Chapter Thirty-Four: Fang Yi's Return Home

  The majestic atmosphere was awe-inspiring, with intricate carvings and jade inlays everywhere, showcasing the grandeur of the great hall. Li Shimin sat high on the dais, receiving the messenger who brought news from the battlefield.

  Du He stood aside.

  "Your Majesty, Songzhou is in urgent need of assistance. The Governor of Songzhou, Han Wei, has submitted a memorial to the throne, requesting Your Majesty's attention!" The messenger rushed thousands of miles, dusty and disheveled, holding up a petition in front of him.

  "Hurry up and present the battle report!" Li Shimin was overjoyed instead of angry, his expression somewhat impatient!

  The eunuch who was in charge of the inner palace took the memorial from the hands of the messenger and respectfully presented it to Emperor Taizong for his review.

  Li Shimin finished reading the memorial and his expression was somewhat uncertain. He asked: "So it seems that Han Wei has been defeated!"

  The messenger hung his head and said in a low voice: "Songzhou City is short of troops, the commander-in-chief misjudged the enemy's situation and was defeated."

  "I think he is underestimating the enemy!" Li Shimin's face showed majesty, and a glimmer of sharp light flashed in his eyes. "It's also good this way, it has allowed me to see clearly the faces of some people... You may withdraw now!" He ordered the messenger to retreat and had the eunuch hand over the memorial to Du He.

  Du He took it over and looked at it carefully.

  Han Wei's memorial stated two things: one was that he intended to probe the reality of Tubo, went out of the city to meet the enemy and was defeated by Tubo, losing over a thousand men and horses; secondly, due to the defeat in battle, some Qiang chiefs who were originally affiliated with the Tang Dynasty launched a rebellion. The two Qiang chiefs, Yan Prefecture Governor Bie Congwuoshi and Nuozhou Governor Bugeli, saw the wind and changed direction, raised their states and surrendered to Tubo.

  Li Shimin cared about the betrayal of these alien tribes, not Han Wei's defeat. Even without his complacency this time, according to their plan, they would still be defeated. What he cared about was the rebellion of these alien tribes.

  He was called Tian Kehan, and received congratulations from all over the world. He also thought that he had not been unfair to these alien tribes who depended on the Tang Dynasty, treating them equally, but now they have rebelled against him with just a small loss and a slight threat. This is undoubtedly a slap in his face, so he gritted his teeth and said: "It's also let me see clearly some people's faces."

  "What do you think about this matter!" Li Shimin's face was gloomy.

  Du He understood that Li Shimin was asking about those rebellious tribes and smiled calmly, saying: "The little one thinks this is not necessarily a bad thing!"

  Li Shimin looked at him coldly.

  Du He smiled calmly and said, "Uncle Li, do you still remember what I said to you before? You are too lenient towards foreigners. Although this approach shows your broad-mindedness, it also gives people with ulterior motives an opportunity to take advantage of the situation. Take the governors of Yan and Nu states for example. They didn't even put up a fight when they encountered something that harmed their interests. As soon as they met with benefits, they immediately turned to another side. I can be certain that once our army defeats Tibet, these two governors will definitely submit a memorial requesting forgiveness and come up with a lot of excuses to show their innocence. In my opinion, people like them are better off dead than alive. The Great Tang can accept any foreign tribe who comes to surrender, but if the foreigners only come for benefits, it's better to destroy them."

  "Uncle Li, I have a suggestion. For the foreign tribes who are willing to go through thick and thin with our Great Tang, we should give them certain support and let them guard the borders of our Great Tang. As for those foreign tribes that come only for benefits, we must resolutely eliminate them without showing any mercy. Let the foreign tribes that come to congratulate us know that our Great Tang can provide them with land to settle on, but also can make them lose everything in an instant and be destroyed as a tribe... Especially for this kind of foreign tribe that betrays during battles, we should take iron-blooded measures without leaving any room for emotions!"

  Du He has always believed in "those who are not of our kind must have a different heart", and when he says this, his words are filled with murderous intent.

  Historically, Li Shimin treated people from inside and outside the country equally. This approach not only attracted powerful foreign generals like Xieli, Shibosi, and Ashina She'er to surrender with loyalty but also gave some treacherous individuals an opportunity to take advantage of the situation.

  So every time a loss occurs, there will be some wall grass swaying back and forth. If these wall grass are not removed, one day they will brew into a great disaster.

  Li Shimin fell silent for a moment, nodded and coldly smiled: "My wise nephew is right, I have been focusing on the north and western regions, neglecting the governance of the south. This opportunity should be taken to rectify it!"

  His words were filled with a cold and stern tone.

  Li Shimin was originally a decisive and ruthless emperor. After being reminded by Du He, he had already intended to kill the chicken to scare the monkey.

  Having enjoyed the kindness of the Tang Dynasty, it's also time for these barbarians to witness the might of the Tang Dynasty.

  **

  Du He returned to the military camp and unexpectedly saw his soldiers gathered in one place. He shouted, "Not training well, what are you gathering here for?"

  The soldiers saw Du He coming and made way for him, clearing a path.

  Looking into the distance, surprisingly, in the center of the crowd were two people facing each other, one was Luo Tong who was facing him, and the other had a familiar back silhouette, wearing a green warrior robe, but he didn't know who it was. Du He found it strange that Luo Tong, in the military, except for not being able to beat himself, anyone else who fought against him would only end up getting beaten.

  Is there still someone who dares to fight against Luo Tong today?

  However, the opponent was also extraordinary. He stood like a pine tree, with a sturdy body and a slightly taller stature than him. But what he held in his hand was a frightening machete that seemed to be made of pure steel, shining brightly under the scorching sun.

  The Datang's Mo Dao is a heavy weapon, weighing around 50 kilograms, but the Mo Dao in that person's hand seemed to be no less than 180 kilograms.

  Wang Dezheng stepped forward and smiled, "It's the new school officer, Fang Yiai. Luo Youlang seems to look down on him and made a few sarcastic remarks. He was furious and challenged Luo Youlang."

  Shrimp rice?

  Longing for you!

  That's not with myself, ah no, it's with that Du He in the brothel cutting off chicken heads and burning yellow paper to become sworn brothers!

  This guy has been missing for more than half a year!

  At the time of the coronation, I once asked Fang Xuanling about the whereabouts of Fang Yiai. Fang Xuanling said at the time: "Yiai has obtained the approval of Shu Bo and left Chang'an to practice in the northern garrison."

  Du He felt relieved at the time, thinking that he wouldn't be able to see her for a while, but unexpectedly they met again just over a month later.

  Thinking so, his expression changed greatly. Fang Yilove had been forced by his father to study literature since childhood, and only half a year ago did he give up literature to practice martial arts. Although his master was the first general of the Tang Dynasty, compared to the young martial artist Luo Tong, who started training at a much younger age, he would not be a match for him.

  Just wanted to stop it, but it was too late!

  "Ha!" Fang Yi'ai let out a loud shout, took a step forward and swung the guandao in his hand down with great force, directly aiming at Hua Shan.

  All that could be heard was a "whooshing" sound, the sword's contact with the air produced a strong tearing sound, this slash seemed to tear through the air.

  Du He was shocked, the place where he was located was nearly twenty steps away from Fang Yu's residence, yet despite being twenty steps apart, he could still hear this fierce and unmatched sound of breaking through the air.

  Lu Tong had always looked down on Fang Yiai, but when the latter struck with his knife, his expression changed drastically. At the moment the knife was about to strike, it hadn't yet reached its target, but the aura of a fierce and overbearing tyrant that Fang Yiai emitted made Lu Tong feel an irresistible sense of fear.

  Fang Yi's love was seized first, and even if he wanted to dodge, it wasn't urgent! Moreover, his temperament was originally strong-willed, how could he bear to yield at this moment? He raised both hands high with his long spear, stubbornly resisting this move.

  A loud "clang" sounded as the weapons collided, sending out a deafening crash and stirring up clouds of dust.

  Enormous strength surged forth, and the thirty-catty heavy iron spear, bolstered by both parties' powers, astonishingly could not withstand it and bent in the middle.

  His strength grew stronger and stronger, until Luo Tong could no longer hold the gun. The tiger's mouth had already cracked open, blood flowing like a fountain, the long spear flying out of his hand. He retreated five steps in succession, but still couldn't steady himself. His foot tripped, and he fell to the ground with a thud.

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