Early Tang Dynasty: forge ahead

Chapter 500 Great Evil
When Chen Qingsi heard Li Ji volunteer, he didn't say anything. This was the best choice.

This battle with the Arab Empire was completely different from previous battles.

In previous battles, it was sufficient to just win, because the opponents the Tang Dynasty had encountered before, except for Goguryeo, were either nomadic peoples or small countries that were not large enough to compete with the Tang Dynasty.

Just arrange a capable general to defeat the opponent.

Because of their strength or national characteristics, these opponents can be cut off from any possibility of making a comeback as long as they act quickly and ruthlessly enough.

The Arab Empire was obviously different. As a country with a religious war model, its potential for war was extremely strong.

When fighting against such an opponent, the temporary victory or defeat will not affect the overall situation.

What is being compared is the overall strength of the country and the resilience of the country...

This is destined not to be a war that can be ended in a short time.

Chen Qingsi arranged many forces in the Western Regions, including the brave generals Heichi Changzhi and Wang Fangyi, the steady and calm Lou Shide, and the wise and brave Pei Xingjian. The generals who provided follow-up support included the battle-hardened Qibi Heli and the loyal and resourceful Gao Kan.

In addition to them, some famous officials such as Wang Yifang, Wei Xuantong, Huangfu Wenfang, Liu Qixian and others were transferred to the Western Regions to take charge of local administrative work.

Because the situation was urgent, Chen Qingsi's approach was to use famous officials to stabilize the people's hearts and political situation in the Western Regions, and to use famous and powerful generals to fight a decisive battle with the enemy.

But there is a problem here. The reality is not like playing a game. You can't easily win by gathering the Five Tiger Generals, the Five Elite Generals, and the Crouching Dragon and the Phoenix.

The more outstanding a person's abilities are, the stronger his character is.

These people usually have strong confidence in their own ideas...

The results of looking at something from different angles and levels will be different. Two people with outstanding abilities may easily quarrel over disagreements and thus hinder each other.

At this time, we need someone who can calm the situation, suppress these talented people, and let them do their work in a down-to-earth manner instead of ruining state affairs just for the sake of arguing about right and wrong.

There is no doubt that Li Ji is the best candidate. He has great prestige both in the military and among civil officials. He goes to the Western Regions to intimidate those famous ministers and generals.

Li Zhi was a little hesitant.

He had no doubt about Li Ji's ability, but he was already in his early seventies. If he could enjoy his retirement at this age, he could live a few more years. But if he really had to lead his troops to war, it was hard to say whether he could see him for the last time.

Li Zhi has always been cold and hard-hearted, but the friendship he has for Li Ji goes beyond that of an ordinary monarch and his subjects.

The old man in front of him with gray hair and beard stood up and supported him when he was in the most difficult time.

Li Ji said with some humor: "Your Majesty, do you think that I am too old to serve you anymore?"

Li Zhi said hurriedly: "I don't mean that, but the Chief Secretary is my backbone. I feel a little uneasy when you are not in Chang'an."

Li Zhi was the Prince of Jin at that time, and Li Ji was the Chief Secretary of the Prince of Jin.

This is how the two first met.

When Li Ji heard the name "Li Changshi", he was also somewhat touched and said, "It is enough to have Mr. Chen in the capital. If I don't come out again, people will really think that I am old and weak!"

Li Zhi said no more, nodded and said, "I will entrust the affairs of the Western Regions to Li Changshi."

Li Zhi no longer hesitated and appointed Li Ji as the commander-in-chief of the Pamir Road, the commander-in-chief of the Anxi Protectorate, the general of the Right Guard Qibi Heli as the ambassador of appeasement of the Pamir Road, the general of the Right Jinwu Guard Pang Tongshan and the governor of Liangzhou Gao Kan as the marching generals, and led the troops to the Western Regions to meet the enemy.

Chen Qingsi was also reinstated as the Minister of War to mobilize military equipment and supplies to deal with the attacks from Tubo and the Arab Empire.

As they expected, five days after the news of the Tubo expedition in Qinghai Lake reached Chang'an, news of the army gathering in the Western Regions also came.

Although there has been no formal fighting yet, the intention is already clear.

Tocharian was frightened. It was the first time he saw an army that stretched as far as the eye could see, so he asked Pei Xingjian for help.

Pei Xingjian has taken appropriate measures and arranged troops to go to Tokharistan to assist in the resistance.

The Datang machine, which had been stable for two and a half years, was running at high speed again.

Each of the six ministries of the imperial court is operating at a rapid pace.

The Ministry of Personnel was responsible for recruiting clerks and directing the transportation of grain.

The Ministry of Revenue issued military service and corvée labor.

The Ministry of War is responsible for the allocation of military supplies, food, fodder and equipment, as well as follow-up support for front-line military operations.

The Ministry of Justice maintains public order to prevent thieves from taking advantage of the opportunity to cause trouble.

The Ministry of Works began to maintain the smooth flow of grain and stepped up the polishing of weapons and arrows.

The Ministry of Rites contacted various tribes and issued an order from the Heavenly Khan, ordering all ethnic groups on the grassland to join the army to fight in the Western Regions.

All orders were carried out with great efficiency, and military supplies transported to the battlefield moved westward along the official road, stretching endlessly as if there was no end in sight.

Chen Qingsi was so busy that he had no time to rest, leaving home early and returning late.

It was not until he returned home that day and saw Zhou Kui coming back from Lingnan that Chen Qingsi remembered that Zhou Kui had been borrowed by Di Renjie to go to Lingnan to investigate a case.

"Let's go to the study and talk!"

Chen Qingsi brought Zhou Kui to the study, where they sat on a mat in an unsightly manner to relax.

"What did you find?"

Zhou Kui said with a look of admiration: "My lord, Imperial Censor Di is truly an amazing person. Yuan Gongyu was once a great man, but he was easily controlled by him. It's really amazing!"

He sighed for a while and then recounted the process he had personally experienced.

The strategy of making a show of force to scare the enemy was very successful. Yuan Gongyu was tempted and wrote a threatening letter, hoping that he could use the secret he controlled to force the powerful Li Chongde to bring him back to Chang'an.

Yuan Gongyu was still cautious and did not send the letter immediately. Instead, he waited for Xu Yougong to leave. He also sent someone to Yuzhou to inquire whether Xu Yougong had passed by Yuzhou. After confirming that Xu Yougong had left, he sent his confidant to deliver the letter.

There is only one way out of the mountains in Lingnan, which is dangerous. Zhou Kui easily intercepted it and took away his secret letter.

Xu Yougong looked at the secret letter, which did not include any details but only contained the words "brother murder".

These two words are enough to show that there is indeed a murder involved behind this.

Xu Yougong immediately struck back and returned the secret letter to Yuan Gongyu.

Xu Yougong said straight to the point: "Sir Yuan, this brother-killing can prove something. After I return to Beijing, I will investigate from Li Chongde's eldest brother. The Li family is a prominent local family, their descendants will be included in the family tree, and there are also family records. Although this is an old case, it will not take much effort to find out who is responsible. If Sir Yuan cooperates, you can atone for your crime, and I can treat this letter as non-existent. But if you still insist on your wrongdoing, don't blame me for reporting this letter to the emperor and the prime minister as evidence of the case."

Yuan Gongyu had no choice but to tell Xu Yougong what he knew.

It turns out that more than ten years ago, Li Chongde was also a rising star in the court of high spirits.

Li Chongde had a noble man named Xiao Deyan in his official career.

Xiao Deyan was born in Chang'an, the son of the imperial uncle of the Lanling Xiao family. He was well versed in classics and history, and was proficient in Zuo Zhuan. He was very talented and was highly regarded by Li Shimin. He was responsible for lecturing Li Zhi and was Li Zhi's enlightenment teacher. After Li Zhi became the crown prince, Xiao Deyan still served as the crown prince's tutor.

In fact, Xiao Deyan promoted Li Chongde for ulterior motives...

Relying on this status, Xiao Deyan made suggestions for Li Zhi and set the strategy of deposing Queen Wang and enthroning Xiao. By deposing Queen Wang, he suppressed the Guanlong nobles and Guandong gentry who were gradually colluding with each other, reused the scholars in the south of the Yangtze River, and stabilized the court.

The best way to deal with the Kanto samurai is to win them over and suppress them at the same time.

Xiao Deyan chose Li Chongde in order to divide the Guandong nobles.

Li Chongde didn't know this and was very grateful to Xiao Deyan.

At that time, the young emperor Li Zhi had just ascended the throne and was under the control of two assistant ministers, Zhangsun Wuji and Chu Suiliang.

Li Chongde was filled with excitement at meeting a wise leader, and thought that he must do his best to help the wise leader eliminate the treacherous villains.

But just when Li Chongde had a bright future, he received bad news from his hometown. Li Chongde's mother was critically ill, so he was asked to rush home as soon as possible to see her for the last time.

Li Chongde immediately panicked, as he was at a turning point in his career.

Li Zhi has just ascended the throne and what he lacks most now is support. If you can accompany him during this most critical moment, you will be considered as a loyal minister.

But if he went home to see his mother at this time, it would be fine if his mother was fine, but if she really died of an unusual illness, according to the law, he would have to observe mourning for three years. Given the current situation in the court, how could he still have a position after three years?

Li Chongde was reluctant to give up the opportunity, so he burned the letter he received, thinking that he could delay it as long as possible.

But then his brother Li Chongren came to visit...

Li Chongren was the eldest son of a concubine, not born to Li's mother, but his mother never mistreat or blame Li Chongren. He was treated just like Li Chongde since he was young, and Li Chongren also regarded Li's mother as his own mother.

Li Chongren saw that Li's mother was muttering about Li Chongde on her deathbed, and knew that he was not her biological son after all, and that Li Chongde should be the one who should be with Li's mother at this time.

Li Chongren wrote to his mother many times but to no avail. Seeing his mother growing increasingly weak, he could not help but go to Chang'an in person.

The two brothers had an argument over this.

When Li Chongren learned that his brother had ignored his mother for his own future, he was so angry that he threatened that if he did not go to see Li's mother immediately, he would let everyone in the world know what kind of person he, Li Chongde, was.

Li Chongde got so angry that he accidentally killed his brother.

The panicked Li Chongde hid Li Chongren's body and fled back to Pingji County, the ancestral home of the Zhaojun Li family, overnight.

Then came the three years of mourning...

Li Chongde returned to Beijing again and found that everything and people had changed.

Xiao Deyan, who had helped him, had died of illness, and the strategy of deposing Prince Xiao and enthroning Prince Wu was changed to deposing Prince Wu and enthroning Prince Wu because of Xiao Shufei's stupidity. The death of his brother unexpectedly became a mystery and he was classified as a missing person.

Later, Li Chongde realized that it was not because he did a good job in the aftermath, but because Li Yifu cleaned up his mess.

First he was unfilial, then he killed his brother. When this matter got out, Li Chongde was completely ruined.

With this kind of handle in Li Yifu's hands, how could Li Chongde not be easily controlled?

After hearing the whole story, Chen Qingsi was not very angry.

Such people were rare in ancient times when people were simple and honest, but in later generations, although they are not common, they happen to us from time to time.

"No wonder, even today, Li Chongde still cannot escape the fate of being controlled."

Chen Qingsi thought for a moment and asked, "Did Huaiying say anything?"

Zhou Kui said: "What Di Shiyu said about Yuan Gongyu is not enough to be ironclad evidence. Li Chongde must be convinced. He plans to investigate step by step, first find Li Chongren's body, and make sure that Yuan Gongyu is telling the truth."

“So best!”

This is exactly the effect Chen Qingsi wanted. Only by taking it step by step could he force the rat "Li Yifu" to show up. If the noise was too loud, he would not show up but run away and never appear again.

Only by taking it slow can we lower Li Yifu's vigilance.

At the beginning of this war, Li Chongde took charge of the Ministry of Works as the Vice Minister of Works. The task was extremely heavy, and he needed to manufacture bows, crossbows and arrows day and night and transport them to the two battlefields.

It’s not that the Tang army did not have reserve equipment, but the daily maintenance of the equipment was astronomical. The arrowheads were easily deformed by moisture and the arrowheads were easily rusted, so it was impossible to store them indefinitely.

Therefore, when the war came, it was inevitable to rush the work, continuously produce these weapons, and then ship them to the front line in batches.

Li Chongde, however, did not feel tired at all, because because of Li Yifu, his reputation was ruined and he had not been promoted for a long time.

Being given an important position this time, I feel full of energy.

That day he was inspecting the smelting plant and supervising the craftsmen forging arrowheads.

Suddenly, I received news that Di Renjie wanted to see me.

Di Renjie?
There was a flash of surprise in Li Chongde's eyes. He wondered why the popular Di Shiyushi came to look for him?
Too much time has passed, and Li Chongde instinctively forgot the evil things he had done.

"Let's go and take a look!"

Li Chongde did not intend to let Di Renjie enter the workshop. It was true that the Tang Dynasty was willing to share Chinese culture with the four barbarians, but some things were still kept back, such as the most advanced smelting technology.

Wan Guojun followed behind him vigilantly. He didn't remember any connection between Li Chongde and Di Renjie.

"Minister Li!"

Di Renjie greeted politely.

Li Chongde said with a smile: "Di Shiyushi is really young and promising. I wonder if you have any advice for me."

Di Renjie took a jade pendant from his arms, handed it to Li Chongde with both hands, and said, "Minister Li, do you recognize this jade pendant?"

When Li Chongde saw the jade pendant, his expression changed drastically and turned pale instantly. The evil things he had done reappeared in his mind and he suddenly didn't know how to deal with it.

"Cough cough!"

Wan Guojun was so disappointed with his friend that he coughed twice behind his back.

The moment he made the sound, Di Renjie's eyes swept across his face and remembered him.

Li Chongde was reminded and was about to say that he didn't recognize it, but the jade pendants were given to him and his brothers by their mother, one for each of them, one piece of jade was inlaid with gold and engraved with the word "Ren", and the other was engraved with the word "De".

The jade pendant with the word "Ren" in Di Renjie's hand was shining with golden light.

Most people in their clan knew about this. To say they didn't know it was a lie. They immediately shouted excitedly, "Brother, this is your jade pendant. Imperial Censor Di, where did you find it? My brother has been missing for almost ten years. How did you get it?"

Di Renjie said: "It was found from a corpse in a deserted forest in the south of the city."

(End of this chapter)