Chapter 27: The Daughter Kingdom in Peril, the Shangyuan Festival

The more Li Er looked, the more excited he became. He 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 li, 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 li is possible."

"If the wind is strong, it could go even further; eight hundred to a thousand li isn't out of the question."

Li Er was overjoyed upon hearing this. This was a weapon of war! If it could be used extensively in the military, 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 more made?"

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

"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 hot air balloons all over my Great Tang territory."

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

"Your Majesty can just have the Ministry of Works build them in secret," Su Liang agreed immediately, well aware of Li Er's hidden agenda.

He then reminded Li Er, "I must warn Your Majesty: the cost of these hot air balloons is not low, and they cannot be used on a large scale in the short term."

"And you must not cut corners during production—people will die!"

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. The four of them followed Er Hu and flew off in the balloon, giddy with excitement.

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

Li Er immediately urged Su Liang to get him 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...

Once Yu Er brought one over, Li Er began to puff away greedily...

Several dozen breaths later...

Li Er looked at Su Liang with a deep gaze and asked, "Good son-in-law, didn't you previously intend to send those four to the land of the Ezo people?"

"How are the arrangements coming along? 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 those four are going is the twentieth province of my Great Tang."

"I've already thought of a name for Your Majesty: Hokkaido."

Just then...

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

Su Liang knew exactly whose voice it was.

A few breaths later, he saw Xue Rengui 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 Daughter Kingdom..."

Su Liang was instantly enraged: "What exactly happened?"

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

"Rengui, is the Daughter Kingdom you speak of Su Pi?" Li Er couldn't help but ask.

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

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 Su Pi.

The Daughter Kingdom, from the Northern and Southern Dynasties to the Sui and Tang periods, was a matrilineal clan regime established by the Su Pi people on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. To the east was Su Pi, and to the west was the Eastern Daughter Kingdom.

The two countries could be collectively referred to as the Senbo Dynasty. Senbo was the surname of the Su Pi royal family, and the king was a "Wise Woman" from the clan. Senbo Jie meant King Senbo.

The country had a Great King and a Lesser King; Su Pi was Senbo Jie Dajia Wu, and the Eastern Daughter Kingdom was Senbo Jie Chibang Sun.

The Queen lived in a nine-story watchtower, and the commoners lived in five-story watchtowers. This is where the "Nine-Story Demon Tower" comes from!

The "Queen of Jingjue" was also based on the Great King of Su Pi, Senbo Jie Dajia Wu.

"Did the Lesser King Chibang Sun participate in this?" Su Liang asked immediately.

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

Su Liang interrupted Xue Rengui directly: "Enough, I know what is going on."

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

He then looked at Li Er and chuckled: "Hehe... Namri Songtsen is using this to pave the way for Songtsen Gampo."

"Your Majesty, we have work to do!"

"Hahaha... it is you who has work to do, good son-in-law. I don't believe that Daughter Kingdom doesn't have one of your confidantes."

Li Er laughed heartily.

"Cough, cough..." Su Liang coughed twice to ease his embarrassment.

He thought to himself: Li Er has become increasingly sharp 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 jokes. I am merely expanding the territory for 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 narrowing into slits.

"Is Your Majesty giving me full authority to decide?" Su Liang countered.

"I leave it to you, good son-in-law! I will 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 Daughter Kingdoms are territory of my Great Tang. Those who offend my Great Tang, even if far away, shall be punished!"

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

Su Liang then looked at Xue Rengui: "Rengui, tomorrow you will lead your ten thousand Mystic Armor Cavalry straight to Su Pi!"

"Clear the internal rebellion within three months and join forces with Su Pi to repel the Tibetan army!"

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

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

He then asked Su Liang: "Have you already decided on the marching route, good son-in-law?"

Xue Rengui explained to Li Er: "The Young Master intends to borrow a path through the Dangxiang. If the Dangxiang do not grant passage, 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 the man who had followed him for two years, and worthy of being the "Three Arrows Settling Tianshan" Xue Rengui. At least they had been to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau together; without Su Liang needing to arrange it, he had already considered everything.

The situation where the Dangxiang wreaked havoc in the five provinces of the Northwest and established Western Xia was absolutely unacceptable to Su Liang.

During the Tang Dynasty, after the Dangxiang submitted to the Tang, they moved inland many 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, no matter who was in power in the Central Plains, the Tuoba clan always "bowed and called themselves subjects," in exchange for a large amount of ruling status and rewards. During the Song Dynasty, the Tuoba clan began to actively prepare to break away from the Great Song, established a civil and military foundation to build palaces, abandoned the Li surname to establish Western Xia, and sent a large army to capture Guazhou, Shazhou, Suzhou, and other places.

"Hehe... it seems you aren't just thinking about that, good son-in-law," Li Er chuckled.

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

"The Dangxiang are also of the same root and origin as Su Pi, mostly Qiang people."

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

Su Liang said slowly, with the air of someone pointing out the landscape.

He then looked at Li Er with a deep, serious gaze: "The Dangxiang tribes are organized by surname, not under a unified command. Among the eight Dangxiang tribes, the Xianbei Tuoba clan is the strongest, but their strength is only ten thousand cavalry. The other tribes 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. Are those eight Dangxiang tribes not just like individual noble families?"

"I know what to do."

The next morning.

The decree that "Su Pi is territory of my Great Tang" spread throughout Changan City...

For a time, the envoys of various countries were 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 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 Su Pi become territory of my Great Tang?

The commoners were happier than anyone, adding much atmosphere to the New Year.

Meanwhile, inside Taoyuan Shanzhuang.

Li Xian'er pouted at Su Liang: "Hehe, so you went to the Daughter Kingdom after you left."

"You heartless philanderer!"

"Wait, wait, wait... are you being reasonable? What do you mean I went to the Daughter 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, alright?" Su Liang said, speechless.

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

That day, Xue Rengui led ten thousand Great Tang Mystic Armor Cavalry, carrying only three days of dry rations, and headed to Su Pi without stopping. This was also something Su Liang, Li Er, and the others had discussed: in the future, cavalry expeditions would be self-sustaining, without needing to burden the people or waste money.

If it weren't for the wedding date being near, Su Liang would definitely have gone to the Daughter Kingdom himself immediately.

However, Su Liang also believed that Xue Rengui could handle it. The soldiers under Xue Rengui's command had long since been using Su Liang's training methods. Not only were they equipped with telescopes, but they were also equipped with improved Mo Dao and Heng Dao. The Mo Dao were much lighter than those used by the White Robe Guards, and the Heng Dao could have the handle and scabbard connected for up to six feet.

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 to Longmen County with Xue Rengui to propose marriage.

Time passed slowly...

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

During this period, the Wooden Ox and Flowing Horse also ran back to Taoyuan County with great difficulty, and a large number of cattle, sheep, and horses arrived one after another.

The commoners along the way saw the Wooden Ox and Flowing Horse 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, Miss 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 Shangyuan Festival in Changan City yet."

"Now there are only a few of us in this large Furong Garden; the others won't be married over until tomorrow."

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

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

Er Hu waved his hand quickly: "Not yet. I want to find one myself. Young Master, if you have time, please help my father take a look."

Su Liang then looked at Uncle Fu and said: "Uncle Fu, why don't you look for one?"

"Hehe... that's not necessary. I've thought it through now. When I have time, I'll go to Tianqiao Square and Tianman Square; I don't need to remarry," Uncle Fu said with a smile.

Su Liang then looked at the two girls and said: "Miss Ruyan, Yu Er, let's go to Chongren Square today."

Last night, the girls were all playing in Taoyuan City. Su Liang was getting married tomorrow and was afraid of missing the auspicious time, so he moved to Furong Garden in advance.

Su Liang had indeed never seen the Shangyuan Festival in Changan City.

Half an hour later, the two girls were all dressed up.

Today, Miss Ruyan also changed into the outfit she wore when she first came to Furong Garden...

A pink rose-scented tight-fitting robe with wide sleeves, covered by a turquoise smoke-gauze skirt with scattered flowers. A large butterfly knot was tied at her waist with golden silk soft smoke gauze. Her hair hung low, with a jade phoenix hairpin inserted diagonally, making her figure look slender, enchanting, and soul-stirring.

Yu Er was much simpler, dressed as a man, with light makeup, wearing a cyan outfit, her hair tied high, clearly afraid of stealing Miss Ruyan's spotlight.

Uncle Fu and Er Hu were in fine clothes today. Unlike usual, they both wore a little light makeup today.

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

Su Liang, Yu Er, Er Hu, and Uncle Fu wore silver masks, and Miss Ruyan wore a gold mask.

The five of them drove a carriage toward Chongren Square in a grand manner...

Along the way, it stretched for dozens of li, with carriages and horses heard everywhere, and men and women gathered in crowds.

Seeing that it was Su Liang's carriage, everyone cleared the way, letting Su Liang go first...

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

"Everyone look... Young Master Su has come to Changan City..."

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

"That young master 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 also want to be Young Master Su's concubine..."

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

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

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

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

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

On the night of the Shangyuan Festival, commoners wore strange clothes and various masks to play in the night market, reveling until dawn.

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

Whether they were royalty or commoners, men dressed as women and women dressed as men were everywhere. Status was ignored, men and women did not avoid each other, everyone watched together, men and women competed for beauty, and makeup stained each other.

Completely breaking the boundaries of status and feudal ethics, it was truly a carnival feast for the whole nation. ===== CHAPTER 28 =====