Chapter 268: Most Like His Father

The fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the first year of Yining.

In Hefei City, the General’s Mansion.

A group of generals filed in to congratulate General Li on the Lantern Festival, and also to express their congratulations. Because the eldest princess and Madam Zhang were both pregnant for more than two months, this meant that the Li family would have a new baby this year.

Of course, there is a third purpose.

Dou Guang brought 4,000 horses, and all the generals in Jianghuai wanted to have a share. In the hall, Li Yuanhui hadn't said anything yet. The generals sat down and began to care about the distribution of their horses.

The commander of the Lujiang Left Camp, Zhu's brother-in-law Guo Xing, was the first to speak up: "I heard that the general's uncle, Dou Shaoqing, brought 4,000 military horses, all of which were good horses from Longyou and Hexi. I wonder how many horses each camp can get this time."

As soon as these words were spoken, someone immediately became unhappy.

"What do you infantrymen need horses for? These war horses must be given to our cavalry. At least we can expand our cavalry to 3,000 light cavalry and 300 heavy cavalry."

"General Chang is right. The cavalry must be trained together. If you need cavalry troops to be assigned, we will have no objection if the governor's office gives the order."

The opinions of Ma Deyi and Wang Tong, the two cavalry camp leaders, were that the best steel should be used on the blade. Don't divide up the infantry, just give them all to our cavalry.

After these two people finished speaking, the others were naturally unhappy.

Xu Qiande said, "My two generals, it would be boring if you eat alone. Your cavalry eats meat, but our infantry should at least have some soup, right?"

Dou Fengjie also echoed, "That's right, we have to have a share of the benefits too. We can't let you take all the benefits."

Among the dozen or so camp leaders, Dou Fengjie was the youngest, only eighteen years old, two years younger than Li Yuanhui, but no one dared to look down on him because of his youth.

In the Battle of Xunyang and the Third Battle of Ruxu, the Tiger Battalion led by Dou Fengjie made many military achievements. In both battles, Dou Fengjie personally led the troops in armor and fought fiercely. Especially in the Third Battle of Ruxu, the troops annihilated the Jiangbei Wei army at the end. The achievements of his troops were second only to the Huaixi Right Battalion led by Xu Qiande.

He is also the cousin of General Li Yuanhui, who dares to look down on him?
However, regarding the ownership of the war horses that were being discussed, which involved such important strategic materials, the several camp leaders of the cavalry did not give in at all. But the infantry had more people after all, and there were less than 10,000 cavalry among the more than 100,000 troops in the Jianghuai army, so they were at a disadvantage in the verbal battle.

At this time, the two cavalry commanders, Chang Yanheng and Li Xuandao, began to take action.

Chang Yanheng enjoyed great prestige in the Jianghuai Army, and Li Xuandao was the cousin of the general, so his words naturally carried great weight. However, after Xiao Shizhi, Zhu Deyu and others left the scene, a quarrel broke out in the hall.

Standing behind the screen wall at the rear of the Jietang were Li Qinglian, Li Baishi, Zhang Fu, Cao Ce, who were all staff members of the general's office, as well as Han Quan, Wang Fobao, Luo Shixiang and several other personal guards.

When General Li Yuanhui and his uncle Dou Guang came here later, Li Baishi felt that the time was almost up and gave a look to the soldier who was beating the drum nearby.

As soon as the drum sounded, the hall in front suddenly became quiet. Everyone stood up and stood in order.

Li Yuanhui walked up to the front hall from the back and sat on the big tiger-skin chair at the first seat. Finally, a personal soldier immediately moved a chair to the side and Dou Guang sat on it.

"It's very lively."

After taking a sip of tea, Li Yuanhui looked at everyone and said with a smile.

Everyone smiled awkwardly when they heard this, "Okay, it's a big festival, let's sit down and talk."

As soon as the words came out, all the generals sat down in unison.

Dou Guangze observed everyone with great interest, and in his heart he couldn't help but admire Li Yuanhui's prestige and momentum in the army.

"I can hear the noise from a long distance away. I have my own arrangements for the assignment of these four thousand horses. You don't need to argue about it."

With just one sentence, Li Yuanhui made the dispute among the generals come to nothing.

It was a waste of time. Then he formally introduced his uncle Dou Guang to everyone. Everyone looked at him sideways. From the seating arrangement, they knew that this Shaofu Shaoqing was Li Yuanhui's elder and had a background in the court. But as for the purpose of this Shaoqing Dou coming to Jianghuai, there were many speculations.

Some believed that this person was sent by Chang'an to supervise the head coach Li Yuanhui, otherwise they would not have sent an elder over.

Some people also believe that this was sent by Chang'an to provide assistance.

In short, Dou Guang has a high position, but he should not be involved in specific affairs.

This is what most people think.

However, Dou Guang looked as if it had nothing to do with him. He just looked at everyone casually with a smile on his face.

After the meeting, Li Yuanhui kept a few general managers and main staff members to discuss matters, while the rest of the camp leaders left.

"Let's not talk about the army and horses for now. You all know that we will use troops against Yuzhou this year. I want to march after the spring plowing. Before that, I want to inspect the defense along the river, as well as Yuzhang, Jiangxia and other places. The affairs of Hefei should remain the same. Everyone should do their job. If there are any undecided matters, Dou Shaoqing can make the decision. Dou Shaoqing's opinion is my opinion."

Upon hearing this, the generals all bowed their hands in agreement.

Dou Guang said with a smile: "You are all Silang's right-hand men and confidants. I, Dou, have just arrived. Please take good care of me. Take good care of me."

Now they finally knew that this Dou Shaoqing was here to help his nephew, and not the military supervisor sent by Chang'an as they had guessed earlier.

I just don't know what kind of temper Dou Shaoqing has.

After everyone left, Dou Guang said with a smile: "Silang, these civil and military confidants of yours are all jackals, wolves and tigers, but you can still drive them like hawks and dogs. You are really capable now, aren't you?"

Li Yuanhui smiled and said, "Uncle, you are right. The heroes in the Jianghuai Army all started from humble beginnings. Some of them are my old friends. I entrusted them with important tasks and they obeyed me because of the good times. If there are any small achievements now, they are all the result of the efforts of these heroes. What can I be capable of?"

Dou Guang laughed loudly upon hearing this, "Hahahaha, you are acting a bit like your father now."

"Hahaha, uncle, you are too kind. My father is kind and benevolent, wise and brave. He is worthy of being an elder and a hero of the world. How can I be even a fraction of what he is?"

Dou Guang said: "You are more like him in your modesty. Among the four of you brothers, Dalang is most like your father in appearance, but you are most like your father in temperament and behavior."

As an elder, Dou Guang understood the situation clearly.

Among the Li family's sons, each has a different temperament.

It seems that Dalang is a gentleman, generous and cautious. He is most like his father in both appearance and temperament.

But Dou Guang now feels that Silang is the most like Li Yuan.

Hypocritical, cunning, cautious, good at winning people's hearts. Looks kindhearted and harmless, but actually has deep scheming.
Li Yuanhui naturally had no idea how his uncle viewed him, and Dou Guang would not say such things.

However, as the elder of the Li family's sons, Dou Guang had already foreseen that his nephews might quarrel with each other in the future.

After all, this is not simply the position of a family head and a duke title.

I just don't know who will have the last laugh. As an uncle, he really doesn't want the brothers to fight with each other.

But there are some things that he cannot control.

Even as a father, King Li Yuan of Tang, even if he got closer in the future, he could not control the disputes between these sons.

He just hopes that brothers will not kill each other.

(End of this chapter)