Chapter 167
In the city of Changan, another peaceful morning began. Just a month had passed since news of the significant victory in the southwest had arrived, where the grand army had conquered the plateau and defeated the Tibetan forces. The people of Changan were still immersed in the joy of this triumph, unable to escape its influence.
Throughout this month, every corner of the streets and alleys in Changan buzzed with discussions about the Southwest victory. No one had expected that an even more sensational surprise was quietly approaching.
Before the first light of dawn broke, the distant gates of Changan’s city walls slowly opened. Dozens of messengers, each carrying a small flag, were already waiting there. They urged their warhorses forward and galloped towards the city.
Moments later, the sound of urgent messages filled the air in Changan. “Success in the Western Regions! Our army has achieved a major victory at the Onion Ridge, defeating a coalition of a million troops from various Western Region nations. General Su Li, leading the charge, defeated the leaders of eight nations, including Xue Yantu, Gao Chang, Shiguo, and the Khazars, capturing more than three thousand enemy soldiers. The nine tribes of the Tiele surrendered and offered their allegiance, causing turmoil among the Western Region nations…”
Even though it was still early, and the market stalls had not yet opened, the resounding tolls of the Jingyun Bell continued to ring one after another. The gates of all the 108 market districts swung open, and the officers from each district, adorned with military honors, stood respectfully at the entrances. Even the patrolling martial officers who hadn’t returned to their offices yet kneeled on one knee and pounded their chests as the messengers passed by. Even the gallants lingering in the pleasure quarters, preparing to return home for the night, stood on the sides of the street and bowed in deference.
The streets were filled with a proud parade of achievements, an unprecedented spectacle since the establishment of the Great Tang Dynasty, truly unfolding before the people’s eyes. Just awakened, the great city of Changan was now engulfed in excitement.
Inside the imperial palace, within the Hall of Martial Arts, Li Er, hastily awakened, stood barefoot on a massive map. His face was flushed, and his steps were unsteady. The area beneath his feet was none other than the vast Western Regions. Even though he was the revered figure of the empire, someone who had always remained calm and composed, Li Er couldn’t maintain his composure in the face of such monumental achievements.
“The Western Regions, pacified…” Li Er wanted to burst into laughter, but when he opened his mouth, he found his voice hoarse, unable to produce a coherent laugh. He turned his head in the direction of Mount Tai. His face twisted into a grin, and suddenly, he lowered his head, laughing until his voice was exhausted.
Father Emperor, you said that in battles and on the battlefield, I am superior to Li Jiancheng. But in governing the country, I am not as capable as him. Now, how do you see it? At this moment, for some reason, Li Er only recalled some past events.
When the Great Tang was newly established, Emperor of Tang Dynasty Li Yuan had designated Li Jiancheng as the Crown Prince and promptly bestowed upon Li Er the title of Prince of Qin. The Emperor of the Tang Dynasty often told Li Er that governing a country was different from conquering it on the battlefield. While Li Er was renowned for his prowess as a general, he lagged behind Li Jiancheng in matters of statecraft. Li Er had never agreed with his father’s assessment. As an emperor, civil governance and military prowess were equally indispensable in his eyes. Even if his skills in governance were somewhat lacking, as long as his martial prowess was supreme, who could deny that he was a competent emperor?
After the incidents of fratricide and fraternal strife, Li Er would often be awakened by nightmares. Despite his immense self-confidence, who could find inner peace after committing such deeds? Over the years, he dedicated himself to diligently governing from the emperor’s throne. Working tirelessly day and night, he aimed to prove himself to Li Yuan and demonstrate his worthiness to the entire realm.
Li Er was an emperor deserving of leaving an everlasting legacy. His demands on himself were high, naturally leading to immense pressure. This pressure, accumulated over time, only grew deeper. Governing a vast empire was similar to preparing a delicate dish. The myriad matters at hand often left Li Er feeling overwhelmed. Sometimes, he doubted whether he could truly realize his ideals. To cleanse himself of blemishes through extraordinary achievements! Yet, he suppressed such thoughts forcefully with his unwavering mental fortitude.
Now, with news of the pacification of the Western Regions suddenly arriving, Li Er no longer needed to restrain himself. He released all the accumulated frustrations from within him over the years. After all, it was the pacification of the Western Regions!
The accomplishments of Emperor Qin Shi Huang and Emperor Han Wu had been praised for a thousand years, but how could their achievements compare to his own as an emperor? Emperor of Tang Dynasty Taizong’s greatest achievement was the unification of the Central Plains. Yet, his military achievements on the foreign front were rather ordinary. To defend against the Xiongnu, he even expended great resources to build the Great Wall.
During his reign, the Xiongnu were not completely subdued, and after his passing, the Bayegu tribes in the southern mountains even established their own separate kingdom. Emperor Han Wu’s campaigns against the Xiongnu in the north only succeeded in expelling them from their original territories without truly eradicating them.
Li Shimin had realized the achievements they fell short of. When future generations recounted the illustrious history of China’s great emperors, he would undoubtedly occupy a distinguished position among them. Following this battle, the territory of the Great Tang nearly doubled in size, and the long-sealed Silk Road would soon be reopened. The future of the Great Tang held immense promise.
After a while, Li Er gradually calmed down from his extreme excitement and carefully examined the battle report. In this engagement, the Tang army once again faced the enemy head-on and decisively defeated them. The Tang forces shattered the coalition forces from the Western Regions, their morale collapsed, and they scattered in all directions.
As Li Er perused the battle report, his expression grew complex. “Su Li…” When he first learned of Su Li’s ability to use divination blocks to predict outcomes, Li Er was intrigued by the idea of having him join the military and fight in battles. At that time, a certain ambition had taken root in his mind – to groom Su Li into his own trusted general.
Since Su Li embarked on his military campaigns, reports of victory followed one after another. Each time, he managed to turn the tide against overwhelming odds, decisively defeating his opponents. Beneath the walls of Song Zhou City, a force of 150,000 Tibetan troops could not withstand him.
Even when the entire Tibetan nation rallied on the high plateau, sending a force of 400,000, he still broke through their defenses. And at the Kunlun Mountains, a coalition army of a million troops proved no more resilient than chaff in his presence.
According to confidential letters in the military reports, Su Li fought for an entire day, beheading more than three thousand enemies, yet showed no signs of exhaustion. As he looked at the battle reports, even Li Er himself couldn’t help but feel a strong sense of awe and trepidation.
That thought involuntarily surfaced in his mind again. Is there truly anyone among the commoners who can restrain him?
The art of being an emperor emphasized the art of balance. Yet, with each of Su Li’s military campaigns, his power exceeded any ordinary human’s capabilities.
Li Er couldn’t help but ponder if Su Li harbored malicious intentions one day. How would he respond? If a million-strong coalition from the Western Regions couldn’t hinder him, could the Tang Dynasty’s army of six hundred thousand truly stand against him? Li Er didn’t believe that Su Li had reached his utmost limit. He even believed Su Li’s power had nearly limitless potential among ordinary individuals.
Divine weapons and formidable tools were objects of desire for anyone. But if that weapon wasn’t under one’s control and could become a threat anytime, any emperor would likely find it difficult to rest. Once this notion took root, it became a persistent concern that Li Er couldn’t shake off.
At this moment, a strong sense of apprehension towards Su Li began to take hold within him.
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