LFHYB -Chapter 214 Li Shimin Jumps in Anger

After learning of Li Xuanba’s plan, Gao Jiong sent his eldest son, Gao Shengdao, back to the capital to assist Li Xuanba and supervise him to make sure he rested more.

There were plenty of people in court to handle affairs. Li Xuanba only needed to arrange for others to do the work.

Gao Shengdao had almost no personal relationship with Li Xuanba.

As Gao Jiong’s eldest son, he would one day inherit his father’s ducal title. He did not want his father to die early, so he acted as if he had no title at all and went out early to build his career.

Most sons of noble families received honorary posts and idled about in the capital. They disliked the restrictions of official positions. Even if they held office, they often shirked their duties, believing that low-ranking posts were beneath them.

Yet Gao Shengdao, as the heir of a duke, had started from being a county magistrate. When Li Shimin and Li Xuanba became Gao Jiong’s disciples, Gao Shengdao had already been serving as a prefect for many years. He had settled down outside the capital and rarely returned—sometimes only once a year. He had only heard about the two brothers through letters from his father and had always been curious about them.

After the Tang Dynasty was established, Gao Shengdao returned to Gao Jiong’s side. Now he and his younger brother, Gao Biaoren, were following their father in the campaign against Luoyang. Gao Jiong believed that his eldest son, having served outside for many years, was skilled in administrative affairs, so he sent him back to the capital. His third son, Gao Biaoren, had shown some military talent at Wagang Village, so Gao Jiong kept him by his side for personal instruction.

Gao Biaoren complained endlessly. Although he had worked hard during the struggle between Li Erlang and Li Sanlang for supremacy, he was actually carefree by nature and had no desire to become a great general.

Gao Jiong also had a second son, Gao Hongde. Because of Gao Jiong’s merits, he had been granted the title Duke of Ying. He had once served as secretary to Yang Guang, the Prince of Jin of the Sui Dynasty, and was considered one of Yang Guang’s confidants.

At the time, Emperor Wen of Sui trusted Gao Jiong greatly and regarded his family as loyal ministers capable of assisting several generations of emperors. Gao Jiong’s daughter married the deposed Crown Prince Yang Yong as a secondary consort. Yang Yong’s daughter, Princess Daning, married Gao Biaoren, Duke of Bohai. Gao Jiong’s second son, Gao Hongde, was made Duke of Ying and assigned to assist Yang Guang while he was still Prince of Jin.

Unfortunately, because of suspicions arising from the deposition of the crown prince, Emperor Wen grew wary of Gao Jiong. Caught between family and career, Gao Hongde became depressed and died young.

Because of these past wounds, Gao Jiong no longer wanted his family to assist Li Shimin’s sons. This time, sending Gao Shengdao back to the capital was not only to look after Li Xuanba, but also to have Li Xuanba mediate so that Li Shimin would not order Gao Biaoren to assist the crown prince.

Gao Jiong had already written to Li Shimin to refuse, but Li Shimin merely joked in his reply and insisted it was settled.

“I trust Teacher and Senior Brother. How could Teacher and Senior Brother not trust themselves?”

Gao Biaoren was deeply moved when he read the letter. Gao Jiong, however, gave his son a hard knock on the head and told him not to be fooled by such words.

Li Erlang was truly born to be an emperor—these polished phrases came naturally to him. If Gao Jiong had not already become immune to such rhetoric under Emperor Wen of Sui, he might have been stirred by that single word, “trust.”

Now? Better let Li Xuanba educate Li Shimin’s crown prince.

Besides Li Xuanba, who else would dare, when disagreeing with Li Shimin about educating the heir, to scold both the crown prince and his father together?

No one but Li Xuanba was fit to be the crown prince’s teacher.

After showing off his new clothes to Gao Jiong, Li Shimin again brought up the matter of appointing Gao Biaoren as the crown prince’s tutor.

Originally, he had wanted Gao Jiong himself to take the post, but Gao Jiong said that since he had once taught the deposed Crown Prince Yang Yong, it was inauspicious. So Li Shimin thought that having Senior Brother teach his son, with Teacher giving guidance behind the scenes, would work just as well.

Gao Jiong again refused and emphasized that only Li Xuanba was suitable for the role.

Li Shimin sighed. “I thought so too, but A-Xuan refused. He said that once the world is at peace, he wants to travel with his siblings and live as a wealthy idle prince. Who has the patience to help me raise children? I couldn’t argue with him, and Mother sided with him. It’s not that I look down on you, Senior Brother—A-Xuan is definitely my first choice!”

Gao Biaoren said speechlessly, “You didn’t have to say that last sentence.”

Li Shimin grinned. “Hehe.” He had done it on purpose.

Gao Biaoren turned and left. Li Erlang and Li Sanlang had always liked teasing people since childhood. At times like this, the best response was to ignore them and leave quickly. Once they found it boring, they would stop talking nonsense.

After Gao Biaoren left, Gao Jiong’s brows knitted and relaxed several times. Finally, he helplessly glanced at Li Shimin, who was still silently grinning mischievously.

“My third son doesn’t really have the talent to be Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince. You insist on pushing him into that role because you’ve seen through my psychology. You know I’ll get involved in your clash with Dade and help persuade him to educate the crown prince for you.” Gao Jiong sighed. “Aren’t you afraid Dade will get angry, scheming against him like this?”

Li Shimin replied, “I scheme against Teacher, and Teacher doesn’t get angry. By the same logic, A-Xuan won’t get angry either.”

He chuckled again and said, “We’ve been playing mind games with each other since childhood. Teacher doesn’t need to worry.”

Gao Jiong recalled the days when the still-childish Li Erlang and Li Sanlang studied under him.

He sighed helplessly once more. “That’s true.”

Li Shimin put away his mischievous smile and said seriously, “I know A-Xuan is lazy. If it weren’t for these chaotic times, he wouldn’t move a finger. But in the future, I’ll be exhausted—how can he slack off? I’ll be buried in paperwork while he travels and sends me letters about how much fun he’s having. Absolutely not!”

Gao Jiong rubbed his forehead. “I thought you were going to say that since you’re the emperor, your most trusted brother should naturally be your right-hand man, the one you trust most.”

Li Shimin shook his head. “I trust a lot of people. Fang Xuanling, Du Keming, Xue Bapao, and Senior Brother Gao—I trust them all. Any of them can serve as my right-hand men. Wei Xuancheng is doing quite well now too, and I’m about to fully trust him as well. I’m not stopping him from slacking off for no reason. Brothers share both blessings and hardships. He wants to sneak off by himself? No chance! Even Fifth Brother isn’t allowed to slip away! Everyone stays in the capital!”

Gao Jiong: “…”

In the end, he could only hold his forehead and say nothing.

Fine. You’re the emperor. You decide.

After confirming Li Shimin’s true intentions, Gao Jiong reached an agreement with him and helped persuade Empress Dou.

With that matter temporarily settled, Gao Jiong casually brought up the situation in Luoyang.

After arriving in Luoyang, Gao Jiong cut off its grain routes. Every day he cooked outside the city, ate his meal, and then tried to persuade them to surrender. He did not attack the city.

When Luoyang fell earlier, some court officials had been unable to escape in time and were forced to stay behind to serve there.

Every few days, Gao Jiong would knock on the city gates and tell the defenders that they could exchange grain for the former Sui officials inside the city.

Yang Xuangan naturally refused. But inside Luoyang, there was more than just Yang Xuangan’s faction—there were also many minor bandit leaders.

Although these bandit leaders nominally submitted to Yang Xuangan and acknowledged him as their “alliance leader,” they had not handed over their military power. Each still acted independently.

Luoyang lacked food, and they had little regard for former Sui officials. In order to fill their stomachs, these bandit leaders were already looting and plundering within the city, causing widespread resentment among the people.

Yang Xuangan wanted to stop them, but he could not control the starving troops.

Knowing the situation in Luoyang, Gao Jiong used grain to exchange for former Sui officials whose family wealth had already been drained. The bandit leaders were more than willing and even laughed at Gao Jiong for being foolish.

“Most of the capable people under Yang Xuangan are nobles from great Sui families. The officials who were ruined by these bandits were once their colleagues—naturally, they will feel sympathy when they see this. By doing this, I make them realize that Yang Xuangan cannot protect them, while Great Tang treats former Sui officials with leniency. After defecting to Tang, they can still remain people of status.”

Gao Jiong stroked his beard and smiled.

“After Your Highness ascends the throne, hold a special examination and allow these surrendered officials to participate. That will be your act of grace toward them.”

The “special examination,” also called the “extraordinary examination,” was usually not about selecting talents from scratch, but about reassessing officials. It covered laws, military affairs, and many other fields, emphasizing practical ability.

Its prototype dated back to the Western Han. Under the Recommendation System, after candidates were selected as “filial and incorrupt,” they had to gather in the capital for further examinations before receiving official posts.

Gao Jiong’s meaning was clear: official positions should go to the capable. If someone lost to others, it was their own lack of ability—they could not blame Tang for being unkind.

Li Shimin laughed. “Fang Xuanling is already working on reforming the special examination. He’s extremely irritated right now. He says Du Keming and the others are so busy their feet barely touch the ground, while the court supports a large group of hereditary officials who do nothing. He wants appointed officials to outrank hereditary ones.”

Gao Jiong said, “Don’t rush it. Proceed step by step.”

Li Shimin cupped his hands. “This student understands.”

Gao Jiong sighed. “Emperor Wen of Sui forced the Northern Zhou emperor to abdicate. He didn’t win the realm entirely by himself, so he had to compromise. If you want to reform the official system, you must be cautious—and also make sure you complete it during your reign. Except for founding emperors who conquered the realm themselves, it is very difficult for later rulers to change the system. The burden on your shoulders is heavy.”

Li Shimin nodded. “That’s why A-Xuan absolutely can’t run away.”

Gao Jiong held his forehead. “Stop bringing up Li Dade! I understand how you feel! No need to repeat it!”

Li Shimin revealed his signature bright, wide grin.

(^▽^) Hehe!

Most of what Gao Jiong and Li Shimin discussed concerned reforms of the official system. They barely talked about Luoyang’s military situation.

Neither of them regarded Luoyang as a serious problem.

The city walls were solid, and a direct assault would cause heavy casualties. But why attack head-on? The Central Plains were basically pacified, and Luoyang was now surrounded by Tang territory—an isolated city.

There was no farmland inside the city. As long as Gao Jiong surrounded it, how long could it last?

On his first day in Luoyang, he calmly arranged for soldiers to reclaim and farm land nearby.

Back then, Yang Guang had forcibly moved people into cities to suppress unrest, allocating nearby fields to them.

There was little unclaimed land outside the city. Most relocated civilians became tenant farmers, or even sold themselves as servants.

But regardless of ownership, with so many people farming, the suburban fields of Luoyang were well developed.

Now that Luoyang was besieged and stubbornly refusing to surrender, those fields would inevitably be confiscated and redistributed later.

Before Luoyang was taken, they were simply unassigned “public lands” of Tang. Gao Jiong led his troops to farm them.

The irrigation conditions near Luoyang were excellent. The weather last year and this year had been warm. Some civilians had even secretly gone out to plant crops. After arriving, Gao Jiong replanted winter wheat, which was now nearly ripe.

He had already prepared soybean seeds. After harvesting the wheat, the soldiers would sow spring soybeans, restoring soil fertility and gaining another harvest.

Long-term warfare could not rely solely on court logistics. Military farming was crucial. After Gao Jiong helped Sui unify the realm, he spent most of his remaining years confronting the Turks on the frontier, where farming was equally vital.

From the city walls, Yang Xuangan and his men saw soldiers outside working enthusiastically in the fields. The wheat grew taller day by day, turning into a golden expanse that almost reached the city gates. Their hearts sank.

With Tang’s strength, they could have stormed Luoyang if they wished. Yet this old fox Gao Jiong actually looked as if he planned to spend another year farming outside the city, without the slightest worry about pressure from the court.

Why isn’t this old bastard dead yet? How can he still lead armies?!

When they heard Gao Jiong was attacking Luoyang, the bandit leaders had foolishly failed to grasp the seriousness of the situation. Yang Xuangan’s subordinates were deeply worried.

Now their fears had come true.

Gao Jiong intended to starve them to death—without losing a single soldier.

They tried to rush out of the city to seize grain, but Gao Jiong had long been prepared. No matter which gate they opened, there were always troops he had already assembled waiting outside.

What was even more infuriating was that Yang Xuangan and many of the rebel leaders stood on the city walls watching, only to see Gao Jiong concentrate his forces to drive them back, while the rest of his men continued farming in the distance.

No one believed that Gao Jiong could predict their moves so precisely. Everyone assumed that there must be traitors inside the city feeding him information.

The rebel leaders claimed that the spies helping Gao Jiong must be former Sui aristocrats. They intensified their looting of wealthy households and accused Yang Xuangan’s subordinates of all being traitors.

Yang Xuangan’s followers, in turn, accused the rebel leaders of having no principles and of being fence-sitters. Moreover, many of the strongest rebel chiefs of the former Sui had already defected to Li Shimin. Most of the rebel leaders now in Luoyang were allies or former subordinates of those men, making them the most likely spies for Li Shimin.

Clashes broke out inside the city. At night, many people secretly tied ropes to the gates and slipped out to surrender.

Gao Jiong accepted all who came. He reorganized them and assigned them to persuade others to surrender at the gates, while he himself continued stockpiling supplies and farming. Even when he heard that turmoil had broken out inside the city, he still did not seize the chance to attack Luoyang.

“I’m worried that if I attack, they’ll really surrender,” Gao Jiong said anxiously. “You’re still on the steppe—what if you can’t make it back in time?”

Li Shimin laughed helplessly. “If they surrender, then let them. It’s only the Eastern Capital. Whoever takes it makes no difference. It doesn’t have to be me.”

Gao Jiong replied, “It would be best if both the Western and Eastern Capitals were taken under your command. That way, when you reform the old Sui system in the future, you’ll have more authority.”

Gao Jiong was truly worried that Luoyang would surrender too quickly, so even the spies inside the city firmly supported holding out to the end.

Luoyang had lasted this long thanks entirely to those undercover agents diligently pacifying the people, as well as Gao Jiong’s secret grain supplies.

Cui Yixuan, the highest-ranking spy in Luoyang, from the Qinghe Cui clan, wrote to Gao Jiong saying that if he still did not attack soon, Cui himself would end up replacing Li Mi as Yang Xuangan’s chief strategist. If that happened, he feared he would be executed alongside Yang Xuangan.

When Li Shimin read Cui Yixuan’s letter, he almost laughed himself sick.

“Is Li Mi really that useless?” Li Shimin laughed. “Didn’t he claim to be Yang Xuangan’s chief adviser? I even heard he had the makings of a traitor who would devour his own master. How did he end up being sidelined?”

Gao Jiong replied, “If he had joined some other rebel leader, his Longxi Li clan background might have earned him respect, and he could have slowly hollowed out his superior’s power through his aristocratic status. But Yang Xuangan’s subordinates are all of similar backgrounds—there are plenty of noble sons among them. Li Mi has no real advantage there.”

Li Shimin said coldly, “He was the one who ordered the fire in Hedong. I’ll kill him myself.”

The man who carried out Li Mi’s orders was Han Shi’e, Duke of Xinyi Commandery, heir of the famous Sui general Han Qinhu.

Li Jing was Han Qinhu’s nephew, and thus Han Shi’e’s cousin.

Han Shi’e was Yang Xuangan’s foremost warrior. Whenever Yang attacked a city, Han was usually the first to climb the walls. When Yang Xuangan seized Luoyang, he thought it was the start of his glorious rise. Who would have thought that before he could fully secure control, Li Shimin had almost pacified the entire realm?

By the time he came to his senses, only an empty Luoyang remained in the Central Plains.

After proclaiming himself emperor, Yang Xuangan distributed what little real power he had mostly to his own relatives. Though Han Shi’e had been a commandery duke under the Sui, had rendered great service to Yang, fought beside him through life and death, and remained loyal during his darkest times, his status was now even worse than before. He was deeply dissatisfied.

Meanwhile, Li Jing was favored and promoted by Li Shimin, while Han Shi’e was suspected by Yang Xuangan and stripped of his command. So Han fled.

Before fleeing, Han Shi’e wrote to Li Jing, saying that Li Shimin and Li Xuanba would surely learn one day of his role in setting the fire and pursuing Li Xuanba. He begged Li Jing to plead for mercy for the Han clan and spare its collateral branches from collective punishment.

By the time Li Jing received the letter, Han Shi’e had already vanished. Li Shimin was so angry he stamped his feet.

In these chaotic times, Han Shi’e could easily change his identity and blend into the common people. Even if Li Shimin posted notices in every commandery and county, he could not possibly find him. All he could do was let him escape.

As for the rest of Han Qinhu’s clan, neither Li Shimin nor Li Xuanba were the kind to take revenge on innocent relatives. They had already intended to spare them.

They had long guessed that Li Mi was behind the plot, and that Han Shi’e—then Yang Xuangan’s only major general—had probably been used as a hired hand. Since they did not blame Li Jing, Han’s cousin, they naturally would not blame the rest of the family either.

Gao Jiong said helplessly, “I’m afraid Li Mi might open the gates and surrender. If that happens, you won’t be able to kill him. But if, after he surrenders, we tell him that Han Shi’e has already betrayed him, he’ll surely defect again. Then you can kill him.”

Li Shimin frowned. “Why make things so complicated? I’ll rest one day and attack tomorrow! I won’t give Yang Xuangan any chance to surrender!”

“Alright,” Gao Jiong agreed.

Li Shimin slaughtered cattle and sheep to reward the troops. Then, wearing his dazzling new outfit, he swaggered beneath the city walls and personally informed Luoyang that he would attack the next day.

Despite presenting such a glaring target, not a single defender in Luoyang dared to shoot an arrow.

The generals behind Li Shimin were all deeply disappointed. They had been fully prepared to shield their lord with their bodies, but the defenders gave them no chance to earn merit.

When Li Shimin was challenging the city gates, Gao Jiong was farther away arranging the harvest.

Even with Luoyang about to fall, winter wheat still had to be reaped, and spring soybeans still had to be planted.

When Gao Jiong heard about it, he tore out several strands of his beard in anger.

Gao Biaoren sighed, “Second Young Master’s way of leading troops…”

Gao Jiong cut him off. “I never taught him that kind of strategy! He figured it out himself!”

Gao Biaoren: “…”

As expected, Li Shimin was thoroughly scolded by Gao Jiong. Even after becoming crown prince, he was still punished and made to write out in large characters: “A gentleman does not stand beneath a dangerous wall.”

Li Shimin suppressed his frustration, planning to vent it during the assault the next day.

But the next morning, just as he put on his armor, the gates of Luoyang opened.

Yang Xuangan had already fallen ill from anxiety after Luoyang became an isolated city. The day before, Li Shimin had challenged him outside the gates and mocked him. Supported by his younger brother, Yang went up to the battlements and saw the scene. He ordered his men to shoot, but no one dared draw a bow. Even his personal guards would not obey him. Enraged and overwhelmed, he collapsed and lost consciousness.

“Ahem, and then he suddenly died at midnight last night.”

Li Shimin was stunned.

He knew Yang Xuangan was ill, and he had even discussed with A-Xuan when Yang Xuangan might die so that Luoyang would fall without a fight.

But Yang Xuangan’s condition kept fluctuating. He never actually passed away. Sometimes, he could even put on armor and ride out of the city gates for a stroll, deliberately showing the Tang court that he was still alive. Because of this, Li Shimin and Li Xuanba had long since given up on hoping for his sudden death.

“How can it be like this?! How did he die just when I arrived?!” Li Shimin stamped his feet in anger. “Who led the surrender?! Don’t tell me it was Li Mi!”

Gao Jiong looked at Li Shimin with a complicated expression.

“The one who submitted the letter of surrender was Li Mi. Judging by the handwriting, he was probably the main author. In times of chaos, people fight to the death for their own masters—it’s normal. Since you’re willing to reuse enemy generals who once nearly took your life, you should also spare Li Mi. If he doesn’t rebel again, don’t make a move against him.”

Gao Jiong handed Li Shimin a handwritten letter from Li Xuanba.

Li Xuanba had anticipated that Li Mi might surrender, so he had prepared this letter in advance and kept it with Gao Jiong. If what he predicted happened, Gao Jiong was to give it to Li Shimin.

Why hadn’t he given it earlier?

That was Li Xuanba’s wicked sense of humor. It made him look brilliantly farsighted.

And yes—he had written that line at the end of the letter, which actually made the furious Li Shimin laugh.

Li Shimin chuckled helplessly.

“Forget it. Li Mi is arrogant. Banning his descendants from holding office for three generations will probably hurt him more than killing him.”

Of course, such a punishment wouldn’t appear in any public edict. Li Shimin would just decide it privately.

When he had sons and grandsons in the future, he would carefully warn them: if they ever dared to appoint Li Mi’s sons or grandsons, they would be unfilial.

Gao Jiong finally breathed a sigh of relief. He had truly feared that Li Shimin would execute Li Mi immediately and stir up new chaos in Luoyang.

According to the disaster charts Li Xuanba had compiled, the coming years would only grow harsher. Gao Jiong hoped that the Central Plains would not fall into further warfare, so they could focus on recovery and disaster resistance.

Li Shimin prepared himself to temporarily overlook Li Mi’s case. Wearing his dazzling new clothes, he put on a rare forced smile and comforted the already trembling surrendered officials of Luoyang—only making them even more nervous.

As soon as the Son of Heaven appeared, the defiant Yang Xuangan suddenly died.

This was truly “those who defy Heaven shall perish”!

Although they had surrendered now, they had surrendered too late. Even if Li Shimin—no, even if His Majesty—didn’t punish them, would Heaven punish them instead and make them die suddenly?

Coincidentally, the people of Luoyang had been starving for many days. Many civilians had died, and there was already an epidemic in the city. Some surrendered officials were carrying illnesses themselves. At the banquet, upon seeing meat for the first time in a long while, they ate and drank without restraint.

The next day, three sick men who had gotten drunk and overeaten passed away.

The surrendered officials and generals were terrified out of their wits.

Li Shimin was temporarily stationed in the palace complex. Early one morning, he got up to practice horse stance while reading. Halfway through his reading, he saw smoke drifting outside and thought there was a fire.

When he went out to check, he found crowds filling the area outside the palace gates. Not only surrendered officials and generals, but even commoners had heard rumors and gathered there, burning incense and kowtowing to the “True Son of Heaven,” praying that he would not punish them.

Li Shimin: “……”

I’ve never heard of burning incense when worshipping a True Son of Heaven!! I’m not a clay idol in a temple!!

Once again, Li Shimin was so angry in Luoyang that he stomped his feet.

But he couldn’t get angry over this.

After all, the surrendered officials and commoners recognized him as the True Son of Heaven and firmly believed Heaven would punish anyone who refused to acknowledge him as emperor. This was something every emperor in history would envy.

So he had to endure it.

He was extremely frustrated inside, yet still forced a smile to comfort the people, and used “fire safety” as an excuse to forbid them from burning incense and kowtowing to him.

Just when the suffocation in his heart was about to reach its peak—so much so that he even wanted to ride overnight to the capital and drag his brother out of bed to complain—a piece of good news finally made him smile.

“What? Li Mi escaped? And fled to the Turks?” Li Shimin laughed loudly. “Doesn’t he know I’ve already destroyed the Eastern Turks?”

Gao Jiong also laughed and shook his head repeatedly.

“He was trapped in Luoyang—how would he know you’d already defeated the Eastern Turks? All the rebel leaders had submitted to Xieli. He thought Xieli was still powerful enough to protect him against Tang.”

Li Shimin burst into laughter.

“Hahahahahahaha!”