My older brother said I'm invincible.

Chapter 196 Seeking Death
Yang Xuanzong realized his mistake and formally confessed his guilt to Li Mi.

The three discussed the matter again, but after a long time, Yang Xuangan still couldn't make up his mind.

When Li Mi left, Yang Xuangan asked Yang Xuanzong to personally see him off. Yang Xuanzong was also full of apologies and kept apologizing to Li Mi all the way, hoping that he could forgive his rudeness.

"It was not intentional; I was merely outraged by the treacherous actions of Li Yuan. Please forgive me, please forgive me."

Li Mi forced a smile, "It's alright, a few disputes are common."

The two chatted insincerely for a long time before Li Mi climbed into his carriage and quickly disappeared through the door.

Yang Xuanzong's face immediately fell, and his previous enthusiasm vanished.

Li Mi, who got on the bus, was the same; one could even see a hint of disdain in his eyes.

When Yang Su was still alive, Li Mi truly believed that he could achieve great things by following Yang Xuangan. In the period immediately following Yang Su's death, Yang Xuangan performed exceptionally well, dispelling the emperor's doubts, winning over many nobles, and successfully inheriting Yang Su's legacy, becoming a rising star in the court.

However, over the past year, Yang Xuangan's shortcomings have begun to surface.

His biggest flaw is probably his lack of determination. He is too easily persuaded and too good at changing his mind. This leads to them always being busy, but in the end, they don't achieve anything and are just wasting their time.

How can you be so indecisive when you've already decided to do something as important as rebellion?
Li Mi increasingly felt that this path might not work.

Yang Xuanzong, like Li Mi, was sitting next to Yang Xuangan, discussing Li Mi's affairs.

“This man, relying on his status, has repeatedly looked down on us. Even my elder brother is not respected by him. He always acts on his own initiative, talks big, and thinks that everyone else is stupid. He doesn’t listen to my elder brother’s orders, but instead makes my elder brother listen to him!”

Yang Xuanzong spoke in a low voice, almost asking, "Who is the master of the Yang family, you or him?"

Yang Xuangan interrupted his younger brother, saying seriously, "Li Mi is a man of great talent, and therefore a bit arrogant, but that's nothing. You are my brother, how can you try to sow discord in front of me?"

"Never mention this kind of thing again, and never discuss it with anyone else!"

Yang Xuanzong shut his mouth and bowed his head in agreement.

Yang Xuangan then told Yang Xuanzong about Zheng Jingang.

Yang Xuanzong was taken aback. "Brother, now that you know all this, why hesitate? Just do it now!"

Yang Xuangan shook his head and said, "What Li Mi said earlier wasn't without reason. Li Yuan is such a cunning person, how could he reveal such an obvious flaw?"

"I suspect this is a conspiracy by Li Yuan!"

Yang Xuanzong was at a loss for words. He pondered for a long time, then suddenly remembered something and quickly grabbed his brother's hand. "Brother, if you're worried about a trap, why not send someone else to test it?"

"Ok??"

“Brother, you’re not alone in the court. Why don’t we spread the word and let everyone know? Li Yuan has already offended many people, not just my family. Someone will definitely make the first move. We don’t need to get involved ourselves, and we can still deal with Li Yuan!”

Yang Xuan felt that his younger brother's words made a lot of sense, so he immediately put him in charge of the matter and rewarded Zheng Jingang handsomely.

As a result, within a few days, rumors about the Duke of Tang began to circulate in various places.

Upon hearing this news, Li Mi, who was secretly befriending warriors in Luoyang, was stunned and hurriedly summoned several trusted confidants.

When his trusted men arrived, Li Mi immediately ordered them to be prepared to flee Luoyang at any time.

Li Mi's confidants were completely baffled by this, but they still began preparations as Li Mi had requested.

Inside the main hall, Yang Guang stared at the map in front of him, his brows furrowed.

The battle at the front was not progressing smoothly. The supplies sent to the front were starting to shrink drastically before they even left Daxing. By the time they arrived at the front, there was hardly anything left. Yang Xiong mentioned this in his memorial to the throne, believing that someone was embezzling the supplies.

Yang Guang probably knew something about this, and he even considered going there personally to supervise the battle. The great battle was underway, and those rats in the country dared to embezzle grain and supplies. If this delayed the war and caused the army to return empty-handed, he would definitely not let them off the hook.

During this time, some ministers advised him to find a capable and experienced general to be in charge of the grain and supplies, and they all mentioned Yang Xuangan. However, Yang Guang was not very willing to use Yang Xuangan because of Yang Su's influence, and because he himself wanted to weaken the powerful nobles of Guanzhong. Yang Guang was still somewhat wary of Yang Xuangan. He could use him, but he had to keep him by his side and not send him to the provinces easily.

Because of Li Yuan's previous actions, Yang Guang had a new idea in mind. Perhaps he didn't need to go in person. He could bring Li Yuan to court, grant him a military post, and then send him to oversee grain supplies. Li Yuan was also one of the noble families. If he used him, those in Guanzhong who were dissatisfied with him would be able to shut up a bit.

Yang Guang was staring blankly at the map when Yu Shiji strode in.

Yang Guang finally stopped staring at the map, raised his head, and looked at Yu Shiji with a cold gaze.

"how?"

"Have you found out?"

"We've found out. The news was initially spread by Yang Xuanzong, the younger brother of the Duke of Chu."

Yu Shiji lowered his head, his face showing considerable unease.

Yang Guang was not surprised at all; he laughed and said, "That's really the case."

Li Yuan adopted Li Shimin's strategy and had already sent letters and horses to the emperor. Yang Guang then waited for this treacherous villain to surface on his own. After a long wait, various rumors suddenly spread in the capital, saying that Li Yuan was colluding with thieves.

Upon hearing this, Yang Guang knew that the treacherous villain had emerged.

Although the emperor is relatively easy to appease and his use of people is not so good, at least his control over various regions is still unquestionable, especially in the capital. Military power is still firmly in the emperor's hands. Even if the emperor reduces the ranks and reforms the system, the nobles do not dare to rush to resist. After He Ruobi and others were killed, they became even more obedient.

All the powerful figures in the court were personally promoted by Yang Guang, and they are currently considered to be extremely loyal to him.

Yang Xuanzong's tricks were simply treating the emperor like a fool.

The emperor was preparing to promote the Duke of Tang, so how conspicuous would it be for him to spread rumors about the Duke of Tang in the capital? How many people could he possibly hide it from? Although Yang Xuangan had many friends in the court, these friends were just friends. They could drink and eat with you, but they wouldn't accompany you to your death.

Yu Shiji didn't dare to speak, but just stood quietly to the side.

Yang Guang sat down, shook his head, and sneered.

"I have been more than kind to Yang Xuangan, but he first colluded with the Turks, and then spread such rumors to try to incite me to take action against loyal ministers. His heart is despicable, his heart is despicable."

Yu Shiji suddenly felt a little scared.

When Gao Jiong and others gathered to criticize the forced labor system, the emperor said their intentions were despicable, and they were all executed without exception. Now the emperor has said the same thing again. Compared to Gao Jiong, He Ruobi, and others, Yang Xuangan is really nothing.

Sure enough, a fierce glint appeared in Yang Guang's eyes.

"Alright then, Minister Yu, you may draft an edict for me."

"Have the Duke of Tang set off now and make sure he arrives in Luoyang within a month. I intend to appoint him as the Minister of the Imperial Guard."

"He has given me many gifts these days, so I must also reward him with some merit to make him truly deserving of it."

Yang Guang said softly, then looked at Yu Shiji, "This matter must not be known to anyone else, Yu Qing."

Yu Shiji trembled all over, "Your subject will remember!!"

"Oh, and his son Li Sanlang too. Have Li Sanlang come along as well. I want him to enter the Imperial Academy! The court needs pillars of the present like Li Yuan, and it also needs pillars of the future like Li Sanlang!"

"Here!"

Yang Guang smiled and narrowed his eyes. If he could use this incident to divide the nobles and make them less likely to cooperate in the future, thus splitting them into several different forces, it would be very beneficial to him.

Just then, another person came to see him.

The visitor was none other than Yuwen Shu's youngest son, Yuwen Shiji.

(End of this chapter)