Chapter 1066: The military power of three states was acquired, and he was awarded the title of Gener

Lin Lang raised his hand and pressed the play button, and the DV camera screen lit up instantly.

The ministers and Li Zhi all stared at the palm-sized "box" in amazement, but the next moment, everyone's attention was fixed on the picture.

In the picture, although there is no blood flowing like a river on the streets of Tingzhou City, the corpses of Western Turkic soldiers are piled up in a mess, so dense that there is no end in sight.

Lin Lang, wearing the golden armor bestowed by the emperor, stood on the city wall and planted the Tang flag on the top of Tingzhou City, letting it flutter in the wind.

After the people of Tingzhou City were rescued, some people cheered, some cried with joy, and the gratitude and joy of surviving the disaster were written on everyone's face.

Li Zhi's heart tightened and his nose felt a little sore.

Then, the scene changed, and countless people wearing white cloth masks lined up in long queues to transport the bodies out of the city.

The line of corpses was so long that it stretched as far as the eye could see. The civil officials who had never personally experienced the battlefield were terrified and shocked. They finally saw the cruelty of war with their own eyes, instead of just talking about it on paper.

The most shocking scene was the scene of cremation in mass graves - the bottomless pits were filled with enemy corpses, and in the corpse pits in the mass graves thirty miles outside the city, the black smoke from the cremation rose straight into the sky.

Countless enemy corpses were dumped into the corpse pit. Lin Lang ordered the people to pour fuel oil on them, causing them to burn with a sizzling sound and ashes to fly away in the wind.

Even through the screen, I can imagine the foul smell of burning corpses.

"Hiss——" A sound of people gasping for breath was heard in the hall.

Li Zhi stared at the orderly epidemic prevention scene on the screen, his Adam's apple rolling twice: "This... is this the true situation in Tingzhou?"

Lin Lang replied: "That's right."

Cheng Yaojin's eyes widened, and he reached out to touch the DV screen, shouting, "What kind of magical iron box is this? It can actually record scenes from thousands of miles away! And the movements are so realistic!"

Su Lie stared at the people wearing masks in the picture and murmured, "Wearing cloth to cover the mouth and nose, using lime to disinfect... The emperor of Shanghai actually has such foresight, no wonder he can keep Tingzhou free of epidemics."

The civil officials were so shocked that they were speechless. The timid ones turned away, while the bolder ones came closer: "My God... so many enemy corpses, and the Emperor of Shanghai was able to mobilize the entire city to deal with them properly within three days. I admire you!"

"The Emperor's epidemic prevention measures are well-organized. I admire them!"

Changsun Wuji paused mid-air, stroking his beard. He stared at the black smoke rising from the cremating corpses and sighed, "Earlier, I doubted the legend of the ghost soldiers was true. Now, seeing the corpses scattered across the ground and the thorough epidemic prevention measures, even the power of ghosts and gods might not be able to stop it..."

The DV screen changed, and the epidemic prevention team was carrying medicine boxes and moving around. The sprinkled disinfectant powder glowed white in the sunlight.

The scene of mobilizing the entire city's population was organized and managed by Lin Lang in an orderly and orderly manner. Everyone had a clear division of labor and made great efforts and contributions to the handling of corpses and epidemic prevention.

Women and children were carrying buckets and carefully washing the bloodstains on the street with lime water, wiping every corner clean.

It took only three days for the streets of Tingzhou City, where corpses of enemy soldiers were scattered throughout, to be cleared cleanly, as if the war had never happened, and everything returned to normal.

Looking at the people in the picture, each doing their own job, some helping to carry the bodies, some cleaning the streets, and even children carrying buckets to help wash the road, the spontaneous unity was like a warm current flowing through the hall.

Li Zhi looked at the scene on the screen, his Adam's apple moving slightly - he originally thought that his sworn brother Lin Lang had done a great deed by suppressing the rebellion, but he did not expect that the cohesion of these ordinary people would be more shocking than the war.

The ministers stared with wide eyes and exclaimed in amazement.

"This... these are not just the people of one city, they are clearly united as one!"

"No wonder the Emperor of Shanghai was able to clean up the mess so quickly. It turns out he didn't rely solely on force, but instead gathered the strength of the people of Tingzhou City. Seeing this, it brings tears to my eyes!"

Even Changsun Wuji, who had been wearing a stern face, stroked his beard and nodded: "When the people are united, even Mount Tai can be moved. This kind of unity is the true spirit of the Tang Dynasty."

There were exclamations one after another in the hall. The previous suspicion of the "power of ghosts and gods" now turned into admiration for this unity.

It turns out that the most moving thing is never supernatural powers, but the tenacity that can withstand countless difficulties and dangers when people's hearts are united.

Then, on the DV screen, Lin Lang was seen squatting by the river, holding a bag of white powder in his hand. He said loudly to the gathered people, "Fellow villagers, this is our Hushangguo disinfectant powder, specially used to kill germs in the water."

He grabbed a handful of powder, poured some into the bucket, stirred it evenly, and held it up: "In addition to adding disinfectant powder to the river water to kill bacteria and prevent epidemics, all the well water in the city must be disinfected."

"Just follow the ratio I taught you and treat all the city's wells with disinfectant powder. That way, drinking water won't make you sick. Otherwise, if a plague breaks out, the lives of everyone in the city will be in danger!"

The people came closer, and someone whispered, "Emperor Shanghai, will this really work?"

"It works!" Lin Lang nodded affirmatively. "There are many corpses in war, and hot weather and hot water are prone to illness. This thing is a lifesaver. Everyone do as I say, and I guarantee you'll be safe."

As he spoke, he distributed disinfectant powder to everyone. There was a note on it with the mixing method written on it.

"Everyone, please don't mind the hassle. Every city's wells must be assigned to individuals, and disinfected daily to ensure the health of all citizens." Lin Lang warned, "This is no small matter. If a plague really breaks out, it will be more terrifying than a war."

The people nodded repeatedly, took the disinfectant powder and dispersed with profuse gratitude.

Li Zhi looked at this scene and felt a lot of emotions in his heart.

He originally thought that Lin Lang only possessed the ancestral ghost seal, which could summon ghost soldiers to march to the northwest border to kill the enemy and quell the rebellion. He didn't expect that he was so thoughtful and even considered the details of epidemic prevention. He also personally explained how to use it to the people.

"My dear brother, your love for the people of the Tang Dynasty is truly rare!" Li Zhi couldn't help but admire.

Zhang Sun Wuji sighed, "The Emperor of Shanghai is truly a rare talent. He even understands these matters of people's livelihood and epidemic prevention. He is truly thoughtful."

Minister of War Ren Yaxiang agreed deeply and nodded, saying, "Yes, Your Majesty, it is a blessing for the Tang Dynasty to have such a brother as the Emperor of Shanghai who cares so deeply about the people of the Tang Dynasty."

The Minister of the Central Secretariat Cui Dunli exclaimed, "Your Majesty, having such a sworn brother is a blessing to the court and even more so to the people!"

The last scene shot by the DV camera was the setting sun, which stretched Lin Lang's busy shadow very long. The laughter and thanks of the people came one after another, forming a picture of peace and tranquility in Tingzhou City, as if there had never been a war.

After the video ended, Li Zhi felt deeply moved and very relieved.

Lin Lang put away the DV camera, and the light on the electronic screen in the hall suddenly disappeared, but the shock in everyone's eyes had not faded.

Li Zhi recovered and slapped his thigh. "Brother, not only did you defeat the enemy, you also saved the lives of the people of this city! This feat is truly remarkable. I command the historian to record your heroic deeds in saving the people of Tingzhou from dire straits in the annals, so that your name will live forever in history!"

"promise!"

All the ministers echoed and spoke words of praise.

There was no longer any doubt in the eyes of the civil and military officials in the hall when they looked at Lin Lang. Only deep awe remained. This ability to defeat thousands of enemies single-handedly and to prevent the epidemic in a meticulous and thorough manner was probably unique throughout history.

Li Zhi looked at his heroic brother Lin Lang, his eyes filled with satisfaction and solemnity, and said in a loud voice: "My dear brother, you have pacified the Western Turks, protected the people of Tingzhou, and created this excellent epidemic prevention method. Your achievements are unparalleled! Today, I will give you three things -"

He paused, raised his hand, and said, "First, the former territory of the Western Turks borders Tingzhou, and border defense is crucial. I will hand over the military power of Tingzhou, Luntai, and Yiwuzhou to you. You will be free to command the troops under your command, and food, fodder, and weapons will be given priority for supply, without the need for repeated requests."

As soon as these words were spoken, all the generals in the hall were shocked.

Holding the military power of the three states is almost equivalent to controlling half of the northwest border of the Tang Dynasty. Few people in the court can match this level of trust.

When the ministers heard this, their faces changed drastically, but no one dared to stop Li Zhi from giving the reward.

Cheng Yaojin secretly clenched his fists, secretly shocked: Your Majesty is confused! How can the military power of the three states on the northwest border be handed over to outsiders? If the emperor Lin Lang ever harbors rebellious thoughts, the Tang Dynasty will be in danger!

Minister of War Ren Yaxiang was also shocked, thinking to himself: This is bad! How could His Majesty trust his brother Lin Lang with the military power of the three northwestern border states? Isn't this giving him the opportunity to gain power and sow the seeds of disaster for the Tang Dynasty?

The Minister of the Central Secretariat, Cui Dunli, frowned, secretly shocked: What's going on? Your Majesty's actions may be a disaster for the country!

Changsun Wuji stroked his beard and looked at Lin Lang with a complicated look, secretly astonished: With such military power in hand, it would be a big trouble if he had any evil intentions!

Just as Su Lie was about to speak to stop him, he heard Lin Lang politely refuse, "Royal brother, as the monarch of a foreign country, how can I allow the military power of the Tang Dynasty to fall into my hands? This is absolutely unacceptable. I beg you to rescind your order!"

All the ministers in the hall were somewhat surprised that Lin Lang would decline the generous offer of military power over the three northwestern border states, and even bluntly expressed the ministers' concerns.

Unexpectedly, Li Zhi laughed loudly and said, "My dear brother, you have the Ghost Seal, which can control the ghost soldiers and kill people without them even being seen. If you want to kill me and seize the Tang Dynasty, it would be as easy as taking something out of your pocket, isn't it?"

As soon as Li Zhi said this, the whole hall was in an uproar.

The ministers exchanged glances and all felt that Li Zhi was right. Lin Lang could single-handedly annihilate the Western Turkic army in Tingzhou City overnight and take Li Zhi's life without anyone noticing.

After listening to Li Zhi's words, the ministers finally understood Li Zhi's wisdom and broad-mindedness.

When it comes to guarding against gentlemen rather than villains, Li Zhi treats his sworn brother Lin Lang with courtesy and sincerity, which actually wins people's hearts more than if he were always on guard against him.

"Royal brother, what are you talking about? In ancient times, there was Guan Yu who rode alone for thousands of miles just to keep a promise. Now I, Lin Lang, have acknowledged you as my royal brother, and I will never do anything that would betray my trust."

"Don't refuse, my dear brother!" Li Zhi said earnestly.

Lin Lang continued, "Military power is a matter of vital importance to the Tang Dynasty. My brother is a foreigner after all, and it's not logical for him to be in charge of the troops of three states. This will inevitably cause resentment among the ministers."

"I will always remember your trust, but I hope you will choose someone more capable and virtuous to take over the military power."

Li Zhi glanced at the worried expressions of the ministers in the hall, then turned his gaze to Lin Lang and laughed out loud, "As the saying goes, trust people when you employ them, and don't employ people when you doubt them."

"To facilitate your deployment of troops and control of border commanders, I appoint you the title of 'Great Tang General of the Western Frontier Defense'. You will hold the Emperor's Sword and be able to execute first and report later!"

"In this way, what you said is not unreasonable."

After hearing this, Lin Lang smiled and said, "Brother Emperor, do you really have to do this?"

Li Zhi put his arm around Lin Lang's shoulders and said, "I've never trusted anyone in my life as much as I trust you."

"My dear brother, you have made a bold promise to help me conquer the four seas, expand our territory, and spread the flag of the Tang Dynasty across the entire world! Wherever the sun and moon shine, wherever the rivers flow, it is the territory of the Tang Dynasty!"

"What's this little bit of military power?"

"When you lead the Tang cavalry and artillery to flatten the islands of Japan and the mountains of Korea, then plough the islands of East Asia, sweep across the thirty-six kingdoms of the Western Regions, crush the ruins of Rome in the west, break through the walls of the barbaric cities beyond the Western Sea, and cross the ocean to establish the Tang boundary marker on the American continent, the whole world will belong to our brothers. I long for the day when we can sit on this throne together!"

Lin Lang's heart warmed, and he also put his arm around Li Zhi's shoulders and said, "Since my royal brother trusts you so much, then I will take on the responsibility without hesitation. I will serve as the Great Tang General who protects the country and suppresses wars on the northwest border. I will expand the territory of the Great Tang and soon realize my grand dream of making every place where the sun and moon shine and the rivers flow our territory!"

After hearing this, all the ministers in the hall congratulated Lin Lang and began to flatter him and praise him.