The Emperor ordered Zhao Tang

Chapter 336 The Battle Between Ruler and Minister (Part 4)

The rise of the Great Fan was marked by both veneration and discussion, with three venerations and one discussion.

Why?

According to Chinese political understanding, the Shang family was considered to be related to the royal family through marriage. The so-called "three Shang families and one theory" clearly meant that only families with long-term marriages to the royal family and significant influence in the military, political, and religious spheres were considered Shang families. Examples include the Meilu, Chen, Nanang, and Caibang families.

Shang Jiezan, who spearheaded the alliance in Pingliang, was a member of the Nanang clan.

The last emperor, Langdarma, who was overthrown by his inferiors, was from the Molu clan.

If you rise by this, you will surely fall by this.

The Shangmen clan achieved great success, but the increasingly intense political struggles that shifted from behind the scenes to resorting to force were also a major reason for its decline, and a direct cause of the collapse of Tibet. The death of Langdamo led to the establishment of Yundan by the Nanang clan, while the Molu clan and other nobles supported Esong, and the two sides began a twenty-year war.

What is the significance of this discussion? A meritorious official. A mainstay of Tibetan politics, the Wei family.

Whether it's "lun" or "shang," it's a distinction based on class, bloodline, status, and political authority, not a real position. In other words, it's merely a symbol of aristocratic status, not an actual official post.

The official titles of Da Lun and De Lun, as well as the discussion of the Qinling family, are another matter entirely.

Did Tibet have any intelligent people?
This empire, at its peak, conquered such a vast territory and created such a glorious civilization; of course, it did, and quite a lot of it.

Were there any valiant and skilled warriors? Although they often produce some abstract battle examples to amuse history books, there were certainly those who could repeatedly defeat the Tang army.

But these politicians and military personnel are not in the fields or in the buildings; they are only in the powerful families represented by the above-mentioned figures.

The sage pacified the various tribes of Weizhou and conquered Lanzhou, but it seems he has not yet fought them.

With the winter solstice approaching, heavy snow is arriving as expected.

The entire area north of the Western Sea was engulfed in a bone-chilling cold.

Along the northern coast of the sea, a dozen or so small, brown-yellow highland horses glided swiftly past the city of Ephesus.

The leading warrior wore a round felt hat with feathers and ear flaps, a full set of pigskin and horsehide armor, and long boots. In his hand was a long, straight, gleaming black lance, thinner but much longer than a Tang lance. He carried a long, heavy sword on his back, a black lacquered bow on his right leg, and a quiver full of arrows and a round shield on his left.

The mounts were also dressed in leather armor, decorated with colorful fabric patterns.

Behind them were dozens of tall, gleaming silver knights, their entire bodies encased in iron armor, only their eyes visible. They also carried spears, bows at their sides, and crossed swords on their backs, their other equipment complete, just a dense mass of men and horses in black armor.

The helmet is a bit out of place; its design resembles the soft hat of the Song army and the flying saucer helmet of the Ming army.

However, its streamlined shape is not as sharp as the Ming helmet; it is smoother, more curved, and flatter. The brim is also wider and longer. Additional ornaments include fluffy woolen fabrics, possibly used to cushion the impact of blunt force trauma to the head or falling from a horse. The overall style appears to have absorbed influences from Central Asia or some other civilization.

The warhorse he sat on was also fully armored, with only its eyes showing.

A figure of men and horses gazed upon the scene, which was described in the historical text: "The enemy soldiers and horses all wore chainmail, which was very finely made and covered their entire bodies, with only their eyes exposed. They could not be harmed by strong bows or sharp blades. In battle, they would dismount and line up in formation, and when someone died, they would collect them in turn, never retreating. Everyone used a sword, and even when not fighting, they would carry their swords."

Clearly, this was the elite force of the Tibetan allied army, and also their main force.

"Hah, hah!" The leading warrior, drenched in sweat, urged his horse on with all his might.

Braving the wind and snow, against the backdrop of overcast skies, large contingents of troops and their banners appeared faintly on the distant mountain slopes, billowing with dust. In the gloom, the sound of hooves thundered softly.

The samurai stared intently for a moment, then squeezed his legs together again: "Roar!"

As they approached, the sandstorm intensified, and colorful flags billowed and swirled, the most striking being a large, red, white-lettered, inverted trapezoidal flag with tassels.

Letter:

"The Grand Council of the Eastern Army Prime Minister"

"The Deputy Marshal of the Army and the Chancellor of the Realm are both sincere."

"Qinghai Jiedushi"

"Grand Chancellor of the Eastern Office"

"Eastern Army and Western Prefecture Virtue Alliance Meeting"

"Eastern Army Prime Minister"

"Ten Marshals' Headquarters"

And so on. The Zanpu (Tibetan king) is gone, so who knows where the Eastern Minister (Eastern Minister) came from… However, considering that even after the fall of the Tang Dynasty, there were still many military governors and prime ministers, it's understandable. After all, the Han culture absorbed by Tibet was lost many centuries later.

Under the banner of the Eastern Army's Prime Minister, a squad of chainmail guards dressed in black with white trim stood out clearly against the overcast sky.

"Hah!" The warrior exclaimed in surprise, pulling on the reins to spur the horse.

Before the horse had even stopped, he threw down the whip, rolled off the saddle, removed his armor and weapons, slung them over his shoulder, and strode forward, shouting passionately, "Reporting to the Grand Chancellor! The five envoys from the Flying Birds have conducted an investigation, and we have witnessed it ourselves. The Tang Emperor has indeed launched an attack, setting up an army at Niuxinchuan. A rough calculation, based on the smoke and manure, indicates no fewer than 50,000 men and horses! We ambushed a group of woodcutters at a distance, killing five and bringing back three! Grand Chancellor, please question us!"

With that, he turned around and flicked his hand: "Bring him here!"

Amidst faint sobs, three trembling Tang people were pulled over by chainmail-armored cavalrymen. One was an old man with graying temples, and the other two were teenagers.

With a loud bang, the horse spear struck him on the head, causing him to kneel on the ground. The horsewhip then lashed down on his face: "Grand Minister, I have a question!"

The Grand Preceptor of the Eastern Palace, with a black turban, a black robe with a brown collar and a white undergarment, and gray skirt and white powder, was surprisingly a kind-looking old man. Yet he was still vigorous, and the subtle aura emanating from his cloudy pupils, devoid of anger or desire, indicated that he still possessed a sharp mind and clear memory.

He sat high on his horse, holding the reins, his back ramrod straight, exuding an extraordinary air.

"Stop," Shang Zhencheng, or rather, Lu Qili, said hoarsely.

The cavalrymen kicked the three Tang men several more times before retreating, cursing and swearing.

"Get up, you three." Seeing that the three were emaciated, Meiluqili ordered someone to bring them food and milk. The three ate and drank cautiously, trembling with fear.

"The people are starving, and they have no warm clothes to wear in the biting wind." With a chewing sound, Moluqili sized up the three men, his voice slow and deliberate: "I've also heard that heroes have risen up in the Tang dynasty, and the royal family is facing many difficulties. Despite this state of affairs, the country remains militaristic. The Venerable Wenwu Huide and my Holy Ancestor Zanpu have each sworn oaths to Heaven at the Jokhang Temple and the Xing Tang Temple in Chang'an. Liu Yuanding and his ilk have also sworn blood oaths with my officials in Lhasa, uncle and nephew vowing to be father and son forever, to share the same fate, and to be one harmonious family. Although the Great Tibetan Empire is gone, the blood ties remain, and the gods still bear witness. What has the current emperor done to offend us?"

The three men couldn't understand: "We don't know anything about this. We just stay at home farming and weaving. The county magistrate conscripted us for corvée labor, and we were sent here..."

The Eastern Army's Prime Minister, Da Lun, simply shook his head and smiled.

To argue right and wrong with these people is like trying to catch fish by climbing a tree.

"Go down." The pain of national subjugation was still fresh in his mind, and the tragic scene of his people being trampled into dust by the war was still vivid in his mind. Moluqili turned around and summoned a young man from the crowd. He was Qu Bucha, a member of the royal family. "Bucha, under the escort of a group of soldiers, take these three people to Niuxinchuan to pay respects to the Emperor and convey my regards. Tell him that the Grand Chancellor of the Eastern Army requests an audience at Sheleyuan to discuss this matter."

Those behind him frowned. At a time like this, the Grand Chancellor still thinks of peace! You may wish for peace, but Jie and Zhou don't! What can't be achieved militarily, let alone through mere words.

Still have to fight.

Our allied forces number over 100,000; how could we not defeat Li Jie and Zhou's 30,000 to 50,000 men?
Let's just kill this emperor in the Western Sea, so that China will never dare to look westward again for all eternity!
"Reporting to the Grand Chancellor," Qu Bucha bowed and stepped forward, asking, "When I see Your Majesty, shouldn't I bring some gifts? I've heard that of all the things His Majesty has done in his life, he has a particular fondness for beautiful women. I've even heard rumors that he has committed adultery with his own sister-in-law. Perhaps I should select several dozen concubines and a quantity of gold and silver jewelry..."

Through generations of female enhancement, Qu Bucha was born tall and handsome, dressed in flowing white robes, completely unlike those ugly, lowly creatures slaughtered by the Holy Tang army. However, he was far less famous in the Western Sea region than his sister, Qu Buduzi, who was ten times more beautiful than him and known as the "Spiritual Sage Bodhisattva."

“That’s very true.” Wei Jiben Xiuting, the Secretary Minister of the Qinghai Army, nodded and said, “Firstly, it caters to his preferences. Secondly, the army is under pressure, so let’s see if the emperor’s desires will suddenly flare up and cause him to collapse immediately.”

"The bedroom can prolong life, or it can kill. Those who know its uses can nourish life, while those who do not know its uses will die..." He spoke eloquently, his expression serious: "It is very clear that the sage is one who only tastes the marrow and knows the flavor, but does not know its uses."

The Grand Chancellor of the Eastern Palace remained silent.

Sending women is easy; with such a large population, there's no shortage of women. But the "beautiful concubines" sent to the emperor must be of high status and beautiful appearance. We're currently on a military campaign; where can we find any?

But the thought of a brutal war looming over him, regardless of victory or defeat, made the Grand Chancellor of the Eastern Palace feel uneasy.

"Then return to Yifu City and select twenty beauties from the various clans." "I will obey the Grand Minister's command!" Qu Bucha bowed and left.

"Your Excellency, Tang'er has come to our door to bully us, why should we still fawn over him?" Cai Bangzanzhuo, the military governor of Qinghai, said with some dissatisfaction.

A hint of worry flickered between the brows of the Grand Chancellor of the Eastern Palace. He pressed his hand to his chest, gazing at the report of the Holy Tang camp beyond the distant mountains: "The Great Fan is exhausted. Although we still have over 100,000 allied troops, that's all the strength we have left. A few more defeats and our fate is sealed... My heart is heavy..."

Zan Zhuo smiled faintly and said in a low voice, "Has Da Ying read Zhang Lang's letter? Tang'er is in complete chaos, and the Emperor is only holding on at his last gasp. If they were to fight us now, the rebel army that has entered Chang'an would probably already be on its way! We have the advantage of timing and terrain. We just need to stall, wear down Tang'er's morale, and make them suffer from supply difficulties. We will surely defeat them. In the current situation, why talk about peace? If we manage things properly, a counterattack on the He and Wei rivers, or even a return to Lingxia and Guanzhong, is not out of the question! Da Fan is weak..."

He pointed at Qu Bucha's departing figure and laughed, "Does China not have weaknesses?"

"That's not how you fight a war." Military matters are a continuation of irreconcilable political conflicts. Unless absolutely necessary, the Grand Chancellor of the Eastern Palace does not want a standoff: "We only have this much strength; we cannot easily start a fight."

His expression was solemn. After pondering for a long time, he waved his hand and ordered: "Send more scouts to keep a close eye on Tang'er! Without my order, no one is allowed to challenge or fight. Just wait for the envoy to report back and see if the meeting at Sheleyuan can be held before we discuss the next steps."

The allied forces were indeed strong and well-equipped, but the various parties maintaining this situation harbored deep-seated resentment and hatred. The Eastern Army's Grand Chancellor was only one person; how could he possibly suppress the war's impact on internal cohesion?
After a long while, the Grand Minister of the Eastern Army lowered his hat brim, spurred his horse forward, and shouted: "The entire army, set up camp!"

As they spoke, the chainmail guards, dressed in black with white trim, escorted large groups of nobles as they emerged from the snowstorm.

Dozens of long lines moved along both sides, then dispersed and regrouped.

Numerous eyes peered through the sandstorm and saw the Grand Chancellor of the Eastern Court, the Military Governor of Qinghai, the officials and ministers of the military, the ministers and officials of the Eastern Army and Western Army Alliance, and the leaders of various clans, all appearing in a line before the assembled soldiers, walking among the neatly armored warriors. The noble soldiers, clad in armor and wielding sharp weapons, stood with their hands on their hips, long spears in hand.

Many Tibetan soldiers and slaves on the outskirts simply couldn't believe it.

Wasn't it said that the Great Khanate was destroyed? Why are they so imposing now?
If they were still alive, perhaps the chances of winning this battle would be even higher!

…………

Niuxinchuan Camp was completely silent.

Inside the warm camel hair tent, Zhang Hui, draped in a white fox fur cloak, knelt by the table, her smooth, alabaster fingers gently kneading and patting Li Shengren's shoulders and back. Zhang Hui sat to his right, roasting meat and preparing dinner.

The sage flipped through a pile of documents, occasionally frowning as he looked at the map.

"Your Majesty," Zhao Jia reported, "Last night, a minister from Jincheng Palace came with a message. Prince Zimei and Xiao Xiu sent an urgent message: the main force of the Bian army is besieging Tongguan, while the detachment led by Gao Jichang and others is engaged in fierce fighting with the Zhao army on the Huashan Trail. They have driven them back today and will return tomorrow. Prince Zimei requested instructions that if Tongguan is in dire need, a portion of the army should be decisively withdrawn without hesitation."

"Gao Jichang?" The sage's eyes darted around, as if trying to recall who this person was.

"Former commander of the inner army cavalry. In his youth, he was a servant in the household of Li Rang, a wealthy man in Bianzhou. When Quan Zhong occupied Xuanwu, he coveted Li Rang's property and adopted Rang as his son. He once saw Ji Chang among the servants, whose ears and face were slightly different, and ordered Rang to raise him as his son. Later, he was promoted to a government official. After Quan Zhong's death, he was renamed Gao Ji Chang."

Seeing that he remained silent for a long time, Zhang Hui patted his back and carefully explained, "He had nowhere else to go, so he served under Zhu Da. I've met this man many times. He has the appearance of a rogue, but he is extremely cunning and ruthless, and very shrewd. If you encounter him, you should warn Wang Zimei to be careful."

"It was Gao the Rascal." The sage seemed to wake from a dream, never expecting that this infamous birdman had met the Empress. There was a sense of historical unreality in him: "Reply to Zimei. I know. We have prepared troops to return at any time. Tell him to rest assured. The same goes for the Tongguan direction."

Zhao Jia finished it in one go.

“We need to be careful around Tongguan.” Zhang Hui whispered in his ear, “When Quan Zhong attacked Tongguan that year, although it was a momentary outburst of anger, he was actually taking advantage of the situation. He was certain that the court was powerless and didn’t even need to use force. He believed that as long as he stationed troops at Tongguan, the court would surely submit under the pressure of military might.”

"I didn't expect you to refuse to submit and even possess some military strength?" the sage smiled.

“Yes.” Zhang Hui nodded, her mind racing, staring into the sage’s eyes: “Therefore, their defeat was inevitable. Since they had no preparation for a strong attack, and the time was busy with many towns, their attempts were fruitless, so they had no choice but to retreat. But Zhu Da came to sweep away the enemy, he was already insane, and he wouldn’t give up until the Zhou Tian was destroyed. Under such earthworks, what city, what pass could withstand such digging? In my humble opinion… we should return immediately.”

"Wait a little longer..." After thinking it over, the sage's strong body trembled slightly.

Although he currently commands a large army in the Western Sea, merely flexing his muscles and killing so many that no one dares to utter a sound, everyone understands that the Holy Tang Dynasty is riddled with holes; the roof that would have been torn off long ago is simply being held up by him.

Emperor Li was only one person. Even with loyal and virtuous officials like Prince Mei, Xiao Xiu, Zheng Yanchang, Daoist Zhong, and Zhao Kuangning who devoted themselves to the country and worked hard at home, and with the emperor and his ministers working together, how could they possibly support this broken country?

Should we defend our internal territory or attack externally?

In Shazhou, Zha Zhu led 20,000 Leopard Army soldiers there. Towards Jiuqu City, over 10,000 infantry and cavalry were gathered for Wu Xiong; towards the northern frontier, Li Renmei was given 5,000 men; and 20,000 armored soldiers were stationed at the two Chang'an garrisons. The Jincheng Imperial Palace was garrisoned with 3,000 troops…

In reality, his strength was less than 40,000.

If we were to retreat now with only 10,000 or 20,000 troops, it would be better to retreat entirely. To think that 20,000 men could defeat a 100,000-strong Tibetan coalition is, even if there are precedents for such battles, far too arrogant and reckless!
If we lose this battle, it will be a wildfire. The chances of controlling the other forces are slim.

But don't forget, in this world, how much true loyalty is there?

Even the persistence of Zheng Yanchang, Wang Zimei, and others… some persisted because of the Holy Tang Dynasty, some because of the military government, secondly because of their families, and lastly because of the nation. Some persisted because of titles and honors, and some because of personal relationships…

But all of this is based on two core principles: first, that one is a saint; and second, that one is still alive.

People come and go, fame fades and power disappears—that's just how it is.

In the current situation, everyone knows that authoritarianism is everything. How can one possibly maintain the Holy Tang Dynasty without authoritarianism when one is currently struggling to uphold it?

How to do?How to do?
Should we return immediately? How much should we return? Which part should we return?

Zhang Hui didn't say anything, but leisurely massaged his shoulders and back.

The sage simply stared at the map for a long time, the faces of the military ministers and various pieces of information flashing through his mind as he weighed them.

"How is the King of Wu?" he asked Zhao Jia abruptly as he looked up.

"As before."

The emperor lightly pressed his hand on the table, his expression turning cold again. If this son could go to Tongguan and take some risks, it might buy him some time. But how could Consort Shu possibly allow the Prince of Wu to risk his life in such an environment…

"Report!" Hooves and shouts came from outside again; it was a minister.

He answered the activity commands all the way, dismounted outside the gate, and went straight into the imperial palace.

The commotion startled the sage who was deep in thought. In an instant, he swept away his emotions, straightened his back stiffly, and put on a blank face.

"Your Majesty!" The tent flap was lifted, and a draft of cold air rushed out. The minister simply bowed and saluted: "The Grand Chancellor of the Eastern Army, Shang Zhencheng, has sent Qu Bucha as an envoy to request an audience with the Emperor at Sheleyuan, fifty li to the west!"

"The Prime Minister of the Eastern Army?" The Emperor was dumbfounded again.

"Ahem." Zhang Hui remained calm: "Tibet established various circuits of military governors, with the prime minister overseeing multiple circuits as the defense minister. The military governors of Guazhou, Liangzhou, Sapi, Shanzhou, and Hezhou, among others, jointly formed the Eastern Circuit Military Governor, whose chief official was called the Eastern Military Prime Minister. In Tibetan culture, the military governor's office was called a 'department' or 'ya'. Hence, it was also called the Eastern Yamen Grand Minister, the Eastern Army Senior Minister, the Eastern Army General Minister, the Military Minister..."

"Alright, alright, I understand." The Sage waved his hand and glanced at the Empress, "Stop showing off, okay?"
"Okay." Zhang Hui stopped talking and continued massaging her shoulders.

"The gathering at the Music Plain..." the sage murmured, pondering the man's intentions.

...............

Golden Palace.

Inside the secluded and quiet Cuiwei Palace, within the hibiscus-covered tent.

The lonely Consort Shu was tossing and turning, clutching the quilt, her legs twisting together as if she were suffering from insomnia, or perhaps she had something on her mind that she wanted to vent.

"Your Highness, shall we assist you...?" Changyu Adie asked quietly, intending to call a female maid to accompany Consort Shu.

This woman has truly been corrupted by Emperor Li to the point of having no self-awareness whatsoever.

These days, Xuan seems to be under a lot of pressure.

"No need, I'll endure it a little longer..." Consort Shu breathed heavily, suppressing her desires.

Suddenly, footsteps came from outside the hall, and a female official's ethereal voice announced, "Your Highness, the King of Wu requests an audience!"

(End of this chapter)