Chapter 140: Heroes Contend for the Deer, Yang Guang Falls (Begging for Monthly Tickets)

The great chaos had thoroughly been set in motion!

In fact, Yang Guang's choice this time to flee to Jiangdu was, in a certain sense, quite a clever move.

Though he himself may never have thought of it that way.

But with his flight to Jiangdu, he had indirectly pushed the chaos of the entire realm to its absolute peak.

—Who wouldn't want that seat?

The court was already finished!

Now that the position that could rule over all under heaven hung vacant, and Yang Guang had become an Emperor in name only, why couldn't they take his place?

Storm into Daxing, storm into Luoyang, rule over all under heaven!

A man's ambition grows step by step as his status changes.

These rebel kings may truly have only wanted to survive at first.

But once they had truly reached this point, everything was already utterly different.

The road to the throne had been opened.

The heroes of the age should naturally rise and give chase.

It must be said that Yang Guang's various actions had greatly benefited Li Yuan.

As the core figure of the Guanlong gentry clan.

Once those noble houses abandoned Yang Guang, Li Yuan immediately became the direct beneficiary.

Especially that superstition of the prophetic vein: "The Mandate of Heaven rests with the Li."

After Yang Guang's series of maneuvers, this rumor had actually become the most stirring force of all.

The help this gave Li Yuan was easy to imagine, yet the problems he still had to face ahead were many.

For instance, the Tujue!

Li Yuan had to deal with the Tujue.

Otherwise, the moment he moved his troops, his rear would face a fatal threat.

Li Yuan had originally been playing with this very idea in mind.

So since the start of his uprising, he had never once moved his troops.

But now it was different.

As the saying goes, opportunity waits for no man.

The current situation was, for him, the best moment to push into Guanzhong!

If he could take Chang'an, he could use Guanzhong as his base to gradually sweep away the surrounding separatist forces and thoroughly lay the foundation for winning the realm.

This was an opportunity Li Yuan could not afford to miss.

He did not want to become a second Yang Xuangan, who had met his end precisely because he failed to heed Li Mi's strategy of a swift strike into Guanzhong.

In response, Li Shimin put forward an idea.

—Form an alliance with the Tujue, resolve the hidden threat to the rear, then strike swiftly for Chang'an.

This stratagem could hardly be called anything less than bold.

Li Shimin's decisiveness was fully displayed at a moment like this.

He had precise judgment over any opportunity for battle.

As for allying with the Tujue.

In Li Shimin's own words, a true man should adapt to the times; in the past, Han Xin could endure the humiliation of crawling between another's legs, and even Gu Chen had once made the move of withdrawing from Luoyang.

What harm was there now in their allying with the Tujue in exchange for stability in the rear?

This move swiftly won the support of everyone.

Strike toward Guanzhong.

Whether for Li Yuan himself, or for everyone under his banner, this was a momentous affair!

Across the entire realm, winds rose and clouds surged.

The lords of all directions contended for the deer.

The bloodstained road had officially been opened with Yang Guang's departure.

This battle was destined to shake heaven and earth!

Li Yuan was no so-called mediocrity who relied entirely on his sons.

He too had his own unique judgment on the state of the realm.

All he lacked was a certain all-out courage.

But once Li Yuan had truly made his decision, he would no longer harbor any hesitation.

What was there to hesitate about?

The moment he chose to set foot upon this road, there was no turning back.

The twelfth year of the Daye era;

As Liu Wenjing persuaded the Tujue khan to form an alliance with Li Yuan.

Li Yuan formally led his army west, with Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin, the two brothers, as commanders, establishing the overall strategy of "Entering and occupying Guanzhong, issuing commands to all under heaven," and resolving to strike directly for Chang'an!

The entire Central Plains was a scene of chaotic warfare.

The Wagang army likewise was unwilling to give up this opportunity; its leader Li Mi intended to seize Luoyang.

He successively broke into Luoyang's granaries.

The most crucial point was—

Li Mi did not choose to secretly pocket these grain supplies; eager to firmly establish his footing, he instead chose to open the granaries and let the common folk take the grain as they pleased.

Once the news spread, countless common folk swarmed in.

The procession stretched in an unbroken stream along the road, numbering as many as several hundred thousand people.

This directly pushed Li Mi's prestige to its peak, and the Wagang Army's strength likewise expanded rapidly.

One after another, Sui dynasty officials opened their cities and surrendered.

The spearhead of the army pointed straight at Luoyang.

At the same time, Dou Jiande likewise successively captured numerous territories in Hebei, uniting a host of anti-Sui forces.

In Leshou City, he took that step.

He proclaimed himself king and established the Xia regime.

His fame spread throughout the nine provinces!

Yang Guang's flight from Jiangdu had an impact on the entire realm that was beyond imagination, once this one-way road leading to the throne was opened.

The anti-Sui forces across the realm would be truly consolidated by the overlords among them.

By comparison—

Li Yuan's pace was actually much slower, though he had still broken through Huo Yi.

He continued to push forward.

Li Shimin and Li Jiancheng, the two brothers, played an enormous role in this battle.

That's right, it was those two brothers.

Everyone in the world knows that the "Hidden Crown Prince" ultimately fell short of the Grand General of the Heavenly Strategy, and perished at Xuanwu.

But Li Jiancheng's abilities absolutely cannot be overlooked either.

At a time when Guanzhong was in its rainy season, Li Jiancheng, just like Li Shimin, strengthened Li Yuan's resolve to continue the campaign.

Gu Yi had once paid attention to this matter.

Perhaps it was also because of the influence of the Gu clan.

Li Jiancheng's abilities actually also exceeded those of the original history.

He shared hardship with his soldiers, doing everything he could to steady the army's morale, and only then, in concert with Li Shimin, thoroughly opened the passage into Guanzhong.

Xue San was likewise among the army that set out.

He even managed to wangle himself an official post.

After all, he was an elite cultivated by the Gu clan; though he had never displayed martial skill or insight, compared with those refugees who looked extremely frail, there was still a fundamental difference.

This also allowed Xue San to be rapidly promoted.

Although the desire for revenge was hard to restrain, he still kept firmly in mind the task Gu Yu had given him, and had been observing the Li clan the whole time.

This move by Li Jiancheng.

Although it won him the hearts of quite a few people.

By comparison, Xue San still liked Li Shimin a little more.

It was not because of Gu Yu's assessment.

Gu Yu had never said such things to him; Xue San's recognition of Li Shimin was entirely because of Li Shimin's bold decisiveness.

And also Li Shimin's ambition, which he did not conceal in the slightest.

He wanted to become a second Gu Chen!

It was precisely this kind of ambition that naturally drew Xue San, who took the Gu clan as his faith.

And most crucially, Li Shimin's contributions in this battle likewise could not be ignored.

Whether it was his unstoppable advance on the battlefield, or his scheme to lure out Song Laosheng, or his standing in the rain, weeping and begging Li Yuan not to retreat.

This whole series of actions made it hard for Xue San not to pay Li Shimin even more attention.

The gears of fate had long since begun to turn without anyone noticing.

The Sui dynasty's great trend drew to a complete close.

Although Yang Guang still left members of the imperial clan to garrison key positions, beneath this rolling tide, everything could no longer be reversed.

Daye thirteenth year, the sixth month;

Li Yuan's army continued west, smoothly taking Linfen, Jiang Commandery, and other places, reaching the eastern bank of the Yellow River.

—The dividing line of fate begins from here.

As Li Yuan's eldest son, Li Jiancheng had no choice but to shoulder the pressure of the rear; he was ordered out of the vanguard by Li Yuan to go hold Tongguan.

Li Shimin, the second son, on the other hand, continued to lead his troops across the Yellow River and enter Guanzhong.

The two brothers' paths split from this point on.

Yet no one was able to perceive any of it.

Including the two of them themselves.

At the moment of parting, the two brothers even met privately for a face-to-face.

"Second Brother, with me holding the rear, grain and military supplies will flow without cease." Li Jiancheng gripped Li Shimin's wrist, the warmth of his palm conveying an unquestionable promise. "You just focus on going all out, and don't worry about anything."

Li Shimin rose slowly, bowed deeply to Li Jiancheng, his straightened back like a long sword drawn from its sheath, and said in a ringing, forceful voice: "Brother, set your mind at ease; I will not fail the trust placed in me on this campaign."

Having said that, he turned to leave.

But just then, Li Jiancheng suddenly strode forward, his broad palm pressing heavily onto his shoulder.

Li Shimin stopped, looked back; their eyes met. A rare ripple rose in Li Jiancheng's gaze as he urged, "Blades and arrows have no eyes; you are the commander of an army, you must never again risk your person in danger."

His voice trembled slightly, his fingertips unconsciously tightening. "Do you know that your elder brother's heart has been hanging in suspense every single day, never once set at rest?"

Li Shimin's Adam's apple bobbed; before his eyes rose the scenes of fighting shoulder to shoulder with his brother over this stretch of time.

A sour sting welled up to his eyes, but he forced it back, turning it into a hearty smile at the corner of his lips:

"Brother surely knows my ambition."

His gaze burned bright as he looked toward the darkening clouds on the horizon. "If I cannot share life and death with my soldiers, how can I speak of taking the realm? How can I speak of chasing after Marquis Zhaolie?"

Li Jiancheng stared at his brother's resolute profile, then finally sighed and released his grip.

Li Jiancheng was well aware of Li Shimin's ambitions.

Knowing he could not persuade Li Shimin, he said no more, merely reiterated twice: Take Care, before the two brothers parted ways.

The wheel of history moved forward once more.

Compared to the original history, Li Shimin had indeed grown far stronger.

Though on the surface he still followed the original history, constantly enforcing military discipline and showing not the slightest harm to the common people.

But beyond that.

He had become far better at leveraging his advantages.

"Heaven's Mandate rests with Li."

This prophecy had been endorsed by Yang Guang—how could Li Shimin let such an opportunity slip away?

He secretly ordered men to spread this rumor relentlessly.

At the same time, he was gathering troops from all directions.

Strict military discipline combined with the ever-widening prophecy undeniably greatly elevated Li Yuan's prestige.

Li Shimin's personal charisma was on full display at this time.

He attacked granaries and distributed grain to the people.

For those who surrendered, regardless of status, if they had ability, he granted them absolute trust.

This breadth of heart and character spread further and further.

——Throughout the Guanzhong region, people came from all sides to surrender!

Even Li Yuan's daughter, Princess Pingyang, had raised an army and captured several small cities.

From the rebel leaders against the Sui to Sui officials, from local magnates to common folk—all chanted the name "Li!"

In a short time.

Li Shimin had expanded his forces to over a hundred thousand.

Though these recruits were not true elite troops, so what?

How many elite troops could the warlords of the realm possibly have?

Moreover, Li Shimin knew well that the Li family's prestige had reached an astonishing height—this move would greatly shake the morale of regional armies!

This was also one of his goals!

Li Shimin possessed an invincible heart; he knew his goal clearly and would devote everything to it.

This was Li Shimin's true greatness.

Under these circumstances.

Finally.

As Li Yuanji once again led his elite across the Yellow River to reunite with Li Shimin, the army marched straight toward Chang'an.

Along the way, nearly every city surrendered at the mere sight of their approach.

The defenders within Chang'an were in utter panic—they could never hold against Li Yuan.

November;

Li Yuan finally breached Chang'an, firmly establishing his foothold throughout the Guanzhong region.

Jiangdu.

Yang Guang seemed to have foreseen all of this.

He had long lost the vigor of his youth; this flight to Jiangdu had seemingly drained him of all spirit.

Each day he wandered with disheveled hair, sinking once more into sensual pleasures.

Yet he had acquired a new habit.

Almost every day, he would gaze at his face in a bronze mirror and murmur: "This fine head—whose hand will take it?"

Whose hand will take it?

He did not know.

The empire's situation had completely slipped from his control—he was no longer the emperor who once commanded all.

But for the current Yang Guang,

he no longer cared much—he wished only to numb himself through drunken oblivion, to avoid drowning in the confusion within his heart.

He did not understand—why did the people of the realm rise against him?

Yang Guang had returned to his former state.

Soon after arriving in Jiangdu, he once again ordered men to select beauties for him across the entire Jiangdu region.

He completely cut off all news from the Central Plains, spending each day in drunken stupor and dreamlike oblivion.

What else could possibly matter?

Let the Central Plains burn—Jiangdu was his best shield.

At the very least—

as long as the rebel kings of the Central Plains had not yet decided their victor, he would remain safe.

But many things had already been secretly priced.

Yang Guang's greatest mistake was that he had never regarded his ordinary soldiers or the people of the realm as human beings.

He ignored the morale of his troops.

He ignored their longing for home.

In the current chaos of the Central Plains, who could fail to miss their families?

And Yang Guang had never concealed his unwillingness to return to the Central Plains.

It was under precisely these circumstances.

A tremendous upheaval erupted without warning.

A military revolt that sprang from within the Sui court itself brought Yang Guang's life to a complete end.

Gu Yi had never paid any attention to Yang Guang.

His main objects of focus remained the Gu clan and Li Shimin.

After confirming that no problem would arise within the Gu clan, he turned his gaze upon Li Shimin.

What startled him was—

Li Shimin had actually discerned Xue San's identity.

No, it could not be said that he himself had discerned Xue San's identity.

It was Li Yuan.

Li Yuan possessed an exceedingly rare ability: no matter who it was, he needed only a single glance to remember their face.

He had already seen Xue San back in the years when Gu Zhe was still alive.

The reason he could trust Li Shimin so completely was not only because Li Shimin had prepared a ready excuse, but also because of Xue San himself.

This was entirely beyond Gu Yi's expectations.

And the most crucial point was—

Upon learning of this matter, Li Shimin went on to make an unprecedented decision!

He actually wanted to rush off to the Gu clan!

At a time when the present chaos had yet to be settled, to set out for the Gu clan!

——————

"In the fourteenth year, third month, on the day of Bingchen.

Right Tunwei General Yuwen Huaji and others plotted rebellion, and slew the Emperor in the Wenshi Hall; he was fifty years of age.

Empress Xiao ordered the palace women to dismantle the bed mats and use them as a coffin to bury him.

After Huaji departed, Right Yu Wei General Chen Leng received the imperial coffin at the Chengxiang Hall, and buried it beneath the Wu Gong Terrace."

—Book of Sui, Annals of Emperor Yang

(End of this chapter)