PFC Chapter 771: Do you still have the same lofty ambition as you did when you crossed the sea to fight
Chapter 771: Do you still have the same lofty ambition as you did when you crossed the sea to fight
The biting cold wind howled and swirled around the Ministry of War Yamen in the northwest corner of the imperial palace like a ferocious beast, making the copper bells on the eaves jingle.
Inside the house, the dancing sparks from the charcoal brazier stretched Wu Tianyan's shadow longer and shorter. The purple-robed Minister of War had been working at his desk here for a long time. His pale face showed fatigue, but his eyes were still focused and firm.
On the desk, a wolf-hair brush dipped in cinnabar was used to outline the food and fodder transportation route of the Western Expedition Army on the yellowed silk.
Every stroke of the pen seemed to be drawing the lifeline of the empire.
Those winding lines represent the long journey from the rice-rich south of the Yangtze River to the northwestern border, carrying the food, clothing, and hope of thousands of soldiers.
The bamboo slips piled up like a mountain on the desk were densely packed with records of the tax collection progress of various provincial capitals. An oil lamp swayed in the cold wind, making the red imprint of the word "urgent" on the bamboo slips as glaring as blood, reminding the military of the urgency of the situation at all times.
"Minister Wu! His Majesty has ordered you to enter the palace immediately!"
The Jinyiwei's voice penetrated the tightly closed carved wooden door, startling Wu Tianyan so much that the pen in his hand drew a long ink mark on the silk.
He hurriedly put down his pen, and with trembling fingers he pressed the scattered documents with a paperweight.
Only then did he notice the half-cold wheat cake on the table - he had not eaten properly for many days and nights since the intense fighting in the Western Expedition.
The feeling of hunger suddenly hit him, but he just casually put the wheat cake into his sleeve, straightened his official robe, and hurried out.
The cold wind blew fine snow on his face. Wu Tianyan wrapped himself tightly in his sable fur coat and walked quickly. There was thin ice on the bluestone road. He stepped carefully on his black boots to avoid the ice ridges at the base of the palace wall, but he still couldn't help but quicken his pace.
The palace lanterns along the way flickered in the wind and snow, and the copper bells hanging from the eaves rang in the wind.
The scene when I first entered the officialdom suddenly emerged in my mind.
At that time, he was just a passionate young man who led refugees across the sea to attack Japan, full of heroism and fearlessness.
Today, the passage of time has made him more steady, but he has also shouldered the heavy responsibility of devoting all his energy to the entire empire's westward expedition.
Passing through layers of palace gates, the bronze crane candlesticks in front of the Liangyi Hall glowed coldly in the night. The armor of the imperial guards guarding the hall collided with each other, making a slight sound. Wu Tianyan straightened his official uniform, took a deep breath, and stepped into the hall.
The hall was filled with the mixed scent of ambergris and ink. In the warm room, Li Zhi was pacing back and forth on the floor covered with a Western carpet with his hands behind his back. The hem of his brocade robe swept across the bronze incense burner, raising a few wisps of green smoke.
The emperor's figure seemed a little thin under the candlelight.
"Your Majesty, I, Wu Tianyan, pay my respects to you!"
After Wu Tianyan finished his ceremony, he caught a glimpse of Pei Xingjian's military report spread out on the imperial desk.
"Tianyan, you're here."
Li Zhi's voice was filled with obvious fatigue. As he turned, the candlelight illuminated the dark circles under his eyes, and the tassel of the emperor's crown swayed slightly. "Right now, within the court, opposition to the Western Expedition is rampant. Although I have made my position clear, I know that this is far from enough."
He walked to the window and looked at the snow.
"You are my Minister of War. I summoned you here to hear your ideas on how to ensure the smooth progress of the Western Expedition."
Wu Tianyan pondered for a moment, his eyes sweeping across the large map hanging in the hall, the territory looming in the candlelight.
"Your Majesty, I believe that the most urgent task is to resolve the military expenditure issue."
"Since last year, the Western Expedition has cost 200 million taels of silver. Although the national treasury is not yet empty, the loss of food and fodder transportation is increasing day by day."
"Only with sufficient military funds can we ensure that our soldiers can fight at the front with peace of mind."
He paused, then pulled a scroll of documents from his sleeve. It was a plan he had drawn up after days of repeated discussions with his subordinates. "I have drafted a new plan. We can add checkpoints to the Jiangnan Salt Road and impose a 'sea tax' on the sea caravans of wealthy merchants."
"Jiangnan is a land where many merchants gather. If this tax can be implemented, it will surely ease the pressure on military expenditure."
"At the same time, we encourage the public to reclaim wasteland and offer a ten-year tax exemption."
"This will not only increase food production, but also attract people to the border and strengthen border defense."
Li Zhi nodded slightly, indicating him to continue.
Wu Tianyan approached the map and ran his fingertips across the vast land west of the Pamir Mountains.
"Calming the people is also a top priority."
He continued, "I suggest that Your Majesty issue an order to reduce the people's taxes."
"People are having a hard time, and tax cuts and exemptions can alleviate their urgent needs."
"Tax cuts will not only improve people's lives, but also demonstrate your majesty's benevolence."
"We can also send doctors from the Imperial College to form a preaching team to compile the story of the great victory of the Western Expedition and the capture of the Arab Caliph into a storybook and sing it in teahouses in various prefectures."
"Let the people know the might of the Tang Dynasty's army, inspire their pride and patriotism, and then the people will surely be won over."
Having said that, he turned his gaze to Li Zhi.
"As for the court, Your Majesty can grant the honorary title of 'Marquis of Extension' and bestow upon those soldiers who have made outstanding contributions in the Western Expedition, a purple gold fish bag."
“Such an honor will surely motivate them to work harder.
"For those who oppose us, we might as well transfer them to local posts. This will not only avoid disputes at court, but also allow us to test their ability to govern. But we must not act too hastily; we need to proceed gradually."
"Only when the court is stable can we unite as one and work together for great achievements."
Li Zhi's eyes flashed with admiration, but he suddenly changed the subject: "Tianyan, your idea is very good."
"But I called you here today because I have something else to ask you."
He walked up to Wu Tianyan.
"When you were young, you dared to cross the sea and attack Japan with only a thousand refugees. The late emperor bestowed upon you the character 'brave' and granted you an exceptional seventh-rank official title."
"For the next ten years, you remained unknown under the command of the Grand Admiral of the Navy. It was not until General Li Ji accepted you as his apprentice that you were able to enter the court."
"Now that you are at the highest position among the ministers, I must be frank. The late emperor was doing this mostly out of consideration for General Li Ji, and not entirely due to your own efforts."
"Am I right?"
Cold sweat broke out on Wu Tianyan's forehead.
The events of ten years ago came flooding back.
He bowed deeply, a hint of emotion in his voice: "Your Majesty is wise and wise. I am deeply honored to be appointed the Minister of War by the late Emperor."
"Whenever I think about this, I always feel that my virtue is unworthy of my position."
Li Zhi suddenly chuckled and reached out to help him up: "My dear Wu, there is no need to belittle yourself."
"I'll tell you clearly today."
"You are General Li Ji's beloved disciple, and you are also well-versed in military affairs and finances. I am truly dissatisfied with Pei Xingjian's speed of advance."
He glanced at the route of the Western Expedition marked on the map, a hint of anxiety in his eyes, "I want you to lead the remaining 1.5 million troops on the Western Expedition, succeeding Pei Xingjian as the Great Tang's General of the Western Expedition!"
These words were like thunder, and Wu Tianyan was shocked.
Outside the hall, the wind and snow were howling, as if they were also shocked by this decision, but inside the hall it was so quiet that one could hear each other's breathing.
Li Zhi walked slowly to the imperial desk and took out a tiger talisman. The green jade talisman shone coldly under the candlelight. It was a symbol of power.
"I now ask you, the Minister of War, a question: Do you still have the same lofty ambition you had when you crossed the sea to defeat the Japanese at the age of eighteen?"