Chapter 144: The Heroes Vie for the Deer, Yang Guang Falls (Seeking Monthly Votes)

The great chaos has been thoroughly unleashed!

In fact, Yang Guang’s choice to flee to Jiangdu this time could, in some sense, be considered a brilliant move.

Although he himself perhaps never thought of it that way.

But following his flight to Jiangdu, it indirectly pushed the chaos of the entire world to its absolute climax.

——And who doesn't want that position?

The imperial court is completely finished!

Now that the position capable of ruling the world is vacant, and Yang Guang has become an emperor in name only, why shouldn't they be able to replace him?

Charge into Daxing, charge into Luoyang, and rule the world!

Human ambition gradually increases as one's status changes.

These rebel kings perhaps only wanted to survive at the very beginning.

But once they truly reached this step, everything became completely different.

The road leading to the throne has already opened.

The heroes of the age must naturally rise up and pursue it.

It must be said that these various actions of Yang Guang have greatly benefited Li Yuan.

As the core existence of the Guanlong aristocracy.

When those noble clans abandoned Yang Guang, Li Yuan directly became the primary beneficiary.

Especially that superstitious prophecy of "Heaven's mandate lies with Li."

After a series of operations by Yang Guang, this rumor actually became the most effective tool for inciting people.

The help this provided to Li Yuan is self-evident, though he still faces many problems ahead.

For instance, the Turks!

Li Yuan must resolve the issue of the Turks.

Otherwise, the moment his army moves, his rear will face a fatal threat.

Li Yuan had originally intended to do just this.

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

But now it is different.

As the saying goes, opportunity knocks but once; time waits for no man.

The current situation is, for him, the best time to advance into Guanzhong!

If he can capture Changancheng, he can use Guanzhong as a base to gradually sweep away surrounding separatist forces and thoroughly lay the foundation for conquering the world.

This is an opportunity Li Yuan must seize.

He does not want to become a second Yang Xuangan, who failed and perished precisely because he did not follow Li Mi’s strategy of a rapid attack on Guanzhong.

Regarding this, Li Shimin proposed an idea.

——Form an alliance with the Turks, resolve the hidden danger in the rear, and then launch a rapid attack on Changancheng.

This strategy could not be called anything but bold.

Li Shimin’s decisiveness was fully reflected at this moment.

He possesses a precise judgment for every opportunity on the battlefield.

As for the alliance with the Turks.

According to Li Shimin’s own words, a real man should adapt to the times; in the past, Han Xin could endure the humiliation of crawling between legs, and even Gu Chen had made the move to withdraw from Luoyang.

Now, what is wrong with them forming an alliance with the Turks to trade for stability in the rear?

This move quickly garnered support from everyone.

Charge toward Guanzhong.

Whether for Li Yuan or for everyone under his command, it was a major event!

The entire world is surging with wind and clouds.

Warlords from all four directions are vying for the deer.

The blood-stained road has officially opened with the departure of Yang Guang.

This battle is destined to be earth-shattering!

Li Yuan is not some so-called mediocre talent who relies entirely on his sons.

He also possesses a unique judgment regarding the situation of the world.

All he lacked was some courage to press forward without looking back.

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

And what was there to hesitate about?

Once he chose to step onto this path, there was no turning back.

The twelfth year of the Great Enterprise;

Following Liu Wenjing’s success in persuading the Turkic Khan to form an alliance with Li Yuan.

Li Yuan officially led his army westward, with the two brothers Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin as commanders, confirming the overall strategy of "entering and occupying Guanzhong to command the world," and resolved to take Changancheng directly!

The entire Central Plains is in a state of chaotic warfare.

The Wagang Army was also unwilling to give up this opportunity, and its leader Li Mi intended to capture Luoyang.

They successively broke through the Luoyang granaries.

The most critical point is—

Li Mi did not choose to hoard this grain for himself; eager to establish a firm foothold, he chose to open the granaries and let the common people take the grain.

As the news spread, countless commoners swarmed in.

The roads were filled with an endless stream, numbering as many as several hundred thousand.

This directly pushed Li Mi’s reputation to its peak, and the strength of the Wagang Army also expanded rapidly.

Successive Sui Dynasty officials opened their city gates and surrendered.

The spearhead of the army pointed directly at Luoyang.

At the same time, Dou Jiande also successively captured many places in Hebei and united a group of anti-Sui forces.

He took that step at Leshou City.

He declared himself king and established the Xia regime.

His prestige spread throughout the nine provinces!

The impact of Yang Guang fleeing Jiangdu on the entire world is unimaginable; once this one-way street leading to the throne opened.

The anti-Sui forces across the world would be integrated by true heroes.

By comparison—

Li Yuan’s speed was actually much slower, though he did capture Huoyi.

He continued to push forward.

The two brothers Li Shimin and Li Jiancheng played a huge role in this battle.

That’s right, it was the two brothers.

The world knows that the "Hidden Crown Prince" was ultimately inferior to the General of the Heavenly Strategy and died at Xuanwu.

But Li Jiancheng’s ability absolutely cannot be ignored.

At a time when Guanzhong was in its rainy season, Li Jiancheng, just like Li Shimin, helped Li Yuan solidify his determination to continue the campaign.

Gu Yi had once paid attention to this matter.

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

Li Jiancheng’s ability was actually superior to what it was in the original history.

He shared the hardships with the soldiers and did his utmost to reorganize the morale of the army, which, in coordination with Li Shimin, completely opened the passage to Guanzhong.

Xue San was also among the marching army.

He even managed to land an official position.

After all, he was an elite cultivated by the Gu family; although he had not revealed his martial arts or insight, he was fundamentally different from those refugees who looked extremely frail.

This also allowed Xue San to be quickly promoted.

Although the thought of revenge was hard to suppress, he kept in mind the mission Gu Yu had given him and was always observing the Li family.

This move by Li Jiancheng.

Although it won him the hearts of many people.

But by comparison, Xue San still liked Li Shimin more.

It was not because of Gu Yu’s evaluation.

Gu Yu had never told him these things; Xue San’s approval of Li Shimin was entirely due to Li Shimin’s boldness.

And there was Li Shimin’s ambition, which he did not hide in the slightest.

He wanted to become a second Gu Chen!

It was this kind of ambition that would naturally attract Xue San, who took the Gu family as his faith.

Moreover, the most critical point was that Li Shimin’s contribution in this battle could not be ignored either.

Whether it was his courage on the battlefield, his scheme to lure out Song Laosheng, or his weeping in the rain to beg Li Yuan not to retreat.

This series of actions made it hard for Xue San not to care more about Li Shimin.

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

The grand trend of the Sui Dynasty had completely come to an end.

Although Yang Guang still kept his kinsmen stationed in key locations, under the momentum of this rolling tide, everything was already impossible to reverse.

The thirteenth year of the Great Enterprise, the sixth month;

The army of Li Yuan continued to advance west, successfully capturing Linfen, General, and other places, arriving at the east bank of the Yellow River.

——The dividing line of fate began from this moment.

As the eldest son of Li Yuan, Li Jiancheng had to shoulder the pressure of the rear; he was summoned by Li Yuan from the vanguard to go and hold Tongguan.

As for the second son, Li Shimin, he continued to lead his troops across the Yellow River and entered Guanzhong.

The paths of the two brothers diverged from this point on.

Yet, no one was able to perceive anything.

Including themselves.

At the moment of departure, the two brothers even met in private.

"Er Lang, with me holding down the rear, the grain and weaponry will surely be endless." Li Jiancheng gripped Li Shimin’s wrist, the warmth of his palm conveying an unquestionable promise, "You need only fight with all your might; do not worry."

Li Shimin slowly rose and bowed deeply to Li Jiancheng, his straight back like a drawn longsword, saying with resonant force: "Brother, set your heart at ease; I shall certainly not fail the trust placed in me."

Having said this, he turned to leave.

But just at this moment, Li Jiancheng suddenly stepped forward quickly, his thick palm pressing heavily onto his shoulder.

Li Shimin stopped his steps and looked back; as their eyes met, ripples rarely seen appeared in the depths of Li Jiancheng’s eyes, and he exhorted: "Swords and blades have no eyes; as the commander of an army, you must never again put yourself in danger."

His voice trembled slightly, his fingertips tightening involuntarily, "Do you know that my heart, hanging in the balance every day, has never once been set down?"

Li Shimin’s Adam’s apple bobbed as scenes of fighting side-by-side with his brother over this period surfaced before his eyes.

A sour ache surged into his eye sockets, but he forced it back, transforming it into a bright smile at the corner of his lips:

"Brother should know my aspirations."

His gaze was burning 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 world? How can I speak of chasing the Marquis of Zhaolie?"

Li Jiancheng looked at his younger brother’s resolute profile and finally sighed, loosening his grip.

As for Li Shimin’s aspirations, Li Jiancheng naturally knew them.

Knowing it was impossible to persuade Li Shimin, he said no more, and after emphasizing a few more times to take care, the two brothers parted ways.

The wheels of history moved forward once again.

Compared to the original history, the current Li Shimin was indeed much stronger.

Although on the surface he remained the same as in the original history, always keeping a close eye on military discipline and never committing the slightest offense against the common people in various places.

But beyond that.

He was even more adept at utilizing his own advantages.

"Heaven’s mandate lies with Li."

This prophecy had been endorsed by Yang Guang, so how could Li Shimin let such an opportunity pass?

He secretly ordered people to continuously spread this rumor.

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

Strict military discipline combined with the ever-spreading prophecy undoubtedly greatly boosted Li Yuan’s momentum.

Li Shimin’s personal charisma could be said to be displayed to the fullest at such a time.

Attacking granaries to distribute grain to the people.

For those who came to surrender, regardless of their background, as long as they had ability, he would grant them absolute trust.

This breadth of mind and character spread further and further.

——Throughout the entire land of Guanzhong, people came from all sides to surrender!

Even Li Yuan’s daughter, Pingyang, organized an army and captured several small cities.

From those who opposed the Sui and even Sui officials, down to the local powerful clans and commoners, everyone was chanting the name of the "Li Clan"!

In a short period of time.

Li Shimin directly expanded his troops to over a hundred thousand.

Although the people he recruited could not be counted as true elites, what did that matter?

How many elites could the various warlords of the world have?

Moreover, Li Shimin was very clear that the reputation of the Li Clan had reached a truly astonishing level at this moment, and this move would greatly affect the morale of local armies!

This was also one of his goals!

Li Shimin possessed an invincible heart; he was very clear about his goals and would give his all for them.

This was the truly extraordinary aspect of Li Shimin.

Under these circumstances.

Finally.

As Li Yuanji once again led elites across the Yellow River to rendezvous with Li Shimin, the great army headed straight for Changancheng.

Along the way, almost every city surrendered at the mere sight of them.

The garrison within Changancheng was in a state of panic; it was simply impossible for them to block Li Yuan.

The eleventh month;

Li Yuan finally broke through Changancheng and firmly established his footing throughout the Guanzhong region.

Jiangdu.

Yang Guang seemed to have already sensed all of this.

Now, he no longer had the high spirits of years past; this flight to Jiangdu seemed to have caused him to lose all his heart and spirit.

He spent his days disheveled, once again immersed in female company.

However, he had acquired one more habit.

Almost every day, he would look at his own face in a bronze mirror and then mutter to himself: "A fine head, who can take it?"

Who could take it?

He did not know either.

The situation in the world had completely slipped from his control; he was no longer the emperor who could control everything.

But for the current Yang Guang.

He did not care about so much anymore; he preferred to use drunken dreams to numb himself, so as to avoid being overwhelmed by the confusion in his heart.

He did not understand why the people of the world wanted to rebel against him!

Yang Guang had returned to his state from years ago.

Not long after arriving in Jiangdu, he once again ordered people to select beauties for him throughout the entire Jiangdu region.

He completely cut off all news regarding the Central Plains, spending his days in a drunken stupor.

What was there worth paying attention to?

Regardless of how the Central Plains fared, the region of Jiangdu was his best protective umbrella.

At the very least——

Before that group of rebel kings in the Central Plains could fully decide the outcome, he was ultimately safe.

But many things had already been marked with a price in the invisible.

Yang Guang’s greatest mistake was that he never regarded his own ordinary soldiers and the common people of the world as human beings.

He ignored the morale of his soldiers.

And he ignored the soldiers’ longing for their homes even more.

Under the current circumstances where the Central Plains were in such chaos, who could not miss their own family?

Moreover, Yang Guang had never hidden his desire to not return to the Central Plains.

Under these circumstances.

A great change suddenly arose.

A mutiny originating from within the Sui court completely ended Yang Guang’s life.

Gu Yi had not paid attention to Yang Guang.

His main objects of concern remained the Gu Shizi and Li Shimin.

After confirming that the Gu Shizi would not have any problems, he turned his gaze toward Li Shimin.

What surprised him was——

Li Shimin had actually perceived the identity of Xue San.

No, it could not be said that he had perceived the identity of Xue San.

It was Li Yuan.

Li Yuan had a very rare talent: he only needed to look at anyone once to remember their appearance.

He had already met Xue San years ago when Gu Zhe was still alive.

The reason he could trust Li Shimin so much was not only because of the excuse Li Shimin had prepared, but also because of Xue San.

This was completely beyond Gu Yi’s expectations.

And the most critical point was——

Upon learning of this matter, Li Shimin had made an unprecedented decision!

He actually wanted to rush to the Gu Shizi!

In this current time of unsettled chaos, to head to the Gu Shizi!

——————

"The fourteenth year, the third month, Bingchen day."

General of the Right Tuntun Guard Yuwen the Strategist and others plotted a rebellion and assassinated the Emperor in the Greenhouse; he was fifty years old at the time.

Empress Xiao ordered the palace attendants to take apart the bed mats to serve as a coffin for his burial.

After Yuwen the Strategist had left, General of the Right Imperial Guard Chen Leng attended to the coffin at the Chengxiang Hall and buried him beneath the Wu Gong Terrace.

—— "Book of Sui: Annals of Emperor Yang"

(End of this chapter)