Chapter 358 Who is calling the fleet?
The Puzhou City Tower is located on a mountain at the mouth of the Fen River. The city wall is more than ten feet high, like a tall sentinel overlooking the wide river.

Li Shiji stood on the top of the city wall, looking far and wide.

In the spring sunshine, he saw two fleets on the Yellow River, one far and one near, sailing towards the mouth of Puzhou River in a mighty manner.

One is a dragon boat fleet, majestic and magnificent, and the passengers inside are obviously outstanding people who are destined to become the emperor.

The other was also a dragon boat fleet, following far behind, at one end of the horizon.

Because it was too far away, Li Shiji couldn’t see clearly, and couldn’t help but sigh in his heart:
“What a huge fleet, with no end in sight. After all, he is the emperor of the Tang Dynasty, and he is so stylish even when fleeing.”

No matter how much you complain, you still have to prepare well for the reception work.

A stone archway with the words “Waiting for the Holy Entry” has been erected at Puzhou Wharf, and an altar has been set up to welcome His Majesty the Emperor and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.

Led by Li Shiji, local civil and military officials stood respectfully on the shore, waiting respectfully for His Majesty’s inspection.

After a while, Li Chengqian rode his horse directly onto the shore. When he saw Li Shiji, he was surprised:
“General Manager Li? Why are you here? What’s the situation at the front?”

Li Shiji bowed and replied:

“The battle situation in Shanxi is currently quite optimistic. Under the leadership of His Majesty the Emperor, the enemy troops have been driven out of Taihang Mountain and have fled back to Hebei…”

May Amitabha Buddha bless us… Upon hearing this, Li Zhi prayed silently in his heart.

As the former King of Jin, his fiefdom was in Shanxi.

Shanxi is finally clean, and Li Ming’s dirty hands have finally left his fiefdom…

“Well, that’s very good. Father is still as brave as ever, and it is inseparable from your brave fighting.” Li Chengqian also breathed a sigh of relief.

The group went up to the city wall, and Li Chengqian looked down at the scenery in the city. He found that the military tents stretched for several miles, the flags were waving, the city gates were closed, and the soldiers were training.

The atmosphere was grim, as if facing a powerful enemy, and the entire Puzhou city seemed to have turned into a huge military camp.

Li Chengqian couldn’t help but ask doubtfully:
“Since the Ming army has been driven out, why did General Li lead a large army to station here? Why is Puzhou’s defense much tighter than before? Why not use these troops to sweep away the rebels in Hebei?”

I was just about to report to you… Li Shiji resisted the urge to complain and turned himself into a mouthpiece of emotion, conveying the intentions of His Majesty Li Shimin:

“Because according to the will of His Majesty the Emperor, a major war is about to break out in Shanxi.

“The Emperor believed that Li Ming’s army would most likely move north along the Fen River to support the Shanxi battlefield and attack our army from both sides together with Li Jing’s troops.

“By then, Shanxi will be reduced to a scorched earth, and it is unlikely to be a hunting ground for His Majesty the Emperor.

“Therefore, he hopes that you can move to Chang’an.”

The use of “holy will” instead of “holy judgment” shows that Li Shiji subconsciously believed that Emperor Li Shimin’s opinion was not thought through.

Li Chengqian was shocked when he heard this:
“Why did Father make such a judgment? Could Chang’an be safer than Shanxi?”

Li Zhi was also frowning, puzzled.

After his father suffered a stroke, his thoughts became more and more wild, making it difficult for him to keep up.

“What the Emperor meant was that Li Ming’s thoughts cannot be guessed by common sense. Compared to Chang’an, it would be more reasonable for the Ming army to target Shanxi,” said Li Shiji.

He faithfully fulfilled his duties as a mouthpiece and resolutely refrained from adding any subjective understanding of his own.

Li Chengqian was obviously very dissatisfied with this answer:

“How is this possible? In Li Ming’s eyes, how could Chang’an be less valuable than Shanxi?

“I am in Chang’an, with the ancestral temples and the imperial court! It is the capital, the capital of the country, and the center of the world!
“How could he abandon Chang’an and attack Shanxi?”

Why do your majesty’s complaints sound sour? Are you jealous of being ignored by Li Ming? Li Shiji inexplicably felt the absurdity of the Li family father and son competing for favor.

“Shanxi is not like Chang’an. It is garrisoned by the emperor’s personal troop. The mountains are steep and easy to defend but difficult to attack. Li Ming may have the troops to attack Chang’an, but it is unlikely that he has the troops to attack Shanxi.”

Li Zhi’s opinion was much more rational.

They fled from Chang’an not because Li Ming was too strong, but because Chang’an was too weak.

The main forces of the defenders have been withdrawn to Shanxi. How could they risk their lives to resist the huge catapults of the Ming Dynasty?
Li Chengqian nodded repeatedly after hearing this:
“That makes sense. That’s exactly what I meant.”

The Tang Dynasty was drained of its national strength and could barely afford to support a large army, and its finances were almost bankrupt.

It would be terrifying if Li Ming could still mobilize another army of the same size.

The difference in the number of soldiers is so huge, doesn’t it make Li Chengqian’s management seem particularly bad?

Therefore, he would rather believe that Li Ming had taken advantage of the situation than to believe that the other party could really create a second army that could confront the Tang army head-on.

This is a failure of military strategy, not a failure of governance.

Strategic failure can still be salvaged, but if the country is weak, then it is hopeless…

That’s great, there are still normal people in the royal family… Li Shiji nodded repeatedly in his heart.

But even though he agreed, he still had to convey General Tiance’s words.

“But, according to the Emperor’s wishes…”

“I don’t want what my father thinks, I want you to think.” Li Chengqian interrupted Li Shiji’s singing.

“According to the chief steward’s professional opinion, will Li Ming attack Chang’an or Shanxi?”

Long Yan was displeased.

Li Chengqian is no longer the boy who was submissive under his strict father until his nerves were broken by the high pressure.

Today, he is the true emperor, the ruler who has the final say.

No one can tell him what to do or where to go.

He has his own judgment.

“…”

Li Shiji remained silent in response to His Majesty’s life-threatening question.

He didn’t want to get involved in the power struggle between the emperor and the retired emperor, and was just a senior employee of the Li family.

Li Shiji’s silence actually indirectly explains his attitude.

“Since Chief Steward Li has no objection, I will make the decision.”

Li Chengqian waved his sleeves and said firmly:

“The itinerary of the Northern Hunt remains unchanged, and I will continue to head north.

“Who is in favor and who is against?”

They are all His Majesty, so the senior worker Li Shiji would naturally listen to the one closest to him.

Do you have the guts to stop the emperor?

“I will prepare immediately.”

Li Shiji readily agreed, and then casually instructed the Governor of Puzhou who was standing beside him:
“I will accompany His Majesty and his entourage. I’ll trouble you, Your Excellency, to receive the accompanying fleet.”

“I understand,” the governor answered simply.

In response to their questions and answers, Li Chengqian frowned in confusion.

Li Zhi was also confused and asked:

“Now that the country is in crisis, Your Majesty has traveled light and with a small entourage. Where did the fleet come from that requires the governor of a state to arrange a reception?”

Li Shiji and the governor of Puzhou looked at each other and pointed in the direction of the Yellow River.

“Then… where did that dragon boat fleet come from?”

The two nobles looked in the direction of the finger.

On the horizon where the water and the sky meet, several tall ship masts appeared one after another.

Although the distance was far, it was not difficult to judge that those ships were very large.

It is even bigger than the dragon boat that Your Majesty rides on.

“Who are they?” Li Zhi blurted out.

Li Shiji’s heart skipped a beat and he suddenly had an ominous premonition.

“Those ships…aren’t they following His Majesty?”

Li Zhi shook his head repeatedly:

“Impossible, there are only these few ships that departed from Chang’an, and they have all arrived at the port.

“Besides, how could the attendant’s ship be bigger than your Majesty’s? This is beyond etiquette.”

Li Shiji’s face gradually turned pale: “Then why are they… following your Majesty’s fleet all the time… I thought…”

“The distance was too far, and we didn’t notice them following us all the way.”

Li Zhidao:
“If we hadn’t climbed up the city wall of Puzhou, we wouldn’t have discovered it…”

As he spoke, Li Zhi seemed to realize something, and in an instant, his face turned pale.

As the fleet got closer, more and more ships appeared, and soon they almost covered the entire surface of the river, making the wide Fen River seem crowded.

The ships were lined up in a row, one after another, stretching endlessly. Each ship was extremely tall, with masts standing tall and full of murderous intent.

This is a huge fleet that even the former Tang Dynasty could not imagine.

Apart from the wealthy Ming Dynasty, who else could have assembled such an exaggerated fleet?

Li Chengqian’s face was as pale as paper, and the corners of his mouth kept twitching:
“Such a huge ship, such a well-organized fleet, it’s impossible…”

The wolf is really coming!
Li Shiji had already rushed to the beacon tower and issued a series of instructions quickly and accurately:

“Light the beacon fire! Set up the crossbows! All troops immediately fill the shore defense line and prepare for battle! Quick!”

Suddenly, drums and trumpets sounded, and busy footsteps could be heard everywhere.

The soldiers immediately left the camp, put on their armor and helmets, prepared their bows and arrows, and rushed to their respective positions.

As it turned out, Li Shiji’s preparations were quite solid.

The soldiers followed their daily training, busy but not chaotic, and quickly took their positions.

Arrows and spears were pointed in rows, aiming vigilantly at the river.

“Your Majesty, Your Highness, there is a fortress built in the city. Please follow me and take shelter there temporarily!” Although the governor of Puzhou was not at a loss, he was extremely anxious.

Li Chengqian and Li Zhi both ran all the way from Chang’an to Puzhou, so they naturally didn’t mind running a few more steps.

The eunuchs carried Li Chengqian in a sedan chair and rushed down the stairs, followed closely by Li Zhi and the governor.

Along the way, Li Chengqian was terrified and kept feeling scared.

It’s really weird. I didn’t expect that the enemy would meet on a narrow road. Li Ming was following them!

Fortunately, because His Majesty’s purpose of this trip was to escape in the name of hunting, the dragon boat was sailing very fast.

So there was a blockage in vision, and the distance between the two sides was just so far that they could not see each other, and neither of them noticed each other.

Otherwise, if that terrifyingly large fleet catches up…

“The consequences are disastrous, disastrous!”

Li Chengqian felt pain on his cheek.

No one knows a son better than his father. The old father actually guessed Li Ming’s real goal.

But he really couldn’t understand why Li Ming’s train of thought was so weird. Instead of attacking the capital city of Dongdu, he went straight into the mountains of Shanxi.

Only pick hard bones to chew.

“Yes, if I could understand that guy’s thoughts, then I would not be normal.”

Li Chengqian complained in his heart.

Li Ming’s imagination was greatly expanded, and his father’s thoughts became clearer and clearer after his stroke.

When the two masters faced off, they were truly evenly matched. Their every move left others confused.

But what made Li Chengqian even more embarrassed was.

“How did that guy create such a large fleet out of thin air?”

He didn’t understand that the Tang Dynasty under his rule was already exhausted after supporting a major battle, and there were civil uprisings in various parts of the country.

How did the Ming Dynasty under Li Ming have the spare capacity to build ships while fighting wars?

Damn it, are their labor and raw materials printed at random just like their paper money? !
This is a crushing of national strength and a crushing of the ability to govern.

If the battle could not be won, historians of later generations could still put the blame on the emperor who had absolute power over all military affairs and was unwilling to retire.

Li Chengqian could not get rid of the responsibility for being crushed in governing the country, and he must be nailed to the pillar of shame in history.

“What kind of monster is that?”

Li Chengqian was furious and suddenly he spit out a mouthful of blood with a “wow”.

Li Zhi was lowering his head, lamenting that he would most likely not be able to become the crown prince.

Suddenly, a wailing sound was heard from the dragon chariot in front.

He immediately felt that something was wrong and shouted:

“Stop! Stop now! Call the accompanying doctor!”

“Ah?” The governor fell further behind. He did not hear Li Chengqian’s wailing and was puzzled by Li Zhi’s order. He subconsciously looked to his right.

At this time, the group had just left the city tower and had not yet entered the city gate. They were on an unprotected river embankment.

What’s in the river?
There is Li Ming’s fleet in the river!

“Your Highness, this place is too dangerous, how about…”

“If anything happens to your majesty, you will be responsible?!”

Li Zhi yelled.

Plop. At this moment, a muffled sound came from the dragon chariot.

It sounded like something hitting the floor.

“His Majesty!!!”

Almost everyone screamed, stopped immediately, and hurriedly carried the emperor out.

Li Chengqian’s face was as pale as paper, with a trace of red at the corner of his mouth, and he was unconscious.

…………

“What are they doing?!”

Li Shiji was directing the defense on the city wall. He turned around and saw that the Emperor and his entourage had stopped at the river bank. His eyes almost popped out of his head.

Li Ming’s fleet is approaching!

Although those ships were large, they were not clumsy at all and were heading towards them at full speed!

And in that huge fleet, there was an especially huge dragon-shaped sailboat. It had four masts and was nearly twenty feet long. With the full effort of the rowers, it braved the wind and waves and was almost rushing to Your Majesty!

There is absolutely no barrier between your Majesty’s dragon body and the enemy ships!
“Damn it, it’s too late… Go and protect the emperor!”

At Li Shiji’s command, fully armored warriors swarmed out, trying to protect His Majesty and his entourage with their flesh and blood.

But the weather was not good and a strong south wind blew.

The huge sailing ship at the head of the ship was only a few dozen feet away from Your Majesty, which was already within the range of bows and crossbows!

Both parties can even see each other’s appearance clearly!
…………

“Uh……”

After the imperial physician desperately pinched his Ren Zhong point, Li Chengqian finally woke up.

In a state of half-sleep and half-wakefulness, he unconsciously looked in the direction of the Fen River.

Only across a narrow strip of water, the huge sailboat came into view.

On the deck, one special child instantly caught his eye.

The child was young, but his expression was unusually mature. He was staring at him straightly, with a mixture of indifference and pity.

“Li Ming…”

Li Chengqian murmured.

On the other side, Li Ming just glanced coldly at the dragon chariot and the embarrassed True Dragon Emperor, then looked away in boredom, his eyes continuing to focus on the way ahead.

That expression seemed to say:
Emperor? What’s that? How many divisions do you have?

His goal has always been ahead.

(End of this chapter)