LFHYB -Chapter 113 History Quietly Takes a Turn

Zhou Da and Luo Shixin led the troops to clean up the battlefield, sorting out ears for tallying merits afterward.

Only Murong Xiaojun’s head remained intact. When they reached his tribe, it would be salted and preserved with lime, then sent to His Majesty in the Eastern Capital as proof of achievement.

The group resumed their journey, heading directly toward the small Tuyuhun tribal court established by Murong Xiaojun.

King Tianzhu and his subordinates wore stiff expressions, their eyes betraying unmistakable apprehension.

This time, King Tianzhu had brought five thousand men to Western Sea Commandery. Two thousand were able-bodied cavalry, the remaining three thousand included subordinates, servants, and beauties, responsible for logistics and attending to the elite.

Murong Xiaojun brought slightly over a thousand cavalry—fewer in number, but only his strongest, prime fighters. In terms of combat-capable elite troops, he wasn’t much worse off than King Tianzhu.

Li Shimin had brought only five hundred elite troops, relying on the Sui relay stations and towns for supply along the way. He didn’t bring a single logistics officer, transporting all provisions and gifts himself.

Upon reaching King Tianzhu’s tribe, he ate what the king provided. On this trip to Qinghai, even his supplies were mixed with King Tianzhu’s.

Seeing Li Shimin’s troop configuration, King Tianzhu assumed he hadn’t intended to fight, and felt safe bringing him along to intimidate Murong Xiaojun.

Although Li Shimin had told King Tianzhu he would later attack Murong Xiaojun, supporting King Tianzhu’s independence was meant as an exchange for the king interfering with Murong Xiaojun. But King Tianzhu guessed that Li Shimin would eventually bring a large army to Western Sea Commandery. He hoped the Sui forces and Murong Xiaojun would weaken each other so he could gain from the spoils.

Who could have guessed that this usually lively and kind-hearted young man—one who smiled even at lowly herders—would suddenly turn on Murong Xiaojun and slaughter him?

“You have the ability, yet you talk about brotherhood and alliances? You’re just killing as a warning!”

King Tianzhu’s scalp tingled.

He had fought on countless battlefields, seen endless bloodshed, and wasn’t a virtuous man himself. He had killed for pleasure before. Many of his subordinates were cruel and brutal, some had even eaten human flesh.

Yet he was still unnerved by Li Shimin’s sudden betrayal.

Everything they had done so far made sense and fit their characters. What was going on with Li Shimin? Just moments ago he had smiled, saying Murong Xiaojun would hunt with them—so why slaughter him now? And with Li Shimin’s intelligence, King Tianzhu didn’t believe he could fail to see that Murong Xiaojun hadn’t meant to fight; he was merely bargaining.

King Tianzhu’s hands gripping the reins were drenched in sweat.

Li Shimin noticed the king’s unease but smiled, not disturbing him as he trembled in fear.

Fear what? I’m not going to turn around and slaughter you too.

Of course, Li Shimin was not acting on whim or anger.

Many of his seemingly reckless actions were better described as “strange”—seizing the right opportunity and achieving victory through surprise.

Western Sea Commandery had to be taken, and Murong Xiaojun had to be killed. Murong Xiaojun was on the list of those Li Shimin must eliminate.

Scouts sent by Li Xuanba had reconnoitered Murong Xiaojun’s tribe. Li Shimin knew Murong Xiaojun could at most gather around four thousand able-bodied soldiers, with about a thousand of Murong Fuyun’s remnants.

Upon first seeing Murong Xiaojun, Li Shimin observed the number and equipment of his troops.

Indeed, as King Tianzhu thought, seeing the disorganized troops, Li Shimin realized Murong Xiaojun was bluffing—he had no real intention of fighting.

But so what?

Whether to fight or not depends on whether he can win. If Li Shimin wasn’t confident of victory, or if winning brought no advantage, he naturally wouldn’t act.

What’s the situation now?

Murong Xiaojun had provoked them intentionally, and he had legitimate grounds for doing so.

The soldiers Murong Xiaojun brought weren’t trained for battle, and their discipline was poor—he could win.

That left only one question to consider: would there be any benefit after winning?

Of course! Absolutely!

Although Murong Xiaojun’s cavalry weren’t prepared for battle, their physiques and expressions clearly marked them as elite tribal warriors.

If they were annihilated now, and Murong Xiaojun himself killed on the spot, his tribe would lose its leader and over one-fifth of its elite troops, and those troops might even include veteran remnants of Fuyun Khan. The Tuyuhun people of Xihai Commandery would definitely lose the will to resist.

If they returned to prepare slowly for an attack on Xihai Commandery, Murong Xiaojun could retreat his elite forces into the semi-abandoned commandery city, repairing it over time. In the future, they would be facing a siege battle.

And capturing the city later would be very difficult—they could only slowly besiege it, cutting off support, and trap Murong Xiaojun inside Xihai Commandery.

This was the exact strategy Li Xuanba and Li Shimin initially discussed: first, persuade the surrounding Tuyuhun tribes to isolate Murong Xiaojun, who sought to “use the Khan to command a famous king,” and then gradually wear him down.

If they struck now with surprise, the prolonged attrition could be avoided.

Was it dangerous?

Yes! The danger lay in whether King Tianzhu would betray them.

Li Shimin realized that King Tianzhu might want Murong Xiaojun and himself to weaken each other so he could reap the benefits. If he killed Murong Xiaojun, would King Tianzhu kill him in turn to seize the victory?

After thinking it over, Li Shimin deemed this unlikely.

King Tianzhu was in Heyuan Commandery, far from Xihai. He couldn’t abandon Heyuan, and his forces and herds weren’t sufficient to occupy two commanderies.

If Li Shimin gave him some free rewards, he wouldn’t risk turning against the Sui.

To maximize the success of this “bold tactic,” Li Shimin immediately decided to implement a “mopping-up” strategy—eliminate the enemy’s active forces as openly as possible before King Tianzhu, sending a warning to others!

He ordered the cavalry to roam, driving the enemy toward Murong Xiaojun, then scattering them, and then herding them again at the edge of retreat—like peeling a carrot, layer by layer, reducing the enemy gradually.

But Li Shimin knew he couldn’t take them all.

Although the Tuyuhun were caught off guard, once people around them started being killed and only a few remained, they would fight desperately.

Li Shimin had only five hundred men. Each one was precious—they couldn’t be sacrificed casually.

So while “kneading the dough” and “peeling the carrot,” he constantly observed the remaining Tuyuhun soldiers’ expressions.

When he saw they were about to enter a desperate fight, he opened a gap in the encirclement for these trapped soldiers to escape, while he personally took Murong Xiaojun’s life.

Leaving Murong Xiaojun for last wasn’t just for dramatic effect; killing him too early would cause the enemy to disperse before having any real deterrent effect on King Tianzhu. But once Murong Xiaojun was dead, the remaining “trapped beasts” lost their fighting spirit.

All these calculations happened in a flash. By the time Li Shimin’s mental storm ended, King Tianzhu and Murong Xiaojun were still posturing against each other.

Mastery of intelligence, anticipation of the situation, and understanding of human nature enabled this “surprise attack.”

The outcome was exactly as Li Shimin expected.

Hands clasped, perfect!

It was a pity A-Xuan wasn’t here; he had no one to brag to.

King Tianzhu was already scared, and now Li Shimin had to give him time to “slowly realize the horror,” not the moment to show off.

Bragging to subordinates felt a bit awkward; it might undermine the leader’s image.

Li Shimin sighed.

King Tianzhu shivered: “General Li, why do you sigh?”

Li Shimin casually lied: “I brought too few men. Many ran away. This hunt has slight flaws.”

King Tianzhu: “……” You really call this a hunt!

He added, “They’ll return to their tribes.”

Li Shimin smiled: “Once back in the tribe, they aren’t hunted wild animals—they’re more like penned livestock, not easily killed. I also ask you, King Tianzhu, to restrain your subordinates from harassing their herders to avoid chaos and unnecessary injuries. Any spoils already acquired are ours; they must be cherished.”

King Tianzhu nodded: “Understood.”

He turned to give orders, making sure those he brought restrained themselves from looting, promising rewards.

Especially the spoils! Those belonged to General Li! Whoever dared steal would lose a hand!

Even the most unruly members he brought repeatedly nodded, promising to behave.

Li Shimin said, “Then I can rest assured. Onward! King Tianzhu, let’s speed up—don’t let them escape!”

King Tianzhu whipped his horse to catch up.

Luo Shixin followed behind Li Shimin’s horse with a look of discontent, poking the back of Li Erlangjun’s head with a resentful gaze.

Zhou Da slowed his horse to ride alongside Luo Shixin and quietly asked, “What’s wrong? You look grim after a victory.”

Luo Shixin whispered: “Which general takes credit for the kills of his own men? Everyone was killed by Erlangjun himself—what use am I! I’ve never seen a general charge into battle personally like him!”

Zhou Da suppressed a laugh: “Now you have. That’s just how Erlangjun is.”

Luo Shixin sighed deeply and then chuckled: “I must train harder! Next time, I’ll surpass him!”

Zhou Da smiled, sighing. So young and spirited—both Luo Shixin and Erlangjun.

People so young shouldn’t even be on the battlefield.

Zhou Da recalled the peaceful days, and the joy of victory faded a little.

…

When King Tianzhu and Li Shimin arrived at Xihai Commandery, Murong Xiaojun’s tribe had still not received the news that the King of Xihai had already been killed.

Those fleeing were probably too panicked, losing their way, and with King Tianzhu and Li Shimin both on horseback, they arrived a step later.

Li Shimin’s final step of his “ingenious plan”—using the tiger’s might to intimidate others—was complete.

With only five hundred cavalry, if he wanted to intimidate Murong Xiaojun’s tribe, even if he could win in battle, the enemy might still feel a reckless “let’s give it a try” hope when seeing his small numbers.

Moreover, after all, he was still a man of the Sui dynasty. The remaining Tuyuhun nobles stationed there might not be willing to follow him.

So Li Shimin handed all his men over to King Tianzhu, turning the matter into internal consolidation within the Tuyuhun tribe, while he himself became just an “external support.”

On top of that, King Tianzhu had brought five thousand men, creating a formidable show of force. Naturally, the remaining Tuyuhun nobles no longer had any thought of resistance.

After all, even under King Tianzhu, they remained nobles—they had only changed tribal leaders.

As for the feelings of the little khan of Tuyuhun, no one cared.

Li Shimin retired to the role of “external support” and leisurely began to tally the spoils.

He tied all the goods to the captured cattle, sheep, and horses. Anything he couldn’t carry, he gave to King Tianzhu.

King Tianzhu didn’t dare accept them. He said they should first be recorded, and then he would exchange them for fine horses to give to Li Shimin, treating it as a business transaction.

Li Shimin marveled at King Tianzhu’s fairness. If the man wasn’t overly ambitious in the future, he could be enfeoffed as Great King Tianzhu.

Barbarians can hardly claim the heavens—but he hoped King Tianzhu would be sensible enough to recognize this.

Li Xuanba added another layer of clothing, and when the stove fire was lit in the room, he finally received news that his second brother would soon return.

“Kill Murong Xiaojun, destroy the Tuyuhun tribes in the Western Sea commandery, seize a lot of livestock and goods, and I’m to go meet them?” Li Xuanba repeated the message he had taken from Wudi’s feet.

He raised his head and looked at Wudi with bright eyes: “Has my second brother gone on another adventure?”

Wudi tilted his head. I’m just a small golden eagle. Mom, I have no idea how to answer that.

“Sigh.” Li Xuanba stroked Wudi’s head. “You’ve worked hard. Go eat something good first. But I’ll trouble you a bit more—take me to meet him.”

Wudi jumped: “Chirp chirp!”

Li Xuanba looked at Wudi’s bulging belly, half amused, half exasperated: “Seems you really did seize a lot of livestock—your belly’s really full…”

He rubbed Wudi’s belly. Wudi lay on the table, belly up, letting Li Xuanba do as he pleased.

Han Gou, napping on the bookshelf, opened his eyes, then closed them again in disdain.

Li Xuanba tallied the manpower and quickly set off to meet Li Shimin.

Half a day later, he saw his second brother struggling to herd the sheep.

“A-Xuan, help! These sheep are impossible to herd!” Li Shimin shouted.

Li Xuanba looked at the massive herd in disbelief: “How many did you seize?”

Li Shimin said: “About fifty thousand.”

Li Xuanba exclaimed: “Fifty thousand?!”

Li Shimin grimaced: “Originally it was sixty thousand. Along the way, I couldn’t herd them all, so we ate some, sold some, and… cough… some got scattered. I did my best!”

Li Xuanba took a deep breath: “You herded fifty thousand heads of livestock with just five hundred men? This isn’t just doing your best—you, second brother, are a genius herder!”

Li Shimin’s grimace turned into a smile: “Really? Fine, I’ll agree. Ah, I’m exhausted. Herding so much livestock, I didn’t dare sleep along the way.”

Li Xuanba said: “Go back and sleep first. After that…”

He looked at the dense herd, his mind overwhelmed.

“Second brother, why didn’t you write the number of livestock in your letter? I could have brought more men.” Li Xuanba complained.

Li Shimin laughed: “Even with only five hundred men, I could herd all the livestock back. You can bring a few more people casually.”

Li Xuanba’s mouth twitched: “You just wanted to give me a little shock, seeing if I’d laugh at you, right?”

Li Shimin cleared his throat: “That thought did cross my mind.”

Li Xuanba sighed deeply and sent people back to call for reinforcements.

The brothers spent an hour herding the sheep together when the Zhangye commandery governor arrived on a fast horse.

“My heavens! This really is tens of thousands of livestock!” The governor rubbed his eyes. “Li Langjiang, did you really take the Western Sea commandery?”

Li Shimin said: “If King Tianzhu leaves as promised, the Western Sea commandery is now empty. We need to send troops immediately.”

The governor said: “Leave it to me! I’ll gather people for you right away!”

He wanted to taste the soup of glory for himself!

Li Shimin and Li Xuanba did not refuse the governor.

Not only the officials of Zhangye, but those from nearby commanderies would also share in the “soup.” Only when their interests were bound together could they act even more boldly.

Li Shimin returned home and slept for three full days before waking up hungry.

Seeing that Li Shimin had gone three days without food, Li Xuanba first brought him meat porridge.

Li Shimin gulped down a whole pot of meat porridge and then ate a small lamb.

Li Xuanba stared at his second brother’s belly in disbelief. He wondered if the food he’d eaten had already taken up more volume than his own stomach.

This wasn’t scientifically possible!

After eating and sleeping, Li Shimin began boasting endlessly to his two younger brothers about his war achievements.

He explained his considerations in detail and instructed Li Zhiyun to listen carefully and learn, hoping to lead an army of his own someday.

“I’m exhausted,” Li Shimin burped. “War is tiring. Just thinking about how vast the world is and how many battles remain makes me too tired to move.”

Li Xuanba teased: “You say that now, but when there’s a battle, won’t you still charge first? Besides, I think herding the sheep was harder than the war.”

Li Zhiyun was stunned: “Amazing! Second brother is really amazing!”

Li Shimin knocked on Li Zhiyun’s head: “What do you mean ‘second brother is amazing’? I’ve always been amazing.”

Li Zhiyun said: “But you never herded fifty thousand sheep with five hundred men before!”

Li Shimin’s smile faded: “My glorious achievements don’t need this one added on.”

Li Xuanba and Li Zhiyun both laughed heartily.

Li Shimin first put on a look of feigned indignation, but seeing his younger brothers laughing uncontrollably, he couldn’t help but laugh too.

“We’ll still have to keep you, A-Xuan, by my side. How could I possibly handle all the logistics after a battle alone?” Li Shimin said. “There has to be someone to help me supervise the transport of supplies and tally the spoils.”

Li Xuanba replied, “You can’t blame me for that. You just acted too suddenly.”

Li Shimin said smugly, “Well, nothing I can do. Opportunities in war are rare, and they won’t wait. You have to strike quickly.”

Li Xuanba sighed. “That’s just your personality. But Shixin reported to me that you always fight at the very front. Finding an opportunity and striking quickly is correct, but for the commander to always fight at the front, you…”

Li Shimin covered his ears. Not listening, not listening—A-Xuan is chanting.

Li Zhiyun laughed so hard he rolled onto his third brother’s knees.

Li Xuanba continued “chanting” in his mind.

[Fighting at the front in person is indeed impressive, but all your current injuries are a punishment for recklessness. Others’ admiration cannot compare to your own body. Imagine how worried Mother and sister-in-law would be knowing you’re taking risks. Every wound on your body cuts straight into their hearts, blablabla.]

Li Shimin, covering his ears with a blank stare, decided he would drag Luo Shixin to the training ground tomorrow and give him a good beating.

A mere junior officer, daring to report this general—how bold!

Li Zhiyun whispered to Li Xuanba, “Will Shixin get beaten up by Second Brother in a fit of anger?”

Li Xuanba corrected him, “It’s a sparring match.”

Li Zhiyun covered his mouth, giggling. “I have to watch.”

Li Xuanba also smiled. “Good. Maybe Second Brother will even lose.”

Li Shimin transformed into a screeching bird: “Absolutely impossible!”

Knowing that Second Lord would surely come looking for trouble after his report, Luo Shixin went to live in the military camp early.

When he learned that Second Lord had arrived, he had a smug expression, as if to say, “Just as expected. Lord is petty.”

Li Shimin was both angry and amused.

The two of them clashed with wooden sticks, while Li Zhiyun sat on the side eating dried meat.

One for me, one for Wudi, one for Hangu… one for me…

As for Li Xuanba, of course he was bitterly working overtime.

After Second Brother was tired, it was his turn to work.

With the two brothers dividing the labor, at least one of them could get some rest at a time.

…

When the news of Li Shimin taking five hundred men to pacify Xihai Commandery reached Luoyang, Li Yuan and Yang Xian had just won a battle.

Yang Xian had personally gone to the battlefield, still wearing his armor.

He wiped the blood off his face, opened the wooden box, glanced at the heads inside, and said with a smile, “This is truly good news. I didn’t expect sending Daxiong to garrison Zhangye would, by sheer luck, turn out so well.”

Li Yuan sighed. “I didn’t expect the Tuyuhun people to be so well-informed. Once the Central Plains were in chaos, they rebelled again. Sigh… taking five hundred men to attack a city—Daxiong had guts… Sigh, why didn’t Dade advise him… sigh…”

The battle report submitted by Li Xuanba and the governor of Zhangye Commandery naturally stated that the Tuyuhun had no intention of giving up, and Murong Xiaojun, the loyal minister of Khan Fuyun, was preparing to rebel against the Sui while the emperor was personally campaigning against Goguryeo. But the King of Tianzhu informed Li Shimin, the Tiger-General, who led five hundred elite soldiers on an overnight raid to Xihai Commandery, striking unexpectedly and beheading the enemy successfully.

The Sui dynasty was in turmoil, the barbarians restless—but fortunately, the young Tiger-General of Sui resolved the situation in one battle, his prestige shaking the Western Regions!

Li Yuan was both proud and worried. Only five hundred men? Bring more! Achievements are great, but your life is most important!

The old father was so worried he didn’t dare tell his wife.

Yang Xian said, “Yang Xuangan intends to retreat, so we should report this good news to the emperor as well.”

He took a deep breath and slowly sighed, “Father, it’s time to abandon the campaign against Goguryeo.”

Li Yuan said, “Once the emperor learns of Yang Xuangan’s rebellion, he will surely withdraw immediately. I’m just worried that he might retreat too hastily and let the Goguryeo take advantage.”

Yang Xian hesitated. “I don’t think so. Father has personally led campaigns since he was a prince and commanded armies as a veteran general. The army’s movements will be steady.”

Li Yuan thought to himself, That’s not necessarily true.

Yang Xian hesitated again, “Should we send troops to pursue Yang Xuangan, to prevent him from heading north to Zhuo Commandery and disturbing the emperor?”

Li Yuan said, “The garrison in Luoyang isn’t large. Many bandits joined Yang Xuangan’s rebellion. If Luoyang’s defenses are weak, it might attract other thieves. The emperor has a million-strong army. Yang Xuangan is just a ragtag group—they’ll collapse with one strike. We only need to defend Luoyang.”

Yang Xian said, “True. Holding Luoyang is most important. I wish his next stop were Daxing.”

Li Yuan said, “He wouldn’t dare. Lord Gao is in Daxing.”

Yang Xian laughed and sighed. “Yes, Lord Gao is there.”

In Daxing City, Gao Jiong and Wei Xuan, the garrison commander, were playing chess.

Wei Xuan said, “Congratulations, Lord Gao. Li Erlang, with five hundred cavalry, captured Xihai Commandery. A great teacher produces great disciples.”

Gao Jiong shook his head. “Impossible that five hundred cavalry could take a city. Most likely, Erlang lured the enemy out, beheaded Murong Xiaojun, and the enemy dispersed on their own.”

Wei Xuan said, “Regardless of the tactics, Li Erlang led only five hundred men to annihilate the remnants of Khan Fuyun’s forces and reclaimed Xihai Commandery for the Sui. That’s a fact. Don’t be modest, Lord Gao.”

Gao Jiong smiled. “True, such a great achievement shouldn’t be modest.”

Wei Xuan sighed, “The Duke of Tang defeated Yang Xuangan in Luoyang, and Li Erlang protected the frontier for the Sui. Together, father and son have done great service for the Sui, truly the dynasty’s meritorious ministers.”

Gao Jiong’s hand trembled slightly as he held a chess piece.

He said seriously, “Minister Wei, you shouldn’t speak recklessly. The Sui only faced a minor rebellion; it’s still largely prosperous and stable. ‘Rebuilding’ or ‘protecting the state’? If the emperor hears you, both you and the Duke of Tang might be blamed.”

Wei Xuan sighed. “I misspoke, Lord Gao.” Even the most straightforward Lord Gao has been pressured by the emperor like this? Is there anyone left in the world who dares speak the truth to His Majesty?

Wei Xuan changed the subject. “Will Yang Xuangan attack Guanzhong?”

Gao Jiong said faintly, “He wouldn’t dare.”

In the seventh month of the ninth year of Daxing, Yang Xuangan made several tentative attacks on Luoyang. Seeing that Luoyang’s defenses were strong and difficult to breach, he immediately marched north to Zhuojun, attempting to cut off the Sui army’s supply lines for the campaign against Goguryeo.

Following the advice of Li Mi and Li Zixiong, Yang Xuangan bypassed the Heyang ferry, where Qutu Tong was stationed, and marched west along the Yellow River, reaching Qijun, the region most troubled by local unrest. There, he recruited local bandits to fight alongside him against the Sui forces.

With the governor of Qijun preoccupied by local bandits, Yang Xuangan successfully crossed the Yellow River.

Meanwhile, Yang Guang hastily ordered a withdrawal from Goguryeo, sending Yuwen Shu and Lai Huer by land and water to intercept Yang Xuangan.

Yang Xuangan could not withstand the Sui forces; on the verge of defeat, Yang Guang suddenly commanded Yuwen Shu and Lai Huer to reinforce him.

However, the bandits had somehow maneuvered to Yang Guang’s rear, quietly picking up abandoned Sui equipment, and had even surrounded Zhuojun, where Yang Guang was located!