Sui and Tang Dynasty Generals

Chapter 69 Li Shimin's Regret
Two carriages slowly stopped outside the gate of the Zheng family mansion.

soon.

In the main hall of the Zheng family mansion, members of the Zheng family were sitting behind wooden tables.

"Jiancheng, Shimin! We, the Zheng family, would like to congratulate your Li family. Your father has led the army to pacify the Jiang County bandit leader Jing Pantuo and Chai Baochang, and has also pacified tens of thousands of bandits. He has won the favor of His Majesty!"

Zheng Yuanzhen said to Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin who were sitting across the main hall.

Li Jiancheng married Zheng Guanyin of the Zheng family and became Zheng's son-in-law. Therefore, the Zheng family treated Li Yuan and his sons as their own people.

"It's mostly because of the people of Hedong!"

The 26-year-old Li Jiancheng raised his hand and bowed to Zheng Yuanzhen, his expression and tone were very humble and polite.

"I heard that Shimin also went to Yanmen a few months ago?"

Seeing his mother and brother talking to Jiancheng, Zheng Yuanli looked at Li Shimin, who was younger than Li Jiancheng.

"To answer Uncle Shanyuan, Shimin did go to Yanmen! In the past..."

Compared with Li Jiancheng, Li Shimin spoke more frankly, and one could tell that he was a resolute, decisive and not fussy person.

Zheng Yuanli, whose courtesy name is Shanyuan, is different from Zheng Shanjia and Zheng Shanguo who are often addressed by their courtesy names. Zheng Yuanli always calls others by their given names when in public and only lets them call him by his courtesy name if he is very close to them.

Although Li Jiancheng was the son-in-law of the Zheng family, Zheng Yuanli liked Li Shimin more.

While chatting, listening to Li Shimin talking about the Yanmen Turks, and watching Li Shimin finally sigh and say that the current emperor should not break his promise to the soldiers guarding the border, Zheng Yuanli suddenly remembered Fu Zihou whom he met yesterday.

"It's a pity. If you had come here yesterday, you would have definitely seen a young man from the Fu family!"

Zheng Yuanli looked at the helpless Li Shimin with a smile. He had nothing to do anyway, so in front of Li Shimin's puzzled eyes, he told Li Shimin about Fu Zihou he met yesterday.

When he heard that a young man younger than himself was promoted to the sixth rank and given the title of Fenwu Wei.

Not to mention that Li Shimin suddenly became serious, even Li Jiancheng, who was talking with Old Madam Li and others, looked over here.

immediately.

Under the gazes of Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin, Zheng Yuanli slowly told the story of how Fu Zihou rescued Qinghe County in the past.

"Uncle! Where is this person?"

After hearing what happened, Li Shimin's face was filled with excitement and he looked at Zheng Yuanli eagerly. His body was slightly heaving, and it was obvious that he couldn't wait to meet Fu Zihou.

"My dear nephew, you are late. I am afraid that he has already left Xingyang with his uncle and headed for Huxian County!"

Zheng Yuanzhen said with a smile.

Thinking of the young man he met yesterday, Zheng Yuanzhen couldn't help but sigh.

"What a pity! If the young man from the Fu family has no marriage contract with the Li family, he would be interested in finding a girl from the Zheng family to marry!"

Zheng Yuanzhen thought back to the humble and polite young man from yesterday. He really liked that young man.

Although he came from a humble background, this could not conceal Zheng Yuanzhen's love for the young man. If there was no engagement, he even thought of finding a suitable girl from Zheng's concubine room to marry him.

In the main hall.

After hearing Zheng Yuanzhen's words, all the Zheng family members sitting behind the wooden tables fell silent.

Compared to Zheng Yuanzhen, other members of the Zheng family were much calmer. Although the young man was handsome, talented, good at martial arts and courageous, he could not hide his humble background after all.

At present, the young man is already engaged, and Zheng Yuanzhen was just talking, so no one in the Zheng family said anything.

"Shimin! If you have the chance, go visit him again! Our Li family has no connection with him, so it would be rude if we went there! What's more, we don't even know his likes and dispositions..."

As the elder brother, Li Jiancheng knelt behind the wooden table and looked at Li Shimin. He knew what Li Shimin was thinking under his silent expression, so he persuaded him softly.

Now his father was also planning big things. As the eldest son, Li Jiancheng also wanted to make friends with heroes and righteous men and find good generals to lead the troops.

But this is not a simple matter. At present, we still don’t know what kind of person Fu Zihou, mentioned by Uncle Zheng, is. He is young and it is not known whether he is reliable or not, not to mention that he has nothing to do with their Li family.

In Li Jiancheng's eyes, he should focus more on the Zheng family's connections.

"The people of the world know!"

Li Shimin looked at his brother and responded softly.

Seeing his brother nodded and continued to talk to the elders of the Zheng family, Li Shimin knelt behind the wooden table, feeling vaguely regretful.

Li Shimin knew that the other party had just left Xingyang. If he didn't catch up with him today, he would hardly have the chance to meet him again in the future.

But as my brother said, it would be a bit rude to chase after someone when there is no relationship involved.

Li Shimin knew that in his brother's eyes, what mattered more was background. Children of prominent families like Wei Ting of the Jingzhao Wei family were the ones his brother wanted to make friends with.

Li Shimin knew that his brother's idea was not wrong. To achieve great things, he could not do without the support of the aristocratic families. But in Li Shimin's heart, those who were talented and capable were equally important and no worse than those children of aristocratic families.

If one could suppress rebellions based solely on one’s birth, the world today wouldn’t be in such chaos today.

Li Shimin was very eager to meet the young man from the Fu family named Fu Zihou, who had the audacity to lead prisoners in Qinghe County, set up a false army, and raid the rebel Zhang Jincheng.

But now the other party has left Xingyang!

Thinking of the imperial edict that had ordered the young man to hold the seal and set off for Taiyuan Yingyang Mansion that day, Li Shimin sighed inwardly.

..............................

Huxian County. The snow at the beginning of the year has gradually shown signs of melting, frost is covering the branches, and the eaves are emitting a hint of cold air.

In the courtyard of an ancient and simple old house.

Led by an old servant, Fu Zihou followed his uncle Li Jingjie along the courtyard, around the house, and came to the bamboo houses in the back garden.

Then I saw an old man whose hair was almost turning gray.

"Father!"

Fu Zihou saw his uncle Li Jingjie bowing to the old man, so he also raised his hand towards the white-haired old man.

"Fu Zihou, meet Mr. Li!"

Fu Zihou said, then knelt down and saluted.

First, Fu Zihou is a descendant of the Fu family, and second, Fu Zihou is the grandson-in-law of the Li family.

"Get up!"

Li Gang, who was almost seventy years old, turned around and looked at his second son Li Jingjie, then at Fu Zihou when he heard Fu Zihou's name.

"Is your uncle okay?"

Li Gang looked at Fu Zihou and asked after he stood up.

It was completely different from what Fu Zihou had expected. Compared with Madam Li, Mr. Li's expression was completely serious. He had a stern face and spoke in a clear and crisp manner, as if no emotion could be heard in his voice.

"Grandfather is fine! I'm just worried about Grandfather Li. I asked Zihou to tell Grandfather Li that he has wine ready for him in Xin County!"

Fu Zihou raised his hand and said.

Looking at Mr. Li's expression, Fu Zihou had never been so nervous when he followed his teacher Liu Zhiyuan. He didn't dare to make any unnecessary movements, for fear that Mr. Li would be unhappy.

At first, Fu Zihou thought that after hearing what the old man said, Mr. Li would say something, but after a few breaths, Mr. Li showed no expression, as if he didn't hear it.

"Father!"

Fu Zihou looked at his uncle Li Jingjie standing beside him, and finally understood why Li Jingjie, a teacher, was so nervous when talking about his father, Mr. Li.

Inside the bamboo house.

As the servants left, Li Jingjie told his father everything about how Fu Zihou had brought back to Li's house the enemy who had killed his third brother, Xie Yan of the Xie family, and how Fu Zihou had lifted the siege of Qinghe County.

Old Li listened to the words of his second son Li Jingjie. After hearing the whole story, he did not show any expression because he had avenged his third son. Instead, he thought about it and looked at Fu Zihou.

"Don't be so reckless in the future. If it weren't for the fear of Qinghe Cui, I'm afraid Xie wouldn't have let you leave that day!"

Mr. Li instructed.

After so many years in the officialdom, Mr. Li's experience is naturally far greater than Li Jingjie's. Even if he only listened to what happened, he had already realized that Fu Zihou's initial plan almost led to his doom.

"Yes! Zihou will definitely remember it!"

Fu Zihou raised his hand and listened carefully to Mr. Li's instructions.

Ever since he met Zheng of Xingyang, Fu Zihou finally understood that if one does not have sufficient strength, he would be too insignificant in front of a county leader.

"Taiyuan is full of noble families, and most of the officials and generals form cliques for personal gain. It is difficult to gain a foothold without support. I am an old friend of the Wen family in Taiyuan. The three sons of my old friend, Wen Daya, Wen Dalin, and Wen Dayou, are all respected by the scholars. Tomorrow, when you go north, take my letter with you. When you arrive in Taiyuan, go visit the Wen family first!"

Mr. Li said, then stood up and walked towards the wooden table beside him, on which were the pens and inks he used to write in the past.

"Zihou, thank you, Mr. Li!"

Fu Zihou spoke.

Looking at the elderly Mr. Li walking to the wooden table, slowly kneeling down, and taking a pen to write, Fu Zihou could feel Mr. Li's concern.

However, when thinking of the Wen family of Taiyuan, Fu Zihou did not expect that Mr. Li and the Wen family of Taiyuan were actually old friends.

In today's world, in the eyes of countless scholars, the two families of Yan and Wen are the most famous for their literature and family education. There is a saying that the three Yans and three Wens are famous all over the world.

Yan was the third son of Yan Zhitui, and Wen were the Wen Daya, Wen Dalin and Wen Dayou mentioned by Mr. Li.

"Zihou, although Taiyuan is close to the north, with Mayi in the north, there should be no problem! Remember in the future, be careful in Taiyuan. If something goes wrong, save your life first!"

Li Jingjie also instructed Fu Zihou.

Li Jingjie didn't expect that once he brought Fu Zihou out, he would never be able to bring him back.

If I had known this would happen, I would have let Fu Zihou stay in Xin County for a longer period of time.

Now that Fu Zihou has become the commander of the Fenwu Army and is leading troops in Yingyang Prefecture in Taiyuan, he will probably have to wait a long time before he can go back, perhaps even until the next New Year.

"Zihou, remember this!"

Fu Zihou listened to his uncle Li Jingjie's instructions and raised his hand and nodded.

Hearing Li Jingjie's words that everything should be fine, Fu Zihou felt extremely resentful.

But for now we can only take one step at a time. If it really doesn't work, just like my uncle Li Jingjie said, we must find a way to save our lives.

Fortunately, during the New Year, I had already told my father everything that needed to be told.

With Old Madam Li around and the care of siblings Cui Yuzhe and Cui Wenjin, there will be no problems at home in Xin County.

　Wen Dayou was born into a family of scholars, the Wen family of Taiyuan. His father, Wen Junyou, was a scholar at the Wenlin Academy of the Northern Qi Dynasty and a military officer of Sizhou in the Sui Dynasty. In a good family environment, Wen Dayou not only had a father who was knowledgeable, but also had two older brothers, Wen Daya and Wen Yanbo, who were also well-read and intelligent since childhood. When they were still teenagers, their father's friends Xue Daoheng and Li Gang asserted that the three brothers "all have the talent to be ministers." [1]
　　
　
(End of this chapter)