If Wang Wei and Gao Junya were here, they would surely be shocked, because Liu Wenjing’s corpse, which they had watched with their own eyes burn to white bones and ashes, was now lying intact on the ground.

Li Shimin took out a long needle different from ordinary silver needles from his waist, felt around Liu Wenjing’s chest for a while, then thrust it down forcefully. The moment the long needle pierced in, the already cold corpse suddenly opened its eyes, making a “gurgling” sound in its throat, and then the “corpse” began gasping for air in large gulps.

The old man beside him, though mentally prepared, was still frightened when he actually saw the corpse come back to life. He kept retreating and accidentally dropped the oil lamp in his hands. After a while, he frantically picked it up. Fortunately, the wick was still burning, so it wasn’t completely dark.

Seeing Liu Wenjing wake up, Li Shimin breathed a sigh of relief and put away the long needle, saying, “County Magistrate Liu, you’re awake?”

Liu Wenjing caught his breath, looked around and then at Li Shimin, tentatively asking, “Am I… still alive?”

Li Shimin smiled, “Of course you’re alive. Otherwise, how could you speak with me?”

Liu Wenjing looked down at his own hands, then put his finger in his mouth and bit down hard. It hurt, proving he was indeed alive. But he clearly remembered that he had felt excruciating pain at the time, as if his whole body was being torn apart, and he couldn’t even breathe. Later, he lost consciousness and should have died. How could he suddenly be fine again?

Taking the oil lamp from the old man’s hands, Li Shimin said, “You have no business here anymore. Go out. Remember, never speak of what happens here to anyone.”

“This humble one understands.” After the old man left, Li Shimin said, “County Magistrate Liu, do you still remember the pill Father gave you?”

Although there was nothing seriously wrong, Liu Wenjing’s thoughts were still somewhat confused. After a while, he finally sorted them out and nodded, “I remember, but Duke Li didn’t tell me what kind of medicine it was.”

“That was a feigned death drug that Father spent a fortune to obtain from Imperial Physician Zhao, having people rush day and night to get it. Once taken, after several hours, it can make a person’s breath completely stop and pulse cease, appearing truly dead. However, one must use his specially made needle to pierce the acupoints within twelve hours, otherwise the feigned death will become real death!”

“I see.” As Li Shimin spoke, Liu Wenjing also guessed that what happened to him was related to that pill.

“Father knew that as long as Wang Wei and the other were around for one day, there would be no way to rescue County Magistrate Liu for that day. The only method was to make them think County Magistrate Liu was dead – no one would watch a dead person.”

After hearing Li Shimin tell about what happened after his “death,” Liu Wenjing said with amazement, “Second Young Master, you said cremation? If that’s the case, how could I have no injuries at all?”

Li Shimin smiled, “Father anticipated they would do this, so he arranged mechanisms in this charity morgue beforehand. Once the flames rose, the person guarding the charity morgue would activate the mechanism, causing the iron plate under County Magistrate Liu to flip, and the person tied underneath would take County Magistrate Liu’s place.” He added, “County Magistrate Liu, rest assured, that was an unnamed corpse found dead by the mountainside some days ago and sent to the charity morgue, where it remained unclaimed.”

Liu Wenjing nodded and said gratefully, “Thank you, Duke Li and Second Young Master, for going to such trouble for my sake. Without this, I would probably have lost my head by now.”

“County Magistrate Liu, you’re too kind. You sincerely came to discuss great matters with my father. How could we father and son watch County Magistrate Liu be harmed by villains? It’s just that for the next period of time, we must trouble County Magistrate Liu – you cannot reunite with your family, nor can anyone know your true identity.”

Liu Wenjing nodded, “Being able to save this life, I’m already very grateful. What do these small hardships matter? Besides, it’s not for a lifetime.”

Li Shimin smiled, “It’s good that County Magistrate Liu thinks this way. I’ve already arranged a residence for you in Taiyuan City. You’ll live there from now on, and every few days someone will bring things to you. County Magistrate Liu, rest assured, those people are all my trusted subordinates who won’t reveal anything to anyone. Whatever you need, you can tell them, and I’ll definitely do my best to arrange it. As for your family in Jinyang, I’ll also send people to look after them. I absolutely won’t let anything happen to them. County Magistrate Liu can be at ease.”

Li Shimin’s thoughtfulness and thoroughness immediately made Liu Wenjing feel favorable toward him. “Second Young Master cares for me so much. I truly don’t know how to thank you. Please accept my bow!”

Li Shimin quickly supported him, saying, “County Magistrate Liu, please don’t do this. Your willingness to trust us father and son is already the best thanks you could give. Moreover, Father said that County Magistrate Liu is a person of great talent, and we’ll need to ask County Magistrate Liu to assist us father and son in the future!”

Liu Wenjing said without hesitation, “Second Young Master, rest assured, I will definitely assist Duke Li with all my strength, even if it costs me my life.”

Li Shimin said happily, “With County Magistrate Liu’s words, I can rest easy. County Magistrate Liu, please stay here for one night first. After dark, I’ll arrange for someone to take you there.”

Liu Wenjing nodded and added, “I’m no longer a county magistrate now. Second Young Master need not address me as such anymore. I’m somewhat older than Second Young Master. If Second Young Master doesn’t mind, why don’t we address each other as brothers?” Seeing Li Shimin’s extraordinary bearing, he wanted to befriend him.

Li Shimin also admired him greatly and said, “Since that’s the case, then I won’t stand on ceremony. Brother Liu!”

Liu Wenjing said joyfully, “Brother Li is straightforward! Tell Duke Li that I will definitely do my utmost to help him gather all the talented people in Jinyang City under his command!” With these words, they clasped hands, becoming sworn brothers despite their age difference.

After Liu Wenjing’s “sudden death,” Li Yuan and his son lived through a period of relative peace. Of course, this peace was relative – their secret recruitment never stopped.

Although Wang Wei and the other constantly tried to find fault with Li Yuan, the latter was cautious and careful in everything, making it difficult for them to succeed. At this time, Zhen Di’er led one hundred thousand men from Hedong to advance on Taiyuan, severely defeating the Sui generals Pan Changwen and Murong Luohou. Pan Changwen even died under his blade. His advance was truly unstoppable, and if Taiyuan fell to him as well, the entire region within the pass would be in danger.

This Zhen Di’er was Wei Dao’er’s capable general. This person had risen in rebellion in the eleventh year of the Daye era along with Wang Xuba, commanding over one hundred thousand soldiers under him and calling himself the Flying General of Mount Li.

In fact, there was another point that many people didn’t know: Wei Dao’er was actually a man of the Turkic Khan Shibi. Their westward advance, attacking Jinyang and Mayi, was to open a passage for the Turkic army to advance south and seize the Central Plains, that piece of fat meat everyone coveted.

After Li Yuan received the urgent military report, he said to Li Shimin, “If the King of Mount Li is not defeated and the Turks not pacified, there is no way to govern the state and benefit the times!” To contend for the world, the first priority was to defeat the King of Mount Li, and to defeat the King of Mount Li, they must first defeat Zhen Di’er!