Chapter 27 Pacifying the Turks
The autumn wind of the third year of the Zhenguan era was like a knife, stinging one's face. Li Shimin's lingering thoughts about a northern expedition, instead of cooling down, burned even brighter under this wind. But the old scholars and cautious officials in the court kept buzzing in his ears, blaring things like "insufficient supplies," "the freezing weather," and "the Turks have already submitted; it's not advisable to wage war again," giving him a headache.
That day, after court, he was seething with anger and, without even bothering to prepare his carriage, turned and went straight into Qixia Garden. The garden was warm, with a faint, pleasant scent of medicine mixed with a hint of ink. As soon as he entered the study, he froze.
Instead of reading or blending incense as usual, Wang Yi stood beside a large wooden platform covered with fine sand and piled with small stones of varying heights. Upon closer inspection, one could see that this was roughly the area around Yinshan and Dingxiang. Although rough, the key details were exactly the same, even indicating the approximate thickness of the frozen rivers in winter with different shades of blue pebbles.
"Your Majesty, take a look at this 'playing house' thing of mine. Is it to your liking?" Wang Yi put down the small wooden stick in her hand and smiled when she saw him arrive.
"Playing house?" Li Shimin pointed at the sand table, then looked at the several sheets of silk paper spread out beside it, covered with writing. The paper was densely filled with records of which Turkic tribes were at odds with Jieli, how many cattle and sheep had died in last year's snowstorm, and even estimates of how much grain and horses the border troops had stored. "You call this playing house? This is clearer than the documents of those officials in the Ministry of War!"
Wang Yi smiled, picked up the longer wooden stick, and tapped a spot on the sand table: "Your Majesty is troubled by the Northern Expedition, simply because you feel that a frontal attack would be time-consuming, result in heavy casualties, and make it easy for that old fox Jieli to escape, right?"
Li Shimin nodded: "Exactly! The grasslands are vast. If he keeps running away and playing hide-and-seek with me, this battle will never end."
“Then let’s not play hide-and-seek with him head-on.” Wang Yi suddenly turned his stick, drawing a crooked and treacherous route that went straight from the edge of the sand table to the back of Yinshan Mountain. “Go this way.”
Li Shimin's eyelids twitched: "This... can we leave? And it's winter?"
“Hunters call it ‘Devil’s Bane.’ It’s difficult to traverse even in normal times, and it’s an absolute wasteland in winter.” Wang Yi spoke calmly, as if he were talking about what to eat today. “But it’s precisely because it’s an absolute wasteland that Jieli doesn’t expect us to dare to go there, let alone send heavy troops to guard it.”
Seeing Li Shimin's furrowed brow, she continued, "Your Majesty, think about it. Jieli now thinks the heavens are on his side. With the snow and ice, our Tang army can't get out of the pass, and even if they do, they'll advance at a snail's pace. Meanwhile, he's holed up in his warm camp in Dingxiang, embracing the women and treasures he's plundered, dreaming of becoming the Great Khan. Isn't the moment when his defenses are at their weakest when he feels safest?"
These words pierced Li Shimin's heart like a needle. He stared at the "devil's nightmare" route, his eyes growing brighter and brighter.
Wang Yi then counted on her fingers for him: "If we really want to take this route, we can't have many people, but each one must be an elite warrior capable of taking on ten men. The horses must also be the most cold-resistant and robust, and it's best if each person rides two horses alternately. The clothes we wear and the food we eat must all be specially prepared. We need to wear thick leather hats that can even cover our ears, thick gloves that don't separate our fingers, and wear woolen socks and non-slip straw covers over our boots." As she spoke, she took out several sketches she had drawn.
"We can't carry a lot of rice and flour, that's too cumbersome. I had the kitchen try it out. They mixed roasted flour, chopped dried meat, salt, sugar, and melted oil together and pressed it into this hard lump," she gestured. "When we're hungry, we can break off a small piece, soak it in snow water or hot water, and it makes a bowl of hot porridge that's very filling. It's easy to carry and high in calories. I've calculated that this is enough for one person for twenty days."
"This alone won't be enough, will it?" Li Shimin asked, engrossed in the conversation.
“Of course not.” Wang Yi tapped the sand table a few more times with his stick. “Although this road is treacherous, there are several places where, according to the maps we found before and the information secretly sent back by caravans, we can hide some food supplies. We can secretly transport some there in advance as a transit point. Once this surprise force really plunges into the Turkic winter camp, we won’t have to worry about anything—we’ll rob them! Jieli has plundered so many tribes; their camps must be overflowing with grain and livestock. When our troops get there, they can eat their food and use their resources!”
As she spoke, her thoughts became clearer, and her pace quickened: "While our surprise force quietly sets off, Your Majesty should also have General Li Ji and his men make a grand entrance from Yunzhong. Ideally, they should burn the grasslands whenever possible (since the grass will wither in winter anyway), patrol frequently, and make it appear as if they are about to engage in a decisive battle with Jieli's main force. This will draw Jieli's attention and forces away. In addition, before the battle begins, Your Majesty might as well send more eloquent people, or those who have had connections with the grassland tribes in the past, to visit the tribes like Tuli Khan and Xueyantuo, who have grudges against Jieli, and offer them some benefits. Even if they can't help us, at least they shouldn't inform Jieli, and they might even point us in the right direction."
Li Shimin was deeply moved and couldn't help but slam his hand on the table in admiration: "Excellent! What a brilliant 'openly repairing the plank road while secretly crossing the Chencang' strategy! My dear minister, you are no longer a woman of the inner palace, but clearly my... my Zhang Zifang!" He excitedly grasped Wang Yi's hand, his eyes burning with a passion that could almost melt anyone. It wasn't the lustful desire of a man looking at a woman, but the ecstatic joy of discovering a rare treasure and finding a soulmate.
Wang Yi felt a little embarrassed by his gaze, withdrew her hand, and said softly, "I was just thinking randomly, it's all theoretical. The specifics are for the experts like General Li Jing and General Li Ji to figure out."
"No, you're not just thinking wildly!" Li Shimin said decisively. "This is a grand strategy! With this foundation, I have a complete grasp of the situation! I'll go and summon them to discuss it right away!"
Li Shimin left Qixia Garden with great excitement and certainty, heading straight to the Liangyi Hall to summon his important ministers. However, his almost frenzied focus and trust, which arose because of Wang Yi, was like a fine thorn, deeply embedded in the heart of Empress Zhangsun, the mistress of the Lizheng Hall.
As dusk fell, Empress Zhangsun sat in the warm pavilion, a book in her hand, but she didn't turn a single page for a long time. Her personal maid, Yingluo, carefully lit the palace lanterns, observed her expression, and whispered, "Your Majesty, His Majesty... went to Qixia Garden again and stayed for almost two hours before coming out. When he did, he looked to be in excellent spirits and immediately summoned General Li Jing and the others to the palace."
Empress Zhangsun hummed in agreement, her fingertips unconsciously tracing the edge of the book. She knew that lately, whenever His Majesty encountered difficulties in matters of state, he would always go to Qixia Garden first. At first, she thought it was just His Majesty pitying the sick and lonely woman, occasionally going there to chat and cheer himself up. But gradually, rumors began to circulate—that the "Guardian of the Nation" seemed to be doing more than just keeping His Majesty company.
"Yingluo," Empress Zhangsun suddenly spoke, her voice calm but carrying a hint of barely perceptible weariness, "tell me, what exactly are His Majesty's feelings for Master Wang?"
Yingluo was startled and quickly knelt down: "Your Majesty, this servant dares not presume to know His Majesty's will."
"Get up. There are no outsiders here. You can talk freely." Empress Zhangsun put down her book and looked out the window at the deepening twilight.
Yingluo rose tremblingly, hesitated for a moment, and then whispered, "In my humble opinion... Your Majesty's feelings for Master Wang are... are probably more than just pity. Ordinary pity wouldn't lead to such unquestioning obedience, much less such a momentous matter as war being discussed with her. I've heard that General Cheng Zhijie is saying outside that Master Wang's ideas are more effective than many veteran soldiers." She secretly glanced at the Empress, seeing that her expression remained calm, before continuing, "The way Your Majesty looks at Master Wang... I've occasionally caught glimpses of it from afar, and there's respect, joy, and also... an indescribable dependence. It's like... like..." She dared not finish.
"Like what?" Empress Zhangsun pressed.
"It's like...like the look in His Majesty's eyes when he was still the Prince of Qin and he went to consult with Chancellor Fang and Chancellor Du about extremely difficult military matters." Yingluo finished speaking with a forced smile and immediately lowered her head.
Empress Zhangsun fell silent. Yes, respect, reliance. This was more than just romantic love; it was seeing her as a confidante, even a strategist, someone with whom one could stand shoulder to shoulder and oversee the empire. What right did a woman have? Was it based on those mysterious "overseas experiences"? Or on that... map that supposedly held countless secrets?
A sharp pang of bitterness, mingled with a deep sense of resentment, gripped Empress Zhangsun's heart. She was his first wife, who had stood by him through his most difficult years, bearing him children, managing the harem, and striving to be a virtuous empress. She earned his respect and the praise of almost everyone. But... she rarely seemed to see the unreserved, fervent appreciation and spiritual resonance that shone in his eyes for her.
He was gentle, trusting, and treated the Empress with the respect due to her. But towards Wang Yi… it was a completely different kind of attention and devotion, almost an all-consuming immersion. This made her feel a deep sense of powerlessness and… jealousy. Yes, jealousy. This realization made her feel ashamed. She was the Empress, the mother of the nation, and should be magnanimous; how could she be as jealous as an ordinary woman?
But the heart doesn't obey reason.
"Did my brother (Changsun Wuji) have anything to say?" She suppressed the turmoil in her heart and asked instead.
Yingluo replied in a low voice, "Minister Changsun (Changsun Wuji) asked me to secretly tell Your Majesty that His Majesty's mind is very firm on the matter of Master Wang, and... Master Wang's current talents seem to be of great use to the country. Since she is no longer able to bear children, she poses no fundamental threat to the harem. If we were to forcefully dissuade him at this time, or resort to any means, it might not only fail to change His Majesty's mind, but could also anger him, making him think that it is Your Majesty... or the Changsun family, who cannot tolerate others. Minister Changsun said that with the Northern Expedition imminent, stability in the court is paramount, and he asks Your Majesty... to be patient for now and observe the consequences."
Empress Zhangsun closed her eyes. Her brother's meaning was clear: Wang Yi was currently protected by his talent and had no son to threaten him, so he couldn't be touched. His Majesty was in high spirits, and going against him would only lead to trouble. They weren't the retired emperor; they couldn't be sure that His Majesty would still consider family ties after things turned sour. It wasn't worth gambling with the Emperor's favor and the family's future for a woman who couldn't bear children.
She understood the道理 (principles/reasons). But the word "endure" felt like a branding iron, searing her heart with pain. She not only had to tolerate her husband's doting affections for another woman, but also had to watch helplessly as that woman displayed talents she herself could never match, talents that made her husband so devoted and dependent. This pain had nowhere to be expressed; she could only swallow it all herself.
"I understand." She opened her eyes again, her gaze now a deep, calm pool. "Give the order that everything at Qixia Garden must be provided without shortage. Whatever Master Wang needs due to his 'illness,' do your best to meet it. If His Majesty asks, tell him that I am well and that His Majesty should focus on state affairs."
"Yes." Yingluo replied respectfully, but felt a pang of sorrow for the Empress.
In the first month of the fourth year of the Zhenguan era, news of victory arrived frequently, and the capture of Khagan Jieli shook the world. Chang'an City erupted in jubilation. Li Shimin, overjoyed, immediately wanted to share the news with Wang Yi. He practically rushed to Qixia Garden, like a young scholar who had just achieved the highest rank in the imperial examinations, incoherently recounting the victory.
As for how to deal with Jieli and demonstrate the might of the Tang Dynasty, Wang Yi came up with another idea that made Li Shimin applaud.
“Your Majesty, killing him is just a matter of one stroke. Parading him through the streets might vent your anger, but it feels a bit contrived.” Wang Yi leaned against the window, watching the celebrating crowd outside, and said calmly, “Why not… let him perform a Hu Xuan dance for Your Majesty and for the people of Chang’an?”
Li Shimin was taken aback: "The Hu Xuan Dance?"
“Hmm.” Wang Yi nodded. “The Turkic Khan, the former overlord of the grasslands, is now Your Majesty’s prisoner. At the victory banquet, in front of envoys from all nations, he will be dressed in nomadic attire and perform a dance for Your Majesty. This will demonstrate Your Majesty’s civil and military achievements far more effectively than killing him, and will let the whole world know what a Celestial Empire is, and what the Mandate of Heaven truly means. Moreover,” she winked slyly, “I heard that Jieli was also a skilled dancer in his youth. If you ask him to dance, he dares not refuse. This feeling… will be far more unforgettable for him than killing him.”
Li Shimin was taken aback at first, then burst into laughter, laughing so hard that tears almost came out: "Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant! My dear minister, how many more ingenious ideas are still swirling in your head? Let's do it this way! I want to see Jieli perform the Hu Xuan dance at the grandest victory banquet!"
Thus, at the celebratory banquet of the fourth year of the Zhenguan era, a scene unfolded that all historians vividly recorded: the once invincible Eastern Turkic Khan, Jieli, dressed in brightly colored nomadic clothing, stood before the Taiji Hall, under the watchful eyes of Emperor Taizong (Li Shimin), his civil and military officials, and envoys from various countries, his face ashen and his steps heavy as he performed the Hu Xuan dance. Each spin was a utter mockery of the steppe's hegemony; every movement proclaimed the unparalleled majesty of the Tang Dynasty.
Li Shimin sat high on his imperial couch, brimming with pride. His gaze, however, would occasionally drift to an inconspicuous spot behind a gauze curtain not far away—where Wang Yi was granted a quiet seat. Though separated by the curtain, he knew she was watching. He desperately wanted to share this unparalleled achievement, this ultimate glory, with her, as if only with her witness could this victory be truly complete.
After the banquet, Li Shimin returned to Qixia Garden, still smelling of wine, but his eyes were crystal clear, filled only with an overwhelming love and joy. He said nothing, but simply held Wang Yi tightly, as if trying to meld her into his very bones.
"My glory today belongs half to my soldiers and half to you," he whispered in her ear, his breath hot against her skin. "Wang Yi, stay by my side and never leave."
Wang Yi leaned against him, listening to his strong, powerful heartbeat, gazing at the still dazzling celebratory lights outside the window. A sense of calm settled within her, yet a complex ripple stirred within her. She knew she had planted a very deep seed in this man's heart. This "deepness" was a protective shield, but perhaps... it was also a potential threat for the future.
Meanwhile, in the Lizheng Hall, Empress Zhangsun had already removed her formal attire and sat alone under the lamp. The faint music and cheers emanating from the front hall pierced her eardrums like needles. She knew that His Majesty must be in Qixia Garden at this moment, sharing that joy and intimacy that was uniquely his only companion. She stroked a somewhat worn jade bracelet on her wrist, a gift from Li Shimin in her younger days, and a single tear finally slid silently down her cheek, disappearing instantly into the dark fabric of her palace dress.
The Northern Expedition was a resounding success, and the Heavenly Khan's fame spread far and wide. Wang Yi's prestige and favor reached heights unmatched by others. However, the moon wanes after it is full, and water overflows when it is full. In the shadows of the inner palace, Consort Yang stroked her unborn child, her eyes filled with melancholy; in the court, the power reshuffling and the rise of new elites brought about by the conquest of a kingdom also concealed unknown turbulence. Wang Yi stood at the pinnacle of glory, but also at the center of a more turbulent vortex.
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