LFHYB -Chapter 169 The Last Use of the Sui Court

Shi Wanbao, in the eyes of the world, was known as “the brother of the great Sui general Shi Wansui.”

Shi Wansui was one of the top generals of the Sui dynasty, on par with Han Qinhu, but was falsely accused and executed by Emperor Wen of Sui due to Yang Su’s slander.

However, anyone in modern times with a slight interest in history knows that the so-called false accusations and wrongful executions were often just ministers speaking what the emperor wanted to hear. Emperor Wen became extremely suspicious in his later years, and Shi Wansui simply ran afoul of his paranoia.

After Shi Wansui’s wrongful death, those who knew of him sympathized greatly. Therefore, Shi Wanbao carried the title “brother of Shi Wansui”, and nobles would look upon him favorably.

But Li Xuanba wasn’t thinking of Shi Wansui when he looked at Shi Wanbao.

He had a cousin named Li Daoquan, only thirteen years old, whom the historical records called “Little Li Shimin,” famous for personally leading the vanguard in battle.

The legendary figure “Li Xuanba” in stories like Sui-Tang Romance was based on Li Xuanba’s name combined with Li Daoquan’s deeds. During the Kangxi era, to avoid the naming taboo of “Xuanye,” he was renamed in later TV dramas as the bumbling “Li Yuanba.”

In other words, Li Xuanba and Li Daoquan together inspired the creation of the first great warrior “Li Yuanba” in Sui-Tang fiction.

When nineteen-year-old Prince of Huaiyang Li Daoquan led troops to attack the already-weakened Liu Heita, Shi Wanbao served as his deputy general.

Li Daoquan laid out the battle plan, and Shi Wanbao did not object. But when Li Daoquan led the light cavalry in a charge, Shi Wanbao held back his soldiers and forbade them from assisting.

Shi Wanbao said: “The Prince of Huaiyang is just a boy. The emperor gave me written orders to command; you all obey me. We will use the Prince of Huaiyang as bait. When he is defeated and the enemy advances, we can easily crush them.”

Li Daoquan was surrounded and died in battle. The Tang army’s morale collapsed, and the entire force was wiped out. Shi Wanbao alone fled back to Chang’an.

Because Li Daoquan, the commanding general and Prince of Huaiyang, died, panic spread east of the Xiaoshan mountains. Officials who had submitted to Tang either fled or rebelled, and Liu Heita regained his territories in less than a month.

Shi Wanbao’s actions were already baffling enough, but Li Yuan’s (Li Yuan = Li Shimin’s father) treatment of him was even more perplexing.

He didn’t punish Shi Wanbao at all, and continued to favor him. Later, some conspiracy theorists claimed Li Yuan deliberately set up Li Daoquan, who was friendly with Li Shimin, but really, Li Yuan was just being consistent with his character.

Li Yuan always treated favored ministers leniently, regardless of mistakes, while punishing disliked ministers harshly even for minor faults.

For example, Sheng Yanshi lawfully imprisoned Li Yi Man, the Prefect of Tanzhou, for failing to supply the army, but Li Yi Man died of anger. Li Yuan executed Sheng Yanshi instead.

Shi Wanbao had defied his commander, caused Li Yuan’s nephew to die, led to the total destruction of the Tang army, and lost the entire Central Plains east of Xiaoshan, including Luoyang, which Li Shimin had fought for years to capture. Yet Li Yuan spared him completely. Li Xuanba reasonably suspected that young Li Yuan had idolized Shi Wansui, which explained his leniency toward Shi Wansui’s brother.

Although historical records painted Shi Wanbao as an idiot, people’s personalities can change. Li Xuanba held no prejudice against him; he just watched him more carefully.

After some time observing him, Li Xuanba had not spoken yet, but Li Shimin picked up Li Xuanba’s habitual expressions and complained to his brother: “Is Shi Wanbao an idiot?! How can he be Shi Wansui’s brother! How could Shi Wansui have such a brother?!”

Seeing his elder brother falling into the trap, Li Xuanba immediately excitedly spoiled the plot for him: [He just spoke with his chin raised, nostrils flared, and a drawn-out tone. You’re calling him an idiot now—what will you do later?]

Hearing his brother switch moods, Li Shimin immediately tried to run outside.

Li Xuanba grabbed his sleeve and stopped him: [He would have followed you to gain military merit and even got a former Duke title when you captured Luoyang. Then, when father stopped you from continuing the war, our cousin Li Daoquan was the commander, and Shi Wanbao the deputy. He ordered the army not to engage, watching our cousin die in the vanguard. The Tang army was wiped out, and all the Central Plains you fought so hard for—including Luoyang—was lost!]

Li Shimin: “……” He knew his brother meant no good!

Li Xuanba’s eyes curved in a smile: [Also, when you captured Luoyang, you earned the fame of ‘capturing two kings in one battle,’ taking Wang Shichong and Dou Jiande. But what use is that? Shi Wanbao lost the entire Central Plains! Even our cousin we once teased was doomed!]

Li Shimin clutched his chest and lowered his voice: “Don’t tell me this damn fool, father still didn’t execute him?”

Li Xuanba shook his head: [Not only didn’t he execute him, he wasn’t punished at all. His title wasn’t revoked. When he died, you were already emperor, and he even received the posthumous title ‘Su.’ Though apparently, he wasn’t buried with Zhao Mausoleum.]

Li Shimin couldn’t believe it: “What do you mean ‘seems like’? Do you think I can put this filthy person next to my tomb?!”

Li Xuanba said: “Well, you never know. Even though he ruined our cousin and took away the Central Plains that you worked so hard to conquer, perhaps Father and you truly love him.”

Li Shimin’s stomach churned, and he almost vomited.

Li Xuanba laughed so hard he leaned back and forth. His elder brother was now mostly immune to his spoilers, so it had been a long time since he’d seen him react so violently.

He was thrilled!

Li Shimin grit his teeth and grabbed his younger brother’s cheek: “Why didn’t you tell me about such a schemer sooner?”

Li Xuanba patted his brother’s hand: “The person in the history books isn’t necessarily the person now. People can change. I can’t let my prejudice make you prejudiced against him.”

Li Shimin let go, helplessly: “Alright, you’re right. Sigh… I really want to send him to Father now. Don’t mess with me—go mess with Father instead.”

Shi Wanbao, holding the title “Shi Wansui’s younger brother,” was a golden ticket for recruiting suppressed Sui dynasty military nobles. So although Li Shimin disliked Shi Wanbao, he still treated him with respect.

Shi Wanbao probably understood this, which only made him more arrogant.

Li Xuanba guessed that, in history, Shi Wanbao had been a fairly competent subordinate under his brother. He likely had some emotional intelligence and knew not to offend the emperor’s son, the Prince of Qin. Under Li Shimin’s command, he should still have been obedient.

But now, even though Li Yuan had claimed the imperial title, he was just one of several claimants and hadn’t yet entered the Central Plains. Li Shimin was still young, so Shi Wanbao had become picky with him.

After teasing his brother, Li Xuanba comforted him: “He might have tricked Li Daozhen, but can he trick you? When you charge ahead, if he dared to hold you back, Qin Qiong and Zong Luohu aren’t exactly gentle—they’d chop him down immediately. And besides, I’m here too, aren’t I?”

Li Shimin frowned: “I’m not worried he’ll hold me back—I just hate him. That attitude of looking down on everyone makes the morale in my army worse.”

Li Xuanba said: “Simple. Be straightforward with him. Tell him honestly that you dislike him. A capable general should lead. Since he’s Shi Wansui’s brother, he should be a strong soldier. Let him spar with Qin Qiong and Zong Luohu. One-on-one or leading troops in competitions—whatever he wants.”

Li Shimin hesitated: “That does feel satisfying, but I’m worried…”

Li Xuanba interrupted: “Worried you won’t be able to recruit former Sui nobles? Brother, we are already the most capable generals among the old Sui nobility. His status as Shi Wansui’s brother—is it really more important than your title as Champion Marquis? Besides, have you forgotten our teacher?”

Li Shimin understood and laughed: “Right. If he dares to whine, I’ll have Teacher Gao punish him. Even if his brother were alive, he’d have to be careful around Teacher Gao.”

Li Shimin, thinking clearly, immediately went to scold the uncooperative Shi Wanbao.

“I respect General Shi Wansui, but his title is not a license for your arrogance. If you think you’re truly capable, then use your abilities to earn respect. Qin Shubao and Zong Luohu have remarkable military achievements—what do you have? And if you try to take their command, you’re just embarrassing your brother!”

Li Xuanba chimed in: “Your brother was unjustly killed because Yang Su wanted his military power. Now his brother is trying to do the same thing.”

Li Shimin’s face darkened: “Truly disgraceful for General Shi Wansui! If you spout nonsense and shake the army’s morale again, I’ll deal with you according to military law!”

Li Xuanba tried to calm him: “Military punishment is too harsh. Brother, our promotions are based on merit—we can’t tolerate anyone claiming authority without achievements. But he is still General Shi Wansui’s brother. For his sake, you should calm down.”

Li Shimin said: “Not just Shi Wansui’s brother—even his son, if incompetent, has no place in my army! The ranks of my generals were all won with sword and spear against the Turks and Tuyuhun!”

Li Xuanba continued: “But he is Shi Wansui’s brother!”

Li Shimin roared: “My uncle was still the emperor of the Sui! Sui is gone—so what of Sui generals!”

Li Xuanba said: “True, you’re the Champion Marquis of the Sui. Even Shi Wansui never captured four khans. Even if he were alive, his achievements wouldn’t surpass yours.”

Li Xuanba grinned: “Shi Wanbao, what do you say? Compare your brother’s accomplishments to my brother’s at Yanran? And if that’s not enough, think of the future achievements of pacifying the realm.”

Shi Wanbao knelt, drenched in sweat, feeling fear for the first time.

He realized that his title as “Shi Wansui’s brother” might not work on the Champion Marquis. The Marquis could really enforce military law.

He had been blinded by arrogance and had underestimated Li Shimin’s age, forgetting that Li Shimin had earned his title through his own military achievements and didn’t need the Sui army’s respect for his deceased brother.

Shi Wanbao kowtowed repeatedly, until blood ran from his forehead. Only then did Li Xuanba say: “Brother, he understands his mistake. Give him one more chance.”

Li Shimin said coldly: “Shi Wanbao! Luo Hou! Test his abilities in turns. Then I’ll decide how he can redeem himself through achievement. Shi Wanbao! Let this be a lesson!”

Qin Qiong and Zong Luohu were overjoyed and said in unison: “Yes, sir!”

Li Shimin did not let Shi Wanbao rise and strode off.

Li Xuanba helped Shi Wanbao up and comforted him: “A commander must never compete for position without merit. As a member of a military family, you should understand. Your brother is disappointed in you because you acted foolishly. If an ordinary general did this, he’d only be coldly ignored, not enraged like this.”

Shi Wanbao, in tears, said: “It’s my fault. I nearly tarnished my brother’s reputation.”

Li Xuanba said: “As long as you understand. Which young generals of the Sui didn’t grow up hearing the legends of Shi Wansui and Han Qinhu? The more they respected your brother, the less they will tolerate your current behavior. You must be cautious.”

After Shi Wanbao finished crying, Li Xuanba reminded Qin Qiong and Zong Luohu to take good care of him, then sighed and left.

In the main tent, Li Shimin covered his mouth, laughing. Seeing his brother return, he reached out his hand.

Li Xuanba gave a high-five to his laughing elder brother: “Done.”

“Morale is back. Look at how the soldiers around us are standing tall… hahahaha!” Li Shimin laughed so hard he could barely straighten his back. “We really are amazing!”

Li Xuanba said, “Let’s hope he behaves from now on.”

Li Shimin laughed: “If he doesn’t behave, we’ll deal with him according to military law. Didn’t you say it yourself? Who has greater military achievements than me? Even Master Gao can’t compare! I don’t need Shi Wansui’s reputation in the Sui army!”

Li Xuanba nodded. “Right, we’ve been ignoring this. Now would be a good time to issue a recruitment order and attract talent. I wonder if the document I sent toward Luoyang has arrived yet… why hasn’t the emperor’s decree come?”

He was planning to squeeze every last bit of usefulness out of the Sui emperor.

Li Shimin sighed: “A-Xuan, you’re dreaming too big. You still want the Sui emperor to grant us kingship? That’s impossible.”

Li Xuanba said, “No loss in trying. What if it works? If you could be granted kingship by the little Sui emperor, recruiting Sui officials and nobles wouldn’t be restricted by Father.”

Li Shimin shook his head: “Daydreaming. Even if the Sui court is starving, they wouldn’t do something so reckless just to solve a problem.”

…

In Luoyang, the ministers had already argued several times around the young emperor.

Letters had arrived from the western capital, suggesting that Li Shimin and Li Xuanba be granted kingship, temporarily pacifying them and creating a rift between Li Yuan and his sons, Li Shimin and Li Xuanba.

“If we grant kingship to outsiders, what about the Sui dynasty’s face?!”

“The Sui is on the verge of collapse; there are dozens of emperors across the land. Face doesn’t matter now!”

“If we grant Li Shimin and Li Xuanba kingship, could they even bring troops to aid Luoyang?!”

“They fly the banner of ‘loyalty and filial duty are hard to balance; we only fight the Turks,’ yet their hearts still have loyalty to the Sui. Even if they don’t aid Luoyang, they shouldn’t attack the Sui.”

“Self-deception is meaningless! They are Li Yuan’s sons!”

“Don’t forget Li Yuan has always favored Li Jiancheng. Li Xuanba was almost killed, and Li Yuan didn’t defend him. The brothers may not want to return to Li Yuan’s side. Even if it’s just a delaying tactic, what we need most now is time. Li Shimin and Li Xuanba’s abilities are well-known; if they fully supported Li Yuan, how many generals could stop them?!”

The ministers fell silent.

The young emperor Yang Tong looked worriedly at Qu Tutong: “Even General Qu can’t stop them?”

Qu Tutong didn’t directly say if he could win or lose, only sighed and said tactfully: “Only when the Han was at its peak did Huo Qubing conquer Wolf Jushu and Dou Rong carve the Yanran inscription. Huo Qubing and Dou Rong could only achieve such great feats during Han’s strength.”

Yang Tong clenched his robe, smiling bitterly: “Do I even have a choice?”

He took a few deep breaths to steady his trembling voice and tried to sound calm: “Li Shimin and Li Xuanba are my maternal uncles and once saved the late emperor. I trust their loyalty to the Sui. Still, kingship is too much; grant them princes of counties instead.”

Although Yang Tong was just a puppet emperor, his words could influence the outcome amidst the ministers’ arguments.

The ministers bowed and obeyed, beginning to discuss which counties Li Shimin and Li Xuanba would be granted.

There was no objection to granting Li Shimin the title Prince of Longxi, but they debated which county to grant Li Xuanba. Even a nominal fief, Li Xuanba could drag his brother and take it by force if needed.

In the end, they agreed that the separation should be thorough, choosing counties near Li Yuan.

Thus, Yang Tong decreed Li Shimin as Prince of Longxi, Li Xuanba as Prince of Taiyuan.

They also had a clever idea: grant the obscure Li Zhiyun the title Duke of Tang.

Li Zhiyun, busy suppressing bandits in Longyou: O_o???