Side Story Chapter 29: Two Years Later!
In the ninth month of the twenty-first year of the Tang Emperor, the Turks raided the border, at times penetrating deeply and plundering the livestock and wealth of the people. With the power of the ballistae, the Tang pushed the enemy back three hundred li.
In the same year, the Turks invaded Luntai. Pingle Prefecture’s Auxiliary General Zhang Shougui received a decree and set off with reinforcements. Midway, he encountered the Turks and struck first. After a bitter battle, one-thousand-some foes were killed and the enemy commander was captured alive.
In the twelfth month, Zhang Shougui came under Li Taiyi’s command and dealt the Turks a major defeat. The army headed north and joined together with Lingwu Circuit General Commander Wei Yuanzhong.
In the second month of the twenty-second year of the Tang Emperor, the Turks formally declared war.
In the third month, the two armies battled on the Turkic steppe. Li Taiyi used the suppressive power of the ballistae while his new commander, Zhang Shougui, who was skilled in horse archery, led the horse archers in attacking the right flank of the Turkic army. But the Turks had a vast army, particularly of cavalry, so this battle was a draw.
In the fourth month, the Turks used the Blue Wolf Formation, taking the Tang by surprise and winning a major victory. The Tang retreated one hundred li and reconsolidated.
In the fifth month, Wang Jiuling trapped the Turks in a mountain pass and led the spear cavalry in cutting off the Turks’ retreat path. This battle was a victory.
In the seventh month, the Tongluo were placed under Li Taiyi’s command. Abusi was commanded to lead the vanguard and fight against the Turks.
……
In the eleventh month of the same year, snow fell as the decisive battle was fought.
……
In the capital, large snowflakes descended from the sky. Though the civilians were not on the front line, the reports from the war were being sent back to the capital via messenger birds.
The mood was somber as everyone waited for the conclusion to this war.
As everyone worried, in the third month of the twenty-third year, the world began to come back to life with spring’s approach, and the final report came from the front line.
In the Yin Mountains campaign, the combined Turkic army had been routed, suffering losses of over six hundred thousand men. The armies of the Great Tang had joined together and taken the enemy by surprise, finally winning the ultimate victory.
The Tang Empire was victorious!
Bang!
As this news spread around, all of the Tang Empire erupted with heaven-shaking cheers.
No one had expected this war to take nearly eighteen months, and the combined Turkic army to reach one million soldiers.
But in the end, the Tang Empire had won, and when the Turks sent over the surrender documents, everyone’s respect for Li Taiyi experienced a qualitative transformation.
People in all levels of society were cheering Li Taiyi’s name.
This war had pushed Li Taiyi’s prestige to an unprecedented level.
……
Boom!
In the middle of the third month, Li Taiyi returned from the Turkic front on a carriage. On the day of his return to the capital, a sea of people had gathered outside the northern gate. Countless civilians had heard of his coming and had rushed out of the city.
“He’s coming, he’s coming!”
“It’s His Third Highness! Look there!”
“Hurry and light the fireworks!”
Before the carriage even got close, it was already possible to hear the cracking of fireworks and the thunderous cheers. Tens of thousands of civilians were excitedly cheering, infected by the mood, rushing at Li Taiyi’s carriage with red faces.
“He’s back! His Third Highness is finally back!”
Everyone fervently looked at the carriage and desperately tried to get close.
“Your Highness, we’ve arrived.” A voice came from outside the carriage.
“Mm.”
Inside, Li Taiyi nodded and raised the curtain. He looked at the massive crowd outside, and that enthusiastic cheering made him feel like he was in another world.
After eighteen long months in the Turkic war, Li Taiyi gave off a much greater aura, and he seemed like an entirely different person.
Mature!
Steady!
His face was infused with majesty!
It was like he had evolved.
Moreover, more important for him was that the reactions of the people had changed.
When he had gone, though Li Taiyi had the victory against Ü-Tsang on his plate, in the eyes of the people, he was still that pleasure-seeking prince who would commit murder in broad daylight. Now, however, Li Taiyi had the support of the people, and he could not help but sigh at this hero’s welcome he was receiving.
All of his efforts had been precisely for this day where he had changed the impression he had left in the minds of the people.
As the carriage drew closer and closer, the crowd grew increasingly passionate, their cheers louder and louder. With bright eyes, they stood on tiptoes and craned their necks so that they could get a good look at Li Taiyi.
As the carriage entered the Imperial City, the people stopped outside, but their stentorian cheers continued to resound outside the walls.
Li Taiyi smiled and shook his head, his eyes brimming with emotion.
Not long after Li Taiyi’s carriage had passed through the Imperial City gates manned by the Imperial Army, it stopped.
Li Taiyi looked out and saw numerous officials in their court robes walking toward him in orderly ranks. They stopped seven paces away from his carriage, lowered their heads, and respectfully bowed.
“Your Third Highness, welcome back to the capital!”
“Secretariat Director Zhou Sheng pays respects to Your Third Highness. Your Third Highness has defeated the Turks and raised the prestige of our Great Tang. Zhou Sheng feels admiration and presents this humble gift to congratulate Your Highness on your triumphant return!”
“Imperial Censor Duan Cao congratulates Your Third Highness for your triumphant return and offers this humble gift!”
“Minister of Rites Zhou Jing pays respects to Your Third Highness. Your Third Highness has defeated the Turks and performed a heroic service for my Great Tang. This Zhou has prepared a humble gift and hopes that Your Highness will not mind!”
Within the Imperial City, the officials presented their gifts and congratulations one after another.
Normally, an official openly presenting a gift was a taboo, but on this special occasion, no one would find anything wrong with it.
Li Taiyi had defeated the Turks that had occupied the Great Tang’s frontier! This was only proper!
“This prince only did his duty. Your words are too much!” Li Taiyi said as he returned the bows of the officials.
“Your Third Highness, His Majesty is waiting in Taiji Palace. Your Highness should go at once,” a familiar voice said. Inner Court Eunuch Director Eunuch Li emerged with his horsetail whisk and smiled at Li Taiyi.
“Mm.”
Li Taiyi smiled and bowed, after which he boarded his carriage and headed into the palace.
Bang!
At the same time, atop the high walls, a tall and erect figure stood, exuding a noble and imperial aura. The man’s fingers clenched, pulverizing the jade ring in his hand.
The man turned around and disappeared from the wall, that four-clawed golden dragon representing the Eastern Palace’s Crown Prince on his robe flashing for a moment.
……
As the Emperor’s reward ceremony in Taiji Palace came to an end, an emotionless voice rang out in Li Taiyi’s mind.
“Congratulations to user! For attaining victory in the ‘Fated War Between the Tang and Turks’, user has been rewarded 100,000 points of Destiny Energy. For totally altering the history of the continent, user has been rewarded an additional 300,000 points of Destiny Energy!”
Li Taiyi was taken aback by this familiar voice, but a moment later, he quickly understood that this war was officially over!
At that moment, Li Taiyi felt sincere happiness.
……
Bang!
A firework shot up into the night sky and exploded in a dazzling display, after which countless people cheered. The capital was immersed in a festive air, everyone rejoicing over Li Taiyi’s triumphant return.
At this moment, Li Chengyi stood on the steps in front of his palace, his hands behind his back and a cold smile on his lips.
“Fourth Brother, did you see the look on First Brother’s face today?” Li Chengyi nonchalantly asked.
“It’s still Second Brother with all the plans. First Brother has always been conceited and never takes anything seriously. I never expected to see a look of envy of his face,” Fourth Prince Li Longfan said from next to Li Chengyi.
Today, Li Taiyi was the undisputed main character. Put bluntly, he had even surpassed First Prince Li Xuantu, who also often went out to fight against the Turks.
This provided him the perfect chance.
Li Xuantu had always been arrogant. He had supported the recommendation of his third brother going to deal with the Turks because he had been confident that he was the only one who could defeat the Turks.
Now, Third Brother had defeated the Turks, and First Brother had had his self-confidence stomped on. He naturally couldn’t be in a good mood.
One could even say that Third Brother had stolen the achievements that should have been First Brother’s.
This thought made Li Chengyi coldly glance in the direction of Taiji Palace, and a chilling smile appeared on his lips.
“It’s time to close the net.”
