Chapter 27: The Women's Kingdom in Peril, the Lantern Festival

Li Er grew more excited the more he looked, and couldn't help but look at Su Liang and ask, "Good son-in-law, how far can this hot air balloon you made fly?"

"Under normal circumstances, about two hundred miles, though it specifically depends on wind direction and speed," Su Liang said nonchalantly while smoking.

"If it's with the wind, three to five hundred miles is possible."

"If the wind is strong, it can go even further; eight hundred to a thousand miles is not out of the question."

Li Er was overjoyed upon hearing this. This was a weapon of war! If it could be used in the army on a large scale, expanding territory would be effortless, and the Great Tang would surely flourish.

He immediately asked, "Good son-in-law... do you think you could have people make more of them?"

"Does Your Majesty wish to equip the Great Tang army with them?" Su Liang asked in return.

"Hehe... my good son-in-law truly understands my heart. I do indeed have that intention, but it still depends on you," Li Er chuckled, his face full of flattery.

"No problem, as long as Your Majesty makes the arrangements. I wouldn't want to see foreigners flying around within the borders of the Great Tang in hot air balloons later on."

"Once we reach Taoyuan Shanzhuang, I will give the complete blueprints to Your Majesty."

"Your Majesty can just have the Ministry of Works send people to build them in secret," Su Liang agreed immediately, knowing full well what Li Er was thinking.

He then reminded Li Er, "A word of caution to Your Majesty: the cost of these hot air balloons is not low, so they cannot be used on a large scale in the short term."

"And during production, you must not cut corners—it will cost lives!"

A quarter of an hour later.

The hot air balloon landed slowly within Taoyuan Shanzhuang. Su Liang saw that the Four Young Masters of Changan had arrived at some point and were looking at him with eyes full of admiration. Knowing they wanted to experience it, Su Liang had Er Hu take them for a ride, and the four of them followed Er Hu away in the balloon, bouncing with excitement.

Empress Zhangsun and the young ladies saw that Su Liang and Li Er had matters to discuss, so they left happily, leaving the space to the father-in-law and son-in-law.

Li Er hurriedly asked Su Liang for another pipe. Although the journey had only taken half an hour, he had truly been stifled, watching Su Liang puffing away while he had nothing...

After Yu'er brought one over, Li Er immediately began to puff away in large mouthfuls...

Dozens of breaths later...

Li Er looked at Su Liang with a profound gaze and asked, "Didn't you intend for those four to go to the Ezo people's land before, good son-in-law?"

"How are the arrangements going now? When do you plan for them to set off?"

"Hehe... are you concerned for them, or for the territory of the Great Tang?" Su Liang chuckled.

"The place where those four are going is the twentieth circuit of my Great Tang."

"I have already thought of a name for Your Majesty: let's call it Hokkaido."

Just at this moment...

A shout suddenly came from outside: "Young Master... Young Master..."

Su Liang naturally knew whose voice it was.

A few breaths later, Xue Rengui was seen running over in a hurry.

"What is the matter that has you so flustered? His Majesty is still here!" Su Liang asked.

After bowing slightly to Li Er, Xue Rengui said, "Young Master, something has happened to the Women's Kingdom..."

Su Liang was instantly enraged upon hearing this: "What exactly happened?"

"After the morning court today, people sent by the Women's Kingdom found me, seeking help from you, Young Master. Half a year ago, Namri Songtsen used the strength of his entire nation to attack the Women's Kingdom. Now the Women's Kingdom is in imminent danger; if we do not send people to assist, I fear they will not last two months!" Xue Rengui said.

"Is the Women's Kingdom you speak of, Rengui, Suo?" Li Er couldn't help but ask.

"It is indeed Suo. The youngest daughter of Dajia Wu sent people to ask for help. Young Master, this..." After finishing, Xue Rengui looked at Su Liang, waiting for him to speak.

At this moment, Li Er also looked at Su Liang, wondering why he was so angry, and began to ponder with a slight frown...

Su Liang then remembered that in history, it was at this time that the Tibetan Empire destroyed Suo.

The Women's Kingdom was a matriarchal regime established by the Suo people on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau from the Northern and Southern Dynasties to the Sui and Tang periods; to the east was Suo, and to the west was the Eastern Women's Kingdom.

The two countries could be collectively referred to as the Senbo Dynasty. Senbo was the surname of the Suo royal family, and the king was a "wise woman" from the clan; Senbo Jie meant King Senbo.

There were greater and lesser kings in the country: for Suo, it was Senbo Jie Dajia Wu, and for the Eastern Women's Kingdom, it was Senbo Jie Chibangsun.

The Queen lived in a nine-story stone tower, and the commoners lived in five-story ones; the "Nine-Story Demon Tower" originated from this!

The "Queen of Jingjue" was also modeled after the Great King of Suo, Senbo Jie Dajia Wu.

"Did the lesser king Chibangsun participate in this?" Su Liang immediately asked.

"He participated. Not only that, but the ministers of Suo were in collusion with the Tibetan Empire. Namri Songtsen took this opportunity to attack Suo..." Xue Rengui replied.

Su Liang interrupted Xue Rengui directly: "Alright, I know what's going on."

At this time, under the rule of King Senbo Jie Dajia Wu, Suo was in chaos and had gradually declined.

He then looked at Li Er and chuckled: "Hehe... Namri Songtsen is paving the way for Songtsen Gampo by doing this."

"Your Majesty, we have our work cut out for us!"

"Hahaha... it is you who has work to do, good son-in-law. I don't believe that the Women's Kingdom doesn't have a confidante of yours."

Li Er laughed heartily.

"Ahem..." Su Liang coughed twice to ease the awkwardness.

He thought to himself: Li Er has become more and more clever lately; he even discovered this.

Indeed, the youngest daughter of Dajia Wu that Xue Rengui spoke of was Su Liang's little lover... Senbo Yao!

"Hehe... Your Majesty jests. I am doing this to expand the territory of my Great Tang," Su Liang said nonchalantly.

"Oh? I wonder how you plan to respond to this, good son-in-law?" Li Er asked with a grin, his eyes squinting into slits.

"Is Your Majesty giving me full authority to decide?" Su Liang asked in return.

"I leave it entirely to you! I will just cooperate with you," Li Er blurted out.

Su Liang immediately said, "Good, then please issue an imperial decree, Your Majesty. From today on, both the eastern and western Women's Kingdoms are territory of my Great Tang. Those who offend my Great Tang shall be punished, no matter how far away they are!"

"Hahaha... Excellent!" Li Er laughed heartily.

Su Liang then looked at Xue Rengui and said, "Rengui, lead your ten thousand Black Armor Cavalry to Suo tomorrow!"

"Clear the internal chaos within three months and join forces with Suo to repel the Tibetan army!"

"Rest assured, Young Master, Rengui will protect Lady Yao well," Xue Rengui promised solemnly.

Li Er looked at Su Liang with a smile on his lips, his expression meaningful...

He then looked at Su Liang and asked, "Have you already thought of the march route?"

Xue Rengui explained to Li Er, "The Young Master intends to request passage through the Dangxiang. If they do not grant it, we can have the Longyou Regional Commander Li Xiaogong and the Jiannan Regional Commander Li Daozong send troops."

Su Liang secretly praised him in his heart; he was worthy of being someone who had followed him for two years, and worthy of being the Xue Rengui who "settled the Tianshan Mountains with three arrows." Having been to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau together, he had already considered everything without needing Su Liang to arrange it.

The situation where the Dangxiang caused chaos in the five northwestern circuits and established Western Xia was absolutely unacceptable to Su Liang.

During the Tang Dynasty, after the Dangxiang submitted to the Tang, they moved inland multiple times. The Tuoba clan was granted the Li surname. Under the care of the Tang Dynasty, the Dangxiang tribe lived a stable life and continued to multiply. During the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, regardless of who was in power in the Central Plains, the Tuoba clan always "bowed and called themselves subjects," in exchange for significant ruling status and rewards. During the Song Dynasty, the Tuoba clan began to actively prepare to break away from the Great Song, established civil and military cadres to build palaces, abandoned the Li surname to establish Western Xia, and sent large armies to capture Guazhou, Shazhou, and Suzhou.

"Hehe... it seems you have more in mind than just that, good son-in-law." Li Er chuckled.

"Indeed, this westward advance can indeed wipe out the Dangxiang in one fell swoop," Su Liang admitted immediately.

"The Dangxiang can be considered to share the same roots and origins as Suo, mostly being of the Qiang tribe."

"Doesn't this move also align with Your Majesty's wishes? Now that there are fifty thousand Tang soldiers in both Longyou Circuit and Jiannan Circuit, the mere Dangxiang are not worth worrying about."

Su Liang said slowly, with the air of someone directing the fate of the nation.

He then looked at Li Er with a profound and serious gaze: "The Dangxiang tribes are organized by surname and do not govern each other. Among the eight Dangxiang tribes, the Tuoba clan of the Xianbei is the strongest, but their strength is only ten thousand cavalry, while the others have several thousand cavalry each."

"Your Majesty should know what is best to do."

Li Er immediately said, "I understand your meaning, good son-in-law. The eight Dangxiang tribes are no different from individual aristocratic families."

"I know what to do."

The next morning.

The decree that "Suo is territory of my Great Tang" spread throughout Changancheng...

For a time, the envoys of various countries were all dumbfounded! Since when had the Great Tang become so overbearing? They were at a loss... and immediately arranged for people to return and report.

Many dukes and ministers who knew the inside story were calmer, as Li Er had already discussed it with them yesterday.

Those who did not know were all astonished: since when did Suo become territory of the Great Tang?

The commoners were all overjoyed, adding much atmosphere to the New Year.

Meanwhile, inside Taoyuan Shanzhuang.

Li Xian'er pouted at Su Liang and said, "Hehe, so you went to the Women's Kingdom after you left."

"You heartless flirt, you unfaithful man!"

"Hey, hey, hey... are you being reasonable? What do you mean I went to the Women's Kingdom after I left? It was clearly half a year later, okay? That's because Xue Rengui didn't explain it clearly to you!"

"And I didn't betray you at that time, okay?" Su Liang said, speechless.

Su Liang then couldn't be bothered to pay attention to Li Xian'er, quietly enjoying Yu'er and Ruyan massaging his feet and shoulders.

That day, Xue Rengui led ten thousand Tang Black Armor Cavalry, carrying only three days of dry rations, and headed to Suo without stopping. This was also something Su Liang, Li Er, and the others had agreed upon: in the future, cavalry expeditions would be self-sustaining, without needing to labor the people or drain the treasury.

If it weren't for the fact that the wedding date was near, Su Liang would definitely have gone to the Women's Kingdom in person immediately.

However, Su Liang also believed that Xue Rengui could handle it. The soldiers under Xue Rengui's command had long been using Su Liang's training methods; they were not only equipped with telescopes but also with improved versions of the Mo blade and the Heng blade. The Mo blade was much lighter than the ones used by the White Robe Guard, and the Heng blade could have its hilt and scabbard connected to reach six feet in length.

Not only that, but the fine warhorses captured from the Turks were also equipped.

At the same time, Su Liang promised him that when he returned, he would go with Xue Rengui to Longmen County to propose marriage.

Time passed slowly...

In the blink of an eye, it was the Lantern Festival.

During this time, the Wooden Oxen and Flowing Horses also made the arduous journey back to Taoyuan County, and large numbers of cattle, sheep, and horses arrived one after another.

The commoners along the way saw the Wooden Oxen and Flowing Horses walking without being pulled by people, and they all clicked their tongues in wonder...

At this moment, in the inner courtyard of Furong Garden.

Su Liang, Ruyan, Yu'er, Er Hu, and Uncle Fu were eating hot pot.

Er Hu suddenly said, "Young Master, why don't we go out and play tonight? We haven't seen the Lantern Festival in Changancheng yet."

"Right now, there are only a few of us in this vast Hibiscus Garden; they won't be married over until tomorrow."

"Is that what you call playing? You're looking for a wife, aren't you?"

"Did you take a fancy to some young lady yesterday? I, Young Master, can go propose marriage for you," Su Liang asked.

Erhu hurriedly waved his hands and said, "Not yet. I want to find one myself. If Young Master has time, please help my father take a look instead."

Su Liang then looked at Uncle Fu and said, "Uncle Fu, why not look for one?"

"Hehe... that won't be necessary. I've come to terms with it now. When I have time, I'll just visit the Tianqiao Workshop and Tianman Workshop; there's no need to remarry," Uncle Fu said with a smile.

Su Liang then looked at the two women and said, "Ruyan, Yu'er, let's go to Chongren Ward today."

Last night, the women had been playing in Taoyuan City, and since Su Liang was getting married tomorrow, he was afraid of missing the auspicious hour, so they moved to the Hibiscus Garden in advance.

Su Liang had indeed never seen the Lantern Festival in Changancheng.

Half an hour later, both women were dressed and ready.

Today, Ruyan had also changed into the outfit she wore the first time she came to the Hibiscus Garden...

A pink rose-scented tight-fitting robe with long sleeves, a green smoke-gauze skirt with scattered flower patterns underneath, a large butterfly knot tied at the waist with gold-threaded soft silk, and a jade phoenix hairpin slanted in her low-hanging hair, making her figure look slender, enchanting, and soul-stirring.

Yu'er was much simpler; she was dressed as a man, wearing light makeup, clad in a set of cyan clothes, with her hair tied up high, clearly afraid of stealing Ruyan's spotlight.

Uncle Fu and Erhu were in fine clothes today, and unlike usual, they had both applied a little makeup.

Su Liang also took out the masks he had prepared in advance: men wore silver, women wore gold.

Su Liang, Yu'er, Erhu, and Uncle Fu wore silver masks, while Ruyan wore a gold mask.

The five of them drove the carriage in a grand procession toward Chongren Ward...

Along the way, for dozens of miles, the carriages and horses were noisy, and men and women were everywhere.

Seeing that it was Su Liang's carriage, everyone cleared the way to let Su Liang pass first...

"Young Master Su... Young Master Su..."

"Everyone look... Young Master Su has come to Changancheng..."

"Is that golden-masked one the former top courtesan of Pingkang Ward... so beautiful..."

"That young gentleman with the silver mask is so handsome..."

"I like him so much..."

"Tch... would he even look at you..."

"Look, look... Young Master Su looked at me..."

"Sigh... Young Master Su is getting married tomorrow... I really want to be Young Master Su's concubine too..."

"Stop pretending, are you even a woman..."

"Pah... a man dressed as a woman, still trying to snatch Young Master Su..."

It must be said that the Lantern Festival of the Tang Dynasty was truly a carnival for the whole nation!

Not only was there a three-day holiday and the lifting of the curfew, but entertainment activities were also endless: lighting torches, setting fires, admiring lanterns, dating and guessing riddles, releasing lanterns, performing acrobatics, and so on.

At the same time, the imperial court also set up stages on the main streets and arranged for singing girls to perform programs on the stages, with gorgeous lanterns and candles, and all kinds of performances on display...

On the night of the Lantern Festival, the common people wore strange costumes and various masks, playing to their hearts' content in the night markets, reveling until dawn.

There were also many women from sheltered families who went out to play and participate in matchmaking parties, hoping to find their lovers.

Whether they were royalty and nobles or commoners, those dressed as the opposite sex were everywhere; status was ignored, men and women did not avoid each other, the inner and outer circles watched together, and men and women vied for beauty, their makeup mingling.

Completely breaking through the boundaries of status and feudal etiquette, it was truly a grand feast of national carnival.