Chapter 401 - Not to Forget (1/2)

Chapter 401 Not to ForgetBecause Zhu Wen was trying his best to fight and the soldiers of the Xuanwu Army were experienced and elite, it wasn’t easy for the 20,000 to 30,000 soldiers who stayed in Pinglu to hold out for a month.

Even if Shangguan Qingcheng led the elite cavalry and rode back with light packs quickly, it was unlikely to make a difference.

Moreover, the demon clan might not be able to take advantage of anything because the cultivators of the Immortal Court were helping Zhu Wen.

However, Li Ye still didn’t intend to return to Pinglu first and stabilize the situation. As long as he went back to Pinglu, it would affect the battle situation very much.

When Song Jiao asked about it afterward, Li Ye gave her his own reason.

The reason was simple. “It’s because Cui Keli is a Confucian scholar.”

With her intelligence, Song Jiao soon understood Li Ye’s meaning. “Do you want to test the attitude of Confucianism and its arrangements in the world?”

Li Ye nodded and said with deep eyes, “The Taoist Immortal Court has ruled heaven and earth for a long time. Any class that plays the role of a ruler for a long time will always have annoying behaviors. But Confucianism is different. Their ideal is always great order throughout the world and to help the common people to live in peace. It means that they will choose the right ruler. It is the foundation of Confucianism to choose the right ruler and realize the ideal of great unity.”

“So you think Confucianism might choose you?” Song Jiao had a teasing smile. She was considerate, but she was unwilling to show it easily.

Then, she changed the subject and sneered. “Most of the officials in the world come from Confucianism, but they are no different from Taoists. No matter what ideals they have, once they encounter the powerful and wealthy people, they will give way to them. Dong Zhongshu even spoke out the words of ‘God grants the emperor power’. It can be seen that they have forgotten their ancestors in order for Confucianism to enter the center of power.”

Li Ye didn’t comment. “The world is in chaos, after all. There are always changes in the chaotic world.”

Song Jiao thought for a while. “What if Confucianism doesn’t choose you?”

Li Ye said lightly, “It doesn’t matter whether Confucianism chooses me or not. What matters is whether they choose Zhu Wen or not. Zhu Wen is completely different now from the time during the Huang Chao Uprising, so we should sit up and take notice. We’re going to fight Zhu Wen. I have to know his ins and outs.”

Song Jiao asked, “How will you know that?”

Li Ye said, “If Confucianism chooses Zhu Wen, Cui Keli will open the gate of Pinglu and welcome him in.”

Song Jiao was a little stunned. “Cui Keli is your uncle! Will the Cui family really do that?”

Li Ye laughed. “When facing the country, even father and son will harm each other, and there’s no room for family affection.”

Song Jiao said in a deep voice, “So you are gambling!”

Li Ye said, “The bet is Pinglu.”

Song Jiao said coldly, “Pinglu is your foundation!”

Li Ye said, “If we can figure out the choice and the arrangements of Confucianism, the five prefectures of Pinglu are worth of gambling.”

Song Jiao was speechless.

Li Ye’s gaze gradually became as sharp as a blade. “This is a competitive world!”

Affected by him, Song Jiao also had murderous intents in her eyes. “So we have to capture Hedong, and there is no room for mistakes!”

…

Although Li Ye was willing to use Pinglu for gambling, it didn’t mean that he had to give it up. Otherwise, he wouldn’t send Shangguan Qingcheng and her troops back to help. Even if Cui Keli opened the gate of Qing Prefecture, Shangguan Qingcheng would hold the two prefectures in the west of Pinglu and wait for Li Ye’s reinforcements with more than 20,000 elite cavalrymen and the coordination of the demon clan.

The sweep across all the prefectures of Hedong went surprisingly well. It was because Li Ye received the surrender letters from several prefectures before his troops set out from Taiyuan.

Actually, the Inspector Generals of these prefectures were not surrendering because they all claimed to be loyal to the Tang Empire.

They sang the praises of Li Ye in their letters. They praised Li Ye for driving away Li Keyong who had wild ambition and for saving ordinary people of Hedong from an abyss of suffering. They also justified themselves that they never meant to be rebels.

Of course, Li Ye knew that these Inspector Generals were afraid that he would punish them, so they rushed to show their loyalty when Li Keyong lost the general trend.

This was also the effect of Li Ye’s previous arrangements.

When he attacked Qinzhou, he treated the Inspector General with courtesy and didn’t blame the Qinzhou officials. However, when he attacked Fenzhou, his attitude was severe. After the war, he took them into custody and was ready to send them to Chang’an for punishment by the imperial court by the reason of their refusal to welcome the Imperial Army.

In the final analysis, it was because Li Ye was very powerful and the sweep of Hedong was a foregone conclusion. If these Inspector Generals didn’t hurry to show their loyalty, they would end up losing their official positions and dead.

Li Ye was pleased that things were going well. Fewer wars meant fewer casualties, and money, food, and ordnance would be saved. After all, he was going to fight Zhu Wen next.

Most of the prefectures of Hedong which hadn’t been captured surrendered in the next few days, and the situation was very good. Li Ye didn’t want to talk much with these Inspector Generals and punish them. The soldiers who were ready to attack these places naturally didn’t need to take action anymore.

Kang Chengqian, Xue Wei, and the other regretted that.

After all, they knew that it wouldn’t be difficult to fight these prefectures. And once they captured the cities, they could make a fortune. Because of fewer wars, they had fewer chances to rob money.

They were bound to have less money, but they still had the merit of suppressing the rebels by following the Imperial Army. Kang Chengqian and the others would definitely get promoted after the war, so they didn’t have complaints.

Of course, not all the prefectures of Hedong followed the trend and surrendered. Daizhou was one of them. The reason was simple. Li Keyong fled there with thousands of troops and took control of the city.

…

A few days later, after Li Ye dealt with all kinds of political and military affairs and was ready to go north, someone met him at night.

Feihong Bodhisattva.

Li Ye finished reviewing the last document on the desk in front of the window. When he put down the jade brush and looked up, through the windowsill, he saw Feihong Bodhisattva standing on the roof across a courtyard.

The windowsill limited Li Ye’s view, but it also outlined a complete picture of the artistic conception.

The bright full moon was falling on the broad cornice, and the tiles were covered with snow-white light. The nearby locust trees were luxuriant, and the leaves rustled of complete rhythm in the wind.

Feihong Bodhisattva in a white dress stood quietly on the cocked corner of the cornice, with her hair flying in front of the bright moon. She was holding a wine jar in her hand. No one knew how long she had been standing there. It was so long that she and the moonlight Integrated into each other.

Li Ye had been busy with common affairs these days but neglected the agreement with her.

“I’m going back to Land Buddhism soon, but you haven’t invited me for the wine you promised me,” she said.

Li Ye was a little distracted.