Winter goes to spring, and it has been 12 years of Zhenguan in the blink of an eye.

Under the inclination of resources throughout Datang, the steam engine came down the production line at the fastest speed and was assembled on the modified ironclad ship.

Today, there are dozens of steam engine ships in service with sailors.

Tianzhu was destroyed by the Tang Dynasty, and there was no suspense. Tianzhu Kingdom became the Tianzhu Road of the Tang Dynasty, Basse changed its name to Mumbai, Cheng Zhijie garrisoned there, and built a port together with one of the naval divisions, and now it can be initially used as a military port. However, construction is still ongoing, and in the future, it will not be smaller than the seaports of Ryukyu and Malacca.

Both the Chinese medicine granules and canned food were made and stored in large quantities and shipped to Mumbai by sea for the sailors' expeditions.

And the day of departure is getting closer and closer.

The Arabian Sea has a tropical monsoon climate with high temperatures throughout the year. From November to March of the following year, the northeast monsoon often blows, and precipitation is scarce, which is the dry season. From April to October, the southwest monsoon blows abundantly, making it the rainy season. Tropical cyclones often occur at the turn of summer and autumn, accompanied by high winds, bad waves and heavy rainfall.

Therefore, Xia Hongsheng set the time of departure in late spring, and if the way went well, it would be late autumn when he arrived in the Arabian Sea. In this way, you can avoid the waves and storms that often occur in the Arabian Sea in late summer and early autumn. And the temperature in winter and spring is slightly lower, about 256 degrees is suitable. After arriving at the Arabian Sea, it took nearly half a year to go through the winter and spring seasons, plus the early summer, which was enough to completely wipe out the water power of the Great Eclipse. Then, by the end of the summer, when tropical cyclones were frequent, the sailors had returned to the port of Mumbai.

Li Shimin announced at the court meeting that Xia Hong would be promoted to the champion general, and the Tang Dynasty Navy Division would be promoted to conquer the Great Food. Xu Xia Hongsheng selected his own generals.

This decree was issued, and the world was in an uproar.

The Tang Dynasty expedition to Dashi is thousands of miles away. Some people think that the distance is so far away that if they forcibly conquer, they will repeat the mistakes of Emperor Yang's expedition to Liaodong. Some people also believe that the prestige of the Tang Dynasty cannot be humiliated, and they voluntarily go out with the army to establish military merits.

When the news came home, it naturally caused the family to cry again.

"Don't cry, there will be no one in this Datang who is more familiar with it than me, so I am the only candidate." Xia Hongsheng comforted the girls and said: "Although this time is far away, it is already prepared. Although it is the same, it is the sphere of influence of the Tang Dynasty all the way, and it can sail near the shore, and it can dock at any time to avoid storms and replenish. This sea route can no longer be familiar with the maritime merchants, and there will be no problem. and that big food, in the eyes of your Lang Jun, is just a local chicken and a dog, not much different from Tianzhu. ”

"But the big food is thousands of miles away, and as soon as the sailor goes to the big food, it will be a lonely ......."

"Actually, you don't have to worry too much." Youji was the calmest, still smiling, and said: "The Tang Dynasty has built three ports in Persia, and these three ports are horns in the Persian Gulf. Once a sailor is stationed in the three ports of Persia, Da Shi will not dare to go again. At that time, if the Great Eclipse went again, unless the troops were divided into three ways and attacked the three ports at the same time. But the strongest thing in Dashi is the cavalry, presumably the sailor will not be so powerful. At most, it's just the level of Goguryeo. At such a level, if the troops are divided into three routes, the naval division will use the military port to defend it, and there will be no chance for the big food to take advantage of. And if the forces are concentrated, no matter which port is attacked, the other two ports can be supported at any time, but instead the Great Eclipse will be surrounded and annihilated. Coupled with the fact that there is the port of Mumbai just outside the Persian Gulf, which provides a steady stream of supplies, the trip is not that difficult. ”

Xia Hongsheng nodded and smiled: "What You Ji said is good, this trip seems to be alone, but in fact it is not difficult. It is superior to cavalry and land warfare, but its naval power is insufficient. At most, that is, there are more of them. However, with the technology of Da Shi, even if we gather thousands of warships, it will not be enough for us to bombard a few rounds. ”

As he was talking, he suddenly heard the voice of the family outside, saying: "Childe, a woman came outside, saying that she was the widow of the warrior of Yingguo Gong and wanted to see Childe. ”

Xia Hongsheng in the house was stunned when he heard this, Ying Guogong Warrior Tong? The samurai Tong Zhenguan has passed away in the ninth year, and who is his widow?

Suddenly, it was a thrill all over his body. Ying Guogong Wushi Tong is not Wu Zetian's father. His widow, could it be Wu Zetian's mother? Think back, it seems that when Zhenguan was eleven or twelve years old, Li Shimin heard that she was beautiful, so he summoned her into the palace, right?

But I didn't hear that Li Shimin summoned beautiful women into the palace again, after all, the eldest grandson queen is still alive now, not dying early like in the original history, the relationship between the two is very good, Li Shimin did not call other women into the palace to be talents.

However, what did Wu Zetian's mother come to do with her?

After thinking about it, Xia Hongsheng said outside: "Invite the Duchess of Yingguo to the main hall, and I will go over." ”

After that, he said to Li Liqing: "It has been so many years since Ying Guogong died, and his wife suddenly came to the door, but I don't know why. Let me take a look. ”

The other girls stayed in the study, and Li Lizhi followed Xia Hongsheng to the main hall.

After a while, I saw a woman with a rather withered face walking in with the family, and when she arrived in the hall, she saw Li Liqing, but hurriedly stepped forward to salute: "Meet Her Royal Highness the Princess!" ”

"Madame doesn't have to be polite." Li Lizhi said, "Please sit down quickly, Mrs. Wu." ”

After that, he asked his subordinates to watch the tea.

When the tea was served, Xia Hongsheng asked, "I don't know why Mrs. came to me?" ”

Xia Hongsheng was indeed puzzled, not to mention that he was with the former Duchess of Yingguo, but with the former Duke of Yingguo, the warrior Tong, that was also a relationship that could not be played by the eight poles, and there was no intersection at all. Now she suddenly came to the door, how can people not be confused.

"The old body is presumptuous." Wu Shitong's wife got up and saluted again, and said: "The old man knows that Xia Gong has nothing to do with the martial family, but he has to be cheeky to visit, and he really has a reluctant request, and I want to ask Xia Gong to help him for the sake of being an official in the same dynasty as the old man's deceased husband." ”

Xia Hongsheng was stunned for a moment, looking for his own help? Wouldn't you want to let yourself help send Wu Meiniang to Li Lao'er, right? Hahaha! Xia Hongsheng maliciously guessed.

"Please also ask Mrs. to speak first, Ying Guo is a hero of the country, quite a meritorious person, but unfortunately he has died of illness. If you can, you will do your best to help. Li Lizhi looked at Xia Hongsheng, turned his head and said to her.

"The old husband is gone, but he still has two sons behind him. Now that these two sons have arrived in Chang'an, although they have the heart to inherit their father's business, serve the court, and contribute to His Majesty, they ask themselves if they are capable. I heard that the Hongwen Pavilion is now located in the academy run by Xia Gong, and the old man has this old face, and wants to ask Xia for public grace, for the sake of the old husband, let the husband's son enter the Hongwen Pavilion to study, and in the future to repay the emperor's kindness and serve the court. Xia Gong Ende, the martial arts family will not dare to forget! ”

After saying that, she stood up and saluted Xia Hongsheng.