“Regarding Gaochang,” the Emperor’s tone was deliberately measured and unhurried, “as you all know, it was established by Han and Wei descendants who admired Chinese culture, and being situated at the entrance to the Western Regions, its king Qu Wentai was initially quite respectful, never failing in tribute and court visits. In recent years, something has changed—as if possessed, they’ve grown increasingly close to the Western Regions’ Yabgu Khagan, blocking Hu merchants from trading routes to China, and detaining Han people returning home from beyond the frontier. It seems they’re deliberately positioning themselves as our enemy. There have indeed been joint petitions from merchant caravans begging us to send troops, but I am still merely considering the matter, with no decision made. You are all my trusted advisors—I treat you with sincerity, and you should serve your ruler with the same. Baseless speculation and reckless questioning are not the actions of worthy ministers.”
“Your servant risks death to speak. It’s just that I recently heard rumors that Your Majesty intends to order Li Jing and others, after defeating the Tuyuhun, to rest briefly at Western Sea before leading troops northward, crossing snow mountains and deserts to directly take Gaochang’s capital! The recent troop levies in Guanzhong are meant to reinforce the Western Sea Route Army’s frontline strength, preparing them for continued expansion… If this strategy proves true, it would be a path to losing both the army and the nation! As head of the Department of State Affairs and Prime Minister, I cannot cover my ears and pretend not to hear…”
When Li Yuanji first heard that the Tang army would march north to attack Gaochang immediately after defeating the Tuyuhun, it seemed fantastical, but upon careful consideration, it wasn’t entirely impossible.
Li Yuanji had studied the wooden maps of the northwestern regions and knew that from Chang’an, traveling northwest for nearly three thousand li would reach the Tuyuhun heartland at Western Sea, and another three thousand li northwest would enter the Western Regions and reach Gaochang. Though separated by mountains, deserts, and different branch roads, the statement that “Tuyuhun lies between Chang’an and Gaochang” was essentially correct. If Li Jing truly led troops from Tuyuhun to attack Gaochang, the round trip would be halved and speed would increase several fold, not to mention the element of surprise against an unprepared enemy.
Of course, this plan was extremely bold and faced many difficulties such as insufficient troops and inadequate supplies—ordinary people wouldn’t even consider such a direction. But were the current Emperor and Duke of Dai Li Jing “ordinary people”?
Li Jing, known as “Yaoshi,” had won all his major battles through unexpectedly bold and ingenious tactics. Particularly in the battles of Dingxiang and Baidao that destroyed the Northern Turks—when both Tang and Turks thought they were negotiating peace, General Yaoshi took personal command of a cavalry raid, destroying their nation and capturing their chiefs, earning great imperial praise afterward… Who could say that in this Tuyuhun campaign, Commander Li wouldn’t employ the same strategy, making King Qu Wentai of Gaochang follow Khagan Jieli’s fate and taste life as a prisoner in Chang’an?
He briefly lost focus, missing a few exchanges outside the curtain. When he concentrated again, the Emperor was solemnly lecturing about history:
“…Emperor Wu of Han, inheriting five generations’ resources with the realm at peace, treasuries full, and soldiers strong, sought to impose his will on barbarians. Hearing of exotic spices, he opened Gongli; coveting fine horses, he connected with Dayuan. He chased the Xiongnu north and conquered the Baiyue south, exhausting the weak and elderly with transport duties while able-bodied men died in military campaigns. The empire was thrown into chaos, the population halved, national resources depleted, and treasuries emptied. He then monopolized salt and iron, taxed commerce, levied transport fees, sold titles, and exploited the people. Troubles arose everywhere, internal and external difficulties mounted, unable to fund border defense, debating replacing soldiers with farming colonies to support the army. Only in his final years did he realize his errors, issuing remorseful edicts and making his Chancellor the Marquis of Enriching the People, barely avoiding major upheaval. In the recent Sui Dynasty, after unifying the world with powerful armies for over thirty years, spreading influence for thousands of li, and intimidating foreign customs, Emperor Yang, relying on this strength, sought to follow Emperor Wu’s path. Rulers and ministers deceived each other, severing proper relations, until people could no longer endure. The realm fragmented, and within ten-plus years, they lost both life and nation—this we have witnessed ourselves…”
Wait, what just happened?
If Li Yuanji hadn’t been so familiar with his half-brother the Emperor’s voice, he might have thought this was Wei Zheng or other remonstrating ministers speaking. Starting discussions with historical examples, using Han’s Emperor Wu and Sui’s Emperor Yang’s military ambitions and exhaustion of resources as analogies for current affairs—wasn’t this Wei Zheng and company’s usual rhetorical style? How had the Emperor suddenly seized this approach? And recited such a long passage?
When the Emperor paused for breath, Wei Zheng quickly interjected:
“Your Majesty’s thoughts on promoting great transformation and encouraging officials, we servants dare not fail to exhaust our strength…”
“Minister having such thoughts is the nation’s fortune!” The Emperor praised, striking the table—but only letting Wei Zheng speak one sentence before taking over again—”Military forces are the nation’s dangerous instruments! Though territory be vast, if fond of war, the people wither; though the Central Plains be peaceful if forgetting war, the people are endangered. Withering is no way to preserve completeness, and danger is no way to prepare against enemies—they cannot be eliminated, nor constantly used. Thus we train in warfare during farming’s slack season to practice dignity; we drill troops every three years to distinguish ranks. This is how Goujian, who submitted to frogs’ croaking, eventually achieved hegemony; while Xu Yan, abandoning military matters, ultimately lost his state. Why? Because Yue practiced its might while Xu forgot its preparations. Confucius said: ‘To not teach people warfare is to abandon them.’ Thus, understanding the power of bow and arrow to benefit the realm—this is the duty of military deployment…”
Li Yuanji’s headache returned. He didn’t know when his second brother had memorized so many ancient texts, but whenever things looked unfavorable, he would engage in scholarly competitions with ministers in court, using grand principles to block their arguments. As these were imperial pronouncements speaking fundamental truths of governance, ministers could hardly interrupt. Once everyone was dizzy from listening and the court recorders’ hands were cramping from writing, the court could be dismissed and the crisis passed.
But was that plan for the Tang army to march north and launch a surprise attack on Gaochang right after defeating the Tuyuhun true or false? Seeing how the Emperor avoided the subject, Li Yuanji suspected it might be true… If he were serving in Li Jing’s army right now, he would probably encourage the Commander to execute this brilliant plan and volunteer to lead the vanguard himself—this was a perfect opportunity for a Han man to shed blood on the frontier and achieve merit.
Of course, Wei Zheng’s questioning “Do you have the men? Do you have the money?” wasn’t a groundless concern… Given the Tang Dynasty’s current national strength, supporting such sustained warfare was indeed too difficult…
Amidst the Emperor’s endless pronouncements outside the curtain, there suddenly came a clear “pak” sound of something falling to the ground. Li Yuanji thought it sounded like a minister’s ivory or bamboo tablet hitting the floor.
The Emperor’s voice paused. Wei Zheng immediately spoke:
“Your servant has committed an offense before the throne—a capital crime. Your Majesty’s teachings, we servants will engrave in our hearts. Now, regarding the Western Sea Route Army, when will Your Majesty issue the clear edict for troops to return to the capital? I beseech Your Majesty to make a decision—the Palace Secretary is here and can draft the edict immediately, which I will cosign and process.”
This forced the Emperor to order the army’s return. However, with the pressure of national mourning and filial duties, and having just lectured at length about the evil consequences of endless eastern and western campaigns, the Emperor could hardly immediately reverse course and say he wouldn’t recall the troops. He could only continue to equivocate:
“Minister Wei is right, we’ve strayed too far from the point. Right now, ah, right now the most important matter is still the Emperor Emeritus’s tomb construction. The current supervisor of the Construction Bureau…”
“Your Majesty,” Minister Wei’s tone was exasperated, “Exhausting the people and depleting resources, sending troops on distant campaigns that grow old without achievement! Yet conscription and deployment continue in the countryside! This is truly the most pressing matter right now!”
“Be patient, Minister. The campaign has only been a few months—hardly long enough to call the troops old without achievement… You, Wei Xuancheng, know well Li Yaoshi’s capabilities… I’m counting the days too, just wait a few more days, wait…”
“Yet the Tuyuhun campaign’s outcome remains undecided, while Your Majesty already plots against Gaochang…”
“Didn’t we just discuss this? Can’t even think about it, is that it? Besides, Gaochang has long declared vassalage to our Great Tang and paid tribute—their king Qu Wentai personally led his ministers to pay the court in Chang’an. How can you call it ‘plotting’…”
You’re both grown men, Li Yuanji thought silently. One aspires to be an enlightened ruler for the ages, the other wants to be a premier minister exemplary for ten thousand generations—in front of so many officials, must you quarrel like children?
Outside the curtain, footsteps and announcements suddenly approached from afar, followed by confused voices. Both Emperor and Prime Minister fell silent as the Emperor demanded “What’s happening outside?”
After more commotion, someone entered the hall, performed obeisance and reported, panting heavily before managing two complete sentences:
“Your Majesty! A victory dispatch has arrived! Great victory on the Western Sea Route! The Duke of Dai and others have captured Fusi City and are… are now pursuing Murong Fuyun!”