“To think such a thing could happen.” Li Jiancheng muttered, then said: “Shimin, could he be lying?”

Li Yuanji took up the conversation: “That’s right, didn’t he say he was from Honghua Commandery? How is it that in a flash he’s saying he came from Jiangdu? His words don’t match up – nine times out of ten he’s talking nonsense.”

“No, this person is indeed from Honghua Commandery. Later he served as an official in Luoyang, then followed Yang Guang to Jiangdu. He wouldn’t deceive us.” Regarding Li Shimin’s words, Li Yuanji curled his lips: “You can paint a tiger’s skin but not its heart – how does Second Brother know whether his words are sincere or false? Besides, we don’t even know him, so why would he travel such a long distance to tell us this news?”

Li Shimin lowered his head without speaking. Li Yuan, having recovered from his shock and seeing his appearance, said: “Is there something else?”

Li Shimin nodded: “Father, do you remember when we narrowly escaped death in Luoyang?”

Li Yuan nodded: “Naturally I remember. What about it?”

Li Shimin roughly recounted the events, saying: “Princess Jin Yang has now been kidnapped by the rebel Cuiji. Du Ruhui has come this time hoping that your son can, in consideration of how she once saved us, rescue her from Jiangdu.”

“Absurd!” Before Li Yuan could speak, Li Yuanji had already said: “Why doesn’t he mention how this wretched princess caused Third Brother’s death and harmed so many innocent people? Her falling to this fate is well-deserved. To still hope we’d trouble ourselves to save her is simply laughable. No, absolutely not!”

Li Shimin sighed: “She did harm many people, but back then in Luoyang, that my father and I could escape unharmed was indeed thanks to her. Calculating it, we still owe her!”

Li Yuanji said dissatisfiedly: “If anyone owes anything, it’s her owing our Li family. How can you say we owe her?”

“Fourth Brother.” Li Jiancheng lightly rebuked him, then said: “Shimin, you’re telling Father these things – do you want to go rescue Princess Jin Yang? But you should understand that our goal is Chang’an. If we now detour to Jiangdu, it would bring us a hundred harms without a single benefit. Moreover, don’t forget we still have the great enemy Qu Tutong. Before we think of a way to deal with him, we can’t go anywhere.”

“This is precisely what I wanted to discuss.” Li Shimin said: “Previously regarding crossing the Yellow River, we always thought there were only two paths to choose from, but actually there aren’t – there’s a third path.”

Li Yuanji said dismissively: “What third path? Can we fly across the Yellow River?”

Li Shimin smiled and said to Li Yuan: “Father, we’ve always felt that crossing the river without resolving Qu Tutong would leave endless troubles, but we never thought that we could actually lead the main army across the river into the pass, focus on capturing Chang’an, then concentrate part of our forces to form a flanking army to besiege and contain Qu Tutong. This way, we can avoid neglecting either side!”

The melancholy that had been troubling his heart since arriving at Dragon Gate dissipated without trace with Li Shimin’s words, like clouds parting to reveal the sun. Li Yuan slapped his armrest and laughed heartily: “This is indeed a good method! We can seize Chang’an at the fastest speed while also containing Qu Tutong, preventing him from posing a threat to us. Moreover, once news of Yang Guang’s assassination spreads, their army’s morale will surely waver, and they can no longer be a major threat to us.”

Li Jiancheng’s cheek twitched slightly, then he smiled: “Shimin still has the most ideas, solving in a few words the difficult problem that has troubled us for so long.”

Li Shimin shook his head: “I’m ashamed to say, the person who thought of this method wasn’t me, but Du Ruhui.”

“Him?” Li Yuan said in surprise: “This person spoke with you for just a moment and could think of such a perfect solution?”

“Correct. Your son sees that his knowledge is extraordinary and his perspective unique. He’s excellent talent. Your son intends to recruit him under my command to assist Father in achieving great undertakings.”

Li Yuan stroked his beard: “I trust your judgment. You can decide this matter yourself.”

Li Yuanji muttered nearby: “What talent? It’s probably just a blind cat catching a dead mouse. What’s so great about that?”

Li Jiancheng glanced at him and said to Li Yuan: “Father, since we already have a perfect solution, we can prepare to cross the river tomorrow and directly take Chang’an.”

Li Yuan nodded and was about to speak when Li Shimin suddenly bowed: “Father, could you please assign two thousand elite troops for your son to command?”

Li Yuan looked puzzled: “What do you want two thousand elite troops for?”

Before Li Shimin could answer, Li Jiancheng’s expression had already grown grave: “Shimin, you want these two thousand men – you’re not thinking of going to Jiangdu to rescue Princess Jin Yang, are you?”

Li Shimin nodded: “Yes, Princess Jin Yang has always shown me kindness. I cannot stand by and watch her die!”

“Second Brother, have you gone mad?” Li Yuanji stared at him with displeasure: “That princess is the murderer who killed Third Brother, yet you actually want to risk going to save her. If you really do this, I’m afraid that beneath the nine springs, Third Brother won’t forgive you!”

“Don’t speak nonsense.” After glaring at Li Yuanji, Li Jiancheng said: “Shimin, Big Brother knows you most dislike owing favors, but since Pei Qiantong and the others can control Jiangdu city, they surely have considerable military strength. With merely two thousand men, do you think it’s possible to rescue Princess Jin Yang from their hands?”

“I know this matter isn’t easy, but I must try somehow. Besides, the river-crossing method just now was献ed by Du Ruhui, and his only request is to go rescue Princess Jin Yang.”

Before anyone could speak, Li Yuanji had already said: “It’s just a river-crossing method – what’s so remarkable about it? Second Brother, if you really go, you’ll be a fool.”

“Getting more and more excessive – how can you speak to your elder brother like this?” Saying this, Li Jiancheng said seriously: “Shimin, this matter is no small thing. Think it through carefully.”

Li Shimin sighed: “Actually, Yuanji is right, but if I don’t make this trip, my heart won’t be at peace.” Saying this, he again bowed to Li Yuan: “I hope Father will fulfill this request!”

Before his words finished, Li Yuan had already refused his request: “No!”

Li Shimin looked up in surprise: “Father…”

Li Yuan raised his hand to interrupt him: “I know what you want to say, but I cannot knowingly let my son and soldiers walk a path of death. Absolutely not. After we capture Chang’an, I’ll send people to Jiangdu to find a way to rescue her.”

Li Shimin shook his head: “I’m afraid by then it will be too late. Father, please let your son make this trip. Your son promises you that I will definitely return safely to see you.”

Li Yuan waved his sleeve: “In any case, when I say no, it means no. You needn’t say more.”

Just as they were at an impasse, Li Jiancheng suddenly spoke: “Father, if you don’t let Shimin make this trip, I’m afraid Shimin will forever have a knot in his heart. This would definitely not be good for him.”

Li Yuan looked in surprise at this eldest son who had always been steady: “You agree with Shimin going to Jiangdu?”