The Emperor Reigns Them All

Chapter 399 The Scheme of the White Deer Sect (3)

Li Ye, who was kneeling in front of the small case, was silent.

As the wind roared through the night, the window panes were constantly shaking, as if they were afraid of something. Suddenly, the sound of the wind became fainter. He could barely hear the sound of the rain falling in the yard.

When Li Ye came to his senses, the heavy rain drumming on the eaves was as dense as the roll of drums on the battlefield. The sound of rain falling on the old locust tree in the courtyard rang in his ears, but this did not give Li Ye even a little relief.

The faint smell of the rain mixed with earth drifted into the house, and the candlelight swayed slightly. The dim light on the floor flickered, and Li Xian was surprisingly silent.

The layout of the White Deer Sect was simple.

Many things were simple, but they were not easy to accept.

Chu Nanhuai answered Li Ye only with one simple sentence – When the old king died and the old dynasty collapsed, the new king and a new dynasty were established.

What caused the collapse of the old dynasty was naturally not Li Ye, but Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism, and Militarism, envoys of the vassal state, officials of various sizes, heroes of the forest, and various other heroes.

Everyone understood Chu Nanhuai’s explanation. Only a bit of the fortune from the Tang Empire was left. Several loyal ministers could not save it. There was no soil for the survival of famous officials in troubled times, but only opportunities for the rise of the heroes.

Li Ye was not afraid of these. As a transmigrator, he did not care about the destruction of the Tang Dynasty in this world. The birth and death of all things, the fall from the pinnacle of a nation, and the rise and fall of the dynasty, are the fundamental laws of mutual promotion between yin and yang.

Tang Empire, a gloriously radiant dynasty, brought countless fests and honors to the people of this land. However, as Huang Chao conquered the Imperial Palace, the majestic empire had collapsed, leaving only a lonely shadow that walked away in the blood and fire.

In addition to his own ascension and long-term longevity, compared with maintaining a well-known national dynasty, Li Ye cared more about whether the people in this land could live well.

The universe is impartial; it regards everyone as insignificant. Whether the country would disintegrate and whether people, plants, and animals could be sustained, were Li Ye’s concerns.

Li Yan did not even care who ruled the land, whether it was Taoism or Buddhism. He did not even care if the later dynasty was called the Song or the Yuan dynasty.

Compared with the everlasting mountains and rivers and hundreds of millions of years, any ruler was just a passer-by, and every civilization merely a flash in the pan.

The rise and fall of a dynasty had its own rules, and Great Tao would eventually make the best choice.

No matter how people were fighting now, and no matter how many forces in the realm, whether they were enemies or friends, they were fighting for power, using various excuses, and shedding blood for the benefit of a small team. In the end, the world would be irreversible and move towards the choice of the Great Tao.

Survival, integration, coexistence, and harmony were the final results.

What Li Ye would do, what he wanted to do, and what he could do, was nothing more than helping to speed up the process.

If only that result had appeared earlier, the common people might have suffered less.

It was his primary accomplishment as a realizer of the Way of Emperor.

After realizing the truth of yin and yang, Li Yan did not care about the rise and fall of the Tang Empire, but he could not ignore Li Xian’s feelings.

He could not ignore the feelings of any relatives and friends around him, which was his fundamental principle.

Suddenly, the sound of the wind picked up and grew louder. The heavy rain dropped obliquely and beat against the window lattices, as if they would overturn the house.

Li Xian’s voice sounded amid the sound of wind and rain. “Everyone has an obsession. According to Buddhism, if one can’t let it go, or if one can’t let himself go, he will not be able to attain Buddhahood in the way of sudden enlightenment. According to Taoism, if one can’t let it go, he will not be able to become free and unfettered. He could not be greatly discerning and apprehending, as well as becoming immortal. However, if there is no obsession and no self, why should the Buddhists compete with others, and insist on saving people and making them Buddhists as well? If so, why should the Immortal Court start the battle of immortals, while facing the gods’ attack?”

“Since I followed Xuanzong, I have only one goal. I was only concerned about the Tang Empire. Now, if I give it up and turn a blind eye to the collapse of the Tang Empire, what’s the point of my existence?”

Li Ye knew that Li Xian would say this, so he was not surprised at all. It was also the situation he was most worried about.

Chu Nanhuai wanted to let the Tang Empire perish, and the White Deer Sect wished to set up a new monarch and establish a new dynasty. Their layout in the world also worked for this. Thus, Li Ye and Li Xian stood on opposite sides.

Li Xian continued, “I got a report today that Li Maozhen took advantage of the battle of Hedong, sent troops to attack Wang Chongrong, and attained a big victory. Then, he commanded an army to go eastward, deployed troops outside Chang’an City, and unequivocally asked his Majesty to move the capital to Fengxiang.

Li Ye was also informed of the incident today. He was not surprised at all. In his previous life, he had been persecuted by Li Maozhen, after he became the emperor.

At that time, he had just set up the Regal Guards. He wanted to fulfill his potential to save the Tang Empire. Because of this considerable influence, the vassal states were startled.

However, because Li Keyong was defeated first, the Regal Guards was destroyed in one day. Then, he was insulted by Li Maozhen, and the emperor’s majesty was lost. Since then, the situation became uncontrollable. He also became an emperor in the city, because his imperial edict could not be sent out of Chang’an City.

It could be said that Li Keyong and Li Maozhen claimed Li Ye in his previous life.

The things developed much faster in this life than in the previous life. At this time in his previous existence, Li Maozhen was still recruiting soldiers. It was a few years away from deploying troops outside Chang’an City.

Li Ye said in a heavy voice, “Li Maozhen wants to control the emperor and command the nobles. Chang’an City is in great danger. Father, do you want to save Chang’an?”

Li Xian said with a smile, “The Feng Xiang military forces are good at fighting, but Wang Chongrong is not easy to handle. Soon after he left Fengxiang, Li Maozhen was able to defeat Wang Chongrong. It’s amazing enough. Now, he deploys troops outside Chang’an endlessly and forces the emperor to move westward. How can he be so brave?”

Li Ye frowned slightly. If Li Xian did not mention this, he would not have thought too much about this. With such a reminder, he immediately felt that something was wrong, as if there was a lot of hidden meaning in his speech.

Li Ye said, “If the emperor moves west to Fengxiang, he’ll be controlled. As long as he takes some measures, Li Maozhen will be able to force the emperor to abdicate and he will become the emperor. So ... the Tang Empire will perish.”

Li Xian nodded, “Yes. Accelerating the Tang Empire’s demise is exactly the crux of this matter.”

Li Ye asked, “Who wants to accelerate the Tang Empire’s demise?”

Li Xian said, “Everyone wants the Tang Empire to perish quickly. The Immortal Court may be the first one. Now, you’re in Hedong, and you can’t be in two places at once. Although you know that Li Maozhen’s intentions are malicious, you can’t dispatch troops. Once the Tang Empire perishes, as a loyal minister of the Tang Empire, will you become like the rootless duckweed? To withdraw fuel from under a boiling cauldron, it’s a venomous scheme.”

Li Ye was silent.

It was indeed possible for the Immortal Court to do this, and it was easy to do so.

The Immortal Court had sent people to the mortal world twice to kill him directly, so they were able to help Li Maozhen. The Immortal Court was so big and had a galaxy of talents. In order to ensure thoroughness, there was not only one method to deal with him.

However, the Immortal Court was already helping Zhu Wen...

The Immortal Court helped Li Maozhen. It could accelerate not only the destruction of the Tang Empire, but also help Zhu Wen. When Zhu Wen occupied the Central Plains, the Immortal Court would let Li Maozhen fall to Zhu Wen. Then, Zhu Wen would easily take up Guanzhong and Fengxiang.

It would be like killing two birds with one stone.

After Li Ye thought for a while, Li Xian continued, “Apart from the Immortal Court, is it possible for Confucianists and Militarists to help Li Maozhen? Of course, it’s possible. Right now, you’re powerful enough, and they can’t deal with you directly, but they could not tolerate the fact that you want to revive the Tang Empire. So, they took a different approach. They assisted Li Maozhen to get authority, and then let him remove the emperor. In this way, the Tang Empire would come to a quick demise, and Li Maozhen could also become influential. He could immediately expand his territory, and he will be able to fight against you in a short time.”

After all, Li Xian had been in the Central Government for a long time. So, only a few people could match him, when it came to opinions on state affairs.

Li Ye’s horizon was gradually widened. He sighed softly, “It’s true. According to the information received from the Black Office in the afternoon, Qin Zongquan had defeated Zhou Ji, the Xuanwu commissioner, and occupied Xuzhou. Huainan Gao Pian and Sichuan Wang Jian were also recruiting followers and forcibly occupying nearby states and counties. It seems that they are preparing to set up their organizations! ”

“Besides, the outlaws of all states and counties have risen. Too many outlaws assassinated the Inspector General and took up government offices! I captured Taiyuan, which seemed to have helped the court remove a scourge. However, the scourges of the world have increased. Now, the world is indeed in great disorder.”

Li Xian nodded and said, “When you go out to battle in Hedong, you will give heroes of the world a chance to stage an uprising. In their opinions, the fight between Pinglu and Hedong is a ding-dong fight, and it may last for a long time. If they don’t rise in insurrection by taking this chance, when will they do it? Among the hundred officials of the Tang Empire, only you have the power and ability to check and balance the vassal states.”

Hearing this, Li Ye suddenly felt that something wrong.

Li Xian said this in a severe tone, without any hatred. If he insisted on reviving the Tang Empire, he should be sad, in the face of such a situation in the world.

Without waiting for Li Ye to ask, Li Xian suddenly asked again, “Can’t the White Deer Sect help Li Maozhen?”

Li Ye was shocked.

The White Deer Sect might do so.

He did not know what to say for a moment.

Li Xian stood up, came to the door with his hands clasped behind his back, watching the storm in the courtyard silently.

He looked thin, amidst the stormy night.

He said, “You all say that you will co-exist with the nation. Although this statement is absurd, it also expresses some true meaning. I’ll ask you a question now.”

Li Ye stood up and said, “Father, please.”

“Would you like to be Emperor Guangwu?” Li Xian turned and looked at Li Ye, his eyes stern.

He had been lonely and melancholy since he emerged from the Battle of Bagong Mountain. He had never been so serious, even when he was talking about the collapse of the nation.

Emperor Guangwu of Han Dynasty defeated Wang Mang, who usurped the throne, and re-established the Han Empire. He continued the Han Dynasty, which was known as Eastern Han Dynasty.

Li Xian asked Li Ye whether he would continue to give the dynasty the “Tang” title, after his success.

Even if he knew that the world was in chaos and that the Tang Empire was about to perish, he would still hold on to that.

For ordinary people, it was a big question. Any hero who established an empire wanted to have his national title. Only in this way could he be known as the founder, who made his name in history, with his remarkable achievement.

Li Ye obviously did not have this problem.

He solemnly said, “If I pacify the world, it will still be the Tang Dynasty!”

Li Xian felt relieved.

“If so, I will start tomorrow,” Li Xian said.

Li Ye was stunned. “Father, where are you going?”

“Hexi.” Li Xian looked again at the night sky, blocked by the wind and rain. He said in a slow and powerful tone, as if the whole country was stuck in his throat, “I can see you conquering the whole country, but I can’t be a courtier to destroy the Tang Empire. I can’t follow you in abandoning the emperor and creating a great cause. So, I’ll go there and resist the invading Tubo and Uighur armies, for the people of the Tang Empire there. Thus, I’m a courtier who is serving the country. I remain true to my original aspiration.”

Li Ye looked at Li Xian’s back, and remained speechless for a long time.

Li Xian suddenly smiled, “I have walked many places, met many people, and done many things in my life. I only admire two people. Xuanzong is unquestionable. The other one is the Guiyi Army commissioner, Zhang Yichao, who seized back 11 counties of Hexi Corridor from Tubo, including Sha county and Gua county, and reincorporated it into the territory of the Tang Empire.

“When Zhang Yichao returned to the court, I once sang, while drinking with him. We had a long talk through the night. We regretted that we did not meet sooner, and became bosom friends. Now, he has already passed away. Uighur attacked Hexi Corridor again. The 11 counties are in danger of losing. There’s not much I can do now. I won’t let him down, if I can keep the battlefield for my old friend while I’m alive.”

Li Ye opened his mouth and once again wondered what to say.

Even if he lived twice and had a profound cultivation, he was moved.

Some people and things did not need to be evaluated. Some people did something without requiring praise.

They were facing their own souls and that was their own business.

Li Ye came to Li Xian, and the two stood side by side, at the door. They remained silent for a long time, listening to the patter of the rain.

Lightning flashed and thunder rumbled in the night sky.

No matter how chaotic the world was, things still needed to be done.

“You don’t need to send me tomorrow.” Li Xian waved his hand and turned into the house. He was ready to have a rest.

Li Ye nodded.

Li Xian took two steps and suddenly stopped.

He did not look back. He paused for a moment before he said quietly, “I’m old. I can’t drop my opinionated mind, and I have no courage to face some things. You are young and can do much more than me. You can make a lot of changes, both to yourself and to this world. I’m assured about you.”

He paused again. There was something that one could not explain clearly and make people understand. He said in a heavy tone, with a touch of gentleness. “This country is full of domestic strife and foreign aggression. I’ll go to Hexi ... to guard the country for you. You need to deal with the domestic strife.”

For a time, Li Ye had a lump in his throat.

He could only bow to his father’s retreating back and saluted, “Yes, father.”

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