novelraw Chapter 394 - 7: Warlords Contend, Yang Guang Falls
Chapter 394 - 7: Warlords Contend, Yang Guang Falls
This also prompted Xue San to be rapidly promoted.
Although the thought of revenge was hard to suppress, he kept in mind the task given to him by Gu Yu and continuously observed the Li family.
This move by Li Jiancheng.
Although it won the hearts of many people for him.
Xue San, compared to Jiancheng, still preferred Li Shimin a bit more.
It wasn’t because of Gu Yu’s evaluation.
Gu Yu had not told him these things; Xue San recognized Li Shimin entirely because of Li Shimin’s decisiveness.
And also because of Li Shimin’s ambition, which he did not conceal at all.
He wanted to become a second Gu Chen!
This kind of ambition naturally attracted Xue San, who regarded the Gu Clan as his faith.
Moreover, the credit of this battle for Li Shimin was also undeniable.
Whether it was his relentless advance on the battlefield, his design to lure out Song Laosheng, or his pleading with Li Yuan in the rain not to retreat his troops.
This series of actions made it difficult for Xue San not to pay more attention to Li Shimin.
The gears of destiny had already begun to turn unnoticed.
The great momentum of the Sui Dynasty had completely ended.
Although Yang Guang still kept relatives to guard important places, under this overwhelming trend, everything could no longer be reversed.
The thirteenth year of Daye, June;
Li Yuan’s army continued its westward advance, successfully capturing Linfen, Jiang Commandery, and other places, reaching the east bank of the Yellow River.
——The dividing line of destiny began here.
As Li Yuan’s eldest son, Li Jiancheng had no choice but to bear the pressure from the rear, being summoned by Li Yuan to guard Tong Pass.
While Li Shimin, the second son, continued to lead the troops across the Yellow River into Guanzhong.
The paths of the two brothers split from here.
However, no one could perceive everything.
Including themselves.
Before departing, the two brothers even met privately.
"Erlang, I will oversee the rear; the supplies and arms will be incessant," Li Jiancheng grasped Li Shimin’s wrist, the warmth of his palm transmitting an undeniable promise, "Just go all out, don’t worry."
Li Shimin slowly stood up, bowed deeply to Li Jiancheng, his straight back like an unsheathed sword, and said powerfully, "Brother, rest assured, I will not fail the trust placed in me."
Having said this, he turned to leave.
But at this moment, Li Jiancheng suddenly rushed forward, his broad hand pressing heavily on Shimin’s shoulder.
Li Shimin stopped and turned back, their eyes meeting, seeing a rare ripple in Jiancheng’s eyes as he cautioned, "Blades have no eyes; as the commander, never put yourself in danger again."
His voice trembled slightly, fingertips unconsciously tightening, "Do you know, my heart has never rested for you, brother."
Li Shimin’s Adam’s apple bobbed, scenes of fighting alongside his brother appearing before his eyes during this period.
A sour feeling rose to his eyes but was forcibly suppressed, turning into a bright smile on his lips:
"Brother certainly knows my ambition."
His gaze was sharp, looking at the darkening clouds in the sky, "If I cannot live and die with the soldiers, how can I talk of taking the world? How can I pursue the Marquis Zhao Lie?"
Li Jiancheng looked at his brother’s resolute profile, eventually sighing as he released his hand.
He certainly knew Li Shimin’s ambition.
Knowing it was impossible to persuade him, he said no more, only emphasizing caution once more before the two brothers parted ways.
The wheels of history moved forward again.
Compared to the original history, the current Li Shimin indeed grew much stronger.
Although outwardly he remained as in the original history, always strictly upholding military discipline and not infringing upon the local populace.
But beyond that.
He became more adept at utilizing his advantages.
"The Celestial Mandate rests with the Li."
This prophecy had been endorsed by Yang Guang; how could Li Shimin not seize such an opportunity?
He secretly ordered people to continuously spread this rumor.
At the same time, he was recruiting soldiers everywhere.
Strict military discipline coupled with the increasingly widespread prophecy, undoubtedly greatly enhanced Li Yuan’s prestige.
Li Shimin’s personal charisma at this moment was displayed to the fullest.
Attacking granaries, distributing grain to the people.
To those who surrendered, no matter their identity, as long as they had ability, absolute trust was given.
Such breadth of mind and character spread far and wide.
——Throughout the Guanzhong region, people surrendered from all directions!
Even Li Yuan’s daughter, Pingyang, organized an army, capturing several small cities.
From the rebels against the Sui to Sui officials, down to local nobles and common people, all were chanting the "Li" name!
In a short period.
Li Shimin expanded his troops to over a hundred thousand.
Although these recruited troops were not true elites, what did it matter?
How many elites could the lords of the world have?
Moreover, Li Shimin understood very well, the Li family’s reputation had reached a remarkably impressive level at this moment, which would greatly affect military morale locally!
This was also one of his objectives!
Li Shimin had a heart destined to be invincible. He was very clear about his goals and would give everything for them.
This is what truly set Li Shimin apart.
In such circumstances.
Finally.
With Li Yuanji once again leading the elite forces across the Yellow River, joining with Li Shimin, the army marched straight towards Chang’an.
The cities along the way almost surrendered without a fight.
The garrison inside Chang’an was even more panic-stricken, and it was impossible to stop Li Yuan.
November;
Li Yuan eventually broke through Chang’an, completely establishing a foothold in the whole of Guanzhong.
.....
Jiangdu.
Yang Guang seemed to have sensed all of this as well.
He no longer had the ambition of his younger years, and this escape to Jiangdu felt as if it had completely taken away all of his spirit.
Every day he was disheveled and once again immersed in the pleasures of women.
But he acquired a new habit.
Almost every day, he would look at his face in a bronze mirror and mutter to himself: "Such a fine head, who can take it?"
Who can take it?
He didn’t know either.
The situation of the world had completely slipped from his grasp, and he was no longer the emperor who could control everything.
As for the current Yang Guang.
He didn’t care that much anymore, he just wanted to numb himself through revelry, to avoid being overwhelmed by the incomprehension in his heart.
He couldn’t understand why the people of the world wanted to rebel against him!
Yang Guang had gone back to his former state.
Just shortly after arriving in Jiangdu, he once again ordered a beauty search throughout the area for him.
Completely cutting off all news about the Central Plains, he indulged himself daily in revelry.
What else was worth paying attention to?
No matter what happened in the Central Plains, Jiangdu was his best shelter.
At the very least——
As long as the rebel kings in the Central Plains had not fully decided the outcome among themselves, he would remain safe.
But many things had long been marked with a price invisibly.
Yang Guang’s greatest mistake was never treating the ordinary soldiers under his command and the people of the world as human beings.
He overlooked the morale of his soldiers.
And he overlooked the soldiers’ homesickness.
In the current chaotic state of the Central Plains, how could anyone not miss their family?
Moreover, Yang Guang never hid his reluctance to return to the Central Plains.
In such circumstances.
A great change suddenly occurred.
A mutiny from within the Sui court completely ended Yang Guang’s life.
Gu Yi had never paid attention to Yang Guang.
His main focus remained on the Gu Clan and Li Shimin.
After confirming that there were no issues with the Gu Clan, he turned his attention to Li Shimin.
What surprised him was——
Li Shimin actually discovered Xue San’s identity.
No, it wasn’t just that he discovered Xue San’s identity.
But Li Yuan.
Li Yuan had a very rare ability, he could remember anyone’s appearance after just a single glance.
He had seen Xue San when Gu Zhe was still alive years ago.
His trust in Li Shimin wasn’t just because of the excuse Li Shimin came up with, it was also due to Xue San.
This completely exceeded Gu Yi’s expectations.
And the most crucial part——
After learning of this, Li Shimin made an unprecedented decision!
He actually wanted to go to the Gu Clan!
In such unsettled times, he planned to visit the Gu Clan!...
——————
"Fourteenth year, third month, day of Bingchen.
General of the Right Guard, Yuwen Huaji and others rebelled, assassinated the Emperor in the Wenshih Greenhouse, at the age of fifty.
Empress Xiao ordered the palace attendants to dismantle the bed boards to use as a coffin for burial.
After Huaji’s removal, General of the Right Guard, Chen Ling, took the imperial coffin to Chengxiang Hall and buried it under Wugong Platform."
—— "Book of Sui. Biography of Emperor Yang"