Duke of Zhenguan

The next morning, Lin Chuan, still half asleep, was woken up by Li Shi:

"Young Master, didn't Lord Cheng say yesterday that you have to go to court today? Get up!"

Lin Chuan yawned as he got out of bed, dawdled as he put on his official robes, opened the door, and said to Li Shi, who was standing outside:

"Mother, it's still early!"

"We can't be careless when attending court. I heard from Madam Cheng yesterday that sometimes the discussions can last all day! Let's go after dinner!" said Madam Li.

"If we can really talk all day, we'll still have food to eat, Mother, don't worry!"

Lin Chuan yawned and followed Li Shi for quite a while before arriving at the front yard.

Lin Chuan lived in the east wing, while Li Shi and Er Ya lived in the main house. The courtyard was still too big, and the three of them were still a little unaccustomed to it.

"Mother, if there are suitable people, let's hire two!"

Breakfast was still hot noodles, cooked by Er Ya herself. Looking at Er Ya, who was yawning and looked like she hadn't slept enough, Lin Chuan smiled and said to Li Shi.

"Your ninth uncle said last night that there have been people selling their children outside the city these days. I was thinking of buying a few to bring home. This house is so big, it's too empty for the three of us, and we can't keep up with the house!" Li said softly.

"Mother, you can make the decision, but if you're going out of the city, you must ask Uncle Nine and Uncle Twelve to accompany you!" Lin Chuan nodded.

"Yes!" Mrs. Li nodded with a smile.

Lin Chuan lowered his head and ate his noodles in large bites.

After taking a couple of bites, Li suddenly asked in a soft voice:

"Young Master, you seem to know Madam Cheng, who came yesterday, quite well?"

"We're not that close, but our noodle shop's first customer was Madam Cheng, Mother, you know her, right? She came to our noodle shop dressed in men's clothing with her maid Cheng Chun, and Uncle Cheng and his men took her back!" Lin Chuan said with a smile.

Li nodded and said:

"Back then, some unpleasant rumors circulated, but they gradually faded away, and Madam Cheng never came again!"

"Well, after I got to know Uncle Cheng, he invited me to his house for drinks. I've only met him two or three times!" Lin Chuan said with a smile.

"You've only seen her two or three times? Madam Cheng was telling me yesterday that when you got drunk, it was Madam Cheng's eldest daughter who had her maids serve you! Is that true?" Madam Li asked with a doubtful look.

"That's true!" Lin Chuan nodded.

"Yesterday I heard from Madam Cheng that she and Master Cheng are quite satisfied with you. Do you think if I ask someone to propose marriage, they would be willing to give you Madam Cheng?" Madam Li asked.

Lin Chuan was startled and almost choked on the noodles in his mouth. After swallowing the noodles, he smiled wryly and said to Li Shi:

"Mother, please don't do anything rash!"

Confused, Li asked in surprise:

"Oh? Madam Cheng is clearly well-educated and reasonable, with a good temperament and beautiful appearance. You still don't want her? Or does Master Cheng think our family's status is too low?"

Lin Chuan guessed that Cheng Yaojin would definitely agree, but he was afraid, so he quickly said to Li Shi:

"Mother, Madam Cheng has been learning martial arts from Uncle Cheng since she was a child. She could take on ten of your sons by herself. What if I offend her and she beats me up after we marry her?"

Li was startled and quickly shook her head:

"Oh no? That's absolutely not going to work!"

"Hmm, no way!" Lin Chuan nodded in agreement.

Only after dispelling Li's desire to form a marriage alliance with the Cheng family did Lin Chuan feel at ease to eat.

After finishing his meal, Lin Chuan went out and passed by the Yan family's gate. He happened to run into Yan Shigu and Yan Xiangshi riding out in a carriage. So Lin Chuan hitched a ride in the Yan family's carriage and swayed all the way to the palace.

After being searched by the eunuchs, they arrived at Xiande Hall.

Those who attend the court assembly are usually high-ranking officials, so Lin Chuan, a seventh-rank official, could only stand far at the back, almost leaning against a pillar by the door.

However, with officials from the Censorate watching him, Lin Chuan could only stand there obediently.

After standing for almost an hour, until the sunlight streamed into the hall, Du Ruhui, the Minister of War, finally stepped forward, holding his official tablet.

"Your Majesty, I have something to report!"

"Approved!" Li Shimin nodded.

"Your Majesty, the Ministry of War has received a report from the Luozhou Cavalry Administration that on March 15th, more than a dozen merchant ships transporting grain were robbed on the canal near Xiashi County in Luozhou. Nearly a hundred guards and boatmen were killed, the river water was stained red with blood, and the corpses floated on the canal!"

According to the report from the Commandant of the Cavalry, this bandit group numbers over two thousand! I request that troops be dispatched to annihilate this bandit group and appease the people! Du Ruhui said in a deep voice.

"I second that proposal!"

"I second that proposal!"

"I second that proposal!"

"..."

As soon as Du Ruhui finished speaking, dozens of people appeared behind him instantly.

Upon seeing this, Minister of Civil Affairs Dai Zhou withdrew the foot he had already stepped out.

A few years ago, when Li Shimin was still the Prince of Qin, he led a large army to attack Dou Jiande and Wang Shichong. During the battle outside Luoyang, he also wiped out all the bandits, big and small, in the vicinity of Luoyang.

Even if there are bandits now, the scale won't be large. The Luozhou Cavalry Command has at least several hundred soldiers. To suppress a bandit, at most a thousand or so people will be drawn from Chang'an. The cost won't be too high.

Moreover, the suppression of bandits cannot be delayed. The attack on the Turks can be postponed, and the dealing with Liang Shidu can also be postponed, but the suppression of bandits cannot be postponed. As Du Ruhui said, this is related to the hearts of the people!

The news that Li Shimin and a group of powerful officials sent people to buy grain from various places only circulated within his small circle when Li Shimin was still the Prince of Qin; people outside the circle heard almost nothing about it.

Therefore, most people, including Dai Zhou, did not know that the people kidnapped were sent by Empress Zhangsun.

But just as Dai Zhou had thought, the matter of suppressing the bandits could not be delayed, and even no one in the Censorate voiced their opposition.

Du Ruhui, holding his official tablet, returned to the ranks. What happened next was beyond his control as the Minister of War.

Hou Junji was the first to stand up and say loudly:

"Your Majesty, I request permission to lead troops to annihilate these bandits!"

"Your Majesty, I request permission to lead the troops!"

"His Majesty……"

Cheng Yaojin, Yuchi Gong, Niu Jinda, Zhang Liang, Li Ji...

Apart from a few individuals such as Li Jing and Li Xiaogong, almost all the generals in Chang'an stepped forward.

Looking at the dozen or so fully armed generals in front of him, Li Shimin felt a headache coming on. It wasn't a metaphor; he was genuinely annoyed by the noise.

Since he ascended the throne, he has been resting and recuperating with the people, trying his best not to wage war. Without war, these generals naturally have nothing to do.

Now that war has finally broken out, the question of who should lead the troops has become the problem.

Seeing the group of people who were unwilling to give in, Li Shimin rubbed his temples and speechlessly instructed Zhang Anan:

"Find a box and let them draw lots!"

This method was frequently used in the Qin King's Palace, but it involved drawing the vanguard of the vanguard, and being drawn often meant a bloody battle.

Now it's just about suppressing bandits; it's less about drawing lots and more about drawing lots for credit. A group of generals are eager to get started.

A moment later, Cheng Yaojin, holding a slip of paper with the word "command" written on it, said triumphantly to the others:

"Haha, I told you not to argue!"

With his hands failing him, the others could only grumble and retreat back into the queue, watching Cheng Yaojin show off.

The court session lasted until noon. After the session ended, Lin Chuan was stopped by an eunuch as soon as he stepped out of Xiande Hall.

Following the eunuch to the side hall, just as he was about to bow to Li Shimin, Li Shimin waved his hand and said:

"Lin Chuan, you go with Zhi Jie!"