Of course, equal risks also mean equal benefits. If we can succeed this time, it will prove that we can advance from the sea. At that time, no matter where in the world, our navy will be able to pass through. Li Xiang's world strategy can be theoretically passed.
"Your Highness, didn't you say we wouldn't have any combat missions this time? Aren't we purely gathering intelligence this time? Why are the navy so anxious?"
Qin Huaiyu had just returned from Goguryeo, so he naturally knew how powerful our navy warships were. After installing cannons on them, no matter what kind of defensive offensive there was on the shore, as long as they could get close to the shore, all kinds of fortifications would be blown into rubble.
"Everything must be prepared in advance. I'm planning to go there to gather information, but if the enemy is too weak, or if we can handle it, why wait until later? Also, you should be prepared to fight the chieftains along the way. If anyone goes too far, we'd better kill them all. But this time, besides these 3,000 soldiers, I won't bring any more. How we fight is up to you."
Li Xiang pointed to the mountains and forests in the southern part of Sichuan and Shu and said that there were many chieftains of different sizes gathered here. These people were all descendants of barbarians. They submitted to the Tang Dynasty on the surface, but in fact they were similar to some countries in the Western Regions. We didn't bother to care about them before because the harvest in this area was too little, and even if we conquered it, it would not benefit us much.
But the situation is different now. Since Li Xiang wants to annex Nanzhao, he will most likely send troops along this route in the future. These people happen to be on the way we are sending troops, and they have a good relationship with Nanzhao. If they cut off our logistics line after we start fighting, the soldiers on the front line will be in trouble. Li Xiang will never allow such a thing to happen.
"I originally thought it would be an easy march, but I didn't expect that we'd already be preparing for an attack. But don't worry, Your Highness. Although we're only bringing 3,000 men, our army is completely different from before. These 3,000 men have fought with us throughout the country and have seen almost every kind of enemy. We may not have fought in the mountains, but as long as we're well-trained, we shouldn't have any problems."
When Li Xiang came back, he had already given them orders to engage in more mountain warfare. There were still a few small hills around Chang'an City, but these hills were nothing compared to the mountains in the south.
"Don't be so confident. You all need to intensify your training these few days. If you need anything, just write down a list and go get it. If the court doesn't supply it in time, go directly to my shopkeeper to get the treasure."
Although Li Xiang brought back a lot of money, most of it was used by Li Shimin to repair the Yellow River dike. This amount of funds could not be touched. Li Xiang also saw that there were many areas that would definitely burst next year or the year after if they were not repaired now. The losses caused by then would be much more expensive than repairing the Yellow River dike, and you might have to pay dozens of times the price.
"With your words, we have nothing to fear. To raise an elite army, money is essential. Many people only talk about training, but if there is no money, the army will probably never be formed."
What Qin Huaiyu said was true. When the Tang Dynasty was first established, it also had many elite troops. But now the combat effectiveness of these troops has declined because they are no longer needed on the battlefield. Instead, they are used more by Li Xiang's men.
Although Li Shimin also understood this and wanted to train some of his elite troops, was it a small amount? The court had money everywhere, and if they were to train them, there was no telling how much it would cost. Not to mention repairing the Yellow River levee, there wasn't even enough money to renovate the imperial palace.
"Hey, doesn't this look pretty good?"
When Li Xiang was about to leave, Chang Sun Ze came over on horseback from a distance. Li Xiang originally thought that this guy didn't know how to ride a horse, but he didn't expect that he could run fast on a horse. Moreover, he had just shot an arrow with a crossbow. Although it didn't hit the bull's eye, it also hit the target from forty meters away. He didn't look like a playboy at all.
"That's nothing! How many children from the aristocratic families in Chang'an City wouldn't be able to play like this? But don't forget what their fathers went through. When the Tang Dynasty was first established, even the children of civil servants fought in wars. At that time, they had no one to rely on but themselves."
After Qin Huaiyu's words, Li Xiang finally understood what was going on. The situation at that time was indeed not stable enough, and the area controlled by the Tang Dynasty was relatively small. No one thought that the Tang Dynasty could develop into what it is today. Some people even thought that the country might be destroyed. Therefore, as long as there is a male in the family, he must be trained from a young age. Not only can he protect himself at critical moments, but he can also help adults take care of the family.
"This kid should be a good seedling. Don't let him stay in Chang'an City and be a waste. You should work hard these few days and try your best to train him. We will take him with us on the road."
Li Xiang could see that Chang Sun Ze's men were quite skilled in martial arts, but they had lost because of panic in the past. If they could practice well now, they would be a good helper in the future. After all, we are short of people now, otherwise how could we set our sights on this second-generation rich kid.
"Don't follow me back. Since you're already here, you two should cooperate with each other and train these three thousand people hard. I don't ask for one to be worth a hundred, but one to be worth ten is a must."
When Li Xiang saw that Qin Huaiyu still wanted to go back with him, he immediately persuaded this guy to go back. This guy had not stayed at home for more than five days since returning from Goguryeo. However, in order to be able to follow Li Xiang south, he had to go home as little as possible. What could he achieve by staying in Chang'an City all the time?
With these words from Li Xiang, these 3,000 people really complained bitterly in the next few days. Although they were exchanged from the system by Li Xiang and their combat effectiveness was much stronger than that of ordinary people, they had never been trained in mountain warfare. This was a new subject that almost broke their bones.