Tang Dynasty: A Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls for Li Er at the Start

Chapter 383 My mighty Tang army will conquer the world; do my soldiers dare to fight for me?

"This is impossible! This is absolutely impossible!"

A shrill scream suddenly erupted outside the examination hall. Fang Xingzhou, his eyes bloodshot and his hair disheveled, charged toward the high wall where the list of successful candidates in the imperial examinations was posted, as if he had gone mad.

He waved his hands as if he wanted to tear the list to shreds, while constantly roaring.

"It must be cheating! They must be cheating! I must appeal to His Majesty that the magistrate of Gaoyang County, as the deputy chief examiner of the imperial examination, condoned his students' cheating. Such injustice is intolerable to Heaven!"

The imperial guards who were watching the list were prepared. When they saw him charging towards them, they immediately took two steps forward and pinned him down on their left and right.

Fang Xingzhou was pinned to the ground, but he was still unwilling to give up. He struggled to raise his head and shouted in a hoarse voice.

"Let me go! Wen He cheated! His disciple passed the exam entirely because he pulled strings! This imperial examination is unfair! It's so unfair!"

His screams were sharp and piercing, instantly drawing everyone's attention.

The scholars who had been surrounding the list of successful candidates retreated, making way for a clearing, and their gazes toward Wen He held a more complex expression.

There were doubts, speculations, and even schadenfreude from those watching the spectacle.

After all, Wen He was the deputy chief examiner of the imperial examination. The fact that his three disciples all passed the examinations at the same time, and even won the top spot in the Mingjing (Classics) and top three in the Mingsuan (Calculation) examinations, was such a coincidence that it was hard not to think.

Just then, a series of orderly footsteps sounded.

Ma Zhou, dressed in a blue official robe, led a group of Ministry of Rites officials, also dressed in blue-green round-necked robes, out of the examination hall, clearly having heard the commotion outside.

Ma Zhou frowned, his gaze sweeping over Fang Xingzhou, who was pinned to the ground. His face instantly darkened, and he shouted sternly.

"You audacious madman! How dare you make such a ruckus outside the Imperial Examination Hall and even slander the deputy chief examiner and the fairness of the imperial examination! Do you know your crime?!"

When Fang Xingzhou saw Ma Zhou come out, he seemed to grasp at a straw and struggled to get up, but the imperial guards held him down even tighter. His face was contorted with rage as he stared intently at Wen He and roared at Ma Zhou.

"Your Excellency! You must do justice for your students! The Magistrate of Gaoyang County is the deputy chief examiner, yet three of his students have all passed with flying colors. There must be something fishy going on! He must have abused his power to alter the exam papers so that his students could pass! If such cheating is not severely punished, who will trust the imperial examinations of our Great Tang Dynasty in the future!"

The surrounding chatter immediately grew louder. Several officials standing on the periphery of the crowd also stopped and began to talk in hushed tones.

"I didn't expect that all three of Wen He's students would pass the test, and all of them would be among the top students. This is indeed a bit strange."

An official in a purple robe stroked his beard, his tone tinged with suspicion.

Another official standing nearby curled his lip and said dismissively.

"What's so strange about that? He's the Crown Prince's nominal teacher, and His Majesty favors him. If he really wanted to pull strings for his disciple, it wouldn't be impossible. Besides, he usually teaches the Crown Prince miscellaneous subjects like mathematics and craftsmanship. Now his disciple has topped the list in the classics examination. Who would believe there's no foul play involved?"

"yes,"

Another official from a noble family chimed in, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

"If we can really find out that he committed fraud, it will be a huge case, enough to make him unable to recover completely. He brought down the Cui family of Qinghe before, and our aristocratic youths have long been dissatisfied with him. If we can get rid of him through this matter, it will be a way to remove a hidden danger for the aristocratic clans."

The group exchanged glances, each seeing calculation in the other's eyes.

"Do you all intend to use this matter to repeat the mistakes of the Cui family of Qinghe?"

Just then, a clear young voice suddenly came from behind them.

The group turned around abruptly and saw a young man in his early twenties, dressed in a light green round-necked robe, standing not far away. He had a handsome face, sharp eyes, and was looking at them with a half-smile.

The young man stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over the group, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable authority.

"Moreover, this young man from Gaoyang County has been staying in his residence outside the city almost since the start of the imperial examinations. He hasn't even been to Chang'an much, let alone seen the examination papers. This spring, all the examination papers had their names covered up and were copied by special people before being sent to the examiners. His Majesty personally reviewed the papers for the Mingjing examination and personally selected the top scorer. Did you all think that His Majesty was unfair and that the imperial examination system of our Great Tang Dynasty could be cheated on at will?"

Upon hearing this, the faces of the aristocratic officials turned deathly pale. They never expected that their private discussion would be overheard, let alone that this young man would dare to so directly expose their thoughts and even bring up the Emperor.

"How...how could this be!"

An official quickly chuckled twice and waved his hand, saying...

"We were just talking nonsense. We were just watching the commotion outside and made a few casual remarks. Don't take it seriously!"

Another official quickly echoed this sentiment.

"Yes, yes, we were just confused for a moment and said a few words offhand. We had no intention of questioning His Majesty or the fairness of the imperial examination. Please don't misunderstand, and don't spread these words around, lest it cause unnecessary trouble."

Although they did not know the young man's identity, if what they had just said got out and the Emperor found out, they would be reprimanded even if they were not dismissed from their posts, and it would be even more difficult for them to be promoted in the future.

The young man looked at their flustered appearance, a faint smile appearing on his lips, but he didn't ask any more questions. He simply turned and walked towards the entrance of the examination hall.

Meanwhile, Ma Zhou was already burning with rage.

He looked at Fang Xingzhou, who was still struggling on the ground, and said sternly, "Do you know how strict the imperial examination system is? The papers are copied anonymously and reviewed by His Majesty himself. How can you say that you can cheat? Since the beginning of the imperial examination, Wen County Boy has never set foot in the Ministry of Rites or the Examination Hall. How could you cheat? What is your name?"

“Learning, students are like boats on a journey.”

Fang Xingzhou, pinned to the ground by the Imperial Guards, trembled, his fingertips digging into the ground, all traces of the arrogance he displayed outside the examination hall.

Upon hearing this, Ma Zhou shifted his gaze from Fang Xingzhou, looked up at the list of candidates for the Mingjing examination posted on the wall, and slowly traced the densely packed names with his finger, finally stopping at the twenty-second position.

This ranking isn't outstanding; it barely meets the admission cutoff, just three places short of failing. However, it's still a solid achievement, and if he can behave himself, he can eventually secure a minor official position.

"I ranked twenty-second in the Mingjing examination. Although it was the lowest rank, it was still a result of my wishes."

Ma Zhou's voice turned cold, and his eyes were filled with disappointment.

"But you disregard the legitimate path to officialdom and insist on slandering the court's nobles and questioning the fairness of the imperial examinations in public. As the Assistant Minister of Personnel Evaluation, responsible for the evaluation and appointment of officials, I will certainly report this matter to His Majesty and impeach you!"

Upon hearing this, Fang Xingzhou's face instantly drained of color. He certainly knew Ma Zhou's identity.

Although the position of Assistant Minister of Personnel Examination was only of the sixth rank, it was in charge of evaluating officials and making recommendations for their transfer. Ma Zhou's opinion would be of great importance in the future allocation of official positions to newly appointed scholars.

If Ma Zhou holds a grudge, forget about getting a good job; even getting hired smoothly will be a problem.

The examiners standing behind Ma Zhou looked at Fang Xingzhou with even more hostility.

They were all examiners for this year's imperial examination. From anonymous copying to ranking, every step was carried out with utmost care. Fang Xingzhou's accusation of cheating was not only a slander against Wen He, but also an implication that they had neglected their duties, a slap in the face to all of them.

"Sir! I was wrong! I was confused for a moment and spoke recklessly! Please forgive me this time!"

Fang Xingzhou panicked completely. He struggled to get up and beg for mercy, but the Imperial Guards held him down so he could only lie on the ground crying and screaming.

"I beg the magistrate of Gaoyang County to show mercy! I dare not do it again!"

"Do you know you're wrong now?"

A cold voice came from behind. Wen He walked slowly to Fang Xingzhou, looked down at him, and her eyes were full of contempt.

"Fang Xingzhou, have you forgotten that we made a bet outside the examination hall?"

He gave a wink to the Imperial Guard beside him, who understood and slowly released his grip on Fang Xingzhou.

Fang Xingzhou staggered to his feet, looked up at Wen He, and trembled uncontrollably.

How could he have forgotten that bet?
On that day, he was certain that Wen He's disciples would not amount to anything, so he declared, "If Meng Zhou and Zhao Lei are among the top three in the Ming Suan Ke (a type of mathematics exam), and Wu Sheng is able to pass the Ming Jing Ke (another type of classics exam), then I will call Wu Sheng 'Father'."

But now, Wen He's three disciples not only passed all the exams, but also won first place in the Mingjing exam and second and third place in the Mingsuan exam. He simply couldn't renege on the bet. Ma Zhou suddenly frowned, pondered for a moment, and then suddenly remembered something, his tone becoming even more stern.

"So you're the one who was so disrespectful to the magistrate of Gaoyang County that day outside the examination hall, and even dared to make that absurd bet!"

He looked Fang Xingzhou up and down, his disdain growing even stronger.

"Judging from your character, you can't stand losing, so you resort to tantrums and slander. Even if you enter officialdom in the future, you will surely be a narrow-minded official who harms the people and makes mistakes! I will put this on record in the Performance Evaluation Department, and the Ministry of Personnel will definitely take today's incident into consideration when selecting officials in the future!"

The surrounding examiners echoed their agreement, their voices full of approval.

“Master Ma is absolutely right! This man is of low character and is definitely not a good official!”

"The imperial examination was supposed to select officials fairly. He himself is lacking in talent and learning, yet he blames others for cheating. It's truly laughable!"

"If we do not punish them severely today, I fear that more people will follow suit in the future, thus ruining the rules of the imperial examination system of our Great Tang Dynasty!"

Fang Xingzhou felt a chill run down his spine. He knew that if he didn't honor the bet, he would not only lose face today, but also completely ruin his future in the officialdom.

He crawled on his knees, trying to get closer to Wen He, and reached out to grab the hem of her clothes, but Wen He gently kicked him away.

"Even if your father is an official in the Ministry of Rites, he can't save you."

Wen He's voice remained completely calm.

"You made the bet yourself that day, and now that you've lost, you're trying to renege?"

The term "Aye" was an honorific title for father in the Tang Dynasty. Fang Xingzhou made this bet to humiliate Wen He's disciple, but it has now become a sharp blade aimed at him.

He looked at Wu Sheng standing behind Wen He. Although Wu Sheng looked uneasy, he straightened his back and was no longer the timid and submissive poor scholar he had been before.

Fang Xingzhou gritted his teeth, tears of resentment streaming down his face. In the end, he still gritted his teeth, knelt up, and kowtowed three times in the direction of Wu Sheng. With each kowtow, he choked out a cry.

“Father…”

After shouting three times, Fang Xingzhou had already kowtowed and a red mark appeared on his forehead.

He couldn't bear to stay any longer. He got up and staggered out of the crowd, not daring to look back. He quickly disappeared at the end of the street, leaving behind only a disheveled mess.

Wu Sheng, Meng Zhou, and Zhao Lei stood there, unable to come to their senses for a long time.

They watched Fang Xingzhou walk away, then turned to look at Wen He's retreating figure, their eyes instantly reddening.

The gentleman not only cleared their names of the slander but also helped them regain their dignity, proving to everyone in the most direct way that their achievements were by no means a fluke.

"Sir, wouldn't you say this is considered bullying?"

Li Tai suddenly moved closer to Wenrou, raised an eyebrow, and teased her with a smile.

"No! Of course not!"

Wenrou immediately glared at Li Tai, her little face full of displeasure.

“Brother is not that kind of person! It must be that Fang Xingzhou bullied you before, and that’s why you taught him a lesson!”

"Snapped!"

A crisp sound suddenly rang out, and Li Ke raised his hand and smacked Li Tai on the back of the head.

Li Tai winced in pain, clutching his head and glaring back at Li Ke.

"Sanlang! Why did you hit me again!"

Li Ke ignored his complaints and instead patiently explained to Wenrou.

“Just now, Master Ma said that this person had been disrespectful to you before and made an absurd bet. Now that he has lost, he wants to accuse you of cheating. His character is not good to begin with. You just asked him to fulfill the bet. It is not an abuse of power. On the contrary, it helped clear the names of the three junior brothers.”

"I knew my brother wasn't a bad person!"

Wenrou immediately smiled, turned to look at Li Tai, and threatened him with her hands on her hips.

"Qingque, if you keep talking nonsense, I'll go tell my brother and tell him you said he was abusing his power!"

Li Tai quickly waved his hands and begged for mercy.

"No, Xiaorou! I was just joking! Besides, Sanlang hit me too. If you don't tell on me, I won't tell the teacher about you secretly going to the East Market with Sanlang."

"Snapped!"

Li Ke didn't hold back and gave Li Tai another slap, his eyes full of warning.

"If you dare to talk nonsense, I will tell the master that you secretly sent snacks to Xiaomei."

"I didn't! Don't frame me!"

Li Tai's face instantly turned red, and he jumped up and down to retort, just like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.

"If not, then I won't help you give the snacks to Xiaomei anymore."

Wenrou chimed in, standing on the same side as Li Ke. Li Tai's face turned even redder, and he stammered, unable to speak, only able to lower his head and feign pitifulness.

When Wen He walked over, she saw this scene and couldn't help but ask curiously.

"What are you all doing? Why is Qingque blushing?"

"No, it's nothing!"

Li Tai quickly looked up and chuckled as he changed the subject.

"Xiaorou said she's hungry, sir. We've all finished looking at the results, why don't we head back soon?"

His attempt to cover up his true intentions was so obvious that even a fool could tell something was wrong.

Wen He raised an eyebrow but didn't expose her, simply shaking her head with a smile.

"Sir, how about we celebrate at noon?"

Li You leaned forward and suggested, tilting his little face up.

"Let's eat beef... oh no, let's eat lamb!"

Upon hearing this, Wen He also felt a craving.

I've been busy building hot air balloons lately, and I've been eating the same big pot of food cooked by the craftsmen every day. I've been craving something better to eat for a while now.

He nodded: "Okay, let's go back and have beef hot pot. Tell the kitchen to prepare more ingredients."

As he spoke, he stretched and began to ponder.

Today is a rare day of leisure, so I'll take a rest. Tomorrow I'll go to the house outside the city to oversee the progress of the hot air balloon project.

"gentlemen!"

Just as everyone was about to turn and leave, Meng Zhou, Zhao Lei, and Wu Sheng suddenly caught up quickly, stopped in front of Wen He, and bowed deeply in unison, their voices full of gratitude.

"Master, I owe my success today entirely to your guidance!"

Meng Zhou raised his head, his eyes red-rimmed, his voice choked with sobs.

"If it weren't for you, I wouldn't even dare to participate in the imperial examinations, let alone pass them!"

Zhao Lei chimed in, "Yes, sir! You only taught us for a month, but that month of intensive practice was more effective than three years of hard study on my own! You broke down the types of questions in the Ming Suan subject so clearly and even summarized the answering techniques for us, which is why I was able to rank third!"

Wu Sheng was so excited that he couldn't speak. He clenched his fists tightly, and tears welled up in his eyes.

“Master, I am so fortunate to have topped the list of scholars in the imperial examinations, all thanks to you! I will never forget your kindness in this lifetime!”

Seeing the three of them so excited, Wen He felt a warmth in his heart. He reached out to help them up and said with a smile.

"Your success in the imperial examination is mainly due to your own efforts. I have only pointed out the right path for you. The real work is done by yourselves. In this past month, you have only slept for two hours a day, doing practice questions during the day and memorizing at night. You have never slacked off. This perseverance is the key to your success."

He paused, then spoke earnestly.

"When you enter officialdom in the future, you must remember this perseverance and original aspiration."

"Your disciple will remember your teachings!"

The three responded in unison, their eyes filled with determination.

Looking at Wen He, Meng Zhou, and the other two, the people around them were filled with envy.

An older scholar sighed softly.

"Just who is this scion of Gaoyang County? He actually managed to turn an unknown scholar from a poor family into the top scholar in the classics examination and one of the top three in the mathematics examination. He's practically a Midas touch!"

"No wonder His Majesty was willing to let him be the Crown Prince's teacher at such a young age. His teaching skills are unparalleled in the entire city of Chang'an!"

Another person echoed, their eyes following Wen He's figure closely, filled with admiration.

Just then, a commotion suddenly broke out in the crowd.

A scholar dressed in a coarse cloth robe suddenly pushed aside the people around him, rushed to Wen He, knelt down with a thud, and respectfully bowed to Wen He.

"This humble disciple, Zhang Yan, wishes to become a student of the esteemed Master of Gaoyang County. I humbly request that you accept me as your disciple! Although I failed the imperial examination, I am willing to devote myself to learning and only ask for your guidance!"

This declaration of apprenticeship was like lighting a fuse. The scholars who had been hesitant before, seeing someone take the lead, also mustered their courage and stepped forward one after another from the crowd, either bowing or kneeling down.

"I, Li Mo, a student from Gaoyang County, am willing to follow my master, even if it means being just a humble servant!"

"I, Wang Yan, am not very talented, but I am willing to work hard. I beg you, Master, to give me a chance!"

"If my master is willing to accept me as a disciple, I am willing to rise before dawn and sleep until midnight every day, and I will certainly not let my master down!"

In just a short while, more than a dozen people were kneeling in front of Wen He, and people continued to surge in, surrounding Wen He, his three disciples, and his four children completely.

Ma Zhou and the examiners stood aside, somewhat amused and exasperated.

They had only ever seen students chasing after old Confucian scholars to become their disciples, but they had never seen so many scholars surrounding a young official, begging to become his disciples.

Wen He looked at these people who were several years or even more than ten years older than her, bowing and kneeling, and felt quite helpless.

He knew that most of these scholars were unwilling to accept defeat after failing the exams, and seeing the changes in Meng Zhou and the others, they wanted to become his students. If he didn't handle things properly today, they might never be able to leave the capital.

His eyes darted around, and he deliberately put on a stern face, adopting a "villainous" demeanor, and angrily addressed the kneeling scholars.

"Do you know my rules for accepting apprentices? Meng Zhou and Zhao Lei are two good-for-nothings who only ranked second and third in the Ming Suan subject, which is already embarrassing enough for me! If I were to accept you, who didn't even make the list, wouldn't you completely disgrace the reputation of my esteemed Gaoyang County?"

Upon hearing this, Meng Zhou and Zhao Lei, who had just been proud of becoming Wen He's disciples, instantly lost their smiles, looking like two deflated balloons.

Meng Zhou quietly tugged at Zhao Lei's sleeve and muttered something under his breath.

"Sir, those words are too hurtful. The second and third scores were already very good..."

Zhao Lei nodded in agreement, but subconsciously glanced at Wu Sheng standing next to Wen He.

Wu Sheng, dressed in a blue robe, stood tall and proud, still basking in the glory of being the top scholar in the imperial examinations. In comparison, their "second" and "third" rankings seemed rather insignificant.

The two looked at each other, both seeing the hurt in each other's eyes, yet neither daring to refute the other.

The scholars kneeling on the ground blushed deeply and lowered their heads in shame.

Even the top three students in the Ming Dynasty's mathematics exam in Gaoyang County were looked down upon, so naturally, they were even less worthy of consideration for those who failed the exam.

In an instant, the originally lively scene of the apprenticeship ceremony became completely silent, with only the heavy breathing of the scholars remaining.

Seeing that she had achieved her goal, Wen He suppressed a smile and winked at the person behind her.

"What are you all standing there for? Can't you see there are too many people around? Hurry up and get in the carriage, let's go back to the manor!"

Meng Zhou, Zhao Lei, and Wu Sheng reacted the fastest, quickly protecting Wenrou and Li Tai, Li Ke, and Li You as they squeezed towards the carriage.

Wen He followed behind, cupped her hands in farewell to Ma Zhou, and then quickly climbed into the carriage.

By the time the scholars realized what was happening, Wen He's carriage had already driven away from Gongyuan Street, leaving only a trail of dust.

……

Inside the Liangyi Hall, the air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood, but the atmosphere of the emperor and his ministers discussing matters was eased by a slightly helpless remark from Li Shimin.

"That brat." Li Shimin tapped his fingertips lightly on the imperial desk, a hint of a smile playing on his lips as he snorted.

"On what should have been a day for announcing the results, he turned it into a lively discussion about apprenticeship throughout Chang'an, making us, the nobles, laugh at him."

He sighed again as soon as he finished speaking, but the relief in his voice was undeniable.

"When I first appointed him as the Crown Prince's tutor, I thought that he was young and could keep the Crown Prince lively and not be too bound by the rules of those old Confucian scholars. It was half-jokingly finding the Crown Prince a 'playmate'. But who would have thought that this young man would actually have some teaching skills? His three disciples only studied with him for a mere month, and they all passed the imperial examination, with one even topping the list of Mingjing!"

The ministers present could easily discern His Majesty's thoughts.

This isn't a blame; it's clearly using "complaint" to show off one's eye for talent.

The pride in his tone, as if saying, "Look at the teacher I chose for the Crown Prince, he's so good at teaching his disciples," was almost overflowing.

Du Ruhui was the first to react, stepping forward and bowing, saying, "Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations, Your Majesty! Not only is the Prince of Wen himself exceptionally talented, but he also knows how to teach according to aptitude. In just one month, he was able to produce the top scorer in the Mingjing exam and the top three in the Mingsuan exam. This shows that Your Majesty is good at recognizing and employing talent, finding a good teacher for the Crown Prince and a pillar of our Great Tang!"

Before he finished speaking, Fang Xuanling, Xiao Yu, Yuwen Shiji and others stepped forward to echo his sentiments.

"What Attendant Du said is absolutely right! The young man from Wen County is promising and has skillful teaching methods. This is a blessing for the Crown Prince and also a blessing for the Tang Dynasty!"

"Although the Mingjing examination is not as prestigious as the Jinshi examination, it still requires a thorough understanding of the classics. Wu Sheng's ability to top the list is a testament to the depth of Wen County's teachings. Your Majesty has a discerning eye!"

Li Jing also said with a smile.

"The Wenxian Zijiao has achieved such success in teaching his disciples; he is a true all-rounder. Your Majesty has not misjudged him."

Li Shimin waved his hand, deliberately feigning indifference, and laughed.

"Gentlemen, there's no need to praise him. He's just produced a top scholar in the Mingjing examination, not the top scholar in the Jinshi examination or the top scholar in the Xiucai examination. It's nothing special."

He then changed the subject, his tone becoming more somber, and his gaze swept over the assembled officials.

"However, to be honest, none of this year's Jinshi candidates are worthy of my attention. The scholars of the Hongwen Hall and the doctors of the Imperial Academy have taught for so many years, yet the students they have cultivated are not as insightful as Wen He's disciple who was taught by a child for a month. Their essays are full of clichés about 'the exclusive veneration of Confucianism' and 'the interaction between Heaven and Man,' without a single insight that is relevant to people's livelihood or practical matters. What use are such Jinshi candidates?"

The hall fell silent instantly upon hearing this. The assembled officials all understood that His Majesty was using Wen He's disciple's excellence as a warning to the Hongwen Academy and the Imperial Academy, and also expressed his dissatisfaction with the current trend in the imperial examinations that emphasized classical texts over practical skills.

Previously, during the morning court session, Li Shimin had become angry because the answers to the imperial examination papers were too vague, and even mentioned "abolishing the imperial examination." He was later persuaded by Wei Zheng and others to give up. Now it seems that His Majesty's anger has not subsided.

Seeing that everyone was silent, Li Shimin stopped beating around the bush and spoke directly.

"Enough, enough. I know that it is not easy to find pillars of the country like you gentlemen. But the imperial examination is about 'getting the right people.' If we only select scholars who can talk about the classics, it is better to have none than to select the wrong ones. Let all the candidates for the Jinshi examination this year be dismissed. Let them go back and study properly what it means to 'apply what you have learned.'"

"The minister obeys the order."

Minister of Personnel Gao Shilian stepped forward, bowed, and accepted the imperial decree. He sighed silently to himself.

His Majesty ultimately made this decision.

In fact, His Majesty was not being willful. This year's imperial examination questions focused on practical matters, requiring students to discuss their insights in the context of drought relief in Guanzhong and military affairs on the border.

Most of the students who could participate in the imperial examination were from aristocratic families such as the Five Families and Seven Noble Clans, or the sons of powerful clans in the Guanzhong Plain.

These people have grown up in luxury and have never experienced true poverty.

I have no idea what kind of lives those ordinary people are living these days.

They can talk a lot and make it sound very eloquent.

But if you really ask these people to talk about solving people's livelihood issues, they probably wouldn't be able to write a single word.

Fortunately, His Majesty only dismissed this year's candidates and did not actually abolish the imperial examination, which can be considered as leaving room for maneuver.

"Yes, thank you for your trouble, Minister Gao."

Li Shimin nodded, temporarily putting aside Wen He's trivial matters, and turned his gaze to Li Jing, his tone becoming more serious.

"Has the vanguard army set off yet, Lord Mao?"

Li Jing stepped forward, bowed, and replied in a clear and forceful voice.

"Your Majesty, the vanguard set off yesterday evening, heading straight for Shuofang. Tomorrow morning, the main forces of the Left Garrison and Left Martial Garrison will be able to assemble and set off. The provisions and weapons have also been transported to the border granaries in advance, ensuring that the army's supplies are not a problem."

"it is good."

Li Shimin nodded, rose and walked toward the huge map hanging on the side of the hall. The officials in the hall also rose and surrounded him as he came to the map.

Under the dim light of the palace lanterns, a place name circled in vermilion on the map stood out prominently.

Liang Shidu.

These two characters, like a thorn, have been embedded in the northern border of the Tang Dynasty for several years. Liang Shidu, entrenched in Shuofang and allied with the Turks, has repeatedly harassed the borders of the Tang Dynasty. Now that the Tang Dynasty's national strength is growing, it is finally time to remove this thorn.

Li Shimin's fingertip landed on the two characters "Shuofang," his tone firm.

"This battle is crucial to the stability of the northern frontier, so I have entrusted it entirely to Mao Gong. I have told him that he need not be bound by the old laws. If the Turks dare to interfere, he can act according to the circumstances. I grant him the authority to act expediently."

"Your subject obeys the decree and will certainly convey Your Majesty's message to Mao Gong's army."

Li Jing bowed to receive the imperial decree, his eyes filled with solemnity.

……

Outside the Wen residence, Wen He, along with his disciples and the three little ones, had just returned to the residence when, before the carriage had even come to a complete stop, he heard a familiar voice calling his name.

"Little one, I've finally waited for you!" Lifting the carriage curtain, one could see Li Daozong dressed in light armor, standing at the gate of the mansion, toying with a curved sword in his hand.

In all of Chang'an, no one other than the Prince of Rencheng dared to call him "little kid" so directly.

"Is Prince Rencheng just back from the palace? Instead of packing his things, he's loitering around here. Is he trying to freeload another meal?"

Wen He jumped out of the car and joked with a smile.

He had a vague suspicion that Li Daozong's attire meant something was wrong.

Li Daozong, however, abandoned his usual playful demeanor and sighed.

"I can't take advantage of this opportunity. His Majesty has decreed that I return to Zuotunwei to report for duty, and I will be joining the army on the expedition tomorrow."

Wen He's guess was confirmed, and the smile on her face faded a bit. She pulled Li Daozong aside and asked in a low voice.

"Are we going to fight Liang Shidu?"

"Oh, you little rascal, you're quite clever."

Li Daozong raised an eyebrow, patted Wen He on the shoulder, and spoke with a hint of seriousness in his voice.

“That’s right. This time, Li Shiji will be the commander-in-chief, and Xue Wanche and I will be the deputy commanders-in-chief. Our target is Shuofang, to remove Liang Shidu, this thorn in our side.”

He paused, then smiled.

"This trip will take at least several months, and at most half a year. I'm afraid I won't be able to return to Chang'an to see you until next year. While I'm away, you little brat, don't cause any trouble, or no one will be there to help you fend off those old fogies' impeachments."

"It's not like you've shielded me from so many troubles."

Wen He rolled her eyes, but felt a warmth in her heart.

"But don't forget, you still owe me the land deed. When you come back, you must pay it back to me. Don't even think about going back on your word."

"I know, I know. How could I possibly owe you something like this?"

Li Daozong waved his hand impatiently, gave a few more instructions, and then turned and strode away.

He still needed to go back to his residence to pack his belongings, as he was to assemble early the next morning.

As Wen He watched Li Daozong's departing figure, a ripple of emotion stirred within her.

Historically, the Tang Dynasty's campaign to quell Liang Shidu was quite successful, but now the timeline has been altered by his arrival, and no one can guarantee that there won't be any unexpected events.

However, upon further reflection, Li Shiji's military talent far surpassed that of Chai Shao, and with the added advantage of gunpowder and the Divine Arm Crossbow, there shouldn't be much of a problem, so he suppressed his worries.

"Brother, what are you thinking about?"

A gentle little hand lightly grasped Wen He's palm, her face full of worry.

Wen He came to her senses, looked at Li Tai, Li Ke, Li You, and Meng Zhou who had surrounded her, and shook her head with a smile.

"Nothing much, just thinking about what to add to the hot pot tonight. Don't just stand there, hurry up and go inside, tell the kitchen to get things ready, we're going to eat our fill tonight!"

"Great!"

The children cheered instantly and crowded around Wen He as they entered the mansion.

I've had hot pot.

Wen He had just returned to the study when the butler, Zhou Fulai, reported.

"Young master, several officials from the Ministry of War have arrived and are waiting for you in the side hall of the back garden."

Wen He wasn't surprised and nodded, "I understand, I'll be right there."

Upon entering the side hall, one sees three officials dressed in the uniforms of the Ministry of War sitting at a table with untouched tea in front of them.

Upon seeing Wen He enter, the three of them quickly stood up and bowed respectfully.

"I have met the magistrate of Gaoyang County."

These three were all senior officials in the Ministry of War, and their official ranks were higher than Wen He's, yet they dared not put on airs of superiors.

"Please, everyone, there's no need for such formalities. Please have a seat."

Wen He gestured for the three of them to sit down and asked directly.

"Are you here to pick up some alcohol?"

"Exactly."

One of the doctors nodded quickly.

"Although there is still alcohol in the treasury, the Duke of Dai is worried that the supply will be insufficient after the army goes on its expedition. He specifically asked us to get some from the county of Gaoyang to transport to the military medical camp on the border for future use."

Alcohol has now become an important disinfection resource in the military, especially on the battlefield, where it can greatly reduce the infection rate of soldiers. Li Jing attached great importance to this.

Wen He nodded with a smile.

"It has already been prepared for you all. It is in the storeroom in the back garden. There are a total of five hundred jars, enough for the medical battalion to use for a while. Zhou Fu, take a few officers to count and move them."

"Yes, young master."

Zhou Fu bowed in agreement. The three Ministry of War officials quickly rose to express their gratitude.

"Thank you for your trouble, Magistrate of Gaoyang County. On behalf of the soldiers at the front, we express our gratitude to you!"

"You're too kind, everyone. This is all for the soldiers of the Tang Dynasty. I was just doing my duty."

Wen He returned the greeting.

Early the next morning.

Wen He, unusually, got up early without waiting for A Dong to call him, changed into his armor, and went out to Mingde Gate with several Xuanjia guards.

On Zhuque Avenue, the Imperial Guards had already cleared the street, and soldiers holding long spears stood on both sides of the street, strictly prohibiting anyone from approaching.

Wen He was only able to pass through the cordon after showing his token as a member of the Hundred Riders.

Gao Yue saw Wen He's figure in the distance and quickly walked to Li Shimin's side, whispering her report.

"Your Majesty, the magistrate of Gaoyang County has arrived."

Li Shimin looked up and saw Wen He, dressed in black armor, walking briskly towards him, and couldn't help but chuckle.

"This brat got up early today and even put on his armor. Does he want to join the expedition?"

He waved his hand: "Let him come over."

Wen He stepped forward and bowed to Li Shimin, saying, "Your humble servant greets Your Majesty."

When he stood up, he noticed that behind Li Shimin stood officials of the fourth rank or above from the Three Departments and Six Ministries, all of whom were wearing scarlet or purple official robes, while he alone wore black armor, which made him stand out conspicuously.

Looking at his attire, Li Shimin joked, "Are you really going to go on an expedition with my army in all that armor? Too bad, not this time. You'll have to stay in Chang'an."

"Your Majesty is too kind. Your humble servant is merely here to see off the army and to boost the morale of the soldiers."

Wen He smiled. Li Shimin nodded and gestured for the imperial guards beside him to step forward.

"Put him on my horse; I have something to ask him."

"Um, Your Majesty, isn't this inappropriate?"

Wen He was stunned.

Surrounded by high-ranking officials of the imperial court, this was highly irregular. Not only Wen He, but the surrounding officials also showed expressions of surprise.

Changsun Wuji frowned, but did not speak to dissuade him. Although this action was against the rules, it was also reasonable.

"Stop talking nonsense, I have something to ask you."

Li Shimin put on a stern face.

Helpless, Wen He had no choice but to let the imperial guards lift her onto Li Shimin's warhorse and sit in front of him.

Li Shimin then waved his hand, signaling the officials around him to step back, leaving only Changsun Wuji.

After everyone had gone some distance, Li Shimin lowered his voice and asked, "Wen He, tell me honestly, what are the chances of victory in this campaign against Liang Shidu?"

Wen He was stunned for a moment, then understood.

Li Shimin appeared confident, but in reality, he still harbored concerns.

He carefully said, “Your Majesty, Liang Shidu is nothing but a clown who is attached to the Turks. He has less than 20,000 troops under his command. Our Great Tang has dispatched two elite guards, and with General Li Shiji in charge, our chances of victory are already eighty or ninety percent.”

"That's not what I'm worried about, but the Turks."

Li Shimin sighed.

"Although the Tang Dynasty has recovered its strength, it is not yet ready to wage a full-scale war against the Turks. If Khan Jieli sends troops to aid Liang Shidu, the war will likely be prolonged and may even lead to a larger conflict."

"Your Majesty, I think the Turks might not intervene."

Wen He pondered for a moment.

"Jieli suffered a major defeat at Huizhou and lost a lot of troops. Now the Turkic Khaganate is not a monolithic entity. I'm afraid Jieli Khan will not dare to start another war with our Great Tang. Moreover, our army dispatched troops quickly this time, catching Liang Shidu off guard. By the time the Turks react, the war will probably be over."

A smile appeared on Li Shimin's lips.

"You little rascal, you've certainly made some progress. I actually know all this, but I still feel uneasy and want to hear your opinion."

Well, Li Er is using himself as an excuse to ease his conscience.

Wen He was both amused and exasperated.

It's unexpected that even this Heavenly Khan has moments of insecurity.

In his mind, Li Shimin was the kind of person who acted decisively and without hesitation.

This Li Shimin now seems more like a real person.

He deliberately provoked them.

"Your Majesty, we have gunpowder, crossbows, the most elite soldiers of the Tang Dynasty, and a famous general like Li Shiji. If we can't even defeat Liang Shidu, then we can forget about dealing with the Turks in the future."

Li Shimin raised his hand and slapped Wen He on the back of the head.

"It's all because of you, you brat, that I saw that unattainable, lofty future—what world, what Heavenly Khan..."

He sighed as he said this.

"I'm afraid of being disappointed."

"Uh, is this all my fault?" Wen He said speechlessly, then looked up at Li Shimin and smiled.

"Your Majesty, even without me, the Tang Dynasty could still attract all nations to pay tribute. Now that I am here, our mighty Tang army can sweep across the world and let the iron cavalry of the Tang Dynasty reach even more distant places."

So what do you have to worry about?

Li Shimin couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"You little rascal, you sure know how to flatter yourself."

No sooner had he finished speaking than he suddenly reined in his horse and looked at the army formation ahead.

"You're right!"

Li Shimin's voice suddenly rose.

"Do all my generals and soldiers dare to fight for me, pacify Shuofang, and uphold the prestige of my Great Tang Dynasty?"

Wen He then realized that Li Shimin had already brought him to the front of the army's battle formation.

In the hazy sky, everything in front of me was pitch black.

"Fight! Fight! Fight!"

A deafening roar instantly resounded through the sky. In the black military formation, tens of thousands of soldiers drew their curved swords from their waists, the glint of the blades flashing in the morning light, like a silver ocean.

Li Shimin drew his sword, pointed it north, and spoke with a firm and powerful voice.

"Our Great Tang cavalry will trample the world, and all who stand in our way will be crushed to dust!"

"Your Majesty is mighty! The Tang Dynasty is mighty!"

The soldiers shouted in unison.

Looking at this vast group of scholars, Li Shimin wished he could travel with them.

But he knew that the officials in the court would certainly not agree.

He raised his sword high and let out a long howl.

"Let's set off! We'll sweep across the north and return in triumph!"

"May the Great Tang Dynasty be victorious! May His Majesty be victorious!"

The soldiers shouted in unison, their voices so powerful they seemed to shake the ground.

Sitting on horseback, Wen He looked at the magnificent scene before him and felt a surge of emotion.

This is the Tang Dynasty!

(End of this chapter)