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

"Son of a bitch!"

Seeing the disgusting looks on these guys' faces, Li Yu said irritably, "Stop pretending. Are you even brothers? I'm already like this and you're still here to laugh at me..."

"We heard you haven't been eating or drinking lately, so the brothers all came to check on you and have been waiting here."

"Who would have thought that the moment you woke up, you'd be busy comforting the beauty, completely ignoring your brothers' lives?"

The words were quite hurtful, but looking at Changsun Chong's exaggerated expression, aside from being heartwarming, Li Yu could only see him as someone who deserved a beating...

"Fine, I'm not going to argue with you anymore."

Cheng Chumo waved his hand: "My father said they will arrive in Chang'an soon. His Highness Prince Zhao is now awake and, apart from losing a leg, is full of energy! He told me to tell you not to worry."

Fearing that Li Yu would be sad, Cheng Chumo continued to comfort him, "Brother Yu, you don't need to be too upset. My father often said that as a family of generals, as long as you close your eyes today and can open them again tomorrow morning, that is a blessing. As for losing an arm or a leg, that is nothing."

Li Yu nodded, agreeing with Cheng Chumo.

Even in the later era of firearms, injuries and disabilities were unavoidable on the battlefield. In this era of cold weapons, every general and soldier was probably prepared to sacrifice their lives for their country at any time.

In short, his father's life was saved. Whether Li Yuan continued to be emperor or Li Er successfully usurped the throne, his father would no longer have to fight on the battlefield.

Military merit? What need does a prince without ambition have for military merit? A life of wealth and honor is enough for him.

.........

For the imperial court, Li Xuanba's victory boosted morale.

With 50,000 troops against 100,000, they decisively defeated Hulao Pass. Even though they ultimately failed to hold it, they successfully crippled the forces of Wang and Dou.

It's only a matter of time before Henan and Hebei are pacified.

To appease his third son, the emperor sent ministers to greet him from ten miles away, and Li Yu naturally blended in among them...

.........

Standing beside the ancient Xiaohan Road, the crowd could see the army rolling in from afar.

Li Yu gazed into the distance. Counting from the day they set out on the expedition, nearly three months of fighting had reduced his father's forces by almost 40%.

As the army drew closer, he was surprised to find that Li Xuanba was still riding on his horse, fully armed and in full armor, looking imposing.

Only the left trouser leg hung loosely over the horse's belly, and the fabric at the thigh was stained red with fresh blood.

Upon seeing this, Li Yu wanted to rush out, but was pulled back by Crown Prince Li Jiancheng.

As the crown prince, Li Jiancheng naturally had to come to reward the troops, offer gifts, and comfort the soldiers who were weary from their journey.

So at this moment, everyone tacitly put aside their usual grudges for the time being...

.........

Li Xuanba only dismounted after the Crown Prince and his ministers responded.

With only one leg left, he refused the lieutenant's help and laboriously stepped forward to bow.

"Your Majesty's virtue and power, thanks to the blessings of the ancestral temples and the state, we have achieved a minor victory at Wulao Pass. In accordance with Your Majesty's will, I now lead the three armies in triumph."

Whether from the pain or from thinking of the fallen soldiers, Li Xuanba let out a shout that was so loud it became hoarse and exhausted.

"My third brother dedicated himself to the country, and though he was crippled, he protected our land. I respect you, and everyone in the world respects you; no one dares to look down on you!"

After hearing these words, Li Jiancheng burst into tears. How much of it was true and how much was false, no one knew.

I envy Cheng Chumo; that guy can actually sneak into the crowd and chat with Old Cheng. Li Yu, on the other hand, can only stand far away and watch his father exchange pleasantries with the Crown Prince in a serious manner.

Seeing that Li Xuanba was about to collapse, Li Jiancheng couldn't bear it and hastily ended the process.

Li Yuanji inappropriately approached, wanting to exchange pleasantries with Li Xuanba in order to worsen his injuries.

Li Xuanba simply ignored his little tricks, snorted coldly, and walked past him.

Li Yuanji, having been rebuffed by Li Xuanba, was not angry. Instead, he gloated and led the meek and submissive Yang back to his tent.

.........

Today, the soldier turned and died alone; when he left, others rode his saddle and horse.

The procession continued forward until it entered the imperial city through Chunming Gate, at which point it slowed down.

The streets of Zhuque were packed with people. The merchants and vendors who used to come and go had long been cleared away by the Imperial Guards.

Many people in the crowd were sobbing quietly, and as more people began to sob, the sobs grew louder.

"This great victory is thanks to the brave men who risked their lives for their country."

"The living will be treated with utmost care; the dead will be remembered forever. The young and old in your families are my own flesh and blood; I will ensure they have enough to eat and wear, that the elderly are cared for, and that the young are educated. If their spirits still exist, they will know my heart, and I will not fail the blood and tears shed by your entire family."

Still fully armored, Li Xuanba sat on horseback, gazing at the surrounding crowd as he delivered a passionate speech.

With the help of a group of people, an elderly woman with white hair broke through the Jinwu Guards' obstruction and shakily arrived at the center of the road.

Upon seeing a person suddenly appear in the center of Zhuque Avenue, Li Xuanba hurriedly ordered the garrison to move.

"General, was my son Wang Daquan brave in this battle?!" The old woman's weathered voice trembled with grief.

Hearing the old woman say this, Li Xuanba felt a pang of sorrow.

He dismissed the Imperial Guards who came to stop the old woman and replied, "In this battle, Commandant Wang led two hundred cavalry to cover the rear, blocking three thousand enemy soldiers. He fought to the last man, with no one surviving except for his clothes and hat, which were taken away for burial. He was truly loyal, brave, and heroic, and his achievements surpassed those of the entire army!"

After hearing Li Xuanba's words, the old woman was about to bow gracefully when Li Xuanba helped her up in time.

"Old man, it's me who should be bowing!"

His eyes filled with tears, and supported by Cheng Yaojin and Duan Zhixuan, he disregarded his injuries and was about to bow down in all directions...

.........

Li Yu was feeling unusually depressed at the moment. He looked up and saw that the sky was indeed overcast.

"What a damn world!"

Once you raise your head, it's hard to lower it again, because if you do, tears will soak your clothes.

Cheng Chumo, who was standing to the side, was puzzled. He didn't understand why Li Yu kept his head up, so he put his ear closer.

Then they heard Li Yu murmur: "The carriages rumble, the horses neigh, and the travelers carry bows and arrows at their waists. Parents, wives, and children see them off, but the dust obscures the Xianyang Bridge. They pull at their clothes, stamp their feet, and block the road, weeping, their cries reaching the clouds."

A passerby asked a traveler by the roadside, who only said that conscription was frequent. Some were sent north to defend the river at fifteen, and by forty they were sent west to farm. When they left, the village headman wrapped their heads; when they returned, their hair was white, and they were still guarding the border.

……

Moreover, the Qin soldiers endured hardship and battle, yet they were driven like dogs and chickens. Though elders may ask questions, how could these laborers dare to voice their resentment? Furthermore, this winter, the soldiers from Guanzhong have not yet been released.

The county magistrate urgently demands rent, but where will the rent and taxes come from? It is truly known that giving birth to a son is bad, while giving birth to a daughter is good. A daughter can still marry a neighbor, while a son is buried and forgotten among the weeds.

Have you not seen the headwaters of Qinghai, where countless white bones lie unburied since ancient times? New ghosts wail in anguish, old ghosts cry out, their voices echoing mournfully in the damp, overcast sky…