“What ‘what’? Don’t you know that the people reviewing military merits after returning to Chang’an will be Old Du and me? Old Du is Minister of War, and I’m Left Vice Minister of War. When we’re leading troops in battle, there are always some advantages to be taken. Hehe, this is when the benefits of this broken position become apparent.” Yun Ye was quite pleased with himself. Supervising oneself—no matter how strict, people would still pick out flaws. He could already imagine those viper-like censors staring at his every move.

At this time, if he didn’t entertain the masses a bit, he’d be letting down those censors who painstakingly sought faults. Damn it, when Yun Shou ate steamed buns at his own family’s restaurant and threw away two of them, even that became a target for these fellows’ attacks.

The Emperor, upon seeing the name of Cavalry Captain Yun Shou appear in an impeachment memorial, would probably be stunned for quite a while. He’d have to think for a long time before connecting the chubby Yun Shou with that wasteful bastard wastrel described in the memorial.

These people had gone mad. They impeached Zhang Jian for losing troops and humiliating the nation at the start of the war.

They impeached Qibi and the others because their dignified army couldn’t even defeat some savages who wore no clothes.

They impeached Cheng Yaojin for stationing the army at Dafei River doing absolutely nothing and wasting military resources.

They impeached Old Niu for inadequate rescue efforts, causing Queen Seondeok to easily escape without being captured and sent to Chang’an for display.

They impeached Li Jing for not building a city at Black Stone Mountain and not killing all the Tibetans who had been lured there, allowing them to escape back to the Tibetan plateau, so that next time they came to raid the Hexi region they would still be numerous and powerful.

They impeached Liu Renyuan for being tyrannically cruel, adding countless white bones to Crab Island, to the point that seabirds in the sky no longer went fishing but waited to eat corpses.

All bastards. The entire Great Tang’s only bright spot was the Western Expedition Army. Marquis Yun defeated the Turks with inferior numbers, the camel city traversed ten thousand li invincibly, even privately going abroad to fight could spread the nation’s prestige beyond its borders—he was the military’s foremost capable minister, a brilliant strategist!

This was even worse than impeachment. These vicious minds were three times more terrifying than vipers. The impeachments of others were probably just nonsense. Li Er was an emperor who fought his way to power—he understood the situation better than anyone. Zhang Jian, Qibi, Cheng Yaojin, Niu Jinda, Li Jing, Liu Renyuan, Li Daozong—their actions weren’t wrong. Large-scale military engagements couldn’t avoid stalemate situations. Everyone could just laugh it off.

As the single red dot among myriad greens, Yun Ye was the main target of this person’s impeachment. Impeaching that dead tiger Li Jing was already quite boring—he just took beatings without fighting back. When impeached too harshly, he even opened his family’s main gate and dismantled the spirit wall, stopping just short of letting these people watch him and his wife in marital intimacy.

Yun Ye was different—young and hot-blooded, inevitably combative. Plus, during the western campaign process he had committed countless errors. Just the matter of releasing the Turks alone warranted thoroughly questioning whether Turkish blood flowed in his body. His most beloved concubine being a standard Turk couldn’t be mentioned—Old Master Yan had already acknowledged her as a Tang wife. Mentioning it would get one slapped hard by Yun Ye in court.

As for Yun Ye later privately crossing the border to fight, that was even more delightfully scandalous. Whether he won or lost, violating prohibitions first meant everyone could have a good verbal feast.

The Great Tang had no tradition of killing meritorious officials, so they concentrated all their firepower on Yun Ye’s rewards. If it were wealth and goods, naturally no one would have opinions. But raising the Marquis of Chuanming up a notch to become Duke of Chuanming would be the death of many people—this was even more comfortable than being enfeoffed as a prince. There shouldn’t be such anomalies among the ministers!

Impeaching great generals was customary, precisely to control their arrogant hearts, making them grateful for the Emperor’s magnanimous tolerance. Favor comes from above—at this time, giving just a little reward could make returning generals treasure it immensely. This was standard imperial technique. The censors were all advancing toward this goal, and the Emperor couldn’t even obstruct them, because this was good for the Emperor.

Li Er frowned as he finished reading Zhang Xingcheng’s memorial. He closed the memorial and left Taiji Palace, preparing to relax by the edge of Taiye Pool. Although at this time Taiye Pool had already frozen over, being blown by the cold wind could drive away the irritation in his heart.

All the armies were beginning to slowly return. The garrison commander replacing Yun Ye had already departed. By the time Yun Ye reached Beiting, General Sun Renshi would probably also arrive at Gaochang. Now there was no need for so many military men to remain in the Western Regions. Sun Renshi had only twenty thousand garrison troops under his command, Xue Rengui only had ten thousand men. These thirty thousand men were sufficient to stabilize the north and south of the Tianshan Mountains. As for Boulder City, heavy troops still needed to be stationed there. Looking around the Great Tang’s borders, only the Tibetans were still barely surviving. If it weren’t for the army being unable to ascend the plateau, Li Er wouldn’t spare this source of chaos either.

Thinking of the honorific title Qibi and the others presented, Li Er’s heart burned with heat. The Radiant Heavenly Khagan, King of All Kings—since ancient times, who had enjoyed such honor? Only I, Li Shimin.

Li Er’s hand reached behind him. Duan Hong immediately placed a warm flat stone in the Emperor’s hand. Li Er contentedly tossed it twice in his hand, moved his arm, and with a flick of his hand threw the stone out. After flying a great distance, the stone finally fell on the ice surface, then bounced up fiercely and continued flying until the force the Emperor had applied to the stone completely dissipated, finally becoming still.

Li Er shaded his eyes with his hand and carefully looked at where the stone landed, saying proudly to Duan Hong: “Not bad. My strength hasn’t diminished. Within ten years I can still ride horses and wield spears.”

“Your Majesty is vigorous as a dragon-horse. In this slave’s view, let alone ten years, even twenty or thirty years you could capture tigers and shoot bears.” Duan Hong smiled obsequiously as he flattered the Emperor. As long as the Emperor was happy, naturally nothing was taboo.

Waves of music and dance sounds came from Yeting Palace. Li Er pointed in that direction and asked Duan Hong curiously: “Is there some happy occasion at Yeting Palace? Why is there music and dance in broad daylight?”

“Reporting to Your Majesty, the Empress is selecting beauties. Those who are selected will undergo strict training. Song and dance are among the items. These beauties are all prepared for the great generals who are about to return triumphantly to court.”

Li Er nodded to indicate he understood, then suddenly laughed to himself. Pointing at Yeting Palace, he said to Duan Hong: “Fair maidens for young men. Last time the beauties bestowed upon Yun Ye were all married off to others by his wife. This time it will probably be the same. However, is that concubine of his called Xiao Miao truly as extraordinarily brave as you say?”

“Indeed so, Your Majesty. Lady Xiao Miao was originally personally instructed by Senior Wu She. Originally intending to train a wandering knight, that young girl entered the Yun family and was unwilling to leave again. Now she’s become Yun Ye’s concubine. Being a wandering knight is no longer possible.”

“My Dou Si also wants to become a wandering knight. You say her body is now very healthy?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. According to reports from the Directorate of Waterways, Princess Dou Si can now carry a bucket of water up over ten stone steps. Ordinary palace servants don’t have this ability.”

“Although imperial princesses shouldn’t suffer such hardship, enduring hardship can preserve life. I won’t say more. You must all protect the Princess’s safety well. If anything goes wrong, come see me with your heads.”

The master and servant conversed while strolling along Taiye Pool. Suddenly they heard urgent hoofbeats. This could only be the mount of a red-plumed urgent courier. Anyone else doing this would have long been shot into a pincushion by crossbow bolts.

Hearing the hoofbeats, Li Er immediately stopped his walk and hurried back to Wanmin Palace. Just entering the hall, he saw Fang Xuanling with a strange expression, holding an already-opened battle report, standing before the cinnabar rhinoceros pillar. Seeing the Emperor enter, he opened his mouth twice but couldn’t speak. Finally, he simply handed the battle report to Duan Hong to show the Emperor.

“What’s so hard to say? Under the current situation, I don’t believe anyone can still overturn heaven!” While nonchalantly consoling Fang Xuanling, the Emperor opened the battle report. After reading it, he couldn’t help but gasp.

“It’s confirmed to be over thirty-three thousand people?” Li Er asked Fang Xuanling quietly.

Fang Xuanling took out a locked small box from his sleeve and handed it to Duan Hong again. Duan Hong forcefully moved his gaze away from the small box. It was best to avoid contact with this thing if possible. Once the secret inside was leaked, he would be the first to lose his head. So after placing the small box on the Emperor’s table, he quickly retreated behind the curtain, not wanting to see or hear.

Li Er carefully examined the wax seal, then took a string of small keys from the table. Finding the key corresponding to the small box, he gently opened it, took out a piece of paper from inside and quickly scanned it. He said to Fang Xuanling: “This matter did indeed come from Keming’s hand. Although I gave Keming a secret edict, that Keming could do such a thing is still beyond my expectations. Could it be that bastard Yun Ye framing Keming? That boy has this ability.”

Fang Xuanling shook his head: “Absolutely impossible. For such a matter, unless Keming himself was willing, no one could frame Keming. Moreover, this memorial was clearly written in Keming’s own hand. The calligraphy is round and precise, the spacing between each character basically identical. This is a memorial Keming wrote in a calm and peaceful state of mind. There’s no way it could be wrong. We can only say that it truly was Du Keming himself who personally ordered the burial alive of over thirty-three thousand Arab soldiers. There is no other explanation.”

Just as the monarch and minister looked at each other in dismay, the palace duty official hurried in again, holding in his hands another battle report delivered by a red-plumed urgent courier.

After Li Er opened and read it, his expression was uncertain. Seeing Fang Xuanling staring fixedly at him, he handed the battle report to Fang Xuanling to read.

“Prince Huo is dead? Yun Ye massacred Suiye City for three days? Have they both gone mad?” After glancing at the battle report, Fang Xuanling cried out in surprise. In a short time, two incomprehensible battle reports received in succession. The two leaders of the Western Expedition Army—this was clearly a prelude to madness. One refined, learned, and talented veteran scholar had suddenly transformed into a bloodthirsty executioner.

The always careful and cautious Yun Ye, who was intimate with all members of the imperial family, had suddenly raised his butcher’s blade against the imperial clan. Could it be that place called the Western Regions truly could change a person so much? Could even great talents like Du Ruhui and Yun Ye not resist it?

Li Er tapped the table with his finger. After quite a while he stopped and said to Fang Xuanling: “Regardless, the army they lead has already returned to the country. Even with these troublesome matters, there’s no damage to the army. Xuanling, send an eight-hundred-li urgent letter to Sun Renshi. Tell him not to go to Beiting, but to directly intercept Yun Ye’s army. Order Yun Ye to lead the army back to Chang’an at full speed.”