LFHYB -Chapter 106 The Second Expedition to Goguryeo Begins

Five days passed in the blink of an eye.

Li Shimin and Li Xuanba only spent two days with their fiancées; the remaining time was naturally devoted to following their teacher’s guidance.

Xue Daoheng looked at Li Shimin and Li Xuanba, his face full of resentment, still harboring bitterness over being “left out.”

Li Xuanba: [Brother, didn’t you calm Teacher Xue earlier?]

Li Shimin sighed.

He thought he had indeed reassured him, so why did Teacher Xue still glare at A-Xuan with that vexed expression?

Li Xuanba: [It’s useless, Second Brother.]

Li Shimin grabbed Li Xuanba and gave him a good thrashing.

Confused, Xue Daoheng stopped him. “Daxiong, what are you doing?”

Li Shimin said, “A-Xuan’s being mischievous again.”

Li Xuanba hid behind Xue Daoheng. “I’m not, I didn’t—”

What’s wrong with Second Brother, acting like this at the slightest provocation? Though his punches weren’t hard, it was still humiliating.

Xue Daoheng sighed, trying to smooth things over. “What does this have to do with A-Xuan? I understand, we’re not very familiar yet, so it’s normal that you hid things from me before.”

Xue Daoheng thought Li Shimin was just pretending to hit Li Xuanba to amuse him.

Li Shimin and Li Xuanba exchanged a glance.

Li Shimin said, “Teacher Xue, in the future, A-Xuan and I will rely on you for many things. Please don’t be angry.”

Li Xuanba said, “Teacher Xue, I’ve been too cautious.”

Though it wasn’t exactly what Teacher Xue imagined, he had offered them a way out, and they quickly accepted it.

Xue Daoheng sighed again and finally smiled. “Good.”

Then he had someone bring up the assignments for Li Shimin and Li Xuanba.

Li Shimin groaned. “Teacher Xue, where did all these hand-copied memorials from the previous dynasty come from? Good heavens, do we have to annotate all of them? Even the trivial ones?”

Li Xuanba grinned. “Interesting. Teacher Xue is amazing!”

Li Shimin lightly tapped his brother’s head. “You get excited just by seeing books you haven’t read, huh?”

Li Xuanba nodded. “Exactly. I don’t like hunting anyway, so I spend all my free time reading. I’m not the type to be upset about too much homework stopping me from hunting. Oh, and who said we could only hunt once a month? Turns out it really is once a month…”

Li Shimin covered Li Xuanba’s mouth. “I preferred it when you were lazy and didn’t talk. How do you talk so much now and not get tired?”

Li Xuanba: “Even if you switch to reading my mind, I don’t mind.”

Li Shimin was annoyed. “I said shut up completely!”

Li Zhiyun’s eyes welled up. “Second Brother, Third Brother, why do I have so much homework too?”

Why was he just tagging along with his brothers and suddenly buried in huge boxes of assignments from their teacher?!

Li Shimin said, “Share the suffering.”

Li Xuanba said, “Share the hardship.”

Li Zhiyun held his head and shook it. Couldn’t they stop showing off their twin-like coordination for once?!

Li Xuanba saw his younger brother’s head-shaking and nudged Li Shimin with his elbow. “Second Brother, Xiao Wu’s actions are just like yours.”

Li Shimin crossed his arms. “So what if Fifth Brother is like me? I’m his elder brother; he should be like me.”

Li Zhiyun shouted, “I’m still young! I can’t understand all this obscure homework! Second Brother, Third Brother, help!”

Li Xuanba reassured him. “Don’t worry, we’ll explain it to you.”

Li Shimin muttered, “Why does it feel like my homework just increased again?”

Li Zhiyun put down his hands from covering his head. “Hearing Second Brother say it like that… I don’t feel so sad anymore.”

Li Shimin gave him a thorough rubbing, while Li Xuanba took a few steps back, leaving the “battlefield.”

This time, the teachers not only assigned work, but also each presented Li Shimin and Li Xuanba with servants, money, and provisions.

When the four elders gathered together, three of them clustered while Changsun Sheng sat alone.

Gao Jiong looked at his two old friends, who were deliberately “isolating” Changsun Sheng, and couldn’t help but laugh and cry at the same time.

Changsun Sheng didn’t care about this “exclusion.” Flexible and composed, he cupped his hands and said, “Previously we each served our own masters. Now, for the sake of the world, let’s put aside past grievances, Master Gao, Master Yuwen, and Master Xue.”

Xue Daoheng snorted coldly, “For the sake of the world? Not for your daughter to become Empress?”

Changsun Sheng lowered his arms. “Master Xue, why say such things? The Duke of Tang is still in his prime.”

Xue Daoheng was momentarily speechless.

Gao Jiong patted Xue Daoheng on the shoulder, then turned to Changsun Sheng. “No one is more skilled than you in overseeing the Western Regions. Now that Daxiong and Dade are heading to Zhangye, I hope General Changsun will lend them your guidance.”

Changsun Sheng replied, “Dade has already mastered about seventy to eighty percent of my skills; it should be enough to handle Zhangye. He has many ideas even I could not foresee, but with Daxiong present, things should be fine.”

Gao Jiong said, “Then I can rest easy.”

Changsun Sheng smiled wryly. “I am not at ease. Previously, when His Majesty rushed to plan for the Western Regions, they were compliant in appearance only; the powers there were not weakened. Now that the Sui campaign against Goguryeo has failed, especially with the Turks, they may stir trouble. Daxiong and Dade are likely to encounter many military challenges. I bear the title of general, but I’ve never commanded an army alone. I hope Master Gao can give guidance.”

Gao Jiong said, “They are my disciples; this is my duty.”

After this conversation, Gao Jiong and Changsun Sheng reconciled with the past.

Li Shimin and Li Xuanba stood silently by, not daring to speak.

Since they still needed to keep certain things hidden from Li Zhiyun, they had him help count the newly added items in the caravan instead of bringing him over.

Right now, they missed Fifth Brother terribly.

The atmosphere was so tense—they truly wanted to share both hardship and joy with him.

Fortunately, both Master Gao and Master Changsun were broad-minded and didn’t keep them nervous for long.

On the day they left Daxing, news arrived from Luoyang.

Yang Guang, still furious over being humiliated by Goguryeo last year, sent troops again to invade Goguryeo at the end of the month, just as Li Shimin and Li Xuanba had left Luoyang.

The four teachers looked grim.

The previous campaign had already stirred civil unrest. Consecutive floods and droughts meant the people couldn’t even eat roots or bark this year. The emperor wouldn’t even allow a year of rest for the populace? At least let the people farm for a year to store grain.

“Let’s leave quickly and head to Zhangye, away from the chaos of the Central Plains,” Gao Jiong said earnestly. “If you stayed in the Central Plains, His Majesty might send you to suppress rebels, which would be hard on your hearts.”

Changsun Sheng said, “I know you’ve arranged things with the rebel factions, Dade. If you need anything, have your servants deliver a message to me.”

Changsun Sheng had long operated in the Turkic regions and knew many methods of encrypted correspondence. He taught them all to Li Shimin and Li Xuanba.

Yuwen Bi said, “Prioritize safety and remember to be cautious.”

Xue Daoheng asked, “By the way, Dade, who are the poets in the collection you prepared for the rebels?”

Li Xuanba stammered, “Well… this—”

Li Shimin spoke bluntly, “They are all from another era. A-Xuan said, ‘The nation suffers, but poets rejoice; only in times of calamity can one write truly masterful verses.’ I hope they will never again have the chance to compose such lines.”

Xue Daoheng murmured, “‘The nation suffers, but poets rejoice; only in times of calamity can one write truly masterful verses’… sigh, after viewing the collection, I too feel inspired to write. Perhaps it is indeed so.”

Li Shimin quickly cautioned, “Master Xue, you mustn’t write poems worrying about the country or the people—the emperor would surely kill you!”

Xue Daoheng smiled wryly. “Yes. Those poems will have to wait until I’m safe from his wrath.”

When Li Shimin and Li Xuanba left Daxing, the four teachers did not escort them out of the city.

Li Shimin complained, “It seems the teachers aren’t very reluctant to see us go.”

Li Xuanba raised his riding whip, pointing to a pavilion by the roadside ahead. “Perhaps because they know Sister-in-law and Zhuniang will come to see us off.”

Li Shimin’s head shot up immediately. “Where?”

He spurred his horse forward.

Li Xuanba was speechless. “Why so impatient?”

Li Zhiyun shook his head atop his horse. “Third Brother, aren’t you in a hurry? Really not?”

Li Xuanba shot Fifth Brother a glance, then gave chase.

Li Shimin jumped off his horse without pulling the reins.

Seeing Li Shimin’s daring move, Changsun Xiaomei and Yuwen Zhu both covered their mouths in shock.

Li Shimin proudly said, “Don’t worry, the horse has stopped. But even if it hadn’t, I could have landed safely.”

Li Xuanba only dismounted after bringing his horse to a stop. “Yes, yes, but if the horse stumbles, a person only has one life. One day if you fall and can’t take care of yourself, you’ll never hunt again.”

Li Xuanba: [There are multiple theories about your eldest son’s lameness—some say illness, some say a fall. Are you going to demonstrate being a lame leg to my nephew?]

Li Shimin’s emotions fluctuated wildly, but with Changsun Xiaomei and Yuwen Zhu present, he could only express his frustration internally.

After successfully dampening his show-off older brother’s mood, Li Xuanba felt extremely relieved.

Changsun Xiaomei tugged at Yuwen Zhu’s skirt and whispered in her ear, “It’s always so funny watching Second Brother and Third Brother bicker.”

Yuwen Zhu nodded.

Li Zhiyun soon arrived at the pavilion. After dismounting, he instructed everyone to stop five or six meters away, not to disturb their brothers’ fiancées.

Once bitten, twice shy—Li Zhiyun would not repeat past mistakes.

Li Shimin and Li Xuanba each spoke with their fiancées for a while before parting ways again.

Li Xuanba had intended to break off a willow branch as a farewell gift, but all he could find was a red plum blossom that had not yet withered.

As he plucked the red plum blossom, Yuwen Zhu did the same.

The two met each other’s gaze and smiled.

Yuwen Zhu lowered her head, and Li Xuanba carefully pinned the red plum blossom in her hair.

Yuwen Zhu lifted the red plum blossom, and Li Xuanba took a step back.

She smiled and said, “Don’t run away. Pinning flowers is a refined thing—why are you shy?”

Li Xuanba sighed. A grown man pinning a flower, and it’s a red one at that.

He bent down, allowing Yuwen Zhu to pin a red plum blossom in his hair as well.

Looking at the red blossom in Li Xuanba’s hair, Yuwen Zhu said, “Who knows when we’ll meet again. Take care of yourself.”

Li Xuanba nodded, saying firmly, “I will.”

Li Shimin and Young Lady Changsun also approached, hand in hand.

Li Xuanba noticed that Li Shimin had flowers pinned all over his head, while Young Lady Changsun wore a braided floral crown. A subtle feeling of “losing” crept into his heart.

Yuwen Zhu sighed softly, a hint of grievance in her voice: “Why does it feel like we lost?”

Li Xuanba looked at her.

“Why?” she asked.

Li Xuanba smiled lightly. “No, I think the plum blossom hairpins look better than the messy wreath my second brother made.”

Hearing this, he suddenly felt that he hadn’t lost after all.

Yuwen Zhu touched the red plum branch in her hair and smiled brightly. “Indeed.”

A brief meeting, and soon it would be followed by a long farewell.

Li Shimin, with his head full of flowers, and Li Xuanba, with a single plum blossom pinned in his hair, remounted their horses and bade farewell to their fiancées with a bow.

As the carriage train departed, Young Lady Changsun and Yuwen Zhu lingered long in the pavilion, reluctant to leave.

“Yuwen sister, next time we meet, Third Brother should come to formally propose to you, right?”

“Mm.”

“How wonderful… Father said he wants to keep me a few more years.”

“Spending more time with your parents is a good thing.”

“That’s true.”

Only when the carriage train was completely out of sight did the two young ladies brush the petals from each other’s shoulders and turn back toward the city.

On horseback, Li Shimin discussed the matter with Li Xuanba.

“When you see her next, you’ll be visiting Teacher Yuwen to propose,” Li Shimin sighed. “You’re my younger brother, and yet you’re marrying before your elder brother.”

Li Xuanba replied, “I’m even marrying before the eldest brother.”

Li Shimin laughed. “Indeed.”

Li Zhiyun sighed. “Second brother, what are you complaining about? I don’t even have a fiancée.”

Li Shimin smiled. “You’re still young.”

Li Zhiyun pouted. “I’m not young. When Second Brother was my age, he already had a fiancée.”

Li Shimin said, “Makes sense. Write to Father quickly—have him arrange a match for you too.”

Li Zhiyun’s pout flattened. “Better not.”

Li Shimin laughed heartily.

Li Xuanba shook his head, smiling lightly.

Li Zhiyun, seeing both his elder brothers laughing at him, had intended to look upset, but he couldn’t help laughing as well.

The three brothers rode westward together, laughter scattering along the path.

…

In the Central Plains, the flames of rebellion were spreading faster.

In Shandong, there was scarcely a prefecture without bandits.

Many of these bandits had established permanent bases, built fortresses, recruited talent, and were able to contend with the Sui soldiers.

Wang Bo’s militia was still stationed at the foot of Mount Tai. But compared with their earlier survival by plunder alone, Wang Bo somehow recruited many impoverished scholars and established rules for his militia, even promoting agricultural work among the people.

Originally, the peasant rebels were just a group of people who couldn’t survive, fleeing taxes and forced labor, living by looting.

Now, with Wang Bo leading the militia to cultivate barren lands, they had become a surprisingly positive force.

Seeing that Wang Bo’s threat wasn’t particularly great, the Sui troops postponed the task of eliminating him, focusing first on more aggressive bandits who blocked supply routes to Goguryeo.

Some officials submitted petitions to the emperor, pointing out that the land cultivated by these rebels could be seized once the Sui army returned from its campaign against Goguryeo.

Even within Wang Bo’s ranks, some were concerned.

Wang Bo sighed wryly. “Lord Wei, don’t mention them… I worry too.”

Wei Zheng had removed his Taoist disguise, dressed now in the scholarly attire of a wandering swordsman of the Han era.

He smiled. “Zhishi Lang, once you harvest your first crop and the people flock to you, you’ll have sufficient troops and supplies. Even if the Sui army comes, what would you fear?”

Wang Bo hesitated. “Can I really defeat the Sui army?”

Wei Zheng shook his head, smiling. “Even if you didn’t farm or stockpile supplies, could you really defeat the Sui army? Or do you think they wouldn’t come at all?”

Wang Bo thought for a moment. “What you say is correct… I’ve been blind.”

He sighed. “Now that we have land and food, I understand your teachings even better. Before, I had nothing, so I wasn’t afraid of fighting the Sui. Now that I have land and resources, my power is greater—and yet I feel fear.”

Wei Zheng said, “As the saying goes, ‘The barefoot are not afraid of those in shoes.’ When you had nothing, there was nothing to lose. Now that life is better, who would willingly die? If the Sui gave you a way to live, who would put their head on the chopping block?”

Wang Bo nodded. “Indeed.”

He gritted his teeth. “That wretched emperor is going to campaign against Goguryeo again… I wonder how this time will go.”

Wei Zheng said, “I don’t think this campaign will go smoothly either.”

Wang Bo’s eyes brightened. “But what is your prediction?”

Wei Zheng chuckled. “No need for predictions. Anyone with a little learning can see the problem. The Sui face widespread civil unrest, instability at home, yet the emperor wants to attack an external enemy. How can the troops focus on the front when the rear is unstable? Even if he sends them out, any issue in the rear will force him to retreat. Supplies might not even be moved in time.”

Wang Bo thought carefully and said, “If even the supplies can’t be moved in time…”

Wei Zheng said, “During the campaign against Goguryeo, they will surely conscript many laborers. If Master Zhi Shi trusts me, I am willing to blend in among them.”

Wang Bo immediately said, “No! The Master has entrusted Lord Wei to me, and I absolutely cannot let him take risks! Leave the matter of blending in with the conscripts to me. I am very capable.”

Wei Zheng said, “Zhishi Lang, then allow me to accompany you.”

Wang Bo shook his head again. “Lord Wei, it’s not that I distrust you. On the contrary, I trust you precisely. I hope that while I am away, you can help guard this place. If I am unfortunate and fall in Goguryeo, Lord Wei can continue leading them in resistance against the Dog Emperor.”

He rose and cupped his hands in a formal bow. “I entrust this to you, Lord Wei.”

Wei Zheng was surprised.

When he arrived, he had already revealed his identity and stated that his loyalty was only to Li Jia’s Second and Third Masters. He had not expected Wang Bo to entrust military authority to an outsider like him.

Wei Zheng couldn’t help but admire Wang Bo even more.

No wonder Third Master chose Wang Bo. Though just a blacksmith, he truly possessed a remarkable presence.

Wei Zheng recalled teaching Wang Bo, and how quickly Wang Bo absorbed knowledge.

Had Wang Bo had the chance to study from a young age, he might have been famous in the literary world.

How many other talents like Wang Bo had fallen through the cracks of the world?

Wei Zheng felt certain thoughts rising in his mind—seeds planted deep in his heart. But now, he had no time to dwell on them.

He also rose and bowed in return. “Zhishi Lang, you will be safe. Do not worry. You were chosen by the Master for a reason; you are a man of destiny. You will surely live to see the day the great revenge is fulfilled.”

Wang Bo thought of Li Xuanba and relaxed slightly. “I thank you for your auspicious words, Lord Wei.”

Wei Zheng said, “Since Zhishi Lang trusts me, I will not hold back. Before you depart, I will reach out to the leaders of other righteous militias. Before the fall of the Sui Dynasty, our objectives are aligned. As long as we unite, we will not be defeated in pieces. The leaders of the militias are already open to alliance; they only lack a guiding principle.”

Wang Bo said, “I think the same. I’ve already had many copies of the Master’s books printed and sent to them. For those militias that have changed their ways, Lord Wei may approach them. Those who ignore the books I send should be left alone; we are not on the same path.”

Wei Zheng said, “I wish to go to Zhai Rang first.”

Wang Bo said, “I agree with you.”

Wei Zheng and Wang Bo exchanged a smile.

The Sui army and its supplies advanced toward Goguryeo once again, while Wei Zheng, disguised, traveled near the Eastern Capital to locate Zhai Rang’s militia—a thorn in Sui’s heart that Yang Guang completely neglected.

While Wei Zheng moved, Fang Qiao was also taking action.

Though Li Xuanba hadn’t told him, observing the unusual activity of the militias and reading the poetry booklets they distributed, Fang Qiao suspected that Li Xuanba had orchestrated something inside.

Li Shimin made high-profile moves against the rebels, drawing everyone’s attention.

Li Xuanba, meanwhile, operated from the shadow of Li Shimin, planning for the future without anyone noticing.

What a pair of twin-like brothers, perfectly in sync.

Fang Qiao had recently considered resigning.

It wasn’t that he despised being a county magistrate; with his moral standards, it was simply impossible to fulfill the tasks his superiors assigned.

Serving as a magistrate in Jiangnan, the region had been spared the disasters that struck the north in previous years, and the people should have been living reasonably well.

But Shandong and other areas had suffered floods and droughts, and rebellions broke out. Yang Guang’s campaign against Goguryeo forced him to levy Jiangnan.

Fang Qiao’s current duties involved collecting taxes and labor, witnessing countless families destroyed. The human tragedies he observed left him exhausted, and he feigned illness to avoid completing the tasks assigned by his superiors.

“It seems I cannot continue as magistrate,” Fang Qiao said to his wife. “Madam, you will have to endure hardships with me again.”

Lady Lu shook her head. “No, this is not hardship. Husband, we are going to find Erlang and Sanlang. They are in Zhangye now and should need you.”

Fang Qiao was not surprised that his wife guessed the closeness of his relationship with Erlang and Sanlang. He said, “I thought so too. But before that, I must deliver them a great gift. So please, Madam, leave first.”

Lady Lu said, “Husband, you’re going into danger? I will not leave.”

Fang Qiao smiled. “If I stayed alone, it wouldn’t be dangerous, and I could escape safely. My ambition is not yet fulfilled; this is not a true risk. Madam, leave first, so that I can act freely.”

Lady Lu said, “Very well, I will follow your words.”

Fang Qiao said, “Madam, please return to Luoyang to inform my father. Perhaps he will resign and accompany me.”

Lady Lu sighed. “I will try to persuade him, but… sigh.”

Fang Qiao said, “I know my father is stubborn. Just do your best.”

Fang Qiao submitted his resignation, leaving behind the officials to handle the handover at the county office.

Lady Lu led the family north first.

Once a temporary magistrate arrived, Fang Qiao took twenty strong servants and several carts of books, claiming he was visiting friends, and wandered the nearby counties.

Li Xuanba had also set up charity houses in Jiangnan. Fang Qiao returned to these every few days, burying the books in the cellars.

This was the grand gift Fang Qiao had prepared over years in office for Li Shimin and Li Xuanba: the household registration records of Jiangnan’s counties.

Fang Qiao, highly learned, was often asked by the prefect to organize household records.

He took some, hid some, and spent money to acquire more.

Now, with the empire in chaos and household registration management essentially paralyzed, he could acquire massive bundles of household records from minor clerks for just a fraction of their value.

All of this money came from the charity houses.

When Fang Qiao was appointed, Li Shimin and Li Xuanba not only provided him with funds but also granted him the authority to freely access charity house resources.

Fang Qiao had thought the funds would be limited. He kept some valuable assets aside to sell if needed.

“Erlang and Sanlang anticipated that Lord Fang would need money. So before his appointment in Zhangye, they specially sent funds from home for him to draw upon,” said a newly arrived steward. “If Lord Fang finds it insufficient, I can quickly report to Madam. If he waits a few days, Madam will send funds promptly.”

Fang Qiao asked in confusion, “Madam?”

The steward replied, “Before the Second Young Master and Third Young Master left home, they entrusted the management of the charitable estate to the Madam. However, the Duke does not know about this matter, so please do not let it slip, Lord Fang.”

Fang Qiao’s heart stirred.

He cupped his hands and asked, “By the Madam you speak of—do you mean the daughter of the Princess of Xiangyang?”

The steward smiled. “Yes. She is also the niece of Emperor Wu of Zhou.”

Fang Qiao understood at once. “Then in the future, Xuánlíng will have to rely on the Madam.”

The steward waved his hands. “No, no. The Madam said that from now on, she hopes Lord Fang will take good care of the Second Young Master and Third Young Master.”

Fang Qiao sighed inwardly. He hadn’t expected Lady Dou to be involved in this—nor that the Duke of Tang still didn’t know about it.

It was said that Lady Dou had once been personally taught by Emperor Wu of Zhou. Truly remarkable.

With Lady Dou’s financial support, Fang Qiao was filled with excitement. Now he would be able to collect even more household‑registration documents from Jiangnan!