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墨書 Inktalez
Chapter 139: The Way Back
Yang Jishan was optimistic, while Yang Xuangan and Li Mi were not so naive. If Li Jian Cheng truly had such intentions, he would have contacted them long ago; there was no reason to wait until now to negotiate.
Li Mi said, "Are you paying close attention?"
Yang Xuangan nodded after careful consideration. "Indeed."
The two exchanged a glance and fell into silence. If it were someone else, their words might have been taken lightly, as there were many noble officials who privately harbored grievances against Yang Guang.
However, Li Jian Cheng was known for his caution. He hosted grand banquets almost daily, with many waiting for him to slip up after drinking, including those who would deliberately provoke him. Yet, over the years, no one had managed to catch him off guard.
Such a person would not casually utter meaningless words.
As the conflict dragged on, although it had never been explicitly stated, there was a sense of regret among them; perhaps their uprising had been too hasty. Despite winning battles repeatedly, they still found it difficult to break the stalemate.
"What does he really mean by that?"
Li Mi felt a sudden jolt in his heart but glanced at the increasingly distant Yang Xuangan and chose not to speak.
Yang Jishan urged, "What good does it do for us to speculate here? If we want to know, we should just ask."
Yang Xuangan frowned and scolded, "Reckless! What if Li Jian Cheng orders your immediate execution? We are not at war with another nation; there is no need for decorum. To Li Jian Cheng, you are merely part of the Suppression of Rebellion."
"We've known each other for years; we are not enemies of the Li Family to such an extent."
Li Mi suddenly interjected, "I think it would be good for Jishan to go, but going privately might not be wise. Not to mention the threats of violence; he is unlikely to meet with you."
"There are a few among us who are unyielding. After generations of friendship, it is impossible to simply kill them. Keeping them would only waste resources, so we will return them to Li Jian Cheng. I believe this will allow us to meet him."
"Let it be so."
Li Mi understood that the two brothers still had more to discuss, so he stood up to take his leave. Once he exited the tent, Yang Xuangan turned to his brother and said, "Don't hold too high expectations. Li Jian Cheng may seem kind, but he is quite proud. Even at eleven or twelve years old, he dared to confront the current Chancellor. Now that he has achieved success and fame, he certainly won't submit to us."
Yang Jishan felt disheartened upon hearing this. "Then why bother making the trip? It's just giving him a favor for nothing."
Yang Xuangan's expression remained resolute, unlike the bravado he had shown outside. After a long pause, he said, "I cannot let our family line end with me; I must leave a way out."
"Weren't the nephews already arranged to go overseas?"
Yang Xuangan shook his head. "They have no power or influence and cannot reveal our surname to the world. They cannot honor our ancestors in our homeland. How is that different from cutting off our lineage?
What I want is for our Yang Family, even without the fortune of a prestigious name to dominate the world, to maintain the glory and wealth we have enjoyed for hundreds of years."
Yang Jishan remained silent as Yang Xuangan continued, "Li Mi just thought of something but said nothing. I also realized that we cannot capture Luoyang City while reinforcements keep arriving; our momentum is fading.
But after this incident, can Yang Guang's throne remain stable? As we gain some strength, many noble families will place their bets on us. Zhang Suduo has worked tirelessly, and now bandits are gathering tens of thousands under my name; it shows that the end of the Sui Dynasty is not far off.
I can only lament that our family ultimately serves as a vanguard for the king."
"Brother! How can you speak such despondent words? We still have opportunities."
Yang Xuangan smiled and replied, "Leaving a way out does not mean I intend to sit idly by; as the head of the family, I cannot focus solely on my own achievements.
You must speak well when you see Li Jian Cheng; make sure he knows that our Yang Family's foundation is not so shallow. It’s just that we cannot capture Luoyang; those who have risen up have little significance."
Upon returning to his military camp, Li Jian Cheng immediately set about drafting another memorial, as he had previously stated. This time, he reported Wei Wensheng's intentions to privately unite the armies, accusing him of being disrespectful to the Sovereign Father and overstepping his authority in military matters. Such behavior was nothing short of treachery disguised as loyalty.
This was not the first memorial he had submitted; since receiving the imperial edict, he had already collaborated with several ministers to present a joint petition while in the capital. It seemed that he would soon drown the emperor's desk in paperwork.
He dispatched the memorial urgently and then called for the Night Watch City Gate Captain, taking a brief tour of the camp. The troops he had promoted most were those who had joined from recruitment, numbering over ten thousand.
Even with forty thousand elite soldiers, they were not truly his. The commoners were conscripted, but these ten thousand had enlisted under his name, and with some training, they could become a true elite force.
The next day, they broke camp and advanced toward the frontline city before nightfall, directly leading his troops to take residence there. If they did not secure the city, this hastily assembled army would be vulnerable against Yang Xuangan.
However, it was also impossible to ignore the siege of Luoyang. After a day of rest and setting up defensive equipment, he left behind a contingent ready to provide support and moved forward once again.
Finally, just before engaging in battle, he awaited the arrival of Dan Xiongxin and Qin Shubao, which brought him some relief.
He promptly appointed Dan Xiongxin to lead the elite forces from Chang'an as the vanguard and commanded Qin Shubao to lead over ten thousand recruits in support while Li Jian Cheng himself would follow with the commoners.
In terms of relationships, Dan Xiongxin was closer to him. Although it was clear that Qin Shubao possessed greater abilities, if he focused solely on promoting Qin Shubao while neglecting Dan Xiongxin, it would be counterproductive.
The two generals exchanged glances and accepted their orders with enthusiasm. Dan Xiongxin felt proud and determined to serve their lord faithfully, aiming to achieve great merit in suppressing the rebellion so that he could rise alongside his benefactor.
Qin Shubao also secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Throughout their journey, although the two brothers had not explicitly discussed it, they had been considering their ranks—whether under Come to Protect the Child or Zhang Suduo's command.
They did not need to worry; under Come to Protect the Child's command, Dan Xiongxin was a newcomer and naturally ranked below Qin Shubao. When serving under Zhang Suduo together, they would compete based on their true abilities without any pretense.
However, here with Li Langjun, it was Dan Xiongxin who led him to pay respects at the mountain peak. If he achieved no merit at all and surpassed his patron in rank, Qin Shubao would feel uneasy about it himself.
Seeing that both were satisfied, Li Jian Cheng felt there was no need for further words. Dividing the cake was not easy; under the circumstances where contributions were not vastly different, it was important to consider those with seniority, as hard work deserved recognition.
Li Jian Cheng then convened the commanders of the Chang'an Army and the recruitment leaders. He first announced his military orders and then reassured the commander of the Chang'an Army, promising that regardless of how the battles unfolded, he would support a promotion of three ranks.
With the battle imminent, there could be no room for anyone to lag behind. Naturally, the commander did not dare to refuse Li Jian Cheng’s intentions, especially since he had been offered such a generous incentive. He immediately bowed to Li Jian Cheng and then took his place behind Dan Xiongxin.
As for Recruitment, it was even simpler since the previous commander was Li Jian Cheng's cousin. There was no need for further discussion; they shared both glory and loss, so he readily moved to stand behind Qin Shubao.
...
Ouch! This afternoon my tooth hurt so much that I went to have my wisdom tooth pulled out. Now it hurts and I'm hungry.
Brothers, please take care of your teeth! Remember to brush and rinse often.
By the way, just wanted to report my results—I'm currently averaging around 730.
(^_)☆
(End of Chapter)
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