Chapter 329 Suppressing the Rebellion
Li Qianyuan frowned. "Your Highness, those disaster victims are citizens of the Great Qi, living, breathing human beings. They have already suffered the loss of their families and loved ones in the snow disaster. If the court were to kill them again, it would only make the people feel that the court is cold-hearted and treats human life like dirt. If the people's hearts are lost, more people will be forced to stand against the court, and the situation in the southwest will only become more and more difficult to manage."
"Popular support?" Li Ganxu sneered, his tone hardening. "Royal Sister, in chaotic times, harsh measures are necessary! The most important thing right now is to quell the rebellion as soon as possible, stabilize the situation in the southwest, and deter those with ulterior motives! If we can't even suppress the rebellion, how can we talk about popular support? Once the rebels are eliminated, we can send officials to appease the remaining people, distribute food and clothing, and the people's hearts will naturally return!"
Their sharp exchanges turned the previously relaxed atmosphere into a tense standoff once again.
The officials looked at each other, none daring to interrupt.
Even Prime Minister Su and Prime Minister Tu tacitly refrained from interrupting.
Li Yuanzhao remained seated firmly on the dragon throne, his fingertips lightly tapping the armrest as he watched quietly.
The two argued back and forth for several rounds. Seeing that Li Qianyuan remained stubborn, Li Ganxu found her pedantic and ridiculous, and decided not to bother with her any longer.
She turned directly to the throne, knelt down, clasped her hands, and said, “Mother Empress! Hesitation will only lead to more trouble. The situation in the southwest is critical, and the rebels are arrogant. If we hesitate any longer, it may cause even greater disaster. Your son requests permission to lead troops to the southwest to quell the rebellion! We will strike at the heart of the rebels with lightning speed, capture and kill Xu Jingze and the chief culprit of the Tibetan army, uphold the law, and bring peace to the world!”
These words immediately caused an uproar in the hall, and all the officials were shocked!
Prince Yong is only fifteen years old this year!
Although she had practiced martial arts and was skilled in riding and archery since childhood, she was still young and had never had any experience leading troops into battle.
The southwestern rebels advanced with unstoppable momentum, capturing two cities in succession, proving that such a rebellion could not be easily resolved as it was in ordinary times.
She dared to volunteer to go to the front line to lead the suppression of the rebellion; her courage and boldness far exceeded everyone's expectations.
After a brief moment of shock, Li Qianyuan quickly stepped out of the queue and knelt down beside Li Ganxu.
“Your Majesty, my younger sister is commendable for her loyalty and bravery, but she is still young. The rebels in the southwest are powerful and the situation is extremely dangerous. As her elder sister, I have an inescapable responsibility. I beg Your Majesty to allow me to lead the troops there.”
"Your subject will certainly use both kindness and severity, suppression and appeasement, to quell the rebellion with a large army while providing relief to disaster victims and calming the hearts of the people along the way. Only in this way can the rebellion be completely quelled and the hearts of the people be won back."
Hearing her use her elder sister's words to pressure her again, Li Ganxu became even more furious and immediately raised his voice, saying, "Please, Mother Empress, send your son there. Your son will certainly not fail in his mission!"
Li Qianyuan kowtowed again, his posture composed yet unyielding, "I beg Your Majesty to send your son there, your son..."
Li Yuanzhao looked down at his two daughters standing side by side, fiercely competing, and finally stopped tapping his fingers.
The hall fell silent instantly, everyone holding their breath, awaiting His Majesty's final decision.
After a long pause, Li Yuanzhao finally spoke.
"Gan Xu".
A glint flashed in Li Ganxu's eyes, and he immediately replied, "Your subject is here!"
"You are brave and decisive, with an imposing presence; you truly have the bearing of a general." Li Yuanzhao's voice was calm, revealing little emotion. "Your courage to volunteer in times of crisis and your fearlessness in the face of danger are commendable."
Upon hearing this, Li Ganxu felt a surge of warmth in his heart, and a look of joy appeared on his face, only to hear his mother's tone suddenly change.
"But a leader cannot be a mere figurehead. You are too impetuous and prone to rashness. This trip to the Southwest is far too dangerous for you."
Li Ganxu opened his mouth, wanting to refute, but when he met his mother's gaze, he stubbornly pursed his lips.
Li Yuanzhao's gaze then turned to his eldest daughter.
"Qian Yuan".
"Your subject is here," Li Qianyuan replied, bowing his head respectfully.
Li Yuanzhao said, "As the eldest sister and the crown prince, you have an unshirkable responsibility in this disaster relief and rebellion, both for the public good and for your family."
She looked at the assembled officials and gave a direct order: "I hereby appoint Crown Prince Li Qianyuan as the Grand Commander of the Southwest Army, leading 30,000 elite troops from the Left and Right Guards. He shall immediately prepare his troops and proceed to the front lines. Furthermore, troops stationed in the surrounding provinces of Jing, Chu, and Qian shall be transferred to their command and support to jointly quell the rebellion."
These words caused a slight commotion in the hall.
Li Ganxu pursed his lips even tighter.
She was the one who stepped forward first, full of enthusiasm to volunteer for the battle, so why did it end up being the Empress again?
How could she not be angry?
Li Yuanzhao continued, "At the same time, he ordered the Crown Prince to concurrently serve as the Southwest Disaster Relief and Pacification Commissioner, leading capable officials from the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works to immediately allocate grain, medicine, cotton clothing and quilts from the national treasury to accompany the army to settle the disaster victims and treat the wounded and sick."
Li Qianyuan kowtowed deeply, "Your subject receives the decree. Please rest assured, Your Majesty, your subject will certainly live up to Your Majesty's trust, quell the rebellion, and bring peace to the people!"
Li Yuanzhao nodded, then his voice suddenly turned stern, carrying the imposing aura of someone long accustomed to a position of power.
"The chaos in the southwest is a natural disaster, but even more so a man-made one. The remnants of the Tibetan tribes are stubborn and incorrigible, and have repeatedly rebelled. They must be completely eradicated to prevent future troubles!"
Her gaze swept over the crowd like lightning. "As for Xu Jingze, as an official of the imperial court, he not only failed to serve his country but also took advantage of the natural disasters and the people's distress to commit such a treasonous act that has brought chaos to the nation. His crimes are even more unforgivable!"
"Immediately draft an edict to proclaim to the world! First, state the crimes of Xu Jingze and the Tibetan rebels, and the court's determination to quell the rebellion. Second, detail the court's disaster relief policies to appease the people of the southwest."
Su Qingci and Tu Qing immediately stepped forward and replied, "Your Majesty, we obey."
Li Ganxu felt his passion had been completely extinguished, and his eyes involuntarily reddened.
She clenched her teeth, swallowing back the bitter taste in her throat, and joined the officials in shouting, "The Empress is wise!"
After the court session ended, Li Ganxu suddenly raised his head and looked at Li Qianyuan, who was surrounded by several ministers and seemed to be discussing details.
She didn't say anything, just snorted and turned to leave.
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