Tang Dynasty Swordsman

Page 60

Li Ji sneered, "Our army's deployment is truly beyond your expectations, barbarians."

—Actually, there was no arrangement at all; it was just deception.

As for Li Tan, he was no longer at the eastern entrance of the small gorge. Firstly, the autumn grain between the large and small gorges had already been harvested, so there was no need for the military commander to personally oversee the operation; secondly, with the news of victory from the front lines, he breathed a sigh of relief—even if the battle was ultimately lost, the enemy's encirclement had been broken, and both Guo Xin and Li Yuanzhong should be able to withdraw.

Thirdly, upon hearing that the Tibetans had sent envoys to sue for peace, Li Tan, mindful of his status, naturally decided to receive them at the military governor's office in Shanzhou.

Li Ji returned to Shanzhou and led Qilibuzang to pay respects to Li Tan. Qilibuzang repeated the same story, and Li Tan, barely suppressing his anger, asked him, "If you want our Tang Dynasty to compensate with land, where do you want it?"

Qilibuzang said, "Our army can retreat slightly, and the two sides will still use Menggu and Chiling as the boundary. However, for the northern border, we hope that Qilian Garrison and Jiankang Army will be used as compensation."

Li Tan was so angry that he laughed instead.

Qilian Garrison, located north of the Qilian Mountains, flanks and protects the Silk Road. Abandoning Qilian Garrison would be tantamount to opening the gates and allowing the Tibetan army to leave the plateau. As for Jiankang Garrison, it is one of the eight major military garrisons in Hexi Corridor, bordering Ganzhou to the east, Kongtong Mountain to the west, Qilian Garrison to the south, and the Zhangye River and Helishan Mountains to the north, controlling the narrowest section of the main road in the Hexi Corridor. If the Tibetans were to enter Jiankang Garrison, they could cut off Hexi Corridor in half, naturally severing the route to the Western Regions.

Your plans are a bit too ambitious!

Li Tan immediately sneered, "So my Tang Dynasty has three songs, and you are all innocent? Since that's the case, why should I hesitate to add one more?" He ordered his men to be dragged out and hacked to pieces!

Qilibuzang shouted that the envoy should not be executed, but Li Tan replied, "I am acting on the Emperor's orders, carrying the imperial insignia to the west. Can't I even kill a barbarian traitor?!" Qilibuzang thought to himself, "This is bad. Guo Xin and Li Yuanzhong might not dare to kill me, but this man is, after all, the Tang Emperor's own son. Would the father care if his son killed someone?" He hurriedly added, "Our Tubo (Tibetan) region also has its faults..."

Li Tan waved his hand, signaling the guards to release Qilibuzang temporarily, and asked him, "Where are you all?"

"The conflict between the two countries is truly instigated by villains. In the Tang Dynasty, it was Geshu Han, and in our Tibet, there is also Zanpu Zhong..."

Li Tan slammed his fist on the table and shouted, "What Zanpu Bell? What does Nanzhao have to do with your Tubo?!"

"I misspoke... I meant that the Zanpu was instigated by Geluofeng, which is why he started a war with his maternal uncle's family..."

Chapter Twenty-Three: A Grand Banquet

Nanzhao was originally one of the six Zhao (tribes) in the southwest region. The other five Zhao were allied with the Tang Dynasty, but Nanzhao was the only one that submitted to the Tang. As a result, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang bestowed upon Nanzhao's ruler, Piluoge, the title of King of Yunnan and the name Meng Guiyi. With the support of the Tang Dynasty, Piluoge eventually annexed the other five Zhao and formally established his own kingdom.

However, due to the oppression of Xianyu Zhongtong, the military governor of Jiannan, and Zhang Qiantuo, the prefect of Yunnan, the conflict between the Tang and Zhao dynasties deepened, eventually leading to Geluofeng, the son of Piluoge, raising an army, conquering Yunnan, and killing Zhang Qiantuo. Xianyu Zhongtong led troops to suppress the rebellion, but Geluofeng's pleas for peace were refused. He then fortified the capital city of Dahe, inflicting heavy losses on the Tang army.

It is said that Xianyu Zhongtong led 80,000 troops, and more than 60,000 died in this battle...

As a result, Nanzhao became a vassal state of Tibet, and Geluofeng was also granted the title of "Zanpu Zhong" by Tibet, meaning the younger brother of the Zanpu. Soon after, Li Mi, the military governor of Jiannan, led an army of 70,000 to attack Tibet, but the entire army was wiped out... Then, An Lushan Rebellion broke out, and the Tang Dynasty was no longer able to send troops to the southwest.

However, Geluofeng was not actually very respectful to Tibet. He was more inclined towards the Tang Dynasty in his heart. Therefore, Qilibuzang said that it was because of Geluofeng's instigation that the Tang and Tibet had a dispute. He directly sold the "Zanpu Bell" without any psychological burden.

Li Tan laughed again upon hearing this, but this time it wasn't out of anger, but rather because he was amused by the foreign envoy. So he ordered, "Lock him up for now. Whether or not to send him to Chang'an, I'll consider it later."

After Qilibuzang left, he asked Li Ji and Yang Yan, "What do you think of Tibet's request for peace?"

Yang Yan preemptively replied, "This is merely a delaying tactic, an attempt to lull our Tang into complacency." He paused, then added, "If we truly wish to seek peace, even if we were to demand Shancheng or even Shanzhou, we should not demand Qilian Garrison or Jiankang Army."

Although Tibet sought peace, it shifted all the blame for the war onto the Tang Dynasty and demanded the return of traitors and the cession of territory. This was actually quite normal; negotiations, like commercial transactions, always start with an exorbitant demand, then negotiate a lower price. However, demanding the cession of Shancheng or even Shanzhou might not be entirely unnecessarily unacceptable—

If merely ceding Shancheng could bring about the cessation of hostilities by the Tibetans and several years of peace—though given the Tibetans' reputation for trustworthiness, the likelihood of them keeping their promise is slim—Li Tan might have hesitated. Even if he dared not bear the responsibility for the lost territory, he might have tried to persuade Li Heng to agree. But demanding the garrison at Qilian and the army at Jiankang, his intention to annex the Western Regions was far too obvious, and the Tang Dynasty would never agree to that!

This shows that his desire for peace is not sincere at all.

Seeing that Yang Yan had stopped speaking, Li Ji added, "However, it can also be seen from this that what the barbarian bandits covet is actually the Western Regions..." I have already analyzed this very clearly in "The Strategy for Defending Against the Barbarians" - "They deliberately sent envoys to demand the Qilian Garrison and Jiankang Army, probably to test whether our dynasty intends to withdraw its defenses from Anxi and Beiting."

Li Tan asked him, "In Changwei's opinion, should the envoy from the barbarian tribe be sent to Chang'an?"

Yang Yan quickly said, "Your Highness should not make this decision on your own; it should be left to the Emperor to decide."

What does "Jiedushi" mean? Originally, it meant to control and command, but the "jie" also implies a military command. During the Tang Dynasty, most Jiedushi held the authority of a military staff, wielding absolute power in the military and even in local areas. Therefore, theoretically, Li Tan, as the Grand Jiedushi of two towns, was in charge of the war against the barbarians. He was not only fully qualified to offer his opinions on whether to fight or make peace, but even if he executed the barbarian envoy and severed the peace talks, it could not be considered an overreach of his authority.

When the time comes, all I need to do is report to Chang'an that the Tibetan rebels have the intention to make peace, but the envoy they sent was arrogant and rude. I can't possibly send that arrogant and unruly fellow to the emperor, can I? So I can just execute him in the army and persuade the Tibetans to send another envoy. There's nothing wrong with that procedure.

However, etiquette is etiquette, law is law, and procedure is procedure. As a military commander, severing the envoy and breaking the alliance could ultimately arouse the suspicion of the court, especially the emperor. This is something that princes are particularly wary of. Therefore, Yang Yan suggested that it would be better to send Qilibuzang to Chang'an.

Li Tan sighed softly and said, "I fear that the senior officials in the court are unaware of the true situation in the western border region and are too eager to pacify Hebei, so they may be deceived by the bandits."

The Tang court abolished military campaigns, appointing only a eunuch to command eleven routes of troops to suppress the rebels. Anyone with discernment could see this was unreliable and the chances of victory slim. Therefore, to avoid unsettling the people, Li Tan kept the matter a secret, only informing a handful of trusted confidants such as Yang Yan and Li Ji. Even so, he couldn't speak too openly, and while he claimed to doubt the wisdom of the "senior officials," his true target was his own father, Li Heng.

—That father of mine, who keeps making blunders, I'm not surprised by anything he does!

Yang Yan comforted him, saying, "Your Highness, rest assured, the Emperor will certainly not agree to cede territory—and none of the officials in the court would dare to agree..." When has our Tang Dynasty ever backed down or ceded territory? "Your Highness can first write to the Crown Prince and ask him to analyze the advantages and disadvantages for the Emperor."

On the surface, Li Yu seemed to lack ambition for power and disliked cultivating relationships with court officials. However, Li Tan understood his elder brother well; he possessed an innate obsession with the throne—perhaps due to being the eldest son—and with the heir apparent already secured, his prestige among the court officials was steadily increasing even if he didn't concern himself with anything else. With Li Yu acting as a mediator and strategist, it was believed that anyone, except for Li Heng himself, who dared to agree to ceding territory and forming alliances with foreign powers would face unanimous condemnation from both the court and the public.

Even Li Fuguo and Empress Zhang might not have had that courage.

Li Tan had just nodded in agreement with Yang Yan's words when Li Ji cautioned, "The war in Guandong may be going badly. If the envoy from the barbarians investigates this, it will only embolden the barbarian rebels..."

Li Tan smiled and said, "I will convey to the Crown Prince that he should try his best to prevent Qilibuzang from learning about the inner workings of our Tang Dynasty." He then waved his hand to indicate that the topic was over, and then asked Li Ji, "The war has gone smoothly these past two days. General Li has brought back no less than a thousand enemy leaders and numerous prisoners. However, the detailed account still needs to be explained by Changwei..."

Li Tan didn't let Li Ji leave until the afternoon, saying to him, "The guards must be exhausted from their campaigns. Go and rest well. I predict that the barbarian bandits will not dare to launch another attack in the next ten days or so. As for the next military strategy, we can discuss it tomorrow."

Li Ji took his leave, mounted his horse, and headed straight for his residence. These past few days in the army, in order to blend in with his soldiers, he hadn't dared to have any special meals, eating only coarse flatbread and pickled vegetables every day… Fortunately, the cavalry's supplies were relatively better than those of the ordinary infantry, and they could have a sip of meat broth every few days. To borrow a phrase from centuries later, his mouth was "so bland it felt like birdsong," and the thought of soon being able to eat mutton soup and flatbread made by Qingluan herself made his heart flutter and his mouth water.

Hurriedly returning to the front of the house, the old soldier opened the door and led the horse inside. Li Ji darted to the porch in a few steps and called out loudly, "Qingluan, fetch water so I can wash my face and feet. I haven't eaten yet, could you make a big pot of piping hot soup noodles for me?"

However, there was no response. Just as he was wondering what was going on, the old soldier's voice came from behind him: "Young Lady Zou left a few days ago."

Upon hearing this, Li Ji frowned and turned to question the old soldier, "Departed? Where did they go?"

The old soldier replied, "She was originally a courtesan, so naturally she went back..."

"Didn't I leave a letter for the Cangcao Military Advisor, asking her to stay at the residence?!" Li Ji thought to himself, was it that Zou Qingluan was too timid to submit the letter, or was the Cangcao Military Advisor unwilling to do him this favor? He had left in such a hurry that day; he should have gone to the Cangcao Military Advisor himself to plead with him...

Judging from the old soldier's expression, he seemed somewhat confused. After thinking for a moment, he replied, "There does seem to be such a letter. Miss Zou also presented it to the granary official, but... nothing happened at first. However, a few days ago, someone came to summon her and took her away. It seemed that they said the granary official had been replaced? I'm not entirely sure..."

Upon hearing this, Li Ji immediately snatched the reins from the old soldier, mounted the horse, and galloped out of his house towards the granary. He was still pondering to himself, "When the person dies, the policy ends." It was understandable that a new person in charge of the granary wouldn't give him face and would insist on taking Qingluan back. So, what should he say when he met the new granary officer? Should he plead politely, or should he reprimand him sternly? Or perhaps he should just offer some gifts…

Oh, I just got back from the battlefield and I don't have much money on me... No worries, since we're colleagues, I should be able to make a promise first, and then formally present the gift tomorrow. Even if we weren't particularly close before, they shouldn't refuse to do me this much... I hope I can bring Qingluan back soon, so I can have a hot bowl of mutton soup before I get too hungry.

No, as long as we bring him back, that's fine. We can just eat out, okay? Can this be considered a date?

However, upon arriving at the granary, he found no military advisor, only a minor clerk who came to greet him. Li Ji asked the clerk where his superior was, and the clerk replied, "Deputy Commander Gao is entertaining guests; the military advisor and others have all gone to the banquet." Li Ji couldn't help but click his tongue, filled with annoyance—he was too late; everyone had already left work.

In fact, people generally go to bed early and get up early these days, so officials leave work very early, and the 996 get off work schedule is absolutely impossible. Under normal circumstances, most official business is completed in the morning, and after lunch break, they basically just have tea, relax, and prepare for emergencies. They will leave the office before 3 PM.

However, holding a banquet at noon and then not working in the afternoon seems a bit excessive—what is Gao Sheng thinking?

Still clinging to a sliver of hope, he asked the minor official, "Did you know that the former military advisor sent a courtesan to serve me? Even though I left temporarily, I left a letter asking that she not be brought back. Didn't you mention this when we took over?"

The minor official replied, "I know a little about this matter. The two officials did mention it during the handover, but the newly appointed Military Advisor Yang said, 'How can the property of officials be kept in private hands for long?' So he ordered it to be taken back..."

"Where is this woman now? Now that I have returned, can I bring her back?"

The clerk smiled awkwardly: "I can't make the decision on this matter. Please ask Inspector Li to come and speak with Military Advisor Yang again tomorrow... As for the courtesan, she's currently at the Deputy Commander's residence, serving at the banquet..."

Li Ji turned and rode straight to Gao Sheng's residence. The gatekeeper tried to stop him, but Li Ji shouted, "I heard that the deputy commander is hosting a banquet to entertain his guests, why didn't you call me?!" He shoved the gate open and strode inside, heading straight for the main hall.

The hall was laden with food and delicacies. Gao Sheng sat in the main seat, flanked by judges and military advisors. The banquet was in full swing, with toasts and laughter filling the air. Li Ji glanced around and noticed that, apart from the few courtesans singing and dancing in the hall, almost every official had a courtesan serving them. Moreover, in their drunken revelry, their behavior was rather unseemly…

Zou Qingluan was among them.

She leaned against a fat, blue-robed official, clearly somewhat reluctant, his robe half-open, revealing one rounded shoulder and a large expanse of white flesh on his chest, while the fat official's grotesque hand was trying to probe deeper...

Upon seeing this, Li Ji naturally became furious.

Gao Sheng saw Li Ji at this moment and immediately put on a stern face: "Inspector Li, I did not invite you, why did you trespass?"

Li Ji forced himself to suppress his anger, clasped his hands in apology, and then asked, "May I ask which one of you is Yang, the military advisor in charge of the granary?"

A green-robed civil official sitting to the left of the portly official stood up: "I am Yang Qing, may I ask who you are..."

Li Ji cupped his hands and said, "I am Li Ji. The former military advisor Lou once sent this woman..." As he spoke, he pointed at Qingluan and glared fiercely at the fat official with eyes like lightning, making the other man's back tremble and instinctively retract his claws—"...serving me. Now that I have returned, I have come to take her back."

Military Advisor Yang said unhappily, "This is an official prostitute, not your private property, Inspector Li. What are you talking about taking it back? Inspector Li, go back now. If you still need the official prostitute to serve you, come to the yamen tomorrow and tell me."

Li Ji sneered, "I'm taking it back today, so what?"

Gao Sheng was furious upon hearing this, slammed his hand on the table and shouted, "How dare Li Ji be so rude? Get out of here immediately!"

Ignoring him, Li Ji strode up into the hall, grabbed Qingluan, and pulled her into his arms. The fat official, however, still held onto Qingluan's wrist and refused to let go. Li Ji immediately opened his left hand and pressed it against the hateful fat face, shoving the man to the ground. Then, he took Qingluan and left the hall.

Gao Sheng was furious and ordered his men, "Seize this madman!"

Li Ji turned around and shouted, "Who dares?!" His voice was like a great bell, which shook the pillars of the hall and made the roof tiles tremble. Not only were all the officials and prostitutes in the room trembling, but even the guards who were about to run over to arrest Li Ji were so frightened that they staggered and stopped.

Li Ji glared at Gao Sheng and shouted angrily, "We fought on the front lines against the barbarians, and now that the barbarian invaders have not retreated, you have the leisure to hold a banquet and lavish parties with prostitutes at noon in the rear?!"

Although he was initially impulsive in barging into Gao Sheng's residence, he had intended to plead politely, especially since not only was Gao Sheng present, but so many other officials were also there—all colleagues. Surely Yang, the military advisor, wouldn't refuse to give them any face? However, seeing the lavish banquet and the officials enjoying themselves with courtesans and dancers, anger surged within him—what kind of time is this to be feasting and making merry?

Holding a banquet in broad daylight isn't unusual, especially since the military governor's office has its own regulations and its management isn't as strict as in the imperial court. It's reasonable for a high-ranking official to gather his subordinates for a good lunch and then give them a half-day off. The problem is drinking in broad daylight, even including soliciting prostitutes—that's going too far, especially since Li Ji has just returned from the bloody battlefield and witnessing such a scene. How could he not be furious?

It's like when Cao Cao escaped from the fierce battle at Bianshui in Xingyang and returned to Suanzao in a sorry state, only to find Yuan Shao leading a large group of governors and prefects in a joyful celebration.

"You all live in peace in Shanzhou, not thinking of serving your country, but only indulging in pleasure; I have fought on the front lines, risking my life hundreds of times, cutting through the barbarian camp, and killing hundreds with my own hands. Can't I even get a woman?! Who dares to arrest me? I have killed barbarian generals on the battlefield, so can't I kill a few worthless scoundrels in the hall?!"

After shouting these words, Li Ji put his arm around Qingluan's waist, strode down the steps, and left arrogantly. No one in or outside the mansion dared to stop him.

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Chapter Twenty-Four: Collective Resignation

Only after Li Ji had gone far away did the people in the hall regain their composure. Gao Sheng, furious, kicked over the food table in front of him: "That scoundrel, how dare he be so rude!"

Military Advisor Yang was also taken aback, and asked Gao Sheng, "This fellow is just a minor patrol officer. Whose power does he rely on to dare to offend the deputy commander?"

Someone nearby sneered, "Naturally, they are relying on the power of the commander-in-chief to disregard us... and they don't even take the deputy commander seriously."

The fat official struggled to his feet, but then knelt down before Gao Sheng, wailing loudly, "We have followed the deputy commander to guard Longyou for a long time. Even if we have no merit, we must have worked hard. I never thought I would suffer such a great humiliation today! If this scoundrel is not severely punished, how can I stay here any longer... This humble official resigns."

Gao Sheng quickly comforted him: "Why bother..."

The officials around him chimed in, saying, "His Highness Prince Qi listens only to the words of his confidants and ignores the advice of his deputy commander. He actually wants to use Shancheng, a small and undefended city, to defend against a hundred thousand Tibetan troops... It's one thing for Li Ji to be rude, but Yang Gongnan, relying on his favor, is arrogant and domineering, taking control of all the finances and provisions. What use are we to the government? Longyou is no longer a place for us to live. We should all resign."

“Indeed, if we win against the barbarians, they will rely on their merits and will not take the deputy commander and us seriously. However, we will most likely lose, and then Yang Yan and Li Ji will blame us, and even the deputy commander. We might as well resign together and not stand under this dangerous wall... The deputy commander should also find a way out as soon as possible.”

The more Gao Sheng listened, the more gloomy his face became.

Why was he hosting a banquet at noon today? Firstly, to welcome Yang Qing, who had just arrived; secondly, because of the great victory at the front, he planned a celebratory banquet to flatter Li Tan. But Li Tan refused to come—because they were discussing how to deal with the Tibetan peace offer—and Yang Yan also didn't come. In the end, only Li Ji arrived, but he forced his way in…

Since Li Tan arrived, he seized military power. Not only did he refuse to heed Gao Sheng's advice regarding abandoning Shancheng, but he also rarely consulted Gao Sheng or other former staff members of the shogunate on how to defend Shancheng. In particular, Yang Yan took over all logistical affairs after assuming the position of Chief of the Revenue Department, leaving the former staff members of the shogunate with nothing to do—specifically, the granary official could only manage the official prostitutes.

The crowd frequently gathered at Gao Sheng's residence, their complaints never ceasing. In particular, everyone was convinced that Shancheng was indefensible; forcing a defense would not only result in heavy losses of soldiers and generals but could also jeopardize Shanzhou. If Shanzhou were to be attacked, they, being civil officials, would neither be able to charge into battle nor necessarily break through the encirclement, and their lives would likely be in danger!

After living in fear for over a month, the news of victory brought a sense of shame to everyone, but also a slight sense of relief. So what's wrong with eating and drinking, watching songs and dances, and flirting with the courtesans? How is that stepping on Li Ji's tail?

More importantly, although victorious, the barbarian invaders have not retreated, and it's hard to say how far the war will ultimately develop. Since the barbarian invasion last year, many military garrisons have been lost, and many have been planning to flee. Partly out of consideration for potential promotions, and partly out of fear of damaging their reputations, they have hesitated to resign.

You can live peacefully in times of peace, but you resign and run away at the first sign of trouble? If this reputation spreads, which government or high-ranking official will be willing to hire you in the future?

Today, Li Ji's intrusion into the court presents a golden opportunity. I can seize this chance to resign; it won't be disgraceful if word gets out. The duties of a military governor are to be fulfilled either way: stay if you agree, leave if you disagree. Since your new military governor favors his cronies, and these cronies have publicly insulted us, then I must resign in anger. My reason is perfectly justified, and it will demonstrate that I am a man of principle and integrity!

Only the deputy envoy was promoted, which was a formal appointment by the court. He did not resign from the position of military commander. However, the deputy commander could also use this as an excuse to impeach the Prince of Qi. Although it would most likely be rejected, it should not be difficult to request a transfer.

This is a great opportunity, and I hope the vice commander will not hesitate.

Gao Sheng said in a deep voice, "I will certainly request an audience with His Highness Prince Qi and ask him to severely punish that rude and arrogant scoundrel!"

"No, Commander Fang dotes on Li Ji. I heard he has made meritorious contributions on the front lines. The war is not over yet. How could he be willing to punish him severely? At most, he will only reprimand him a few times, which would only make the deputy commander more humiliated..." What if the Prince of Qi really punishes Li Ji severely? Then we will have no reason to run away.

The portly official immediately demanded paper and pen: "This humble clerk will write down my resignation now, and I ask the deputy commander to present it to me." I'll run away as soon as I finish writing the letter; I won't even ask for the parting gift! The other officials also chimed in: "Exactly, exactly, we can sign it!"

A petition is not only weighty, but also simple.

Only Yang Qing, the military advisor, stood out from the crowd, his brows furrowed, refusing to agree. When asked why, Yang Qing smiled bitterly and said, "I've only been in your staff for five days, how can I resign? I'm not like you. This probationary period, this adjustment period, should last at least half a month. If I resign before I've even settled in, it won't sound good."

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As for Li Ji, he swaggered out of Gaosheng's residence with Zou Qingluan in his arms, picked her up and put her on the saddle, then saddled himself and rode away.

Yang Yan had no idea what the consequences would be of offending not only Gao Sheng but also almost all of the military governor's subordinates—strictly speaking, Yang Yan was one of the subordinates of the military governor. But young people are hot-tempered, and once anger rises, how could he possibly control himself?

The key issue was that he had long harbored resentment towards Gao Sheng and other former officials of the shogunate. With a formidable enemy at hand, not only was there no way to defend against them, but when he inquired in Shancheng, he discovered that not a single colleague had previously gone to the front lines to inspect the situation. If their abilities were insufficient, that would be one thing; Li Ji naturally looked down on mediocre talents, but he might not necessarily harbor discriminatory thoughts—everyone has their strengths. Perhaps someone mediocre in governance or military affairs could excel in other areas. The problem was that if they suffered a bitter defeat, that was one thing, but they hadn't even put in any effort or thought. If their character was flawed, then they were truly beyond redemption.

Li Ji believed that if Gao Sheng and his men tried to salvage the situation before Li Tan took office, even if they couldn't stop the barbarian offensive, they could at least evacuate a considerable number of frontline civilians and prevent them from falling into the hands of the barbarians. If this debt wasn't owed to them, whose would it be?

Therefore, the anger that had been pent up for a long time finally burst forth when he saw the fine wine and delicacies, the courtesans and dancers, and the resentment that Qingluan had been "snatched" away.

He didn't regret it, and considering that he had just made a great contribution, he estimated that Li Tan wouldn't punish him severely, at most he would just reprimand him and make him apologize to Gao Sheng... He didn't plan to apologize, but he could wait until the time came to consider how to deal with it.

But what if Li Tan wants him to return Qingluan? With my current financial resources, I definitely don't have enough to redeem Qingluan... Besides, she is ultimately an official prostitute. Without the order of the superior, even if you offer millions, you can't redeem her just because you want to.

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but feel a headache coming on. He then glanced down at Qingluan in his arms, only to see the young woman curled up on the saddle, her hands gripping her belt tightly, like a frightened little ferret. Li Ji felt a pang of pity and softly asked, "Are you afraid?"

Qingluan raised her moist eyes, looked at Li Ji, then quickly lowered her head and whispered, "Of course I was scared... I didn't expect your voice to be so loud, it almost made me faint..."

Li Ji smiled and said, "I mean, are you scared that I snatched you away from the vice commander's banquet?"