Chapter 126: Benefits

Whether in later generations or in this era, the Kathmandu Valley remained the essence of Nepal. Its favorable climate nurtured abundant resources, while the Himalayan range to the north not only blocked the cold winds but also curbed the ambitions of the Tibetan forces.

Though Kantipur had been established less than thirty years prior, it had already drawn a large population. Beyond the city walls lay countless villages, and the mountains were dotted with numerous strongholds. Capturing this city was akin to seizing the lifeblood of Nepal—it was nearly tantamount to the nation’s destruction.

Such a significant achievement brought a satisfied smile to Li Siyie’s face. Compared to the unspoken grievances and hardships endured over more than a month’s arduous journey through several Indian kingdoms and thousands of miles, this victory was worth every bit of effort.

A feat worthy of immortal praise—only a bit more travel, less than an hour of fighting, and negligible casualties. In nearly thirty years of military service, he had never experienced such a swift and gratifying campaign.

The only slight regret was that his foreign saber had barely tasted blood, making the triumph feel somewhat incomplete. Thinking of this, Li Siyie smiled to himself, wondering if he had grown unaccustomed to such smooth success.

“Where is Wulang? Why hasn’t he appeared yet?”

“He’s handling affairs inside the city, busier than ever,” his personal guard replied promptly.

“Oh?” Li Siyie was surprised. Wulang’s actions were becoming increasingly inscrutable.

“What’s the point of managing such chaos?” he muttered.

Standing atop the city wall near the main gate, though not very high, he could roughly discern the city’s situation. The Nepalese defenders and Tibetan forces had already broken and fled. The pursuit was entrusted to Li Fei Yuanli. The area was vast, and his entire force numbered only three thousand. Total annihilation was impossible. Had it not been for enlisting the help of the local mountain tribes, capturing such a large city would not have been an easy task.

The battle was nearing its end, yet the real troubles were just beginning. Having expelled the Tibetans and eliminated the original Nepalese royal family, how to govern the entire city was a question he had no clue about. Unexpectedly, Liu Ji had anticipated this and taken matters into his own hands. No wonder Li Siyie was so surprised.

“I heard he’s at the local government office, processing their household registration and census records. Presumably to submit them to the imperial court.”

“Let’s go see.”

Li Siyie’s interest was piqued. It had been over a month since they last met. Earlier, he was too focused on battle to meet him. Now, he genuinely wished to discuss their next steps.

After all, he was a pure military man, unskilled in matters beyond warfare.

The government office in Kantipur was not far from the city gate. It was a large complex housing various departments. Along the way, corpses lay scattered, and some buildings bore scorch marks, evidence of fierce fighting.

Li Siyie and his guards approached the main entrance and found it crowded with people—locals dressed in Nepalese attire, mountain tribesmen, and many Tang soldiers. They stood apart, but there was no sign of conflict.

Upon seeing him, the locals and tribesmen instinctively lowered their heads and stepped aside, while his soldiers held their heads high, eyes fixed intently on their commander.

Everyone knew that the collapse of the defenders and Tibetans was all thanks to this god of war. Infamy spreads faster than fame.

Li Siyie strode up the steps but halted as voices drifted from inside.

“... Killing is not the goal. If you seek revenge, find the right targets. Those who oppressed you—the powerful, officials, wealthy households, soldiers. As for ordinary people, who barely have any surplus wealth and suffer oppression themselves, what’s the point in robbing them?”

“Who can tell which families are rich and which are poor?”

“That’s simple. Let the locals guide you. The city is divided into districts; each stronghold is responsible for one area. Crossing boundaries or fighting over territory is forbidden. Anyone breaking the rules will have no excuse.”

“Finally, I emphasize: the palace and government offices belong to the Tang dynasty, along with everyone inside. No one is to be touched. Keep your people in check and await orders.”

These voices were all in Tibetan, incomprehensible to Li Siyie. Yet a translator was present, and upon hearing the discussion, he was deeply shaken—it exceeded even his authority.

He refrained from rushing forward. Liu Ji’s path diverged from his, and he had arrived many days earlier. Perhaps there were matters unknown to him, or secret orders at play. At the very least, it was not the moment to question.

In fact, before the campaign, a tacit understanding had been reached regarding jurisdiction over the newly acquired territory. Tactically, Li Siyie would not answer to anyone. Even Feng Changqing, who had authority over the region, would only respect his opinions, owing to his seniority.

Thus, Feng Changqing’s decision to assign Li Siyie’s troops to the Indian front was partly for this reason. Their relationship was, strictly speaking, a close alliance. Naturally, this would shift as their statuses changed, but until Feng solidified his position as military governor of the Four Garrisons, it remained so.

This was exactly what Li Siyie desired: command of a force free from oversight, with considerable autonomy over objectives. He had no reason to decline. The results had already proven the wisdom of this choice.

That said, Li Siyie’s stance on matters beyond his expertise was clear. If Duan Xiushi were present, everything would be handed over to him. Since he was absent, having a substitute was not bad. But would that substitute be Liu Ji?

Soon, the discussion inside ended. Liu Ji emerged, accompanied by leaders of various mountain strongholds. As they passed Li Siyie, each bowed respectfully. Li Siyie remained unmoved. To him, these people were mere ants, unworthy of even a flicker of expression.

“Commander, you’ve arrived just in time. I was about to look for you,” Liu Ji said, bringing a rare softness to Li Siyie’s usually stern face.

“You’ve grown into quite a figure,” Li Siyie chuckled, entering the room with him.

Inside was not as grand as a Tang government office; it resembled more a study. Without lights, it would be pitch black. A square table was covered with various scrolls and records—some on leather, others on paper, though few in number.

“Are these Nepalese writings?” Li Siyie casually picked up one, feeling its rough texture like parchment, filled with winding, intricate symbols.

“No, they’re Sanskrit from India,” Liu Ji replied.

Li Siyie glanced at him in surprise. “You understand that too?”

“Of course not. We hired some monks to translate them, on condition that their temples remain unharmed.”

Liu Ji pointed to another door, behind which sat a row of Buddhist monks responsible for the translations. The temples were the most literate institutions in this land.

Li Siyie showed little interest and casually tossed the scroll aside. The room felt stifling. He loosened the strap under his chin and removed his heavy iron helmet, clanging it down on the table.

“What did you promise those mountain tribesmen?”

“The benefits we agreed on beforehand. Without rewards, why would they fight for us?”

Such matters naturally escaped no one’s notice in the city. Liu Ji spoke openly and without reservation. Li Siyie’s astonishment deepened; the situation was even more complicated than he had imagined.

“Do you realize what this entails?”

“Of course. That’s why our own men won’t participate. I ask you, Commander, to restrain your troops, especially Li Feizhen. I fear his recklessness might cause trouble that’s hard to control.”

Liu Ji met his gaze openly, unflinching.