No matter how thick the ice and snow, it couldn’t suppress the grass’s will to grow. Yun Ye, who was becoming more and more unhappy being an official, sat alone on the steps gazing at that touch of pale goose-yellow in the stone crevice on the sun-facing side. He had already been looking at it for half the day.
No one dared appear within ten zhang of the General. The damned Goguryeo people had actually agreed to the Great Tang’s such harsh conditions—disarming, bowing their heads in submission. Gao Jianwu and Yuan Gai Suwen together set out by land toward the Great Tang’s capital Chang’an. Zhang Jian’s troops had already taken over Pyongyang’s defense and warned Silla to spit out the nine cities they had secretly occupied during the war between the Great Tang and Goguryeo.
With no more warfare in Liaodong, when Lady Rong Hua came to the Ministry of War once again to process travel documents, the corners of her mouth slightly turned up—not a trace of sorrow could be seen. Shouldn’t she be wailing and crying or committing suicide or something at this time?
Goguryeo’s surrender condition was only one—guaranteeing the safety of the Goguryeo royal family and Yuan Gai Suwen’s entire family. This required the emperor’s endorsement. In Lady Rong Hua’s view, guarantees from the military were no different from farting—one phrase “all is fair in war” could turn things around in an instant.
Lady Rong Hua wouldn’t commit suicide, but Zhang Liang desperately wanted to commit suicide. The blood feud of his entire family would never again have a chance for redress. Yun Ye looked at the letter Zhang Liang sent with three characters dripping with ink—his head was about to explode, because written on it were three large characters: “Why?” Just looking at those three characters that showed through the back of the paper, Yun Ye could experience Zhang Liang’s tragic and sorrowful thoughts at that time.
The King of Goguryeo would hold the rank of Cavalier Attendant-in-ordinary—this was the Great Tang’s title of nobility. From now on, Gao Jianwu would become a fat pig raised by the Great Tang in Chang’an. Instead, Yuan Gai Suwen became the Great Tang’s Prefect of Anzhou. Just looking at the map, one could see that Anzhou was right beside Yongzhou, firmly guarding Yongzhou’s sea outlet. In other words, if Li Anlan wanted to go to sea in the future, he would have to look at Yuan Gai Suwen’s face.
That damned woman Gao Shanyang could now swagger through the strait he had blockaded and moor her warships in Anzhou’s harbor. Perhaps they would even ask the Great Tang for blueprints of the new warships, and Li Er would very likely give them the blueprints out of a desire to control Li Anlan.
No change—nothing had changed. On the sea, it was still the world of the Lingnan Navy, Gao Shanyang, and Qiu Ran Ke. The fierce battle between the three parties would continue. If this continued, the Lingnan Navy’s advantages would not be much anymore.
How ruthless Yuan Gai Suwen was! He sold out Goguryeo, sold out Gao Jianwu, then sold out those Goguryeo warriors. His final goal was actually to set his sights on the ocean.
This move was wonderfully similar to the choices of the Turks, Tuyuhun, the Nine Surnames of Zhaowu, and the remnants of Xueyantuo—only one set sights on the western continent, while the other set sights on the vast ocean. Damn it! Severing the tail to survive wasn’t done this way—this was cutting off the body to preserve the tail!
No wonder Lady Rong Hua said those things like a final plea that day. Before this, they had already prepared to surrender. Since it was surrender, there was no need to conceal anything. Surrendering with ulterior motives would only invite the Great Tang’s thunderous suppression. Zhang Liang was a killer prepared to suppress Goguryeo—believe that he wouldn’t have half a point of mercy.
Those good at warfare have no brilliant achievements. Fang Xuanling, Wei Zheng, and the others must be celebrating at this time. Without military interference, a mere minor official could use the Great Tang’s might to make an enemy nation surrender. This was the power of civilization—they must be boasting like this. The history books would definitely describe it this way too. As for Zhang Liang, Yun Ye’s desperate blockade of Goguryeo, the three grassland fierce generals’ non-stop pressure on Goguryeo—such matters would definitely be glossed over with spring and autumn writing style. All that would remain was vast imperial might and the glorious deeds of those iron-toothed and copper-tongued envoys. Yun Ye decided that if any civil official dared to boast to him about their illustrious achievements in Liaodong and Goguryeo, he would definitely knock out all their teeth.
From the first moment he saw the intelligence report, Yun Ye planned to eliminate Yuan Gai Suwen. The biggest mistake of his life was letting this fellow live. He always thought this fellow would fight to the death. He always thought this fellow would battle to the last soldier without ever admitting defeat. He always thought this fellow would choose an extremely heroic method of death—dying in battle, trampled into meat paste by horses at the very least. In his mind, Yun Ye had already arranged this fellow’s death countless times—sometimes bristling with arrows all over his body, raising a broken blade to cut his own throat; sometimes after slashing to death all the women of the rear palace, roaring words of defiance in a great fire and being burned to ashes.
Who knew he would actually surrender! Previously, no matter what Yuan Gai Suwen did, including killing Zhang Liang’s entire family, Yun Ye believed this was what an ambitious hero should do. An ambitious hero—if they didn’t do things that made people gnash their teeth in hatred, could they be called an ambitious hero? Ambitious heroes generally would loudly say: “If a great man cannot feast from five cauldrons in life, then he should be cooked in five cauldrons!” Now, this fellow actually surrendered. Even in the strangest dreams, Yun Ye never imagined Yuan Gai Suwen would surrender.
Yun Ye generally placed his friends and enemies on the same level for consideration, so his enemies easily became his friends. But this time, he decided to cross someone out of this circle. That person was Yuan Gai Suwen. Without Yuan Gai Suwen, Dou Yanshan living alone in a room would definitely be more comfortable. Making him live with Yuan Gai Suwen in the same room in Yun Ye’s brain was too much of a grievance for him.
Yuan Gai Suwen’s residence in the capital had to be paid for by the Ministry of War. Seeing this official dispatch, Yun Ye only then remembered this fellow also had the title of Loyal and Martial General, belonging to military rank—only one level below his own Cloud-Bannered General.
The director of the Bureau of Military Selection and Clearance, Hou Wenshou, looked at Yun Ye with concern, afraid he would set up obstacles regarding the Loyal and Martial General matter. Yesterday at morning court, His Majesty spoke very clearly—no matter what past grudges existed, now serving as ministers in the same hall, absolutely no creating obstacles or seeking private revenge was permitted. Violators would be severely punished. He specifically warned Yun Ye not to seek revenge out of private grievance. If he ruined the grand plan of Goguryeo’s surrender, what awaited him would be the most severe punishment.
Yun Ye curled his lip and said to Hou Wenshou: “Old Hou, you don’t need to worry. If Yuan Gai Suwen were still a man with iron bones, I’d still have interest in finding trouble for him. Now he’s just a homeless dog—he’s not worth me angering His Majesty. Since we’re building a residence for him, let’s be generous with the money. This dog has an expensive price tag and needs a better doghouse.”
Hou Wenshou breathed a sigh of relief and said to Yun Ye: “The General speaks correctly. Your status is noble—how could those surrendered generals compare? Glory earned through a hundred battles being ruined on them isn’t worth it. Even if the anger in your heart is hard to dispel, just wait two years. Once our dynasty has stabilized Goguryeo, even if you cut him into eight pieces, I believe His Majesty will turn a deaf ear.”
“Old Hou speaks reasonably. I’ll reply to Zhang Liang right now, telling him to endure two more years. Having endured so many years, he won’t care about this bit of time. The urgent task at hand is we must intensify the blockade of Goguryeo’s waters. You should know that on that peninsula there’s not just Goguryeo one nation, but also Silla and Baekje. Guarding against others’ hearts cannot be omitted—the earlier we prepare, the better.”
Seeing Hou Wenshou walk out, Yun Ye couldn’t sit still anymore in this lifeless government office either. After giving instructions to the clerks, he planned to go home and take a look. He heard the hot air balloon hadn’t flown up twice now—he didn’t know what the reason was.
When leaving the palace, he happened to encounter Lady Rong Hua who was also preparing to leave the palace together. Behind her followed over ten eunuchs holding various colorful rewards. She herself was also dressed brilliantly from head to toe. Seeing Yun Ye, she generously walked over and curtsied. When she squatted down, the wide robe’s neckline opened, and most of her round breasts were exposed to the cold wind. She wasn’t afraid of the cold either. This move might be useful on Li Er—that fellow was originally a lecher. If his interest came and he favored Lady Rong Hua, Yun Ye wouldn’t be surprised at all.
“Some time ago, Rong Hua’s words were improper and offended Marquis Yun. Please forgive Rong Hua’s rash offense. Now, you and Suwen serve as ministers in the same hall. Please, for the sake of the state and nation, be able to coexist harmoniously.”
Yun Ye stood there without returning the courtesy. He asked Lady Rong Hua irritably: “Has Yuan Gai Suwen already passed Zhuojun? Is he now at the river mouth waiting for the canal to open before heading west?”
Lady Rong Hua looked at Yun Ye vigilantly and said: “What do you want to do? You’ve already stripped Suwen of all his glory. Now he only has one life left. Could it be you still don’t plan to let him go?”
“Stripped him of all his glory? A man isn’t called a man because he has those three liang of flesh between his legs. Sima Qian suffered castration yet still wrote the magnificent work ‘Records of the Grand Historian.’ Who dares say he’s not a man? Originally in my heart, Yuan Gai Suwen had always been a good fellow. This is also why I treated you with courtesy and respect. Did you think I tolerated you in every way because I coveted your beauty?”
“Now it’s not necessary. Yuan Gai Suwen doesn’t even have the courage to die in battle. His manly spirit has completely disappeared. Do you think I, the dignified hereditary State Marquis Yun Ye, would lower myself to the level of a pitiful creature neither male nor female? Rest assured, I’ve already ordered the Bureau of Military Selection to find a place in Chang’an to build you a magnificent residence. I think by the time the canal opens and Yuan Gai Suwen returns to Chang’an, you’ll be able to move in. Enjoy the rest of your lives well.” Having finished saying this, Yun Ye didn’t even glance at Lady Rong Hua and strode outward.
“Yun Ye! You don’t understand! You’re lucky to have been born in the Tang nation. This country can contain all your ambitions and can also provide you the strength necessary to complete your ambitions. Goguryeo is finished—crushed alive by the Great Tang. The common people survive by eating tree bark and grass roots. During this long winter, thirty percent of Goguryeo’s common people starved to death. They have no strength to resist the Great Tang’s iron cavalry…”
“Suwen chose to surrender to let more Goguryeo people survive. He tried hard, he struggled, he did everything he could. Yun Ye, his surrender in my view is noble. In my heart, he’s a thousand times more noble than you. Because he wanted to give the Goguryeo common people a way to survive, he abandoned his dignity as a warrior. His heart is matchlessly noble!”
This damned woman was getting better and better at speaking. This is what Yun Ye thought as he walked out the palace gate.