The Leisurely Life of the Prince of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 557: It's not doubt, it's salvation
Pei Xingjian strode into the Zuo Lingjun Mansion, turned back to look at Bai Fang and said, "Come in and talk."

Bai Fang looked around and immediately came to his senses. It was indeed inappropriate to talk about such things on the street. Many people around were already looking at him with strange eyes.

The general from the Western Region hurriedly followed suit, greeting the other generals here with a smile.

From the previous wars, it is not difficult to see that Bai Fang only cares about the front and not the rear when fighting. When the King of the Sai people was going on an expedition, he was willing to let someone sit in the rear. Not to mention where the enemies of the Arabs were, the transportation of food and supplies alone was enough to give Bai Fang a headache.

A Sai people king and a Western Region general, one dares to speak and the other dares to act...

However, this matter has been approved by the Ministry of War. This expedition is imminent. Not only is the King of Sai willing to go on the expedition, but even India has sent a lot of people.

Ali of the Caliphate is dead, and now the Caliphate is in disarray.

The Tang people needed to go on an expedition. I heard that the first Tang general to go on the expedition was a young general named Wang Xiaojie. I don’t know if he will come back in the future.

Your Majesty once said that more Tang people should go out, go to more distant places, and leave seeds in various parts of the world. Even if a small Tang country is established outside, Your Majesty will not hesitate to reward them, and may even grant them the title of marquis, or even a prince, and even give them the surname Li.

What the Li Tang Dynasty had the most was people with an adventurous spirit. In the past, Xuanzang traveled through the Western Regions alone and went to India alone. Later, the Tang people followed Xuanzang's footsteps and conquered the Western Regions.

In the future, there will be people who will continue to explore along the footsteps of their predecessors.

Your Majesty hopes that more and more Tang people can go out and leave their seeds in more distant places.

Pei Xingjian sat down in the main hall of the general's mansion and asked seriously, "Do you know where the Arabs are?"

Bai Fang shook his head.

"Do you know how to fight the Arabs?"

"What's so difficult about this?"

"Do you know the terrain? Do you know where the rivers are, where the fields are, where the granaries are?"

Bai Fang still shook his head.

Pei Xingjian said again: "Let the King of Sai go to find Wang Xiaojie."

Bai Fang asked suspiciously, "What do you want to do with him?"

"Let Wang Xiaojie lead him to fight."

Bai Fang said awkwardly, "Then half of the credit should be given to him."

Pei Xingjian drank his tea and said with an unhappy look: "Someone, send the guest away!"

"Wait!" Bai Fang said hurriedly, "You speak, I listen."

At the critical moment, Bai Fang still had self-awareness. Pei Xingjian took a file from the bookshelf next to him and told him about the situation in the Arab Empire.

Bai Fang was surprised when he saw these files and asked, "When did you get these?"

"When I was in the Pamir Mountains, I collected many books left behind by the old Persians in various places. I brought these books back to Chang'an City and consulted the Persian envoys and Persian princes in Chang'an before writing these volumes."

Bai Fang looked at the densely packed words on the file and exclaimed, "I really can't compare to someone like you."

Pei Xingjian explained: "You can't just read, you have to write and remember more. This is the learning method of the students in Chongwenguan. They advocate that writing more is not as good as remembering more. Write more."

Bai Fang slowly shook his head and said, "No wonder the civil officials in the court said that it is a pity for someone like you to become a military commander."

Pei Xingjian said: "I was born a civil servant."

Of course, there are too many people in the Tang Dynasty who are both civil and military. As far as Bai Fang knows, there are several such people among his peers.

Among them are the far-sighted Di Renjie, the steady winner Li Fengjie, the black-faced general Liu Rengui, the invincible Xue Rengui, and the invincible Wang Xuance.

Perhaps these people have different levels of literary talent, but that does not prevent Bai Fang from thinking that these people are both talented in literature and martial arts.

Before leaving, Bai Fang stayed in Chang'an City for another half a month, during which he studied military tactics hard.

After several tests and with great reluctance from Pei Xingjian, Bai Fang said goodbye and prepared to leave for the Western Regions.

Bai Fang had many friends in Chang'an City, but only Pei Xingjian came to see him off.

He said with a smile: "I will bring you the treasures of the Arabs next time I come back."

Pei Xingjian knew very well that Bai Fang knew many generals in Chang'an City, but they were just acquaintances and it was still a long way to go before they could become friends. Bai Fang just treated them as friends.

Bai Fang smiled and said, "The generals are all very busy. I'm afraid they can't come to see me off. I'm leaving now."

Pei Xingjian brought him the war horse and put the reins in his hands.

Just as Bai Fang was about to mount his horse, he suddenly stopped and heard the sound of war horse's hooves behind him. The sound was very slow, but each one was heavy, obviously the sound of the hoofs of the war horses of armored cavalry.

Bai Fang, who had fought on the battlefield for many years, was often sensitive to such sounds. He looked back and saw a Tang general wearing black armor.

This man looked straight ahead, completely ignoring Bai Fang, and rode alone towards Chang'an City.

The black-armored general had sharp eyes and an expressionless face. The aura he displayed made Bai Fang unconsciously take two steps back.

After all, he had little experience. Bai Fang was acquainted with generals who had been to the Western Regions, but he did not expect that there were such generals in the Tang Dynasty.

When the other party arrived in front of Chang'an City, Bai Fang asked in a low voice: "Which general is this?"

Pei Xingjian frowned and said, "Liu Renyuan."

Bai Fang asked again: "Who?"

"Don't ask anymore, let's go to the Western Regions." Pei Xingjian helped him onto the horse, and with a whip, he let the warhorse take him all the way west.

Pei Xingjian knew Liu Renyuan for the first time during the war against Gaochang Kingdom.

At that time, Liu Renyuan kept to himself. It was like that back then, and now he still looks like someone who doesn't want strangers to approach him.

As soon as this man arrived in front of Chang'an City, even the discussions in front of Chang'an City became a little quieter.

Pei Xingjian observed the other party, and only followed him into Chang'an City after he entered the city.

In the past, after the Eastern Expedition, Liu Renyuan went to Shuofang. After that, the court asked Liu Renyuan to build the Andong Protectorate. Later, he assisted Ashina She'er in the battle against Mohe.

And now he is back again. He was originally a general in the court, and he came back most likely because he was summoned by the emperor.

I haven't seen him for many years. I didn't expect that Liu Renyuan is only middle-aged, but his temples are already gray.

After some inquiries, Pei Xingjian finally found out the reason why the court summoned Liu Renyuan back to Chang'an City.

Liu Renyuan was born into a noble family in Suizhou. He was very ferocious when he was young and could fight wild beasts with his bare hands. Later, he served in the army. He became famous in the battle of Liaodong, and fought with Ying Gong in Mobei and made many military achievements. Later, he built the Andong Protectorate to guard Liaodong.

In recent years, there have been rumors in the court that Liu Renyuan wants to establish his own regime in Liaodong. Pei Xingjian scoffed at such rumors, and the current emperor was not an emperor who would doubt his generals. Although the two Heavenly Khans of the Tang Dynasty acted differently, they both trusted the court officials very much.

The current emperor is never suspicious, because he does not need to doubt anyone at all. He only looks at the evidence.

An old general also returned with Liu Renyuan, and this old general was Su Dingfang, Duke of Xing.

In the palace, Li Chengqian met with two generals behind Chengtian Gate.

The emperor walked towards the West Garden of the imperial palace, and the two generals followed behind him.

It was spring, and all the flowers were blooming. Li Chengqian came to the garden of Xiyuan, looked at the flowers and said with a smile, "Sit down."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

The two of them sat down in response.

A gust of wind blew, causing all the flowers in the garden to sway.

Li Chengqian said: "Protector Liu, you have worked hard over the years. The Ministry of War has arranged new personnel to take over the affairs of the Protectorate."

Liu Renyuan nodded and said, "I have learned about this matter."

"Well, some people say you want to rebel."

His Majesty's words were light, but Liu Renyuan was so shocked that he stood up suddenly, almost overturning the coffee table beside him. He saluted and said, "Your Majesty, I don't know who is slandering me!"

Li Chengqian nodded and said, "Well, if it were me, I would also want to tear the person who spread the rumor into pieces."

"General!" Liu Renyuan trembled all over and bowed, saying, "I have absolutely no intention of rebelling."

Li Chengqian patted his shoulder and whispered, "Don't be nervous."

Liu Renyuan still kept his head down.

Li Chengqian added: "Some people in the court say that you want to establish a separatist regime in Liaodong. I naturally don't believe it. You are only a few years older than me. You went to war with the army when you were in your twenties. For the sake of the country, you have fought east and west and traveled for half your life."

Liu Renyuan lowered his head, half-knelt on the ground, and said loudly: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your trust in me."

Li Chengqian put his hands in his pockets and smiled, "It's okay, you don't have to thank me."

Regardless of whether Liu Renyuan really rebelled or not, Li Chengqian didn't care at all. Even if he really wanted to rebel, the worst that could happen was that he would send troops to suppress it. As an emperor, he had to have confidence in his country.

Li Chengqian is still very confident about this.

Li Chengqian added, "Zhenguan lasted for a total of twenty years, of which sixteen were spent either at war or on the way to war. In the remaining years, I have been following my father's instructions to rest the people and build up national strength. I hope that the old generals in the court can also retire and have a good rest for a few years. General Liu, take your wife and children to see your relatives in Shuofang. I heard that your relatives in Shuofang are also old, so go and see them."

A tall and brave general closed his eyes for a moment and a tear shed.

Liu Renyuan was silent for a moment, then bowed and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Li Chengqian smiled and waved his hand, saying, "I have had people prepare rewards and have sent them to your wife and children. Go back now."

"Here."

Liu Renyuan bowed again and then left.

Liu Renyuan was a descendant of a wealthy family. Although the family he came from had declined, it was still a wealthy family. And Liu Renyuan did have a relative in Shuofang, and that was his elderly biological mother.

Li Chengqian didn't know what the general was feeling. He was probably very anxious when he learned that someone in the court suspected him of treason, and very scared when he was summoned by the emperor.

Li Chengqian looked at Su Dingfang standing behind him and said, "Thank you for letting Xingguo release Liu Renyuan. If it weren't for you, the old general, I would have worried that Liu Renyuan would do something impulsive."

Su Dingfang smiled and said, "Your Majesty actually understands that Liu Renyuan will never rebel. If he rebels, the whole world will fight against him. Your Majesty summoned him. If he disobeys your order, even if Your Majesty does not kill him, someone will help Your Majesty kill him. Your Majesty is thoughtful and let me persuade him so that he can come to Chang'an smoothly."

Li Chengqian poured a bowl of tea for the old general and smelled the fragrance of the flowers in the garden with a smile on his face.

The eunuch came with a wooden basin, on which was a crystal clear glass bowl.

I heard that the emperor recently rewarded a lot of high-quality glassware. At first, I only heard about it, but when I saw it with my own eyes, Su Dingfang was convinced that it was true.

"I will not ask the old general to help you for nothing. This is my reward to Duke Xing."

"I dare not ask for your Majesty's reward, I dare not."

"If the old general does not accept it, I don't know how those old dukes will talk about me and frame me behind my back."

Hearing this, Su Dingfang looked stern, took the glass bowl with both hands and bowed, saying: "Although I am old, I am willing to serve Your Majesty."

Li Chengqian said: "In two years, I will invite the old general to ascend the Lingyan Pavilion."

Su Dingfang bowed again and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Speaking of Lingyan Pavilion, Su Dingfang's heart was excited, and he felt that the glass bowl in his hand did not seem so precious. He also regretted it after retiring. If he had fought for the Li Tang country for a few more years, he might have really been listed in the Lingyan Pavilion.

"I have some matters to deal with at the Ministry of War. Please go and take them over, General. Thank you very much."

Looking up and seeing His Majesty's smile, Su Dingfang said, "I'll take my leave."

In order not to disturb His Majesty's enjoyment of the garden, Su Dingfang followed the eunuch and left.

After arriving at the imperial city, Su Dingfang walked all the way to the Ministry of War, wondering who were the people who suspected Liu Renyuan of treason and dared to advise His Majesty.

When he arrived at the Ministry of War's official residence, Su Dingfang did not ask who was spreading rumors about Liu Renyuan as soon as he entered the door, but came to Yu Zhining with a smile.

Yu Zhining is an important minister whom His Majesty trusts very much. It was His Majesty who instructed Yu Zhining to ask him to comfort Liu Renyuan and asked him to arrange for someone to deliver the letter privately.

The officials here had great respect for the old general Su Dingfang and saluted him one after another.

Su Dingfang responded to these glances with a smile, sat next to Yu Zhining and asked, "No one will be suspicious of Liu Renyuan anymore."

Su Dingfang said: "The court officials are worried about the country. Only your majesty is worried about General Liu Renyuan, so he let me go on this trip. An emperor who cares about his generals and puts himself in their shoes will be supported by more people. In fact, your majesty never worried about whether Liu Renyuan would rebel, but thought about how to save Liu Renyuan from suspicion."

Because no one knew, if Liu Renyuan faced this kind of suspicion alone, he would not even dare to return to Chang'an City. It was best that an elder came to help him at this moment.

Yu Zhining handed over the file in his hand. Su Dingfang stopped sighing and asked in confusion: "What is this for?"

"There are some overseas matters in Laizhou that need to be managed by Duke Xing."

"This is a matter for your Ministry of War..." Su Dingfang stepped back and said, "I am retiring...retiring..."

The voices became lower and lower. Su Dingfang thought of the glass bowl given by His Majesty and the promise made by Lingyan Pavilion. Sure enough, these would not be given for free... He had fallen into a trap!

(End of this chapter)