The Bad Guys: Everyone, let’s revive the Tang Dynasty together!

Chapter 556 The Green Hills Remain (Epilogue 3)
At the end of February in the eighth year of Hongwu, Li Kan left Raojiang from the Twelve Caves. He saw that Raojiang, which had been renamed Yunnan, was now covered with terraced rice paddies and babbling streams. He saw how the newly built post roads connected the once isolated villages. He traveled along the way and witnessed such a great change. He couldn't help but stroke his beard and sigh, his heart filled with emotion.

Upon reaching the end of his journey, he personally went to Kunzhou and, together with Li Xingyun and others, visited the Duke of Qian's residence.

Chi Li had long admired this old man whom his daughter had mentioned countless times. Hearing that he had come down from the mountain to visit, he was overjoyed and invited You Chuan to a banquet by Dianchi Lake, both to welcome him and to bid him farewell.

You Chuan has now been officially adopted by Chi Li as his godson, changed his surname and entered the genealogy. Furthermore, with the help of Chi Meng, he married Xiao Xiao, the only daughter of Xiao Weng, the so-called head of Gui Shi Zi, last year.

Although Xiao Weng was a businessman from the Jianghu, he was overjoyed to be able to marry the future Duke of Qian, especially with the emperor's favorite concubine acting as matchmaker. He fully supported the marriage.

Old friends reunited, drinking and chatting merrily by Dianchi Lake. Li Kan was quite pleased to see that You Chuan, the boy he had almost taken as a disciple, had let go of his past and was living a stable life. With his two nephews and grandnephews, Li Xingyun and Jia Li, by his side, he was in high spirits and drank a few more cups than usual.

Perhaps due to the effects of the alcohol, he lowered his guard and was caught red-handed by the Fourth Cave Master, who had chased him all the way out of Raojiang to confront him. When the Fourth Cave Master saw that he was indeed enjoying himself here, he remembered the incoherent words he had spoken when he left the cave, and decided to settle both old and new scores, giving him a good beating on the spot.

Li Kan knew he was in the wrong, so he could only curse the old man in his heart for being so unfair while awkwardly accepting the situation.

However, this incident is not entirely a bad thing.

Not to mention that the Fourth Cave Master's departure from the cave also carries the implication that the Twelve Caves are beginning to make contact with the imperial court. The fact that he and Xian Shen were able to meet again after nearly twenty years, and that old friends remained the same despite the changes in circumstances, can be considered an unexpected and joyous occasion.

At the very beginning of spring this year, Xiao Yan set off for Dading Prefecture to hold a grand assembly of the various banners of the grasslands as the host, and also summoned the envoys of Bohai, the Three Han and Four Kingdoms, as well as the so-called Japanese envoys, in order to personally inquire about the matter of Xu Zhigao, the so-called traitor of the Great Tang, serving as the Left Minister in Japan.

Therefore, when the news of the old master's return to the mountain reached Xiao Yan, it was inevitably a little late. By the time the emperor learned of it, the old master had already been at the Duke of Qian's mansion for several days.

However, Xiao Yan was still overjoyed and immediately issued several imperial edicts, officially conferring upon Li Kan the title of Prince Rui, appointing him as Minister of the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs, in charge of all affairs of the imperial family, with a rank equivalent to the Three Dukes. He also ordered Prince Xin, Li Xingyun, and Prince Ding, Li Yi, to assist the emperor in establishing the "Clan Affairs Academy" in Bianjing, dedicated to educating the imperial family's children and the descendants of meritorious nobles, and cultivating talents for the country.

Xiao Yan also added a sentence at the end of the decree, saying that he felt very bad for troubling the master to take on such an important task as soon as he came out of the mountains. He told him not to rush on his way, but to take his time to observe the scenery and people along the way. He promised to make it up to him when he returned to the capital from the northern frontier.

Li Kan had no qualms about this. He and his two nephews, who were directly granted the title of king as a result, respectfully received the imperial decree and expressed their gratitude at the Duke of Qian's residence.

So when Li Kan and his party finally bid farewell to Chi Li and the others and headed north, their journey became much more leisurely. By the time the carriages reached Changsha, it was already late April, and the banks of the Xiang River were lush with grass and birdsong, a scene of vibrant spring, a beautiful landscape typical of southern China.

What was even more surprising was that there were already people waiting at the post station.

Leaving aside the greetings from a group of local officials, standing beside the young man with delicate features and dignified manners at the head of the group was Zhang Zifan, who had already been promoted to the position of Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Water Resources.

After six years apart, the sudden reunion of these old friends filled Li Xingyun and Shangrao with joy and surprise. Li Xingyun even held hands with Zhang Zifan, their eyes brimming with unspoken words, unable to find the words to begin.

Zhang Zifan simply smiled and stepped forward, bowing deeply to Li Kan who had just alighted from the carriage: "Your humble servant Zhang Zifan greets Prince Rui. By order of His Majesty, I am here with His Highness Prince Chu to welcome Prince Rui and his entourage."

The handsome young man was Li Dai, who stepped forward and respectfully performed a junior's greeting: "Nephew Li Dai, by order of the Emperor, respectfully welcomes Fourth Uncle." He then turned to the fake Li and Li Xingyun, "Tenth Uncle, Eleventh Uncle."

Li Kan, of course, knew that he was Xiao Yan and Ji Ruxue's child, and was increasingly pleased with him. He smiled and helped Li Dai up. "Good child, no need for such formalities. How are your father, mother, and concubine?"

"I am deeply grateful for your concern, my fourth great-uncle. I am ashamed to inform you that my father, mother, and mother are all well. I have specially ordered my grand-nephew to convey my regards."

Li Dai responded respectfully, and then explained, “My nephew’s trip south this time is not only to welcome my fourth great-uncle, but also to inspect the Yangtze River canal system on behalf of my father and elder brother, the Crown Prince, and to survey the water conservancy. I heard that my fourth great-uncle’s journey is about to reach Changsha, so I am waiting here for you, hoping to travel with you and ask you for advice along the way.”

At this moment, Li Yong'an, who was holding onto Li Xingyun's clothes, blinked his big eyes and curiously looked at Li Dai. Then he looked up and asked in a low voice, "Father, is this brother also our relative? What should I call him?"

Li Xingyun then bowed and said gently, "Yong'an, this is His Highness the Prince of Chu, your cousin. He is the second son of your imperial uncle. You also have a crown prince brother."

Li Yong'an nodded as if he understood, but when he saw Li Dai looking at him curiously, he mustered his courage and timidly called out, "Brother King Chu." Li Dai responded with a polite smile.

After the elders and younger generations had met each other, the three princes of the imperial clan, Li Kan, had a brief conversation with Yang Ningshi and other officials who were in charge of the inspection of the canal transport accompanying the Prince of Chu. Upon hearing that the local governor and other regional officials in Changsha had prepared a welcoming banquet, the group traveled together by carriage and horseback along the Xiang River, heading north at a leisurely pace.

Zhang Zifan, Li Xingyun, and the fake Li rode side by side on horseback, slowly passing by the carriage.

Six years had passed, and all three had changed considerably. The fake Li had fully recovered his martial arts skills in the Twelve Caves, and his temperament had become more calm and reserved. Li Xingyun, on the other hand, seemed to be getting more and more carefree, which made Zhang Zifan sigh repeatedly.

Looking at the cargo ships shuttling back and forth on the river and the bustling docks on both banks, Li Xingyun couldn't help but sigh: "In just a few years, this Hunan region has become so prosperous. I vaguely remember that the splendor of Bianjing in its heyday was no more than this."

Zhang Zifan interjected, "Since His Majesty ascended the throne, he has reduced taxes and levies, encouraged farming and weaving, and dredged the Grand Canal, so trade routes are naturally unimpeded. Now, the Yangtze River waterway is truly the lifeline of the court."

As Li Xingyun nodded, he suddenly remembered what Li Dai had said earlier and asked, "Brother Zhang, just now the Prince of Chu said that he was on inspection tours on behalf of the Crown Prince. Is the Crown Prince currently accompanying His Majesty?"

Zhang Zifan nodded, his expression becoming slightly more serious: "That's right. This spring, His Majesty moved to Dading Prefecture in southern Mongolia to preside over the meeting of the various tribes of the grasslands. At the same time, he also summoned the envoys of Bohai, Goguryeo, Silla, and Baekje, and questioned the Japanese kingdom about harboring the traitor Xu Zhigao and appointing him as the Left Minister."

He paused and continued:

"Therefore, His Highness the Crown Prince had already been summoned to Dading Prefecture at the beginning of the year to accompany the emperor, intending to gain experience. A month ago, an urgent report came from Liaodong that Wang Geon, the powerful minister of Goguryeo, had brazenly launched an attack, intending to take advantage of the power of Japan to annex Silla and Baekje. Although Wang Geon and the envoys sent by Japan to Dading Prefecture outwardly referred to themselves as 'subjects' and were extremely humble, they secretly did everything they could to prevent the envoys of Silla and Baekje from paying homage to the emperor, and falsely accused the two countries of disrespecting the Tang Dynasty. Their cunning words greatly disgusted the emperor."

"His Majesty, with his keen insight, had already discovered their plot through the Embroidered Uniform Guard. He immediately ordered the execution of the arrogant Goguryeo envoy and displayed his head to the public. He also issued an edict to the Balhae Kingdom, forcibly ordering them to send troops to assist the royal army, with General Yuan Xingqin of the Right Guard as the commander-in-chief and Wanyan Agunai, the Balhae general who had submitted to the king, as his deputy. They would command the Balhae armies as the vanguard to launch an eastern expedition against Goguryeo and wipe them out. His Highness the Crown Prince must be observing and learning at the front lines right now, experiencing the hardships of military life and the importance of strategy."

After listening, Li Xingyun pondered and said, "Wang Jian sought his own death, so he can't blame anyone else. However, because of this man, war has broken out again in Liaodong, and who knows how much food and fodder will be wasted and how many people's hearts will be affected."

Zhang Zifan said, “This man colluded with foreign invaders and attempted to disrupt the Northeast. If he is not punished, how can we deter villains and appease our vassal states? The envoys from Silla and Baekje later arrived at Dading Prefecture, pleading and crying, and their condition was very pitiful. Your Majesty’s actions are also to uphold the kinship between the vassal states and demonstrate the might of our Great Tang.”

“That is indeed true.” Li Xingyun nodded, his expression becoming serious.

Their voices weren't loud, they were even slightly lowered, but carried by the wind, they drifted faintly into the carriage.

Li Kan leaned back in the carriage, taking a small sip of tea from a purple clay teapot, seemingly oblivious to the conversation outside. He merely glanced at Li Dai, who sat quietly beside him, out of the corner of his eye. Seeing that although young, Li Dai was able to sit upright and listen attentively without any restlessness, he couldn't help but feel even more fond of him.

Outside the carriage, Zhang Zifan slightly tightened the reins, bringing his mount closer to Li Xingyun, and lowered his voice: "Brother Li, there is one more thing. At the end of last year, when I was inspecting the project on the Yellow River embankment, I happened to meet Miss Lu."

Li Xingyun, who had been gazing at the river, suddenly turned her gaze and exclaimed with delight, "Lin Xuan? You met Lin Xuan?"

He sighed, "The Twelve Caves are isolated from the outside world, and we rarely receive news from the outside. How is she now? Is Master still in good health?"

"She accompanied her master on his travels around the world, practicing medicine and helping the needy. Her appearance has changed a bit, and she has gained a more heroic air. Now she is a true female knight-errant who has traveled the world with a sword and seen the vastness of the martial arts world."

Zhang Zifan smiled and recalled the scene at the time, "I chatted with her for a few words. She said that after her master returned to the capital to report to the Imperial Medical Academy, she would continue her journey. She wanted to go to the northern grasslands to see the vastness of the world, and she also wanted to go west beyond Yangguan Pass to see what the Western Regions, which had been opened up by His Majesty, looked like."

Li Xingyun listened quietly, his gaze sweeping over the endless sails on the river. After a long while, the corners of his mouth slowly curved upwards, and he murmured softly.

"Wandering the world with a sword, helping the world and saving lives, seeing all the wonders of the world... that's wonderful. I'm truly happy for her."

Zhang Zifan also sighed repeatedly. Who could have imagined that among the three people who met by chance at Gaya Temple, the weakest and most spoiled junior sister, who needed to be cared for by others, would eventually become the person they had always longed for?

Li Kan and his party only stayed in Changsha for one day before setting off eastward again.

The carriage traveled along the river for several days, and all they saw were fertile fields stretching for miles, with lush rice paddies and mulberry and hemp fields everywhere. The prefectures and counties along the way had newly renovated cities and towns, bustling markets, and the sound of students reciting their lessons in schools. It was a scene of peace, prosperity, and flourishing culture, which left Li Kan, Li Xingyun, and the fake Li, three hermits who had long lived in seclusion, deeply impressed and overwhelmed by the sights.

Having grown up in the Twelve Caves, Li Yong'an was also full of curiosity about everything. He would often lean against the car window, pointing at the endless rows of houses, the throngs of pedestrians, and the rows of shops outside, asking incessantly: "Fourth Uncle, did you also have so many houses and so many people in Chang'an and Luoyang that you mentioned before? What will Bianjing, which we are going to now, look like? Will it be even more bustling than here?"

Li Kan gazed at the bustling cityscape outside the car, a scene far exceeding his memories, and remained silent for a moment before slowly saying:

"In the past, the two capitals were magnificent palaces and well-organized markets, truly embodying the grandeur of an emperor and the central hub of the empire. However, in terms of the vibrancy of the streets and alleys, the flow of goods among merchants, and the radiance on the faces of ordinary people... what my great-uncle saw in Chang'an and Luoyang in the past could perhaps not even compare to one-tenth of what we see now, let alone the splendor of Bianjing..."

As he spoke, he stroked Li Dai's head and slowly smiled, "Uncle once read through the imperial gazette and saw your father say, 'Talented people emerge in every generation, each leading the way for hundreds of years.' At first, I only thought it was a grand statement, but now that I have seen it with my own eyes, I know that this statement is indeed true."

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As time flows by, by mid-September, autumn colors have deepened on the Liaodong grasslands, turning the boundless sea of ​​grass yellow. Where the wind blows, it's like golden waves rolling. The howling wind carries the distinctive pungent smell of cattle and sheep from afar, mingled with the bold and desolate songs of the herdsmen, further emphasizing the vastness of the land.

Surrounded by a large group of Han and Hu civil and military officials, Xiao Yan rode along at a leisurely pace. The Crown Prince, dressed in military attire, followed beside his father. He was much taller than last year, and his face showed both excitement at being in this vast world and an effort to imitate his father's composure.

At this moment, a group of sons of various banner chiefs of the grasslands, in order to show their bravery in front of the emperor and his sons, were galloping on their horses, chasing after the panicked gazelles and hares.

The shouts, the clatter of hooves, and the snapping of bowstrings blended together. They continuously presented their rich hunted prey to the emperor, hoping to outshine their competitors in the eyes of the Son of Heaven.

Li Mingzhao watched as his father, with just a glance and a smile, could invigorate the spirits of the surrounding civil and military officials, and excite the grassland youths even more. He also heard how his father's casual words of encouragement could move the leaders of the foreign tribes and their offspring to tears of gratitude, making them wish they could shoot down the most agile eagle in the world to show their loyalty.

Despite his youthful exuberance, the young man hesitated for a moment. After his attendants, sensing his distress, discreetly stepped back, he spurred his horse forward and posed the question that had been lingering in his mind for a long time:
“Father, General Yuan has already captured Kaesong in Goguryeo, and Balhae has also submitted, willing to change its name to a province of our Great Tang. Why not follow my uncle’s request, take advantage of the situation, and march south to wipe out Silla and Baekje in one fell swoop, and then cross the sea to the east to completely eliminate the Japanese pirate threat? In this way, wouldn’t the Northeast and the East China Sea be at peace for a hundred years? Why don’t we do this?”

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan reined in his horse and turned to look at his son.

Sunlight shone on the Crown Prince's upturned face, his eyes, so similar to the Empress's, still held a touch of childish innocence. Xiao Yan didn't answer immediately, but simply smiled, gently flicked the reins, and urged his mount to continue its slow journey.

Li Mingzhao quickly caught up and rode alongside his father.

"Zhao'er, have you read the part about the three campaigns against Goguryeo in the History of the Sui Dynasty that your mother made you read?"

"I read that. Emperor Yang of Sui mobilized a million troops and conscripted countless laborers, emptying the national treasury."

"The results of it?"

"Popular resentment was boiling over, the world was in turmoil, and righteous armies rose up everywhere. The Sui Dynasty soon perished."

Li Mingzhao answered quickly, but a look of confusion immediately appeared on his face:
"But how could the Sui Dynasty have been as powerful as we are now? Our army has cannons, a constant supply of coal and iron, and our soldiers' armor is all made of fine steel. Our waterways and sea routes are well-connected, and our food supplies are much easier and faster than during the Sui Dynasty. With our current strength, sweeping across the Three Hans and launching an eastern expedition across the sea should not be as difficult as it was during the Sui Dynasty, much less jeopardize the foundation of our nation, right?"

"Good, it's good that you thought of this."

Hearing his son's question, Xiao Yan was not displeased at all; instead, he smiled and nodded approvingly.
"With the current strength of our Great Tang's military, the abundance of its treasury, and the advancement of its technology, expanding our territory is indeed not a difficult task. Let alone the mere lands of the Three Hans and the isolated island of Japan, even venturing further north into the barren wastelands and west across the shifting sands to conquer a vast territory is not impossible." "Then why, Father..."

"But Zhao'er, have you thought about this? We've conquered the land, but what then? What I want you to consider isn't just the old saying, 'Conquering the world is easy, ruling it is difficult.' The key is how to make the people of this new land, like the people of the Central Plains and the grasslands, accept you, embrace your teachings, and willingly recognize our Great Tang as the legitimate dynasty, even feeling that being a citizen of the Great Tang is better than before. If after the army's advance, all that remains is desolation and resentment, then even if we occupy all the ports and strategic points, we've only sown countless seeds of rebellion and carried a heavy, constantly bleeding burden."

Xiao Yan glanced at his thoughtful son, paused briefly to allow him some time to process what he had said, then gently pointed with his riding whip at the grassland youths still diligently chasing their prey ahead, and continued:
"The key to good governance lies not in how vast the territory is covered by color, but in whether every person under that color can live in peace and prosperity, and whether their hearts are with the Tang Dynasty. Forcibly annexing it now would be like swallowing a date whole, not only useless but also harmful. We need to wait for the right opportunity and create it, so that the hearts of the people there, like the sons of the grasslands, will gradually turn towards our Tang Dynasty."

Following his father's gaze, Li Mingzhao looked at the young men vying for a word of praise from the emperor, and a sudden realization dawned on him:

"Your Majesty seems to understand... It's not that Father doesn't want to take it, but that he doesn't want to take it by force. He wants them to know that they are the lackeys of our Great Tang, but to be willing and even eager to be lackeys. Only in this way can we obtain the longest-lasting peace with the least cost."

"That's good, it's excellent that you have this idea."

Xiao Yan reached out and gently rubbed his son's head.

"You must remember that the sharpest knife in this world is not the one you hold in your own hand, but the one that someone else willingly hands to you. The tiny country of Japan, upon hearing that the Three Hans were destroyed in one battle and Goguryeo was instantly wiped out, was so frightened that it sent over the head of Xu Zhigao, fearing me like a tiger."

This situation, ironically, ruins the enjoyment of a leisurely recovery. Therefore, it is they who are worried day and night about the royal army's eastward expedition across the sea. They are the ones who should be anxious, not us.

Li Mingzhao's eyes lit up, and he felt enlightened by his father's composure.

He then remembered something else and asked with a hint of anticipation, "Then, Father, now that Goguryeo has been pacified, and the Western Regions are also reporting frequent victories from General Yanzhang, with envoys from various countries coming to pay homage, it can be said that the whole world submits to us, and our achievements are unparalleled. This time, shouldn't we grant the repeated requests of the officials and go to Mount Tai to hold the Fengshan ceremony to comfort Heaven and Earth?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan simply smiled indifferently, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

Just then, several riders galloped back from afar; they were the sons of the banner chief who had been chasing their prey.

The leader nimbly dismounted, knelt on one knee, and loudly reported:

"Your Majesty, Your Highness, we have spotted a strange man ahead, riding a skinny donkey and leading a white deer, heading straight towards the imperial carriage. We have stopped him. What should we do, Your Majesty?"

Li Mingzhao, being young and curious, was immediately intrigued upon hearing this. A white deer was a rare and auspicious creature, yet it had appeared in this place.

Is it a real white deer or a fake one?
Xiao Yan frowned slightly, narrowed his eyes, and looked at the grassy slope surrounded by knights in the distance. After a moment's thought, he relaxed and said to Li Mingzhao beside him, "Come, follow your father and we'll meet our old friend."

The father and son rode forward, and the guards immediately followed at a distance, spreading out in a fan shape to subtly seal off the area, protecting the emperor's entourage without causing excessive disturbance.

Upon closer inspection, one could see a middle-aged man dressed in an ordinary blue cloth shirt and wearing a straw hat, surrounded by a group of wary grassland youths, quietly stroking a donkey and waiting patiently.

Beside him, besides the little donkey, there was indeed a deer with pure white fur, as gentle as snow. The white deer was elegant and fearless, which surprised everyone and made them all turn their heads.

Xiao Yan looked at this person and couldn't help but smile. He then raised his hand to stop the tense posture of the surrounding knights and waved his hand. The knights dispersed as ordered, but still watched warily from the outside.

"Zhao'er, go and tell them to prepare some freshly hunted game and warm a pot of good wine and send it over."

"Yes, Father." Although Li Mingzhao was full of curiosity and doubt, he obediently agreed and turned to make the arrangements himself.

Xiao Yan rode alone on his horse, looking down at the middle-aged man who was leading a donkey and herding a deer, and who was even wearing a straw hat with a face covering. He calmly said, "Yuan Tiangang, you are really bold."

Yuan Tiangang straightened his robes, faced the emperor on horseback, and bowed deeply.

"This humble man from the mountains thanks Your Majesty for your benevolence, allowing me to live out my days in peace and prosperity, and witnessing these six years of peace and prosperity. The people live in peace and contentment, and the country is at peace. My lifelong wish has been fulfilled today, and I have no regrets."

Xiao Yan shook his head, seemingly finding it somewhat amusing: "I never thought of looking for you. Even if I guessed that you might still be in the world, I felt there was no need for it. This world is so vast, whether you are here or not makes no difference to me."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Tiangang seemed unsurprised, merely smiling.

Xiao Yan dismounted and strolled toward the white deer. He reached out and gently stroked the soft fur on the side of its neck. The white deer was not afraid at all, but instead docilely rubbed against his palm.

"What does this mean?" he asked Yuan Tiangang, turning his head to look at him.

Yuan Tiangang followed half a step behind him and calmly replied, "The appearance of a white deer has always been an auspicious omen, a spirit beast seeking its true master. This humble person's trip is merely a coincidence, accompanying it to witness this phenomenon. It is not that this humble person drove the deer, but rather that the deer led this humble person to see Your Majesty."

Xiao Yan smiled, said nothing more, and turned to walk towards a lush, gentle slope not far away. What was even more astonishing was that the white deer did not need any guidance. As if it truly understood human intentions, it followed him directly, step by step, utterly docile.

This scene left several officials nearby in awe and excitement, prompting them to write furiously.

Xiao Yan sat down on the gentle slope, his posture relaxed and natural. The white deer nestled against him, lying obediently beside him.

Before long, Li Mingzhao, accompanied by several eunuchs, brought out wine and food. After everything was arranged, Xiao Yan dismissed the eunuchs, leaving only the Crown Prince to stand quietly a few steps away.

So he and Yuan Tiangang sat down on the grassy slope, the autumn wind blowing, bringing with it the low mooing of cattle and sheep in the distance and the rustling of grass.

Yuan Tiangang then took the initiative to pick up the wine pot and fill Xiao Yan's cup.

The wine was clear, reflecting the light of the sky and the shadows of the clouds.

“In these six years,” Yuan Tiangang sat down cross-legged opposite Xiao Yan and said, “I have traveled from the land of fish and rice in Jiangnan to the desolate desert of Hexi. I have seen thousands of sails racing on the Grand Canal and heard the laughter of ordinary people in the city. The world is bustling, all for profit, and the imperial court is majestic, all concerned with the people’s livelihood. Such a scene is truly unprecedented since the Three Dynasties.”

At this point, he paused briefly, then turned his gaze to the distant, boundless grassland horizon, as if reviewing what he had seen and heard over the past six years, and slowly continued:

"Your Majesty, when I arrived at the foot of Mount Tai, I saw that the people lived in peace and prosperity, and merchants came and went in an endless stream, a scene of peace and prosperity. However, Mount Tai is majestic and stands tall in the east, and it still lacks a master whose merits are worthy of its weight."

Xiao Yan picked up his wine cup but didn't drink it. He just looked at the wine swirling in the cup and smiled: "Does the General think that my achievements are already high enough to warrant the Fengshan ceremony at Mount Tai?"

"Your Majesty has quelled the separatist regimes, unified the country, eliminated long-standing problems, and rebuilt the Tang Dynasty. Your achievements are naturally extremely high, far surpassing those of previous dynasties."

"Oh?" Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow, looking at him with a half-smile, and continued to ask, "Then in the General's opinion, is my current virtue already sufficient to be worthy of the blessings of Heaven and Earth?"

Yuan Tiangang once again answered without hesitation, solemnly saying, "Your Majesty treats the surrendered enemy kindly, comforts the people, restrains the arrogant soldiers, and purifies the bureaucracy. Your virtue is naturally profound."

"So," Xiao Yan asked in quick succession, his tone somewhat amused, "in the General's eyes, is the world truly at peace now? Are the surrounding barbarians truly submissive? Are the people truly enjoying bountiful harvests and having enough to eat and wear?"

Yuan Tiangang responded each time with the same confident tone: "In the eyes of a commoner, when the world is at peace, the world is naturally tranquil; when all nations pay tribute, the barbarians naturally submit; when the granaries are full, the five grains naturally yield abundant harvests."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan laughed heartily, downed the wine in his cup in one gulp, and then casually put down the empty cup, saying, "Since that's the case, with peace throughout the land and people at ease, why should I travel thousands of miles to Mount Tai to do something like adding flowers to brocade and comforting Heaven? If Heaven has eyes, it is in the hearts of the people, so why should I go out of my way to inform them?"

Yuan Tiangang was taken aback again. He looked at the young emperor before him, and after a moment, he finally sighed in relief and then smiled again.

He poured himself a full glass of wine, tilted his head back, and drank it all in one gulp, a gesture that surprisingly displayed a bold and unrestrained spirit.

After finishing his drink, Yuan Tiangang smiled and said, "I came here with another matter. With Your Majesty's current cultivation level, even if you took the elixir of immortality, the adverse effects of any adverse reactions would be negligible. However, judging from Your Majesty's intentions, you will not use it."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan stood up, walked to Yuan Tiangang's side, casually patted the latter's shoulder, and then put his hands behind his back and gazed south.

"Immortality... it sounds good, but thinking about it, it's actually quite tiring. Watching the people around you leave one by one, guarding this empire for ten thousand years without changing, is too boring. I still think that this life has been wonderful enough."

Yuan Tiangang looked up at him, remained silent for a moment, and then stopped pursuing the matter. He glanced at the Crown Prince, who stood quietly a few steps away, stared at him for a moment, a glint of light seeming to flicker in his eyes, before withdrawing his gaze and speaking slowly to Xiao Yan:
"Since Your Majesty has made up your mind, I will say no more. However, I recently cast a divination and saw purple aura coming from the east and gathering beside the imperial star. His Highness the Crown Prince is benevolent and wise. He will surely be a wise ruler when he inherits the throne and can continue the Tang Dynasty's three hundred-year legacy."

At this point, he paused slightly, then looked at Xiao Yan's retreating figure, a faint smile appearing on his face. He raised his cup, took a sip, and then added leisurely:
"Of course, the will of Heaven is subtle and unpredictable, and the hexagrams are ever-changing... so how can we say it is 100% accurate? In the end, it all depends on human effort, and human determination can overcome fate. What the future holds depends on the Crown Prince's own destiny and His Majesty's future guidance."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan turned around and glanced at Li Mingzhao, who was standing respectfully to the side, trying to understand the conversation. He then pointed at Yuan Tiangang, seemingly blaming him for his unpredictable words. But then he burst into hearty laughter, which echoed across the vast grassland, astonishing all the civil and military officials present.

As the laughter subsided, Xiao Yan stood with his hands behind his back and asked directly, "This journey will be long and arduous. Do you still have any unfulfilled wishes? Or anything that requires my assistance?"

Upon hearing this, Yuan Tiangang straightened his robes again, then prostrated himself on the grass in a deep bow to Xiao Yan.

"Your subject, Yuan Tiangang, has no regrets now that I depart. I only wish my Great Tang Emperor a long life, a long life, a long life! I wish my Great Tang Dynasty a thousand generations to come..."

Xiao Yan noticed his prostrate position on the ground and the way he addressed himself as "your subject." He remained silent for a moment, but ultimately did not turn around. He simply gazed at the distant horizon, his voice carried on the wind:

"Three hundred years of waiting, regardless of merit or demerit, have you ever regretted it? Is the scene you see today worth it?"

Yuan Tiangang straightened up, but no longer answered the question. He simply gazed at the magnificent autumn grassland and at the emperor before him, whom he had waited more than three hundred years for, who was perhaps not exactly the same as he had imagined. He just let out a long, satisfied laugh.

"What a great Tang Dynasty!"

"..."

Xiao Yan stood there, gazing at the drifting clouds in the sky and at this vast territory that belonged to him, remaining silent for a very long time.

As Li Mingzhao cautiously approached, gazing at the spot where Yuan Tiangang had just prostrated himself, now empty, he softly asked, "Father, who... was that person?"

“A man who once held the reins of the world. I, your father, defeated him, and that is how I gained the world.”

A hint of surprise flashed across Li Mingzhao's youthful face, as if he understood but didn't. He then looked at the still docile white deer beside him and asked blankly, "Then... this white deer, appearing so suddenly and being so close to Father... could it be considered an auspicious omen from heaven?"

Xiao Yan smiled and gently patted his son's head.

"How can it not be considered an auspicious omen?"

(End of this chapter)