Tang Dynasty Swordsman.

Li Ji wanted to tell Li Yu: This matter is easy to resolve. Just give the regional military governors an explanation for Lai Zhen's death, severely punish Luo Fengxian, and even abolish the eunuch-supervised military system. This will naturally restore the trust of the Pugu father and son in the court, and the Shuofang army will never rebel. However, Li Bi had warned him beforehand: Don't mention these two matters!

Because bringing up these two matters clearly indicates that the responsibility lies entirely with the court, or even the emperor. In that case, one's actions would be no different from those of Pugu Huai'en—purely stirring up trouble, and would absolutely not help to resolve the matter satisfactorily.

How should he phrase it? Li Ji was pondering when he suddenly heard the woman on the imperial couch ask, "I've heard that Minister Li is well acquainted with the Pugu father and son. Can you ascertain whether the Shuofang army will rebel or not?"

Li Ji recognized the voice and looked up to see—wait, it was her!

Chapter Thirty: Questioning the Emperor at Taiye Lake

Li Ji had received help from Pugu Huai'en when he was in dire straits, and had even been given a fine bow as a gift. He couldn't help but remember the kindness shown to him. Although after several interactions, he grew somewhat disgusted by Pugu Huai'en's arrogance and Pugu Yang's rudeness, who is without fault? Between friends, minor flaws can be overlooked.

This is how it used to be...

However, outside Huian Gate in Luoyang, Li Ji almost broke ties with Pugu and his son in order to protect the people of the city. Pugu Yang openly declared that he wanted to sever ties, but Pugu Huai'en stopped him. After that, he would only nod politely when he met Li Ji and refused to exchange another word.

As a result, Pugu Huaien sidelined Li Ji, preventing him from facing strong enemies head-on and gaining more opportunities to make merit in the Hebei campaign.

To say that Li Ji did not resent Pugu and his son because of this would be a lie—Li Erlang also had a temper!

When Lai Zhen was executed, Li Ji merely lamented that the court had acted too hastily in this matter, which was of no benefit to the overall situation. He did not sympathize with Lai Zhen—that guy deserved it! But if Pugu and his son were to be imprisoned or even killed for treason, he would never remain indifferent and would definitely lend a helping hand.

He used to want to help even Kang Laohu, so how could his relationship with Pugu and his son be worse than that with Kang Qian?

Considering the bigger picture, it is crucial to stabilize the Pugu father and son at this juncture and absolutely not to force the Shuofang army into rebellion. Leaving aside the fact that Shuofang is a powerful military force and a vital northern stronghold, the relationship between the Pugu father and son and the Uyghurs and other Hu tribes means that any unrest would inevitably lead to unpredictable and perilous situations. Furthermore, with a fierce battle looming between us and the Tibetans, neither Shuofang nor Hedong can afford any further major unrest.

Just as Li Ji was pondering how to persuade Li Yu to pardon Pugu and his son, he heard a woman on the imperial bed asking him a question. Li Ji looked up—wait, I thought it was a concubine, and I was even thinking to myself, Li Yu, don't you learn from Empress Zhang's lesson? Are you still planning to let the harem interfere in politics? It turned out to be Princess Hezheng, whom I had met a few times before!

The last time they met was when Li Ji got married. Princess Ningguo and Princess Hezheng came to his residence, posing as relatives of the groom, and caused trouble for the bride. Cui Cuo later said, "If I had known that you could get the princesses to come to your residence, I wouldn't have married you—especially Princess Hezheng, I don't know where she got so many tricks up her sleeve, she was exhausting, but I dared not disobey..."

Li Ji had heard before that Princess Hezheng possessed a strong, masculine spirit, and that Li Heng praised her as the reincarnation of Princess Pingyang (Li Yuan's daughter). There were even rumors that when Li Heng scolded his sons, he said, "If Hezheng were a boy, I would have made her the crown prince immediately; there would be no need for you useless lot!"

In Li Ji's imagination, Princess Hezheng should be seven feet tall, with a healthy and beautiful physique, a neutral appearance, and an imposing demeanor... Unfortunately, she was not as famous as she was in person. She was just an ordinary-looking middle-aged woman with a rather haggard appearance. Moreover, she may have given birth too many times, as she was too plump and had a thick waist.

Of course, appearances can be deceiving. Just look at Princess Ningguo's appearance; no one could have predicted that she possessed a gentle yet firm nature, daring to speak her mind. Therefore, it was only natural for Li Yu to invite his sister, who was far more capable than himself, to advise him on state affairs.

Anyway, it's better than calling out his concubines. Li Ji disliked the interference of the harem in politics because it was uncontrollable, but he didn't dislike women participating in politics. Besides, judging from the current situation, it was unlikely that another Princess Taiping would emerge.

After the initial shock, he quickly regained his composure, slightly lifted his buttocks off the wooden block, and replied to Princess Hezheng with his hands clasped, "Your subject guarantees that the Shuofang army will not rebel."

Upon hearing this, Li Yu's spirits lifted slightly, and he hurriedly asked, "Could you elaborate?"

Li Ji said, "The Shuofang army is full of fine men of our Tang Dynasty, who have fought countless battles to defend against invaders. The late emperor's ascension to the throne in Lingwu was also due to the support of Shuofang. How could they betray the court because of a temporary grievance? However, if the court does not handle this matter properly, a rebellion like the one in Jiangzhou may very well occur..."

Li Yu frowned and asked, "The court is about to engage in a fierce battle with the Western Barbarians. If the riots in Jiangzhou recur, it could ruin the overall situation. What do you think is the best course of action?"

Li Ji looked around and said, "As a general in the field, I cannot say much—I wonder how the Chancellor plans for Your Majesty?"

Li Shi seized the opportunity to continue the conversation: "This matter has not yet been brought before the Council of State Affairs. Lord Cheng's idea is to urgently summon Pugu and his son back to court to defend themselves. If they do not return, they must be truly rebelling, and Xin Yunjing and others can be ordered to suppress them. However, Mr. Changyuan and I believe that we should not push them too far. Changwei should agree with my opinion, right?"

Li Yu waved his hand: "Stop talking. I want to hear Changwei's opinion."

You little rascal, I know you're close to Li Ji, and Li Ji is Li Bi's cousin. If you just lay out your and Li Bi's ideas first, how could Li Ji dare to say no?

"Changwei, you once fought alongside Pugu and his son, what kind of people do you think they are?"

Without hesitation, Li Ji replied directly, "Barbarians."

Li Bi interrupted, "Don't speak recklessly! Pugu and his family have long been loyal to the Tang Dynasty. How can you still regard them as barbarians? I haven't heard of any deep-seated hatred between you and them. Are you trying to kill him and his son by saying this? You should consider the bigger picture..."

Li Yu, not wanting to reprimand Li Bi, simply continued to ask Li Ji with apparent interest, "And what about the barbarians?"

Li Ji replied, “The Hu are Hu, ignorant of national righteousness, only clinging to personal grudges. Pugu and his son rose from minor chieftains of the Hu tribes, joined the Shuofang army during the Kaiyuan and Tianbao eras, and followed Minister Guo in suppressing rebellions. They survived hundreds of battles, with over forty members of their family dying in the process. Their contributions to our Tang Dynasty were immense. Yet Your Majesty rewarded them with high titles, appointing them as the military governor of Shuofang, deputy marshal of Hebei, and the Prince of Daning, placing them in high office and making them famous throughout the land. They regard our Tang Dynasty as their homeland and Your Majesty as their parents. It is common in China for rulers to doubt their subjects and for parents to doubt their children. Subjects should be honest and not harbor any resentment. But it is different for the Hu. They have not received the teachings of the sages, and they only express their feelings from the heart. Thus, when parents doubt their children and rulers doubt their subjects, the subjects suffer twice the pain and utter disrespectful words.”

Cheng Yuanzhen pointed at the memorial that Li Ji had just put down, written by Pugu Huaien, and said with displeasure, "His words are not only insolent, but downright rebellious!"

Li Ji turned to Cheng Yuanzhen and said, “Master Cheng, you are like a son who has served his parents for a long time, familiar with their temperament, and you have also studied the classics, knowing filial piety and how to conduct yourself properly. My father and I are like sons who have been away from home for a long time, and we have not studied or understood reason. But as human beings, we are not necessarily without filial piety. Rebellious words are common in the family. Should our parents just abandon us because of this?”

He then turned to Li Yu and said, “Your Majesty, the Pugu family has been loyal to the king and has lost more than forty men for the country. If you were to expel them hastily, it would not only be like cutting off your own arm, but it would also chill the hearts of the other military governors. Even though I am loyal to Your Majesty, I have no more than forty men in my family who are worth dying for. Among the military governors of the empire, no family has surpassed the Pugu family in terms of merit. If the Pugu family had any rebellious intentions, they could have rebelled when they were fighting against the An Lushan rebels. Who could have stopped them? If they did not rebel during the chaos, but rebelled after the chaos was quelled, then they would be in the wrong. How can this be shown to the people of the empire? I implore Your Majesty to make a wise decision.”

Li Yu leaned back slightly, resting against the low table beside the couch, his hands tucked into his sleeves, and slowly said, "Your meaning is that the Pugu father and son may not have any rebellious intentions, but they dislike Xin Yunjing and fear the court's suspicion... Moreover, if we force them to rebel, it will greatly shake the court's prestige." He paused, then asked, "So, what do you think we should do? Should we just ignore it?"

Li Ji turned to Cheng Yuanzhen and bowed, saying, "What you say is true, Master Cheng. We should summon Pugu and his son back to court to defend themselves..." He then turned to Li Shi, saying, "The words of the Prince of Yong are also reasonable. The key is for the envoys we send to understand the general situation and know how to adapt. We should not push the father and son too far."

Li Yu chuckled: "You're good at playing the good guy, not offending either side."

Princess Hezheng interjected, "In Li Qing's opinion, who should be sent to summon Pugu and his son?"

"Naturally, it's Minister Guo."

Li Ji then explained: "Minister Guo has long been in charge of Shuofang and is also the benefactor of the Pugu clan. If he orders them to go to Fenzhou, the Shuofang army will follow suit without hesitation. Even if the Pugu father and son already harbor rebellious intentions, it will be difficult for them to plot a rebellion again. If Minister Guo summons them back to the capital to plead guilty, there will be no need to worry about Hedong and Shuofang."

I could think of such a suitable candidate even though I just returned to Beijing. You must have a good idea, right?

Li Shi habitually interjected, "That's what I thought too."

Cheng Yuanzhen waved his hand and said, "That's not a good idea. Situ is old and has long been estranged from his old troops in Shuofang. What if he is instead held hostage by the Pugu clan?"

Li Ji glanced at him, thinking to himself, "Is this your opinion, or the Emperor's intention? I know that both emperors have always been wary of Guo Ziyi, fearing his growing power and potential threat, thus stripping him of his military command and confining him to Chang'an. Are you worried that if Guo Ziyi were to join forces with the Pugu father and son—whether willingly or unwillingly—the old Minister of Works could rally the troops and cause an even greater upheaval than the An Lushan Rebellion?"

To be honest, I didn't have much contact with Guo Ziyi. Although I respect his achievements and feel sorry for him, I really wouldn't dare to give him any guarantees...

Ignoring Li Shi and Cheng Yuanzhen, he simply clasped his hands in front of Li Yu and said, "As an official in an outlying region, I am not very familiar with the talents of the central court. The only envoy I can think of to go to Fenzhou is Minister Guo. Your Majesty's decision is wise."

Anyway, I'll answer your questions, but the final decision is none of my business—I'm not a powerful minister, and my words don't count.

Li Yu pondered for a long time, then suddenly stretched out his legs as if to get down, saying, "My legs are numb from sitting for so long—I can get a cane."

Princess Hezheng wanted to help her brother, but Li Yu waved her hand to stop her. Then a eunuch handed over a rosewood cane that was shoulder-high, and Li Yu leaned on it to support himself.

Li Ji thought to himself, "You're not even forty yet, and you already need a cane? Looks like you're not going to live a long life..."

He hurriedly stood up with everyone. But then he saw Li Yu leaning on his cane, slowly walking towards the outside of the hall. He then waved his hand and said, "I'm tired. I'll go outside and get some fresh air... Li Ji, you may walk with me for a few steps."

This meant they were to speak with him alone. Li Ji understood and hurriedly followed, while the others bowed deeply in farewell. Immediately afterwards, Cheng Yuanzhen called to several junior eunuchs to light lanterns and follow the two at a distance.

Not far north of Penglai Palace lies Taiye Pond. Li Yu slowly approached the pond's edge, and, perhaps having finally warmed up his legs, he put away his cane, holding it with both hands behind his back. Li Ji took a few steps closer and stood to his side and slightly behind him.

Li Yu slowly said, "I killed Lai Zhen because I hate him..."

Li Ji dared not say much, but simply listened attentively.

"Wang Zhongsheng was besieged in Shenzhou, but Lai Zhen refused to come to his aid due to personal resentment, which led to Zhongsheng's capture by the enemy. This is similar to the siege of Suiyang in the past. Changwei, you must also deeply hate Helan Jinming and Xu Shuji, right? You should be able to understand my feelings."

Li Ji thought to himself, "I didn't mention Lai Tian. You brought it up first. Since you've brought this up, I'll have to say something about it."

"Your Majesty, Lai Zhen has ultimately rendered service to the country and his crimes can be redeemed. Even if his crimes are unforgivable, he should be dealt with according to the law at the Imperial Secretariat, rather than being forced to commit suicide by imperial decree, which would cause public outcry."

Li Yu slowly turned around and stared at Li Ji: "Are you saying that even Xu Shuji cannot be killed without trial?"

Upon hearing this, Li Ji's heart skipped a beat, but he remained outwardly calm, merely lowering his head slightly: "Xu Shuji has indeed surrendered to the rebels, but how can he be compared to Lai Zhen? Moreover, in my humble opinion, it is sufficient to remove certain people from their posts and weaken their power; there is no need to take their lives. Lai Zhen is merely a military man, but without command of troops, he is incompetent. Human life is ultimately only one; once it is dead, it cannot be brought back to life. Your Majesty holds the reins of power over the world; you must be cautious in killing people."

The more someone like you can be ordered to kill someone at any time, the more careful you need to be. I'm different; sometimes I can only resort to tricks in private. Whether you really know that Xu Shuji was killed by me or you're just guessing, I will never admit it without evidence.

“For some people, simply removing them from their posts and weakening their power is not enough; their lives need not be taken,” Li Yu slowly repeated Li Ji’s words, then asked, “But for others, even removing them from their posts and weakening their power is not enough; only suicide can ensure peace of mind both inside and outside the country? Like Li Fuguo?”

Li Ji thought to himself, "Emperor, do you have to be so shrewd? Just be a decent, incompetent emperor, why act like you have everything under control? Did you rebuild the 'Hall of Inspectorate Affairs' or something?"

But thinking about it again, Li Yu had been the crown prince for many years and had seen countless intrigues and schemes. He should have accumulated some experience by now. So, it's not impossible that I had some involvement in Li Fuguo's suicide. Besides, I didn't really intend to hide it. Even if I explicitly said that I persuaded Li Fuguo to commit suicide, there was no corresponding provision in the Tang law that could punish me, right?

“Your Majesty, Lai Zhen was executed without his crimes being clearly stated, which inevitably caused the generals to feel a sense of shared sorrow; even if Li Fuguo was executed rather than committed suicide, most of the palace eunuchs would be happy to see it happen…” For example, Cheng Yuanzhen would certainly be pleased—“Lai Zhen only implicated Wang Zhongsheng and had no grudges against the generals, while Li Fuguo had been in power for several years and committed many illegal acts, which were hated both inside and outside the court. Although the deaths of these two men are pitiable, their impact on the court cannot be compared.”

Li Yu hesitated for a moment before finally explaining, "There are many things that Shi'er dares not hide from me..." He then sighed, "Alas, killing Lai Zhen was indeed a bit hasty."

He waved his hand, ending the topic: "Let's not talk about Lai Zhen. As for Yu Pugu and his son, do you really think they won't rebel?"

"I dare not make any guarantees... Everyone has seven emotions and six desires, joy and sorrow, hatred and resentment. If we can prevent the generals from harboring resentment in the court, then even if they do, we can take away their military power to prevent chaos. If Pugu and his son rebel, it will be a great harm to the country, but it will also be of no benefit to their family. However, if we push them too far... even a rabbit will bite when cornered, let alone the barbarians."

Li Yu stared intently at Li Ji and asked, enunciating each word clearly, "If Changwei were to place Pugu and his son in a dangerous location, what decision would you make?"

Chapter Thirty-One: The Princess's Recommendation

Li Ji's view of Li Yu was complex, even contradictory. On the one hand, he disliked Li Yu's weakness, but at the same time, he deeply appreciated Li Yu's loyalty. Then, he was more or less worried that Li Yu would follow in his father's footsteps, being weak to barbarians but cold-blooded to his own people—even his father and son—appearing loyal on the surface but harboring deep resentment.

However, for now, he felt that the emperor could still be saved, as long as Li Bi could stay by his side and guide him properly. After all, since ascending the throne, apart from the arbitrary killing of Lai Zhen, Li Yu had not made any major mistakes, unlike Li Heng, who had already failed from the moment that scoundrel trusted Fang Wan and failed to punish him after the defeat.

Not to mention listening to the words of eunuchs and concubines, he was even willing to be ruthless to his own son!

Therefore, Li Ji always pretended to be an "innocent child" in front of Li Heng, seemingly without any guile, in order to lull the emperor into a false sense of security and avoid his suspicion. With Li Yu, however, things were different. They had worked together in the military headquarters, and Li Ji had even helped Li Yu when he was appointed crown prince; the two were much closer in spirit.

Li Ji's soul ultimately came from 1,500 years in the future, lacking reverence for imperial power. Whether facing Li Heng or Li Yu, he treated them only as his superiors, not as feudal monarchs who could decide life and death with a single word—of course, the proper etiquette still had to be observed. However, ultimately, his superiors held his livelihood in their hands, and he couldn't switch jobs, nor did he have the opportunity to start his own business for the time being. So, many times, he had to endure what he had to endure and pretend what he had to pretend.

Compared to his father, Li Ji didn't need to pretend as much in front of Li Yu, and he dared to speak more frankly—this leader had just taken office and lacked prestige, and seemed easier to talk to than his father, plus he himself was a major contributor to Li Yu's rise to power…

Therefore, Li Yu directly questioned him: "If Changwei were to place Pugu and his son in a similar situation, how would you decide?" Li Ji hesitated for a moment, but ultimately chose his words carefully, deciding to say a few more words—

"If my words are disrespectful, I hope Your Majesty will not punish me."

"I pardon you from all guilt, but you may speak freely."

"In the past, during the Tianbao era, the country was strong on the outside but weak on the inside. The civil officials were complacent and the military was idle. An Lushan rebelled in Fanyang and swept through Hebei. He truly had the hope of the world—if he could have treated the people well and if there had been no discord between father and son. Now it is different. The great chaos has just been quelled, and people yearn for stability. Would it not be difficult to shake the state with a single army from Shuofang? If I were Pugu and his son, I would not dare to harbor any rebellious thoughts. I would only seek to preserve my position and salary, and secondly, to live."

"However, there are three examples before the Pugu father and son: Guo Situ entered the court but was relegated to a life of leisure; Lai Zhen returned to the court but died soon after; and Li Taiwei was in Xuzhou but was repeatedly summoned but did not come..."

In April of that year, Li Guangbi completely suppressed Yuan Chao's rebel army. The court summoned him back to the capital, but he made excuses and refused to go. So Li Yu issued an edict, increasing his fief by two thousand households, granting one of his sons the rank of third grade, bestowing upon him an iron certificate, having his name enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple, and having his portrait painted in the Lingyan Pavilion—the conditions were already very generous, but he still refused to return.

"If the generals outside have any other options, they are unwilling to become Minister Guo; even if they were willing to become Minister Guo, they fear the calamity that would befall them. Therefore, the only one they can emulate is Grand Commandant Li. If they harbor rebellious thoughts, they will be walking down a dead end."

Ultimately, it's because your killing of Zhen has chilled the hearts of all the townsmen. Even Li Guangbi didn't dare to return to the capital, let alone others.

“This precedent must not be set. If all the garrisons dare not return to the capital and remain abroad for too long, they will become increasingly estranged from the court and Your Majesty, and the trend of separatism will not only fail but will become a reality. Therefore, I believe that we must summon Pugu and his son back to the capital, but we must give them a way to live and make it clear that they will not be killed, so as to set an example for the world for all the garrisons.”

"I have served Your Majesty for a long time. If I were in the same position as those father and son, I would surely be willing to return to the court..." He thought to himself, "But that might not be the case. If those father and son do not receive good advice and persuasion, I'm afraid they will be in a difficult position."

Li Yu smiled bitterly and said, "You have also read Pugu Huaien's memorial. Even if he is not punished for his arrogance, he still makes me deeply suspicious—who can explain this?"

"Therefore, I recommend Minister Guo."

Li Yu gently shook his head: "I am not suspicious of Minister Guo. I want to ensure his lifelong wealth and honor, which is why I dare not send him to Fenzhou..." He turned halfway around, gazing at the dark Taiye Pond, but suddenly changed the subject: "Changwei, what do you think of Minister of Hebei?"

Upon hearing this, Li Ji's spirits lifted, thinking to himself, "I was just about to have a proper talk with you about the situation in Hebei—"The surrendered generals in Hebei are gradually establishing their own separatist regimes, which will inevitably become a threat to the country in the long run. They should be gradually eliminated..."

"I appointed you to govern Weibo with this intention in mind. However, how should we eliminate you?"

"If Yan and Zhao unite, they will become another Shi Siming; if Yan and Zhao separate, it will not be difficult for the court to destroy them. While I am in Weibo, I will help Your Majesty sow discord among the surrendered generals, and then deal with them one by one."

"Do you have a plan in mind regarding which should come first?"

"Youzhou is to defend against the Khitan and Xi people, so it cannot be touched for the time being; Xue Song is old, so in a few years, Your Majesty can try to summon him to court. If he comes, then there will be no worries; Chengde relies on its strategic location, so it is not convenient to take it lightly; the one who plans first is either Tian Chengsi or Qin Rui!"

"Once I have trained a strong army and established a foothold on the western front, I can seek an opportunity to attack Ji Province or Wu Shun Army. Although I have only been stationed here for a short time, I already know that those two forces have some animosity. I dare to request permission to grant Your Majesty a passage to conquer Guo. Once the two garrisons are secured, Your Majesty can appoint trusted ministers to jointly attack Chengde. After Chengde falls, Zhaoyi Army and Fanyang are separated by a thousand miles and cannot coordinate their attacks. It will not be difficult to eliminate them."

Li Yu nodded slowly: "With your plan, I am at ease."

He then turned to Li Ji and continued to look at him: "If it weren't for your selfless battle in the past, I would have been killed when I was in Ding'an. As for the palace turmoil last year, there's no need to mention it. You saved my life, so I treat you differently from others and have no doubts about you. You should also have no doubts about me..."