The emperor would rather have a

Chapter 148 Short-lived but full of vigor, possessing the aura of a true dragon.

The Later Zhou's campaign against the Southern Tang was in full swing, but these matters were temporarily irrelevant to Li Yi, who was thousands of miles away.

That day, when Li Yi went with Zuo Ling'er to see her father, he made up his mind to bring both father and daughter back to Tokyo.

However, in order to get Zuo Congqin to work for him willingly, he did not use force at first. Instead, he stayed in the village for another day and let Zuo Ling'er persuade her father.

Perhaps Zuo Ling'er's persuasion had an effect, making Zuo Congqin feel indebted to his daughter and want to make up for the lack of care he had given her over the years.

Or perhaps Zuo Congqin guessed that if he refused, Li Yi would definitely resort to force, and he thought that it was wise to be pragmatic.

Whatever the reason, Zuo Congqin eventually agreed to go to Tokyo with him.

On the third day of the eighth lunar month, the Later Zhou imperial guards, on their westward expedition to Qin and Feng, set off from Guzhen.

This time, in addition to the original generals and troops, Zuo Ling'er and her father were also brought along. They also took with them Li Tinggui, the captured general of the Shu imperial guards, and eight hundred soldiers selected from his surrendered Shu troops to serve as the Later Zhou imperial guards.

These Shu soldiers were considered spoils of war for the emperor. After being sent to Tokyo, they would be organized into separate units to demonstrate the majesty and achievements of the Great Zhou emperor.

Last year, when the emperor attacked the Northern Han, he also used surrendered soldiers to form a loyal army.

Of course, these 800 Shu soldiers who surrendered were not the first batch. Han Jixun, the Shu Kingdom's Xiongwu Jiedushi who had been captured by Li Yi, was sent to Tokyo by Wang Jing at the end of July, along with more than a thousand other surrendered soldiers.

As for Li Tinggui, because he was captured later and missed being with Han Jixun, he stayed in Fengxiang Prefecture for a few more days.

Just then, Li Yi's Imperial Guards were about to set off to return home, so Wang Jing simply handed over Li Tinggui and eight hundred Shu soldiers to Li Yi, asking him to take them back to Tokyo on his way.

Since we were heading back after winning a battle, there was no need to rush, so everyone was in a relaxed state, and the journey took a little longer.

It wasn't until late August that the army arrived in Luoyang, the western capital, and camped at a post station outside the city in the evening.

After dinner.

Zuo Ling'er then pestered Li Yi to teach her how to draw. Perhaps it was the magic of sketching that sparked the little girl's interest. Whenever she had a spare moment along the way, she would ask Li Yi for sketching techniques.

Li Yi didn't think this was a bad thing.

In chaotic times, talking about liberating women and getting rid of the oppression of women is definitely the most laughable nonsense. After all, the limitations of the era are there, and some things cannot be accomplished by just talking.

But that doesn't mean you have to make your woman a complete decorative vase.

Zuo Ling'er is still young, and it would be beneficial for her to cultivate a hobby. Otherwise, if she were confined to the inner courtyard for years, she would have nothing to do but scheme and plot.

Li Yi secretly pondered that when he got back, he should also find some things for the two women in his family to do, and stimulate their talents and interests.

"Brother Lang, is my drawing good?"

Zuo Ling'er proudly held up the drawing paper, her expression seemingly saying, "Come and praise me!"

Li Yi took a look and saw that the little girl's copy of the candlestick was quite good. Although the lines and shape were still a bit immature, she had made great progress.

He praised, "You draw very well. In a few more months you'll surpass me."

As he spoke, he raised his hand to wipe the charcoal ash off Zuo Ling'er's cheek.

Zuo Ling'er smiled sweetly, lowered her head, picked up another blank sheet of paper, and continued to carefully copy the text.

"You practice on your own first. I'm going out for some fresh air. Call me if you need anything."

Li Yi gave a brief instruction, then got up and left the bedroom.

The post station outside Luoyang City covered a considerable area, equivalent to a small city, with city walls and gates for entry and exit. The coming and going of merchants and tourists boosted commerce, and there were also small markets near the post station.

The returning troops numbered in the thousands, along with hundreds of officials and clerks. Although the post station was large, it was clearly unrealistic to accommodate so many people.

Therefore, the army was stationed next to the post station, and Li Hanchao and several commanders watched over it to prevent the soldiers from causing trouble in the middle of the night.

Li Yi, along with Zuo Ling'er and her father, Shu general Li Tinggui, and some officials, checked into the guest rooms arranged by the post station.

Stepping out of the room, Li Yi went to the corridor and gazed eastward. In the darkness, he could vaguely see the outline of Luoyang's city walls.

From Fengxiang Prefecture through Jingzhao Prefecture, and then to Xijing Henan Prefecture, Li Yi passed through Chang'an and Luoyang... These two ancient cities, with a history of thousands of years, witnessed the decline of the Tang Dynasty and gradually lost their former glory with the fall of the Tang Dynasty.

Of course, Chang'an and Luoyang were still much more prosperous than those ordinary prefecture cities, but compared to Kaifeng and Daliang, the capital of the Later Zhou Dynasty, they were indeed in decline.

Recalling what I saw and heard along the way, the desolation along the route and the ruins left behind by the former prosperity.

Li Yi was suddenly overcome with a strange emotion and muttered to himself:

"Peaks rise like a gathering of people, waves surge like a raging storm, the Tongguan Pass lies between mountains and rivers. Gazing westward towards the capital, my heart hesitates. I grieve for the places where the Qin and Han dynasties once passed, their palaces now turned to dust."

"When a dynasty prospers, the people suffer. When a dynasty falls, the people suffer."

"..."

Perhaps it was because his status and position were rising, but Li Yi felt that something called "ambition" was beginning to swell deep inside him.

If this had happened a few years ago, he would have been quite pleased with himself for his current achievements.

But now, although he is indeed very excited about this, he is no longer satisfied with just personal gains and losses; he yearns for greater ambitions.

No wonder An Chongrong uttered the lament, "Does the emperor have a special destiny? It is the one with the strongest army and the most powerful horses who becomes emperor."

During the chaotic Five Dynasties period, whoever had the biggest fist could become emperor. Warriors had seen this many times, and when they reached a certain level of power, the thought of "Why can't I do it too?" naturally arose in their minds.

Li Yi truly understood this feeling... Moreover, he knew in advance what had happened in history and how Emperor Taizu of Song, Zhao Kuangyin, climbed to that supreme throne.

Every step he takes now is very similar to that of Zhao Da in history, making it impossible for him not to have such delusions.

"The rise and fall of dynasties brings suffering to the people... General Li truly has lofty ambitions." Just then, a deep voice rang out, instantly waking Li Yi from his reverie.

Following the sound, Zuo Congtan stood with his hands behind his back, also standing under the corridor gazing into the distance.

Li Yi couldn't help but recall his journey. Through his conversation with Zuo Congtan, he learned that Zuo was born during the reign of Emperor Zhaozong of the Tang Dynasty and had served under Zhu Wen, the founding emperor of the Later Liang Dynasty. Logically, he should have been in his fifties, but judging from his appearance, he looked to be in his early forties at most. Moreover, he was tall and robust, and his every move exuded a heroic air, making him seem nothing like an ordinary Taoist priest.

Thinking of Chen Tuan, who lived to be over 110 years old in history, Li Yi couldn't help but wonder in his heart if there really was such a miraculous way to maintain health.
Zuo Congqin turned to look at Li Yi, and seeing that the latter remained silent, he said meaningfully, "It is hard to imagine that someone of General Li's background would possess such insight and magnanimity as ordinary people."

"Over the years, I have met many powerful figures, such as Zhu Wen, Yang Xingmi, Li Keyong, and Li Cunxu, all of whom were outstanding individuals of their time. But I have seen something different about General Li compared to them."

Upon hearing this, Li Yi's curiosity was immediately piqued.

He never expected that Zuo Congqin would "praise" him so much, comparing him to influential figures like Zhu Wen and Li Cunxu.

In his previous life, Li Yi wouldn't have taken these pretentious words seriously, but now he couldn't help but want to hear what insightful opinions the other party had... After all, he had experienced such an outrageous thing as soul transmigration, so could the other party possibly say something even more unbelievable?

Zuo Congqin paused for a moment, then continued, "I dare not claim that my Taoist skills are profound, but I do have some ability to observe people's auras."

"When I first saw General Li, I just thought your face was very strange. It was clearly a sign of a short life, but your whole body was full of vitality, which was really puzzling."

At this point, he suddenly asked, "General Li, do you know why I agreed to go to Tokyo with Ling'er that night?"

Li Yi shook his head: "I don't know."

He originally thought that the other party wanted to make up for the debt of affection they owed to Zuo Ling'er, or that they were afraid that he would force them, so they were willing to go to Tokyo.

It seems that things aren't as I thought?

Zuo Congqin chuckled softly, gazing at the sky, his eyes recalling, "Because that night I suddenly remembered a divination my senior brother once said: 'Short life but strong spirit, a dragon's transformation, possessing the power of a true dragon.'"

Upon hearing these startling words, Li Yi was immediately taken aback. He subconsciously looked around and, seeing that no one was nearby, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

It's not that he was flustered; it's just that the meaning of the words "true dragon" in ancient times was truly extraordinary.

Because only the emperor can be called a "true dragon".

Zuo Congtan continued, “It is said that a dragon must undergo tribulations to transform into a true dragon. If it can overcome these tribulations, it will soar to the heavens. Otherwise, it will be punished by the heavens. Such a divination may only occur once in a thousand years. So I am very curious about how far General Li can go.”

Li Yi's expression darkened slightly, and he said coldly, "Master Zuo, please be careful with your words. Some things cannot be said carelessly!"

At this moment, a strange murderous intent welled up in his heart, and he wondered whether he should secretly get rid of Zuo Congqin.

Although what this guy said had no scientific basis, Li Yi really did have such an ambition deep down, and he felt a vague sense of annoyance at having his thoughts exposed.

Moreover, rumors are never considered true or false; once they reach the emperor's ears, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Zhang Yongde had a deep understanding of the power of the historical saying, "The inspector becomes the emperor."

"General Li wants to kill me?"

Zuo Congqin seemed to have noticed something, but his tone was not fearful. "A single divination statement is not scary; what is scary is the person in the divination statement."

Li Yi frowned and asked, "What do you mean by that, Master Zuo?"

Zuo Congqin countered, "General Li is only twenty-one this year, isn't he?"

Li Yi remained silent, waiting for the other party to continue.

"Throughout history, there has been no shortage of young heroes, such as Huo Qubing, Sun Ce, Luo Shixin, and even Emperor Taizong of the previous dynasty, all of whom showed their talents at a young age."

At this point, Zuo Congqin emphasized, "However, General Li, who came from a family of slaves, managed to kill a general at Gaoping, repel the Liao army at Xinkou, and capture Qinfeng in a month in less than two years."

I have truly never heard of anyone who, based on these military achievements, attained their current position at such a young age, and yet none of them died young.

Li Yi's expression changed slightly... He was a 21-year-old military governor, a high-ranking general in the Imperial Guard, and also the emperor's brother-in-law.

He suddenly realized that he had been overlooking something: he had indeed taken Zhao Kuangyin, a historical figure, as his role model and climbed step by step to his current position.

However, the problem is that before the Later Zhou attacked the Southern Tang, Zhao Kuangyin's achievements were actually far less than Li Yi's. He lacked the accomplishments of repelling the Liao army at Xinkou and capturing Qin and Feng.

Zhao Kuangyin only achieved a position equivalent to Li Yi's at the age of thirty after making great contributions in the conquest of the Southern Tang.

More importantly, Zhao Kuangyin did not become the brother-in-law of the emperor.

Li Yi felt that if things continued to develop this way, and if Chai Rong died young, he might not be able to follow in Zhao Da's footsteps, but instead end up like Zhang Yongde.

Zuo Congqin then said, "Even without the prophecy I just mentioned, if General Li one day possesses the power to threaten the imperial authority, can the emperor truly rest easy?"

"General Li has been undefeated in several major battles since last year, and his promotion speed is astonishing, yet he is still so young."

"I heard that the Zhou Kingdom has already launched a war against Jiangnan. If General Li is sent to the battlefield by the emperor and makes several more great contributions, he may have no more titles to bestow before he turns thirty, right?"

Upon hearing this, Li Yi's brows furrowed deeper and deeper, forming a deep frown. Just as Zuo Congqin had said, even if you don't have the heart to rebel, but you have the ability to rebel, then that is your crime.

But then he thought again that he still had a lot of room for promotion. If Chai Rong died young like in history, then he probably wouldn't have reached the point where he couldn't be promoted before the other party died.

Thinking this, Li Yi did not refute, but instead asked, "Does Master Zuo think His Majesty will be suspicious of me?"

To everyone's surprise, Zuo Congtan shook his head and said, "Since the chaos at the end of the Tang Dynasty, all emperors have come from military men. Whoever has the strongest army and the most powerful horses becomes emperor. Which military general with even a little power is not suspected by the emperor?"

"But I observe that the Zhou emperor has great ambitions to unify the world. At present, there are still the Shu region and the Jiangnan region that are divided into separate areas, and the Han and Khitan in the north are also eyeing us covetously."

"Given General Li's military prowess and his kinship with the royal family, if the Zhou emperor were not an incompetent ruler, he would naturally not have severed his own arm before the world was unified."

Li Yi nodded upon hearing this. Chai Rong was indeed a rare and outstanding ruler in the Five Dynasties period, whether it was Li Chongjin, Zhang Yongde, or the rising star Zhao Kuangyin.

Chai Rong never hesitated to reward and promote any general who had real ability. Even though he was afraid that Li and Zhang would threaten his son's throne before he died, he only took restrictive measures and did not exterminate them.

However, Zuo Congqin changed the subject, saying, "But General Li, as a relative of the royal family by marriage, if the emperor's health deteriorates, given your status and abilities, you will inevitably become one of the primary targets of suspicion."

Li Yi was silent for a moment, then suddenly shook his head and said, "His Majesty is in his prime and in excellent health. There is absolutely no way anything could happen to him. Besides, I have little seniority in the Imperial Guards and my prestige is insufficient... Most importantly, I am utterly loyal to His Majesty."

"Master Zuo's words are too alarmist!"

(End of this chapter)