Chapter 75: The Stone Castle (IV)

Amidst the songs of three thousand worlds, amidst the splendor of twelve capitals.
Winning the favor of the imperial palace’s moon and sun, playing new melodies on silver zithers and sandalwood boards.
A thin mist lingered around Chang’an City, while the moonlight shone brightly.
In the Mingde Hall of the Daming Palace, Emperor Li Longji of the Tang Dynasty held a grand banquet to celebrate the birthday of his concubine Yu Huan.
The banquet was arranged as a family gathering, with only princes, princes’ sons, princesses, and princesses’ daughters in attendance. Aside from a few nobles favored by the emperor, few foreign officials could ascend the stone steps of Mingde Hall on such a beautiful night.
Of course, the Yang family was an exception.
Excluding Yang Zhao, the censor-in-chief who enjoyed the emperor’s special favor, all five members of the Yang family in the capital were present.
The Ladies of Guo, Han, and Qin, with their flowing sleeves and robes that trailed on the ground, made many princes and princes’ sons envious; Yang Qi, the minister of agriculture, and Yang Xian, the minister of horses, with their magnificent robes and dignified appearances, captured the hearts of countless princesses.
The power of the Yang family had reached such a level that even Li Linfu, the right chancellor of the Tang Dynasty, dared not openly defy them.
Inside the grand hall, sleeves fluttered gently, melodies intertwined, creating a scene of joy and harmony. (Note 1) Yet Emperor Li Longji felt no enthusiasm at all. He had been deeply troubled lately, with one war report after another coming from Longyou, none of which brought him comfort! Ge Shu Han kept complaining in his reports about shortages of supplies, asking for more time to allow the Tang army to leverage its numerical advantage. Little did he know that the granaries were already running out of grain. To stabilize prices in the capital, Li Longji had ordered Li Linfu to requisition grain from wealthy families. While this lowered prices, it also angered those powerful families in Longyou! For the sake of the war in Longyou, Li Longji had even tapped into his personal funds, yet Ge Shu Han still felt aggrieved!
Hmph! Ge Shu Han could write petitions to express his grievances, but who could he turn to for his own troubles?
Of course, there were also some good news reports from the front lines. In a secret report sent on the fifth day of the fifth month, the military supervisor Wang Xianzhong praised a low-ranking officer. Ah, his name seemed to be Li Kuo? This young man had led over five hundred Tang soldiers across Qinghai and set fire to the granaries in Fusi City! This had excited him for days—after all, Fusi City stored large amounts of military grain for the Tang forces in the eastern frontier. If no grain was sent from Luose City and Wuhai area promptly, the Tibetans would not even have enough food!

But what displeased Li Longji was that Geshu Han failed to mention this matter in the official commendations. Wang Xianzhong had written in his secret report that it happened on the fifth day of the fifth month; Geshu Han couldn’t possibly have learned of it later than Wang Xianzhong. An urgent military report from 500 li away in Longyou should have taken at most three days to arrive. Since Geshu Han still hadn’t mentioned it, could it be that he wanted to suppress this young man’s military achievements?
Hmph! Li Longji hated it the most when border generals played tricks on him. The examples of Wang Zhongsi and Huangfu Weiming were right before his eyes. Did Geshu Han think he was smarter than those two?
It seemed he really needed to give Geshu Han a good lesson. Having deceived him right after taking charge of Longyou, if this continued for a few more years, wouldn’t the troops in Longyou become Geshu Han’s private army?
“Third brother, you look worried. Is something bothering you?”
Yang Yuhuan was wearing a goose-yellow palace robe today, her delicate breasts partially exposed, looking extremely charming.
“Hehe, nothing much. I’m just worried about matters in Longyou.”
At the sight of Yang Yuhuan’s face as smooth as sheep-fat jade, Li Longji’s heart trembled, and his worried expression vanished instantly.
“Didn’t you receive good news from Longyou not long ago? Why aren’t you happy?”
Yang Yuhuan picked a Gaochang grape and brought it to Li Longji’s lips.
Li Longji swallowed the grape in one bite and said, “Hmm, there indeed was some good news. An officer from Longyou led his men to the west side of Qinghai and set fire to the Tubo people’s granaries.”
“Oh? Really?”
Yang Yuhuan usually didn’t interfere in court affairs. So although she knew through Gao Lishi that her third brother had received good news from Longyou, she didn’t know the details.
“Then third brother should reward him well.”
Yang Yuhuan squinted and leaned against Li Longji’s chest.
“Hmm, of course. I’ve always been fair in rewards and punishments. I’ll never let a meritorious official feel disheartened. Whatever Yuhuan suggests as a reward, that’s what I’ll give.”
Feeling greatly relieved, Li Longji readily agreed.
“I heard that general is quite young—only seventeen?”
Yang Yuhuan handed Li Longji a cup of fine wine and smiled gracefully. “In that case, I want this young man to be my teacher and teach me archery. I wonder if my husband will allow it?”
(Note 2) Li Longji waved his hand and said, “What’s the difficulty? I imagine if he knew he could become my beloved’s teacher, he’d be secretly smiling. Even I’ve never had the chance to teach Yuhuan archery.”
Hearing the jealousy in his words, Yang Yuhuan cooed, “Look at you, your heart is as narrow as a needle’s eye.”

Knowing that Yang Fei was deliberately teasing him, Li Longji was not annoyed: “Hmm, yes. My heart is indeed so narrow when it comes to Yu Huan.”
“Your Majesty, the music ‘Qin Wang Po Zhen Le’ has truly stirred my blood. I long to pick up my sword and head to Longyou at once to help Your Majesty reclaim the old lands of Hehuang.” (Note 3)
Seeing that Li Longji was in a good mood, Yang Zhao quickly stood up, walked a few steps to the imperial desk, and bowed deeply.
“Hmm, with talents like Minister Yang in the Tang Dynasty, and loyal ministers like myself, how could our Tang Dynasty not thrive?”
Li Longji nodded in satisfaction at Yang Zhao, sparing no praise for him. Yang Zhao knew how to behave well, always adjusting his speech to the perfect degree. After such passionate speeches, he always felt extremely relieved.
“I dare not take such praise. The prosperity of the Tang Dynasty is entirely due to Your Majesty’s efforts. Without Your Majesty’s guidance, how could the officials fulfill their duties, and how could the scholars serve the court? Without Your Majesty’s magnanimity, how could the barbarians submit to our Tang Dynasty, and how could they admire our Chinese culture? Long live Your Majesty! Long live, long live, long live! Long live the Heavenly Khan!”
Dong, dong, dong!
Yang Zhao bowed deeply, striking the ground three times.
“Hehe, Minister Yang is truly like Zhang Zifang and Xun Wenru to me. Someone, continue playing the music. Today, let’s break away from the usual rules between ruler and subject—no one leaves until they’re drunk!”
With music playing and dances unfolding, the palace was filled with a festive atmosphere.
Li Longji, the emperor of the Tang Dynasty, felt filled with enthusiasm. As the music of ‘Rainbow Robes’ played, it seemed as though he had returned to his youthful days decades ago.
Note 1: Gong and Shang are among the modes of traditional Chinese music. There are eight modes in total: Gong, Shang, Jue, Bian Zhi, Zhi, Yu, Bian Gong, Gong.
Note 2: ‘Zhai Jia’ is a respectful term for the emperor in the Tang Dynasty. From ‘Zizhi Tongjian · Tang Zhaozong’s Qianning Fourth Year’: “Jian, along with Liu Jishu, the head of the military council, forged an edict to send troops to besiege the sixteen palaces. The princes had their hair cut off; some climbed walls, others climbed onto roofs, shouting, ‘Zhai Jia, save our children!’”
Note 3: ‘Qin Wang Po Zhen Le’ is also known as ‘Qin Wang Po Zhen Wu’ or ‘Seven Virtues Dance’. It was a famous musical dance in the Tang Dynasty, originally a military song from the early Tang period.