In the time when the night was at its darkest, under the flickering of the lamp, Wei sat comfortably on her bed, with Lin on the footstool and Fei on the floor chair. Fei began to tell Guoqiang's story, from the time he was stripped of this royal status as the crown prince and his consecutive military expeditions. Guoqiang was part of military general Qin's army at the time, so he was looked after by his benefactor and tutor. Under general Qin's tutelage Guoqiang honed his skills as the crown prince and now he was General Qin's commanding officer of the cavalry.
Taizong was fresh on the throne and wanted to consolidate his power. So he went on expeditions with full might, creating terror or the land. Emperor Taizong declared war on Shenzhou and ransacked the neighbouring territories, winning some losing some. He wanted to conquer all sixteen prefecture. Emperor Taizong, went on the military expansion himself, leading the battle. He easily conquered Yun and Yi Prefectures. After which he commanded the northern army, lead by General Han to lead the attack on Yan state. He besieged the Jing fortress, of the Yan state, thinking it would be an easy win just like the success of his previous advancement. However, the siege failed when the Yan state king Zhang, defended it firmly. Emperor Taizong would not slow down his momentum and yet again went on a different direction to expand his rule. This time Emperor Taizong embarked on his campaign for Longcheng in Shenzhou territory. Since, he was able to gain two prefecture of Shenzhou and with that driving force, he went on to attack inland.
The glorious and mighty emperor Taizong went ahead nonstop with his expansion, attacking Huan prefecture next. General Qin was under Emperor Tiazong's command to attack Guangling. Owning to its terrain, Guangling was surrounded by Taihang Mountains. That means that the Shenzhou army was at the advantage in their home ground. But one mustn't forget that Guoqiang was a crown prince, who went on expeditions along with his father, the pervious emperor Zhou, in his teen years. When they were strategising Guoqiang suggested, "General Qin, with a few hundred soldiers I will lead from this side," pointing at the stratigraphy map, to the rocky mountainous terrian. "That will be suicidal!" exclaimed General Qin. "I am well aware of how absurd this sounds, but they have the advantage of the land. They will not presume that we will be anywhere near these unfordable terrain. That is their folly. We must use this to our advantage," explained Guoqiang. "But my son, I cannot let you do this!"
An abrupt laugh and giggle of two ladies interrupted Fei's storytelling. "Why are you laughing?" asked a confused Fei. Wei spoke, "Fei don't you think your being a little absurd with your story?" "Exactly! Why would general Qin, baby your lord Guoqiang?" laughed Lin. "And on top of it, your imitating voices… I can't… It makes the story funny." Lin was literally off her stool and down the floor laughing. "I was trying to bring realism in the story! General Qin has a rough voice, not very articulated, where as my Lord was seventeen at the time going through his puberty so, he voice was a little thin. But now he has a manly voice!" No matter how much convincing Fei did, the ladies in the room were not impressed. "Alright I'll forgo the voices," gave up Fei, "And also the extra over the top story line," added Wei. "But madame without it, the story is mundane," pouted Fei. He takes pleasure in weaving tall tales. "Alright you can have that liberty," agreed Wei. "OK! let me continue."
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Guoqiang : "I am well aware of how absurd this sounds, but they have the advantage of the land. They will not presume that we will be anywhere near these unfordable terrain. That is their folly. We must use this to our advantage."
Qin : "Hmmm, so what is your plan?"
Gouqiang : "General Qin will take this area, while I will go over the rocky path and station myself at this vantage point. We shall attack simultaneously from two opposing sides, giving no time for the Shenzhou army to recover."
Qin : "Alright I will assign this to you. Pick a small fraction of the army that are swift and used to this terrain, and be prompt. Do not delay your progression, we must attack together."
Qin : "Yes general." With that Guoqiang left the general's tent to scout his squad. General Qin followed out, seeing this Guoqiang stopped and turned around to face general Qin.
General Qin : "Be careful," muttered with his arm over Guoqiang's shoulder, pressing. "You mustn't get hurt my crown prince," said General Qin, solemnly.
Guoqaing : "I will be careful, uncle."
General Qin : "Do understand my prince that I will do anything at all, to keep you safe. I failed to save his majesty, I will not fail again."
Guoqiang : "Uncle, I am no longer a prince, but a commoner. You have taught me well, therefore you mustn't have any concerns. I will be victorious."
General Qin nodded, and Guoqiang was on his way. General Qin was still concerned, emperor Taizong was a snake, he will try any methods to kill Guoqiang.
Lin : "Stop! (whispers) how can you talk about his majesty like that! You will beheaded."
Fei : "(whispers back) In our regiment we all talk like this. We have no respect for the emperor and I will tell you why."
During the expansion of the sixteen prefecture expedition, he used the unconventional north western route to Longcheng and defeated major forces of the Shenzhou army, isolating the Shenzhou prince's army at the deserted fortress. They resisted for twenty days until finally surrendering. Taizong to show his brutally had the prince's head served in a silver platter to his father, Emperor Wu. He began the dark eclipse of the Tianxia. He dealt with the city of Longcheng harshly, ordering the flooding of the city by releasing the Fen river water via sluice gates and setting the city on fire. This downgraded the glorious Longcheng city from the status of prefecture to county. Lots of innocent civilians lost their life. Emperor Wu raged to avenge his son.
Lin : "So it is like that."
Fei : "When you are in the capital, everyone is emperor's person, they will only speak highly of him. But the capital is a small city with tall walls, therefore the realities of the outskirts do not reach here. He's done several terrible things. In a way, its retribution also when the Empress gave birth to a retarded son. We in the army are loyal to the tiger tally, who ever owns it, has unconditionally loyal of the troops." Silence fell in the room, before Fei began to continue the story.
As planned with a few hundred calvary Guoqiang, took the difficult route over the mountains to station himself behind the Shenzhou army. The battle was a success, as the Shenzhou army received a crushing defeat. But this success was quickly overshadow by Emperor Taizong's defeat at Huan prefecture. Emperor had ordered to attack the reinforcements of the Shenzhou army. He received reports the causalities, therefore he ordered a full assault of the Shenzhou army, under the impression that he had the upper hand. But to his surprise, Emperor Wu commanded the battle himself, and attacked from two sides. The causalities report of the reinforcement was a false report set by Emperor Wu of Shenzhou. While rest of the army was attacking the flanks of emperor Taizong's army, emperor Wu concentrated attacking Taizong's main army. This took Taizong by surprise and he evacuated the battlefield. Leaving his soldiers on the battlefield to fend for themselves, who were obliterated by the Shenzhou army. Taizong sustained a deep injury from the arrow shot by Wu, while chasing Taizong. He fled towards the Yi Prefecture safely under the protection of his generals. Since he could no longer ride the horse, he resorted to escape by carriage to Ding Prefecture. Given his condition, he ordered retreat. Being without the main commander, the army is basically headless. Instead of following orders of retreat, the army that was left behind suggested previous emperor Zhou's son Zhou Guoqiang to become the new emperor.
Instead of returning back to the capital to fulfil his duties of the court, Taizong stayed at Ding Prefecture. Fearing that Guoqiang will began a coup. He ignored the advises and regarded the state affairs of lesser importance over the this threat. He suspected that Guoqiang will come after him and kill him, therefore he headed towards Guangling where Guoqiang was. He deployed his army to capture Gouqiang, and have him bring info questioning. But the troops surrounded Guoqiang and protected him from harm. Qin was also present, Taizong's commanders could not penetrate the formation and only stood guard outside. When Taizong arrived he commanded an PRIVATE audience with Guoqiang.
Emperor Taizong : "So you are claiming the throne now, finally? I knew you were a thorn. I should have killed you when I had the opportunity."
Guoqiang : "Uncle you and I both know, you could not do it at the time. How will you calm the subjects?"
Growled Emperor Taizong in a fit of anger, "I will save you from trouble, commit suicide stating you could not tolerate the pressure of your troops and that you failed your father, therefore your killing yourself," he unsheathe a dagger and placed it in front of Guoqiang.
Guoqiang : "Uncle you think my father raised me to be a coward? I have no reason to commit suicide I do not covert the throne your suspicious rise from your inability to govern it right."
Emperor Taizong : "HOW DARE YOU!"
Guoqiang : "If your are capable then stop this unnecessary bloodshed and focus your attention towards the plea of your people, you are unfit for the throne if you cannot handle state affairs."
Emperor Taizong : "I need a guarantee that you will not covert the throne."
Guoqiang : "You have my brother what else could you want?"
Emperor Taizong : "Since you refuse to commit suicide I will have you remove from Qin's army. You are assigned to Wang's army regiment now as foot soldier."
Guoqiang agreed, one might think he had no pride as a royalty but to him his brother's safety and his subjects cries took presiding over everything. Even if he was to beg in front of the devil he would do it, as long as the land his father left him was safe and his subjects content. Fei ended the story on that note.
Wei : "General has gone through a lot."
Fei : "Yes Madame but he is good natured despite it all."
Lin : "Madame I think you should retire to bed, it has become quite late."
Fei : "Madame I'll tell you more tomorrow night will you like it?"
Wei : "Yes Fei, thank you."