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

Chapter 367 Your good days end today.
"A general must be steady and composed."

Li Shimin glanced sideways at Su Dingfang.

Wen He stood to the side, watching His Majesty's expression of wanting to laugh but holding it in, her shoulders trembling slightly from holding it in.

He didn't look angry at all; it was obvious he was afraid he wouldn't be able to hold back his laughter.

"Go change into your armor."

Li Shimin waved his hand, his tone urging him on. If Su Dingfang stood in front of him again, he was afraid he would break down and burst out laughing.

Upon hearing this, Su Dingfang's cheeks instantly flushed red, whether from the torchlight or from embarrassment, it was hard to tell.

He hurriedly cupped his hands to Li Shimin, his steps were somewhat flustered, and he turned and walked towards his residence. His back view looked somewhat like he was fleeing in panic.

Once Su Dingfang's figure had completely disappeared into the night, Li Shimin finally couldn't hold back any longer, and a low laugh escaped his throat, carrying a hint of pleasure.

Wen He completely let loose, clutching her stomach and laughing uncontrollably.

"You little rascal!"

Seeing him laughing so happily, Li Shimin glared at Wen He in annoyance and slapped him on the head.

"It's only because Su Lie is honest and kind that he doesn't hold these things against you. If it were that old bastard Cheng Zhijie, he would definitely be chasing after you for an explanation, and even I wouldn't be able to stop him."

"Your Majesty, this is not a joke, but a precautionary measure."

Wen He stopped laughing, covered her head, and said seriously, pointing to the training ground not far away as she spoke.

"Take a close look. If there is an assassin's night attack or a sudden chaos in the future, can the Hundred Riders withstand it in their current state?"

Li Shimin looked in the direction he pointed.

All that could be seen was the group of new recruits who had just been ambushed.

Still reeling from the chaos, some huddled in corners with their heads in their hands, others clutched broken sticks, looking around blankly, and still others grimaced and rubbed their arms and legs after being hit by sticks.

Despite having a numerical advantage, they were like a swarm of headless flies, unable to mount any decent resistance when surrounded by the old cavalry and the imperial guards.

However, amidst the chaos, a few figures stood out.

A small, thin recruit, using the corner of the wall as cover, quietly circled behind an old man and tried to snatch the stick from his hand.

Two other recruits stood back to back, holding stones in their hands, watching the approaching crowd warily.

However, these sporadic acts of resistance appeared extremely weak in the face of the overall chaos, and were quickly subdued by the experienced local cavalry.

At first, Li Shimin thought that Wen He was just playing around because he had nothing better to do.

But upon hearing Wen He's words and seeing the scene before him, his brows furrowed, and the smile on his face vanished without a trace.

How could he not know that Wen He was telling the truth?
The Hundred Riders were a personal guard that Wen He had personally assembled, tasked with protecting the imperial city and guarding him.

What's needed is an elite force that can react quickly in emergencies and fight ten against one. If that's all they're capable of, what's the difference between them and the city gate guards?
If that's the case, then having a hundred riders would be meaningless.

"I know your good intentions."

Li Shimin coughed lightly, his tone softening, but he still stubbornly offered a defense.

"However, you should also know your limits. Playing tricks on Su Lie like this might leave him with a grudge, making it difficult for him to command the 100 cavalry in the future."

Wen He smiled, her eyes full of understanding: "Your Majesty, although General Su Zhonglang comes from a military background and is brave and skilled in battle, he still follows the old ways of training troops, emphasizing discipline and charging, but lacking flexibility in dealing with emergencies."

"I did this tonight to remind him that the capital city is not necessarily safe. The Hundred Cavalry are not facing enemy troops on the battlefield, but assassins and spies hiding in the shadows. If they train step by step, they will only lose their composure when a real incident occurs."

No sooner had he finished speaking than a resentful snort came from behind him: "Well, thank you very much for Wen County Magistrate's 'good intentions'!"

Wen He's heart skipped a beat, and she turned her head sharply. She saw that Su Dingfang had already changed into a set of black armor, with a sword at his waist. The armor plates gleamed coldly in the torchlight.

It complemented his dark and gloomy expression perfectly.

His eyes were full of resentment as he stared intently at Wen He.

It was as if the latter owed him hundreds of strings of cash.

Upon seeing this, Wen He quickly looked away and swiftly moved to the other side of Li Shimin, using his figure to shield herself.

He knew Su Dingfang wasn't really angry, just felt he'd lost face, but at a time like this, it was best to stay away.

Su Dingfang ignored Wen He, who was hiding behind Li Shimin, and walked straight to Li Shimin. He knelt down on one knee with a "plop" and his voice was filled with guilt.

"Your subject Su Dingfang has been disrespectful before Your Majesty and has failed to live up to Your Majesty's expectations. I hope Your Majesty will forgive me."

"General, you may dispense with the formalities."

Li Shimin smiled and raised his hand, his tone gentle.

"What happened tonight was not your fault. It was all Jia Ying's fault for messing around. He deliberately didn't tell you the exercise time in advance, which disturbed your mind."

Despite saying that, he was also somewhat dissatisfied.

Su Dingfang's reaction speed was not slow; upon hearing the commotion, he immediately grabbed a knife and rushed out, which was already better than many others.

However, he was too flustered and failed to stabilize the situation and observe the circumstances in the face of chaos.

Instead, he rushed into the chaos, which is not the composure a general should have.

It still needs more practice.

What Wen He said just now wasn't without reason.

However, upon further reflection, Li Shimin felt that Su Dingfang could not be entirely blamed.

The capital city is usually peaceful. Su Dingfang had just been transferred from the local army to the Hundred Cavalry and had not yet adapted to the special environment of the capital. He did not expect such a big commotion to suddenly occur. If it were someone else, they might not have fared much better than him.

Just then, a hurried cry came from not far away: "Your Majesty! Something terrible has happened! There is an urgent military report!"

The crowd looked in the direction of the sound and saw a knight dressed in the uniform of the Imperial Guard riding a brown-red horse galloping toward them.

To be able to ride a horse in the palace and dare to shout so loudly, there must be something extremely urgent.

Li Shimin immediately frowned and his voice became serious: "What happened? Speak slowly, don't panic."

Although he said that, a cold glint had already appeared in his eyes.

He couldn't help but think of the Xuanwu Gate incident!
"A hundred riders assemble!"

Before the Imperial Guard could speak, Wen He had already reacted and shouted at the hundred riders who were still in chaos not far away.

His voice instantly drowned out the noise in the arena.

Surprisingly, the hundred riders who had been in complete chaos just moments before seemed to have had a switch flipped, instantly calming down.

The veteran riders quickly returned to their positions, holding sticks in their hands, and spontaneously stood guard on both sides of the formation.

The new recruits scrambled to their feet, enduring the pain, and gritted their teeth as they lined up in formation.

Even the few recruits who had been restrained and tried to resist struggled to their feet and returned to their positions.

In just over ten breaths, the hundreds of people stood in neat rows, all with their backs straight and eyes looking ahead.

Li Shimin saw this and nodded secretly.

Wen He was also somewhat relieved.

Su Dingfang's training was quite good; at least it strictly followed his methods while incorporating his own ideas.

Only then could a hundred riders be trained to this level.

If this were any other military unit, they probably wouldn't have been able to get the ranks in place in less than half an hour.

The imperial guard dismounted so hastily he almost fell to the ground. He staggered to regain his balance and reported breathlessly.

"Your Majesty, the guards at the Inner Gate have just heard a loud bang from the palace, like... like the sound of gunpowder exploding. The three dukes, Duke of Wu, Duke of Yi, and Duke of Guo, believe there is an incident in the palace and have led several hundred guards to assemble outside the Inner Gate. They request an audience with Your Majesty!"

He swallowed hard and continued.

"The three dukes also said... if they don't see His Majesty within half an hour and confirm that His Majesty is safe and sound, they will lead their troops to attack the inner gates and storm the palace to protect him!"

"These three brutes!"

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin was both angry and amused. He gave Wen He a helpless glare, his tone tinged with resentment.

"Look at this trouble you've caused! All you did was set off a few packets of gunpowder, and it alarmed all three of them. Who knows, they'll probably impeach me in court later, saying that I've been indulging your nonsense and disturbing the peace of the capital."

Wen He touched her nose and said somewhat innocently.

"Your Majesty, I did not expect the sound of gunpowder to travel so far. Moreover, I had them control the amount of gunpowder, just in case the noise was too loud. I did not expect that it would still alarm the three dukes."

He was also secretly thinking to himself.

Tonight, it turns out that Qin Qiong and Yuchi Gong are on duty.

Although Qin Qiong's health is gradually recovering, you, Li Er, shouldn't treat him so badly.

Could it be that he's started having nightmares?
Wen He secretly glanced at Li Shimin.

He remembered hearing before that Li Shimin dreamed of being haunted by Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji after killing them, and Qin Qiong and Yuchi Gong volunteered to guard his gate.

From then on, the folk door gods changed from Shen Tu and Yu Lei to Qin Qiong and Yuchi Gong.

However, in Journey to the West, it is said that Li Shimin was killed by the Dragon King of the Jing River.

Of course, this is just a myth.

"What kind of look is that?" Li Shimin turned his head and saw that Wen He was giving him a strange look.

The latter blinked and said innocently, "Your Majesty, I think the three Dukes are loyal to their duties, loyal to the emperor and patriotic. They are my role models. I will definitely learn from them in the future."

Wen He flattered him, after all, tonight's incident was indeed caused by him.

Before he could say anything more, another rapid sound of hooves came, this time even more urgent than before, as if there was some urgent matter pressing down on him.

Everyone looked up and saw another imperial guard riding a fast horse, rushing over in a panic.

Before the horse had even come to a complete stop, he jumped off its back without even bothering to tie the reins. He stumbled and fell to his knees before Li Shimin, saying anxiously.

"Your Majesty! His Highness the Crown Prince... His Highness the Crown Prince, he..."

"What's wrong with the Crown Prince?" Li Shimin asked hurriedly, his heart tightening.

Wen He immediately lost the will to speak and hurriedly asked, "What's wrong with the Crown Prince!"

The imperial guard took a deep breath, steadied himself, and reported.

"Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince has heard of the commotion in the palace and, concerned for Your Majesty's safety, has led more than ten guards of the Eastern Palace to the Wude Gate to request an audience with Your Majesty! His Highness also said that if he does not see Your Majesty within half an hour and confirms Your Majesty's safety, he will immediately raise an alarm outside the palace and summon the capital's garrison troops to enter the palace to protect Your Majesty!"

Wen He's heart skipped a beat when she heard this.

Why is Li Chengqian here too?!
The gunpowder explosion just now wasn't particularly loud; it could only be heard clearly near the Hundred Cavalry Commandery. How did it manage to alarm the Crown Prince's Palace?
Even more critically, the Crown Prince's nighttime intrusion into the palace gates and summoning of the capital's garrison troops was a matter that could be considered a major or minor incident.

If Li Shimin had been more narrow-minded, or if he had already harbored suspicions about the Crown Prince, he might have felt that the Crown Prince was using this opportunity to seize power.

He was secretly worried and glanced up to see Li Shimin's expression.

But Li Er's mouth was stretched almost to his ears, his eyes were full of satisfaction, even the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes had smoothed out, and he was muttering to himself.

"The Crown Prince is extremely filial; it is rare that he has such a heart and knows to care about my safety."

Wen He immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, Li Er didn't let his mind wander.

But the next second, Li Shimin suddenly stopped smiling, his face turned serious, and his tone became stern.

"Why are you running around like this so late at night instead of sleeping! What could possibly happen to me? I can still draw two stone bows. Why should a little kid like him worry about me? Instead of staying in the East Palace to sleep, he's causing trouble outside the palace gates. He's getting more and more disobedient as he gets older!"

Wen He suppressed a laugh and bowed in response.

"Yes, Your Highness, I will go to Wude Gate now and have His Highness take the Eastern Palace Guards back to rest."

Li Er is a typical example of saying one thing and meaning another.

He was secretly overjoyed, but he pretended to be stern, afraid that others would see his favoritism towards the crown prince.

These parents always think that corporal punishment is good.

Can't we just open up and communicate properly?
They had to make it seem like the father and son were like mice seeing a cat when they met.

However, before leaving, Wen He turned to the Hundred Riders and said loudly.

"Everyone, stand in line! Stay alert! No one is allowed to move until I return. Anyone who dares to slack off or try to cheat will have to train for two extra hours tomorrow, running three laps around the Imperial City!"

The hundred riders responded in unison, "Yes, sir!"

"Get out of here. Su Dingfang is keeping an eye on things for you. Nothing will happen."

Li Shimin gave Wen He a light kick in the buttocks, his tone urging him on.

Wen He was prepared and nimbly dodged to the side, running away with a laugh.

He knew that Li Shimin was truly anxious.

Li Chengqian is stubborn by nature; once he's made up his mind, nothing can change it. If we wait any longer, he might really act impulsively.

If the Crown Prince really orders the mobilization of the capital's garrison troops, or forces his way into the palace gates...

Regardless of whether it will succeed, as long as Li Chengqian does it.

This will definitely cause turmoil in the imperial court.

Li Shimin himself took off his black robe and said to Su Dingfang, "Come, accompany me to the inner gate to see those three brutes. If we don't go now, they might really tear down the inner gate. If that gets out, I, as the emperor, will have nowhere to put my face."

After saying that, he led Su Dingfang and several personal guards toward the inner gate.

Only then did the hundred riders present truly notice.

The person before me is His Majesty.

'Oh no! His Majesty saw everything!'

The group of new recruits present immediately turned pale.

As night deepened, the lanterns on the palace walls swayed gently in the night breeze, casting long shadows of Li Shimin and his entourage.

Li Shimin, walking at the very front, unconsciously rubbed the jade belt at his waist, muttering under his breath, "These people are really giving me no peace of mind..."

Su Dingfang, who was following behind him, kept his head down and did not see the smile that Li Shimin could not hide. He assumed that His Majesty had lost his temper.

He thought to himself: I have to explain for Wenxianzi later. After all, he did this to improve the combat strength of the hundred cavalry, not to fool around on purpose. I can't let the Emperor and Wenxianzi have a falling out.

Meanwhile, the atmosphere on the open ground outside Wude Gate was unusually tense.

Li Chengqian held a small horizontal sword, the gemstones inlaid on the scabbard gleaming coldly in the lantern light.

He was protected by more than ten guards of the Eastern Palace. His small body was ramrod straight as he looked at the tall and heavy city gate in front of him, his eyes filled with anxiety and anger.

"If the palace gates do not open in another quarter of an hour, you shall leave the palace immediately."

Li Chengqian lowered his voice, his back to the eunuch beside him, but his tone was firm.

"Go find the Master, the Duke of Dai, and my uncle. In Chang'an, the only three I can trust right now are these three. Have them immediately lead troops into the palace to protect me!"

The eunuch was Li Chengqian's personal attendant after he entered the palace. Hearing the Crown Prince say this, he turned pale with anxiety and hurriedly tried to persuade him.

"Your Highness, you mustn't do this! If something truly goes wrong in the palace, we should protect you and get you out of the capital first, instead of letting you be in danger! You are the Crown Prince, you absolutely cannot be harmed!"

"I am the Crown Prince, and more importantly, I am the Emperor's son!"

Li Chengqian suddenly turned around, snorted coldly, and his eyes were full of youthful stubbornness.

"If anything truly happens to Father, I will never run away alone; I would rather live and die with Father!"

He paused, lowered his voice, and said with a hint of solemnity, "If something really happens to me, tell Mr. Wen to help Qingque go to Luoyang and protect half of the Tang Dynasty's territory, so that the villains don't succeed."

The palace guards and eunuchs surrounding Li Chengqian were all taken aback upon hearing this and knelt down to advise him, "Your Highness is blessed with good fortune, and His Majesty will surely be safe and sound. You must not say such unlucky things!"

No one expected that this nine-year-old Crown Prince would have such courage and responsibility.

Just as Li Chengqian was about to retort, he heard a heavy creak as the Wude Gate slowly opened inward.

The nerves of everyone in the Eastern Palace tensed instantly. The guards drew their swords and protected Li Chengqian even more closely, watching the shadows behind the door warily.

But no one expected that Li Chengqian, who was originally being protected behind him, would push aside the guards in front of him and walk out with small, quick steps. His small figure was particularly conspicuous in the lantern light.

"Why are you running around like this at night instead of sleeping! Don't you know that you can't trespass after the palace gates are locked?"

A familiar voice came from behind the door. Wen He walked out with his hands on his hips, looking nonchalant. His black outfit was still covered in dust, indicating that he had just come from the training ground.

"gentlemen?"

"Gaoyang County?"

Li Chengqian and the others from the Eastern Palace were all taken aback when they saw Wen He.

"Gaoyang County Magistrate, wait a minute!"

Just as Wen He approached, the eunuch beside Li Chengqian suddenly called out to him.

"The palace gates are now locked, why are you here!" the eunuch questioned, pointing at Wen He.

Wen He squinted and sized up the eunuch.

He didn't know the man's name, only that he was the person closest to Li Chengqian after he entered the palace.

He flattered her quite a bit on a daily basis, but Wen He was too lazy to pay any attention to him.

"Get out of the way!" Before Wen He could speak, Li Chengqian suddenly kicked the eunuch in front of him away.

“You dare question my master? Drag him away and take him back to the Imperial Household Department.” “Your Highness?”

The eunuch fell to the ground, staring at Li Chengqian in disbelief.

He never expected that His Highness the Crown Prince would be so ruthless.

Li Chengqian ignored him and strode towards Wen He.

The eunuch tried to grab Li Chengqian's robe, but was held down by two guards, who also gagged him.

Li Chengqian strode forward, grabbed Wen He's sleeve, and asked anxiously.

"Sir, what exactly happened in the palace? What was that loud noise just now? Have you done something out of line again?"

He knew Wen He too well; his husband always managed to create all sorts of unexpected noises, and this loud bang was most likely related to him.

Upon hearing this, Wen He was taken aback and raised an eyebrow.

"What do you mean by 'out of line'? It was just that during the training of the Hundred Cavalry, we used a little too much gunpowder. I didn't think it was that loud. How could you hear it in the Eastern Palace?"

He was somewhat puzzled. Wude Gate was not close to the East Palace, so the sound of gunpowder should not have traveled that far.

Li Chengqian was both amused and exasperated by his indifferent attitude.

“I had just returned from my mother’s Lizheng Hall and was about to go back to the East Palace when I heard a loud ‘bang’ from behind the Wude Gate. I was so frightened that I quickly brought the guards over to check, fearing that something had happened to my father.”

Wen He then understood, reached out and patted Li Chengqian's head, and smiled.

"Not bad, not bad. You are filial. His Majesty just praised you to me, saying, 'The Crown Prince is extremely filial, it is rare to have such a heart.' If you had arrived any later, His Majesty might have come to pick you up in person."

"Really?"

Li Chengqian's eyes lit up, and the anxiety on his face instantly disappeared, replaced by a look of great joy. He tugged at Wen He's sleeve and checked again.

"Did Father really praise me?"

Seeing his happy expression, Wen He couldn't help but chuckle.

I wonder if this kid understands that if word gets out about what he did tonight, he'll probably be criticized.

"Of course it's true. Would I, your husband, lie to you?"

Wen He nodded with a smile.

Li Chengqian stared into Wen He's eyes, blinked, and his gaze seemed to say, "Sir, you've lied to me quite a few times."

Wen He felt a little guilty under his gaze, then became angry and embarrassed, and slapped his head.

Li Chengqian immediately clutched his head in pain, glaring at Wen He with displeasure: "Sir, you hit me again! I'm nine years old now, not a child anymore!"

"What else is a nine-year-old but a child?"

Wen He raised an eyebrow and deliberately held up her hand to compare their heights.

"Look, I'm two years older than you, and I'm already half a head taller than you. If you don't behave, you might not grow tall and stay short forever."

Li Chengqian looked down at his own height, then at Wen He, and snorted defiantly, "When I'm eleven, I'll definitely be as tall as you!"

"Hehe, by then your husband will be thirteen, and maybe he'll have grown a lot taller, but you'll still be shorter than me."

Wen He deliberately showed off, even standing on her tiptoes to make herself appear taller.

Li Chengqian immediately pouted, his little face puffing up like a steamed bun. He flung Wen He's sleeve aside, turned around, and shouted to the Eastern Palace Guards, "Return to the palace!"

After saying that, she turned and walked towards the East Palace without looking back, her small figure leaving with a hint of resentment.

Seeing his expression, Wen He burst into laughter, her voice especially loud in the night: "Hey, wait a minute, do you want the master to take you home? So you won't be scared walking alone at night!"

Wen He deliberately made a teasing remark.

Li Chengqian paused, but didn't turn around. He simply waved his hand, his voice muffled: "No need! I can go back by myself! Sir, you should hurry back to be with Father Emperor, and don't cause any more trouble!"

Wen He watched his figure disappear into the night before her smile faded, and she turned to walk into the palace.

The night is darker.

Lanterns lit up the training ground of the Hundred Cavalry Division, and under the dim light, the new recruits stood in straight lines.

The old cavalrymen stood in twos and threes to the side, their faces showing undisguised schadenfreude, their sticks casually draped over their shoulders, looking like onlookers waiting to see the show.

Wen He walked over, his dark outfit gleaming coldly in the lantern light. He stood in front of the new recruits, his feet straddling the ground, his gaze sharp as he slowly swept over each young face before him.

Some had tense expressions, revealing a stubborn refusal to admit defeat.

Some of them had shifty eyes, hiding a hint of fear.

Others tried to appear calm, but couldn't hide the exhaustion in their eyes.

"I think I don't need to introduce myself."

Wen He's voice wasn't loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly.

"I haven't been here much lately, but you've probably all heard my name before, so I won't go into too much detail. But remember this: I'm going to be your nightmare for the next month."

Someone in the queue couldn't help but move, but was quietly stopped by the person next to them.

Wen He saw this and a cold smile appeared on his lips. He continued, "First of all, welcome to the Hundred Riders. Those of you who are standing here tonight have survived the selection process and the basic training. That's right, just the basic training."

He emphasized the words "basic training," glanced at the recruits' instantly frozen expressions, and raised his voice.

"Now, I have some bad news for you: your good days have officially ended starting today."

The training ground fell silent instantly, and even the sound of the wind blowing through the lanterns was exceptionally clear.

Wen He paused, her tone turning icy: "For the next month, I won't let you have a single day of comfort in the Hundred Riders, I won't let you sleep peacefully, and I won't treat you like human beings. The Hundred Riders need sharp knives. What are sharp knives?"

"That means I am invincible, fearless in my charge, even if I am unarmed, I dare to fight enemies many times my size, and I will bite them to death!"

"Although you have now joined the Hundred Riders, you are not yet qualified to call yourselves Hundred Riders. But don't worry, you will soon be integrated."

"Of course, if anyone is dissatisfied and unwilling to continue, they can withdraw now. I will have someone send you back to your original unit without any obstruction." He took a step forward and raised his voice a few decibels.

"Now, is anyone leaving? You have the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. If you want to leave, step forward!"

Under the lantern light, the new recruits stood even straighter, their chests held high, their eyes filled with determination, and not one of them moved.

Seeing this, Wen He scoffed, "They're all a bunch of self-important fools. Do they really think they're so great, like kings of soldiers?"

“I know many of you are angry, thinking I’m just a kid, and some of you might even want to come up and beat me up, right? But look at how you were beaten up just now, outnumbered twice as many as the enemy, yet you were beaten so badly you ran away with your heads in your hands!”

As Wen He spoke, many of the new recruits in the ranks showed obvious anger on their faces.

"If you want to be respected, there's no use in sulking. If you can complete the next month of training, I, Wen He, will admit that I underestimated you and will make amends by treating everyone to mutton and wine."

"But if you can't do that, climb out the door."

Wen He immediately shouted.

Everyone present held their breath and stared intently at him.

To be honest, Wen He felt a little uneasy being watched by so many people.

However, his expression remained unchanged as he continued speaking.

"To be honest, I really don't want to deal with the Hundred Riders. I wish you all would leave so I could go back to my residence and get a good night's sleep every day instead of suffering here with you."

"But you just won't leave, and you're the ones who forced me to leave."

Wen He abruptly changed the subject and shouted towards one side of the training ground: "Zhang Wenxiao! Zhao Qin!"

Two figures immediately stepped out from among the veteran riders, snapped to attention, and shouted in a loud voice: "Here we are!"

"exist!"

Wen He looked at them, a "kind" smile suddenly appearing on her face, but this smile was more frightening to the new recruits than her previous coldness.

“I don’t like them standing there like idiots. Make them put on their armor and move around. Each of them should run twenty li around the outer perimeter of the imperial city. Anyone who dares to stop should be woken up with a stick. Anyone who can’t keep going should register and withdraw immediately, no need to be polite.”

He paused and added.

"The Sixteen Guards have tens of thousands of men, and there are plenty of people who want to join the Hundred Riders. Even if we eliminate a batch, there will be more to follow, so we don't need to show any mercy!"

"Here!"

Zhang Wenxiao and Zhao Qin responded in unison, then turned and shouted at the old cavalry and the imperial guards.

"Listen up, everyone! You have the time it takes to brew a cup of tea to change your armor. If anyone is slow, don't blame me for using this stick without mercy!"

"Shh!"

Upon hearing this, the new recruits dared not hesitate for a moment. Some even ran so fast that their belts were loose, and they didn't bother to fasten them.

Before long, the new recruits ran back wearing heavy, bright armor, the sound of the armor plates clashing together ringing out crisply.

Zhang Wenxiao drew his sword from his waist and swung it forward: "Let's go! Anyone who falls behind, beat them up!"

The new recruits immediately started running, while the veteran cavalry and imperial guards followed behind on horseback, carrying sticks in their hands, occasionally tapping the armor of those who lagged behind with their sticks and shouting.

"Hurry up! Haven't you eaten? With that little strength, you think you can be a hundred riders?"

"If you want to quit, just climb out the door. There's nothing shameful about it."

On a high platform on the other side of the training ground, Li Shimin was standing by the railing, accompanied by Zhang Shigui, Yuchi Gong, and Qin Qiong.

Looking down at the training scene below, which resembled herding sheep, Zhang Shigui couldn't help but frown, his tone tinged with worry.

"Isn't this training too much? Running twenty miles in heavy armor, what if someone gets dizzy or injured? It might affect morale."

Looking at Wen He, who was directing the training not far away, he felt as if he were meeting this young man for the first time.

I only knew that Wen He was intelligent and good at planning, but I never expected that he would be so ruthless in training his troops, not even giving them a chance to breathe.

"What's with the 'over the top'! This is how you should train!"

Yuchi Gong said casually, cracking the horsewhip in his palm, his eyes full of excitement.

"Soldiers have to be tough, otherwise the enemy won't give you a chance to breathe on the battlefield!"

"Your Majesty, I think the method of the magistrate of Gaoyang County is good. It should be promoted to the whole army so that those soldiers can also train well, so that they don't just look good in peacetime but fail miserably on the battlefield!"

Li Shimin did not answer immediately, but turned to Qin Qiong, who had been silent beside him, and asked gently, "Shubao, what do you think?"

Upon hearing this, Qin Qiong bowed deeply to Li Shimin and spoke slowly.

"Your Majesty, the training methods of the magistrate of Gaoyang are indeed unique, capable of quickly developing the soldiers' resilience and endurance, which is of great benefit to improving combat effectiveness. However, I believe that this method should not be promoted throughout the entire army."

"Second Brother Qin, why is that?"

Yuchi Gong immediately became anxious and stepped forward to speak.

"If a hundred cavalrymen can be trained, why can't our soldiers? Are our soldiers inferior to these new recruits?"

"Jingde, it's not that the soldiers are incompetent, but that the conditions don't allow it."

Qin Qiong shook his head and patiently explained, "As far as I know, the soldiers of the Hundred Cavalry are provided with meat every day, at the very least pork. The magistrate of Gaoyang County also often has people buy chicken eggs and milk from outside the city. Just considering the daily expenses, each soldier needs 100 coins. With more than 1,000 cavalrymen, that's 100 strings of cash a day, and 3,000 strings of cash a month."

He paused, then looked at Yuchi Gong and Zhang Shigui: "Whether it is the Twelve Guards or the Four Guards, the military expenses are all paid by the national treasury. Each person's daily ration is only two liters of millet and half a catty of vegetables. It is rare to have meat once in a while. How can we afford such high expenses?"

These two liters of millet, if converted, are only 1.2 kilograms.

This was barely enough to sustain the soldiers' daily training needs.

"If we force its promotion, the national treasury will be empty before we can even train our combat forces."

"The cost of a hundred cavalry units is so high..."

Yuchi Gong blurted out the words unconsciously, but immediately realized he had misspoke.

The Hundred Cavalry were His Majesty's personal guard, and the amount of military expenses was not something they should concern themselves with. They quickly bowed to Li Shimin and apologized.

"Your Majesty, I have misspoke. I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness."

Li Shimin smiled and gave him a slight push, saying, "It's alright, Shubao is telling the truth, and it's not some secret that can't be told."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the three men, his tone calm yet tinged with seriousness: "However, there is something I must make clear to you—the money for the training of the Hundred Cavalry all comes from my private treasury, from my personal savings, not from the national treasury."

"Last year, I made a profit from Jia Ying's business, and with the influx of gold and silver jewelry from Japan, I was able to barely afford the expenses of the Hundred Cavalry."

Li Shimin added, a hint of emotion in his eyes.

"Fortunately, there are only a little over a thousand riders. If there were more, I'm afraid my imperial treasury wouldn't be able to support them."

Upon hearing this, the three immediately understood Li Shimin's meaning.

His Majesty is telling them this, and also wants them to spread the word.

The high cost of the Hundred Cavalry did not take up any money from the national treasury and would not affect the military expenses of other units. No one should bring up the cost of the Hundred Cavalry again in the future.

Zhang Shigui and Qin Qiong quickly bowed and replied, "Your Majesty, we understand."

Li Shimin glanced at the new recruits who were still persevering on the training ground, and said to Zhang Shigui, Yuchi Gong and Qin Qiong beside him.

"It's getting late, you three may leave now. We'll leave this to Jiaying and Su Lie."

The three men bowed in agreement and watched Li Shimin leave.

On the other side, Wen He saw Su Dingfang walking from the edge of the training ground, so she went up to him and handed him the training roster.

"Thank you for your trouble, General. I'll leave the rest of the work to you. Have the kitchen prepare more salt water so that the people who have run need to replenish their salt levels. Also, make sure to put plenty of meat in their supper, preferably stewed mutton, and cook some millet porridge so they don't have to rest on an empty stomach. In addition, have a doctor wait near their lodgings so that anyone who is exhausted can be treated promptly."

Su Dingfang took the roster and nodded: "Well, I'll take care of it from now on. You've been up all night, go to the government office and get some rest."

His gaze towards Wen He held a hint of complexity.

Seeing how strict Wen He was with the new recruits, he secretly thought the young man was too ruthless.

He was even more ruthless than his father was when he trained soldiers in the army.

But listening to these detailed instructions now, I realized that Wen He was just all bark and no bite.

As Wen He turned and walked towards the government office, Su Dingfang couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

These hundred cavalrymen are probably the luckiest soldiers in the world.

Even the most elite Twelve Guards of the Tang Dynasty could only eat meat before going to war or after winning a battle.

As for eggs and milk, ordinary soldiers rarely even saw them, but Wen He provided them with a real supply, ordering fresh milk from outside the city every day and having the kitchen cook it into milk porridge.

She even ate one chicken in the morning and one in the evening. Her dedication moved even him.

Wen He slept very soundly. The candles in the government office had long since burned out, and the morning light shining through the cracks in the window fell on his face, which made him slowly open his eyes.

When I left the government office, the Hundred Cavalry Commandery was unusually quiet. The new recruits who had run twenty miles the night before had already returned to their quarters to rest under Su Dingfang's arrangement. Apart from a few people on duty by the sentry post, most of the houses were closed, and I couldn't even hear a voice.

Xu Jingzong and Huang Chun, on the other hand, had been waiting in front of the office since early morning.

Xu Jingzong was looking down at the documents on the deployment of troops for the spring imperial examination, his pen scratching on the paper.

Huang Chun was sitting on a stone bench nearby, organizing the arsenal of the Hundred Cavalry. When he saw Wen He coming over, the two of them quickly put down what they were doing.

"woke up?"

Xu Jingzong looked up and pointed to the soy milk that had just been warmed on the table.

The method of making soy milk was naturally taught by Wen He, as some people, like himself, don't like drinking cow's milk.

I get diarrhea as soon as I drink it.

That's why the method of making soy milk was handed over to the cook.

"It was just delivered from the kitchen, it's still warm, have some to warm yourself up."

Wen He walked over, picked up the bowl, and took a sip of hot soy milk. The warmth slid down his throat into his stomach, making him feel so comfortable that he squinted his eyes and casually asked, "How long have you been sleeping? It feels like you've slept all night."

"It hasn't even been two hours yet."

Xu Jingzong stared at him blankly, still holding the pen in his hand.

"You've only been resting for a short while, why didn't you sleep a little longer? You usually sleep at least four or five hours a day."

Wen He put down the empty bowl, stretched, and a sly smile appeared on her lips.

"There's nothing I can do; I'm a responsible person."

As soon as he finished speaking, he turned and walked out. Xu Jingzong and Huang Chun looked at each other, full of doubt.

They've only rested for less than two hours. If they keep going like this, the new recruits might not be able to take it.

The two of them, forgetting their work, hurriedly followed, wanting to see what kind of trouble Wen He was going to cause this time.

Wen He walked around to the storeroom next to the office, pushed open the creaking wooden door, and took out a gong covered in verdigris. He also found a wooden mallet wrapped in strips of cloth, weighed it in his hand, and nodded in satisfaction.

Then, carrying the gong, he walked briskly toward the recruits' quarters.

Xu Jingzong and Huang Chun followed behind, increasingly puzzled, until Wen He stopped in the middle of the courtyard where the new recruits lived, and then the two of them had a vague premonition of something bad.

The next second, Wen He raised the wooden mallet high and slammed it hard onto the gong.

Then there was a loud "bang!"

Before the sound of the gong had completely faded, Wen He shouted again at the tightly closed door.

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"

(End of this chapter)