Chapter 38: The Older, the Wiser

The entire imperial court looked upon Li Ye with utter disdain. Although he had returned victorious, they felt his achievement was mediocre at best. They believed his success in persuading the bandits of Bald Eagle Mountain to surrender was merely the result of bribery, and that any of them could have achieved the same outcome had they been granted such generous terms. They scoffed at the very notion of Li Ye’s merit.

"While you have won the battle, your methods have brought shame upon the reputation of the Imperial Court. For this victory, you shall receive neither reward nor punishment," Li Xuantian declared after a moment of contemplation.

"Understood, your son obeys," Li Ye replied. He did not care in the least for imperial rewards. He knew his methods would never be accepted by the Emperor or the court officials, but as long as he could fulfill his duties and successfully conceal his true capabilities, that was enough.

"There are two other matters I hope Your Majesty will grant," Li Ye added.

"Speak. As long as it is not excessive, I shall grant your request."

"I hope the Ministry of Revenue will promptly allocate the funds to settle the people from Bald Eagle Mountain and designate land for them to build homes. I request that the fields be measured and distributed according to the regulations for surrendered bandits. Should there be any shortfall, I will make up for it myself. Settling these people quickly will prevent further trouble."

"Secondly, I noticed that many of the soldiers under my command were veterans and the wounded. I ask that the Ministry of Revenue expedite the distribution of their pensions. I wish to retain these men and provide them with a means of livelihood. It would be a fitting acknowledgement for those who have risked their lives for the court."

Li Xuantian nodded slightly and agreed immediately. After all, Li Ye’s requests were perfectly reasonable and were things the court should have handled long ago. "Granted! The Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War shall implement this immediately. Furthermore, there must be no delays in the future for retired veterans or the wounded."

The Ministers of War and Revenue broke into a cold sweat. Delays in pension payments were no minor matter; had they been scrutinized, the consequences would have been dire. Not daring to offend the Sixth Prince any further, they promptly agreed.

Following this, the army was rewarded. While Li Ye received no recognition, every soldier who participated in the campaign was granted a reward, and the officers were promoted in rank. Having faced no real danger yet receiving such honors, the troops were overjoyed and filled with gratitude toward Li Ye.

After the morning court session concluded, Li Xuantian and Shangguan Qi met in the Imperial Study. Li Xuantian was both angry and dejected; he had never expected Li Ye to handle the situation this way. He had failed to test him, and he remained as ignorant of Li Ye’s true capabilities as ever. While the bandit threat had been resolved, his primary objective had not been met.

"What do you make of the Sixth Prince’s performance?" Li Xuantian asked.

Shangguan Qi replied with a grave expression, "Although the entire court mocks the Sixth Prince, claiming he is incompetent in warfare and only succeeded by spending a fortune to buy the surrender of bandits—something anyone could have done—I do not hold that view."

"Oh? Then tell me, what merits do you see?" Li Xuantian asked with curiosity.

"Your Majesty, I specifically inquired into the details of the surrender and discovered that from beginning to end, the Sixth Prince’s actions were far from simple."

"First, when he saw the old, weak, and wounded soldiers, he did not show anger, but instead quickly boosted the morale of the army and won the approval of every man. That alone is no small feat."

"Second, from the start of the march, he ensured every soldier was well-fed, with meat at every meal. It might seem that such a practice would deplete the grain supplies rapidly, but those soldiers were already gaunt and starving, unable to fight. By feeding them well, he not only quickened the pace of the march but also allowed the men to regain their strength. By the time they reached Bald Eagle Mountain, the soldiers were much heartier. The improved rations made them deeply grateful to the Prince, and he established his prestige within the ranks before anyone realized it. The combat effectiveness of this army is now vastly different from what it was at the start."

Li Xuantian’s eyes lit up as he recognized the validity of Shangguan Qi’s argument. "You have a point. On the surface, Li Ye’s actions seemed erratic, but every step was intended to increase the army’s combat power and establish his authority. These are the traits of a qualified commander."

"What shocked me even more," Shangguan Qi continued, "is that the Sixth Prince has no prior experience in leading troops and has never even studied military strategy. Yet, from the very beginning, he constantly praised the experience of the veterans, calling them an elite force. He encouraged all his men to offer suggestions for the attack, and he would immediately reward and promote those who provided good advice. Even someone who doesn't know how to lead could command an army quite effectively by filtering through so many strategies."

"Opening the floor to suggestions and promoting talented individuals is indeed a sound strategy," Li Xuantian agreed repeatedly.

Shangguan Qi grew more enthusiastic. "After arriving at Bald Eagle Mountain, the Sixth Prince immediately ordered his men to scout the lifeblood of the stronghold. He planned to use fire attacks and cut off their water supply to threaten them. He applied pressure first, making the people on Bald Eagle Mountain believe he had the power to defeat them, and then he went to the gate of the stronghold alone to persuade the bandits to surrender with promises. Such courage is not something an ordinary commander possesses. It was through this combination of grace and power that he made the bandits submit."

"Although it seemed unconventional, every step was carefully considered and struck at the very heart of the bandits' weakness."

Having heard Shangguan Qi’s explanation, Li Xuantian was deeply shocked. He had not imagined his son would go to the gate of the stronghold alone to persuade the bandits. If the bandits had not intended to surrender, they might have shot him down with arrows. Taking such a risk required more than just courage; it required a resolute mind and absolute certainty. Knowing Li Ye as he did—a man who valued his own life dearly—he would never have put himself in such danger. This only confirmed that Li Ye had planned everything well in advance.

"As expected of the Chancellor, your insight is sharp indeed! Even with the Sixth Prince hiding his abilities so well, you were able to see through it easily," Li Xuantian said, highly pleased. Among all his sons, not one was promising, but in Li Ye, he finally saw something extraordinary. That he had failed to notice it for so many years only proved how truly brilliant Li Ye was. This was how an emperor should conduct himself.

"Indeed, the Sixth Prince is truly remarkable. It is just unclear whether he is hiding his ambition or if he truly has no interest in the struggle for power."

"Hmph, with such talent, even if he doesn't want to fight for the throne, he will have no choice. Whether the Great Yuan Dynasty can endure depends on whether we can select a suitable heir."

"Your Majesty has already devised a plan, then? You intend to bring the Sixth Prince to the forefront?"

"Precisely. I intend to let him continue to command these five thousand troops. Once he holds military power, he won't be able to stay in the shadows even if he wants to. Other princes will naturally feel threatened and begin to target him."

"Your Majesty’s plan is excellent. From what I know, the soldiers of the entire army hold the Sixth Prince in high esteem. With this army in his hands, they will surely be loyal to him," Shangguan Qi agreed immediately.