Side Story Chapter 18: Wang Haibin
Several days later…
“Since I have Imperial Father’s approval, those things we prepared should be put to use now.”
Li Taiyi’s eyes grew more resolved. Everything was going at the pace he had set out, and he was certain that he could alter the result of that crucial war in the future.
But his preparations were far from over.
As Li Taiyi made up his mind, Gao Lishi said, “Your Highness, His Majesty also said that he wishes to see you.”
“I understand,” Li Taiyi said as he put down the military text he was reading.
Li Taiyi quickly boarded his carriage and made his way to Taiji Palace.
As Li Taiyi passed through a set of high walls, a vigorous voice rang out.
“A true man should die on the battlefield while making his name. Only by gaining some level of achievement on the borders can this life not be considered wasted!”
Li Taiyi raised an eyebrow, his closed eyes opening as he peered out of the window.
Atop the high walls was an armored figure, clearly some officer of the Imperial Army, who was watching the sun rise in the east with a melancholy face.
The capital was at peace, and the Imperial Army had nothing to do other than man its posts. They could even take a short break from their duties without much of a problem.
This wasn’t strange at all within the Imperial Army.
But this officer atop the wall still left an extremely deep impression on Li Taiyi. He seemed to be entirely different from the other soldiers of the Imperial Army.
Another powerful Imperial Army soldier ascended the wall and said, “Commander Wang, while the capital is small, one can enjoy peace and quiet here. Why do you insist on finding fame on the battlefield?”
Neither of them had noticed Li Taiyi.
People went in and out of the palace all the time. It wasn’t just court officials, but also eunuchs and functionaries. The Imperial Army stood guard here every day, so they had gotten used to every situation. Even if they had noticed him, they wouldn’t have paid him any attention.
The two Imperial Army soldiers were just chatting. There was nothing to cause a fuss about.
That Commander Wang was shaken from his stupor and sorrowfully said, “Commander Bai, you are right that the capital is at peace, but this is not a world at peace. We both have aspirations, but we can only remain in this palace until we grow old and retire. Is this not a lifelong regret?
“Is there any meaning in life as an idling dog?”
He had entered the palace in his teens, believing that he would one day be sent to the border where he could emulate Ma Yuan of the Great Han and have his body wrapped in horse leather. But now, he was twenty-eight, nearing his thirties, having spent ten-some years in the palace with no sign of being sent to the border.
(TN: Ma Yuan was a famous general of the Great Han who once said to a friend that he would want his body to be wrapped with horse leather, meaning that he wanted to die on the battlefield in military service, where horse leather would be the cloth used to cover the bodies of the dead.)
It appeared that he would spend the rest of his life in this humdrum fashion.
Commander Bai had nothing to say. He could only shake his head and smile. He knew this Commander Wang far too well.
Every person had their own ambitions!
Although he admired this ambition, for the majority of the Imperial Army, living a life of luxury in the palace was not a bad thing.
“Commander Wang, it’s time for training,” Commander Bai said.
This was the main reason he had appeared here.
“Mm.”
Commander Wang helplessly sighed as he stood up.
Although the sovereign’s orders could not be defied, he would never so easily give up on his ideals and aspirations.
“All men, assemble!”
With a shout, the surroundings rumbled, and solemn-faced Imperial Army soldiers began to swiftly gather in front of Commander Wang, their synchronized and disciplined movements creating an intimidating aura.
They seemed different from the other units of the Imperial Army, exuding the decisive auras of battlefield veterans.
“This…”
In the distance, Li Taiyi’s eyes widened at this sight.
He had been listening in on their conversation and stopped his carriage out of curiosity, but now, this unit of the Imperial Army left an extremely deep impression on him.
“This man isn’t just an officer, but one with the qualities of a fine general…”
Li Taiyi’s eyes twitched.
He called over an attendant. “Servant, go and ask for the name of that Marshal for me!”
The attendant didn’t take long, and Li Taiyi came to know that the name of this commander was ‘Wang Haibin’!
(TN: Wang Haibin’s claim to fame is being the father of Wang Zhongsi. Someone with a mind for details will realize what happens to him.)
Li Taiyi noted down Wang Haibin’s name and continued on his way.
This was just a minor interlude for Li Taiyi.
What was most important was meeting his father.
……
Li Taiyi got off his carriage at Taiji Palace. As he looked at the palace, he felt that his mood was different from his last visit.
In the first visit, he had been filled with curiosity and reverence, but this time, he was brimming with confidence and a pride that came before setting out with an army.
Li Taiyi quickly walked up the white jade steps and into Taiji Palace.
“Paying respects to Imperial Father.”
Li Taiyi saw his father reviewing memorials at his desk, and immediately bowed.
“Xuan’er, rise.”
The Tang Emperor was not as stern as he usually was, putting down his brush and waving Li Taiyi over.
Li Taiyi grunted and went up to the Tang Emperor.
The Tang Emperor examined Li Taiyi with his bright eyes, and after a while, he nodded and began to sternly speak.
“Xuan’er, you have truly grown up. We have investigated the matter of the peace talks with the Turkic Empire. The Turkic Empire has not made any subsequent statements since First Prince Ashina Cui’s return.
“It seems that your judgment was correct. There truly is something off about the peace talks.”
Li Taiyi bowed and respectfully said, “Your son did only what should have been done. Even without your son, Imperial Father would probably have still seen through the schemes of the Turks.”
“Mm.”
The Emperor quickly changed the topic and began to talk business.
“Earlier, you wrote a memorial to Us expressing a desire to head to Ü-Tsang…”
As the Tang Emperor spoke, he pulled a memorial out of the pile, clearly Li Taiyi’s.
“We would like to hear for Ourself why you wish to go.”
“Your son has been naughty and unruly since his childhood, and it is only through Imperial Father’s guidance that he did not go off on the wrong path. Your son understands that he still has flaws, so he wishes to hone himself in the army. Moreover, both Gaozu and Taizong obtained the realm on horseback. We all share the blood of the House of Li, so I must also spend some time on horseback so as to not let down the blood flowing through my veins.”
Li Taiyi saluted as he spoke, his expression one of utmost respect.
The Tang Emperor had a hint of gratification in his eyes as he nodded.
“Xuan’er, I will send you to the front line. As the Emperor of the Great Tang, We naturally hope for you to achieve success, but as a father, for you to charge at the front… You must be careful.”
Although the Tang Emperor appeared emotionless, Li Taiyi could hear his concern and was moved.
It was said that the imperial household was heartless, but it seemed like his father really did care for him.
“In addition, you grew up within the palace, so on this expedition to Ü-Tsang, We hope that you will truly grow and mature, develop a true understanding of the Great Tang’s situation, and live up to the Li blood that flows through your veins.”
“Yes, your son understands,” Li Taiyi said with a bow.
“This battle against Ü-Tsang is not at all simple. If you require anything, you may tell your Imperial Father. So long as it is possible, We will permit it,” the Tang Emperor said.
“Imperial Father, on this expedition to Ü-Tsang, your son hopes to do all in his meager power to bear some of Imperial Father’s worries, some of the Great Tang’s worries. Thus, your son hopes that Imperial Father will permit your son to establish a force of personal soldiers. Your son wishes to lead a real army, in emulation of Emperor Taizong, rendering achievements on the border and achieving fame on the battlefield!” Li Taiyi solemnly said.
This was Li Taiyi’s true goal in this audience.
Whether he was campaigning on the battlefield or changing the world, he needed his own faction. Li Taiyi had realized this upon his reincarnation.
In this world, a single person could not stand alone. He needed far more strength than he alone could provide.
“Haha, good! We permit it!”
The Tang Emperor was gratified by Li Taiyi’s words.
“Imperial Father, thank you!”
Li Taiyi was delighted.
Li Taiyi bowed to the Tang Emperor one last time before withdrawing.
As he went back, Li Taiyi looked up at the overcast sky and mentally remarked, I have to find some useful people as soon as I can!
Thinking was very different from doing. Establishing a usable faction that was truly his own would be a long and difficult journey.
……
Back in Jade Dragon Palace, Li Taiyi immediately requested a list of all the Marshals of the Imperial Army, after which he sat down behind his desk and began to read through it.
The Imperial Army had one hundred thousand soldiers, and each one had been carefully selected for their ability. Yet Li Taiyi had asked for only a list of Marshals. It was obvious that he was looking for one particular person.
The Marshals of the Imperial Army had been in the palace for longer than the ordinary soldiers, and they better understood the strength of the various divisions of the Imperial Army.
Thus, using this person to select his personal soldiers would save a lot of time. After all, he had less time than he had expected to prepare.
As Li Taiyi was examining the list, there was a light knocking, and then Gao Lishi’s voice came from outside.
“Your Highness, Wang Haibin is here.”
“Mm, bring him in,” Li Taiyi said, putting down the list.
With a clatter of armor, a muscular figure strode heavily inside.
Wang Haibin bowed and said, “Wang Haibin, Commandant of the Right Reserve of the Imperial Army, pays his respects toward His Highness.”
“Rise,” Li Taiyi said as he carefully examined this man.
This man was none other than the Marshal Wang he had seen sitting on the wall with a belly full of aspirations while Li Taiyi was making his way to Taiji Palace.
Although he had only been casually listening, when he needed to select his personal soldiers and came to understand this man, he came upon an unexpected surprise.
Wang Haibin was not only a powerful and talented soldier, he was also a capable commander who could train soldiers.
That force of disciplined Imperial Army soldiers was but a small display of his impressive talent.
This man was undoubtedly a talent he desired.
“Does Your Highness need something from me?” Wang Haibin respectfully said.
“I can give you a chance to fight the enemy on the battlefield. Are you willing to follow me?”
Li Taiyi got straight to the point.
Wang Haibin instantly raised his head to look at Li Taiyi in shock.
“I will soon set off to Longxi on imperial decree to fend off the enemy. I see that you have the makings of a general, so I ask you: are you willing to be the commander of my personal soldiers and join me in battle against Ü-Tsang?” Li Taiyi unhurriedly said.
Wang Haibin suddenly realized what was going on.
He was a minor officer in the Imperial Army, and he would often vent his feelings from the walls, feeling that he was a hero with nowhere to apply his talents.
But he had never imagined that the Third Prince would summon him to go campaigning with him!
His dream had come so quickly that he was caught off guard.
Wang Haibin got down on one knee and said in excitement, “This general is willing!”
“Mm!”
Li Taiyi nodded, a smile on his lips.
He could tell that this man was sincere, and he was excited not because of Li Taiyi, but because he could finally serve his country.
“Starting from today, you will follow my orders. In addition, I currently lack soldiers, so Imperial Father has given me the authority to select my own soldiers. As a commander of the Imperial Army, you should be familiar with the strengths of the various divisions.
“My first mission for you is to select talented individuals from the Imperial Army to form my personal army.”
“This general will go!” Wang Haibin said without hesitation.
Fighting on the battlefield and defeating the foe required a well-tempered army.
If the Third Prince had not brought this matter up, he would have mentioned it himself.
Wang Haibin quickly left with his orders.
……
Time flew by, and the day of Li Taiyi’s departure approached.
At the western gate of the Imperial City, a force of three thousand soldiers, each one powerful and disciplined, stood. They were so synchronized that they seemed to breathe as a single unit, and their aura threatened to engulf the world.
This was the reinforcement army gathered from around the capital that would be sent to reinforce Longxi.
Second Prince Li Chengyi had apparently been displeased to hear that their father had permitted Li Taiyi to recruit his personal army, so he had been hindering recruitment efforts.
But Li Taiyi did not care. His ideals focused on quality over quantity.
The muscular figure of Wang Haibin soon galloped over.
“Your Highness, the army is finished assembling. In addition, I have selected ten squads of ten people each from the Imperial Army, one hundred men in all, to serve as Your Highness’s personal army. They completed their initial training over the last few days.”
Wang Haibin dismounted and bowed before Li Taiyi.