Tang Dynasty Swordsman

Page 175

So he drew his sword and committed suicide. Everyone wept bitterly over his body. Then Tian Tinglin took the seal of the military governor and went to the inn to present it to Tian Qianzhen. Tian Qianzhen immediately sent someone out of the city to make contact, and then opened the city gates to let the Weibo army in—thus, the history of Tianxiong Army, an important town in Hebei, came to an end.

After the Weibo army entered the city, they only sealed the government treasury and temporarily detained the Tian family. They did not commit any other offenses, but strictly guarded the four gates to prevent Chengde's army from entering the city to loot. Early the next morning, Xin Zhongyi hurriedly went to pay his respects to Li Ji, to explain his hard work in coming from afar—if he had no merit, all that was left was his hard work.

The arrival of the army forced Tian Chengsi to surrender, a situation he might not have anticipated beforehand. Now he finally understood, but he couldn't use his presence as a reason to demand reward. However, the commander-in-chief ordered him to come to reap the rewards and gain advantages, but now he had achieved nothing and couldn't even collect a grain of rice. How could he explain this to the military governor upon returning?

Li Ji thought to himself, "I didn't ask you to come..." but still smiled and replied, "The Chengde army responded to the imperial edict and assisted in suppressing the rebellion. I admire you very much. It's a pity that you came a step too late and failed to make a contribution on the battlefield. If you reward them generously, the soldiers will inevitably complain about the unfairness of the rewards."

He paused for a moment, then slapped his thigh in feigned magnanimity: "So be it. After all, we have come from afar, only to waste our provisions and gain nothing. If you return to Chengde, I'm afraid it will be difficult for you to report back to Li Jiedu. I will certainly submit a memorial to the court to commend you and Chengde for your achievements. In addition, I will allow your army to take all the silk from the Wuqiang treasury, which may make up for some of the losses."

Tian Chengsi recruited soldiers extensively, draining the pond to catch all the fish. Frankly, the Wuqiang Prefecture treasury had very little wealth left, especially silk—only a little over three thousand bolts. Weibo was known for its silk fabrics, so Li Ji didn't really care about such a small amount. Ultimately, the thirty thousand Chengde troops were stationed outside the city. Even if Xin Zhongyi harbored resentment, and the soldiers themselves rebelled, their northern expedition would likely end poorly. Those three thousand bolts of silk were practically a beggar's offering.

Ultimately, the soldiers and generals of each town are fierce and arrogant these days, and they are used to rebelling against their superiors when they are dissatisfied with their rewards. Li Ji is well aware of this. Even in my Weibo, didn't we have a similar incident a couple of years ago?

Thus, Chengde's army was dismissed, and Wuqiang City was left to Tian Qianzhen to defend temporarily. He then led his victorious army back to Weizhou in triumph.

Chapter Thirty-Five: The Dragon Slayer

News of Hebei's victory reached Chang'an by fast horse in October, when winter was approaching.

As Li Mi had predicted, the main force of the Tibetan army continued to take the northern route this autumn, successively capturing the two prefectures of Gua and Sha. Guo Xin, the deputy military governor of Anxi, and Li Yuanzhong, the deputy military governor of Beiting, joined forces to resist, but they could not win. It was not until the Tang court requested that the Uyghurs send 5,000 cavalry south to Shatuo Prefecture that the Tibetan army, fearing being attacked from both sides, temporarily retreated.

Because the Hexi Corridor was cut off, urgent dispatches from the two towns had to be routed through the grasslands. Only with the assistance of the Uyghurs were they able to reach Chang'an via Shuofang. Li Yu originally intended to order the Shuofang military governor, Hun Shizhi, to remain westward to Liangzhou to contain the barbarian army, but Hun Shizhi instead submitted a memorial stating that supplies were insufficient for a long expedition…

China's long-standing tradition has always been to live within its means, funding large-scale projects or military campaigns based on the amount of taxes collected. For example, this year, to support the war in Hebei, at Li Bi's request, all the grain transport from Huainan was diverted to Weibo. As a result, the court's salaries were barely enough to cover the costs, and even the price of grain in Guanzhong had increased slightly. Where would they find the money and grain to supply the Shuofang army?

Li Yu therefore questioned the prime minister, Li Bi, who led the ministers in a plea for forgiveness, saying: "It is our poor planning that has caused Your Majesty worry and strained the national treasury... However, if we can quell the Tian clan this year and deter the various towns, we believe that next year we will have sufficient manpower and resources to curb the westward invasion of the barbarian bandits, and we may even be able to recover Liangzhou and open up the Hexi Corridor. This benefit will last for decades, so we implore Your Majesty to be patient for a few more days."

Li Yu couldn't help but sigh, "Yang Yan once submitted a memorial stating, 'For all expenses of the hundred-year campaign and every penny of taxation, the amount should be calculated first and then levied on the people, with expenditures adjusted to control revenue.' If we had prioritized the western and eastern affairs and planned them in a unified manner, and distributed the grain transported to Guanzhong and Hebei, perhaps we wouldn't be in this predicament today—the campaign against the Tian family might not have required so much money and grain..."

Li Bi first apologized, saying, "It is our fault for failing to make overall arrangements. Please punish us, Your Majesty." But then he said solemnly, "The Book of Rites says, 'The chief minister shall regulate the national expenditure at the end of the year, after all the grains have been harvested, and then regulate the national expenditure... 'Expenditure should be based on income.' This is the constant rule of the state. How can it be changed? Moreover, the country is now in ruins. The palaces are dilapidated and need repair, the people are starving and need relief, the regional military governors are strong and need to be controlled, and the western barbarians are invading and need to be defended. Money and grain are needed everywhere. If, as Yang Yan said, we first calculate the expenditure and then levy taxes on the people, it will inevitably lead to harsh taxes and bad governance, and the whole country will be in turmoil! Now we should rest and recuperate the people and first accumulate reserves before we can eliminate the abuses. Your Majesty, please listen to my advice."

Li Yu nodded: "Prime Minister Li is right, I was too hasty." He then asked: "Have any new battle reports come from Hebei?"

The specific battle reports began to arrive in Chang'an in early October. First, Xindu was captured, followed by the Battle of Zhangbei... Because only half a day and one night passed between the defeat of Wu Shun's army and Zhaoyi's army and Li Ji's crushing of Tianxiong's army, the previous events were reported after the victory.

This saved the court from a false alarm.

Upon receiving the news of the victory, Li Yu was overjoyed and repeatedly praised, "The Wei Bo army advanced with lightning speed, advancing straight ahead, and was able to defeat the Tian family with a small force. Such a feat is rare since the founding of our Tang Dynasty—Li Changwei truly has the style of an ancient famous general!" He ordered the government to issue an edict to commend Li Ji, but this was blocked by Li Bi.

Li Mi said, “Although the imperial army has gained a 70% advantage, Wuqiang has not yet been defeated, and the rebel Tian has not yet been beheaded. Your Majesty need not hastily issue an edict of encouragement. Now, the armies of Wushun and Zhaoyi have been routed, and the Hedong army is in turmoil, unable to cross the Taihang Mountains into Hebei. Moreover, reports have been received that Youzhou banners have been seen in the rebel ranks, and Chengde has joined forces in Anping, making their allegiance unclear… Li Ji is relying on his bravery and advancing rashly, fearing only that he may lose, thus rendering all previous gains futile. I suggest that you issue an edict ordering him to withdraw his troops immediately…”

Upon hearing this, Li Yu was taken aback: "Are you saying that Chengde and Youzhou will send troops to aid the rebels, and Weibo will inevitably become a powerful enemy again, turning victory into defeat?"

Li Bi clasped his hands and said, “Sitting comfortably in the central court, far from the front lines, I dare not make any hasty judgments. Judging from common sense, since Tian Chengsi suffered a heavy defeat at the walls of Hengshui and retreated to Wuqiang, he will surely send envoys to the court to apologize. To avoid adding unnecessary complications, it would be best to withdraw the troops here. The vassal states of Yan and Zhao are allied with each other. If we delay their release, they will inevitably fight. If the court swiftly destroys the Tian family, it will inevitably cause others to feel sorry for them. Therefore, I am afraid that if we push them too hard, Youzhou and Chengde will become Tian’s allies.”

He paused for a moment, then said, "Among those in the court who are knowledgeable about military affairs, none surpasses Lord Guo. Whether my words are useful or not, I beg Your Majesty to consult Lord Guo."

However, when Guo Ziyi was summoned and Li Mi's views were presented, Guo Ziyi shook his head repeatedly: "Prime Minister Li is not ignorant of military affairs, but his concern leads to confusion. Whether Youzhou and Chengde will assist the Tian family, and whether the isolated army of Weibo can be safely defended, I do not know; however, the Battle of Hengshui happened more than ten days ago, and it will take more than ten days for the imperial edict to be sent from Chang'an to Jizhou, so by the time the edict arrives, the outcome may be clear."

"If the government troops win, ordering Li Ji to return will only demoralize the soldiers and prevent them from achieving complete victory; if the government troops have already been defeated, issuing an edict will be useless. The so-called 'trusting those you employ' means that since Your Majesty has employed Li Ji, you can let him choose his own course of action and there is no need to interfere easily."

Li Yu smiled upon hearing this: "What my father-in-law said is indeed a wise and insightful view on governing the country..." He then sighed: "I trust Li Ji, but being separated by a thousand miles is like parents sending their children on a long journey; they will inevitably worry about them."

Fortunately, within a few days, a series of reports of victory arrived, until the news of Tian Chengsi's suicide came. Only then did Li Yu finally breathe a sigh of relief and put his mind at ease. He then summoned his ministers again to ask for their advice on how to handle the aftermath. Li Bi took the opportunity to suggest that the Tianxiong Army should not be abolished, but that Tian Qianzhen should succeed him as the military governor of the Tianxiong Army.

Li Xian, however, offered a different perspective.

Li Xian, courtesy name Yanjian, was a member of the imperial clan and a great-grandson of Emperor Taizong. He served as chancellor during the reign of Emperor Suzong. Known for his uprightness and incorruptibility, he was slandered by Li Fuguo and Yuan Zai and demoted to a remote prefecture. It wasn't until Yuan Zai fell from power and Li Bi became chancellor that Li Yu, fearing that Li Bi would monopolize the government like Yuan Zai, recalled Li Xian and appointed him as Vice Director of the Imperial Secretariat and concurrently Chancellor.

To maintain local stability and prevent major unrest, it was necessary to gradually weaken the power of the regional military governors, rather than carrying out large-scale abolitions. Li Mi had repeatedly persuaded his colleagues in the Council of State to adopt this basic policy, which gained widespread approval, including from Li Xian. However, Li Xian believed that the recent great victory of the imperial army had intimidated the regional military governors of Yan and Zhao, and therefore, it was not appropriate to raise the issue only to lower it leniently.

"The Tianxiong Army governs four prefectures, located in the heart of Hebei, bordering Youyan to the north and Chengde to the west. If it is not restrained, even if Tian Chengsi is removed, it will inevitably cause trouble in the future. Tian is rebellious and arrogant, and Li Baochen assisted the royal army in suppressing him. However, if Tian Qianzhen is replaced, he is known for his wisdom. If his nephew Su Xing is replaced, he will form strong alliances with Chengde and Youzhou, and the situation in Hebei will become even more dangerous. I believe that even if the Tianxiong Army is not abolished, its prefectures should be reduced to weaken its power."

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Li Yu brought up the proposal made by Cui Youfu that day, hoping to abolish the Hebei regional military governorships on a large scale and free up several prefectures for direct administration by the imperial court. Li Mi expressed his opposition, saying, "Hebei is far away and has long been under the control of bandits. The people do not submit to the emperor's rule and are not suitable for direct administration. Although the Yan and Zhao prefectures should be restrained, we should not act hastily to avoid causing further chaos."

However, he also stated: "Although Cui Yisun's proposal is somewhat simplistic and lacks a clear understanding of the overall situation, it is not without merit. His proposal to have the Chancellor and Wei Jia govern Hebei and secure the capital and Henan is feasible."

Just as they were discussing how to deal with the Tianxiong Army, Li Yu suddenly frowned and changed the subject—"The Zhaoyi and Wushun armies collapsed without cause, almost burying Weibo alive. Moreover, the Wushun army tried to take advantage of the situation to enter Weibo. Their crimes are unforgivable. Shouldn't they be punished?"

Almost on the same day that Li Ji entered Wuqiang City, Yan Zhenqing also led his army into Qinghe City. With Xu Liu as an inside accomplice, this battle was extremely easy for the old commander Yan. Guo Mo and others were all taken prisoner. Immediately afterwards, Yan Zhenqing submitted a memorial, saying that Wu Shun's army was in turmoil, blocking roads and isolating the north and south, seemingly intending to invade Weizhou. Therefore, he had no choice but to cross the border to pacify the people and seize Beizhou.

A few days earlier, Li Ji's order had been issued to Xindu, and Nie Feng had already loaded Qin Rui onto a prison cart and escorted him to Chang'an. In this way, Weibo had completely annexed Bei and De provinces, and together with Cang and Di provinces captured by Nan Jiyun, although it had withdrawn from Ji province, it had actually gained four provinces.

The Weibo army was indeed formidable; with only a little over ten thousand soldiers, they were able to advance rapidly and defeat overwhelming odds, and now they had even annexed six prefectures… To be honest, Li Yu felt a chill run down his spine. So he first asked the ministers how they planned to deal with the Wu Shun and Zhao Yi armies—surely they wouldn't actually withdraw the Wu Shun army and force the Zhao Yi army to cede territory to Li Ji?

Li Bi, quick-witted and perceptive, immediately sensed the emperor's hidden worries and replied, "The Wu Shun Army can be disbanded, but its territory cannot be entirely returned to Weibo; as for the Zhaoyi Army... we have already discussed it and earnestly request that an edict be issued ordering Xue Song to return to court for an audience. Their army has just been defeated, and we believe they would not dare to disobey..."

Li Yu frowned. "Does Your Excellency intend to abolish the Zhaoyi Army as well?" He then realized that large-scale disbandment of the regional military governors was not Li Bi's idea, so he changed his mind and said, "Or should we not send someone else to govern Xiangming?"

----------

The court officials discussed the aftermath, and Li Ji, after returning to Yuancheng and richly rewarding the meritorious generals and officials, also began to ponder the matter. However, before he could sort things out, Yan Zhenqing came to him to discuss: "I intend to return the four prefectures of Bei, De, Cang, and Di to the court. What does the General think?"

Nan Jiyun and Lei Wanchun, who were also present, immediately objected: "We have fought bloody battles and defeated the enemy in countless battles. We have finally captured four prefectures and have not yet settled in. How can we hand them over to the court?"

Yan Zhenqing glared at the two generals and shouted sternly, "What kind of logic is this? 'Under the whole heaven, all land belongs to the king; on the shores of the earth, all people are subjects of the king.' Including Wei and Bo, the six provinces all belong to the state. Are they your private property?!"

Li Ji smiled and waved his hand: "The two generals are loyal and brave. They followed the late Lord Zhang to defend Suiyang and Luoyang, which saved our Tang Dynasty from danger. How could they possibly have the idea of ​​turning public affairs into private interests or the country into their own? Perhaps Sima has misunderstood."

He then countered with a question: "Sima, what do you think is the purpose of the imperial court establishing the positions of Inspector and Military Governor?"

Yan Zhenqing replied, "To unite the manpower and financial resources of several prefectures, so as to stabilize the region and quell the chaos."

Li Ji said, "That's right. My Weibo province, with its mere two prefectures, can only muster 30,000 soldiers, and less than 20,000 of them are actually usable. As a result, this expedition has been fraught with difficulties. At the gates of Hengshui, we almost fled with Zhaoyi and Wushun. If I had six prefectures and a mighty army of 100,000, would I need the assistance of other garrisons? I could have directly attacked Wuqiang and wiped out the entire city."

He then sighed softly, "There's no need for Tian Qianzhen to temporarily lead Ji and Ying; he can simply hand over both prefectures to the court."

Yan Zhenqing said, "The war is now over..."

Li Ji raised his eyebrows: "The war is not over yet!" He pointed north: "There are also Li Baochen of Chengde and Li Huaixian of Youzhou, both of whom harbor ambitions of separatism, holding their own armies and acting as if they own the emperor, yet they don't even have a single horse to guard the emperor, and they don't even have a grain of rice to give to the central government! Moreover, Xue Song of Zhaoyi Army appears to be obedient, but in fact he secretly intends to succeed his brother and dominate five prefectures for a long time; if he dies of old age, and Xue E really becomes the military governor, who knows what he is really thinking?"

"Lulong Army controls nine prefectures, Zhaoyi Army controls five prefectures, and Chengde Town also controls five prefectures. If my Weibo does not have six prefectures, how can we resist them? If they join forces to attack, can Sima Yi, with his talent, defend Weibo? If Weibo is lost, the rebel army can then invade the capital region to the west, and the An Lushan Rebellion may reappear tomorrow!"

Upon hearing this, Yan Zhenqing was startled and exclaimed, "Does the military commander intend to pacify the entire Hebei region? There is no such imperial edict from the court."

Li Ji smiled wryly: "The court appointed me as the military governor of Weibo, placing me amidst surrendered generals and powerful vassals. Their intention was to have me counter and monitor them, but my ambition lies elsewhere. Moreover, if the garrisons of Yan and Zhao were to join forces, how could Weibo possibly contain them? Therefore, I decided to eliminate the Tian family before they could even unite. Rather than merely addressing the symptoms, it's better to strike at the root of the problem—I believe that Commander Yan is not a mediocre person who only knows how to maintain the status quo."

Yan Zhenqing acknowledged that Li Ji's words made some sense, but at the same time, he did not believe that the other party was acting purely out of public interest and without any selfish motives to expand his own power. Therefore, he continued to advise, "General, your ambitions are lofty, and I admire them. However, the great chaos has just subsided, and people yearn for stability. With the court's financial resources, this campaign against the Tianxiong Army has already diverted the grain that should have been supplied to Guanzhong to Hebei. Where is there any surplus? Should we send troops to attack Chengde or Youzhou again next year or the year after? Even if you do gain control of six prefectures, you must pacify the local areas and appease the people. It is not advisable to immediately send troops north again."

"The military commander entered the garrison in the first year of Guangde and has been accumulating experience for four years before launching this northern expedition. If he wants to pacify Yan and Zhao and eliminate the various vassal states, it will probably take ten or twenty years to achieve this. If he is hasty and advances rashly, he will surely suffer defeat. Even this expedition is fraught with danger and is not a common method of warfare."

"Furthermore, if Li Huaixian, Li Baochen, and others are frightened by the defeat of the Tian family and thus restrain their evil deeds and do not disobey the king's orders, then what grounds will the military commander have to attack them? Presumably, the court will not issue an edict for conquest lightly again. Does that mean they will occupy the six prefectures for a long time and issue their own orders? Then how will they be any different from those people?"

Upon hearing this, Li Ji frowned slightly and blurted out, "Did the dragon-slaying hero ultimately become the dragon himself?"

"What do you mean by that, General? I truly don't understand..."

Li Ji naturally refused to explain, but instead stared at Yan Zhenqing: "I am a confidant of the Sage and the Crown Prince. Does Sima also doubt me?"

Yan Zhenqing bluntly retorted, "In the past, An Lushan was also a trusted confidant of Emperor Xuanzong. The depth of his trust and reliance on him far surpassed that of today's military commanders!"

Chapter Thirty-Six: A Perfect Match in Youth

Li Ji thought, no wonder Yan Zhenqing, that old man, was so capable and prestigious, yet he went through ups and downs in his official career and could never enter the Hall of State Affairs or become a key figure in a region... The old man just couldn't keep his mouth shut!

Although you are my chief advisor and I have always treated you with utmost respect, you can refute me, you can even scold me, but how can you compare me to An Lushan? This is because I am not a person of this era, and I do not harbor blind loyalty. I am not necessarily averse to treason and usurpation—if it benefits the people, then revolution is necessary—otherwise I would have jumped up on the spot and slapped you across the face.

But he only frowned slightly. Nan Jiyun and Lei Wanchun, who were standing next to him, couldn't stand it anymore. Lei Wanchun, who was more hot-tempered, drew his sword halfway with a "clatter" and shouted angrily, "Sima's words are too rude!"

Yan Zhenqing showed no fear and remained calm. He simply stood up, clasped his hands in a gesture of respect to Li Ji, and said, “I am not good with words, but I have a few things to say that I must say. I humbly request that you allow me to finish speaking. After that, you may kill me or torture me as you see fit.”

"You said."

"In the early years of the Tianbao era, Yan was appointed as the Commandant of Chang'an and later as the Censor. He had met An Lushan several times and found him to be a man of little ambition and no ambition, merely a barbarian who was content with a small fortune. Moreover, Emperor Xuanzong relied heavily on him, and even the Imperial Concubine treated him very well. Who among those with a heart would dare to rebel? However, towards the end of the Tianbao era, when he was ordered to guard Changshan County, he sent people to inquire about news from Fanyang and learned that An Lushan's rebellious intentions were already burning. Therefore, he hurriedly recruited soldiers to protect the country and its lands."

"As the saying goes, 'He who possesses a sharp weapon will naturally harbor murderous intent.' Heaven's way is constant, but people's hearts are easily changed. Shouldn't we be wary of ourselves? Confucius did not drink from the spring of the scoundrel, nor did he say that he was virtuous. He drank it without harm, but he would not repeat it. The Buddhists also say that a single evil thought leads to hell. So how can a virtuous person not be cautious and careful to avoid being bound by material desires?"

"Today, the order is to suppress the Tianxiong Army. It is not said that the captured provinces will be taken from Weibo. If the commander takes them today, will he return them to the imperial court after pacifying Chengde and Youzhou?" He glanced at Nan and Lei as he spoke: "If such thoughts arise, I fear the generals under my command will have objections. Once we dominate Yan and Zhao and gain the power that An Lushan once had, who can guarantee that we will not become like An Lushan and Shi Siming? Even under my command, there will be people like Tada Tsugumi and Li Huaixian!"

"Given the lessons of the past, how can the court allow Weibo to dominate Hebei? What I have said may offend you, but it is not only for the sake of the country, but also for the consideration of the General. General, please think it over carefully."

After speaking, he put his hands behind his back, as if to say: Do whatever you want with me.

Li Ji then looked at Generals Nan and Lei and asked, "What do you think of Yan Sima's words?"

Lei Wanchun said, "In short, Yan Sima not only offended his superiors, but also used absurd and nonsensical language. He should be punished!"

Nan Jiyun replied, “What Yan Sima said may have some merit, but I have never heard that a gentleman is different from a petty person. Rebels like An Lushan and Shi Qutuo, without the teachings of a sage and without loyalty to the emperor, are easily manipulated by power and harbor rebellious thoughts. How can they be compared to a military commander? If a military commander is not loyal to the Tang dynasty, would he have risked his life to kidnap Xu Shuji and rescue Suiyang? And before, in Zhangbei, would he have disregarded his own life and launched a night raid on the rebel camp? Yan Sima has only known the military commander for a short time and their relationship is still shallow, so it is inappropriate to make such unfounded speculations.”

Li Ji smiled and looked at Yan Zhenqing: "Does Sima mean to blame the former Emperor Xuanzong for being blind and misjudging An Lushan, and then blame the current emperor for being blind and misjudging me?"

Yan Zhenqing retorted, “Even a sage has two eyes, which cannot illuminate a thousand miles away. It is not surprising that there may be petty people who obscure the sage’s wisdom.”

Li Ji thought to himself, "Fine, I thought that vicious question would hit a nerve, but it turns out I punched a pillow..."

He desperately wanted to annex the four prefectures he had acquired, which would allow him to recruit an army of 100,000. Within a few years, this would be enough to dominate Hebei and sweep away all the local warlords—the days of being poor, sparsely populated, and struggling to make ends meet had been incredibly stifling. However, Yan Zhenqing's words also made sense. He himself had already sensed that since taking up his post in the provinces, his allegiance had gradually shifted from the central government to the regional military governors. If he could truly dominate Hebei, could he resist the temptation to overthrow the entire Tang Dynasty?

Because I have no intention of being loyal to any one family or clan, and I am even less willing to let that scoundrel emperor and the court always hinder my cause. Now I can still be self-aware that the development of history has its own laws, and we cannot force things to grow. Although the Tang Dynasty is declining, it has not ended. Forcibly overthrowing it will only harm the people and give foreign invaders an opportunity. The possibility of a successful revolution and the restoration of a prosperous era is extremely slim. But if it really becomes too powerful to control, can I still maintain my original intention?

Besides, my ambition is to go west to defend against the barbarians. Do you really think I'll stay here in Hebei for ten or twenty years and never move?

So he raised his hand and pressed it down lightly: "Sima, please sit down. Although your words are harsh, your intentions are sincere. Since you are also considering my best interests, how can I dismiss the doctor just because good medicine tastes bitter? Besides, Sima is appointed by the court and is renowned throughout the land. He is not someone I can arbitrarily dismiss."

He paused, then countered, "However, Cang and Di originally belonged to the Tianxiong Army, and Bei and De originally belonged to the Wushun Army. Their governors and magistrates were all appointed by Tian Chengsi and Qin Rui. Now that both towns are abandoned, if our Weibo does not take control, I fear they will rebel on their own. The question of who belongs to the four prefectures must be decided by the court. Even if we temporarily occupy them and gain real power, we cannot claim the title. How can you say we are 'returning' them?"

Yan Zhenqing sneered, “The court is weak now. If I, Wei Bo, occupy the land and refuse to let go, the court will eventually do as the general wishes—but this is not a good thing for either the court or the general.”

Li Ji thought for a moment and then said, “Then I, Wei Bo, am temporarily guarding the four prefectures for the court. The region urgently needs peace, bandits urgently need to be eliminated, and the people urgently need to live in peace. We cannot place our hopes on the officials appointed in the past. I will personally submit a memorial to the court, requesting that the affiliation of the prefectures be determined as soon as possible, without mentioning any talk of long-term occupation. What does Sima think?”

Yan Zhenqing clasped his hands and replied, "In that case, please allow me, Yan, to draft a memorial for the commander."

Li Ji thought to himself, "You're just worried that I'll imply to the court in my memorial that those four prefectures must be ceded to Weibo, aren't you?"—"As you wish."

Yan Zhenqing then requested, “Now that the war is over, there are still 300,000 to 400,000 jin of grain left over from the grain transport. It is only right that we return it to the court to show the loyalty of the general to the emperor. Moreover, I have heard that grain transport has been cut off in Guanzhong and the price of grain is high. Even the emperor has reduced his meals. As a subject, I must do my best to relieve the court’s difficulties, especially since there is already a surplus.”

Li Ji gently shook his head: "When Sima entered Beizhou, he must have known that Wu Shun's military and political affairs were in disarray, leading to an empty treasury and famine among the people..." He then looked at Nan Jiyun: "When General Nan took Cangzhou and Di, he also saw that Tian Chengsi only stole salt goods and did not manage the people well. Many people lacked clothing and food. Although Weibo has sufficient grain, those four prefectures are depleted. Since they are temporarily defended by the court, they should make up for the deficiencies with the surplus. Why should we send grain westward again? The grain in Hebei can feed 100,000 people. Transporting it over a thousand miles will inevitably result in heavy losses. Even if it enters Guanzhong, it will only feed 50,000 people..."

Even if you don't use all the government funding you receive, there's no reason to return it. What are you even dreaming about?

Yan Zhenqing earnestly requested, and even hinted again, that now that Weibo controls six prefectures—even if only temporarily—its army is strong and well-equipped, the court cannot doubt it. He argued that they should offer tribute now to express their loyalty and avoid bringing trouble upon themselves.

The two argued for a long time, just like a business negotiation, with each taking a step forward and the other giving way. In the end, Li Ji agreed to send 50,000 shi of surplus grain and 300,000 bolts of old silk stored in the granary to the capital as next year's tribute.

After Yan Zhenqing and the others took their leave, Li Ji summoned Du Huangshang and Gao Ying and told them about his argument with the old man Yan. Du and Gao both advised, "Sima Yan may have offended you, but his words are not unreasonable. I hope you will choose the good and follow it. Forget about the bad."

This was exactly what Li Ji had expected, but he immediately poured out his grievances: "What other thoughts do I have? I only want to get rid of the hidden dangers in Hebei for the court as soon as possible so that we can focus all our efforts on defending against the Western Barbarians. Now that only my Weibo is willing to fight for the country, shouldn't we give more of the land and wealth we gain?"

"Furthermore, since the local areas have surplus funds and provisions, they should be supplied to the central government. However, I fear they cannot be used effectively... The taxes do not go into the Left Treasury but into the Great Treasury, which is controlled by various eunuchs. Who knows whose pockets they will ultimately end up in?"

Du and Gao nodded in agreement: "The General's concerns are very valid."

Both men respected the emperor's authority and maintained the stability of the Tang Dynasty. Their basic political ideals were not much different from Yan Zhenqing's, but their status was different. Yan Zhenqing was a court official and the military governor of Weibo appointed by the emperor, while the two men were just successful candidates in the imperial examination and were summoned to Li Ji's staff. Therefore, without harming the country too much, they were willing to give more consideration to the interests of local governments and small groups.

After testing him, Li Ji was very pleased and instructed Du Huangshang: "You have always been very intelligent. I suggest that you take charge of transporting grain and silk, as well as the memorials requesting the administration of the prefectures under the jurisdiction of the Tianxiong and Wushun armies, and go to Chang'an. The official in charge of submitting memorials, Lu Qi, is also quite shrewd and has many connections with important officials and even the Crown Prince. You can discuss with him and try to get more rewards for Weibo."

“I do not aspire to occupy six states, but since I have made such a great contribution, Weibo cannot be limited to just two states—please ask for a few more states for me.”

Du Huangshang bowed and accepted the order.

Post-war relief and compensation work was a complex matter, keeping Li Ji busy for several days. In the meantime, he instructed Gao Ying to draft an official document and send it to Fuyang, questioning Xue Song: "What's wrong with your brother? He fled before even engaging the enemy, almost causing the annihilation of my entire army! Commander Xue, you have to give me an explanation."

Li Ji had previously treated Xue Song with relative courtesy. Firstly, Weibo only comprised two prefectures and 30,000 troops, requiring the Zhaoyi Army as strong reinforcements. Secondly, the mouth of the Yongji Canal ultimately fell under the control of the Zhaoyi Army, and the import of warhorses and iron ore, as well as the export of silk, all depended on the Xue family. But now, with his great victory and the Zhaoyi Army suffering heavy losses—all killed during their escape—why not seize this opportunity to pressure Xue Song and force him to submit?

At the end of October, Fuyang sent a delegation led by Xue Song's fourth brother, Xue Ji, who presented Xue Song's reply, repeatedly apologizing and promising to reduce the price of iron sold to Weibo by 20% as compensation. This was expected—Xue Song was a loyal confidant, especially at this time, how could he dare to turn against Li Ji? But what was unexpected was that Xue Ji also presented a woman as a gift…

It was the woman playing the ruan whom I had seen twice at the banquet—Hongxian.

Li Ji was taken aback.

It was common for nobles and scholars to exchange concubines, and besides, Hongxian was still a virgin, her hair uncombed. She possessed both talent and beauty, making her the perfect apology gift. However, Li Ji, though not a paragon of virtue, hadn't expressed any affection for the girl—primarily because he felt she was too young—just because I glanced at her a few times at the banquet that day, Old Xue, do you really think this apology gift will be of any use?

I glanced at her because I noticed she had some skill. If I liked it... I could just openly admire her. Since she was going to play the ruan (a traditional Chinese stringed instrument) at the banquet, shouldn't she let people see it?

He waved his hand to decline, but Xue Ji pleaded, "Please, Commander Li, set aside your men for now. My elder brother has a few words from his heart that he wants me to convey to you."

After his attendants withdrew, Xue Ji moved closer and whispered, "The woman I am presenting today is named Hongxian, the woman my elder brother loves, Qingyi. But she is not only beautiful and skilled at playing the ruan (a traditional Chinese stringed instrument), but also well-versed in the classics and history. She has also learned extraordinary arts from a strange man, allowing her to leap high and low, landing silently. She carries a dragon-patterned dagger and can remove a person's internal organs within twenty paces with unerring accuracy..."

Upon hearing this, Li Ji frowned slightly, thinking to himself, "This skill is similar to my wife's... Could she also be a disciple of Jiao Jingzhen? I do have a deep connection with this school."

"...Therefore, my elder brother often had him guards by his side and put him in charge of writing documents. Everyone in the mansion called him the 'inner secretary.' Otherwise, how could a mere woman like Ruan have been enough to repay the courtesy and ask to serve Commander Li?"

Li Ji refused, saying, "Since she is the one whom Commander Xue loves, how could I possibly take her?"

Xue Ji continued to explain: "My elder brother loves this girl, but he refuses to take her as a concubine. He treats her as his own daughter and always thinks about marrying her off to a good family in the future. My fifth brother, Xue E, also loves this girl and always asks to be her concubine. My elder brother refuses, but he keeps pestering me. My elder brother is always worried that if something happens, the red thread of fate will eventually be taken away by my fifth brother, like a bright pearl covered in dust."

"Li Shuai is a hero of our time, and in his youth, truly a perfect match. Therefore, my elder brother sent me with this red thread, as if to marry off a daughter, wishing to establish a marriage alliance between us, thus strengthening the bond between our two families. I earnestly request that Li Shuai accept this offer and not refuse my elder brother's good intentions—for if Li Shuai refuses the red thread now that it has arrived, it would be an insult, and he would likely have no face to live on in this world..."

Li Ji thought to himself, "Surely it can't be that bad? To commit suicide if a marriage doesn't go through? This woman's chastity is off the charts!" But if she really was such a remarkable woman, skilled in both literature and martial arts, and she stayed with that old man Xue Song, perhaps she would eventually be taken by that good-for-nothing Xue E. I do feel a little sorry for her...

He then asked Xue Ji, "General Xue gave me this red thread; is there anything else I can do for you?"

Xue Ji clasped his hands and said, “To tell you the truth, the court has issued an edict ordering my elder brother to go to Chang’an to pay homage. The previous defeat in Zhangbei was all due to my fifth brother’s cowardice. My elder brother has already punished him, but I fear that the court does not understand the situation and insists on blaming him… I earnestly request that Commander Li submit a memorial to clarify the truth for my elder brother and implore His Majesty to be lenient and forgiving.”

Li Ji understood and thought to himself that this idea was most likely Li Bi's, and he really knew how to seize opportunities!