On the Tubo Plateau, Su Dingfang spread out the map in front of him. This map was surveyed and mapped from the Western Regions to Tubo.

I took a bite of highland barley that was a bit harsh on my throat.

Li Daoyan added: "The soldiers and horses of the Guards do not know the climate of the plateau. Once something happens to the army in front, Songtsen Gampo will be the ones to deal with us."

It is obviously unrealistic to use the three hundred soldiers and horses in hand to deal with Songtsen Gampo.

Su Dingfang thought for a long time, "Let's rush to Hehuang first, and then send out scouts to investigate the situation."

The two discussed it for a while, and finally decided to send out scouts to investigate the situation of the front army. They went deep into Tibet alone, and everyone felt unsure.

Only after you know the situation can you make plans.

While continuing to rush to Hehuang, Su Dingfang sent more than ten scouts down from the plateau to investigate the situation ahead of the team.

Li Daoyan looked at more than ten scouts dressed in Tibetan clothes and quickly went towards Hehuang to inquire about the news.

Li Daoyan, who followed his father Li Shentong in many battles in his early years, also understood how to use the art of war.

Su Dingfang was not a member of the clan. He relied on what he had learned to build his own army in troubled times. After being spotted by General Li Jing, he went to fight for Li Shimin in all directions.

At that time, during the Daye Year, rebellions broke out all over the Central Plains, and various rebels rose up against the king in the Central Plains. I had long heard that Su Dingfang was young and brave, and could lead troops into battle at the age of twenty. In the Battle of Handan, he fought with Yang Gongqing in order to protect the countryside.

In a confrontation, he killed the opponent without leaving a single piece of armor behind. He chased the enemy for more than 20 miles and killed the rebels until they were frightened.

From then on, no one dared to offend him again, and Su Dingfang became famous from then on.

Although I was not convinced, I also admired Su Dingfang.

He is a general who emerged from troubled times, and there are many differences between himself and him.

After half a month's march, Su Dingfang led his troops and horses along Sugan Lake. When he saw a few scouts coming back, he pulled up the reins and stopped the horses.

Li Daoyan, who was leading the team, took the reins and waved his hand to signal the team behind to stop.

The scout handed over a picture and said, "This is Songtsen Gampo's troop deployment. The remaining people have already gone to find General Niu Jinda's camp."

Su Dingfang asked again: "Did any Tubo people pay attention to you along the way?"

The scout replied: "We wore Tubo clothes and spoke Tubo dialect and asked the herdsmen along the way. They even gave us directions."

Su Dingfang looked at Songtsen Gampo's troop deployment drawn on the map and said with a smile: "Songtsen Gampo is such a good man, he committed a taboo in the army without even realizing it."

After putting the drawings away, Su Dingfang said loudly: "Here, arrange for someone to disguise himself as a Tibetan and go to several of their camps to spread rumors that Songtsen Gampo wants to surrender to the Tang Dynasty by offering the Tibetan pastures."

Songtsen Gampo's soldiers and horses were scattered and now divided into three parts: east, west, north and west, which were slowly encroaching on the Tang army. Although he seemed to know the art of war, he forgot one of them: soldiers are not afraid of deceit.

The art of war is more than just arranging troops.

He divided his troops into several internal and external difficulties, and the troops and horses were far apart. This was Songtsen Gampo's biggest flaw!

Li Daoyan asked curiously: "What should we do next?"

Su Dingfang nodded and said, "Let's see if General Niu can adapt to the plateau first, and wait for news from General Niu to capture Songtsen Gampo."

On the plateau, it is cold at night and hot and dry during the day.

Su Dingfang kept drinking water, and there were dry cracks on his cheeks.

Li Daoyan smiled and said: "If we can win this battle, we owe Zhang Yang a big favor."

Su Dingfang responded: "If this battle is over, I will leave the Wei Mansion and become an idler."

Even in his prime, Su Dingfang already had the heart to grow old.

Li Daoyan considered himself to be in his thirties. He looked in the direction of Chang'an and said, "I don't know what's going on at home. After this battle, I will go home and take good care of my brothers and follow my father's name."

In Chang'an City, Lu Dongzan has calmed down these days, and as long as they don't cause trouble, the Foreign Affairs Commission doesn't bother to argue with them.

It was the box of gold that was handed over to the court that made Xu Jingzong feel distressed.

Zhang Yang sat by the Qujiang Pond and whispered, "My wife likes to eat fish more and more recently."

"Your cooking skills support people, you see Yue'er now is not as thin as before."

Li Shimin's voice came from behind.

In the waterside pavilion not far away, the daughter-in-law was giving a lecture to Princess Li Lizhi and Xiao Wu of Changle.

Zhang Yang sat cross-legged, watching the buoy hanging on the fishing line rise and fall with the water, "I came to Qujiang Pool to relax while I was still in lockdown. Your Majesty won't blame me."

Li Shimin walked to the edge of the pool and said, "You have turned a blind eye to my ban from the beginning, how can you blame me?"

The water in the pool is sparkling, and fish can be seen jumping out of the water and falling back into the pool.

Thinking about it again, Zhang Yang frowned and said: "The box of gold brought by Songtsan Gampo has now been legitimately handed over to His Majesty..."

"I have had someone confirm that there is not a single piece of gold missing."

Zhang Yang nodded slightly, "Since you have also obtained the gold, your majesty does not need to marry the princess off to Tibet. I think this box of gold can be used to pay off debts. As long as you give me the gold, I will return Qujiang Pool to your majesty."

Gold is a good thing, and even gold leaves as a reward from the emperor are considered good.

Now my daughter-in-law still wears the gold bracelet given by the queen.

If you want to make your family richer, gold is a good way.

There are mountains of copper coins in the village, and these copper coins also demonstrate Lishan's strength. The more copper coins accumulate, the greater Lishan's say in the economy.

Compared to before, Zhang Yang now cares more about the value of gold and copper coins, but has little interest in silver cakes, and the silver stock in Guanzhong is not high.

Hearing what Zhang Yang said, Li Shimin glanced at Qujiang Pool and said, "I think it's good to have Qujiang Pool in your hands."

"The emperor wants to default on his debt. As a minister, I have no choice but to kill myself."

After hearing this, Li Shimin said again: "I want to reward the soldiers who went on this expedition with those gold and treasures, and I also need to prepare for this year's imperial examination."

Sighing again, Li Shimin whispered, "Expenses in the imperial court are also very tight. I can't pay you back the money right now."

Looking at Zhang Yang's expression, the boy looked confused.

This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! Li Shimin said solemnly: "One day, I will definitely be able to repay your money."

Zhang Yang nodded and took out a small bamboo bucket from his arms, "Give this to Your Majesty."

Li Shimin took the bamboo bucket and opened the cork and looked at the contents inside, "What are these?"

"White sugar, to be precise, it should be white granulated sugar." Zhang Yang thought, "This product is extracted from brown sugar, but I am not very satisfied with its sweetness."

Li Shimin poured out some sand-like white sugar, tasted a little and thought carefully, "I still like the flavor of caramel."

Zhang Yang smiled instead and took out another piece of cake, "Your Majesty, you can't just taste the candy when you eat it."

While talking, Zhang Yang took out another water naan. He mixed the sugar with water into a semi-condensed form and spread it on the surface of the cake. He handed it to Li Shimin and said, "Your Majesty, try it again."

Li Shimin took the cake and took another bite, "Huh?"

After tasting it carefully, Li Shimin took another big bite and said, "The taste is indeed much better."

Zhang Yang said with a smile: "The flavor of white sugar is indeed not as good as brown sugar and malt sugar. As long as it changes its usage and combines it with other foods, it can also become a delicacy."

Li Shimin finished the cake in two or three bites, regardless of how cold it was, and carefully looked at the remaining sugar in the bamboo tube.

"These candies are given to Your Majesty. If you add them to the cakes, it will taste better if you eat them while they are hot."

Li Shimin also sat down and looked at the scenery of Qujiang Pool, "When it comes to eating, I can always think of many wonderful ways to do it. I can't compare with you."

"I think my character is quite good." Zhang Yang paused for a moment and then said, "Actually, your Majesty's character is not as good as mine."

"Hehehe..."

Li Shimin smiled dryly, "Character? You are harming the Western Regions and threatening the envoys. Tell me about your character? When will your shameless disease be cured?"

After a long silence, Zhang Yang put down the fishing rod in his hand and said loudly: "Others laugh at me because I am too crazy, but I laugh at others because they can't see through it."

The monarch and his ministers sat by the pool for a while, neither of them speaking.

During this period Zhang Yang had already caught three fish.

"Your Majesty, fish are actually very stupid. His Highness the King of Wei did an experiment where he released the fish he caught, and the fish that were released would bite the hook again."

"Is this candy also your business?"

"This will be a deal for Lishan. I'm still thinking about how to do this deal."

"Or is it only you, Lishan, who can make it?"

"Indeed, I want to sell this candy to specific people without making any money from ordinary people."

Seeing Zhang Yang catch another fish, Li Shimin asked again: "Who do you want to sell it to?"

Zhang Yang smiled and said, "All the rich and powerful families are my customers. This sugar will not be sold like our previous business in Lishan, and I need your Majesty's help."

"How can I help?"

"After the banquet, I will share the sugar with the powerful people in the clan, letting them know that Your Majesty still has such good things, so that I can sell them secretly, and at a high price."

"If others ask where I am, how will I explain it?"

"It's not important. Your Majesty doesn't have to explain it. I will let this thing appear on the market quietly."

After taking Zhang Yang's cattail leaf fan, Li Shimin gave himself a fan again. It was a matter of business to help his son-in-law. As an emperor, the more he thought about it, the more uncomfortable he became.

Looking at the conspiratorial smile on this kid's face, I would have killed him back then.
To be continued...