r18novel Page 222
Page 222
When Emperor Qing sent Li Chang'an out, he wanted Li Chang'an to stay away for a few more years.
But more than half a year has passed, and Emperor Qing is still hoping that Li Chang'an will return soon.
Li Chang'an holds considerable military power and acts arrogantly, which truly worries Emperor Qing.
If Li Chang'an were to actually raise the flag of rebellion, the Qing Kingdom would instantly split apart.
Moreover, given Li Chang'an's military strength, Emperor Qing had no confidence in suppressing the rebellion in a short time.
Northern Qi Dynasty, Imperial Palace.
Empress Dowager Wei finally received a reply from Li Chang'an.
Upon receiving news that Li Chang'an had stopped returning to the capital, Empress Dowager Wei immediately sent a letter to Li Chang'an.
The meaning is clear: Li Chang'an is to declare himself Emperor of Western Qin and rule over both Western Qin and the northwest of Qing.
Northern Qi will fully support the conflict between Western Qin and Southern Qing, and is even willing to persuade a Grandmaster to step in and help.
Empress Dowager Wei wrote several pages of earnest words, but Li Chang'an only replied with five words.
After reading it, Empress Dowager Wei fell silent.
Clearly, Li Chang'an hadn't considered her thoughts at all.
"What is Li Chang'an thinking? Does he want to go back to the capital of Nanqing and be a bullied prince?"
"With his achievements, he'll either be made crown prince or he'll die!"
"I confided in him wholeheartedly, but he didn't take it seriously at all!"
Empress Dowager Wei grew angrier the more she thought about it. She had just placed the paper on a candle to burn it when she regretted it.
"Never mind, I won't burn it. The handwriting is quite nice."
On the paper, five characters were written in a free and elegant style.
"Madam, do you miss me?"
Around the same time, the young emperor Zhan Doudou also received a reply from Li Chang'an.
Her letter to Li Chang'an conveyed a similar message to that of Empress Dowager Wei.
However, the words suggest that if Li Chang'an were to establish Western Qin, the two would become closer.
While explaining the overall situation, there was a subtle touch of affection within it, demonstrating an excellent sense of proportion.
Li Chang'an's reply was equally concise: "My beauty, do not worry, the day we meet is not far off."
Zhan Doudou gritted her teeth, trying to figure out what Li Chang'an really meant.
Thinking back to a military report from some time ago, she quickly understood.
Han Xin has already moved 100,000 troops to the border between Qin and Qi, ready to attack Northern Qi at any time.
Although 100,000 troops could not destroy Northern Qi, it did demonstrate the attitude of Western Qin and Li Chang'an.
"Li Chang'an, you really don't appreciate kindness!"
"You are surrounded by dangers in the Southern Qing court, and you yourself are in a perilous situation, yet you are completely unaware of it!"
"Moreover, with the Grand Preceptor Kuhe in charge, even with a million soldiers, the Great Qi cannot possibly destroy Qi!"
More than two months later, Ye Wan and Shangshan Hu returned to Dingzhou.
The royal courts of the Western Hu Golden Horde and the courts of the Left and Right Wise Kings were all wiped out in one fell swoop.
The two captured Subida Chanyu alive, beheaded and exterminated the left and right wise kings, and seized countless cattle, sheep and horses.
Li Chang'an is more powerful and has a higher prestige in the Northwest!
Their martial prowess was unparalleled by any emperor in the Central Plains for hundreds of years.
Nanqing.
In the imperial study, Chen Pingping and Emperor Qing sat facing each other, having just reported the latest intelligence.
Li Chang'an destroyed the Western Qin, the royal courts of the Northern Barbarians and the Western Hu, leaving Emperor Qing completely baffled.
"Dean Chen, how do you think Li Chang'an did it?"
"It took 40,000 elite cavalry to destroy the Northern Barbarian Royal Court, but only 20,000 to destroy the Western Barbarian Golden Tent!"
Chen Pingping replied, "The barbarian tribes of the snowy plateau and the nomadic peoples of the grasslands all practice a tribal system."
The court of the Khan and the Chanyu was merely a larger tribe.
"Unless they gather troops to raid the Central Plains, they live in scattered tribes and do not assemble troops."
"If our cavalry is strong enough, we can indeed sustain our war effort through warfare and wipe out tribes one by one."
"The quality of soldiers is more important than their quantity. When entering the snowy regions and grasslands, we need battle-hardened soldiers."
Too many people will only increase the burden and will not be conducive to sustaining the war through war.
Emperor Qing nodded. This was a basic consensus among the Northern Wei, Northern Qi, and Southern Qing dynasties.
Chen Pingping continued, "It's easier said than done."
"Firstly, the royal courts of the foreign tribes are constantly shifting, and the vast grasslands and snowy regions stretch for thousands of miles, making it impossible to find any tribes or royal courts."
"If you get lost in the snowy regions and grasslands, many people can only wait to die."
"Secondly, no matter how strong our cavalry is, we are not guaranteed to win against the cavalry of foreign tribes."
"The alien cavalry are all soldiers, fighting from a young age, and are exceptionally fierce."
Emperor Qing said in a deep voice, "The first problem is that we need accurate intelligence and guides. The second problem is that we need to raise a battle-hardened cavalry."
"Dean Chen, I don't think these two things can be accomplished in just six months. I have a feeling that Li Chang'an has been planning this for a long time."
"However, he had never been involved in military affairs before, nor had he ever befriended any generals."
Chen Pingping said, "This old minister believes that the key to this matter lies with Western Qin."
The Western Qin had been preparing for many years in terms of intelligence and military strength.
Emperor Qing slapped his thigh and said, "I think so too, which is why I find it even stranger."
"Western Qin should be far stronger than it appears, so why are they so devoted to Li Chang'an after falling into his hands?"
Chen Pingping cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, this old minister is investigating, but there are no leads yet."
"Your Majesty, it is time to invite Prince Qin back to the capital. We cannot allow Daqing to fall into division."
Ye Zhong was sidelined in the capital of the Western Qin Kingdom, and the Dingzhou Army was now under the control of Li Chang'an's men, who could seize power at any time.
Emperor Qing's face was somewhat gloomy. "There are already calls in the court to change the heir apparent, but how can the innocent Crown Prince be deposed so easily?"
Emperor Qing's desire for the throne has never changed; if he could live forever, that would be the best outcome.
If that doesn't work, it will definitely be passed on to his son.
If the crown prince is not capable, there are other sons.
Although Li Chang'an had made great contributions, Emperor Qing believed that he could control the situation.
After all, he has a hidden trump card; he's a grandmaster!
He had a plan in mind: to eliminate Si Gu Jian and Ku He, and to wipe out all the unstable factors in the country.
These destabilizing factors include Li Yunrui, the Qin family, Li Chang'an, and even Chen Pingping.
Therefore, Emperor Qing knew that the most sensible thing to do now was to stabilize Li Chang'an and invite him back.
Emperor Qing believed that once Li Chang'an returned to the capital, he could gradually weaken Li Chang'an's power.
Then, step by step, he would truly bring the Western Qin Kingdom into the territory of the Qing Kingdom and under his own rule.
"The Crown Prince cannot be deposed!"
"However, I'm afraid that apart from the position of crown prince, there are no other conditions that can satisfy Li Chang'an."
Chen Pingping said calmly, "Your Majesty, do you recall a precedent in Daqing where a prince directly ascended the throne?"
"At that time, there were two princes vying for the throne. One was the crown prince, and the other was a prince who also served as the governor of the capital. Their chances of succeeding to the throne were almost equal."
In the history of Nanqing, it had a special significance for a prince to concurrently serve as the governor of the capital.
The time Chen Pingping was referring to was the prince's eventual ascension to the throne.
"It is not enough to just serve as the Prefect of the Capital; he should also be given special treatment, so that his treatment is equal to that of the Crown Prince."
Emperor Qing began to grit his teeth as he listened to Chen Pingping's words.
He, a grandmaster and the emperor of the strongest country in the world, actually had to make such a humiliating concession!
However, Emperor Qing, as a power-hungry individual, was frighteningly rational.
He knew he needed to maximize his own interests.
He planned step by step to firmly control the land conquered by Li Chang'an.
Then, the safest approach would be to devise a plan to eradicate Li Chang'an and his entire power base.
So, we still need to be patient!
For the first time in over twenty years since I ascended the throne, I have felt utterly stifled!