After Marrying a Vegetative Princess, I went crazy with joy! - Chapter 129

Chapter 129

The impression the Tang Dynasty left for future generations was one of strength and romance, but beneath the grand facade lay the detrimental habit of pursuing great achievements. Worse, this habit persisted through the generations in the Central Plains.

Even the staunch Ming Dynasty, with slogans like “the emperor guards the nation’s gates, and the ruler dies with the state,” couldn’t escape the weight of this mindset. The Song Dynasty was similarly trapped in pursuing an illusory reputation, causing the land to gradually descend into turmoil and suffering.

Su Li’s goal was to establish a new rule. He aimed to ensure that from this point onward, foreign tribes and nations would bow down sincerely to the dynasties of the Central Plains. Strength alone wasn’t enough. It had to be combined with a firm stance to make the alien races submit wholeheartedly.

Civilization development? Cultural exchange? Su Li didn’t care about those. If anyone resisted, they would be beaten into submission. If they wanted to develop, it was easy—submit to the Tang Dynasty, acknowledge vassalage, and develop as they pleased.

At the Princess Mansion, Su Li entered his study and rummaged through the system warehouse. He soon found what he was looking for—an altitude sickness simulation mask. This mask resembled a gas mask and could simulate the symptoms of altitude sickness. According to the system’s description, its effect was comparable to a sophisticated low-pressure chamber.

He had bought it a few months ago as a novel novelty, worth only five points. Little did he know that it would be useful now. Su Li hadn’t agreed with Li Er because he wasn’t sure if his current body had resistance against altitude sickness. Despite his strong self-confidence in his abilities, he couldn’t be certain about fighting against altitude sickness.

He understood that not everyone would experience altitude sickness. Some people with exceptional talents wouldn’t have any discomfort symptoms when they ascended to high altitudes.

Su Li’s current physical fitness had indeed surpassed the capabilities of an average human being. However, it is important to remember that altitude sickness primarily arises due to the thin air on the plateau, which humans were not accustomed to in terms of low pressure and low oxygen.

In Su Li’s case, the low-pressure environment shouldn’t be much of an issue, but the low-oxygen environment was different. Generally, the better someone’s physical fitness, the more oxygen they consume. People with better fitness were more prone to experiencing altitude sickness. With Su Li’s current physique, each breath would take two to three minutes, even without conscious control. If he deliberately took deep breaths, he could extend this process to over six minutes, indicating a high oxygen intake capacity.

When Su Li wore the altitude sickness simulation mask, he felt nothing. System-produced items were of high quality and wouldn’t be fake. Su Li confirmed that altitude sickness did not affect him. With this realization, he felt confident he could fight without any issues.

Considering his current strength, conservatively speaking, he believed he could take on an army single-handedly. However, he intended to make just one move in a short period. After all, the effort he put into accumulating points and attributes was not solely for his enjoyment. He was resolute in his decision to fight against Tubo.

Su Li’s daring idea could no longer be contained once it emerged. He swiftly summoned a female officer and sent a request to the palace, asking for a detailed map of the Great Tang Dynasty. Normally, military-standard geomantic maps were strategic resources, and emperors kept them hidden. However, given Su Li’s expressed intention to take action, Li Er granted him enough trust to provide the map.

With the map in hand, Su Li spent the afternoon studying it. Satisfied with his preparations, he emerged from his study with a content smile.

Changle, who had been lethargic due to pregnancy, woke up after Su Li’s return. Su Li comforted her with the news that Li Er had agreed to temporarily postpone the marriage, signaling a positive shift in the situation.

When hearing this, Changle’s heart was filled with joy, but she soon picked up on her husband’s reluctance to speak further. Her curiosity piqued, and she asked if he had promised her father something.

Su Li explained that during the court meeting, he had proposed using military force against Tubo, leading to Li Er considering him for a leadership role in the campaign. Changle’s emotions took a turn as she expressed her worry about the cruelty of war and her distress at the thought of being separated from her husband due to his involvement on the battlefield.

Her memories of her mother taking up arms and sitting with a sword in front of the door during a past conflict added to her apprehension. Changle couldn’t understand being separated from Su Li, especially under such circumstances. The idea that he would leave for the battlefield was shocking and terrifying to her.

Looking at Changle’s current appearance, Su Li couldn’t help but feel a wave of pity.

After all, the time for childbirth was near, yet her husband must leave for the battlefield. This was something no woman could accept. However, Su Li had contemplated this situation for a long time. He had a compelling reason to go.

From a public perspective, Tubo’s threats to the Tang Dynasty marked the beginning of future foreign nations seeking dominance and causing disturbances. Despite knowing the potential dangers, he could not simply stand by.

From a personal standpoint, Li Xueyan was a close friend of Changle, and Changle could not bear to see her friend sacrificed as a political pawn in a marriage alliance. Since Su Li possessed the capability, he was bound to undertake this journey.

Su Li tenderly embraced Changle and softly reassured her, “Your husband’s abilities are greater than you imagine. The battlefield, to me, is like uncharted territory. There’s nothing to worry about.”

“I know, but I can’t help feeling sad…” Changle sobbed.