LFHYB -Chapter 195 Prince Qin Makes Perfect Sense

Dou Jiande was captured after being unhorsed, while his soldiers either fled or surrendered.

Li Shimin ordered Dou Jiande to receive treatment for his arrow wound and, holding the surrender document given by Zhang Shan’an, rode grandly to the gates of Hefei City to ask whether the document still held.

Zhang Shan’an replied, “It’s valid,” and opened the gates to welcome Prince Qin into Hefei.

Hefei City had plenty of supplies. Li Shimin first shared a coarse millet meal with the soldiers, who had been hungry all day, before asking Dou Jiande whether he would surrender.

Dou Jiande did not immediately answer, but asked: “Prince Qin, did you really fight on an empty stomach?”

Li Shimin laughed: “Yes. You were too slow in attacking the city; I had cut off supplies for a day. If you had taken Lujiang County even later, I would have had a headache. Well, this campaign was a bit risky, but I can’t tell A-Xuan the truth. Qin Shubao, did you hear me? Do not report this to A-Xuan!”

Qin Qiong, serving as a bodyguard behind Li Shimin, was puzzled: “???”

Cheng Zhijie and Qin Qiong acted as bodyguards together, which brought them closer.

Li Shimin nudged Qin Qiong with his elbow teasingly: “I didn’t expect you to report on your lord to Prince Jin!”

Qin Qiong thought for a moment and replied seriously: “My lord, I’m afraid Mr. Wei has already left a report on Third Young Master’s desk.”

Li Shimin scratched his head: “Ah, yes, Wei Xuancheng is also a little tattletale like A-Xuan. He reports on A-Xuan in front of me and reports on me in front of A-Xuan—what kind of remonstrator is that?”

Qin Qiong replied honestly: “Your servant doesn’t know.” He felt it had nothing to do with remonstration, but it wasn’t proper to speak ill of colleagues.

Li Shimin joked and laughed with his subordinates for a while, then said to Dou Jiande: “I don’t like that you submitted to the Turks, but A-Xuan said you have some ability. I want some talented commoners among my future ministers—you fit perfectly. If you are willing to work honestly for me, I will pardon your death sentence. But I cannot give you too high a position at first.”

Dou Jiande looked puzzled. “Your Highness, Prince of Qin, isn’t it usual to offer high rank and generous rewards to persuade someone to surrender?”

Li Shimin rubbed his nose. “I used to do that. A-Xuan scolded me for it. He said that when we go to war, our comrades don’t even know how many men have been killed or wounded. So why should the officers who fought for us receive lower rank than the surrendering general? If a surrendering general wants high rank and generous rewards, either he never fought against us in the first place, or he later proves his worth. Of course, he was just complaining a bit and then said reality wouldn’t allow that anyway, because the benefits a surrendering general brings are bigger than those of ordinary soldiers.”

Li Shimin turned to look at the generals behind him and smiled. “Have you heard of my twin brother A-Xuan? The sayings ‘Virtue and generosity’ and ‘Nothing escapes his calculations’ are about him. He’s kind, protective of those close to him, and especially cares for the people. Although his ideas may seem a little unorthodox in our times, and teachers always call him a madman—sometimes even I think he’s too extreme—he still has a point. If I had the ability to pacify the realm without relying on the benefits brought by surrendering generals, I should still grant more to the comrades who fight alongside me.”

Dou Jiande said nothing, silently appraising the Prince of Qin, who looked younger than the rumors had suggested.

Li Shimin continued, “But Liu Heita is willing to put his achievements and rank on the line to save your life. You haven’t caused me much loss. If you refuse to submit to me, I won’t take your life—I’ll just let Liu Heita go with you to guard the border. Heh heh, Liu Heita, don’t regret it.”

Liu Heita seemed as if his nose was blocked by something. He cupped his fists and said in a muffled voice, “My lord, I will not regret it. I can achieve great merit on the frontier and return to serve you again!”

Li Shimin nodded. “I believe you. So, Dou Jiande, what will you choose?”

Dou Jiande sighed, knelt, and kowtowed, giving a wry smile. “I had lost all hope. I thought that if Your Highness spared my life, I could spend the rest of my days as a simple farmer. But…”

After kowtowing, he straightened and looked at the generals behind Li Shimin, who were nearly in tears from his words. A faint smile appeared on his bitter face.

This scene was actually a bit funny.

In times of chaos, among armies, colors should be somber and heavy.

But Li Shimin stood there with a bright smile, making the previously dark and tense atmosphere overly lively, almost as if it had stepped out of the chaos and battlefield.

Li Shimin, as a general and lord, didn’t feel like a general and lord; he was more like a carefree young noble strolling the wide streets of Xijing and Dongdu. It was hard to believe he had ridden hungry for a thousand miles to Lujiang Commandery and defeated me with fewer troops.

Dou Jiande bent low again, kowtowing deeply. “I only regret not meeting you earlier, my lord, wasting most of my life.”

[“Drifting half a lifetime, only to regret not meeting a wise ruler; if you do not abandon me…”]

Li Shimin’s ear twitched. He almost reached up to scratch it in public.

A-Xuan’s maddening voice in his head: Stop! Stop! Don’t talk about “drifting half a lifetime, only to regret not meeting a wise ruler”! I don’t want to adopt a sworn son, nor be betrayed!

Even when A-Xuan wasn’t around, that mischievous inner voice tortured Li Shimin endlessly.

“Stand up. Liu Heita, looks like you don’t need to go to the frontier.” Li Shimin helped Dou Jiande to his feet and teased Liu Heita. “Dou Jiande, you’ll follow Liu Heita for now. There are still many battles to fight in this realm. After pacifying the country, there’s the Eastern Turks and Goguryeo. And after the wars, there’s governance. As long as you have ability, there will be plenty of places to earn merit—don’t worry about your future.”

Dou Jiande, hearing Li Shimin’s comforting words, began to understand why the generals behind him all had eyes sparkling in the same way—like loyal hounds raised by wealthy masters.

Even though Li Shimin hadn’t promised him high rank or generous rewards, and had openly said that surrendering generals rank lower in his eyes than those who fought and suffered under him, Dou Jiande could not bring himself to fear Li Shimin. He trusted that as long as Li Shimin didn’t kill him now, he would not be killed out of suspicion later.

Dou Jiande cupped his fists. “Yes, my lord. I… have some ability. At least in the future, I can serve as a prefect for you and manage a commandery without difficulty.”

Li Shimin said, “Then I am relieved.”

He turned to the officers behind him. “You must study well too. If you don’t study now, when the realm is pacified, you won’t be able to serve as civil officials, and I won’t entrust you with heavy responsibilities. But A-Xuan has already thought of a backup plan. When you return to Daxing, you’ll take turns staying in the rear to study reading and writing—you at least need to recognize official documents.”

Several officers’ faces fell. “What? We have to study and learn to read and write?!”

Li Shimin smiled, hands behind his back. “High office is not easy to attain. If you can’t read or study, you might be deceived by advisors in the future. Many founding ministers in history were cheated and lost everything. Court politics is fierce; only through study can you protect yourselves. Don’t worry, A-Xuan has already arranged this for you. Don’t believe me? Ask Qin Shubao.”

All the officers turned to Qin Qiong.

Qin Qiong said, “Indeed, Third Young Master often reminded me of this.”

The officers: “….”

Qin Qiong reassured them, “Which lord cares whether you can read and write or whether advisors cheat you after the realm is pacified? Your lord and Third Young Master care about you—be happy.”

Liu Heita sighed. “I’m happy, but really…” He could read a little, but could not settle down to study; otherwise, he wouldn’t spend his days walking dogs and gambling, letting his family fortune decay until Dou Jiande had to rescue him.

Li Shimin patted Dou Jiande’s shoulder, grinning mischievously. “Dou Jiande, aren’t you his benefactor? Teaching Liu Heita to study is your responsibility now.”

Dou Jiande looked at Liu Heita’s dismayed face, trying not to laugh. “Understood.”

Liu Heita sighed heavily again. The others laughed, and the atmosphere lightened considerably. The divisions between the Wagong Village rebels, the Qi-Lu rebels, and Dou Jiande’s forces were greatly reduced.

After Dou Jiande surrendered, his subordinates naturally surrendered as well.

After hearing Li Shimin say, “The initial treatment of surrendered generals won’t be too high; I can’t let my comrades’ hearts grow cold,” their fear and anxiety lessened considerably, and they were willing to trust the treatment Li Shimin promised them.

Li Shimin tapped his head, realizing something, but smiled and didn’t say anything to the others.

Once he returned, he would share his reflections on the journey with A-Xuan.

Li Shimin stayed in Lujiang County for several days. First, he arranged for the collection and burial of the battlefield corpses before attending to matters concerning Yuwen Huaji.

When Dou Jiande captured Yuwen Huaji, he had already killed Yuwen Huaji, Yuwen Zhiji, and their descendants. But within Yuwen Huaji’s army, many former high-ranking Sui officials who had accompanied Yang Guang on his tour of Jiangdu were still being held hostage. These men had been brought onto the battlefield by Dou Jiande and kept under soft detention at the rear.

Li Shimin rescued these people and informed them that the Sui dynasty had fallen and that he would ascend the throne upon returning to Xijing.

“Luoyang is still in Yang Xuangan’s hands. Once I return and ascend, I will go defeat him,” Li Shimin said.

Cui Junsu, the Ministry of War official, asked on behalf of the rescued Sui ministers the question weighing on their minds: “We heard that the Duke of Tang has already ascended. Will he step down to become Taishang Huang?”

Li Shimin replied, “I don’t know.”

The former Sui officials were shocked: “You don’t know?”

Li Shimin nodded. “Indeed, I don’t know what my father intends, but it doesn’t matter.”

He explained to the former Sui officials that he had been conferred the title of Prince of Qin, Li Xuanba had become Prince of Jin, and Li Zhiyun had been made Duke of Tang. He also told them about the fall of Luoyang and the abdication before the young emperor’s “self-immolation.”

“Those capable of competing for the world should rule it. I want to be emperor—what does that have to do with him?” Li Shimin said. “Not only did the late emperor abdicate in my favor, by law I should be emperor. This realm was secured by my own efforts. If I want to be emperor, then I shall be emperor. In chaotic times, does anyone hand over the throne for the sake of filial piety? However, I hope my father behaves and doesn’t force me to leave a bad name in history. What he’s doing tarnishes the Li family and makes the founding of the Tang imperfect. Even the ancestors would scold him if they saw this.”

The former Sui ministers watched Li Shimin in silence, speechless.

Li Shimin gave them a youthful wink, as if he had just said some naive, fearless nonsense.

Cui Junsu sighed deeply and cupped his hands in respect: “Prince of Qin, your reasoning is sound.”

Li Shimin smiled: “Of course, it is very reasonable.”

The remaining former Sui ministers also bowed to Li Shimin, willing to accompany him back to Xijing.

As for official posts, naturally, the future emperor, currently Prince of Qin Li Shimin, would decide. Whether he gave positions or not was up to him.

No one dared question Li Shimin’s filial piety.