Chapter 924 Entering the Palace
The clouds in the sky come silently and go peacefully. Luo Su waved his sleeves and stepped lightly onto the carriage. The curtain embroidered with phoenix patterns fell down and the coachman drove away in the wind.
Luo Junwei and Wu Zhao didn't stand up until the carriage turned the corner and disappeared from their sight.
The two looked at each other. Wu Zhao's face was a little pale, and her lips were swollen and bleeding from biting. Luo Junwei stepped forward and took out a handkerchief to gently wipe her lips. The fragrance filled her nose. Wu Zhao whispered, "I'm really going to enter the palace this time."
Luo Junwei didn't know how to comfort her, so she could only hug her.
No one knows the future.
…
The desert is desolate and lifeless. As far as the eye can see, there is only vast yellow sand, with gravel spread on the hard stone. At the end of the sky, a big red sun hangs on the ground. In the vast desert, vastness and loneliness are filled.
Flowing on the edge of the endless sea of sand, it looks like a golden giant python winding its way westward. The red sun is slowly sinking into the sky, and its outline complements the sand river, sprinkling the already golden sea of sand with golden afterglow, making it as dazzling as molten gold.
The Tang army traveled thousands of miles to get here. As the sky gradually darkened, they set up camp. In the camp, Luo Xuanling, the commander-in-chief of the Gaochang Road army, was staring at the geomancy map without blinking.
"The Central Plains and the Western Regions have been connected for five hundred years, and almost every road is clearly remembered. In recent years, due to the change of river courses and the rise of earth dragons, some oases have disappeared. The Anxi Protectorate has redrawn the geomancy map. If we go forward for another 1,500 miles, we will reach Gaochang. During the more than 5,000-mile trek, thousands of Tang men and cavalrymen died on the road. Now we are finally going to see the results."
When Luo Xuanling talked about the soldiers who died during the march, his heart bleed, because they were all elite soldiers from the Tang Dynasty and various tribes.
Qibi Heli consoled him, "There are always casualties when marching. At the end of the Han Dynasty, when conquering the Western Regions, an army of 100,000 set out, but only 20,000 arrived. We set out with more than 20,000 people, but only a thousand died in the end. This is already quite extraordinary. Please accept my condolences, General Manager."
Luo Xuanling took a deep breath. He understood the principle that kindness is not good for commanding an army. "Our army has launched a surprise attack. The ruler of Gaochang must be horrified. This time, I will chop off his head and offer it to my Tang soldiers."
Luo Xuanling slowly stroked the sword in his hand, his eyes full of sharpness. The end of the vast Gobi Desert seemed to be in his sight. "One thousand five hundred miles, only one thousand five hundred miles left."
When the Tang army walked out of the endless uninhabited areas and the uninhabited deserts and Gobi, the ruler of Gaochang finally learned about it.
He collapsed on the throne. He couldn't understand why the Tang Dynasty would actually spend such a huge price.
The Tang Dynasty actually crossed a distance of seven thousand miles to kill him. How arrogant he was when he offended the Tang Dynasty, how cowardly he was now. He was actually scared to death.
The nobles of the country hurriedly helped the prince to inherit the throne, but he had to face the attack from the Tang Dynasty right after inheriting the throne. It must be said that it was a hellish start.
The ones who have now arrived at the battlefield are the elite troops of the Tang Dynasty, eight thousand armored soldiers, twenty thousand Turkic and Tiele cavalry, and thirty thousand vassal troops who have been recruited to face the Tang Dynasty's divine army descending from the sky.
Gaochang City.
The soldiers of the Great Tang Dynasty lined up in battle array, as majestic as mountains, with swords and spears at the ready, determined to poke a hole in the sky. They were neatly dressed in armor, and here were the most elite soldiers of the Great Tang Dynasty.
The sound of drums was deafening. After a difficult journey, the soldiers who arrived at the city of Gaochang were all filled with anger.
Luo Xuanling rode on a horse, feeling the scorching wind of Gaochang. Luo Xuanling heard that there was a mountain in Gaochang Kingdom, known as the Flaming Mountain, with extremely high temperature.
Now feeling the hot wind blowing over him, it was just like being next to a flame. It really lived up to its reputation. He estimated that it would be more likely to go wrong while fighting through armor here than in other places.
"My men, Gaochang City is ahead. His Majesty's order to us is to take off the head of the King of Gaochang. I know that after months of trekking, you are all filled with anger. The death of your comrades has filled you with rage.
Now listen to my military orders. You cannot take anything from the palace. Those are your Majesty's things. As for the other things, I don't care. They are all yours.
Remember, don't kill women and children or rape women. King Su doesn't like such barbaric behavior.
Do not use force in any place in the city related to Su Wang, and spare the lives of those who sing Su Wang's holy songs.
Those who obey military orders, the King is with you.
If you disobey military orders, my sword will chop off your head!"
As Luo Xuanling rode his horse back and forth, loud shouts rang out. He held a shining sword in his hand and shouted, "Attack!"
The Tang army soldiers quickly pushed the siege weapons and began to attack the city in an orderly manner. Although Gaochang City was the capital of the Gaochang Kingdom, it could not be said to be a fortified city.
It should be said that there are only a very small number of countries in the entire Western Regions that have one or two fortified cities. The Western Regions countries do not attach particular importance to cities, especially since there are few mountains and rivers in the Western Regions where one man can block the passage of ten thousand.
"boom!"
"boom!"
The Tang army's attack never stopped. The catapults that had been improved in the past few years could hit the city walls from seven hundred steps away. The most important thing was that their force was so strong that it could not collapse the city walls, but it was enough to make it impossible for people to stand on them.
The huge rocks fell on the city wall, clearing out almost all the towers.
You should know that this catapult was improved by the Tang Dynasty in order to attack the mountain city of Liaodong Kingdom in the future. Now using it to attack Gaochang Kingdom can be said to be a waste of talent.
…
Wu Zhao has been in the palace for some time. With the help of the Luo family, she is now an ordinary palace maid, doing some work of serving nobles. She is assigned to work under Xu Cairen.
Xu Cairen was born into the Xu family, a prominent family in Jianghuai. She entered the palace at the same time as Wu Zhao. Wu Zhao was an ordinary palace maid, but Xu was named a talented person of outstanding rank.
In the harem, there is one queen, four concubines and nine imperial concubines. These are all very high-ranking concubines. Below them are imperial concubines, beauties and talented ladies. If the Luo family had not intervened, Wu Zhao would most likely have been a talented lady when she entered the palace.
These ranks are not just nice names, they also each take charge of a matter. After all, there are many people in the harem and it is very complicated. The queen is in charge of the harem, and it is not just a casual remark. There are many things going on every day. Sometimes, these people can be called female officials.
Wu Zhao would often look outside when she had some free time, but she could not see anything. This was the imperial palace, and the vermilion walls blocked everything tightly. Only birds could get out from here.
The words of the Imperial Master echoed in her ears, "The Imperial Palace is hell, a prison, but also a great forge that can temper all the childishness in you. If you can bear it, you will live, and if you can't, you will die. This is the fate of life."
…
"boom!"
"kill!"
"Into the city!"
The gate of Gaochang City collapsed with a loud bang, and a section of the city wall also collapsed. The Tang army, clad in armor, rushed into the city through the gaps and the city gates like a black river.
After the Tang army entered the city, they continued to work in groups of five and began to clear out the last remnants of resistance.
The general managers of various routes each went to occupy the key buildings in the city. As one of the great countries in the Western Regions, there was naturally a Temple of the Suwang in the royal capital, and it was of a very high level.
Gaochang Temple is one of the eight major temples in the Western Regions.
There are hundreds of clergymen in the temple, and we must prevent conflicts between the temple personnel and the Tang Dynasty soldiers.
Luo Xuanling led the soldiers to the palace without stopping.
As soon as he approached, the deputy general beside Luo Xuanling couldn't help but curse: "How much money did this damn Gaochang Kingdom make through trade in the Western Regions over the years?"
The other Tang soldiers couldn't help but get jealous, so Luo Xuanling reminded them again: "Don't move anything here, be sensible."
No wonder, the first thing that catches the eye is the towering palace gate.
Two lion statues carved from huge stones stand on both sides, majestic and lifelike, as if guarding this forbidden area of the palace at all times.
Above the gate tower, there are intricate and exquisite gold reliefs inlaid, which represent the cultural tradition of the Western Regions. In the Temple of Suwang, there are magnificent murals depicting the great achievements of Suwang. The rulers of various countries have learned this culture, and as they are close to Persia and other countries, they have been exposed to sculpture art, so they like to depict murals of the kings in the royal palace.
Luo Xuanling pointed at the murals and said, "We'll take them all down later and transport them back to Chang'an."
Under the sunlight, it sparkles with golden light and is colorful.
The palace gates were suddenly opened, and no one in the palace dared to resist. Almost everyone was crawling on the ground.
Luo Xuanling walked into the palace hall. The nobles of Gaochang Kingdom and the King of Gaochang were there, waiting for the trial.
Even after Luo Xuanling walked into the hall, he couldn't help but take a breath. Gaochang Kingdom had made a lot of money over the years by partitioning the east and the west. There were tall columns on both sides of the hall, and the column shafts were decorated with gold and silver patterns, with dragons coiled around the columns and auspicious clouds lingering.
The ground is paved with colorful stone bricks, which are spliced into various auspicious patterns. Walking on it, it feels like walking on a flowing jewel scroll, which is more magnificent than the palace of the Tang Dynasty emperor.
Luo Xuanling recognized at a glance that this was the architectural style of the west side.
The giant chandelier hanging above is hollowly carved and even inlaid with gems. The light shines into the hall through the intricate patterns.
It’s such a pleasure.
The King of Gaochang had already knelt on the ground, kowtowed and said, "General, it was the last king who provoked the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty. It has nothing to do with me. The last king died because he was afraid of the power of the Tang Dynasty. I beg you to spare my life. Gaochang will definitely submit to the Tang Dynasty and never betray it."
He was shaking on the ground, crying and sniffling. Luo Xuan said sternly, "You said it was your father who provoked the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty. Then what is your reason for resisting the Heavenly Army?
Who was responsible for the casualties among our Tang soldiers during the siege?
Damn you for your sweet talk!
If you have anything to say, go to Chang'an and speak.
Tie him up and take him back to Chang'an. Imprison all the nobles of Gaochang. Execute the guilty ones and release the innocent ones. "
Conquering Gaochang Kingdom is only the first step. Luo Xuanling also has the task of rebuilding Gaochang Kingdom on hand, and he also has to wait for two people.
…
"Sixth Brother."
Luo Xuanyun's voice came before he arrived.
The people Luo Xuanling was waiting for were Li Xiaogong and Luo Xuanyun, officials of the Anxi Protectorate.
After a brief greeting, Luo Xuanling said solemnly: "Your Majesty has ordered that the headquarters of the Anxi Protectorate be moved to the capital of Gaochang State, the Gaochang Army be deposed, and the strength of the Anxi Protectorate be increased.
The Anxi Grand Protectorate is in charge of 12,000 elite soldiers. If any of the Western Regions states refuse to submit, the Anxi Grand Protectorate will dispatch troops to suppress them, and the officials will hold the imperial seal. "
Li Xiaogong and Luo Xuanyun were surprised and delighted when they heard this. This was the first time that the imperial court had clearly stated that it wanted to station so many troops in the Western Regions. The money and food required to station 12,000 troops here was extremely huge. Only the Tang Dynasty, at its peak, could ignore such losses.
Moreover, the imperial court wanted the Grand Protectorate to exercise its subjective initiative and ensure the implementation of government policies in the Western Regions.
If something like the Gaochang Kingdom happened again, the court would not dispatch troops from Chang'an, but would let the Grand Protectorate resolve the issue on its own. For this purpose, the Grand Protectorate was also given the power to go to war, as long as it reported afterwards.
"We will do our best!"
Li Xiaogong went to arrange the affairs of the Protectorate, and Luo Xuanyun was left behind by Luo Xuanling. "Seventh brother, you must cooperate with the Prince of Hejian. The Western Region cannot afford to lose anything."
Luo Xuanyun was startled when he heard this, and said slowly and solemnly: "Don't worry, Sixth Brother, I understand that the Western Region will not be out of the control of the court."
Luo Xuanling patted his shoulder and said, "You stay in the Western Regions for a few more years. His Majesty has told me before that when we are ready to attack Liaodong, you will be transferred back to the Central Plains to make meritorious service. When the Prince of Hejian retires, the position of the Grand Protector of Anxi will be yours sooner or later.
There is a lot of potential in the Western Regions."
If it were anyone else, this might be seen as empty talk, but since Luo Xuanling said so, there was no problem with the decision.
Luo Xuanling's last sigh made Luo Xuanyun feel the same way, "I have learned a lot in the past few years in the Western Regions. Time will change anything into something completely different from its original state.
If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I would never have believed that the Suwang Temple would become what it is now.
It is not easy for the Tang Dynasty to control the Western Regions, and my second brother may not only not help, but also become an obstacle. "
Luo Xuanling also said with emotion: "It's normal. Second brother has his own ideas. He wants to ensure the interests of the Suwang Temple and the Western Region. Let's talk about these things later. There will always be a solution."
"Sixth brother, are you going back to Chang'an after this?"
Luo Xuanling nodded and said, "After dealing with the Gaochang Kingdom, I returned to Chang'an to return the tiger talisman and report. Your Majesty retained the throne of Gaochang Kingdom, but also set up Yizhou here. I have to report the situation here to Your Majesty."
Luo Xuanyun was a little reluctant, "I don't know when we will meet next time. The Western Regions are too far away from Chang'an. Gaochang is already the closest place to Chang'an, and it's still 7,000 miles away."
However, Luo Xuanling sensed some previously overlooked issues from Luo Xuanyun's words. Even the Luo family felt it was far away, so what about the palace soldiers?
Thinking of this, he immediately realized that this problem was very serious and he must inform His Majesty!
(End of this chapter)
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