Just as Li Yuan was responding, Gao Qunya said with a stern face: “Then when does Duke Li plan to depart for Taiyuan?”

“This…” Li Yuan pondered for a moment: “Although we’ve successively eliminated rebels like Muduaner and Chai Baochang, the situation in Hedong is still not stable. If I go to Taiyuan now, I fear the Hedong situation, which has finally stabilized somewhat, will fall into chaos again.”

Gao Qunya rolled his eyes: “According to Duke Li’s words, you plan to wait a year or two before taking up your post in Taiyuan. We two can afford to wait, but I fear His Majesty won’t be pleased.”

“I understand.” Li Yuan thought for a moment: “Please give me ten days. After ten days, I will depart for Taiyuan to take up my post.”

Wang Wei and his companion exchanged glances: “Very well, we’ll follow Duke Li’s words – ten days.”

After arranging for someone to take them to rest, Li Yuan said quietly to the steward beside him: “Immediately have Jiancheng and Shimin come to the study to see me.”

Before long, the two arrived at the study one after another. Upon seeing the imperial edict, they also understood Yang Guang’s intentions. Li Jiancheng gritted his teeth: “What an ungrateful wolf! We just saved him, and now he’s immediately finding ways to strip Father of military power. If we had known this would happen, we should have let the Turks capture him.”

Li Yuan waved his hand: “Past matters need not be mentioned. The key is what’s before us. The Hedong situation is unstable, and rebel armies are watching like tigers – we must leave most of our forces to garrison here. Wang Wei and the others have given me only ten days to reach Taiyuan. Under these circumstances, one of you two brothers must stay to guard this place. You decide who is most suitable.”

Li Jiancheng glanced at Li Shimin: “Whether it’s me or Second Brother who stays here, we’ll do our utmost to maintain stability in Hedong. What I’m worried about is Father – since you must leave troops to garrison here, the forces you can take will be very few. The Turks are no easy opponents – how can this battle be fought? That person in Jiangdu clearly wants Father to die!”

Li Yuan sighed deeply: “The battle must be fought whether we want to or not. Otherwise, it would be disobeying imperial orders, which is exactly what Wang Wei and his companion want. However, I truly didn’t expect they would make such a comeback.”

Li Jiancheng snorted: “With such a ruler, what isn’t possible?” Then he lowered his voice: “Father, we’ve already recruited many soldiers. Why not take this opportunity to raise an army?”

Li Yuan sighed deeply: “The Yang family and I are close relatives after all, and I’m a hereditary minister. Once we raise an army, all these bonds will be severed.”

“Yang Guang was unkind first – we can’t be blamed.” Facing Li Jiancheng’s words, Li Shimin said: “Father, Big Brother is right. You value sentiment, but His Majesty suspects you in every way.”

Li Yuan smiled bitterly: “Even if I could give up sentiment, what about the justification for raising an army? Simply because His Majesty ordered me to attack the Turks? Jiancheng, do you really think this reason can stand? Can it gain the people’s support?”

“This…” Li Jiancheng was rendered speechless by his question. After a long while, he said reluctantly: “Then according to Father’s intention, you will go to Taiyuan?”

“Going to Taiyuan is inevitable. As for how to counterattack the Turks, I need to think carefully.” Li Yuan was not a rash person – he knew that courage alone couldn’t win battles; strategy was the key to victory.

Seeing Li Yuan’s mind was made up, Li Jiancheng could only say: “If that’s the case, I’ll accompany you to Taiyuan. The Hedong region can be left to Shimin’s care.” Ever since he lost the opportunity to accompany Yun Dingxing to Yanmen Pass to fight the Turks and gain merit due to Liu Hongji’s advice, he had been brooding over it. Especially after Li Shimin’s feint strategy that repelled one hundred thousand Turkic troops became widely known, it became a thorn in his heart, making him eager to prove to everyone that he was more outstanding and excellent than Li Shimin.

Just as Li Yuan was about to nod, Li Shimin said: “Big Brother, let me go with Father instead. After all, I’ve fought them before and understand them somewhat.”

His words were meant kindly, fearing that if Li Jiancheng fought the Turks, he might be in danger. Staying in Hedong would be relatively safer. However, when Li Jiancheng heard this, he felt there was some mockery in it, which displeased him greatly: “You think I can’t match the Turks?”

Li Shimin was startled and shook his head: “Big Brother has always been the most valiant among us brothers. How could I think that? It’s just that Big Brother has never fought the Turks, so I fear you might…”

Before he could finish, Li Jiancheng said: “Father, although I’ve never fought the Turks, I will never disappoint you.”

Li Yuan slowly stroked his long beard, clearly considering who would be more suitable to accompany him to Taiyuan. After a long while, he said: “Shimin makes some sense. Let Shimin accompany me. Jiancheng, you and Yuanji should guard Hedong well together and absolutely cannot let those rebels take advantage of the chaos.”

How could Li Jiancheng agree? He quickly said: “Father…”

Li Yuan interrupted: “Enough, this matter is settled. You must help me guard Hedong. Do you understand?”

Seeing Li Yuan speak this way, Li Jiancheng had to agree. Coming out of the study, his face remained dark. When he returned to his own courtyard, he was surprised to see Li Yuanji waiting there. The latter saw him enter and said: “Big Brother, you’re finally back. I just met the steward who said two officials came from the capital. Do you know what they came to do?”

“His Majesty has appointed Father as Taiyuan Military Governor to counterattack the Turks. We must depart for Taiyuan within days. Those two are both sent by His Majesty to deliver the edict and are also the new Deputy Governors.”

“Counterattack the Turks…” Li Yuanji repeated this in a murmur, then said joyfully: “This means we have a chance to fight the Turks?” He was a battle fanatic – for him, the happiest thing was having battles to fight, and the stronger the enemy, the more it aroused his fierce spirit.

Li Jiancheng sneered: “You’d better not think about it.”

Li Yuanji asked in confusion: “What does Big Brother mean? Wasn’t it just said that…”

Li Jiancheng interrupted: “The Hedong situation is unstable and needs people to guard it. Father has already decided to have you and me stay in Hedong. Only Shimin will accompany him to Taiyuan.”

These words were like a bucket of cold water poured over his head, making Li Yuanji extremely unhappy: “Why is this? Are the two of us together not as good as Second Brother?”

Li Jiancheng’s eyes turned cold: “Ever since Liu Hongji came, and after the Battle of Yanmen Pass, Father has been relying more and more on Shimin.” Since the Yanmen Pass incident, he had harbored murderous intent toward Liu Hongji, but unfortunately, the latter had always been very wary of him. Combined with Li Yuan frequently summoning Liu Hongji, he had been unable to find an opportunity.

Li Yuanji said indignantly: “The strategy Second Brother used to repel the Turks last time was completely dishonorable, yet Father keeps praising Second Brother. It’s really incomprehensible.” Then his eyes rolled: “Big Brother, why don’t we secretly go to Taiyuan?”