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

Chapter 167 This is a huge exaggeration.

"What a fine saying: 'When the barbarians are gone, the Han dynasty prospers!'"

This poem was being circulated throughout the streets and alleys of Chang'an, wherever there were taverns and teahouses.

Inside a tea stall outside Mingde Gate.

Several passing scholars were humming aloud.

"With this great victory, the Tang Dynasty will surely enjoy several years of peace. When our troops are well-trained and our supplies are plentiful, that will be the time to annihilate the Turks!"

A young man slammed his hand on the table.

He was surrounded by a number of people, who nodded and smiled frequently.

"At that time, we can both join the army. If we can achieve merit, we can be granted titles and honors for our wives and children in the future."

Some people laughed heartily.

Just then, a horse-drawn carriage came from not far away and stopped right in front of the tea stall.

"Shopkeeper, two bowls of 'Bo Tuo', one without vinegar, and the other with a little more vinegar."

Two teenagers got off, and because they were dressed simply, they didn't attract much attention.

The shopkeeper responded and helped the two teenagers find a seat.

The two sat down near the roadside.

Meanwhile, the people around them continued talking about what they had just discussed.

"It is said that this Wen County boy is only ten years old this year, yet he is able to follow County Lord Li on expeditions. It is said that the Jingguan (a mound of corpses) was proposed and built by him. Many people say that he will be the Huo Qubing of the Tang Dynasty."

The young man had just been praising loudly.

As soon as he finished speaking, one of the two teenagers who had just come in suddenly stumbled and almost fell.

He held onto the table to steady himself.

That's a huge exaggeration!

"How dare you compare Wen County Magistrate to Huo Qubing!"

But as soon as he finished speaking, someone rebuked him in dissatisfaction.

He saw a young man in plain clothes, looking at him angrily.

Everyone present cast unfriendly glances at him.

The young man was displeased and glared at the person who had scolded him: "How could I talk nonsense? To be able to write such poems at such a young age, and with the help of Magistrate Li, how could I not become Huo Piaoyao!"

“You are in grave error. I was not referring to that Wen County boy, but your statement is incorrect. Huo Piaoyao died in his early twenties. To say that Wen County boy is Huo Piaoyao is to curse him!”

After the boy in plain clothes finished speaking, he glanced at the two boys who had just come in.

One of them was clearly taken aback, blushed, and quickly turned his head away.

It was as if they wished they could plug their ears.

The young man in plain clothes immediately brightened up and said, "In my opinion, that Wen County lad will surely become a pillar of the court in the future, and his achievements may not be lower than those of County Lord Li."

The people in the tea stall suddenly realized what was going on.

The young man came to his senses and nodded repeatedly: "Yes, yes, I shouldn't have said that. I was really talking nonsense. Please forgive me."

"It is said that Lord Li of the county wants to take Wen County's son as his disciple and teach him military strategy. If this is the case, the Tang Dynasty will be worry-free for at least a hundred years."

After Li Jing surrendered to the Tang Dynasty, he suffered almost no defeats.

In the eyes of ordinary people, he was comparable to Li Shimin, at least in the past.

We can't compare anymore.

Since the future emperor will certainly not go on the expedition, Li Jing will naturally be the leader of the army.

But Li Jing is now old. Who will be his successor after he passes away?
They didn't know before, but now they all think it's Wen He.

"Is it really that amazing? As far as I know, Wen He was just an observer this time, and he only went to the battlefield with Lord Li. Is it really okay for you to exaggerate like this?"

The boy sitting to the side waiting for the batu looked completely bewildered.

He even blushed a little.

“You brat, how dare you address Wenxianzi by his name? Do you know that the key to this great victory lies in the divine crossbow and the unpredictable hand grenade, both of which were made by Wenxianzi?”

The young man glared at the boy with displeasure. "That's true, but..."

"Sir, no buts, they all seem angry."

Beside the boy, an even younger boy gently pulled him along.

"I'm just afraid that if they keep praising him like this, he'll really be blown out of proportion."

The boy sighed helplessly.

These two people were none other than Wen He and Li Chengqian.

They were just hungry and came to the roadside to get something to eat, but they never expected to run into someone bragging about himself.

"To be so precocious at the age of ten, he is certainly no ordinary person." Upon hearing this, the plain-clothed boy who had previously reprimanded him looked on with admiration.

"He is only ten years old, yet he is already a county magistrate. Now that he has returned victorious, he will surely be granted an additional title. Ah, if I could meet him and have a good chat, it would be worth it."

"Forehead……"

Wen He felt so embarrassed she could practically dig out a three-bedroom apartment.

Are these people really that serious?

He felt like the person talking wasn't himself.

"Sir, it seems you're about to become famous throughout the world," Li Chengqian teased.

Wen He rolled her eyes at him and slapped his head: "Famous my foot."

Just then, the young man in plain clothes suddenly sat down beside him, looking at Wen He with a beaming smile: "May I sit with you?"

"Uh, okay."

After all, the other person had just praised her, so Wen He couldn't very well send him away.

"Judging from your appearance, you two must also be from Chang'an. My name is Li Yifu," the young man said with a bow.

"Li Yifu? You!"

Upon hearing the name, Wen He was taken aback.

He even wondered if he was incredibly lucky, that he could run into a historical figure at any random roadside stall.
"Where are you from?" Wen He asked.

“My ancestral home is Raoyang in Yingzhou. Later, I settled in Yanting with my grandfather. Do you recognize me, my virtuous brother?” Li Yifu looked at Wen He with surprise.

"Hehe, I misheard. Your name is the same as one of my friends." Wen He chuckled dryly.

He was certain that the young man in front of him was none other than the famous Li Mao, Li Yifu.

But how did he end up here?

Wen He remembered that his father, Li Desheng, was the governor of Weizhou. Logically speaking, he shouldn't be in Chang'an at this time.

"I see. I haven't been in Chang'an for long. I came here with my father to report on my duties. Now I'm planning to enter the Imperial Academy. I had nothing to do today, so I came to the outskirts."

Li Yifu smiled.

"That's not right. You two young gentlemen don't know, but this young gentleman is very fond of my family's 'Bo Tuo' (a type of flatbread). He didn't just come today; he comes every day and stays for three or four hours."

Just then, the shopkeeper brought over the flatbread and, upon hearing Li Yifu's words, took the opportunity to praise his own flatbread.

He just didn't notice the awkwardness that appeared on Li Yifu's face.

"I see, that's quite a coincidence."

Wen He smiled and handed a bowl of flatbread to Li Chengqian, then ate it herself without paying any attention to Li Yifu.

Everyone says Li Yifu is good at scheming, and now it seems that's true.

"I."

"When did you see someone?" Wen He interrupted him.

Li Yifu was stunned and stood there dumbfounded.

He was at a loss for what to do.

Wen He put down her spoon, looked up at him, and chuckled, "Is this question difficult to answer?"

Li Yifu pursed his lips, pondered for a moment, and then made up his mind to bow to Wen He.

(End of this chapter)