Late Tang Dynasty: Descendants of the Imperial Clan

Chapter 79 Li Cenji is forced to leave Chang'an

Li Cenji firmly grasped Zhao Zhang's arms with both hands, his gaze piercing, and solemnly said, "Sir, your talent surpasses mine tenfold. I now wish to appoint you as my chief strategist, and consult you on all important military and political matters. I hope you will not reject me and will wholeheartedly assist me."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Zhang's expression turned solemn, but he did not immediately agree.

He slowly straightened up, took a step back, and cupped his hands, saying, "I am grateful for your kindness, Your Excellency. However, there is one question that Your Excellency must answer frankly before I dare to accept your command."

Li Cenji said, "Please ask whatever you wish, sir."

Zhao Zhang's gaze was sharp as he looked directly into Li Cenji's eyes and said, "What exactly are your ambitions as the Regent? Is it to emulate the Prince of Fenyang, Guo Linggong, to revitalize the country, restore the Tang Dynasty, and become a renowned minister of the restoration? Or is it to follow the example of the various towns in Hebei, to establish a separatist regime, with the son succeeding the father, and become a local emperor? The Regent must choose one of these two options."

Upon hearing this, Li Cenji did not immediately respond.

He walked with his hands behind his back to the map, his gaze slowly shifting from Fengxiang and Longyou to Chang'an, and then from Chang'an to the two capitals and the four directions.

After a long silence, he turned around and looked at Zhao Zhang, his face devoid of any mockery, his voice calm and steady: "Neither of the two paths you mentioned are my aspirations."

Zhao Zhang raised an eyebrow slightly: "I'd like to hear the details."

Li Cenji raised his hand, pointing to the "Tang" banner hanging high behind the main seat in his tent, and slowly said: "Lord Guo rebuilt the Tang Dynasty, his achievements surpassing all others, yet he remained a subject for life, unable to save the crumbling empire; the various towns of Hebei, though self-governing, were ultimately only regional powers, unable to achieve great things. What I admire is Emperor Guangwu's contribution to the Eastern Han Dynasty and Emperor Zhaolie's contribution to the Later Han Dynasty: when the world was in turmoil and the imperial regalia was tarnished, they rose up, swept away the dust from the land, and re-established order. This is what is meant by: the thrice-built Tang Dynasty."

Zhao Zhang's pupils contracted sharply, but he showed no fear. Instead, his breathing became heavy, and his blood rushed to his head.

The candlelight flickered softly, casting swaying shadows around the two people.

Zhao Zhang suddenly threw his head back and burst into laughter.

The laughter was initially suppressed, gradually became more unrestrained, and finally carried a hint of madness.

He laughed so hard he was doubled over, the shackles rattling. He laughed for a long time before gradually stopping. He wiped the tears of laughter from the corners of his eyes with his sleeve and looked at Li Cenji, saying, "Do you know what this sinner was thinking just now?"

"6

Li Cenji was not offended, and simply said, "Please speak, sir."

Zhao Zhang took a breath, sat cross-legged back on the ground, looked up at Li Cenji, his eyes gleaming: "I think that if I had met a figure like the acting governor ten years earlier, I wouldn't have wasted my life following Huang Chao until now. Huang Chao has courage, popularity, and troops, but he lacks one thing."

He extended his index finger and tapped his temple: "That's what he lacks. He only knows how to fight and kill, thinking that once he enters Chang'an, he'll be the emperor, but he doesn't know how to rule the world. He has no long-term ambitions either; once he enters Chang'an, he thinks he's accomplished everything, and from then on, he's content with enjoyment, his ambition fading away. But the acting governor is different. He not only knows how to conquer the world, but he also knows how to humbly learn from others, and he has a long-term vision. What the acting governor just said was exactly the spirit of Emperor Gaozu of Han entering Xianyang and Emperor Guangwu rising up in Hebei!"

He suddenly stopped smiling, his expression turning solemn. He straightened his clothes, placed his hands on the ground, and bowed respectfully to Li Cenji, his forehead touching the ground. His voice was as steady as a rock: "Zhao Zhang is unworthy, but I am willing to dedicate all my knowledge to assisting my lord in achieving great things. I will devote myself to the cause until my dying breath."

Li Cenji quickly stepped forward and helped him up with both hands, saying, "Please get up, sir. Having you by my side is like a fish in water, or a tiger with wings."

Zhao Zhang stood up, but then cupped his hands and said, "My lord, please wait. This sinner—no, Zhang—has something to say that must be made clear first."

Li Cenji said, "Please speak, sir."

Zhao Zhang looked troubled. After a moment of contemplation, he said, "I came to see you today with a selfish reason. I have been grateful to Huang Chao for many years. Although he is tyrannical and cruel, there is still kindness in his heart. I cannot watch the Huang family bloodline end. Before I came, I thought: if you agree to one thing, I will repay you with all my might; if you do not agree, I will seek my own death, which will also be a way of repaying Huang Chao's kindness."

Li Cenji said without changing his expression, "Please tell me, sir."

Zhao Zhang said, "Huang Chao's eldest son died in battle, leaving behind an infant still in swaddling clothes, imprisoned in Dali Temple prison with his wet nurse. I dare to beg you, my lord, to spare this infant's life so that his bloodline may be preserved and the Huang family line may continue."

That's right, he never intended to save Huang Ye.

Having received favors from Huang Chao, he naturally wanted to repay the Huang family.

Moreover, Huang Ye is older and Huang Chao's younger brother. If he is released, trouble will inevitably arise in the future, which will cause Li Cenji some trouble.

Li Cenji remained silent for a moment.

He recalled Huang Chao's heartfelt words before he committed suicide, and Huang Chao's last words, "My head is only for you."

Before his death, that ruthless tyrant finally relinquished his last shred of dignity to him.

"Can."

Li Cenji's voice was calm and undisturbed.

Zhao Zhang was taken aback, not expecting Li Cenji to agree so readily. He blurted out, "Isn't my lord afraid that the stories of the Zhao family orphan and Cheng Ying will repeat themselves?"

Li Cenji chuckled, his laughter devoid of contempt, only displaying a composed confidence: "If I'm afraid of even a baby in swaddling clothes, what future do I have to contend for in the world? Rest assured, sir, since I've agreed, I won't go back on my word. However, this matter must be handled cleanly and efficiently, leaving no room for doubt, otherwise countless people will use it against me in the future."

Upon hearing this, a complex look appeared in Zhao Zhang's eyes.

There was surprise, gratitude, and above all, a sense of relief that "I definitely didn't follow the wrong person."

He bowed again, this time even more deeply: "My lord's magnanimity is beyond my reach. I will do my utmost to share your burdens and relieve your difficulties."

Li Cenji helped him up and said with a smile, "Sir, there's no need for such formalities. Let's talk about how to get you and the baby out safely."

Zhao Zhang straightened up, stroked his beard, and his eyes regained their clarity: "This matter is difficult in some ways, but not difficult in others. The key lies in the word 'death.'"

Li Cenji raised an eyebrow slightly: "Fake death?"

Zhao Zhang nodded: "After I return to prison, someone there will surely come to ask me what I said to the lord. I will only say that the lord refuses to release me, and that I have nowhere to turn for help, my heart is filled with despair, and I gradually lose my will to die and contract a serious illness. In this way, Huang Ye will not suspect anything. The lord will send a trusted physician into the prison to examine me, and outwardly say that my illness is severe and I fear I will not recover." Two or three days later, I will die. My body will only be said to have been dumped in the suburbs and burned."

He paused, then continued, "As for the infant, it's even simpler. Since there are already people infected with the plague in the prison, and infants are weak, it's only natural that they would die suddenly from the disease. My lord, you only need to bribe a few guards to let the wet nurse take the infant out of the prison for medical treatment. After a few days or two, just say to the outside world that the infant and his wet nurse died together. The wet nurse has received a reward and knows the importance of the matter, so she will not dare to say anything. After Zhang gets away, secretly take the wet nurse and the infant away and hide them temporarily in Chang'an City. When my lord goes to Fengxiang to take up his post, you can take them with you, send the wet nurse away, and entrust the infant to the care of an ordinary farming family."

After listening, Li Cenji pondered for a moment and said, "This plan is feasible. Doctors, guards, death row inmates, wet nurses—every single one of these requires reliable people. I will send someone to handle it."

He naturally named Zhou Ping in this matter; among his old brothers, Zhou Ping was the most astute.

Zhao Zhang cupped his hands and said, "My lord's considerations are thorough; I have no objections."

The two then spent another half a day discussing the details, arranging everything meticulously.

The agreement was reached, and it was nearly dusk.

Li Cenji summoned Zhou Ping and gave him detailed instructions on the key points.

Zhou Ping handled these secret matters with ease, and without asking Li Cenji what he wanted to do, he simply patted his chest and said, "Don't worry, I'll take care of it perfectly."

Li Cenji gave a few more instructions and then asked Zhou Ping to escort Zhao Zhang back to the Dali Temple prison.

Before leaving, Zhao Zhang turned back to look at Li Cenji and whispered, "My lord..."

Li Cenji nodded and said, "Thank you for your trouble, sir."

Zhao Zhang bowed respectfully, then turned and followed Zhou Ping.

Dali Temple Prison.

When Zhao Zhang returned to his cell, it was already completely dark.

The torches in the corridor cast his shadow long and crooked, and the rattling sound of his shackles dragging on the ground was particularly jarring in the empty prison.

Huang Ye leaned on the railing, watching him enter with pleading eyes. Seeing his ashen face and heavy steps, his heart sank, but he still refused to give up and asked in a hoarse voice, "Mr. Zhao—how is he?"

Zhao Zhang sat down on the straw mat, sighed deeply, shook his head, and said in a hoarse and weary voice, "I've done my best. That Li Cenji—he's completely unyielding, he won't budge no matter what I say. I've tried everything to persuade him, but he's unmoved. General Huang—I'm incompetent, I can't save you."

Huang Ye's face turned deathly pale instantly.

He opened his mouth as if to say something, but only a muffled gurgling sound came out of his throat.

He slowly, very slowly slid down the railing, collapsed onto the ground, staring blankly at the dark ceiling above him, and remained silent for a long time.

In the opposite cell, Zhu Wen looked up at Zhao Zhang but said nothing, and simply lowered his head again.

The prison was deathly silent.

The only sounds were the crackling of torches burning at the end of the passageway and the intermittent dreaming of a prisoner in the distance.

Huang Ye stopped crying.

He seemed to have been drained of all his energy overnight, and he was like a withered tree, leaning against the wall, motionless.

He stopped begging for mercy, stopped crying out, and didn't even bother to turn over. He just stared blankly ahead with his eyes open.

Zhao Zhang didn't look at him any longer.

The next morning at dawn, when the guards brought him food, they found Zhao Zhang huddled in a corner, trembling all over, his eyes half-open and half-closed, unable to speak.

The guard was shocked and immediately reported it.

Before long, the medical worker arrived, took his pulse through the iron bars, examined his tongue, and said to the jailer beside him with a grave expression, "This is a case of the plague—the illness is quite serious, and he must be isolated, otherwise no one in this prison will be able to escape."

The jailers looked at each other in bewilderment, then quickly dragged Zhao Zhang out of the cell and locked him in a separate, dark room at the end of the passageway.

The dark room was small and damp, without even windows, only an iron door for ventilation, and was specifically used to hold prisoners infected with the disease.

When the news spread, there was an uproar in the prison.

"Has Zhao Zilin contracted COVID-19?"

"Doesn't that mean—we're in danger too?"

"Get away from him! Don't get close!"

Some prisoners cursed loudly, some prayed quietly, and some desperately covered their mouths and noses with their sleeves.

Two days later, Zhao Zhang "died of illness".

On this very day, Li Cenji gained a fellow scholar with the same name who had failed the imperial examinations.

Those prison guards who knew the truth were originally soldiers from Jingyuan Town, but Li Cenji took them over and assigned them to Zhao Zhang as his personal guards.

Time flies. After Huang Chao was beheaded and Chang'an was restored, troops from all directions flocked to the capital like rivers flowing into the sea.

Such as Wang Chucun, Zhuge Shuang, Wang Chongrong, Tuoba Sigong, Li Xiaochang, Zhu Mei and others.

As various military commanders arrived in the capital one after another, the city gradually became lively.

The troops from each town were stationed outside the city, and they did not interfere with each other, so they lived in peace.

The day Zheng Tian entered the capital was a sunny afternoon in early summer.

The convoy entered the city from the west through the Golden Gate. The veteran general Wang Lu led his troops in the procession. The ceremonial procession was extremely simple, and even the banner that read "Commander-in-Chief of the Four Directions of the Capital" was not raised.

Zheng Tian sat in a blue cloth carriage, the curtain half-rolled up, revealing his thin and tired face.

Li Cenji and a group of military commanders came out to greet them at the city gate.

When everyone saw Zheng Tian's carriage arrive, they all dismounted and bowed in greeting.

Li Cenji stepped forward first, bowed, and said, "Disciple Li Cenji respectfully welcomes Master to the capital."

Zheng Tian ordered the coachman to stop, and with Sun Chu's help, he slowly got off the carriage.

Li Cenji looked up and felt a sudden pang of sadness. His mentor looked much older than he had a month ago when they were practicing martial arts.

With high cheekbones, deep-set eyes, and a few more strands of white hair at his temples, the worn blue silk robe looked loose on him, and he was so thin that he looked like he could be blown away by a gust of wind.

Zheng Tian waved his hand, indicating that he didn't need to say anything more, and then cupped his hands to Cheng Zongchu and the others, saying, "Gentlemen, you have worked hard. I am late and have kept you waiting."

Cheng Zongchu quickly replied, "What are you saying, Lord Zheng! If it weren't for your strategic planning, how could we have achieved the recapture of the capital today? We were merely following orders."

Zheng Tian smiled, but didn't stand on ceremony, simply saying, "Let's talk inside the city."

The crowd escorted Zheng Tian's carriage into the city.

When the people along the way heard that Minister Zheng had arrived, they flocked to the streets to watch.

Someone recognized the old gentleman and knelt down, saying, "I am grateful for the life-saving grace of Minister Zheng."

Zheng Tian, ​​who was in the carriage, saw this and his expression changed slightly, but he did not stop the carriage. He simply cupped his hands towards the window and signaled the driver to continue.

After entering the city, Zheng Tian did not rest, but went straight to his headquarters to summon the military governors of various towns for a meeting.

The first thing he did was ask about Tang Hongfu.

Li Cenji truthfully recounted the whole story: from the looting of Chang'an to the soldiers of Shuofang camping out in the open, and then to his joining forces with Cheng and Qiu to capture Tang Hongfu.

Each and every incident was explained clearly.

After hearing this, Zheng Tian remained silent for a moment, then said, "I understand. I will take Tang Hongfu away and deal with him separately. This matter ends here; do not mention it again."

Since he said so, no one else had any objection.

Cheng Zongchu and Qiu Gongyu exchanged a glance and both secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

That evening, Zheng Tian ordered his men to bring Tang Hongfu out of his prison and into his own camp.

The old general looked ashen, his beard and hair disheveled. He didn't say anything when he saw Zheng Tian, ​​but just sighed and sat down.

Zheng Tian dismissed his attendants and talked with him in the room for a long time.

What the two said remains unknown to outsiders.

All that is known is that at dawn the next day, Tang Hongfu left the city with Zheng Tian's personal guards and was sent to Fengxiang for resettlement.

After Tang Hongfu left, the military governors of the various towns no longer pursued the matter.

This matter was like a pebble thrown into a deep pool; after a few ripples, it sank to the bottom.

Night fell, in the rear hall of the military camp.

Zheng Tian dismissed Sun Chu and the military officers, leaving only Li Cenji to talk under the lamp.

The master and apprentice sat facing each other at the table, on which were two cups of tea and a dish of dried fruit.

The candlelight flickered, casting the two people's shadows on the wall, sometimes long, sometimes short.

Looking at his mentor's face, which was even thinner than it had been a month ago, Li Cenji had a thousand words in his heart, but didn't know where to begin.

After a long silence, he whispered, "My dear teacher, you've lost weight again."

Zheng Tian picked up his teacup, took a sip, and laughed, "It's better to be thinner, so you won't get out of breath when you walk. My old bones can't compare to your youthful strength, where you can still ride a horse and charge into battle."

Li Cenji shook his head and said, "Master is joking. I would rather charge into battle a few less times myself than see Master working so hard."

Zheng Tian waved his hand, his expression gradually turning serious: "Jingzhi, the world has just been pacified. Although Huang Chao is dead, his poison has not been eradicated. You are young and full of vigor. There are still many things for you to do in the future. My old body has barely managed to hold on until today. In a few more days, I'm afraid I won't be able to do any more strenuous work."

Li Cenji said, "Master, please rest assured. I have already discussed the matter with Commanders Cheng and Qiu. The troops in each town of Chang'an will guard their respective camps and will not interfere with each other. The people are gradually settling down, and the city has regained some of its vitality. Once the Emperor returns to the capital, the court will take over everything, and you can then focus on recuperating."

Zheng Tian nodded, but did not respond to the question.

He set down his teacup, his gaze falling on Li Cenji's face. After a moment of silence, he suddenly said, "Jingzhi, I have already submitted a memorial to Chengdu, requesting that the Emperor choose a date to return to the capital."

Li Cenji said, "This is a blessing for the nation. The day the emperor returns to the capital will be the day the world is reunited."

Zheng Tian said, "When the Emperor returns to the capital, he will naturally bestow great rewards. I have already submitted a report on your merits in the battles of Longweipo and Chang'an. With your contributions, it would not be an exaggeration to grant you not only the title of military governor, but also another rank."

Li Cenji stood up, cupped his hands, and said, "This disciple dares not take credit; it is all thanks to my master's strategic planning and the bravery of the soldiers."

Zheng Tian gestured for him to sit down, then said, "There is something I must tell you beforehand."

Li Cenji sat down again and said, "Please speak, Master."

Zheng Tian picked up the teacup but did not drink it. He simply held it in his palm, his gaze falling on the broken leaves floating in the tea soup. He slowly said, "I intend for you to set off in a few days, leading your troops back to Fengxiang first, to firmly occupy Fengxiang. Otherwise, I fear the court will transfer you to the capital and grant the position of Fengxiang military governor to someone else."

Li Cenji was taken aback, surprised in his heart, but he did not show it on his face.

He pondered for a moment, then asked, "This disciple dares to ask my master, what is the reason for this? Wang Chongrong, back then, forced the military governor Li Du to flee Hezhong and took command of the military governorship himself. The court not only did not punish him, but instead appointed him as the acting Minister of Works and bestowed upon him the title of military governor. Although I am not talented, I also beheaded Shang Rang and forced Huang Chao to commit suicide; my merits are no less than Wang Chongrong's. Now I have already taken command of the military governorship of Fengxiang, so why can't I even obtain the title of military governor?"

Zheng did not answer immediately, but simply placed the teacup back on the table, his gaze darkening slightly.

After a moment, he sighed, tapped his fingers lightly twice on the table, and slowly said, "I have an old friend in the court. A few days ago, he sent a secret letter from Chengdu. In the letter, he said that Tian Lingzi had repeatedly slandered me before the emperor, saying that I was hoarding troops and becoming powerful. After the battles of Longweipi and Chang'an, my prestige has grown daily. He also said that I had arbitrarily appointed my disciple as the military governor of Fengxiang, intending to use you to control the troops in Fengxiang and Longyou after entering the court. He said that I harbored evil intentions and intended to use the power of the regional military governor to hold the court hostage, emulating the actions of Dong Zhuo and Cao Cao at the end of the Han Dynasty."

When Li Cenji heard the name "Tian Lingzi", his brows furrowed slightly.

He naturally knew this person.

Tian Lingzi was the most powerful eunuch in the court, the "father" of Emperor Li Xuan, and had controlled the Shence Army for many years, wielding immense power.

When Huang Chao entered Chang'an, it was Huang Chao who strongly advocated that the emperor flee to Shu. He stayed by the emperor's side all the way, and his favor with the emperor grew day by day.

I heard that he has been appointed as the Left and Right Generals of the Golden Guard and concurrently in charge of the affairs of the Four Guards, and has been granted the title of Duke of Jin. He is truly the number one person under the emperor.

What stirred Li Cenji's heart even more was that he and the five hundred Imperial Guards under his command were all carefully selected from the Shence Army.

That Shence Army was led by Tian Lingzi.

Strictly speaking, Tian Lingzi was still Li Cenji's former superior.

Seeing the slight change in his expression, Zheng Tian said, "You're aware of his bad reputation, aren't you?"

Li Cenji nodded and said, "Tian Lingzi once served as the Lieutenant of the Shence Army, and I served under him."

Zheng Tian said, "This man is now deeply favored by the emperor, holding the positions of General of the Left and Right Golden Guards, in charge of the Four Guards, and Duke of Jin. He wields immense power in the court. Since he has spoken ill of me before the emperor, the selection of the military governor of Fengxiang will no longer be up to me alone."

He slowly picked up the teacup, but didn't drink from it. He just held it in his palm for a while before finally saying, "Jingzhi, it is I who have dragged you down."

Zheng Tian placed the teacup back on the table, looking at Li Cenji with weariness and helplessness in his eyes: "Tian Lingzi truly wants to control me. You are my disciple, and the acting governor whom I personally promoted. If he were to smoothly make you the military governor of Fengxiang, wouldn't that confirm the accusation that I am cultivating a private faction and plotting rebellion? He wants to use the suppression of you to warn me. This man is narrow-minded and jealous of talent. He has been by the emperor's side for many years and enjoys his deep trust; the emperor often listens to what he says. If he is determined to stop you, even if you stay in Chang'an and meet the emperor in person, you may not gain anything. On the contrary, he might find a pretext to keep you in court, a promotion in name only, and strip you of your military power."

At that time, you will be like a tiger trapped in a cage, possessing great skills but unable to use them.

Zheng Tian paused here, then continued, "When Wang Chongrong took command of the Hezhong military governorship, he was neither anyone's disciple nor anyone's confidant. The court appointed him military governor because he held the military power in Hezhong, and the court was powerless to reclaim it, so it could only go with the flow. But you are different. You have me, your mentor, in court, and you also have the status of a member of the imperial clan. If you were to command tens of thousands of troops in Fengxiang and Longyou, how could Tian Lingzi be at ease?"

After hearing these words, Li Cenji remained silent for a long time.

The candlelight on the table flickered, casting his face in alternating light and shadow.

He looked up at Zheng Tian and saw that his mentor's face was ashen, his eyes were full of bags, and his thin body sat at the desk like a candle in the wind, which might be extinguished at any moment.

A sudden pang of sorrow welled up in his heart, and his resentment subsided somewhat.

He stood up and bowed deeply to Zheng Tian: "Master, what should I do after returning to Fengxiang?"

Zheng Tian looked at him and saw that although he had a look of resentment on his face, he did not have the slightest sign of blaming others or complaining about fate. He nodded to himself inwardly.

He said slowly, "After returning to Fengxiang, you will consider yourself the military governor, and you will have full authority over all matters in the town. You will only need to do three things:

Train the troops, pacify the people, and stockpile grain. Don't think about or do anything else. If the court issues an edict, receive it respectfully; if an envoy comes, treat him politely. Don't argue with anyone, don't hold grudges. If you govern Fengxiang well, then with a strong army, prosperous people, and ample grain, even if Tian Lingzi wants to harm you, he'll have to consider his own strength.

Li Cenji memorized every word of these teachings, pondered for a long time, and nodded emphatically, saying, "This disciple will remember my master's teachings."

Seeing his prompt agreement, Zheng Tian smiled and said, "Don't worry, I'm also in the court, and I have a few old friends who can speak on my behalf. Tian Lingzi's attempt to control everything won't be so easy. You can go back to Fengxiang with peace of mind, and I'll keep an eye on things for you in Chang'an."

Li Cenji stood up, straightened his robes, and bowed deeply to Zheng Tian: "Master, you have thought so much for your disciple. I have no way to repay you but to devote myself to your work and live up to your high expectations."

Zheng Tian accepted the bow but remained silent.

He leaned against the pillow, gazing at the dim oil lamp on the ceiling, his eyes somewhat distant.

After a long while, he said softly, "Jingzhi, I am fifty-six years old this year. I don't know how much longer I can hold on with this frail body. You must remember that this world ultimately belongs to you young people. This is the best path I can pave for you. How you walk from here on out is entirely up to you."

Li Cenji's throat tightened, wanting to say something, but he felt a warm lump in his throat, and all the words he wanted to say were stuck there. In the end, he could only say two words: "My mentor—"

Zheng Tian waved his hand and laughed, "Alright, alright, I was just speaking the truth, and you're acting like a spoiled child. Go on, pack your things, and set off in a few days. No need to come to say goodbye, lest I feel unhappy."

Li Cenji suppressed a lump in his throat, bowed deeply again, and then left the room.

The night is dark.

He stood under the eaves, the night breeze brushing his face, carrying a hint of early spring chill.

Looking up, I saw a waning moon on the horizon, its clear light casting a shimmering shadow on the old locust tree in the courtyard.

He suddenly remembered that several years ago, when the original owner was still in the Shence Army, he had seen Tian Lingzi from afar on the training ground:

The man sat high on the command platform, clad in magnificent armor, with a fair complexion. His long, narrow eyes swept over the troops below, a faint smile playing on his lips.

At that time, the original owner felt that this person was scheming and not to be approached.

However, the original owner at that time was not only a minor captain, but also did not even have the right to speak to him, let alone be close to him.

After many twists and turns, he has now achieved great success and become famous throughout the land, but he never expected that the powerful eunuch would eventually become an obstacle in his path.

After two days of preparation, everyone in Xiangjun was ready.

The armor was polished to a gleaming shine, the weapons were sharpened to a razor's edge, the warhorses were well-fed, the supplies were loaded onto the wagons properly, and even the "Li" character flag that had been pierced by an arrow had been repaired and sewn back on, fluttering in the morning light.

Li Cenji later went to Zheng Tian's residence, but only bowed respectfully outside the gate and did not go inside.

He whispered through the door, "Take care, Master. Your disciple is leaving."

Then he turned and left.

He neither informed Cheng Zongchu nor Qiu Gongyu, and none of the other generals knew about it.

Zheng Tian will inform him of these matters later; he doesn't need to bother him personally.

As dawn broke, Cong Xiangjun quietly set off.

More than two thousand infantry, cavalry, and heavy chariots left the west gate of Chang'an and slowly traveled westward along the official road on the south bank of the Wei River.

The horses' hooves pounded on the still-dampened earth, making muffled thuds. The cart shafts creaked as they rolled over the boundary between the bluestone slabs and the loose soil, the sound carrying far across the open plains.

After traveling about twenty li, the sun had risen high in the sky. Li Cenji was riding in the middle of the group when he suddenly heard the sound of rapid hoofbeats behind him.

He reined in his horse, turned his head, and saw a scout galloping towards them, the rider covered in dust. Upon reaching them, the scout dismounted, knelt on one knee, clasped his hands, and said, "Hold on! A force of about six or seven thousand men is catching up from behind, carrying away the prisoners of Huang Chao. They are flying the banners of Congxiang, and judging by their uniforms, they are soldiers from our town. The lead rider is a man carrying a banner with the character '王' (Wang, meaning king) on ​​it."

Li Cenji was slightly taken aback, then turned his horse around and led a few personal guards toward the rear guard.

Before long, they saw billowing dust at the end of the official road, and a group of people were walking briskly along the official road on the south bank of the Wei River.

The two riders at the front were Wang Lu, the Right Wing Army Commander of Xiang, and Sun Chu, the Chief Clerk.

Behind Wang Lu stood a large troop of infantry and cavalry; judging by their flags and weapons, they were all his own troops.

Li Cenji spurred his horse forward, reined it in by the roadside, and bowed, saying, "Commander Wang, Registrar Sun, what brings you two here? Does Lord Zheng have new orders?"

Wang Lu dismounted, clasped his hands, and said, "I am here to fulfill Duke Zheng's order and bring these several thousand soldiers to accompany you to conquer Xiang."

He paused, wiped the sweat from his brow, and continued, "Lord Zheng said that now that Huang Chao is dead and the rebellion in Guanzhong has been basically quelled, there is little use for the troops left in Chang'an; on the contrary, it would be a waste of provisions. It would be better to let the acting governor take the troops there, which would also replenish the troops in Xiang. Lord Zheng has Ling Baijiying protecting him, so nothing will happen."

Upon hearing this, Li Cenji pondered to himself.

The man beside Zheng Tian, ​​who was riddled with illness, was a well-bred young man carefully selected from among the elite men during his time in Congxiang; each of them was strong and robust.

Skilled in archery and horsemanship, and having experienced the bloody battle of Weiwei, he was no longer the naive young man he once was.

With these hundred men around, ordinary scoundrels cannot get close to them.

If you encounter someone with malicious intent, let alone a hundred, even a thousand, trouble will inevitably ensue.

In Chang'an, the troops were stationed outside the city, while Zheng Tian was inside. If things really got urgent, how could the troops outside the city react in time?

These thoughts flashed through Li Cenji's mind, but his face remained expressionless. He simply cupped his hands and said, "In that case, you two will accompany me to Xiang. Registrar Sun, does Lord Zheng have any other instructions?"

Sun Chu, riding a blue mule, looked dusty but his complexion was better than a few days ago. He cupped his hands and said, "Regent, Lord Zheng only entrusted you with one matter: the affairs of Congxiang will be temporarily handled by me. I am old and reluctant to move, but since Lord Zheng has given the order, I will have to continue to manage things for you for a few more years."

Li Cenji felt a warmth in his heart once again.

Zheng Tian left Sun Chu to him as well. This old clerk had followed his mentor for many years and was well-versed in civil administration and finance. He was a master at governing the local area.

With him around, Cong Xiang's political affairs had a backbone.

He nodded, offering no further pleasantries, and simply said, "Registrar Sun, you've had a long day. Let's talk as we walk."

The two armies joined forces and marched westward along the Wei River in a grand procession.

As the sun rose higher and higher, the warm spring sunshine shone on the Wei River, making it sparkle. The willows on both banks had sprouted tender green buds and swayed gently in the breeze.

In peaceful times, this would be a beautiful sight.

However, along the official road, one could often see barren fields, collapsed houses, charred beams, and groups of refugees huddled in the shade of the trees by the roadside.

Refugees.

Li Cenji reined in his horse, his gaze falling on a group of people slowly traveling westward along the Wei River in the distance.

There were about a hundred people, including men, women, and children. Some carried tattered baskets, some carried bulging bundles, some led emaciated children, and a few elderly people walked with crooked wooden canes.

Their faces were sallow, and their blue robes were tattered. They did not flinch when they saw this vast army.

Perhaps they had become numb from the repeated ravages of war, powerless to escape and with nowhere to hide, so they walked huddled together by the roadside like a herd of abandoned livestock.

Li Cenji sighed inwardly and turned his gaze away from the congealed food.

He glanced at Zhao Zhang and said in a low voice, "Sir."

After Zhao Zhang "died of illness" and escaped, he pretended to be a staff member under Li Cenji, wearing a blue cloth robe and mingling among the military officers. Ordinary people just thought he was Li Cenji's newly hired scribe.

Hearing Li Cenji call him, he urged his horse forward half a step, cupped his hands, and said, "What are your orders, Lord?"

Li Cenji gestured towards the refugees and said, "I'd like to take these people in. Firstly, it would provide relief to the people and preserve the dignity of the court; secondly, if these people were settled in Congxiang, it would increase the population and help cultivate wasteland. What do you think, sir?"

Zhao Zhang followed his gaze, looked for a while, stroked his short beard, and said, "If the Regent has this intention, I am willing to go on his behalf and speak with these people. If we can persuade them, it will be a good start."

Li Cenji nodded in agreement, and Zhao Zhang then selected more than ten soldiers and rode off towards the group of refugees.

Li Cenji watched from afar as Zhao Zhang dismounted, walked to the group of refugees, bowed, and said a few words.

At first, the refugees were somewhat timid and dared not answer.

However, Zhao Zhang spoke slowly and deliberately, without any official airs. After asking a few casual questions, the people gradually relaxed.

An old man stepped forward, trembling, and said something.

Zhao Zhang then took a few steps closer to him and said a few more words.

The old man suddenly knelt down and kowtowed repeatedly.

Several women nearby also knelt down upon seeing this.

Before long, about a hundred people were kneeling on the ground. Zhao Zhang stepped forward to help them up one by one, and then pointed towards Li Cenji.

The refugees followed his hand and looked up at his chest, their eyes filled with hope, like parched seedlings receiving a timely rain.

About the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Zhao Zhang rode over on horseback.

With a hint of joy on his face, he cupped his hands and said, "Regimental Governor, those people are willing to follow the army westward. I told them that after we arrive at Congxiang, we will distribute land, rent oxen, farming tools and seeds, and reduce our grain tax by half in the first year. They were overjoyed to hear this and all said they were willing to go with me."

Li Cenji felt a slight sense of relief and said, "Thank you for your trouble, sir."

Zhao Zhang shook his head and said, "Regimental Commander, this is just the beginning. I believe there will be many refugees along the way westward. We don't need to persuade them one by one; we just need to let them follow the army. Any more refugees we encounter later will follow. People have a herd mentality. A person traveling alone is uneasy; two people traveling together are more confident; if they see a large group of people walking in the same direction, those behind will naturally follow. At that time, the Rear Commander only needs to have the soldiers in the rear maintain order and prevent the crowd from becoming chaotic. I guess that as we continue westward, there might not even be many households left in a single county."

Li Cenji understood. Just as he was about to speak, Zhao Zhang said again, "Leave me behind, I have one more thing to say."

Li Cenji said, "Please speak, sir."

Zhao Zhang lowered his voice: "Your Excellency, do you know that when I was talking to those refugees just now, I noticed something interesting: among them were not only refugees fleeing from other places, but also local farmers. That old man was a farmer from a nearby village. He still had some meager land, but he abandoned it and followed the large group westward. I asked him why he abandoned his land, and he said: 'Even if I planted the land, there would be no harvest. There are no seeds, no oxen, and there's no one in charge at the county office. The tax collectors come every few days to collect taxes, but who will till the land for me? Who will plant the seeds for me?' Your Excellency, I think that along this journey, not only refugees, but even those farmers who still have land and tenant farmers who have lost their masters' protection, would be willing to go if given a way to survive."

Upon hearing this, Li Cenji's heart stirred.

He lowered his voice and said, "Sir, are you saying that even the local people can be taken away?"

Zhao Zhang nodded and said frankly, "Exactly. Zhang Dou Lei asked the Regent: Is the Regent afraid of being investigated by the court?"

Li Cenji laughed and said, "I am not afraid. Does the court still have time to care about these things? The emperor is still in Chengdu, and the officials in the court are too busy to care about anything else. Who has time to manage how many people have been relocated and how much land has been abandoned in the counties of Guanzhong? If I were to take these people to Chaohuoxiang, give them land, seeds, and oxen, and let them live and work in peace, it would be a good deed that would bring them good fortune."

Zhao Zhang laughed and said, "That's simple. The heir only needs to promise that after the arrival of Congxiang, each household will be allocated land, regardless of gender or age, according to the number of people. Oxen will be rented out, and no rent will be charged for the first three years. Seeds and farm tools will be loaned by the government, and will be repaid after the harvest. The first year will be tax-free, the second year half-taxed, and the third year normal tax will be paid. With such benefits, not to mention those farmers who have no surplus grain, even those whose families are still well-off will be tempted. As for those who really can't bear to part with their ancestral homes and graves, the heir need not be forced; let them stay in their local area. Everyone has their own ambitions, and forced melons are not sweet."

Upon hearing this, Li Cenji's doubts vanished.

He pondered for a moment and said, "I will do as you say, sir. However, this matter requires someone to handle it, and I don't have many eloquent people under my command. Would you be willing to make the trip yourself, sir?"

Zhao Zhang cupped his hands and said, "I am willing to go. However, you must leave me a written order afterward, specifying all the above terms and affixing your seal, so that I can demonstrate to the people that it is not just empty talk."

'