LFHYB -Chapter 196 How Can You Welcome the New Without Eliminating the Old

Li Shimin first sent the former Sui officials back to Xijing, then went to Jiangdu to pick up his teacher, Yu Shinan, before returning.

The former Sui officials thought: “…Wait a minute. That little-known official, Yu Shinan, had actually taught Prince Qin calligraphy?”

He only taught him to write! How could the Prince of Qin recognize him as his teacher?

After Yu Shiji was killed, would Yu Shinan also become a favored minister of the emperor?!

Their previously unruffled hearts were now stirred with jealousy and regret for not having interacted with Li Shimin more.

But upon reflection, they realized it wasn’t that they didn’t want to approach him. Li Shimin and Li Xuanba had always been the late emperor Yang Guang’s favored ministers. The teachers were personally appointed by Yang Guang—they simply weren’t qualified to be close.

The former Sui ministers departed Xijing with sour faces. At the city gate, Li Shimin waved to them, then continued south with his army.

Half a day after leaving Lujiang County, Li Shimin encountered Li Shou, who had come to meet him.

Li Shimin greeted him with a smile: “Uncle, has Mr. Li already captured Liyang County?”

Li Shou smiled wryly: “Not just Liyang County—he’s already in Jiangdu.”

He presented a map to Li Shimin.

Li Shimin spread it out, then turned to Dou Jiande with a smile: “Had I been a few days later, you would have entered Lujiang County only to face Mr. Li.”

He glanced at the map again: “Truly the military god of Tang—the efficiency in capturing cities and lands is incredible.”

Cheng Zhijie, blunt and outspoken, often couldn’t hold back after seeing Li Shimin was approachable: “Master, if Mr. Li is the military god of Tang, then what does that make you, Master?”

Li Shimin said: “Of course, I am the Emperor of Tang.”

Cheng Zhijie: “…I still think the military god of Tang looks cooler. Is Mr. Li really that formidable?”

Li Shimin thought of Li Jing and said: “A single strongman could capture him.”

“Daxiong, don’t misuse references. You are now the master; even casual words could unsettle your subordinates,” someone warned.

Li Shimin straightened: “You are right, Teacher. I know my mistake… Huh? Teacher Yu, you’re here too?”

Yu Shinan sighed and cupped his hands: “Yu Shinan greets the Master.”

Li Shimin smiled awkwardly: “Teacher, please rise… I know I was wrong, really, don’t punish me with copying texts.”

Yu Shinan, sensing Li Shimin’s intentional show of closeness, felt warmed.

He responded: “I have never punished you to copy texts. Isn’t it Gao Gong who punishes you the most?”

Li Shimin said: “Teacher Yu doesn’t punish me lightly, but he checks the copying assignments given by Teacher Gao. If the handwriting is messy, I have to redo it.”

Yu Shinan: “That is Gao Gong’s requirement. If you want to complain, go to him.”

Li Shimin muttered: “With Teacher Gao’s character, whether I am Prince of Qin or Emperor, if punishment is due, it is due… Sigh. Not to mention Teacher Gao, Teachers Yuwen, Xue, or Yu—would any of you relax the requirements for me just because of my status? Not increasing demands is already generous.”

Yu Shinan finally laughed at Li Shimin’s complaint.

Even as he neared emperorship, this student’s personality hadn’t changed a bit.

Li Shimin then introduced his calligraphy teacher, Yu Shinan, to the others.

He deliberately showed closeness to Yu Shinan and spoke highly of his upright character for a reason—because Yu Shinan’s elder brother, Yu Shiji, was a notorious corrupt official.

Everyone knew of Yu Shiji’s reputation. Yu Shinan, however, had never been valued by Yang Guang and remained obscure, so when people first heard his name, they would easily look down on him because of his brother.

When they heard that Yu Shinan had been imprisoned by Yang Guang for a long time, and that even Yuwen Huaji had forgotten about him when he fled, Li Shimin’s subordinates were filled with respect.

Anyone who dared to speak frankly before Yang Guang was a truly good official who did not fear death.

Seeing that Li Shimin had quietly helped build his reputation the moment they met, Yu Shinan felt both pleased and ashamed.

He was hardly such a fearless, upright official.

After understanding Yang Guang’s temperament, what he practiced—if put nicely—was “hiding in plain sight at court.” Put bluntly, it was self-preservation. He had not truly remonstrated with Yang Guang very much.

Yu Shinan knew he was not truly incorruptible. When he served a wise ruler, he would be upright; when facing a foolish or tyrannical ruler, he would lower his presence. He merely refused to join in corruption.

“Is Dade doing well?” Yu Shinan hid his shame and gratitude and changed the subject. “You didn’t bring Dade with you?”

Li Shimin replied, “I wanted to, but A-Xuan said he had to return to the Western Capital first.”

Yu Shinan asked, “Did he go alone to welcome Li Yuan back to the Western Capital?”

The soldiers listening in pricked up their ears and glanced over. Calling the future Retired Emperor by name—Mr. Yu really was the lord’s teacher.

Li Shimin pouted. “I guessed he’d do that. He probably wants to persuade Father before I return, so we won’t clash. He brought troops and has the teachers’ support, so he should be fine.”

Yu Shinan glanced at the soldiers behind him and did not lower his voice. “Aren’t you afraid he’ll clash with Li Yuan and Li Jiancheng, disregard his own reputation, and commit acts of filial impiety for your sake?”

Li Shimin was stunned. “Huh? No way, right? A-Xuan is so obedient.”

“You’d better hurry back,” Yu Shinan said.

Li Shimin: “…I’m not going to Jiangdu anymore. I’ll rush back to the Western Capital right away. Shan Xiongxin, Xu Shiji, take the troops to Changsun Fuji and Li Yaoshi. Qin Shubao, pick one hundred Xuanjia soldiers and return with me at full speed.”

Yu Shinan said, “One more day won’t make much difference. Rest at Liyang for a day first. Otherwise, if you collapse from exhaustion upon arrival, you’ll be even less able to stop Dade.”

Li Shimin took a deep breath. “Teacher is right.”

The officers behind him were utterly confused.

What conflict? What unfilial acts? Could it be…? No, impossible. Wasn’t Prince Jin, Li Xuanba, known for being ‘virtuous and benevolent,’ an extremely kind and soft-hearted good man?

Liu Heita’s eyes lit up. “My lord, there’s no fighting in the south now. I’m willing to return to the Western Capital with you and guard you!”

Dou Jiande glanced at Liu Heita. He used to think Liu Heita was just an uneducated hooligan, but he hadn’t expected him to be so quick-witted.

Xu Shiji gave Shan Xiongxin a “follow me” look and said, “My lord, don’t leave me behind.”

Shan Xiongxin added, “My lord, don’t leave me out of such a good thing!”

Already anxious, Li Shimin scolded him, “Shan Xiongxin! How is this a good thing?!”

Shan Xiongxin replied foolishly, “Gaining merit by following the dragon is a great thing.”

Li Shimin: “…”

Yu Shinan held his forehead. Although he intended to use this matter to test the loyalty of the officers, this Shan Xiongxin was really too simple-minded! Well, simple was fine—at least he was loyal.

The other officers came to their senses, sweating profusely as they volunteered one after another.

Li Shimin waved them off. “Stop, stop. Don’t make it sound like I’m definitely going back to start a war.”

Yu Shinan advised, “The relay stations are abandoned now. Even riding at full speed won’t shorten the journey much. It’s better to take the Xuanjia cavalry north along the canal. When you’re near the Eastern Capital, change horses. It’ll be faster. Although Yang Xuangan controls the Eastern Capital, if you don’t attack him, he likely won’t stop you.”

Li Shimin thought for a moment and nodded. “We’ll do as you say. I’ll bring all the Xuanjia soldiers back—it puts me at ease. Father is indecisive. As long as A-Xuan makes him understand that I won’t hesitate out of filial duty, he won’t have the resolve to fall out with A-Xuan. As for Li Jiancheng, he’s not capable of threatening A-Xuan. Still, I must hurry back, lest Father and Li Jiancheng use their status as elders to bully A-Xuan too much.”

Thinking of the troubles Li Yuan and Li Jiancheng had caused since the brothers’ childhood, Yu Shinan sighed. “Yes. In major matters, Dade will never retreat. But if Li Yuan and Li Jiancheng are just throwing tantrums, Dade will probably endure it for your reputation’s sake and won’t fight back.”

Li Shimin’s face darkened, his eyes filled with fierce intent. He did not reply.

…

“Master, Li Jiancheng isn’t worth fearing. Why do you deliberately indulge him?” Chen Tieniu asked in confusion. “If you didn’t want him making secret connections, he wouldn’t even be able to step out of the Duke of Tang’s residence!”

Without looking up from his paperwork, Li Xuanba replied, “Li Jiancheng is like a pile of feces. As long as he’s there, he’s disgusting to look at and always attracts more flies and mosquitoes—it’s very unsanitary. But if he only complains in private and doesn’t cross the line, I’ll endure it for Mother’s sake. I’ll just swat the flies and mosquitoes and eventually throw that pile of filth far away—find an excuse to demote him to a commoner so I won’t have to see him.”

Chen Tieniu said happily, “That’s great! He’s actually contacting the Turks now. We can take action openly! I’ll go arrest him right away!”

Li Xuanba put down his brush and stretched his shoulders. “Arrest him? Why rush? Wait until he’s built up some power. It’d be even better if he raises a rebel army and stages a mutiny.”

“Whatever you say, Master!” Chen Tieniu replied.

Li Xuanba smiled and went back to work.

In truth, Li Jiancheng didn’t matter at all.

Though he was unpleasant to look at, he no longer posed any threat to him or his second brother.

But the old nobility of the Sui dynasty in the city was just too troublesome. If a few more of them weren’t eliminated, the Tang court would still be full of entrenched officials, making it difficult to enact any reforms.

Anyone who studied even a little Tang history in later generations would know that after the Tang dynasty established its capital in Chang’an, starting from Emperor Gaozong’s reign, emperors often had to take civil and military officials to Luoyang to “beg for provisions.” Even the people of Hedong joked that the Tang emperor was a “begging sovereign.”

In reality, the soil and water conditions of the Guanzhong Plain were still decent at the time. Food production could meet local needs. Emperor Gaozong once investigated the matter and found that the irrigation systems of the Guanzhong Plain frequently “failed,” canals were intercepted by powerful families, and land concentration had become deeply entrenched.

He had dispatched troops to deal with it, but ultimately nothing was resolved, and the emperor still had to go act as a “begging sovereign.” Tang effectively became a dual-capital system of Chang’an and Luoyang.

The Tang dynasty would continue this dual-capital system in the future, as it was more conducive to governance.

However, the nobles of Guanlong still had to be brought under control first.

Chen Tieniu received his orders and left to continue monitoring Li Jiancheng and Li Yuan.

Li Xuanba finally finished handling the paperwork and stretched lazily.

“Brother, brother, you really have to put in some effort.”

“Even if Yang Xuangan’s subordinate from Guanlong is executed, their families won’t be affected. But if one raises troops in the capital to rebel, that’s different. Execution of nine generations might not be necessary, but confiscation and exile certainly should be arranged.”

“How can one welcome the new without removing the old?”

Li Xuanba yawned and decided to take a short nap.