“They will definitely believe.” Li Jiancheng smiled mysteriously and said, “Shimin, have you forgotten about His Majesty’s third campaign against Goguryeo?”

Li Shimin was puzzled by his question, “I naturally remember it. Why does Elder Brother suddenly bring this up?”

“In the tenth year of Daye, His Majesty launched the third campaign against Goguryeo. Honghua Commandery was supposed to provide eighty thousand men, but thanks to Father speaking before His Majesty, it was reduced to forty thousand. Now that the campaign is over, the surviving soldiers and laborers have all returned to their hometowns. Among them, there must be those who heard of Father’s achievements. Under these circumstances, we only need to ignite a tiny spark, and it can become a prairie fire, spreading throughout Longmen and even all of Shanxi!”

After listening carefully to his words, Li Shimin said, “Even if the people’s hearts turn toward us, it won’t pose any threat to Mu Duan’er in the short term.”

“Father said that the people are the foundation. When Mu Duan’er sees the people under his rule defecting to Father, he will surely become fearful and thus send troops to attack Father. In such circumstances, military formations and deployments will inevitably have oversights and shortcomings, giving us the perfect opportunity to defeat them and deal a heavy blow to their soldiers. In warfare between two armies, what’s most feared is having morale shattered. As long as we win this battle, we can firmly seize the initiative.”

Li Yuan asked, “What if he doesn’t move his troops?”

Li Jiancheng had obviously already considered this point. As soon as Li Yuan finished speaking, he immediately replied, “He won’t. Mu Duan’er can hold back for a while, but not forever. He will definitely send troops.”

Li Yuan pondered for a moment and said, “Since that’s the case, I’ll entrust this matter to you. I’ll assign a thousand soldiers for your command.”

Li Jiancheng responded, “Father, rest assured. Your son will definitely handle this matter well.”

After discussing this matter, Li Shimin said, “Father, Elder Brother has been away from here for almost a year. Why don’t I take Elder Brother out for a walk?”

“Go ahead.” After Li Yuan agreed, Li Shimin led Li Jiancheng outside. He didn’t know that behind him, Li Yuan’s gaze was extremely complex.

No matter how he looked at it, Jiancheng seemed more outstanding than Shimin. As soon as he arrived, he solved the problem that had troubled them for so long. If he became emperor, the throne would naturally pass to Jiancheng. How could Brother Xiahou see the aura of a king in Shimin?

Had Xia Houduan misjudged, or… would unexpected events occur in the future?

When Xia Houduan had seen him off from Luoyang, he had asked about this matter. But Xia Houduan said that heaven’s will was difficult to predict. Unless that time came, no one would know what would actually happen. All they could do was follow the mandate of heaven!

Setting aside Li Yuan’s worries, Li Shimin took Li Jiancheng out of the Protectorate and walked along the streets. This city was much larger than Honghua Commandery, but didn’t have many people. Moreover, since it wasn’t market time, only scattered shops and vendors lined both sides of the street, selling small trinkets or produce grown in their own fields. Whenever someone paid money for something, even if it was just one wen, those vendors would immediately guard the money carefully against their bodies, constantly glancing at the beggars visible everywhere on the street, as if afraid they might be robbed. In fact, along this walk, Li Jiancheng had already witnessed no fewer than three street robberies, all committed by beggars panhandling along the streets.

Although Li Yuan had issued decrees to stabilize the city’s situation after taking office and assigned additional soldiers to patrol the streets, with immediate imprisonment for anyone caught robbing, the time had been too short. Moreover, since those beggars couldn’t guarantee three meals a day, many still took desperate risks.

Li Jiancheng shook his head, “When I came here, Hedong wasn’t this chaotic, but it’s understandable. This place was already plagued by warfare everywhere, and with added pillaging and robbery, people’s hearts are even more disturbed.”

Li Shimin sighed, “If Elder Brother had seen outside the city, you’d find this place is actually better. The people living outside the city have fled in large numbers due to repeated court conscriptions and rebel incitement, leaving countless houses empty and fields barren. Now in Hedong city, buying fresh vegetables is quite difficult.”

Li Jiancheng nodded, “So the first thing we must do is stabilize people’s hearts. Fortunately, Father now has the power of imperial authorization, making actions much more convenient than before.”

“Exactly, and also…” Li Shimin had just said a few words when a figure came toward them head-on, bumping into him. Without even apologizing, the person hurried away.

Li Shimin became alert and felt in his bosom – his money pouch was indeed gone. He quickly pointed at that retreating figure and shouted, “Stop!”

At his shout, the person who had been walking immediately broke into a sprint. Li Shimin and his companion quickly gave chase. Both brothers were martial artists with far better stamina than ordinary people. After chasing through several streets, they cornered the man in a dead-end alley.

The man appeared to be around forty, with a lean build. Though his clothes were tattered, they were unusually clean, unlike the beggars commonly seen on the streets.

Li Jiancheng stared coldly at the money pouch clutched tightly in the man’s hand, saying icily, “What audacity, to rob in broad daylight! Come, follow me to the yamen!”

“No!” The man quickly knelt down, saying frantically, “I… I didn’t want to rob either. I really had no choice. Please, sir, show mercy and spare me this once.” Seeing Li Shimin and his brother remain silent, he continued, “If I’m arrested, my sick wife and two young daughters will all starve to death.”

Li Jiancheng said coldly, “You needn’t say these things to gain sympathy. Wrong is wrong. You have hands and feet – if you were willing to work diligently, would you really starve to death? Must you make a living by robbery?”

The man said urgently, “I do! I work diligently every day, but the crops in the fields are secretly picked before they’re ripe. What little harvest I barely managed to get was taken away by officials. Working hard from the beginning to the end of the year, our family can’t even get a full meal. At this time, my wife fell ill, and I wanted to hire a doctor but had no money, so I had to do this.” He held out the money pouch, “I’ll return the money pouch to you. I guarantee there won’t be a next time. Please spare me!”

Li Shimin said softly, “Elder Brother, the people’s lives are indeed difficult now. Since there’s no real loss, why not give him a chance?”

Li Jiancheng said displeasedly, “You’re always like this. If next time someone says they killed and robbed because of financial hardship, would you spare them too? Wrong is wrong and cannot be forgiven!”

“But…” Li Shimin had just said two words when the man kneeling on the ground suddenly charged outward with force. By the time they gave chase, he had already disappeared without a trace, naturally taking the money pouch with him.

Li Jiancheng stopped and said displeasedly, “Did you see? That man was completely lying and not worthy of sympathy at all. If a person is naturally kind, even if life is truly difficult, they wouldn’t resort to theft and deception.”