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墨書 Inktalez
Chapter 247 Morale
Although the casualties were significant, the strategic objective had been achieved. As long as this momentum could be maintained, the Turkic forces would not be able to retreat; a retreat would lead to their collapse.
However, maintaining such an offensive was not easy. Today, it was thanks to Du Fuwei, a valiant vanguard who risked his life, that the entire army was invigorated.
It still relied on generous rewards and strict punishments. Just as Xu Shijie was preparing to summon the generals to relay orders to the troops, Dan Xiongxin and the Supply Officer arrived with many rewards of silver, silk, and livestock.
After all, the situation Xu Shijie faced was well known to the emperor. This time, he specifically opened the treasury to motivate the soldiers to fight hard.
Empty promises and immediate rewards have completely different effects. Xu Shijie did not hesitate to grant nearly half of the rations and silk as rewards to the soldiers who fought today and promised on behalf of the court that compensation for casualties would be doubled.
This was quite a generous reward, which further boosted the morale of the entire army. Most soldiers were not afraid of a strong enemy; what they feared most was fighting desperately without receiving due rewards.
Early the next morning, the emperor's decree arrived again, promoting Du Fuwei to Zhangqiu Duke and Grand General of National Defense, promoting City Gate Captain Wang Xiong's Birth to Zhaowu Deputy Commander, and promoting City Gate Captain Kan Leng to serve as his aide...
Such rapid promotions had never been seen before in history. The soldiers clearly felt that His Majesty was watching over them at all times.
Fame, wealth, land—anything they desired could be obtained through this battle!
Thus, there was no need for Xu Shijie to do much more; he only needed to grant rewards as promised to maintain high morale. Therefore, Xu Shijie decisively ordered Dan Xiongxin and Xue Wanchu to lead troops into battle again.
After another day of fierce fighting, the Turkic forces were better prepared this time, with elite troops facing elite troops; neither side gained an advantage. However, Xu Shijie did not mind at all; he simply ordered the military supervisor to tally the achievements and then quickly distribute rewards and promotions.
At the same time, he continuously sent people back to Chang'an requesting more supplies of grain, silver, silk, and other materials. The emperor completely opened his treasury for them to take as needed, while the Ministry of Civil Affairs also accelerated resource allocation from local areas.
With this support, the Tang army fought almost every day. Even if they occasionally fell into traps or suffered defeats due to overzealousness, it did not affect their readiness for battle the next day.
After all, with Chang'an at their back and reinforcements continuously dispatched by the court, it was clear that the emperor had put everything on the line.
The Turkic forces had no way out. If they had only one commander, they might have been able to simply abandon a portion of their troops and flee.
But these were two Turkic factions, and they had only recently ceased hostilities. Who would willingly allow their troops to be left behind? Were they not afraid of being swallowed up by the enemy during their retreat?
However, the Tang army was also beginning to face some issues. Li Mi looked at his long-time confidant and asked, "When did you become one of them?"
Li Cha bowed and replied, "I have always been your person."
"Then you should not come here to entrap me in disloyalty and injustice!"
Li Cha advised, "Your Majesty is becoming increasingly autocratic, almost indistinguishable from Emperor Yang. In the past, you were perceptive; why do you not plan ahead now?"
Li Mi sighed deeply, "If you dare to come, it must mean that your clan shares this sentiment."
"Yes, those who act against the natural order will have no divine assistance."
"Li Gong, as long as we let the Turkic forces return, Your Majesty will surely lose his authority. At that time, we can strive for either a new leader or a change of dynasty, allowing our families to rise again."
Li Mi scoffed, "You think changing the world is that simple in your eyes?"
"The Yuwen Clan can do it, the Yang Clan can do it, the Li Clan can do it. Hasn't this world always been like this?"
Li Mi sighed again, "No wonder Your Majesty is unwilling to tolerate the aristocracy any longer. What do you all think of the world?"
Li Cha was quite surprised, "Li Gong, you once..."
"That was then; this is now. They cannot be compared. I cannot oppose Emperor Yang now when I could not even oppose him before."
"Bring this official to the commander's tent!"
The man immediately knelt and said, "No, please reconsider. My life is insignificant, but if it implicates my family, wouldn't that..."
Li Mi glanced at him with disdain. "Most of my relatives were executed by Emperor Yang after Yang Xuangan raised his army. Those who remain see me as an enemy. Why should I care about their lives?"
Soon, the commotion on Li Mi's side triggered a chain reaction, and several officers and generals had people dragged to Xu Shijie's tent.
After a brief wait, Xu Shijie emerged holding a severed head. "Those who shake morale shall be executed without mercy!"
Upon hearing their leader's order, the guards sprang into action, and soon there were more than ten headless corpses on the ground, their heads cut off to be sent to the Capital City.
"Please... don't kill me! Brother, let me go! You can't kill me! I won't dare again, I swear!"
All eyes turned to Zhai Rang, who stood in front of his brother, who was already soiled with excrement, wanting to cry but unable to: "This... this is my own flesh and blood. Please allow me to take him back to the capital to plead for his life before His Majesty."
Zhai Rang bowed and pleaded with Xu Shijie. He never expected things would turn out so decisively; he thought they would just be escorted back to Chang'an for judgment.
Had he known it would come to this, he would have rather taken the risk to hide his brother.
Xu Shijie sighed. He had worked with Zhai Rang in Wagang for many years; although they often had disagreements, there was still some friendship between them.
But at this moment, he could not afford any mistakes. Did he really want to personally execute his uncle?
Did Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui not realize that this would inevitably lead to a cleansing of their families?
His Majesty had placed such a heavy bet; how could he not guard against their treachery? What else could Dan Xiongxin be doing here instead of protecting His Majesty in Chang'an?
"Someone, drag Zhai Rang away and escort him back to Chang'an!"
Zhai Rang was not particularly brave in his youth, and now he was quite overweight. He was quickly dragged away while his brother was naturally beheaded.
Afterward, no one said anything and everyone went back to rest, but the night was not peaceful. The Duke of Jiyin, Left Martial General Dan Xiongxin, captured quite a few people.
However, there were no beheadings; they were all escorted back to Chang'an. Everyone understood that dying last night was far better than staying alive now.
Most of the unstable factors in the military had been eliminated, and the generals relaxed slightly.
Li Mi smiled and said, "They still don't understand His Majesty. They haven't witnessed His Majesty's methods. They think that following Him and enjoying smooth sailing in seizing the world is all due to their own efforts."
Many generals nodded in agreement; those in the military understood what it meant to follow His Majesty.
Fang Xuanling expressed some concern: "While it may not disrupt the state, if this continues, it will inevitably lead to constant disasters, which is not good for the court."
Smart people are always few in number, and those who truly understand the current emperor are even rarer. There will always be foolish individuals who conspire against him under the influence of various noble families.
Moreover, the emperor has also turned against Monastic Daoism, and these people are not ones to submit easily.
………………
(End of Chapter)
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