noveltune Chapter 5486 Imperial Council
Chapter 5486 Imperial Council
Chapter 5486 Imperial Council
As clusters of fireworks were lit from the Chengtianmen city tower and shot into the sky, projectiles trailing flames soared into the night sky, bursting into dazzling fireworks. The entire city was captivated by this beautiful and magnificent spectacle, stamping their feet, clapping their hands, cheering and shouting, creating a lively atmosphere.
Meanwhile, the foreign envoys invited to witness the ceremony on the city tower turned ashen-faced and trembled like leaves, retreating in terror and screaming incessantly.
They had suffered greatly from firearms, and every time they faced the Tang army, they were routed by these weapons that filled the air with smoke and bursts of flame, leaving behind mountains of corpses and seas of blood. But when they watched as those projectiles soared into the air, trailing fiery tails, and exploded in mid-air, only to suddenly appear in the night sky as colorful and exquisitely beautiful fireworks appeared, they were all dumbfounded.
Such a powerful weapon capable of conquering cities and destroying countries, yet the Tang people used it as a tool to create a festive atmosphere?
A violent thing!
but……
Sheikh's eyes darted around, and he grabbed Fang Jun beside him: "These fireworks are truly unparalleled and unmatched in the world! I wonder if the Tang Dynasty sells them to the public? I'd like to buy some to present to the Caliph. If they could be set off in Damascus on the Caliph's birthday, or at the Holy Mosque during Hajj, they would be a divine gift!"
Once such a scene occurs, one can imagine the sensation it will cause in Damascus and Mecca. The Caliph will be overjoyed and will naturally be promoted and ennobled!
As for whether the gunpowder formula could be deduced from this, it was not a pipe dream. Although the Arab army lost more battles than it won in several battles with the Tang army, it did capture some firearms and ammunition. As a result, even the best Arab craftsmen were at a loss.
Not only could they not deduce the gunpowder formula, they couldn't even successfully replicate a simple firearm...
Fang Jun was delighted to have received such a windfall. He patted Xie He on the shoulder and said, "I'll contact my butler later and he'll definitely give you a satisfactory price. But there's not much stock left, so it's first come, first served."
Upon hearing this, not only did envoys from other foreign countries surround him, but envoys from vassal states such as Fusang, Qi, Jin, Jiang, and Shu also rushed over.
"Grand Commandant, we can't let outsiders benefit from this! We need to save some for ourselves!"
"Our king has repeatedly instructed us to bring back a batch of fireworks so that they can be set off in Japan on the night of the Lantern Festival!"
Fang Jun smiled and didn't refuse. After thinking for a moment, he said, "How about... the highest bidder wins?"
"what?"
"That won't do!"
"My goodness! Grand Commandant, you've pulled this trick again?"
The envoys from the vassal states let out a wail of pain.
After the fireworks on Chengtian Gate had burned out and vanished into nothingness in the night sky, a short moment later, fireworks from all the neighborhoods of Chang'an City rose into the air once again. Looking down from the top of Chengtian Gate, countless fireworks soared into the sky, dazzling and magnificent. This magnificent city, the most powerful in the world, seemed to have fallen into a sea of fire woven from countless fireworks. The night was filled with thousands of flowers, and fireworks danced like fish and dragons.
Sheikh leaned forward slightly, his hand resting on the arrow stalks, gazing at the magnificent scene before him, a spectacle of dazzling fireworks and universal joy, remaining silent for a long time.
In terms of population, the Tang Dynasty was more than ten times larger than the Abbasid Caliphate.
In terms of military strength, even the Abbasid Caliphate, where the entire population was a soldier, was less than one-fifth the size of the Tang Dynasty's army.
In terms of wealth, the Tang Dynasty, which had ravaged the world, was already rich, magnificent, and prosperous.
In terms of territory, the Tang Dynasty was more than three times the size of the Abbasid Caliphate...
Although they are known as the "two superpowers of the East and West", there are still differences between the "superpowers".
How could the Abbasid Caliphate have won against such a powerful nation?
Even if they could conquer Constantinople and annex Byzantium as the Caliph envisioned, would they still be able to fight against the Tang Dynasty?
The other foreign envoys were also shocked and terrified.
*****
On New Year's Eve, the entire city was ablaze with fireworks, a magnificent spectacle. Before the smoke from the fireworks had even dissipated, the grand court assembly for the New Year was held at the Taiji Palace. Compared to previous years, the envoys from various foreign countries showed even greater reverence, and the entire pilgrimage process proceeded smoothly without the slightest mishap.
At noon, the court session ended, and Li Chengqian hosted a banquet for his civil and military officials in the Liangyi Hall.
The banquet was over, leaving several important officials to discuss matters in a side hall.
Li Chengqian was determined to achieve the reputation of a "benevolent ruler," so he was approachable when meeting with his ministers in private. Although he could not inherit the "joking, scolding, and unparalleled prestige" of Emperor Taizong, he was gentle and refined, which won him the support of his ministers.
After all, who wouldn't like a monarch who is reasonable, compassionate, and kind-hearted?
Li Chengqian wiped his face to dispel the smell of alcohol, tossed the handkerchief aside, picked up a teacup, took a sip of hot tea, and then exhaled a breath of stale air.
He remarked with emotion, "If Emperor Taizong could know the current splendor of the empire, where it commands respect across the world and all nations pay tribute, he would surely be pleased."
As the saying goes, "The more something is lacking, the more it needs to be emphasized." He was eager to prove to the world that Emperor Taizong's decision to change the heir was a mistake, so his achievements in governing must not be much less than those of Emperor Taizong.
Emperor Taizong was hailed as the "Heavenly Khan," and all ethnic groups submitted to him, leading to the glorious Tang Dynasty. Now, he has inherited Emperor Taizong's mantle, and not only has the Tang Dynasty expanded its territory, but it has also attracted tribute from all nations. At the very least, he is no less capable than Emperor Taizong.
The ministers naturally understood his thoughts and nodded in agreement. After all, the Tang Dynasty was now more than twice as powerful as it had been during the Zhenguan era. This was undoubtedly His Majesty's achievement.
Furthermore, even if one or two people with "strengths" want to emulate Wei Zheng's "outspoken remonstrance" in the past, it would be inappropriate for them to openly contradict him today.
After all, it's the Lunar New Year...
The ministers echoed His Majesty's words of respect and good fortune, and the atmosphere became increasingly relaxed.
Li Chengqian put down his teacup and looked at Fang Jun beside him, asking, "The New Year is over, and spring will be here in the blink of an eye. How are the preparations for the development of Liaodong progressing?"
Although Ma Zhou was nominally in charge of the development of Liaodong, Fang Jun directly supervised all matters.
Fang Jun held his teacup, looking relaxed; there was no need to sit formally in such a private setting.
"Your Majesty, everything is under control. The temporary wharf built at the mouth of the Liao River last autumn, which mobilized manpower and resources, has been completed, but construction has been halted due to the winter ice. However, the trading company has organized a fleet to purchase a large amount of grain, medicine, and livestock from overseas countries, as well as cloth, clothing, and farm tools from within the country. All of these have been stockpiled in Huating Town, awaiting the spring breeze to blow north and the ice to melt. Once the ice melts, all the supplies will be transported to the mouth of the Liao River. The development focus for the next two years will be on the entire Liao River basin, and then, based on this, we will continue to expand northward."
The development plan for Liaodong was extremely meticulous and detailed. The first step was the first "Five-Year Plan," which aimed to develop the Liao River basin and the Three Rivers basin within five years, and to complete the development of the area surrounded by the Greater Xianbei Mountain, Lesser Xianbei Mountain, and Changbai Mountain.
In particular, the plan for how to utilize waterways to quickly transport manpower and supplies to various locations was meticulously devised.
Li Ji then asked, "What is the strength and situation of the various 'corps' that have been formed?"
Fang Jun answered fluently: "There are currently eleven corps, distributed along the Liao River, Sumo River and other rivers. They have adopted a mixed-arms policy to disperse the local Hu and Han people. The total strength is now around 300,000. However, due to the mixed-arms policy, their combat effectiveness is extremely low."
He knew what the court was worried about. Such a large-scale reorganization of the army was too risky. If someone harbored rebellious intentions and rose up in revolt, it could very likely lead to the secession of the entire Liaodong region. This had to be guarded against.
But in fact, it's unnecessary.
They're just a bunch of rabble who'll soon be picking up hoes and sickles; what fighting power do they have?
Li Ji instructed: "With so many people gathered in one place, in addition to the difficulties in logistics and supply of food and supplies, we must pay special attention to the morale of the troops."
Fang Jun nodded and smiled, “Don’t worry, Lord Ying, we have a plan for this. Starting from the beginning of winter, the academy began to select ‘volunteers’. These students will undergo a winter of special training and will be assigned to various corps as ‘military commanders’ after the spring. They will not only lead by example and guide the reclamation, but also unite the troops and boost morale to ensure that all soldiers maintain high fighting spirit.”
How can an army possess formidable combat power?
Of course, one must have faith.
Faith is not necessarily a deity; it can be a certain idea, a certain concept, or a certain spirit.
When countless students integrate into various corps and spread the ideas of "serving the country and the people" and "reclaiming grain from wasteland" to inspire everyone, they will naturally unleash unparalleled enthusiasm.
This passion will surely melt away the bitter cold of Liaodong and burn the lush wild grass to ashes.
Xu Jingzong was taken aback and hurriedly said, "The Grand Commandant also wants to provide me with some talented people!"
He had never thought of using the students of the academy to participate in the development, and only now did he suddenly realize this.
Those are all new-generation "all-rounders." Compared to the scholars of the past who only read the classics, the students of the academy today are not only studying Confucian classics but also proficient in various natural sciences, such as surveying, drawing, metallurgy, and manufacturing. They are enough to become the backbone of the reclamation army!
Fang Jun laughed and said, "What are you thinking? I've invested hundreds of thousands of strings of cash to organize these students' specialized training, and I've also equipped them with a strong teaching staff. I've put in countless efforts for each student! You think you can just reap the rewards with a few words? There are so many students in the academy, you have to find them yourself."
Xu Jingzong blushed and regretted his actions.
Leaving aside whether he can mobilize so much money and resources, the most important thing is that all the "volunteers" who are willing to participate in the development have already joined Fang Jun's team. How many of the remaining people are willing to participate?
Even if we went to the academy to encourage and rally people now, we probably wouldn't be able to recruit many...
It's too late to regret.
Pei Huaijie then asked, "With so many troops, how will their food and lodging be arranged?"
Fang Jun's face stiffened, and he sighed: "We all live in makeshift 'underground dwellings,' which can keep us warm in the cold, but food is severely scarce. In winter, heavy snow in Liaodong blocks the roads, and we can only rely on the nearby nomadic tribes for support."
Pei Huaijie's expression changed drastically: "How can the Grand Commandant, for the sake of his own political achievements, plunge so many Tang soldiers into hardship and suffering?"