Chapter 16: The Xueyantuo Knock on the Border.

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Within the Hall of Two Principles, sunlight streamed through the carved windows and spilled across the floor in mottled patches of light and shadow.

Li Chengqian sat quietly before his desk, the brush in his hand sweeping back and forth across sheets of fine paper.

Every page was filled with his thoughts on how the Great Tang should be governed in the years to come.

The reform of merging the head tax into the land tax was like a sharp blade, intended to break apart the traditional system of taxes and labor service.

It would make taxation fairer and more reasonable, preventing the poor from bearing an excessive burden.

Requiring the gentry and scholars to pay grain taxes as well was like a thunderbolt, striking at the privileges the gentry class had enjoyed for generations and ensuring that taxation was no longer the exclusive burden of commoners.

Returning tax surcharges to the public treasury was like a bridle tightening around the throat of corrupt officials, regulating the collection of taxes and restraining embezzlement.

These three reforms would later be called the indispensable policies of every time-traveling protagonist, as though they were three wondrous keys capable of opening the gates to an age of prosperity.

Li Chengqian knew that once these three reforms were implemented, the nation would inevitably grow stronger. Only then would the imperial treasury truly become abundant.

In truth, these three reforms were not some unreachable fantasy for the emperors of past dynasties.

Their first traces could already be seen in Zhang Juzheng’s single-whip reform during the Ming Dynasty.

Yet throughout the long river of history, among so many emperors, only the Yongzheng Emperor had dared to stand on the side of the common people and openly oppose the gentry and officials of the realm.

With fearless courage and unwavering resolve, he had carried out all three reforms in full.

Sadly, after his death, this great achievement was subjected to the vicious denunciations of the literati.

Those scholars wielded their brushes like sharp swords, mercilessly stabbing at his reputation.

Then, scarcely a year after his son Qianlong ascended the throne, he cast the fruits of his father’s lifelong efforts into the fire. He abolished the three decrees in exchange for the support of the scholars, gentry, and officials throughout the realm. It was undeniably one of history’s great tragedies.

Li Chengqian recalled the bloody and resolute process through which he had implemented the three decrees in Xianyang.

The prerequisite for his success there had been his possession of enough military force to control the entire city.

With the force of thunder, he had slaughtered the great clans, corrupt officials, and venal clerks of Xianyang until not one remained. The scene had been as ruthless and decisive as an autumn wind sweeping away fallen leaves.

Under the edge of the army’s blades, the surviving officials had trembled like cicadas in winter. How could they have dared to offer the slightest resistance? Only then had the reforms been able to proceed smoothly.

Now that Chang’an was to serve as the second testing ground, these reforms would naturally have to be implemented there as well.

Li Chengqian understood that once the tangled affairs before him were settled, reforming Chang’an would have to be placed on the agenda.

He knew full well that if he wished to prevent the literati from twisting right and wrong with their pens, he had to keep public opinion firmly in his own hands.

The publication of the Chang’an Daily was already an urgent matter. That newspaper would become a powerful weapon for conveying his thoughts to the people and guiding public opinion.

Next came the matter of the Great Tang’s existing military authority.

Although he had now ascended the throne, he had yet to find the military tallies left behind by Li Shimin.

Li Chengqian knitted his brows and fell into thought. He guessed that his father had probably distributed the tallies among the various great generals.

It seemed he would have to find a suitable time to summon the military commanders for a meeting, reclaim the empire’s military authority, and carry out reforms. This would be a crucial step toward consolidating imperial power and ensuring the smooth implementation of reform.

The Qianyu Trade Association in Xianyang was another important part of Li Chengqian’s plans.

The association was like a sharp blade in his hand, and it had to establish itself in Chang’an as quickly as possible.

He looked out at the markets of Chang’an, his brows drawing together slightly. Most of them were filthy and disorderly, with serious problems both in sanitation and in the surrounding environment.

Construction of public lavatories also had to begin. This concerned not only the city’s hygiene, but also the transformation of waste into something valuable.

The fertilizer could be used on the imperial estates to nourish the crops and promote agricultural development.

The Qianyu Trade Association possessed refined salt and snowflake sugar produced by its Ministry of Industry. In this era, both were luxuries. There were also glassware, tea, and countless other goods, each a form of hard currency in the age. They had to be put to good use so that their greatest value could be realized.

Everything had to be done step by step, with both feet firmly on the ground. As Fang Xuanling had said in court, governing a great nation was like cooking a small fish. Anyone who tried to swallow everything in one bite and become fat overnight would only end up bursting his own stomach.

Looking at the mountain of affairs piled before him, even Li Chengqian, for all his iron determination, could not help rubbing his temples in an attempt to ease the immense pressure brought by his duties.

“Your Majesty, Grand Tutor Qi, Chancellor Fang, Commander Zhang, and Censor Ma await Your Majesty outside the hall.”

The eunuch’s shrill voice shattered the silence within the hall.

“Admit them.”

Li Chengqian lowered his hand from his temple and straightened his back, the majesty returning to his eyes.

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“Yes, Your Majesty!”

After receiving the order, the young eunuch hurried outside.

Before long, he ushered the four officials into the hall, then silently withdrew and gently closed the doors behind him.

“Greetings, Your Majesty!”

The four men saluted in unison, their voices echoing through the great hall.

“You may dispense with the formalities. Take your seats.”

Li Chengqian raised a hand slightly.

“Thank you, Your Majesty!”

After expressing their thanks, the four men took their seats in turn.

“Your Majesty, urgent reports have arrived from Youzhou, Shuozhou, and Bingzhou.”

Ma Zhou’s expression was solemn as he presented Li Chengqian with the emergency dispatch, sent by courier relay.

Li Chengqian accepted the report and swiftly scanned it. His expression immediately darkened, and fury blazed in his eyes.

“This Xueyantuo is truly audacious. They dared to invade our borders while the Great Tang was undergoing a transfer of power.”

His voice was low and furious, like that of a male lion provoked into wrath.

“Take a look.”

Li Chengqian handed the dispatch to Fang Xuanling. After reading it, Fang Xuanling frowned deeply, his expression grave, and passed it along to the others.

Once everyone had finished reading, Grand Tutor Qi was the first to rise.

His expression was impassioned as he voiced his opinion.

“Your Majesty, Xueyantuo has grown so brazen as to raid the borders of three Great Tang provinces. This humble minister advises that we immediately send out an army to destroy Xueyantuo and raise the prestige of the Great Tang!”

His gaze was resolute, and every word rang with force.

“We second the proposal.”

The others responded one after another, their voices rising and falling throughout the hall.

When it came to invasion, the officials of the Great Tang were unlike those of the dynasties that had come before. In their hearts, there were almost only two choices: fight, or annihilate the enemy’s nation outright. There was no third option. This was where the dignity and backbone of the Great Tang lay.

“Which of you believes would be the best choice to lead this expedition?”

Li Chengqian surveyed the assembled men, authority and expectation gleaming in his eyes.

Fang Xuanling paused, then bent down and picked up a bundle from beside his feet.

Li Chengqian froze for a moment, confusion appearing in his eyes.

“Chancellor Fang, what are those?”

Fang Xuanling gave a wry smile and said helplessly, “Your Majesty, the news of Xueyantuo attacking our borders has already spread throughout the court and the realm. These are the petitions for battle submitted by the generals of the court. Nearly every one of them has written at least two. My desk is already so piled up that there is no room left, so I had no choice but to bundle them all together and bring them before Your Majesty for your decision.”

Li Chengqian nodded slightly, opened the bundle, and began looking through the petitions one by one.

Li Jing—the veteran general who had spent a lifetime on the battlefield, whose renown had spread far and wide.

Li Ji—equally distinguished by countless military achievements and exceptional strategic talent.

Cheng Yaojin—the image of a bold and valiant warrior seemed almost to leap from the page.

Hou Junji—though he had suffered setbacks, his military ability was not to be underestimated.

Yuchi Jingde—unmatched in loyalty and courage.

Xue Rengui—a fierce general of the younger generation, with limitless potential.

There were also many Turkic generals volunteering for the campaign.

Zhishi Sili, Ashina She’er, Qibi Heli, Shi Danai…

The mountain of petitions displayed a martial spirit so vigorous that it was almost without equal in the annals of history.

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After pondering for a moment, Li Chengqian initially intended to follow the principle that whoever had held a position before should continue to hold it now and settle on the commanders directly.

“Minister of War Li Ji is appointed Supreme Commander of the Shuozhou Route Army. He will lead sixty thousand infantry and twelve hundred light cavalry to intercept Xueyantuo’s main force advancing south. General Li Ji is a veteran of countless battles. In this campaign, you must advance steadily and cautiously. Do not underestimate the enemy.”

Li Chengqian’s voice was calm and forceful, as though he could already see the smoke of battle rising across the field.

“Zhang Jian, Governor of Yingzhou, is to lead his own cavalry, together with the cavalry of the Xi and Khitan tribes, in an assault on Xueyantuo’s eastern territories. Threaten Xueyantuo from the flank. Make full use of the strengths of the various tribal cavalry forces, fight flexibly, and throw the enemy into disarray.”

Li Chengqian’s gaze was as sharp as a torch as he looked into the distance, as though he were issuing the order directly to Zhang Jian in far-off Yingzhou.

“General of the Right Guard Li Daliang is appointed Grand Commander of the Lingzhou Route Army. He will lead forty thousand infantry and five thousand elite cavalry to occupy Lingwu and coordinate with Li Shiji’s forces. Li Daliang’s army must cooperate closely with General Li Ji and combine its strength with his, so that the enemy is unable to attend to both front and rear.”

Li Chengqian’s tone was grave. He knew well the importance of coordinated warfare.

“Grand General Zhang Shigui is appointed Commander of the Qingzhou Route Army. He will lead seventeen thousand troops out of Yunzhong and cooperate with Li Ji in the campaign against Xueyantuo. Zhang Shigui’s forces must strike swiftly and add momentum to the overall battle.”

“Li Xiyu, Governor of Liangzhou, is appointed Supreme Commander of the Liangzhou Route Army. He will lead the army in coordination with Zhang Shigui’s forces and attack Xueyantuo’s western territories. Li Xiyu, you must ensure the stability of the western front and coordinate with the other armies to form an encirclement.”

Li Chengqian’s gaze was unwavering. Every order he issued bore upon the victory or defeat of the campaign.

“Grand General Qin Ruzhao of the Dragon Martial Army will lead the Three Thousand Camp, equipped with firearms, in a direct assault on Xueyantuo’s khan’s encampment. Qin Ruzhao is authorized to exercise independent judgment. If his views differ from Li Ji’s, he is to follow his own judgment! The key to Qin Ruzhao’s operation is to strike straight at the enemy’s heart and destroy its command center.”

Li Chengqian knew precisely where the crux of the campaign lay. The use of firearms would be the unexpected weapon that secured victory.

“Convey my intentions to the generals setting out. This is the first war since I ascended the throne. We must annihilate Xueyantuo in a single decisive campaign. Men, women, old and young—leave no survivors. I want their entire people destroyed!”

A ruthless glint flashed through Li Chengqian’s eyes. He would make every power that coveted the Great Tang understand that invading the Great Tang would bring utter ruin.

“Furthermore, all expenses of this expedition, including military pay, are to be taken from my private treasury. There is no need to trouble the Ministry of Revenue with coordinating the funds. They are too slow. I want a lightning strike against Xueyantuo!”

The decision startled everyone present.

“Grand Tutor Qi, you will handle this matter. Let it serve as an example to all the honored officials gathered here: when something must be done, do not delay. Act with thunderous efficiency.”

Li Chengqian looked toward Grand Tutor Qi, his eyes filled with trust.

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

Grand Tutor Qi inclined his hands in salute. His expression remained composed, but his mind was already calculating how to complete the task as swiftly and efficiently as possible.

Fang Xuanling and Ma Zhou, however, wore expressions of utter shock.

The entire military campaign was to be paid for from the emperor’s private treasury, without passing through the court. What did that mean?

It was a message to the old officials of the court: even without them, His Majesty could still accomplish everything.

They had often heard of ministers sidelining an emperor, but this was the first time they had encountered an emperor sidelining his ministers.

Moreover, His Majesty had undertaken so many earth-shaking projects at once, all of them consuming vast amounts of money and grain. Could his private treasury truly be inexhaustible?

Of course, neither Ma Zhou nor Fang Xuanling would be so tactless as to ask Li Chengqian, “Your Majesty, precisely how much money is in your private treasury?”

That would be profoundly disrespectful.

But this did not stop them from indulging in wild speculation over how wealthy Li Chengqian truly was.

Since the war effort did not have to pass through the court, Fang Xuanling and Ma Zhou were naturally spared the headache.

They were both curious and expectant. This would be an excellent opportunity to see just how capable the men serving His Majesty truly were.

“Your Majesty, this humble minister has one more matter requiring your decision.”

Ma Zhou raised his hands slightly in salute, breaking the brief silence.

“Speak.”

Li Chengqian looked toward Ma Zhou, a hint of inquiry in his eyes.

“Your Majesty, I wish to speak of Princess Wencheng’s journey to Tibet.”

Ma Zhou’s expression was solemn. This matter likewise concerned the interests and stability of the Great Tang.

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