A Good Landlord in the Tang Dynasty: Starting from the Village Chief

Chapter 587 The King of Qin's Direct Line
Li Yi returned to his residence.
The area in front of the gate was bustling with cars and people, all coming to visit and offer holiday greetings.

He didn't get out of the car to greet them, but went straight inside.

When Du Shiniang saw him return, she made him tea. She had also delivered gifts to her mother, Guo, her cousin, Du Ruhui, and her uncle's house that day.

Ji Lingyi came in, and she had become even more plump after having three children. "Many people came to visit and bring gifts, but as Ah Lang instructed, only the closest relatives and friends were received. The others only received visiting cards, but no gifts were accepted."

"By the way, the sons of the Prefect of Longzhou came to visit a few days ago, bringing several cartloads of gifts, which I refused as usual. They came again this morning and are still at the door."

"The Prefect of Longzhou?" Li Yi couldn't recall who this Prefect of Longzhou was for a moment.

"He is a descendant of the Duke of Hua of the Sui Dynasty," Ji Lingyi reminded her.

"Oh."

Li Zhi, the governor of Longzhou, was Li Yi's scoundrel father. In order to curry favor with the powerful minister Yang Su, he abandoned his pregnant fiancée and married Yang Su's daughter.

He had the audacity to come and claim kinship with Li Yi, demanding that Li Yi acknowledge his ancestors, only to be chased and slashed by Li Yi with a broadsword in the street.

Finally, the emperor intervened and allowed Li Yi to be adopted by Li Xiaochang's younger brother, becoming a member of the Imperial Clan Court, thus completely severing ties with Li Zhi.

"Li Zhi's sons?"

"Yes, they visit during holidays and festivals, and they always bring gifts, but we have never met them or accepted their gifts, yet they still come every time."

Those men were Li Yi's half-brothers, but Li Yi didn't associate with them and had never acknowledged them as his brothers and sisters.

Li Zhisheng has quite a few children, especially many illegitimate children born outside the family.

"Ignore them over there."

Li Yi confessed.

"Understood." Ji Lingyi, the head of the household, made a note of it.

No matter how many people wanted to visit him, Li Yi ignored them.

There are many icings on the cake, but few icings on the cake.

The higher one's position, the more one should avoid any appearance of impropriety.
He didn't even visit the Prince of Qin's residence, nor did he send any gifts to the Prince of Qin. In any case, their relationship didn't require such things.

He did send a gift to Du Ruhui, after all, he was his wife's brother.

However, Fang Xuanling and Changsun Wuji did not send any gifts.

On the contrary, Qin Qiong, Cheng Yaojin, Luo Shixin, and Niu Jinda all sent gifts to their respective residences. After all, Li Yi had recruited them during the battle of Guzhou, and they had even formed a sworn brotherhood of ten. With this relationship in place, maintaining contact would prevent others from saying anything.

Moreover, Qin Shubao, Cheng Yaojin, Luo Shixin, and others are all straightforward and decisive martial artists, and Li Yi feels quite comfortable getting along with them.

night,

The moon rises, and the Mid-Autumn Festival moon is round and bright, like a jade plate in the sky.

Under the osmanthus tree in the courtyard,

Light the lamps, set out mooncakes, etc.
The family enjoys the moon together to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival.

"It's a pity that Madam Zheng and her children are still on their way and won't be able to return for the Mid-Autumn Festival reunion," Du Shiniang said. Looking at the group of children around her, she felt very gratified; the Li family was becoming more and more prosperous.

It would be even more lively if it weren't for the fact that several wives, concubines, and children from Mingzhou hadn't returned yet.

Watching the adorable children running around Li Yi, Du Shiniang couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness. Five years had passed since their marriage, yet they still hadn't had a child.

Although it's not that she can't have children, the main problem is that she was delayed by two major funerals. Now the couple is already separated most of the time, and she still has to observe mourning for her father for more than a year.

"I'm leaving tomorrow. You all take care of each other at home." Li Yi looked at this heartwarming scene and felt a pang of reluctance.

“You’re only staying at home for three days in total. It’s too much trouble to travel all this way. Can’t you stay a few days longer?” Du Shiniang held her husband’s hand.

"When it comes to war, the situation is extremely urgent, there's nothing we can do about it. Don't worry, we'll definitely return victorious soon and go home for the New Year!"

The dew is white tonight, and the moon is bright in my hometown.

The air is filled with the fragrance of osmanthus blossoms, and the moon shines brightly. It's a rare opportunity for families to enjoy mooncakes and admire the moon together.

“Ah Lang, you must remember this promise. We will wait for you to come home for the New Year.”

"Ah."

Enjoying the moon until very late,
Everyone seemed reluctant to go back inside.
The women, in particular, finally kept the little ones occupied until they were tired and sleepy, and then the nanny took them to bed.

Then the women stared at each other, each vying to have their husband's company on this last night before he left the capital.

Although Du Shiniang was in mourning and could not share a room with her husband, she still wanted to spend more time with him and chat with him.

"Ah Lang has to travel tomorrow, so you should all go back to your rooms and rest early, and don't disturb him," Shi Niang said.
Ji Lingyi and the other concubines were disappointed, but they dared not question the mistress.

Reluctantly, I got up.
"Knowing what you're thinking, who has the best days these days?" Shi Niang smiled.

Upon hearing this, the women quickly calculated the dates of their respective menstrual periods.

In the end, Shuying's date happened to be right, so she quickly told him.

"Don't give false information," Shi Niang said to Li Yi, seeing that the others still had a long way to go. "Let Shuying serve you tonight, but Ah Lang is leaving tomorrow, so don't stay up too late."

"I'll go wash up first." Shuying already has a daughter, but she also wants to have a son. Even if she is called "Auntie" by others, having a biological son would definitely give her a special status in the household.

Ji Lingyi bore two sons and a daughter for Alang, including a pair of twins. Although her eldest son was born out of wedlock, he was granted the title of Duke of Rongguo because he was the eldest son born out of wedlock.

The second son born to this father, though the fourth son born out of wedlock, was granted the title of county baron based on his father's merits.

The eldest daughter-in-law usually stays in Wubenfang. This Prince's Mansion is run by Lady Ji, all thanks to the fact that she gave birth to two sons and a daughter, with the eldest son being the Duke of Rongguo.

···
The Imperial City, the Ministry of War's office.

Li Shimin sat in the hall of the government office, and one by one, the generals entered the hall.

Li Shimin, the Marshal of the Hedong Expeditionary Army, is here today to summon all the generals of the expeditionary army, along with the fish tally and the seal of the expeditionary commander.

Li Shimin, dressed in imperial golden armor and a scarlet brocade cloak, sat regally in the main seat.

Deputy Commanders Li Yi and Li Yuanji donned the imperial silver armor and stepped forward to receive the talisman. Li Yi was placed before Yuanji, which displeased Yuanji.

He was the Prince of Qi, Minister of Works and Attendant-in-Ordinary, and General of the Left Army. He was originally the Grand General of Bingzhou, but now that position has been given to Li Yi, and he has been reassigned as the Grand General of Xizhou.

Li Yuanji was very dissatisfied. Now, as he was sent to conquer Hedong, he was ranked second to Li Yi, even though he was serving as deputy commander alongside Li Yi.

The two stepped forward to receive the talisman.
After receiving the seal, Yuanji went straight to the left side below Li Shimin.

He sat down with one plop.

In the Tang Dynasty, the left was considered superior, and the Left Minister was higher than the Right Minister.

Li Yi and Yuan Ji were both deputy commanders, with two seats on the left and right respectively. Naturally, Li Yi should sit on the left, but Yuan Ji insisted on taking the seat.

Li Shimin glared.
"King Qi, your seat is on the right."

Li Yuanji said with dissatisfaction: "As deputy commanders, I, the Minister of Works and the Attendant-in-Ordinary, am not as high-ranking as he, the Minister of Works and the Attendant-in-Ordinary. I am also a Prince, while he is only a Prince of the Commandery."

Li Shimin had no intention of indulging his ugly younger brother.
"By imperial decree, the two deputy commanders, Wu Yi, are in front, and you are behind. Make way!"

Yuanji sat there and refused to move.

Li Shimin was furious. "You neither obey His Majesty's edict nor my orders as the marshal?"

“I am above Li Yi, so this position should be mine.”

"Get out! My Hedong Camp doesn't need you. One more or one less makes no difference to us." Li Shimin pointed to the entrance of the main hall and shouted at him to get out.

Li Yi stood aside watching the show, and slowly said, "Marshal, since Prince Qi wants to compete, then let Prince Qi sit. It's just one seat."

In any case, the King of Qi wasn't vying for the position of Grand General of Bingzhou, nor was he vying for the position of Military Commander of Bingzhou Road, and he certainly didn't want to be the first to go north to fight the Turks.

Li Yuanji glared angrily at Li Yi.

Li Yi laughed and said, "If the King of Qi wants to compete for the position of Grand General of Bingzhou and General Commander of the Bingzhou Road Army, he should strive to win the mission of heading north to cut off the Sparrow and Rat Valley, tearing apart Jieli's encirclement, and entering Bingzhou."
I'm willing to give up the other part as well.

Li Yuanji certainly didn't have that ability, nor did he have that courage; otherwise, he wouldn't have abandoned Taiyuan and fled in the first place.
Although several years have passed and he is now in his twenties, he has aged a few years but his skills have not improved.

Li Yuanji was both embarrassed and angry after being confronted by the two.
"Get out of the way," Li Shimin said, pointing at him.

Li Yuanji gritted his teeth, but in the end he had no choice but to get up and offer his seat, and sat down on the right.

If he goes out now, I reckon his second brother will really kick him out of the camp.

Qu Tutong, Luo Shixin, Qin Shubao, Yuchi Gong, Xue Wanjun, Qiu Xinggong, Cheng Yaojin, Duan Zhixuan, Zhang Shigui, Shuang Shilu, Zhai Changsun, Zhang Gongjin and other military generals couldn't help but laugh as they watched Li Yuanji make a fool of himself, but no one spoke up for him.

However, the civil officials, including Tang Jian, Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhai, Yu Wenshi, Changsun Wuji, and Wei Zheng, were able to watch Yuanji make a fool of himself without changing their expressions.

A little episode

The gathering of generals and the bestowal of seals at the Ministry of War proceeded very smoothly.

A constellation of brilliant generals.
There are many strategists and fierce generals.

This time, Li Yuan completely relinquished control, allowing Li Shimin to bring out his strongest fighting force.

"Our mission in this battle against the Turks is simple: within a month, we must find a way to encircle and annihilate the Turkic army south of Queshu Valley, which has penetrated deep into Jinzhou."

We must annihilate at least three to five thousand cavalry.

Li Shimin looked at Li Yi, "The key to our first phase of the mission lies with Wu Yi. You will travel north from Longmen through Xizhou to Fenzhou, where you will gather troops and cut off Queshu Valley."

This way, we can close the door and trap the enemy in the south, annihilating them as they penetrate deep into our territory.

"Are you sure?"

Li Yi nodded and said, "It all depends on human effort. Jieli is very arrogant and overconfident now. This time, his 150,000 troops invaded and captured Shuo, Ying, Dai, and Xin prefectures, advancing all the way to Taiyuan. It was too smooth, which made him very arrogant."

They scattered their troops everywhere, like spreading out pancakes.

They besieged Taiyuan, and also sent troops to plunder Zelu and Shixi, not even sparing Weizhou and Beiyanzhou. They even planned to send troops into Hebei to plunder.

This is our opportunity.

"As long as I quickly head north and cut off Sparrow Valley before Jieli can react, Jieli won't be able to launch a counterattack and retake it anytime soon."

Li Shimin laughed and said, "I might doubt what others said, but I believe Wu Yi. Back when Liu Wuzhou invaded..."
Wu Yi, with only a few thousand men, was able to recapture Sparrow Rat Valley and hold this vital passage. Now, with his even greater experience in leading troops, he will naturally have even less of a problem.

Faced with the mess in Hedong, Li Shimin remained calm and did not rush to head north to Taiyuan, but proceeded in a very measured manner.

None of the civil and military officials opposed Li Shimin's plan.

Only Li Yuanji spoke sarcastically, "Taiyuan is in grave danger, yet the Prince of Qin remains unhurried. Isn't he afraid of Taiyuan falling?"

"At this point, they're still thinking about sealing off Sparrow Rat Valley and annihilating the enemy in Jinzhou. Do you think Li Yi can actually seal off Sparrow Rat Valley?"

I'm afraid he won't even be able to enter Fenzhou City.

Li Yi, without any politeness, said to Li Yuanji, "If Prince Qi thinks Li Yi is not up to the task, then why don't you, Prince Qi, take the lead!"

"Hmph," Li Yuanji didn't respond. Of course he didn't have that ability, which is why he felt that Li Yi didn't have that ability either.

Prince Huaiyang, Li Daoxuan, couldn't stand it any longer and mocked, "If Prince Qi doesn't dare to go, then forget it. I'll accompany Sikong and guarantee we can complete the mission."

(End of this chapter)