Memoirs of the Heavenly Khan

Chapter 226 Being a Sage Isn't So Easy

Chapter 226 Being a Sage Isn't So Easy
As dawn broke, in a side courtyard of the Duke of Tang's mansion, Hou Mochen Yue got up, feeling somewhat dizzy.

Li Bi lives next door and seems to have gotten up early.

Hou Mochenyue walked out of the house and saw Hou Jing and Li Bi talking outside. Seeing him come out, Hou Jing said:
"You've come at the right time. Today we'll go and see the sights of Chang'an."

"Scenery?"

Hou Mochen asked what it was, but Hou Jing just smiled.

"You'll know once you go."

Hou Mochen Yue's hand was grabbed by Hou Jing, who was pulling it outwards.

"Jinghe, aren't you going?"

Li Bi gave an awkward laugh. After all, Li Bi was Hou Mochen Yue's uncle.

"You go ahead!"

Hou Mochenyue was pulled away by Hou Jing. Li Bi was a little bored and thought of the martial arts training ground outside the mansion. There should be soldiers practicing there at the moment. He became interested.

Before I even left the house, I ran into Li Shuang.

"Jinghe, where are you going?"

"When I came yesterday, I saw soldiers practicing martial arts in the drill ground. Today I intend to go and take a look."

"In that case, what a coincidence! Jinghe, why don't you come with me?"

"It's disrespectful!"

To achieve great things in this chaotic world, one naturally needs elite troops and valiant generals.

Li Bi himself was a fierce and unparalleled general who charged into battle. Naturally, he also had a deep understanding of the elite troops and warriors of the world.

The military compositions of the Southern Liang and Northern Wei dynasties differed significantly. A considerable portion of the Southern Liang army consisted of naval forces, while in the Northern Wei, the so-called navy was not used for combat but rather as a logistical unit for transporting supplies and troops.

The Southern Liang dynasty heavily relied on its navy because the south had numerous waterways and lacked large-scale pastures for raising warhorses. The Northern Wei dynasty, on the other hand, emphasized its cavalry because it controlled many horse farms, and the north was ideal for cavalry operations.

Therefore, the Northern and Southern Dynasties were locked in a tug-of-war in their respective familiar territories, with neither side able to gain the upper hand.

For more than two hundred years, apart from Emperor Wu of Song, Liu Yu, no army of the Southern Dynasties was able to defeat the cavalry of the Northern Dynasties in the north, where cavalrymen roamed freely.

The troops of the Six Garrisons were precisely an important component of the Northern Wei military system.

Li Bi had seen many elite troops, but the Six Garrison Troops were the best. The coordination, organization, and combat effectiveness of the Six Garrison Troops surpassed that of the vast majority of armies in the Northern Dynasties.

But now, Li Bi has seen another elite army.

Guanzhong Prefecture Soldiers!

Li Bi was well-versed in military tactics and immediately recognized that the soldiers on the training ground were using infantry tactics.

Li Bi was puzzled. Guanzhong was not short of horses, so why did Li Shuang want to train an infantry?
He asked the question, and Li Shuang's answer was very simple.

It's cheap, and unnecessary!

Even if heavy infantry costs more money, it still won't cost as much as cavalry.

After all, warhorses are living creatures. In addition to the high cost of training, they also need to eat fodder every day. The daily consumption of one horse is equivalent to that of five people.

The key to defending Guanzhong has always been to secure the four strategic passes.

In the event of an emergency, troops in the Guanzhong region can be transported by water to the front lines quickly.

"If the Duke of Tang were to ever venture out of the pass to fight, would these soldiers alone be enough?"

It is a great taboo to speak too frankly with someone you don't know well. Li Bi asked the question, but it was more out of curiosity.

Li Shuang smiled.

"This level is not enough!"

The soldiers of the twelve military prefectures in Guanzhong have varying combat strengths, and it is not possible to rely on this army to fight outside the pass in a short period of time.

To pacify the world, a single elite cavalry force is far from sufficient. A powerful infantry force must also follow behind.

Li Bi listened thoughtfully, and before he knew it, he had followed Li Shuang to the training ground.

On the training ground, Peng Le, shirtless and showing off his powerful muscles, was demonstrating his swordsmanship in front of a group of soldiers, holding a long-handled broadsword.

Upon seeing Li Shuang arrive, Peng Le sheathed his sword and bowed.

"I've met my lord!"

Li Shuang waved his hand, pointed at Li Bi, and said:

"This is Li Jinghe, a renowned and valiant general!"

Hearing Li Shuang say that, Peng Le immediately became unhappy. "In literature, there is no first place; in martial arts, there is no second."

"In that case, I wonder if Jinghe would be willing to have a match with me."

Li Shuang looked at Li Bi, who initially didn't want to agree. After all, this was Peng Le's home turf, and neither victory nor defeat would look good. However, unable to withstand Peng Le's sarcastic remarks, Li Bi also lost his temper.

The two men, clad in armor and wielding long-handled swords, sparred in the training ground.

Li Bi and Peng Le were both fierce generals with extraordinary strength. They fought for dozens of rounds without a clear victor. It wasn't until Peng Le cleaved Li Bi's sword in two that the outcome was decided.

Li Bi was naturally very dissatisfied, and Li Shuang spoke up at this moment:

“Zixing’s victory was somewhat unfair! Men, bring me my armor and sword and give them to Jinghe.”

Upon hearing this, Li Bi cupped his hands and said:
"How dare this humble general use the Duke's armor and weapons?"

"It's alright. Li Zixing is used to being arrogant. Now that Jinghe has come, it's a good opportunity to teach him a lesson."

Peng Le was very unhappy when he heard this.

"It's still uncertain who will teach whom a lesson!"

……

Hou Mochen returned to the side courtyard drunk, only to find Li Bi standing there, gazing at the bright moon in the sky.

"Uncle, what's wrong with you?"

Upon hearing this address, Li Bi knew that Hou Mochen Yue was drunk.

Where were you taken?

Hou Mochenyue chuckled and said:
"The Sogdian Whirlwind Dance, what a beautiful sight!"

As Hou Mochenyue spoke, he could barely stand, and Li Bi quickly helped him up.

Let's set off soon!

"The scenery in Chang'an is beautiful, why set off so early?"

Li Bi replied:

"Today, Lord Tang gave me a suit of armor and a sword."

"So what? Keep it!"

Hearing Hou Mochenyue's reply, Li Bi said:
"I spent half a day talking with Lord Tang today and learned of his demeanor and talent. I admire him greatly. His ability to manage his subordinates is something only a peerless hero could achieve. His troops are also very much in line with my own interests. I'm afraid..."

Before Li Bi could finish speaking, Hou Mochen Yue had already fallen asleep.

……

For half a month, Hou Mochen Yue was dragged by Hou Jing to admire the scenery of Chang'an, completely unaware of Li Bi's change.

Only when they were no longer able to appreciate the scenery did Hou Mochen Yue remember to hurry on their way to Longxi.

He found Li Bi and mentioned the matter of setting off, but Li Bi was completely different from his original state at this time.

"It's only been a few days, why are you in such a hurry to set off? Longxi is remote, it's better to make proper preparations in Chang'an to be fully prepared."

As he spoke, Li Bi asked:
Why didn't Hou Jing take you out?

Hou Mochenyue, supporting her lower back, said:

"He was really tired."

"In that case, you should also get some rest!"

Just as Li Bi was about to leave, Hou Mochenyue spoke up:

"Jinghe, I'm in this state, won't you stay with me?"

Li Bi, somewhat impatient, spoke up:

"Lord Tang is still waiting for me!"

"What are you waiting for?"

"Today, Lord Tang wishes to discuss military strategy with me, so we must not delay."

The door closed slowly, and Hou Mochenyue lay back on the bed, her dark circles under her eyes staring blankly at the ceiling, murmuring:

What's causing this feeling that I've lost something?