Li Yifu looked at the sparse military troops before him, shaking his head and sighing. The Crown Prince had played his role too thoroughly. Initially, the plan to make the Crown Prince relinquish control over military power was to put Emperor His Majesty’s mind completely at ease. Controlling the Secretariat was far more important than controlling the Crown Prince’s Six Rates. No matter how many troops Li Chengqian commanded, it was still vastly insufficient compared to the Emperor. The Sixteen Guards were the elite of the entire realm, and the Crown Prince’s Six Rates, under the Emperor’s watchful eye, could never accomplish anything significant.
Trading the chicken-rib-like Crown Prince’s Six Rates for the Secretariat was a deal that guaranteed profit no matter what. The Emperor’s power could only be obtained through succession—this had already become common knowledge. After Li Zhi’s rebellion, everyone realized that a chaotic nation only benefited ambitious schemers and was of no benefit whatsoever to anyone else. Therefore, when the Crown Prince voluntarily gave up the Crown Prince’s Six Rates, he received unanimous approval from both the court and the public. This eliminated the last source of potential chaos. With military authority highly centralized, the level of security would rise dramatically.
The massive empire already had its own trajectory of progress. The era when one could act recklessly with just a few death-sworn warriors or a small military force was gone forever. If Li Chengqian wanted to obtain supreme command authority, he could only wait for the day when Emperor His Majesty ascended to heaven in his dragon chariot.
Survival was like warfare—now everyone was competing on longevity. Whoever lived longer would achieve ultimate victory. Only time was fair; it would not be swayed by human willpower.
Clearly, the six generals of the Crown Prince’s Six Rates could no longer survive. Their lifespans would end from this moment forward. The six heads hanging from the flagpole with eyes that refused to close in death were sufficient proof of reality’s cruelty.
In every department of the court, every chief official had their own distinct characteristics. If Yun Ye was lenient, then Left Vice Minister Zhangsun Chong would be severe. After producing the imperial edict, when the command arrow in his hand fell to the dust, six heads rolled into the dust.
Military officers at captain rank and above—Zhangsun Chong executed thirty-one of them in one breath. Many had already forgotten the decimation order, but in the provisions of military law, it still existed. Though inconspicuous, it nevertheless existed.
There was no clemency, no mercy. Zhangsun Chong’s expression was as dark as a block of iron.
“Li Yifu, you should know that you are merely a civil official. You’d best not interfere in military affairs. Pleading for mercy is not within your capacity. Recognize your own position.”
Li Yifu, who had already pleaded repeatedly, received a scolding from Zhangsun Chong that left no face whatsoever. The soldiers kneeling on the ground looked with gratitude at the disheveled Li Yifu, then lowered their heads in resentment. Now that the blade handle was in Zhangsun Chong’s hands, they had no choice but to submit.
The punishment of over a thousand people simply broke all records since the founding of the dynasty. A field of pale buttocks was beaten bloody by military rods. Li Yifu glared with eyes wide in fury: “This is too excessive, too excessive! Minister Zhangsun, please inform this humble official—which article, which clause of military law does this come from? Your execution of the ringleaders of negligence, this subordinate has nothing to say about. But such large-scale punishment, not to mention eighty strokes of the military rod—this will cripple people! Since the founding of the dynasty, this is simply unheard of! Since Minister Zhangsun will not heed this subordinate’s remonstrance, this subordinate takes his leave. At tomorrow’s court assembly, I will definitely report everything I have seen and heard.”
After Li Yifu finished speaking, he left in a huff. Zhangsun Chong didn’t even glance at the departing Li Yifu. The command arrow was thrown down, and the military law officer continued the punishment. The Five Li Sima of the Crown Prince’s Six Rates had already been beaten unconscious, yet the military rod continued to fall stroke by stroke. By the time the military rod stopped, the Five Li Sima had long since stopped breathing…
Under the imperial edict, the Emperor’s awesome authority was overwhelming. When Zhangsun Chong left the Crown Prince’s Six Rates, the place was filled with wails of misery. The ruthless and merciless Zhangsun Chong had beaten seventeen people to death with the rod, and for a time his fierce reputation blazed.
Upon returning home, Zhangsun Chong recounted his actions that day to his father lying on a soft couch. Zhangsun Wuji nodded: “There is no eternal right or wrong. Yun Ye is too mild, so you must appear tyrannical—this is the way to distinguish yourself. Since ancient times, the compassionate cannot command armies and the righteous cannot manage finances. Yun Ye is excessively magnanimous, which has led to the Crown Prince’s Six Rates being utterly undisciplined. As Left Vice Minister, you must display your own style of doing things. As long as you occupy the righteous position, you must press your advantage relentlessly. Otherwise, you will never have a day of advancement in the Ministry of War.”
“Whether in military merit or talent, Yun Ye far surpasses you. His reputation is illustrious, and treating soldiers well naturally earns their wholehearted support. You don’t have such qualifications—you can only make them feel afraid.”
As Zhangsun Wuji spoke, he coughed lightly and used his hand to tighten the cloth band on his head. When he wanted to continue speaking, Zhangsun Chong stopped his father’s impulse to talk, helped him lie down, and gently rubbed his father’s red, swollen, and shiny left foot.
“Daoist Sun came by and said these are all minor ailments that aren’t life-threatening, all caused by overwork. The head condition is wind disease—this is a hereditary illness. Not only do I have it, His Majesty also has it, your aunt also has it, Chengqian, Qing Que, and Li Zhi all have it. Even immortals have no remedy. It requires rest and recuperation to improve. Master Sun said it would be best to go live on Yushan and not concern myself with court affairs. But with current state affairs being so complex, I simply cannot find a moment’s leisure. Xu Jingzong thinks constantly about Father resting so that he can take charge of the Chancellery. Heh heh, Father won’t give him this opportunity.”
“The sole of the foot is gout. Master Sun said this is an ailment caused by eating. In the future I cannot drink alcohol, cannot eat meat, especially fatty goose liver—I can never touch it again. When Master Sun said this, his manner was very stern. Heh heh, he gave me a huge list of things I cannot eat, filling three whole sheets of paper. Look, it’s on the table. Tell me, do I have anything left that I can eat?”
Zhangsun Wuji rambled on talking with his son. He lowered his head to glance at his left foot that had already swollen red and shiny, sighed, and continued: “Master Sun is an otherworldly sage—what he says won’t be false. Yesterday I was overtired, so Father drank a mouthful of wine wanting to invigorate my body. Who knew the foot would become burning hot and painful? In the span of one day it became like this. Master Sun brewed medicine for Father and also warned Father that if I don’t listen to his medical advice again, next time he plans to simply saw off Father’s leg and be done with it. So be it—let Xu Jingzong have his way for a few days. Even lions doze sometimes. Let these hyenas pick up some leftover scraps.”
Zhangsun Chong picked up the paper on the table. On it was actually written a densely packed long string of food names—pork, beef, mutton, ham, sausage, chicken, duck, goose—all these things could not be eaten.
Zhangsun Wuji drank a mouthful of milk and sighed. No matter what, this thing’s flavor could not compare with the taste of fine wine.
At the great court assembly the next day, Zhangsun Wuji was absent. Xu Jingzong immediately displayed his incomparable governing ability. The affairs of the Chancellery were arranged by him in perfect order, as if the absence of Zhangsun Wuji made no difference. Out of concern for his chief official, Xu Jingzong specifically and emotionally reported Zhangsun Wuji’s illness to the Emperor. With tears streaming down his face, he hoped the Emperor would permit Zhangsun Wuji to cease governing and rest for half a year to properly recuperate his body. The empire relied heavily on the Chief Minister in many matters—he absolutely must not conceal his illness and avoid treatment, dragging a minor ailment into a serious affliction. As for the Chancellery, there were currently no particularly important matters. Though he himself was dull and incompetent, he could barely manage and would not allow the Chancellery’s official business to be delayed by even half a measure. If his strength proved insufficient, he would request the Chief Minister to come out of retirement.
Zhangsun Chong listened with fury rising to his crown, and was about to speak in rebuttal when unexpectedly Li Yifu took the lead. He prostrated himself on the ground with tears streaming down his face, denouncing Zhangsun Chong’s atrocities in the Crown Prince’s Six Rates. He accused Zhangsun Chong in court of being tyrannical and utterly inhumane. He further pointed out that the state law’s killing of people was even more fierce than tigers. The Great Tang’s military law had reached a point where it must be reformed. He advocated abolishing corporal punishment and replacing it with confinement in the future.
Li Chengqian’s face was full of misery as he stepped forward to confess his guilt: “Father Emperor, the absurdity of the Six Rates was all caused by your son. Now this child has been busy with government affairs and has neglected the training and discipline of the Crown Prince’s Six Rates. I request Father Emperor to merge the Six Rates into the Sixteen Guards and treat them the same. They are all soldiers of the Great Tang. This child would rather have them die on the battlefield than die under military law.”
“The Sixteen Guards’ roster is already full. The number of men in each guard has been carefully verified. It should be neither too many nor too few. Selecting soldiers for the Sixteen Guards can only be done from border troops. We absolutely cannot push all the men of the Crown Prince’s Six Rates into the Sixteen Guards wholesale. Doing so would only lower the combat capability of the Sixteen Guards. Black sheep have already ruined one flock—we cannot let them go ruin another.”
“What Zhangsun Chong did was without any error. According to military law, there was nothing improper. If it had been this humble minister going that day, the result would have been identical. Soldiers must have the appearance of soldiers. They can be fierce, they can be cruel, they can even be bloodthirsty, but they absolutely cannot become parasites. As long as this humble minister discovers such armies in the military, my hand will be even more ruthless!”
As chief official of the Ministry of War, though Yun Ye was not on good terms with Zhangsun Chong in daily matters, on this issue his opinion was surprisingly consistent with Zhangsun Chong’s. If Zhangsun Chong suffered rebuke, the Ministry of War’s reputation would not look good. The affairs of the Ministry of War were ultimately military men’s affairs—civil officials absolutely could not be allowed to meddle. This was fundamental principle.
Li Er sat above appearing very calm, watching the ministers below perform with an expressionless face. After everyone had finished speaking, only then did he say without any emotion: “Under military law there has never been special amnesty. If they’re killed, they’re killed. The Great Tang has one million three hundred thousand troops. Losing a few black sheep is not improper. I have never heard that military law can be negotiated.”
“When people die, they die under military law. After death, their crimes are concluded. Order the Ministry of War to provide compensation. For the Crown Prince’s sake, make it generous. Don’t let the tragedy appear in Chang’an where one person dies and the whole family starves to death!”
Xu Jingzong very much wanted to hear the Emperor issue an edict allowing Zhangsun Wuji to rest for half a year or a year. Unfortunately, the Emperor did not mention this matter at all. This made Old Xu so disappointed.
After the court withdrew, Zhangsun Chong wanted to thank Yun Ye. However, Yun Ye stared at him and said: “This is the last time. Whom the Ministry of War plans to kill is for me to decide, not you.”
After finishing speaking, he left with his hands behind his back. Only then did Zhangsun Chong realize that Yun Ye never brought a tablet to court.