Tang Dynasty Swordsman

Page 61

Qingluan stammered, "I'm not afraid of being taken away by you, my lord. I'm just afraid that tomorrow you'll have to return me to you..."

Upon hearing this, Li Ji's blood boiled, and he immediately reassured him, "Who said I'd hand you back? Even if the commander-in-chief gave the order, I wouldn't! At worst, I'll take you on my horse, sword and spear in hand, and fight my way out of Shanzhou—let's see who dares to stop me!" He then sneered, "I can wipe out the entire barbarian camp; Shanzhou is like a plain for horses!" Now that all the elite troops have been transferred to the front lines, who's left in Shanzhou? Who can stop me?

But no sooner had he uttered those bold words than his stomach betrayed him, suddenly growling loudly. This startled Qingluan, who was nestled in his arms, causing her to instinctively shrink away. Li Ji sighed, "Of course, I need to eat my fill first to have the strength."

"I've been away for several days, and I don't know if there's any food left in the kitchen. Maybe I should go to the market to buy some first, and then make mutton soup with flatbread for you, my lord."

Li Ji shook his head: "No need." He reached out and grabbed Qingluan's wrist: "Your heart is beating very fast, I can tell. How can you have the energy to cook soup again? Why don't we go to the market to find a place to eat, and then do our shopping? You can make soup dumplings for me tonight."

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The petition for resignation, jointly signed by the officials of the shogunate, was delivered to Li Tan that afternoon. Li Tan was furious: "How could Li Ji be so disregardful of the overall situation?!"

He had heard about the situation and deeply resented Li Ji's rudeness—and you were really going to snatch a woman, weren't you? It wasn't just out of righteous indignation that you went to reprimand Gao Sheng and his group for their daytime feasting, was it? Shanzhou may be small, but there are plenty of official prostitutes. Are you really that eager for sex? How come I never knew you were such a lecher?

Oh, so you used to storm the palace to save me, so it's become a habit and a source of fun for you to keep barging in, right?

However, recalling the kindness shown to him when he stormed the palace to save Li Ji, and his bravery in charging into battle against the barbarians the day before, Li Tan's anger subsided slightly, and he hesitated. He wanted to take this opportunity to give Li Ji a good talking-to, but Li Ji was ultimately one of his men, and moreover, he was of great use. As for those idle advisors, he didn't think much of any of them. If he were to reprimand or even punish Li Ji for this, and make him apologize to Gao Sheng and the others, wouldn't that be hurting his own people and pleasing his enemies?

I used to think that one should act according to the law and reason, and not to favor relatives and friends, but when I actually encountered a similar situation, it was really hard to make a decision...

There was no other way but to call Yang Yan over and discuss the matter with him. Yang Yan smiled wryly and said, "Although Li Ji has been transferred to a civil post, he still has the temperament of a military man and is nothing like Mr. Changyuan... However, the barbarian bandits have not yet been driven away, and we still need him for the matters we discussed with Your Highness the other day. Your Highness should not reprimand him severely."

Li Tan asked, "What should we do then?" He shook the resignation book in his hand and said, "Li Ji has angered the masses. If he cannot give his colleagues an explanation, they will all resign, and the staff will be empty."

Yang Yan took the dictionary with both hands, glanced through it quickly, and immediately understood—Li Ji's attempt to steal the woman was just an excuse; those guys were most likely after me! After a moment's thought, he suddenly put down the dictionary, crossed his hands, and asked, "Does Your Highness believe me or not?"

"What do you mean by that? I have complete faith in Gongnan."

Yang Yan glanced disdainfully at the resignation letter and said, "They are more trouble than they are worth. If they stay in the staff, they will only hinder you. It's better if they all leave..." Before Li Tan could retort, he continued, "If Your Highness trusts me, please grant their request and send them gifts. As for the personnel of the staff, leave them all to me. I can then invite friends and outstanding individuals to gather in Longyou to serve as Your Highness's right-hand men and henchmen. I will ensure that the staff is not left vacant for long!"

The key question is how much you trust me, and whether you're afraid I'll take the opportunity to seize power and sideline you.

Li Tan tapped the table with his finger, pondered for a moment, and slowly asked, "Do you have someone in mind?" I naturally believe in your loyalty, but I'm afraid that you're too eager to get rid of those mediocre people who are hindering you, and as a result, you won't be able to recruit suitable people to fill the staff for a long time. Are you just expressing your determination like this, or do you already have a plan in mind for who to hire?

Yang Yan replied, "I dare not deceive Your Highness. I have already written to my friends to inquire about their intentions. My original plan was to gradually recommend them to Your Highness to replace my old colleagues one by one—Xue Yong from Hedong, Yuan Xiu from Xiangzhou, as well as Zhang Zhu and Su Duan from my hometown. Has Your Highness heard of this?"

Li Tan nodded: "I've heard a little about it... Could Su Duan be the Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) this spring?"

"Exactly."

"I've heard that he was on good terms with Du Fu and often hosted banquets for him in the capital. Is that true?"

Yang Yan was slightly taken aback: "Does Your Highness intend to recruit Du Zimei?"

Li Tan replied with a smile: "Actually, I don't particularly like Du Fu's poetic style, but since Mr. Li Bai appreciates him, he must have some merit. I heard that he was formerly a Left Remonstrance Official, and was demoted to Huazhou for submitting a memorial to exonerate Fang Cilu. If I could recruit him in his time of hardship, he might be grateful and serve me."

Yang Yan promised, "I will send a letter to Su Duan to inquire about Zimei's wishes."

Li Tan nodded: "If what Gongnan said is true... then regarding Li Ji, should we just let him act as he pleases without questioning him?"

Yang Yan smiled and said, "How could I not ask?" Then he said seriously, "This victory was due to the recklessness of the barbarian bandits and the skillful tactics of Generals Guo and Li. Li Ji also made the greatest contribution. If he were a military officer, he could be promoted directly to the sixth rank. It's a pity that he is a civil official..."

Because civil officials are valued more than military officials, it is generally more difficult for civil officials to be promoted than for military officials. In addition, Li Ji had no background and was known for his lack of civility. Although Li Tan had already submitted a report to the emperor to report the victory and request rewards for the meritorious generals, it was estimated that Li Ji would only be promoted by one or two ranks at most, and most likely he would be promoted to a minor official position.

Ultimately, Li Ji was a subordinate of the shogunate, and unless he was transferred to a court official position, no matter how great his merits were, he would not be able to get on the fast track of promotion.

"If Your Highness wishes to solidify Li Ji's resolve, you should offer him a different reward—since he loves that courtesan, why doesn't Your Highness use your own money to redeem her and give it to him?"

Li Tan couldn't help but stroke his beard and smile: "Gongnan's words are truly a brilliant plan!" He casually picked up the dictionary, glanced at it again, and frowned slightly: "Li Jishi has a conflict with Yang Qing, but Yang Qing's name is not found in the dictionary—who exactly is he?"

Yang Yan replied, "Yang Qing is from Hongnong, and is a fellow townsman of Vice Commander Gao. The Vice Commander recommended him to Your Highness. I suppose he has not been in the staff for long and dares not resign abruptly, lest it cause controversy."

Li Tan said, “With the invasion of the barbarian bandits, Longyou is in grave danger. At this time, he still dares to enter the staff. This person does have some courage. Gongnan can find an opportunity to meet him and inquire about his abilities and ambitions. It would be best if he could be used by us. If not, he can stay in the staff for the time being, which will also save face for Gao Sheng.”

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Chapter Twenty-Five: National Affairs Come First

Li Ji found a tavern in the market, ordered a few dishes and a pot of wine, and sat down to eat with Qingluan. While eating and drinking, he kept a watchful eye on his surroundings, wary of Gao Sheng sending troops to capture him—even if he sent a hundred men, he wouldn't be afraid, but in the chaos of battle, he couldn't let Qingluan get hurt.

He was naturally unaware that the officials of the shogunate were plotting their collective resignation and had no time to deal with Li Changwei—after all, you were the fuse that ignited our trouble. If we cut off the fuse, how would we escape?

Only Yang Qing, unable to persuade the others, inquired with Gao Sheng about Li Ji, asking how someone with such a reckless nature could be favored by the Prince of Qi.

Yang Qing felt quite remorseful. He was new to the position and had originally intended to enforce discipline and make a difference within his authority, which was why he had summoned the courtesan from Li Ji's household back. He believed he hadn't done anything wrong; how could a courtesan be allowed to remain at a private residence? How could he have caused such a huge uproar?

Hearing his colleagues' complaints and accusations, Yang Qing realized that today's events were just the fuse. The conflict between the military commander's faction and the deputy commander's faction in the headquarters had a long history. "Deputy Commander Gao, why didn't you tell me before you hired me? If I had known that the personnel struggles in Longyou were so complicated, I wouldn't have come!"

My only wish in life is to get things done, and I hate getting involved in this kind of muddy water...

After Li Ji finished eating and drinking, and seeing no movement from Gao Sheng's side, he took Qingluan home. As soon as Qingluan entered, she fetched water for Li Ji to wash his face, then picked up a broom and began sweeping the courtyard, not stopping for a moment. Li Ji thought that this young woman was probably using chores to relieve her anxiety.

He had been traveling for days, and his hip was still a little sore, so he didn't plan to move. He lay on his side on the veranda, watching Qingluan busy herself. To be honest, this young lady's appearance was only average, but she had a slender figure, not thin. When she swept the floor, she inevitably swayed her body, her curves swaying, which made Li Ji feel quite thirsty.

Now that this opportunity is within my grasp, how can I refuse?! Forget about Gao Sheng and Li Tan, even if Li Bi came to persuade me, I would still insist on keeping her here! At worst, I'll just break ties with the Tang court and go back to Hengshan to live in seclusion with Li Bi!

However, I really can't bear to part with my comrades who fought alongside me in the Battle of Shancheng... Never mind, we'll deal with whatever comes our way, and we'll see what happens when the time comes.

Around 3 PM, Li Tan sent someone to summon Li Ji, but Li Ji replied, "My battle wounds have recurred, and I am unable to walk. I hope you will inform the commander-in-chief to forgive me."

Li Tan told me to go back and rest properly at noon, but he summoned me again after only a few hours. It must be about the matter of storming the court and snatching the woman. I'm not afraid of his reprimand or even punishment, but if this is a diversionary tactic, what if Gao Sheng or that despicable Military Advisor Yang sends someone to take Qingluan back as soon as I leave? I'll stay by her side, and those who have the guts can come and demand her back themselves!

Before the visitor had left, there was another knock at the door. This time it was Yang Yan who entered and said, "Your Highness heard that Changwei was injured and specially sent me to check on him—where is the injury?"

Li Ji was about to stand up to greet him, but upon hearing this, he lay down again. He merely raised his upper body slightly and bowed to Yang Yan, saying, "Thank you for your consideration, Lord Yang." He then pointed to his hip, "On the battlefield, I was kicked by a barbarian horse, and my bones were almost shattered. This time, escorting the barbarian envoy, I've been riding for several days, and the pain has started again. I really can't move..."

He pretended to reach out and take off his pants to show Yang Yan.

Yang Yan cursed inwardly, but outwardly remained cheerful and walked a few steps to the corridor. He pressed Li Ji's hand and said, "I'm afraid Changwei's injury is not in his groin, but in his heart."

"What do you mean by that, Mr. Yang?"

Yang Yan sat down on the veranda and glanced at Qingluan, who quickly shrank back to the corner of the room—her appearance was just average. What did Li Ji see in this woman? Or was he just angry that someone else had taken what he had reserved?

Yang Gongnan came here on behalf of Li Tan to reprimand Li Ji and warn him against becoming arrogant because of his favor, and to make him more considerate of the overall situation. However, seeing that the blue phoenix was not particularly beautiful, he suspected that Li Ji was not lustful, but rather hated those who had risen in rank and was just taking this opportunity to vent his anger—it could be said that he was half right.

Ultimately, while others might not know, Yang Yan did. Li Ji had once infiltrated the Luoyang Imperial Palace to rescue Consort Shen. Therefore, Li Changwei couldn't possibly be so ignorant; even if he didn't find a stunning beauty in the Imperial Palace, he wouldn't be so easily captivated by a mere courtesan of average appearance, would he?

Then, with a quick glance, he adjusted his mind and said sincerely to Li Ji, "Your Highness is already aware of what the Commander did today. He was initially very angry and wanted to summon the Commander to reprimand him. But I said that what the Commander said is true. With a formidable enemy at hand, it is truly hateful that the Deputy Commander and others are holding a lavish banquet."

"Especially those former officials of the shogunate, not only did they not heed the stern warning from the chief guard, but they also resigned en masse and threatened Your Highness. How can this be tolerated? Therefore, I advise Your Highness that those mediocre and petty people should be allowed to leave if they want to. How can you tolerate them and thus chill the hearts of the chief guard and the soldiers on the front line?"

Li Ji was taken aback by these words. However, he did not doubt it. Although he did not like Yang Yan much when he first met him, after arriving in Longyou, he could see that Yang Gongnan was a capable and hardworking person. Therefore, it was understandable that he would dislike those former staff members of the military headquarters.

"Thank you for your kind words, Mr. Yang."

Yang Yan smiled, then pulled a roll of paper from his sleeve and handed it to Li Ji: "My kind words go far beyond this."

Li Ji took it, unfolded it and looked at it. Oh my, it was actually an official document from the government to release the Azure Phoenix!

He had just declined Li Tan's summons, which naturally angered Li Tan. Yang Yan said, "He is probably worried about His Highness's punishment and the need to return the woman. Why don't we redeem that courtesan now? I will personally go and invite her, and then summon Li Ji again. The matter we discussed the other day can be carried out immediately, and he will certainly not refuse."

So he hurriedly ran to see Yang Qing and told him what had happened. Yang Qing angrily said, "Does the commander really value that brute so much that he not only refuses to reprimand him, but also wants to redeem the official prostitute for him?"

Yang Yan, holding Yang Qing's hand, said slowly and deliberately, "Li Ji is no ordinary man. He is Li Changyuan's cousin and has shown favor to both the Crown Prince and His Highness Prince Qi—I will explain this to you later. The key question is, in your opinion, are the officials' resignations today for Li Ji's sake, or do they have ulterior motives?"

Yang Qing remained silent.

Yang Yan continued, “The actions of everyone are actually a way to coerce the military governor. If the military governor punishes Li Ji for this and tries to dissuade him from resigning, then Longyou will truly be beyond control! Now the military governor’s judge and military advisor have both resigned, leaving only you. If you wish to protect yourself, you should obey the military governor’s orders.”

Left with no other choice, Yang Qing had to accept the ransom of two thousand coins and sign the document to release Zou Qingluan. Immediately afterwards, Yang Yan took the document to see Li Ji.

Li Ji was overjoyed and stopped pretending to be unable to move. He immediately got up and kowtowed to Yang Yan, saying, "I will never forget your kindness, Lord Yang!" Yang Yan smiled and asked, "In that case, can your wound be healed? May you come with me to see His Highness?" Then he said seriously, "The country is in trouble, and Longyou is still in danger. How can I, as a guard, neglect public affairs because of personal grievances?"

Li Ji hurriedly apologized, then called Qingluan over, handed her the official documents, and said, "You are now free. If you have a home to return to, then go. If you have nowhere to go, then cook some soup and meat and wait for me to return from the governor's place for a meal." He knew, of course, that Qingluan had been a courtesan for many years and that her entire family was dead. He said this only to express his attitude:

I don't treat you as private property; you are a free person.

Qingluan wept with joy, accepted the official document with both hands, kowtowed and thanked Li Ji, who then instructed her to thank Yang Yan. Immediately afterwards, Yang and Li rode side by side to the military governor's office to pay their respects to Li Tan.

Seeing Li Ji enter briskly, Li Tan frowned slightly, a hint of anger flashing across his face. Yang Yan, noticing this, quickly and discreetly waved his hand. Li Tan understood, and instead of mentioning the past, simply asked Li Ji:

"Although the barbarian bandits have been defeated, they refuse to retreat. In Changwei's opinion, what are the chances of our army winning this year's battle?"

Upon hearing this, Li Ji was slightly taken aback, thinking to himself, "Didn't we already discuss this matter this morning? Are you complaining that I didn't explain things in enough detail or that my judgment wasn't clear enough?"

After carefully considering his words, he replied, "The barbarian bandits have lost their courage. If we could send another ten or twenty thousand reinforcements to Shancheng, we could surely defeat them. But alas..." I know you don't have that many troops at your disposal, so I smiled bitterly and said, "Now we can only stand still and hope that the enemy will run out of food and retreat on their own. However, we know very little about the situation in the barbarian territory. We don't know if their food supply is running smoothly, how much food they still have in Lhasa, or even... we don't know if the barbarian bandits have any spare troops to send in."

"Qilibuzang's request for peace is surely a delaying tactic by Ma Chongying. He wants to lull us into a false sense of security and also take the opportunity to probe the court's intentions, whether they will send reinforcements to Longyou. They will definitely use this opportunity to boost morale and plot against Shancheng again. The situation in Shancheng is better than it was a month ago, but ultimately our forces are less than half the size of the barbarian rebels. Once the war resumes, the outcome will be hard to predict."

Li Tan nodded, then turned to Yang Yan and asked, "Gongnan, with this autumn's harvest, is it possible to recruit more soldiers to reinforce Shancheng?"

Yang Yan shook his head slightly and replied, "This autumn's weather was acceptable, and the harvest in Longyou can barely be considered a small bumper crop. However, grain west of Shancheng is completely unavailable, and with hundreds of thousands of people displaced and displaced, all needing relief... Although I followed Your Highness's plan to send them to the Guzang South Mountain area, to enforce military discipline, to cultivate wasteland and turn it into civilian settlements, it still won't be enough to catch up with this year's harvest. Especially for next year's sake, we must also count and store seed grain, forge farming tools, and purchase oxen..."

"Currently, the troops inside and outside Shancheng number about 20,000, plus the troops stationed in Shanzhou and the garrison soldiers from various prefectures, totaling nearly 40,000. We are really stretched thin in terms of the necessary food and supplies. If we send them all to the front lines, the barbarian bandits will return, and we may really run out of food next year."

"According to my calculations, Longyou can only support a maximum of 40,000 soldiers at present, and it is not advisable to recruit more. Of course, it would be best to reduce it to below 35,000 to accumulate enough grain to avoid running out of food every year, and to guard against the possibility of famine due to unfavorable weather..."

Li Ji frowned as he listened to him finish speaking, and couldn't help but interject, "Aren't the troops and provisions from Hexi usable?"

Li Tan answered on Yang Yan's behalf: "The Hexi region originally had 70,000 troops, but now it has less than 20,000. They are struggling to protect themselves, let alone mobilize them. As for grain and fodder... firstly, transporting them over a thousand miles would be extremely costly, and secondly... long-distance transport is not in my hands!"

Li Ji pondered for a moment, then bowed to Li Tan and said, "Your Highness has told me all this, so you must already have a plan. If there is anything I can do to help you, please feel free to ask."

From what you're saying, you're running out of food and your army is in dire straits. Even if you drive the barbarians away this year, next year's war will be just as difficult. I had a premonition about this, but the fact that you specifically called me here to analyze the situation in detail means you're not asking for my advice, nor are you three just sitting together pouring out your troubles. You probably already have a plan—tell me, what do you want me to do? As long as it benefits the country and the people, and is beneficial to the war against the barbarians, how could I possibly refuse?

Oh, wait a minute, Li Tan, you're not thinking of taking advantage of the emptiness of the capital region to march east and plunder grain from the capital region, are you? Or even planning to storm Chang'an and stage a coup?! Once Guo Ziyi returns with his troops, you're doomed!

Fortunately, I know Li Tan fairly well; he's not exactly a madman...

Li Tan sighed and slowly said, "Chang Wei once said, 'Even a clever housewife can't cook without rice.' Although it's a proverb, it makes sense. With insufficient funds and provisions, and untrained soldiers, even with Generals Guo and Li leading the army, and Chang Wei charging straight into the enemy lines, beheading generals and capturing flags, our chances of victory are only thirty percent. Unfortunately, the imperial army is all in Hebei, and not a single soldier can be sent back to aid Longyou."

"After much deliberation, we have no choice but to follow the precedent set by the sages and seek external assistance..."

Li Ji frowned slightly: "Your Highness means... the Uyghurs?"

He initially harbored no ill will towards the Uyghurs, and considering that the Uyghur Khan commanded a mighty army of 100,000 across the desert, and that instead of taking advantage of the chaos to invade the south, they were willing to answer the call and send troops to aid him—a rare occurrence in ancient history; those nomadic people were quite sensible. However, barbarians are barbarians after all; their military discipline was lax, and while looting was one thing, they even attempted to plunder the entire city of Chang'an and Luoyang! Thus, Li Heng's request for help from the Uyghurs, even if not exactly "opening the door to thieves," was certainly inviting unwelcome guests to his doorstep.

From then on, he could only give the Uyghurs the cold shoulder.

Now that Li Tan is also planning to ask the Uyghurs for troops, although it is a last resort, Li Ji couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine.

Li Tan took out two maps from his box and unfolded them, saying to Li Ji, "Changwei, look—the Uyghur camp is located at Wudejian Mountain, right north of Juyan Lake. We can ask the Khan to send troops to pass through Weiyuan Shouzhuo and enter Suzhou, threatening the western foothills of Qilian. The Tubo will have no choice but to respond—this is a strategy of besieging Wei to rescue Zhao."

Yang Yan added, "The provisions needed by the Uyghur troops on their journey can be obtained locally from the various prefectures in Hexi, with minimal losses."

Li Ji stared at the map, silent for a long time. Li Tan and Yang Yan exchanged a glance, then asked him, "Does the Chief Guard think this plan is feasible?" Li Ji slowly said, "In terms of military strategy, it is indeed a good plan, but..." He raised his head and looked at Li Tan, "Your Highness, the Uyghurs are insatiable. Their assistance in recovering the two capitals the other day is proof of this. So, what do you intend to offer in return for requesting the Uyghur Khan to send troops?"

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Chapter Twenty-Six: What Name and What Status

Last year, the Uyghurs responded to the request to send troops. Although the Crown Prince of Yabghu was appointed to lead the force, and the troops were all elite, they ultimately numbered only four thousand cavalry. Politically speaking, the marriage of a princess and the bestowal of the title of Khan were more than enough to compensate for this. However, materially speaking, Li Heng emptied the imperial treasury to bestow rewards, and even promised the wealth of both capitals, and even his children!

While it was Li Heng who brought up the matter—that bastard emperor was a complete spendthrift—the gains far outweighed the expenses. Crown Prince Yabghu, didn't you know how to refuse? This was almost a tenfold profit! So, is it wrong to say that the Uyghurs were greedy?

What's past is past and can be left unmentioned. Now, Li Tan, you intend to summon the Uyghur troops for reinforcements. What benefits can you offer them?

Could it be... you're planning to cede territory?!

Upon seeing Li Ji's gaze, Li Tan immediately understood what he was thinking and couldn't help but smile bitterly, saying, "What does Longyou have? What does Hexi have? Only land and people..." Seeing Li Ji's unfriendly expression, he quickly explained, "However, how can I arbitrarily give away land and people?"

Li Ji thought to himself, "You can't, and you wouldn't dare, but you can instigate your father to accept certain conditions."

Then Li Tan continued, "I have already submitted a memorial to the court, requesting permission to seek assistance from the Uyghurs, but the specific terms of compensation... that is where I will trouble Changwei."

Li Ji said blankly, "I am foolish and don't quite understand Your Highness's meaning..."

Li Tan said, “My idea is to open more markets in Hexi, exempt them from taxes, and trade with the Uyghurs, with the aim of gradually repaying them with money over ten years—but this will require the approval of the court.”

Because Li Tan, the military governor of the two towns, was incompetent, he only served as the military governor of the two towns and could only manage military supplies. He could not intervene in local finances, so trade with the Uyghurs and compensation for goods all required approval from the central government.

Li Ji secretly breathed a sigh of relief—thankfully, it wasn't considered selling out the country—but after thinking for a moment, he said, "Even if the court approves, I'm afraid the Uyghurs won't like these conditions." The benefits aren't big enough; you know, your father has already spoiled those nomads' appetites.

Li Tan replied, "Therefore, I hope that Changwei can go to the Uyghur camp and persuade the Khan to agree to this matter."

Li Ji smiled wryly, "Does Your Highness consider me to be like Su Qin or Zhang Yi?" Yes, I am quite eloquent and can talk a lot, but I have never done diplomacy before. How could you expect me to go and persuade the Uyghur Khan? He couldn't help but glance at Yang Yan, thinking that it would be more suitable for Yang Gong to go south than for him.

"Furthermore, does Your Highness intend to kill me? That Crown Prince Yehu has a grudge against me!"

I once beat up the Crown Prince of Yabghu in public, surrounded by 100,000 Tang soldiers. He only pretended to be magnanimous and let it go. If I went to the Uyghur camp alone, do you think he would take the opportunity to retaliate? I'm just a minor official. Even if I were dismembered by the Uyghurs, I reckon that from the emperor down to the high-ranking officials in the court, they wouldn't even blink an eye.

Do you really think I can kill through 100,000 cavalry and escape? You've watched too many legends.

Li Tan raised his hand and pressed it down slightly, signaling Li Ji to calm down, then said, "The situation of my sister's marriage to the Uyghurs the other day, Changwei probably hasn't heard about it..."

Princess Ningguo was formally married off in June of this year, shortly after Li Ji accompanied Li Tan to Longyou. She was escorted by Li Yu, the Prince of Hanzhong. However, Li Yu was not the envoy for the princess's ceremony, but rather the envoy who conferred the title of "Heroic and Powerful Bilge Khan" upon the Uyghur Khan.