Chapter 461: Things That Must Be Done

The night was pitch-black as ink, dark clouds in the sky blocking the moon and stars, so that on the ground one could barely see one's own hand in front of one's face.

Jinci, not far west of Taiyuan City, was the main encampment area of the Tang army. Yet at this very moment, a column of troops was quietly leaving the great camp, marching north along the Fen River.

Judging by their route, they seemed to intend to take small roads from the west into Lanzhou.

They moved like thieves, raising no banners, lighting no torches, silent as ghosts in the darkness.

When they reached the boundary of Yangqu County, suddenly torches blazed all around, and countless soldiers and horses surrounded them completely!

"Which unit are you from? Why are you leaving the camp in the dead of night, heading north?"

The crowd parted, and Wang Zhongsi stepped forward carrying a Changsuo, pointing it at the man leading the front of the opposing column as he asked the question.

These soldiers huddled together, back to back, holding Duannao at the ready for combat. But they clearly had no psychological preparation for fighting the elite troops under Wang Zhongsi's command; their faces showed only panic and unease, not ferocity or menace.

"Jiedushi Wang, this is a unit of the Datong Army. I am Tian Chengsi, military commissioner of the Datong Army, and I am now returning to Shuozhou to guard against sneak attacks by the Uighurs."

Tian Chengsi rode forward and clasped his fists in salute to Wang Zhongsi.

"Returning to Shuozhou? Military Commissioner Tian, do not take me for a three-year-old child! You return to Shuozhou — who gave you the military orders?"

Wang Zhongsi hung his Masuo on the saddle and gave a cold snort as he asked in return.

"Jiedushi, elite troops are massed around Taiyuan City now, and there is truly no need for the Datong Army. This humble general might as well lead his troops back to Shuozhou, so as not to delay the imperial court's great affairs. Would you not say this is reasonable?"

Tian Chengsi gave an awkward smile, dismounted, and stepped forward to argue his case to Wang Zhongsi.

"Without military orders, no redeployment is permitted. Return to your quarters at once, and this matter will be overlooked."

Wang Zhongsi shook his head, unwilling to let Tian Chengsi and the troops under his command leave this place.

"Jiedushi Wang, let us speak plainly. As for the situation here at Taiyuan City, others may not be clear on it, but surely you are?

The Yinqiang Xiaojie Army have all become rebel forces. Previously, our Datong Army followed Fang Guozhong fighting all the way from Shuozhou. He is your own son-in-law and even he could not be spared — how can we lonely ghosts and wild spirits protect ourselves?

If we stay on at Taiyuan, who will report our merits, who will back us up? What if we are sold out on the battlefield?

You should also show some understanding for the Hedong Border Army. The officers and men do not want to rebel, but Taiyuan is no longer our stage, and we can no longer perform our play. Why not let us return to our garrison and guard our own territory?

The Datong Army was supposed to garrison Shuozhou to begin with, and Taiyuan does not lack our modest force right now!"

Tian Chengsi dropped to one knee and pleaded earnestly with Wang Zhongsi.

"I beg Jiedushi Wang to show mercy!"

The Datong Army officers around Tian Chengsi immediately dropped to their knees all over the ground.

"Sigh!"

Wang Zhongsi gave a long sigh and rode back to his own battle formation. Accompanied by a burst of the Mingjin Sound, the torch-bearing column slowly withdrew to the side, opening up a path.

"Many thanks, Jiedushi Wang!"

Tian Chengsi clasped his fists in salute toward the direction where Wang Zhongsi was, then spurred his horse and departed at once. The officers and soldiers of the Datong Army followed behind him, heading toward the valley to the west.

After all these people had left, Gao Xianzhi stepped forward, clasped his fists in salute, and asked, "Jiedushi, letting Tian Chengsi leave — how will you explain this to the Sage?"

"An army's spirit cannot be taken away by force. Tian Chengsi and the Datong Army no longer have the will to fight. If you went into battle, would you dare entrust your back to men like these? Would you not fear they would ruin the great undertaking?"

Wang Zhongsi looked at Gao Xianzhi and asked in return.

Gao Xianzhi had no words to answer. In truth, an army like that on the battlefield was nothing but a menace.

They were all veterans of many battles and could see such matters with perfect clarity.

If you put those men in the vanguard, they would flee the moment they entered battle, disrupting your own formation. If you put them as reinforcements, they would reinforce without rescuing, merely standing to one side, putting in no effort, cheering for both sides of the engagement.

If you had them guard your rear, they would run faster than rabbits. They might even clear out entirely before the enemy arrived.

In the end, they would doom everyone!

Rather than let a unit with no will to fight and no morale consume Xiaohao liangmie on the battlefield, it was better to let them go.

At the very least, they could still help Great Tang keep watch over Shuozhou!

"Jiedushi, after I arrived at Taiyuan, I found that apart from the Guest Troops from outside, the troops originally garrisoned here all had low morale.

Tian Chengsi's leading an entire organized unit in desertion is on a large scale. In recent days, this humble general has also caught quite a few scattered stragglers.

If this goes on, Zhang bu hao da a!"

Gao Xianzhi voiced the worry in his heart.

Wang Zhongsi remained silent; he had noticed these phenomena as well.

But noticing them was one thing; being able to resolve them was another. Human power has its limits. The commander-in-chief of an army was not omnipotent and likewise had many things he could not accomplish.

Right now, the various armies originally garrisoned in Taiyuan City all had low morale, fearing they would meet the same fate as the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army. And the Guest Troops from the west, though strong in strength, were not very familiar with the terrain around Taiyuan City, or Hedong, or Hebei, and had even less experience fighting the Hebei rebel forces.

Knowing yourself but not your enemy — you have already lost half the battle. How could such a battle be fought?

"Let us return to the Jinci camp."

Wang Zhongsi gave a soft sigh and waved his hand.

"Jiedushi, this is no solution. You must offer generous rewards to rally the army's morale!

Otherwise, Hebei will be our burial ground!"

Gao Xianzhi hastily dropped to one knee and pleaded.

Having fought in the Western Regions for a long time, he understood very well what the soldiers under his command were truly thinking.

Empty talk about serving the sovereign and devoting oneself to the nation — such slogans were fine to shout, and everyone could listen casually and be happy enough.

But what the common soldiers yearned for most was only ample pay and generous rewards.

That was their true motivation for fighting.

An emperor who gives no rewards — why protect him?

This was a very practical matter.

Especially when strong armies were gathered at Taiyuan City, it was all the easier to produce that kind of lazy thought: "With so many people here anyway, what does it matter if I don't put in effort?" Having lost the pressure brought by the enemy, the soldiers would not feel any urgency to survive.

If rewards were not raised at this point, what their morale would be like going into battle could be known without asking.

"That is not for me to decide. That requires Shengren koukou cai xing."

Wang Zhongsi continued to explain helplessly: "Last time when passing through Chang'an, soldiers in the army already clamored, demanding that the Sage open the inner treasury to reward the three armies, and it was Bei qiangxing dan ya xia lai. What you say is naturally correct, but this commander cannot conjure money out of thin air either!"

Gao Xianzhi had no words to reply; he too knew that what Wang Zhongsi said was the truth, but he would listen to these explanations—yet the soldiers below would not be willing to listen!

What was to be done when that time came?

……

Luoyang, Shangyang Palace, Guanfeng Hall.

Crown Prince Li Chang sat on the dragon throne, staring blankly.

Everything that had happened these past few months felt like a dream, an illusion—an experience he had never had before, as though he were in a dream.

He had thought defending Luoyang meant certain death; unexpectedly, Huangfu Weiming actually retreated back to Hebei!

They actually retreated! Simply inconceivable!

Li Chang had a vague illusion that ever since Wei Sanniang's wrongful death, he had been blessed by heaven with great fortune upon him—otherwise there was no way to explain his current inconceivable situation.

So painful! His heart truly ached so much!

Li Chang now felt nothing at all toward what he had suddenly acquired.

He did not care in the least about being some crown prince, nor had he any interest in controlling the Tang empire.

Even if he possessed the world, what then?

To live in extravagant debauchery like his beast of a father?

Was that interesting?

If his current situation gave Li Chang any additional thought, it was that if the chance arose in the future, he must personally stab Brother Ji to death.

Other than that, he felt nothing toward all of it.

It was like being thirsty, and someone constantly stuffing delicacies from mountains and seas into your mouth, yet not giving you a single sip of water!

"Your Highness, there is an urgent matter."

Li Mi stepped forward and bowed to Li Chang with hands crossed in salute.

"Lord Li, no need for ceremony; speak plainly."

Li Chang hastily stepped forward to support Li Mi, who was about to bow.

Li Chang still felt gratitude toward Li Mi; though he did not care about many things, he could see clearly who treated him well and who did not.

Even if Li Chang knew that Li Mi, Fang Youde, and the like all had their own selfish motives, and supported him only for the sake of the "Crown Prince."

"The Inspector of Jinzhou, Li Liangchen, has brought five thousand troops under his command to Luoyang to support Your Highness; he has also issued a proclamation recognizing Your Highness as the sole legitimate heir of the Great Tang.

Furthermore, the Inspectors of Jiangzhou, Luzhou, Zezhou, and other prefectures in the Hedong Circuit have all submitted memorials in response to Li Liangchen, supporting Your Highness's ascension to the throne as emperor."

Li Mi said with a calm expression, but a trace of excitement was still unmistakable in his tone.

These four prefectures' Inspectors were newcomers to the "Crown Prince Alliance," though prior to this, Shanzhou, Huaizhou, Zhengzhou, and Ruzhou near Luoyang had already acknowledged the legitimacy of Henan Prefecture and accepted Crown Prince Li Chang's leadership.

They simply had not, like Li Liangchen, openly issued a proclamation.

"Is that so…"

Hearing this news, Li Chang plopped down onto the dragon throne, dumb as a wooden chicken.

His expression was impossible to read—whether he felt pleasantly surprised or thoroughly frightened.

"Your Highness?"

Li Mi felt surprised by Li Chang's attitude.

No matter how one looked at it, this was inspiring good news; it meant that the "Longzhong Plan" he had originally conceived was completely correct, and progress was even faster than anticipated.

Li Chang should not have reacted like this!

"Why! Why!"

Li Chang suddenly burst into loud wailing without any warning.

"Why did you only come now! Why couldn't I take power sooner!

What do I want with this Tang empire?

If you are all capable of what others cannot, then give Sanniang back to me!"

He shouted and sobbed without any regard for his image, crying until he nearly fainted.

Li Mi hurried forward and gently rubbed his back, somewhat at a loss, comforting Li Chang: "Your Highness, the dead cannot return to life; I beg Your Highness to restrain your grief and accept the change."

As someone who wandered through mountains and rivers, scarcely touching the affairs of the mortal world, he naturally did not understand the truth that even heroes can be undone and that tender love runs deep. Naturally, he could not empathize with Li Chang.

Many people cannot find happiness in power and influence.

Just as many people love wealth, yet many others have no concept of it.

People, in the end, are not the same.

"Yes, I must restrain my grief; sorrow cannot solve anything."

After a long while, Li Chang stopped crying and spoke in an indifferent tone.

He seemed like a different person; his posture straightened, and his expression turned cold and stern.

It made Li Mi's hair stand on end.

"Where is Li Liangchen? Take me to see him."

Li Chang, at the height of his grief, had made a promise to himself.

If he could not fulfill this promise, even if he went to the Yellow Springs in the future, he would have no face to meet Wei Sanniang, who had been waiting for him there for years.

Li Mi did not know the journey of Li Chang's heart; he only led him to the Tixiang Gate of Shangyang Palace, where they met Li Liangchen, travel-worn and disheveled.

"Your Highness! The Great Tang's mansion is on the verge of collapse; I beg Your Highness not to decline, but to step forward and support the state!

This humble subject begs Your Highness to lead troops to take charge of Chang'an, ascend the throne as emperor, rectify the sacred vessel, and command the world!"

Before Li Chang could even open his mouth, Li Liangchen dropped to his knees and performed a full prostration before him.

Hearing this, Li Mi turned pale with shock; just now, Li Liangchen had spoken perfectly reasonably with him—only about supporting the Crown Prince and offering his humble service.

How come, as soon as I see Li Chang, I immediately change my tone!

Leading troops to Chang'an, ascending the throne and proclaiming emperor—what sort of nonsense is this!

Li Mi's heart sank little by little, feeling the situation was slipping out of control.

"Envoy Li, you must not speak nonsense. The Emperor is still alive; how can the Crown Prince ascend the throne? This is highly improper—please do not mention it again!"

Li Mi coldly rebuked Li Liangchen.

"Your Highness, Sir Li, you may not know this yet: the Emperor went alone to Taiyuan, and upon arrival stripped Fang Guozhong of his military authority, tricking him into bringing the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army back to Chang'an to garrison."

"If that were all, it would be fine enough, but then he had Wang Zhongsi lead forty thousand elite troops to set an ambush at Que Shu Valley, planning to slaughter Fang Guozhong and all his retainers, afterwards intending to charge them with treason."

"Now the people of Taiyuan are panic-stricken, the Hedong Border Army has scattered and fled, and the main forces have lost half their strength even before marching to Hebei. If this isn't a sign of impending collapse, what is?"

"If the Crown Prince cannot go to Chang'an to ascend the throne and proclaim emperor, then this muddle‑headed, incapable emperor who cannot tell right from wrong, who slays the loyal and destroys the Great Wall, will surely doom the Tang realm!"

"Crown Prince, pursue great righteousness and do not fuss over minor details!"

"Observing ritual propriety is minor righteousness, a minor detail;"

"Your Highness ascending the throne and proclaiming emperor, lifting up the Tang realm and saving the myriad people from fire and water, is great righteousness, a great duty."

"What is right and wrong, what is heavy and light—have you not considered this in your heart, Your Highness?"

Li Liangchen, following the talking points given by Fang Chongyong, blurted them all out in one go, then immediately knelt down and would not rise.

"Your Highness, what Envoy Li said also makes some sense."

"It would be better to wait until General Fang returns to Luoyang before making a decision; that would not be too late."

"Judging by the pace, it should be soon."

Li Mi frowned as he suggested, repeatedly weighing the pros and cons in his mind.

He never expected that Ji Ge would have become so foolish! He actually left Chang'an!

Fang Youde is currently leading troops back from the Henan front to Luoyang, letting his followers rest and regroup. Recently, the surrounding prefectures and counties of Luoyang have trained considerable militia; Fang Youde will select the elite from them to continue strengthening the Xuanwu Army, and indeed he ought to return for a look.

"Envoy Li, first deploy your followers to defend Yanshi. You just said, please request the Crown Prince to go to Chang'an and ascend the throne."

"Whether he ascends the throne or not, the official rank bestowed upon you will naturally differ."

"Since the matter of ascension has not yet been decided, then…"

Before Li Mi could finish, Li Chang interrupted him: "Envoy Li, your words are quite correct; I have already decided to go to Chang'an to ascend the throne. Once General Fang returns to Luoyang, we will immediately discuss marching on Chang'an. Envoy Li, first reorganize your troops in Luoyang—for all I know, I may soon call on you to rally to the king's cause."

"Your Highness…"

Li Mi stared at Li Chang, astonished; he never imagined that the Crown Prince, who had always been uncontentious over power, would utter such impulsive words!

"Thank you, Your Highness! This humble subject will surely charge into battle for you, gladly offering the service of a dog or horse!"

Li Liangchen hastily knelt and kowtowed, secretly marveling that Fang Chongyong's foresight was divine—sure enough, upon arriving in Luoyang he saw the winds beginning to rise!

If I were to keep staying in Jinzhou doing nothing, that would truly fulfill the phrase 'rotting bones in a grave'.

After Li Liangchen left, Li Mi hastily clasped his hands and bowed to Li Chang, saying: "Your Highness, your military achievements are insufficient; internally, various princes are restless, externally, the Hebei rebel armies eye us covetously. If we march on Chang'an, Luoyang will surely be unable to hold! Your Highness, do not act to the grief of kin and the joy of foes!"

"Sir Li, what you say is quite reasonable; I, too, cannot refute it."

Li Chang let out a soft sigh, pointing to his own chest as he continued: "But if I do not do certain things, I will feel great pain here—do you understand?"

(End of chapter)