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

In the Qianyang Hall, civil and military officials stood in orderly rows, completely silent.

Yang Guang sat high on his throne, his face grim. His gaze swept over the assembled officials below, and he spoke slowly and deliberately: "My mind is made up. We will launch a third campaign against Goguryeo. We will avenge our past humiliations and pacify Liaodong!"

The hall was silent for a moment, then erupted in uproar.

Su Wei stepped forward shakily, his hair white and his body hunched over. He knelt on the ground and kowtowed, saying:

"Your Majesty! Years of campaigns against Liaodong have exhausted the people's strength. In Shandong and Hebei, bandits have risen up in droves, and thieves are everywhere. Robbers roam the Yongji Canal. If we launch another campaign against Liaodong, how will we transport the grain and provisions? Where will the laborers come from? I fear... the nation will be in ruins!"

As he spoke, tears streamed down his face, and his voice choked with emotion.

Yu Zhi stepped forward, his face grave: "Your Majesty, I believe that a general should be dispatched to conquer Liaodong, not personally led by Your Majesty. A personal campaign would be extremely laborious and costly, and Your Majesty's actions would cause unrest throughout the land. It would be better to appoint a general to lead the campaign, which would be twice as effective with half the effort."

Fan Zigai also stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Your Majesty, although Yang Xuangan has been pacified, his remaining forces have not been eliminated. Rebel armies are rising up everywhere in Shandong. The most urgent task is to secure the internal situation, not to conquer external enemies."

Xiao Yu followed closely behind, stating bluntly: "The soldiers are weary of war, and morale is low. If we suffer a defeat in one campaign, we will have to give up in another. If we launch another campaign, I fear the army's morale will collapse."

Several more senior officials stepped forward to second Su Wei's proposal, their words earnest. Some shouted, "Your Majesty, please reconsider!" while others prostrated themselves on the ground, their cries shaking the palace.

Yang Guang's face was ashen, his fingers gripping the armrests of the throne so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

Yuwen Shu strode forward, his voice booming: "Lord Su, you are mistaken! Goguryeo is a small country that has repeatedly offended the Celestial Empire. If we do not annihilate it, how can we command respect from all sides? The first and second campaigns were both due to insufficient supplies and unrest in the rear. Now that Yang Xuangan has been pacified and the rear is secure, it is the perfect time to wipe it out in one fell swoop!"

Lai Huer also stepped forward, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and said, "Your subject is willing to be the vanguard, and vows to take Liaodong!"

Su Wei shook his head, heartbroken: "General Yuwen, do you know that the people of Shandong have reached the point of resorting to cannibalism? If we launch another campaign against Liaodong, it will incite a popular uprising. Who will handle that?"

Yuwen Shu sneered: "Lord Su is a civil official, ignorant of military affairs. How can someone so timid and hesitant accomplish great things?"

The two men clashed fiercely, creating a chaotic argument in the court. The pro-war and anti-war factions each held their own views, and their voices rose in waves.

Yang Guang slammed his hand on the armrest of his throne: "Enough!"

The entire court was silent.

His gaze was sharp as a knife, sweeping over the assembled officials before finally settling on Li Ju.

"Li Ju, the grain transport is your responsibility. You tell me, can the grain be transported up the canal?"

Li Ju stepped forward, kowtowed, and said in a steady and powerful voice: "Your Majesty, I have expanded the grain transport army to five thousand and the river embankment camp to three thousand, setting up defenses along the river and patrolling day and night. Most of the bandits on the Yongji Canal have been wiped out, and the grain route is safe. I dare to guarantee it with my life."

A hint of satisfaction flashed in Yang Guang's eyes.

Wang Hong, the Vice Minister of Revenue, stepped forward and questioned:

"Supervisor Li, the total strength of the canal embankment protection force is only eight thousand. The Shandong rebels often number in the tens of thousands, and many counties along the Yongji Canal have fallen. Eight thousand men are scattered along more than two thousand li of the canal, which is a drop in the ocean and I'm afraid they will be unable to protect the grain supplies. If the rebels attack, how can we resist?"

Li Ju remained composed, neither humble nor arrogant: "What Vice Minister Wang said is absolutely right. Eight thousand men are indeed insufficient. However, the key to the grain transport lies not in field battles, but in protecting the grain."

I have established forts along the river, dividing the defenses into sections, each garrisoned with over a hundred soldiers. The beacon fires are interconnected, forming a mutually reinforcing defensive network. Although the enemy forces are numerous, they have no boats and no water, making it difficult for them to approach the river.

He paused, then said with certainty, "I have ordered the officials and militia of the counties along the river to guard the forts together. All villages near the canal are equipped with fast boats. In the event of an alarm, the civilian boats can be assembled immediately, and the main force of the canal escort army can arrive in half a day. It is not that we are incapable of fighting."

Yang Guang interjected, his voice cold and stern: "Then expand the army. Li Ju, double the size of the grain transport army and the river embankment camp. If the supply lines are cut off, you will be held responsible. If there are any shortcomings, request permission immediately."

Li Ju kowtowed: "Your subject obeys the decree!"

The dissenting ministers looked at each other, not daring to speak further.

Yang Guang surveyed the hall and said coldly, "Anyone who dares to say that the campaign against Liaodong has been unsuccessful will be punished for undermining the morale of the army."

Su Wei closed his eyes, tears streaming down his face. He was helped up by his colleagues and shakily returned to the train.

After the court session ended, Li Ju walked out of the main hall. The winter wind blew on his face, and he took a deep breath.

The army was doubled in size – the canal guards increased to 10,000 men, and the river embankment garrison increased to 6,000 men.

This is an opportunity.

He strode toward the Water Conservancy Bureau, his steps lighter than when he came.

The embankment camp.

Yuchi Gong stood outside the camp gate, wearing an old cotton robe, carrying a long spear and an iron whip on his back, and tucking the waist token in his pocket.

He stood there for a moment, then strode to the camp gate.

"Halt!" The gatekeeper blocked his way with his spear, looking him up and down. "What are you doing here?"

Yuchi Gong took out a surcharge of his waist token from his bosom and handed it over: "I am here to join the camp with the waist token of Supervisor Li."

The soldier took the waist tag, glanced at it, and seeing that it was the standard waist tag of the Water Conservancy Bureau, he dared not be negligent and cupped his hands, saying, "Please wait a moment while I inform them."

He turned and ran quickly into the camp.

Yuchi Gong stood outside the camp gate, hands behind his back, his gaze sweeping across the camp.

Soldiers were drilling on the drill ground, the sounds of clashing swords and spears and shouts of battle deafening.

The camp was more orderly than he had expected, with banners fluttering in the wind and weapons racks filled with swords and spears.

He nodded slightly, thinking to himself: This riverbank camp seems like a fighting force.

A short while later, a series of hurried footsteps approached.

A man in his early thirties strode out of the camp gate. He was tall and strong, with a kind face. He was still wearing his armor and had a sword at his waist. He was Zhang Yi, the magistrate of the River Administration.

When he saw Yuchi Gong, his eyes lit up, and he quickly stepped forward, cupping his hands in greeting, "Are you Brother Yuchi Jingde?"

Yuchi Gong was taken aback, then clasped his hands in greeting and said, "It is indeed I. And you are...?"

"I am Zhang Yi, the magistrate of the River Administration." Zhang Yi grinned, revealing two rows of white teeth. "The Supervisor has instructed me that if any brave warriors come to join me, I shall receive them well. Brother Jingde, you must be tired from your journey, please come inside!"

Yuchi Gong was startled.

He had assumed that when a river official saw him, a down-on-his-luck blacksmith, he would at most nod and point out a place to live.

Unexpectedly, the other party personally came out of the camp to greet them, addressing them as "Brother Jingde" in a warm tone as if they were seeing their own brother.

He suppressed the turmoil in his heart, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "Director Zhang, you are too kind. I have troubled you."

Zhang Yi led him into the camp, saying as they walked, "Brother Jingde, Supervisor Li said that your skills lie not in blacksmithing, but in horsemanship and on the battlefield. He'll have you settle in at the armory first, and we'll make further arrangements once you're familiar with the camp's affairs."

He paused, then pointed to a cluster of buildings in the camp. "The armory is over there. Everyone in the armory is at your disposal. The furnaces, anvils, and materials are all ready. Just ask if you need anything."

Looking at the neat buildings and busy soldiers in the camp, and then at Zhang Yi's honest yet sincere smile, Yuchi Gong felt a surge of indescribable emotions.

He worked as a blacksmith in Luoyang for several months, and no one ever treated him like a human being.

Now, some people treat him like a human being.

He clasped his hands in a fist salute, his voice low but firm: "Rest assured, Supervisor Zhang, I will certainly not let down Supervisor Li and Supervisor Zhang."

Zhang Yi patted him on the shoulder and said gruffly, "Brother Jingde, from now on we're family. Come on, let me show you where you live."

After the three orders were issued, the entire water surveillance system was like a machine that had been suddenly accelerated, running day and night without stopping.

Du Chen's desk was piled high with account books, Changsun Wuji reviewed documents until late at night every day, Wang Yu led the canal guards to patrol along the canal, and Zhang Yi led the river embankment battalion to reinforce the dikes and repair the wharves.

Early that morning, before dawn, Li Ju got up.

Wei Gui had already woken up and was packing his belongings.

She took a newly made cloak from the shelf; it was made of dark silk with a thick cotton lining, and a small magnolia was embroidered at the collar.

"Liu Lang, take this cloak with you." She draped the cloak over his shoulders, tied the straps, stepped back, and looked him up and down. "It'll be cold on the road, don't catch a cold."

Yuwen Yue stood at the door, holding a small bundle in her hands, and said softly, "My lord, this is the dry food and medicine I prepared. The dry food is baked flatbread, which keeps well; the medicine is for treating colds. If you catch a cold on the road, take it with hot water." She paused, and her voice became even softer, "Take care, my lord."

Li Ju took the bundle, glanced at her, and nodded.

Wei Gui walked up to him, straightened his collar, and said softly, "Sixth Brother, I'll take care of things at home, so you can go without worry."

Li Ju took her hand, squeezed it gently, and whispered, "With you here, I have no worries." He then turned and strode out the door.

Wei Gui was dressed in a plain white dress, with a white magnolia hairpin in her black hair, and her figure was as slender as a green bamboo.

Yuwen Yue stood beside her, wearing a light purple dress and a white fox fur coat. Her face was beautiful and her expression was calm.

The two stood at the door, watching his figure disappear into the morning mist.