712 The Rainy Night at Xiao Mountain, Red Waters in the Clear River (2/2)
The manors of the Qinghe County warlords were all located on the banks of Fuchun River. The Cui Family manor was, of course, located on the most beautiful winding section of the stone bank and by the best looking part of the forest.
However, it was located in the wilderness in the south. So while the forests were beautiful, they were far from steep.
It was still as dark as before in a small building deep inside the Cuiyuan Garden.
Old master Cui handed the hot towel to his son behind him and looked at the six silver-haired old men sitting in chairs. He sighed and said, ”Haotian is merciful. There is finally an unprecedented change in the situation that we can witness before our deaths.”
One of the old men said calmly, ”Intentions have been set since years ago. The ancestral teachings of all clans have never forgotten how our country was defeated. We just have to carefully consider the details.”
Old master Cui said calmly, ”As for the specifics, the descendants of the clan can carry them out. The families of Qinghe have existed for many years, there will not be any problems.”
”Senior Brother is right. However, there are various descendants of our clans in Chang'an working as officials or studying. The Li family would not allow us the opportunity to extradite them out of the city. What are we to do?”
”Other than thinking that we cannot bear the sudden change in situation, Princess Li Yu trusts us old men because she believes that we will not harm those of our flesh and blood.”
Old master Cui said dryly, ”However, what she doesn't know is that the families of Qinghe have planned to restore our nation since hundreds of years ago. This is not a sudden change to us. She has also never imagined that we would be willing to sacrifice even more people, much less a few hundred noble descendants for this cause.”
Looking at the myriad of expressions on the faces of the old men, old master Cui smiled and said, ”You do not have to feel sad right now. As long as the war progresses smoothly and the Li family plans for the future, they might not even dare to kill our descendants. They might even provide for them.”
”However, can the war really progress smoothly?”
”Haotian Taoism had planned this for many years. The Tangs have lived in luxury and extravagance. Now that the Northeast Border Military has been felled, the Golden Palace is moving southwards. The Hierarch Lord has personally come out, so Xu Shi would definitely die. As long as Qinghe County opens a convenient door, the West-Hill Divine Palace army and the Jin army will march north. It would be unsure whether the Tang Empire will fall, but it can be sure that Chang'an would never be able to lord over us ever again.”
”Speaking of which, I would also like to thank that Mr. Thirteen of the Academy. If it weren't for his protecting the Daughter of Yama, the Headmaster wouldn't have been punished to death by Heaven. If he hadn't killed the Yan Crown Prince with an arrow on the Wilderness, the Yan Emperor wouldn't be be so mad to activate the entire nation.”
Old master Cui said with a smile, ”Qinghe County will succeed in its nation restoration. When we build a stele beside Fuchun river to record this great event, you must not forget to add the name of Ning Que on it.”
The sound of old men chortling rang in the small building.
The history of Qinghe county's families was longer than that of most countries. A thousand years ago, this was originally a relaxed country where warlords took turns to rule.
According to clan etiquette, The Cui and Song warlords maintained a strong cohesive force while Qinghe County was like an iron plate operated by them. No matter how Chang'an tried to split them up or to alienate them, they could only touch the outermost layer but were unable to reach into the core of Qinghe county.
Now in Qinghe County and Yangguan City, the city guards, the state army generals, and even the over 1,000 middle-and low-ranking officials, they were either the descendants of the warlords, or people who shared vital interests with he warlords.
Even the Tang navy, which was heavily guarded by the imperial court had also been infiltrated by the families of Qinghe County. It was not that Chang'an was not vigilant enough. When the navy recruited, there were many from Qinghe County who had applied. But the citizens of Qinghe County were not really Tang citizens, but were more under the control of the warlords.
As time passed, the previously unassuming officers and soldiers of the navy, toiled and accumulated meritorious military service, eventually gaining relatively important positions. Although the senior generals of the navy were appointed by Chang'an city and transferred from other places, the middle and lower levels of the navy were firmly under the control of Qinghe County.
One day in the autumn of Tianqi's 18th year.
There was a storm at the western foot of Xiao Mountain. However, it was sunny in Qinghe County, which was on the eastern side, and the autumn wind brought cold relief.
Yangguan City's government gathered officials to discuss the important matter of gathering troops to cooperate with the navy to resist the enemy invading from the south.
All the officials arrived as they were ordered.
After a few cups of tea, Yangguan City government department chief Zhong Da Jun entered with a smile.
The doors to the government building closed slowly.
The officials looked at each other and wondered what was happening.
Zhong Da Jun waved his hand.
Furious rebukes and painful cries rang in the building.
Fresh blood stained the green-tiled floors.
Almost at the same time.
The families of Qinghe County invited the generals of the Tang navy to an area on the bank of Fuchun river to discuss the war.
Fresh blood stained the Fuchun River red.
No matter how powerful the warlords of Qinghe County were, they would not be able to completely defeat officials and generals loyal to the imperial court. Therefore, in the sunny autumn day, several battles broke out in Qinghe County and Yangguan City.
According to the statistics afterward, more than 300 Tang Empire officials were beheaded, more than 1,000 Tang navy officers ranging from their commanding general to auxiliary soldiers died and more than 1,000 people were transported to the mountains downstream from Fuchun River to do forced labor.
If one party had planned for a rebellion for millennia while the other party was not aware of it, then the outcome of the rebellion had already been decided. The only thing that could affect the outcome of this was the feelings of the people.
The feelings of the people in Qinghe County were complex.
They were accustomed to the fact that the warlords ruled them and they have made no secret regarding their superiority and contempt for the Tangs from other counties. They did not have any affection for Chang'an.
However, they had lived under the rule of the Tang Empire for so many years after all and had lived as Tangs for many years. They had felt the glory of the Tang Empire countless times and were proud of it.
But... they were going to betray the Tang Empire now?
The young people of Qinghe county especially, including warlords' descendants, were completely unable to accept this matter and could not believe what was happening at the moment.
However, just as they were preparing to voice their opinions, their elderly grandfathers and stern fathers showed up and dragged them back to their clan temples. They were ordered to kneel before their ancestors' memorial tablets as they listened to their grandfathers and fathers recounting the sad history of Qinghe county's defeat, and watched as they reminisced the glory of the old days with tearfull eyes.
The young people of Qinghe County had not forgotten that period in history, but they loved the Tang Empire more and they loved being proud citizens of the Empire. That was why the words of their forefathers carried little weight on them.
However... could they raise their swords and slaughter their families?
In the autumn of Tianqi's 18th year.
The Headmaster ascended to Heaven.
The Emperor passed away.
The Academy closed its doors.
The Northeast Border Military was wiped out in Capital Cheng.
The army of the Golden Palace moved south.
Qinghe County betrayed the Tang Empire.
The West-Hill Divine Palace and tens of thousands of troops from the South Jin Kingdom stormed the empire.
Defender-general of the State Xu Shi died in battle.
Following that, the Yuelun Kingdom military marched into the Pamir Mountains.
To vanquish the Tang Empire.
It seemed inevitable that the Tang Empire would fall.
Right at this moment.
A young man in black was traveling through the depths of the Wilderness.
He had awoken not long ago.
He talked to the moon every night since his awakening.
He missed his teacher and wife.
He did not know what had happened in the human realm.
But could he change anything if he knew about it?