Chapter 119 Going to the funeral
Shan Xiongxin felt very honored, and Qin Shubao also felt that he had received extraordinary courtesy, so they were naturally very happy. He had visited other mountains before.

Although they were all willing to use him, they were all very arrogant and obviously did not think too highly of him. Comparing the two, he felt that his journey of thousands of miles was well worth it.

Qin Shubao returned the greeting to Li Jiancheng: "It was just luck, my lord, thank you for your compliment."

Li Jiancheng took the two men into the mansion and told Li Jin, "Put the pot on the stove, cut the mutton and cook some wine."

"Yes."

Preparations were completed very quickly. The couple had eaten hotpot a lot since the beginning of winter. Of course, it was called antique soup or warm pot at that time. It was the most comfortable thing to eat while enjoying the snow in the cold winter.

Shan Xiongxin and Qin Shubao came from afar, feeling cold, so they ate this to suit the occasion.

In the main hall of the prefect's mansion, Xiao Chanyan bowed when she saw the three people coming in. Shan Xiongxin and Qin Shubao just glanced at them and bowed their heads to return the greeting. She was the niece of the current empress and the legitimate daughter of the emperor of the Liang Dynasty.

If it were a few decades ago, they would have called her princess when they met her.

After saying hello, Xiao Chanyan went back to the backyard. The two of them then relaxed. After sitting down and drinking a cup of tea, the hot pot was put on the table. The three of them sat around it and cooked meat and drank wine.

After each person ate a dozen chopsticks of meat and drank two large bowls of wine, they felt relaxed all over and talked about the battle of Liaodong, each with their own opinions.

Li Jiancheng's view was more concerned with the overall situation, while Qin Shubao was dissatisfied with Lai Huer's haste for success. Otherwise, the navy could have relied on steady and cautious advances to besiege Pyongyang, and by the time Yuwen Shu and Yu Wenlong's armies arrived, the great cause would have been accomplished.

Shan Xiongxin was simple. Although he was brave, this was his first battle. He didn't know much about anything and only cared about what he saw.

This is not Shan Xiongxin's fault. Although Qin Shubao's father was not famous, he was able to serve as a recorder and military officer under the former Qi Xianyang King Hulu Wudu. After the fall of Qi, he returned to his hometown to teach his son.

Qin Shubao received the proper education for a son of a general, and with his extraordinary talent, he was able to stand out in the army so quickly. But if nothing unexpected happened, this was almost his limit.

Because he was from Licheng, Qi County, he was not a native of Guanzhong, nor was he a noble from Wuchuan.

Even if he could be promoted again, the chance of being able to command an army alone is pitifully small. He must be promoted by a noble and favored by the emperor. Both are indispensable.

Although Qin Shubao thought that Lai Huer underestimated the enemy and advanced rashly, which led to his defeat along the way, Qin Shubao still respected him very much and knew that Lai Huer did not take risks for fame or fortune.

"My dear, the general has come to the Eastern Capital to personally apologize. I wonder if His Majesty has?"

Li Jiancheng poured him a glass of wine and said, "Don't worry, His Majesty will not blame anyone again. After the New Year, we will attack Goguryeo again. His Majesty will probably order General Lai to lead the navy to fight."

"It is better to waste your time than to waste your time. That's all."

These two people had never even seen the emperor, so naturally they believed Li Jiancheng. Not to mention they were monarch and subject, they were still relatives, so they knew his temperament better than outsiders like them.

"That's good. I believe we can definitely pacify Goguryeo this time!"

The two were still very optimistic about the prospect of the second expedition to Goguryeo. After all, although this battle was not successful, they had seen with their own eyes that Goguryeo's soldiers were much inferior overall.

Shan Xiongxin asked: "What do you think, my dear?"

Li Jiancheng put down his chopsticks and said, "I don't think it will go smoothly. It's not because of Goguryeo, but because of our own problems in the Great Sui Dynasty." Qin Shubao frowned and said, "My lord, are you talking about those rebels? They are not powerful enough, and His Majesty has already ordered the counties to encircle and suppress them. In my opinion, they can be completely wiped out within two years."

Li Jiancheng shook his head: "Not them."

Shan Xiongxin and Qin Shubao looked at each other and soon realized that if they were not common people, they were court officials and nobles. Changes of dynasties were not uncommon, and this dynasty had only been passed on to the second generation.

The two men knew better than to ask further questions. With their identities, they were not even qualified to get involved, and asking questions would only add to their troubles.

But we have all realized that the world is becoming more and more chaotic, and we need a big tree to rely on.

After a while, Li Jing and Li Xiaogong, whom Li Jiancheng had asked to invite, arrived. After greeting each other, they drank until late at night and were all drunk. Xiao Chanyan arranged for someone to help them to the guest room to rest.

When Li Jiancheng woke up the next day and was about to take them out for a banquet, he saw the family servant who had rushed in from Chang'an, exhausted. Upon asking, he found out that the old lady Dugu was critically ill and would not live long.

Shan Xiongxin supported the shaking Li Jiancheng and tried to comfort him: "Don't worry, my dear. There are many famous doctors in Chang'an. Maybe the old lady has recovered."

"Yes, old lady, good people are blessed by God."

Everyone says these auspicious words, but they also know that it is normal for the elderly and frail to die in this cold winter. Who can resist birth, aging, sickness and death?
Li Jiancheng had to rush back to Chang'an out of both emotion and courtesy. After apologizing, he went back to his study to write a memorial and ordered someone to send it to Luoyang urgently. He was the prefect and had the responsibility to defend the land and the people, so he could not leave without an imperial edict.

Dugu was of noble status and was the emperor's aunt, so his majesty would certainly approve the request. Li Jiancheng and Xiao Chanyan began to prepare to return with carriages, horses and other items, and secretly prepare mourning clothes.

After everything was arranged, Li Jiancheng said to Qin Shubao and Shan Xiongxin: "I wanted to entertain you two brothers, but I didn't expect this to happen. I'm really sorry."

"My dear, what are you talking about? We two are still feeling guilty for not being able to help you relieve your worries."

……

After only two days of waiting, the emperor's edict arrived. It was obviously not an edict issued in response to Li Jiancheng's memorial. The emperor must have also received the news from Chang'an.

So they set out in a hurry, entrusting all matters to Li Jing and the county magistrate. Many noble families in Zhuo County not only escorted them out of the city, but also sent several representatives from each family, nominally to escort him back to Chang'an.

Less than half a day after he left, he received news from the servants that the old lady had passed away. Li Jiancheng cried until he fainted. Everyone who saw this wiped their tears and sighed at Li Langjun's filial piety.

The Li family changed into mourning clothes, and representatives from various families in Zhuo County also changed into plain clothes. Everyone quickened their pace and headed for Chang'an. This journey was different from when Li Jiancheng took office. Although there were still old friends and acquaintances who entertained them in the counties along the way, they were all offered a cup of hot tea and then followed the team silently.

Since the day he received the news, Li Jiancheng never laughed again and changed his diet to a vegetarian one. However, he still took great care of his friends and did not allow them to suffer with him.

The huge group of people finally rushed back to Chang'an City. Li Jiancheng had actually accepted this matter in his heart and did not feel much sadness. After all, his grandmother was already very old.

But when he saw the city wall of Chang'an, he couldn't help but think of more than ten years ago, when he went to the palace to see the Queen with the letter from his grandmother, which led to his current status.

…………

(End of this chapter)