Chapter 110: The Courier Knight

For the Duke of Song, the autumn of troubles had bled into winter. With the Tang Dynasty having recently forged an alliance with the Turks, Xiao Yu remained deeply preoccupied with the fate of Empress Xiao, who had sought refuge among the Eastern Turks, and he was constantly devising ways to ensure her safety.

Though the Tang faced internal strife and external threats, their situation was far superior to that of the Turks. When Jiali Khan acquired the Han scholar Zhao Deyan, he treated him like a precious treasure, eagerly imitating his predecessors by launching sweeping reforms of customs and traditions. The Turks, however, were accustomed to a wilder existence and could not endure the complex, bureaucratic decrees of the Han. From the highest officials to the common folk, the entire nation was rife with resentment.

Yet, things did not go as planned. Envoys returning from the Turkic lands repeatedly urged an immediate attack, but the Emperor seemed to have other designs, deeming an assault at this juncture to be unrighteous. The plans for war were repeatedly shelved. Every day the Empress spent in the Turkic lands was another day of peril; relations between the two nations were as volatile as fire and water, ready to ignite at any moment. If they failed to protect the Empress, what would become of her?

The palace, too, was a site of undercurrents. Li Shimin was constantly monitoring the movements of the Turks, weighing his strategic options. Beside him sat Zhangsun Wuji; though the table between them was laden with fine food, neither moved their chopsticks.

"Brother-in-law, with the Turks now embroiled in fierce conflict, when exactly will be the opportune moment to strike?"

Zhangsun Wuji’s expression remained unchanged. He clicked his yellowed teeth together twice before replying, "Determining the method of attack is the concern of the generals in the field. Our concern is the significance of the attack and the consequences it will trigger. I have stated before that as we have just allied with the Turks, we should now focus on recovery and cease hostilities. To initiate war now would paint the Tang as treacherous in the eyes of neighboring states. Your Majesty, consider this: we can hold our own against one or two foes with our brave generals and strong troops, but what if several nations were to attack us simultaneously?"

Li Shimin nodded in admiration. He was a master of warfare, well-versed in the art of achieving victory. But as a newly enthroned monarch, there was much to learn: the intricacies of foreign policy, the decrees for agricultural and economic development, and the art of imperial rule over his ministers. Every word uttered and every action taken could bring about immeasurable consequences. He had no choice but to remain cautious, constantly evaluating the advice of his ministers and the information at his disposal to justify his decisions.

He could not help but sigh, reflecting that a monarch is a prisoner for life, locked in a cage of power. Though he stood at the pinnacle, he was anxious and fearful, finding it difficult to ever truly be at peace.

"Your counsel is far-sighted, brother-in-law. I am truly humbled."

Zhangsun Wuji feigned a look of great trepidation, bowing with the proper decorum of a subject. In truth, he was always careful with his advice. Unlike Wei Zheng, who spoke with blunt honesty, Zhangsun Wuji was mindful of his position as the Emperor's brother-in-law and the delicate web of interests among other ministers. He avoided the stigma of a royal relative interfering in government, fearing that his nephew might be placed in an impossible position, leaving himself as a convenient scapegoat. In this, Zhangsun Wuji was far more shrewd than Xiao Yu; he was more polished, knowing exactly when to advance and when to retreat, ensuring his own invincibility.

"Your Majesty has been brilliant since childhood and now possesses great talent and ambition. My meager words are, of course, no match for your wisdom."

"Then tell me, when will the right opportunity arrive?"

Zhangsun Wuji replied, "To strike, we must first have a just cause. An attack this year is certainly out of the question. Secondly, the Turks are already at war; let them exhaust themselves first. We shall watch the fire from across the river and reap the rewards—would that not be ideal?"

Li Shimin mused, "The Turks will surely find it suspicious if we neither send aid nor counterattack after the alliance."

Zhangsun Wuji tapped his fingers on the table, saying meaningfully, "Then we shall put on a performance. Sometimes, if you act out a deception well enough, it becomes indistinguishable from the truth."

The two exchanged a knowing smile, and Li Shimin immediately understood what Zhangsun Wuji was contemplating.

"I have a young daughter who is reaching the age of marriage."

Within the residence of the Duke of Song, whispers abounded. Everyone knew that Xiao Yu had previously urged for war, but the Emperor had decided against it. With Empress Xiao still in the Turkic lands, Xiao Yu had hoped to resolve the matter through conflict. Now that the Emperor was considering a marriage alliance, it was, in a sense, good news for Xiao Yu.

Luo Gan, fully prepared, entered the Duke’s estate. Once the servants confirmed his identity and purpose, they ushered him inside immediately.

He found Xiao Yu sitting high in the main hall. Upon seeing Luo Gan, a gleam appeared in his eyes.

"You have finally arrived. Come, sit." Xiao Yu gestured for him to sit nearby. Luo Gan complied, kneeling on the floor beside him, and looked closely to see that the man’s face was etched with worry, as if he harbored some unspeakable burden.

Luo Gan suppressed his curiosity and answered with grave seriousness. "I have thought about that matter..."

Before he could finish, Xiao Yu interrupted. "Forget that for now; that can wait. I have a more important task for you."

The surroundings grew deathly silent as the servants ceased their bustling, leaving Luo Gan uneasy about what was to come.

"You must prepare to travel with the envoys. I need you to deliver an important letter for me."

Luo Gan was bewildered. With such a great threat looming, he was being asked to deliver a letter? Was he truly nothing more than an errand boy?

"I am indeed to act as an envoy, but was I not supposed to go to Liang Shidu? How has this turned into delivering a letter to the Turks? Am I being reduced to a messenger?"

"A messenger? Hmph, once you go, you are my trusted agent. A trusted agent of the Duke of Song will be treated with favor."

"I fear that is merely a facade. The Turkic lands are in turmoil; if I go, there is a chance I may not return."

Xiao Yu, dissatisfied with Luo Gan’s hesitation, responded forcefully, "Is going to Liang Shidu not dangerous? Everything is for the sake of winning the game. Furthermore, you know full well what the consequences will be if you refuse my request."

Luo Gan was startled. Though the NPCs he had encountered previously were not exactly normal, they had seemed devoid of desire and had certainly never made such overt threats. The Duke of Song possessed an overwhelming aura, and his threat was chilling.

Looking back, he saw the main gate had already been bolted shut. He cursed his own carelessness for not bringing his spirit wine; he was no master of martial arts and could not withstand a group of attackers with his bare hands. Subconsciously, he opened the options menu in his field of vision, checking if the big data analysis could suggest a way to overcome Xiao Yu.

A few seconds later, the system displayed a single line of text: *Obey.*

Luo Gan understood what he had to do. He bowed.

"Since it has come to this, I have one request. If the Duke can assist me, I will deliver the letter."

Xiao Yu, holding the upper hand, pressed him aggressively. "You dare make demands of me? You have quite a lot of nerve."

Luo Gan remained composed. "Mutual benefit, I think, is not a bad thing."

Xiao Yu gestured for him to speak his mind.

"With the current imperial examinations underway, I would like the Duke to find a way to ensure my companion, Liu Buwen, has a fair opportunity to compete. If you do this, I will help you with this task."