Chapter 969: A Letter of Bitter Remonstrance to the Nanyang King

A letter from Vice Minister Liu?

A sharp look immediately flashed in Xie Chengqian's eyes.

Vice Minister Liu.

This name is a taboo for the Nanyang Xie Clan! If not for him, his three hundred thousand troops would not have been completely wiped out! If not for him, he might still have had a chance to meddle in the situation of Longyan!

Xie Chengqian watched Gu Long quietly, the murderous aura in his eyes nearly spilling out.

Gu Long frowned: "Your Majesty, we have already ceased hostilities with Longyan. This is a matter of diplomacy between two nations; it should not be mixed with—"

"Alright, alright, read it!"

Xie Chengqian was afraid of this Gu Long; in any case, whenever the man found an opportunity, he would lecture him, so he quickly sat up straight again.

Only then did Gu Long open the letter with great solemnity.

Xie Chengqian was a bit curious now.

Because he truly could not imagine what this Vice Minister Liu could possibly want to say to him.

Remember the website address

At the first glance, he was somewhat stunned. He looked at Xie Chengqian, then at Zhangsun Qingrou, and after pondering for a moment, he said: "Your Majesty, this old subject believes it would be better to summon the civil and military officials and read this letter aloud in public."

"Oh?"

Soon, the three of them moved to the Great Hall of the Nanyang Imperial Palace.

Before long, the entire court of Nanyang civil and military officials arrived upon hearing the news. Xie Chengqian looked at this group of officials; there was no expression in his eyes. It was truly because, although these officials were all loyal to him, there were still some local natives among them. Their skin was so dark that he could not bear to look at them, and wearing these clothes with such a strong Longyan style, they looked as incongruous as could be.

"Proclaim it!"

He waved his hand grandly.

Xie Chengqian recited silently in his heart.

Although it had been so many years, he still had not gotten used to it.

It would be fine once he got used to it.

It would be fine once he got used to it.

The civil and military officials knelt and bowed again, shouting "Long live" in unison.

Xie Chengqian waved his hand and said: "My dear ministers, I have summoned you all here today on short notice because Vice Minister Liu has sent me a letter."

Sure enough, Longyan is home after all.

He could not help but sigh again.

"A letter from Long Yan?"

As expected, these civil and military officials looked at one another in dismay.

"What?"

"Vice Minister Liu?"

Everyone could not guess it.

Xie Chengqian chuckled: "Lord Gu, read it out."

The relationship between the two sides had reached a freezing point; what was the meaning of this letter?

They could not guess.

Upon hearing the title "Nanyang King," everyone sneered. Speaking of this, it was quite laughable. Previously, Longyan did not know that these remnants of the Great Tang had come to Nanyang, nor did they know of the existence of these people. Later, after Xie Tianyao found out, he was naturally so angry he nearly exploded. However, Nanyang was truly too far away, and the national strength of Longyan at the time was unable to reach that far; furthermore, there was indeed no need to mobilize the entire nation's strength to conquer this "barren land" of Nanyang.

However, this branch of the Xie Clan did exist.

Gu Long nodded, walked to the center of the hall, solemnly opened the letter, took a deep breath, and read aloud.

"To the Nanyang King: seeing these words is like seeing me. Liu Zheng of Liangzhou respectfully wishes you peace and well-being."

Of course.

Xie Chengqian did not acknowledge this; he had always felt that his branch of the Xie Clan was the orthodox one.

Then what should be done?

One day, Xie Tianyao had a sudden whim: since you insist on opposing Longyan, I will use the authority of the Celestial Empire to confer upon you the title of "Nanyang King" to disgust you. You are a king, but I am the Emperor. What can you do about it?

Xie Chengqian gave a cold snort.

Does your heart ache?

Therefore, when Liu Zheng started the letter with this "Nanyang King," it made him laugh out loud as well.

"Zheng grew up in Liangzhou since childhood and rarely heard of the Nanyang Xie Clan. After escaping by chance from the Battle of Liaodong, I learned it was a case of brothers fighting each other; Zheng's heart aches!"

Xie Chengqian's eyelids twitched as he listened.

Dragon Flame

My heart is the one that aches, alright! Three hundred thousand—that was three hundred thousand troops!

"However, Zheng's duty is clear to the sun and moon. The Longyan state is the destination of all under heaven. Since the High Ancestor raised his army to overcome the decay and chaos, overthrowing the dim-witted and cunning, the people have happily followed him. For two thousand years since, the ancestral temples have remained unbroken, and heaven and earth have been harmonious. Our soldiers are strong and sharp, unifying the universe. Our granaries are overflowing, and our land is rich. Our vast Longyan should have all nations come to pay homage!"

During the time of the Tang Emperor, the prestige of Longyan reached its peak!

"In the past, when the Tang Emperor ruled, Longyan was at its most prosperous, creating a golden age of stability and establishing the glory of a great nation. Succeeding the throne and maintaining the culture, controlling heroes, and facing the south to rule the people, he sought to match his great virtue with heaven and earth, and align his brilliance with the sun and moon, hoping his lineage would last for a hundred generations and his legacy would be infinite. However, for all leaders, the way of the monarch is to accept the mandate of heaven; there is none who does not show their path through deep anxiety, yet the path declines once success is achieved! Many have a good beginning, but few can have a good end. Is it that it is easy to seize but difficult to maintain? It was once prosperous and had more than enough, but now it declines—and so quickly. Why is this?"

Did the former glory of Longyan not also belong to their branch of the Xie Clan?

Furthermore.

"This—"

"Audacious!"

"The way of the monarch is to truly be able to restrain oneself when seeing what one desires, and to know when to stop to bring peace to the people when one intends to act. When civil and military officials are relaxed and the monarch and ministers have nothing to do, one can enjoy the pleasures of leisure and cultivate the longevity of Song and Qiao."

"However, the Tang Emperor created a golden age for the universe but destroyed the way of the monarch against the mandate of heaven, relying on his strength and wealth without fearing future troubles. He drove the world to satisfy his desires, exhausting all things to serve himself, gathering the sons and daughters of the realm, and seeking the wonders of distant lands. He decorated his palaces and gardens, exalted his terraces and pavilions, imposed labor without end, and never ceased his wars. Externally he appeared severe, but internally he was full of danger and jealousy. The slanderous and evil were sure to receive his favor, while the loyal and upright could not preserve their lives. Those above and below deceived each other, the way between monarch and minister was severed, the people could not bear the mandates, and the whole land fell into pieces. Thus, the dignity of the four seas perished at the hands of a commoner, his descendants were wiped out, and he became the laughingstock of the world!"

This passage first praised the Tang Emperor for creating a golden age. As the saying goes, it is easy to conquer the world but difficult to maintain it. Yet, in the early part of his reign, the Tang Emperor had maintained it extremely well, governing the Longyan Kingdom with favorable weather and the hearts of the people. However, the second half stated that in his later years, the Tang Emperor gradually became arrogant and muddled, not only indulging in pleasure but also spending extravagantly. At that time, he often mobilized the strength of the entire nation to conquer other countries to demonstrate the military might of Longyan, all for the sake of the majesty of the Celestial Empire.

Therefore.

"This Vice Minister Liu is outrageous, simply outrageous!"

Hearing this, the group of civil and military officials were all furious.

The various regional military governors began to stir up trouble and rebel.

It was at this time that the Xie Clan of Xie Tianyao's branch rose amidst the chaos, gained significant prestige by suppressing the rebellion, and directly drove the Tang Emperor's branch from the throne.

The Longyan of that time appeared prosperous, but was actually strong on the outside and weak on the inside. However, the Tang Emperor of that time was already old and did not realize these problems.

In the end, during his final years on the throne, a nationwide famine occurred, followed by great chaos within the country.

Although he increased corvée labor and campaigned year-round, it was precisely his excessive use of troops at that time that carved out the vast territory Longyan has today. This is why there are always people who miss the Tang Emperor, considering him the most successful monarch in Longyan's history.

But it was also precisely because of this that the country became turbulent and unstable.

Therefore, in Liu Zheng's view, while the Tang Emperor's creation of a golden age is indeed worthy of others' respect, it is also a fact that he was muddled in his later years.

He is a person whose reputation is mixed.

While others listened with extreme anger, Xie Chengqian felt his heart tremble; he slowly closed his eyes, and tears could not help but flow out.

That is so.

Therefore, history is always like this.

It seems there has never been a perfect person.

The Tang Emperor's extravagance in his later years is also a fact. Otherwise, if the world had remained stable and the people had remained loyal to the Emperor, how could they have been driven to this Nanyang by Xie Tianyao's branch?

"Zheng has heard that those who wish for a tree to grow tall must secure its roots. Those who wish for a stream to flow far must dredge its source. Those who wish for the country to be secure must accumulate virtue and righteousness! If the source is not deep, one cannot hope for the stream to flow far; if the roots are not firm, one cannot seek for the tree to grow tall; if virtue is not thick, one cannot think of the principles of governing a country. Though Zheng is of low intelligence, I know this is impossible, let alone for the wise! A ruler holds the weight of the divine vessels and dwells in the greatness of the realm; he should exalt the height of the heavens and forever preserve boundless blessings. If he does not think of danger while living in peace, does not guard against extravagance with frugality, if his virtue is not thick, and his feelings do not overcome his desires, this is like cutting the roots to seek a flourishing tree, or blocking the source while wishing for a long stream!"

The golden age of Longyan was created by his ancestors, and even the vast territory Longyan has now was conquered by them.

However.

The faces of all the civil and military officials in the hall turned ugly.

But seeing that Xie Chengqian showed no reaction, they could only listen quietly with angry eyes.

Delivering the finishing blow!

Delivering the finishing blow!

"Such a Longyan, who can shake it?"

"Such a Longyan, who can steal it?"

"Today, Longyan is stable, the weather is favorable, its prestige spreads far and wide, and the people are happy. The Emperor knows the wise and employs the wise, has not gone out for thirty years, is frugal and moderate, carries things with thick virtue, and the world turns its heart toward him; he is humble and calm, respectfully awaiting virtuous words. The soldiers of Longyan raise their three-foot swords to pacify the four seas. They wish to recreate a golden age in Longyan and shake the universe among all nations once more. Knowing that the world is slightly at peace, one must be even more cautious; if one becomes arrogant and indulgent, it will surely lead to ruin! Rewards do not overlook the distant, and punishments do not favor the noble; to be diligent throughout this life is to rectify the way of the monarch!"

"What is loved is not the ruler, what is feared is not the people! Promote frugality, lighten taxes, be cautious from beginning to end; the people do not pick up lost items on the road, and doors are not locked at night. The prosperity of Longyan is unprecedented."

Gu Long's voice lingered in the Great Hall for a long time.

The entire audience listened in dead silence.

"Such a Longyan, who can throw it into chaos?"

"Such a Longyan, who would wish for its collapse!"

The Longyan of today is very strong, so strong that it has made Xie Chengqian feel a strong sense of powerlessness several times. The Longyan of today is very stable, so stable that even if some internal strife occurs, he does not dare to lead troops back to Longyan. The Longyan of today is very domineering, so domineering that the surrounding countries, even the Ottoman Empire far away in Central Asia, must bow their heads and pay tribute.

Although they do not say it out loud.

But as long as those present have the faces of Longyan people, they cannot help but clench their fists one by one.

Yes.

"The Nanyang Xie Clan, comrades and brothers. How can we not celebrate the prosperity of Longyan?"

"How can we not worry about the survival of the people?"

But, as Longyan people, they also feel proud and honored!

This is a very contradictory mentality, but it has indeed appeared.

"He who follows the people with desire will prosper; he who makes the people happy for his own sake will perish. Those who know the roof leaks are under the eaves; those who know the government fails are in the wilderness. Today, as a man of the wilderness, Liu Zheng offers sincere Admonishment; fellow countrymen like me should stop turning our weapons, and together seek a golden age."

"If a country lacks righteousness, it will surely perish even if it is large. If a person lacks good intentions, they will surely be hurt even if they are brave."

"The policy of the Nanyang King values tranquility, taking the hearts of the people as his own heart, and the way of the people as his own way."

"This is Great Good!"

Once these words were spoken, the whole hall was deathly silent.

Even.

"The beginning of nurturing ambition lies in settling oneself. The Nanyang Xie Clan has drifted for a long time, its foundation is not yet set, and it is truly difficult to plot against Zhongyuan."

"The Nanyang King should first plan to settle himself, then plan for conquest!"

For a time, one could not even hear breathing in the Great Hall.

Heart-piercing!

This letter from Liu Zheng is too heart-piercing!