Chapter 136: Northern Wei

"Indeed!"

Li Shimin spoke slowly, "The rise of the Guanlong aristocratic clans began during the Northern Wei Dynasty. To safeguard the capital city of Pingcheng, the Northern Wei established six military garrisons along the northern border, commanded by six great generals. They recruited large numbers of the Xianbei people to bolster their military strength and united with local power brokers, eventually forming a significant force..."

"Over the following centuries, every core figure in the imperial court—whether military or civil—could be traced back to the Guanlong clans. They gradually coalesced into dozens of powerful families, collectively known as the Guanlong Aristocracy."

"Even I, myself, come from this lineage!"

Zhangsun Wuji, already privy to these inner workings, did not appear surprised. Li Zhi, however, was struck speechless by the revelation.

"If these clans are so powerful, why does Father not simply exterminate them?"

"Did I not entrust the matter of dealing with the clans to you? Can you not simply wipe them out for me?" Li Shimin said, his tone carrying a hint of jest.

"Father, that is different! What I mean is... we should mobilize the army to suppress them and destroy them in one fell swoop!"

If only it were that simple. Then there would be no need for the current predicament. Li Shimin smiled, noncommittal.

Zhangsun Wuji chuckled bitterly, "Your Highness, you know well that these clans control the vast majority of the empire's wealth and grain. If we were to strike them now, the common people would be the ones to suffer!"

"Are they not suffering already?"

"Indeed..." Li Shimin hesitated for a moment before shaking his head. "Compared to direct military intervention, our current approach is safer. After all, the merchant shops in every town remain open; as long as one has money, one can still purchase goods."

"If we were to sever ties completely, in a life-or-death struggle, they would likely act like cornered beasts—closing all shops and hoarding their grain. That is when the people would truly suffer!"

What kind of logic was this? In the current situation, how could one still afford to be so cautious? When the very foundations of the state were threatened, should one not strike with thunderous force? Li Zhi was at a loss.

Li Shimin continued, "Father believes in you, Zhi'er. I believe you can keep the clans in check without resorting to military force."

"Pah!" Li Zhi curled his lip. "I wonder where Father finds such confidence."

Since his attempt to goad Li Shimin into military action had failed, Li Zhi had no choice but to stick to his previous strategy: advancing steadily and surely.

"Wait," Li Zhi said suddenly, his brow furrowing. "Father just mentioned that the clans possess armies... do they or do they not? I am worried that Luo Tong and his men might be in grave danger!"

"They had them in the past, but not anymore."

"What do you mean?"

Li Shimin revealed secrets kept since the founding of the dynasty. During the final years of the Sui Dynasty, the Guanlong clans had expanded their military forces amidst the chaos—partly to protect their own assets, and partly to hold the Tujue in the north at bay, preventing attacks on their lands. They had even helped Li Shimin defeat the warlords northwest of Chang'an. However, after the founding of the Great Tang, this army was forcibly disbanded. The clans had no reason to keep such a force, nor did they dare to.

Hundreds of thousands of soldiers were disbanded on the spot. Since then, there had been no trace of them.

Li Zhi was shocked upon hearing this. "Surely... the disbandment was merely for show? Those who were loyal to the clans would not simply abandon them just because the army was dissolved. They must still hold the core strength of those forces in secret!"

"Your Highness is absolutely correct!" Zhangsun Wuji agreed deeply. If they did not possess that core power, the clans would never dare to be so arrogant.

"This is bad!" Li Zhi realized the gravity of the situation. "Luo Tong has gone to Guanlong. If he encounters the core of this secret army, wouldn't he be walking right into the tiger's den?"

"Trust that they can handle it! Don't forget, Luo Tong and the Golden Blade Guards are the elite among elites. Even the Black Armor Cavalry could not easily defeat them; how could they be so easily wiped out by local forces?"

"I want to believe that... but I cannot help but worry!" Li Zhi was no longer a child; a few platitudes were not enough to ease his underlying anxiety. By all appearances, Luo Tong would soon face trouble. Perhaps... he had already encountered it, but had no way to notify the capital.

As Li Shimin and Zhangsun Wuji continued their discussion on the clans, Li Zhi rose to his feet. "Father, I have an urgent matter that requires my immediate departure."

"What matter?"

"Go on then!" Li Shimin, not bothering to ask further, waved his hand to signal that Li Zhi was free to go.

***

At the military camp in Hongnong County, Li Zhi summoned Cheng Yaojin and Yuchi Jingde. "Luo Tong is in trouble. We must find a way to rescue him!"

"Trouble?"

"Is he wounded?" Cheng Yaojin asked.

"I do not know yet! I just returned from the Secretariat and learned that the clans may still possess the core of their military force. Think about it—in a life-or-death situation, would they not use it?" Li Zhi said urgently. "If the number of enemies increases, or if they have set traps in advance... Luo Tong’s life hangs by a thread!"

Hearing Li Zhi’s account, the situation seemed dire.

Yuchi Jingde said, "Then what are we waiting for? Let us go rescue him now!"

"Don't be rash, don't be rash," Cheng Yaojin interjected. "We don't even know where Luo Tong is; how are we to rescue him?"

"We must first select a group of experts to investigate covertly, infiltrating Guanlong, Taiyuan, and the surrounding regions. Once we locate Luo Tong and the Golden Blade Guards, we will join forces with them!"

Li Zhi always acted with decisiveness. Since he had decided to rescue Luo Tong, the sooner, the better. He entrusted the selection of these experts to Yuchi Jingde.

The group would consist of one hundred men. They had to be highly skilled in martial arts, fearless, and utterly trustworthy.

"Your Highness, rest assured. I will see to it immediately!" Yuchi Jingde hurried off.

It is said that while a thousand soldiers are easy to find, one general is hard to come by. Selecting a hundred experts was easy, but finding someone to lead them was a true challenge. No matter who he considered, Li Zhi felt uneasy.

"General Cheng, do you have any suggestions?" Li Zhi asked.

"I know someone. He is highly skilled, steady in his work, and will certainly not disappoint us!"

"Who is it?"

Cheng Yaojin smiled. "His name is Qin Huaiyu! He is the son of Qin Qiong and is currently serving as a captain under my command. Even His Majesty has remarked that Qin Huaiyu carries the spirit of his father and will surely be a great commander one day!"

Li Zhi’s eyes brightened. "How could I have forgotten him?"

"Qin Huaiyu is indeed an excellent choice!"

"General Cheng, let us settle on him then?"

"Agreed!"

Cheng Yaojin sent men to summon Qin Huaiyu. After a brief interview, Li Zhi was thoroughly satisfied.

***

Qin Huaiyu led the hundred hand-picked experts and rode post-haste toward Hedong, prepared to rendezvous with Luo Tong and the Golden Blade Guards.

As Li Zhi finally found a moment of respite, he inadvertently triggered a system quest—or rather, a side mission.

Quest: The Host must accumulate fifty million coins within ten days!

"What?" Li Zhi exclaimed upon hearing this absurd objective. Fifty million coins was equivalent to the entire annual revenue of the Great Tang, and the system expected him to amass it in just ten days. The demand was simply outrageous.

"Are you just trying to torment me? Do you find it amusing to torture me? Fifty million... do you think this is scrap metal?" Li Zhi complained for quite a while.

The system merely issued the task, offering no response. Frustrated, Li Zhi felt like banging his head against the wall.