Li Chengqian of the Tang Dynasty: Please say long live His Majesty

Chapter 578 The General Has Been Outside for Too Long (Part )
In the Zhenguan Hall, the furnace was burning fiercely.

Slightly burning smoke filled the center of the hall.

Niu Jinda, dressed in red and golden armor, stood in the hall. He looked solemnly at the emperor on the imperial couch and said, "Your Majesty, although it's cold in Luoyang in autumn, it gets cold earlier in Liaodong. The weather is so cold that even if you go out to pee too late, you'll freeze to death."

Li Chengqian couldn't help but laugh.

In late September, the autumn frost is heavy, the sky is cold and the feeling is penetrating.

Therefore, the fire in the Taiji Hall was lit early, while it might be later in the homes of ordinary people. After all, people are wearing thicker clothes now, so they can still withstand it.

Li Chengqian nodded, looked at the dark and thin Niu Jinda, and sighed, "General, you have worked hard these past few years."

"This is all within my responsibility." Niu Jinda bowed earnestly and said, "Your Majesty, the Goguryeo Jiangbei Protectorate has temporarily stabilized. This year, nearly 40,000 households have left the mountains and settled in Jiangbei. They have also planted a crop of grain. Although it is not enough to provide for the army, it is more than enough for their own food."

"For the first year, this is already pretty good." Li Chengqian nodded.

"While there are many advantages, there are also many disadvantages." Niu Jinda said solemnly, "With the people crossing the river, the food pressure on Quan Gaisuwen will be greatly reduced. At the same time, among those who come to Jiangbei, there are also many of Quan Gaisuwen's spies. Who knows, he might find a loophole that even we don't know about and attack us across the river."

Li Chengqian nodded gently and said with a smile: "I am not very worried about these things. I have appointed Duke Ying as the pacification envoy of Andong Road. He can handle these matters."

"Yes!" Niu Jinda relaxed and said with a bow, "After Envoy Su returned to Andong, the affairs arranged by His Majesty are also progressing in an orderly manner. It's just that some things are still being counted and will not be sent to Chang'an until the end of the year."

"Don't worry, I'm not in a hurry." Li Chengqian raised his hand towards Niu Jinda and said, "Duke of Langya, I have prepared a large house for you in Luoyang City. You can rest here for a while. In mid-October, return to Chang'an with me... Oh, and I've also taken your family with me. Enjoy yourself in Luoyang. Although Chang'an is prosperous, its scenery may not compare to Luoyang."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Niu Jinda's expression immediately became delighted.

"Also, you have been in Andong for several years, so it is inevitable that you have some injuries. I asked the imperial physician to examine you. When we destroy Goguryeo in the future, I don't want to give the credit to others." Li Chengqian knocked on the table lightly.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Niu Jinda immediately couldn't help but kneel down and kowtowed with gratitude on his face.

"Stand up." Li Chengqian nodded in satisfaction. He glanced at the sky and said sideways, "Serve the meal. It's almost time. Duke of Langya, dine with me today."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Niu Jinda bowed seriously and then stood up.

……

A round table was placed in the west side hall.

Li Chengqian sat in the main seat, looking at the revolving round table in front of him and the dishes piled high on it. He looked at Niu Jinda with some helplessness and said, "Duke of Langya, you know me well. I have never liked extravagance, but the rules in the palace are so strict that even I cannot change them."

Niu Jinda glanced at the revolving round table that had appeared in Chang'an at some point, then looked up at Li Chengqian and said, "Your Majesty, the palace rules must be followed. Before the Xuanwu Gate Incident, the late emperor was poisoned more than once. Even after he became emperor, attempts to poison him continued, but none succeeded. This was due to these tactics."

When the emperor ate, in the imperial kitchen alone, there were at least two eunuchs watching every stove and every pot at all times.

For the same dish, at least seven or eight chefs would prepare a plate each, and then it would be carried by one eunuch and two other eunuchs before being delivered to the emperor.

The emperor would eat more than 30 dishes in one meal.

Not to mention having people taste the food.

Even so, the emperor was only allowed to eat three bites of each dish.

Each dish has seven or eight plates.

They were afraid that someone would know the emperor's preferences and poison a dish.

In this way, even if someone put a chronic poison in the emperor's food, the emperor would only eat one bite at most and would not eat it for a long time, so it was equivalent to being non-toxic.

"Okay." Li Chengqian nodded and said to Niu Jinda, "I can't eat too much. General, please eat more and don't waste it."

"Here!" Niu came in and immediately smiled happily.

What the soldiers love most, besides fighting, is wine and meat.

Naturally, food is also their favorite.

Niu Jinda left from the west gate of Zhenguan Hall only after he had eaten and drunk his fill.

As soon as I walked out of the temple, a slight crowing of a rooster sounded beside me.

He subconsciously looked up and saw three chickens, three rabbits, and three fish placed in cages and fish tanks.

On the small plate in front, there were still some dishes that the emperor had just eaten.

Niu Jinda was a little confused. He looked at the eunuch beside him and asked, "Is the palace so cautious now?"

Xu An stood to one side, lowering his head and saying, "His Majesty doesn't come to Luoyang often. Aside from those brought from Chang'an, most of the palace maids in Luoyang Palace have been there all year round. They're unfamiliar with the place, especially the water. Who knows what's in it? Poisoning it directly is fine, but if it gets mixed with something else, it'll be troublesome."

Niu Jinda was stunned and said subconsciously: "Is Luoyang so scary?"

Xu An bowed slightly and said, "The general has been away for too long."

Niu Jinda's expression changed involuntarily.

……

In the Zhenguan Hall, Li Chengqian sat on the imperial couch with a serious expression.

Xue Rengui, dressed in red, silver armor, a white robe and holding a long spear, stood at the foot of the Danbi on the left with an indifferent expression.

At the entrance to the main hall, a middle-aged general wearing a crimson robe and with a sturdy figure walked in from outside. He walked into the hall, bowed deeply and said, "Baekje Japyong Buyeo Bok-sin pays homage to His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Tang. May Your Majesty live forever!"

Japyeong was a first-rank official in the Baekje official hierarchy.

Li Chengqian raised his hand slightly and said, "Envoy, please stand up."

Fuyu Fuxin then kowtowed and stood up, saying, "Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Li Chengqian nodded calmly and said, "The envoy came all the way from the sea, right? How are the waves at sea?"

Fuyu Fuxin bowed and said, "The sea is quite rough and difficult."

Li Chengqian gave Buyeo Bok-sin a deep look and nodded, "If I remember correctly, Baekje was also a vassal state of the Tang Dynasty. Why, after I ascended the throne, envoys from Goguryeo and Silla came to congratulate me, but no one from Baekje?" "Your Majesty's might is feared by the people of the kingdom, and the sea waves have blocked the way, so no one dared to come. It was not until the Tang envoys arrived in Baekje and learned of Your Majesty's benevolence that the king sent me here." Buyeo Bok-sin bowed calmly and said, "I have come here on the king's orders to present ten beautiful Baekje women, five chests of jewels, and one chest of gold to congratulate Your Majesty on your accession to the throne."

"Although it's a little late, I appreciate the kindness of King Buyeo." Li Chengqian's expression softened and he asked, "How is King Buyeo's health now? He's about fifty years old now, right?"

"The king is fifty-two years old, and he is in good health." Fu Yu Fuxin lowered his head with a serious expression.

Li Chengqian nodded and said with emotion, "If I remember correctly, Prince Fuyu should be the same age as my father. Now that my father has passed away, Prince Fuyu is still alive. If there is any time, I would like to meet Prince Fuyu."

Fuyu Fuxin's expression tensed, but then relaxed. He bowed and said, "If Your Majesty ever visits Liaodong, our king will definitely go and pay his respects in person."

Li Chengqian smiled softly, looked at Buyeo Boksin and said, "The war between the Tang Dynasty and Goguryeo has been going on for seven years now. Baekje must have suffered considerable losses during these years."

Fuyu Fuxin's mouth twitched slightly, and he cupped his hands and said, "I heard that the Tang Dynasty has deployed troops, and the court has also consumed a lot of food and fodder."

"Of course." Li Chengqian nodded and said calmly, "But Goguryeo was a vassal state of the Tang Dynasty. Quan Gaisuwen killed the king and established another, using Gao Baozang as a puppet. The Tang Dynasty had already recognized Gao Baozang as king, but Goguryeo attacked Silla again. Gao Baozang was oppressed so much that he secretly sent people to ask for help. This forced the war between the Tang Dynasty and Goguryeo to continue."

Buyeo Boksin fell silent. Gao Baozang secretly sent people to the Tang Dynasty, which was something no one in Baekje had expected.

Now, the civil strife in Goguryeo was clearly visible to the Tang Dynasty, Baekje, and Silla.

Even they did not expect that Quan Gaisuwen could not control Gao Baozang.

Li Chengqian looked at Buyeo Boksin and said softly, "Envoy, tell me, if a powerful minister in Baekje murdered the king and then installed a young prince as a puppet, would the Tang Dynasty, as the suzerain, send troops to rescue him, or would it watch helplessly as he murdered the king again and finally established himself completely?"

Fuyu Fuxin suddenly looked up and looked at Li Chengqian in astonishment.

Li Chengqian smiled and looked at Fuyu Fuxin. "The envoy has probably never thought about the real purpose of Quan Gaisuwen's regicide, right?"

Fu Yu Fuxin bowed deeply, not knowing what to say for a moment.

Li Chengqian looked at Fuyu Bosin calmly and said directly: "The war between the Tang Dynasty and Goguryeo has continued to this day. The Tang Dynasty's request is very simple. Quan Gaisuwen returns the government to Gao Baozang. This is not too much, right?"

"It's not too much." Fuyu Fuxin bowed solemnly. The reason why he was in Chang'an today was because Wei Daijia sent a message that the Tang Dynasty did not aim to destroy Goguryeo.

During the seven years of war, Goguryeo suffered heavy losses, but Baekje, which followed Goguryeo, also had a hard time holding on.

Especially now that the Tang Dynasty has reached the other side of the Taedong River.

If Baekje had not been worried that the Tang Dynasty would destroy Baekje after destroying Goguryeo, it would have withdrawn long ago.

"As for Quan Gaisuwen, if he returns the throne to Gao Baozang, I can guarantee that he will have a place in the Tang Dynasty. He can even move his entire family here. But..." Li Chengqian's expression turned cold. He stared at Buyeo Boksin and said, "But if he resists to the end, I don't mind sending troops across the Taedong River, into Pyeongrang City, and destroy him."

Fuyu Fuxin bowed solemnly.

Li Chengqian leaned back slightly and said calmly, "Of course, as long as the problem of Quan Gaisuwen is resolved and Gao Baozang regains power, the Tang Dynasty can immediately withdraw its troops from Pingrang."

Fu Yu Fuxin suddenly looked up and asked directly, "Really?"

Li Chengqian looked to the side and said, "Mr. Xu, show the envoy the daily records."

Xu Jingzong stood up from one side, then walked in front of Fu Yu Fu Xin and unfolded the daily record with the ink still wet for Fu Yu Fu Xin to see.

Fu Yu Fuxin saw it clearly. Every word he and Li Chengqian had just said was written clearly on it.

"The daily records will be compiled into the National History." After a brief pause, Li Chengqian frowned and looked at Fuyu Fuxin and said, "Envoy, do you know what the National History means?"

"The outsider knows." Fu Yu Fuxin bowed with some excitement, but he was completely relieved in his heart.

The fact that the Tang Dynasty has the same name is known to all countries. Now that all this has been recorded in the "National History", the Tang Dynasty must follow it.

Li Chengqian nodded and looked at Buyeo Bok-sin: "So, what does Baekje say, envoy?"

Buyeo Boksin instantly calmed down and said, "Your Majesty, Baekje has its own difficulties, but I can assure Your Majesty that when Baekje comes to rescue Goguryeo, its army will not cross Wengwen County!"

Wenquan County is behind Pingrang City.

The Taedong River flows north from Wenquan County and directly reaches Pyeongrang City.

In other words, Baekje would not completely ignore the war between the Tang Dynasty and Goguryeo. It would watch from the sidelines. If the Tang Dynasty broke its promise, they would immediately intervene again.

Li Chengqian fell silent, looking straight at Fuyu Fuxin.

Buyeo Boksin bowed again, took out a portion of the memorial, and said, "Your Majesty, I have a gift for you. Once you see it, you will know Baekje's sincerity."

"Oh!" Li Chengqian looked surprised and glanced at Xu An on the side.

Xu An immediately bowed, then walked down the steps, took the memorial, and presented it to Li Chengqian.

Li Chengqian took a look, his pupils dilated instantly, then he smiled with satisfaction and nodded, "That's fine."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Fuyu Fuxin bowed seriously.

"Of course, although that's the case, if there is anything wrong in front of the Baekje army, don't blame me for not considering today's proposal." Li Chengqian's eyes turned cold again.

"Your Majesty, rest assured. I will personally lead the troops and ensure that no accidents occur." Buyeo Boksin bowed again and said, "Baekje's only wish is that Goguryeo survive."

"Very good." Li Chengqian nodded and said, "The Tang Dynasty doesn't ask for much. Baekje should not help Quan Gaisuwen. At the same time, Baekje should stop attacking Silla. Otherwise, Silla will always send people to Chang'an to complain and ask me to destroy Baekje, which will be very annoying to me."

Buyeo Boksin's face turned slightly cold, and then he cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, don't worry. As long as Silla doesn't provoke Baekje, Baekje will not attack Silla."

"That's enough." Li Chengqian looked up at the sky outside and said, "It's rare for an envoy to come to Luoyang, so he should stay here for a while. I will return to Chang'an in a few days. If you like, the envoy can also come to Chang'an for a walk."

Fuyu Fuxin hesitated slightly, then bowed and said, "Then I, an outsider, will respectfully obey your command."

"Yes!" Li Chengqian nodded and said, "I will ask the Honglu Temple to arrange it."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Fuyu Fuxin bowed again and said, "I will take my leave. May Your Majesty be well."

"Ah."

(End of this chapter)