Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
Chapter 177: The Clamor
Li Mi's words improved the atmosphere in the hall significantly, but the Taoist continued to mutter about Pu Feize's unworthy remarks, suggesting that if the world truly respected Monastic Daoism, someone would have acted by now.
To put it bluntly, this foundation was established by Duke Zhai. No matter how great your name is, Li Mi, you are still a dog of a defeated family. You may call for troops, but we at Wagang have already reached the point of being led by numerous bandit chiefs. If they do not come to us, we will go and swallow them.
"Ha! You speak so grandly, but isn't there still a Lord in Li? Lord Pushan and Yang Xuangan are both defeated generals under him. If we talk about the Li Clan's Destiny, why shouldn't we go and support Li Jian Cheng?"
Xu Shijie frowned at this remark; it should not have been said. The Lord left the Central Plains precisely to extricate himself from the chaos. Otherwise, it would have been much better to dominate Liaodong.
Bing Yuanzhen, who had spoken out, ignored Xu Shijie's gaze. To stand out, one cannot simply follow the rules; otherwise, when would one ever achieve anything?
The Taoist counted on his fingers and declared, "Being in foreign lands naturally prevents one from inheriting our Central Plains' Destiny. As for defeat, it is merely a trial for kings by Destiny itself. Han Gaozu also faced numerous failures but still established the illustrious Han dynasty."
"Hmph! What do your bird-like words mean? If you have the ability, strike me down with lightning; then my brothers will acknowledge your Destiny. Otherwise, stop your incessant chatter."
The Taoist had no retort. If he could truly command thunder, he wouldn't need to promote Li Mi here; he would have long since changed his name and claimed to be a divine ruler descended from heaven.
Bing Yuanzhen's companions immediately joined in the clamor. They were all heroes who had once assisted Li Jian Cheng; some had even joined Wagang before Zhai Rang.
If they were to choose a Lord, it would undoubtedly be Li Jian Cheng and not some stranger like Li Mi.
Wang Bodang took note of these individuals; if he wanted to help Lord Pushan establish a foundation, he must eliminate these people.
Li Mi observed Zhai Rang's expression and noted that he showed no dissatisfaction towards his subordinates' admiration for Li Jian Cheng. He surmised that this man likely harbored no grand ambitions and merely sought wealth through established foundations.
This was a good thing. The situation in the world changed too rapidly; he did not have time to rebuild troops from scratch. He could only seek someone like Zhai Rang to prove that he could achieve Great Undertaking and then offer wealth in exchange for an established force with territory and troops.
Li Mi cupped his hands towards Zhai Rang, who gestured for everyone to quiet down: "Lord Pushan, please speak."
"Duke Zhai, the four seas are in turmoil; farming is impossible. Although your troops are numerous, they lack provisions and can only rely on plunder. They often suffer from hunger. If this drags on too long and with great enemies approaching, the troops will surely disperse. It would be better to first capture Xingyang and secure food supplies!"
Bing Yuanzhen scoffed: "What are we doing right now? Aren't we attacking Rongyang? Isn't it for the Luo Kou Warehouse? Is the renowned Lord Pushan only capable of this?"
Ignoring him, Li Mi continued: "Currently blocking our army is Zhang Suduo. I know him well—brave yet foolish, quick to victory but arrogant and ruthless. He can be captured in battle; just prepare your forces and wait for my signal!"
Zhai Rang's expression turned serious. The Lord had previously instructed him that capturing Luo Kou Warehouse was essential for expanding their army. Initially, things were going smoothly until Zhang Suduo arrived and they began facing repeated setbacks.
“Military No empty words.”
“Please wait and see.”
Zhai Rang generously handed over five thousand Troops, along with the Troops led by Wang Bodang, whom Li Mi had recruited, entrusting them all to his command. Li Mi accepted the order and set off.
Having just arrived, he lacked the merit to command respect; no matter how much he spoke, it would not matter. He needed to use Zhang Suduo's head to re-establish his reputation across the land.
……………
After getting drunk, Shibi Khan was helped away to rest. Li Jian Cheng, who had been swaying unsteadily, suddenly stabilized. The Princess Yicheng at the head of the table asked, “Is the Sui Dynasty truly beyond saving?”
Li Jian Cheng nodded and replied, “Your Majesty has harmed the people too much over the years. The Three Expeditions against Goguryeo forcibly requisitioned grain from various regions, causing discontent among local gentry and families. After the Yanmen Siege, trust has been lost, and morale is gone. Now we can only await our doom.”
Princess Yicheng, after hearing this, was at a loss for words. Although she was in Turkic, she had not missed out on news from the Central Plains and had even written to persuade the emperor, but all she received was reprimand.
“Are you also returning to the Central Plains to hunt for power?”
“Yes.”
“Then I should not let you go!”
“I am Your Majesty's nephew and also Your Highness's nephew. The Yang and Li Families are relatives. If the Yang Clan loses power while my Li Family gains it, that would be the best outcome.”
Tears streamed down Princess Yicheng's face. She was a princess sent out for marriage from a Royal Family, yet she did not resent her family. The honor and dignity she enjoyed throughout her life were bestowed upon her by her family. In the Central Plains, she was a princess; in Turkic, she was a Kehe Dun. She never needed to worry about wealth or status.
Thus, she truly did not wish to see her family decline. A fallen nation could expect no good end; relatives would show no mercy.
Li Jian Cheng did not make any further promises. The more anxious one became, the easier it was to provoke rejection. It was better to wait until she made up her mind herself. The situation in the world had reached this point; it was not something a marriage alliance princess in Turkic could influence.
“If your Li Family gains power, I should yield my position. At that time, can you guarantee my life and take me back to the Central Plains?”
Li Jian Cheng shook his head: “Kehe Dun can be anyone as long as their heart is with the Central Plains court.”
Facing Princess Yicheng's probing gaze, all Li Jian Cheng could offer was calmness: “The princess needs the Central Plains court as support, and the court needs the princess to insert herself into Turkic. From what happened at Yanmen, it is clear that the princess understands the bigger picture. I trust her more than I do any woman from my clan.”
"I can at most send you out of Dali City."
"That's enough."
A few days later, under the personal supervision of Shibi Khan, Li Jian Cheng married Ashina Anar. On this day, Li Jian Cheng was rarely drunk; the Turks certainly had a high tolerance for alcohol, especially with rounds of drinks being served.
After the wedding, Li Jian Cheng was even more accepted by the Turkic nobility. Of course, a significant part of this acceptance was due to the wealth he displayed and his complete indifference toward it.
He didn't mind the Turkic nobles coming to his residence to take advantage of his generosity. No matter how rare or precious an item was, as long as someone showed interest, he would give it away without hesitation.
No one disliked befriending a generous person, especially one who was knowledgeable. Many questions could be answered reliably by him, far better than from those damned Sogdians.
The simple principle of "when in Rome, do as the Romans do" also applied to Turkic women. The little princess, who had previously been oblivious to the concept of frugality, couldn't help but start to restrain herself in light of Li Jian Cheng's generosity towards her people.
"This wealth is meant for our children; it shouldn't be given away so casually."
Li Jian Cheng smiled and reassured her. These items would eventually be confiscated by Shibi Khan if not given away; it was better to build some goodwill instead.
………………
(End of Chapter)
Comment 0 Comment Count