, then gently took Li Kuan’s hand and placed it on her slightly bulging belly: “Your Highness… Just do whatever you want to do, I, Yu Lian’er, will never try to influence your opinion.

But we are husband and wife, so there are some things that don't need to be said, and some things that are difficult to say. If I can detect in advance when you are about to speak, I will say it for you.

A real man should strive to be a hero when he is born into this world.

And my husband is a great man. What he does is for the country and the people, which is a great cause. So why should I stop him? Besides... I know that no matter where His Highness is in the future, he will always think of us mother and daughter. That is enough."