Chapter 20: The Shame of Wei Water

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  First, they need to be given a lesson in ideological and political education, know shame and then courage, set up a lofty goal for these people, let them understand the meaning of their existence, so that these people cannot wander around like headless flies all day, causing trouble and being hated by everyone.

  Secondly, it is necessary to have a good relationship with these people, as they represent the highest ruling class of the Tang Dynasty. If you want to make a name for yourself in the Tang Dynasty, this is an essential process.

  Chang Sun-chung put away the dog-beating stick (the imperial gift of a bamboo cane), cleared his throat, and said: "Today brothers gather together in one hall, Chang Sun-chung has a few words in his heart to say to brothers. I want to ask brothers if they still remember the Wei River Alliance?"

  Du He's father, Du Ru Hui, a civil official by origin, hastily replied: "The Wei River Alliance was a good treaty signed between our Great Tang and the Turks last year, with mutual non-aggression and mutual support!"

  Chang Sun Chong sneered and said, "Do you really think so?"

  After Zhangsun Wuji finished, even the imperial guards sent by the Emperor, such as Huo Gang, nodded in agreement, acknowledging that this was a friendly treaty. In order not to lose face for the country, it was publicly declared that it was a friendship between the two countries, but in fact, the ruling high-level officials of the Tang Dynasty all hated the Turks so much that they gnashed their teeth, wishing they could eat their flesh and drink their blood.

  "Last year, the Turks reached Jinyang (now Shaanxi Xianyang Jinyang County), just 40 miles from the capital Chang'an, and took advantage of the situation to enter. The capital was shaken. Although our dynasty's Wei Zhengde went on a campaign and won a small victory, the national strength was not strong, the political situation was unstable, and we had no choice but to offer tribute in gold, silk, and other goods. It is not an exaggeration to say that our great Tang Dynasty's capital was besieged by the Turks. Our Tang emperor and courtiers risked their lives to negotiate with Jieli Khan at the Wei River, exchanging temporary stability for a humiliating treaty. This was not a friendly alliance, but a shameful agreement, one that we were forced to sign. Think about it, why did we sign the treaty at the Wei River, rather than at the Turks' doorstep?"

  Cheng Chumo knew some of the situation last year. His old man, Cheng Yaojin, was so humiliated after the event that he drank secretly for three days and three nights. It's indeed a shameful alliance as Longsun Chong said.

  "Brother, you're right! That's a humiliating treaty. Thinking about it, we only know how to fight and make trouble, pretending to be great Tang men. From today on, I, Cheng Chumou, will definitely practice my skills well and wait for the opportunity to mature. I'll definitely take to the battlefield and kill the enemy, avenging the shame of Wei River."

  Changsun Chong felt a sense of relief in his heart, seeing that these people had a strong sense of justice, and it would be easy to win them over. He said: "The Turks have been harassing the borders, killing our Tang Dynasty's merchants, and plundering our wealth. This grudge, we cannot not avenge. Although I, Changsun Chong, am not skilled in martial arts, from today on, I will also persist in practicing martial arts, strengthening my body, and when there is an opportunity, I will definitely take to the battlefield to kill the enemy. As the saying goes, 'Before the troops move, the grain and fodder must be prepared.' I, Changsun Chong, will certainly work hard to cultivate the land and build more granaries for the Tang Dynasty."

  "Big brother, we brothers will go to practice martial arts together and must avenge! Avenge!" Cheng Yaojin's second son, Cheng Chuliang, was also a bloody ruffian. If he couldn't read or write, then he would practice martial arts and kill enemies on the battlefield.

  "Revenge! Revenge! Revenge!" Although the young masters below were not diligent in their studies, it didn't mean they weren't clever. Living in a family of high-ranking officials, they had learned a thing or two by osmosis. As they grew older and their parents gradually aged, it was this generation that would hold up the sky.

  Li Chengqian and Li Ke were still young, originally sitting on a stone bench, hearing the conversation, suddenly felt their blood boiling, saying: "I swear here, those who offend my Great Tang, even if they are far away, will be executed!"

  "Though far away, he must be punished!"

  "Though far, must punish!"

  Chang Sun Chong was delighted in his heart, everyone's beast blood had been stirred up, and the next step would be easy to carry out.

  Chang Sun Cheung waved his hand and said with a smile: "The Emperor and the uncles have let us brothers come over, hoping that we will quickly understand and strive upwards. Since everyone has arrived here, let's make a good plan. Those who are good at literature can study for half a day; those who are good at martial arts can practice for half a day. In the afternoon, we'll go down to the fields together and work in the farmland."

  "Alright, whatever Young Master Longsun says, we'll do it!" Cheng Chumo was older and trusted Longsun's words. In fact, he thought that drinking, fighting, and competing for fame every day was meaningless. It would be better to practice martial arts well, so that in the future, there would be opportunities to go into battle, kill enemies, and avenge past grievances.

  Li Chengqian, as the crown prince, knew that he needed to make a statement of support at this time due to his long-term royal education. He stepped forward and said: "Brother, I will study hard, learn about agriculture, and be a good crown prince."

  After having a common topic, everyone stopped making trouble and returned to the small rooms arranged by Xiaobaozi for everyone.

  The Changsun Chong family's compound was not large, and for those who studied literature, they could still read books in their own rooms. Anyway, the emperor had sent a great Confucian scholar Li Gang to come over; as for martial arts training, it was a bit cramped, so Changsun Chong directly let Cheng Chu Mo lead a group of people wielding swords and spears to go to the riverbank, where there was an open space and some tree stumps, letting them practice martial arts there.

  The little boys on the mulberry tree, herding cattle and sheep, see these people "hmm-ha" practicing martial arts. Some brave children, not far away, holding small twigs, imitating them by their side. From those tender faces, it seems that they are indeed warriors who can hold a pass against a multitude of enemies.

  Chang Sun Chong didn't know any martial arts, but he thought his body had a lot of strength, so he found a wolf-toothed club and followed Da Zhu to practice by the river, just for physical exercise and weight loss.

  Under the scorching sun, sweat had soaked through their clothes. Long Sun-chung directly took off his clothes and only wore his pants, tightening his belt and swinging the wolf-toothed club in his hand. Others seeing Long Sun-chung being so bold also felt that their clothes were a burden and directly took them off, leaving them by the roadside.

  By noon, jumping into the river for a bath is much more comfortable than in a wooden bathtub.

  "Rushing to the countryside, no wonder you want to come, no nagging in your ear, freely practicing martial arts, freely taking a bath, refreshing!" Cheng Chumo said, and with a flicker of his eyes, he had already swum ten meters away.

  The other four Cheng brothers, like dogs, splashed around in the water, creating a big splash, their swimming posture was the ugliest but they didn't know it, and they were still showing off their supposedly beautiful swimming skills.

  Li Chengqian recited a poem in the morning, and brought Li Ke, Er Lang, San Lang, and Si Lang over together. Seeing his elder brothers playing in the river, he couldn't help but feel envious.

  Under the scorching sun, swimming in the water must be very refreshing. Li Chengqian saw that the leader of the imperial guards sent by his father, Emperor Taizong, was standing right behind him, so he didn't dare to make any sudden moves and could only sit on the riverbank with a worried look, taking off his shoes and socks to soak his feet in the water.

  The Second Son, Third Son and Fourth Son cannot swim either, they only dare to roll up their pant legs and play by the water's edge.

  Chang Sun Chong was touched by the longing gaze of those little guys, and his heart softened. Alright, boys who can't swim are not like men; they must learn elegant butterfly strokes or breaststrokes; at least they should be able to dog paddle like the Cheng family brothers' dogs. In case they fall into water one day, they can save themselves and won't drown.

  Chang Sun rushed to the shore and asked: "Are you guys thinking of learning how to swim?"

  "Big brother, I want to learn! I want to learn!" Er Lang, San Lang, and Si Lang exclaimed happily. Before Father left, he said they should listen to Big Brother's words. Now that Big Brother wants to teach them how to swim, of course they will learn.