Late Tang Dynasty: Descendants of the Imperial Clan

After all the generals and officials had left, only Sun Chu, Wang Chu, Li Cenji, and his imperial guards remained in the hall.

Xu Tai strode forward, clasped his hands in greeting, and said:

"Captain, the weapons and armor of those garrison soldiers have been confiscated, and they are all gathered in the courtyard awaiting their fate."

Li Cenji nodded, pondered for a moment, and said:

"Xu Tai, take a few men and make a trip to the military governor's mansion. Tell Zhou Ping what I said, and have him send a brigade to transport all the confiscated weapons and armor from the military governor's mansion back to camp. Also, this brigade of garrison troops—"

His gaze swept over the garrison soldiers in the courtyard, who were only dressed in undergarments and shivering from the cold. After a moment's thought, he said:

"Bring them back to the camp as well, examine them carefully, and treat them well. Do not mistreat them. When Lord Zheng wakes up, I will personally plead for their lives."

Xu Tai responded, pointed to a few people, and quickly left the military supervisor's residence, heading towards the marshal's mansion.

The sky was already beginning to brighten.

As the eastern horizon turned a pale white, the soft morning light filtered through the branches of the old locust trees in the courtyard, dappling the bluestone slabs.

As the night breeze subsided, a crisp chill filled the air, carrying the scent of earth and dew.

The candles in the hall had been burning all night, and the candle wax had piled up in a thick layer. Some of the candles had already gone out on their own, and the rest looked dim and swaying in the morning light, as if they were about to go out at any moment.

The servants, dancers, and musicians had long been dismissed and gone to their respective places.

The once grand military governor's residence now appeared deserted, with only a few imperial guards standing watch with their swords in hand under the corridor, their armor plates occasionally clashing together, producing a soft clanging sound.

Sun Chu stood on the steps in front of the hall, gazing at the first hint of dawn on the horizon, and let out a long sigh.

The night of thrills and terror has finally come to a close.

He turned to Wang Chu and said:

"Lord Wang, it's already dawn. Shall we return to our respective residences, or...?"

Wang Chu shook his head and said:

"Why go back to the mansion? Lord Zheng is still ill, and the people in the city are restless. You and I are also burdened with the responsibility of government affairs. Let's go to the governor's mansion to rest for a while. We can handle any official business nearby."

Sun Chu nodded, then looked at Li Cenji and said:

"Jingzhi, are you also going back to the Marshal's Mansion? We can go the same way."

Li Cenji responded and instructed Xu Tai to leave a few imperial guards to watch over the military supervisor's residence. He then left the residence with Sun Chu and Wang Chu and headed towards the military commander's mansion.

The streets of Fengxiang City were still shrouded in a thin morning mist.

The bluestone pavement was covered with a fine layer of dew, making it slightly slippery to walk on.

A few rooster crows came from afar, sounding particularly clear in the quiet morning.

The three walked down the street, followed only by a few imperial guards. Their footsteps echoed and thumped in the empty alleyways.

Sun Chu walked ahead for a while, then suddenly slowed down. He waited until Li Cenji reached his side before speaking:

"Jingzhi, there's something I want to say, but I don't know if I should."

Li Cenji said:

"Registrar Sun, please speak freely."

Sun Chu turned his head to look at him, his white beard fluttering slightly in the morning breeze, his expression carrying a hint of apology, and said:

"Just now, when we were discussing matters in the hall, the generals recommended me and Wang Sima to manage the administration, and recommended Li Zhenjiang and Zhao Duyuhou to lead the army, but they did not mention your contributions, Jingzhi. I feel really bad about it."

Just as Li Cenji was about to say something, Sun Chu waved his hand to stop him and continued:

"Let me finish speaking. If it weren't for your decisive action tonight, Jingzhi, killing the traitorous envoy, capturing Peng Jingrou, and stirring up the hearts of the people with that 'Qin King's Battle Song,' Fengxiang City would probably have changed hands by now. Such a great achievement should have been recognized on the spot."

He paused, sighed, and said:

"But as you've seen, Jingzhi, Lord Zheng is critically ill and unable to manage affairs. Although we were chosen to temporarily take over the government, in the end, we're just guarding Lord Zheng's house and the Emperor's gate. Your contribution is far too great, so great that neither I nor Wang Sima dare to make decisions on our own. If we were to overstep our bounds, at the very least, it would be a lack of discretion; at worst, it would be usurpation. If word gets out, it would be detrimental to you."

Wang Chu, walking on the other side, also took over the conversation, saying:

"What Clerk Sun said is absolutely right. Jingzhi, think about it. If the two of us were to promote you on behalf of Lord Zheng right now, we might do more harm than good and give you something to criticize."

Li Cenji understood what the two were saying.

This matter can only be decided by Zheng Tian himself after he wakes up.

Having understood this, Li Cenji showed a humble expression and said:

"Registrar Sun and Commander Wang, you two are really overthinking things. What I did tonight was simply out of righteous indignation. I couldn't bear to see the cities of the Great Tang fall into the hands of the bandits, and I couldn't bear to see you generals being coerced by that eunuch and bearing the name of traitors. I really didn't think about any merit or anything like that."

He spoke these words with a sincere expression and tone, as if it were true.

Sun Chu and Wang Chu exchanged a glance, it was unclear whether they believed it or not.

However, everyone has their own way of praising someone, so since Li Cenji said so, the two of them naturally had to take the opportunity to say a few words of praise.

Sun Chu stroked his beard and smiled:

"I have witnessed Jingzhi's loyalty and righteousness. To have such a magnanimous heart at such a young age, without being greedy for credit or reward, is truly rare, very rare indeed."

Li Cenji waved his hands repeatedly and said:

"This humble general is unworthy of such praise."

The three of them talked, but their steps never stopped.

Turn the corner ahead, and you'll find a main road leading straight to the Marshal's Mansion.

As the morning mist gradually dissipated and the sky grew brighter, the flags in front of the Marshal's Mansion in the distance became faintly visible, fluttering in the morning breeze.

After walking for a while, Wang Chu suddenly asked:

"Jingzhi, I have something I'd like to ask you."

Li Cenji said:

"Please speak, Sima Wang."

Wang Chu slowed his pace slightly, turned his head to look at Li Cenji, and said:

"If... I mean, if... Duke Zheng were to wake up and ask about your merits, and what reward you would receive, would you have any plans? Where would you like to go?"

The question was so direct that it startled Li Cenji slightly.

Seeing that he was stunned, Wang Chu smiled and explained:

"Jingzhi, don't worry. I'm not asking this to test you. To be honest, although Registrar Sun and I can't recommend you for credit without your permission, we will have to report to Lord Zheng about tonight's events when he wakes up. If we are completely unaware of your feelings when he asks, wouldn't we be letting you down?"

Sun Chu also said:

"What Wang Sima says is true. Jingzhi, if you were to bring this up yourself, you would inevitably leave people with the impression that you are eager for quick success and arrogant, which would be very detrimental to your future reputation. But if Wang Sima and I were to subtly bring it up for you in Zheng Gong's ear, it would be a completely different story. Rest assured, we two will never say that it was your own idea, but only that it was our own speculation."

Upon hearing their words, Li Cenji's heart stirred.

Asking for rewards on one's own initiative would be too blatant and would make one appear too opportunistic.

But if he were to be too humble and ask for nothing, and then fear that Zheng Tian's reward would not suit his taste, then all the danger he had experienced that night would have been for nothing.

Now that Sun Chu and Wang Chu have offered to speak on his behalf, it's like a godsend.

However, he still had to put on a show of politeness.

Li Cenji hesitated for a moment, then said:

"This... Your kindness is too great for this humble general to bear. Moreover, what I did tonight was truly for the country and for the Tang Dynasty, not for any reward..."

Sun Chu waved his hand and laughed:

"Jingzhi, there's no need for that. Serving the country loyally and seeking advancement are not mutually exclusive. You are both capable and loyal; it is the court's good fortune to employ you, and also the court's good fortune. Just speak frankly; there's no need for any concerns."

Seeing that things had come to this point, Li Cenji stopped pretending to be humble.

He hesitated for a moment, slowed his pace, and gazed at the gradually clearing lintel of the Marshal's Mansion ahead, before speaking:

"Since you two are so kind, I will humbly speak frankly."

He paused, then said:

"This humble general wishes to be transferred to command troops in a remote area."

Upon hearing this, Sun Chu and Wang Chu exchanged a glance, a hint of surprise flashing in their eyes.

Li Cenji continued:

"Having spent some time in the Imperial Guards and under the command of Lord Zheng, I have come to deeply feel that in this world, chaos reigns, regional warlords hold sway, and bandits roam freely. If one wishes to serve the Tang Dynasty and bring peace to the land, remaining confined to one place will ultimately hinder any achievement. Although I am not talented, I have read a few military books and have some understanding of strategy. If I could be sent out to lead an army, I might be able to contribute to the country."

He spoke these words with sincerity and humility.

After listening, Sun Chu stroked his beard, pondered for a moment, and slowly nodded, saying:

"A fine ambition. Jingzhi is young and promising, and has made such great contributions. It would be a waste of his talents to just be a captain who guards the house. Sending him out to command troops and take charge of his own affairs is the right path for him."

Wang Chu nodded and said:

"Indeed. In this situation, the court is in dire need of capable people. Jingzhi is both a member of the imperial family and has courage and strategy. If he could be sent out to lead an army and pacify a region for the court, his future would be limitless. I and Registrar Sun will certainly speak well of you to Lord Zheng."

Li Cenji quickly clasped his hands in a fist and bowed deeply, saying:

"Thank you both. If I am able to achieve my goal, I will certainly live up to your kindness in recommending me today."

Sun Chu reached out and took his arm, smiling as he said:

"There's no need for such formalities. Wang Sima and I are merely going along with the flow. What truly matters is Jingzhi's own ability. Tonight's performance is enough to prove that you deserve this recommendation."

Wang Chu also laughed and said:

"Indeed. I have served under Lord Zheng for many years and have seen countless young officers and generals, but those with Jingzhi's courage and decisiveness are few and far between. If Lord Zheng can give Jingzhi an important position, it will be a good thing for both Lord Zheng himself and the court."

As the three talked, they arrived at the gate of the Marshal's Mansion.

When the imperial guards saw that it was Li Cenji returning with two civil officials, they immediately straightened their backs and clasped their hands in salute.

Li Cenji nodded to them and then led Sun Chu and Wang Chu into the mansion.

Sun Chu and Wang Chu were both old acquaintances of Zheng Tian and were very familiar with the layout of the Marshal's Mansion. They didn't need anyone to guide them and went to rest in the guest rooms in the side courtyard.

Before leaving, Sun Chu turned back to look at Li Cenji one last time and said:

"Jingzhi, you've had a long night, so get some rest. Wang Sima and I will take care of things with Lord Zheng."

Li Cenji clasped his hands and said:

"Thank you, Registrar Sun."

After the two left, Li Cenji rubbed his slightly sore eyes and turned to walk towards his residence.

He was indeed quite tired after not sleeping all night.

……

For the next few days, the Fengxiang area remained calm and peaceful.

Li Changyan dispatched all his scouts, setting up outposts in all directions, from Qishan in the east to the Wei River in the south and Jingzhou in the north.

However, for several days in a row, the messages that came back were exactly the same:

There was no movement from Chang'an. Huang Chao's army occupied the capital and was busy assigning official titles, incorporating surrendered soldiers, and looting the treasury.

Even when small groups of cavalry occasionally went west to scout, they would only take a quick look from afar before turning back, showing no signs of a large-scale westward advance.

Upon receiving this information, the officers and generals felt much more at ease.

The heart that had been hanging in my throat gradually settled back into my stomach.

However, no one dared to be careless, and concealing the news that Huang Chao's envoy had died became the most important matter.

All the servants, dancers, and musicians who were present at Peng Jingrou's residence that night were put on gag orders. Those who were talkative were sent to the manor outside the city on some pretext.

The body of the envoy Wang Jing was secretly buried under a desolate slope outside the city under the cover of night, without even a grave.

At the same time, preparations for military buildup and combat readiness were also being made in full swing.

After discussing with Zhao Buying, Li Changyan decided that, apart from leaving a small number of troops in Longzhou to guard against the Tubo and other vassal states taking advantage of the chaos, all the elite forces of Longyou and Fengxiang would be transferred to Fengxiang City for assembly.

Military orders were issued one after another, and troops scattered in various places broke camp one after another and rushed towards Fengxiang.

However, the transportation of troops in those days was not as efficient as in later times. The transport of grain, supplies, and resupply along the way required considerable effort and could not be rushed.

Five days had passed since that thrilling banquet.

Before the morning mist had completely dissipated, cheers and applause erupted from the backyard of the Marshal's Mansion.

"good!"

"That was a brilliant move by the captain!"

"One more time! One more time!"

Li Cenji, dressed in a short brown robe with narrow sleeves and bare, muscular arms, wielded a twelve-foot-long spear with great skill and flair.

The spearhead was forged from fine iron, and in the morning light, it gleamed with a cold light, like silver snakes dancing wildly.

The gun barrel was made of top-quality ash wood, extremely resilient. When he shook it, it produced bursts of spear flowers, and the whooshing sound of it cutting through the wind was incessant.

A group of Imperial Guards surrounded the area. Some had just finished their shifts, while others still looked tired from a night of guard duty. But at this moment, they all watched intently, and cheers and shouts of approval rose and fell.

These past two days have been Zhao Shun's shift, and this brute has been squatting on the steps of the corridor, his hands supporting his chin, watching with gleaming eyes, muttering to himself:

"Damn it, the captain's marksmanship is getting better and better..."

Li Cenji ignored everything and continued thrusting, parrying, deflecting, sweeping, and smashing with his spear.

Sweat streamed down his back, soaking a large patch of his short brown shirt, which clung to his back, outlining the well-proportioned and firm muscle lines.

He exhaled a breath of stale air, flipped his wrist, and the butt of the gun rose from below, creating a gust of wind that sent several fallen leaves flying high into the air.