Chapter 87: Turmoil Rises Again

“Wei Zheng, a record-keeping officer under Duke Wei, greets the Crown Prince, Prince of Qin, and Princess Pingyang.” Wei Zheng saluted Li Jiancheng, Li Shimin, and Li Xiuning with neither arrogance nor humility.

At last, Wei Zheng stepped forward, breaking the awkward silence that hung in the air.

“Is this Wei Zheng from Wagang?” Li Jiancheng’s eyes suddenly brightened, and he responded warmly, “May I ask, Sir Wei, is your visit to Chang’an a private affair or official business?”

Wei Zheng replied, “It is official business.”

Li Jiancheng’s eyes shone even brighter.

Wei Zheng continued, “I am here by order of my lord, Duke Mi, to pay respects to the ruler of Tang.”

Li Jiancheng’s brows danced with excitement. “Does Duke Mi wish to ally with Tang to attack Zheng?”

Li Mi was a shrewd man. Even in defeat, he thought to leverage Wang Shichong’s power, sealing off the Guanzhong region. With Li Yuan unsure of his intentions, Li Mi sought to sell his allegiance at a high price.

Li Mi successfully kept news of his defeat outside Tong Pass, then dispatched Wei Zheng to secretly enter Guanzhong and negotiate terms of surrender. In fact, not only did Li Jiancheng not expect Li Mi to surrender to Tang, but even Li Shimin was equally surprised.

Li Mi had risen to fame even earlier than Li Yuan. In the early days of the Sui dynasty’s reign, Li Mi was known for his diligence, riding an ox along the road with a book hanging from its horn, reading as he went. Yang Su noticed him and praised him greatly—thus arose the tale of the book hung on the ox’s horn. Later, during the ninth year of Emperor Yang’s reign, amid Yang Xuangan’s rebellion, Li Mi presented three strategies—high, medium, and low. After the rebellion was quelled, Li Mi went into hiding, eventually joining Wagang, where his clever tactics bolstered its strength. At its peak, he commanded over four hundred thousand troops. Among the thirty-six rebel kings at the end of the Sui, Li Mi’s reputation was formidable.

It could be said that if Li Mi allied with Tang, the siege at Tong Pass would dissolve without a fight, and the entire Tang court could enjoy a peaceful New Year. For a long time to come, Tang’s strategic position would be highly favorable: they could advance into Hedong, uniting Taiyuan and Shangdang, or retreat and consolidate Guanzhong and Bashu, developing peacefully and amassing power, eventually sweeping the realm like Qin Shi Huang or Emperor Gaozu Liu Bang.

Wei Zheng nodded, then shook his head. “Both yes and no!”

“Oh?” Li Jiancheng said, “Please elaborate!”

Chen Ying stepped forward, cupped his hands to Li Jiancheng, and began, “Your Highness, perhaps you are unaware—”

Before he could finish, Wei Zheng pinched Chen Ying’s arm and blinked repeatedly at him.

Chen Ying deliberately ignored Wei Zheng and continued, “Sir Wei’s visit to Chang’an is—”

“Hmph!” Chen Ying gave Wei Zheng a provocative look.

Wei Zheng, helpless, lowered his voice and said, “Wei Zheng is not a man who breaks his word. General Chen, you are being too suspicious, judging a gentleman by a petty man’s heart!”

“What do you mean, judging a gentleman by a petty man’s heart?” Li Jiancheng, catching the phrase, asked curiously.

Wei Zheng’s face stiffened, unsure how to respond.

Chen Ying explained, “Your Highness, at first, Sir Wei promised to give me a thousand-li steed—”

Wei Zheng looked at Chen Ying with a wry smile, thinking how shameless he was. Whenever there was an opportunity, Chen Ying would find a way to profit, and now, with a few words, the valuable steed had become meat in his bowl.

But Wei Zheng dared not refute Chen Ying and could only go along, saying, “It is true. General Chen does not yet know me; I am not miserly.”

“This is not the place for conversation!” Wei Zheng’s face twisted in discomfort, as if suffering from constipation.

Li Jiancheng glanced at those present. Though the soldiers of the two noble houses had already been led back to their camps by Zhang Huaiwei and Duan Zhigan, and Gao Wanqing had slipped away with the archers from Wannian County, there remained three or four hundred guards from Princess Pingyang’s residence, the Prince of Qin’s residence, and the Crown Prince’s palace.

Too many people and prying eyes—hardly ideal for private discussions. Li Jiancheng nodded in agreement. “Indeed.”

Li Jiancheng then looked to Chen Ying. “General Chen, does your residence have a tranquil spot?”

“Yes, yes!” Chen Ying quickly replied. “The rear courtyard is quiet and undisturbed.”

He then instructed Green Pearl and Red Sleeve, who lingered at the edge of the crowd, to prepare the rear hall.

Li Jiancheng stepped forward, warmly grasped Wei Zheng’s right hand, placed the other on his shoulder, and walked toward the rear courtyard, led by Red Sleeve and Green Pearl.

Chen Ying turned back and suddenly noticed Li Shimin’s gaze fixed intently on Luo Shixin. At that moment, Li Shimin seemed like a bachelor who had waited thirty years and finally spotted a stunning beauty; his eyes never left Luo Shixin, as if he might leap forward at any moment.

Chen Ying secretly worried—could this be Luo Shixin’s fate?

Would Luo Shixin, as history records, serve under Li Shimin?

Historically, Luo Shixin did indeed follow Li Shimin, fighting with the Prince of Qin against Wang Shichong, winning battle after battle and earning fame. He was made governor of Jiangzhou and titled Duke of Tan. After Wang Shichong was subdued, Luo Shixin again helped Li Shimin suppress Liu Heita. During the campaign against Liu Heita, he was captured defending a lone city with weak forces, refused to surrender, and was killed by Liu Heita.

As the saying goes, what you fear often comes to pass.

“This must be Luo Shixin, the vanguard general under Chief Zhang, the commissioner for the twelve counties of Henan, right?” Li Shimin smiled warmly, cupped his hands, and said, “General Luo, you have come to Chang’an, and I have failed to fulfill my duties as host. That was a discourtesy; please honor me by staying at the Prince of Qin’s residence.”

Chen Ying had wanted to follow Li Jiancheng and Wei Zheng into the rear courtyard, but now he couldn’t afford to. He certainly did not wish his efforts to become a wedding dress for Li Shimin.

“Your Highness, General Luo is from Wagang!” Chen Ying smiled, his words carrying an undertone. “Isn’t that a bit unprincipled?”

Li Shimin showed no displeasure and replied calmly, “General Chen, you are overthinking it. I have no intention of poaching Duke Mi’s trusted general; I simply admire General Luo.”

Chen Ying saw Luo Shixin about to follow Li Jiancheng and Wei Zheng to the rear courtyard and hurried to pull him back. “You’d best not join the fray.”

Luo Shixin thought it over—scheming was not his strength. He suddenly looked to Kan Ling and laughed, “Brother Chen, I’m hungry. Let’s drink!”

“Alright. Your Highness, if you have no pressing matters, why not join us?” In truth, Chen Ying was merely being polite, like asking someone you aren’t close to, “Have you eaten yet?”

But Li Shimin seized the opportunity. “Then I shall accept gladly.”

The Chen residence bustled once more. Whether Li Jiancheng or Li Shimin brought their men, it was out of goodwill. Chen Ying didn’t mind the expense; with a running banquet, there was plenty to eat and drink. In no time, the meal for three or four hundred was ready.

The soldiers were rough men, unfussy about food; even salted boiled pork was enough for them to down a huge bowl. While organizing the feast, Chen Ying did not forget his brothers from the second noble house. In times of crisis, they risked disciplinary action to support him, and Chen Ying was grateful.

While arranging food for the guards from the Prince of Qin’s residence, the Eastern Palace, and Princess Pingyang’s residence, Chen Ying quietly instructed Li Chuyi to take three hundred strings of cash to the second noble house’s barracks. Though the household troops lacked military pay, they received three pounds of rations daily—though the fare was lean.

Three hundred strings could buy over three thousand pounds of beef, or ten thousand pounds of pork. It was enough to improve their meals for half a month.

The atmosphere in the Chen residence grew lively again. Li Shimin, ever the seasoned commander, mingled with all, from Eastern Palace guards to the princess’s troops, drinking heartily with everyone.

Li Xiuning fixed her fierce gaze on Chen Ying. “What on earth happened?”

Chen Ying replied, “If not for Your Highness’s timely arrival, I might have met my end. I truly took a trip through the gates of death!”

Li Xiuning opened her mouth, but in the end asked with concern, “Your injuries—are you alright?”

“My whole body aches; surviving is luck enough!” Chen Ying sighed. “What did I do to deserve this? Like fish suffering from a fire at the city gate!”

He then recounted how he came to host the banquet, how he met Wei Zheng and Luo Shixin, and how Wei Zheng turned on him. Of course, he purposefully concealed the truth about Li Mi’s defeat by Wang Shichong, leaving Li Mi as a fugitive.

Li Xiuning said, “You’d best avoid unsavory company in the future!”

“You’re the one who should avoid unsavory company!”

Chen Ying turned and saw Chai Shao, face flushed, shouting hysterically, “I am the princess’s husband; why—”

Just then, his words were smothered by someone’s hand. Seeing Li Xiuning’s face darken, Changsun Wuji hurriedly dragged Chai Shao away.

“Second Brother, since when did you start associating with him?” Li Xiuning glared at Li Shimin, her tone sharp. “Don’t let me see him again, or I won’t be so friendly!”

“Third Sister, let me explain—”

Li Xiuning snapped, “Sanbao, we’re leaving!”

She stormed out, followed by the guards from Princess Pingyang’s residence.

At that moment, Chai Shao broke free from Changsun Wuji’s grasp, drew his sword, and pointed it at Chen Ying. “If you’re a man, duel me!”