In the Jinluan Hall, Li Shimin stood wearing golden armor and holding a sword, and said to the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty: "My Tang Dynasty should be a piece of fine iron, forged from the beacon furnace at the end of the Sui Dynasty, and it can survive more than ten years of peace." , turned into cartilage and rotten flesh?”
"You are not joking! - I gave Qin Mubai an edict in front of you. If he cannot defeat Tubo, I will go into battle myself!"
"Rise up an army that will overwhelm the country and compete with them!"
"I don't talk about revenge, blood, and tooth for tooth. What I'm fighting for is not the gains and losses in a battle, not the thousands of miles of territory, let alone the king's face and the praise and criticism of future generations!"
The whole court was subdued, stood quietly, and listened.
"How can my Tang Dynasty be bullied, humiliated, and invincible! How can China indulge in pleasure and not make progress! Born in sorrow and dying in happiness! - What I want is to awaken the blood of the Chinese nation! The Tang Dynasty The soul of the world!"
"The father and son of the Qin family are martyrs, and countless soldiers wrapped in horse leather, their heroism - this is the meaning of it!"
"Long live my emperor, long live, long live!!" The crowds of worshipers worshiped, and the mountains roared and the tsunami roared.
Li Shimin, who has always been good at accepting advice, decided this time not to allow anyone to comment, and the imperial edict was issued immediately.
Chu Suiliang was ordered to issue a war proclamation drafted by the emperor at his request, and to order the world to declare war on Tibet in an all-out manner. The three words "no" in the statement shook the world - no compromise, no peace talks, and no armistice unless one of the two countries fell!
Li Shimin personally took command of the expedition, and ordered Situ Chang Sun Wuji and Zhongshu Ling Ma Zhou to jointly assist Jin Wang Li Zhi to supervise the country and stay in Chang'an; he ordered veteran generals Li Jing to be the marching Sima, Fang Xuanling to be the Chang Shi, and Chu Suiliang to join the army. Zhang Liang and Zhang Liang were sent to the front. Li Daliang, Li Junxian, Zhi Shisili and many other famous generals also condemned more than 600 generals, and ordered Qin Tong, deputy envoy of Baiqi, to lead 800 cavalry as guards in front of the tent, leading thirty troops and horses. Wan, the emperor will march in person!
The Tang Dynasty originally had more than 600,000 standing soldiers, half of whom were concentrated in Guanzhong, and the other half who guarded the border areas or were scattered in various states and counties across the country. Before the Lanzhou War broke out, Guanzhong allocated more than 100,000 troops to participate in the expedition, so the troops were exhausted. Li Shimin was going to lead an army of 300,000 people to fight in person, but currently there were less than 200,000 soldiers and horses defending the capital.
At this time, Li Shimin gave an order to issue a conscription order to recruit the best young people in Guanzhong! The imperial court opened its treasury in Taicang and dispersed all the national reserves. It was necessary to raise an army of 300,000 within ten days. After mixing it with the original elite soldiers and horses in Guanzhong, half of them would go out with the imperial commander and the other half would stay in Chang'an to guard Guanzhong. .
The Tang Dynasty implemented a government military system. Except for a small number of imperial guardsmen who guarded the imperial city, they were recruited soldiers paid for by the imperial court. There had not yet been a large-scale recruitment of soldiers. Li Shimin's move can't help but remind people of Yang Guang, the last emperor of the Sui Dynasty, who conscripted troops to conquer Goryeo.
But Li Shimin didn't care anymore.
"Raise an army that will overwhelm the country", "Duel one male or another" - you have no joke!
Li Shimin's domineering force and decisiveness once again shocked Chang'an and conquered the world. Once this imperial decree came out, it was like a powerful stimulant, awakening the national blood spirit that had been dormant for a long time in the world of Jiuzhou, and the martial and vigorous spirit that the Tang Dynasty had always inherited!
People seem to have returned to the period of war in the late Sui Dynasty and the war in the north and south when the country was founded.
One moment, there is singing and dancing, and people are intoxicated; the next moment, they are passionate and majestic!
In the two capitals of Guanzhong, regardless of whether they were princes, eunuchs or civilians, those who signed up to join the army were like crucian carp crossing the river; within Kyushu, the literati and poets who had nothing to do with state affairs in the past and only praised the wind and moon, their poems and essays were like arrows all over the world.
In an instant, all the people in the Tang Dynasty were eager to fight, and the people and soldiers were generous and the three armies were inspired!
The Tang Dynasty, on top of this epic picture of prosperity and peace written for more than ten years, suddenly added a rich and colorful, stunning and dazzling stroke!
All this happened only because of Lanzhou and the death of the father and son named Qin!
…
The Imperial City, the Harem, and the Protectorate Tennoji Temple.
Concubine Yin De, who has white hair and is as white as snow, is burning incense and sitting facing the Buddha. Although she has no make-up and is wearing plain clothes, she still has a fairy-like appearance that is unique and noble, making her stunning.
Sitting next to her while twisting beads and chanting the Buddha's name was Master Qingshan, the abbot of Goguo Tenwang Temple.
"Master, you once said that he became a devil and a Buddha with one thought; now, will he go to hell or go to the bliss of the West?" Concubine Yinde closed her eyes and chanted softly.
"The Queen wants him to go to hell, so he is in hell; the Queen wants him to go to the West, so he is in the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss." Master Qingshan replied.
Concubine Yin De's brows sunk slightly and she revealed a bitter smile, "I just want him to still be in the world. Whether he becomes a Buddha or a demon, it's better to still be alive."
"How can there be joy in life when the sea of suffering is boundless?"
"It would be peaceful if he died, but how many people will truly suffer from this?"
"Are you concerned about Your Highness the Princess?"
"And the unborn child in her belly!" Concubine Yin De suddenly became excited and her voice trembled, "I learned from Ling'er's letter that Ling'er was pregnant with Liujia shortly before he left for the expedition!... From then on How unbearable it is to be an orphan and a widowed mother!”
Master Qingshan did not say anything and remained silent for a long time.
"Master, did I say something wrong?" Concubine Yin De asked.
"It has nothing to do with right or wrong. Life and death, right and wrong, movement and stillness are all just a thin line. Once you understand, you will be transcendent." Master Qingshan said, "My dear lady, the wind blows the candle flame, but the wind does not move it. , the candle has not moved; only the heart has moved."
"Heart, heartbeat?" Concubine Yin De was stunned.
"Your heart is never still." Master Qingshan said with a slight smile.
"nonsense!!"
Concubine Yin De stood up suddenly, with a rare angry look on her face. For the first time, she shouted to Master Qingshan, whom she had always respected, "Master, you are rude!"
"Your Majesty, please forgive me." Qing Shan, calm and calm, clasped his hands together, sang a Buddha and saluted, and said, "Why do you need to be angry, Your Majesty? There is only a fine line between right and wrong, truth and falsehood, hypocrisy and kindness. Everything arises from the heart, even Buddhas have inner demons, not to mention mortals? Five hundred times of looking back at the past life will only pass by in this life; the queen does not need to reflect on herself or struggle, since the fate is like this, she will comply with the destiny. "
Concubine Yin De stood stunned. Her waist-length snow-white hair spread out, outlining her back in a particularly melancholy manner.
A voice roared in her mind—
"Am I... tempted?... Ridiculous, ridiculous! Extremely absurd, extremely ridiculous!"
…
At night, in the study of Situ Changsun Wuji's house.
Changsun Wuji was furious, his face was livid and his whole body was shaking, his fists were clenched and his veins were bulging, he was glaring at Changsun Huan who was kneeling in front of him!
"You traitor! You evil beast! How dare you become a deserter!"
"Dad! You must calm down and take care of yourself... I made a thousand mistakes, my child is irrefutable! Go back to Lanzhou immediately and plead guilty!" Changsun Huan cried and begged.
"How late!" Changsun Wuji yelled angrily, "If you die in battle and die for your country, you can still have some reputation! Now, His Majesty is ordering the whole country to fight, you, you... As my son, Changsun Wuji , You are actually a deserter! Not only will you lose your life, but you will also destroy my eldest grandson's lineage! Even your aunt under Jiuquan (Queen Changsun) will be shamed because of you - Shuzi! I’m going to kill you immediately!”
After roaring, Changsun Wuji kicked Changsun Huan right in the heart!
Changsun Huan didn't dare to cry out. He took the kick firmly and was knocked upside down. He immediately got up again and begged with a pale face dripping with cold sweat: "Father, please calm down! Please calm down! This child deserves to die, absolutely." Don’t dare to hurt your relatives!”
"Death? It's easy to say the word death!" Changsun Wuji was still furious and roared, "The emperor personally led the expedition, and all the people who should be sent were sent, but I was left in Chang'an to assist that man. The useless prisoner! - This is clearly a sign of alienating me! Why would he treat me like this in any matter for more than 20 years? - And now, you, the deserter's son! … I’m so angry!”
"Woo-" Changsun Huan finally cried, "Who knew that Qin Mubai was so miserable that he was poisoned to death by the Tubo people! The Guanxi army collapsed thousands of miles away, and the Tubo troops pressed on the border. The child was thinking at that time, since Qin Mubai They are already dead, so our previous plans are all lies, so we might as well get away as soon as possible to find safety. And if the child doesn't leave, he will probably become the dead soul of Hou Junji now. Catch me! ... If the child falls into his hands, he will definitely die!"
"If you are killed by him, it is better than escaping back to Chang'an!" Changsun Wuji gritted his teeth and said, "At this moment, the only choice is to kill your relatives for the sake of my father's righteousness and capture you and hand you over to military criminal justice!"
"Ah?!" Changsun Huan's eyes suddenly widened and he murmured, "Dad, Daddy!... Tiger poison doesn't even eat its children!"
"What are you yelling for!" Changsun Wuji scolded, "If this has to be the case, you still have a chance to survive, and the Changsun family can still be saved! - Moreover, you cannot be handed over to His Majesty the Emperor, you must be handed over to the Lanzhou military for disposal! Qin Mu Since Bai is dead, the person in charge in Lanzhou must be Li Daozong. I can only hand you over to Li Daozong because he wants to avenge his personal grievances. Furthermore, although Li Daozong is not from the same group as me, he will not dare to take your life! The emperor is about to lead his army to Lanzhou. Li Daozong does not dare to make a mistake at this time. Instead, he will protect you and leave you to the emperor's disposal. Moreover, Hou Junji will not only have no chance to kill you by then, but he will also kill you! The military power has been completely lost - after all, he is just a demoted official appointed by Qin Mubai privately, and his reputation is not justified. How can the emperor take advantage of his dignity and use him again? " Do you understand? "
"It seems, roughly... I understand a little bit." Changsun Huan was a little scared.
"Shuzi! Stupid!" Changsun Wuji shouted angrily, "Anyway, I will immediately send a few close friends to tie you up and hand you over to Li Daozong before His Majesty's army arrives in Lanzhou. !”
"..." Changsun Huan finally came to his senses, and murmured desperately and sadly, "Dad, you are so cruel! You are afraid that I will drag you into trouble... You would actually gamble your child's life or death in exchange for the emperor's fortune. Forgiveness and trust!”
"If you say that, there's nothing I can do about it as a father." Changsun Wuji's face tightened, and he turned around and said coldly, "You took the initiative to ask Ying to go to Lanzhou, and you failed to live up to expectations and became a deserter. It's obviously your own fault! Now you have only three options; either you are executed by military law; or our whole family is killed together with you; or... you are lucky enough to survive, and the eldest grandson's family is not implicated. At most, I lose some face. Receive some criticism! - Only if I kill your relatives and take you to Lanzhou can the third outcome happen! - Tell me, which one do you choose? "
"My child... do you still have a choice? Just follow your father's orders!" Changsun Huan, whose face was already ashen and his eyes were straight, hummed to himself, "If I die in the hands of a person like Hou Junji, how can my child die?" You can say that. If you die at the hands of your father... I don’t want to be a human being in the next life!"
Changsun Wuji, who had his back turned to him, trembled all over, and gritted his teeth so hard that he replied: "The reversal of the situation cannot be predicted by human beings. Even if Qin Mubai is dead, he will still do harm to others. Qian! —You shouldn’t have provoked him when you were still in Baiqi! Everything started with you!”
"Dad, you're actually scared and you actually gave up?" Changsun Huan suddenly laughed strangely, "You're actually afraid of a young boy? You actually lost to a dead young boy?"
"You are so presumptuous!!" Changsun Wuji became furious and turned around violently, his eyes bloodshot and red from anger.
"You're going to eat the tiger's poison, so why not tell the truth once in a while? But no one dares to tell you this kind of truth, and you don't even dare to admit it yourself." Changsun Huan was uncharacteristically indifferent. Impressed, he turned away with a cold smile, "If you want to be beaten or scolded, hurry up! Maybe after this goodbye, I won't be able to come back alive; I will definitely not be your son in the next life!"
"What a crime!" Changsun Wuji closed his eyes and looked up to the sky, sighing, word by word popping out from between his teeth, "The demon star, what a demon star! The damn demon star that is defeating my Changsun Wuji!!!"