“Father wants to fight a quick decisive battle, dividing forces into three routes to attack Jiang Commandery, catching Chai Baochang off guard. However… according to intelligence from our scouts, Chai Baochang’s forces are spread across several commanderies, and no one knows which one contains his main force. So before sending troops, we must find out where his main army is located.” After a pause, he said, “I’ve already sent people to Jiang Commandery and other places to try to gather intelligence. I hope news will come back.”
From July until August, the people Li Jiancheng had sent out never sent back any messages. With no news for so long, they had probably been discovered by Chai Baochang.
Fortunately, during this period, Duan Zhihong traveled extensively and finally found enough slate to neutralize the nux vomica poison in the river, allowing the military camp and civilians to drink water normally.
Just when they were at their wits’ end about suppressing Chai Baochang, shocking news suddenly came from Yanmen Pass—Yang Guang and Prince Zhao Yang Gao were trapped within Yanmen Pass.
This matter must be told from when Yang Guang ascended the throne. The Turkic people were nomads living in the north, with no fixed abode. Their soldiers wore armor year-round and were skilled at mounted archery, making them extremely difficult to deal with. Therefore, the Central Plains dynasties had always been unwilling to make enemies of them, mostly using methods like marriage alliances to win them over, ensuring they wouldn’t become adversaries. Emperor Wen of Sui, Yang Jian, had done exactly this—he selected a woman from the imperial clan, granted her the title Princess Yicheng, and married her far away to the Turkic khan.
After Yang Guang ascended the throne, however, he was unwilling to follow this approach. He even sent envoys to the Turkic people several times, demanding they come to court annually. But given the Turkic temperament, how could they possibly agree? The envoys he sent were all killed. In the sixth month of the eleventh year of the Daye era, the Turkic people again killed Yang Guang’s envoy. This incident greatly enraged Yang Guang, who believed the Turkic people didn’t regard the great Central Plains dynasty with respect. Using the excuse that Turkic Shibi Khan wouldn’t come to court, he led a large army north for intimidation. After arriving there, he also conducted military exercises at the border to make the Turkic people understand the consequences of opposing Great Sui, thereby forcing them to pay annual tribute and acknowledge vassalage.
By all accounts, Yang Guang’s calculation seemed quite favorable, but he picked the wrong opponent. In the end, not only did he fail to achieve his intended effect, but he was also surrounded at Yanmen Pass by over one hundred thousand cavalry led by Shibi Khan. Even this was the result of Princess Yicheng secretly sending warning—otherwise, Yang Guang would have been surrounded by Turkic forces before he could retreat to Yanmen Pass.
As soon as Yang Guang learned news of the Turkic attack, he immediately retreated to defend Yanmen Pass, because he only had thirty thousand troops in total. Almost the moment his front foot entered Yanmen Pass, the Turkic people’s rear foot reached the city walls and began fierce siege attacks. The battle situation was extremely brutal—Turkic arrows flew one after another into the city, with one arrow even landing before Yang Guang’s imperial throne. At this point, Yang Guang truly regretted his actions, but regret was useless. He could only quickly send people to issue imperial edicts to all regions, commanding them to immediately come to Yanmen Pass to serve the king and protect the emperor!
And Li Yuan was the first to receive this news.
Almost the moment this news arrived, Li Yuan summoned the Li Shimin brothers to his study, naturally to discuss whether to go serve the king and protect the emperor.
Regarding this, Li Jiancheng disagreed, “Father, Yang Guang has been tyrannical these years, ignoring the people’s lives. Now letting him die at Turkic hands would be getting his just desserts. We could take this opportunity to raise troops and surely accomplish great things.”
Li Shimin frowned and said, “But this way, the civilians at Yanmen Pass would be slaughtered by the Turkic people, with countless casualties.”
Li Jiancheng said indifferently, “No war is without deaths. The key is whether their deaths have meaning. Besides, for those civilians, living endlessly under tyranny may not be better than death.” He then said to Li Yuan, “What does Father think?”
Li Yuan stroked his long beard and said, “Whether to raise troops or not, both have advantages and disadvantages, making it difficult for this father to decide.”
Li Jiancheng said somewhat urgently, “Father, this is an excellent opportunity. Once missed, it will never come again. Perhaps everything we’ve done these past years will be wasted.”
Just as he was hesitating, a steward knocked at the door outside, saying, “Master, Master Liu has arrived.”
Li Yuan’s spirits lifted, “Please have him enter.”
Li Jiancheng frowned, “Father invited Liu Hongji over?”
“Correct. Master Liu is full of strategies and well-informed, so this father invited him to discuss this matter together.” As soon as he finished speaking, Liu Hongji had already entered. After bowing to Li Yuan, he said, “Duke Li summoned me here—is it about the Yanmen Pass matter?”
Li Yuan nodded, “Correct. I want to hear Master Liu’s opinion.”
Facing his words, Liu Hongji shook his head, “I believe this is not a good time for Duke Li to raise troops. On the contrary, it’s the worst possible time.”
Upon hearing this, all three of the Li family father and sons showed surprised expressions, including Li Shimin. Although he felt it was improper to allow Turkic people to attack their own country and slaughter their own compatriots, he wouldn’t call it the worst time.
Li Jiancheng was most unconvinced, saying, “Master Liu’s words are probably incorrect.”
Facing his doubt, Liu Hongji wasn’t angry and smiled, “From the eldest young master’s words, I presume you support Duke Li raising troops now, correct?”
Li Jiancheng immediately said, “Correct. Now that Yang Guang is trapped defending Yanmen Pass, it’s a great opportunity for us to raise troops. What’s bad about it?”
“May I ask the eldest young master, what is the most important thing for conquering the realm?” Facing his inquiry, Li Jiancheng answered without hesitation, “Naturally, it’s troops and horses!”
“Troops and horses are indeed important, but not primary.” His words made Li Jiancheng furrow his brows, “If not troops and horses, what is it? Could it be supplies?”
“No.” Facing Liu Hongji’s repeated denials, Li Jiancheng said somewhat petulantly, “Since it’s neither troops nor supplies, I truly don’t know what Master Liu considers most important.”
At this time, Li Yuan, who had remained silent, said, “Is Master Liu speaking of the people’s hearts?”
Liu Hongji said approvingly, “Correct—the people’s hearts. Since ancient times, those who win the people’s hearts win the realm.”
Li Jiancheng suppressed his inner scoff and said, “Father raising troops to overthrow a tyrant’s rule would naturally win all the people’s hearts. Isn’t Master Liu’s statement equivalent to saying nothing?”
Liu Hongji smiled mysteriously, “Does the eldest young master truly believe Duke Li raising troops now would win all the people’s hearts?” Without waiting for Li Jiancheng to speak, he continued, “The eldest young master must not forget that the court is currently at war with the Turkic people. If Duke Li raises troops at this time, it’s equivalent to helping the Turkic people attack his own country. Do you know what this means?” His expression became serious, “This means Duke Li would become a traitor to the country, cursed by all the people under heaven. Even if he barely conquered the realm, it wouldn’t be stable!”
Li Jiancheng’s face changed dramatically, and he said sternly, “Nonsense! How could my father be a traitor? Everything is Yang Guang’s own fault.”
“No matter how dissolute and tyrannical Yang Guang is, one shouldn’t conspire with the Turkic people.” As soon as Liu Hongji finished speaking, Li Jiancheng excitedly said, “My father has never conspired with the Turkic people.”