Chapter 131:
Li Er left the Princess Mansion in a gloomy mood. He once again felt Su Lis stubbornness and difficulty.
To be fair, what Li Er told Su Li about the king with a different surname wasnt a deception. He truly intended to offer Su Li this royal position. However, Su Lis intuition wasnt wrong.
Merely subduing Tubo wouldnt warrant an immediate title from a different lineage. Even accomplished generals like Li Jing were only granted ducal titles, not kingships.The source of this content nov(el)bi((n))
Su Lis victory over Tubo was significant, but it wasnt a crisis-threatening war for the Tang Dynasty. Expecting a title from a different lineage based on this limited achievement was far-fetched.
Li Er believed that young people should have ambitious goals to strive for. While Li Er imagined Su Li becoming a great overlord like Chu, he wouldnt extend this opportunity to anyone.
Li Er had deep affection and high hopes for Su Li, but his favoritism was unique.
Li Er believed that if anyone achieved the extraordinary feat he envisioned, he would consider giving them immense glory.
However, he wouldnt extend this opportunity to others. Li Jing might be a skilled warrior, but he wouldnt let him take the lead in battles.
Li Er believed Su Li was different. He wanted Su Li to participate in all wars. His goal was to involve Su Li in battles to secure his own triumphs. He felt that giving Su Li the title of a king with a different surname was a reward for his loyalty.
Li Er thought that Su Lis skills and relationship with him made this arrangement possible. He was willing to wait until Su Li grew older and his achievements accumulated before granting the title. He contemplated that even if Su Li died, posthumous titles were an option.
In Li Ers eyes, this was already an extraordinary honor. But Su Li remained silent, frustrating Li Er and making him feel unappreciated.
This situation left Li Er feeling helpless and puzzled by Su Lis attitude. He reflected on his own past and saw a contrast in the younger generations mindset.
Li Er found solace in imagining taking action with Su Lis sharp blade. But even with the perfect opponent in mind, the sharp blade didnt respond as expected.
Su Li remained unmoved even by the promise of a noble title. Holding Su Lis potential in his hands, Li Er desired to eliminate an enemy to lift his spirits. He had chosen his opponent, but the sharp blade was still sheathed when he looked back.
Despite promising a royal title, Li Er couldnt sway Su Li. Li Er had no choice but to consider another approach.
Haha, Ive always said that the Right Martial Guards have no timid generals! Cheng Yaojin exclaimed at this point.
At this moment, Su Li continued to speak.
Your Majesty, if I can pacify the northwestern part of the Great Tang Dynasty, including the Nine Surnames of Tiele, the Onion Ridge, the Western Turkestan, the Huihe, and the Tubo, in a single battle, can I be granted the title of the King with a Different Surname?
What?
Li Er was somewhat puzzled.
The amount of information in Su Lis words was so large that it took him a while to fully comprehend. The reactions of the others were similar to Li Ers.
After a while, they finally grasped the meaning behind Su Lis words.
So, Su Li intended to clear out all threats in the northwestern part of the Great Tang in one go?
He hesitated to respond because he thought dealing with just Tubo was beneath him. But how was that even possible?
The nations Su Li mentioned were powerful neighboring states and ethnic groups around the Tang Dynasty. The Tang Dynastys territorial expansion in the Western Regions alone would span thousands of miles if they could truly conquer them.
And the fertile northern pastures would also fall under the Tang Dynastys domain. Li Er had dreamed of such accomplishments countless times, but he recognized the stark reality each time he woke up. Such a feat might require a lifetime of effort and still not be achievable.
Only now did Li Er understand why Su Li initially asked for the Great Tang Opinion Map.
But what gave him the confidence to make such a claim?
The gaze of the surrounding generals all turned towards Li Er.
Li Er hadnt anticipated that the words he had used a few days ago to motivate Su Li would be thrown back at him like this.
