Chapter 18: Empress falls ill, Su Liang returns to the capital

At this moment.

All the dukes and ministers were overjoyed.

Only Li Er forced a smile.

The reason was simple: three days ago, the Empress caught a cold, and she had yet to recover.

Today, her high fever persisted.

One hour later.

In the Lizheng Hall of the Taiji Palace.

Li Er, Zhangsun Wuji, Princess Changle, and the other imperial princes and princesses were all present.

Li Er looked at the imperial physician Qin Ming and asked, "How is the Empress's condition today?"

Qin Ming replied tremblingly, "I fear..."

Li Er flew into a rage, grabbing Qin Ming by the arms.

He asked angrily, "Fear what?"

"I fear she will not last half a month..." Qin Ming said slowly.

Seeing Li Er so agitated, he added, "Perhaps we can try once my Master returns to the capital."

Li Er's eyes lit up, and he immediately asked, "Is the Master you speak of the Medical God, Sun Simiao?"

"Yes!"

Qin Ming answered affirmatively.

Now, his only hope lay with his Master; otherwise, her life would be in grave danger.

A few days ago, the Medical God Sun Simiao had sent word that he would arrive in Changan by tomorrow at the latest.

Seeing Qin Ming's firm tone, Li Er asked, "When will the Medical God Sun Simiao arrive in Changan City?"

"Tomorrow. My Master sent word that he would arrive in Changan City by tomorrow at the latest."

Qin Ming said earnestly.

"Where did the messenger come from?" Li Er asked.

Qin Ming stated firmly, "Luoyang!"

"Good, good, good..."

Upon hearing this, a faint smile appeared on Li Er's face.

He immediately arranged for the Imperial Bodyguards to search in the direction of Luoyang.

Two hours later.

The Imperial Bodyguards intercepted Sun Simiao two hundred units of distance outside Changan City.

At the Mao hour that day.

In the Lizheng Hall of the Taiji Palace.

After taking her pulse, the Medical God Sun Simiao shook his head slightly.

He then looked at Li Er and said, "This commoner can only preserve the Empress's life for one month."

Li Er staggered upon hearing this and asked, "Is there truly no other way?"

After a moment, Sun Simiao spoke slowly: "There is a way!"

Li Er asked hurriedly, "What way?"

Sun Simiao replied, "If there is anyone in this world who can save the Empress, it can only be him, and only him."

"Who?" Li Er asked.

Sun Simiao said, "This commoner only knows that this person is from Jiangning, Su Ziyu."

Li Er asked, "What is so special about this person that he earns such praise from the Divine Physician Sun?"

Sun Simiao said, "This person possesses a needle technique called the Nine Needles of Reincarnation. As long as the patient still has a breath left, these nine needles can bring them back from the dead."

Li Er asked excitedly, "Then is this person in Jiangning now?"

Sun Simiao said, "This person travels the world year-round, and I do not know where he is. Your Majesty must send someone to find him."

"Su Ziyu... Su Ziyu... Jiangning..."

At this time, Zhangsun Wuji, standing to the side, muttered to himself.

Suddenly, Zhangsun Wuji looked at Sun Simiao and asked, "Divine Physician Sun, is this person a youth of fifteen or sixteen, six feet tall, and handsome?"

Sun Simiao said, "That is indeed the case. Could it be that Lord Zhangsun knows this person?"

Hearing this, Li Er suddenly grabbed Zhangsun Wuji's hand and said, "Wuji, you know him too?"

Zhangsun Wuji ignored Li Er.

He continued to ask, "Divine Physician Sun, does this person also go by the name Su Liang?"

Sun Simiao said, "This commoner does not know."

Seeing that Sun Simiao did not know, Zhangsun Wuji looked at Li Er and said, "Your Majesty, do you remember when we asked for his name a while ago, Su Liang gave his birth date and time to me and asked me to handle everything?"

"At that time, Your Majesty even mocked Su Liang for taking a courtesy name before reaching the age of twenty."

"Do you remember how Su Liang answered then?"

Li Er reacted instantly.

He immediately said, "At that time, the Su lad said: 'My parents could not give me a courtesy name, so I took one myself to travel the world.'"

A moment later, Li Er added, "Are you saying that the Su Ziyu mentioned by the Divine Physician and Su Liang are the same person?"

Zhangsun Wuji said, "We all forgot that Su Liang also knows medicine."

Li Er said, "Then why didn't Su Liang use his courtesy name after entering the capital?"

Zhangsun Wuji paused and said, "I'm afraid you'll have to ask the Su lad himself."

Li Er said, "Fine, I will arrange for someone to go and bring the Su lad back."

Zhangsun Wuji said, "I shall go myself; Your Majesty can wait in peace."

December 12th.

Shuofang City, inside Liang Luoren's residence.

Li Jing, Wang Xuance, Su Dingfang, Xue Rengui, Liang Luoren, and others were all present.

Su Liang said calmly, "It has been seven days. How many Turks have come to surrender?"

Li Jing said, "The Turkic royal tribes of Ashina and Ashide have both surrendered."

"The four tribes of Sheli Tuli, Sunong, Zhishi, and Bayan have also sent people to offer their surrender."

Su Liang asked upon hearing this, "Oh... the Zhishi tribe has also come to surrender? What about Zhishi Sili?"

Li Jing said, "Zhishi Sili has already led several thousand of his clansmen to flee to the Western Turks."

Wang Xuance added at this moment, "The other dozen or so Turkic tribes are also coming one after another to surrender."

At this moment, the former commander of Xiaoguan, Zhang Gongjin, had already been transferred to Lingzhou.

He was helping to mine the Taixi coal.

Li Jing's army was stationed in the Yinshan region, where they established the Anbei Protectorate.

Over a hundred thousand Turks were busy with construction.

There was no other way; the thousands of Turkic royal tents in Yinshan had already been burned by Su Liang.

Su Liang could only use labor as relief to build the Anbei Protectorate.

At the same time.

Dingxiang City was also renamed the Dingxiang Protectorate.

The original Turkic royal tents were converted into the Zhenbei Protectorate.

Everything was proceeding in an orderly fashion.

When the buildings made of stone, brick, cement, and yellow sand were completed on the outskirts of Yinshan, the Eastern Turks were thoroughly subjugated.

Every house had a heated brick bed, and during this time, Su Liang also had people forge stoves in Shuofang Commandery.

At the same time, Su Liang had two hundred shi of sweet potatoes and potatoes sent from Changan.

One hundred shi of each, with one shi weighing 125 jin.

Ten cuo make one chao, ten chao make one shao.

Ten shao make one he, ten he make one sheng.

Ten sheng make one dou, ten dou make one shi.

A while ago, the sweet potatoes and potatoes in Changan had been harvested, with each mu yielding barely 6,000 jin.

At this time, one mu in the Tang Dynasty was about 530 square meters.

In modern times, it is 666 square meters.

Su Liang had people send two shi of potatoes and sweet potatoes via an 800-li urgent dispatch.

Later, he invited everyone to the Anbei Protectorate to taste them and explained the methods of cultivation.

Su Liang naturally would not miss such a good place for growing sweet potatoes and potatoes.

Only by letting the Turks engage in both herding and farming could Su Liang be completely at ease.

Su Liang had long since planned to let the Turks plant the one thousand jin of cotton seeds first.

As for the planting location, Su Liang had already chosen it.

The Ejin Banner in the Alxa League, on the northwest side of the Helan Mountains.

The cotton here was similar to that of the northwest inland cotton region: white in color with fine fiber quality.

In the Alxa Left and Right Banners, the former tribe of Ashina Sunishi could assist in mining the He Lanshan coal mines.

As long as General Zhang Gongjin handled the security work well.

At the same time, it was also good for training soldiers in the Helan Mountains.

Over the past few days, the various generals had been asking Su Liang for his methods of troop training.

It was simply because Su Liang's training methods were too miraculous.

In this battle, 3,600 White-Robed Guards raided Ashina Sunishi's royal tent and killed 30,000, killed 50,000 along the way north, and killed 30,000 in a night raid on the Turkic Yinshan royal tent.

In this battle, over a hundred thousand Turks were killed, and not a single soldier was lost.

After the battle, it was learned that every White-Robed Guard dared to entrust their back to their comrades.

When encountering danger, comrades would fight to protect each other.

After this battle, the three thousand-plus White-Robed Guards were all more or less injured.

The White-Robed Guards would not abandon or give up on any teammate, whether they were lightly or heavily injured!

Su Liang was very gratified by this.

Facing everyone's inquiries, Su Liang told them the training methods in great detail.

Upon hearing this, everyone found it incredible.

Every White-Robed Guard had practiced martial arts since childhood, trained daily with a 30-jin load, ran 50 li morning and night, and climbed mountains and crossed ridges.

Every White-Robed Guard could be called the king of soldiers among kings.

Su Liang also suggested that they could select elites from the army to form "special forces"!

Everyone understood the logic; not everyone could be like the White-Robed Guards.

During this time.

Su Liang also received news sent by Uncle Fu.

The fine salt refinement method had been figured out by the Wang clan.

Seeing this, the other four surnames and six prominent families followed suit.

The brewing process was also better than before...

The rocking chair was even more highly praised by the people of Changan...

Now, mahjong had swept through the entire city of Changan...

Not only that, but the Eight Immortals tables from Su Liang's Drunken Immortal Restaurant were also being crafted and sold by various noble families.

Even the stove designed by Su Liang was being replicated in brass by the noble families.

Su Liang was speechless; even he wasn't that extravagant.

What angered Su Liang was that the various noble families were racking their brains, trying to get a piece of the cigarette business.

It was all those idiots, the "Four Young Masters of Changan," who spent their days in Pingkang Ward, drinking wine and smoking.

Now, the few of them had a large group of loyal little fanboys behind them.

Even Li Er and several dukes would occasionally show off.

How could such a lucrative business fall into the hands of others?

Su Liang naturally had to keep it firmly in his own hands.

December 13th, noon.

Shuofang City, inside Liang Luoren's residence.

Su Liang was eating hot pot with everyone around a stove.

Su Liang looked at Wang Xuance and asked, "How are the brothers' injuries healing?"

Wang Xuance said, "Generally, there is no problem; we can return to Changan."

"Good... have the White-Robed Guards pack up, we set off tomorrow!"

Su Liang said calmly.

Then, after thinking for a moment, he asked, "How is the manufacturing of the wooden oxen and flowing horses coming along?"

Wang Xuance said, "We have already made a full hundred of them; it is just that the magnets provided by the Young Master are limited."

"However, it is just enough to carry some gold and silver treasures back to Changan."

Su Liang knew this well; this was what he had calculated.

Su Liang had already made arrangements for the remaining magnets, for which he had spent three full days making two gifts for Changle and the others.

Hearing this, Su Liang chuckled and said, "Tsk tsk... four hundred jin per cart; it seems the Turks still have quite a bit of gold and silver."

The gold and silver treasures Wang Xuance spoke of were those offered by the Turks.

There were a full thirty-plus shi.

Wang Xuance joked, "These dozens of shi of gold and silver treasures can serve as a dowry."

Li Jing, standing to the side, asked, "How about I betroth my daughter to the Su lad?"

Su Liang's body trembled slightly upon hearing this.

Then he said slowly, "These are for His Majesty."

Li Jing laughed heartily: "Su lad, don't be humble. You have conquered three kingdoms; it is not too much for His Majesty to reward you with these."

"A hundred shi of gold and silver have already been sent to Changan City before."

Su Liang ignored Li Jing.

He then looked at Xue Rengui and said, "Rengui, you return to Longmen County today and bring your mother to Taoyuan County; there is a residence in Taoyuan County that the Young Master left for you."

Xue Rengui said, "Very well, I will set off after eating. Also, Young Master, please do not forget what you promised Rengui."

Su Liang chuckled at this.

Then he said, "Next year I will accompany you to propose marriage; the Young Master will be your matchmaker."

Seeing Su Liang ignoring him, Li Jing joked, "Su lad, could it be that you have taken a fancy to that Xiao Meiniang?"

Upon hearing this, Su Liang spat out the wine he had just taken into his mouth.

"Cough, cough..."

A moment later, Su Liang said, "The Duke of Wei is overthinking."

"Oh?"

Li Jing became interested.

Then he said, "Then why did Young Master Su arrange for the others to go to Changan, while leaving only Little Beauty here in Shuofang City?"

Su Liang felt slightly awkward.

Over the past few days, everyone had been looking at Su Liang with strange eyes.

During this time, even Xiao Meiniang had been looking at Su Liang with ambiguous eyes.

Su Liang was speechless about this; he was just afraid that Li Er would do something outrageous.

Hadn't he even taken his own sister-in-law, who was three thousand li away, into his harem?

Although it is said that Li Er took Xiao Meiniang as a concubine in history for the sake of imperial power.

But now, seeing Xiao Meiniang's beauty, he couldn't help but feel suspicious.

Marrying both mother and daughter...

That was why he left Xiao Meiniang behind.

She would return to Changan with Su Liang when the time came.

After coughing, Su Liang said immediately, "Everyone has been overthinking these past few days; think carefully about who Xiao Meiniang is."

Wang Xuance also spoke up for Su Liang: "Duke of Wei, do not make wild guesses; the Young Master naturally has his deep reasons for doing things."

"Now, all the young ladies of noble families in Changan want to be the Young Master's concubines."

"Isn't the Duke of Wei also willing to marry his beloved daughter to the Young Master?"

Li Jing's mouth twitched upon hearing this.

At this time, Xue Rengui also spoke up: "That Xiao Meiniang is the mother-in-law of the Young Master's father-in-law; the Young Master would certainly not do such a thing."

A moment later.

Everyone skipped this topic and continued to chat about other things.

Just at this moment, Zhangsun Wuji and the others arrived outside the gate.

Zhangsun Wuji found out where Su Liang was and hurried in.

Before Zhangsun Wuji could speak.

Li Jing stood up immediately and pulled Zhangsun Wuji to sit down.

Then he said, "Duke of Zhao, come, come, what the Su lad said is indeed true; these Turkic sheep and cattle are very fatty, hurry and eat some to warm yourself up."

He then ordered the servants to fetch bowls and chopsticks.

Zhangsun Wuji had no appetite at all and looked at Su Liang immediately, saying, "Good son-in-law, the Empress is critically ill, please return early."

Su Liang asked in confusion, "Is the Empress very ill?"

Zhangsun Wuji said, "The Divine Physician Sun can only let the Empress hold on for another month."

Su Liang continued to ask, "Sun Simiao?"

Zhangsun Wuji said, "Yes!"

Having received confirmation from Zhangsun Wuji, Su Liang felt relieved.

Empress Zhangsun in history only passed away in the tenth year of Zhenguan at the age of thirty-six, but now Empress Zhangsun was already twenty-nine, and would be thirty after the New Year; she had already given birth to three sons and two daughters for Li Shimin.

Su Liang said immediately, "With my senior brother there, it will be fine; if he says one month, he definitely can."

"Father-in-law, sit down and eat something to warm up; we will set off for Changan tomorrow."

Zhangsun Wuji asked in confusion, "When did Sun Simiao become your senior brother?"

Su Liang said calmly, "I helped him complete the Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold, and the man, who is over eighty, insisted on taking me as his master."

"Helpless, I had to call him senior brother, but that stubborn old man insisted that the one who is more capable is the master."

Zhangsun Wuji said, "Then does that mean my good son-in-law can cure the Empress?"

Su Liang answered the question with another: "Doesn't Father-in-law know that not a single White-Robed Guard was lost?"

Zhangsun Wuji continued, "Is my good son-in-law truly as the Divine Physician Sun said, that as long as there is a breath left, you can bring them back from the dead?"

Seeing Su Liang nod slightly, Zhangsun Wuji felt completely at ease.

The next morning.

Su Liang had already arranged everything and was ready to set off.

When Zhangsun Wuji saw the wooden oxen and flowing horses one by one.

He exclaimed immediately, "This... is this the legendary wooden ox and flowing horse?"

Su Liang explained patiently, "It is indeed the wooden ox and flowing horse; one cart can transport four hundred jin and travel a hundred li a day."

Along the way, Zhangsun Wuji was full of praise.

The carriage Su Liang made was ten square meters, four meters long, two and a half meters wide, and two meters high.

It had nine wheels and could be easily pulled by just two horses, with the speed being no different from usual.

There were four wheels on each side of the carriage, and one wheel at the very front, which could easily control the direction.

The driver sat at the very front and could control the steering wheel, thereby easily driving the other eight wheels.

Except for the one wheel at the front that controlled the direction, it was truly all-wheel drive!

What Zhangsun Wuji did not know was that inside the carriage, it felt like walking on flat ground.

The main part of the carriage was made entirely of metal, while the decorative parts were made of fine purple sandalwood.

This carriage was one of the gifts Su Liang gave to Changle and the other women.

At this time, Xiao Meiniang and her maid were sitting inside the carriage; Su Liang had also taken great pains for this.

Not only that.

Inside the carriage were also the little trinkets Su Liang had collected for the women, as well as another gift.

It was exactly the fully automatic mahjong machine Su Liang had made!

The team of nearly five thousand people continued to rush toward Changan City... ===== CHAPTER 19 =====