After listening to Li Min's words, Li Shimin couldn't help but remain silent.
This technology is indeed beyond Li Shimin's imagination.
But can we build railways and trains by reading the Four Books and Five Classics?
Can winter wheat be developed, a crop that can be harvested twice a year?
So, what do railways, trains, winter wheat and two crops of rice a year mean to Datang?
Does he want these scholars who study sagely books? Or does he want these scientific and technological talents?
Or, both people want it!
According to ordinary people's thinking, naturally both types of talents are needed.
But Li Shimin knew very well that it would be very difficult to pass this law.
The reason is that all the civil servants in the imperial court have studied the Four Books and Five Classics assiduously. It is very difficult to get them to admit physics and chemistry, which in their eyes are crooked knowledge.
Therefore, after pondering for a long time, Li Shimin couldn't help but said: "Yin'er, this matter needs long-term consideration. However, you can set up a pilot project in Yizhou now."
After listening to Li Shimin's words, Li Min couldn't help but grin and agreed happily.
Li Min understood that his father was actually tempted, but he had too many things to consider and had not yet made a final decision.
…
The inspection of Yizhou is almost complete. In less than a year since Li Min, the king of Shu, came to Yizhou, the entire Yizhou has undergone earth-shaking changes.
The answer Li Min handed over already exceeded Li Shimin's expectations for him.
After the inspection, Li Shimin seemed ready to leave.
After all, he couldn't leave Chang'an for long.
Before leaving, Li Shimin summoned the king of Shu and a group of military generals and held a secret meeting.
The reason why Li Shimin agreed to come with these generals actually had other purposes.
The content discussed at this meeting was how to capture Tuyuhun and Tubo in one fell swoop. Even Nanzhao was also under their consideration.
In the original historical trajectory, why did the Tang Dynasty have no intention of taking over Tuyuhun and Tubo?
This is because the environment in Tubo is harsh, the output is very little, and the roads are difficult and dangerous.
Pay and reward are not proportional at all, and it is difficult to educate.
Therefore, throughout the Li Dynasty, even if they had the strength to defeat them, they generally would not attack them.
But things are different now. Now there are trains and railways, and there are cement roads.
It can be said that the road problem is solved.
Datang can dispatch troops quickly and can take control of any situation at any time.
Li Shimin, on the other hand, was a man of great talent and strategy, and wanted to be the emperor for eternity.
The most important thing about being an emperor through the ages is to expand the territory.
So, now Tubo and Tuyuhun have come into Li Shimin's sight.
After summoning a group of veteran generals, Li Shimin couldn't help but said in a deep voice: "Tubo and Tuyuhun have been disobedient for a long time, and this year they dared to invade our territory of the Tang Dynasty. Now there are three new crops in Yizhou. When the autumn harvest next year, there will be a bumper harvest of food."
.”
"And now the Tang Dynasty has opened a train line from Chang'an to Yizhou, which can transport soldiers and food quickly. Therefore, I am planning to wait for next year's autumn harvest, immediately gather troops, and win the victory with lightning speed.
Tubo and Tuyuhun, what do you think? We can discuss this matter."
The great concern of the Tang Dynasty was not actually Tibet, but the Turks.
But Tubo was in the southwest of the Tang Dynasty and always caused trouble at critical moments.
And the most important point is that the only railway in Datang now is from Chang'an to Yizhou.
Only by relying on railways can soldiers and food be transported quickly. Therefore, their only option now is to attack Tubo and Tuyuhun first.
After capturing Tubo and Tuyuhun, the southwest border of the Tang Dynasty could be stabilized and become the granary of their rear area.
After Li Shimin finished speaking, the eyes of these veterans couldn't help but light up.
They haven't fought for too long since they used troops against the Turks.
They were almost out of their minds, so when they heard that there was going to be a war, everyone's eyes lit up.
Cheng Yaojin was the first to shout loudly: "Fight! We must fight, hit hard! I, Old Cheng, was the first to agree, count me among them!"
Qin Qiong also said: "Your Majesty, we must fight to open up and expand the territory of the Tang Dynasty!"
Yu Chigong and other senior ministers all agreed with Li Shimin's opinion.
Huo, there is not a single civil servant here now. They are all a bunch of generals and militants.
Hearing that everyone agreed, Li Shimin was extremely satisfied and couldn't help but said: "Okay, since you all agree, then..."
At this moment, Li Min stood up helplessly and said: "Father, wait a minute."
Li Shimin frowned and said, "Yin'er, don't you have a different opinion?"
Li Min couldn't help but said: "Father, I think that Tubo and Tuyuhun have complex terrain and large populations. Attacking them is really a waste of people and money. I think there may be a better way."
After listening to Li Min's words, Li Shimin couldn't help but frown and asked: "Min'er, tell me, do you have any better ideas?"
Li Min couldn't help but said: "Father, I think we can engage in economic aggression."
"Economic aggression?" Li Shimin looked confused: "What is economic aggression?"
Li Min smiled slightly and said: "Father, economic aggression means that we in the Tang Dynasty will sell our luxury goods to Tubo and Tuyuhun in exchange for their mutton and fur. Then, we will teach them how to build cement roads and let them travel in Tubo
Road construction is rampant.”
After hearing the first half of Li Min's words, the generals were still smiling, but after hearing it, their faces changed color and they couldn't help but say: "This is absolutely not possible at this time!"
"This is to support the enemy!"
"This is absolutely not allowed!"
Li Min smiled slightly and said: "Why not? The reason why Tubo is difficult to attack is because their terrain is complex, the roads are narrow, and it is not easy to pass. But what if they build all the roads in the country?"
"When the time comes, if we want to attack them, we can march straight in along the roads they built! But if we attack Tubo now, not only will we suffer heavy losses, but we still have to build these roads ourselves!"
After hearing Li Min's method, these generals couldn't help but look at each other and were speechless for a moment.
Li Shimin's face also showed a look of deep thought.
After a long while, Cheng Yaojin couldn't help but said: "Your Highness, you are still the bad one!"
Qin Qiong chuckled and said, "That's right, full of evil!"
"It's bad, but I like it!"
Li Min's head was filled with black threads when he heard this, "Huo, is this how you praise others?"