LFHYB -Chapter 90 Endless Labor, Rebellion Across the Land

Li Shimin spent several days in a slump at home.

His slump consisted of daily reading and practicing martial arts. Even Lady Dou did not notice any lethargy; she thought Li Shimin had simply become more mature, less playful than before.

Li Zhiyun, however, noticed the change in his second brother.

After so long apart, it was strange that his second brother did not bully him at all upon seeing him.

He quietly asked Li Xuanba: “Did Second Brother get bullied by Elder Brother?”

Li Xuanba said: “No. When he went to Zhuojun, he witnessed the miserable state of the people forcibly conscripted for labor. He was angry but powerless, so he was in a bad mood.”

Li Zhiyun nodded, half understanding.

For children born into a duke’s household, the “misery of the common people” was too distant to feel personally.

Li Xuanba ruffled his fifth younger brother’s head: “Take advantage of Second Brother’s current mood. Since he won’t bully anyone, you can learn from him. This time he will teach seriously and won’t pick on you.”

Li Zhiyun hesitated: “Isn’t it better to comfort Second Brother?”

Li Xuanba chuckled: “Treat him as you used to—that itself is comforting.”

Li Zhiyun did not fully understand his third brother’s meaning, but his third brother was always right.

After leaving Li Zhiyun with Li Shimin, Li Xuanba returned to the Duke Tang Mansion. He assumed the responsibility of visiting and caring for his elder brother in place of the moody Second Brother and the young, fragile Fifth Brother.

Li Jiancheng fell ill soon after returning home. The atmosphere in the Duke Tang Mansion became tense, as the eldest legitimate son of the household was sick.

Out of both duty and compassion, Li Xuanba had to present the image of a dutiful younger brother, relieving his mother of some burden.

Lady Dou, worried that the physically weak Li Xuanba might catch the illness, originally did not want him to return.

Hearing that the epidemic in Zhuojun might spread, she left Li Zhiyun in the care of Li Xuanba and Li Shimin, and had Lady Wan take Li Yuanji, Li Liuniang, and Li Jiancheng’s concubine’s daughter to another estate, leaving herself at home to care for Li Jiancheng.

Lady Wan did not take care of Li Zhiyun, by her own request.

She preferred leaving Li Zhiyun in the care of Li Shimin and Li Xuanba so she could tend to Li Yuanji and the others.

Lady Dou noticed Lady Wan’s intention and tacitly agreed.

Li Xuanba said after hearing his mother’s concerns: “The physician has already diagnosed that Elder Brother does not have the epidemic, only fatigue. Though, to be safe, the youngest brother and Second Brother who have been to Zhuojun should not stay in the mansion, but if all brothers avoid the mansion, Elder Brother might feel sad. Besides, I cannot stand by and watch Mother bear all the labor alone.”

Lady Dou sighed: “You have always been dutiful to your siblings since childhood.”

She thought of how Li Xuanba had always cared for Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji, feeling both pride and unease in her heart.

Rationally, Lady Dou knew that in order to maintain harmony among her children, it was better for the more sensible and capable Erlang and Sanlang—Li Shimin and Li Xuanba—to yield, rather than the eldest son Li Jiancheng, who claimed the position of heir, and Li Yuanji, who never listened to reason.

Emotionally, however, Lady Dou constantly tore at her own heart, silently asking herself, “Why should it be this way?”

Li Shimin and Li Xuanba had grown up by her side. Even though all four children were hers, she naturally felt closest to Erlang and Sanlang.

But she was a mother and the matriarch of the Duke Tang Mansion; she could not act on feelings alone.

Lady Dou repeatedly persuaded herself to treat all her children equally and rationally, believing that this was ultimately best for the children and for the family. Yet every time she saw Li Shimin and Li Xuanba showing restraint—especially the frail third son, whose kindness toward his elder brother and younger sibling went unrewarded—her heart ached as if it were being torn apart.

She forced a smile, calm and gentle as always: “Xuanba is a good child; thank you for your effort.”

Li Xuanba replied, “With the servants attending to elder brother, I only need to give them a few instructions to keep them from slacking. It is no trouble. Mother, please rest; I am here.”

Persuaded by Li Xuanba, Lady Dou finally went to rest.

Li Jiancheng, seeing Li Xuanba tending to him, was not pleased.

He wanted to ask whether Li Xuanba felt a sense of pride seeing him return so crestfallen from Zhuojun.

Yet Li Xuanba had shown no hostility toward him. If he asked such a question, it would only reveal his own insecurity. So he swallowed the words, growing even more uncomfortable.

Li Xuanba pretended not to notice Li Jiancheng’s awkwardness.

After checking for any oversights among the household servants, he picked up a book and sat by Li Jiancheng’s bedside. “Brother, if there is anything you need, please let me know at any time.”

Li Jiancheng grumbled, “With the servants here, what is there for me to ask of you?”

Li Xuanba smiled faintly in response and lowered his head to read.

His calm demeanor only made Li Jiancheng more annoyed.

Li Jiancheng asked, “Is Erlang’s health alright? He’s been on the battlefield; he should be used to the conditions in Zhuojun.”

As soon as he spoke, Li Jiancheng regretted it.

Before Li Xuanba showed any malice, bringing up this topic himself made it seem as though he was jealous of Erlang.

Li Xuanba placed the book on his lap and looked up. “The battlefield is not the same as Zhuojun. Zhuojun hasn’t even gone to war yet. Second Brother was affected as well. I just didn’t want Mother to worry, so I didn’t tell her.”

Li Jiancheng did not know why, but a flicker of excitement rose in his heart. “Li Erlang is unwell too?”

Li Xuanba did not answer directly. “Anyone with a conscience would be distressed seeing the misery in Zhuojun. It is natural for brother to feel this way.”

Li Jiancheng murmured, “Natural, huh…”

A sense of melancholy welled up in him, and much of the resentment he had toward Li Xuanba faded.

Li Xuanba nodded. “Yes. Natural.”

This time, Li Xuanba truly had no intention of mocking Li Jiancheng.

Even if Li Jiancheng had faults, at least he had normal human emotions; seeing the suffering of the people gave him nightmares.

Li Xuanba’s attitude eased Li Jiancheng’s mind considerably.

He had not contracted any epidemic; it was merely a mental illness. With a lighter heart, his body quickly recovered.

Lady Dou thought it was Li Xuanba’s careful attention that allowed Li Jiancheng to recover so quickly. Later, when Li Xuanba returned to his other residence and had the usual minor illnesses during seasonal changes, Lady Dou felt even more guilty toward him.

Lady Wan returned to the Duke Tang Mansion with Li Yuanji and the others. Li Zhiyun seemed forgotten and continued to stay with Li Shimin and Li Xuanba.

Lady Dou no longer mentioned the matter of bringing Li Shimin and Li Xuanba closer to Li Yuanji while keeping them distant from Li Zhiyun.

Lady Wan secretly wiped her tears and cried with happiness.

It was only a minor chill; Li Xuanba recovered in just a few days.

Time had reached July. Corvée labor continued.

The common people could not cultivate their fields this year. Farmers sold to the nobles were exempt from labor, and the nobles’ estates were in full swing for summer grain harvest.

Near Luoyang, summer grains were mostly millet or soybeans. After harvest, farmers immediately tilled the fields and planted winter wheat.

The Duke Tang Mansion’s fields also yielded a good harvest, filling the granaries.

Li Xuanba used the rewards from Yang Guang and funds from Li Yuan to purchase many estates and farmlands.

Every household of commoners had its able-bodied men and women conscripted for labor, leaving only the old and young at home. No matter how hard they tried, they could not keep up with farm work, and the harvested grain was insufficient even for sustenance.

Yet taxes were still levied according to the land and number of people as before.

Many able-bodied peasants, even if they returned home alive, barely had time to enjoy being reunited with their families before facing the calamity of being unable to pay taxes.

This was the perfect opportunity for noble families and local elites to consolidate land and expand their number of slaves.

Li Xuanba had prepared money and grain in advance, sending his servants to buy estates and lands across regions.

When purchasing estates, he did so under the banner of “charitable estates” (yizhuang), offering more generous terms and more lenient “bonded labor” contracts for the able-bodied.

These workers only needed to serve in the estate for five years, paying annually the same grain and cloth as government taxes. After five years, not only did they regain freedom, they could also reclaim the land originally sold.

Li Xuanba had his servants spread the word that he was not buying land and laborers, merely “mortgaging” them.

He conducted all purchases under his and Second Brother’s names, with only their seals on the contracts, never in the name of the Duke Tang Mansion.

Although he had amassed a considerable amount of money and grain, compared to other nobles, it was a small sum, spread across regions and largely inconspicuous.

Moreover, due to poor communication between regions—inter-town correspondence measured in days—and the upper nobility’s indifference to the plight of the lower classes, these small acts drew no attention from other nobles, much less the court.

Even Li Yuan and Lady Dou knew little of the matter, at most aware that Li Xuanba had used his and Li Shimin’s funds to help some commoners.

Li Xuanba’s “charitable deeds” circulated only among the lower-class peasants.

Many commoners were waiting for “Li Erlang and Li Sanlang” to save them, even willing to forego a five-year contract and pledge their loyalty to the two “Bodhisattvas” for life.

Li Xuanba quickly spent all the money and supplies in his hands.

After all, he had the backing of the Tang Duke’s household, so running out of pocket money wouldn’t affect his or Second Brother’s standard of living.

When the teachers learned of this, they quietly sent Li Shimin and Li Xuanba additional money and supplies so they could continue to “lend and borrow” under the names of “Li Erlang and Li Sanlang.”

Young Lady Yuwen and Little Sister Changsun also sent gold and silver under their own names to support Li Xuanba and Li Shimin’s charitable acts.

The two young ladies did not realize that what Li Xuanba and Li Shimin were doing was not purely charity.

The teachers, however, knew Li Xuanba’s goodwill was not entirely sincere.

At the current rate of public discontent, in five years the realm would surely be in chaos. When Li Xuanba said that the commoners should leave in five years, they would likely be unwilling to do so. The expanded manpower and land would become the foundation for Li Xuanba and Li Shimin.

Moreover, with a “five-year” time limit, even if Yang Guang learned of this matter, he wouldn’t feel threatened by Li Xuanba and Li Shimin.

Compared to other noble families who directly annexed land and bought slaves, Li Xuanba and Li Shimin would “return” the land and slaves after five years—this was practically pure altruism.

The only concern the teachers had was whether Li Xuanba and Li Shimin would gain too much influence among the common people.

Li Xuanba dispelled their doubts in a letter: “In the emperor’s eyes, the common people don’t matter. Most ministers in court also look down on them. So any reputation we gain among the commoners is worthless in their eyes. They won’t feel wary of me and Second Brother.”

Yuwen Bi hesitated for a long time but eventually told Yuwen Zhu Li Xuanba’s true intentions, so she wouldn’t misinterpret his noble character.

Upon learning Li Xuanba’s intentions, Yuwen Zhu did feel a little down for a moment.

But then she remembered something Li Xuanba had once told her: “Judge by deeds, not by intentions.”

No matter what Li Sanlang’s motives were, what he did was good.

Moreover, aren’t these motives themselves a kind of “good deed”?

When the realm falls into chaos, these commoners would form the foundation of the Tang Duke’s household to resist the disorder, and the Tang Duke’s household would provide them protection.

Yuwen Bi also showed this letter to Yuwen Zhu.

After reading it, Yuwen Zhu remained silent for a long while before saying, “How can Sanlang say his goodwill isn’t pure? He sees the common people, values his reputation among them, and mocks the emperor and ministers for ignoring the people. Third Brother’s kindness toward the commoners is truly pure.”

Yuwen Bi nodded: “That’s just one of Sanlang’s quirks. Self-deprecation is his greatest flaw. You must help him overcome it.”

Yuwen Zhu said, “I’ll write him a letter praising him right away!”

Yuwen Bi chuckled: “Good, go write it.”

Watching his granddaughter so full of energy, Yuwen Bi felt mixed emotions.

Last year, his granddaughter was shy even to write a few extra lines about her own life in a letter. Now, was she perhaps a little too straightforward in expressing her feelings?

Ah well, straightforward is fine too.

When Li Xuanba received Yuwen Zhu’s letter, he would read a few lines, press the paper down, scratch his head awkwardly, then flip it open again, read two lines, and press it down while scratching his head.

Li Zhiyun, lying on Li Shimin’s back, whispered, “Third Brother, what’s wrong with him?”

Li Shimin said, “What else? Your sister-in-law must have praised him for everything in the letter, making him shy. That’s just who he is—he doesn’t care if others scold him, but genuine praise makes him uncomfortable all over.”

Li Zhiyun was astonished: “Really? Then I should praise Third Brother even more!”

Li Shimin said, “Yes, praise him more, let him get used to it. Hey, you’re almost ten years old, stop lying on my back like a little child—it’s heavy.”

Li Zhiyun said, “I’m not ten yet.”

Li Shimin muttered, “All because of A-Xuan spoiling him too much,” but still carried the little fifth brother on his back, leaving the study quietly so that Li Xuanba wouldn’t see and get embarrassed by their laughter.

Li Shimin truly didn’t understand why his younger brother developed such a strange personality. Doing good deeds but insisting they weren’t out of goodwill, and anyone praising him would make him feel like his life was in danger. As if, without wrapping himself in a layer of a “bad person” exterior, the sun would burn him to death.

Though the brothers weren’t particularly close, it wasn’t like they needed to pretend to be villains to survive, right?

By the time Li Xuanba finally finished reading Yuwen Zhu’s praise letter, sweat was beading on his forehead.

He wiped the sweat, wanting to explain to Yuwen Zhu that he really wasn’t as perfect as she wrote. But previously, when he tried to argue, Yuwen Zhu wrote an even longer letter of praise, so he didn’t dare explain anymore.

Li Xuanba let out a long sigh, feeling thoroughly troubled.

In the end, he wrote a letter urging Physician Sun to make a decision quickly and accept Yuwen Zhu as a disciple. Once she got busy, she might write less awkward praise and more about her medical studies in her letters.

After sending the letter, Li Xuanba continued to devote himself to building the “charity estate.”

Through Li Xuanba’s connections, Ye Hu sold grassland specialties in Luoyang and earned a lot of money.

With money came status. Ye Hu returned to his tribe and, after intense debates with the short-sighted Uyghur nobles, successfully brought all the money back to the Central Plains and fully supported Li Xuanba’s “charity estate” project.

Ye Hu said, “I don’t need to know your intentions, Dade. You only need to tell me what to do.”

Following Li Xuanba’s business advice during this period made Ye Hu realize the thrill of earning big money while letting his mind relax.

Li Xuanba then had Ye Hu purchase many pastures in the Hetao region to expand horse breeding.

“The emperor will need many warhorses to campaign against Goguryeo. I’ll find a way for you to become one of the suppliers of horses to the court,” Li Xuanba said. “Take this opportunity to expand and claim pastures. If you encounter troublemakers—even Turkic nobles—use the name of the Sui Dynasty to borrow troops and seize them. As long as you give the frontier generals enough incentives, they will assist you.”

Ye Hu exclaimed excitedly, “Seizing the Turkic pastures? Great! This leader will support it too! Watch me!”

Li Xuanba said, “Soon, I’ll send many strong young men to the stables. You’ll teach them horse care and mounted archery. I believe the Hu people’s archery skills won’t be inferior to the Turks’. All these men will be under your name—make sure you handle it discreetly.”

Ye Hu rubbed his hands together, eager: “You trust me so much; I won’t mess this up!”

Not only would he be raising horses, but also training strong young men in mounted archery? Ye Hu sensed Li Xuanba’s ambition and grew even more excited.

After Ye Hu left, Li Shimin sighed: “Riding horses sounds wonderful. I want to go too. Should I go to the grasslands and teach them mounted archery?”

Li Xuanba said, “There will be a chance eventually, but not now. You need to leave with me. We’re establishing the charity hall—how could we not show up, let them see what ‘Li Erlang and Li Sanlang’ actually look like?”

Li Shimin asked, “Have you prepared an excuse to leave?”

Li Xuanba said, “I’ve already persuaded our teacher. We have the recommendation letter suggesting a study tour.”

He smiled: “As sons of the gentry, how could we not go on a study tour?”

Li Shimin leaned back, hands behind his head, whistling: “Too bad we’ll be leaving Xiao Wu behind again. I’ll tell my father-in-law to help look after him. Xiao Wu is good at archery, so it’s perfect—father-in-law can teach him.”

Li Xuanba said, “Xiao Wu is good at calligraphy too. He can study under Teacher Yu, and you can send some extra money to improve Teacher Yu’s life.”

He pinched the bridge of his nose: “Teacher Yu refuses to accept gifts from us, so Xiao Wu should bring extra meat to class each time, to make life a bit better for him.”

Li Shimin laughed: “You really worry about everything. No wonder the teachers like you more.”

Li Xuanba put down his hand and said irritably, “Isn’t it because someone keeps arguing in class, making the teachers angry? Even if you disagree in your heart, don’t quarrel with the teacher.”

Li Shimin sighed: “I know I shouldn’t, but I can’t help it. I get carried away emotionally. Once I calm down, the words are already out. Next time, I’ll think before I speak. Next time, for sure!”

Li Xuanba felt a headache coming just hearing his younger brother say “next time, for sure.”

He looked forward even more to the Zhenguan era, to see his brother’s ministers writhing under him.

He couldn’t be the only one with a headache.

Using the teacher’s letter, Li Xuanba quickly convinced Lady Dou and left Luoyang overnight with Li Shimin. The speed was so fast it seemed less like a study tour and more like a night escape.

Li Shimin only thought Li Xuanba was anxious because he didn’t want to endure their mother’s endless reminders.

In truth, Li Xuanba was just racing against time.

The teacher’s letter had arrived too late—almost missing the right time. If they had missed it, by the time the flood of refugees broke out, their mother would never have let them leave.

Less than ten days after Li Xuanba and Li Shimin left Luoyang, autumn floods struck east of Xiaoshan and south of the Yellow River, affecting over thirty commanderies.

As Li Xuanba expected, Lady Dou wrote, urging them to return immediately.

Li Xuanba, claiming they had already gone far and fearing that desperate refugees coming to Luoyang might block the way, said they would stay in the city for now and return after the court had calmed the refugees.

After weighing it, Lady Dou considered Li Xuanba’s plan safer and agreed.

Li Xuanba breathed a sigh of relief when he saw his mother’s reply, muttering to himself: “This plan only has one last step now—convincing my brother.”

He looked at his thin reflection in the mirror.

It was now the seventh year of the Daye era.

Historically, he would die in the tenth year of Daye.

Since it was a death by illness, no matter how much he struggled, he might not survive this life-threatening ordeal.

The seventh year of Daye was almost over; if he couldn’t survive this calamity, he had only two years left to leave his mark in this world.

“Can’t come to Tang for nothing,” Li Xuanba said, placing the silver mirror on the table and standing up.

He had ambitions too.

…

Li Shimin’s voice rang out, high-pitched after entering his voice-breaking phase: “Are you crazy? You actually want to approach rebels?!”

Li Xuanba said calmly: “I’m not crazy.”

Li Shimin tore at his hair.

Since letting his hair grow, Li Shimin had always taken care of his hairstyle—no longer scratching his head like when he was a child.

“A-Xuan, little brother! I know you sympathize with those forced into rebellion, but once they’re rebels, they’re no longer ordinary people. If you sympathize with them, they’ll just want to kill you! They’re beyond saving! You can’t convince them! Even if they’re willing to turn back, the government won’t spare them!” Li Shimin urged.

Li Xuanba said, “I’m not trying to make them turn back. I’m going to teach them how to make this fire burn bigger.”

Li Shimin opened his mouth, jaw creaking almost dislocating.

Li Xuanba said calmly: “Second brother, do you know about ‘Blessed Hands, Blessed Feet’?”

Li Shimin shook his head.

Li Xuanba said, “‘Tang Huiyao’ annotation: ‘Since the end of Sui, with endless taxes and conscription, people could barely survive and some even harmed themselves, called Blessed Hands, Blessed Feet, to avoid service.’”

Li Shimin clenched his fists tightly.

Li Xuanba slowly smiled: “But do you know which record this annotation comes from?”

Li Shimin took a deep breath: “You said it—‘Tang Huiyao’.”

Tang.

Li Xuanba saw his brother’s expression trying to avoid the truth.

But this time, he didn’t stop “spoiling history.”

“In the sixteenth year of Zhenguan, July imperial edict: From now on, those who harm themselves will be punished according to law and still serve in labor and duties,” Li Xuanba said calmly. “Second brother, you are a good emperor. Looking at history, few emperors care for their people as much as you do. But some things—even you as emperor—cannot be avoided.”

Li Shimin wanted to cover his ears, but after raising his hands, he let them fall.

He sounded almost like he was questioning himself: “Seventeenth year of Zhenguan?”

Li Xuanba turned his gaze to the sky outside the window.

“The transition from Sui to Tang was too easy. Most land remained in the hands of the powerful, leaving little for the people. No matter how benevolent you are, river management, road repair, and defending against enemies all require labor. The fewer the people who own land, the heavier the burden of labor on the commoners.”

“And second brother, don’t you think it’s unfair? In this chaotic era, Yang Guang is responsible, but those noble families who depend on him bear no responsibility? Why is it that the people who cause chaos end up wealthy under a new dynasty, while the common folk must endure all the suffering?”

Li Xuanba withdrew his gaze, his tone still calm: “To create a prosperous era, it’s not enough for the emperor and a few conscientious ministers to know that ‘water can overturn a boat.’ Since you, second brother, have the ability to manage chaos, then let the chaos grow even greater. Let those at the top also feel the power of the people.”

Land consolidation cannot be stopped, and social systems will not change. But so what? Li Xuanba only wanted some people to feel a fraction of the suffering that commoners endure in chaotic times, and to allow more land to be available under the early Tang’s Equal-Field System.

He wanted the peasant uprisings at the end of the Sui Dynasty to spread further, their “threat” to grow, and the fire of rebellion to become more terrifying.

Li Shimin took a deep breath. “A-Xuan, have you gone mad?”

Li Xuanba asked in return, “Second brother, do you think I’m mad?”

Li Shimin scrunched his face up.

After a long silence, he asked, “Blessed hands and feet… did that really exist in the Zhenguan era?”

Li Shimin closed his eyes and gritted his teeth.

He breathed heavily a few times, then suddenly opened his eyes. “Damn it! Let’s do it! A-Xuan, I believe in you!”

He reached out his hand. “The two of us together, as brothers, must be stronger than the emperor you’ve seen in the Zhenguan era!”

Li Shimin exhaled deeply and calmly said, “If the people’s chaos grows worse, we have more opportunities. Perhaps we can even rise earlier.”

Li Xuanba’s eyes flickered.

From his second brother’s gaze, he saw not only pity for the common people and dissatisfaction with the future, but also a cold, ruthless rationality, and burning ambition.

Those destined to rule as emperor cannot be purely good.

He reached out and clasped fists with his brother, smiling lightly: “You’re right, second brother.”

Autumn, 7th year of Daye — floods in Shandong and Henan. In October, the Yellow River’s pillars collapsed, blocking channels, reversing the river’s flow, and worsening the floods. People were displaced.

Yet corvée labor continued.

Thus, the world revolted.

The chaotic end of the Sui Dynasty had begun.

Li Shimin and Li Xuanba organized a local militia. Once they gained recognition from the local government, they assisted official forces in moving from place to place, resisting rogue bands of civilians.

When Yang Guang received letters from Li Shimin and Li Xuanba, he praised the brothers for their courage and loyalty, and granted them the authority to independently deal with bandits.