"… Guanyin Maid, you're saying that you dreamed that Qingque was captured by the Turks?"
In Empress Zhangsun's chambers in the Imperial Palace's West Court, Empress Zhangsun, who had just awoken from her nightmare, gave Li Er a brief account of her dream. Li Er frowned thoughtfully.
Empress Zhangsun still had lingering fears. It was clear that she had yet to recover from her dream. She tightly gripped Li Er's hand and said in a trembling voice, "Erlang, this concubine feels that this isn't a dream. This dream is too real. Moreover, Qingque and the others should be arriving in Taiyuan soon. Do you think that something has happened to Qingque?"
It was said that a mother would worry when a son traveled a thousand li. Moreover, Li Tai had never been so far from the Imperial Palace since his birth. Moreover, the Great Tang and the Turks were currently at daggers drawn, so how could Empress Zhangsun not worry?
Hearing this, Li Er's heart couldn't help but sink. He was originally slightly worried about Li Tai's safety. Otherwise, he wouldn't have sent so many imperial guards to follow Li Tai up north. At this moment, when he heard Empress Zhangsun narrate such a realistic nightmare, Li Er couldn't help but have a bad premonition in his heart!
Despite this, Li Er's expression remained normal. He lightly patted Empress Zhangsun's back and comforted her.
"This is just a dream. Guanyin Maid, don't think too much. Qingque has one thousand Imperial Army soldiers protecting her, and the two brothers of the Dugu Clan are both top-class experts. Nothing will happen to her, much less in Taiyuan! Taiyuan Prefecture has seventy thousand soldiers, and there are several barriers between Taiyuan and the Turks. What you saw in your dream can't possibly be real! Relax and don't think too much! "
These words were not only for Empress Zhangsun to hear, but also for himself to hear. In his view, Li Tai's defense was so strong that it was impossible for what Empress Zhangsun had seen in her dream to happen!
"But … this concubine's heart is still not at ease. Erlang, has there been any news from Qingque recently?"
Empress Zhangsun patted her chest and panted a few times before turning to Li Er.
She was already suffering from Qi, and although she had gradually recovered after half a year of recuperation, she suddenly felt that it was a little difficult to breathe when she was agitated.
Li Er also clearly felt Empress Zhangsun's abnormality. He held Empress Zhangsun's hand and said,
"Qing Que hasn't sent back a message yet, but that's the best news. He brought a telegraph with him on this trip. If something happens, he'll definitely send a telegram back immediately. If you are still worried, I will have someone send him a telegram tomorrow morning to ask about the situation on his side. Don't worry too much for now. Relax, relax and continue to rest. It's still early before daybreak! "
Li Er's affirmative tone made Empress Zhangsun feel slightly at ease. She let out a light sigh and said with a nod, "Alright! Erlang, remember to send a telegram to Qingque tomorrow. Also, send someone to inform me when Qingque returns! "
Ordering the Emperor to do things was somewhat out of line for the Empress, but Li Er and Empress Zhangsun had been husband and wife since young and had deep feelings for each other. He naturally would not care about this. He smiled and comforted, "Guanyin servant, don't worry. If there is news tomorrow, zhen will send someone to inform you. Now, go to sleep!"
"Mm! Thank you very much, Your Majesty! "
Empress Zhangsun smiled as if relieved of a heavy burden. The two of them lay down again. After a while, the sound of steady and regular breathing sounded in the bedchamber.
…
"… Your Majesty, the notice of conscription has been urgently sent to all the provinces and counties. The Ministry of War has formulated a conscription plan for all the provinces and counties. All the provinces and counties are actively selecting elites. It is estimated that in a few days, the elites of the provinces and counties will enter the capital one after another! When the time comes, the 150,000 troops will be stationed on a plain south of Chang 'an City at the foot of Niushou Mountain, with Fengshui at the back and building toward the east! "
Fengshui, one of the "Eight Rivers of Chang 'an," was located in Xi County south of Chang' an City. It was also about 20 miles east of Niushou Mountain.
In the morning court, Li Jing, the minister of the Ministry of War, reported to Li Er the recent progress of the imperial court's preparations for war. Among them, he inevitably mentioned Li Er's request to conscript the soldiers into the capital.
Although Chang 'an City was the largest city in the world, it had a population of a million. (Don't underestimate this population. Cities in this era were not like modern times where they were all high-rise buildings. The floor area ratio of residential houses was very low. Many nobles and officials often had mansions of hundreds of acres. Under such circumstances, it was not easy for Chang' an City to accommodate a million people.) It was already the limit that they could fit into the 12 garrison camps in the capital. There was really no ready-made place to build another army camp for 150,000 troops!
Therefore, the 150,000 elite soldiers recruited from all over the country could only be stationed outside the city. The location of the military camp had to be near a water source!
Hearing this, Li Er nodded in satisfaction and said, "The 150,000 troops will be stationed in one camp. The location of the camp is very important. The bank of Fengshui in the south of Chang 'an City is a good place. Li Jing, hear me. The Ministry of War is to immediately set up a camp by the bank of Fengshui in the south of the city. The Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Revenue will allocate all the resources needed. When the 150,000 elite soldiers arrive, immediately begin training!"
Li Jing cupped his fists and accepted the order. "This old official receives the order!"
Li Er nodded and then looked at Xiao Yu among the civil officials. He said in a deep voice, "Xiao Yu!"
"This old official is here!"
Xiao Yu stepped forward and cupped his fists.
Li Er opened his mouth and said, "Today, there will be a sum of military funds added to the Ministry of Revenue. This sum of military funds will be used to supply the 150 thousand elite soldiers that are about to enter the capital. Minister Xiao, you must make sure that the soldiers do not lack their armor and food, and even more so, do not affect their training progress!"
Xiao Yu frowned and cupped his fists. He asked, "This old official is bold to ask. Your Majesty, is this military fund from the fundraising event that will be held in Lantian City this afternoon?"
Hearing this, the rest of the officials in the Taiji Palace all perked up and listened attentively.
This time, Li Er did not hide anything. Instead, he openly admitted, "That's right! It is the fundraising event that will be reported this afternoon! "
This was the first time Li Er admitted in front of the civil and military officials that the 150,000 soldiers' military fund was mainly from the fundraising event held by the Yan Huang Chamber of Commerce. The officials were only guessing before. Now that they heard Li Er personally confirm it, they could not help but be at a loss. Some of them, such as Zhangsun Wuji, had a smile on their faces.
Xiao Yu said with a serious face, "Your Majesty, do you really think that with just these commoner merchants, you can raise enough military funds to supply the 150,000 soldiers for a few months?"
The rest of the officials also started to mutter. Obviously, from their point of view, it was impossible to raise so much money with just the commoner merchants. After all, the concept of merchants prioritizing profit was already deeply ingrained in the hearts of the people. Moreover, it was the hearts of these scholars!
Li Er smiled faintly. "Whether it is possible or not, we will know before dusk today. At that time, if the money raised is not enough, I will think of another way. No matter what, before the army departs, we will definitely raise enough money and rations! Minister Xiao, you only need to wait until the fundraising event is over and lead the officials from the Ministry of Revenue to take over the military fund and make the overall arrangements! "
"This old official receives the decree!"
Since Li Er had said this, Xiao Yu did not have anything else to say. Although it was said that since ancient times, the imperial court did not compete with the people for profits. However, now that the Great Tang and the Turks were about to go to war, at this critical juncture, no one cared about this.
Li Er nodded his head in satisfaction. "The situation in the north is getting more and more tense. The war between the Great Tang and the Turks is also getting more and more urgent. I hope that all of you can work together and make preparations before the war to ensure that our Great Tang will not lose this war!"
The officials clasped their hands together and said, "We obey the decree!"
Seeing that the matters that needed to be discussed were more or less discussed, Li Er opened his mouth and said, "My beloved officials, please report to me. If there is nothing else, the court is dismissed!"
After waiting for a while, no one stepped forward. The eunuch standing at the side of the hall shouted with a sharp voice, "The court is dismissed!"
"Farewell, Your Majesty!"
As the officials sent him off, Li Er stood up and left the Taiji Palace, heading toward the Ganlu Palace.
"Zhao Song, go and arrange for someone to send a telegram to Qingque from the Imperial Astronomer. Ask him about the situation over there!"
Returning to the Ganlu Palace, Li Er did not even change into his normal clothes before instructing Zhao Song.
In the imperial palace, there was a telegram placed in the Imperial Astronomer's Platform, temporarily under the care of the Imperial Astronomer.
The function of the Imperial Astronomer was to observe the astronomical phenomena, calculate the solar terms, and set the calendar. From the Qin, Han, to the Southern Dynasties, the Imperial Astronomer was in charge of the astronomical calendar. The Secretary Province of the Sui Dynasty was under the Imperial Astronomer Cao. In the Tang Dynasty, the Imperial Astronomer Bureau was changed to the Imperial Astronomer Bureau. After that, it was renamed to the Secretarial Court, the Celestial Sphere Overwatch Council, the Celestial Sphere Overwatch Council, or the Secretary Province.
The Imperial Astronomer of this time was equivalent to the ancient version of the National Observatory. It was responsible for observing the astronomical phenomena and announcing the calendar. The Imperial Astronomer was equivalent to the director of the National Observatory. Due to the calendar and the fact that the ancients believed that the changes in the astronomical phenomena were directly related to the changes in human affairs, the Imperial Astronomer's position was very important.
The reason why the telegram was kept in the Imperial Astronomer's Observatory was mainly because the Observatory's Observatory was located at a higher location. When sending telegrams, it would be easier for electromagnetic signals to travel further. This was what Li Zexuan had told Li Er earlier!
Back when Guan City was quelling the rebellion, Li Yu brought the telegram to the Pagoda of the Songyue Temple, hundreds of miles away, to send a message to the academy. This was the principle behind it! Before the telegram relay station was built, this was the only way to increase the distance of the telegram. Although the increase was limited, it was still enough to send messages from Chang 'an to Taiyuan!
Besides the telegram, Li Er had already sent several palace eunuchs to Yanhuang College to learn how to use the telegram. Thus, even if Li Tai was not in the palace, there were still people in the palace who knew how to use the telegram!
"Understood!"
Zhao Song bowed and accepted the order, then turned and left.
"Call Li Junxian over to see Us!"
After Zhao Song left, Li Er ordered one of the eunuchs in the hall.
"Understood!"
The eunuchs bowed and left.
"This general pays respects to Your Majesty!"
A few moments later, Li Junxian strode into the hall and bowed.
"Rise!"
Seeing Li Junxian, Li Er put down the memorial in his hand and walked up to Li Junxian. "We called you here today because We have a task for you!"
Li Junxian cupped his fists and said, "Your Majesty, please give your orders!"
Li Er nodded and said in a deep voice, "We order you to select a group of one hundred elite cavalry. There is no need for too many people, just a dozen or so. Have them immediately depart for Sourcepeak City and investigate if there are any Turk spies in Sourcepeak City! After investigating Taiyuan City, investigate Yunzhong County! If there are any abnormalities, immediately work with the local Subjugation Residence to eliminate them! "
Li Junxian was rather confused, but he still bowed and said, "This general obeys the decree!"
"Mm! Go! "
Li Er waved his hand.
"Understood! This general will take his leave! "
Li Junxian cupped his fists and left.
… …
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