After the exam, Deng Jian and the others left the examination room, and without staying too long, they hurriedly went back to the school.

Originally, at this time, the sentient beings should have gone to see Chen Zhengtai.

After all, after the exam, I always have to give Chen Zhengtai an explanation.

But who expected it to be empty.

And the reason why this is so is because today's 39th issue of the newspaper reads: Yangzhou Navy encountered Baekje and Goguryeo ships and was defeated.

Although Deng Jian and others studied in the school, they were also familiar with the affairs of the world through newspapers.

Newspapers are now popular, selling more than 100,000 copies a day, and the number is increasing as their influence continues to grow.

100,000 copies a day is enough for the newspaper to feed itself, and there may even be a surplus.

The controversy within the newspaper is whether to reduce the cost of printing on a large scale in order to increase sales.

The internal controversy has not stopped, but Chen Zhengtai has no heart to care about this at this time...... When he got the news from the newspaper, he didn't bother to see the candidates for the exam, but hurried into the palace.

Yangzhou has always been Lou Shide in power, this person in Yangzhou got Chen Zhengtai's instructions, drastic implementation of the new policy, but has achieved some results.

Of course, it was also Chen Zhengtai's idea to send a fleet to the Wa Kingdom and other countries.

In order to build ships, after Yangzhou played the imperial court, it immediately began to recruit craftsmen, purchased a large number of ship wood, and spent a lot of manpower and material resources.

Right now...... The fleet was attacked by the Goguryeo and Baekje people.

This...... Moreover, as soon as the news of the annihilation of the whole army reached Chang'an, it immediately shook the entire Tang Dynasty.

Li Shimin was furious.

The ministers of the three provinces and six ministries also gathered here, Chen Zhengtai was already late, and the secretary of the military department was Li Jing, who was looking at Li Shimin cautiously at this time, knowing in his heart that a big war might be imminent!

In fact, the relationship between the Tang Dynasty and Goguryeo was already tense, and Goguryeo fought against the Sui Dynasty three times, but instead of destroying the country, the Great Sui was consumed to death.

Because of this, in the face of this nascent Tang Dynasty, especially in the eyes of Goguryeo, the national strength of the Tang Dynasty was far inferior to that of the Great Sui in its heyday, so it was natural to be arrogant and show off its might.

In fact, Li Shimin has long had the intention of conquering Goguryeo, after all, this small dynasty entrenched in Liaodong and Lelang? For Li Shimin, if he does not solve it earlier, sooner or later he will leave his children and grandchildren in great trouble.

Right now...... Encountering such an opportunity? Li Jing also seems to be waiting for Li Shimin's attitude.

As for Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhuiren, they did not agree with going to Goguryeo immediately to use troops!

Goguryeo now? There are hundreds of cities? Covering an area of thousands of miles, with hundreds of thousands of people? And at the beginning, the Sui Dynasty was defeated in a row, and countless armor, war horses and weapons were abandoned to Goguryeo at this time. Datang is the opposite? Because of years of conquest? The population has been decimated, and now is the time for recovery. It is very likely to repeat the mistakes of Emperor Yang of Sui.

It's just that...... What is happening now? Datang could not bear such humiliation.

When Chen Zhengtai arrived, it was Sun Fujia, the secretary of Dali Temple, standing in the main hall? is talking eloquently: "Lou Shide is greedy for merit? Rushing to sea, knowing that this is going deep into the tiger's den? But you didn't take too much precautions? Attacked now? Shame on the court, in the war report that came? Seventeen large ships were sunk, and more than 700 shipwrights, guards, and entourages were killed and wounded...... He also hijacked several large ships, and gave Goguryeo and Baekje a large amount of goods, and His Majesty thought that ...... This matter needs to be blamed on Lou Shide, if it were not for this person, it would never be like this. ”

Li Shimin listened and glanced at Fang Xuanling.

Fang Xuanling said calmly at this time: "Your Majesty, Lou Shide's recital has also arrived, and he has repeatedly asked for guilt, he is indeed suspected of being greedy for merit, and now that such a major event has happened, the loss is secondary, and the prestige of my Datang is swept away, and the most important thing is the party." The old minister thought that Lou Shide should indeed be severely punished in order to set an example. ”

Li Shimin's face was pale, he had been winning battles all his life, but it was a shame that he suffered such a defeat.

Originally, Li Shimin still had a lot of appreciation for Lou Shide, and felt that he did a good job in Yangzhou Assassin History, who would have expected it...... And now he has made such a big mistake.

Obviously, he still greatly underestimated the Goguryeo and Baekje people.

"Your Majesty......"

At this time, Chen Zhengtai stood up and said: "This Lou Shide was recommended by Erchen, and now this person has made a big mistake, and Erchen is really dead." ”

Li Shimin's eyes fell on Chen Zhengtai's body, and said: "It's none of your business, other people's business, you don't want to take credit, don't take it." ”

Chen Zhengtai said honestly: "But Erchen feels a little strange. ”

Li Shimin frowned and said, "You say." ”

So Chen Zhengtai said: "On the vast ocean, although there are only a few routes, in the final analysis, it is the fleets of Goguryeo and Baekje that attacked the Yangzhou fleet this time, unless they got the news in advance and prepared in advance, why could they ambush my Datang ships at this time?" So...... Erchen thinks that the root of the problem is still leaked news, does Your Majesty remember that Mr. Qingzhu? At that time, when Yangzhou was shipbuilding...... Maybe then...... This Mr. Qingzhu has already sent news to Goguryeo...... Of course, all this is just Erchen's expectation, Erchen didn't mean to shirk Lou Shide, he just felt that he was ...... Things are not as simple as that. ”

When Li Shimin heard this, his face fell.

Indeed, Chen Zhengtai's words are not unreasonable.

Only if the news may have leaked can the Baekje and Goguryeo people act together.

At this time, Chen Zhengtai continued: "Once such a fleet encounters the fleets of the Goguryeo and Baekje people, it is not a battle to be ambushed and destroyed, after all, the fleet is not a ship dedicated to combat. The Goguryeo and Baekje people, on the other hand, were already good at shipbuilding, and most of their land was near the sea, so they could not be self-sufficient on their own, and they had to rely on sea transportation to communicate with each other. Erchen remembered that when the Great Sui conquered Goguryeo, he dispatched three large-scale sailors to set up waterway chiefs, once because of the sea breeze, so it was destroyed, and the other twice...... encountered the Goguryeo people, but returned in vain. And Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty in order to conquer Goguryeo, it can be said that at any cost, he conquered millions of people, spent countless manpower and material resources, and the boats could not overwhelm the Goguryeo people, now this Goguryeo and Baekje together, Yangzhou's fleet, how can it be undefeated? ”

"So...... Your Majesty, the ministers thought that this was not a crime of war, and the reason for it was just to leak the news and be taken advantage of by thieves! As for Lou Shide, although he is guilty, but it may not be to the point of unforgivable sin, Yangzhou New Deal is just halfway through, if it changes halfway, then the hope of the New Deal will be cut off. ”

It's just a Lou Shide...... Just let him die.

But Yangzhou's new deal can't be broken.

That's exactly what Chen Zhengtai suggests.

Li Shimin's face was gloomy and uncertain, and he said: "Don't punish the crime? ”

Sun Fujia, the secretary of Dali Temple, immediately said angrily: "If you don't punish the crime, how can you convince the public?" ”

"Punishment." Chen Zhengtai gritted his teeth and said: "He can be demoted to the captain of the Yangzhou Navy Military Academy, and he will be guilty of meritorious service." ”

Li Shimin's face softened at this time.

Of course, it is impossible to go unpunished, and from the assassin to a small captain, it is almost equivalent to being thrown to the end.

The captain is just a small five-grade battalion officer, and he seems to be the assassin of Yangzhou, which is almost equivalent to a feudal official.

Li Shimin closed his eyes, and then glanced at Fang Xuanling.

Obviously, Sun Fujia was very dissatisfied, and Li Shimin still wanted to see Fang Xuanling's suggestions.

Fang Xuanling pondered for a moment before he said, "How to make meritorious service with a crime?" ”

Chen Zhengtai said without hesitation: "Let him supervise the construction of ships and lead the ships to fight again!" ”

At this time, it was the spring of the seventh year of Zhenguan, and the Tang Dynasty was still in the recovery period, in fact, there was not too much power to follow the example of Emperor Yang of Sui and build ships on a large scale.

Now, Chen Zhengtai wants to continue building ships and fight against the Goguryeo and Baekje sailors who can compete with the Sui Dynasty sailors, which is obviously a loss-making deal for Fang Xuanling.

With so much money and food, why didn't Datang recruit horse infantry and push it over by land?

The Goguryeo and Baekje people, who were unable to provide for themselves and could only meet their domestic needs by sea, were naturally good at naval warfare, and it is understandable that most of their land was already littant. And why should Datang use its own shortcomings to attack its strengths?

So he said, "If we continue to build ships, how much time will it take, and how much food will it cost!" ”

Chen Zhengtai seemed to have thought of this problem earlier, and immediately said: "The matter of money and food...... I have already thought that Yangzhou should be able to raise troops, and it is not much more expensive, and dozens of ships can be built. And time ...... As long as there is enough material for the ship, then ...... You can start building right away, and you can train sailors when building a ship, and when the ship is finished, you can go to sea and fight the thief to the death. ”

When Li Shimin heard this, he couldn't help but be frightened by Chen Zhengtai's greed for merit.

You just destroyed a fleet, and you're still coming?

Didn't you just say that the fleets of Goguryeo and Baekje were powerful, and you could take them down in a year?

Fang Xuanling couldn't help but be speechless, but he knew that if he didn't fight at sea, he might have to order Li Jing to prepare hundreds of thousands of soldiers and horses to attack by land!

The Tang Dynasty must not be able to bear this kind of humiliation, and the Goguryeo people have always been unruly, since Chen Zhengtai proposed such a money-saving method...... Although I know that it is impossible, at least ...... Anyway, it doesn't cost money, why don't you let him toss it first, maybe it's done?

Fang Xuanling glanced at Li Shimin and said, "Your Majesty, this is a fantasy, it's just ...... Chen Juma is both conclusive...... This ......"

The meaning of this is obvious, you can give it a try!

Li Shimin said in a deep voice: "This is not child's play, if I lose again, then where does my Tang prestige exist?" ”

Chen Zhengtai immediately said: "Erchen has confidence in Lou Shide, and the Chen family will also be fully assisted." ”

Li Shimin was still not at ease, so he looked at Li Jing: "What does Li Qing think?" ”

Li Jing is the secretary of the military department, he groaned slightly, frowned and said: "It's still safe by land, Your Majesty will give the minister 50,000 iron horses, and the minister will sweep Goguryeo." ”

Li Shimin gave him a blank look: "Fifty thousand iron horses? ”

Li Jing was a little weak-hearted: "Thirty thousand is also fine." ”

When Li Shimin heard this, his heart began to hurt.

Even if it's 30,000 iron horses, it will cost a lot!

You must know that iron cavalry and soldiers and horses are two concepts, 30,000 iron cavalry are soldiers, if the attack is against the nomadic Turks, the two sides can also directly set up a decisive battle in the wilderness.

It is the Goguryeo people who can be dealt with, and there are hundreds of fortified cities in Goguryeo, and if you want to destroy them, you must advance step by step, which takes a long time.

And Goguryeo's best method is to clear the wilderness, so on the surface it is 30,000 iron horses, but in order to give these 30,000 iron horses enough supplies, at least more than 300,000 people must be mobilized, and it will take at least a year or two.

In Li Shimin's plan, it would take at least five years to prepare for the mobilization of troops against Goguryeo, and even if it was the fastest, it would take ten years for Zhenguan to do so.

He thought about it for a while before he sighed and said, "You might as well give Lou Shide a chance to make meritorious contributions." ”

Li Jing: "......"

Sun Fujia couldn't help but open his mouth to say something.

Let's be honest...... Dozens of ships, within a year, fought a decisive battle with the sailors of Goguryeo and Baekje, which is obviously ...... It's really a fantasy.

Can ...... now

Sun Fujia held back for a long time, and finally couldn't help but say: "Chen Fuma has made a big mistake by recommending Lou Shide before, and now if Lou Shide is defeated again, what should I do?" ”

He said, looking at Chen Zhengtai with a provocative look.

Chen Zhengtai didn't think about it, so he said: "I invite you to eat whip!" ”

Sun Fujia's face suddenly turned green, and he immediately said angrily: "Your Majesty, look at this Chen Zhengtai, he still wants to beat the ministers." ”

Li Shimin was upset by the two, and couldn't help but say: "Don't say a few words about the dispute of will, what I am discussing is a major national event." Sun Qing, please rest assured, since Zhengtai is trying his best to protect Lou Shide, if Lou Shide is in vain in the future, I will not spare them. ”

Sun Fujia's face softened a little, and then he said, "It's just...... Since Lou Shide is the captain of Yangzhou Waterway, who can assassinate Yangzhou history? ”

This...... As soon as these words came out, everyone in the hall seemed to be moved.

The history of Yangzhou thorns...... It's almost the hottest position right now.

Not to mention Yangzhou's status, it ranks among the best in the world, and Yangzhou's taxes are also amazing, which can be said to be a real fat shortage, if anyone puts their own people in, it is a great thing.

All of a sudden, everyone began to move their minds, everyone was casual on the surface, but their brains were running fast, searching for the right candidate.

Li Shimin also seemed to be aware of the importance of this position, so he also became extremely cautious.