Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
After the battle of Songzhou concluded, Tuguhun retreated to the northwest of the Tuguhun, hesitant to mobilize troops again. This invasion of Songzhou was not aimed at seizing Tang territory but rather to compel the Tang Dynasty to arrange a marriage. However, they did not anticipate that the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty would not only refuse the marriage proposal but also send a large army to confront them. If Tuguhun did not withdraw their forces and continued fighting, Qizong Nongsan's goal of seeking a marriage alliance would become even more unattainable.
Moreover, Qizong Nongsan was the new king of Tubo, and at that time, Tuguhun was unstable internally due to years of warfare. The various factions that had submitted required time for proper appeasement. Ministers like Luo Dongzan had to advise retreat due to uncertainties in their rear. Engaging in a decisive battle with the Tang army would be a reckless gamble.
The Tang army, bolstered by Feng Lei's momentum and talents like Xu Zhen, who seemed capable of summoning the powers of thunder and fire, appeared almost invincible. At that moment, even sending Niu Jinda had already proven formidable; if more generals were dispatched, how could Tuguhun withstand such pressure?
While Tuguhun hesitated, the Tang army also had its considerations. Tuguhun quickly withdrew its troops to the northwest border of the Tuguhun and sent Luo Dongzan as an envoy to apologize, indicating they would not pursue further. The Heavenly Kingdom of Tang sought not total annihilation but rather for all foreign tribes to submit.
Tuguhun was a newly emerging force with no prior interactions with the Tang Dynasty. At that time, with invasions imminent from Xue Yantuo in the north and remnants of Western Turkic in the northwest causing disturbances, the Tang Dynasty preferred not to engage in a major conflict with Tuguhun to avoid unnecessary depletion of resources.
Both sides had their concerns, leading to a hasty conclusion of this war. If one were to assess the outcomes seriously, it was clear that the Tang Dynasty achieved greater victories. With Tuguhun's submission and pacification in the west, the prestige of the Tang Kingdom grew even more formidable, instilling awe across all seas.
Luo Dongzan from Tuguhun offered five thousand taels of gold, countless jewels and treasures, and numerous servants as tribute while accompanying Li Daozong back to Chang'an to apologize.
Xu Zhen had just recovered from her injuries but felt no joy because among Tuguhun's envoys was an old acquaintance—Murong Hanzhu!
The appearance of Murong Hanzhu among Tuguhun's envoys surprised Li Daozong and others. After exchanging greetings, they learned he was from the Boling Cui Clan, which immediately earned their respect.
During the Sui-Tang period, many prominent families existed, leading to sayings about seven clans and five surnames as great historical families. In the early Zhenguan Era, among clan rankings, Cui Clan held the top position.
The Cui Clan has been renowned since Han through Tang and flourished greatly alongside other ancient families such as Longxi Li Clan, Zhao Jun Li Family, Xingyang Zheng Clan, Fan Yang Lu Clan, and Taiyuan Wang Clan.
Historical records indicate that from Han to Song over a thousand years, high-ranking officials from Boling and Qinghe Cui Clans never ceased. During the Southern and Northern Dynasties period, there were ten prime ministers from Cui Clan and twenty-six who received noble titles; by the height of Tang prosperity, there were twenty-seven prime ministers and over four hundred officials at various ranks—truly a remarkable achievement unmatched by other families.
For this reason, the surname Cui is often referred to as "the surname of prime ministers." A popular saying circulated at that time claimed that "Cui family's ugly daughters need not worry about marriage while royal princesses do."
The Cui Clan further divided into Qinghe and Boling branches; Murong Hanzhu is actually Cui Hanzhu from Boling Cui Clan!
Although Luo Dongzan was also well-versed in Tang Fengtu strategies, he could not compare with Murong Hanzhu. Murong had established numerous informants within Tang territory; his intelligence was thorough and he understood current affairs intricately. His demeanor exuded confidence and charm that won people's hearts.
When asked about his past experiences, Murong Hanzhu recounted his loyal service under Guanghua and how he assisted Tang forces in overturning events during the Tuguhun at Fushi City. His contributions were significant during Li Daozong's surprise attack alongside Hou Junji; however, due to Murong Hanzhu's ties with Guanghua's royal lineage from a previous dynasty, he had ulterior motives which prevented him from returning directly to Tang.
Now appearing as an envoy for Tuguhun, Murong Hanzhu solidified his reputation further through this goodwill gesture towards Li Daozong. His fame among people surged significantly.
Although Xu Zhen remained wary of Murong Hanzhu due to his past affiliations, she felt constrained by his status as an envoy and her newfound favor with individuals like Niu Jinda. As Murong Hanzhu came to Chang'an with Luo Dongzan to apologize for Tuguhun’s actions—a moment showcasing military achievements—it would be unwise for her to confront him directly lest she provoke public outrage; thus she chose to tolerate him.
On March 23rd, amidst heavy rain that night, Li Daozong gathered his generals for discussions regarding accolades for their achievements. All generals convened together unanimously proposed Xu Zhen should receive primary recognition. However, she humbly declined this honor; thus they divided accolades among themselves with everyone pleased by their share.
The meeting concluded, and Li Daozong hosted a grand banquet, inviting Murong Hanzhu to join. The Xu Zhen showed little interest, drank a few cups, and excused herself due to her injuries, leaving the table hastily. Zhi Shili, a former general of the Turkic, was somewhat out of place, sitting in a corner. He then took the opportunity to escort the Xu Zhen, and the two walked side by side.
Xu Zhenzhi had previously turned enemies into friends with the Salarian. Gao He Shu and others like Caesar and Moya were mostly from the Rouran People and had close ties with Qibi Helix. They held no prejudice against Foreigners and even respected them, so they got along well with Zhi Shili. Upon arriving at the temporary residence, they quickly invited Zhi Shili inside for drinks.
Zhi Shili was not as bold as Qibi Helix; he seemed to have a more delicate disposition but was still a passionate young man. The Xu Zhen took this chance to inquire about Xue Rengui. Zhi Shili was momentarily unable to respond, clearly lacking a deep impression of him.
The Xu Zhen was puzzled; after all, Xue Rengui was known for his bravery and intelligence and should have been a notable figure in the military. However, judging by Zhi Shili's reaction, it seemed that Xue Rengui had been overlooked, likely due to the jealousy of his peers.
Seizing the day, since Xue Rengui had been mentioned, the Xu Zhen took the opportunity to ask Zhi Shili to bring him over. Knowing that the Xu Zhen had a good relationship with Qibi Helix and wanting to foster ties with her, Zhi Shili readily agreed. The Xu Zhen was delighted and they drank until late into the night before sending Zhi Shili back.
Meanwhile, Xue Rengui felt quite frustrated. This battle should have been his moment of fame, but due to relying on the reputation of the Xue family to enter the military, he faced suppression from his colleagues and received little recognition for his achievements. On this rainy day, he found himself drinking alone.
Though he was a Captain with a family and maintained integrity without indulging in women, he did not accept maidservants to attend to him. After pouring himself drinks for half a day and finishing off three jars of wine, he was about to go out in search of more when he heard a hearty voice outside.
"Brother Xue is here! It's me, Zhou Cang! Hahaha!"
Xue Rengui hurriedly opened the door to find Zhou Cang carrying two large jars of wine. The aroma of aged liquor wafted through the air as he entered. Overjoyed at this unexpected visit, just as he was about to welcome Zhou Cang inside, he noticed behind him stood the renowned Loyal Martial General and Xu Zhen!
"Xue Li greets the General!"
Xue Rengui quickly bowed in respect. Zhou Cang pushed a jar of wine toward him and playfully scolded him: "Brother Xue, don't be so formal! Our Lord is not one of those pretentious corrupt officials; what need is there for such empty courtesy?"
The Xu Zhen shook her head with a wry smile but took no offense. She said to Xue Rengui: "This isn't official business; it's just a casual visit among friends. Don't mind it too much; just calling me Xu Zhen is enough! Hahaha."
At first, Xue Rengui felt intimidated by Zhou Cang's boisterous demeanor but soon realized that the Loyal Martial General was indeed as friendly as rumored—treating his subordinates like brothers and being very approachable. It was truly rare to encounter such kindness!
Feeling grateful for this realization, Xue Rengui quickly arranged for a feast and invited the Xu Zhen to take the lead seat. She did not mention how she would transfer Xue Rengui under her command; instead, they enjoyed fine wine together while Zhou Cang engaged in discussions about martial arts until they were thoroughly entertained.
After sending Xu Zhenzhi away, Xue Rengui sighed deeply. Although he possessed courage and skill, he was still inexperienced in navigating court politics. That such an esteemed Loyal Martial General would take the initiative to visit him was already an indication of his own naivety; if he could gain such support from his superiors, what worries would he have about achieving success?
After pondering throughout the night, it seemed that Xue Rengui finally had an epiphany. The next day he brought gifts and fine wine to return the visit at Xu Zhen's residence. Zhou Cang introduced him to many brothers like Zhang Jiunian one by one. The Xu Zhen displayed no airs; their interactions were warm and friendly—truly like brothers—which made Xue Rengui envious.
As everyone enjoyed themselves heartily, Zhou Cang's excitement led him to set up an arena in the hall where many brothers took turns wrestling for fun. The newly healed Xu Zhen couldn't resist joining in on the sparring match. However, Zhou Cang showed no mercy and knocked her down hard during their bout. Furious at being bested, she scolded Zhou Cang for failing to protect her and drew her sword intending to take revenge on him. The master and servant chased each other playfully while Zhang Suling cleverly tripped Zhou Cang from behind while secretly feeling sorry for Xu Zhen; she then joined in with punches against Zhou Cang as everyone burst into laughter.
Xue Rengui felt bittersweet watching this lively atmosphere; if only he had encountered such a wise leader like Xu Zhen when he first joined the army—his career wouldn't have been so fraught with difficulties!
Zhou Cang was merely careless while Zhang Jiunian saw through everything clearly. Taking advantage of their drinking session, he asked Xue Rengui about his troubles: "Brother Xue, why do you seem so downcast? Is it possible that we haven't treated you well?"
Xue Rengui quickly returned the courtesy and explained, "Not at all! The general has treated me with great kindness, but Xue Li's fate is humble and his blessings few, so I have no chance to serve under the general. That is why I sigh..."
Zhang Jiunian, already aware of Xu Zhenxin's intentions, took the opportunity to ask, "Brother Xue, do you truly have such thoughts?"
Xue Rengui smiled bitterly and said, "A good bird chooses its tree to perch on; a wise minister chooses his lord to serve. Although I am unworthy, if I can serve under General Jinyang, would I not dare to face death?"
Zhang Jiunian nodded repeatedly, smiling without speaking.
On that day, Xue Rengui received a document from the Chief of Staff in the army, officially transferring him to serve under General Jinyang as a Captain with real power. After sending off the Chief of Staff, Xue Rengui felt a surge of emotions, as if he had found his place. He tightly held onto that document as if it were his future!
Having secured Xue Rengui, Xu Zhenxin was overjoyed and temporarily forgot about the troubles caused by Murong Hanzhu accompanying the army. Instead, Li Wushuang came to see him frequently but seemed hesitant to speak. Seeing that General Jinyang remained unmoved, she left in frustration each time.
General Jinyang was not an inexperienced girl; she naturally understood the girl's feelings. However, upon returning to court this time, the Sage would undoubtedly grant land to Tuguhun. As they became a vassal state, a marriage alliance would be arranged to ensure stability and prevent future troubles after military campaigns against Liao.
Li Wushuang had long become the prime candidate for marriage to Tuguhun. Li Daozong had recently achieved military merit; if he were to advise against this marriage now, Li Wushuang might avoid it. However, Li Daozong might also fall out of favor with the Sage because of this advice, making it a troublesome dilemma.
Thus, after much hesitation, they ultimately returned to Chang'an.
Comment 0 Comment Count