LFHYB -Chapter 145 Shibi Khagan Attacks Yanmen

Li Shimin wiped his tears. “Sniff… A-Xuan is still alive. He really is alive—alive and well, and even has the energy to cause trouble.”

Fang Qiao said, “Yes, yes, that’s wonderful. Dade still has the energy to make trouble. Stop crying—your eyes are already swollen like peaches. Be careful you don’t ruin them.”

Li Shimin wiped his nose. “That damned A-Xuan! If he’s alive, why didn’t he send a letter? Is he trying to worry me to death?!”

Du Ruhui added, “That Third Li is indeed despicable—not even a single letter. Stop pinching your nose so hard, the skin is already broken!”

Li Shimin’s voice was hoarse from crying. “When A-Xuan comes back, I’m definitely going to beat him up!”

Changsun Wuji handed him honey water. “Beat him, beat him—I’ll help you hold Third Brother down. Drink this. Cry all you want, just don’t make noise. Tomorrow your throat will be so swollen you won’t be able to speak.”

Li Shimin held the honey water with both hands, sobbing while he drank.

Gao Biaoren came over carrying a basin of hot water. “Make way. Da Xiong, lie down and put this on your eyes.”

Changsun Kangning followed behind him, holding a piece of silk wrapped around medicinal herbs.

She sat on the couch, and Li Shimin obediently lay down with his head on her lap, closing his eyes to apply the warm compress.

Fang Qiao, Du Ruhui, Changsun Wuji, and Gao Biaoren crowded around Li Shimin, chattering nonstop—at one moment scolding Li Xuanba for being so irresponsible that he didn’t even write a letter to report he was safe, and the next moment making excuses for him, saying that since the arsonist hadn’t been found yet, what he was doing was actually the safest course of action, even if it made everyone on this side worry themselves sick.

Pei Xingyan and the uncle-and-nephew from the Xue family stood on the outside with their arms folded, sighing.

They couldn’t squeeze in.

Liu Heng glanced at the three of them. You three deliberately squeezed me out—are you trying to exclude me?

In the small courtyard outside, Qin Qiong and Zong Luohu sighed quietly.

Zong Luohu talked about what had happened between Li Shimin and Li Xuanba before Qin Qiong arrived; Qin Qiong talked about what the brothers went through after Zong Luohu left Taiyuan.

Zong Luohu said, “In the past, Third Young Master used to complain that the Lord was too lively, always wondering when he would become more steady. When Lord Fang and the others heard this, they would sigh and say that once the Lord grew older, he would naturally become steady. In my opinion, the Lord should never become too steady.”

Qin Qiong, who had accompanied Li Shimin throughout his transformation from lively to composed, felt this even more deeply. “The Lord has finally cried it all out. Now we can finally be at ease.”

Zong Luohu said wistfully, “Yes. Let’s just hope Third Young Master returns soon.”

Zhou Da, a retainer of the Duke of Tang’s household who had watched Li Shimin and Li Xuanba grow up, squatted in the corner of the courtyard, sobbing, unable to say a single word.

Xue Ju, who had joined with “capital” and through the recommendations of Xue Yuanjing and Xue Deyin, was also allowed to stand guard in the courtyard.

He scratched his head awkwardly.

What just happened? What are they talking about?

Should he take the initiative to ask?

But he wasn’t close to these people—how could he bring himself to ask?

He looked around. The soldiers guarding the courtyard were either sighing with emotion, smiling with joy, or, like Zhou Da, wiping away tears.

He scratched his head again.

Being the only one who didn’t know anything was really awkward.

Li Shimin, with medicine on his eyes, whimpered as he drifted off to sleep.

When Fang Qiao and the others learned that Li Xuanba was not only alive but still causing trouble, they rushed back from all over.

For several days, Li Shimin cried when he woke up, cried while eating, cried squatting in the latrine, and even cried while washing his hair and bathing. When he got tired of crying, he slept.

Changsun Kangning was terrified that if he kept crying like this, when Third Young Master returned, he would be greeted by a blind, tear-cried Second Brother.

She secretly had the doctor add extra calming herbs to the medicine for relieving emotional knots, letting Li Shimin sleep several extra hours a day, so that his eyes wouldn’t swell into peaches that couldn’t even be opened.

Ever since hearing that Li Xuanba was in trouble, Li Shimin hadn’t slept well. Now it was as if all his exhaustion had come crashing down at once. As the doctor gradually reduced the sedatives, Li Shimin was still able to sleep for more than five hours at a stretch without waking.

Changsun Kangning and Li Shimin’s friends were all very worried.

The doctor comforted them: “It’s a good thing that the general is sleeping more. Once he’s had enough rest, all the energy he lost before will come back.”

Only then did they finally breathe a sigh of relief.

After they had at last coaxed Li Shimin to fall asleep, Gao Biaoren and the others left Changsun Kangning behind to look after him and quietly slipped away.

Whenever Li Shimin was awake, they would all set aside their official duties and stay by his side. Only when he fell asleep would they seize the time to deal with their work.

Even though they knew Li Shimin was resilient, they still couldn’t feel at ease. They were afraid that after such extreme joy and sorrow, something might happen to him.

They had only just received good news about Third Young Master Li—if Second Young Master Li were to fall ill again, they really wouldn’t be able to bear it.

Gao Biaoren tried to get the newly joined Pei Xingyan and the others to take over part of his workload so that he could spend more time watching over Li Shimin.

Pei Xingyan gave the Duke of Bohai not the slightest courtesy, glaring hard at him. “I’m worried about Second Young Master Li too. I’m not going anywhere.”

Xue Yuanjing and Xue Deyin, who had arrived a few days later, immediately chimed in agreement.

Liu Heng sighed. “You’re just trying to squeeze the rest of us out!”

Gao Biaoren had no choice but to give up on pushing the four of them out of the inner circle.

Tch—found out.

In the past, Li Shimin had always bantered freely with Fang Qiao, Du Ruhui, Changsun Wuji, and the others, regardless of age, while Gao Biaoren alone acted as his elder brother. Now Pei Xingyan and the others were also caring for Li Shimin like older brothers, which made Gao Biaoren a little petty.

Still, this little pettiness wouldn’t make him truly ostracize his colleagues—at most he’d occasionally play harmless little tricks.

It took Li Shimin half a month to finally stem the flood of tears, turning it into bouts of quiet weeping mixed with silly smiles.

He had even acquired a new skill: being able to handle official business while crying or grinning.

He could even drill the troops while crying and smiling at the same time.

When Xue Ju saw Li Shimin either wiping tears or grinning foolishly while still hitting every target with his arrows, he didn’t know whether to feel speechless or awed.

Looking at the others, he saw Li Shimin’s trusted generals wearing relieved and indulgent smiles, and could only keep scratching his head.

Ah—he’d scratched out so much hair. What a waste.

At last, unable to bear the bizarre atmosphere any longer, Xue Ju took some fine wine and good meat and went to see Qin Qiong, whom he had sparred with before. Setting aside the airs of a great clan and a local strongman, he asked Qin Qiong why the mood in the army was so strange.

Qin Qiong called Zong Luohu and Zhou Da over and introduced Xue Ju to them.

Li Shimin had given prior instructions: if Xue Ju did not come to seek out Qin Qiong, then Qin Qiong should maintain a strictly businesslike coldness toward him; but if Xue Ju set aside his arrogance and sought friendship, then Qin Qiong was to introduce Zong Luohu and Zhou Da to him.

Although Qin Qiong was not well-read, he was very adept at handling people. He carried out Li Shimin’s orders perfectly—whether the earlier aloofness or the current warmth, neither made Xue Ju feel anything was amiss. Xue Ju even thought Qin Qiong was simply one of those cold-on-the-outside, warm-on-the-inside types.

Zhou Da, a household guard of the Duke of Tang’s residence, spoke first: “Xue Shaoxuan, you’ve probably heard that when my lord was eleven years old, he captured the Tuyuhun khan alive on his very first campaign.”

He gestured with his hand. “At that time, Second Young Master was only this tall.”

Xue Ju: “……” He took a gulp of wine to steady himself.

Of course he had heard of Second Young Master Li capturing the Tuyuhun khan. But since Li Erlang had only been eleven at the time, Xue Ju had always suspected the achievement was inflated—perhaps it had really been another general or a barbarian tribe, and Li Erlang, because of his noble status, had taken the credit.

Xue Ju was a local strongman, but only held a minor rank as a low-level officer. He didn’t know much about court affairs and had only heard folk rumors.

Zhou Da had experienced the battle personally, and he recounted every detail.

Even after so many years, it was still vivid in his memory.

“Such a miraculous battle—even when I’m on my deathbed, I’ll remember it clearly.” Zhou Da concealed only the matter of the thunder bombs, but vividly portrayed Third Young Master’s meticulous planning and Second Young Master’s peerless might. “Most of us old soldiers have followed them ever since Second Young Master and Third Young Master secretly risked their lives to ambush the Tuyuhun khan…”

His voice choked. He drained a cup of wine and wiped his eyes. “Forgive me for speaking out of turn, but they are our young masters—and also the children we watched grow up. We saw them with our own eyes go from little kids with their hair in knots to heroic youths. When they suffer, it truly breaks our hearts.”

Xue Ju said in disbelief, “A secret ambush? Secret? Wasn’t it an order from the Sui emperor?”

Zhou Da snorted coldly. “What does the emperor know? He only knows how to snatch Second Young Master and Third Young Master’s merits for himself. They went to avenge Crown Prince Yuande—bringing along their household guards and a few hundred men borrowed from the Huihe, using the excuse of going hunting outside the city, then riding a thousand li to ambush the Tuyuhun khan. Duke Pei knew nothing about it.”

Zong Luohu and Qin Qiong both looked full of yearning. “Ah, if only we had followed our lord earlier.”

Xue Ju imagined eleven-year-old twins daring to lead household troops to ambush a Tuyuhun khan whom even the Sui army couldn’t kill, all to avenge their crown prince cousin. His blood couldn’t help but boil.

After Zhou Da had vented his emotions, Zong Luohu spoke next.

“When I came to serve my lord, he was already the general in Zhangye.”

He smiled awkwardly. “Though I had long heard of my lord’s reputation, my horizons were narrow, and because of his youth I didn’t go to him on my own initiative. It was Lord Fang Xuanling who made a wager with me, telling me to first meet him and see whether he was worth following.”

Xue Ju felt much better. See? He wasn’t the only one who had looked down on General Li for being young!

Zong Luohu continued, “But the moment I saw my lord, I realized how blind I’d been. With just one glance, I knew General Li was my true lord. I really regret not coming earlier. If I had, then when my lord wiped out the Tuyuhun petty khan, I would have been the one covering his back. Alas, instead that brat Luo Shixin got the honor.”

Zhou Da burst out laughing. “When Shixin comes back, you two will definitely end up fighting.”

Zong Luohu laughed. “No, I’ll be the one to fight him. He worried me so much I almost wanted to set up an empty memorial for him.”

Qin Qiong nodded repeatedly. “Shixin really gives people headaches. When he tricked General Zhang and said he was going home, but actually crossed thousands of li on his own to seek out the young hero General Li, it scared everyone half to death.”

Zong Luohu said, “But it’s precisely that stubborn streak of his that earned him such affection from our lord and Third Young Master. Sigh… when I heard that our lord had only gone hunting with the Tianzhu King by Qinghai Lake, saw that the game was scarce, and so casually wiped out the remaining Tuyuhun forces and drove back several thousand head of cattle and sheep as ‘game’ to bring to Third Young Master as his hunting results…”

Zhou Da cut in, “Don’t listen to Second Young Master’s nonsense. Third Young Master knew nothing about it. I was there for the battle where the Tuyuhun minor khan was wiped out. Second Young Master and the Heavenly Pillar King were out hunting when they ran into Murong Xiaojun, the Tuyuhun regent, who was blocking the road with several thousand cavalry. Second Young Master didn’t want the hunt delayed, so he ordered us to annihilate Murong Xiaojun.”

Zong Luohu was speechless. “Isn’t that even more outrageous? ‘Didn’t want to delay the hunt’? Our lord is so mild-tempered—how could he possibly start a battle for such a reason?”

Zhou Da replied, “That has nothing to do with our lord’s temper. Murong Xiaojun attacked first. He said he was going to kill us. Only then did our lord reply, ‘If you want to fight, then fight—just don’t delay the hunt,’ and led us charging straight at them.”

Qin Qiong nodded again. “That makes sense. The Tuyuhun regent was the one asking for a beating. Of course our lord had to oblige.”

Xue Ju drank again to calm his nerves.

So General Li’s temper was really that explosive? Going out on a hunt and casually wiping out a tribe of over ten thousand people?

Zong Luohu said, “Although I didn’t make it to that battle, later on I stole quite a bit of Luo Shixin’s thunder.”

He smiled smugly. “The lord once told Shixin that with Shixin holding a spear and himself holding a bow, even an army of thousands would be as nothing. But he also told me that when it comes to commanding troops as a general, I rank first beneath him. I’ll follow our lord to my death for the rest of my life. If the lord grieves, I grieve as well.”

Zhou Da laughed. “Back when the lord praised you, how many commanders did he even have under him? Shixin was still young, and I really don’t have much talent for command, so I won’t compete with you—but the current General Pei is no ordinary man.”

Zong Luohu said seriously, “Even against aristocratic young masters, I won’t admit defeat.”

Qin Qiong scratched his head and sighed. “I don’t have much skill. The day I can snatch the vanguard position from our lord, I’ll be satisfied. What ‘you hold the spear, I hold the bow’? Couldn’t our lord please stop charging so fast every time? Arrows don’t have eyes.”

Zhou Da and Zong Luohu both showed expressions of deep sympathy.

“Exactly. Third Young Master has scolded our lord many times for that.”

“Following the lord into battle fills us with hot blood, but it also scares us half to death afterward.”

“Third Young Master once roared at our lord, ‘So your way of preventing your subordinates from becoming too meritorious is to steal all their achievements yourself?!’ I was standing there and barely managed not to laugh.”

“Hey, you can still laugh? I think our lord really could do something like that.”

Listening to Zhou Da and Zong Luohu complain so sincerely, Qin Qiong didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Our lord definitely didn’t think that much. He’s just very confident in his own martial skills.”

Xue Ju pressed his forehead. “The more I listen, the more confused I get. What kind of person is General Li, exactly? Why does he sound so unbelievably reliable that he becomes unreliable?”

Zhou Da and Zong Luohu burst into laughter. Qin Qiong also shook his head with a smile.

“You’ll understand him naturally after you’ve followed the lord for some time. Why be in such a hurry?”

“Right. And we’re about to have a major battle anyway. Brother Xue will soon be going to war with our lord.”

“Brother Xue, don’t worry. Come, drink.”

Xue Ju raised his cup, but the gloom in his heart did not lift at all.

He finally understood what the three of them meant, and at last realized why the atmosphere in the army had been so strange lately.

But once that doubt was cleared, a new worry emerged.

Everyone in this army was willing to die for General Li, and each of them was highly capable. He had come too late—would it be hard for him to earn merits?

Even if he was from the Hedong Xue clan and of higher status than these men, there were still General Pei and General Changsun above him. General Li probably wouldn’t care about his pedigree at all.

After reminiscing about the past, the three men then ground their teeth as they spoke about Li Xuanba being falsely accused by Li Yuanji, then attacked by some unknown force taking advantage of the chaos, leaving his fate unknown.

When Qin Qiong mentioned that Li Xuanba had appeared to Li Shimin in a dream, causing Li Shimin to rush overnight to Zhuojun to see the emperor, Zhou Da and Zong Luohu marveled at the supernatural bond between the twin brothers Li Shimin and Li Xuanba, while at the same time cursing Li Yuanji to suffer after death.

They all avoided discussing the Duke of Tang and his wife, and also avoided Li Jiancheng. After all, although the man they recognized as their lord was Li Shimin, the Duke and his wife were still their lord’s parents and could not be criticized. As for Li Jiancheng… it was best not to comment on him for now.

After learning about Li Shimin and Li Xuanba, Xue Ju sighed repeatedly.

Hearing him sigh, Zhou Da asked in confusion, “Shaoxuan, why are you sighing?”

Xue Ju gave a bitter smile. “Seeing how full of talent the general’s camp is, I’m wondering whether there’ll be enough merit to go around just from campaigning against the Eastern Turks.”

Zhou Da was even more puzzled. “Our chances to earn merit won’t be limited to just the Eastern Turks. The world is vast—there will be plenty of opportunities to lead armies and win achievements in the future. You followed the lord before he even raised troops, so you’re one of his original companions. The lord values loyalty and affection—how could he deny you chances to command troops?”

Xue Ju was shocked out of his wits. “What? What ‘the world’? ‘Raising troops’? Does that mean General Li plans to rebel?!”

Zhou Da, Zong Luohu, and Qin Qiong: “……”

The three of them silently set down their cups and turned their heads together, their gazes blazing.

Cold sweat broke out on Xue Ju’s forehead.

He lifted his cup and said calmly, “That’s great. I’ve long wanted to rebel against that dog emperor Yang Guang!”

Although in real history Xue Ju would rise against the Sui in the thirteenth year of Daye, it was only the eleventh year now. He truly had not thought about rebellion at all yet.

Xue Ju’s mind was in turmoil.

Heavenly Emperor! Buddha and Bodhisattvas! Have I wandered into a nest of rebels?!

…

“Welcome back victorious, Young General Luo.” Before Luo Shixin had even dismounted, Li Xuanba rose from his wheelchair and walked over to greet him. “You’ve worked hard.”

Having just returned from a forced march, Luo Shixin wiped the sweat from his face and grinned. “Not hard at all. I wonder when my lord learned of our victory.”

Li Xuanba said, “Judging by the time, he should be crying by now.”

Li Zhiyun said irritably, “So you know Second Brother will cry? Third Brother, shouldn’t we head back to Zhangye now? If we don’t hurry, Second Brother will cry himself blind.”

Li Xuanba flicked Li Zhiyun on the forehead and sat back down in his wheelchair.

Yuwen Zhu wiped the cold sweat from Li Xuanba’s forehead.

After walking just a few steps, Li Xuanba was already drenched in sweat. Although he no longer suffered much from chest tightness or coughing and had truly passed the critical stage, his body was still extremely weak.

“We’re not going back to Zhangye,” Li Xuanba said. “We’re going to Yanmen Commandery.”

“What?!” Li Zhiyun cried out. “You still want to run around? With your health? Can you even do that? Sister-in-law, hurry up and scold Third Brother!”

Yuwen Zhu laughed. “Your third brother means going to Yanmen Commandery to join up with Second Brother.”

Li Zhiyun looked suspicious. “Really? You’re not just trying to run off again?”

Li Xuanba said helplessly, “Use your brain and think it through—won’t we meet Second Brother faster if we go to Yanmen Commandery?”

Luo Shixin teased, “Jihong, have you gone stupid?”

Li Zhiyun threw a punch at Luo Shixin, but Luo Shixin blocked it easily with one hand.

“I was scared stupid by my Third Brother!” Li Zhiyun cursed. “If I never recover my old cleverness, it’ll all be his fault!”

Li Xuanba sighed. “All right, all right, yes, yes, it’s all my fault. You must be bored stiff. Do you have the confidence to lead troops with Shixin and go to Yanmen Commandery to rescue His Majesty and earn some merit?”

Li Zhiyun folded his arms proudly. “At last, it’s my turn—Li Wulang will become famous throughout the land!”

Li Xuanba smiled encouragingly. “That’s right. Xiao Wu will surely make a name for himself.”

Luo Shixin rubbed his nose, thinking that he had to charge ahead of Li Zhiyun—he couldn’t let that kid steal all the glory.

At last he could use again the title: “The fiercest general under General Li Shimin, Pacification Commissioner of Longyou—Luo Shixin.”

Wei Zheng waved his fan lazily and said, “The emperor only set out not long ago. He may not even have reached Yanmen Commandery yet, and Third Young Master is already going to rescue him?”

Li Xuanba smiled. “My health is poor—I travel slowly. The timing is just right.”

Wei Zheng sighed, put away his feather fan, and said, “Yes. The timing is just right, and so is the moment. Take care.”

“Take care,” Li Xuanba replied. “I’ll be waiting for your early return.”

Wei Zheng rarely showed such a bright smile. He cupped his hands and bowed. “I will definitely come back together with Zhishi-lang.”

Wang Bo looked at Wei Zheng.

Wei Zheng’s mouth turned down as he shot Wang Bo a haughty “What are you looking at?” glare.

Wang Bo silently withdrew his gaze and clasped his fists toward Li Xuanba. “Until we meet again. I will certainly carry out Third Young Master’s plan.”

“Zhishi-lang, take care as well,” Li Xuanba said. “We will definitely succeed and avenge the countless families destroyed across the realm.”

Wang Bo replied firmly, “Yes!”

In the fifth month of the eleventh year of Daye, Yang Guang, unable to endure the nationwide clamor demanding justice for the deposed Crown Prince Yang Xian, advanced north to Yanmen Commandery ahead of schedule. He summoned the barbarian tribes from all directions, hoping to recreate the grand scene of the early DaFatherars when all nations came to pay homage, so as to drown out those irritating voices.

Thinking back to his previous northern tours, Qimin Qaghan had personally led the Eastern Turks, using their sabers to cut grass on the steppe to clear and repair the imperial road. Yang Guang now sent an order to Shibi Qaghan, telling him to follow the old precedent and renovate the post road from Yanmen Commandery to the grasslands—because once again, their emperor was coming to inspect the frontier.

Changsun Sheng, who had once subdued the Eastern Turks and forced them to build imperial roads for Yang Guang, was now “recuperating” in Daxing. To the finally recovered Yuwen Bi he said, “Shibi Qaghan will probably let the hooves of the Eastern Turks’ warhorses trample out a fine imperial road for His Majesty.”

Yuwen Bi was swearing nonstop and hardly listened at all. “When I see that brat Li Dade, I’m going to give him a good scolding! And Zhu’er too—she’s such a worry!”

Changsun Sheng said helplessly, “How many times have you scolded them already? Aren’t you tired?”

Yuwen Bi shouted, “I can scold them a hundred more times!”

Gao Jiong and Xue Daoheng exchanged a glance and lifted their teacups to hide their resigned smiles.

With the Grand Councillor in such high spirits, he would probably live another ten years at least.

…

With supplies in place, Li Shimin selected his officers and troops and prepared to march.

“My lord! I, Xue, am willing to serve as your vanguard and go with you to Yanmen Commandery!”

Although he didn’t understand why future rebels were going to rescue the emperor, Xue Ju could no longer stand the “enthusiasm” of Qin Qiong, Zhou Da, and Zong Luohu. He had to prove that he really was on the same side as his lord!

He really was stupid—truly stupid. Just from hearing these people call General Li “my lord,” he should have guessed they were a band of rebels!

Li Shimin shook his head. “We’re not going to Yanmen Commandery.”

Gripping his riding whip, he pointed toward the northeast. “We don’t know that His Majesty is under attack. We just happened to see that the Eastern Turks’ defenses are empty—and we’re going straight for their royal tent.”

Pei Xingyan’s eyes lit up. “My lord means to imitate the old feat of the Champion Marquis?!”

Li Shimin broke into a hearty laugh. “His Majesty is leading the imperial expedition in person, reenacting the deed of the General of the Guards and pinning down the main Turkic force. We cannot waste His Majesty’s gamble—we must win a victory even greater than that of the Champion Marquis! Brave warriors! Do you have the confidence to follow me and Seal the Wolf Mountain and inscribe our names on Mount Yanran?!”

The soldiers’ cheers and the neighing of warhorses shook the heavens.

“Swear to follow our lord to the death!”

“Fight!”

“Fight!!”

“Fight!!!”

Pei Xingyan and Changsun Wuji exchanged a look and shouted in unison, “We are willing to die for our lord! Fight!!!”

Xue Ju raised his weapon in excitement. “Seal the Wolf Mountain! Inscribe on Mount Yanran! Fight!!!”

Zhou Da, Zong Luohu, and Qin Qiong exchanged glances.

Looks like, for the time being, they wouldn’t need to think about stabbing Xue Ju in the back.

Li Shimin laughed loudly. “Mount up! Let’s go earn some glory!”

In the fifth month of the eleventh year of Daye, Li Shimin led one thousand cavalry and two thousand infantry, carrying only ten days’ rations, and sped toward the heart of the steppe.

In that same month, Shibi Qaghan raised his army, claiming tens of thousands of elite troops, and marched south to attack Yanmen Commandery.

On the fifteenth day of the fifth month, Shibi Qaghan surrounded Yanmen. In less than half a month, of the forty-one cities of Yanmen Commandery, the Turks captured forty, leaving only Yanmen City, the commandery seat.

The Sui army held the lone city of Yanmen in desperate defense. The city was small—so small that Turkic arrows shot over the walls could actually land right in front of Yang Guang.

Yang Guang had followed Gao Jiong on campaign since his days as a prince and had personally led many expeditions afterward. Yet this was the first time he had ever seen arrows flying down from a real battlefield. Terrified, he clutched his young son, Prince Zhao Yang Gao, and wailed uncontrollably, until his eyes were swollen from crying.

At Gaoyang Commandery, southwest of Yanmen Commandery, Li Xuanba tossed the battle reports in his hand into the brazier and muttered to himself.

“Yang Guang, Yang Guang… In the original history, Qi Prince Yang Xian led the rearguard to hold Guo County. The Eastern Turks captured thirty-nine cities of Yanmen Commandery, leaving only Yanmen City and Guo County unconquered. Qi Prince Yang Xian shouldered half your burden—only then were the Sui forces able to hold out for a month and wait for reinforcements.

“But now my second cousin is dead, and Yanmen Commandery has only Yanmen City left. You’ll have to work twice as hard, even on his behalf.

“I believe in you, Your Majesty. You can definitely do it.”

Li Xuanba clapped his hands and smiled with narrowed eyes.