Tang Dynasty: Starting at Xuanwu Gate, this prince is better off not being one.

I got quite bored wandering around the Prince's mansion, so I decided to leave.

There was no other way; Wenren An, that bastard, had absolutely no sense of responsibility as a guard, so Li Yu had no choice but to select a guard named Laifu from his own household guards.

"Laifu, right? When I beat up Li Chengzong, were you one of them?" Li Yu looked at the guard beside him and felt that he looked very familiar.

Hearing that Li Yu still remembered him, Lai Fu was somewhat excited: "Young Master, the item you needed that day was the one I retrieved for you from the manor!"

"I see." Li Yu nodded. "I did a good job protecting the young master that day. Those of you who deserve a reward should take it. Go find Old Chen and tell him that I made the decision."

"We've received it, young master. The prince gave our subordinates a reward when we returned to the manor that day."

After listening to Lai Fu's report, Li Yu nodded again.

"Speaking of your bravery that day, young master, I truly witnessed it firsthand!"

"Oh? What do you mean?" Li Yu was a little confused, thinking to himself, what kind of bravery do I have?

"You were truly incredibly brave that day, defeating the enemy without a chance to fight back. Your strategies and tactics are far beyond my capabilities!"

"Um……"

The barrage of flattery made Li Yu somewhat embarrassed, but it was very pleasing to the ear: "From now on, you will follow me and be my personal bodyguard."

"Young Master Xie! You really are..."

Li Yu felt extremely pleased with the compliments. He realized that it was fortunate he was only a prince, otherwise he would have had the potential to be a tyrannical ruler...

.........

I wandered aimlessly along Suzaku Avenue for ages without deciding where to go.

The palace? There's no way I'll ever go there again…

The Prince of Qin's residence? Never mind, every time I run into Li Chengqian and the others, it's because they want to see me.

In fact, Li Yu really wanted to go to a brothel to broaden his horizons, but he was too young. If his father or Li Er caught him, he would inevitably get a scolding.

After thinking for a long time, Li Yu finally decided to go to the West Market to meet the foreign merchants.

"Little Fish, where are you planning to go?"

Suddenly, Li Chengqian's voice reached his ears, nearly scaring Li Yu out of his wits.

"Why are you appearing and disappearing like a ghost? You didn't even bring a servant?" Li Yu complained after regaining his composure.

Seeing Li Yu so frightened, Li Chengqian cupped his hands in apology and then explained, "I was looking for you, so I went to your house, but Green Robe said you were out, so I searched for a long time before finally finding this place."

"Speak, what is it now?" Li Yu rolled his eyes, knowing that this guy wouldn't come without a reason.

"Can't I contact you unless there's something wrong?"

Li Chengqian rolled his eyes at Li Yu and said, "My father just returned from the palace and heard that there was some movement in Luoyang."

"What does any commotion in Luoyang have to do with you and me? We can't exactly go into battle..." Li Yu noticed that Li Er's family all had this annoying habit of keeping things a secret.

Li Chengqian shook his head: "Not only that, I've heard that Dou Jiande in Hebei is also making moves, and there's a possibility that he and Wang Shichong might form an alliance."

"and then?"

Li Yu had nothing to worry about, after all, the two of them in history were captured alive by Li Er together.

This Li Er seems even stronger than he was in his previous life. So even if there are riots in those two places, it's likely that Li Er will simply stage another victory by capturing both kings in one battle.

"I heard from my father that he wanted to volunteer for the expedition, but His Majesty refused," Li Chengqian continued, seeing that Li Yu seemed lost in thought.

"You refused?"

Upon hearing this news, Li Yu was slightly taken aback.

If the emperor doesn't allow Li Er to go on the expedition, does he intend to give the credit to the crown prince and the Prince of Qi?

Before Li Yu could even think it through, Li Chengqian dropped a bombshell: "His Majesty seems to intend to appoint your father as the Grand Marshal of the Henan and Hebei armies, leading the Left and Right Guards on the expedition."

"What!? You're saying His Majesty wants my father to lead the expedition, and only command two guards?" Li Yu was shocked.

Although Li Er won the Battle of Hulao Pass with only 3,000 men in history, he still had the support of 80,000 troops in the rear!

Sending my father to fight in Henan and Hebei with less than 50,000 men is far too risky.

Thinking of this, Li Yu calmly ordered, "Laifu, let's head back home!"

I can't go to the West Market now; I have to go back to the mansion to see what's going on.

"Huh? Huh? Wait for me!"

.........

After returning to the mansion with Li Chengqian and Laifu, Li Yu searched around but couldn't find his father.

Only after asking his mother did he learn that his father was in the military tent discussing matters with a group of generals.

So Li Yu hurriedly went to the front of the military tent and waited outside for his father to come out.

Unfortunately, although he was the eldest son of the King of Zhao, he held no military post.

No one without a military rank is allowed to enter the military camp. This rule must be followed by everyone in the military.

.........

After waiting for nearly two hours, his father finally came out of the military tent.

Two generals came out with him: Cheng Yaojin and Li Yu, whom he had never met before.

"Foolish child? What are you doing here?" Li Xuanba was quite surprised to see his son.

Li Yu first greeted Cheng Yaojin, then looked at the other deputy general, and replied, "I heard from Chengqian that you were going on a campaign, so I came here as soon as possible."

"Oh, you've come at the perfect time." Li Xuanba smiled and introduced the other general walking alongside him to Li Yu: "This is my father's good friend, the Grand General of the Left Guard—Duan Xiong, Duan Zhixuan."

Li Yu was familiar with this name.

He had heard of this person in both his previous life and this life.

This person was a famous general who helped found the Tang Dynasty and followed Li Er throughout his conquest of the empire.

Therefore, when Emperor Taizong (Li Er) later erected the statues of the twenty-four meritorious officials in the Lingyan Pavilion, he placed him in the tenth position.

Since they are my father's good friends, there is no question of their social status.

Li Yu then greeted him again, saying, "Greetings, Uncle Duan. Please forgive me for not recognizing you earlier, which is why I was so disrespectful."

"No need for formalities."

After helping Li Yu up, Duan Zhixuan patted him on the shoulder and praised him, "He's quite the talkative kid. He should spend more time with my Zan'er."

After exchanging pleasantries with Duan Zhixuan for a while, and seeing that there was no one else around, Li Yu asked, "Father, shouldn't the Grand Chancellor of the Shaanxi Eastern Circuit be my second uncle? Why did His Majesty send you on this expedition?"

"Furthermore, Henan and Hebei are both well-stocked with troops and are easy to defend but difficult to attack. Why did Your Majesty only allow you to lead such a small force on the expedition?"

"Alas! The Emperor's heart is hard to fathom!"

Li Xuanba shook his head with a wry smile, but after seeing his son's worried expression, he smiled and reassured him, "Silly child, don't worry. The purpose of your father's expedition is only to pave the way for the later army. Your royal grandfather has no intention of engaging in a decisive battle at the moment."

Seeing the worry still on Li Yu's face, he comforted him, "Besides, your Uncle Cheng and Uncle Duan are your deputies this time, so it will be easy for Father to get out unscathed."

.........