Chapter 98: Li Shimin’s Shock

Wencheng Commandery.

Li Shimin hurriedly rode into the seat of the commandery, Wencheng County. Holding a letter from his elder brother, he was guided by the old steward of the mansion to the study, where he found Duke Zheng Yuanshu.

“Uncle Zheng!” Li Shimin greeted respectfully as he saw Zheng Yuanshu put down his brush and quickly cupped his hands in salute.

“Shimin!” Zheng Yuanshu was surprised by Li Shimin’s arrival. Yet soon, he recalled how back in Xingyang, Li Shimin had been desperate to pursue that Fu Zihou.

“No need for such formality,” Zheng Yuanshu said with some emotion. Indeed, the way Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin treated people was very different.

Li Jiancheng, married into the Zheng family, was more proper and refined, as he often mingled with scions of prominent families. Li Shimin, however, was unconventional—he seemed indifferent to status and background, showing enthusiasm and steadfastness only for those he liked.

Yet in Zheng Yuanshu’s heart, he had hoped it would be Li Jiancheng, the Zheng family’s son-in-law, who stood before him now.

Such a pity.

“Uncle Zheng, today I come because of the matter in Taiyuan Commandery. This is my elder brother’s letter.” Li Shimin took the letter from his breast and handed it to Zheng Yuanshu.

Zheng Yuanshu read through the letter’s contents. After finishing, he put it away and looked into Li Shimin’s deep eyes, sensing the barely concealed urgency beneath.

“Are you worried about Fu Zihou in Jinyang?” Zheng Yuanshu asked with a smile, stepping further into the study. Because of poor lighting, he lit a candle even though it was daytime, placing the letter by the flame to burn it.

There was nothing secretive in the letter itself, but Zheng Yuanshu, having been a soldier since childhood and with years serving in the Sui court, had witnessed many affairs and undergone numerous upheavals.

Back then, when Li Yuan made connections with heroes and men of righteousness, Zheng Yuanshu had some premonition. Later, when Emperor Yang Guang came to distrust Li Yuan, the Zheng family had helped him, even marrying Zheng Guanyin to Li Yuan’s eldest son, Li Jiancheng.

“Uncle Zheng, you may not know, but Fu Zihou has some connection to my wife,” Li Shimin said as he tossed the burned letter into a basin for destroying useless items, then revealed the relationship between Fu Zihou and his wife, Guanyin’s maid.

“My nephew-in-law!” Zheng Yuanshu’s face showed surprise. He had never expected such a connection between Fu Zihou and Li Shimin.

“Yes. Back in Xingyang, Shimin didn’t know either, so he missed the chance! Now, with Fu Zihou besieged by rebels in Jinyang, I am burning with anxiety. My father also instructed that Fu Zihou must be rescued!” Li Shimin spoke frankly.

“Please, Uncle Zheng, lend me your help,” Li Shimin bowed and earnestly requested assistance.

“The Zheng and Li families are kin; there’s no need for such formalities,” Zheng Yuanshu replied, then recalled Fu Zihou surrounded by tens of thousands of rebel troops in Jinyang.

“As for that Fu boy in Jinyang, no need to worry!” Zheng Yuanshu shook his head and strode toward the wooden desk.

Hearing this, Li Shimin’s expression changed. Looking at Zheng Yuanshu, he felt the elder seemed reluctant to help Fu Zihou.

Yet back in Xingyang, Li Shimin had felt that among all the Zhengs, Zheng Yuanshu was the one most favorably inclined toward Fu Zihou, even considering marrying a Zheng daughter to him.

“Uncle Zheng, outside Jinyang city, the rebel army numbers over a hundred thousand with siege engines. I fear the east city is in grave danger!” Li Shimin frowned slightly and still saluted Zheng Yuanshu.

Seeing Li Shimin’s anxious demeanor, Zheng Yuanshu smiled, knowing full well that Li Shimin misunderstood him.

“Have you forgotten how that Fu boy earned the title of ‘Martial Lieutenant’?” Zheng Yuanshu said, drawing a deep breath as a wave of melancholy and reflection crossed his face.

Li Shimin was puzzled, not understanding the meaning behind Zheng Yuanshu’s words or the reason for his expression.

“By the time you arrived, a special urgent letter must have already been sent to Luoyang!” Zheng Yuanshu glanced out the window, then turned back to Li Shimin.

“A few days ago, outside the east gate of Jinyang, Fu Zihou led a night raid and captured a rebel general.” Zheng Yuanshu told Li Shimin, watching the young man’s astonished and dazed expression, his smile growing wider.

Wencheng Commandery borders Linfen and Jiang Commanderies. Months ago, when Li Yuan quelled the rebellions there, many warriors and strategists dispersed after surrendering—most coming from Wencheng.

As the prefect of Wencheng, Zheng Yuanshu not only knew some had hidden in the commandery but even secretly provided them shelter.

Thus, when news came that Taiyuan was besieged by a rebel army of over a hundred thousand, Zheng Yuanshu sought out contacts in the north, sending them to Taiyuan to infiltrate and gather intelligence.

This was why, even before the court or other commanderies knew the details, Zheng Yuanshu was fully informed about Taiyuan.

Inside the study, Zheng Yuanshu looked at Li Shimin’s shocked face and couldn’t help but laugh.

“You think that’s all?” Zheng Yuanshu watched Li Shimin regain composure and looked at him, then shared a second piece of news.

“A few days ago, Fu Zihou led his troops out of the city at night again and captured another rebel general!” Zheng Yuanshu said, his smile broadening as he saw Li Shimin’s stunned and dazed expression.

When Zheng Yuanshu first heard this news, he was just as excited—right there in the study, reading the letter, he had struck the wooden table so hard his hand ached for a whole day.

He recalled the young man who once stood beside Li Jingjie in the Zheng mansion in Xingyang.

Zheng Yuanshu couldn’t help but admire him in his heart.

Such a fine young man!

Though still young, he truly had courage.

No wonder he earned the title ‘Martial Lieutenant’!

Zheng Yuanshu thought that had he known the boy’s character earlier, he would have torn ties with Li Jingjie in the Zheng house and arranged for Fu Zihou to marry a Zheng daughter before letting him go.

The Li family of Cang County was well known to Zheng Yuanshu, as was Li Lao’s reputation—his many disciples and good relations with the Zheng clan.

But so what? If something was worth seizing, one must seize it. This was a truth Zheng Yuanshu had learned from his years in the military.

Such a promising youth—if not taken, only regret would follow; the family would lose a crucial pillar, possibly determining the rise or fall of the clan.

Back then in Xingyang, though fond of him, contact was too limited. Had he known better, Zheng Yuanshu would have ensured the young man became a son-in-law of the Zheng family rather than the Li family.

“If you have the ability, have Emperor Yang Guang issue the decree! Otherwise, no one else will matter!”