The drastic changes that Zhangsun Wuji worried about did not occur. The entire Great Tang remained calm and peaceful. The academy compiled the Emperor’s speech into a volume and published it throughout the realm. The Emperor had already indicated that there was nothing that could not be spoken of.

Only someone confident to the extreme would say such words. What Zhangsun Wuji most feared was people discussing or criticizing the Emperor for killing his brothers and imprisoning his father. Or rather, he very much anticipated that people would discuss these matters.

However, his wish came to nothing. What people discussed most was the topic of ideals, issues about land, questions about future descendants, and the positions they themselves would occupy in this prosperous age. As for topics like the Emperor personally saying he had eliminated his own older brother, these were completely ignored by people. No fear was as terrifying as the arrival of chaotic times.

In the transcript of Li’er’s speech published by the academy, there was still his account of the Xuanwu Gate Incident. When the academy’s manuscript reached the localities, those printing houses automatically omitted that first section. No one loved reading those words. Dark matters placed within an entire uplifting and progressive article looked very ugly.

Some people wanted to deliberately spread these things, but when they opened their mouths to speak, the people around them would look at them with contempt and say, “Shut up. Can’t you cover up a bit for our sovereign father? Do you think we don’t know, or what? Are you the only clever one?”

The rumors hadn’t even risen before they were drowned by countless criticisms. When the common people spontaneously covered up an emperor’s shameful deeds, those shameful deeds would become that sovereign’s supreme glory.

“I don’t care what bad things His Majesty did. I only know the prosperous age has come—the prosperous age that even countless deaths couldn’t bring has come. My family’s granary is full, my satchel has silver, my wife just gave birth to a child—mine! Better to save up more money for the baby than to wag tongues here about His Majesty…”

Dressed in blue robes, Li’er heard such words and smiled so broadly his mouth wouldn’t close. This time he had truly let go. No matter how the ghosts of Jiancheng and Yuanji echoed through the imperial palace, they were nothing more than two ethereal resentments.

Yun Ye was so angry his entire body trembled. He really wanted to dump the bowl of cold noodles in his hand on that damn shopkeeper’s head. While praising the Emperor, he didn’t forget to disparage the Yun family. What did he mean the Yun family only produces blockheads?

I at least have the reputation of being a new generation war god. Yun Shou’s poem “Ballad of the War Chariots” was filled with revulsion toward war and contemplation of post-war reconstruction. From every perspective, this poem possessed extremely high aesthetic value and humanistic value.

“Carts rattle and clatter, horses neigh and whinny, marching men with bows and arrows at their waists. Fathers, mothers, wives and children run to see them off.”

“Dust so thick you cannot see Xianyang Bridge. They clutch clothes, stamp feet, block the road and weep, cries rising straight to pierce the clouds. Passersby question the marching men.”

“The marching men only say deployments are frequent. Some from age fifteen defend the northern river, and straight to forty farm western fields. When leaving, the village head wrapped their hair.”

“Returning with white heads, they still guard the border. Border garrisons’ blood becomes seas, the sovereign’s border-expanding ambitions never cease. Have you not heard of the Han’s two hundred eastern provinces?”

“A thousand villages, ten thousand hamlets grow thorns and weeds. Even if strong women grasp hoe and plow, crops grow in disorder in the ridged fields. Moreover, Qin soldiers endure bitter warfare well.”

“Driven like dogs and chickens. Though elders may question, dare the conscripts voice their resentment? And just like this winter…”

After Li’er finished reciting the entire poem, he turned to ask Yun Ye, “It’s not that bad, is it? You’re someone who leads troops in battle. Shou’er has also witnessed military affairs. How could he write such a poem?”

“Especially these lines: ‘Have you not heard of the Han’s two hundred eastern provinces? A thousand villages, ten thousand hamlets grow thorns and weeds. Even if strong women grasp hoe and plow, crops grow in disorder in the ridged fields. Moreover, Qin soldiers endure bitter warfare well, driven like dogs and chickens. Though elders may question, dare the conscripts voice their resentment? And just like this winter…’ These lines make my heart feel sour. However, Shandong hasn’t been conscripted for nearly ten years, right? How could a thousand villages and ten thousand hamlets grow thorns and weeds? Writing poetry for the sake of writing poetry, not conforming to facts—what’s wrong with people saying your Yun family only produces blockheads?”

Li’er looked at Yun Ye with contempt, continuing to listen to the cold noodle shop owner praise himself and disparage the Yun family. His imperial countenance had been greatly pleased for an entire day.

“That’s not how it is. The Empress said that war is ultimately not good. If by chance we lose, then we’d have to keep fighting. At that time, who knows what state the realm would be in. Then young Shou recited this poem, and the Empress also said it was written truly well. The blending of scene and emotion, with both discussion and commentary, has more force than the poems embellishing wealth and nobility that this humble subject wrote. Such poetry should be made known to everyone, as a warning for those who come after!”

Li’er nodded and said, “That makes sense. It’s said that though a nation be large, those who love war will perish! However, the Great Tang rose from a hundred battles. Looking at it now, this saying is already somewhat inappropriate.”

“My officers and soldiers campaign in all directions, then bring back countless riches and land. With very small costs, we gain abundant returns. Fighting a few more such battles is no problem.”

Having already tasted the sweetness of being a bandit, Li’er saw that the shopkeeper had started doing business seriously and no longer praised him. Feeling somewhat disappointed, he set down the half-eaten cold noodles and, accompanied by Yun Ye and Li Tai, continued touring the market on Yushan.

Where there are many people, markets appear. Especially since Yushan was now full of people everywhere. The entire city’s perimeter walls had already closed up. The tall pass walls were undergoing final decorations—a qilin installed on the east side, a striped tiger painted on the west side, a dragon head placed at the highest point. The more ferocious the depiction, the better, so much so that even two huge wild boar tusks had been installed in the dragon’s mouth.

Li’er stood at the pass, patting the dragon head with satisfaction. He was especially pleased with the craftsman’s creative measure of installing teeth on the dragon head. With a wave of his hand, he rewarded the craftsman a hundred silver coins. Yun Ye and Li Tai searched through their pockets but couldn’t scrape together this amount. Who would carry money when idly wandering around Yushan?

However, the guards didn’t think this way. One fellow presented a gold coin, making the Emperor very happy. He immediately told the guard to collect ten gold coins in reward from the steward after returning.

“When Tongwan City was constructed, there was a rule—to have craftsmen and strongmen supervise each other. If a strongman couldn’t use a giant hammer to create a one-inch pit in the tamped city wall, the strongman would be killed. Conversely, the craftsman would be killed. I wonder if this civil city’s construction is this solid. A foundation for ten thousand generations needs to be somewhat solid.”

Li’er stood in the cold wind, looking at the gray city wall while showing off his erudition to Yun Ye again.

“Your Majesty can find a strongman. For instance, the guard who just received the reward would be good. Have him take a giant hammer and strike the city wall to test it. This humble subject guarantees he’ll die decisively and efficiently.”

“Petty! However, your confidence is quite high.”

“This city wall is fundamentally cast from giant stones and cement. Even siege engines can’t do anything to it. A giant hammer coming at it would naturally have only a dead end. Your Majesty, you see this city has already been constructed. Shouldn’t you dispatch the Qianniu Guard to come defend it? The military camp at the barbican has also been constructed. You’d best establish a superintendent here to command them.”

The city wall was truly too long. A large half of its position was among lofty mountains and steep ridges. Wanting to walk a complete circuit, climbing up and down, would be extremely exhausting. Li’er had walked less than halfway when he abandoned this idea, sighing and saying, “I am ultimately old. With such a strong city, I should have personally walked a complete circuit to evaluate its defensive functions. Now I can’t walk anymore.”

Yun Ye beckoned with his hand. On the thick steel cable overhead, a large hanging basket immediately slid over. This was a slideway specifically erected to rapidly transport military provisions. As long as military soldiers on both ends turned the wheels, the basket would be transported to any corner of the city wall.

Seeing the hanging basket, Li’er raised his hand wanting to hit someone, but still lowered his arm. He was first to step into the hanging basket. After Yun Ye and Li Tai both got in, the hanging basket slowly moved along the city wall, finally stopping at the rear gate.

The terrain here was extremely precipitous. Only one natural bridge spanned between the city gate and the mountaintop opposite. Below was a cliff face dozens of zhang deep. Li’er looked at the tunnel opposite with its scattered points of firelight and said, “Behind is that road leading deep into the Qinling Mountains, right? With your arrangements this way, establishing layer upon layer of obstacles, won’t it cause discontent among those people at the base?”

“It won’t. They’re clearer than anyone about how terrifying the things they’re developing are. If they want to come out from the mountains, they must report a month in advance, then enter the quarantine zone to live for a month. Finally, after full-body disinfection, they cannot carry anything out from the quarantine zone. Only after going through such procedures can they enter the academy and enter Chang’an. Of course, this must be under the accompaniment of defense personnel.”

Li’er nodded, then took another cable path, circling around Eagle Beak Cliff back to the main gate. Only after getting out of the hanging basket did he say to Yun Ye, “Approved. I permit the Qianniu Guard to be stationed. After I’ve deeply considered the superintendent candidate, I’ll naturally send them over.”

Li Tai hadn’t said a word along the way. The reason was that he told his father not to send Hypatia to the south, but was rebuked by Li’er. Now he was unhappy.

Li’er still looked upon his fat son differently. Without good humor, he explained, “You know the story of Chulong speaking to the Empress Dowager of Zhao. Your son Li Hui has an unusual appearance, which has already caused criticism in the court. Therefore, your crown prince is Li Xin. If Li Hui wants to live comfortably in the future, he must have presentable achievements. The child is still young now, so parents need to earn face for him. Hypatia is actually going for this very goal. Parents sacrificing for their children is perfectly natural and right. What do you think Hypatia used to persuade me? A mother who can consider her child’s welfare is a good mother. Your father emperor has no reason whatsoever to prevent her from going to Egypt. Returning to her homeland along the way is perfectly fine. Her relatives’ graves have probably already been buried by wind and sand. You can’t be this selfish as a person.”

Li Tai sighed sorrowfully but still said nothing. Anyone could see he had already agreed to Hypatia going to Egypt.

“When will you set out? In the third month, the monsoon winds will blow and the ocean waves will calm. We cannot delay any longer. Since the determination has been made, then go do it. Don’t have misgivings. You said it yourself—we’re all feeling our way across the river by touching the stones.”