Sui and Tang Dynasty Generals

Chapter 76 Li Shimin's regret, Li Yuan's pity. (6K)

"All wartime reserves in the city must be in good condition. In addition, all the wells in the city must be repaired and connected to the outer city trenches to prevent flooding..."

In the East City Barracks, Fu Zihou, along with Hu Jingyuan and Yin Tianzong, held a map of the city and supervised the soldiers in the barracks to prepare tools for defending the city, such as stakes and chevaux de frise. At the same time, they found the locations of all the dilapidated wells in the city and sent people to clear and repair them.

Fortunately, over the past few days, Fu Zihou's combination of kindness and severity, as well as his care for the soldiers in daily life, made the soldiers in the camp have no complaints about Fu Zihou's orders.

In the eyes of the officers and soldiers, they were originally soldiers, and there was nothing wrong with them obeying the orders of the generals. Fu Zihou was a captain who treated them sincerely. Therefore, even though they felt that these things were useless in Jinyang City, everyone was willing to work hard for this new captain.

Just like they all saw this new captain, constantly running back and forth between the West City for their affairs.

Although this young captain never said anything, as a soldier of Jinyang and a native of Taiyuan, how could they not know who was providing the money and effort behind their restoration of land and household registration?

They all remembered it in their hearts, but just didn't say it out loud.

The cold winter has gradually dissipated. Under the scorching sun, the soldiers busy coming and going in the barracks are all sweating. But as they chat and talk to each other, each of them has a smile on their face, and no one has uttered a word of complaint.

If they could return to the days when they had a registered permanent residence and were supported, they would be willing to do not only the easy work but also go to the battlefield.

You have to know that in the past, they also had to go to the battlefield, but the life they lived was so suffocating that compared to going to the battlefield on an empty stomach, they would rather be the dead under the knife with a full stomach.

Hu Jingyuan, Yin Tianzong, as well as Lai Bo, Zhou Xingyao, Ma Huer, and Wu Liuzi, the team leaders, are the ones who can best appreciate the changes that have taken place in the Dongcheng camp in recent days.

Looking at the young captain in front of him.

Over the years, they have seen all kinds of captains. Among them are captains who are greedy for money and pleasure, making all the soldiers scramble to curry favor with them. There are also some captains who are strict in giving orders, but they also live a hard life every day under that kind of oppression.

But in all these years, they had never seen a captain like Fu Zihou, who did things that were incomprehensible to others, and at the same time used the young Chicheng to influence all the soldiers.

They all saw with their own eyes that old men in the camp like Qiu Dahan, who used to have sullen faces and seldom spoke, now not only started to talk more in daily life, but were also willing to go down the well on their own initiative even when others didn't know how to clean the mud.

All this changed with the arrival of this young captain.

"Colonel Captain!"

"Captain!!!"

Suddenly, there were many sounds of horse hooves outside the camp. When Hu Jingyuan, Yin Tianzong and others looked over, they saw that it was the cavalry captain Wen Dayou who had arrived, and they quickly raised their hands to salute.

"Uncle Wen!"

When Fu Zihou saw Wen Dayou, he put away the map and saluted Wen Dayou.

Because they were both captains, Fu Zihou treated Wen Dayou with courtesy as a junior and called him uncle in front of everyone. Not only was there nothing wrong with this, but it also gave Wen Dayou enough face.

"My dear nephew! You are so confused!"

Wen Dayou hurriedly turned over and dismounted. Without even having time to return the greeting to Fu Zihou, he raised his hand and pulled Fu Zihou to the side. After looking at Hu Jingyuan, Yin Tianzong and others, he looked at Fu Zihou in front of him with a worried look on his face.

"You know, Pan Changwen has already submitted a letter to the emperor, reporting your request for transfer. Although there is no advice in it, my nephew is a Fenwu Wei, who was personally appointed by His Majesty... How could my nephew request to fortify the city and do such a thing!"

Wen Dayou's eyes were filled with anxiety, and then he spoke with confusion and helplessness.

Upon learning that Fu Zihou was Li Lao's grandson-in-law, Wen Dayou went to see Pan Changwen before leading his troops to leave and explained his relationship with Fu Zihou. Only then did he feel at ease to leave. He never expected that he would later learn that after he left, Fu Zihou not only dug canals, but also personally submitted a letter requesting to transfer reserves from Xicheng.

The repair of the city moat was acceptable, but what Fu Zihou did later was completely excessive. It might be okay for an ordinary captain, but Fu Zihou was a Fenwu captain, and this was Jinyang City.

How would the current Emperor Yang Guang feel about this? The Fenwu Wei, whom he personally appointed, actually behaved so cowardly in Jinyang, a strategic place in the country!
Wouldn't this give many villains in the world something to talk about, and make countless people in the world panic?

Why doesn’t this nephew understand?

Thinking of this, Wen Dayou felt helpless and a little self-blaming. He began to regret why he didn't leave Jinyang City later so that these things would not happen.

"Replying to Uncle, Zihou knows!"

Fu Zihou looked at Wen Dayou in front of him, who was exhausted and still had his clothes and armor on, and he couldn't help feeling warm in his heart, so he bowed to Wen Dayou.

"You know?"

Wen Dayou frowned and looked at Fu Zihou, suddenly feeling a little confused.

Since he knew this, why did Fu Zihou still do what he did before?

Thinking of this, Wen Dayou couldn't help but look towards the East City camp. There were wooden tools for defending the city everywhere, and busy soldiers everywhere.

"Uncle, don't worry. Zihou is prepared! Zihou still has something to ask of you!"

Fu Zihou did not tell Wen Dayou, but he sent people to deliver the letter to Xie Mansion in Luoyang and Cui Mansion in Luoyin City.

Although Fu Zihou could not guarantee whether the Xie Mansion and the Cui Mansion would be of any use in this matter, he believed that at least he could save his life no matter what.

Fu Zihou’s real method is actually Uncle Wen in front of him.

"Are you ready? Anyway! You say!"

When Wen Dayou heard what Fu Zihou said, although he couldn't understand it, he could only pray that it was true as Fu Zihou said. And since Fu Zihou had something to ask for now, it was just a good opportunity to listen to what else he had to say.

If Fu Zihou did anything stupid again, Wen Dayou decided to stop him no matter what.

"Whether Zihou is demoted or dismissed, please keep him in Xicheng! Even if it means he is in a prison cell in Xicheng!"

Fu Zihou asked Wen Dayou.

Leaving Taiyuan is impossible. Since Fu Zihou has done these things, he is prepared to take risks. Although he could choose not to take risks from beginning to end, looking at the ordinary people in Xicheng and the soldiers in the camp beside him, in Fu Zihou's eyes, this risk is worth it.

People have things they do and things they don't do. Fu Zihou wanted to live with a clear conscience, without letting down the people, and without letting others down. Since he was the captain of Jinyang, he couldn't watch the soldiers of Dongcheng die in vain.

"You!"

When Wen Dayou heard Fu Zihou's words, he sighed with disappointment on his face.

This is not being prepared at all, this is clearly planning for the worst!

Looking at the young Fu Zihou, Wen Dayou felt that Fu Zihou was still too young and did not understand things. It would have been better if he was older and given the title of Fenwu. He would not have been so foolish as to make these mistakes.

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

Luoyang.

In the prosperous and bustling city of Luoyang, a carriage, under the protection of escorts, slowly stopped in front of a mansion. After the servants and maids put the wooden stool away, the wooden door of the carriage was seen gently opened, and the figures of Guanyinbi and Zhangsun Wuji walked out of the carriage.

In the courtyard of the mansion, Li Shimin was holding a longbow and shooting arrows at a tiny target in the distance. As the arrow hit the target accurately again, he was about to continue to retrieve the arrow when he saw his wife Guanyinbi walking into the mansion accompanied by the maids in the mansion.

When Li Shimin saw his wife and Changsun Wuji coming back, a look of joy and excitement appeared on his face, but when he thought of something, he frowned again and continued to shoot arrows.

Changsun Wuji followed his sister and watched Li Shimin hit the bull's eye with his arrows one after another, but he never came over or even looked over here. He couldn't help but look at his sister.

I know that Li Shimin is already a little angry.

Guanyinbi gestured to her brother to wait here, and then walked to her husband Li Shimin alone. She looked at Li Shimin's handsome face where a beard had begun to grow, without any expression, and took an arrow and pulled the bow hard to release the arrow.

Guanyinbi looked at the arrow, which was slightly off the center of the target. She knew that her husband Li Shimin was not as calm as he appeared to be. So she reached out and took out an arrow without making a sound.

Li Shimin looked at the arrow that was not performing well and sighed slightly. When he was about to take the arrow, he saw his wife Guanyinbi, holding an arrow and looking at him silently.

"Still angry?"

Guanyin maid said softly.

"Why should I be angry? You and your brother should accompany your mother-in-law back. This is what you should do!"

Li Shimin looked at his wife's cheek and heard her speak. He knew that she was angry, and the resentment in his heart instantly dissipated a little, but he still had a stern face.

"But I didn't come back to celebrate your birthday with you!"

Guanyin looked at Li Shimin and told him the reason why Li Shimin was angry.

Li Shimin looked at Guanyinbi, and when he heard this, his anger almost dissipated instantly. At least his wife Guanyinbi remembered his birthday and did not forget it. There must be some reason, or it might be because of her mother-in-law, that she did not come back.

"You must be very tired after traveling all the way. Go and rest with Wuji!"

Li Shimin picked up the arrow from his wife's hand and put it aside with the longbow. As his wife spoke, his tone and eyes revealed his concern.

"Don't you want to know why my brother and I didn't come back earlier?"

Guanyin looked at Li Shimin, and the love in her eyes was evident as she spoke.

In Guanyinbi's heart, there is no other man in the world who can compare to her husband Li Shimin. It is also because of Li Shimin that Guanyinbi has always been grateful to God for giving her such a good husband.

Guanyinbi knew that ever since Li Shimin's mother passed away, Li Shimin would think of his mother every day and feel sad. He wanted her to be with him, but this time, she was not there, and he must be sad alone.

If she had not been in Xin County at that time, and was afraid that her brother was alone and would not be good at explaining, Guanyin would have wanted to come back.

It was because she loved her husband Li Shimin so much and knew what he wanted that Guanyinbi chose to stay in Xin County.

Unfortunately, in the end, the young man did not come back.

Thinking of this, Guanyinbi felt both regretful and deeply guilty towards her husband.

yard.

Li Shimin listened to Guanyinbi's words with some confusion, and then looked at Changsun Wuji who was walking over.

"Shimin, my sister and I met someone in Xin County. You will definitely be interested in this person and you will definitely like him!"

Changsun Wuji raised his hand to salute Li Shimin, then said with a smile.

"Who?"

After Li Shimin returned the greeting to Changsun Wuji, he looked at his wife and then asked Changsun Wuji.

Changsun Wuji glanced at his younger sister, then looked at Li Shimin with a smile on his face.

"Shimin, have you heard about the siege of Qinghe County by the thief Zhang Jincheng?"

Changsun Wuji did not say it in a hurry, but kept it a secret.

After hearing what Changsun Wuji said, Li Shimin nodded slightly. Of course he knew about this matter. You know, the last time in Xingyang, if he hadn't gone a little later, he would have met the man named Fu Zihou.

For a long time, this incident was a regret in Li Shimin's heart.

Li Shimin was a little surprised to hear what Zhangsun Wuji said. "Do you know that Fu Zihou?"

Li Shimin looked at Changsun Wuji and his wife Guanyinbi curiously.

"Not only do you know him, but you also know..."

Guanyin Bi saw her husband Li Shimin looking at her, and saw that his husband Li Shimin became more and more confused as he listened, with a frown on his face. She knew that Li Shimin had been aroused by his brother's curiosity, so she did not let her brother continue teasing him.

"When he sees you, he has to call you uncle!"

Guanyin maid whispered to Li Shimin.

"what?"

When Li Shimin heard what Guanyinbi said, his eyes widened and he looked at his wife in surprise, then looked at Changsun Wuji, somewhat doubting his ears.

"He's going to call me uncle?"

Li Shimin was a little confused at this time. What did this mean?

Later, from Guanyinbi's narration, Li Shimin finally learned that Fu Zihou's wife was the niece of his wife Guanyinbi.

Hear about everything that happened in Xin County, especially Dou Jiande's visit to Li's house.

"Why... didn't you send someone to tell me earlier!"

When Li Shimin heard his wife's words, his expression instantly became as interesting as it could be.

The regret that he had suppressed with great difficulty all these days was now filled with regret after he learned about his relationship with the young hero and what happened in the Li Mansion in Xin County.

If I had known that I had this kind of relationship with that young man, I would have ridden my horse to catch up with him and keep him in Xingyang that day!
Looking at his puzzled wife and Zhangsun Wuji, Li Shimin wished he could go back to the past, and then he told them in brief what had happened in Xingyang.

After saying this, Li Shimin shook his head.

"Come to think of it, you didn't know he would leave Xin County so soon, and later he was ordered to go directly to Taiyuan..."

Li Shimin knew all this, and he could not blame his wife and Zhangsun Wuji. No one knew that so many unexpected changes would occur.

"I will tell my father about this first, and I will go to Taiyuan tomorrow!"

The more Li Shimin thought about it, the more uncomfortable he felt. He could not care less at the moment. The young man who was related to him was now serving as a captain in Taiyuan. He was in charge of the troops in Taiyuan. He had to tell his father about this, and he had to go to Taiyuan.

Guanyinbi and Changsun Wuji did not expect that the young man would pass by Li Shimin in Xingyang, so they thought about it, watched Li Shimin walking towards the main hall of Li's Mansion, and followed behind him.

In the main hall of Li Mansion.

Li Yuan, who had just left court, was listening to his eldest son Li Jiancheng talking about things in Wannian City when he suddenly saw Li Shimin, Guanyinbi, and Zhangsun Wuji walking towards him in a hurry.

Afterwards, when they heard Li Shimin's words, Li Yuan and Li Jiancheng, father and son, were both surprised.

"What? He is Jilang's cousin-in-law!"

Li Yuan couldn't help but straighten his body and said with a frown.

Li Jiancheng did not expect that the young man he heard about in Xingyang in the past actually had this kind of relationship with his second brother and his wife.

"Father, Shimin wants to go to Taiyuan tomorrow!"

Li Shimin said to his father Li Yuan.

"I am coming too!"

Changsun Wuji looked at Li Shimin, and then told Li Yuan that he had met Fu Zihou in Yan County and could introduce him to Li Shimin.

"late……"

Li Yuan frowned, shook his head, looked at Li Shimin and Zhangsun Wuji, then thought of Fu Zihou, and a look of regret appeared in his eyes.

According to the second son Li Shimin, the young man named Fu Zihou who led the troops in Jinyang should have been a great help to the Li family.

But unfortunately, nothing can be done now.

Seeing the puzzled looks on Li Shimin and Zhangsun Wuji's faces, Li Yuan told them what happened in the court today.

"Fu Zihou was just appointed as the Fenwu Wei and went to Jinyang to take up his post. He then repaired the city moat in the east city of Jinyang and started to store grain to protect the city! Today in the court, officials headed by Yu Shiji and Feng Deyi all criticized Fu Zihou for damaging the reputation of the Sui Dynasty. His Majesty was furious. If it weren't for Lord Xie and Lord Cui speaking out to defend him, he would have been convicted and demoted! But now, His Majesty has sent Minister Jiang Baoyi to Jinyang. If this matter is confirmed, Fu Zihou will still not be able to escape the blame!"

Li Yuan also felt secretly regretful, but it was of no use at the moment.

"what?"

"Build a canal in Gucheng, Taiyuan?"

After hearing Li Yuan's words, not only Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin, but even Changsun Wuji were all surprised.

At this moment, Changsun Wuji couldn't help but think of the young man he met in Li's Mansion in Xin County in the past.

Is he crazy? How could he think of building a canal in Gucheng, Taiyuan?

Now the bandits are all far away, and Taiyuan County needs to send troops to other counties to help encircle and suppress the rebels. What's the point of building canals and defending the city in Taiyuan and Jinyang?

"Father, is there any chance of redemption?"

Li Shimin looked at his father anxiously and asked.

"Yes! Father, since this person is related to Erlang, if we can protect him, our Li family will be able to intervene in Taiyuan!"

Li Jiancheng frowned and looked at his father, asking softly.

Although it is not known why the young man named Fu Zihou wanted to build a canal to defend the city, Lord Cui and Lord Xie spoke for him in the court. In addition, Fu Zihou had a relationship with Erlang. If Fu Zihou's power could be preserved and his men could continue to command the troops in Taiyuan, it would also be beneficial to the Li family.

"It's too late!"

Li Yuan shook his head, with some helplessness on his old face, and then looked at his second son Li Shimin and eldest son Li Jiancheng, who both looked worried.

"Besides, two years ago, my father's behavior of making friends with many heroes had already made His Majesty suspicious. It has only been better in the past two years. Now facing this matter, my father must not speak easily, otherwise it will inevitably be suspected of winning people's hearts and arouse His Majesty's suspicion! However, looking at the actions of Lord Xie and Lord Cui in the court today, I believe that they will find a way to deal with it during this period. It is hard to say whether Fu Zihou will be demoted or dismissed, but his life should be safe!"

In Li Yuan's eyes, not to mention that it was too late now, even if it was still in time, Li Yuan would not easily speak for Fu Zihou in the court, otherwise not only would he arouse Yang Guang's suspicion, but Fu Zihou would also be affected. However, Li Yuan also told Li Shimin and Li Jiancheng not to worry too much, as this matter would not cause the young man to lose his life.

"Why is he in Jinyang Fortress?"

After watching Li Shimin and others finish their conversation, Changsun Wuji frowned and sighed, he didn't expect that after finally meeting Li Shimin, such a thing would happen at this time.

"young people……"

Li Yuan shook his head and did not take the matter to heart. It was indeed impressive that the young man could defeat Zhang Jincheng in Qinghe County and be awarded the title of Fenwu Wei, but his performance in Jinyang was enough to show that he was still young and inexperienced. He did not know the significance of Jinyang, let alone the situation in the world.

When Li Jiancheng heard his father's words, he nodded.

But at this moment, a voice was suddenly heard.

"Dad! I feel like this matter might not be that simple!"

Under the gazes of Li Yuan, Li Jiancheng, Zhangsun Wuji, and even Li Shimin, Guanyinbi spoke softly.

"When I was in Li's mansion in Qian County, I heard Cui Luxing, a counselor under Dou Jiande, talking about the incident in Wanqiu. At that time in Wanqiu, Fu Zihou observed from the city gate. Combined with the Xie family's banquet, he deduced that there were thieves who wanted to take advantage of the Xie family's banquet to attack the city, and guessed that the leader of the thieves was Lu Mingyue who had disappeared for a year!"

Guanyinbi analyzed to everyone softly that in her eyes, perhaps Jinyang’s affairs were far from that simple.

When Li Shimin heard his wife's words, he nodded thoughtfully.

But Li Yuan still shook his head.

"I heard Jiancheng say this! But Taiyuan is different from Huaiyang, and Jinyang is different from Wanqiu. My daughter-in-law, you have never been to Taiyuan, and you don't know that there are Mayi and Yanmen counties to the north of Taiyuan, and Xihe and Linfen counties to the south. No thief dares to invade!"

Li Yuan smiled and did not blame his second daughter-in-law for expressing a different opinion. Instead, as an elder, he explained the reason to her.

When Li Jiancheng and Zhangsun Wuji heard Li Yuan's words, they both nodded, thinking that Li Yuan was right.

"Earlier in Huaiyang, I could see that he was young and intelligent, but that young man is not Zhang Liang after all, who has the ability to plan and strategize. I don't know that the terrain of Jinyang is not without hidden dangers even if there are tens of thousands of thieves!"

Li Yuan looked at Guanyinbi's face and knew the stubborn nature of his second daughter-in-law, so he told Guanyinbi directly that based on his understanding of Taiyuan County, even if there were tens of thousands of bandits, it would not have any impact on Taiyuan.

This is why Lishi County and Jiang County were plagued by bandits, but Taiyuan County had never had any.

In the main hall.

Guanyin Bi watched her father-in-law talking to her elder brother Li Jiancheng, and did not say anything else. She just thought of the amazed tone she heard from Cui Luxing at the Li Mansion in Xin County.

Thinking of the young man that Cui Luxing mentioned in the past and his current actions in Jinyang, Guanyin Bi always felt that the young man was not as her father-in-law and other people thought, young and ignorant of the situation in the world.

Li Shimin knelt behind the wooden table, noticed his wife's expression, and guessed that she must still believe in the young man.

Looking at his father, Li Shimin felt rationally that his father was right. But turning to look at his wife, his understanding of her made him realize that his wife was very good at judging people.

Li Shimin sighed. Fortunately, now was not the time to argue about this. What was more important was to find a way to protect the young man.

Li Shimin was never a person who could plan ahead like Zhang Liang, Marquis of Liu, as his father said, but he was a person who would solve problems without hesitation when encountering them.

Since the young man is my cousin's son-in-law, I must help solve this problem no matter what.

If it is not an ordinary situation, some people can be sent to Jinyang to spread the news, but at the moment, the most important thing is the cousin's son-in-law, who was the Fenwu Wei appointed by Emperor Yang Guang himself.

It is definitely not too late to go to Jinyang now. The key is that here in Luoyang, my father cannot speak out, and people like Pei Shiji and Feng Deyi are deliberately targeting him, so it will definitely not work in the court.

Then there is only one last chance, Jiang Baoyi!
Thinking of this, Li Shimin made up his mind that before Jiang Baoyi returned to Luoyang, he must find a way to convince Jiang Baoyi with enough confidence. At the very least, he had to make Jiang Baoyi's words lean towards Fu Zihou.

Then wait for Jiang Baoyi on his way back.

　Note: In ancient times, having a beard was considered beautiful, and it was often said that a man without a beard would not look good.

　　Li Shimin's talent on the battlefield was far superior to his other talents. Before and after becoming emperor, Li Shimin also made wrong judgments and had times of regret.

　　What makes people like Li Shimin is that he cares about the people of the world. He will listen to the unpleasant words that other emperors don't like for his entire life.

　　When he died, all officials wept bitterly and people from other ethnic groups vied to be buried with him, but this honor was lower than that of Fengshan.

　　Li Shimin was not a perfect man, but he was definitely a respected person and the best choice in the world at that time.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)