<strong>Chapter 258</strong>


    Autumn was a season of plenty. In just two months, the day Su Li had agreed with Li Er to leave the Central ins had arrived. Changan City was already the most densely popted ce during the Tang Dynasty and was now even more crowded, teeming with people. Even the fields outside the city were bustling with activity.


    Most of the belongings had already been packed at the Princess’s Residence. Alongside Su Li were also the key members of the 50,000-strong Tang Dynasty Iron Riders that Li Er had provided. While 50,000 Iron Riders might not appear to be a vast force, it still held significant strength. However, whenpared to the expansive northwest, it was clear that this force wouldn’t be sufficient.


    In the end, Li Er was being economical, but Su Li didn’t mind. Upon reaching his fief, he intended to build his forces from the ground up, creating a core force exclusively under hismand.


    “Brother-inw!” The young boy was already in tears at this moment. Su Li had kept his departure from the Central ins a secret from the young boy, but the news eventually reached him through others. Su Li nced at him, acknowledging the boy’s assistance, and affectionately ruffled his hair before giving him a lollipop.


    “Brother-inw has always treated you well.”


    “Brother-inw, will youe back in the future?”


    Su Li nodded and smiled. “I will.” He then called a female attendant to take the tearful boy away. As they departed, Changle couldn’t help but look back at the Princess’s Residence with a heavy heart.


    At this moment, the carriage master awaited outside the gate, silently waiting. Su Li tightly held Changle’s hand and reassured her, “My dear, it’s time to go.” She nodded, allowing Su Li to lead her onto the carriage.


    Manymoners followed as Su Li and Changle left the Princess’s Residence. These people had received kindness from Duke Yongle in the past and now wished to bid him farewell personally.


    At Changan’s city gate…


    Li Er, apanied by Zhangsun Wuji and other court officers, watched in awe at the unfolding scene. While Li Er had anticipated that Duke Yongle, Su Li, held significant influence in Changan and had considered the possibility of such a scene, witnessing it firsthand left him deeply moved and restless.


    Wherever Duke Yongle’s carriage traveled, the people’s gaze followed, and wherever it stopped, a crowd gathered. Li Er couldn’t help but feel a touch of envy. After all, which ruler didn’t aspire to be a wise leader like the legendary sages Yao, Shun, and Yu? Every ambitious monarch dreamed of their subjects living in abundance, without worries about food, clothing, and livelihoods, and their nation flourishing and powerful. They all imagined being hailed by their people for their benevolence and care.


    However, Li Er hadn’t fully achieved these ideals, while Duke Yongle, Su Li, had realized them. Li Er shifted his gaze and turned to Zhangsun Wuji, inquiring, “Wuji, how many people from the city came today to bid farewell to Duke Yongle?”


    In the Tang Dynasty, for events involving significant poption movements, officers were responsible for keeping records. “Your Majesty, over the past few days, approximately thirty thousand additional people have arrived in Changan City from various ces,” Zhangsun Wuji replied.


    Li Er’s heart suddenly felt even more bitter. Zhangsun Wuji hesitated momentarily before adding, “There are also themoners who worked in the Princess’s Residence in the past. All of them havee.” He referred to the group that had been standing outside Changan City. By visual estimation, their numbers far exceeded the city’s residents.


    Li Er took a deep breath. He had thought that thirty thousand was a substantial number, but he hadn’t anticipated that themoners bidding farewell to Duke Yongle would be even more numerous. A rough estimate suggested that the number ofmoners who hade to bid farewell to Su Li today had likely reached an astonishing several hundred thousand.


    For themon people, two seasons were their busiest times: one was spring for nting, and the other was autumn for harvesting crops.


    At present, these individuals had set aside their agricultural work, and some had even journeyed from distant ces to attend the event. Su Che cautiously drew back the curtain inside the carriage and softly said, “Mother, there are many people outside.”


    “What are they here for?” Changle held Su Che in her arms and said, “They are here to bid farewell to your father, Duke Yongle.” Due to the congestion within Changan City, the carriage moved slowly, taking a long time to leave.


    Li Er and the court officers, leading themoners, had alle to bid farewell to Duke Yongle. Su Li mounted on a white horse, turned around to gaze at the people who hade to see him off. Faced with such a grand spectacle, he couldn’t help but be moved.


    Common people, in any era, were undoubtedly the most sincere. They adhered to a simple principle: whoever treated them well would genuinely receive their goodwill in return. They had fewer ulterior motives and were less deceitful.


    Su Li dismounted from his horse and expressed his gratitude with a salute, saying, “Elders of Changan, fellow countrymen of the Tang Dynasty, I am truly grateful for your kind intentions. Please return home and do not let this dy your farming and harvesting. If my presence causes any dy in the harvest, I would feel ashamed.”


    A year’s worth ofbor had gone into the harvest, and the results were now in the hands of the people. Amidst the sea of people, someone was the first to speak up, “Duke Yongle, please stay in the Central ins. The Central ins can’t be without Duke Yongle!”


    And then more voices joined in, echoing the same sentiment. “…”


    At that moment, with no prior rehearsal or preparation, hundreds of thousands ofmoners shouted in unison, imploring Duke Yongle to stay. Their voices, united and thunderous, reverberated through the air. “Duke Yongle, please stay in the Central ins. The Central ins can’t be without Duke Yongle!”


    The sight of this scene left the court officers in a state of almost tangible shock and trepidation. Duke Yongle’s influence was so vast that one could imagine a single call for rebellion might prompt thesemoners to rise immediately, potentially turning against Li Er himself.


    Such a statement, simr to incitement, left Li Er without a clear response, as he couldn’t reasonably punish all these hundreds of thousands of Tang Dynasty citizens. Thew didn’t hold individuals ountable for the actions of the masses.


    Countlessmoners andborers all knelt in the direction of Su Li, their pleas continuing despite the efforts of court officers to discourage them. Su Li was a man of his word. He spoke loudly enough for everyone present to hear, saying, “If, in the future, officers or powerful families oppress you, all you need to do is send a letter to the northwest. I will still intervene on your behalf!”


    With those words, Duke Yongle’s carriage departed towards the northwest. In the end, Duke Yongle had left. Li Er observed the assembledmoners, united by Duke Yongle, and couldn’t help but feel perplexed. He pondered, <em>Was it the right decision to send Duke Yongle away from the Central ins?</em>