Late Tang Dynasty: Descendants of the Imperial Clan

This set of spear techniques was a family martial art that the original owner had practiced since childhood.

As for techniques, they are not some closely guarded secrets; they are nothing more than the most common moves in the military—blocking, seizing, stabbing, striking, picking, and deflecting, just repeating the same few moves over and over again.

But when Li Cenji used it, it had a different kind of fierceness. Every thrust of his spear was filled with an indomitable ruthlessness, as if there really was an armored enemy general in front of him, about to be pierced through the heart by his spear.

After finishing a set of spear techniques, Li Cenji put away his spear and stood up, exhaling a long breath, with beads of sweat rolling down his forehead.

The surrounding Imperial Guards erupted in cheers once again.

"The captain's marksmanship is superb!"

"This skill is top-notch, even among the border troops of various towns!"

Li Cenji took a rough cloth handkerchief from a soldier, wiped the sweat from his face haphazardly, and laughed:

Stop flattering me. You lot are all sweet-talking, but who knows what you're really saying about me inside.

The crowd laughed.

Li Cenji draped a handkerchief over his shoulder, walked to the corridor, and plopped down next to Zhao Shun.

A morning breeze swept by, making his sweat-dampened clothes feel slightly cool, which was quite refreshing.

He closed his eyes, feeling the surge of energy within his body after practicing martial arts, and secretly marveled at it.

In the past few days, he gradually discovered something strange.

The original owner of this body had practiced martial arts since childhood, and had an excellent foundation.

However, once you reach your early twenties, your strength growth has reached a bottleneck, and it becomes difficult to make any further progress.

This is a common occurrence among martial artists:

There is always a limit to a person's physical and mental capacity. Once you reach that point, it's already quite good if you can maintain it. Trying to go even further is extremely difficult.

But Li Cenji clearly felt that ever since he took over this body, his strength had been gradually increasing.

At first, he didn't realize it.

Just the other day, while practicing martial arts, he thrust out a spear and pierced right through the arrow sack on the training ground.

He was stunned for a moment. According to the original owner's memory, the force of that shot was at most three-tenths of an inch into the wall, and it was definitely not this sharp.

Yesterday he tried again, lifting a stone lock from the mansion. It was a weight that the original owner could only lift for seventeen or eighteen steps before having to put it down. Yesterday he actually carried it for more than twenty steps before his arm felt sore and numb.

Although the increase is not significant, and over time it will only amount to one more step forward than the previous one, for a martial artist, it is an opportunity to be overjoyed.

He could not tell anyone about these things; he could only keep them to himself and secretly enjoy them.

After resting for a while, Li Cenji stood up again, took the spear from the soldier, and planned to practice again.

Just then, a series of hurried footsteps came from under the corridor.

A servant came running up, panting, and bowed deeply before Li Cenji, saying hurriedly:

"Commander Li! Registrar Sun and Military Advisor Wang request that you proceed immediately to the General's bedroom!"

Li Cenji paused in his grip on the spear, his heart tightening suddenly.

The General's bedroom?

Duke Zheng?

A thought flashed through his mind—could it be that Duke Zheng's condition had worsened?

For the past few days, Zheng Tian has been bedridden, unable to speak or move his hands. Although doctors have been treating him daily and he has been given medicine continuously, his condition has not improved.

Although Sun Chu and Wang Chu took on the political duties, they still visited him at his bedside every morning and evening, and their faces were not very good when they returned.

Now they suddenly send someone to summon him, saying they're going to his bedroom...

Li Cenji dared not delay, and threw the spear into Zhao Shun's arms, saying:

"then!"

Without bothering to change his clothes, he put on his sweat-soaked short brown robe and strode off toward Zheng Tian's bedroom.

Countless thoughts raced through his mind along the way.

If something were to happen to Duke Zheng, Fengxiang City would be completely without its leader.

If the two towns become disunited and Huang Chao seizes the opportunity to attack again, then the situation will truly be hopeless.

However, judging from the historical context, Zheng Gong's time should not have come to an end at this time!

The more he thought about it, the more anxious he became, and he quickened his pace. After turning through several corridors and passing through a moon gate, he arrived at the small courtyard where Zheng Tian's bedroom was located.

Two imperial guards stood at the entrance of the courtyard. When they saw Li Cenji rushing over, they quickly clasped their hands in salute.

Li Cenji ignored them and walked straight to the door, reaching out to push it open.

Just as my hand touched the door, I heard a low laugh coming from inside.

Li Cenji was taken aback.

Although the laughter was weak and hoarse, it clearly carried a sense of relief and relaxation.

He was puzzled, but his hands didn't stop; he pushed open the door.

The moment the door opened, a rich aroma of medicinal soup wafted out, mixed with the scent of benzoin, warm and comforting.

The interior furnishings were as they always were.

A large rosewood bed sits against the wall, its curtains half-drawn.

There was a small table next to the bed with several medicine bowls and some candied fruit on it.

The window was half-open, letting in a few rays of morning light that illuminated the room.

On that large bed, an elderly man with a full head of white hair was sitting, leaning against soft pillows.

He was holding a celadon medicine bowl in his hand, and was drinking the medicine soup sip by sip.

Although her hands were still trembling slightly, she was able to hold the bowl steadily.

He took a sip, then reached for a candied fruit on the small table and put it in his mouth to suppress the bitterness of the medicine.

It was Zheng Tian.

Two people were standing by the bed: Sun Chu on the left and Wang Chu on the right.

The two of them had smiles on their faces, their eyes and brows showing a sense of relief and ease, sweeping away the gloom that had been hanging over them for the past few days.

Sun Chu laughed so hard his white beard twitched, and his eyes were red-rimmed, clearly from the excitement he had just felt.

Hearing the door open, the three of them looked towards the entrance.

Zheng Tian put down the medicine bowl in his hand and saw that the person standing at the door was Li Cenji.

His face was still somewhat pale, and his cheekbones were slightly protruding. He had lost weight after being bedridden for the past few days, and his once plump cheeks had become somewhat sunken.

But his eyes had regained their luster, no longer as cloudy and unfocused as when he was unconscious that day, but bright and piercing, revealing a touch of shrewdness and wisdom from years of experience in officialdom.

He was taken aback when he saw Li Cenji's sweat-soaked short coat and panting appearance. Then, a slight smile appeared on his lips, revealing a smile that was both weak and kind.

The voice was hoarse and deep, like sandpaper rubbing against wood, yet it also carried an indescribable warmth.

"Jingzhi is here."

Li Cenji was overjoyed; the anxiety that had been weighing on his mind for days finally subsided.

He hurried forward, and when he was three steps away from the bed, he bowed down and said:

"The awakening of Lord Zheng is truly a blessing for the entire city of Fengxiang! This humble general congratulates Lord Zheng on his gradual recovery!"

Seeing his solemn appearance, Zheng Tian lifted his withered hand from the brocade quilt and stretched it forward with difficulty, as if to help him.

The arm trembled, and the fingertips were still pale from illness, clearly indicating that the person had not yet recovered their strength and could not exert much power.

How could Li Cenji dare to let him go through the trouble of helping him up?

He quickly straightened up, stood respectfully by the couch with his hands at his sides, and glanced at Zheng Tian's face.

Seeing that although the old general had become much thinner, his face had regained some color, and his eyes were clear and bright, unlike the terrifying sight when he was unconscious that day, he felt more at ease.

Zheng Tian withdrew his hand, leaned against the soft pillow, and breathed a sigh of relief. Although the movement just now was only a slight raising of his hand, it had still taken some of his strength.

He composed himself and looked Li Cenji up and down. He saw that Li was wearing a sweat-soaked short brown shirt and had fine beads of sweat on his forehead. It was clear that he had just been practicing martial arts and had rushed over after receiving the news, without even changing his clothes.

A hint of approval flashed in Zheng Tian's eyes as he spoke:

"Jingzhi, I have already heard about what happened that night from Registrar Sun and Sima Wang."

His voice was still a little hoarse, as if there was something in his throat, but his words were already very clear, and he spoke slowly, word by word.

"You acted decisively, beheading Huang Chao's envoy and capturing the traitorous eunuch Peng Jingrou. You also stirred people's hearts with the 'Qin King's Battle Song,' making the generals and officers realize their mistakes and prevent them from making a grave error. I know all of these things."

He paused here, and a faint glimmer of tears appeared in his old eyes.

He took a deep breath, his voice rising slightly, carrying a hint of determination:

"A strong wind reveals the strength of the grass, and a turbulent storm reveals the loyalty of a minister. Jingzhi, you are truly worthy of being a member of the imperial family, and worthy of being a subject of our Great Tang!"

When Li Cenji heard him utter the ten words, "Only in a strong wind can one recognize the strength of the grass, and only in adversity can one recognize the loyalty of a minister," his heart was also warmed.

These ten characters come from Emperor Taizong's poem "Gifted to Xiao Yu," written in gratitude for Xiao Yu's unwavering loyalty during a time of crisis.

Zheng Tian presented this poem to him, the weight of which is self-evident.

He quickly bowed and said repeatedly:

"I dare not accept such praise from Duke Zheng."

Zheng Tian waved his hand and said:

"No need for such modesty. I have been in officialdom for decades, and I can tell the difference between the loyal and the treacherous, the virtuous and the foolish. What you did that night, others might not have had the courage or the decisiveness."

"When I transferred you from the Northern Army, I could tell that you were different from the ordinary sons of noble families."

Zheng Tian leaned back on the soft pillows, his gaze slightly upward, as if recalling something.

"Those people mostly rely on the protection of their ancestors to get a minor official position. They are good at cockfighting, dog racing, and gathering friends, but when it comes to fighting on the battlefield or making decisions in a crisis, they all shrink back. You are different."

He withdrew his gaze and then fell on Li Cenji, his smile deepening:

"You not only have courage, but you also have composure. You can assess the situation and first stir people's hearts with a song of 'Breaking the Enemy' before launching a sudden attack that is fatal. This is not just courage, but also strategy."

Li Cenji felt a little embarrassed by the praise and was about to say a few more humble words when Zheng Tian suddenly changed the subject and asked:

"Jingzhi, I ask you, have you ever studied?"

The question came as a surprise to Li Cenji.

After asking the question, Zheng Tian laughed first, waved his hand, and said self-deprecatingly:

"I've asked a superfluous question. You're a member of the imperial family, with generations of officials in the government. How could you have never been to school? It's just that I'm getting senile."

Although Li Cenji didn't understand Zheng Tian's intention in suddenly asking this question, since he had been asked, he answered truthfully:

"In reply to Lord Zheng, I have indeed read some books. When I was young, my family hired a tutor who taught me the Analects and the Classic of Filial Piety. Later, I also read some historical books such as Zuo Zhuan and Records of the Grand Historian. As for military books, I have also dabbled in the Six Secret Teachings, the Three Strategies, Sun Tzu's Art of War, and Wu Zixu's Art of War, but I dare not say that I am an expert."

He was being conservative in his words. In fact, although the original owner was a military officer, he was a member of the imperial family and his family had a vast collection of books. He had been exposed to books since childhood and had read them in various fields, including history, philosophy, and literature.

However, the original owner inherited his father's ambition to join the army and did not put in much effort in literary pursuits.

After listening, Zheng Tian nodded slightly and then asked:

"Have you ever received guidance from a renowned teacher?"

This time, Li Cenji vaguely understood something.

His mind raced, but he answered without hesitation:

"Replying to Lord Zheng, there has never been such a thing. When I was young, I only attended a private school for a few years. Later, I studied with my uncles and brothers in the clan school. After that, I joined the Imperial Guard and touched books even less. Although there are some books in the clan, I just flipped through them randomly on my own and had no teachers to guide me."

Upon hearing this, the light in Zheng Tian's eyes became even brighter.

He pondered for a moment, then suddenly spoke:

"Jingzhi, I have a favor to ask."

Li Cenji hurriedly said:

"Please speak, Lord Zheng."

Zheng Tian looked at him, his expression becoming serious, and slowly said:

"Although I have been appointed as a military governor in the field, I am still a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations). Back in the day, I was in charge of the imperial examinations and presided over the Ministry of Rites examinations. I have quite a few students and former subordinates. Now I am over fifty years old, and my health is deteriorating day by day. Although I have sons and nephews, none of them are by my side."

He paused, his voice becoming even gentler:

"If you don't mind my limited knowledge and skills, I will take you as my disciple and impart all the knowledge I have gained in my life. What do you say?"

Upon hearing this, Li Cenji's heart skipped a beat.

Should we take him as our apprentice?

Who was Zheng Tian?

A member of the Zheng family of Xingyang, he was a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) and rose to the position of Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi, a high-ranking official.

In terms of scholarship, experience, and connections, isn't he top-notch in every aspect?

More importantly, in this chaotic world at the end of the Tang Dynasty, having a master like Zheng Tian was like having an extra talisman.

In the future, whether it's needing soldiers or provisions, or maneuvering in the court, having this master-disciple relationship will save a lot of effort.

How could he possibly turn down such a good thing?

Li Cenji immediately knelt down and respectfully kowtowed, his voice filled with barely suppressed excitement:

"Thank you for your kindness, Lord Zheng. I am willing to serve you with the respect due to a disciple!"

Seeing his straightforwardness, Zheng Tian's smile deepened. He turned to look at Sun Chu and Wang Chu standing to the side and said:

"Registrar Sun, Military Advisor Wang, you two heard it too. I will accept Jingzhi as my child."

Sun Chu and Wang Chu exchanged a glance, and smiles appeared on their faces.

Sun Chu stroked his beard and smiled:

"Congratulations, Master Zheng, on gaining such a fine student. Jingzhi is commendable for his loyalty and courage, and is also humble and eager to learn. It is truly a blessing for him to be personally taught by Master Zheng."

Wang Chu nodded in agreement.

"Indeed. It would be a real pity if no one were to carry on Zheng Gong's learning. Now that Jingzhi has come along, it can be said that he has a successor, which is cause for celebration."