Chang'an City seems to have not been affected by the Goguryeo War at all, and it even seems more lively than in previous years. However, the Battle of Goguryeo is not a trivial matter after all. Chang'an City, as the capital of the Tang Dynasty, was of course affected by some of the families in the city. For example, some families in the city had children on the front line, so they were naturally concerned. In addition, because some of the food transported from the south were distributed to the front line, the grain prices in northern cities such as Chang'an and Luoyang have generally increased a lot.

After all, there are only a few people in the army, and not many people are affected. Although the rising grain prices have a great impact, since last year, cement factories, coal mines, glass factories, food factories, etc. opened in the entire Guanzhong area have soared, and the number of workers required is very large. People have been skeptical from the beginning, and after tasting the sweetness, they began to actively look for factories with higher wages in the surrounding areas to work. Some even gave up their meager income on the land and regarded factory work as their first career.

It is precisely because of this that the per capita income in Guanzhong area has increased significantly. Although grain prices have risen by a few%, they are nothing compared to the increased income. Some families who work in factories have almost caught up with the income of small landlords in the countryside, and they can also buy some rare items such as canned food. During the Chinese New Year, they are very proud of whether they are giving away people or entertaining guests.

It is precisely because of the increase in income that this year's Spring Festival is particularly lively, especially in Chang'an City, where residents with surplus money in their hands inside and outside the city rushed to the east and west markets like a swarm. The crowded crowd almost almost collapsed the walls of the two yards. Now someone in the court has written a letter to Li Shimin, hoping to relax the commerce and allow other yards to conduct various commercial transactions.

However, Li Shimin now had no time to pay attention to these trivial matters, and had no intention of celebrating the Spring Festival. In addition to handling some urgent government affairs, he now devoted all his energy to this battle against Goguryeo. Although the war was launched a bit hasty, he had great confidence in the final result, which was to destroy Goguryeo, an annoying little car, and wash the former Sui shame with the blood of the Goguryeo people.

Today is the 27th day of the twelfth lunar month. In three days, it will be the Spring Festival. Now it is dark. Although Chang'an City is still bustling, most of the pedestrians on the road are in a hurry. They want to return to their warm home quickly in the cold wind, and those who have not finished their work have also accelerated their speed and strived to return home before the curfew. Although the curfew in Chang'an City has been much relaxed this year, with the war in Goguryeo, the curfew has become stricter again. If they still rush around on the streets, it will not be like before. They can let go of a few good words. I guess they will definitely not be able to escape a single beat.

Ordinary people can go home on time. However, as the ruler, the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty and the important civil and military officials in high positions, they were very busy during this period. For example, in the Liangyi Hall of Tai Chi Palace, not only did Li Shimin not go back to rest, but also Fang Xuanling, Li Jing and Hou Junji were also here.

"Xuanling, the food and grass in Goguryeo some time ago is tight. I asked you and Junji to find a way to solve it. How is it done now?" Li Shimin rubbed his temples with his fingers and asked with a tired look on his face.

Hearing Li Shimin's question, Fang Xuanling and Hou Junji looked at each other, and finally Fang Xuanling stood up and said, "Your Highness, I am about to report this. Because it was two marchs, among which Li Ji's rear was mostly a grain-producing place. Therefore, although there was not enough preparation, after the initial period of time, the food and grass mobilized was enough. As for Niu Jinda on the southern line, we originally wanted to transfer all the grain ships from the canal to support the progress of the army. However, what we did not expect was that Dengzhou, governed by His Royal Highness King Qi, had already stored a large amount of grain. Some time ago, His Highness also introduced a salt ticket method to combine the salt industry with grain transportation, which made the maritime merchants compete to transport grain from the south. Now, the grain transported by sea alone can support the consumption of most of the southern army, so the problem of grain has been solved now."

"Salt Ticket Method? What is that?" Li Shimin was also excited when he heard Fang Xuanling's words. For the sake of Goguryeo's war, Li Yan, who could have returned to Chang'an at the end of this year, could not come back. After all, the location of Dengzhou is too important, and it would be impossible not to have a person with enough weight to take charge.

When Fang Xuanling heard Li Shimin's question, he talked about Li Yan's salt ticket method. Not only was Li Shimin happy, but even Li Jing, who had always been steady next to him, kept nodding and saying it. Unfortunately, this method can only be implemented in Dengzhou, because only Dengzhou has a large amount of cheap sea salt, and the salt drying plants in other places have not yet developed.

"Hahaha~ OK! I am worthy of being my son!" After hearing this, Li Shimin stroking his hands and laughed. He felt that the fatigue and unhappiness of this period were wiped out, and his spirits were even better.

"Your Majesty, although the food problem has been solved, there is still a very important problem in Goguryeo, that is, how should King Rongliu in Anshi City be dealt with? Should we attack Anshi City after the New Year?" After Li Shimin was proud of his son, Hou Junji stepped forward and asked. As the Minister of War, although he did not go to the battlefield in this battle of Goguryeo, he spent more effort than Li Ji and Niu Jinda on the front line.

"It's just a name. How can the enemy of my Tang Dynasty stop because of one or two?" Li Shimin snorted coldly. When the Tang army arrived in Anshi City, he sent someone to contact King Rongliu, hoping to persuade the other party to surrender to the Tang Dynasty. At that time, the Tang army would be more legitimate by his name. However, what Li Shimin did not expect was that King Rongliu, whose family members and ministers died at the hands of the Yuan family, refused to cooperate with the Tang army. Instead, he ordered the city lord of Anshi City to resist the Tang army with all his strength and would never let Goguryeo fall into a country.

Li Shimin was very annoyed about King Rongliu's ignorance of his ignorance. If the Lord of Anshi had not come up with a method of using ice as a wall, the Tang army could not conquer the city in winter, he would have ordered Li Ji and others to take down Anshi City.

Hearing Li Shimin's angry words, Li Jing hurriedly stood up and smiled sinisterly: "Your Majesty, although it is just a name, it is related to my reputation in the Tang Dynasty. Therefore, this name still needs to be needed. It is better to still attack the city after the beginning of next spring. As for King Rongliu, King Rongliu should try to capture him alive, and then publicize it to the outside world that the Lord of An City had an affair with the Yuan family and held King Rongliu hostage. We attacked An City to find out and save King Rongliu. In this way, wouldn't it be the best of both worlds?"

"Okay, the pharmacist is really my humerus!" Li Shimin immediately praised happily when he heard this insidious plan. Historical books have always been written by victors. Moreover, with the current strength of the Tang Dynasty, as long as he insisted that it was to save King Rongliu, who would dare to doubt it?

After solving the problem of food and fodder and name, they discussed some strategic matters. Then Li Shimin asked Hou Junji to retreat, but kept Li Jing and Fang Xuanling. Although Hou Junji retreated as he said, when he walked out of the hall, he looked at Li Jing and Fang Xuanling in the hall with jealous expression, and then turned around and left.

After Li Shimin asked Hou Junji to retreat, he stood up from the desk and walked back and forth in the hall several times. Finally, he suddenly turned around and said to Li Jing and Fang Xuanling: "After the New Year, I want to personally lead the imperial army to goguryeo!"

"Your Majesty, no!" Hearing Li Shimin's words, Fang Xuanling was the first to object, "Your Highness, the war in Goguryeo is going well now, and nearly half of the territory has fallen into the hands of our Tang Dynasty. It can be said that it is just a matter of perseverance. There is no need for Your Majesty to go out in person!"

Li Jing frowned at the moment of hearing this and advised: "The Fang Xiang is right. Your Majesty is a body of gold. Although the commander can boost morale in person, it will also bring greater pressure to the frontline soldiers. If the other party seizes the opportunity, it will even cause unnecessary losses. Therefore, please think twice!"

Li Shimin had long expected the reactions of the two, but he wanted to go to Goguryeo in person. In addition to relive the old dream of the golden swords and iron horses, there were two very secret reasons, and these two reasons also concern his sons.

"Pharmacist, Xuanling, after you hear me, I will personally lead the army to the prince to rule the country. After all, the prince is not young anymore, so it is time for him to familiarize himself with some political affairs." Li Shimin said this, his expression suddenly became quiet.

Although Li Shimin didn't say much, Fang Xuanling and Li Yan below moved slightly and looked at each other. They thought to themselves: Since the prince's leg was lame, it has been rumored that His Majesty wanted Yi Chu to be a clerk in Chang'an City, and the most popular ones were King of Wei Li Tai and King of Qi Li Yan. However, at this time, His Majesty suddenly asked the prince to supervise the country and let the prince be familiar with government affairs. How could this be an easy Chu? It was clearly to help the prince strengthen his position! However, both of them were extraordinary people, and they immediately thought of one person at the same time, that is Queen Changsun. The only one who could make His Majesty change his mind was the only virtuous queen of the Tang Dynasty.

"Since Your Majesty has this plan, the old minister will not object. However, the old minister is old and cannot bear the pain in the army. Please allow me to stay in Chang'an!" After understanding Li Shimin's plan, Li Jing immediately said tactfully. Although Li Shimin left Chang'an, there was only one prince in Chang'an, but he was still a little weak. Therefore, Li Jing took the initiative to stay. With him, the first person in the army, there would be no trouble in any case.

"The old minister must do his best to assist the prince!" Fang Xuanling said with great knowledge. He was the prime minister of the Tang Dynasty, so naturally he could not run around in the army like before, with all political affairs waiting for him to deal with.

Seeing that both the important officials of the civil and military expressed their opinions, Li Shimin nodded with satisfaction and discussed with the two of them the arrangements for their own personal expedition, which made them retreat. However, Li Shimin sat in the hall without moving for a long time.

After a while, Li Shimin suddenly spoke and said, "Come here, go and inform Wangyun Palace that I am going to Yang Fei's place today and ask her to prepare some wine and food. I want to have a few drinks with her!"
Chapter completed!