Persuading Li Yuan

After taking several solid blows from Li Yuan, Li Shimin felt that the pain was becoming truly unbearable.

He hurriedly began to circle around to dodge.

Dodging and weaving, he cried out urgently, "Father, please listen to your son's explanation! This matter really cannot be blamed on me; it was Chinu himself who wanted to go."

Pursuing and beating Li Shimin, Li Yuan snapped, "If you hadn't permitted it, how could he have made the trip? See if I don't beat the living daylights out of you, you scoundrel!"

Li Yuan was truly furious at this moment.

Usually, Li Zhi was the apple of his eye; if he didn't see the boy for even a single day, he would ache with longing.

Now, to think that Li Zhi was about to be dispatched to some wild, barbaric frontier—once he went, who knew how long it would be before he returned?

What if something unfortunate happened to him? Wouldn't that mean he would never see his precious grandson again?

With these thoughts in mind, he swung his cane with increasing fury.

Li Shimin failed to dodge in time on several occasions and was struck hard.

Rubbing the bruised spots on his body, he pleaded, "Father, listen to my explanation! It really isn't the way you think."

Li Yuan had no intention of listening. Without another word, he rained down blows with his cane, one after another, eliciting endless wails of agony from Li Shimin.

Just then, Li Zhi came running in breathlessly. The moment he stepped through the threshold, he took in the scene before him.

Realizing that Li Shimin had left, he had immediately guessed that his father would run straight here, so he had hurried after him.

He had foreseen this outcome all along.

Because he knew his grandfather would never listen to his father's explanations.

Stepping into the room, Li Zhi hastily cried out, "Imperial Grandfather, please stop! This matter is not Father's fault; it was your grandson who took the initiative to go to Lingnan."

Upon seeing Li Zhi enter, Li Yuan lost all interest in beating Li Shimin.

He tossed his cane aside and strode quickly over to Li Zhi.

Squatting down, Li Yuan pulled Li Zhi into a tight embrace and said, "Don't be afraid, Chinu. Grandfather will back you up. Today, if he doesn't revoke the imperial decree, Grandfather will fight him to the death!"

Hearing this, Li Shimin felt a cold sweat break out across his brow, his face darkening with resignation.

Whose anger did I incur to deserve this?

Why does everyone pin the blame on me?

Using one hand to help soothe Li Yuan's temper, Li Zhi said, "Imperial Grandfather, please don't be angry. It truly was your grandson's own wish to go to Lingnan."

Breathing heavily, Li Yuan asked in puzzlement, "Why is that?"

Li Zhi hurriedly recounted the whole story over again.

Finally, he said, "Imperial Grandfather, now that your grandson is able to share burdens for my father, you should be happy! Why on earth are you beating him?"

By this time, Li Yuan's breathing had calmed down considerably.

Only then did Li Yuan say, "That fellow Li Er boasts all day long about having countless loyal ministers and fierce generals under his command. Yet when it comes to a crucial juncture like this, he still needs my grandson to step forward. Shouldn't he be beaten?"

As Li Zhi helped Li Yuan walk over to a chair and gently guided him to sit down, he used his small hands to diligently massage Li Yuan's joints and thump his back.

Simultaneously, he coaxed, "Imperial Grandfather has got it wrong. Such a massive achievement could earn anyone a dukedom if given to them; how could we easily let outsiders reap the benefit?"

Affectionately, Li Yuan remarked, "You little monkey, don't try to hoodwink your grandfather with talk of merits. I don't believe you care about such things."

Li Zhi replied, "Even though your grandson doesn't care, we certainly can't let outsiders take advantage of it, can we?"

Li Yuan sighed, "The lands of Lingnan are full of swamps and jungles. How could you ever endure it?"

Li Zhi reassured him, "Imperial Grandfather, rest assured. Your grandson has his own ways to make life comfortable. By then, perhaps I can even bring Imperial Grandfather down there to enjoy the good life together with me!"

Li Yuan laughed and said, "You mustn't trick me; your grandfather just might take you seriously."

Li Zhi said, "Your grandson will pinky-promise with Imperial Grandfather, and guarantee that I'll bring you down south to enjoy a comfortable life very soon."

At that moment, Li Zhi genuinely harbored the thought of bringing Li Yuan down to the south.

Winters there were warm and moist, making it exceptionally suited for vacationing and leisure.

Presently, although the imperial palace had central heating in the winter, the outdoors remained bitterly cold and dry.

An elderly person spending too much time moving about outside was prone to catching colds and coughing.

Given Li Yuan's advanced age, his immune system was naturally low.

Whenever strong winds and sudden drops in temperature occurred, he had to obediently coop himself up indoors for days on end.

Such a lifestyle was terribly detrimental to an elderly person's health.

Moving to the south would be vastly better—at least he could go out for daily exercise without being confined to cramped quarters all day long.

In a playful mood, Li Yuan locked pinkies with Li Zhi, and then burst into hearty, joyous laughter.

Although he had no shortage of sons and grandsons, the others always approached him with extreme caution or rigid politeness.

Each and every one of them treated him like some ferocious beast.

Only Li Zhi never acted that way.

He simply viewed him as his grandfather, as family, completely disregarding status or position.

Everyone else urged him to rest more and cut down on physical activity.

Only Li Zhi would drag him along to practice the Frolics of the Five Animals or dance to folk aerobics.

The boy insisted that doing these things would make his body healthier and his spirits brighter.

To Li Shimin, the sight of Li Yuan's happy smile was intensely heartwarming.

It had been a very long time since he last saw his father laugh from the bottom of his heart.

Ever since the Incident at Xuanwu Gate, apart from the victory banquet celebrating the Tang dynasty's conquest of the Eastern Tujue, his father had practically never laughed like this again.

Over the past few years, he and Empress Changsun had racked their brains trying to please his father.

Even so, his father always merely forced a look of happiness when in their presence.

Yet he knew deep down that all of this was just a facade.

To this day, his father had still not truly forgiven him.

At this moment, Li Shimin's eyes grew moist as well.

How he wished his father could understand the decision he had made back then.

How he wished time could turn back to the days when he frocled at his father and mother's knees.

On the way back to Lizheng Palace, Li Shimin suddenly turned to Li Zhi and said, "Chinu... your conduct... Father is very pleased."

After a momentary pause of surprise, Li Zhi smiled and replied, "Father, everything will get better."

With those words spoken, father and son exchanged a knowing smile.

Some things did not need an abundance of words.

Li Zhi knew what mattered most to his father.

And Li Shimin trusted that his son would do everything in his power to help him fulfill his wishes.

Word of the Dragon Cavalry's return to Chang'an had arrived ahead of them, delivered to Li Shimin via a galloping courier.

Along with it came news of the conquest of Fusi City and the capture of Chunu alive.

Li Shimin dispatched both Li Chengqian and Li Zhi to represent him in welcoming the Dragon Cavalry into the city.

He also proclaimed three days of celebrations throughout Chang'an to mark the occasion.

Upon hearing the news of the Dragon Cavalry's triumphant return, the citizens of Chang'an poured into the streets in droves.

Many ordinary townsfolk even followed Li Zhi and Li Chengqian's entourage all the way outside the city gates.

Li Zhi and Li Chengqian halted their progress only when they were twenty *li* away from the city.

For the Dragon Cavalry, this was an exceptionally high honor.

Strictly speaking, Tuyuhun had not yet been officially subjugated at this moment.

Of course, the capture of Chunu alive effectively meant that the state of Tuyuhun existed in name only.

From now on, trade routes between the Great Tang and the various Western Regions would be completely unobstructed.

Once Li Jing finished sweeping through the entirety of Tuyuhun's territory, those lands would officially fall under the jurisdiction of the Protectorate General to Pacify the West, with officials appointed by the imperial court to administer them.