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

Chapter 420 Soldiers must learn to drink and curse.
The early summer in Chang'an was already quite hot. In the office of the Minister of War, the window was half open, but it couldn't dispel the oppressive atmosphere of the piles of documents on the desk.

Wen He held a letter sealed with wax in her fingertips, the words "urgent delivery" written on the cover.

He looked up at Wei Cheng, the second squad of 100 cavalrymen, who was standing below the hall, his voice carrying a hint of barely perceptible surprise.

"Did the Cui family agree?"

Wei Cheng bowed his head and spoke, holding the document box in both hands.

"Young Master, the reply from the Cui family of Qinghe arrived at the Hundred Cavalry Camp at the hour of Chou (1-3 AM). Supervisor Huang personally read it and made two copies. The original was presented to His Majesty, and this copy was specially sent to you by my subordinate."

As he spoke, he handed over the box, which contained a briefing on the recent movements of the Cui family by the Second Hundred Cavalry Squad.

Wen He unfolded the letter, which indeed contained all the requirements for relocating the hidden households and paying military aid money.

"This Cui Yuanli is indeed a pragmatic person."

Wen He gazed at his name and sighed softly.

Among the attachments Wei Cheng brought was a briefing from the Second Hundred Cavalry Team.

It contained some information about Cui Yuanli.

At the age of thirty-six, he had never held an official position and spent many years managing the Cui family's land holdings and clandestine affairs in Hebei Province.

In this case of illegally selling rice seeds, it was he who suppressed the backlash from the radical faction within his clan and strongly advocated for a compromise with the imperial court.

"The fact that a family with a thousand-year history has survived to this day is certainly not due to mere reputation."

The briefing stated that among the Cui clan of Qinghe, Cui Yuanli oversaw all clan secrets, personally managing the register of tenant farmers in Hebei and the interactions between the clan members.

This means that this person was specifically in charge of Cui's folk customs.

Wen He confirmed that there is no historical record of this person.

That means this person will not hold an official position in the future.

Such figures, who remain hidden behind the scenes, control core resources, and are completely untouched by the corruption of the court, are a hundred times more dangerous than the scions of aristocratic families who are sent to serve as officials in the provinces.

They do not seek empty fame, but only practical benefits, and every step they take is precisely on the lifeline of their family's survival.

interesting.

Wen He's lips curled up slightly.

However, he soon realized a problem and hurriedly folded the letter and placed it on the table.

Then, looking up at Wei Cheng, she was somewhat taken aback.

"That's not right. I've already stepped down as a centurion. How did this reply end up in my hands? That's not in accordance with the rules."

However, he was so focused on watching just now that putting it away now would only make things worse.

To cover his embarrassment, he even coughed lightly.

Wei Cheng, as if he had been prepared, bowed and answered.

"Supervisor Huang specifically instructed that, as His Majesty personally instructed, although the young master has left the Hundred Cavalry Camp, the Second Hundred Cavalry Team will still be jointly commanded by you and Supervisor Huang, and all confidential reports from the team must be submitted to you for review at the same time."

"His Majesty's instruction?"

Wen He was taken aback at first, then burst out laughing.

He finally understood.

Officially dismissing him from his post was a way to give the Cui family and other prominent families a way out.

He was still secretly put in charge of the second team, which meant he was being taken underground, and incidentally, he was being removed from the identity of the Hundred Riders.

He turned to look at the stack of manuscripts on the left side of the desk, the ink still wet, with the title on the top page standing out.

On the Importance of the Military Intelligence System

This was a suggestion he had just written this morning, which he planned to present to Li Jing this afternoon. He wanted Li Jing to advise Li Shimin to establish an independent intelligence system belonging to the Ministry of War.

Nowadays, the intelligence sources of the Tang Dynasty mostly rely on the Hundred Cavalry.

However, the Second Hundred Cavalry Unit also had the responsibility of supervising all officials, which made it too special.

Moreover, the Hundred Cavalry belonged only to the Emperor, and their intelligence was almost impossible to share with the Ministry of War. Therefore, the Ministry of War needed a professional intelligence system to deal with external enemies, or even future enemies.

Wen He originally planned to start from scratch, but now he thinks it's possible to borrow some people from the second team to help the Ministry of War build up a team.

However, since these people have come to the Ministry of War, it is impossible for them to return to the Hundred Cavalry in the future, so it is impossible for Chen Dahai, the captain of the second team, to be among them.

Therefore, Wen He did not pay attention to the candidate at the moment.

Forget it, let Huang Chun choose the people. After all, he has already left the Hundred Riders.

Thinking of this, Wen He immediately wrote a letter and handed it to Wei Cheng.

"Give this letter to Lao Huang and tell him that he will decide on the selection. I only need about ten people."

Wei Cheng didn't ask any further questions. He took the letter from Wen He with both hands, then bowed and withdrew.

After he left, Wen He immediately stretched out a big yawn and stretched her arms.

He glanced down at his seventh-rank official robe and a faint smile appeared on his lips.

The job of the Minister of War was indeed much easier than that of the Colonel of a Hundred Cavalry.

The best part is that you don't have to attend court. You only need to show your face at the government office each day, and the rest of the time is entirely up to you.

The Ministry of War's general affairs are overseen by the Vice Ministers and other senior officials, so it's not his place to have to worry about such trivial matters.

Wen He yawned deeply and glanced out the window.

The sun had just passed Chen Shi (7-9 AM), and light and shadow cast soft patterns on the blue brick floor through the half-open window. There were still at least two or three hours before lunchtime.

He simply took off his official boots, lay down on the couch, and planned to take a nap.

Not long after I closed my eyes, there was a gentle knock on the wooden door of the government office, followed by a slightly reserved and unfamiliar voice.

"Your humble servant Jiang Li pays his respects to Magistrate Wen."

"Come in."

Wen He sat up abruptly, rubbed her eyes, and watched as the door was pushed open, and a young man in a blue official robe walked in with a bow.

The young man was about twenty years old and rather thin.

The official robes looked somewhat loose on his body, and he walked very lightly with a cautious and respectful demeanor.

"you are?"

Wen He frowned and sized up the other person, finding their face unfamiliar; she probably hadn't seen them before at the Ministry of War.

However, he was always by Li Jing's side during that time.

The officials I met were either physicians or assistant ministers.

At the very least, they would be in charge or something similar.

The person in front of me must have an even lower position in the Ministry of War.

The young man quickly bowed and saluted, his head almost touching his chest.

"I am Jiang Li, the registrar appointed by the Ministry of Personnel to serve you."

"Oh, the registrar."

Wen He suddenly realized that it was a personal secretary who had been sent to her.

The clerk did not have a fixed rank; it was determined by regulations.

Those who become registrars are usually former minor officials.

As for their status, it depends on the people they follow.

For example, if Wen He is currently a seventh-rank official, then his registrar would at least enjoy the treatment of an eighth-rank official.

He nodded in acknowledgment.

"Get up."

"promise."

Jiang Li got up as instructed, his face immediately beaming with a wide smile, his eyes sparkling as he stared at Wen He, his smile almost sickeningly sweet.

Wen He felt inexplicably uncomfortable, and goosebumps rose on her skin.

Previously, in the Hundred Riders, Zhang Wenxiao and his men were respectful, but they also had the straightforwardness of comrades-in-arms. No one was as respectful as Jiang Li, to the point of being almost obsequious.

"Just be more relaxed in the future, you don't need to be so reserved."

Wen He awkwardly looked away and pointed to the chair next to her.

"sit down."

Jiang Li didn't dare to sit down, and remained bowed.

"Thank you for your consideration, Sir. May I ask what instructions you may give me? I am very skilled at copying official documents, filing files, or running errands."

Wen He was startled, and only then did she belatedly realize what had happened.

The duties of the registrar were assigned by the chief officer.

But he just took office today and has nothing to show for it. He doesn't even have a decent official document. Otherwise, he wouldn't be thinking of lying down and sleeping.

He smiled helplessly.

"I'm fine here for now. Just familiarize yourself with the environment and act as usual."

"Yes."

Jiang Li's smile remained unchanged, and he bowed again, but did not actually leave.

He quietly retreated to the doorway, stood ramrod straight, looking just like a doorman, his eyes occasionally glancing into the room.

With someone standing at the door, Wen He's sleepiness completely vanished.

He sat back down at his desk, flipped through the blank papers on the table, and, feeling utterly bored, picked up paper and pen, intending to continue writing the half-finished "Romance of the Three Kingdoms".

The moment the pen tip touched the ink, Jiang Li, as if sensing his presence, tiptoed in.

Before Wen He could speak, he had already placed a bowl of chilled plum juice on the corner of the table, and then skillfully took an ink stick, rolled up his sleeves, and carefully ground the ink in the inkstone, his movements so fluid as if he had practiced it a thousand times.

"It's hot outside, so I'll have some plum juice to cool down."

Jiang Li smiled, her eyes crinkling.

"I've ground the ink for you. Is the concentration to your liking?"

Wen He looked at the fine ink in the inkstone, then glanced at the chilly plum juice on the corner of the table, and secretly clicked her tongue in amazement.

Previously in the Hundred Riders, Zhang Wenxiao was considered the most perceptive, but compared to the person in front of him, he was simply a nobody.

Wen He leaned against the low table beside the couch, looking at Jiang Li, who was bowing and standing at attention beside the desk, her fingertips unconsciously tapping the tabletop.

The initial discomfort of being overly attentive gradually faded after spending more than an hour together.

Having spent two years in the officialdom of Chang'an, rising from a centurion to his current position as Minister of War, he had seen countless instances of flattery and sycophancy.

Although Jiang Li's actions seemed deliberate, he was good at maintaining a proper balance, serving silently without saying much, which made him more agreeable than those two-faced old hands.

The sun had risen high in the sky and was shining through the window onto the Xuan paper.

Wen He put down the wolf-hair brush; his knuckles were stiff from holding the brush for so long.

He gently rubbed the back of his hand, and turned his head to see Jiang Lizheng squatting by the table, carefully arranging the scattered manuscripts into a book according to the page numbers.

The young man's back was slightly hunched, his face turned to the light, his eyelashes casting a faint shadow under his eyes. He was so focused that he seemed even more serious than when he was handling official documents.

"Wonderful! Absolutely wonderful!"

Jiang Li suddenly exclaimed, his voice filled with excitement.

"Guan Yu flooded the seven armies, his might shook the land of China, what a heroic spirit!"

"However, he was caught in Lü Meng's white-clad crossing of the river and ended up with his head separated from his body... Even after his death, he still managed to startle Cao Mengde and cause him to suffer from a headache. Such loyalty and bravery are truly rare throughout the ages! It's just a pity that the divine physician Hua Tuo, if he hadn't been suspected for treating Mengde's headache, perhaps Yun Chang's fate could have been different!"

He became more and more agitated as he spoke, his knuckles turning white as he gripped the manuscript, his brow furrowed with righteous indignation, completely unaware that Wen He was watching him with a half-smile.

Wen He picked up the plum juice from the corner of the table and took a sip. The cool, sweet and sour taste slid down her throat, dispelling some of her weariness.

Jiang Li turned to the last page and subconsciously reached out to grope on the table, trying to find the content of the next page.

He ran his fingertips across the smooth tabletop a few times, finding nothing there. Only then did he belatedly look up, meeting Wen He's ambiguous gaze.

"what!"

Jiang Li exclaimed in surprise and stood up abruptly. In his haste, he almost knocked over the inkstone on the table. He quickly steadied himself, his face instantly turning bright red, the redness spreading from his ears all the way down to his neck.

The young man, at a loss, clutched the manuscript to his chest and bowed as if to kneel in worship.

"This humble official has been impolite! I presumptuously read through your private manuscripts without your permission and even made unwarranted comments. I deserve to die for this crime, and I beg your forgiveness!"

"That's it, get up."

Wen He waved her hand, her tone casual.

"These are just some random notes I wrote in my spare time, and they will be sold at Sanwei Study in the future, so they are not anything private."

"Since you've organized it, please help me bind it into a book so that it won't be scattered or lost in the future."

"Yes! Thank you for your magnanimity!"

Jiang Li felt as if he had been granted a pardon and quickly responded, his hands still trembling slightly as he held the manuscript.

He took out a needle, thread, and paste, knelt down on the mat beside the table, carefully aligned the papers, held the fine needle between his fingers, and looked as focused as if he were handling some rare treasure.

Looking at him like this, Wen He chuckled inwardly. This Jiang Li was indeed a man of true character, but he had been too restrained by the ways of officialdom. His loss of composure just now actually made him seem somewhat endearing.

Wen He got up and walked to the window, stretched out a big yawn, and her bones made a series of slight cracking sounds.

Just then, a servant dressed in a gray cloth jacket tiptoed to the door and peeked inside.

Jiang Lizheng was busy threading a needle and didn't notice that Wen He had already walked over.

"This humble one has seen the affairs of Wendu."

The servant quickly bowed and bowed, his voice extremely low.

"The Duke of Dai has returned to his office after court and has sent me to inform him."

As the Minister of War's Chief Secretary, Wen He was essentially Li Jing's chief secretary. Naturally, he had to go and greet the chief official upon his return to the yamen.

"I know, I'll be there right away."

Wen He nodded in agreement, then turned and called out, "Jiang Li."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Li looked up abruptly and saw the servant standing at the door. He realized that he had failed in his duty again, so he quickly put down his needlework and walked to Wen He to bow and apologize.

"This humble official deserves to die! I failed to notice someone coming to announce my arrival, almost causing me to miss important business. I beg you to punish me!"

Wen He was taken aback.

Isn't that being a bit too cautious?

However, Wen He quickly understood.

Jiang Li's previous behavior was not deliberate flattery, but rather excessive caution, even to the point of being somewhat timid.

That makes sense, considering he previously led a hundred cavalrymen to sweep through the Ministry of War.

He had previously stayed by Li Jing's side for several months.

For someone like him, the position of chief clerk might seem like a cushy job, but in reality, it's a hot potato.

Doing a good job is one's duty, but making the slightest mistake could backfire, and other minor officials certainly wouldn't want to come.

Presumably, those with connections pulled some strings, while Jiang Li must have no connections.

"It's alright, this isn't your fault."

Wen He patted his shoulder, her tone much gentler.

"The Duke of Dai has left court; come with me to greet him."

"promise!"

Jiang Li quickly responded, straightened his back, and followed behind Wen He, but he still habitually bowed slightly as he walked, appearing exceptionally respectful.

The two walked out of the government office and headed towards the main gate along the long corridor of the Ministry of War.

It was the time for officials from various departments to go to their offices. People dressed in official robes of various colors walked along the corridor from time to time. When they saw Wen He, they all bowed and greeted him with a mixture of awe and curiosity in their eyes.

After all, everyone knows that this young official is a favorite of His Majesty. Although he is only a seventh-rank official, he is more respectable than many fifth-rank officials.

Just as I turned the corner, I bumped into two people.

The man walking in front wore a scarlet official robe, with a gold fish-shaped pouch hanging at his waist. His face was resolute; he was none other than Duan Zhixuan, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of War.

The man next to him was dressed in the same color official robe, with a refined and scholarly demeanor; he was Lu Chengqing, the Right Vice Minister.

Upon seeing this, Wen He stepped forward a few paces, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "Your humble servant Wen He greets the Left and Right Vice Ministers."

He had barely finished speaking when Duan Zhixuan walked up to him with a loud laugh, patted him on the shoulder with such force that Wen He almost stumbled.

"You, Jiaying! You've been promoted, yet you didn't even invite your foolish brother to come and congratulate you. Do you think that by currying favor with the Duke of Dai, you look down on me, a mere Left Vice Minister?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Li, who was following behind Wen He, was so frightened that his heart skipped a beat and his face turned deathly pale.

He kept his head down, his hands gripping the hem of his clothes tightly.

In his view, Wen Dushi had offended the Left Vice Minister as soon as he took office, and he, as his subordinate, would probably suffer as well.

He secretly regretted that if he had known Wen Dushi was so unpopular in the Ministry of War, he should never have accepted the position of registrar.

Wen He didn't care at all, and instead laughed and retorted.

"What are you saying, Duke Fan? You are a founding hero who fought alongside His Majesty in the north and south. As a Duke, I am just a lowly county magistrate. I am too busy trying to curry favor with you to dare to look down on you."

"My humble seventh rank is like an ant in front of you. I'm just afraid you'll look down on me."

Upon hearing this, Duan Zhixuan reached out and rubbed Wen He's head.

"Come on, how could I possibly look down on you? Today after the yamen, let's go to Zuixianlou. How about I treat you?"

Wen He immediately shook his head.

"No way, if His Majesty finds out, he'll scold me again."

Hearing the two's familiar conversation, Jiang Li felt a surge of shock.

He was then surprised to realize that this Wen Dushi was so close to the Left Vice Minister!
You should know that the Left Vice Minister was a founding hero who followed His Majesty in his campaigns across the country. It would be extremely difficult for ordinary officials to even get a glimpse of him.

Despite the fact that Wen Dushi could joke around with him, their friendship was something that was beyond the reach of ordinary people.

Jiang Li secretly rejoiced that he hadn't spoken carelessly, and at the same time, he felt a greater sense of awe towards Wen He's background.

It's no wonder he didn't know; as a former minor official, he had been living his life in a daze.

Although I had heard of Wen He's name, I didn't know how powerful his network of connections was.

Duan Zhixuan burst into laughter, put his arm around Wen He's shoulder, and pulled her close to him affectionately.

“You don’t understand. You are still the Chief Clerk of the Left Guard, which means you are a soldier. You have to learn to drink and curse.”

As he spoke, Duan Zhixuan put his arm around Wen He and walked forward, completely disregarding Lu Chengqing and the others behind him.

Seeing this, Lu Chengqing still wore a gentle smile, but a subtle and complex emotion flashed in his eyes. He followed slowly behind the two without saying a word.

Although he now holds a high position, he has always been cautious in his words and deeds, unlike Duan Zhixuan who comes from the Qin Prince's Mansion, so he naturally would not rashly get involved in the two's jokes.

Moreover, there was still a rift between him and Wen He.

Upon seeing this scene, the doctors and officials on both sides of the corridor all lowered their heads and pretended to adjust their official robes, but in reality, they looked at each other in bewilderment.

It's the Ministry of Personnel's business!
Previously, Wen He was just a person in charge, but they all felt that it was just a nominal position.

Aside from following Li Jing, Wen He rarely came to the Ministry of War. But now he comes every day.

They still felt lingering fear when they thought about how Wen He led a hundred cavalrymen to the Ministry of War to investigate the case.

There are quite a few of them who were called into the small dark room for questioning back then.

How could he not be terrified to see this fierce rider every day from now on?

"By the way, Jiaying, how's your 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms' coming along? Your bookstore sold up to the part about the flooding of the seven armies and Guan Yu's death. It's been so long, why haven't you written the sequel yet?"

Duan Zhixuan suddenly remembered something, turned his head and asked, his tone tinged with curiosity.

He's been following "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" closely, but Wen He hasn't written anything in a long time.

"I just wrote it three times. After I leave the office, I'll take it to be printed. It should be published in a few days, and then I'll have someone deliver it to your residence."

"That would be great!"

Duan Zhixuan's eyes lit up, and he patted him on the shoulder.

"That's generous of you, hehe. I've also prepared a generous gift for you, I'll bring it to you in a bit."

The two chatted and laughed as they arrived at the main gate of the Ministry of War.

Upon seeing Duan Zhixuan, Wen He, and the others approach, Li Jing and the other generals stopped their conversation and turned their gazes toward them.

According to the official rank system, Duan Zhixuan, as the Left Vice Minister, naturally took the lead.

Lu Chengqing, as the Right Vice Minister, followed closely behind.

Although Wen He's position as Minister of War was only a seventh-rank official, he also held the title of Earl of the Founding County, which, according to the rites, placed him third in rank, higher than the ranks of the other fifth-rank officials and assistant officials.

Jiang Li, being sensible, stood at the back of the crowd, head bowed, not daring to utter a sound.

"This humble official greets the Duke of Dai!"

Everyone bowed and saluted in unison, their voices perfectly synchronized.

Greetings, everyone.

Li Jing nodded slightly in return. After everyone stood up, his gaze fell directly on Wen He. A faint smile appeared on his face as he turned to the armored generals beside him and spoke.

"This is the Earl of Gaoyang County, Wen Jiaying. Jiaying, these are all the Lieutenant General and Lieutenant General of the Left Guard. From now on, they will serve in the army together and will all be your superiors."

Wen He understood.

The Left Guard General was a fourth-rank official, while the deputy general was a fifth-rank official. Li Jing's words were indeed true.

He quickly stepped forward and cupped his hands in greeting.

"Your humble servant Wen He greets all the generals."

Before Wen He could bow, the two officers had already returned the greeting with clasped hands, their tone respectful: "Greetings, Earl of Gaoyang!"

The lieutenant general nodded with a smile, his eyes showing a hint of appreciation.

"Duke Yi often mentioned County Earl in the camp, saying that you are a young talent. You are only a child, yet you are already familiar with the methods of military command. Today, I have met you, and you are indeed a young genius."

"General, you flatter me. I only have a superficial understanding and need to learn more from you generals."

Wen He responded modestly.

After exchanging pleasantries, Li Jing raised his hand, his tone steady.

"The Left and Right Vice Ministers, please stay here. The rest of you, please return to your respective departments."

The crowd responded in unison and withdrew.

Jiang Li also quietly walked to Wen He's side, asked for instructions in a low voice, and then returned to the government office to wait.

In the end, only Duan Zhixuan, Lu Chengqing, the Left Guard's Lieutenant General and two other Lieutenant Generals, and Wen He remained.

As Li Jing's secretary-general, he was responsible for recording the proceedings of this meeting.

After the onlookers had left, Li Jing's smile faded and his expression turned serious.

"During today's court meeting, His Majesty issued an edict ordering the Sixteen Guards to immediately intensify their drills in preparation for any eventuality. This drill will be led by the Left Guard and overseen by the Duke of Yi."

Of the sixteen guards, four remained to guard the capital region, while the other twelve were responsible for external campaigns.

Wen He kept Li Jing's words in mind while pondering to herself.

As Qin Qiong gradually recovered, Li Shimin indeed began to delegate power to him.

It seems that from now on, most of the military affairs will be handled by Li Jing, and the remaining half will be handled by Qin Qiong.

This is balance.

However, this is for the best, as it means that Li Jing will not have to be as cautious as he was in history.

Then Li Jing changed the subject and looked at Wen He again.

"As for the Flying Fish Guard, His Majesty intends to train them separately, specializing in unique combat tactics. Currently, you are the most knowledgeable in the court regarding hot air balloon offense and defense, so the training of the Flying Fish Guard will be entrusted to you."

"Furthermore, please write an explanation for me on how hot air balloons can coordinate with the three armed forces on the battlefield."

Wen He's heart stirred.

The use of hot air balloons on the battlefield is still a novelty, and there are no established methods for training them, so careful planning is indeed necessary.

He did not readily agree, but instead cupped his hands in greeting.

"Duke Dai, the hot air balloons have only been in service with the troops for a short time, and the soldiers are not yet familiar with their performance. The training procedures still need to be carefully considered. You need to let me think about how to do it first."

"That's right."

Li Jing nodded in agreement.

"I'll give you half a month. Once you've drafted the plan, submit it to me directly."

He then discussed matters such as the allocation of grain and fodder and the inventory of military equipment with Duan Zhixuan and Lu Chengqing, and then adjourned the meeting.

After the meeting, Duan Zhixuan came over again, patted Wen He on the shoulder and smiled.

"Jiaying, after you leave the office, go to Zuixianlou Restaurant. Your humble brother will treat you to a welcome feast!"

Wen He waved his hand helplessly.

"I appreciate your kindness, but the Flying Fish Guard's training is more important. It only lasts for half a month, so you'll have to go to the Drunken Immortal Pavilion by yourself."

Even if the Flying Fish Guard didn't exist, Wen He wouldn't go.

You can't do anything if you go, so it's better not to go.

Seeing this, Duan Zhixuan stopped insisting and just joked with him.

"Alright, alright, then I'll go another day. I'll send my congratulatory gift to your residence later, remember to check it!"

After saying that, he waved to Wen He and left without waiting for her to refuse.

Helpless, Wen He chuckled and returned to her official residence.

As soon as he pushed open the door, a warm fragrance wafted towards him. Jiang Lizheng was standing by the table. When he saw him come in, he quickly bowed and greeted him.

"You're back from your business? I saw you were busy with important matters today, so I had someone prepare some ginseng soup for you to warm up."

On the white porcelain bowl on the table, a few bright red goji berries floated on the clear ginseng soup, and wisps of steam carrying the aroma of ginseng and herbs spread out, clearly indicating that it had just been brought up from the kitchen.

Jiang Li stood to the side, his hands hanging at his sides, his eyes filled with anticipation, like a student waiting for praise.

"Thank you for your trouble."

Wen He picked up the porcelain bowl and casually said thank you.

The ginseng soup was rich and mellow, with a subtle sweetness, clearly the result of slow simmering with plenty of ingredients. Just as he was about to sit down on the mat beside the table, he heard steady footsteps outside the door, followed by a respectful inquiry.
"May I ask if the magistrate of Gaoyang County is here? I have been ordered to come and deliver gifts."

Wen He looked up and saw a minor official standing at the entrance of the government office, dressed in a green robe of the eighth rank, with a copper fish-shaped tally from the Ministry of War hanging at his waist, and a respectful expression.

Behind the clerk stood two armored soldiers side by side, each holding a long object tightly wrapped in dark coarse cloth. The edges of the cloth were embroidered with dark gold cloud patterns, clearly indicating that it was a valuable item.

"What is this?"

Wen He put down the porcelain bowl, got up and walked to the door, her gaze falling on the long object, her heart filled with doubt.

The clerk quickly bowed and clasped his hands, raising his voice slightly, with a hint of boastfulness.
"Reporting to the County Lord, this is a lance specially made for you by my Duke Fan!"

After saying that, he gave a wink to the soldiers behind him.

The two soldiers understood and simultaneously released their grip, lifting the coarse cloth to reveal the true form of the lance.

The lance was made entirely of mulberry wood, with the shaft polished smooth and shiny, gleaming with a deep luster. Fine silver threads were wrapped around the head of the lance, which not only prevented slipping but also added a touch of luxury.

The spearhead is diamond-shaped, and the blade is so sharp that it can reflect a person's image, gleaming with a chilling light in the sunlight.

What's most special is its length; it's nearly two feet shorter than the standard military lance, clearly adjusted specifically to Wen He's height.

Wen He's pupils contracted slightly, and her heart skipped a beat.

Weapons like the horse lance have always been a symbol of status and bravery in the army, and ordinary soldiers simply cannot afford to use them.

To forge a good lance, one must not only select hardwood over a hundred years old for the shaft, but also repeatedly soak it in oil and dry it in the sun. The lance head requires several kilograms of fine iron, which is then forged by a blacksmith through countless hammerings.

The cost of a standard-issue lance is equivalent to half a year's salary for an ordinary soldier, let alone a custom-made masterpiece like this.

Duan Zhixuan's gift was so heavy that it was almost burning his hands.

"The Duke of Fan specifically instructed,"

Seeing that Wen He's expression had changed, the official continued.

He said that although the county magistrate was young, he had already made great achievements in battle and would surely have to fight on the battlefield in the future. As a military general, how could he not have a suitable weapon?

"This lance was forged in a month by the best blacksmith in the army. The shaft is wrapped with three layers of silk, making it extremely tough. Even if it is hit hard, it will not easily break. It is just right for the county magistrate to use."

In other words, Duan Zhixuan was planning to give him this gift within a month?

He was probably still with Hundred Riders at that time.

But it's not surprising, really.

After all, Wenhe would definitely go to the Turkic Khaganate with them in the future.

Duan Zhixuan's gift wasn't entirely unexpected.

But Wen He stood there stunned, her mind racing with calculations.

Refusing would be disrespectful to Duan Zhixuan, whose good intentions came from the bottom of his heart, especially in front of his subordinates, and would damage their relationship.

Please accept this gift. It is too valuable. If he does not return the gift in kind, it will seem like he has gotten the better deal.

After a moment's thought, he finally sighed, reached out and took the lance. The weight in his hand was just right, neither too heavy nor too light, perfectly suited to his arm strength.

"Please thank Duke Fan for me. I will accept this generous gift."

Wen He weighed the lance in his hand and bowed to the minor official.

"I will definitely visit you in person another day to express my gratitude."

"You're too kind, Your Excellency!"

The official quickly returned the greeting, gave a few more instructions on how to maintain the lance, and then bowed and left with two soldiers.

Inside the government office, Wen He was holding the handle of a lance, pondering what gift would be appropriate to give in return, when Jiang Li suddenly spoke up, his tone tinged with excitement.

"Sir, there's a training ground in the backyard of the Ministry of War. It's spacious and has horse posts for practice. Why don't I accompany you there to test the power of this horse lance?"

Wen He's smile froze, and her expression immediately turned somewhat awkward.

In his previous life, he was just an ordinary history enthusiast. He had never even touched a simple sword or knife, let alone a cold weapon like a lance.

Although he trained with Li Shimin in this life, he only learned some basic archery and horsemanship skills.

He knows how to use a horizontal sword, but he knows absolutely nothing about a weapon like a horse lance, which requires extremely high skill.

When Jiang Li saw Wen He hesitate, he was first taken aback, then realized what was happening and his eyes widened.

"Sir...you don't know how to use a horse spear?"

As soon as the words left his mouth, he realized he had misspoke and quickly covered his mouth, his face full of panic.

"This humble official misspoke! Please forgive me, sir!"

"It doesn't matter."

Wen He waved his hand, readily admitting it.

"I usually use a sword when I'm riding a hundred cavalry, so I'm not really familiar with the horse lance."

Jiang Li breathed a sigh of relief, pondered for a moment, his eyes lit up, and he leaned closer and whispered.

"You all don't know this. The Duke of Dai is not only a brilliant strategist, but his archery and horsemanship are also unparalleled in the army. In particular, his skill with the horse lance was so great that he made the enemy tremble with fear on the battlefield!"

"If you wish to learn, why not consult the Duke of Dai?"

Jiang Li's meaning was to imply that Wen He could use this incident to get closer to Li Jing.

But Wen He clearly didn't understand his meaning.

It was just a sudden flash of inspiration, and that's what I was thinking.

Yes, Li Jing was a famous general who helped found the Tang Dynasty, so he must know how to use a horse spear.

But then I thought, Li Jing has just taken over the overall management of the training of the Sixteen Guards, and he must be so busy that he has no time to teach me how to use weapons.

"The Duke of Dai is very busy these days, so let's discuss this matter another time."

He shook his head and handed the lance to Jiang Li.

"Let's find a place to put it away first."

"promise!"

Jiang Li quickly took the lance and carefully wrapped it again with coarse cloth.

They found a well-ventilated and dry spot in a corner of the government office and even moved a wooden frame to support it, fearing it might get damp and damaged.

"Let's go, come with me to the Forbidden Garden."

Wen He straightened his official robes and gave instructions to Jiang Li.

Now that the training of the Flying Fish Guards had been entrusted to him, he could take this opportunity to go to the camp and see the actual situation.

I wonder if Zhao Qin has overcome his fear of heights.

Jiang Li quickly agreed and followed closely behind Wen He.

The two left the Ministry of War office and took a carriage towards the Forbidden Garden.

Chang'an was already quite hot at this time. The carriage traveled along the streets, and the sounds of vendors hawking their wares and the hustle and bustle of carriages and horses could be heard outside the window. Wen He leaned against the carriage wall, closed his eyes, and pondered the future of the Flying Fish Guard.

Hot air balloons, such a powerful tool, should never be used for simple ambushes and reconnaissance.

Otherwise it would be a real waste.

He wants to make the Flying Fish Guards a future aerial weapon that can influence the course of battle.

Half an hour later, the carriage arrived at the south gate of the Forbidden Garden.

As a royal garden, the Forbidden Garden was also a garrison for some of the imperial guards. It was heavily guarded, with soldiers at the gate wearing bright armor, holding long halberds, and their sharp eyes scanning those who came and went.

Upon seeing the fish tally presented by Wen He, the leading captain immediately stepped forward and bowed in salute.

"This humble general greets the Earl of Gaoyang County!"

"No gift."

Wen He waved his hand and asked, "Did the Flying Fish Guards have any drills today?"

"Reporting to the county magistrate, Commandant Zhao is leading his men in training in the open space on the west side. I heard they are practicing hot air balloon throwing accuracy today."

The captain answered respectfully.

Wen He's lips curled up slightly, a hint of mockery flashing in her eyes.

"Interesting, looks like there's going to be a good show today."

Following the captain toward the open space to the west, just as we turned a corner, we heard a series of unified shouts.

Wen He looked up and saw more than a dozen hot air balloons neatly arranged on the open ground. Two soldiers stood in the baskets below the hot air balloons, skillfully controlling them to slowly ascend into the air.

On the ground, Zhao Qin, dressed in the brocade robe of the Flying Fish Guard, stood with his hands behind his back, his brows furrowed as he stared at the hot air balloon in the sky, his face somewhat pale.

"Commander Zhao seems to have a lot of free time."

Wen He stepped forward and teased with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Qin turned around, saw Wen He, and quickly stepped forward to bow in greeting, his face showing a hint of embarrassment.

"Greetings, County Earl! What brings you here?"

Wen He's gaze swept over the hot air balloon in the sky, then returned to Zhao Qin's pale face, and she said deliberately.

"I heard that the Flying Fish Guards were training today, so I came to take a look. But I wonder why Captain Zhao is only directing from the ground and not personally demonstrating? Does he think these brothers are already skilled enough?"

Zhao Qin blushed and shook his head with a wry smile: "Uncle, please don't make fun of me. As you know, I have a fear of heights... I really don't dare to go up that hanging basket."

He paused, as if he had made up his mind, and looked up at Wen He.

“County Lord, I am truly incapable of serving as the commander of the Flying Fish Guard. Why don’t you recommend someone else to His Majesty? I should return to my original post.”

Wen He patted him on the shoulder, her tone relaxed.

"It's just a fear of heights, what's the big deal? You'll get used to it. The first time I went on a hot air balloon, my legs went weak with fear, but after a few tries, I wasn't afraid anymore. As the commander of the Flying Fish Guard, how can you command respect if you don't even dare to go on a hot air balloon?"

Zhao Qin was stunned.

Seeing Wen He's composed expression, his desire to back out lessened somewhat, but he still hesitated.

"But...but that hanging basket swaying back and forth in the air really makes me nervous."

That's because you haven't found the knack yet.

Wen He said with a smile.

"I'll go with you next time we practice, and I promise I'll help you overcome this problem."

He knew Zhao Qin's abilities.

In terms of military administration, Zhao Qin was meticulous and rigorous, managing the Flying Fish Guard in an orderly manner.

In terms of bravery, Zhao Qin was also a former subordinate of the Prince of Qin's mansion, and he was fearless on the battlefield.

He was unwilling to let go of such a talented person.

Seeing Wen He's words, Zhao Qin could only nod.

What else can we do?

"Thank you for your guidance, Magistrate. I will definitely work hard to overcome this in the future."

He then changed the subject and began talking about the training exercises.

"The brothers have worked very hard during this period and have mastered the operation of hot air balloons. Now, when throwing grenades from a height of 100 feet, 70% of the soldiers can accurately hit the target."

Wen He followed Zhao Qin's gaze to the sky and saw a soldier throw a fist-sized grenade down from the basket.

The grenade traced an arc in the air and accurately struck the bullseye on the ground.

The surrounding soldiers immediately cheered.

However, no explosion was heard.

Judging from their appearance, they were using grenades that were not loaded with gunpowder.

Upon seeing this, Wen He's brows furrowed sharply.

(End of this chapter)