The Emperor ordered Zhao Tang

Chapter 326 Oath-taking Ceremony and the Change of Flags in Jinyang

August 20th, the fourth year of Qianning, midsummer.

At the grand assembly in Xuanzheng Hall, the Imperial Censor Niu Hui presented a memorial detailing the following: the Tibetan bandits in the Western Sea were raiding Longzuo, defying the emperor's rule, and spreading heretical doctrines; Zhang Chengfeng was seizing control of Guazhou and Shazhou, blocking roads, wielding the imperial axe without authorization, and appointing himself to official positions; and the Turkic and Uyghur tribes in the northern frontier were refusing to pay taxes, knowing only the power and influence of their leaders but not the existence of the sage. He requested that troops be dispatched to suppress them, to sever the east and west, and to recover the lost territories.

The inescapable hatred of the Tubo Kingdom, and the extermination of its species, has long been a consensus among insightful Chinese people.

Most of the ministers hadn't expected it to happen so suddenly. To turn westward with the Central Plains still unsettled would be putting the cart before the horse. However, upon further reflection, the eastern lords, united, still held an overwhelming advantage; to risk everything to launch a campaign at this time would be a reckless gamble.

Since the restoration of the dynasty, the imperial army has undergone a complete transformation. After several reorganizations, it has formed more than ten main forces, including the Mo Li and Ying Wu armies, totaling 100,000 soldiers. In order to support such a large number of warriors, the emperor and his prime ministers tried every means to increase revenue and reduce expenditure. However, when they considered building a large army, they found themselves in dire need of funds.

Ten thousand men stormed into the Central Plains, barely making a ripple. The lesson of Emperor Zhuang's military failure was too painful to bear.

While an attack on the Western Continent would yield a vast amount of people and wealth, even though the land west of the Western Sea was mostly barren and difficult to cultivate. The Tibetan bastards, after plundering the east and west for a hundred and fifty years, had accumulated wealth far from depleting their national strength, even with internal wars and bandit attacks. Furthermore, with their sorcerers in power and their nobles and military leaders engaging in rampant land grabs, farmers and merchants were lucky to even survive; almost all the wealth was concentrated in their hands. And how many of these people were truly talented? And how much of that talent did they possess the capacity for extravagant spending?

Let's just rob them and kill them!
And needless to say, the vast Turkic and Uyghur tribes north of Zhangye, Jiuquan, and Liangzhou in the Hexi Corridor are a different story. They are numerous, the men strong and skilled in riding and archery, the women graceful and beautiful. They have little animosity towards the Tang Dynasty, and the territories they occupy are rich in resources and beautiful in scenery. Integrating them and turning their resources into national assets could bring immeasurable benefits! The issue will have to be resolved sooner or later; why not act now?

Niu Hui's memorial quickly sparked a buzz of discussion.

Apart from those capable individuals who could deduce major policies from various signs and the ministers at the core who controlled the entire empire's information resources, everyone was shocked by this news.

The phrase "nine thousand li west of Chang'an" is obviously an exaggeration by scholars; even considering the pacification of Dunhuang, it's still at least three thousand li. Even if the campaign goes smoothly, a round trip would take at least a year. Isn't it risky for the emperor and his army to be away from the capital for so long? While the strategic passes of Tong and Wu are certainly secure, could they withstand a full-scale attack from the emperor? And could the situation at the front remain peaceful?
The imperial court can be overthrown countless times, but Guanzhong cannot withstand another major upheaval.

"Your Majesty! I, Chen Cheng, the Junior Minister of the Imperial Guards, risk my life to report this..."

“In the past, when the Zhou dynasty was in power, King Cheng and King Kang ruled the world, but King Zhao went on a southern tour and did not return. Only King Mu was illustrious, and Yu Hui was the chief of the criminal justice system. Even though the ministers regarded King Mu as a man of great status, they did not hide his father’s mistakes. Why? This was to warn future emperors not to repeat the mistakes of King Zhao and not to wage war far away.”

This advice is very serious; please don't mess around.

The ministers sat down and whispered among themselves: "Tibet is gone, and the soldiers in Shazhou number only a little over ten thousand. The northern barbarians are weak. If we still need the Emperor to take action... Send a few capable generals with thirty to fifty thousand troops westward, and the enemy will not be difficult to subdue."

“Wang Zhu, the military governor of Changsheng Army, Xiao Xiu, the left general, and Zhu Jin, the military governor of Yanzhou, are all generals with both wisdom and courage, and possess the strength to defeat ten thousand men. It would be appropriate to appoint them as commanders.”

Beneath the throne, Zheng Yanchang, seated alone at the incense table, almost instinctively retorted: "According to what you all say, the sage can only sit idly in the Mingtang Hall, the prime minister can only sit idly in the three departments, the political affairs are entrusted to the ministers, and the military affairs are entrusted to the generals. Let's see how you all govern and act?"

"I dare not!" The first to jump out was Zheng Yanchang. It seemed that the matter had already been decided internally, so it was better to settle for second best. The ministers dared not harbor any thoughts of opposition: "However, with the two traitors Zhu and Li posing a threat, the overall situation in Yongzhou still needs Your Majesty to take charge. I dare to request that after the expedition begins, Your Majesty reside in Jincheng Palace. In this way, if the two traitors attack and Tongwu is in danger, Your Majesty can return to provide reinforcements and prevent the loss of your trusted confidants."

Yang She, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, and Lu Yi, the Vice Minister of the Chancellery, echoed, "That's right."

Suppressing the dissenting voices, Zheng Yanchang raised his hand and said, "The ministers handle the affairs above, while the ruler handles the affairs below."

At this moment, Cheng Rui, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, stood up, picked up the signed imperial edict, and began to read it aloud.

First came the edict appointing a regent.

Cheng Rui's melodious Shandong accent echoed in the Xuanzheng Hall, where the emperor sat high behind a white curtain, his expression serene.

"Imperial Edict: Now that the barbarians are rampant and the riverbanks are not yet pacified, the Emperor intends to lead the elite troops to annihilate the bandits and secure the borders, but this requires the Emperor to undertake a long journey. The eldest son of the Emperor, Prince Wu, is prudent, insightful, filial, and gentle; he is qualified to temporarily manage military and state affairs. All regular memorials are to be handled by him. Appointments and removals of officials below the fifth rank are to be carried out at the Emperor's discretion..."

"Do not displease me!"

"The day of Guiwei in the eighth month of the fourth year of Qianning"

Minister Rui Xuan, Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel

"The Central Secretariat receives the imperial decree and will carry it out..."

After the announcement, Cheng Rui excitedly closed the imperial edict.

The King of Wu lowered his hands and clasped them together, and in time with the music played by the musicians beside him, he hurried from the ranks to the middle of the palace aisle, and then bowed to the throne: "How dare I, your subject, not be careful?"

All the civil and military officials, holding their official tablets, observed him without prior arrangement.

Although the palace was far away, his features were still vaguely visible. He wore a three-tiered crown and a crimson court robe. Though thin, he remained still and steadfast. His delicate eyebrows were raised, his eyes were fixed on the ground, his voice was steady, and a lingering, faint sorrow and melancholy shrouded his face.

He seemed neither excited nor happy to assume the position of regent.

The group exchanged glances, conveying their opinions through their eyes.

This child was filial, humble, and polite from a young age, and never complained to anyone, even during the most difficult times.

She also takes good care of her younger siblings.

Knowing that Consort Li's son, Prince Guo Yu, was honest but not favored, she often asked him if he had been bullied. She also learned that Lady Pei Zhenyi's son, Prince Feng Qi, was aloof, so she always pulled Li Qi to sit beside her at banquets.

Knowing that Li Zai loved flying kites, he would occasionally take the Prince of Dai to Dongnei to fly them to his heart's content.

Princess Pingyuan loved to scold people, and she would reprimand her sister every time she met her brother.

His mother was determined to find him a powerful wife, but he advised her that everyone has their own destiny and there's no need to force it.

.........

A minister sighed softly. There were no obvious flaws, but there were no merits either. He lacked the indomitable will of the Prince of Dai, who cried out, "Old thief father, I swear to kill you!", and the precocious shrewdness of the Prince of Liang, who exclaimed, "How could you be so wicked?"... He also lacked the powerful maternal clan influence of other holy sons, and he didn't have a mother like Li Guanyin, who was pampered and cherished.

Such an eldest son was born in the Holy Tang Dynasty…

Many ministers felt some sympathy.

Hopefully, he will perform well during this regent's term, so that we can speak up for him.

The sage gazed at the calm King of Wu, noticing the ageless look on his face, and remained silent.

The crown is this heavy.

"Your Highness!" Cheng Rui called out loudly.

The King of Wu stepped forward and received the imperial edict with both hands raised.

The assembled officials rose in a great uproar and, led by Zheng Yanchang and Han Wo, paid their respects to the King of Wu: "Your Highness, we humbly request that you continue to enjoy your blessings."

The King of Wu only allowed his ministers to bow once, then raised his hands to indicate they had risen, and turned to bow again to the sage: "Your subject dares not be careless."

If Consort Shu were present and saw this scene, she would probably feel very relieved and happy, right? She has always been sensitive and insecure, and often cries in her boudoir about her unease, fearing that the King of Wu is useless and will be killed in the future.

"Do not disobey my will." The sage looked down at the King of Wu and said softly, "I entrust great affairs to you. You will surely become a king like the King of Pingyuan and the King of Chu."

The chime bells struck with a deep, resonant sound.

The assembled officials in the Xuanzheng Hall, as witnesses, silently observed the transfer of power in the Holy Tang Dynasty.

In a corner, the historian wrote down this scene of father and son: "...King Wu was intelligent and dignified, and experienced hardship in his youth. The sage was indignant at the accumulated evils of the world and pitied the lowliness of the royal family, and did not change his will to restore order...Our holy Tang dynasty had such kind fathers and filial sons, and everyone believed that great achievements could be made. This has been inherited since ancient times, and it is not only the legacy of six generations."

Immediately afterwards, Cheng Rui stepped forward again. "Imperial Edict:"

"I, the Emperor, believe that only those with talent can govern the country… General Wenming, concurrently serving as the Military Governor of Shaanxi, has long been known for his loyalty and strength… Therefore, recognizing his outstanding achievements, I entrust him with important responsibilities. He is appointed as the garrison commander and defense commissioner of Chang'an, Tongguan, and other places…"

"The nation is in peril, and the capital has fallen to the rebels. I hereby decree that you, my generals and ministers, must exert your utmost to serve the royal family. General Fu Cunshen, commander of the Xingguo Army, and General Guo Meng, commander of the Leopard Army… Geng Tong… whom I greatly admire. They may be appointed as the commanders of Jiewu Pass and its surrounding fortresses…"

At the same time, an imperial edict was issued.

Sun Weisheng, the Prefect of Jingzhao, was appointed as the military commissioner of the two passes.

Ding Hui, the newly appointed Commandant of Qin and concurrently the Military Commissioner of the Northern Circuit of the Capital Region, was appointed as the Commissioner of the River Patrol.

Han Yi, the Commandant of the Capital Region, was appointed as the Road Clearing Envoy to oversee the westward relocation of the imperial court to Jincheng Palace.

The Lingzhou tribe, including the Wuyi, Nobunaga, and the Girlfriend Killer tribes, conscripted 6,000 men. The Xia Sui tribes, including the Mozang, Zheju, Yangshi, Weimu, and Yemu tribes, conscripted 25,000 men. They served as auxiliary troops in the western expedition.

Upon hearing this series of edicts, the officials belatedly realized that all of this had been preordained by the emperor long ago.

In conclusion, it seems that the Sage is about to conquer the Western Continent in one fell swoop!
Cheng Rui's booming voice echoed throughout the Xuanzheng Hall, and all the ministers looked up to see the emperor.

Everyone was deeply moved, yet no one could utter a single word.

Xiao Xiu had already snatched the weapon from the officer beside him and punched the familiar officer hard on the shoulder. The officer just grinned. All the officers on the roster were smiling. Chatter broke out among the seated members, then merged into a continuous stream, only echoing from the ceiling above.

"Destroy the nation! Destroy the nation!"

Behind the surging crowd, the civil officials gradually began to clamor, slowly lowering their heads, their ears listening to the song sung by Xiao Xiu and Wang Zimei, merely trying to find the tune: "Thirteen soldiers return to Yumen Pass, whose white-haired family gazes at the Heavenly Wolf, fallen in the dust of the barbarians, longing for the Emperor's homeland, saying that though Chu has only three households, their spirit remains strong, asking that the Emperor is well, with righteous indignation and loyal heart, they strive to restore the old territories..."

"The warriors' steel blades gleamed in the night, their bowstrings shot down the Yanran Mountain!"

"Going west from Dunhuang, we washed our armor in blood; on the walls of Shule, we chopped down jackals."

"He grabbed Maodun's skull and hurled it against the wall of Gaojie Street—"

Wang Zimei, a burly bear-man, suddenly stood up, clapped his hands, and glared around: "Old thief! Do you recognize a Han lad?!"

The roar was thunderous, shaking the palace. Around the throne, the officials were equally invigorated: "Old scoundrel! Do you recognize the Han lad?!"

The sky seemed to brighten up.

Zheng Yanchang slowly glanced around at his ministers, then simply clasped his hands: "As long as we work together with one heart and one mind, quell the unrest in the east and west, and revitalize the situation in Guanzhong, the Holy Tang Dynasty will flourish like the ever-present moon, and the national power of the Holy Tang will surely rise ever higher. Gentlemen... strive on!"

On the throne, the sage smiled faintly, but his heart was equally burning with passion.

He recalled how Zheng Tian had led the feudal lords to defend the king and his ministers to support his elder brother, ultimately recapturing the capital.

A century-old feud, now it's time to avenge it!
…………

Beijing.

Compared to the bustling scene of Chang'an sharpening its swords, this majestic northern city was inexplicably desolate and bleak at that time and place.

Beijing, a strategically important location, is nestled between mountains and rivers. To the north, the Yanmen and Datong areas form the gateway to the Central Plains; to the south, the Zelu region offers a commanding view of Henan. After the An Lushan Rebellion, this area was one of only two routes through which the "Qin army" of Hebei claimed to have attacked them. During the Five Dynasties period, it was a crucial point for unifying the court and seizing the throne. The imperial aura of this capital city is truly awe-inspiring!
Beijing, ruled by the Li family for three hundred years, boasted high walls and deep moats, its gray-black ramparts stretching as far as the eye could see. People revered Buddhism and Taoism, and the sounds of temple bells echoed only amidst the mountains and rivers outside the city. All around, vast fields of wheat stretched out. It was harvest time, yet few were busy with farming.

Li Keyong's resignation from Weizhou in one fell swoop immediately threw Beijing into chaos.

The military government mobilized the four towns and prefectures of Hedong to provide full support to the defeated troops. In those days, after a victory, the discipline of the army was relatively easy to maintain, but if the defeated army was even slightly careless, the surrounding area would likely be utterly destroyed! And the Jin army was notorious for its poor discipline.

Inside and outside the city walls, soldiers from various tribes of Hedong, wearing cloaks, were everywhere. They looted the people's houses, scattering them haphazardly to their sleeping quarters. In the streets and alleys, the unrestrained soldiers gambled, fought, and harassed their wives, chasing them away until they cried out. They stole the oxen and donkeys used for transporting supplies, overturned them with a couple of blows, cut them into eight pieces, and roasted and chewed them. All that could be seen were officials and laborers guarding the animal bones, beating their chests and stamping their feet: "Still crying?"

Everywhere you look, you hear all sorts of accents: "This godforsaken place, if we mess with the boss, we'd rather go back to the grasslands and herd horses than stay here!"

Only in the Jinyang Palace, where "Li Li Wan Ji" (meaning "May Li Be Right and May You Be Auspiciously Auspicious") was written, was order maintained. However, the stone tablet inscribed with "Li Li Wan Ji" erected by Li Yuan and his son Li Shimin had been torn down by the enraged King Li. A formidable inner court of soldiers was deployed throughout the Jinyang Palace, guarding every nook and cranny, forbidding anyone from making a disturbance. Occasionally, defeated soldiers would pass by the palace gates, pointing at the Jinyang Palace and cursing: "We've been killing soldiers for so long, seen dozens of battles, but we've never suffered such repeated humiliations! Chang'an, Chang'an, Datong, Datong, the commander-in-chief wants them, the military government wants them, but we're just bastards! Damn it! What are we!"

All around the gates of Jinyang Palace were filled with Shatuo Tatar guards, each with a stern face, simply guarding the main entrances and exits. Many palace gates were sealed off, leaving only two that were still open and closing normally. The dark passageways were empty, with officials occasionally rushing in and out.

Jinyang Palace remains as solemn and ancient as ever, the guards are still tight, and the glint of swords and torches has not diminished in the slightest. Yet, no matter how you look at it, it always feels like an empty, old palace, lacking any human presence.

King Li has been placed under house arrest!
The one who took action against him was Li Kening, another pillar of strength for Hedong and Shatuo—the Commander-in-Chief of Internal and External Affairs and the Governor of Han and Barbarian Affairs. A few days earlier, Li Kening had entered the capital under cover of night, his torches blazing and stretching from the city gates all the way to the military headquarters!

The Han army garrison stood by the roadside with mixed feelings, watching large contingents of Shatuo, Tatar, Xi, and Uyghur tribal troops enter the official residence under the leadership of Li Kening, listening to the faint shouts, noises, and curses coming from inside the military compound.

Upon Li Kening's arrival, he immediately entered the military command.

Rumors circulated that King Li, who had fallen ill due to the defeat at Weizhou, was receiving comfort from Liu Daoxun, Cao Lingling, Li Yazi, and their families while in bed. Upon hearing of the rebellion, his officials and garrison troops drew their swords to cover the king's escape from the encirclement and mobilized loyal Han and non-Han soldiers to capture and kill Li Kening.

The officials were astonished, and the military headquarters was in an uproar, but King Li remained calm, merely raising his hand weakly to stop them: "I had long anticipated what Fourth Prince would do. I always thought that I was already a cripple. If I continued to sit in this position, I might die suddenly one day, and who would benefit from it? It would be good if someone from my own family could take over my duties and give the four garrisons a chance to breathe… But I never expected it to be Fourth Prince! Cough cough… Well, I'm already tired! Is he trying to seize military and political power for himself, or what? Summon him in to answer my questions!"

Li Kening led a large number of officers and soldiers directly to the bedroom door.

King Li got up and took off his shoes. Liu Daoxun and Ya Zi went to help him up and persuade him, "Rest in peace, rest in peace!"

The officers and soldiers who had risen up rushed into the bedroom, but they stood in two rows with the officials and officers on Li Keyong's side, glaring at each other. Li Kening removed his armor and sword, rushed to the bedside, took his brother's hand, and said in a hoarse voice, "Agan, the military remonstrance was foolish! Everyone knows that Agan is loyal to the royal family and the Tang Dynasty, but we are, after all, his subjects, and the emperor is his sovereign! The great defeat was due to the incompetence of Yu and Zhou Dewei, not Agan's fault. But after the defeat at Weizhou, the soldiers are clamoring and have summoned me to be their commander. How could I dare not obey? But I will not take the commander's position. I am a young hero with Agan's courage and wisdom, and the army supports me. We have decided that from now on, we will be loyal to the young commander to the death! Agan has worked hard for half his life, so he should recuperate first. The safety of the Shatuo is still in our hands!"

Legend has it that King Li simply nodded, holding Silang's hand: "We are brothers from the same mother, so I have nothing to worry about. From now on, the fate of the nation rests in your hands! But Dalang is still young. If you can wholeheartedly assist him, what more could I ask for? That would be enough for me!"

After speaking, King Li called Li Luoluo to his bedside and had three arrows brought to him: "There are only three things I cannot let go of. I restored the Holy Tang Dynasty, I destroyed the rebel Chao, and I installed Emperor Li. Without me, who knows how many people would have become emperors or kings... Emperor Li has suffered humiliation at the hands of others and has been killed by my son Quan Zhong for a long time... Yet he treated me and your sister like this... Such a tyrant, you must punish him. Liu Rengong was installed by me, yet he betrayed me and kicked me when I was down... Such a treacherous dog, you must kill him! I have suffered repeated defeats and my strength has been severely damaged. You must act cautiously, focus on training soldiers and farming. Do not be like your father, who rashly started a war."

"If I can fulfill my will, I will die without regret!"

As he spoke, he placed the three arrows into Luo Luo's palm.

Li Luoluo accepted the three arrows, saying only one word at a time: "I respectfully accept your command."

According to rumors, the power transition between father and son ended in such a touching manner. However, the parties involved remained tight-lipped, and no one knew how much intrigue and backstabbing was involved.

However, Li Kening, despite his lack of power, was not without his strength. With the main Han army observing from the sidelines, and with tribal armies such as the Shatuo and Tatars offering their support, and with Li Dawang's prestige tarnished, even a hero like Li Dawang couldn't accomplish much. Ultimately, perhaps Li Dawang had already tried his best and didn't want to exhaust his resources by engaging in a major battle with the rebels in Beijing, only to have it benefit others in the end.

Or perhaps, after falling ill from shame and indignation at the defeat at Weizhou, King Li had lost hope in himself and was pessimistic about his fate.

This incident didn't cause much of a stir. The people of Beidu merely gossiped about it quietly. This matter was quickly overshadowed by even bigger bad news: the iron cavalry of Youyan had already crossed Daizhou and was advancing menacingly towards Beijing!
From the military government to the common people, no one knew when the brutal Yan people would raise their troops and besiege the city!
The storm is brewing again; who will defuse it?
.........

A large troop of fast horses galloped along the main street outside Jinyang Palace.

The road was paved with bluestone, and the sound of horses' hooves thundered as they trod upon it.

The knights surrounded several thin figures, who were none other than the young marshal and Li Kening, who now controlled all the remaining forces of the four towns east of the river.

(End of this chapter)