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

Chapter 98 The Ring King's Disrespect for My Great Tang Dynasty
"Don't be anxious, Mr. Xu. Tell me slowly what's going on."

Wen He tried to comfort him, but Xu Jingzong suddenly grabbed his arm and pulled him into the main hall.

"I really don't know what to do about this. His Highness asked me to select one hundred men to form a hundred cavalrymen. Now that the men have arrived, how should we train them? I need your help, young master."

He looked distressed and bowed deeply to Wen He.

The latter quickly moved aside.

Don't assume that Xu Jingzong's constant use of the slang term "lower official" is just a matter of rank.

If Wen He really accepts this gift, it will likely become an excuse for her to be attacked in the future.

He didn't know if Old Xu was as recorded in later generations, but sometimes it's better to be cautious than to make a big mistake.

Besides, Old Xu is already quite old; it's inappropriate for him to give me such a grand salute.

"Lord Xu, I cannot interfere in this matter. Although His Highness has asked me to assist you, there are some things I cannot meddle in."

Without Li Shimin's decree, Wen He went to train a hundred cavalrymen on his own, which would surely arouse Li Shimin's suspicion.

Xu Jingzong was also grasping at straws in his desperation.

He probably wanted to achieve something before Li Shimin ascended the throne, so that the new emperor could see his abilities.

From this perspective, Lao Xu at least has self-awareness.

He wouldn't do anything reckless just to get good grades; instead, he came to ask Wen He for his opinion.

Upon hearing this, Xu Jingzong was stunned for a moment, then overjoyed: "Yes, yes, the county magistrate is right. I will go to the palace with you right away."

"what?"

Wen He was taken aback, then immediately understood.

I got scammed.

“Master Xu, what you’re doing isn’t fair.” Wen He immediately understood.

Xu Jingzong came to him not out of desperation, but because he was afraid that if he went alone, Li Shimin would reprimand him.

After being exposed, Xu Jingzong was not ashamed and smiled helplessly, "I come from a humble background and have finally caught Your Highness's eye. I am really worried that I will be reprimanded by Your Highness for my poor performance and lose this job."

"Okay, I'll just consider it me doing a good deed this time."

After all, Li Er had given him a lot of land for the sake of the Hundred Cavalry, so helping Xu Jingzong was also considered doing him a favor.

Xu Jingzong was overjoyed upon hearing this and pulled Wen He to leave the palace, not even giving him time to prepare a carriage.

Just as the two went out, they saw Wen Zhong rushing towards them.

For someone his age, it's remarkable that he can run so fast and with such a steady gait.

"Young master, someone from the palace has arrived. It's Huang Zhongguan in person."

Upon hearing this, Xu Jingzong and Wen He exchanged surprised glances.

As the top eunuch by Li Shimin's side, his personal visit must have been an urgent matter.

"Could it be for the sake of the Hundred Riders?" Xu Jingzong suddenly felt his legs go weak and cold sweat broke out all over his body.

He quickly looked at Wen He: "If His Highness scolds me later, please ask Young Master Wen to mediate."

"Lord Xu is overthinking it; I'm afraid it's not just a matter of a hundred cavalrymen."

If it were because of the matter of the Hundred Cavalry, Li Shimin wouldn't have sent Huang Chun to find him.

Xu Jingzong's concern has clouded his judgment.

He paused for a moment upon hearing this, as if he had come to a realization, and then said after a moment of contemplation, "Then I shall go with the magistrate. He can put in a good word for me then."

He smiled brightly, and to prevent Wen He from having a chance to refuse, he reached out to grab her wrist, but she took the initiative first.

Why do people in the Tang Dynasty all have this habit?

Upon arriving at the entrance, they saw Huang Chun standing beside a carriage, waiting with a beaming smile.

The carriage didn't look like Xu Jingzong's; it looked more like one from the palace.

"Oh, young master, you've finally arrived! I've been waiting for you for so long."

Upon seeing him arrive, Huang Chun eagerly went to greet him.

From the time Wenzhong went in to report until now, only a few cups of tea's time has passed.

Huang Chun has been kept waiting for a long time.

He even overlooked Xu Jingzong, who was not far away. "What happened? Why is the eunuch in such a hurry?" Wen He asked curiously.

Huang Chun didn't have time to explain: "Let's talk on the way. Let's go first."

He gestured for them to come, and a eunuch nearby brought over a stool.

Seeing his urgency, Wen He didn't ask any more questions and got into the carriage.

"Young master, your humble servant is here too!"

Seeing that he had left, Xu Jingzong quickly chased after him.

Huang Chuncai noticed him at this moment, asked Wen He inside the carriage what he meant, and then had the coachman stop the carriage.

"Thank you, thank you." Xu Jingzong got into the carriage, panting heavily. "This humble official is not good at running."

Wen He glanced at his belly, chuckled, and nodded: "I can tell."

Xu Jingzong didn't seem to mind, he just chuckled awkwardly twice, and then greeted Huang Chun again.

Why is Your Highness in such a hurry today?

Wen He was puzzled. Even if he was to be summoned to the palace to discuss the world situation, there was no need to rush.

They even specially arranged for a palace carriage to pick him up.

Huang Chun was somewhat embarrassed upon hearing this: "It's not that Your Highness is anxious, it's that this servant is anxious. Yesterday Your Highness was very angry, saying that Prince Huan was disrespectful to our Great Tang Dynasty and refused to provide grain seeds, so the envoys who went there returned empty-handed."

"The Lord of the Rings?"

Isn't that what later became Champa?

Is their king really that bold now?

But thinking about it carefully, it does make some sense.

After all, after the end of the Sui Dynasty, many warlords rose up and there was constant warfare.

The central dynasties lost control over the surrounding vassal states.

Especially after Yang Guang's three campaigns against Goguryeo all failed, those vassal states began to covet the Central Plains dynasty.

At this time, Li Shimin had not yet established his reputation as the Heavenly Khan.

The king of the Huan Kingdom probably thought that the Tang Dynasty was currently being held back by the Turks and unable to advance south.

"Your Highness, are you planning to start a war?"

Wen He said worriedly.

He feared that Li Shimin, in his rage, might actually send troops south.

It's not that the Tang Dynasty couldn't defeat the mere Huan Kingdom, but rather that there's no need to now, especially given the looming threat from the Turks.

Huang Chun kept quiet with a bitter expression.

What he just said was the most he could say.

If I were to elaborate further, it would be presuming to be on the emperor's mind.

This meant nothing to officials outside the capital, but for eunuchs, it was a capital offense.

Wen He immediately understood his meaning and didn't ask any further questions.

Xu Jingzong, who was sitting to the side, was greatly surprised.

He never expected that His Highness the Crown Prince would rely on this magistrate of Gaoyang County so much.

Such important national affairs are all discussed with him.

Xu Jingzong had never underestimated Wen He; otherwise, he wouldn't have been so obsequious at the housewarming banquet that day.

Gan Luo was only twelve years old back then, let alone Wen He today.

After entering the East Palace through Jiafu Gate, Wen He and Xu Jingzong dismounted from their carriage.

Huang Chun led Wen He directly towards Lizheng Hall, while Xu Jingzong had to wait there until Li Shimin summoned him before he could enter.

Upon arriving outside the Lizheng Hall, Wen He saw a familiar face standing at the entrance.

There's still four watches to go at 11 PM.

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(End of this chapter)