My wife, Wei Gui, was 1.9 meters tall and fought against the Tang dynasty for the throne.

Yang Xuangan's preparations for launching his rebellion were complete. Troop movements were frequent both inside and outside the Liyang headquarters, and supplies were piled up like mountains.

On the Yongji Canal from Luoyang to Liyang, cargo ships sailed day and night, transporting loads of military provisions to the north.

No one knew that a significant portion of these provisions were not sent to Zhuojun, but were secretly stored in a secret granary near Liyang.

On this day, Yang Xuangan's trusted confidant, whom he had sent to Chang'an, returned. In the accompanying carriage sat a man.

Pushan Gong, Li Mi.

It was already dusk when Li Mi got off the carriage.

He wore a slightly worn blue Taoist robe, was thin, had a fair complexion, and three long strands of beard hanging down his chest, making him look like an ignorant scholar.

But his eyes betrayed him—they were too bright, too deep, like two ancient wells, bottomless.

Yang Xuangan personally went to the gate of the temporary headquarters to greet him.

"Master Pushan, you must be tired from your journey." Yang Xuangan cupped his hands and smiled broadly.

Li Mi returned the greeting and said calmly, "Since the Duke of Chu has summoned me, I dare not delay."

The two entered side by side. The main hall of the headquarters was brightly lit.

Yang Xuangan dismissed his attendants, leaving only a few core confidants. Li Ju was also present—he had been specially summoned by Yang Xuangan.

Li Mi's gaze swept around the hall, finally landing on Li Ju, where it paused for a moment.

"Is this Li Ju, the riverbank attendant?"

Li Ju stood up and cupped his hands in greeting: "Junior Li Ju greets Lord Pushan."

Li Mi nodded without saying anything more and sat down in the host's seat.

Yang Xuangan ordered tea to be served, exchanged a few pleasantries, and then got down to business.

"Lord Pushan, preparations for raising an army are almost complete. Supplies, troops, and ships are all ready. We are just waiting for the order to begin."

Li Mi held the teacup, took a slow sip, and put it down.

"The Duke of Chu's arrangements are meticulous, and I am ashamed to admit my inferiority. However—" He paused, turning his gaze to Li Ju, "The success or failure of this uprising hinges on the Grand Canal. The key to the Grand Canal lies with Attendant Li. I have a question I would like to ask Attendant Li."

Li Ju bowed slightly: "Please speak, Master Pushan."

Li Mi put down his teacup and held up one finger.

"First, Attendant Li must personally escort a batch of grain to Liyang. Not send someone else, but yourself."

Li Ju's expression remained unchanged: "Okay."

Li Mi raised his second finger.

"Secondly, Attendant Li must submit a complete map of the defenses along the Luoyang Grand Canal, without concealing anything."

Li Ju remained expressionless: "Okay."

Li Mi raised his third finger.

"Third, Zheng Boming, the supervisor of the Liyang granary, secretly favors the imperial court and has repeatedly reported Liyang's movements to Zhuojun. If this man is not eliminated, he will eventually become a disaster. Attendant Li must deal with this man according to the rules—make him shut up."

Li Ju remained silent for a moment.

Zheng Boming. He knew this man. He was in his sixties, had worked at Liyang Warehouse for thirty years, and was an honest man who never got involved in factional struggles.

To say he was a secret agent of the imperial court is mostly a misrepresentation.

But Li Mi's statement that he "favored the court" meant that he was not trustworthy.

In the eyes of rebels, anyone who doesn't join the rebellion is an enemy.

"Yes," Li Ju said. "I can handle all three matters."

Li Mi looked at him, his gaze deepening.

"Since Attendant Li answered so readily, why don't you ask why?"

Li Ju cupped his hands in greeting: "Lord Pushan is a man of profound wisdom and foresight, and I dare not question him. It is enough to know that everything Lord Pushan has done is for the sake of the country and for the greater good."

Li Mi smiled slightly and did not ask any further questions.

Yang Xuangan, standing nearby, said, "Lord Pushan, Li Yezhe is a trustworthy person; there will be no mistake."

Li Mi nodded and didn't bring it up again.

Three days later, Li Ju personally escorted a batch of grain to Liyang.

There were twenty grain ships, each carrying 500 shi (a unit of dry measure), totaling 10,000 shi.

Li Ju stood at the bow of the ship, watching the soldiers unload the grain on the dock, checking the numbers one by one, and signing and affixing his seal on the ledger.

Du Chen followed beside him, taking notes meticulously, leaving no detail overlooked.

Yang Xuangan sent men to the dock to greet Li Ju and escort him to the headquarters. Li Mi was also there.

"You've worked hard, Attendant Li," Li Mi said. "The provisions have been received, and the accounts are accurate."

Li Ju cupped his hands in greeting: "It's my duty."

Li Mi then asked, "Where's the defense map?"

Li Ju took out a roll of silk from his sleeve and presented it with both hands: "From Luoyang to Liyang, all the wharves, granaries, ferry crossings, river embankment camps, and canal guard teams along the way are all deployed on this map. Please take a look, Lord Pushan."

Li Mi took it, unfolded it, and read it through.

The map is meticulously marked, clearly showing every stronghold, every troop position, and every deployment route.

He looked at it for a long time, then rolled it up and put it in his sleeve.

"Eunuch Li has put in a lot of effort."

Li Ju said, "Ju dares not conceal anything."

What he didn't say was that the map was real, but he had secretly tampered with the troop strength and deployment authority at key points.

The troop deployment on the map is 70% accurate to the actual situation and 30% inaccurate.

Those three points were precisely the most fatal.

Li Mi nodded, then asked, "Has Zheng Boming's matter been settled?"

"It's done," Li Ju said. "Zheng Boming has been dismissed from his post as warehouse supervisor on the grounds of 'old age and senility, and unclear accounts,' and sent back to his hometown. There are people watching him along the way, so the news won't leak out."

Li Mi glanced at him.

"Not kill him?"

"Pu Shan Gong only said 'shut him up,' not 'kill him,'" Li Ju said. "If he is dismissed and sent back to his hometown, there will be no evidence, and no one will believe him no matter what he says. If he is killed, it will only arouse suspicion."

Li Mi was silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled.

"Li, the Attendant, was thorough in his thinking, but his discretion was unparalleled."

Li Ju quickly replied, "You flatter me, Master Pushan."

That evening, Li Mi hosted a small banquet at Li Ju's residence, with only the two of them present.

After several rounds of drinks, Li Mi put down his wine cup, looked at Li Ju, and gazed at him with deep eyes.

"I have something to say in secret, but I don't know whether I should say it or not."

"Please speak, Master Pushan."

"You are eighteen this year, a sixth-rank official, in charge of the Yellow River and Luo River transport, appointed by the Emperor himself, and highly regarded by the Duke of Chu." Li Mi said slowly and deliberately, "I have seen many young people who have achieved success, some arrogant, some cautious, some cunning, and some honest. But you—" He paused, "I cannot see through you."

Li Ju's heart skipped a beat, but his face remained impassive: "Lord Pushan is joking. I am but a lowly official; what virtue or ability do I possess that Lord Pushan cannot see through me?"

Li Mi shook his head, remaining silent. He picked up his wine cup, slowly drank, and suddenly said, "Li Ye Zhe, if one day the Duke of Chu's great cause is about to be accomplished, and you—discover that you have chosen the wrong side, what will you do?"

That's a very blunt question.

Li Ju put down his wine cup, looked into Li Mi's eyes, and said solemnly, "Duke of Pushan, I have already entrusted my life to you. Choosing the wrong side? I never choose sides. I only follow you."

Li Mi stared at him for a long time.

"Alright." He suddenly smiled, raised his wine glass, and said, "A toast to Attendant Li."

The two drank it.

After the banquet, Li Ju took his leave. Li Mi sat alone at the table, watching his figure disappear through the door, remaining motionless for a long time.

Yang Xuangan emerged from behind the screen and asked with a smile, "Master Pushan, how is it?"

Li Mi put down his wine cup and slowly said, "This person—if not a trusted confidant, then a great threat."

Yang Xuangan was taken aback: "Why do you say that, Master Pushan?"

"He is talented, courageous, shrewd, and knows how to conduct himself," Li Mi said. "Such a person, if sincerely assisted, is a pillar of the nation. If he harbors disloyal thoughts, he will become a major threat."

Yang Xuangan laughed and said, "Lord Pushan is overthinking it. Li Ju has already sworn a blood oath, father and son have made the same vow, and he will not harbor any disloyal thoughts."

Li Mi remained silent for a moment, then nodded.

"I hope so."

He didn't say anything more.

But a lingering doubt remained hidden in those deep eyes.

Li Ju returned to his residence, closed the door, and sat in the darkness for a long time.

Li Mi.

This person is too shrewd, too insightful, and too difficult to deal with.

He lay down, opened his eyes, and stared at the dark roof.

Li Mi, you wait.

When you raise your army, you will know who the real "thorn in your side" is.