Tang Dynasty: Starting at Xuanwu Gate, this prince is better off not being one.

Not only Li Er, but everyone was amazed by Li Yu's re-composed version of the Battle Formation Music.

Since the previous version of the "Breaking the Formation" music was always played by a solo player, they wanted to see Li Yu's version, which was played by multiple people.

Upon receiving Li Er's instructions, Xu Jingzong bowed to the emperor and began to beat the drum.

The drumbeats started rhythmically and gradually grew stronger, like the mighty cavalry of the Xuanjia Army marching towards them from afar.

After three drumbeats, the musicians simultaneously plucked their strings, followed by a rapid burst of pipa music, like a thunderclap from a clear sky. Although unexpected, it did not seem abrupt.

Right after this rapid pipa music, Old Xu struck the drum again. But this time, the drumbeat lacked the previous somber tone; it seemed more like an accompaniment to the pipa music that followed…

The generals gathered, the troops were dispatched, and the massive army pressed in, unstoppable; after fierce fighting, the battle ended, the outcome was decided, and what came into view was a desolate battlefield.

Although this process was repeated several times, each piece of music was different, as if the army was conquering different places each time...

As the final pipa music came to an end, a woman's singing filled the hall, like a touch of softness amidst a sea of ​​steel, outlining the desolate scene after the war.

.........

Li Yu hadn't expected that changing the performance venue to the main hall would have such a good effect.

Looking at the crowd around him, tears streaming down their faces, Li Yu was very satisfied with the result.

Especially his own father, Li Xuanba, had been thinking about how to make him cry to relieve his phantom limb pain. Now, seeing him drinking alone with snot and tears streaming down his face, Li Yu felt that the matter had been accomplished.

Li Er, who was usually prone to crying, didn't shed a single tear. He was clenching his fists and staring at the marching map on the wall, his mind seemingly already filled with images of leading his army to the ends of the earth.

The drumbeats stopped, and the lingering sound abruptly ceased.

The main hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Only the majestic and magnificent aftertaste lingered among the beams and pillars, like the dust and smoke of a thousand troops passing through.

After a long silence, Li Er, his eyes bloodshot, finally spoke, asking, "Boy, how did you compose this piece?"

How is it played?

Upon hearing Li Er's question, Li Yu chuckled, glancing furtively at Xu Jingzong, and respectfully replied, "Your Majesty, I am but a humble scholar, and I am not well-versed in music theory. Fortunately, it was Xu Sheren who stepped forward and took on this task."

Li Yu's explanation startled Xu Jingzong, who had been waiting for a reward. He never expected Li Yu to pin the blame entirely on him, and he was unsure whether to be happy or worried.

The good thing is that if His Majesty is satisfied with the revised version of the Battle Formation Music, then the credit will be immense; but if not, his small frame will not be able to withstand the Emperor's wrath.

Now, he can only pray that Li Yu's words, "If anything happens, I'll take responsibility for you," still hold true.

"Xu Jingzong, is what this boy said true?" Li Er shifted his gaze from Li Yu and glanced at Xu Jingzong, asking calmly.

"this……"

Because of his previous concerns, Xu Jingzong seemed somewhat hesitant.

Just then, he caught a glimpse of Li Yu winking at him out of the corner of his eye, so he steeled himself and said, "Your Majesty, everything the Prince of Songshan said is true."

Upon hearing this, Li Er first glanced at Li Yu, who was fidgeting, then suddenly beamed with joy and said, "Very well, since it is Xu Qing's achievement, I will surely reward him in the future!"

Seeing that Xu Jingzong had admitted it, Li Yu couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Whoever wants this lousy credit can have it; I'm definitely not going to give myself any more work...

The banquet continued, but this time Li Yu didn't dare to sneak a drink.

He noticed that Li Er kept looking at him with a smile, a smile that seemed to carry a hint of malice. This gave him a sense of impending doom, as if all his efforts that night would be in vain…

.........

When Li Er ascended the throne, he naturally granted a general amnesty.

So, on the very night the banquet ended, the Secretariat drafted the edict, which was then read aloud at the court assembly the following day: "A general amnesty is granted, and a three-day feast is to be enjoyed."

Not only that, he also replaced all the core officials of the three provinces and six ministries with his own confidants.

Few emperors in history dared to do this; most new rulers chose a gradual approach when undertaking such a task. The reason Li Er dared to act so recklessly was because his power was already immense.

Cheng Yaojin, Qin Qiong, and others were core military generals in the court when Li Yuan was in power. In addition, Li Er already held military power, so he didn't need to consider whether doing these things would cause the court to collapse.

As for Li Er, the fact that he did not strip these veteran officials of their titles was already a great favor to Li Yuan.

Li Yu believed that even if Li Yuan knew about this, he wouldn't say much. So none of this surprised Li Yu. What surprised him was that his father had also acquired an official position.

The position of Minister of Works, the highest-ranking civil official in the central government with the rank of third grade, was surprisingly given to Li Xuanba, who was only good at fighting.

He didn't know what Li Er meant by this, but when he saw that the Ministry of Works, which was not so complicated, had been assigned two vice ministers, one of whom was temporarily replaced by Duan Lun, the imperial son-in-law and military commander, he knew that his father probably didn't need to worry about anything while sitting in this position.

This is good. Dad already has difficulty moving around, and his wounds haven't fully healed yet. He needs this kind of leisure...

.........

Li Yu also needs some leisure time; moreover, he believes that Chang'an also needs some peace and quiet for a while.

If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he would never have believed that so many things had happened in Chang'an in just half a year.

Looking back, these events seem to have occurred more than any recorded event in history, like magma trapped in a volcano, which will eventually erupt once it reaches the point of no return.

After the outburst, tranquility will return.

However, this tranquility did not last long before it was shattered by the Turkic army that had already advanced to Gaoling.

Moreover, Luo Yi, who was originally guarding the border between the two countries, also chose to rise up in rebellion out of fear of being purged by Li Er.

This greatly angered Li Er, because his newly acquired court was not yet stable, and it had already been provoked by foreign tribes. In a fit of rage, he wanted to personally lead an expedition. Fortunately, he was dissuaded in time by Fang Xuanling, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, and Changsun Wuji, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, and Yuchi Gong was sent to intercept them instead.

Yuchi Gong was very efficient. He led his army to Gaoling in two days and then defeated the Turks led by Jieli in another day.

Upon receiving this news, Emperor Li Er was overjoyed and immediately ordered Yuchi Gong to pursue the enemy.

But before the military order could reach Yuchi Gong, the Turkic reinforcements arrived first...

.........