The Khan before the Western Turks was Yibi Lu, and Yi Bi Shekui defeated him to succeed in the throne, while Ashina Helu was a subordinate of Yi Bi Lu, and after the defeat of Yi Bi Lu, he was desperate and finally chose to take refuge in the Tang Dynasty.

Therefore, from the theoretical point of view, Ashina Helu and Yibi are incompatible, and it is with this in mind that Li Shimin accepted Ashina Helu and asked him to guard the Western Regions against the Western Turks.

Li Shimin has always been very confident in his determination, so when Gao Ming said that he should guard against Ashina Helu, although Li Shimin didn't say anything, he still had some doubts in his heart, because he felt that Ashina Helu could not be stupid enough to betray the Tang Dynasty.

But he was proven wrong.

Maybe Ashina Helu is not stupid, but he was just blinded by ambition, but in any case, betrayal is betrayal, which Datang cannot tolerate.

Therefore, Li Shimin's expedition this time was in the name of "counterinsurgency", and he declared that he was sending troops to solve the traitor Ashina Helu.

There is no doubt that this is a good reason, and it is also very in line with the tradition of "teachers are famous" that Datang has always had, and no one can find a thorn.

However, anyone with a discerning eye knows that the counterinsurgency is just an excuse, and Li Shimin's purpose in sending troops this time is to solve the Western Turks and completely remove the obstacles to the Tang Dynasty to the Western Regions, so as to re-establish the order of the Silk Road.

As for counterinsurgency, it is nothing more than incidental.

Gao Ming knew these things early on, and it can even be said that he had participated in the war against the Western Turks, if it wasn't for Li Shimin's preparation for the imperial expedition, then it was Gao Ming himself who went on the expedition this time.

However, looking at Li Shimin's excited face, Gao Ming's mood also became a little inexplicably relaxed.

"The conquest of Goguryeo in the history of the origin failed, and this conquest of the Western Regions may be more suitable for him, right?"

Thinking of this, Gao Ming suddenly smiled at Li Shimin.

"Old man, how many people are you going to take with you on this expedition? There are only about 100,000 people on the left and right guards, I'm afraid this is not enough, right? ”

"Huh?" Hearing Gao Ming's words, Li Shimin immediately glanced at him: "How do you know that I am bringing two guards, left and right." ”

Seeing Li Shimin's good appearance, Gao Ming laughed again.

"Because I heard that you ordered Su Dingfang to transport grain and grass, since you ordered Su Dingfang, there is no reason not to use the left and right guards!"

"I see!"

After hearing Gao Ming's explanation, Li Shimin nodded suddenly.

"That's right, I am indeed preparing to take the left and right guards on the expedition this time, but not only these people, but also the 100,000 troops who returned from Xue Yantuo, a total of 250,000 people, enough to defeat the rebellion, and most importantly, I have this!"

Speaking of this, Li Shimin suddenly slapped the body of the tank a few times with a "bang", and then grinned at Gao Ming.

"With this, plus the fifty cannons brought back from Goguryeo, and the 250,000 people on this expedition, I believe that the Western Regions can be easily pacified!"

Hearing Li Shimin's words, Gao Ming was stunned at first, but finally nodded.

"Uh...... It seems that this is indeed the case. ”

Gao Ming knows very well that the Tang Dynasty is very strong in both infantry and cavalry, and basically no one can fight with the Tang Dynasty army with the same strength, and the original Jieli Khan is the best example.

In the face of the attack of the Tang army, the best way is to fortify the city and use a strong city to close the huge gap in combat power, after all, it is impossible for cavalry to fly a few meters high city walls.

But with artillery and tanks, this gap was also filled.

Outside the range of the opponent's bow and arrow, the cannon can easily blast through the opponent's city gate, and then use the cavalry to drive straight in, which can be called simple and rude.

With these two weapons of war, tanks and artillery, Gao Ming was able to defeat Goguryeo and Baekje within two months, and Cheng Yanjin and others also used them to destroy Xue Yantuo at a slight cost.

Now that Li Shimin has them, it is obviously not difficult to defeat the Western Turks, who are not much stronger than Xue Yantuo.

Thinking of this, Li Shimin suddenly began to stroke the tank in front of him, with a satisfied expression, as if he was not touching a cold tank at this time, but a peerless beauty.

Under Gao Ming's surprised gaze, after a long while, Li Shimin opened his mouth with a fascination on his face.

"There is such a tank, which can bring such great benefits in the war, if there are a hundred, then what other country in this world can be the enemy of the Tang Dynasty?"

"Haha, that's definitely not the case!"

Hearing Li Shimin's hypothesis, Gao Ming immediately laughed, but soon, he shrugged his shoulders helplessly at Li Shimin.

"But this is impossible, because the cost of the tank is very high, one needs 100,000 yuan, and to build this thing, not only needs money, but also takes time, just to build this tank, it took more than half a year for the Tang Military Industry Department, so it is unrealistic to want to build more tanks in a short time!"

If it was Li Shimin in the past, he would definitely back down when he heard Gao Ming say that a tank cost 100,000 yuan, but after seeing the benefits of tanks, he felt that this thing was really worth the money.

What's more, now that Datang's treasury is abundant, he also has confidence.

"What if we send more men? It shouldn't be a problem to build ten a year, right? ”

Hearing Li Shimin's words, Gao Ming still shook his head.

"It's still not good, because there are rich people, but we lack iron!"

Datang's iron-smelting technology determines that although iron is not a rare commodity in Datang, it is not abundant, except for civilian iron tools and farm tools, most of the iron uses to make weapons and armor.

And a behemoth like a tank needs a lot of iron, and with Datang's current level of iron smelting, it is obviously unrealistic to want to make a hundred in a short time.

Gao Ming knew this very well, so he straightforwardly made it clear to Li Shimin.

"According to our current conditions, at most one more tank will be built, otherwise it will become a burden, and I think that instead of wasting so much iron to build another tank, it is better to use these iron to build dozens of more cannons!"

Speaking of this, Gao Ming suddenly patted Li Shimin's shoulder seriously.

"Old man, this meal has to be eaten one bite at a time, the road has to be walked step by step, the steps are too big, and it is easy to pull eggs!"

Li Shimin: "......"

Seeing that Li Shimin didn't speak, just glared at himself with angry eyes, Gao Ming suddenly reacted that his actions were very inappropriate, so he hurriedly took away the hand on Li Shimin's shoulder, and then smiled flatteringly at Li Shimin.

"Hehe, I'm sorry, I'm going to help you sweep the dust, don't you mind, haha!"

As he spoke, he pretended to gently sweep Li Shimin's shoulder a few times with his hand, as if his face was really dusty.

Seeing this scene, Li Shimin could only sigh helplessly.

"Alas...... I know, okay, what else do you have to say, if not, I'm going to go, Li Yunhu and Xue Li are still waiting for me at Yumen Pass! ”

This time it was Gao Ming's turn to be surprised, as soon as Li Shimin's words fell, his eyes suddenly widened.

"Huzi and Xue Rengui are at Yumen Pass? Are you going to let them join you on your expedition to the Western Regions? ”

Seeing Gao Ming's surprised appearance, Li Shimin smiled again, and nodded while laughing.

"That's right, and I plan to let them each lead an army to attack Ashina Helu and Yibi Shoku, respectively!"

"What?"

Hearing Li Shimin's words, Gao Ming's eyes suddenly widened, and his eyes were full of incredulity.

"Isn't it too abrupt for them to attack Ashina Horu and Yibi Shoku, they are not yet in charge of the situation, right?"

Looking at Gao Ming's slightly panicked appearance, Li Shimin laughed again.

"Gao Ming, I know that these two people are people you value, and I have heard Cheng Zhijie and Wei Chi Jingde praise the two of them more than once, so I want to see their true skills with my own eyes, and by the way, judge whether they are worthy of my son's attention!"

"Because of this?"

Hearing Li Shimin's answer, Gao Ming suddenly grew his mouth, revealing an incredible face, but Li Shimin nodded very seriously.

"That's right, because of this!"

"But ......"

Gao Ming was originally going to say something, but before he could finish speaking, Li Shimin waved his hand at him.

"I know what you want to say, these two people do have their shortcomings, Huzi is brave and strategic, and Xue Li is too young and inexperienced, but it is precisely because of this that they need to be sharpened even more, otherwise how can I help you defend this Tang dynasty in the future?"

"But what if ......"

"No whatever!"

Hearing Li Shimin's words, Gao Ming suddenly fell silent.

Seeing the change in the expression of his face, Li Shimin smiled slightly, and then patted him on the shoulder.

"Gao Ming, you are now the crown prince of the Tang Dynasty, and you will also become the emperor of the Tang Dynasty in the future, there are some things that you should understand without me saying it, okay, it's not too early, I should also go, don't forget what I said before!"

After speaking, Li Shimin opened the door of the tank again and climbed in.

Looking at Li Shimin, who had already boarded the tank, Gao Ming also came back to his senses, and he hurriedly shouted at Li Shimin's back.

"Old man, don't worry, before you come back, I will help you take care of your home, and I promise that nothing will go wrong!"

Hearing Gao Ming's words, Li Shimin, who had already boarded the tank, suddenly smiled.

"That's good, that's ......"

Originally, Li Shimin wanted to say, "I'm relieved like this", but before he could say the word "rest assured", Gao Ming's voice reached his ears again.

"Old man, you have to come back quickly, I will hold on for three months at most, if you can't come back, I will be a faint king, and your newly made dragon chair is really hard, you won't mind if I bring a cushion when I sit tomorrow, right?" And ......"

Hearing Gao Ming's "rebellious" words, Li Shimin's old face suddenly darkened, and before he could finish his words, he closed the tank door with a "bang", and then waved his hand.

"Let's go!"