Tiantang Splendid

Chapter 5286 Disheartened
Fang Jun understood Li Ji's meaning; both publicly and privately, he was willing to give the other party some face.

"Those who bring their own armor, weapons, and horses and arrive in Da Nang before the first day of the second month will be temporarily incorporated into the navy and will be subject to the navy's orders and commands. All matters will be governed by the navy's military discipline. Those who disobey will be dealt with according to military law."

Compromises with the meritorious nobles of the Zhenguan era are possible, but there are limits.

Those sons of noble families could participate in the Central-South War, but it was absolutely impossible for them to be incorporated into the navy.

Not only are these sons of nobles of varying quality, but their combat strength and strategic abilities are also unpredictable. Once incorporated into the navy, it would cause widespread chaos in the entire command system. The navy's usual training intensity far surpasses that of any of the Sixteen Guards' armies, and most of these spoiled brats cannot keep up with the pace of combat.

The only option was to reorganize them into a separate division as a reserve force to fill gaps on the battlefield.

Li Ji nodded in approval. The navy was the main force in this war, and allowing the sons of nobles to participate was already a great favor. To want to fight alongside them and share in the glory of the Warring States period would be ungrateful...

However, he still warned, "No one is allowed to deliberately delay the trip."

With a full month to go until the first day of the second lunar month, the sons of meritorious officials had to travel at top speed to Huating Town and then promptly board ships to Da Nang. It was impossible for most of them to arrive in Da Nang on time and participate in the battle. If the naval ships carrying troops were to deliberately delay, by the time these sons of nobles arrived in Da Nang, the war would likely be over...

Fang Jun laughed and said, "Your Excellency is overthinking this. How could I possibly play such disgusting tricks? Besides, this is not something I am deliberately making things difficult for you. It is simply that the war is urgent and cannot be delayed."

Li Ji nodded, indicating that he understood.

The rainy season in Zhenla lasts from June to November each year, with most of the rainfall concentrated between July and October. The abundant rainfall makes the roads muddy and the rivers swell, making marching more difficult. Therefore, it is essential to conquer the entire territory of Zhenla before July, otherwise, when the rainy season arrives, the army is very likely to be trapped in the muddy swamps of Zhenla.

The war began on February 1st and lasted until July, less than five months, a very short period of time.

This almost meant that the Tang army's advance was relentless, with each city falling in a single fell. If they were to be bogged down or delayed in any place, it would affect the entire battle plan.

The risks are considerable.

It's simply impossible to wait until all the noble sons arrive in Da Nang before starting the war...

His gaze toward Fang Jun was filled with satisfaction and admiration: "Whether it's the Anxi Army or the navy, these were all things you planned long ago, weren't they?"

Before Fang Jun could deny it, he continued, "When it comes to strategic planning in the current court, Erlang is unmatched, and I am willing to admit defeat."

Soldiers rely on fighting to establish themselves and pursue their interests. As long as they continue to fight, their status will remain as stable as Mount Tai, and power and benefits will be readily available.

In times of peace and prosperity, soldiers have to keep a low profile. They're lucky if they're not eliminated or weakened, let alone dare to fight for power and profit.

However, all the troops still fighting in the Tang Dynasty are now under the control of Fang Jun.

The Anxi army has fought many battles in the Western Regions, and now it is advancing even further to strike at the heart of the enemy's lair; meanwhile, the navy is traversing the oceans, with war raging everywhere...

It certainly wasn't a coincidence.

It can only be said that Fang Jun's plans were far-sighted and his strategies were outstanding.

Fang Jun accepted it calmly: "War is a continuation of politics. Its purpose is not to kill generals and enemies or to conquer cities and territories, but to serve the development strategy of the empire. Naturally, it cannot be limited to a short time or a short place, but must have a long-term vision and a broad mind."

Historically, the Tang, Song, and Ming dynasties were the pinnacle of feudal dynasties, enjoying great national strength. However, due to the constraints of traditional Confucianism, they became complacent and stagnant, failing to address many issues such as enriching the domestic economy with overseas resources, alleviating land annexation, and blocking upward mobility channels. Ultimately, they declined from their peak and their dynasties collapsed.

The most prominent feature of governance throughout history has been stability. Power and social classes are stable. The traditional social hierarchy of scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants has kept everyone firmly in their respective positions, ensuring the smooth operation of society and the stability of interests.

What I hate most is "reform," because "reform" means change, increases or decreases in interests, and the rise of new social classes.

What does the fall of a dynasty have to do with those powerful families, gentry, and landlords?
Even if a new emperor were to govern the country, the people would still have to rely on everyone to do so. Everyone's interests would remain the same, and the extravagant lifestyle of feasting and debauchery would continue as before.

But "reform" won't work...

Fang Jun's "nationwide overseas expansion" initiative is, in a sense, the biggest "reform." He will lead the Tang Empire to break through the circle of "stability," deeply instill "enterprising" and "exploratory" spirit in everyone's hearts, and make everyone understand that the only outcome of remaining unchanged is decay and annihilation, while vitality lies in "change."

Unwilling to rely on Fang Jun's overseas expansion strategy?

Then they could only watch helplessly as countless small and medium-sized powerful families, and even merchants from humble backgrounds, seized endless wealth from overseas, completed capital accumulation in the shortest possible time, and challenged the social status of those aristocratic families.

"No agriculture, no stability" is a steadfast national policy, but the rate at which land generates wealth can never match that of trade...

The royal family, noble families, and powerful clans had no choice but to cooperate with his "going global" strategy, because although it went against their traditional "comfort zone," they could not stand by and watch their ruling position be attacked or even overthrown.

When everyone ventures out, the rigid social hierarchy will inevitably break down, and the empire will no longer be stagnant and closed off, but rather a vibrant and prosperous place where everyone is competing and thriving.

*****
As dusk fell, more and more carriages and horses emerged from various neighborhoods of Chang'an, converging along the streets and alleys at the Duke of Ying's residence.

Inside the Duke's mansion, the lights shone brightly.

Li Ji sat upright in the hall, with more than ten meritorious officials from the Zhenguan era lined up on his left and right. Not only were Cheng Yaojin and Liang Jianfang present, but even Ashina She'er, the Left Guard General and Duke of Bi, had come...

Looking at the former Khan of the grasslands, whose face was covered in white beard and who looked sickly and haggard, Li Ji said with a sigh: "You're so old, why bother with these trivial matters? You should take good care of yourself and enjoy your old age. Let your son handle these things."

Since the beginning of winter, Ashina She'er had fallen seriously ill. Although he was fortunate enough to be saved by the imperial physician, it had damaged his very foundation, and his condition plummeted. The once mighty ruler of the grasslands, who had been galloping on horseback and brandishing swords and spears in the autumn, could only eke out a living.

Ashina She'er sighed and said helplessly, "My illness came on suddenly and violently. Although I was lucky enough to survive, my days are numbered. My princess dotes on my son, who is over twenty and still hasn't joined the army. He's neither good at literature nor martial arts and has no experience whatsoever... Even if he inherits my title of Duke, without military experience or war merits, he'll just be a good-for-nothing second-generation rich kid who'll eventually fall into ruin and his bloodline will decline... I will die with regrets!"

Everyone couldn't help but sigh with emotion.

Back then, Ashina She'er was known for his bravery and intelligence among the Turks when he was just over ten years old. His reputation rose rapidly and his prestige was quite high. In the ninth year of the Zhenguan era, he submitted to the Tang Dynasty and was settled in Lingzhou by Emperor Taizong. He became a powerful figure beyond the Great Wall. Later, the Emperor Gaozu's daughter, Princess Hengyang, was married to him, which made him even more famous and powerful. He was the best among the Turkic tribes.

When he accompanied Emperor Taizong on his eastern expedition, he was hit by several arrows, but he still pulled them out and fought bravely.

Although not yet old, he is seriously ill, yet he still insists on dragging his ailing body to plan for the future of his children and grandchildren...

Pity the parents of the world.

Li Ji lowered his head and drank his tea, feeling uneasy.

Ashina She'er was his ally for many years. The two were close friends and fought side by side. If he hadn't been suppressed by Fang Jun, and all the wars of the empire were controlled by Fang Jun, why would Ashina She'er have to drag his sick body to the front?

If Ashina She'er was like this, what about the other old subordinates?
However, he was reluctant to engage in a battle with Fang Jun that would engulf the entire Tang army.

They were unwilling to personally divide the imperial army, leading to chaos and a decline in combat power, nor were they willing to engage in such a head-on confrontation and rack their brains.

Ultimately, he didn't have a strong desire for power...

With a soft sigh, he turned to the side, patted Ashina She'er's hand, and said gently, "Go back and tell your son to immediately prepare armor, horses, and weapons, lead his personal guards to Huating Town, and then take a naval vessel to Da Nang."

Then he turned to the others and said, “You should all make the same arrangements. The navy will start the war on the first day of the second month and strive to finish it in May or June. No one should delay or postpone their journey. Although Zhuge Di of Linyi Kingdom has only recently shown signs of rebellion, I have seen that the navy had already anticipated this day and has made preparations. At the same time as the war with Linyi Kingdom, the navy will capture many ports in Linyi and Zhenla, and the ships will sail upstream along the river and penetrate deep into the heart of both countries... The barbarians cannot stop them.”

Whether it was Lin-yi, Zhenla, or even Pyu on the west side of the peninsula, they all thought they could rely on their dense network of waterways to resist the Tang army's attack, hoping to drag the Tang army into a quagmire... Little did they know that the navy had not only pointed-bottom seagoing ships, but also countless flat-bottomed ships that could travel freely on rivers.

The outcome of this battle could only be that the main forces of both armies were annihilated by the Tang navy, while the remnants retreated to the mountains and forests to eke out a living.

Everyone was excited, and Liang Jianfang hurriedly asked, "How many personal guards can we take? Are there any restrictions on the number? After arriving in Da Nang, will we be placed under the command of Su Dingfang and incorporated into the navy?"

Faced with a barrage of questions, Li Ji suddenly felt somewhat disheartened.

However, he patiently replied, "There is no requirement on how many soldiers you bring. As long as it won't delay the journey, you can bring as many as you want. If you miss the battle because of this, you will be responsible for it. As for the quota... it's all of you here. None of you will be included in the naval combat order, but you will be under the command of Su Dingfang."

Although Fang Jun did not impose any restrictions on this, Li Ji was unwilling to make a big fuss about it. He had already understood Fang Jun's attitude: he could give him face, but those who went to participate in the war would basically not be able to gain any merit. They probably wouldn't even be able to go to the main battlefield. They would just be playing a supporting role, and the important thing was to participate.

So for those who want to gain military merit, going or not doesn't make much difference; simply gaining experience is fine though...