Tang Dynasty Swordsman

Page 154

Li Ji, looking indignant, bowed to Guo Ziyi, Pugu Huai'en, and the others, then strode away. Qilibuzang, however, couldn't help but wonder: What was Li Ji trying to say? What was this "the royal army hadn't assembled the day before yesterday," and "now..." What does "now" mean?

His mission to sue for peace naturally included the important task of observing the Tang court's movements. Along the way, west of Fengtian, he still saw some fleeing soldiers and civilians, but the closer he got to Chang'an, the more stable the situation became. Especially within Chang'an itself, the markets were prosperous and orderly, much more bustling than on his last trip… It seemed they weren't under much pressure from war.

However, they did find out along the way that Li Ji was heading to Fengxiang with only a thousand cavalrymen, and no infantrymen followed behind. Moreover, it was very likely that they were just imperial guards, not troops from Hebei.

But when Guo Ziyi met Li Ji today, he still referred to him as "Li Weibo," indicating that Li Ji was indeed the military governor of Weibo and had not been transferred to another post. So why would the military governor of Weibo return to the capital at this critical juncture? Did the Tang court actually send troops from Hebei to defend the emperor?

In those days, state institutions generally lacked a sense of secrecy. Unless strictly ordered by their superiors, low-ranking officials and clerks would not know to keep their mouths shut. Therefore, as soon as Qilibuzang entered Chang'an, he ordered his subordinates to find various opportunities and channels to inquire about the movements of the Tang court. Just yesterday, they received a report that a troop of soldiers came from the southeast, rested briefly south of Chang'an, and then set off westward.

The number of soldiers was small, only three or four thousand, and their equipment was incomplete. They were operating under the banner of "Shannan East Circuit".

—In fact, Li Qijun had just gathered the defeated soldiers who had fled to Shangzhou and arrived in Chang'an when he was ordered to go west to aid Fengxiang.

Qilibu Zang thought to himself, "If it were just these loyal troops, I would have no fear." But upon meeting Li Ji today, that burly man, in a moment of carelessness, seemed to have revealed some heavenly secret… That evening, upon returning to the inn, a servant secretly reported—

“Last night a Tang army came from the northeast, crossed the Wei Bridge and headed west.”

"Where are the flags, and how many soldiers are there?"

"There were no fewer than ten thousand men. It was too dark to see the flags clearly, but there were many cavalrymen among them."

Qilibuzang couldn't help but feel suspicious. Then, the following evening, he received another report: "Another Tang army is coming from the east, bypassing the city from the north and heading west to the Three Bridges. There are also 10,000 troops, with many cavalry. The banners of 'Weibo' and 'Zhaoyi' can be vaguely seen."

Qilibuzang was shocked: "They really are Li Ji's Hebei soldiers!"

In reality, there were hardly any Hebei soldiers. This was a plan Li Ji devised for Li Yu, imitating Dong Zhuo's strategy of controlling the capital at the end of the Han Dynasty. The plan involved ordering the Northern Imperial Guards to feign an attack, fly flags, and sneak out of the north of the city. They would then bypass Chang'an from different directions, pretending to head west. Although Qilibuzang was quite shrewd, he had never seen such a trick before and fell for it.

Hmm, that makes sense. Hebei and Chang'an are a long and arduous journey, thousands of miles apart. Li Ji must have been eager to serve the emperor, so he rode ahead at full speed while his main army followed behind...

So he hurriedly sent someone back to report to Ma Chongying, saying that the Tang army that came to the aid of the emperor had gathered, and that no fewer than ten thousand of them passed through Chang'an every night! Ma Chongying thought to himself, "Really? I haven't seen any of them. Since Qilibuzang said that the Tang army bypasses Chang'an at night, they must have secretly gathered somewhere beforehand and planned to attack me together!"

My location is quite strategic; even if the Tang army numbered 100,000, I would have nothing to fear. My only concern is that they might split up and try to outflank me again… So I discussed this with the other officials. They had already plundered enough, and all their wealth had been transported back to the plateau via Longyou, which somewhat diminished their fighting spirit. They had originally hoped to capture Chang'an and plunder it, but hearing that Tang armies from all directions were coming to the emperor's aid was like a bucket of cold water, extinguishing their greed. Therefore, they all suggested that we withdraw our troops.

So Ma Chongying ordered Qilibuzang to continue negotiating with the Tang people—you must stick to your terms, even though the chances of reaching an agreement are slim, just in case—and then he led his army away overnight. Several days later, when the news reached Chang'an, the emperor and his ministers, from Li Yu down, finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Finally, we can enjoy a peaceful and uneventful New Year.

In about half a month, it would be the second year of Guangde. A letter arrived from the east, saying that under Yan Zhenqing's coordination, the autumn grain had been stored, the military supplies were sufficient, and the local area was relatively peaceful. Therefore, Li Ji was not in a hurry to return to the town and reported to Li Yu, asking him to leave after the New Year. Li Yu agreed.

Before the New Year, several riders came from the west and entered Chang'an City, seeking refuge at Li Ji's residence in Pingkang Ward. Li Ji welcomed them in, overjoyed.

He was short of men, so when he rushed to the rescue of Fengxiang the day before, Gao Sheng hosted a banquet to welcome him. Li Ji, hiding his face with wine, made an "unsolicited request" to Gao Sheng. He considered that he had served under Li Tan, the military governor of Longyou, and was familiar with most of the generals in Longyou. After the fall of Longyou, some of his troops followed Guo Xin and Li Yuanzhong to Hexi. Soon after, the two generals were given important positions in Zhenxi and Beiting, while some returned east and were incorporated into the Fengxiang army. Therefore, he discussed with Gao Sheng, "I am short of men under my command. Could you spare a few of my former generals from Longyou?"

Gao Sheng initially agreed readily, but the next day, when Li Ji presented the list, he changed his mind. However, Gao Sheng's reasons were quite valid: Now that Longyou has fallen and Fengxiang Prefecture is directly facing the enemy, its soldiers and generals are already in short supply; how could there be any reason to weaken them further? Besides, even if I agree to your request, I might not be able to get past the imperial court.

Therefore, Gao Sheng agreed to allocate a few officers and soldiers below the sixth rank to Li Ji. As for those above the sixth rank—that would have to go through the Ministry of War, which would be a big problem, so let's talk about it another day.

As a result, Chen Fu, Yi Tiechui, and others who had fought alongside Li Ji in Longyou were removed from the list. In the end, Li Ji only managed to get three people: Jia Huai, Ma Meng, a young general brought back from Hexi, and Xu Yu, a former Shence Army general who had been demoted for offending Liu Xixian and whom Li Ji had introduced to Longyou.

Actually, Xu Yu had originally reached the rank of a sixth-grade junior officer, but after his defeat and abandonment of Fuqiang County, he was demoted to the seventh grade, which was just the right position.

The three arrived in Chang'an before the new year and temporarily stayed at Li Ji's residence.

Author's note: There will be two updates today, please look forward to it.

Chapter 41, Attire of All Nations

The New Year's Day holiday was seven days long. Even Li Bi, who was often away from home, returned from the palace to celebrate New Year's Eve. Qingluan, Cui Cuo, and Li Bi's wife, Lady Lu, gathered in the kitchen from the afternoon and were busy all day long. However, the latter two probably only talked and did not lift a finger. At night, they held a grand banquet at Li Bi's residence to entertain the guests.

We don't need to invite relatives and friends; everyone has their own family, and everyone needs to go home to reunite.

That night, the imperial guards did not enforce the curfew. At midnight, Li Bi ordered a ten-foot-long bamboo pole, prepared beforehand, to be placed at the entrance and set ablaze from bottom to top. Immediately, smoke and flames billowed, crackling loudly—this was called firecrackers, or exploding poles. Li Ji asked, "Brother, what if there's no bamboo to be found in the north?" Li Bi glanced at him: "Customs vary across the hundred states of the world; where there's no bamboo, there are no exploding poles. The *Jingchu Suishi Ji* (Chronicle of Seasonal Customs in Jingchu) first recorded this custom, saying that its loud explosions could ward off evil spirits. Whether it's effective or not, we don't know—you don't seem afraid at all."

Li Ji smiled and said, "Brother, do you think I'm some kind of evil spirit?" In his heart, he thought, "Just hearing the crisp sounds but not smelling the gunpowder doesn't feel like the New Year's spirit is quite lacking..."

As the night deepened and the drums sounded, it was already the new year. Brothers, relatives, and friends exchanged greetings and salutations. Immediately afterwards, the Li brothers bathed in fragrant water, changed into new clothes, and rode out on horseback—they had to go and pay their respects to the emperor for the New Year.

On the morning of New Year's Day, all officials in Chang'an, whether from the capital or temporarily residing outside the capital, were required to attend the morning court ceremony to celebrate the New Year. Among them, the Three Dukes, the Prime Minister, and the Grand Guard, among others, used birch wood to light torches, with hundreds of torches following them. For a time, Chang'an was ablaze with red, earning it the nickname "Fire City." Li Ji rode his horse among the crowd, thinking to himself that this custom had supposedly continued for decades, and it was fortunate that it hadn't burned down Chang'an.

Li Bi enjoyed the emperor's deep favor and was appointed a Hanlin Academician, commonly known as the "Inner Chancellor," wielding considerable power. Emperor Taizong initially appointed Yu Shinan and others as Academicians of the Hongwen Pavilion to participate in important matters; Emperor Gaozong shared the power of the prime minister with Liu Yizhi, Yuan Wanqing, and others, who were then called "Northern Gate Academicians"; Emperor Xuanzong initially established the Hanlin Academy, appointing Zhang Yue, Lu Jian, Zhang Jiuling, and others to manage it, acting as deputies to the prime minister. This was entirely different from Li Bai, who was merely a "waiting-for-orders Hanlin Academician," only responsible for writing poetry and prose—all officials bowed to him along the way. As for Li Ji, a favorite general of the current emperor and a regional military governor, he was also highly regarded, and through this, he met many new faces.

—In the later years of Emperor Suzong's reign, Li Fuguo was in power and he demoted many loyal and virtuous officials. After Li Yu ascended the throne, he recalled them one by one. Among them were many people whom Li Ji had only met once or twice several years ago when he was guarding the palace, and had long forgotten about them.

For example, when Li Bi encountered a middle-aged official in a red robe, he introduced him as Jia Zhi, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. Jia Zhi had passed the imperial examination during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong and was appointed magistrate of Shanfu County. Later, he followed Emperor Xuanzong to Sichuan, rose to the position of Imperial Secretary and Drafter of Imperial Edicts, and was demoted to Prefect of Yuezhou during the Zhide era. He only returned last year. Li Ji thought for a moment, seemingly remembering him, and asked, "Isn't this the Jia Zhi, the one who wrote 'Silver candles illuminate the long purple road'?"

Li Bi smiled and said, "It is indeed this person."

What Li Ji referred to was a famous work by Jia Zhi, which led to a beautiful anecdote about poetry. When Jia Zhi served as a drafter in the Imperial Secretariat during the reign of Emperor Suzong, he wrote the poem "Early Morning at the Daming Palace," which reads: "Silver candles illuminate the long purple road to the heavens, the spring colors of the Forbidden City are shrouded in the pale dawn. A thousand slender willows droop over the green gates, a hundred warbling orioles circle the Jianzhang Palace. The sound of swords and jade pendants follows each step on the jade steps, the robes and hats are imbued with the fragrance of the imperial incense burner. Together we bathe in the imperial grace at the Phoenix Pond, morning after morning we serve the emperor with our brushes."

On that day in Longyou, Du Fu mentioned this poem to Li Ji. Li Ji's first reaction was: the first three couplets are excellent, but the last couplet has a servile and pedantic feel to it. What a pity.

At the time, many famous figures responded to Jia Zhi's poem, most notably Du Fu, Cen Shen, and Wang Wei. Du Fu's poem reads: "The water clock drips through the five nights, urging the dawn; the spring colors of the ninefold palace intoxicate the immortal peaches. Banners flutter in the warm sun, like dragons and snakes; a gentle breeze blows through the palace, where swallows and sparrows soar high. After court, incense smoke fills my sleeves; poems, like pearls and jade, are written with a flourish. If you wish to know the beauty of those who hold the reins of power, look to the phoenix feathers that now grace the pond." Li Ji felt that Du Zimei, a man of such high standing, was not suited to write such a perfunctory poem; it was clearly not as skillful as Jia Zhi's original poem—and the final couplet contained a hint of flattery, making it somewhat low in style.

Cen Shen's poem reads: "The rooster crows in the cold dawn on the purple road, the oriole sings in the imperial city as spring fades. The golden palace bell tolls at dawn, opening ten thousand households, the jade steps are filled with a thousand officials. Flowers greet the swords and pendants as the stars begin to fall, willows brush the banners as the dew is not yet dry. Only the guest on the Phoenix Pond finds it difficult to harmonize with the song of spring."

Li Ji quite liked Cen Shen's poems—excluding this one—after returning to Chang'an and the Tibetan army retreating, he heard that Cen Shen had returned to the court and even went to visit him through Du Fu, but he felt that seeing him in person was better than hearing about him… Although he was only forty years old, this Cen Kaogong (then serving as the Assistant Minister of Personnel) looked sickly and listless, completely unlike the heroic spirit he had when he was in Feng Changqing's staff, reciting "Smoke and dust fly in the west of Jinshan, the Han general leads his army westward."

Among the poems, Li Ji particularly admired Wang Wei's work, which reads: "The rooster in crimson turban crows at dawn, the imperial robes are presented in emerald cloud furs. The palace gates open to the heavens, and officials from all nations bow before the emperor. The sun's rays just touch the immortal's palm, and incense smoke rises beside the dragon robe. After court, the five-colored edict must be drafted, and the sound of jade pendants returns to the Phoenix Pool." When Du Fu mentioned this matter and recited this poem, Li Ji bluntly pointed out: "But the couplet 'the palace gates open to the heavens' surpasses all your works!" Du Fu nodded repeatedly: "The masterpiece of the predecessor is a towering mountain, which we naturally cannot match."

Overall, Li Ji didn't particularly like Wang Wei's poetry—although he acknowledged that Wang Wei's level was unparalleled in his time and could rival Li Bai's—but the lines "The palace gates open to the heavens, and the officials of all nations bow before the emperor" truly moved him.

Li Ji wasn't a fan of the monarchical system, but he had to admit that in this era, only the combination of Eastern-style monarchy and bureaucracy, when compared horizontally, was the most advanced and practical system. So, regardless of the individual monarch, if he were simply regarded as the representative of the nation, and could truly enhance China's prestige and bring all nations to pay tribute, what an exciting sight that would be!

It's a pity that if I wanted to travel back to the Tang Dynasty, why couldn't I have gone a hundred years earlier and traveled to the era of Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin? Although that emperor's private morality was laughable, as a political figure, he was undoubtedly successful and worthy of respect. The era he ruled was prosperous and progressive.

Of course, the Tang Dynasty's golden age was actually during the Kaiyuan era, when Li Longji (Emperor Xuanzong) seemed as valiant as his ancestor. But Li Ji considered that if he were to travel back to the Kaiyuan era, he would be too old to ride a horse or lift a spear, only to be caught in the An Lushan Rebellion... He would be utterly miserable!

The officials first assembled in front of the Mingfeng Gate of the Daming Palace, then followed the officials of the Secretariat and Chancellery in order of rank, proceeding directly to the East Upper Gate (Zichen Hall) to present a memorial of congratulations. Cheng Yuanzhen stepped out of the hall to respond on behalf of the emperor, followed by Guo Ziyi, representing all the officials—both due to his high rank and advanced age—who slowly stepped forward, opened the memorial, placed it on the table, and knelt to read it aloud. Then the gatekeeper received the memorial and went inside…

The entire set of ceremonies was carried out from dawn until the sun was high in the sky. Li Ji, kneeling among the ranks, found himself feeling drowsy. Afterwards, he heard that Li Yu, listening to Guo Ziyi read the congratulatory memorial in the palace, blurted out, "Will I be able to see the Grand Commandant next year?"

The Grand Commandant was Li Guangbi, the head of the Three Dukes—although the Grand Commandant, Minister of Works, and Minister of Agriculture were of equal rank, there was still a distinction between them. If only rank was considered, he should have been allowed to read the memorial in place of Guo Ziyi. However, Li Guangbi held troops in Xuzhou, and Li Yu issued several edicts ordering him... no, requesting him to return to the capital and be appointed as the Governor of Luoyang. Li Guangbi made excuses and refused to comply.

Li Ji understood that this was another consequence of Lai Zhen's death... He really hoped that Li Guangbi would remain in Luoyang, ready to provide support to Hebei at any time, which would be like building a reliable wall behind him. As for Guo Yingyi, the current governor of Tokyo, Li Ji had basically no hope for him.

He had made up his mind to set off back to Weibo after New Year's Day, and this time he would take his wife and children with him. After all, the distance between husband and wife, father and daughter was vast, and he truly missed them. Moreover, Li Zhang was already a year old and should be able to accompany him on the journey. He discussed it with Cui Cuo, who then asked, "If we all go east with you, who will manage our house and property in Chang'an? Should we sell them?"

Li Ji shook his head repeatedly: "It cannot be sold." The Yaxuan Tea House was one thing, but this mansion he acquired from the Cui family was truly precious. Land in Chang'an was incredibly valuable, and if such a mansion in such a prime location were sold off easily, it would be impossible to buy it again in the future. He didn't plan to stay in Hebei for the rest of his life. After he had quelled the rebellion of Tian Chengsi, Qin Rui, and others, he would definitely return to the capital and then go to the western frontier to defend against the barbarians.

Besides, even if he doesn't stay in Chang'an for long, there will always be a time when he is summoned back to pay his respects. If he sells the mansion, where will he stay? At his brother Li Bi's house?

After much deliberation, Li Ji finally went to find Li Qiyun, who had just returned from Fengxiang, and said, "I plan to establish a new staff position called 'Shangdu Liuhou Shi' (Imperial Envoy of the Capital), to stay in the capital to facilitate my communication with the court. What do you think, Uncle?" Li Qiyun thought for a moment and said, "Now the military garrisons are allowed to recruit their own staff, but the envoys to the court from various prefectures have not been appointed for a long time, which makes it difficult for the court to understand local affairs. I personally believe that establishing a Liuhou Shi in Chang'an is in accordance with the law and convenient for the affairs of the court. It is feasible."

Taking the opportunity, Li Ji earnestly requested, "Then, elder brother, could you perhaps serve as my regent?"

The "elder brother" mentioned here does not refer to Li Bi, but to Li Qiyun's eldest son, Li Laopeng. However, Li Qiyun shook his head and said, "Laopeng has already been granted an official position through hereditary privilege and cannot serve as a staff member again." Li Ji thought to himself, "What a pity, I was just a step too late..." He then asked, "What about Han Hui?" Li Qiyun still shook his head: "Han Hui, with his literary talent and reputation, has already caught the eye of Prime Minister Yuan and will soon be appointed to a high-ranking position..." He has already latched onto Yuan Zai's coattails, how could he possibly join your staff?

Left with no other choice, Li Ji could only spread his hands and say, "I hope my uncle can recommend someone for me."

The only person he could place his hopes on was Li Qiyun. As for Li Bi and Yang Wan, they were always independent and unaffiliated, like lone ministers, and he estimated that they would not produce any outstanding talents for him.

Li Qijun considered it carefully for a while, then suddenly slapped his thigh: "Changwei has relatives by marriage in Chang'an, so he is suitable to be the acting envoy. Why don't you understand?"

Li Ji was completely bewildered: "In-laws? Uncle, are you referring to the sons of the Cui family?" The only ones who could be considered his in-laws were Cui Cuo's two "brothers," namely Cui Guangyuan's two sons. But let's not even talk about the fact that the two of them haven't finished their mourning period. Cui Ju and Cui Gou are both mediocre in ability. Can they shoulder this heavy responsibility?

Li Qijun smiled and said, "The person I'm referring to is the son of the Lu family."

Chapter 42, The Blue-Faced Ghost Appears

Li Yu arranged a marriage for Li Bi, who married a woman from the Lu family. This woman was the granddaughter of Lu Huaizhen, a prime minister during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong. He had a cousin named Lu Qi, whose courtesy name was Ziliang.

Several years ago, Lu Qi had served in the Shuofang army as Pugu Huai'en's chief secretary. Li Ji had heard of him but had never met him properly. Moreover, the previous year, when the Tang court appointed Pugu Huai'en as the deputy marshal of Hebei to quell the An Lushan Rebellion, Lu Qi's father had just passed away, and he was at home observing mourning, so he missed that crucial battle. Li Ji, on the other hand, went west with the army and thus missed the opportunity to meet him.

According to Li Qiyun, Lu Qi returned to Chang'an last summer and autumn as a candidate for the Ministry of Personnel, seeking reinstatement. Since his cousin-in-law was a Hanlin Academician, Lu Qi naturally visited Li Bi as well. However, Li Bi was unwilling to easily rely on his in-laws, so he wrote a letter of recommendation, asking Lu Qi to visit Li Qiyun instead. Li Qiyun spoke with Lu Qi and found him to be insightful, eloquent, and quite frugal. He then asked, "Does Ziliang wish to seek a court official position or an outside post?"

Lu Qi replied, “I am still young…”—he was only thirty years old—and not a Jinshi graduate, I am afraid I will not be able to obtain an important position in the court. It would be better for me to serve in a local post for a few years, get close to the people and manage the affairs of the people, and then return to the court.” At the same time, he also said, “If Li Jishi can serve in a local post again, I request to join his staff and obey his orders.”

Since the An Lushan Rebellion, scholars had first entered the staff of military governors and regional inspectors. After accumulating experience and prestige, they were then recommended by their superiors to enter the imperial court. This was considered a shortcut—at least for those with ability and ambition, it was much easier than crossing the single-plank bridge of the imperial examinations. Lu Qi had once served in the staff of Pugu Huai'en. He could have returned home, but upon hearing that Pugu Huai'en held troops in Fenzhou and was disobedient, he felt that returning to the Shuofang Army would harm his future. Therefore, he returned directly to Chang'an to serve as a candidate. However, he was very familiar with the affairs of the staff, and thus felt that if he could serve in another staff for a few years, his future prospects might be much brighter than being appointed as a county magistrate or a military advisor.

However, Li Qijun had no intention of returning to his post in another region. He still planned to climb the ranks from the prestigious position of Supervising Secretary until he could become Prime Minister. So he gave Lu Qi a few perfunctory words, asking him to wait a little longer and see if there would be an opportunity. Soon after, Li Qijun was ordered to go south to Shangzhou to gather the defeated troops and to aid Fengxiang in the west, and he forgot about Lu Qijun.

Now that he suddenly remembered, he recommended him to Li Ji. Li Ji immediately said, "Then I will go and see this Lu Ziliang..." Li Qiyun shook his head and said, "Changwei is now a military governor of a town. Although he is related to Lu Qi, it is not appropriate for him to go and inquire in person. I will write a letter and ask him to come to your residence to pay his respects."

Sure enough, the next day, Lu Qi first went to Li Bi's residence to meet his cousin, and then, through Madam Lu, requested an audience with Li Ji. Li Ji invited him into the main hall, and upon closer inspection, he exclaimed, "Hey, the rumors are true! This really is a 'blue-faced ghost'!"

The Lu family of Fanyang, a prominent clan for half a century, theoretically couldn't have had bad genetic factors—for example, Lady Lu had a round face, broad cheeks, big eyes, and a small mouth, which perfectly matched the beauty standards of that era—but Lu Qi, in terms of appearance, was almost a deformity, and looked extremely ugly.

Actually, if we only consider facial features, Lu Qi does resemble his cousin by about three points. But it's one thing for a grown man to have a round face and broad cheeks, but he also has a small mouth, and his eyes are uneven, with one eye bigger than the other and his pupils crooked, giving him a squinty look... Most importantly, he has a large bluish-green birthmark on his left cheek, shaped like a turtle...

Of course, Li Ji also knew that in those days, the term "turtle" didn't have a bad reputation. On the contrary, turtles and tortoises were symbols of longevity. Perhaps others would even think that the birthmark on Lu Qi's face was a good omen.

Ultimately, appearances can be deceiving. Li Ji did not show any disgust because of Lu Qi's appearance. On the contrary, he warmly invited him to sit down and exchanged pleasantries with him. After a conversation, he felt that Li Qiyun's assessment was basically correct. This person had limited knowledge, but he was quick-witted, answered fluently, and had excellent speaking skills. He seemed to be a qualified candidate for the director of the Beijing Liaison Office.

Lu Qi, in particular, was dignified and composed, neither arrogant nor humble, and his words were quite infectious. After talking for a while, the birthmark on his face seemed less noticeable. As the saying goes, everyone is different. Some people are handsome and dignified, inspiring envy from afar, but becoming repulsive up close; while others, though not good-looking, or even ugly, feel approachable after a little contact.

So after chatting for more than half an hour, Li Ji finally got to the point and bluntly stated his intentions, saying that there was a vacancy in the Weibo Jiedushi's office and wondered if Ziliang would be willing to take it.

Lu Qi was overjoyed upon hearing this: "I am willing to obey Commander Li's orders." This position is excellent. I can serve as a guest in the inner circle to build my seniority, and I don't have to travel far away. I can stay in Chang'an and deal with various government offices and powerful figures to enhance my reputation. It's practically a job tailor-made for me.

Li Ji then asked, "After the establishment of this military governorship as the acting governor of Shangdu, it was also initiated by me. Although it imitates the imperial envoys of various prefectures in the past, it is not entirely the same. So, in your opinion, what does it require to do in this position?"

Lu Qi answered without hesitation: "In my humble opinion, the duties of the acting governor of Shangdu are five. First, to repair the residence and provide a place for grooming..."

The so-called "grooming" refers to tidying up one's appearance. If the imperial court issues an edict ordering a regional military governor to return to the capital, he cannot possibly go to see the emperor and prime minister covered in dust and looking exhausted. He must first find a place to settle down, wash his face, and change his clothes. Therefore, Lu Qi said, "My primary duty is to look after your residence in Chang'an, in preparation for your occasional return."

"Secondly, as before, this residence will serve as a place for officials of this town to stay and make contact when they go to the capital; thirdly, it will be used to report on the affairs of this town, transmit the memorials of the military governor, and provide guidance and information; fourthly, it will be used to investigate the movements of the imperial court and other towns, report to the military governor, and transmit imperial edicts and documents; fifthly, it will be used to pay tribute and perform other miscellaneous duties."

Li Ji thought to himself, "Impressive! I've only just mentioned the title of 'Imperial Envoy of Shangdu,' and haven't even gone into detail yet, and you've already explained the duties and tasks of this newly appointed staff member so clearly and thoroughly—to be honest, even I haven't grasped it so deeply. It seems that although this person's knowledge is limited, his talent is limitless."

Of the five matters Ziliang mentioned, which is the most important?

"Naturally, the third and fourth matters are the most important. When a general commands troops in the field, the court cannot be without doubt. When a military commander is thousands of miles away, he cannot discern the emperor's and prime minister's preferences, let alone understand the court's strategies. Thus, the superiors are suspicious and the inferiors are confused, and disaster will surely follow. Therefore, Qi requests to remain in the capital to dispel the court's doubts and resolve the local confusion for Commander Li, so that peace can be maintained both near and far, and the position can be maintained for a long time."

Li Ji couldn't help but reach out and pat Lu Qi on the shoulder, laughing loudly, "With Ziliang here, I have no worries."

Taking advantage of Li Ji's good mood, Lu Qi cautiously inquired, "I wonder what rank this position belongs to?"

"What rank is Ziliang now?"

"Lower seventh rank"

Li Ji said, "Sure, I'll recommend you for a civil service position of the sixth rank."

Lu Qi immediately bowed deeply in gratitude. Li Ji then explained the affairs of his household in detail to him: "With my whole family leaving, this large mansion and some of the servants will be left to you. From now on, it will no longer be a private residence, but rather a semi-public, semi-private one. You should tidy up the front yard to make it convenient for receiving guests. As for the small gate between the front yard and my elder brother's residence, you should seal it up for now."

In addition, I have another business in the capital, the Yaxuan Tea House in the East Market. Please keep an eye on it and make sure it doesn't go bankrupt. However, since I'm going to Hebei, I won't need to drink tea from Sichuan anymore. I'll buy tea from Huainan and Jiangnan—the distance is short and transportation is convenient. So the main purpose of this tea house is twofold: first, to generate profit to maintain the needs of the mansion; and second, to contact Cui Gan and investigate the situation in Sichuan.

Li Ji was quite concerned about Jiannan Circuit. Firstly, the Tibetan invasion from the east also disturbed Jiannan; secondly, Sichuan was rich, but due to the Tibetan invasion and internal turmoil, most of the food and supplies were only enough for internal consumption and could no longer be supplied to Guanzhong.

In other words, if Jiannan is secured, Guanzhong can be secured; if Jiannan falls into chaos, Guanzhong is in danger. Currently, Yan Wu is stationed in western Jiannan, and Zhang Yi in eastern Jiannan. Li Ji doesn't know much about the latter, but he greatly admires the former—Yan Wu, who replaced Gao Shi in guarding western Jiannan, has indeed prevented the invasion of the Tibetans. He hopes that the two regions will be stable, both to curb the eastward expansion of the Tibetans and to allow for the transport of large quantities of grain and supplies to Guanzhong, as was done during the Kaiyuan and Tianbao eras.

Currently, the Guanzhong Plain cannot even meet its own grain needs, and most of it must be transported from the Jianghuai region. A year ago, Liu Yanfang, the Minister of Revenue, petitioned to dredge the Bian River to improve transportation. According to his estimates, once the waterway is open, the area around Chang'an could barely have enough food. However, even with the significant cost savings from water transport over thousands of miles, a single shi (a unit of dry measure) of grain transported to Chang'an would yield at most five dou (another unit of dry measure). In the long run, this would only be sufficient to maintain the basic needs, not to achieve the goal of accumulating grain reserves.

Only if Sichuan can also supply grain to the north can we hope that after several years, the grain reserves in various parts of the capital region will be enough to support a large-scale, or even long-term, war against the barbarians.

After recruiting Lu Qi, Li Ji took the opportunity to visit the crossbow workshop outside Anhua Gate. He claimed that the pair of "blue lotus four-sided maces" he had forged there were indeed very useful. When he used them in battle, they could penetrate enemy armor as easily as piercing bamboo paper and strike down bandit leaders as easily as splitting a melon. He had made many meritorious contributions and hoped to see the craftsman who made the maces again—that is, the barbarian Huang Tiexuan from Duanzhou, known as "Old Huang"—to express his gratitude in person.

However, upon seeing Lao Huang, Li Ji deliberately dismissed the others and asked in a low voice, "You used to make iron pots for me, but rice was expensive in Yundu, and we couldn't eat our fill. So, in your spare time, you and your disciples made some cooking utensils to sell—I wonder how things are now?"

Old Huang smiled wryly and said, "Naturally, it's still the same as before... These are all domestic grain prices, they never seem to drop."

"How many people do you support with your salary?"

Old Huang replied, "I have no parents, children, or grandchildren, only a wife and a concubine... My wife and concubine have to do sewing and washing work to make ends meet."

Li Ji thought to himself, "You really can't judge a book by its cover! You're just a dark-skinned, ugly blacksmith, barely able to feed yourself, yet you're taking a concubine? So lecherous! Oh, wait, Old Huang's preferences are none of my business. The question I should be considering is—how can this renowned master craftsman in the crossbow workshop not even be able to support a family of three? Is it because the court is too harsh, the salary too meager, or is it due to his superiors' embezzlement and exploitation?"

Do you want to get rich?

Old Huang hurriedly replied, "Of course I want to get rich. Second... if Commander Li wants any more weapons or tools made, he doesn't need to go through the crossbow workshop manager; he can just order me directly. If I can also get a few hundred or a thousand coins as a reward, I can save them up and hopefully take another concubine in the future..."

Li Ji was somewhat speechless... Upon further reflection, he realized that Old Huang's claim of having no children or grandchildren and thus wanting to take more concubines might not be due to lust or promiscuity, but rather to the desire to have offspring. While this was quite laughable, it also aligned with the common desires of men in those times, so it wasn't surprising.

"If you are willing to come with me to Weibo and forge military weapons for me, I will pay you a monthly salary of one thousand coins... no, two thousand coins, how about it?"

A monthly salary of two thousand coins was already the average salary of a sixth or seventh-rank official, which should have been enough to tempt Old Huang. However, Old Huang said with a bitter face, "I am a national craftsman, making military weapons for the court. I'm afraid the Crossbow Workshop will not let me leave Chang'an..." Craftsmen like him were like government slaves, with no freedom to change their status. And if it were other professions, it would be fine, but as a military craftsman, the court would definitely keep him firmly in its grasp. Even if Li Ji was the emperor's favorite general, it probably wouldn't be so easy to mobilize him.

Li Ji thought to himself, "Of course I understand this principle. Otherwise, I would have directly inquired with the head of the crossbow workshop, or even pleaded with powerful figures like Li Shi. There's no need for me to come to see you in person."

"As the saying goes, 'a forced melon is not sweet.' If you are not interested, I will take you to Weibo and offer you a high salary, but you may not be willing to work for me wholeheartedly. If you are interested, I will have my own ways to take you out of Chang'an. Give me a definite answer as to whether you stay or go."

Old Huang bowed and said, "I am grateful for General Li's favor. If I can be provided with enough to eat and wear, and even have more concubines, I am willing to go to Hebei with General Li. I will serve you wholeheartedly. Whatever weapons or tools General Li needs, I will make them. I will absolutely not steal iron ingots to do private work again..."

Li Ji instructed, "This matter is between you and me, and you must not tell a third person, not even your wives or concubines!" He raised his eyebrows and glared, threatening, "If you do not, I will kill you as easily as killing a dog!"

The Wei and Bo prefectures did not produce good iron, so their forging technology was also quite backward. Items with more refined craftsmanship, such as weapons, basically had to be dispatched by the imperial court or imported from other prefectures. Iron ore had to be obtained from elsewhere—nearestly Ye County, Linlu, and Zhaoyi within the Zhaoyi Army's jurisdiction—but there was no other way. If even weapon manufacturing was controlled by others, it would be tantamount to having one's throat strangled.

Moreover, Li Ji hoped to use his knowledge from his previous life to slightly improve the weapons of this era, but he had spent several months in Weibo and had not found any capable and qualified craftsmen to help him, so he turned his attention to Lao Huang.

Li Ji inherited Cui Guangyuan's group of martial arts masters, so "stealing" a craftsman from the crossbow workshop was naturally not difficult. So a few days later, he took his family and led his newly recruited advisors Yun Lin, Jia Huai, Ma Meng, Xu Yu, and others. After the emperor took his leave, the carriages rumbled and left Chang'an. In the procession, there was a carriage that was completely covered up; that was Old Huang and his family of three.

However, Li Ji had also given instructions that even though the household registration system was not strict in those days—compared to later generations vertically, but compared to other countries of the same era horizontally, it was already one of the best—you could no longer openly appear in Hebei. You should simply change your name, remove the character "Tie" (iron), and call yourself Huang Xuan.