LFHYB -Chapter 164 Hastily Raising an Army is Too Hard

Li Xuanba and Li Shimin received Wei Zheng and Xue Shou, then whipped their horses back to Longyou.

On the way, Li Xuanba vividly recounted to Wei Zheng and Xue Shou how Wang Bo and Sun Xuanya publicly judged Yang Guang, reducing him to “bones and ash.”

Xue Shou shrieked in shock, looking completely unworldly; Wei Zheng gritted his teeth, as if ready to jump forward and punch Li Xuanba.

Li Shimin pressed his forehead in frustration.

Not only did Xuanba not tell Wei Zheng and the others that Wang Bo and Sun Xuanya were saved, he had to go provoke Wei Zheng as well?

Wei Zheng: If you’re not going to save people, fine, but acting like you’re enjoying the show—Li San, are you even human?!

Li Shimin tried to calm Wei Zheng by moving him to another carriage: “Xuancheng, calm down. Don’t argue with Xuanba.”

Wei Zheng gritted his teeth: “No, I’ll stay right here!”

Li Shimin saw the fire blazing in Wei Zheng’s eyes and couldn’t help sighing.

Yet, watching Wei Zheng, despite the fire in his eyes, he seemed to bear no real grudge against his brother.

Li Shimin was good at reading people; he could understand emotions from subtle signs and, though appearing carefree, he could always strike at the heart of the matter. The relief Wei Zheng tried to hide beneath his anger was easily visible to him.

Li Shimin pondered briefly, guessing that Wei Zheng might have inferred something from Xuanba’s attitude.

Wei Zheng had always been Xuanba’s subordinate and knew him well. Xuanba’s infuriating attitude might have been deliberately sending a reassuring message to Wei Zheng.

His brother was still soft at heart—saying he couldn’t tell Wei Zheng to keep things hidden, yet subtly easing Wei Zheng’s worry.

Though, the method was really exasperating.

Seeing that Wei Zheng held no real grudge, Li Shimin didn’t bother further.

Xuanba’s habit of tormenting people—if he ever got beaten up, it would be his own fault.

Li Shimin spent the journey eating well, sleeping well, and occasionally catching rabbits, pheasants, or foxes by the roadside, completely at ease, without a hint of insomnia from Yang Guang’s death or saving Wang Bo and Sun Xuanya.

Li Xuanba knew that his brother was surprised, but not worried.

If he were the thirty-year-old Tang Taizong, he would worry about the impact on his governance;

If he were the forty-year-old Tang Taizong, he would worry about the Tang dynasty’s future;

If he were the fifty-year-old Tang Taizong, he would be anxious, trying every means to erase the event’s influence, possibly killing Wang Bo and Sun Xuanya, even developing grudges himself.

But now, in front of him, was seventeen-year-old Li Shimin, in the “middle-second-stage” of adolescence.

At this stage, hormones don’t create aimless rebellion.

The “high-second stage” means moving from immaturity to peak confidence—a rebelliousness full of self-assurance, not only open to new experiences but believing himself capable of breaking all worldly constraints with a single punch.

This seventeen-year-old high-second-stage Li Shimin was already Marquis Champion, having accomplished astonishing feats, and thus even more arrogant.

Moreover, when Li Xuanba was a tiny, skinny child, he already thought rebellious thoughts about Li Shimin. Being close to dark influence, Li Shimin, even if he didn’t fully understand, could only sigh at his brother’s extremity and let it go.

Li Xuanba had planned to handle this in the Central Plains himself, knowing his brother would be shocked; later he deliberately provoked him to witness the entire event, knowing his brother would be shocked but not care, so he did it intentionally.

Li Shimin realized his brother was being mischievous but didn’t care.

He was used to it and sighed.

The twin brothers weren’t too concerned; whether Wei Zheng cursed and fussed or not, Xue Shou and Qin Qiong were under huge psychological pressure.

Especially Qin Qiong, who knew the whole truth, suffered several days of nightmares.

Watching Xue Shou and Qin Qiong’s worldview crumble as if they had killed Yang Guang, Li Shimin whispered to Li Xuanba, teasing them…

Li Shimin: “Even if I become emperor in the future, I don’t care. What’s there for them to care about?”

Li Xuanba: “Second Brother, if you’re going to mock them, speak louder. Otherwise, it won’t have the desired effect.”

Li Shimin (in an extremely loud voice): “I, the future emperor, don’t care! What’s there for you to care about!”

Xue Shou said in alarm: “Li Er, keep your voice down! If someone hears you, that’s considered treason! Although, well… you are about to commit treason anyway, but right now we only have a few dozen guards with us!”

Wei Zheng sneered: “‘Peerless under Heaven’ and ‘Never Miss a Strategy’ act this way for a reason. Maybe they’re trying to lure the Sui army and then break through with just these few dozen guards?”

Li Xuanba cast a glance at the “mystic strategist” Wei Zheng and said, “Wei Xuancheng’s plan is good. Second Brother, remember to let Wei Xuancheng take the vanguard.”

Li Shimin chuckled: “Alrighty.”

Wei Zheng rolled up his sleeves but was stopped by Xue Shou.

Xue Shou: “Forget it, forget it. No matter how sharp your tongue is, it still can’t beat Li San, who Second Brother favors. Why bother provoking him?”

Qin Qiong readied himself to stop Li Shimin from hitting anyone. Although their lord said that it would serve the future Third Brother right if he got beaten up, if Wei Zheng actually took action, their lord would definitely fly into a rage.

After a chaotic commotion, Xue Shou and Qin Qiong were no longer nervous.

After all, the future emperor doesn’t care—what’s there for them to care about?

Wei Zheng looked at Xue Shou and Qin Qiong, whose emotions had returned to normal, and then at Li Shimin and Li Xuanba, who had also regained their composed expressions, and pondered.

Although he understood the actions of their lord and Sanlang, letting their lord lose prestige in this way was not a good strategy.

Wei Zheng made a note of the incident in his little notebook.

He was not only Wang Bo’s military advisor but also instructed Wang Bo under Li Xuanba’s orders. So he often recorded Wang Bo’s shortcomings, and after collecting them all, he would hand the compiled advice to Wang Bo for self-reflection.

Now, he habitually recorded the real lord’s shortcomings. When they reached Longyou, he would present the compiled counsel to his lord.

Li Shimin was completely unaware of this. His mind was set on claiming the world.

Li Xuanba noticed and instructed Xue Shou and Qin Qiong to keep it a secret.

Li Xuanba: “Give Second Brother a big surprise.”

Xue Shou and Qin Qiong were speechless. But it wasn’t a big deal, so they complied.

If their lord asked, of course, they would answer truthfully. But since he didn’t ask, there was no need to report this minor matter.

While counting the Jiangdu specialties purchased for Yu Wen Zhu, Li Xuanba squinted and happily imagined the scene of the famous remonstrating minister Wei Zheng confronting the future Tang Taizong for the first time.

Second Brother’s temper was quite volatile now. Even though he could take advice, taking it didn’t mean he wouldn’t become furious and fly into a rage.

The journey back for Li Shimin and Li Xuanba went smoothly. They encountered neither large Sui forces nor bandits, only sporadic inspections.

Their caravan was meticulous, bribed appropriately, and presented credentials showing backing from influential nobles. The inspecting minor officials treated them with courtesy and didn’t cause trouble.

Meanwhile, in Central China, the news caused a sensation.

In ancient times, news spread slowly—sometimes it would take months to travel from one neighboring commandery to another; at other times, it could be fast. Within ten days, the news of Yang Guang’s death reached Luoyang and then spread to the influential nobles across the land. The morale of the Sui army collapsed.

Suppressed rebel leaders like Dou Jiande immediately counterattacked the Sui army and reclaimed many commanderies.

Across the land, local garrisons, realizing the emperor was dead and that no one was supplying their rations, often sided with local powerful figures and took up arms.

Yang Xuan, who had slumped into despair, rallied once more. Together with the rebels, claiming tens of thousands, he attacked the eastern capital, Luoyang, again.

Even Li Yuan, resting at home due to injuries, was forced to mobilize.

Li Yuan had long been prepared to rise in arms but had not yet made up his mind.

From his perspective, the Sui army could still defeat Eastern Turkic forces, remaining very strong. When Yang Guang went south, his subordinates and friends advised him to rise, but he hesitated as if he had a chronic delay.

Li Yuan sighed: “Originally, I planned to borrow troops and horses from the Turks, but Erlang burned the Turkic camp. I am now isolated and must gather strength again.”

Pei Ji persuaded him: “Erlang can defeat the Turks, which shows he is stronger than them. If Erlang joins us to attack the western capital from both sides, what difficulty is there?”

Li Yuan thought Pei Ji’s reasoning made sense, so he prepared to first sweep up the surrounding peasant uprisings and recruit more people before formally rising in arms.

Li Yuan had already defeated rebel leaders like Wu Duan’er and Chai Baochang and knew how weak their fighting forces were. As long as he led elite soldiers and generals, it would be easy to defeat peasant rebels armed with sticks and farm tools.

He expanded his army, mostly recruiting young and able-bodied men from surrendered rebel forces.

Pei Ji further suggested: “Even if the surrendered bandits have no time to train, it would be better to notify Erlang and Sanlang early so they can rise together.”

By the time Li Yuan was finally persuaded by Pei Ji, the rebels had already attacked Taiyuan Commandery.

Wei Dao’er and Wang Xubai initiated the uprising under the banner “Lishan Fei,” gathering over a hundred thousand chaotic fighters, and laid siege to Taiyuan Commandery. Sui General Pan Changwen was killed in battle.

Li Yuan’s current combat style was almost identical to Li Shimin’s in later history. Using his marksmanship and leading cavalry, he charged into enemy camps, leaving foot soldiers behind.

But “Lishan Fei” was not like the earlier rebel forces Li Yuan had crushed. Somehow, they had assembled reasonably equipped troops who did not collapse at first strike, and instead surrounded Li Yuan.

In actual history, this also happened. But Li Shimin, nearby, would have led another elite cavalry unit to break the siege and rescue Li Yuan, then, with the belated foot soldiers, defeated the enemy and killed Wang Xubai.

Now, Li Shimin was absent, and only Li Jiancheng was by his side.

Li Jiancheng’s abilities in commanding troops exceeded most rebel leaders, and he was experienced in suppressing bandits. But his personal combat ability was slightly weaker, so he only led the main infantry army at the rear and could not serve as the vanguard.

Without Li Shimin to lead the charge, Li Yuan had to struggle alone. Although he broke out of the encirclement, nearly all his cavalry was wiped out.

The enemy troops, riding high on momentum, chased after Li Yuan’s horse, causing the infantry formations to fall into disarray. They retreated to Taiyuan Commandery, but luckily, the Prefect of Loufan raised troops to come to their aid, repelling the “Lishan Fei” unit.

This, in itself, was a minor matter.

Victories and defeats were normal in anti-bandit campaigns. Li Yuan didn’t take it seriously.

However, after Yingyang was captured by Zhai Rang, the Zheng family members who had fled to Taiyuan urged Li Jiancheng: “In this battle, the Duke of Tang has suffered defeat. We’ve heard that someone at court petitioned His Majesty to remove him from the post of Taiyuan’s commander. If the Duke doesn’t raise his troops now, he will certainly side with Erlang. Where, then, would Dalang stand?”

Li Jiancheng was persuaded. To force Li Yuan into action, he spread rumors throughout Taiyuan Commandery that Li Yuan intended to raise troops, taking advantage of Li Yuan’s convalescence.

The Deputy Commander of Taiyuan, the fierce general Gao Junya, learned of this and quietly sent someone out of the city to report back to Luoyang.

Li Jiancheng intercepted the message and reported it to Li Yuan.

Li Yuan looked at Li Jiancheng deeply and sighed: “You’re too impatient.”

Li Jiancheng was puzzled: “Father has long prepared to raise troops. Now there’s finally a reason to act. How is this too soon?”

Li Yuan could only inwardly groan. The timing to raise troops wasn’t bad, but he was still injured. Couldn’t they wait until he recovered? Otherwise, did they think he could personally lead the army?

Still, he knew the Zheng family had pushed Li Jiancheng, and he understood his son’s urgency. With a sigh, he donned his armor and raised his troops.

Pei Ji also advised him: if he didn’t act quickly, and if Daxiong and Dade raised troops first, he might still have a chance to continue as Emperor Gaozu, but what would Bishamon do? Only by seizing the initiative could he ensure peaceful relations between Daxiong, Dade, and Bishamon.

Li Yuan, though injured, marched his army, ordering messengers to quickly inform Longyou.

Because Li Yuan’s mobilization was so sudden, Gao Junya managed to escape Taiyuan, and under the banner of “respecting the Sui,” the general Liu Wuzhou rebelled and took up position in Fenyang Palace. Li Yuan’s campaign became difficult.

At that time, a reply arrived from Longyou. Champion Marquis was still engaged in fierce battles with the Turks and had not returned. The deputy pacification envoy was also in the grasslands, making it difficult to provide assistance.

The reply politely noted that the Champion Marquis had no intention of betraying the Sui and was guarding the frontier for the dynasty. Why force him to choose between loyalty and filial piety? What if the morale of the frontline troops wavered?

Li Yuan: “……”

Alright, it was his fault for not coordinating with Erlang and Sanlangs in advance. Hopefully, his letter hadn’t caused disorder there.

Fortunately, after Yang Guang headed south and was ambushed by the righteous army, he had commanded the best troops from various regions to protect Jiangdu. Li Yuan personally led the cavalry in charge, achieving continuous victories, and his influence steadily grew.

At this time, news of Yang Guang’s death reached Li Yuan.

Li Yuan beat his chest in frustration: “Dalang has wronged me!”

If he had raised his troops earlier, he could have claimed the moral high ground, recovered from his injuries, and simultaneously weakened the Sui army. There would have been no need for such hardship!

But matters had reached this point. To seize the initiative and gain support from influential court families, Li Yuan decisively declared himself emperor, establishing the dynasty called “Tang.”

Yang Xuan, who besieged Luoyang, also declared himself emperor, naming his state “Chu.”

Local rebel leaders across the land began proclaiming themselves kings and emperors. In no time, dozens, even hundreds, of emperors emerged across the realm.