LFHYB -Chapter 176 I Am the Bottom Line of a Chaotic Age

Neither Li Xuanba, Li Shimin, nor any of their teachers had expected Li Shimin to enter and take control of the Western Capital so quickly.

Gao Jiong stated that this truly had nothing to do with him.

Li Xuanba’s plan to squeeze the Sui dynasty one last time, to get his and Second Brother’s ranks elevated, was something Gao Jiong knew about.

The strategy to stabilize Li Shimin and Li Xuanba while driving a wedge between them and Li Yuan was proposed by Changsun Sheng, acting in his capacity as Li Shimin’s father-in-law, and discussed together with many nobles.

But none of them had expected the small court in Luoyang to actually agree to this plan.

Because if the court granted princely titles to the sons of a duke who had already rebelled, it would mean the empire was on the brink of collapse and would deal a devastating blow to the court’s authority.

The moment the young emperor’s edict arrived, the officials in the Western Capital knew that Luoyang’s situation must be extremely dangerous—that the Great Sui was truly finished.

That was why Wei Xuan said His Majesty was muddle-headed.

It wasn’t that there were no clear-headed people in the Luoyang court, but their predicament must have reached the point where they could only “drink poison to quench their thirst,” leaving them no choice but to act this way.

And now, the “poison” in that saying was beginning to show its effects.

Once the Luoyang court displayed its weakness, those who had previously wavered made up their minds. Casting aside all pretense, they swiftly sought new patrons.

After all, the Sui dynasty had only existed for a little over thirty years.

Many regimes of the Northern and Southern Dynasties had lasted longer than the Sui; they simply hadn’t been fortunate enough to unify the realm. The Great Sui had unified the world by reaping the benefits left by Northern Zhou, so the nobles’ reverence for the Sui imperial house had never been particularly strong.

The Sui had once given the people of the world hope—that an era of peace like that of the Great Han was about to arrive. That “hope” had driven many perceptive individuals to exhaust themselves defending the legitimacy of the Sui.

Thirty years passed in the blink of an eye. The elderly who had lived through the last age of chaos were not yet dead, and yet the world had fallen into turmoil once again. It was as if the four-hundred-year Han dynasty had been nothing but a dream, and lasting peace nothing more than a laughable fantasy.

Since it was a fantasy, they sighed and adjusted their thinking and behavior, shifting from a mindset of peace back to one of chaos.

In a chaotic age, whoever has the strongest troops and horses reigns supreme. Lineage, age, status—all such conditions are empty.

In the world today, is there anyone with stronger troops and horses than Li Shimin, Prince of Longxi?

As for Li Yuan, they didn’t even take him seriously.

Just look at how Li Shimin deliberately avoided going to Taiyuan Commandery to rescue his father—it was obvious that Li Shimin was aiming for the imperial throne.

In times of chaos, fathers and sons or brothers taking up arms against one another is perfectly normal.

Morality can only restrain those who care about morality. Once Li Shimin showed that he didn’t care about Li Yuan, they would not use filial piety to constrain him.

An emperor with real power can stand above everything. A founding emperor, all the more so, would never be bound by any worldly principles.

As Li Shimin entered the capital, he listened to Li Xuanba chattering away in his mind and muttered under his breath, “Then why do people of later generations scold me?”

He remembered A-Xuan saying that later generations cursed him for setting a bloody precedent for the Tang dynasty’s brutal struggles over succession.

Li Xuanba replied: [Rather than saying you were the beginning, it’s more accurate to say you were the continuation of the ‘normal’ pattern of imperial succession from the Wei, Jin, and Northern–Southern Dynasties. Throughout the Wei–Jin period, the Northern and Southern Dynasties, the Sixteen Kingdoms, and even the Sui, the right to the throne was always seized by force. Your descendants didn’t learn it from you—this had been the norm for centuries. It’s just that you were a sage ruler, so later generations held you to higher moral standards.]

Li Shimin rubbed his nose, feeling a little pleased. “Well, that can’t be helped. Higher standards are only right.” After all, I am a sage ruler—hehe.

Li Xuanba added: [Besides, the purpose of historians writing history was never to objectively record the past, but to write ‘educational textbooks’ for the emperors of their own time. When they scold you, they’re actually remonstrating with their own rulers. To do that, they’ll even make up things you never did. For example, saying you slept with Empress Xiao, with Li Jiancheng’s wife, with Li Yuanji’s wife, and even tried to make Li Yuanji’s wife empress.]

Li Shimin: “……”

He whipped his head around to look at Li Xuanba so fast he nearly snapped his neck.

Li Xuanba looked at his second brother in confusion: [Didn’t I tell you this before?]

Li Shimin shook his head wildly, his hair bun almost flying loose.

Li Xuanba: [Oh.]

Li Shimin wished he could leap from his own horse onto his brother’s horse and then kick him straight off!

What do you mean “oh”?! Are you trying to disgust me to death?!

Li Shimin’s voice trembled. “Why would they do this to me?!”

Li Xuanba replied: [Back then, Emperor Renzong of Song was involved with Wang Shi, the wife of the Empress Dowager’s nephew. When Ouyang Xiu and Sima Guang wrote that little romantic scandal, they were using antiquity to criticize the present, remonstrating with Emperor Renzong: ‘Your Majesty must not burden yourself with a Chen Ying.’]

Li Shimin: “……”

He gazed into the distance, his eyes filled with the weight of years. “Mm, yes. That’s how remonstrating officials are—always fond of using ancient figures to concoct all sorts of strange little stories.”

Watching his second brother on the verge of emotional collapse, Li Xuanba tilted his head slightly, bared his teeth, and laughed silently.

Striking Second Brother down right when he was feeling most triumphant was really, really fun.

Li Xuanba wasn’t deliberately bullying him; it was just that Li Shimin was far too excited. Pouring a bucket of cold water over his head would help Second Brother calm down.

The nobles in Daxing City were all old foxes. If Second Brother wasn’t calm enough, he’d be talked into revealing far too much by that pack of old foxes.

I really am doing this for Second Brother’s own good, Li Xuanba said, touching his conscience.

After hearing Li Xuanba’s “spoilers,” Li Shimin completely calmed down.

The moment he thought about how, in later generations, countless remonstrating officials would make up all kinds of bizarre anecdotes about him to admonish their rulers, he couldn’t help but put on a mask of pain.

There was no helping it—this was just what being an emperor was like. The wiser the ruler, the more stories would be fabricated about him. Not to mention remonstrating officials; once dynasties changed, someone might even write legendary tales or erotic storybooks with him as material.

Li Shimin truly didn’t want to know about these things, yet he couldn’t suppress his curiosity.

When they could already see the gates of Daxing City, Li Shimin finally couldn’t hold back. He leaned his head a little closer to Li Xuanba, and even nudged his horse closer.

“A-Xuan, in the future, will there be lots of people who write storybooks with me as the protagonist? Am I awesome in those stories? Am I the number-one general of the Sui–Tang era? Even if I’m not the top general, I must at least be the fiercest warrior!”

Li Shimin was brimming with confidence!

[Unfortunately, because you’re too powerful in the official histories, the storybooks don’t make you the protagonist. Instead, they turn you into a benevolent but weak ruler who does nothing but cry.] Li Xuanba glanced at his second brother. [The fiercest warrior of the Sui–Tang era is me—the reincarnation of the Golden-Winged Roc, Li Xuanba, of boundless strength!]

Li Shimin: “……”

Li Shimin: “凸(艹皿艹)！”

Li Shimin’s expression grew even more ashen, his eyes even more lifeless.

All the excitement about entering the Western Capital was gone—completely gone.

When he thought about how he was portrayed in the eyes of later generations, he wished he could travel through time and beat the original author senseless.

Turning my little brother into the fiercest warrior of the Sui–Tang era—I can tolerate that.
But you turned me into a weak, crying softie?!

Li Xuanba switched to speaking aloud, sincerely: “But there’s one thing they didn’t get wrong. Second Brother, you really are a crybaby.”

Li Shimin stretched out his leg and kicked at Li Xuanba—but missed him and kicked Li Xuanba’s horse in the belly instead.

The fine steed Li Xuanba was riding took off running. Li Shimin chased after him, shouting as he ran, “A-Xuan, don’t run away!”

Li Xuanba cursed, “Run away my ass! You kicked my horse!”

The generals of Li Shimin, who had been solemnly advancing toward Daxing City at a steady pace: “……”

Ma Sanbao rubbed his face, which was nearly cramping from maintaining a serious expression, and said, “All the nobles in Daxing City are watching us. Isn’t it a bit inappropriate for the lord and the Prince of Taiyuan to suddenly start roughhousing like this?”

Qin Qiong and Zong Luohu exchanged a glance, saying neither yes nor no.

If the lord wanted to do something, could they really stop him?

Shi Wanbao said, “In Daxing City right now, even if you add up all the nobles together, none are more prestigious than the lord and the Prince of Taiyuan. No matter what they do, no one will dare say it’s wrong.”

The generals all nodded. Shi Wanbao was formerly of the nobility—what he said had to be right.

At the city gate, Gao Jiong stroked his beard in satisfaction.

Li Shimin and Li Xuanba were about to enter the city; he could no longer be bothered to distance himself from his relationship with his two disciples.

Changsun Sheng and Yuwen Bi smiled under the envious gazes of those around them, and Xue Daoheng also stroked his beard proudly.

That’s right—the two young princes leading well-trained soldiers toward us are my disciple–sons-in-law and grand-disciple–sons-in-law.

Although the Western Capital’s acting governor was Wei Xuan, everyone in the Western Capital now looked to the retired old man Gao Jiong as their pillar. Thus, it was Gao Jiong who stood at the front, leading the group to welcome Li Shimin and Li Xuanba.

Gao Jiong stepped forward a few paces, intending to personally welcome his disciples as they dismounted, to give them full honor.

Then, despite his age, with eyes still sharp, Gao Jiong saw Li Shimin stretch out his foot and kick Li Xuanba’s horse in the belly, cursing as he chased after Li Xuanba.

Right in front of them stood the nobles and court officials guarding Daxing City—yet the two brothers were actually fooling around.

Utterly improper!

Gao Jiong took a deep breath, clenching his fists.

Yuwen Bi and Changsun Sheng each grabbed one of Gao Jiong’s sleeves, signaling with their eyes for him not to get angry.

Forget it, forget it—give them some face in public, or how would they suppress these nobles later?

Xue Daoheng’s expression shifted from pride to disdain. He covered one eye with a hand, pretending the sunlight was too glaring and he was shielding his eyes.

Gao Jiong forcefully shook his arms twice, flinging off the two doting old men, gathered his breath in his dantian, and roared, “Prince of Longxi, Prince of Taiyuan—this old minister Gao Jiong has been waiting here for a long time!”

Li Xuanba reined in his horse. Li Shimin reined in his as well.

The brothers looked at each other.

Only then did they remember that their teachers must be waiting for them at the city gate.

Li Shimin signaled with his eyes: Keep running forward.

Li Xuanba understood.

They spurred their horses again, and when they neared the city gate, they swiftly dismounted, putting on expressions of anxious urgency.

Li Shimin clasped his hands and bowed deeply, calling out loudly, “Teacher Gao, the weather is scorching hot, yet you came to the city gate to welcome your disciple—this disciple is ashamed!”

He then saluted his father-in-law and the other teachers one by one, followed by greetings to the high-ranking elder officials beside Gao Jiong whom he barely recognized.

Only after Li Shimin finished did Li Xuanba clasp his hands and salute everyone.

Gao Jiong’s gaze shifted from disdain to helplessness.

Li Shimin and Li Xuanba had thought quickly, turning their rude horseplay into apparent urgency upon seeing their teachers waiting at the city gate—barely passing.

No—this actually made it worse!

When they were fooling around, they had clearly forgotten that their teachers were waiting! These two hooligans! Already princes, yet still not the least bit steady!

Gao Jiong said, “Your Highnesses, please.” Afterwards, I’ll deal with you.

Li Shimin and Li Xuanba obediently entered the city, surrounded by the nobles.

Li Xuanba: [You’re finished. With Teacher Gao’s expression, he’s definitely planning to increase the punishment later.]

Li Shimin: [Sigh.] I know that without you saying it!

The two of them, along with tens of thousands of troops, were welcomed into the city. The people of Daxing City all shut themselves inside their homes, trembling with fear, worried about their future.

Yet they couldn’t help poking their heads out of windows, trying to catch a glimpse of those two young princes whose names were renowned throughout the land.

In Daxing City, there were still people who remembered Li Shimin and Li Xuanba…

When the two of them were still living in Daxing, they caused quite a stir in town, with places like the soap shop and the bookshop bustling with activity. Many people remembered these two young noblemen.

Back when Li Shimin and Li Xuanba returned with the head of the Tuyuhun Khan, they had raced their horses through Daxing City alongside the deposed Crown Prince Yang Xuan, who was still the Prince of Qi at the time. That audacious grace remained etched in the minds of the citizens who had witnessed it.

Speaking of which, the deposed crown prince had been wrongfully executed.

Some of the people in Daxing suddenly recalled Yang Xuan’s appearance.

Yang Xuan had once guarded the Western Capital, often showing off on the streets, and he was extremely handsome. Citizens would frequently gaze at him from afar.

He had a boastful nature. If the people secretly looked at him, he wouldn’t be angry; instead, he would deliberately halt his horse to let them admire him fully.

Yang Xuan wasn’t actually a good man. Especially when he was Prince of Qi, he was arrogant and reckless, much to the dislike of the common people.

But after he became the wrongfully killed deposed crown prince, the memories people had of him became idealized.

The citizens of Daxing missed this young crown prince. Some passionate scholars, upon learning that Yang Xuan had been killed for opposing the army, even secretly burned paper offerings for him at home.

As for Li Shimin and Li Xuanba, the two noblemen who were closest to Yang Xuan, their memories in the eyes of the people were also romanticized.

But these two noblemen were already likable. Even without embellishment, the people held no ill will toward them.

When Li Shimin led his troops into the city, the formation was orderly, the discipline strict, and the civilians were not disturbed. The people finally breathed a sigh of relief.

They leaned slightly out of their windows, curious to watch the two young princes riding at the forefront of the avenue.

Gao Jiong gave a slight nod.

Considering the disciplined appearance of Li Shimin’s troops, he could assign slightly less punishment homework to his disciples.

But copying books was still mandatory.

He believed that the two disciples must have neglected their studies during their military careers. Now that they had arrived in the Western Capital, he needed to fill in the gaps and make up for the missed lessons.

Li Shimin and Li Xuanba were not generals—they were the future emperor and his able younger brother. Compared to leading troops in battle, they needed to learn how to govern the state.

Gao Jiong glanced at the officers following Li Shimin and Li Xuanba.

He knew the names and backgrounds of Zong Luohu, Qin Qiong, Shi Wanbao, and Ma Sanbao like the back of his hand.

Except for Shi Wanbao, the other three were highly capable. With competent officers, the lord should not be leading the charge, let alone acting as the most dangerous scout.

Gao Jiong’s chest tightened as he recalled the complaint letter Li Xuanba had written him.

As the lord, it was normal for Li Shimin to lead the army personally—this was also a way to gain prestige.

But leading the army personally did not mean charging at the front, charging at the front did not mean being the vanguard himself, and being the vanguard did not mean personally taking on the most dangerous reconnaissance!!

Gao Jiong thought of the times he had taught young Li Shimin military strategy, and his chest tightened even more.

Had he cultivated himself for over a decade just to have his life span drained by this troublesome younger brother?!

Although Gao Jiong hid it well, Li Shimin was sharp.

Throughout the journey, he felt as if Gao Jiong’s gaze were like needles, piercing him in countless places.

Li Shimin: [I’m complaining!]

Li Xuanba: [Hmm?]

Li Shimin: [Ah!!!!!!!]

Although Li Shimin’s words were abrupt, Li Xuanba understood.

Li Xuanba: [Yes, I’m complaining! You’re finished, done for!]

Li Shimin held his breath.

Just you wait! If I’m doomed, I’ll drag you down with me!

Li Xuanba knew his older brother would definitely try to drag him down, but that was fine—he could drag his older brother down too. As long as his brother got punished, he would be happy.

Reading history, seeing Emperor Taizong of Tang personally at the vanguard or even as a scout seemed just like a wish-fulfillment story.

But when Emperor Taizong was his older brother, Li Xuanba saw him personally at the vanguard, storming city walls, and he would ride around with a dozen cavalry alongside other armies to collect intelligence…

Li Xuanba smiled.

Their mother was far away in Taiyuan, their sister-in-law far away in Zhangye, but their teachers were close by in the Western Capital.

“Send my brother to his death!”

…

In the first year of the Da Sui Emperor Taiyuan era (617 CE), Prince of Longxi Li Shimin and his deputy, Prince of Taiyuan Li Xuanba, entered the Western Capital, Daxing.

Envoys from the Jingjidao and Guanneidao regions were sent to congratulate them. Along with Longyoudao, Li Shimin of Longxi became the top power among the regional warlords.

Though he had not held the Sui emperor hostage, he effectively achieved the position of “holding the emperor to command the vassals.”

Upon entering Daxing, Li Shimin issued a proclamation.

He had no intention of seeking the throne, but could not tolerate foreign invasions and the suffering of the people, so he established only two rules for his troops:

Kill those who recognize the Turks as their rulers!

Kill those who use humans as food!

The first to collide with Li Shimin’s blade was the Sui traitor general Liang Shidu, who recognized the Turks as kings and fed on human flesh.

Li Xuanba compiled Li Shimin’s proclamation and Liang Shidu’s fate into a booklet and sent it to every county in the realm, even to Taiyuan. Dozens of other warlords were also included.

Li Shimin stationed himself firmly in Daxing, while envoys streamed out of the city gates to announce to the world:

“I do not seek dominion, only those unfit to live shall die.”

“Even in chaotic times, there must be a bottom line.”

“I am that bottom line!”

Li Shimin declared this before the ministers of the Western Capital.

Li Xuanba nodded from behind him.

Yes, yes, the work of sewing the emperor’s robe and wearing the emperor’s robe is mine—older brother, just sit here and don’t move.