Hearing this, Li Shimin was about to speak to Yunyi, but she had already said: “Your Highness, please go quickly. This servant will go to the Princess.”
“Good.” After saying this word, Li Shimin quickly departed.
Upon arriving at Liangyi Hall, Li Jiancheng, Li Yuanji, Peiji, and others had already arrived, all wearing serious expressions. This was the first invasion Chang’an had faced since Li Yuan became emperor. This battle concerned not only Chang’an City but also the Great Tang’s national prestige, so absolutely no failure could be tolerated.
At Li Yuan’s signal, Wu Shihuo said gravely: “Xue Ju has this time led three hundred thousand troops to invade our Great Tang. Additionally, he has allied with Liang Shidu, who occupies Diaoyin, Honghua, Yan’an, and other commanderies, for a total of five hundred thousand troops. Besides the main force attacking Chang’an, there’s also Zhong Juqiu leading troops to attack Guanzhong.”
Although they heard that Xue Ju had brought five hundred thousand troops this time, Li Yuan and the others showed no signs of fear. Though Xue Ju compared himself to the First Emperor of Qin who unified the world and called himself the Qin Emperor, he was actually a hothead, far inferior to Wang Shichong, Li Mi, or Dou Jiande. Five hundred thousand troops seemed intimidating but wasn’t enough to frighten them.
After Wu Shihuo finished speaking, Liu Hongji said: “The secondary force led by Zhong Juqiu is not worth worrying about. The key is the main army personally led by Xue Ju.”
Li Jiancheng stroked the jade thumb ring on his right hand, saying slowly: “Though Xue Ju has many soldiers, he has few capable generals. The only one who could be considered skilled in warfare is his son Xue Rengao. These so-called five hundred thousand troops are nothing but a paper tiger.”
Li Yuan, dressed in a round-collared bright yellow robe and wearing a black gauze cap, said: “This is the Great Tang’s first battle, so even knowing it’s a paper tiger, we cannot be careless. This battle must be won, not lost!”
“Your son understands.” Saying this, Li Jiancheng rose: “Please grant your son two hundred thousand troops, and your son will certainly crush Xue Ju’s five hundred thousand troops for Father Emperor!” Though he, like Li Shimin, had followed Li Yuan all the way to today, when it came to military achievements, he was far inferior to Li Shimin. So this time, he was determined to seize this opportunity to make his position as Crown Prince truly deserved.
As soon as he finished speaking, Li Yuanji also said: “Your son wishes to accompany elder brother, and we will certainly eliminate Xue Ju.”
Li Shimin slightly furrowed his sword-like brows: “Though Xue Ju doesn’t have many capable subordinates, as Father Emperor said, he absolutely cannot be underestimated.” Then he addressed Li Yuan seated on the dragon throne: “Father, your son wishes to accompany elder brother. If anything happens, we can consult each other.” Two hundred thousand troops against five hundred thousand was somewhat risky, so he made this suggestion. However, this made Li Jiancheng feel slighted, secretly resentful, though being as deep-minded as he was, he didn’t show it on his face.
Li Yuanji didn’t have such deep thoughts, and being hot-tempered, immediately darkened his face upon hearing this: “Second brother, are you saying that elder brother and I can’t handle Xue Ju?”
“How could I think that? It’s just…” Before Li Shimin could finish, Li Yuanji already said stiffly: “Father Emperor, elder brother and I are sufficient to face the enemy together. There’s no need to trouble second brother.”
If it were before, Li Yuan would definitely have Li Shimin go to battle, but ever since learning that in the tenth year of the Daye era, Li Shimin had secretly let Yunyi escape, his attitude toward Li Shimin had undergone subtle changes, no longer completely trusting him. Therefore, after pondering for a moment, he said: “Shimin, you take fifty thousand troops to intercept Zhong Juqiu. As for Xue Ju, Jiancheng and Yuanji will lead three hundred thousand troops to engage him.”
Seeing Li Yuan let him command troops in this first battle since the Great Tang’s founding, Li Jiancheng understood that his previous efforts hadn’t been in vain—Li Yuan was beginning to favor him.
He confidently bowed together with Li Yuanji: “Father Emperor, rest assured. Your son will certainly bring Xue Ju’s head to you.”
Though Li Shimin still had concerns, since Li Yuan had made his decision, he was unwilling to say more and could only agree as instructed.
Li Jiancheng would be the commander-in-chief, with Li Yuanji and Liu Wenjing as deputy generals, leading Chai Shao, Qiu Xinggong, Tang Jian, and other eight generals, totaling three hundred thousand men, to directly engage Xue Ju.
Li Shimin would take Liu Hongji, Du Ruhui, and a total of fifty thousand men to intercept Zhong Juqiu!
What followed was waiting for troop deployment. As soon as the soldiers assembled, they would immediately march out.
On this day, Yunyi went to visit Changsun Shi. Upon entering the inner hall, she saw the latter leaning back in thought, lost in contemplation. Only after calling her several times did she come to her senses, forcing a smile: “Sister has come. Please sit quickly.”
After Yunyi sat on the embroidered stool brought by a maidservant, she said: “Didn’t the Princess say before that the lily and honeysuckle cakes were quite to your taste? I had Ruyi make some more. Please try them, Princess.”
While she was speaking, Ruyi had already taken the lily and honeysuckle cakes from the food box and presented them to Changsun Shi, who glanced at them and nodded: “Sister is so thoughtful, but I don’t have much appetite right now. Let’s set them aside for now.”
After signaling Ruyi to place the cakes on the small table, Yunyi said with concern: “Princess, your brows are tightly knitted. Do you have something troubling you?”
Changsun Shi lowered her head for a moment, then said: “Sister, have you heard about His Highness about to lead troops to intercept Zhong Juqiu?”
Hearing this, Yunyi already understood where the worry in Changsun Shi’s expression came from, and consoled her: “Zhong Juqiu is brave but lacks strategy—he’s not worth worrying about. Princess can rest easy.”
“I know this too, but…” Changsun Shi sighed softly, looking heavy with worry: “I don’t know why, but ever since learning of this matter, I’ve been unable to feel at ease. When His Highness campaigned in Luoyang before, I wasn’t this worried.”
Yunyi reached out to cover her swollen belly: “This servant heard Imperial Physician Li say that pregnant women are particularly prone to worry. Princess must be experiencing this. Rest assured, His Highness will be fine. Moreover, if Princess keeps thinking about unpleasant things, it could affect the child. What if he’s born frowning like Princess?”
Changsun Shi was amused by Yunyi’s words and laughed: “How could such a thing happen? You’re talking nonsense.”
Yunyi smiled: “Look, this is much better than just now. When the child is born, he’ll be more beautiful too.”
How could Changsun Shi not understand her intentions? She grasped her arm: “Sister, thank you.”
Yunyi smiled: “I wonder if Princess has an appetite for the lily and honeysuckle cakes now?”
Changsun Shi’s gaze swept over her, saying with a half-smile: “If you agree to one more thing for me, then I’ll truly have an appetite.”
Yunyi was startled and asked puzzledly: “What is it?”
“I told you long ago to call me sister as before, but you insist on being formal and calling me Princess. It sounds so awkward.”
Hearing it was about this, Yunyi smiled knowingly while taking the blue and white porcelain dish: “As this servant said before, as long as this servant regards Princess as sister in her heart, what I call you is all the same.”
Changsun Shi said earnestly: “That may be so, but I still prefer hearing the former address, as if I truly had gained a sister.”