Tang Dynasty: A Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls for Li Er at the Start

Chapter 312 Within two years, destroy this breakfast!
"roll!"

Inside the Lizheng Hall, Li Shimin slammed the memorial in his hand onto the table, his face contorted with rage.

"This mere Japanese nation doesn't deserve to be greeted by a hundred riders!"

He glared angrily at Li Daozong in front of him.

Startled by the angry shout, Li Daozong shrank back and quickly apologized.

Then he quickly covered his head and fled from the Rissei-den Hall.

As he left, he muttered to himself, 'It's just borrowing a few hundred cavalrymen; why is His Majesty so angry?'

After Li Daozong left, Li Shimin picked up the cool tea on the table, took a big gulp, let out a long sigh, snorted, and said.

"That Lee Seung-beom is really something, deliberately trying to make me restless! Doesn't he know that Wen Jiaying hates Japan the most?"

"Send a hundred riders to greet them? That's hardly a greeting; they'll probably tear them apart!"

Li Shimin grew angrier the more he thought about it. If he really sent the 100 cavalrymen, given Wen He's hatred for Japan, he would probably not see the unharmed Japanese envoys, but rather their decapitated corpses.

"Your Majesty, the Prince of Rencheng just came from the Hundred Cavalry."

Gao Yue cautiously reported back, afraid of offending the emperor.

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin immediately chuckled, his anger subsiding slightly, replaced by a knowing look: "I knew he wouldn't dare bring up such an absurd matter. That brat has probably already rejected him, so he's come to me to try his luck."

He shook his head, no longer dwelling on the little incident, and picked up the memorials again to review them, though a hint of displeasure still lingered between his brows.

On the other side, after Li Daozong slunk away from the palace, he didn't rest but instead started to ponder.

Since he couldn't borrow a hundred riders, he decided to find a way himself.

He was, after all, a Left Guard General.

Immediately, he turned his horse around and went straight to the Ministry of War.

"You want to train troops?"

Inside the Ministry of War, Li Jing was intently studying a military map when Li Daozong entered. After learning his purpose, Li Jing frowned and stared at him with sharp eyes.

It's the dead of winter now, and most of the soldiers in the various garrisons are "hibernating" in their camps, conserving their energy. Why bother with training?

If it were anyone else, Li Jing might not have thought much of it, but the person in front of him was a prince of the imperial family, surnamed Li.

Not long ago, two members of the Li clan were executed for treason, so he had no choice but to be vigilant.

"Don't worry, Duke Dai, I'm not going to do anything outrageous."

Li Daozong noticed the scrutiny and wariness in Li Jing's eyes and quickly explained.

"Isn't it because we're welcoming the Japanese delegation the day after tomorrow? I wanted to make sure the troops were in good order so as not to embarrass our Great Tang, so I thought I'd give them a quick drill. Please don't overthink it."

Upon hearing this, Li Jing hesitated for a moment, tapping his fingers lightly on the table, and pondered, "With only two days, what kind of skill can be gained by cramming at the last minute?"

"It's Wen Jiaying's method of standing training. It's simple and easy to do. I want to try it. At least it will make the troops look more orderly."

Li Daozong said with a smile, his tone somewhat dismissive.

Upon hearing this, Li Jing remained silent for a while, seemingly weighing the pros and cons.

Wen Jiaying's methods of training troops?

Li Jing had witnessed the training of the Hundred Cavalry before and naturally approved of it.

But he didn't think he could master it in just two days.

But it's worth a try, since we're only facing Japan anyway.

"How many people do you need?" Li Jing finally relented.

One hundred will suffice.

Li Daozong held up one finger, speaking casually.

"It's just a hundred soldiers. I don't think the Duke of Dai will make things difficult for me."

In fact, given his status and authority as the Prince of Rencheng, he had the power to mobilize one hundred soldiers even without coming to the Ministry of War.

He was only here to go through the motions and put Li Jing at ease.

Li Jing didn't make things difficult for him. He picked up a pen, signed his name on the transfer document, stamped it with the Ministry of War's seal, and handed it to Li Daozong: "Go, and don't cause any trouble."

"Thank you, Duke Dai!"

Li Daozong accepted the document with a beaming smile, quickly cupped his hands in farewell, and hurriedly left the Ministry of War, as if afraid that Li Jing would change his mind.

However, after Li Daozong left, Li Jing instructed his personal guards, "Prepare the carriage and come with me to the palace."

The guard was somewhat puzzled: "Duke of Dai, it's just the mobilization of a hundred or so soldiers. Is such a trivial matter really necessary to report to His Majesty?"

Li Jing gazed calmly out the window, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable solemnity: "When it comes to the military, there are no small matters. Although Li Daozong is a prince of the imperial family, the troop mobilization must ultimately be known to His Majesty, just in case. It is best to report everything in full."

The reason I didn't refuse Li Daozong earlier was to save face for the imperial clan, and also because the number of Hundred Cavalrymen was small and didn't touch the core of military power.

However, reporting to the palace at this moment was simply the duty of a subject as the Minister of War.

Any military transfer, even a temporary one, should be reported to the Emperor.

Shortly after, inside the Rikjeong Hall.

When Li Shimin heard that Li Jing was requesting an audience, he frowned slightly, thinking that an urgent report had come from the northern frontier that the Turks had taken advantage of the cold winter to invade the border. He quickly called out, "Quickly invite the Duke of Dai in!"

Unexpectedly, after Li Jing entered the hall and paid his respects, he spoke of Li Daozong's borrowing of the palace troops to train soldiers to welcome the Japanese delegation.

"He certainly knows how to stir things up." Li Shimin was taken aback at first, then chuckled and shook his head.

"They're just a hundred or so soldiers. Let them go. Consider it a chance for them to get some training."

He put down his vermilion brush, looked at Li Jing's still solemn expression, and suddenly smiled, "Since the apothecary is here, don't be in such a hurry to leave. I'm a little hungry, and the imperial kitchen just stewed some mutton. How about we have a drink together?"

Li Jing initially wanted to refuse.

Serving a ruler is like serving a tiger; this prince commands even more awe than the tiger in his own home.

Before he could speak, Li Shimin raised his hand to stop him.

"We cannot refuse today."

Li Shimin's tone carried a certain undeniable intimacy.

"It has been a long time since we, ruler and subject, have had a hearty drink together. I still remember the strong liquor we drank together in the military tent before we divided our troops in the third year of Wude when we conquered Luoyang. Afterwards, you pacified Xiao Xian and assisted Prince Zhao in stabilizing Bashu, making great contributions. I have not been able to have a proper talk with you for many years, so please do not refuse today."

A hint of warmth flashed in Li Jing's eyes as he recalled the years of war.

The Battle of Luoyang was also the only time he fought alongside Li Shimin.

The Prince of Qin I met back then is now the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty.

Recalling the past, Li Jing couldn't help but feel a little emotional. Seeing Li Shimin's expectant gaze, he no longer declined, stood up and bowed: "Your subject obeys the decree."

"Today there are no rulers and subjects, only you and me."

Li Shimin laughed and waved his hand, then personally stepped forward to help him to a seat.

Even so, Li Jing dared not lose his composure and maintained the respectful demeanor of a subject in every gesture.

The emperor and his minister toasted each other, discussing every turning point since the establishment of the Tang Dynasty.

After several rounds of drinks, Li Shimin's cheeks flushed, but his eyes became increasingly clear. He suddenly put down his wine cup, tears welling in his eyes, and reached out to grasp Li Jing's hand: "Does the apothecary know what my greatest regret is now?"

"I don't know."

Li Jing shook his head slightly, but a guess was already forming in his mind.

Li Shimin picked up the wine cup and personally filled it for him. Some wine spilled onto the table, but he was completely unaware.

Li Jing quickly cupped his hands in thanks: "Your Majesty, I thank you."

"Don't stand on ceremony."

Li Shimin pressed down on his hand, his voice suddenly becoming several degrees deeper.

"Does the apothecary know that Jieli, that scoundrel, suffered a crushing defeat in the battle of Huizhou, yet he still refuses to bow down and submit to me?"

He spoke the last few words with extra force, his knuckles turning white from gripping them so tightly.

"How utterly hateful!"

Li Jing's expression instantly turned serious, and some of the wine in his cup spilled out.

He suddenly understood.

Today, His Majesty invited him to drink wine, not to reminisce about the past, but to talk about his innermost thoughts and the great calamity hanging over the northern border.

Having understood this, Li Jing immediately stood up, cupped his hands, and said in a firm tone, "Your Majesty, Jieli has acted perversely and mistreated his people. He has long lost the hearts of the people and will eventually destroy himself under the will of Heaven. Once the Tang Dynasty has sufficient troops and provisions, I will request permission to lead an expedition and annihilate this scoundrel!"

"Of course, you are the one I trust the most."

A hint of satisfaction flashed in Li Shimin's eyes.

Li Jing quickly bowed.

His cautious and timid demeanor left Li Shimin quite helpless.

He chuckled inwardly, sighed deeply, and continued speaking.

"But I'm in a hurry! That brat Wenhe said that the destruction of the Turks will take three years, but I think that's too slow."

Three years is too long, long enough for Jieli to catch his breath and for him to lose the urge to kill Jieli.

He wished he could have Li Jing as commander-in-chief the very next day and crush the Turkic royal court.

Li Jing was taken aback, not expecting that this matter was related to Wen He.

He composed himself and slowly said, "Your Majesty, what the magistrate of Gaoyang said is not without reason. The Tang Dynasty has just experienced a great war, and the garrison troops need to rest and recuperate, and the grain and fodder need to be stockpiled..."

"I know all of this!"

Li Shimin interrupted him, his tone filled with unwavering certainty.

"I have money. My private treasury is now full of gold and silver. The previous corruption case has also added a lot of money to the national treasury."

"There's no worry about food either. The King of Rings' grain seeds will arrive in the spring, and with Wenhe's composting method, the Guanzhong granaries will be overflowing in just one year!"

He appeared drunk, but a cold glint flashed in his eyes, much like the resolute determination he had when he decided to launch the Xuanwu Gate Incident.

Li Jing was startled and suddenly understood.

His Majesty is selecting a commander, asking him if he dares to take on this urgent task.

"Your subject Li Jing is willing to serve Your Majesty with utmost loyalty!"

He suddenly stood up, lifted his robes, and knelt down, his voice echoing throughout the hall.

"As long as Your Majesty issues the decree, I will capture Jieli in Chang'an and make him dance for Your Majesty!"

Li Shimin immediately laughed, personally helped him up, and placed the wine cup in his hand: "Good! With your words, I am relieved!"

"I also promise you that within two years, you will have no worries!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Li Jing raised his cup and drank it all in one gulp. The wine went down his throat and brought him a sense of pleasure.

"You're not kidding me, are you?"

Inside Baiqi, inside the public house.

Huang Chun exclaimed in surprise, looking up at Xu Jingzong with a face full of suspicion.

Then he turned to look at Wen He, who was brewing tea.

Seeing him looking at her, she silently nodded and put down the parchment in her hand.

"Nine times out of ten it's true."

What he was holding just now was intelligence sent from within the Turkic territory this morning.

"What happened?" Su Dingfang asked, puzzled, as he entered and noticed the strange expressions on the three people's faces.

"Zhonglang, take a look at yourself."

Wen He handed over the parchment on the table.

Su Dingfang glanced at it and his eyes widened in surprise.

(End of this chapter)