Tang Dynasty: A Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls for Li Er at the Start

Chapter 154 Meeting at the Gates of Huizhou
"Don't panic, it's just a scout!"

Upon hearing this, Wen He looked up and saw Li Jing put down his binoculars, wave his hand, and the surrounding military formation was once again in perfect order in just a few breaths.

This is Pharmacist Li, calm and composed, with the demeanor of a great general.

But the binoculars in his hand looked very familiar.

"Hmm, young master, are you curious about this?" Li Jing pointed to the telescope, assuming he had never seen it before.

"This is a telescope sent by His Majesty. It can see a thousand miles away. Isn't that amazing?"

He teased her on purpose, thinking Wen He would be very curious, but seeing that her expression was a bit strange, he chuckled and said, "You can see a thousand miles away? At most, three or four hundred steps away, and that's only in an unobstructed place."

Li Chengqian, who was standing to the side, couldn't help but laugh and said, "Lord Li, this was made by the master. The one in your hand looks like it was stolen or borrowed from the master by Father Emperor."

"You made this?" Li Jing was taken aback.

“It seems to be true. We even brought a few this time.” Jing Junhong walked over and took out a pair of binoculars from his armor.

Li Shentong also took one out.

The ones they have are far superior to the one he has, both in appearance and quality.

That's right, the one Li Jing took was the same one that Li Shimin took back then.

I never expected him to be delivered here.

"Young master, you are a prodigy!"

Li Jing was overjoyed and grabbed Wen He's wrist: "This thing has been a great help to us, and I feel that it has a special connection with the young master. I don't like any of the others that were sent later, but I love this one the most."

Ha ha!

If Wen He believed him, then she would be a complete fool.

The reason he didn't replace the one he was holding was definitely not because it was the first one Wen He made.

Rather, the telescope was a gift from Li Shimin, making it an imperial bestowal.

"Is that so? I'm glad that Magistrate Li likes it."

Wen He smiled gently, pretending not to know Li Jing's thoughts.

At this moment, the scout who had been there earlier had already passed through the cordon and come over.

Among the crowd, he walked straight up to Li Jing.

"Reporting to the Grand Commander, our troops have discovered the whereabouts of the Turks in the direction of Ulan, 135 li away from Huizhou. Some of them have already crossed the river, and their forces number approximately 200,000."

Li Jing nodded as if he had expected this, then asked, "Hmm, you weren't discovered, were you?"

The scout shook his head, delighted.

"Reporting to the Grand Steward, with that all-seeing eye here, we can see them from afar, so brothers, there's no need to get too close. Right now, the squad leader is leading men to keep an eye on them from half a mile away."

Upon hearing this, Li Jing was gratified. He turned to Wen He and smiled, "This is all thanks to the young master. This Thousand-Mile Eye was created by him."

"Xiao Langjun!"

The scout looked at the child and was astonished.

But he quickly recovered and bowed to Wen He, saying, "Thank you, young master!"

"It doesn't have to be this way."

“Young master, you don’t know, in the past, when we wanted to gather intelligence, we had to take risks. If a team of brothers went out, at least one or two of them would die. But with this telescope, we can find out everything before the enemy even sees us.”

The scout was quite agitated; his eyes even turned red.

It seemed he was thinking of his comrades who had died in the past.

The generals present were also deeply moved.

But if the scouts don't fight desperately, how will they know the enemy's situation?

Knowing yourself and your enemy is the key to victory in every battle; even Li Jing was not immune to this.

"Alright, you brat, go and rest. Your team will get credit for this." Li Jing slapped the scout on the head.

The scout didn't look very old, only about seventeen or eighteen years old.

In his previous life, when he was this age, he was comfortably preparing for the college entrance examination in the classroom.

Wen He couldn't help but bow to him.

The scout was so frightened that he quickly moved away, scratching his head and grinning foolishly.

"Alright, it's getting late. Let's arrange for you to rest first. We'll have our meeting in an hour. Would the Prince of Zhongshan like to join us?" Although Li Chengqian came to observe and learn, he was so young that Li Jing was worried he wouldn't be able to keep up the pace.

Li Chengqian was indeed somewhat hesitant.

This was the first time he had faced such a situation, and he couldn't help but feel a little flustered.

"Together," Wen He answered for him.

"Alright then." Li Jing nodded with a smile.

Several generals led the way and followed Li Jing into the city.

Wen He originally wanted to get on the chariot with Li Chengqian, but suddenly a large hand grabbed him, lifted him up, and pulled him onto the horse.

"Li Daozong, you son of a bitch, put me down!"

"It's so much fun for a little kid to ride a horse. With the Duke of Yi protecting him, the Prince of Zhongshan will be fine!"

Along the way, Li Daozong found Wen He interesting.

Unlike others, they didn't feign affection for him or respect him because of his status.

If you try to tease him, he'll always yell "You old man!"

Although I didn't know what it meant, I felt happy seeing him so angry and helpless.

Not long after, at a roasting shop run by a non-Han Chinese on the side of the road in Huizhou City.

"The mutton here is much fattier and more delicious than that in Chang'an, as it is closer to the Turks."

Li Daozong and Wen He sat casually by the roadside, watching the shopkeeper roast a leg of lamb.

"I'm so sick of fried noodles these days, how about I treat you to some today?" Li Daozong put his arm on Wen He's shoulder, as if using him as a crutch for support.

Wen He immediately dodged to the side, and surprisingly, he didn't fall and remained standing there steadily.

"You're being unusually attentive; you must have something on your mind." Wen He scoffed.

Who hasn't eaten mutton before...?

But it does smell very nice.

He's gotten tired of it lately.

To let Li Chengqian experience some hardship, he ate fried noodles with him and didn't even get special treatment.

"What are you saying? I'm not that kind of person. I just want to ask you for a favor."

"Haha, I knew it."

"Well then, I have a flock of foals. How about I give you two when I return to Chang'an?"

Li Daozong grabbed Wen He's wrist and pulled him toward the barbecue shop while talking.

Wen He followed him half-heartedly and asked, "Tell me what you want first?"

"It's that thing that your Hundred Riders covered up so tightly. I saw it the other day. With a loud bang, a crater the size of a large bowl appeared in the ground. Can I have some of that stuff?"

Wen He didn't hide the fact that he was experimenting with gunpowder on the road, so it wasn't surprising that Li Daozong saw it.

After all, on the battlefield, this thing is for soldiers.

Some time ago, Cheng Zhijie and Yuchi Gong's troops had practiced, and they took a lot of them with them before they left.

It must have been around that time that Li Daozong saw it.

“Little kid, we chased after Luo Yi back then, we risked our lives for each other, so why don’t you share some of that stuff with your brother?”

Li Daozong smiled ingratiatingly.

Wen He's lips suddenly curled up, revealing a kind smile.

"I need grenades."

"Yes, yes, we need grenades."

"Sure, but..."

Wen He deliberately kept everyone in suspense.

It's because this guy keeps calling me "little baby" all the time.

His words made Li Daozong eager to know what was going on, and he said impatiently, "Tell me quickly."

(End of this chapter)