Love Affairs in Chang'an - Chapter 457
Chapter 457 Shocking
On the banks of the Wei River, 300,000 troops were camped for a hundred li, and civilian workers were gathered like ants on horses and spirals like clouds. Someone looked down from a distance from Zhongnan Mountain. This was like a large military camp, and its scale was no less than Chang’an’s!
Fang Xuanling and the others, who were in charge of logistics, were the most clear. The emperor for this personal expedition, changan taicang all the grain reserves out. Just grain alone, if they were all piled up together, it would be almost the size of the entire Taiji Palace. This was not counting the other weapons, armor, and supplies! As for this grain, it was not enough for the 300,000 troops and 180,000 peasant workers to eat for the first half of the year.
In recent years, there have been many wars, and the granaries in Chang’an are almost empty. However, the prosperity and wealth of the Tang Dynasty reflected its value at this time.
Li Shimin quoted from the Sui Shu compiled by Wei Zheng and the others and said to the officials, “A country without nine years of storage is not enough, a country without six years of storage is urgent, and a country without three years of storage is not a country. Don’t use the excuse of’insufficient money ‘to stop me from personally conquering Heluo. Didn’t there still be countless grain left in the Heluo area? Even in the former Sui Dynasty, there was grain stored in Meng Jin’s River Yang Cang, Hui Luo Cang, and Bai Ya Cang; I have also stored grain in luoyang’s henan warehouse, containing fine warehouse. What is the use of storing grain? Now that the country was in trouble, could it be that the soldiers were still hungry to kill the enemy? I want the Tibetans to know that the strength of the Central Plains and the richness of the Great Tang are unimaginable! Fang Xuanling was right in saying that what he fought was money-what did he, Qizong Nongzan, use to fight with me! –Send me an order to send twenty thousand commoners to Luoyang to collect grain. We must guarantee that the army will bring three years of grain! ”
Everyone was speechless.
It had been so many years since the founding of the country. As an emperor, Li Shimin had always been a diligent housekeeper. But now, he was actually ruthlessly trying to “lose his family”!
In front of Big Fei, Li Shimin once again demonstrated his unparalleled determination and courage.
Will be suspicious, the morale is timid; Emperor confusion, the officials panicked.
And vice versa.
Even though they still had different thoughts and opinions in their hearts, no one else jumped out to criticize or prevent this war from happening. In the entire Manchu Dynasty, the entire country had worked together to deal with this unprecedented “country war”!
There were only two days left before the Emperor set the date for his departure. The grain in Heluo area was finally delivered in time. BingGe horses, army probably also take care of; The officials accompanying the soldiers of the three armies had also taken their positions. They only waited for Li Shimin’s order to send the three hundred thousand troops to the Kansai battlefield.
In the Imperial Study Room of Taiji Palace’s Martial De Palace.
Li Shimin called the personal attendant to retrieve his favourite set of Bright Light Battle Frames. He propped it up on the armor frame and was carefully wiping it himself.
At first glance, one could tell that this armor had already been around for a few years, and it was inferior to any bright armor stored in the Weapons Department. However, Li Shimin loved this armor and kept it as if it were a treasure. He took it out to admire and personally wiped it, never putting his hands on others.
Back then, it was wearing this armor that he defeated Wang Shichong in Luoyang and established Li Tang’s hegemonic foundation in one fell swoop. It was also wearing this armor, he, Qin Shubao, Cheng Zhijie and a few other tiger generals, with only three thousand five hundred profound armor army, rushed into the Tiger Prison Guan Dou Jiande’s hundred thousand troops killed a few in and out, and finally defeated Dou Jiande’s hundred thousand troops, and captured it alive!
Now, the young genius commander who had created a world-shocking military myth, who was heroic and valiant before the Tiger Prison Pass, was now the ruler of a country. He also had the belly and long beard of the middle-aged and old man.
However, there were still saber and sword wounds on the armor.
“Peace without forgetting martial matters. I am not old yet, and the Great Tang will never be old.” As he wiped his armor, Li Shimin softly chanted, “The armor is still here, and he’s gone … How many of the old friends who followed us in the Southern expedition and Northern war are still alive? … Uncle Bao, I want to kill you again to take the head of a million troops. Are you willing to accept this?”
Li Shimin was the only one in the Imperial Study who spoke solemnly, seemingly sad and heroic.
At this moment, someone suddenly broke into the room.
“How dare you!” Li Shimin was instantly enraged. Such unreasonableness was truly damaging to the scenery!
The intruder was also shocked. He hurriedly knelt down and said in panic, “Your Majesty, forgive me! Forgive me! I’m so excited that I forgot the courtesy of a monarch and subject for a moment. I’m willing to ask Your Majesty to be magnanimous and forgive me for my death!”
“Chu Suiliang?” Li Shimin saw the person clearly and his anger instantly dissipated. Because Chu Suiliang was not only his trusted confidant, but he had always been a steady and experienced person who never acted rashly and ignored etiquette. Something that could make him so panicked and indescribable must be a heaven-shaking event!
“Your Majesty, please report-” Chu Suiliang knelt on the ground. He was so excited that he trembled. His voice had changed a little, and he could no longer beg for forgiveness. He hurriedly said, “I just received … a copy of the military report from Lanzhou!”
After saying that, Chu Suiliang held a yellow silk-wrapped memorial high above his head.
Li Shimin’s expression froze the moment he saw this memorial, and his pupils shrunk sharply.
Yellow silk memorial, has always been dedicated to the emperor before the imperial visit, even the prime minister also have no right to see; However, not everyone was able to do so, and the Emperor had to personally grant him the privilege of “directly inviting him”-and in Lanzhou, Li Shimin had only given Qin Mubai this kind of power! !
As a close confidant of the Emperor, Chu Suiliang was naturally quite clear about this.
“Horn!”
Li Shimin shook off the cloth used to wipe his armor with one hand and strode forward to grab the memorial from Chu Suiliang.
The yellow silk was removed and a thick stack of military memorials was contained in a brocade wooden box. When Li Shimin saw Qi Zhang raise his head, he couldn’t help but feel his breathing quicken–
“Sin minister, the general manager of the Kansai Dao army, Qin Liang, bowed to His Majesty the Emperor for a hundred times and stopped to weep-”
…
Chu Suiliang knelt on the ground and carefully raised his head. Seeing Li Shimin standing there like this, his eyes widened like copper bells as he carefully looked at the memorial, repeatedly reading it at least three times. During this time, Li Shimin’s beard trembled and his expression changed.
Chu Suiliang knew that this was most likely a military report from Qin Mubai, but wasn’t Qin Mubai dead? … He was beating drums in his heart, but he didn’t dare to ask, nor did he dare to get up from his knees. This kneeling lasted for half an hour.
“Chu Suiliang, get up.” Li Shimin finally realized that there was a person kneeling in front of him.
“Thank you … Your Majesty.” Chu Suiliang struggled to get up and smiled bitterly.
“Nianzai has a reason. I will punish you for breaking into the palace just now.” Li Shimin smiled self-deprecatingly. His tone had returned to normal and he said to Chu Suiliang, “Immediately pass down the decree, Hundred Officials Shangchao!”
“Now?”
“Immediately!”
“This lowly official obeys the decree!!”
When he left the imperial study, Chu Suiliang felt his knees aching and his entire body weak, but in his heart, there was a storm that could not be calmed down. Although he could not guess what was written in the yellow silk memorial, he was sure that today’s court meeting would be another one-a stone-shattering event!
Two hours later, inside the main hall of the Martial Palace, Jin Luan.
Li Shimin, who was wearing a dragon robe and was sitting under the dragon chair, looked around at the officials below who were holding their breath and concentrating on their suspicions. He broke the silence and said loudly,
“I have suddenly summoned all the ministers because I have an important matter to announce. Furthermore, I must announce it now, and I can’t delay for a moment.”
All the officials were stunned-the emperor was actually trying to play tricks on them?
Everyone raised their eyes in puzzlement. They carefully peeked at the emperor who stood high above them. His face was bright red, and in his hand was a thick memorial book-the Yellow Silk Memorial!
“Listen carefully.” Li Shimin suddenly spoke loudly, scaring all the officials in the hall.
“What I want to announce is–I will not go to the imperial carriage to personally conquer.”
“Huh?–”
The entire hall cried out in alarm. Apart from Chu Suiliang, almost everyone else was dumbfounded.
Everyone had guessed several reasons in their hearts, but none of them had guessed this one!
Li Shimin sat quietly on the dragon chair with a mysterious and playful smile on his face. He looked at the surprised expressions of the civil and military officials of the entire dynasty.
Li Shi didn’t stop the crowd from speculating, and his expression was quite satisfied. After a long time, the court finally quieted down. Everyone widened their eyes and pricked up their ears, waiting for the Emperor to give them a reasonable reason to order the world to fight resolutely, and then suddenly cancel the personal expedition.
If this reason was unreasonable, even if Li Shimin’s sovereign might had already reached its peak, it would definitely attract a wave of resentment and indignation!
“I know. All of you are waiting for me to give you a reason to break your promise.” Li Shimin patted the yellow silk memorial on the imperial table and said, “Actually, my reason is very simple-using a cow knife to kill chickens, why should I add more snakes? Someone has already beaten Gaer Qinling half to death and wiped out half of Tibet’s national luck. Why should I join in the fun and compete for any credit?”
“Ah?!”
Once again, the entire hall was in an uproar!
Li Shimin raised his hand to signal the officials to stop making noise. Then, he got up from the dragon chair and walked down the Golden Jade Treasure Hall with the yellow silk memorial in his hand. He said, “Just like when Apothecary Li pacified the Turkic capture of Jie Li Khan, did I ever leave this Taiji Palace for half a step?” Even Apothecary Li hadn’t left Chang’an for half a step now, but there were still people who were able to make such unparalleled contributions! In the Great Tang Empire, there were a large number of talented people gathered, and there was more than one hero in Han Shi who was as stunning as Apothecary Li. Hence, even the officials and generals can handle this matter, do you still need me to personally do it? –Therefore, I will not go to the imperial carriage to personally conquer. ”
Li Shimin was sure to sell it at this juncture today. The officials were both confused and anxious, all of them scratching their hearts. Everyone stared at the yellow silk memorial in his hand. Finally, someone couldn’t help but ask, “May I know who the ‘Hero of the Han Dynasty’ His Majesty is referring to?”
“Kansai Road’s marching general, Qin Mubai.”
Eleven words shocked the heavens! …
“Chu Suiliang!”
“I’m here!”
“Your voice is good. Come and chant this memorial in public.” Li Shimin’s expression was filled with gratification and heroism. It could even be said that he was somewhat complacent. He almost wrote the words “This time, he really has too long a face” on his face. He said, “Let everyone here hear every word clearly, and then spread the praise to all the people of the world!”
“This lowly official obeys the decree!!” Chu Suiliang left the class and respectfully and carefully received the memorial from Li Shimin.
“Although I have seen it countless times without missing a single word, I am still willing to listen to you once more!” After saying that, Li Shimin walked back to the throne and sat down in the dragon chair. He said loudly, “Because I have never seen such a shocking military report memorial in the more than ten years since I ascended the throne!”
