LFHYB -Chapter 75 Li San Hatches a Golden Eagle Chick

Pei Shiju finally had some free time. Li Shimin and Li Xuanba also relaxed.

The two of them managed their shop, listened to Pei Shiju’s lessons, and with no friends to play with, they were even more idle than in Luoyang.

Zhangye lies in the middle of the Hetao Plain. The southern part is flanked by the Qilian Mountains, the central plain is vast, and the northern Longshou and Heli Mountains are low and gentle, stretching continuously. The scenery is magnificent and diverse.

Before the snow fell, Li Shimin and Li Xuanba, with their guards and local guides, toured the nearby sights of Zhangye.

They climbed the Qilian Mountains to watch the sea of clouds at sunrise on the cliffs, while Yang Guang performed sacrifices at Mount Heng, issuing a general pardon across the land;

They camped in the oasis to watch the Gobi sunset, while Yang Guang recruited over 10,000 falconers to train his favorite hunting hawks;

They met a wealthy horse trader and were invited to gallop across the grasslands with free-roaming horses, while Yang Guang appointed Right Wing Guard General Xue Shixiong as the marching commander to attack the Kingdom of Yiwu.

Yiwu corresponds to present-day Hami, Xinjiang, centered at 42° north latitude, with an elevation of 1,300 meters. Yang Guang ordered the campaign against Yiwu in the winter.

The Tuyuhun Khan held Fu Yuan Chuan, that is, Babao River in Qilian County, with its central region at 38°N latitude and an elevation of 1,800 meters. When Yang Guang ordered the halt of attacks against the Tuyuhun Khan, it was only August.

Xue Shixiong had originally arranged with the Qimin Khan to march together, but this Qimin Khan—who had been supported by the Sui—stood up the Sui army.

Xue Shixiong didn’t bother entangling with the Turks. Leading a lone army from Yumen, he crossed the desert and launched a surprise attack on the state of Yiwu. The people of Yiwu, already aware that Qimin Khan would not send troops and assuming the Sui army wouldn’t venture into the bitter winter alone, were completely unprepared. When Xue Shixiong reached the gates of Yiwu city, the entire country surrendered in fright.

Li Shimin, wearing a sheepskin cloak and a wool felt hat, rode a tall dark-gray horse, looking northwest: “The Sui army is extremely powerful. Even in the bitter midwinter, they can march to Yumen, cross the desert, and conquer Yiwu.”

Li Xuanba rode a chestnut-colored steed, wrapped tightly in a cloak, hat, and scarf made of lambskin, and even tucked a small portable heater into his arms.

He said, “Stop thinking about it.”

When news of Xue Shixiong’s attack on Yiwu reached Zhangye, Li Shimin had been in a foul mood. Li Xuanba had just invited a newly acquainted horse merchant friend to bring his second brother out to the grasslands for a break.

Unexpectedly, even the herds of fine horses and the open plains where one could gallop freely couldn’t lift his brother’s spirits.

Li Shimin shook his head. “I know thinking about it does no good, but I can’t help feeling uneasy. If it were me…”

He paused halfway, sighed, and muttered to himself: “Tuyuhun hasn’t been fully pacified yet, the vast fields of Hequ remain unconnected… What’s the point of crossing the desert to capture distant Yiwu? I can’t comprehend His Majesty’s strategy.”

Li Xuanba said, “Perhaps His strategy is simply ‘because I’m pleased,’ with no real plan.”

Li Shimin glanced at him.

Li Xuanba sighed. “Alright, I won’t brush you off. His Majesty’s strategy should be to open the Silk Road as it was in the Han dynasty. It’s just that he’s somewhat whimsical about where to start. Anyway, the entire Silk Road will eventually be opened, so starting from any node is the same.”

Li Shimin raised his voice: “The same?”

Li Xuanba replied, “His Majesty thinks so.”

Li Shimin fell silent.

Only when he saw the horse merchant riding over with a group of attendants from a distance did he speak: “It’s good we came here. Once I grow up, I’ll hardly get to come again. Only by seeing this place with my own eyes can I understand how to govern it.”

Li Xuanba adjusted his sleeves. Has his second brother already prepared to be emperor? How arrogant.

Li Xuanba said, “You’re overthinking. In the future, when you lead troops north and south, you’ll come here too.”

Li Shimin: “…”

He turned to his younger brother. “A-Xuan, listening to you, it seems that I’ll truly campaign north and south, as if I’m the only one running around. Mighty… cough, am I the only general? Wasn’t I only eighteen then? What about the other generals? There are quite a few capable veterans in the court, right?”

Li Xuanba said, “Even if you ask me that, I wouldn’t know how to answer. Anyway, we’re eleven now. Why not wait seven years and ask… that one yourself.”

Li Shimin rolled his eyes fiercely. If his brother said that, then when the rebellion happens, would he really be the only commanding general running all over the empire?

Rebelling at eighteen, crowned king at nineteen. What family has an eighteen- or nineteen-year-old commanding general? Forget the experience, even the knowledge wouldn’t be enough.

Doesn’t our Tang Dynasty have any other generals to use?!

“Li Erlang! Li Sanlang! Look what interesting thing I found!” a young, bearded horse merchant shouted gleefully.

Li Shimin forced a bright expression: “Brother Ye Hu, slow down, be careful.”

Ye Hu laughed: “I’ve lived on horseback since childhood, I won’t fall.”

Li Shimin raised an eyebrow: “You’re skilled at riding? Shall we have a contest?”

Ye Hu quickly shook his head: “Even my best riders can’t beat you; I won’t make a fool of myself. Whoa! Stop!”

Ye Hu’s horse stopped steadily in front of Li Shimin and Li Xuanba. Their horses didn’t move a muscle, showing no fear.

Ye Hu carefully took a bundle of rags from his bosom and unwrapped them. Inside were two bird eggs. “Guess what kind of bird eggs these are?”

Li Shimin said, “Golden eagle?”

Li Xuanba said, “Golden eagle.”

Ye Hu: “……”

Ye Hu couldn’t believe it. “How can your eyesight be so sharp? You can tell just by looking?”

Li Shimin and Li Xuanba exchanged a glance and laughed: “On this grassland, the only bird egg that would make Brother Ye Hu excited is a golden eagle. No other bird could make you this happy.”

Ye Hu laughed heartily: “Indeed, Li Erlang and Li Sanlang! Exactly so. Here, they’re for you.”

Li Xuanba said, “Thanks, Brother Ye Hu. Big brother, today I’ll cook you a bowl of noodles with an extra fried egg to taste the golden eagle egg.”

Ye Hu hurriedly said, “Hey! This is a golden eagle egg! Shouldn’t you first see if it can hatch?”

Li Xuanba replied earnestly: “The chance of hatching chicks from a nest abandoned by a pair of golden eagles is very low, and even if they hatch, raising them would be hard. If you want golden eagles, it’s better to buy a falconer’s trained bird.”

Ye Hu put the eggs back into his bosom: “Then I won’t give them.”

Li Shimin laughed so hard he couldn’t straighten up: “A-Xuan, don’t tease Brother Ye Hu. Don’t worry, I won’t let you eat the eggs.”

“Hmph.” Ye Hu knew Li Xuanba was teasing, but still pretended to look angry.

He took out the eggs again: “Li San, do you want them or not?”

Li Xuanba reached out: “Give them to me.”

Ye Hu carefully handed the eggs to Li Xuanba. Li Xuanba placed them by the heater.

After delivering the eggs, Ye Hu smiled again. “How’s my horse? Shall we do more business in the future?”

Li Xuanba said, “If you can maintain such quality horses, I can recommend you to His Majesty.”

Ye Hu: “……”

Ye Hu wiped the nonexistent sweat from his forehead and said awkwardly, “I thought just getting connected with the Duke Tang Mansion was already impressive, but… but… just by giving you a few horses, I can have an audience with His Majesty? This benefit is too great, I… I don’t dare accept it.”

Li Shimin smiled: “We make friends based only on personal affinity. If it were because of the few horses you gave, then anyone wanting to give us horses in recent days would be too many. Brother Ye Hu, it is your character that makes you a friend to the two of us, not the horses. Likewise, when we help you with recommendations, it’s only because you are our friend.”

Li Xuanba nodded.

Ye Hu put down his hands and sighed: “I know. A small favor like this could never tempt you. But I’m still nervous. I’m just an ordinary Uighur merchant, yet the Second and Third Lords of the Duke Tang Mansion consider me a friend.”

Li Shimin said: “I do not look at status when making friends.”

Li Xuanba said in mock annoyance: “If you keep being humble, then I’ll assume your character has declined, and you’re no longer suitable to be our friend.”

Ye Hu hurriedly said: “I am not being humble, absolutely not!”

He took a deep breath and said, “Are we really going to see His Majesty? I’m nervous.”

Li Xuanba said: “When His Majesty personally inspects Zhangye, my Second Brother and I will present him with fine horses and hunting falcons.”

Li Shimin smiled: “That’s the opportunity, understand?”

Ye Hu said seriously: “Understood! I will do my utmost to find fine horses and hunting falcons!”

Li Xuanba said: “Lord Pei will surely also be searching for fine horses and falcons. Act discreetly, and remember not to compete with Lord Pei.”

Ye Hu said: “Third Lord, rest assured. I know my limits.”

Li Shimin said: “Not just horses; if there are other rare treasures, you can search for some of those as well. I won’t hide it from you. When I first befriended you, I thought you were just an ordinary wealthy merchant. After these past few days on the grasslands, do you think Xuanba and I would believe you’re merely an ordinary merchant?”

He looked at the tall, imposing guards behind Ye Hu: “But you didn’t try to hide it from us, did you?”

Ye Hu pinched his nose and said sheepishly: “Anyone doing horse trade in Zhangye naturally has some status in their tribe. But although my surname is Yaoluoge, I’m just a minor branch. The main branches of Yaoluoge don’t come to trade anymore.”

Yaoluoge was the surname of the Uighur tribal leaders.

In the first year of Daye, the Yuanhe Uighur tribe allied with the Pugu and Tongluo tribes in an attempt to break free from Turkic control, collectively called the Uighurs by the Central Plains. They also referred to themselves as Uighurs.

At this time, the Uighurs were still under Turkic control. Only after the fall of Eastern Turkic did the Uighurs replace them.

Throughout the establishment, rise, and fall of the Uighur tribe, they generally maintained friendly relations with the Tang dynasty. After their fall, a small portion migrated west, while most moved south under Tang rule. The western migrants became the ancestors of the Uyghur people, and the southern migrants gradually sinicized.

Ye Hu was first befriended by Li Xuanba.

Li Xuanba became acquainted with Ye Hu because he noticed Ye Hu’s surname. He knew that Uighur leaders were from the Yaoluoge family, and that the still-weak Uighurs would eventually become allies of the Tang, so he kept an eye on Ye Hu.

Later, after inquiries, they found Ye Hu to be public-spirited and of good character, so Li Xuanba gave him the opportunity to become a friend.

Ye Hu knew none of this.

He also had no way of knowing that over a hundred years later, the Uighurs would establish a state. A minor Yaoluoge noble like him was worlds apart from the status of the two lords of the Duke Tang Mansion, and he could never guess that Li Xuanba deliberately sought to befriend him.

Li Xuanba’s method of befriending Ye Hu was natural. He brought his Second Brother to buy horses, did nothing himself, and his brother just praised the horses repeatedly. Ye Hu, delighted, brought them to see even better horses.

While viewing the horses, Ye Hu boasted to Li Shimin about the skill of his guards in riding. Li Shimin immediately said they should have a contest. That contest cemented their friendship.

The process of making friends was truly natural. Li Xuanba once again marveled at how useful his Second Brother “tool” really was.

For Li Shimin, he was genuinely befriending Ye Hu based on personal affinity, without mixing in any interest.

The Tang’s population, military, and technology could not control the Western Regions as they did the Central Plains. Supporting allied powers to help Tang guard the Western Regions was the best approach.

Historically, the Tang did support the Uighurs in this way.

Later, when Tang declined and could not even defeat Tibet, the Tang-supported Uighurs requested military aid when they were attacked, but Tang refused, handing over the Western Regions. Soon after the Uighurs fell, Tang itself was already a shadow of its former self.

The fates of the two were deeply intertwined.

From the Uighur perspective, Tang emperors could be harsh.

During the An Shi Rebellion, the Uighurs sent troops to help Tang reclaim the capital. But when the Uighur Khagan requested Tang troops to restore their state, the Tang emperor said, “Your own matter, I won’t interfere,” enraging the Uighur Khagan to launch self-destructive attacks on Tang.

At the time, the Tang emperor had his own difficulties: he could not even control the Central Plains, let alone send troops west.

After Li Shimin befriended Ye Hu, Li Xuanba sighed over the Uighurs’ eventual fall.

Li Shimin raised his fist and asked Li Xuanba if he wanted him to knock him out with one punch.

Though covering his mouth didn’t help, if he were knocked out, Li Xuanba couldn’t keep fretting in his mind, right?

Li Shimin had no desire to hear all the terrible events from the end of Tang while they were still in the Sui era.

They were still in the Sui dynasty!

Li Xuanba obediently shut his mouth.

When his Second Brother raised a fist, he really would strike. One could not expect mercy, especially when he was healthy.

Ye Hu, in gratitude to Li Shimin and Li Xuanba, wanted to give them more horses.

Li Shimin refused and joked: “You’ve already given us so many horses, we can’t even take care of them all. Forget it. We still have plenty of time together; you can give them slowly later.”

Hearing Li Shimin’s joking words, Ye Hu felt warmth in his heart.

The Second Lord’s words truly meant he wanted to be friends for life. Ye Hu was moved to the point of tears.

He was a noble from a small tribe, but in front of the nobles of the Sui dynasty, he was no different from a commoner. How could Li Erlang value him so highly?

Originally, Li Shimin had befriended Ye Hu, but he hadn’t planned on becoming close friends with him.

However, after hearing Li Xuanba’s words, Li Shimin felt a bit… embarrassed for Tang when it came to the destruction of the Uighurs. Sigh, even though Tang had trouble keeping itself safe at the time, it was still a little shameful in hindsight.

Li Shimin decided he would treat Ye Hu a little better and treat the Uighurs a little better. In the future, whenever Tang ate meat, he would make sure to give the Uighurs some broth.

Ye Hu, unaware that he had gained the favor of future generations, was deeply moved simply by how Li Shimin and Li Xuanba treated him as an equal, ignoring differences in status.

After Li Shimin politely refused the horses Ye Hu offered, Ye Hu still asked about the number of guards accompanying Li Shimin and Li Xuanba and gave each guard a fine horse in exchange.

These warhorses were extremely valuable in the Central Plains, but to the nomads of the steppe, they were just ordinary animals they raised daily.

Ye Hu felt that even fine horses couldn’t fully reflect the friendship between him and Li Shimin and Li Xuanba, so he decided to report the matter to the tribal leader and have the entire tribe work to build a friendship with Li Erlang and Li Sanlang.

An opportunity to be recognized in front of the Sui emperor was enough to make the whole tribe give their all.

Li Shimin and Li Xuanba stayed on the steppe for a few days. After Ye Hu sent them back to Zhangye, he bid them farewell at the city gate.

“Meeting the emperor is a serious matter. I must report to the leader and elders of my tribe,” Ye Hu said. “You should continue incubating the eggs. By the time I return, I hope you’ve already hatched the golden eagles.”

Li Xuanba’s expression turned strange. “Brother Ye Hu, I don’t think you need to wait to see how the eggs are doing when you return.”

Ye Hu was surprised. “What? Did you break the eggs?”

Li Xuanba silently pulled the small birdhouse made of cloth from his chest.

“Chirp, chirp.”

One bird poked its head out from the cloth.

Then another bird poked its head out.

Li Shimin and Ye Hu both widened their eyes. “Ah?!!!”

The two little heads immediately retreated back into the nest.

Li Xuanba quickly put the birdhouse back in his chest, worried that the newly hatched chicks might be scared to death.

“Keep your voice down!” Li Xuanba whispered. “The chicks are very fragile!”

Li Shimin craned his neck. “A-Xuan, take them out so I can see! Let me see!”

Li Xuanba said, “You’ll see when we get back.”

Ye Hu said, “I’ll set off again tomorrow! Come on, let’s go back quickly and see the golden eagle chicks!”

Li Shimin flicked the rump of Li Xuanba’s horse. “Move it!”

Li Xuanba pulled the reins while cursing, “Second brother, don’t whip my horse!”

Li Shimin laughed loudly and flicked the horse again. “Go! Giddy up!”

Li Xuanba’s steed broke into a run.

He cursed, “We’re in the city, giddy up my foot! Good horse, stop!”

Li Shimin laughed heartily.

Ye Hu couldn’t help but chuckle as he watched Li Erlang bully his younger brother.

He felt a little envious of the brotherly bond between Li Erlang and Li Sanlang. The brotherhood of steppe nobles… well, better not say.

…

“So these are the golden eagle chicks?” Pei Shiju leaned over the birdhouse, looking particularly comical.

Li Shimin and Li Xuanba had made a small birdhouse for the two chicks in their bedroom, with a stove around it and fur inside to keep it warm.

Because the chicks were very timid, the birdhouse had only a small hole for them to peek their heads out; others could hardly disturb them.

When feeding the birds or cleaning the birdhouse, they would simply lift the roof.

As long as it was just the two of them, the chicks were unafraid.

Pei Shiju had seen golden eagles before, but never freshly hatched chicks. Moreover, the origin of these chicks was extraordinary—they had hatched right in Li Xuanba’s chest.

“You’re incredibly lucky. How could you happen to get eagle eggs, happen to hatch them in your chest, and happen to have them be golden eagles?” Pei Shiju clicked his tongue in amazement. “No wonder you’re the famous twins—it’s miraculous.”

Li Shimin beamed proudly. “Of course, my brother and I have always been lucky.”

Li Xuanba said, “Indeed, very lucky.”

In fact, Pei Shiju didn’t believe it was purely luck that they had golden eagle eggs.

The horse trader who presented the eggs to Li Shimin and Li Xuanba surely used the excuse of “accidentally taking the eggs from a nest” to deliver eggs that were nearly ready to hatch. They just happened to hatch in Li Xuanba’s chest.

And indeed, when Ye Hu repeatedly told Li Xuanba not to cook the eggs because they were about to hatch, Li Shimin and Li Xuanba realized Ye Hu had deliberately given them eggs close to hatching.

Steppe nobles not only raised horses but also treated eagles as essential “partners,” just like fine steeds. Ye Hu himself was an excellent falconer.

He selected the best eagle eggs for Li Shimin and Li Xuanba, timing the gift to coincide with the eggs nearing hatching.

Even if Li Shimin and Li Xuanba hadn’t come to the steppe to ride horses, he would still have given them the eggs.

But that the eggs hatched in Li Xuanba’s chest startled even Ye Hu.

What a coincidence! Perhaps the Li brothers were under divine protection.

Steppe people revered golden eagles almost like messengers of the gods, and naturally, they looked at Li Xuanba—who hatched golden eagles—with special admiration.

Pei Shiju asked, “Have you considered giving these extraordinary golden eagles to His Majesty?”

Li Shimin immediately felt displeased.

The birds hatched by my A-Xuan—why should we give them to His Majesty? Does the emperor really need these chicks?

Li Xuanba said, “Given His Majesty’s kindness, if we give him the chicks, he would surely return them as a gift. Going back and forth is meaningless.”

Pei Shiju immediately understood that Li Xuanba was reluctant to part with the birds.

He said, “If His Majesty rewards them, the birds would become even more valuable.”

Li Xuanba shook his head. “That may be true, but if I know His Majesty wouldn’t want them anyway, giving them would just earn a false reputation for offering gifts and make me a flatterer. My brother and I are His Majesty’s nephews; we don’t need to flatter him. Gifts given to the emperor must come from genuine intention. I’ve already written to him boasting about the birds. When the golden eagles grow up, I’ll even take them hunting with him. I will definitely outperform His Majesty’s hawks then.”

Li Shimin said, “Your golden eagle definitely isn’t as strong as mine, that’s why I’ll win!”

Li Xuanba replied, “I may not be as good at hunting as you, but my golden eagle isn’t necessarily worse.”

Li Shimin snorted coldly. “I will absolutely win!”

Li Xuanba and Li Shimin started arguing back and forth, and Pei Shiju’s face grew a little hot.

What did they mean by flattery? Were there hidden meanings in their words?

But watching the two boys argue so innocently, Pei Shiju felt maybe he was overthinking. Li Xuanba respected him a lot and probably wouldn’t be speaking with a hidden jab.