Prince Li You of the Great Tang Dynasty begs the noble families to their deaths!

Looking at the soldiers and civilians working in the mountain valleys, and recalling the thrilling experience he had just had a few months ago, Li You felt as if he had been transported to another world.

He was wary of the fighting prowess of the Tang Dynasty's regular army during the Zhenguan era, so he chose not to confront them head-on, but instead feigned death to escape. In hindsight, this choice was worthwhile; at least no pursuers came to this place and launched a full-scale search.

With the planting season fast approaching, the initial rice paddies cultivated by the soldiers and civilians amounted to only about 500 mu (approximately 33 hectares), arranged in three terraces. Only one high-powered rice dumpling machine was built, but with people working in shifts day and night, it was sufficient to fulfill its function. Perfection was impossible at such a young age; improvements and additions would be made gradually later.

Although there was no government troops to encircle and suppress them, Li You's early base was still attacked suddenly.

They were attacked by non-humans.

Master Mingjing's assessment of the white elephant herd was correct; they are indeed quite intelligent and also hold grudges.

Dozens of elephants with long trunks rushed over in a flurry at dusk.

They used their bodies to knock down houses and their powerful forelegs to trample the invading humans.

Faced with the sudden invasion, Li You did not hesitate and immediately commanded his troops to give the invading enemy a good beating.

Those laborers and women who were unable to fight immediately fled from their makeshift huts and scattered to avoid the elephant herd.

In a moment of desperation, woodcutter Liu Dashun threw his usual wood-chopping axe, intending to harm one of the elephants. However, the axe struck the elephant's skin but bounced off without leaving a mark.

"God, that's fucking hard!"

Liu Dashun quickly turned and ran away.

He had seen this herd of elephants before when he was chopping wood in the mountains, but he always kept his distance.

The fact that he tried to strike but failed today is enough to prove how correct his initial decision was.

The soldiers under King Qi drew their bows and arrows, attempting to shoot the elephants from a distance. However, the problem was that the elephants' skin was far too thick; even if the arrows pierced the skin, they would only embed themselves in the layer of fat and fail to cause any real damage to the internal organs.

"Shoot them in the eyes!"

Li You, assessing the situation, let out a loud shout to remind his soldiers.

Yan Hongxin, who was by his side, fired an arrow upon receiving the order, hitting an elephant in the left eye and causing it to let out a painful howl.

Seeing this, the other soldiers followed suit, spreading out and finding the right angle to retaliate.

Elephants were wounded and fell to the ground under the attack of human long-range weapons. It's important to understand that the brain is located right behind the eyes; if the arrowhead is powerful enough, it can easily cause fatal damage to a mammal.

Seeing that the situation was not good, the lead female elephant decisively let out a call to retreat.

After the elephant herd retreated, humans began to clean up the mess.

The elephants knocked down dozens of thatched huts, trampled nine soldiers who couldn't escape, and left seven corpses of themselves.

That evening, watching the elephant meat simmering in the pot, Li You couldn't help but wonder, who are our enemies, and who are our friends? That is the question.

Take this group of elephants that broke in, for example. They attacked the houses built by the soldiers and trampled on the humans, so they can be considered enemies.

But their bodies, after they die, become food for humans to fill their stomachs.

From this perspective, they can also be considered as friends of humans.

"My lord, those white elephants are incredibly tough and thick-skinned. If we peel off their hides and dry them, we can make a lot of high-quality armor!" Yan Hongxin said excitedly.

"Hmm, that's a good idea." Li Youguang was so focused on the debate between friend and foe that he hadn't considered this aspect.

"My lord, let's send men tomorrow to hunt them all down!"

Seeing that King Qi was about to agree to the matter, the Taoist priest Mingjing, who was freeloading at the table, felt somewhat uncomfortable.

"My lord, may I have a word to say?"

"Please speak, Taoist priest."

"The white elephant clan is considered auspicious and a spiritual creature. If we were to exterminate them all, it would harm the harmony of nature and be detrimental to our lord."

Li You was stunned.

After thinking it over, he felt that Mingjing's words made sense.

"Then forget it. We were the ones who trespassed on their territory and destroyed their habitat. So, if they attack us again, we'll kill them to save ourselves. If they know better and don't come, we won't have to exterminate them; let them live too."

Hearing this, Yan Hongxin was clearly somewhat unwilling.

"My lord, that's armor! It can save your life on the battlefield!"

"Didn't Gao Shun and the others hunt a lot of wild boars? Wild boar hides are very thick, and there are many more of them. When you have free time, go hunt wild boars. You can make armor that way, and you can make even more sets."

Li You's words awakened Yan Hongxin.

Wild boars are not only abundant in the south, but also appear in large groups in the north. They are a species with a very strong vitality, and they live even more comfortably during this warmer period of climate.

In comparison, white elephants are indeed less common.

Things are valued for their rarity.

Wild boar: I feel like I've been insulted.

Wild Boar Skin: Run! They want me!

……

Anrenfang, Chang'an City.

While Li You was battling against nature, his brother, Li Ke, the King of Wu, was battling with a beautiful woman.

People's joys and sorrows are all different.

Li Ke is of noble status and has a very good model, so the beauties he chooses must be quite good.

She is the younger sister of the Crown Princess, the second daughter of Su Dan, the Secretary of the Secretariat, named Su Chuyi, and is a very beautiful woman.

For his own reasons, Li Ke associated with more than one famous socialite in Chang'an.

In most cases, both parties get what they want and are just putting on an act.

But Su Chuyi was different; she genuinely intended to entrust herself to Li Ke.

Unbeknownst to him, Li Ke's feelings for Su Chuyi were also subtly changing.

After their passionate lovemaking, the two lay in each other's arms and chatted idly.

After a while, someone knocked on the door.

Li Ke got up fully clothed, walked to the door, and opened it a crack.

The visitor was Li Ke's confidant, who reported that a major event was taking place. Li Ke's heart clenched, and he immediately told the beautiful woman in the room to get dressed.

"What's wrong?" Su Chuyi asked, puzzled.

"Something's happened. Go home right away and don't wander around these days, especially don't go to the palace."

Li Ke gave a few instructions, then picked up the beauty around the waist, carried her out of the mansion, and put her into the carriage.

He then boarded another carriage to go find his teacher, Cen Wenben, the Vice Minister of the Imperial Secretariat.

A teacher is one who imparts knowledge, teaches skills, and resolves doubts.

When faced with difficult problems or situations, Li Ke would always go to Cen Wenben, who would often provide a solution quickly.

Cen Wenben helped King Li Ke of Wu because he had no interest in either the Crown Prince or the King of Shu.