711 End of the War (2/2)
”The loss of some elderly, women and children, ordinary people, the burning of villages in the fields and the destruction of small towns can save an army and might bring a millennium of peace to the Tang Empire...You are right if we look at it this way. In fact, it might even be a wise decision and a calm response.”
After a moment of silence, Chao Xiaoshu said, ”But there is not only just Chang'an City in the Tang Empire. Those old, weak, women and children, ordinary farmers are also Tangs; those villages in the fields and the run down small towns are also part of the Tang Empire.”
Li Yu said, ”So... you want to take the Valiant Cavalry Battalion to the east?”
Chao Xiaoshu replied, ”Yes. If the late Emperor were still alive, he would have done so long ago.”
Li Yu said, ”You would do this even though you know that the Valiant Cavalry Battalion cannot change the situation in the east at all?”
Chao Xiaoshu said, ”We must at least let the people on that land know that the Tang Empire has not forgotten them.”
After a long silence, Li Yu said, ”I will not give you the first edict.”
Chao Xiaoshu replied, ”Thank you, Your Highness.”
When Li Yu was meeting everyone in the imperial study, her younger brother, Li Huiyuan was talking to those in his own palace. However, the conversation was not pleasant.
He Mingchi glanced at the dark night outside the palace and turned around to look at Li Huiyuan who was livid. He said, ”Chao Xiaoshu is in the imperial study, but I don't know what he and Her Highness are talking about.”
Li Huiyuan waved his arm around anxiously, screaming, ”Royal Sister will deal with those things. Why would you care about that? I'm asking you if there's anyway to contact those from the West-Hill Divine Palace.”
He Mingchi bowed slightly and replied, ”Your Majesty, even if we can contact the West-Hill Divine Palace, we cannot make them change their minds. You have to know that the Divine Hall has already issued the rescript and both parties have already fallen out.”
Li Huiyuan paused when he heard that, his expression turning ugly and his right hand trembled incessantly. He wanted to pick up the teacup on the table and drink from it, but almost knocked it to the ground instead.
”Quickly think of a way.”
He said, ”If we cannot contact the West-Hill Divine Palace, then quickly think of a way to contact General Xu Shi. Tell him that the West-Hill Divine Palace is on the way to attack him.”
He Mingchi was slightly startled when he heard that. ”Your Majesty...do you wish for everyone to find out about this matter?”
Li Huiyuan looked up slowly and glared at him viciously. He said coldly, ”Even if the military finds out that I have once tried to ally with our enemies and tried to kill the Defender-general of the State, I have to change the tides of this situation!”
”I had thought it was just Long Qing with the grassland cavalry harassing the borders. But I had not expected it to turn out into a war! I have to protect the Tang Empire and the general. Go do it immediately!”
Chao Xiaoshu left the Imperial Palace.
He did not take an imperial edict with him. Instead, he received a letter written by Li Yu.
Li Yu was now governing the country. With the letter, and coupled with the fact that he was friends with the commander of the Valiant Cavalry Battalion, he was confident that he could take the battalion out of Chang'an.
After his return to the second street of Spring Breeze Pavilion, the Chao Mansion set up a banquet and invited actors to perform.
At a time when the Tang Empire was on the verge of collapse, such an action was rather infuriating.
However, no matter the guests who attended the banquet, Linzi who hugged the crying child silently, or the old master Chao who held his crutch calmly, not one raised any objections.
This was a farewell banquet, a banquet to send off someone.
Supervisor Song left the palace.
According to Li Yu's wishes, he first went to the Qinghe Guild Hall and met with the disciples of the Qinghe County warlords and had a long talk with Old Master Cui's second son.
Then, he brought Second Young Master Cui back to his manor, held a banquet and invited more than ten singers to add on to the festivities.
After the banquet ended, Supervisor Song drank himself unconscious.
The censor's wife looked at him in distress. She said, ”It's bad to drink too much. Furthermore, you are the censor and you shouldn't do something like this at this time. You might be attacked for this.”
Supervisor Song opened his eyes and looked at the curtains on the top of the bed. After a long silence, he suddenly smiled and said, ”There are many types of banquets. There are banquets for farewell and sending people off. The banquet tonight was for the palace to see. I want the palace to think that we are drinking in remembrance of our old friends in our hometown.”
”Would the imperial court trust us from Qinghe County completely? There are secret guards following me, the Second Young Master Cui and all the other disciples of warlords from the Qinghe Guild Hall all year round.”
”So we will all die in the end.”
”The wine tonight was to allow us to boost our courage.”
”But for the sake of a thousand generations, even the wine of death must be consumed.”
Darkness enshrouded the Xiao Mountain.
There was a military camp at the foot of Xiao Mountain made up of more than ten military tents. There were not many people there.
Painful coughs came out of one of the tents.
Xu Shi was already very old. The wrinkles on his face and his worsening lung ailment proved this. However, he would not allow himself to collapse, especially at a time like this.
He was the Tang Empire Defender-general of the State and led the Tang military. He was trusted and loved by the Emperor. He had been stationed in the Southern Army for the past few years as the humid air in the south was better for his health.
The Xiaoshan mountain was a few hundred miles from the Southern Army. However, it was closer to the north and his lung ailment acted up again. The old general's chest was like a broken drum, and everyone in the camp could feel his pain.
In the battle for the throne, the most powerful general Xu Shi had remained silent. Because of their wariness against the Academy, many people, including the Li siblings were all suspicious that he secretly supported the Empress. However, the facts had proven that he did not support anyone else but the late Emperor.
When the Emperor died, he supported His Majesty's edict, so he now supported Li Yu and her brother. However, when the imperial edict calling him back to the capital did not reach the Southern Army, he began to feel that something was wrong with the matter.
He brought more than a hundred soldiers and left the Southern Army, entering the forests and headed for Chang'an.
In the night, beneath the Xiao Mountain.
Wang Jinglue once again questioned the general's decision. Xu Shi glared at him and rapped out, ”When the general is away, he can choose to follow the Emperor's order selectively. What's more, the Emperor has gone missing!”
Later on, when Wang Jinglue thought back to this, he sighed with regret. When one grew old, they would tend to become like children and act rashly. General Xu Shi was in a hurry to return to Chang'an because he was worried about the country. But when he thought about it deeper, perhaps he was just eager to see His Majesty for one last time.