The Fierce Teacher of Zhenguan: Starting with Teaching the Crown Prince to Make a Comeback

Chapter 40 is simply looking for an agent who can represent their interests!

Liu Heng then slowly sat down, his posture upright, showing signs of old age but still maintaining the demeanor of a civil official.

He stroked his long beard, his gaze becoming distant, as if piercing through the palace and returning to that turbulent era of decades ago.

“Your Highness,” he began, his voice warm yet tinged with a touch of melancholy.

"When this old minister followed the Retired Emperor and Your Majesty in raising an army in Jinyang, Your Highness was not yet born. At that time, the world was in turmoil, and heroes vied for power. In the thirteenth year of the Daye era, the Retired Emperor, as the governor of Taiyuan, took charge of the region, intending to restore order to the nation..."

He recounted the hardships of the turbulent period, the difficulty in procuring provisions, the challenges in troop deployment, how to use strategies to unite various forces to enhance his prestige, and how to plan the grand scheme of entering Guanzhong from the west.

"I remember when planning the Battle of Xihe, His Majesty often discussed the matter with us all night long. Prefect Gao Deru held the city firmly, making it difficult to take by force. At that time, I suggested that we feign an attack to exhaust the enemy army, while sending eloquent and persuasive men into the city to explain the advantages and disadvantages and sway their resolve. Unfortunately, the time was not ripe, and in the end, the soldiers still had to fight to the death. General Murong Luohou bravely charged forward but unfortunately died from an arrow wound, which is truly regrettable. The bravery and determination of the young Duan Zhixuan are also admirable."

Liu Heng spoke calmly, but when he got to the crucial point, his eyes revealed a look of reminiscence.

He listed one by one the talented people he had worked with back then: how Yin Kaishan died loyally for his country, how Liu Zhenghui guarded the rear and ensured supplies, how Tang Jian was appointed to a critical mission and maneuvered in the Turkic camp, and how Changsun Shunde executed strategies and defeated the enemy...

He mentioned the plans made before the Battle of Huoyi.

"At that time, it was pouring rain, the army's food supplies were running low, and the soldiers were exhausted. Song Laosheng held his ground and refused to come out. This old minister had repeatedly discussed the strategy of advance and retreat with Your Majesty and your colleagues. In the end, Your Majesty decided to personally lead the elite troops to attack and defeat the enemy with thunderous force. Although he did not personally participate in the battle, his strategic planning was indispensable. That battle truly demonstrated the might of our Great Tang!"

He then recounted the various strategies employed during the march to Chang'an, how he pacified various forces, and how he devised a plan to put the Sui general Qu Tutong in a difficult situation... His words were filled with profound memories of that era, sincere admiration for Emperor Gaozu and His Majesty for their ability to accept advice and their wise decisions, and deep pride as a civil official who participated in the founding of the dynasty.

Li Chengqian was initially puzzled, wondering why this old civil official had suddenly come to recount the old stories of the founding of the dynasty.

But as I listened, I couldn't help but be drawn in by those magnificent stories, especially hearing about how my parents made difficult decisions and strategized in the past, which stirred up a sense of emotion in me.

As he listened to Liu Heng's narration, he would nod from time to time and echo his sentiments: "Minister Liu and all the meritorious officials are truly pillars of the nation."

"Our predecessors faced great hardships in starting their business, and I will always remember them."

Liu Heng's tone began to subtly shift at this point.

His voice gradually lowered, and the quiet reminiscence in his tone was slowly replaced by a sense of melancholy and reflection.

"Sigh..." He sighed deeply, his gaze sweeping over the magnificent beams and pillars of the palace, and he shook his head slightly.

"Time flies, thirty years have passed in the blink of an eye. Where are the old friends who discussed important matters with us back then? Murong Luohou, Yin Kaishan... so many heroes have sacrificed their lives for the country and could not live to see the glorious Tang Dynasty. Even those who survived, like this old minister, are already old and frail."

He paused briefly, his eyes slightly vacant, as if recalling those departed faces.

"Looking back, everyone worked together with one heart and one mind, without distinction, all for the sake of pacifying the chaotic world and bringing peace to the land. At that time, achievements could be made in the tent, and those with talent and insight were all given important positions. His Majesty was also good at recognizing and appointing people according to their abilities. Even someone like me, who was originally just a clerk in Taiyuan, was trusted by His Majesty and entrusted with the task of advisor..."

As he spoke of this, his tone became increasingly emotional, even carrying a hint of barely perceptible melancholy.

"Looking at the court today, the officials are mostly newly promoted talents. There are outstanding families from Guanzhong, Shandong, and talented people from humble backgrounds... Talented people are emerging in large numbers, and our Tang Dynasty is showing signs of a golden age. Your Majesty is wise and has widely accepted talented people. It's just that... it's just that we old people, as well as our children and nephews, are burdened with the reputation of being descendants of meritorious officials, but... it's hard to find a way to serve us."

He looked up at Li Chengqian, his gaze complex, containing both expectation and helplessness.

"This old minister is not greedy for power and position, but... whenever I recall the hardships that the late emperor and Your Majesty endured to establish this foundation, think of those colleagues who sacrificed their lives for the country, and look at my own children, although I dare not say that they are exceptionally talented, I am willing to do my best, but I fear that I will fail to live up to the reputation of my ancestors and let down the glorious Tang Dynasty! Thinking of this, I cannot help but feel sad."

He uttered the last two words almost silently between his teeth, carrying the subtlety and melancholy characteristic of a scholar.

Li Chengqian listened with a mixture of understanding and confusion. Liu Heng's speech, from beginning to end, was full of loyalty to the emperor and patriotism, reminiscing about the sages of the past, and expressing concern for the affairs of the country. It was sincere, heartfelt, and well-written.

He could only go along with what the other party meant and say things like, "As a descendant of a meritorious official, the court will surely employ him according to his abilities," and "Your Excellency has worked hard and made great contributions; the Emperor often thinks of you."

But deep down, he was still completely lost.

This old civil official came to the Eastern Palace to recount these past events in detail, and finally lamented the fate of the descendants of meritorious officials. What was his intention?

Is it to provide a stepping stone for the younger generation to advance their careers?

Or is it simply to express feelings?
Li Chengqian was completely baffled, feeling that the old minister's delicate emotions were somewhat abrupt, even leaving him at a loss.

Li Baiyao, who was sitting on the left, had his brows slightly furrowed.

With his extensive knowledge and rich experience, he immediately sensed the unusual meaning behind Liu Heng's words.

This is by no means a simple matter of reminiscing about past hardships or complaining.

This was not only a way of praising the Crown Prince, but also a subtle expression of dissatisfaction, implying the current court's "forgetting" and "treating poorly" the early meritorious officials.

Their purpose was probably to test the Crown Prince's attitude and see if he would extend an olive branch to them, the "marginalized" old forces.

On the right, Xu Jingzong still wore his usual smile, but his eyes darted quickly between Liu Heng and Li Chengqian.

He was quick-witted and instantly understood Liu Heng's subtext.

This is a case of disillusioned individuals seeking new political backers.

Xu Jingzong quickly weighed the pros and cons.

Although most of the descendants of meritorious officials have lost their power, they still have a certain amount of influence in the army and among the former officials.

If they could be won over by the Crown Prince, they might become a valuable asset.

However, the risks are equally enormous, and it could easily arouse suspicion from His Majesty and those in power.

He decided to wait and see how the Crown Prince would react before deciding which side to take.

He noticed the confusion on the Crown Prince's face and thought to himself: The Crown Prince does not seem to have fully grasped Liu Heng's deeper meaning.

As Liu Heng shifted the conversation to "the plight of the descendants of meritorious officials," Li Yichen, sitting in the shadows in the back row, curled his lips into a cold smile.

He saw right through the trick.

What reminiscing about the past, what concern for national affairs—it's all just political opportunism disguised in a glamorous guise!
Most of these so-called "descendants of meritorious officials" are mediocre in talent, yet they rest on their fathers' laurels and yearn to continue enjoying privileges.

Having lost power in the current power structure, they wanted to take advantage of the conflicts between the Crown Prince and the Emperor, and between the Crown Prince and the Prince of Wei, to bet on the Eastern Palace, attempting to get a share of the pie in the new round of power reshuffling and to restore the glory of their fathers.

They were not genuinely assisting the Crown Prince in governing the country; they simply wanted to find a proxy who could represent their interests!

　Thank you so much for your monthly tickets, dear readers! I bow deeply in gratitude! Please accept my thanks! To express my gratitude, I'll be updating two more chapters today! And thank you to those who gave me rewards! Thank you from the bottom of my heart! I'll continue updating at 4 PM this afternoon! Thank you! Also, I found a few historical inaccuracies in the text, and I sincerely apologize to all readers! I will correct them immediately upon discovery, and I will also diligently research and verify the information!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)