The Flourishing Tang Dynasty: Beginning with Marrying Yang Yuhuan

Chapter 399 Father and Son Confess
After making military arrangements, Geluofeng wrote another letter to Gao Xianzhi, denouncing the impropriety of the Tang army's expedition and demanding that the Tang army withdraw, indicating that Nanzhao was willing to submit to the Tang Dynasty.

Gao Xianzhi responded in a letter, explaining the legitimacy of the Tang Dynasty's military action, and at the same time sent Li Bai's manifesto to destroy Nanzhao into Taihe City.

While Gao Xianzhi was engaged in verbal battle with Ge Luofeng, he sent people to launch a tentative attack and at the same time made intensive preparations for the siege.

After the two sides confronted each other for more than a month, in February of the sixth year of Ji De, Gao Xianzhi felt that the time for a decisive battle had come.

On the sixth day of February, Gao Xianzhi summoned all the generals to discuss matters and make military deployments.

Gao Xianzhi said: "Attacking Longshou Pass and Longwei Pass at the same time will disperse our forces, which is not conducive to fighting. I think we should attack one of them, which is weak and the other strong, and focus on attacking one of them."

Xin Yunjing said: "Longwei Pass is guarded by Geluo Feng, who is brave and good at fighting. It is better to avoid the strong and attack the weak, and attack Longshou Pass guarded by Feng Jiayi."

Hun Yu said: "If we think so, the enemy will also think so, so they will definitely heavily defend Longshou Pass. Moreover, our army needs to go around Erhai Lake, while the enemy only needs to go up and down the Erhai Basin in a straight line. Their support speed is faster than ours. If we fail to take them down in one blow, I am afraid we will fail."

Gao Xianzhi looked at Ma Lin.

Ma Lin said: "I have surveyed the terrain of Cangshan Mountain and found that it is possible to cross the southern part of Cangshan Mountain. I would like to lead 3,000 elite soldiers to cross Cangshan Mountain."

"Okay!" Gao Xianzhi stood up, "Since General Ma can cross the southern part of Cangshan Mountain, let's fight Longwei Pass!"

"Yes!" all the generals said in unison.

Gao Xianzhi took out the sword given to him by Li Heng and said, "Your Majesty has made sufficient preparations for this battle. The equipment and supplies that the soldiers are equipped with are only available to the elite of the elite. If we lose this battle, it will all be due to our incompetence. The Tang Dynasty will not be able to invade Nanzhao again in the next twenty years. If this happens, I will not be able to face Your Majesty again. If we lose this battle, you will all be subject to military law, and I will also use the sword Your Majesty gave me to commit suicide, to report Your Majesty's grace and preserve the brotherhood between me and you."

Speaking in the army is no joke. Everyone knows that Gao Xianzhi can do what he says.

Therefore, everyone cheered up and said in unison: "Destroy Nanzhao and never return until victory!"

On that day, Ma Lin led his troops around to the southern part of Cangshan Mountain.

Cangshan Mountain is steep and there is no way to go. Ma Lin and his soldiers climbed up the giant trees and scaled the cliffs. Risking their lives, they reached the southern part of Cangshan Mountain and planted the flag of the Tang Dynasty on Cangshan Mountain.

The next day, the morning sun tore through the darkness and cast a brilliant light.

Countless Tang Dynasty flags on Cangshan Mountain fluttered in the wind.

When the Tang army soldiers at Longwei Pass saw the Tang flag on Cangshan Mountain, their morale was boosted and they shouted loudly: "Kill! Kill! Kill!"

The sound of killing was like a tsunami, shaking the earth.

Geluofeng and the Nanzhao soldiers guarding Longwei Pass looked back and saw the Tang Dynasty flag on Cangshan Mountain. Their hearts sank immediately. Then, when they heard the loud shouts of the Tang army, they became afraid again.

Gao Xianzhi took advantage of the high morale and ordered an attack.

Drums roared with thunder. In the first round, the Tang army's catapults poured stones onto Longwei Pass. In the second round, large crossbows shot crossbow arrows that covered the sky and the sun.

Then, the siege soldiers carried battering rams and ladders and rushed towards Longwei Pass as if they were risking their lives.

Li Sheng, Wang Wujun and Luo Yuanguang led the charge and launched a fierce attack on Longwei Pass.

The morale of the Nanzhao soldiers was already somewhat low, and coupled with the overly fierce offensive of the Tang army, the Nanzhao army soon could not hold on.

The Tang army's mighty attack was so great that it quickly broke through Longwei Pass and cut off the dragon's tail of Nanzhao.

Geluofeng had no choice but to lead his troops to retreat northward, preparing to retreat to Taihe City and fight another battle with the Tang army.

However, Ma Lin led his men to climb Cangshan Mountain not just to plant flags and boost morale.

Ma Lin swooped down from Cangshan Mountain with his elite troops, cutting off Ge Luofeng's retreat to Taihe City.

The Tang army attacked from both sides and the Nanzhao army was completely defeated.

Seeing that the situation was hopeless and there was no way to reverse it, and not wanting any more soldiers to die tragically, Ge Luofeng dropped his weapons and prepared to surrender.

Seeing that Ge Luofeng had given up resistance, Duan Quange hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, you must not surrender to the Tang army. I am willing to lead the troops and fight to the death to escort you out of Erhai Lake. As long as you are alive, Nanzhao will be able to make a comeback!"

"Forget it." Ge Luofeng sighed, "If I run away, the Tang army will chase me wherever I go. How many innocent people will die then? A man should be defeated if he loses, and should die if he dies. Why should I linger on and implicate others!"

After saying this, he ordered the Nanzhao soldiers to give up resistance, drop their weapons and surrender.

Li Sheng and Wang Wujun then surrounded them and took Ge Luofeng to see Gao Xianzhi.

When he saw Gao Xianzhi, Geluofeng said, "I wanted to commit suicide to avoid humiliation, but I was afraid that after my death, the Tang army soldiers would vent their anger and kill the Nanzhao people, so I surrendered. I am willing to accept all the punishments from the great Tang saints, and I only hope that Lord Gao can restrain the soldiers and not kill the Nanzhao surrendered soldiers and not plunder the Nanzhao people."

The reason why Geluofeng said this was because he was deeply impressed by the evil deeds of Zhang Qiantuo and Xianyu Zhongtong, which led to his bad impression of the Tang army.

Gao Xianzhi pondered for a moment and said, "Your Majesty has said that Nanzhao is the land of the Tang Dynasty, and the people of Nanzhao are the people of the Tang Dynasty. Your Majesty will not harm your own people, and the Tang army will not harm the people of the Tang Dynasty."

Ge Luofeng was stunned when he heard this.

Ge Luofeng had always thought that the war between the Tang Dynasty and Nanzhao was a war of foreign conquest, but he did not expect that Li Heng only regarded it as a war of unification.

……

In March of the sixth year of Ji De, Gao Xianzhi went to Xiaguan to pay tribute to Li Mi, then took Ge Luofeng and Li Mi's family back to the court, leaving Li Sheng to guard Nanzhao and continue to pacify the remaining forces of Nanzhao.

In April, Gao Xianzhi took Ge Luofeng to Chang'an.

Li Heng rewarded the soldiers according to their merits, and promoted Geluofeng to the rank of General of the Jinwu Guard and allowed him to live in Chang'an.

When Li Heng was in Longyou Road, he went on an expedition to Xiaobolü, pacified the Turks, recaptured Suiye City, captured the Ili River Valley, fought against the Arabs, pacified the Western Regions, resisted Tubo, and pushed the Tang Dynasty's defense line against Tubo to the Suobei area.

After Li Heng succeeded to the throne, he suppressed the civil strife, established a new system, and conquered the Khitan in the north.

Now that Nanzhao was pacified in the south, civil and military officials wrote to Li Heng one after another, asking him to offer sacrifices to the gods at Mount Tai.

Li Ying rejected the ministers' request, but the ministers kept asking for him.

Li Ying said at the court meeting: "You all think that climbing Mount Tai to offer sacrifices to the gods is a great feat for the emperor. I don't think so. If the country is stable and the people are prosperous, what harm will it do if we don't do it? In the past, Qin Shihuang performed the Fengshan ceremony, but Taizong did not. Do later generations think that Taizong was less virtuous than Qin Shihuang? Moreover, when serving the gods and sweeping the earth to offer sacrifices, why do we need to climb to the top of Mount Tai and build a few feet of earth to show our sincerity and respect?"

The civil and military officials looked at each other in silence.

Seeing that no one was talking, Li Heng suggested going out for an inspection.

Then Zhang Hao stood up and said, "Your Majesty wants to go out and understand the people's sentiments. I understand, but the north wall of Xingqing Palace where the emperor lives has not been repaired yet. It was not repaired before because the country was in chaos and the court was short of money. But if Your Majesty goes out at this time, people will think that Your Majesty is greedy for pleasure and forgets to serve his parents. The etiquette stipulates that children should serve their parents and keep them warm in winter and cool in summer. Your Majesty does this, and I am very uneasy."

Li Ying felt that Zhang Hao was right and said, "Mr. Zhang is right. I will immediately order the renovation of Xingqing Palace and personally preside over it."

Zhang Hao said: "People with different status and circumstances have different filial piety. Your Majesty, as a monarch, the greatest filial piety is to carry on the virtues. Things like repairing the palace can be handed over to the Ministry of Works. Your Majesty should focus on government affairs."

Since the reform, Zhang Hao has been "confronting" Li Ying, but Li Ying not only did not do anything to him, but also promoted him.

The reason was that Li Heng knew that Zhang Hao was not a bad person and had no ulterior motives. What he said was for the sake of the Tang Dynasty and what he did was not out of line. It was best for Li Heng to accept advice. Even if Li Heng did not accept advice, he would still obey orders and had strong ability to do things. Li Heng was speechless and could only say: "Then I will order the Ministry of Works to repair the Xingqing Palace for the emperor. In addition, how to govern Nanzhao, please discuss it."

After Li Ying finished speaking, he stood up and left.

The next day, the eunuch came to report that Ge Luofeng wanted to see him.

Li Ying met with Ge Luofeng. After chatting with Li Ying for a few words, Ge Luofeng asked to see Li Longji.

Li Ying agreed and went with Ge Luofeng.

In the Huaye Building.

Li Heng and Ge Luofeng bowed to Li Longji and they sat down.

Ge Luofeng was silent for a while, then asked, "Zhang Qiantuo insulted me and demanded money from me. Does the emperor know about this?"

Li Longji was stunned for a moment, then nodded and said, "The fundamental reason for the war between the Tang Dynasty and Nanzhao is the expansion of Nanzhao's power. They are competing with the Tang Dynasty for eastern Yunnan. If I don't fight Nanzhao, my descendants will fight too. Didn't Shibalang conquer Nanzhao?"

Ge Luofeng sighed and said, "If it weren't for the misconduct of officials like Zhang Qiantuo, I would not want to be an enemy of the Tang Dynasty. I would only fight to the south and lead the south to submit to the Tang Dynasty."

Li Ying interrupted, "The south also belongs to the Tang Dynasty."

Li Longji and Ge Luofeng looked at Li Heng at the same time with surprised expressions.

Li Ying said: "Everywhere the sun and moon shine, wherever the rivers flow, is Tang territory."

Ge Luofeng was speechless. He bowed to Li Longji and Li Heng in turn and retreated.

Li Longji turned to Li Heng and said, "I am relieved that Shibalang has such achievements. It seems that handing over the Tang Dynasty to you is indeed the best choice."

Li Longji spoke sincerely.

Li Heng looked at Li Longji and did not think that Li Longji was being insincere.

Li Longji was originally a very smart and charming man, but after staying at the pinnacle of power for too long, he gradually became numb and became mean and ungrateful.

Li Heng always remained wary of Li Longji.

One of the reasons why Li Heng wanted to leave Chang'an and go out for inspection was that he wanted to see whether Li Longji would take any action after he left.

But now, after hearing Li Longji's sincere words, Li Heng suddenly felt a little confused.

Because he felt that he had not only taken Li Longji's position, but also taken Li Longji's suspicion and inherited some of Li Longji's bad habits.

Li Heng dismissed his attendants and spent time alone with Li Longji. He confessed, "In fact, I have always been wary of you, Grandpa. I am worried that you will suddenly return to power."

Li Longji said: "This is the emperor's fate. The ambitious Emperor Wu of Han also suspected his own son and killed the crown prince Liu Ju under the instigation of others. Emperor Taizong, the greatest emperor in history, did not kill his son, but killed his brothers. I am also..."

Li Longji thought of Li Ying and the other two, but he didn't say anything more. He was silent for a long time before he continued, "Being the emperor has this result. You have to be suspicious of anyone who can threaten you, no matter if he has other intentions or not. If you don't doubt him, you won't be able to be the emperor for long. This is what is called being alone."

Li Heng hesitated for a moment and asked, "If Li Heng had not plotted rebellion and An Lushan had not rebelled, would you have allowed me to have a peaceful end after I conquered Tibet?"

Li Longji said: "I regret deeply for ordering the death of Li Ying, Li Yao, and Li Ju. I will not kill you, but I will take away your power and cut off your wings. This is imperative."

Li Ying said, "Thank you for telling me the truth, Grandpa."

Li Longji said: "After the Xingqing Palace is repaired, I want to hold a banquet to entertain civil and military officials. I wonder if you can allow it?"

Li Heng thought for a moment and said, "We should celebrate. How could I disobey Grandpa's wishes?"

"That's good." Li Longji said.

Li Heng stood up, saluted Li Longji, and left.

Li Longji looked at Li Heng's back and thought to himself, "You have finally relaxed your guard against me, but I have long lost the ability to regain my position."

Not long after Li Ying left, Empress Wu came in and asked, "Did Yinger agree to let Sanlang entertain the civil and military officials?"

Li Longji said: "You gave birth to a good son!"

Empress Dowager Wu couldn't tell whether Li Longji was mocking her or praising her, and didn't know how to respond.

Li Longji continued: "You can't be the queen, but being the queen mother is also a wish."

Empress Dowager Wu said: "I have no intention of becoming an empress."

"I know." Li Longji smiled meaningfully, "Shiba Lang left the center of the court and gave up the fight for the crown prince position. At that time, you gave up the idea of ​​becoming the queen. It was because of this that I relaxed my vigilance. Shiba Lang even deceived you."

Empress Dowager Wu said: "At that time, Shibalang must not have had the intention to fight for power."

"Maybe." Li Longji sighed, "I have been wondering for years how Shibalang got to this point. His success is full of coincidences. If he could predict all these coincidences, then his scheming is unmatched. But judging from his response, it seems that everything was calculated by him."

When Li Longji mentioned this, Empress Dowager Wu recalled the conversation between Li Heng and her by the fire when he left for the first time.

Looking back now, it seems that Li Heng had the intention of seizing power by force since then.

Empress Dowager Wu pondered for a long time and said, "No matter what, under Ying'er's governance, the Tang Dynasty is thriving, the people live and work in peace, and the barbarians are submissive. Although Ying'er is wary of Sanlang, he is also filial. He has not resorted to violence against his brothers. This should be the best outcome."

Li Longji understood the hidden meaning of Empress Dowager Wu and said, "I have no intention of sowing discord between you and Shiba Lang. I just hope that you can understand your son."

"Thank you for your kindness, Sanlang." Empress Wu bowed to Li Longji and continued, "I can't become Empress Zetian and know how to treat my son."

Li Longji nodded and asked, "Do you think Empress Yang will become the next Empress Zetian?"

"It's up to you, Heng'er, to think about this." Empress Wu didn't give a direct answer, but instead said, "The flowers in the backyard are blooming. Do you want to go take a look, Sanlang?"

"Okay." Li Longji agreed and tried to get up, but he couldn't do it due to the effort.

Empress Dowager Wu hurried over to help him and asked, "Are you feeling unwell, Sanlang?"

Li Longji said: "I am not feeling unwell, I am just getting old."

Empress Dowager Wu asked, "Should we ask Ying'er to send more people to serve us?"

"Not for now." Li Longji refused. "I am satisfied with Gao Lishi and his men serving me. If Shiba Lang sends someone to replace Gao Lishi and his men, I will have no one to speak my truth to."

When Empress Dowager Wu saw Li Longji like this, she felt her nose sore and said nothing more. She supported Li Longji and slowly walked out of Hua'e Tower.

(End of this chapter)